Chaos on the First Day
“This is a sacred valley,” Chiron said as the two boys followed alongside him, looking around. “Ordinary humans cannot see it,” he added.
A river ran straight through the middle of the camp, forming a small lake at its center before flowing directly into the sea. They could see the cabins they had noticed earlier, but there were other structures as well; ones that did not quite fit the idea of a simple summer camp. In the distance, something like a stadium. Closer by, an amphitheater, or perhaps an improvised arena, where several kids were training with swords as if that were the most normal thing in the world. Farther on, an open pavilion filled with long tables; most likely the dining hall.
An armory immediately caught their attention, making Harry and Percy wonder why a summer camp would need one. But seeing kids training with swords not far from there, it was not really surprising. There was also the archery range, where, for some reason, everyone holding a bow posed with an air of arrogance while shaking their blond hair back into place.
“Is that… a wall of lava?” Harry asked, confusion clear on his face as he looked into the distance.
“Oh, yes. It is one of the most advanced and difficult training exercises we have here. Extreme physical training; endurance and teamwork. Not everyone can complete it,” Chiron added.
However, what caught their attention the most was not something magical or dangerous, but the complete opposite. The strawberry fields; precisely because of how ordinary they were. There, many kids with goat legs, like Grover, along with some younger campers, were calmly picking strawberries.
“That is the strawberry field. It looks peaceful and normal, but it funds a large part of the camp,” Chiron said with a faint smile.
“This is definitely not Hogwarts,” Percy said as he looked around.
Chiron returned the smile before stopping right at the center of the camp, from where the cabins were clearly visible. “Twelve cabins, for the twelve Olympian gods. Each cabin is home to a child claimed by that god,” he explained.
“I see. So which one do we get?” Percy asked immediately, while Harry also looked at Chiron with interest.
Chiron studied them and remained silent for a second. “You have not been claimed yet, Percy,” he said in a somewhat gentle tone, careful not to sound tragic.
Percy frowned instantly, while Harry looked confused.
“Yeah, sure… I’m here and he wants nothing to do with me. I figured as much,” Percy said with a slightly sarcastic tone, though the hurt was still there. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just a month,” he added, frowning again as he glanced at Harry, realizing the same thing he was.
“Wait. You said Percy hasn’t been claimed, but… what about me?” Harry asked, confused.
“That’s because…”, before Chiron could say anything else, three children suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Two of them grabbed Harry by the arms, while a small black-haired girl ran after them on her tiny legs.
“We’ve got one of our own. Retreat!” they shouted, as Harry was effortlessly kidnapped, leaving Percy staring in shock, unsure how to react as they carried his brother away.
“Hey, why are you taking my brother!?” Percy shouted as he ran after them. But before he could catch up, the little girl running behind them tripped and fell. Percy stopped short, clicked his tongue, and picked her up, continuing the chase with her tucked under his arm.
“Idiots, I told you not to do that!” a boy shouted angrily as he watched them. “We’re not supposed to draw attention,” he added.
Which only drew more attention.
He quickly felt the stares of the other campers fixed on him, watching as if he were some kind of curiosity while whispering among themselves. That made him lower his voice almost immediately.
“Alabaster, please take them to the Hermes cabin later,” Chiron said, addressing the boy who looked to be around twelve.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The boy looked at him for a moment, frowning. His green eyes stood out. “Yes, Director,” he replied, eyeing him with suspicion before running after the others.
Chiron watched him go, parted his lips slightly, and let out a quiet sigh. Then he looked at the twelve cabins once more before turning away and leaving.
…
Harry simply let himself be dragged along by the two boys as they led him straight into the forest. He did nothing to struggle or stop them, since they did not seem intent on hurting him, and they were laughing; genuinely happy to see him.
He quickly noticed that the place they were taking him to looked like a small house made of branches and leaves; very well built. On the door was the symbol of a torch, which felt strangely familiar.
He then looked at the two boys who had kidnapped him. They looked to be around thirteen and fifteen. The older one had blond hair and blue eyes; clearly foreign, perhaps French or something like that. The other, with dark hair and brown eyes, seemed American. Both wore smiles that made it clear they were the energetic, cheerful type.
