Urgh. I took months to write this chapter. And it hasn't covered all the points I wanted to in the first place.
But here you go. Chapter 21, unfreakin' believable. If this fic crosses 30 chapters, I will cry.
But you lot enjoy it. Hagrid makes an appearance here! Yay!

Moncef: I hadn't replied to your review in the previous chapter. Apologies.
I'm so glad you've loved my series to read all the good, the bad, and ugly tears aspect of it! It's truly a work I've invested several years in.
1) I'll see if I can deliver a satisfactory closure to the 'ghost' of No. 3 Privet Drive.
2) I am SUPER excited to bring in Leo, Piper, and Jason. In fact (the Romans might just be making an appearance in the next chapter). And yes, I am definitely dropping Harry on top of all three of them in Camp Jupiter or CHB. That should be fun!
3) Harry's mirror wasn't a huge issue as part of the series, just to his character. His reflection took on unhealthy parts of his personality. It was his self-hatred manifested in it. It wasn't magic, just a painful part of recovering from severe trauma. You'll see now that after 'Power' especially since he's started having therapy, Harry no longer has an extreme aversion to his reflection.
4) YES! Power is my baby! Half the reason I even started the entire series is just so that Tom could posses Percy and wreak irreversible havoc in everyone's lives! I'm so glad you've asked about it! I wanted to juxtapose Percy and Ginny's experiences with Tom Riddle and how both their lives were shaped by the possession. They have some similarities that I'll try to explore in this fic. I love writing them, and will find a good scene to put them together so they can share their sides of the stories and find some comfort with each other.
Power also was a changing point in the series. It's the start of Harry's journey to heal himself, and the start of Percy's trek to potentially destroy everything. Their lives are intertwined so deeply in almost opposite directions.
Rachel on the other hand, had a total boost. With the bracelet, she's growing in power just like them. The three of them won't stay dead when killed and they'll start growing closer and stronger to face the final baddie in the end... with all their friends of course.

Guest: Here you go, chapter 21! Enjoy!

It is an absolute delight to answer your questions! I love that you're taking such an interest in my dedicated project. I started writing Pumki in August, 2012. EIGHT YEARS! I've been with these characters for eight incredible years. And it took me all this time to realise that I'm just writing a powerful found-family fic. That's pretty awesome of me.

Previous Q: Who is the cabin counselor of Aphrodite's cabin, following Silena's demise in canon?
(I'd actually meant Head of the Cabin)
A: It's Drew Tanaka!

Warning: Angst for Nico, world ending threats (again), one large snake.

The Underworld was brighter than Nico had remembered it. It had only been a couple of weeks since he'd been here last (and had brought Hazel to the land of the living).

Charon's lobby was busy and the god was at his table, flipping through a novel. Nico walked up to him. "Hello, Lord Charon. Snazzy suit, today?"

Charon's cold eyes greeted him silently. His forehead developed wrinkles as he stared Nico down. The boy swallowed. Charon definitely knew about Hazel. And he wasn't happy.

"Hello, Ghost King," Charon said quietly. "Here to un-ghost anyone?"

"Umm, no."

"Because if you are, don't mind me! I'll just ferry the souls across the river, but you can just bring them all back!"

"I'm not gonna-"

"Three thousand years of the same job! No promotion, no benefits, no tax exemptions!" Charon snapped, sitting up. "And the reason for my entire being is dismantled by your random act of stupidity!"

Nico quickly backed away from the table. The souls all around them shuddered, scrambling away as far as they could. Charon's eyes were blazing in their dark sockets.

"I'm sorry-"

"No, you're not," Charon laughed in a harsh voice. "You're not sorry. Not yet, mortal. You won't be sorry unless you realise what you've done. You've passed through the Doors and when everyone finds out-"

"No one's gonna know!" Nico defended. "I won't tell anyone!"

Charon slapped his palms on the table, making every living and dead soul in the lobby flinch. He leaned forwards, the flames in his eyes growing brighter. The torches all around the lobby winked out by a non-existent wind and Nico felt the shadows freeze around them.

"They will find out, boy," Charon hissed, darkness crawling over the walls. "A year from now, a century from now… it doesn't matter. The old ones will know. They will realise that the Doors of Death can be opened from the inside. The day a mortal wakes up with a fatal wound making no difference to their fragile life, is the day you will realise your mistake. And you might just fail in rectifying it, you might just fail in warning your friends of what's to come."

The light in the lobby had all but gone out. Nico was shaking, ready to shadow-travel back but the room suddenly shook.

A heatwave swept through the room, lighting up all the torches in green flames. The lobby was back to normal instantly. The warmth snapped Charon out of his rage phase and he stood up, handsome face twisting unhappily. The souls seemed to sigh in relief and Nico wiped his sweaty palms on the sides of his trousers.

