Solis

Chapter XXXIX

The car parked in front of the Harlem School, and Ron carefully examined the picture that Austin had sent him. He compared the surroundings in the photo to the scene before him to ensure he was in the right place. He had also made sure to park in a spot without snow, as it would be quite noticeable to mortals if a car left a snow-covered indentation but there was no car there.

Since Iris Messaging had been glitching so much, Ron and Lou had decided to stick with more traditional methods of communication, like owl and mail. Lou informed Ron that the camp was currently empty, with no campers around except for Will and Nico, the satyrs and the like. It seemed like the place would be bustling in the summer.

Ron was in the car when he spotted Austin waving goodbye to his two friends. Excitement surged within the boy when he noticed him, Ron quickly opened the car door as his brother sprinted toward him.

"You have a driver's license!?" He exclaimed in awe, tossing his saxophone and quiver filled with dozens of arrows inside the back seat.

Ron raised an eyebrow, replying, "This is a magical car, it can fly."

"Cool," Austin remarked as he got into the passenger seat. "But what happened to the car? It doesn't look...good."

"Are you in or out?" Ron grinned weakly as he proceeded to tell Austin about what had happened in the car before, and his brother looked at him in surprise before bursting into laughter. Ron shrugged, starting the engine. He didn't fully understand it, but the car seemed willing to help him. Perhaps it was Hecate's magic or something else, but he had been planning to leave Hogwarts for a month now (using the car)

Ron made sure to conjure a thick mist before they took to the sky. The flying car might not have the speed of broomsticks or a pegasus, but they managed. It took Ron nearly ten hours to reach New York, if you asked him. 

Ron asked Austin about his school and asked about the newspaper. True to Chiron's word, he had done something to make mortals forget about it—literally forget about it, which was a relief. They discussed Kayla's upcoming Olympic aspirations as an archer, and it seemed like things were progressing well for them. He took the opportunity to distract himself from the nervousness of going to the Underworld. He had read that once you entered, there was no coming back, but he knew he needed to go there.

They arrived in Toronto around the middle of the evening, and the city's lights were a beautiful sight, with different colors illuminating the shops and streets. Ron questioned Austin about Kayla's location, but it turned out she wasn't living in the city itself.

Austin was familiar with Kayla's house, having been there many times before, and this made Ron feel a bit more excited about their upcoming visit.

They arrived at a cluster of houses and Austin looked around, trying to make out details in the darkness of the neighborhood. Finally, he told Ron to stop near a navy blue roof close to the park.

They parked in front of the open lawn outside Kayla's house. Austin glanced around before signaling Ron, as they both exited out of the car, taking their things. As they knocked on Kayla's door, it swung open, revealing a handsome man who greeted them with a warm smile. Ron was taken aback for a moment. Behind the man, Kayla nodded at them to get inside.

Kayla's dad was—very lively, especially when the topic of archery came up. His ears would perk up, and he'd eagerly join the conversation with excitement. Kayla couldn't help but blush when he once mentioned that when she was a kid, she had used an arrow as a fork to eat her pancakes. This made both Austin and Ron giggle.

However, they could see Kayla becoming increasingly concerned, doing her best to spend as much time with his dad as possible.

The three of them made the decision to spend time with their families, but Ron, the redhead, wasn't sure what to do anymore. They all walked towards Kayla's room, and Ron was amazed. Like his, her room was bathed in yellow and featured a bookshelf —but his sister's room has a dozens of different styles of bows displayed on the wall. There were family pictures on the desk table beside her bed, even though they couldn't quite fit perfectly, Kayla had set the bed aside to make room for the three of them.

What Ron meant was that she wanted the three of them to sleep on the floor together, sharing blankets and pillows.

They woke up early in the morning, had breakfast, got ready, and headed to the car back to New York. They bid farewell to Mr. Knowles, who told them that he wanted to see them again. Ron quickly agreed and blushed a little when Kayla laughed at him.

"Ready?" Ron asked his two siblings.

Both of his siblings looked at him with confidence. "Ready," they answered in unison.

🔆

Ron assured the car that they would return, asking it to be patient and not to cause any disturbances or to mortals when they reached the the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The car appeared offended but eventually agreed to Ron's request.

The three had their weapons ready as they returned to the Central Park—where Mormo had appeared. They weren't sure if that spirit was still there, but caution was their priority, and Ron had been planning how to defeat her—bless, Kayla, she had read few books about her both (just in case). Nico also informed them that there were some entrances in New York, but the journey would be more dangerous if they chose to take a longer route to Hades' Palace. Ron was glad he had reached out to Nico a week ago, speaking of him, the boy suddenly appeared in the shadows while they were sitting at the Met Steps waiting for him.

They were relieved that there were few people around, and no one seemed to notice them as they stayed in a secluded part near the museum's columns. 

They helped Nico up, they knew that Nico wasn't accustomed to shadow traveling, Will told them that it always weakened him. 

"I told you to just I.M us!" Ron said, annoyed. However, Nico refused to listen to him, as the redhead argues that he didn't want Will to think poorly of them for using his boyfriend to gain entrance to the Underworld right after having a quest from there.

"Once you're in the Underworld, there's no turning back," Nico cautioned as they navigated through the Central Park. "Unless you have someone on the outside who can bring you back if you give up, and..." He paused. "Or you have me."

"But you said Hades had sealed off the Underworld from the living," Kayla pointed out.

"He did, but Hecate was imprisoned, remember? The gate is open, and spirits that were confined in the Underworld are breaking free," Ron said as they walked toward the path behind the museum, "and we're not giving up." Ron continued. The three of them had been preparing for their quest to the Underworld for months, ever since the first part of their quest. Giving up now would be a great waste, and Ron had no intention of doing so.

As they continued along the path, Ron glanced at the surroundings. The snow had already started to fall, blanketing the area in a thick layer. Despite the cold, a few people were around, appreciating the beauty of the park covered in white.