And what caught Harry’s attention the most were their necklaces.
Two identical necklaces, each with a pendant shaped like a wand. One of them looked cracked, and the other was scratched. Very similar to his own, whose pendant was also broken.
“Come on, come in with us and let’s wait for the others,” one of them said cheerfully, inviting Harry inside, while the other opened a door made of tree bark.
Harry simply went along with it as he stepped through the doorway, but his eyes widened in surprise when he realized that the inside was far larger than it looked from the outside. Just like…
“Undetectable Extension Charm,” Harry said as he recognized the magic used, while he took in the wide interior space.
There were several beds that seemed to have been crafted from tree branches, fitted with soft, comfortable mattresses. There were also tables, chairs, and even a fireplace built from stone. Off to one side stood a bookshelf filled with several books; some looked familiar to him, while others did not.
“Cool, right?” the older one said, puffing out his chest with pride. “I only managed it on my fifth try. Supposedly it’s illegal to use it without proper registration from the Ministry of Magic, but I doubt the Ministry can come all the way out here to fine me or anything,” he added with an amused smile.
“I wish it were just a fine. The Ministry around here would send you straight to Blackrock Penitentiary,” the other boy said, shaking his head, though he wore an equally excited smile.
“Blackrock?” Harry asked. “The Ministry of Magic? Wait… are you part of the magical world?” he added, mildly surprised.
The two boys exchanged looks and smiled in amusement.
“Of course. What kind of descendant of Hecate isn’t connected to the magical world? Oh, right, we haven’t introduced ourselves,” the older one said with a grin.
“I’m Jean Martin. I should technically be starting my fifth year at Beauxbatons. I’m fourteen, even if I look a bit older,” he said proudly.
“Don’t listen to him. He only looks older because he’s constantly drinking aging potions to seem more mature in front of a girl he likes; one who doesn’t even pay attention to him. And probably never will, since she’s way out of his league,” the other said, clearly enjoying the way Jean shot him a mildly murderous glare.
“That’s what you think. I’m sure my love for Fleur will break through any barrier,” Jean said, dramatically overacting, while the other simply ignored him.
“I’m Daniel. Thirteen years old. Student of the wonderful and powerful Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,” he said, as if expecting some kind of impressed reaction.
Harry looked at him calmly. Jean, on the other hand, let out a mocking laugh.
“The Hogwarts knockoff,” he said, coughing exaggeratedly.
“Shut up. It’s clearly not a knockoff. It’s a school almost as old as Hogwarts. Just because our founder happened to be a Hogwarts student in its early days doesn’t mean anything,” Daniel snapped back quickly, visibly irritated.
Harry watched them with a faint smile, finding both of them rather entertaining.
“Wait… you said you’re children of Hecate. So does that mean I am too?” Harry asked, surprised, realizing he had completely glossed over that part.
“Mm, well, not literally,” Daniel replied. “Jean and I are actually her grandchildren. Normally we wouldn’t be allowed in the camp, but Hecate has an agreement with Olympus that allows legacies to enter for specific reasons. So far, there are only two of her actual children here, and those are Alabaster and Lily… wait, where’s Lily?” he added, suddenly realizing someone was missing.
“Idiot, you lost her again,” Jean shouted, looking around frantically when he failed to spot the little girl who was supposed to be with them.
“I lost her? You were the one supposed to be watching her today,” Daniel snapped back, raising his voice.
“Danger, danger, the camp is in danger!” Jean yelled, already sprinting toward the exit.
“The camp?” Harry asked, confused.
But before the two boys could rush out in a panic to search for the missing girl, the door creaked violently and burst open with a kick, splintering apart.
And there stood Percy, carrying a girl of about five years old, who wore a huge, delighted smile from being carried that way.
“Give me back my brother!” Percy shouted as he glared at everyone in the room.
“Yeah… quite the chaotic first impression,” Harry said, taking in the scene.
Jean and Daniel stood completely stunned. The little girl under Percy’s arm smiled brightly and clapped her hands. Percy was furious. And behind him, a boy who looked to be about the same age came running in, completely pale, barely breathing, before dropping to his knees, utterly exhausted.
“Very chaotic,” Harry repeated.
