Begin Chapter 2

JASON

"What do you guys think?" Hecate and Chiron had left the room and gave us time to discuss what we thought about the plan. Percy took charge, but we all know how much he hated being seen as the leader. He was just really good at it. No one answered right away, but Piper looked like she wanted to cry.

"Well," I almost wish I hadn't opened my mouth, "I think that there are a lot of ways that this could be very bad for us. I think that this plan is a little on the crazy side, but I also think that based on all the information that we have it's the best chance they have of getting us to help."

"Yea, I'm not liking the whole 'Hecate blesses us with magic' thing. But at the same time, Hecate is offering to give us magic! How cool would that be?" I laughed at Leo's obvious excitement over that one detail.

Annabeth decided to lay her opinion on the table next. "I don't know what to think. This has to be the most vague and uncertain quest ever brought before a demigod. All they want us to do is go undercover at a school and befriend some kid who happens to be the key to defeating an evil wizard just so we can encourage him to his death. It just doesn't seem right. Plus, there's the matter of her blessing us with the magic. Will the demigods blessed with natural gifts be able to use them? They want us to unite the school, but how would we do that? And then there's the problem of where we would be sorted while at Hogwarts. Based on all we've accomplished, logically we could all be in Gryffindor." Percy smiled at her and put in his two cents. "I don't think so, Wise Girl. I'm pretty sure I'd be a Hufflepuff."

Everyone looked at him with wide eyes. Percy Jackson, a Hufflepuff? "I mean c'mon guys. The quality most desired by Helga Hufflepuff was loyalty. My fatal flaw, the thing I'm most known for is my personal loyalty. I'd totally be a Hufflepuff." He smiled as though he couldn't be prouder of that fact. Percy definitely didn't let the fact that the gods saw his loyalty as a great weakness keep him from flaunting it when the situation called for it.

"I guess that makes sense." Piper looked deep in thought. Apparently she didn't feel the need to cry anymore. "Ok, so Percy would be a Hufflepuff. Where would the rest of us go? Jason, you'd most likely be a Gryffindor. I don't know where I'd go, I think I could be any of them except Ravenclaw."

"Piper, you'd definitely be in Gryffindor." Piper's face reddened at the compliment. She smiled at her friend. "Thanks, Annabeth."

Annabeth returned the smile and continued, "I think Nico and I would be in Slytherin, if we weren't sorted into Gryffindor." None of us could believe it. Annabeth, in Slytherin? She was the daughter of the Wisdom Goddess!

"Annabeth, why in Hades would you think you'd be in Slytherin?" Piper asked the very question I was about to voice. Percy looked like she'd slapped him across the face. "Well, I may be a daughter of Athena, but more often than not, a strategic battle plan relies on cunning and deception. I would have all of the qualities, save for the pure blood status, that Slytherin would have wanted in his students."

"So, I get lumped in with you because I'm a son of Hades?" Nico didn't look mad, but he didn't look too happy about it either. "No! Nico, of course not! If anyone could have been in Slytherin it would be you. You're a master of deception, and while you're definitely past the scary 'kill-them-with-an-army-of-skeletons-and-ask-questions-later' phase your natural gifts reek of darkness."

"Fine, I guess you're right. Slytherin it is." He looked like he wanted to say something else and we all waited a moment longer to see if he would speak. He looked at Leo, my best friend with a constant look of confusion plastered on his face, and gave his opinion. "Leo, I think you'd be in Ravenclaw. You're like a mad genius. I think Rowena would have chosen you out of the nine of us."

"Thanks, man. I guess I can see that. Ok, my turn to guess where people would go. Frank! You're a total shoe in for the Gryffindor house. You're the son of Mars! I don't know where Hazel would go though."

Hazel blushed a little at that. "Well, I think I'd be in Hufflepuff with Percy. I'm not particularly cunning, or very brilliant and really, all of us could be in Gryffindor so I think I'd be sorted into Hufflepuff."

Well, that covered all four houses. Maybe uniting the school wouldn't be as hard as we thought. "Well, every house has been spoken for. Maybe that's the point that Hecate and Chiron were trying to make. We're all the best of friends and we would be a uniting factor from all the houses. We could infiltrate each house and figure out who'd stand with Harry if the need ever arose. It's actually very plausible that with all of us in different houses that we could unite the school against Voldemort. The only house that could possibly be of a concern would be the Slytherin house. But surely not all of the students would want to side with an evil wizard." Annabeth, the only one of us who seems to understand everything. And she thinks she'd be in Slytherin. We continued to talk about whether or not we'd want to take the quest when Leo brought up something that most of us missed.

