The Unexpected Family

Percy Jackson sat on the couch in his small New York City apartment, staring blankly at the TV as his mom, Sally Jackson, bustled around the kitchen. She was making one of her famous meals - chicken parmesan with pasta - and the aroma filled the room, making Percy's stomach growl with hunger. But he wasn't really hungry. He was lost in thought, as he often was. Sally noticed her son's distant expression and walked over to him, concern etched on her face. "Hey, kiddo, what's wrong?" she asked, sitting down beside him. Percy shrugged. "Nothing, Mom. Just thinking." Sally nodded. "About what?" Percy hesitated, unsure of how to articulate his thoughts. He had always felt like there was something missing in his life, like a part of him was hidden or unknown. He looked at his mom, and she seemed to sense his unease. "You're wondering about your dad, aren't you?" she asked gently. Percy nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. His mom had always been tight-lipped about his father, and he had grown up with a sense of curiosity and longing. Sally took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice measured. "Percy, I want to tell you something. Something important." Percy's ears perked up, and he leaned forward, eager to hear what his mom had to say. "You see, Percy, I had relationships with several people before you were born. James Potter, Lily Evans Potter, and...Poseidon." Percy's eyes widened in shock. "What? You mean, like, the Poseidon? The Greek god?" Sally nodded. "The same one. And James and Lily, they were...special people. They were wizards, and they were my friends." Percy's mind reeled as he tried to process this information. He was the son of a Greek god and a wizard? It sounded crazy, but at the same time, it felt...right. "So, what does this mean for me?" Percy asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Sally smiled. "It means you're a little more than just a normal kid, Percy. You have a special heritage, and I think it's time you knew about it." As Sally spoke, Percy's eyes drifted to a photo on the mantle - a picture of him as a baby, with a family he didn't recognize. There was a man with messy black hair and a woman with bright red hair, and they were both smiling at him. He felt a pang of recognition, like he was meant to know them. "Who are they?" Percy asked, his voice filled with curiosity. Sally's expression turned nostalgic. "That's James and Lily, your parents. They...they died before you were born, but they left behind a legacy. A legacy that you carry with you every day." Percy's eyes lingered on the photo, feeling a sense of connection to the people in it. He had always felt like there was something missing in his life, and now he was starting to understand what that was. As they finished dinner and began to clean up, Percy's thoughts turned to the future. What did this mean for him? What kind of life lay ahead? The sound of the mailman outside broke the silence, and Sally excused herself to grab the mail. She returned with a stack of letters and bills, and one envelope in particular caught her eye. "Percy, I think this might be for you," she said, handing him a white envelope with a strange symbol on it. Percy's heart skipped a beat as he took the envelope. It was addressed to him, and the symbol looked...familiar. "What's this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Sally's expression was enigmatic. "I think it's time you found out, Percy. Open it." Percy's fingers trembled as he opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. His eyes scanned the page, and his heart leapt with excitement. "Dear Mr. Jackson," the letter read, "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry..." Percy's eyes met his mom's, and they both smiled. This was just the beginning of an extraordinary journey, one that would take him to a world of magic, monsters, and mythological gods. A world where he would discover his true identity and his place in the universe.