March 2006, Ron and Hermione Weasley's house

"So," said Ron incredulously, "you're saying that she can really raise the dead?"

"Yes, Ron," said Hermione patiently. "She has the Stone, and you should have heard her voice, it was mesmerizing. I've studied these matters."

She wanted to say more, but she couldn't. Max had called her three days ago to announce that Cassiopeia, who had killed a good number of his half-bloods in battle, had been sighted in Diagon Alley and had recommended the exercise of caution.

"When?" demanded Ron.

She sighed tiredly. She had spent half of her time working in the office, not to mention the time she spent at Eagle Mechanical Services making weapons and teaching mythology to the children. "In my free time," she lied. Truthfully, she had studied it in her Greek and Roman mythology classes in her childhood, before Hogwarts, when her father and mother had decided to send her there to train under Snape.

Ron faced her. He had this really cute look on his face whenever he was confused that she hadn't noticed until her sixth year. "You're not making this up, are you? It sounds like something Luna would say..."

"This is true, Ron," retorted Hermione. "I think you should tell Robards about it. She's a public security danger."

He shrugged. "Do you think Robards will believe me?"

Hermione shook her head grimly. "We would have to tell Harry, though."

March 2006, Eagle Mechanical Services, Spinner's End Boulevard

"Sir, on our last visit to Olympus," began Mikaila hesitantly to the portrait of their fellow teacher, "We've heard things. Whispers of the rising of Saturn from the pits of Tartarus by a mortal host in America."

He nodded grimly and took a sip of Sprite (who would paint him with a can of Sprite was a mystery to Mikaila). "They are true," he replied quietly.

Fergus shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Should we go help them?" asked Genevieve anxiously.

Professor Snape shook his head. "We have our own problem here, children. And have they helped us in times of need? No."

"And something else," said Fergus, "sir, we've sighted Cassiopeia in Diagon Alley."

"Diagon Alley?" asked the man in the painting. "Hmm. Where is Max, by the way?"

"He went to oversee the problem," answered Genevieve. "With a couple of magic campers. She went to buy some type of stone."

His face darkened.

"What is it?" asked Mikaila.

"You should go see the Hunters," suggested the man. "They're staying for a few days in the building."

The Hunters, both of Artemis and Diana, were playing Nintendo in the lounge.

"Hey guys!" greeted Mikaila.

They heard a boom from the screen and someone curse loudly. A tall, buff girl with long dirty blond hair tied in a braid with silver ribbons was waggling her fist to it. "Jove! You blasted Bowser, how dare - !"

She caught sight of them and glared at Mikaila. "You made me get hit by a shell! A red one!" She sighed and paused her Mario Kart game.

"You were losing anyways," muttered Fergus.

Before the girl could retort, Genevieve put her hand up in truce. "Hey, calm down. We just wanted to ask you something."

Other girls with silvery glows came into focus in the room as she turned on the lights. A short teenage girl with pale skin, dark eyes, and short black hair grinned broadly while another with dark skin and curly brown hair in a ponytail got up. "Kaila, Ginny! Fergus!"

The Bowser girl (Hallie) sat on a sofa. "Ask away." She opened a package of Maynards candies and started munching on a lime-flavoured one.

Genevieve explained about the stone while Fergus and Mikaila caught up with their friends Raven, daughter of Hades, and Lina, daughter of Nike.

"What have you two been doing since December?" she asked, sipping a glass of orange soda.

"Hunters stuff," replied Raven, looking bored. "Setting up traps, tracking down monsters that Cassiopeia could recruit and capturing them. You?"

Mikaila shrugged. "I'm studying ancient history in London," she smiled slyly at Fergus. "And Fergie here's been going with Ginny since they're both studying art."

Fergus blushed and messed up his already messy blond hair.

"Really?" asked Lina, helping herself to a tortilla chip and dipping it in salsa sauce. "Interesting. Any snogging lately?"

Fergus shook his head fervently. Lina and Raven laughed.

Meanwhile, Genevieve finished her story. Hallinda (Or Hallie) was a daughter of Mars, Roman god of war, and Diana's lieutenant. She looked grave for once.

"I swore I wouldn't tell," she said, shaking her head. "But if Professor Snape wants us to tell... The odds of victory are grim."

Genevieve tugged at her mousy brown hair.

"The Resurrection Stone was created along with the two other Hallows by three brothers," counted Hallie. "Most wizards are familiar with this story. The first was the Elder Wand. It was created by Antioch Peverell, son of Mars. The second was the Cloak of Invisibility, created by Ignotus Peverell, son of Athena. The third was the Resurrection Stone, created by Cadmus Peverell, son of Hades. The Stone was passed from generation to generation, until it reached the Gaunts. Marvolo Gaunt made it into a ring. When the Gaunts died out, the Dark Lord went and made it into a Horcrux. Albus Dumbledore, son of Athena, went to find it and destroyed it. Professor Snape succeeded in saving him from the curse and gave him a year to live. In his will, Dumbledore gave the stone to Harry Potter, a mortal wizard hero. The boy didn't want it and it ended up buried in the Forbidden Forest. And then, a man who was passing found it, and sold it to Cassiopeia."

"But how do you use it?"

"Cadmus Peverell used it to channel his ability to summon the dead, although he tried to raise his love, but it didn't work, as she was a trick sent by Hades himself. Harry Potter, since the Stone had been inactive for so long, succeeded in summoning spirits even though he was a pure mortal. It can only, however, in normal circumstances, be used by a child of Death, a Helm of Darkness, a child of the Underworld."

Everyone looked at Raven, who shrugged. "I've never really tried to summon the dead," she said. "Not really useful or interesting."

"Why do you need to channel the ability?"

Hallie bit off a chunk of bread. "The entrance of the Underworld, same as Mount Olympus, is in Greece. The farther you are, the harder it is to summon. I tried to summon the power of Mars once. Made me pass out for hours, but not a single result. There's also a question of power. Raven's pretty powerful, even Artemis says so."

"I could call Jeremy," suggested Raven. "He lives in Bristol, where he works as a medium."