"Ok, so say we agree to go to England and learn magic and be sorted into different houses and become friends with this Harry guy. How long would we be there? And could I bring Calypso?" Nico went wide-eyed for a moment. For a moment I wondered why Leo asking to bring Calypso would be a big deal, but then it hit me: Nico would be leaving Will behind if we accepted the quest. He and Will had become really good friends after we defeated Gaea and then almost nine months later Nico and Will were a couple. I'd known for a while that Nico liked Will, but all the campers, outside of the Seven, were very surprised. "And if Calypso gets a pass then Will should too." Nico looked at me and gave me a small smile. I gave him a nod and a smile in return. Percy stood and called for our attention.

"Ok, so we might need Hecate and Chiron back in here to answer that. But does this mean that we want to go?" When none of us spoke, Reyna added her two cents. "If Praetor Zhang accepts this quest, I can handle New Rome without him, but not indefinitely. There are two Praetors for a reason. I know that I would never be called on for a quest this size, but if you all decide to take it I will pray to the gods daily for your safe return and success on your journey."

"Thank you, Reyna." Percy still had the role of de facto leader and asked us for our decision, and once again no one wanted to be the first to speak. "If Will could come with me I'd take the quest." Nico's answer sat on the stillness of the moment, but I couldn't help but smile proudly at my other best friend. Nico had grown up a lot in the year and a half since we'd defeated Gaea. He'd come out to the camp and started a relationship with a guy who liked him for all of who he was. He made friends with other campers besides the Seven and became an official ambassador from his father to Camp Jupiter. He was really starting to enjoy life and he was nearly unrecognizable from the scrawny and underfed boy he'd been then.

"The same with me but I'd want Calypso to go."

I looked at Piper, and had to do a double take. It had been over a year and still I couldn't get over just how beautiful she was. She had become my rock and I knew that if she decided that she didn't want to go I'd make the same choice. She looked over at me and I gave her a look that said, are we going to take the quest? She smiled, let out a long breath and nodded. She wanted to go. I spoke up without taking my eyes off her, "Piper and I will take the quest as well."

"Hazel and I accept the quest." Frank and Hazel must have been having the same silent conversation Piper and I were having. That just left Percy and Annabeth. We all looked over at them, and at the risk of being teased for the rest of my life, and I couldn't help but smile and think that they were the embodiment of what it meant to be a couple. Percy held one of Annabeth's hands with one of his and his other rested on her cheek. They looked like they were whispering, and Annabeth had a worried look on her face. Percy must have said something that eased that worry because the next thing I knew she was smiling and leaning into his hand that was on her face. Percy must have felt all our eyes on them because he looked up and his face went red immediately.

"Annabeth and I will take the quest as well."

JASON

After all agreeing to take the quest Percy went to find Chiron and Hecate to tell them the news and request a few more of our questions be answered. Hecate returned to the head of the table and Chiron took a place to her right.

"You have more questions about the quest? Please, let us hear them and Lady Hecate and I will answer to the best of our ability."

Annabeth spoke first. "Chiron, I have three questions, but they are all about the same thing. First, how old is Harry Potter now? Will we be able to pass for students who are his age? And third, how long will he need us to be in Hogwarts with him?"

"I can answer the first question, but I think Lady Hecate will be better off answering the second and third. Harry Potter is finishing his fourth year at Hogwarts and will turn fifteen on July the 31st."

He looked to Hecate and She looked back to Annabeth. "If you are to pass as students Harry Potter's age, you will have to be his age." Well, I was pretty sure she said we'd all have to be fifteen, but none of us, except Nico and Hazel, were that age.

"Lady Hecate, none of the others are fifteen. I'm the only one."

She gave Nico a small smile. "Yes, son of Hades, you and Hazel are the only two who are naturally fifteen. However, I am the goddess of magic. I will give your friends their own bodies when they were fifteen. It is a simple matter." She gave the room a once-over, "You will be permitted to keep your memories and your maturity however."

Leo looked like he was about to cry, "I just hit a growth spurt! You mean I'll have to be 5' 3'' again?"

Lady Hecate gave a small chuckle, "Do not worry, little hero, all of your friends will be in their past bodies as well. You will not look that small." Leo gave her a look that said sure, lady and crossed his arms and sat back with a frustrated look on his face. "Now as to your final question Daughter of Wisdom, you will be there for a number of years. If Harry Potter is to succeed in fulfilling his destiny he will need all of you until the end of his final year at Hogwarts."

Three years? We'll have to be in England for three years? Well, that certainly puts a new spin on 'taking time to find yourself before college'.

"My Lady," we all turned to see who'd spoken up, and we're all surprised that Nico was the one talking, "if we are to be apart from our friends here and in Camp Jupiter for three years, could we ask two things of you?" Nico was going to ask about Will and Calypso. Hopefully the goddess was in a giving mood.