"I am not a secretary," Charon grumbled, his voice back to normal. He sat down and picked up his book. "But your father knows you're here and would like to see you."

A section of the wall between two torches transformed into dark mist, its edges tinged in red. Nico's feet didn't hesitate and soon, he was crossing through the freezing vapour. The room vanished and his surroundings changed to the interior of the vast entry chamber of the House of Hades.

It was a sprawling fortress guarded by the most fearsome monster on the higher levels of the Underworld. Nico looked out the windows and saw how far away he was from Charon's lobby. Everything in hell looked like a planet far away from Earth, much bigger and overpopulated.

He left the sight and made his way up the stairs, crossing the courtyard which held the most magnificent garden he'd ever seen. The plants glowed in the dark, the trees glittered like shiny tiles and their strange flowers bore jewels and precious gems. The mushrooms covering the ground were multicoloured and probably poisonous to the touch. There were statues too, of centaurs, satyrs, and humans, petrified in grotesque forms.

There was a goddess talking to a small orchard of tantalising pomegranate trees. Nico had gotten used to the covetous scent of the fruits. He stayed at the entrance of the garden, not daring to go in.

Persephone looked up, a steely smile etched on her face. She plucked a ripe pomegranate from one of the trees and the entire garden seemed to shimmer after her as she walked past the shrubs, plants, and trees.

Nico bowed as she faced him. "Good evening, Lady Persephone."

The goddess had been very disappointed when she'd first seen him in the Underworld a couple of years ago. Nico had a feeling that she'd hoped he would die before Hades could claim him. But after their stint in the Lotus Hotel and Casino, her ire had somewhat calmed down and now she was more or less disinterested in him and Bianca. After the Second Titanomachy, though, Persephone began to at least acknowledge him.

"Little Ghost King," she mused. "Back so soon?"

Nico flushed. Nobody down here would let him forget what he'd done. Not even Persephone in her maroon glittering gown that shone even brighter than the jewels in her garden.

"Yes, my Lady. I wish to speak to Lord Hades."

Persephone held the pomegranate up to her face and sniffed at it, looking at ease. "The Lord is taking his monthly break from his court affairs where he stuffs a pillow over his head and tries to strangle himself. He's expecting you, so it won't be that long of a wait."

Nico didn't know how to respond to that.

"Or may I help you with something?" Persephone added.

"I'd… rather talk to him, my Lady. No offence, but he might be able to address it …"

"Better than me?" she raised an eyebrow. Nico back-pedaled.

"No, no! Yes? I mean-"

"What is it you wish to enquire?"

Nico resisted the urge to scratch his head. "Um… I've been asked to keep it a secret."

She didn't blink. "From me?"

"From a lot of people. We aren't sure that it's a huge problem, so I just want to help find out."

Persephone was displeased but surprisingly didn't push. "Too bad. And here, I'd assumed it was about a jar."

Nico tried not to flinch. "A jar…?"

"Yes!" she chirped. "A jam jar, of course. Those are the best kind."

"Of course, Lady Persephone. Jam jars… super cool."

She nodded, grin fading. "Cool, delicious, and filled with hope, I daresay."

He stared at her. Oh gods, she knew or at least suspected. Persephone's eyes glittered with knowledge. Nico could tell the moment it clicked. The cheeriness in her tone visibly dropped and she looked disturbed. Her shoulders straightened and she dropped her arm, still holding onto the pomegranate.

"Cover your ears."

"My ears?"

She barely gave him a moment to clap his hands over his ears before she sucked in a breath and screeched into the air - "HADES!"

Her voice blasted through the palace, the name flying through corridors and slamming into walls. The palace shook under Nico's feet till Persephone settled down.

"He will meet you in the courtroom," she said, looking far more serious.

Nico nodded hastily. "Thank you, Lady Persephone!"

He was about to leave when she continued, "Actions, however well-meant, will have their ramifications. Darling Nico, you may have searched for one soul here but took back another. Are you prepared to face the consequences?"

He gaped up at her sorrow-filled face. "Con...consequences?"

Persephone took pity on him. "Out of all his children, the ones I can never claim, Hazel was the only one who's story has made me weep. Do you know what she's done to receive an eternity in the Fields of Asphodel?"

Nico had no clue. Hazel's biography in the Accorded Judgement Registry didn't give the details of her death. He didn't know why that piece of info was hidden but he didn't dare pester her about it. Hazel was sweet and kind and didn't deserve to die at the age of thirteen. She needed a second chance at life and Nico chose to get her that chance.

Which meant he would have to face the consequences, whether or not he chose that.

"I don't know why she was there," he spoke slowly. "I just know that I couldn't leave her in the Asphodel fields. Maybe Hazel will tell me what she did to be assigned to the Fields, but I'm not going to wait for it because I don't need to know. She'll tell me when she wants to. But I'll always want a good life for her."