The park was populated mainly by couples and groups of friends taking pictures together. Ron tightened his grip on the strap of his quiver as they made a left turn into the woods, heading deeper.

Suddenly, they felt a chilling breeze approaching them, causing them all to tense. 

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Ron asked.

"There's something following us." Nico said.

At the mention of 'something,' they all instinctively drew their weapons.

"Mormo," Austin hissed at them.

Nico nodded and directed them, "Follow me." As they followed him cautiously. They came to a halt in front of a massive rock.

"This is the Door of Orpheus, the same path I took Percy into the Underworld," Nico explained. "We need music." He said looking at the three of them, especially to Austin.

Austin raised an eyebrow and confidently took out his saxophone, saying, "Is that a challenge?" But before he could blow a note, a sudden gust of wind swept toward them, and a figure soared toward them at incredible speed. They were all knocked backward and thrown out of the area near the rocks.

They heard that familiar loud screech and voice, "YOU'VE RETURNED!" Mormo exclaimed, still in her grotesque true form, as the spirit landed on top of the rocks, emitting an eerie, unearthly laugh. Her long black hair whipped around her, forming twisting tendrils that seemed to point menacingly in their direction, ready to attack. Her four tongues shot toward each of them as she taunted, "Perfect for my four tongues." 

They had to step backward, their arrows pointed at her ready to fight her as Nico drew his stygian sword, his eyes locked onto her with a glare. "I'll take her on," he declared. 

"No," Kayla said. "We will take her." She added.

"I've had enough with that ugly face." Ron said. "Wonder why Hecate keep them."

Mormo hissed at them, her frustration evident. "You fools! I am tired of being a slave to Hecate, an attendant they say?! I've spent thousands of years flying around, checking on souls every day! I'm exhausted! I want revenge, and a boy told me I'd get it if I ate you," she said, her gaze fixed on Ron.

"I'll take your tongue before you even try!" Ron declared, as they released a barrage of arrows at Mormo. She screeched and lunged toward them, but Nico swiftly dashed in front of them, slashing at her with his sword. Mormo was cleaved in half, but she didn't explode; instead, her body immediately began to reform. 

Nico stepped back, his sword at the ready. "Just go!" he urged them. "I'll distract her!"

Mormo retorted, "No one is getting my attention!" Her voice dripped with disdain, as if Ron had ever wanted her attention. Then, she let out a piercing screech, like a bird in agony. Two more figures appeared, similar in appearance to her. Of course, she had sisters!

"Where, sister, where?" one of Mormo's sisters hissed like a snake as they both landed beside Mormo.

"Fool! Look below!" Mormo exclaimed, directing her sisters' attention toward the potential meal. The three of them flew upward, lunging at Ron and his siblings, who quickly ducked and tried to defend themselves.

"We need to fend them off!" Nico shouted, helping Kayla and Austin as they struggled to shoot their arrows, his siblings were skilled in long-range combat, and it will took them some time to create distance between themselves and the spirits before they could even shoot their arrows and Ron needed to reach the Door of Orpheus quickly, while Nico was doing his best to provide cover and keep the spirits at bay. 

"You have to go through the door!" he added.

"But—" Ron began to protest, they were supposed to go to the Underworld together. However, he stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Nico was right. It was supposed to be Ron who needed to go to the Underworld; it was his fault that his two siblings were now willing to sacrifice themselves, knowing that they had spent their last day with their parents because of his quest.

Ron hesitated, he didn't want to leave his siblings behind to face three Mormo spirits on their own.

"Ron, just go!" Austin exclaimed, but before he could react, one of the Mormo managed to close in on Ron, and the two of them grappled. Austin swiftly retrieved an arrow and stabbed one of the spirits in the head, causing it to explode into a dust. The body dropped, but the head began to reform.

"Go!" Kayla said. "We'll wait for you! I promise!"

"Keep them distracted!" Nico shouted. 

Ron then took out his flute, while he made his way toward the Door of Orpheus. The boulders trembled and began to open, revealing a stair that led into the darkness below. As Ron made his way toward it, one of the Mormo spirits noticed him. Ron hurriedly took out his wand and shouted, "Diffindo!" The spell sliced the spirit in half, reducing it to dust. However, it began to reform again.

"YOU WILL NEVER COME BACK!" Mormo laughed maniacally. "YOU WILL DIE THERE!" she taunted, her voice echoing as Ron entered the tunnel.

In the darkness, Ron almost slipped and fell to the ground as the door closed behind him, leaving him in complete darkness. He quickly reached into his pocket and retrieved his wand, muttering, "Lumos." As the tip of his wand illuminated. 

Before Ron was a narrow and steep staircase that goes deeper underground into the Underworld. He gulped nervously, reminding himself that he had chosen this, and he needed to be brave. Ron took a deep breath to steady himself, then began his descent. Each step was slippery, and he had to move cautiously, while his heart pounding loudly in his chest.

As he stepped down the seemingly endless staircase, he lost track of time. It felt like an eternity, or maybe he was just moving slowly. He began to hear sounds, like the rush of water. When he finally reached the bottom of the stairs, his breath caught in his throat at the sight before him. The feeling of bravery earlier quickly faded as he took it all in.

Do you ever try to imagine something scary from a description you read from a horror book, but when you actually see it, you just want to go back and quit already? Yep, something like that. 

To his right, there was a river, most likely the River Styx, as it was the only river in the Underworld he know. To his left, there stood imposing and tall dark walls—the walls of Erebus. Ron took a step back up the stairs, trying to calm his racing heart and steady his nerves. He reminded himself that he could do this; it was a quest, and he needed to press forward. His mission was to reach Hades, talk to him about Hecate's imprisonment, and find a way to return alive from the Underworld (but how?)

As he walked toward the gate on the volcanic sand, he noticed his leg growing weaker. There were people lined up there, and Ron frowned, suspecting they might be the dead people. They didn't seem to talk or move as the line continued to lengthen, with more lifeless figures joining the queue.