"If these two things are within reason I do not see why I should deny you the request." Nico swallowed, presumably to gather the courage to speak, and continued, "All of the demigods in this room, save for Leo and myself, are going to be with their boyfriend or girlfriend for the next three years. Leo and I were the last of our friends to find the happiness that some of them have been enjoying for a few years now. Would it be too much to ask that Will Solace and Calypso be permitted to join us?" Gods of Olympus I hope she gives him what he wants. She took a moment before answering.

"This is what you would ask of me, that you not be separated from your lovers?" She looked at both Nico and Leo, who were both red as strawberries, and when they nodded their assent she gave her answer. "If this is the only thing holding you back, then I suppose I can grant you this."

She turned to Chiron, "Can you vouch for this demigod and former immortal?"

"Of course, Will Solace and Calypso are just as trustworthy as the nine demigods present." Hecate considered this and then returned her gaze to Nico and Leo.

"Very well. The son of Apollo and Calypso will be permitted to accompany you on your quest. That will make the number an even ten." I had been holding my breath waiting for Hecate's answer. When she agreed, I let out the breath and silently thanked the gods for her generosity.

"Thank you Lady Hecate." She gave Nico a nod and then turned back to the rest of us. "Are there any other things that we can clear up for you?"

"My Lady," Piper stood to address the goddess, "most of us were given natural abilities in the realms of our parents. Will these gifts be taken from us? And how will we know how to use the magic you will bless us with?"

As Piper sat back down Hecate gave her answer, "Those of you with abilities will be able to retain them. However, I must caution you. If the students at Hogwarts learn of your true identities I fear that a mass panic will spread. That being said, I believe that Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and the Family Weasley are among those whom you could be honest with about who and what you are. Furthermore, it is with this family whom you will reside before the start of the school year. You will be sent to them within the first week of July. As for how you will know how to use magic, there are two ways to accomplish this.

First, I can impart that knowledge to you upon receiving my blessing. Secondly, I would place each of you in an enchanted sleep and take years to teach you the spells and curses as I taught my first blessed millennia ago. I believe I am right in saying that most of you will prefer the first way, am I not?" She looked at Percy, Leo, Frank, Nico and I for confirmation. Apparently she thought that we were the lazy ones of the group.

When none of us spoke up she gave a slight smile. "Well, I think that for the sake of time and the validity of your identities I will simply impart the knowledge to you all. However, it will take until the end of summer for you to become accustomed to your bodies reverting to give the impression that you are but fifteen years of age. If I have answered all of your questions, I will give you the rest of today and most of tomorrow to alert your families and the two others joining your quest of what will be taking place. Tomorrow evening I will return and I shall bring Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque here to complete the transformation. They will have to remain here for training. Does this sit well with you Praetor?"

Everyone knew Reyna was the one being addressed. She would have to lead New Rome alone for the next three years. It would not be an easy task, but with all the changes that had been made over the last year and a half, it will be a lot easier than when Juno snatched me from my bunk and started the demigod relocation program. No one will be trying to usurp Reyna's authority in the Senate.

"My Lady, it is agreeable. I will be able to convince the Senate of the necessity for Praetor Zhang to participate in the quest and be able to request a temporary assistant be granted me in his absence for the next three years. It will not be an easy feat, but it will be possible."

Lady Hecate nodded her approval. "Very well. Before I take my leave, are there any other questions you have for me?" No one spoke for a moment but then Annabeth stood. "I may have a couple more. Will we be able to IM our families while we're gone?" The goddess took the nod and continued, "If it comes down to it, and we tell someone about who we really are, will they be able to keep that knowledge or will it be taken from them once we have gone?"

"That is still undecided." Annabeth looked like she wanted to press the issue but after a moment seemed to think better of it.

"When we do return, we'll all be three years older. Some of us wanted to graduate high school and get into college. Will the gods grant us forged documentation that will take our school experience from the next three years and translate it into something that will help us achieve entrance into college?"

Hecate actually laughed a full and harmonious belly laugh at that. "My dear, if you so desire to continue your education it is the least I can do to give you what you need to achieve it."

Annabeth gave a slight nod that she understood and continued. "As I said, when we return, we'll be three years older. Our bodies have not been older than we are now, but our minds will have gained three years. How will our bodies know how to compensate for the lost time, or will we be returned to these bodies and given three more years than we would have gotten out of them?"

I had been wondering the same things, but it just sounded so much more intelligent the way Annabeth asked. The goddess must not laugh much because she once again gave a full belly laugh at Annabeth's question.

"I am the goddess of magic and I have existed for eons. Never have I met a demigod quite like you Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena. You will be sent back into the bodies you now possess. Consider it a gift. The ten of you who will take up this quest for me shall be given three years more on this earth than you were destined to receive." Annabeth seemed satisfied because after Hecate gave her answer, she sat and asked no more questions.

End Chapter 2

Begin Chapter 3