His answer must have pleased Persephone because she gave him a sweet smile.

"Oh, now that sentiment almost makes me want to forgive you children for the splitting migraines. You'll make a fine orator someday, demigod. That is if you live long enough to see it."

"Thanks," Nico muttered.

Persephone giggled. "I'll give you a fighting chance then. I hope Hazel knows the risk you've taken to get her out. Someday, you will need her to get you out too."

She offered him the pomegranate. Nico's eyes widened at the perfectly formed fruit in her hand. Mortal fruits couldn't compare to what was found in Persephone's garden. She was the Goddess of Springtime, of flowers and fauna, the green of the earth that made life beautiful.

Nico wouldn't survive with a potent bite of the pomegranate.

"I… I can't, my Lady. It's too strong-"

"Don't snack on it now!" she huffed with impatience. "You're about to visit my dear husband. No, Nico di Angelo, you may partake of the fruit when you undergo your punishment for bringing a mortal back from the dead."

He froze. "What?"

Persephone eyed him. "Not even your father can save you from the old one. She grows powerful by the day. You will need all your strength to survive."

The pomegranate was tempting him less now. Nico looked from her face, down to the fruit, taking in the incredible red sheen of the skin. He braced himself and carefully picked up the pomegranate from her strong grasp.

Percy took the Chariot of Damnation from Camp to Manhattan.

Anger, Wasp, and Tempest were the Grey Sisters who operated their half-broken down taxi across the boroughs. Percy thought that one drachma as fare for his trip to Olympus was a better usage of his gold than the cost of an Iris Message to Annabeth where he wouldn't be able to kiss his girlfriend.

Wasp was driving, but Tempest had the lone eye that all sisters shared. Anger was reading a Braille map and kept yelling out the wrong directions, because they were still on a highway right by the coast. He held his tongue for two full minutes before giving up and saying, "Anger! I think you're holding that map upside down!"

"Nonsense!" she yelled. "Hang a Louie, Wasp!"

Wasp sneezed, pressed on the accelerator, and yanked the steering wheel so far to the right that the entire thing broke in her hands. Percy was tossed about in the back of the cab. Tempest rolled her eye.

"Do you not know what a Louie is?!"

"I know my rights, woman!"

Percy should have IM'ed Annabeth.

Tempest finally looked over at Anger. "Dearie, you can't read Braille."

"Oh my gods," Percy whispered.

Ten minutes later, the cab was safely screeching to a halt in front of the Empire State Building. Percy wondered if the Grey Sisters knew a good chiropractor.

"Might have to charge you extra for all the backseat driving," Anger tutted as Percy stumbled onto the sweet, solid pavement.

He groaned. "We nearly went to Florida!"

"Everyone goes to Florida," Wasp waved her hand. Percy was a sweet boy, raised by a kind woman, so he didn't say out loud what the imaginary Harry in his head was yelling.

"People will go a lot farther than Florida when they realise what's happening," Tempest sniggered. Wasp slapped her behind the head and the eye popped out, rolling underneath the seats.

"What's happening?" he asked, turning his back to limber up.

"Oh, like you don't know, son of Poseidon!" Anger squawked. Tempest gave an odd laugh and Wasp looked superior.

"Romans and Greeks meeting up," Anger went on. "That's a recipe for disaster. While all the heroes try to play nice, the monsters will also play nice with each other."

There was a sour taste in his mouth. And it had nothing to do with the exhaust reeling from the cab. "Any monster team in particular?"

Wasp caught the dirty, green-tinged eye and squeezed it into one of her sockets. She grinned maniacally at Percy. "You better watch out for the spies, Percy Jackson. Someone will promise to have your back. And that's where the blade will slice you."

Tempest jumped on Wasp, wrestling for the eye while Anger snapped, "Don't tell him everything, you dolt!"

"Oye! Hands off!"

The cab sputtered back to life as Wasp turned the wheel, now duct-taped to the steering rod. It rose into the air and they turned to smoke, disappearing from sight. Percy was still gawking after them.

"Thanks for the very clear, unmistakable clue!" he yelled at the mist.

Nobody in the crowded streets paid him any mind so Percy pushed through the doors of the building and picked up a golden keycard from the reception.

The ride up the elevator was calming. Annabeth had changed the elevator music and Percy was humming to the Perfume Genius playlist she'd set up. The elevator doors opened and the first thing he noticed was the hot strikes of light emerging from the throne room. Percy stared up the long way up the marble stairs, watching silent lightning burst out at random intervals.

"Yo, Jackson!"

Ganymede waved at him from behind the pedestal of a new statue dedicated to Hephaestus. Percy gave a quick grin, jogging up the steps to meet him.

"Lord Ganymede! Nice sneaks."

