CHAPTER 3: Acknowledging Confusion

"Harry, what do you know about Greek mythology?" Luna asked him. He squirmed a bit, embarrassed.

"Not much," he confessed. She acknowledged that with a slight smile.

"Then let me fill you in a bit. I'm sure you've heard of Zeus, the king of all the gods, and his queen, Hera. There was also Athena, goddess of intellect and invention, Ares, god of action and determination, Thantatos, who literally was death, Hades, Zeus's brother and god of the underworld, Deunis was fear and Phobos was terror, both were Ares's sons. Then there were the Fates and the punishers of the unfaithful who you already met, not to mention Helios, the sun, Eos, the dawn, and Selene, the moon, and Hypnos, sleep who was Thanatos's twin brother. There were the Hours, Eunomia, harmony, Dyke, justice, and Eirene, peace, the Graces, Aglaia, splendor, Euphrosyne, festivity, and Thalia, rejoicing.

"And Harry these were just the tip of the ice berg. There were hundreds of them, these immortals who had fooled mortals into worshiping them like gods. The people of that time era believe that these great powers were the cause of everything, every suffering, and every natural occurrence they couldn't explain. The people's belief gave them power, gave them strength. Not," she added. "That they needed it. But now I want to ask you something. If these immortals were so powerful and really did exist, why did people stop believing in them?"

"I thought you were the one telling me what was going on," Harry said, trying to joke his way out. Things were just to weird; he didn't want to bother thinking about something that seemed so trivial as the fickle belief's of humans. Luna, however, didn't smile.

"All right then," she snapped. "If you're going to turn your brain off and let yourself get killed then there's no reason for me to finish."

"Luna," he protested. "Wait, what do you mean? It's just one question!" Luna looked at him long and hard before answering.

"Yes, Harry," she said finally. "It is just one question. But your lack of trying worries me. Maybe the immortals have already started."

"Started?" Harry said, frightened. "Started what? Luna! Tell me, please!"

"I'll finish my story first," Luna told him firmly. "I suppose I shouldn't have stopped to question you in the first place, but it was important.

"Anyway, the people's belief's faded in them because they ceased to be there. Other immortals that had been watching them for some time finally snapped and captured them all, giving them a choice, either they could willingly give up their immorality and powers to go live out a mortal life span, or they could be confined within the Hall of Time for eternity as workers. Most chose to become mortals, pure humans, and have long since died and gone on to the next realm. But some chose to go to the Hall and over the years they've become bitter, they've lost what little emotion they possessed earlier on, especially Athena. Only one thing drives them onward, revenge. You see, Hera, Zeus and Hades were not punished. They were let free and now do whatever they please. However, they've all stayed on earth.

"Now all the remaining disgraced immortals have come up with a plan to cover the world in a blanket of darkness that will permanently put Zeus and the other two out of the picture. But with them will go all of humanity."

"No," Harry whispered, horrified. "What can we do? And what do they want with us?"

"We can do nothing right now," Luna said sorrowfully. "And the chances that we'll ever be able to do anything are very slim. But I do know what they want with me. Do you remember what I told you when you asked me why I could see the thestrals?"

"You said you had seen your mother die," Harry said, recalling that moment.

"I lied," Luna said flatly. "Well, maybe not entirely. You see, I saw my mother murdered."

Flashback

"Luna, here, put this around your neck," her mother said in a rushed whisper.

"Mom," Luna said as the older woman slid the chain over her neck and put whatever the charm was on it in her shirt to hide. "What's going on?"

"Luna, you must get away from here," her mother told her in a frightened voice. "You must run, now!" The door burst open and Kirsten Lovegood stood up quickly to hide her daughter. Luna crept back but was only able to get just behind a semi-closed door before she became paralyzed with fear. Glowing figures, awful things that looked like humans but they felt so wrong that Luna knew they couldn't be, glided up to her mother.

"Where is it?" a female one demanded in a cool voice. It sent shivers down Luna's spine.

"Not here," Kirsten said boldly.

"I'm aware of that," the figure said in the same tone. "I would sense it around your neck if it were. Now let me try this again. On what pathetic mortal have you hidden it?"

"Guess," Kirsten spat.

"Tut, tut," the figure said. "In the last age you wouldn't have dared to do that to me, Athena, a god of great power."

"I'm well aware of that," Kirsten said. "But this isn't the last age, is it?"

"No," Athena agreed. "It isn't. But that won't stop me from killing you if you don't tell me where you put the stone."

"Go to hell," Kirsten said coldly.

"Very well," Athena said in a quieter voice. "You first." She raised her hand and fire consumed Kirsten. Luna bit her lip, hard, to stop herself from crying out. As terrible as her mother's death was, she couldn't let herself be caught. Whatever these people wanted must be what her mother had just given her.

"Now what?" a male voice snapped.

"Calm yourself, Ares," Athena said, unfazed. "I know where the stone is. I was just having some fun with that pathetic woman."

"Well?" Ares demanded. "Then where is it?"

"In good time," Athena told him. "All in good time. Right now we'd better head back, they'll start looking for us soon. Just don't worry, everything is going to work out."

"It better," Ares snarled. Then the figures were gone. Luna didn't move from the other side of the door but began to weep.

End Flashback

"I'm sorry," Harry said softly.

"It's all right," Luna said, shaking her head. "Anyway, what they came for was this, the stone of the end." She took out a small, crystal stone from her shirt. It was on a thin silver chain that Harry hadn't noticed before.

"What exactly is the stone of the end?" Harry questioned.

"A piece of Athena," Luna answered after a moment.

"What?!"

"What was that you said? Oh yes, and I quote, 'it's not like we're going to be cut off from civilization the entire time'," Hermione said scathingly. "Well if this isn't cut off from civilization, I don't know what is!"

"If you'd paid any attention," Severus said, grinding his teeth together. "You'll notice I said the entire time. I never said we'd never be."

"Now you're just making excuses for yourself," Hermione grumbled. It was official, they were in hell. Or at least close to it, the heat level seemed about right… From what Severus could tell the first stone was somewhere in the middle of the Sahara desert, far, far away from where any sane person would stumble upon it.

"Um, Severus," Hermione seemed suddenly nervous.

"What now?" he snapped, turning to look at her.

"Is that supposed to be happening?" she pointed to a big wave of sand moving toward them.

"Shit," Severus cursed.

All right, thank you Winter Blaze and dopey for your reviews, much appreciated! However, as of now, I've decided that instead of posting this story and the sequel as separate stories, I'm going to post them up with O Future Tell of Secrets and change the title and summary. Unless you don't like that idea, then all you have to do is review and say so. But otherwise, that's what I'm going to do so remember that!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, anyway sorry it wasn't that long, but oh well. Anyway, Next Chapter: So the stones are connected to the immortals, find out how, why, and we'll witness a little lovers spat between Ares and Aphrodite, aw, won't it be cute? Oh yes, and Hermione and Severus run for their lives to escape a raging sandstorm in the middle of the Sahara. Poor things, never saw it coming. Remo