He followed the front of the line and saw a checkpoint. There, lying down, was the largest three-headed dog he had ever witnessed in his life. He was transparent but if you squint your eyes and walked forward it was at least three times larger than the size of the Cerberus 1.2 he had encountered at Hogwarts. 

As Ron slowly walked to the side, his eyes widened. Cerberus, the three-headed dog, kept whining and didn't seem to pay attention to what was happening around it, but the first of the line was stopped right at the dog's belly. That's why the line is not moving. When Ron approached, one of Cerberus' heads lifted slightly, then it laid back down on the ground, whimpering.

It seemed the dog didn't pay much attention to him as he managed to make his way inside.

Inside the gate was even more frightening than outside. Ron trembled, surrounded by the echoing voices of the dead that seemed to come from all directions. It felt like being in a vast cave with Ron as a tiny ant on the ground. He had no plan for this situation; he was supposed to be here with his two siblings, but now he was alone in the middle of a dead crowd.

Ron could spot the security thrre and he made am effort to blend in with the deceased. Thoughts raced through his mind: could they smell him? Could they see through him? His mind was in turmoil, and he found himself frozen in place, questioning whether he could even get in the palace alive. What will happen if he doesn't succeed in his quest? He's not as brave as Percy nor Annabeth who went to the Underworld and fought Kronos. He's not like the other demigods or the satyrs.

Ron took a step back, his hands clutching his chest as they trembled slightly. Suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm, causing him to shriek in surprise. When he looked, he saw Nico, who appeared a bit out of breath and wide-eyed.

"N-N-Nico...you came!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes tearing up a little.

"Woah," Nico responded. "Are you alright?"

"No, I'm not! I'm scared!" Ron admitted, exhaling a shaky breath. "What am I gonna do? Where's Kayla and Austin?"

"They're fine, and you need to go now. No one will harm you here, especially not while I'm around. I won't let my father harm you; you need to talk to him," Nico insisted, gripping Ron's arm firmly. "He'll listen to you if you managed to please him—"

"But what about the Mormos—"

"We were able to fend them off," Nico assured him. "Now, hurry."

"But—" Ron hesitated.

"Ron," Nico said, looking directly at him, "You're the bravest first friend I've ever had. You have the strength for this."

"Nico..."

"Go," he said. "I can't go with you, all the Mormos who escaped are returning to the Underworld through the entrances above, and they'll try to kill you. I had to get there and try to fend them all off." 

With that, Nico released his grip on Ron's arms and exchanged a nod with the redhead, who responded with a slow nod of acknowledgment. Ron's fists clenched as he closed his eyes. He had been chosen for this quest, and both Hecate and everyone else believed in him. When he opened his eyes, Nico was already gone, Ron made a decision that if he were to die, so be it. With that resolve, he sprinted through the crowd of the dead, pushing and squeezing his way forward, running until he finally reached the location of Hades' Palace. 

He was panting when he had arrived inside the Palace, but Ron stood bravely with his bow at the ready in front of the King of the Underworld, who sat on his throne, giving him an intense glare. Ron remembered their first encounter in the elevator tot he Olympus, he hadn't fully realized it was him until Nico had mentioned it before to him.

Beside Hades stood a stunningly beautiful tall woman with long black hair and bright brown eyes. She was dressed in a long gown adorned with various flowers, unmistakably Persephone. She seemed to be trying to calm Hades down, but Ron quickly realized that Hades was not in the mood, and he had disturbed them.

Ron couldn't help but tremble under the scrutinizing, cold gaze of Hades. The intensity in Hades' eyes was unlike anything he had ever witnessed, resembling the gaze of countless murderers he had never wished to meet. Despite his fear, Ron managed to knelt down and spoke the words he had prepared, "My lord, I was chosen by Hecate to free her. If you allow me."

Hades' response was a dismissive snort. "Is that all?" his oily voice echoed through the palace as he sat up straight on his throne, his expression unamused. "I expected more from someone chosen by Hecate. That woman," he clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Persephone sighed, her hand gently touching Hades' shoulder in an attempt to calm him. "Husband, please. You should consider what Hecate chose," she advised.

Hades expressed his frustration, "She chooses whomever she pleases. She could have chosen my son!"

Persephone responded with a resigned "Hmph," demonstrating remarkable patience, especially considering her husband's stress during Hecate's imprisonment. 

Hades continued, growing more agitated, "I should have the final say. I might as well kill this boy and reason with Hecate—"

Ron got up, feeling nervous. First, he didn't want to die, and second, he didn't udnerstand why Hades was complaining, he should be glad someone was given a quest to save her. Did Hades want Hecate to be freed or not? 

"She chose me because she trusts me," he interrupted. "If you just listen to me—"

"I do not listen to someone as repugnant as you," Hades remarked.

Ron clenched his fists, determined to speak up even if it meant facing death. "I received the Prophecy because Hecate chose me. What about the souls that was meant to go here? Who will guide them here? What about the spirits that was supposed to be here?"

"So?" Hades retorted, "It's not my fault those spirits escaped! It's Hecate's fault, and now I have to do her work."

"She's your friend!" Ron exclaimed. "Are you going to betray her?" He then turned to Persephone and added, "She helped your mother." Persephone avoided eye contact.

Hades abruptly silenced Ron, dismissing his offer. "You are weak," he declared with conviction. "I will free her on my own. Zeus doesn't know what he's doing."

"He was hypnotized!" Ron said. "He was deceived."

Persephone let out a sigh and intervened, "Listen to him," she advised Hades. "I do not take sides, but I do have a feeling the demigod is right. You rule the Underworld, but you have assigned Hecate a grave role in protecting your place. You wouldn't want my mother to make her presence felt here again if something happened here, would you?"

"My dear, of course, I wouldn't want that."

"If you truly don't want this to happen, why did you agree to it?" Ron pressed the question.

Hades snapped, "Silence!"