Ganymede, a minor god but pretty chill with the campers, preened at the compliment. He kicked the sole of his bright red sneakers on the marble step. "Thanks! New shipping, Hermes owed me one. Hold up the tray for me, will ya?"

He passed a heavy silver tray onto Percy's hands. It contained an immaculate sketch of a swirly design that probably had some fancy name for it, but Percy thought it resembled too much like water flushing down a toilet.

Ganymede mumbled something in Ancient Greek. Gold sparks came from the parchment sketch and Percy held the tray away from his body just in time for the sketch to rise into the air and slam onto the front-facing side of the pedestal. The surface twisted and contorted till the concrete followed the swirly lines and solidified cleanly.

"Nice, huh?" the god placed his hands on his hips. Percy nodded.

The throne room lit up in dangerous light again and Ganymede sighed. "I swear, the drama never ends."

"What's going on up there?"

"Zeusy stuff," Ganymede explained, taking back the empty tray. "Eh, just be glad there isn't a thunderstorm outside. His camper kid is also up there…"

He shrugged and Percy blinked. "Wait… Thalia's here?"

"The one who used to be a Hunter, right? That's the one. Also, if you see Chase, tell her I'm off on my break."

Annabeth was working up there too. Percy went with the fist bump Ganymede was offering him and took the wide stairs two at a time.

The throne room was hot by the time Percy made it to the top. The lightning strikes that came from the ceiling, hitting the clouds surrounding Olympus were silent, deadly, and terrifying up close.

Annabeth was sitting on the ground behind the closed doors of the throne room. Seeing her outside made him feel better. She was leaning against the newly decorated wall, a mosaic arrangement of the gods fighting Typhon. Her laptop was open in front of her as usual.

"Hey, Wise Girl!"

She looked up, eyes snapping to meet his. She looked absolutely furious.

"Did you bring the Telesto files?"

He stopped in his tracks. "The what?"

"You forgot?!"

"No, No! I don't even know what files-"

"I told Malcolm to send it through you!"

"I didn't even meet Malcolm today!"

"But you were at camp?"

Annabeth looked like she hadn't slept in a while. Percy definitely wouldn't have forgotten to bring something so important, and she ought to know that. Her snapping at him was just a result of being overworked.

"I was with Rachel and Nico," he explained, sitting beside her carefully. "Didn't even hear from Mal."

Annabeth groaned, dropping her head onto his shoulder. He peeked at the screen and saw that she had several apps open, the most recent was in Adobe Illustrator, where she was adding giving Zeus's throne halo a new snazzy look.

"You're amazing. That detail work is excellent," Percy said, feeling the tension in her body deflate from the compliment. He was learning that in a relationship, compliments were the way to go.

"Thanks. I need to finish Zeus's section before I can get back to the other gods. He keeps adding things to the list!" she growled, punching the poor keys to save the Illustrator file.

Percy nudged her head with his. "If you need those files now, I can water-travel to camp. Give me a min."

"No…" she relented. "It's fine. I thought I could work on Poseidon's water dome while finishing up on the throne… but I need to sleep. If we're meeting the Romans this week, I need to prepare for that."

Percy picked the grey strands from her hair, twisting it between his fingers. "We are all going to prepare for that. It's not just you, Annabeth. As soon as Lupa gives the all-clear, we'll try to set up a meeting spot somewhere between New Rome and here."

Annabeth shut the laptop. "That's another problem. I've been cataloguing a list of safe places we could meet, but it's all too far from both camps. It's just not safe enough."

They sat there, mulling over the problems. Light flashed from the throne room again. Percy gripped her shoulders and looked up the immense doors.

"Is Thalia really in there?"

"She's fine," Annabeth said. "Well, actually no. But she and Zeus have been throwing bluff strikes at the wall for twenty minutes now. Did you hear what Chiron said?"

"Said about…?"

"About the Romans," Annabeth said, eyes widening. She lowered her voice and leaned in. "There's a child of Jupiter in New Rome. Chiron and Lupa wanted him and Thalia to meet first before the official thing. But things just got more complicated."

Percy had to hold her hand to catch a breath. A demigod son of Jupiter. Sort of like Thalia's half-brother? Yikes.

Oh no, what if Percy had a half-sibling there? Poseidon had never told him anything about that. Although, there was that time, right after the war when his father had joked about leading more demigod siblings to camp.

That was a joke, right?

"... he's really Jason," Annabeth was saying.

He jerked back. "What?"

She whispered, "He isn't her half-sibling. They had the same mother. Thalia knew Jason before he went missing!"

Percy choked. "Di Immortals!"

"I know!" Annabeth looked at the doors, sadly. "She never told me about him. She thought Jason died, that's why she ran away from home. But, her mother had given him to the Wolf House. Lupa raised him and sent him to Camp Jupiter. He has a high standing there, so they're hoping the integration would be safer if we start with the two of them."

Nico headed straight for the royal courtroom. Ghosts murmured constantly from the ceilings and their forms materialised when they figured out it was him. Whispers flew around and Nico knew that they were discussing the newest mortal child of their lord.

Hades was seated on his throne, legs hanging over one armrest, his head thumping against the other side of the seat. His cloak, weaved out of the worst souls sentenced to Tartarus, was flailing about even though there was no wind in the room.

"Father," Nico greeted him formally. Hades grumbled, eyes closed like he was nursing a headache.

"Why do I feel you're about to deliver bad news?" He grumbled, slick hair sticking up a bit.

Nico winced. He was still reeling from Persephone's warning. Her pomegranate sat in his jeans, magically shrunken to suit the size of the pocket. But it was Rachel's words that jarred him back.

"I was just with Rachel now," Nico began. "She was talking about some odd stuff she'd seen about the Pithos, and I thought I should check with you -"

"What, what? Back up there," Hades said, sitting up and swinging his feet down to touch the floor. "Who's Rachel and why should I be worried about a random Pithos?"

"Rachel's the new host of the Oracle and it's not just any Pithos, it's Pandora's."

Nico had hoped to get to the point fast enough, but Hades seemed to have reached it before he could try. The god stared at him, all signs of weariness suddenly disappearing. The palace fell quiet all of a sudden.

"Is the jar with her?" Hades asked carefully. Nico frowned. "Yes. It's in a safe-guarded room. Booby-trapped and stuff. I wanted to ask you about a vision she'd seen."

Hades's eyes narrowed. "She saw it being opened, didn't she?"

"Not exactly. She saw it falling and breaking to bits," Nico explained. "But that's not possible, right?"

The god's eyes flickered about, mind racing with an infinite number of thoughts. Nico could tell that this was a serious worry because even the tortured souls in his cloak had fallen silent.

"This is Zeus's fault," Hades finally whispered, baring his teeth. "If he hadn't… if he'd just held back…"

He shook his head, looking pained. "If the Oracle says that the Pithos will be opened, there isn't much we can do to stop it."

Nico's jaw dropped. "Wh...what?! But, we can't just… we can't just let it happen!"

"I said," Hades reiterated, now standing up. The shadows crossed the walls and Nico held his tongue. "That, there isn't much you or any of your friends can do to stop it. All you can do is to delay the inevitable. The jar won't break and shatter, it was crafted by Zeus to be opened by a mortal. A very specific soul."

Nico closed his mouth and struggled to form the sentence. "One? One specific soul?"

"Just the one," Hades's smile was humourless. "When Pandora opened the jar, all the locked spirits escaped, bringing pain, dysfunction, and terror to the lands. Maladies were created, blood was shed, mercy was withdrawn. But the mortals survived after legions battled for eons. They survived because she'd managed to close her Pithos in time to seal the last spirit."

"Hope," Nico recalled.

"Elpis hesitated to come out and Pandora used that luck to lock her in," Hades said. He walked to the large balcony open to the melodious sight of the agonizingly long line of souls to the Fields of Asphodel far away.

"And for her quick thinking," Hades continued, mind focused on something else, probably a memory of his words, "Zeus imprisoned her, her new husband, and brother-in-law."

Nico swallowed. He recalled Prometheus's warning during the war, his reason for siding with the Titans this time. Zeus was not a kind god or a generous king. He'd proven that himself time and time again.

"The Crooked One freed Prometheus to fight for him in the war," Nico said. "Do you think… he did the same for Pandora and Epimetheus?"

Hades gritted his teeth. "Your grandfather knew how strong hatred can stew in the immortals wronged by Zeus. He chose Prometheus for that. Epimetheus was left behind. I keep a vigilant eye on the both of them, because they've always struggled to get out."

The shadows seemed to move as he spoke. Nico walked to the side to get a good look at Hades's face.

"What about Pandora?" he asked carefully.

His father exhaled, unhappy. "I felt bad for her. She took her deeds to heart, blaming herself for the devastation of the earth. I softened her punishment without letting Zeus know. She promised me…"

Hades hesitated for a moment. "She promised on the Styx that she would never cause such hurt again."

Nico's heart almost skipped a beat. That was good, right? Pandora didn't want to hurt anyone. And if the jar was destined to only be opened by her, then she would always strive to never do just that!

Right?

"Then what's the problem?" Nico asked.

Hades turned to face Nico. There were grey streaks in his hair that weren't present mere minutes ago. "It was Zeus's fault!"

Nico stepped back, watching him storm around the courtroom. "It was his doing! The brainless oaf! If he hadn't… If he'd just stopped… if he hadn't hurt Maria, I wouldn't have lost control!"

The silence reigned over Nico's head. Maria? His mother?

Zeus had murdered her, prompting Hades to hide Bianca and Nico in the Lotus Hotel and Casino nearly 70 years ago. But what did that have to do with Pandora?