"Or are you just afraid of Zeus now that everyone's in favor of it? You're scared because you don't have a choice; it's your world..." Ron was prepared to face the consequences, even death. The palace began to rumble, Hades stood visibly angrier, seemingly ready to attack. Ron remained kneeling, his eyes fixed on the floor, bracing for the worst. But surprisingly, nothing happened.

Ron glanced up and noticed Hades sitting up, his gaze fixed on him. Those eyes appeared uncertain, with a glimmer of hope breaking through the cold facade. "You are brave. Speak before I change my mind and throw you into Tartarus."

With Hades' approval, Ron proceeded to share everything that had happened during his quest. "There will be a meeting during the Winter Solstice, and you must oppose the idea of throwing Hecate into Tartarus," he continued, "If you provide me with something to prove myself to you..." He then turned his gaze towards Persephone, "...and to you as well to convice your mother."

Persephone regarded Ron with gentleness, and a whispered conversation between her and Hades followed. Hades, albeit grudgingly, sat up straight on his throne. "You must have noticed that the souls outside can't enter," he began to explain. "Cerberus refuses to budge from his place, disobeying my commands. This has led to the souls being unable to move forward, creating a stressful situation for me."

"Yeah, he does sound lonely," Ron agreed. "If you just find him a friend..."

Hades interrupted, "If you find him a friend, and by the end of the week, if you fail, I would favor the gods and I won't tell you where Zeus has imprisoned them."

"But—" Ron began, unsure of what to say next.

Hades interrupted, "You told me your plan. What, are you giving up already?"

Ron continued, "What about Mrs. O'Leary—?"

"Do you truly believe that hound will stay every day to play with Cerberus? Look at him. It's been two weeks since that hound disappeared," Hades responded.

"When you say 'end of the week,' that only gives me two days..."

"If you have time to complain, you have time to leave and find a companion for my dog. I do not have much time left; the dead have created quite the traffic again. Persephone, my dear, If you—would you mind—, need you to manage that..." Their forms became transparent, and both Hades and Persephone disappeared in a blink of an eye, leaving Ron alone in the palace before he fainted there.

🔆

Ron dreamed of darkness. It was cold, and he found himself walking deeper into a long dark tunnel. Eerie howls of the dead echoed around him—those who had suffered, those who cried out in agony, those who were lost and confused. As he walked further into the tunnel, he began to discern faint voices, the hushed murmurs of unseen whisperers.

He could hear conversations, familiar voices that he remember from his past. Emerging from the darkness, he found himself in a dungeon with steep stairs on the middle, leading to lined openings encircling the dungeon, each one secured with iron grates. A palpable sense of strong, dangerous ancient magic filled the air, causing Ron to feel weakened by its presence.

"Come," a voice urged, beckoning him to climb those stairs.

Ron walked forward, extending his hand toward the voice, but he soon realized there were too many voices emanating from the cells circling the dungeon.

"Will you sacrifice yourself?" The clearest voice asked.

He wanted to say "yes," but a strange feeling tugged at him from behind. Ron spun around and he saw a guy kneeling before him. The guy was dressed in a double-breasted suit and a navy blue cape robe with a striking red lining. The attire felt oddly familiar, but Ron couldn't quite place where he had seen it before. 

All he could see of the guy was his hair, as the stranger kept his face lowered towards the ground."I will not, father," The guy replied with a familiar voice. "I will prove to them that we can have our revenge, I will free you, and you'll be with me."

The man's voice carried a hint of amusement as he spoke, "Very well," he said. "Show them, but should you fail, I will disavow you as my child, finding you utterly disgusted like your kinds." These words caused the young man to flinch slightly, and a surge of anger flushed through Ron's face.

"I will, father. I will succeed," the guy vowed with determination.

Ron stepped closer to the man, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. However, before he could do so, he felt something on his own face. As he touched it, his fingers met a sticky substance. Confused and disgusted, the redhead gave a grimace, but before he could react further, everything went black.

"Is he dead?" 

"Austin, don't say that!"

"B-but..." a familiar voice cried loudly.

"He's okay," another voice said, "He fainted because of stress."

Then, he felt a large tongue licking his face, causing Ron to snap his eyes open when he felt something sticky and wet. When he opened his eyes, he was met with the face of a hellhound, and he almost yelped.

"See, he's alive," Ron heard Nico say.

"S-stop, that tickles," the redhead giggled weakly as Mrs. O'Leary joyfully licked his face.

"Ron!" Austin sniffled, hugging him. "You're alive!"

"Am I?" Ron blinked and surveyed his surroundings, realizing he was no longer in the Underworld. Instead, they were in what appeared to be a park-like area. People were scattered about, sitting on the grass beneath the trees. Some were meditating, others reading books, and a few chatting with friends. Ron turned to Nico, seeking answers.

"We're next to the Brooklyn Museum," Nico explained, reading Ron's expression. "Mrs. O'Leary found you unconscious inside my father's palace."

"She's allowed there?"

"Of course, she is," Nico replied. "I sent her to find you."

"What about the Mormos?"

"Gee," Austin began, "I'm really glad we managed to escape them. The car appeared and picked us up out of the place." He then heard an engine nearby and spotted his uncle's car.

"I told you not to attract any attention," Ron scolded the car. In response, the car emitted a sound that seemed almost like a scoff.

"I'm definitely not coming back to that park anytime soon," Kayla chimed in, visibly shaken.

Mrs. O'Leary spun in circles, happily chasing her tail, and accidentally bumped into the car, causing it to make a sound. Ron gave them a weak smile before remembering something. "About Hades—" he began, and they all immediately turned their attention to him, ready to hear what had happened. 

Ron cleared his throat and stood up, sharing every detail with his friends. When he finished, Nico wore a frown on his face. "He's just pretending," he sighed. "My father and Hecate were friends, and I know he's concerned about her and the Underworld, but he's just afraid to show it."

"He gave you a quest to find a...a friend for Cerberus?" Kayla questioned in surprised.

"Cerberus is causing quite the traffic jam at the gate," Ron explained. "And Mrs. O'Leary can't stay with him for long. So, it may sound easy, but it's not."