"What d'you mean you lost control?"

Hades groaned. "It's out there. What's the point in keeping it a secret anymore? Everyone'll know."

"Nobody'll know if you keep talking in circles," Nico mumbled.

Hades glared at him. "You think this is funny? You, who had no problem walking out of the Underworld with a trapped soul? There will be consequences for that! Be prepared, son. You'll need all your strength for it!"

Nico held back from raising his voice. It was a near thing. "Tell me about Pandora. Why are you afraid?!"

"I'm not afraid of her! She's just a mortal!"

"With the potential to destroy everyone's willpower," Nico spluttered. "And if the mortals finally stop praying, the monsters will take over. If they kill all the demigods, the gods will start fading away! This wouldn't be a problem if Pandora stays away from the jar, but you keep saying something else. What is it?"

Hades dropped his hands, eyeing Nico fiercely. "Your mother was an exceptional woman. When Zeus heartlessly killed her, I let my wrath take over. I cursed the Oracle."

Nico frowned. "The Oracle? Why?"

"Because that know-it-all knew what would happen and barely had the decency to warn me!" Hades exploded. "All she did was just tut and remark how fickle gods tempers are. And I showed her exactly how fickle mine was!"

"Father… what did you do?"

Hades deflated. "Isn't it obvious, boy? I cursed her. Let her host suffer death and still slave under the duties she was meant for. An immortal soul like hers? Working from a corpse would be the closest to death she would ever be!"

Nico stared, utterly levelled by the revelation. Was that the real reason why the Oracle had been trapped in a mummified body before Rachel had taken the oath? How had Nico not known this?

"I thought the Oracle has protections against curses," he said slowly. His father snorted.

"Of course, she does! Apollo was not happy with what I'd done. That gave Zeus another chance to punish me. He let the Fates deal with me. Obviously hoped that they'd give me some form of godly punishment. But no…"

Hades sat back on his throne, looking tired and old. "No, they said the damage was done. I'd failed to keep Maria safe, I cursed the Oracle, and I'd turned my back on the most important soul in the Underworld for just one second."

He heaved a sigh, the shadows going still. Nico felt cold even as he uttered the next words.

"And Pandora escaped."

Oh.

Oh no.

Nico looked at his father, then turned to look out the balcony. The Fates wouldn't have set Pandora free. Zeus wouldn't want her free, nobody would want her to be alive, walking on the fresh earth under the sun, aware of what she was capable of.

It wasn't just a punishment for Hades, it was the beginning of the end for all of life.

But…

"But she doesn't want to open the jar!" Nico burst. "You said she doesn't want to do that! She promised - "

"Her soul wanders free," Hades explained through his teeth. "She crossed the Lethe and began the reincarnation process decades ago. We don't know who she will be born as. She won't be part of any registry because I've forbidden her to not be documented. We don't know if she's still waiting to be born, or is already alive in her second life. We don't know who is the cursed soul out there, unknowingly making her way to the jar."

That was the problem, Nico realised. Pandora, with all her experience and memories, might have sworn to never reopen the jar. But once she was reborn, the Lethe would erase all her memories.

Pandora would never know to not open the jar this time.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Nico asked, hands shaking. His father glared at him, but Nico couldn't even focus.

"A select few immortals are aware. And now that I've told you, I'm sure both camps will know too. But the main reason this is not widespread is that until a few months ago, the jar was safely locked away in the furthest recesses of Tartarus. She would never have been able to get to it down there. But up here? She'll find her way to it soon enough."

Nico's shoulders dropped. "Then all we have to do is send the jar back down there!"

"Send the jar… what, through Olympic Parcel Service?!" Hades shouted. "You don't just stroll down there! There's a reason I don't go there! You'll never be able to come back up!"

Nico flinched. "Then what's your plan?"

Hades fell back against the headrest. He didn't answer.

"You don't have a plan? Is the jar going to just stay in the mortal realm?"

His father shrugged. "Unless you're willing to take the jar and go down there to lock it. But the only way you can escape Tartarus is by dying. At least then, you'll come to the upper levels for judgement."

Hades then gave a wry look. "Unfortunately for you, son, you brought a soul back from the dead. You chose to flout the laws of this world. Don't be surprised if judgement does not go well for you."

Nico had to take a moment to make sure he wouldn't break down sobbing. Even so, he felt his eyes burn. He tried to change the subject back to the Pithos.

"So… anytime from 1945 to now… Pandora could be alive?" he muttered, wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket. "Waiting to get to the jar and she might not even know it?"

Hades's face took on a hysterical chuckle. "Pandora might just be living and breathing among us. And we won't know till she has her hands on the lid of the Pithos ready to open the damn thing again."

It took Harry a few days to convince Tonks. She finally allowed the excursion and with bated breaths, they apparated to the outside gates of Hogwarts.

They fell silent, taking in the sight of the castle in the reverent hush of the grounds. The four towers stood tall, grey stoned and strong in reality as they did in memory for Harry. Hogwarts seemed larger than life now, planted on a rocky island in the black lake, surrounded by the moat and the incredible green grounds that extended in all directions. He could see the quidditch pitch, far away but worn down. The forest was closest to them, surpassing even the barriers that protected the entire campus. It was inviting and beautiful.

It had been nearly a full year since the school was shut down due to… multiple reasons. Tonks let out a breath. "Come on, Potter. We stare at it any more, our feet might just be glued to the ground."

Harry gave a hoarse exhale in agreement.

They opened the gates and walked in. Harry could almost feel the ward flow over them, excitedly welcoming them back. Instead of making their way to the castle, the pair took a steep right and headed for Hagrid's cabin.

The forest was just as loud as it always had been. Harry could smell the green of the trees, the fresh grass, the leaves and flowers, even the prickly thorns, as though they were all welcoming him back.

Hagrid was out by the dwindling pumpkin patch, leaning over an upturned box on the flat ground.

"Wotcher, Hagrid!" Tonks greeted him loudly.

Hagrid jumped, looking up alarmed. "Shush! You'll scare 'im!"

"Who?" Harry asked, staring at the box. There was a small hole cut on the side of it as a makeshift doorway. It was big enough for Harry to easily put his hand through.

"Found a little visitor near the patch this mornin'. Looked skinny. He definitely needs a chicken or two."

Tonks wrinkled her nose at the box. "Is it venomous and vicious?"

Hagrid looked scandalized. "Wha? No! He's starving, though. I warmed up the ground and left a ferret in there with 'im. Should be comfortable enough for now. He's not coming out with all this company."

Harry bent down to peer through the hole. The box was roughly a full meter by meter big with at least the average wand's length in height.

Hagrid grabbed him by the scruff and pulled him up to standing pose. "Let's not do that."

Tonks nudged Harry. "Go on, make it quick."

Harry raised his eyebrows at her, not so subtly asking her to go away. She snorted. "Whatever you're asking him, I can hear it."

Hagrid frowned. "Is somethin' wrong?"

Harry tried not to wince. This wasn't something he could just blurt out. He had to sneak it into the conversation. Which meant they needed to have a conversation going.

"Okay, I lied!" Harry threw his hands up. "I just wanted to see the castle."

Tonks stared at him, flabbergasted. "That's what you've been pestering me about for so many days! You wanted to see the castle?! Hagrid, can you believe him?"

Hagrid laughed. "Absolutely. Harry's really good at pestering people."

"Hey!"

Tonks placed her hand on her hips. "I can't believe we can all the way here just to see the castle."

"I miss Hogwarts," Harry tried to explain. "I haven't been here in nearly a year! Come on, Tonks. Look at her, she's perfect."

Tonks had her back to the castle. "I know she's perfect. I went there for seven years."

"Yes, but I've only been there for four and a half years."

Hagrid shrugged. "And I've only been there for two and a half years."

Harry was very close to whining. "Aw Hagrid, you can't just pull that on us."

"Oi, it's very sad fer me," Hagrid said. "Come on you lot! Let's 'ave some tea."

Tonks grumbled but followed them into the warm cabin. It was like old times with Hagrid putting a large kettle over the fire while a smaller version of Harry, Ron, and Hermione snuggled easily on the armchair.

Except Ron was at the Burrow where he was being homeschooled with Ginny and Hermione had shifted to Beauxbatons, determined to not lose an entire year of education to something as small as a potential Dark Lord rising.

Fang, Hagrid's fluffy-haired companion was snoring in a basket, a brightly knit quilt wrapped around him. Harry didn't realise how much like Mrs. O'Leary Fang smelled.

"I've missed your tea, Hagrid. Best in the country," Tonks sighed. Harry nodded, sipping from the extra-large cup that required him to use both hands. So, both his pinkies were sticking out.

"Thanks," Hagrid said, brightly. "Still got those biscuits round 'ere, if yer interested."

"No thanks," Tonks said, amicable. Harry took one because it'd been a while since he'd had the experience of nearly breaking his teeth on one of Hagrid's rock cakes.

"Yeh know," Hagrid said, taking his seat. "I was just wondering 'ow long it'd take for yeh to drop by."

Tonks groaned. "Please don't encourage him."

"Sorry, it took so long," Harry said. "But I finally figured that people telling me to sit tight were probably saying it for my own good."

Hagrid chuckled. "We're all just looking out for yeh, kid."

Harry knew that without a doubt. It was a very hard lesson he had to learn, but it was ingrained in his head now. He sipped his tea to warm up his throat.