"How do we even find a friend for Cerberus?" Austin wondered aloud. "I mean, Mormos is definitely off the list, but maybe we could get him another dog? There's a pet shop nearby." They all turned to Nico, who raised an eyebrow in response.

"No," Ron replied, narrowing his eyes at Mrs. O'Leary, who was currently chewing on the car's wheel. "I have an idea."

"Please don't tell me you're going to the Underworld to find Cerberus a friend there," Austin said.

"Well, we do need to return to the Underworld to get Cerberus' friend, but first, we have to go to London," Ron explained.

Austin and Kayla raised their eyebrows in surprise. "Back there again?" Austin asked.

"Kind of," Ron confirmed. "Nico, remember the thing I asked you about another Cerberus existing before?"

Nico tilted his head, curious. "What about it?"

"Well," Ron began, "There is one. And we have to, um, get him out...?"

🔆

Ron knew it was a rather stupid plan, but it seemed like the only way. If they wanted to find a friend for Cerberus, they needed another Cerberus version 1.2. However, the problem was that this other Cerberus was currently held in the Department of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic (Hagrid had previously mentioned Fluffy's location being in the Ministry's possession, much to the man's disappointment). Now, the Ministry had strict security and policies in place. The question is—how they could possibly sneak in there.

Ron pondered their options for getting to the Ministry of Magic. He knew using the Floo Network could get them there, but he'd have to return to the Burrow to obtain some Floo Powder. There had to be another way, right? 

Ron folded up the newspaper he had been reading. The three of them were seated outside in a restaurant that served different types of bread in London. They had managed to reach the place using the car, while Nico had returned to camp to inform Chiron about their quest, unable to accompany them due to the risks involved, because quests are meant for just three demigods. Any more than that, and things will go wrong for the others, they either die or...well, Ron doesn't want think about it.

With the clock ticking and only a day and a half to complete their quest, Ron knew they had to move quickly. 

They were becoming impatient because Ron had decided to just write to Percy (his cousin) and it sbene two hours ago, because he knew he could trust him, as his cousin's working under the Ministry. Maybe if he questioned about any entrances to the Ministry besides the Floo Network, Percy might provide him with some information.

So, the three of them hid beside the building, observing the telephone boxes just besides the road. They had received the letter from Percy (his cousin asked him for what that he ignored) and successfully located the place.

Ron turned to his two siblings, taking a deep breath. "Alright, everyone," he said. "The plan is to slip in using the mist, find the department, reduce the size of Cerberus down to fit in the crate—" he looked at Austin, who nodded, showing them the travel crate.

"And then, we need to slip out without drawing any attention, return to Undeworld, shrink it up, and we're done," he added, making it sound simple, but they knew it wouldn't be easy.

The two nodded nervously as they glanced at the Telephone Box, that fact that it still exists in London amaze them or maybe the wizards put them there.

"So, how are we exactly going to get in...?" Austin asked anxiously.

Ron retrieved Percy's letter and read the numbers written there. "There's a password," he said, grateful for Percy's detailed response.

He cast a quick glance at his siblings and signaled for them to follow him as they attempted to cram themselves into the box. Ron yelped when Kayla accidentally bumped his ribs with her quiver, and Austin jumped when Ron accidentally stepped on his foot. They struggled to fit their backpacks inside as Ron squeezed to dial the number.

"Ow, Austin," Kayla exclaimed.

"Ouch," Austin replied with a wince.

"Austin, my arm," Ron whispered.

"Sorry," Austin replied softly.

"I can't dial like this," Ron complained in a hushed tone.

"Who are we even calling? Why do we have to fit inside?" Kayla questioned.

Just then, a man approached the telephone box. Ron could tell he was a wizard. They both stared at each other in surprise.

"Err," Ron began nervously. "We're calling our dad...sorry."

The man sighed and shook his head, muttering 'Muggles' under his breath as he moved to another side, clearly uninterested in their business. He continued to steal glances at them, waiting for them.

However, Ron had already dialed the number, and at first, nothing happened. Then suddenly, they found themselves screaming as they were sucked below, feeling as if they were being flushed away.

The three of them collapsed outside the box, and Ron hastily conjured a mist. As he gathered his two siblings, they found themselves in the Atrium, the Ministry's area for visitors. Austin coughed, trying to catch his breath, while witches and wizards passed in front of them, seemingly unaware of their presence.

"Oh my gods!" Kayla exclaimed. "That was..."

"That was...let me throw up," Austin said, looking queasy. "One second."

"Austin, no!" Ron and Kayla both shrieked.

After a minute, Austin finally calmed down, and the redhead glanced around, pointing at the lift.

"We should ask around to find out what level the department is," he suggested.

"We're literally hiding in the mist," Kayla remarked. "Do you have any ideas?"

"I always have a... well, let's call it an idea," Ron said. "Uhm, let me... let me try," he added as he walked around and poked one of the wizards nearby.

"Hi, do you know the level number of the Department for Regula—" Ron began, but before he could finish his sentence, the man had already ignored him and rushed into the lift. He turned back to his two siblings and huffed in frustration.

"Didn't your cousin, uhm—Percy—right, why do they have to have the same name? Anyway, didn't he include the number along with the password?" Austin asked.

"Nah," Ron replied, checking the letter again.

Then his eyes darted to the familiar man who had emerged from the telephone box in the Atrium. The man walked quickly to one of the wizards standing nearby, whispered something, and Ron's eyes widened.

"Oh no," Ron said, alarmed. "He saw us!"

"What, who?" Kayla asked, looking confused.

"Him!" Ron pointed at the man.

"Who?" Austin asked, following where the redhead's finger pointing at.

"Earlier, in the phone booth," Ron explained urgently. "The man. He saw us teleport here. He might think we're Muggles who accidentally got inside because he's talking with an Auror!"

"Auror, what?" Austin questioned.

"Auror, it's like a magical police officer!" Ron exclaimed. 