He'd come here to ask Hagrid about Skeeter. Originally, he'd planned to make the trip alone, but unless he was at Dumbledore's house, or the Burrow, or the Jacksons' apartment, or at Frost, he just couldn't travel without letting someone from the Order know his whereabouts. And as his bodyguard, Tonks was to always keep tabs on him.

"Okay…" Harry sighed, placing the large cup down on the tea table delicately. "I have a reason for coming here."

"We're shocked," Tonks deadpanned.

Harry waited until both listeners had swallowed their most recent sips of tea. He didn't want any spit takes. "Is Rita Skeeter dead?"

Both Hagrid and Tonks nearly shot out of their chairs. They gawked at him till he continued, "Someone told me that she might be dead, but I didn't believe them because their evidence was circumstantial. But I get the feeling you're about to confirm it?"

Tonks glared at him. "Did you drag me here to interrogate us about Skeeter?"

"Of course not! I was going to come here alone to just ask Hagrid about her, no interrogations!"

Hagrid heaved a sigh. "Harry, you ought to talk to Dumbledore -"

"He won't tell me anything like this. He'll keep all the details till the very last moment possible -"

"Maybe he's keeping it for a reason," Hagrid said.

Harry was holding back a sharp retort when there was an interruption. Outside, the scarecrow on the pole was jarred so badly, it was knocked off its stand with a bang!

Fang woke up with a mournful howl. Tonks sat up straight, wand in hand. Harry and Hagrid stood up, but only the latter was tall enough to see through the closed window.

"He's out!" Hagrid exclaimed. He immediately headed for the door, while Tonks stopped Harry in his tracks.

Hagrid exited the cabin and Harry and Tonks peered, holding onto the open door for support. They stared at the behemoth of an animal lying on the ground, hissing angrily at the fallen scarecrow.

"He didn't eat the ferret," Hagrid said sadly.

"Hagrid!" Tonks said, horrified. "That thing is big enough to eat you!"

Harry stared at the dull yellow python curling up on the ground. It turned it's head to stare up at Hagrid, clearly sizing him up. Harry scoffed, "I think that's an exaggeration, Tonks. It's not that big!"

"It's massive!"

"I think he was tryna get to the scarecrow," Hagrid said thoughtfully. The snake's neck was curled into a tight S shape. Its entire body was tense.

"Um…" Harry said. "I think it's about to strike -"

The snake lunged, turning into a big, yellow blur, aiming for one of Hagrid's hands.

Hagrid wasn't so perturbed, so he just pulled his hand away in time. But Tonks and Harry reacted with lightning speed. Luckily, Harry's spell formed first.

His wand made a shield dome around the snake, light pulsing in blue and black tones. The snake's head hit the inside of the shield with a dull thunk!

Tonks sent a stunning spell at the snake, but it hit the shield and ricocheted, flying above their heads. The red beam went into the sky and disappeared.

"Bugger!" Hagrid blurted, kneeling down. The snake had fallen, it's head wobbling unsteadily now. "Now, he's hurt!"

"It looks like a man-eater, Hagrid!" Tonks complained. The shield was still up, so Harry stepped down from the cabin. Tonks followed him closely.

Harry kicked the box and pushed it aside to reveal a dead ferret. "Maybe it's not hungry?"

"Oh, no, it's definitely starving," Hagrid said, leaning down to take a closer look now. "See 'is spine. It sticks up from the neck all the way to the tail."

Tonks narrowed her eyes at it. "The whole thing is a tail."

"I see it!" Harry said, interested to see a snake this big up close. As long as it wasn't a Basilisk or Nagini, Harry had no problem with snakes. "Why isn't it eating, though?"

Hagrid hummed. " 'S getting cold. Could 'ave been preparing to go into brumation."

"Like hibernation?"

"Yeah. But when I first saw it, it was trying to eat the frogs in Black Lake. It wasn't a water snake so the lake would've been bad for its temp, you see."

Tonks stood up. "And what were you planning to do with it?"

Hagrid shrugged. "Reticulated pythons aren't native to the area. He wouldn't survive in the Forbidden forest. I figured I could get 'im down to the menagerie in Diagon Alley. They'd get him to eat at least."

Harry looked at the snake's sad little body. (Okay, maybe not so little). It was all curled up and skittish so he couldn't really guess how long it was. But it was definitely big enough to eat an actual person. It was pale yellow and had brown spots over the top of it's head all the way down the body. There was grey speckling across its sides.

"Can we come with you?" Harry asked eagerly. Tonks groaned, but Hagrid gave a shrug, also happy that someone was now sharing his enthusiasm in gentle giants.

(A fully fed reticulated python that was housebroken was probably a gentle giant. This one was not.)

Wooh. Finally bring in the Pandora conundrum. I've been planning it for a looooong time. Stay tuned, lovelies!

Q: Who presents Pandora's Pithos the first time (in canon and my series)?

Cabba.