"Is that dangerous or...?" Austin began to ask, but before he could get an answer, two Aurors suddenly appeared. Ron quickly grabbed their arms.

"Department level one, let's go!" Ron exclaimed as he hurriedly pulled them into the lift. They managed to close the doors before anyone else could enter, leaving the people outside looking in with confusion.

Realizing they had chosen the wrong department level, they hastily returned to the lift, their nerves on edge. As they descended to the second level, they couldn't help but worry because that was even worse—it was where those polices works!

Ron yelped, and the three of them scrambled back into the lift when the mist weakened as they became visible. Just as the Aurors were closing in, Kayla shot an arrow that exploded into a thick blue fog. They rushed towards the lift's door, managing to slip inside just in time as it closed, carrying them to the third department. They might really going to end up in the Daily Prophet tomorrow for this. 

"Is it here?" Austin asked as they entered the fourth level of the department.

There were many workers around, and Ron nodded. "Yup, now let's carry with the plan."

If you were to ask Ron about the plan, it wasn't exactly a well-thought-out strategy. It was more of a plan that popped into his head when they entered the department. The divisions seemed to be organized based on the type of magical creatures they were keeping. In hindsight, they realized it might have been a bit reckless since they didn't even know if the Cerberus was actually in this particular department.

Ron conjured a mist around the three of them as they noticed a lift where four wizards were entering. They waited outside until the lift returned, and then they hurried inside. As the lift descended, it grew darker and more dreadful, giving them the feeling that they were heading into a dungeon or something similar.

The plan was to split up and gather information, so when they arrived in what seemed like a dungeon, albeit a larger and less cramped one, they nodded at each other. Two of them opened their flashlights, while Ron cast a Lumos spell, and they went their separate ways. However, before they could even split up, they immediately heard footsteps and quickly hid in another corridor, turning off their lights.

"Mate, just label it with five X's if it's breathing fire," a gruff voice of a man said.

"The team is coming here later to examine the beast, and I'll have a pile of reports to fill out about it. Merlin knows how many creatures are showing up in every corner of Birmingham," a voice of another man replied wearily.

They listened intently, and suddenly, there's a loud howl that rang in every part of the corridors and a clicked of a tongue when it ended. "They should have killed that beast."

"The three-headed dog, you mean?"

The three eavesdroppers' ears perked up.

"Tsk. They said they would return that beast to Greece, but unfortunately, the higher-ups wanted to keep the beast, and I didn't sign up for this division to examine that thing."

"Stop complaining, will you? Oh—Mr. Robertson, hello, good day."

"Good day to you too. How's work down here, eh? Is the Department paying you two well?" a new voice chimed in.

"Of course, of course! They do indeed pay well. As a matter of fact, we've been accepting a lot of new requests from those who want to work in the Department," the first voice—Jester, replied.

"That's good, that's good," Robertson hummed. "But be careful. I heard from above that some muggles accidentally got inside the Ministry, and they're still searching for them. It might be wise to check the areas here, just in case."

"Muggles? How is that even possible?" The other voice questioned in disbelief. "And why would they end up down here?"

"They've been spotted in the first to third departments," Mr. Robertson replied.

"Holy Zeus," Austin said. "We need to hurry," he urged, and the other two nodded. The conversation between the three men finally ended as they got back to their designated tasks.

"There are a lot of corridors. Where do you think Cerberus 1.2 is?" Kayla asked.

"Just call him Fluffy," Ron suggested, and then they heard that distinctive loud howl again, a desperate sound.

"I think it's coming from over there," Austin pointed.

Fluffy, like every other dangerous creature, was imprisoned. He had chains around his three necks and legs, confined within a large circular area in the facility. Stairs led upwards, and there were three arched tunnels similar to the one they had entered from below. Fluffy, much like the Cerberus in the Underworld, lay defeated and subdued.

The man had mentioned that Fluffy was supposed to be returned to Greece, but, what the hell.

"What are we going to do?" Kayla asked, concern in her voice.

"Kayla, check the entrance. If you hear a footstep, come back immediately. Austin, get the crate, we need to hurry up," Ron instructed.

Kayla nodded and hurried to check the entrance they had come through, while Austin nodded at him.

Ron then took out his wand as Fluffy raised his three heads to look at him, those eyes filled with longing for something. The redhead took a deep breath, trying not to let his emotions get the best of him. "Reducio," he said, casting the spell that slowly shrunk the three-headed dog smaller and smaller until it had transformed into a normal-sized dog.

Fluffy let out a mournful howl as the transformation completed.

"I know," Ron said softly. "Don't worry, you'll get a friend, I promise—and I'm taking you out of this place." He levitated the small dog with his wand as Austin placed him gently inside the crate.

Ron was just about to lock the crate when he noticed something in his peripheral vision. Before he could react and grab Austin to take cover, a spell struck his brother, sending him flying backward, crashing into the wall.

"AUSTIN!" Ron shouted in terror as Austin was thrown backward, and Fluffy began to bark frantically. He quickly stood up from where he had been kneeling and scanned the area.

Before he could even nock an arrow, a blinding light hit him, slamming him against the wall. He gasped in pain, clutching his stomach.

"Heh," a voice sneered, and Ron struggled to look up. He saw a leg standing beside the crate. "Crucio," the voice said, casting the Unforgivable Curse on Fluffy, causing the dog to howl in agony.

Ron's eyes widened, and he cried out, "STOP!"

"Crucio," the voice continued to repeat the curse.

"NO!" Ron cried out, trying to reach Fluffy, who was whimpering in pain. But before he could even touch the suffering dog, he was kicked to the floor.

"Damn," the guy muttered, and although Ron's vision was blurred, he had a nagging feeling that the voice was familiar. He was too dizzy and in pain to figure out who it was.

"I can't believe you're still alive after I sent those Mormolyces after you," the person said with a hint of surprise in their tone.

Ron desperately tried to reach Fluffy as the guy continued to cast the curse, and the dog's brown eyes stared at him with fear and pain. 

"I said, stop! Stop!" Ron shouted, summoning all his strength to try and stand up. He caught the guy's leg, but he was kicked away.

"Do you want me to try it on you too, huh?" the guy threatened, kneeling down and fisting his hair too harshly. As Ron looked up, his eyes widened in horror when he finally saw the guy's face and recognized him.

"T-Tyler?" Ron stammered, shocked and bewildered.

Tyler only scoffed at Ron, releasing his hair and placing his shoe on Fluffy, who fell silent under the pressure. 

"Tyler, why?" Ron pleaded, struggling to comprehend the betrayal.

"Crucio," Tyler said once more, casting the curse on Fluffy. The dog whimpered before his body went limp, not moving.

"Look at him," Tyler sneered. "Do you think if you present him like this in front of Hades, he'll be pleased to see a dead one?"

"You're the traitor," Ron hissed, anger and betrayal coursing through him.

Tyler raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, Ron. Tell me, what did the Prophecy exactly say?"

"I'm not telling you," Ron replied defiantly.

"Crucio," Tyler repeated, and Ron couldn't bear to see Fluffy in pain again.

"Stop!" Ron shouted, desperation in his voice. 

"Tell me what you want to know!"

Ron bit his lip until it bled, his anger seething. "It said, go to hell, you shit," he spat out and then quickly rolled over to retrieve his wand. With a determined shout, he cast "Expelliarmus!"

Tyler's wand flew into Ron's hand, and he staggered to his feet, his body still aching with pain. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, surprise, sadness, and anger. First Luke, and now... Tyler.

"Deja vu?" Tyler chuckled darkly. "Has another friend betrayed you as well?"

"None of your business," Ron replied.

Tyler shrugged, walking towards Fluffy, but Ron immediately pointed his wand at him again. "What did you do? Why are you doing this?"

"None of your business," Tyler answered coldly, then callously kicked Fluffy to the side. The dog tumbled like a ragdoll, and Ron stared at Fluffy in shock and anger.

"Ah, he's dead already," Tyler remarked callously and then turned his attention to Ron. "Well, if you don't want to tell the Prophecy, I'll just ask your sister." He gestured to the entrance, where Kayla appeared, a man holding a wand to her neck. She was trembling, but she tried to signal to Ron that someone was coming herr.

"Let her go," Ron demanded, his anger and fear for his sister appeared in his voice.

"If you tell me the prophecy," Tyler countered.

"What are you talking about? You were there when the prophecy was told!" Ron argued.

Tyler's frustration flared. "You don't know anything. Hecate stopped me from hearing it directly from that girl's mouth because she knew, she knew—" 

"She knew you would betray her, and her name is Rachel—"

"I don't care what her name is!" Tyler snapped angrily. "And I fell asleep during the meeting, so no one even remembers the exact words."

"Because Hecate made sure of it," Ron said coldly. "Serves you right."

"Kill her!" Tyler ordered the man, and Ron's heart raced with terror.

"No!" Ron shrieked desperately, but Tyler just gave him a smug look.

"Then tell me the Prophecy," Tyler demanded.

"It won't work," Ron said, trying to stand his ground. "I've forgotten it." That only seemed to enrage Tyler further, and he was about to attack when suddenly, four—no, six wizards entered the area, diverting Tyler's attention. This gave Ron the opportunity he needed. He lunged at Tyler and landed a powerful punch to his face.

"Áde gamísou! Go to Tartarus!" Ron shouted as he grappled with Tyler on the ground.

Kayla, in the meantime, had managed to slip away from the man holding her and swiftly kicked him in a sensitive spot. The man disappeared into the mist in pain, as she then rushed to Austin, who was just starting to wake up from unconsciousness.

The thick mist surrounding them added to the confusion as the wizards who had entered looked around, shouting orders and trying to make sense of the situation.

Tyler slammed Ron to the ground and locked eyes with him. Ron's eyes widened as he felt an overwhelming sense of sleepiness washing over him, as if all the days he hadn't slept were catching up to him at once. Tyler smirked down at him, blood dripping from his face onto his shirt.

"See you soon," Tyler said before he apparated away.

The mist was now dissipating, as Ron weakly rolled over onto his chest and managed to crawl towards Fluffy. He gently lifted the dog onto his chest, concern etched across his face.

"Ron! Ron, we need to get out," Kayla urgently called out, her arm around Austin, who was groaning in pain. 

Then, to their surprise and relief, they heard a joyful bark, and a black figure descended from below, landing in front of them. It was the massive black hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary. She licked Ron's face, and he smiled through his exhaustion.

"Mrs. O'Leary, sorry, but can you get us out of here?" Ron asked as he nodded to his two siblings, who quickly climbed onto Mrs. O'Leary's back.

"Half-blood camp," Ron said, and with that command, Mrs. O'Leary bounded away, carrying the three of them to safety.

🔆

Returning to the camp should have been a time of excitement, a return to their home where they had spent many years. There were countless memories, both peaceful and traumatic, associated with the place. But as they arrived, they couldn't help but notice that it wasn't the same anymore. The camp was strangely empty without the usual laughter and camaraderie of campers, even though it was Christmas.

With no one around, Mr. D had prevented snow from entering the camp, making it eerily quiet, especially for a Christmas day. The only sound that broke the silence was the joyful barking of Mrs. O'Leary as they returned to the camp.

Ron rushed towards Will, who had just come out of their cabin. His eyes were still wide with shock and exhaustion, and he held Fluffy tightly against his chest.

"Need...need your help," Ron said, showing Fluffy to his big brother.

Ron's return should have surprised them, but instead, there they were. Ron sat on the deck staring at the meadow, Nico was talking with Austin and Chiron, and Mrs. O'Leary was busy chewing on a plank while Kayla and Will were inside, checking on Fluffy. 

As he looked around at the familiar faces, Ron couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. What would happen if he had failed the quest for Hades? Would they all be in danger? Ron didn't choose the life he was living. He had never wished for this, for the burden of quests and the weight of prophecies. All he had ever wanted was to be a normal person, to go to school, have friends, and parents to lean on, and eventually, get a job after graduating. But fate had other plans for him.

Ron had been lost in thought, gazing at the meadow, when suddenly, the door of the Big House swung open. He immediately stood up from the deck and turned his attention to them.

Will showed Ron Fluffy, and Ron let his fingers gently touch the three-headed dog. All the dullness in Ron's face faded away as he felt Fluffy's warm and living presence. Fluffy was breathing, alive, his heart beating normally, blood flowing through his veins, and he was sleeping peacefully. The overwhelming relief and joy caused Ron to burst into tears.

His big brother observed him and commented that he looked as though he had just touched a newborn baby. In a way, it was true. 

Chiron led them inside the Big House to the Rec room, where they could sit and discuss what had happened. Mrs. O'Leary remained outside, seemingly uninterested in the conversation.

Ron wiped away his tears and proceeded to explain everything that had happened with Lou in an Iris Message even yhough it kept glitching. Nico was understandably angry, but Will managed to calm him down.

"It's okay," Ron reassured them. "I'll find him and bring him back myself." 

Lou, like Ron, was deeply shocked by Tyler's betrayal. She sighed heavily, at a loss for words.

Ron showed her Tyler's wand, and Lou nodded in acknowledgment. "Even without a wand, I know Tyler could still fight," she said thoughtfully. "I don't know what made him do it, but you mentioned a man who turned into mist when Kayla kicked him?"

"Yeah," Kayla said. 

"That's called a mistform," Lou explained, "but it typically comes from a mist card, like the chariot you used when Alabaster teleported you there before. Tyler must have been learning how to use them as his own powers." She looked concerned. "It's dangerous, Ron, so you'll have to be careful. I'll inform the others about this." 

"I think..." Ron began, his voice filled with determination, "I should finish this quest alone. I'll get Fluffy back to the Underworld with Mrs. O'Leary and then track down Tyler."

His statement left them all looking concerned, and Kayla shook her head. "But Ron..."

"You both need to go back to your homes and school. It's my fault I let you two come with me," Ron continued. "Tyler was using more than just ordinary magic. He could tap into ancient magic on his own. Honestly, I still don't understand why he couldn't hear the Prophecy." 

"It's because once he realized he was this 'someone' and that he would have to sacrifice himself, he will refuse to accept it," Lou explained.

"But... I saw him in a dream, talking with someone about the sacrifice," Ron said, clearly troubled by the revelation.

"He doesn't fully understand it," Lou said. "But his father, Hypnos, must have been pressuring him about it. Tyler has been resisting the idea." 

"The Fates...maybe it's the Fates who aren't letting Tyler hear the Prophecy?" Will chimed in, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Probably," Lou replied solemnly. "They must have known that Tyler was going to..."

A heavy silence settled over the group but Will broke the silence by sighing, placing his hands on the table, and standing up.

"We'll continue this discussion in the summer," he decided, his expression serious. "When everyone is around, we can gather more information from Tyler and, if possible, his mother." He glanced at Lou, who nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry," Lou reassured them. "Mrs. Hubertham knew that Tyler was still at Ilvermorny."

"Then that's good," Will said, turning his attention to Ron. "You're going back to school." 

"No. I'll stay at the camp." Ron said.

Will fixed a firm gaze on Ron, his tone resolute. "I heard from Nico you fainted from stress because of the quest. You need to focus on something else. What will your friends think if you're gone again from school?"

Ron winced, his words heavy with a painful truth. "I don't have friends anymore," he admitted.

"Ron?" Austin asked, concern in his voice.

"They hate me," Ron continued, his voice filled with anguish. "They don't uhm...want me."

"Don't think like that," Kayla said. "Please."

Will turned his attention to Chiron, seeking the centaur's opinion on the matter. Chiron explained that it was up to Ron to decide what he wanted to do, and arrangements could be made if he chose to stay at the camp.

Nico, however, strongly voiced his opinion. "That's stupid. You should be glad you're given an opportunity to learn," he asserted.

Ron felt a flush of embarrassment but hesitated, still uncertain. "But..."

Nico's tone was surprisingly softened as he spoke. "I've been there," he said gently. "I'm telling you, they don't hate you."

"Still..."

"You managed to get into the Underworld, talk to my Father alone, and you can't face people who may hate you?" He added, crossing his arms.

"He's right," Austin chimed in. "So what if they hate us? I could just make them sick for two weeks."

Will quickly reprimanded Austin for his suggestion. "Austin."

"Sorry," Austin apologized.

Kayla joined in, showing her support. "Hey, I'm on it," she declared.

"Kayla," Will sighed, clearly not endorsing these ideas. 

Ron let out a sigh and relented, "Fiiine. I'll come back," he said, willing to heed their advice and return to school, at least for the time being.

Nico offered to accompany Ron to the Underworld. Together, with Mrs. O'Leary leading the way, they entered the Underworld and found themselves in the presence of Cerberus. The three-headed dog's interest was piqued when he saw Fluffy in Ron's hand.

Ron carefully placed Fluffy on the ground and took out his wand. "Engorgio," he said, causing Fluffy to slowly grow larger and larger. Cerberus's heads lifted, eyes gleaming with curiosity as he sniffed the newly enlarged Fluffy, and Fluffy, in turn, sniffed back in a friendly manner. 

"Two Cerberus...this is..." Nico began, a bit awestruck.

"Cool," Ron interjected, grinning and elbowing his friend.

The two Cerberuses began barking and howling in a display of excitement, their six heads filling the Underworld with noise. The spirits of the dead began to walk past them, now that Cerberus was standing and no longer blocking their way. Mrs. O'Leary enthusiastically joined the two Cerberuses in their play, creating an amusing sight. Despite being the smallest among the three, Mrs. O'Leary held her own in the interaction, and she seemed to enjoy the company of the two larger canines.