Percy fought to keep his expression neutral as he faced Chiron on the porch of the Big House. It didn't work. He scowled.

Chiron nervously swished his tail. "I understand—"

"Do you really, Chiron? If you did you wouldn't make us go on this quest," snapped Thalia. "We literally just finished saving the world a month ago. Can't we have some peace with no quests for like, a few centuries or so?"

Chiron sighed as the air crackled with electricity. "It is not my choice, Thalia Grace," he said. "I'm simply the messenger. This quest was assigned by Lady Hecate herself, as the spirit of Delphi is still extinguished. Let me explain. Hecate asked me of assistance with the world of magic. Eons ago, she blessed a group of mortals with the gift of sorcery. Four of the most gifted mortals created a school for the magical children borne to the witches and wizards. Recently—"

"Wait, wait, wait, what? Witches and wizards? Like from the Wizard of Oz?" interrupted Percy. "What else, can we ride a rainbow to Thor?"

Chiron muttered something incoherently, but he was drowned out by Annabeth, Thalia, and Nico.

"Of course there are wizards, Seaweed Brain! Is it so hard to believe? They're all over the books in the Athena cabin's library!"

"But not all of us read," Percy protested.

"Yeah, I didn't know there were books about the wizards," Thalia said.

"See?" Percy gestured to Thalia.

"But I know a few of them. There were a few hunters that were witches. Like Mandy, this one 14 year old— she's really good at starting fires— and Bella, but she died in the second titan war, and then—"

"Okay, okay, I get it. Sounds like a girl thing," Percy said brightly, putting his arm around Nico's shoulders.

Nico slapped his arm away. "Don't be ridiculous. I've heard of wizards before. They're really annoying to Thanatos because they keep escaping the Underworld and coming back as ghosts. Of course Hecate's blessing helps with that, but still. It's not fun doing the paperwork."

Percy pouted.

Chiron cleared his throat. "For the sake of time and ADHD, I will try and summarize it for you. There was a Dark wizard named Voldemort who tried to kill the Potter family. He only managed to kill the mother and father before trying to kill their child, Harry Potter. Somehow, the curse backfired. Harry survived, but the curse rebounded and hit Voldemort instead. Bits of Voldemort's soul survived, but his body was completely annihilated. Now, Hecate will bring you back to when Harry was eleven, when Voldemort had gained enough strength to attack him again. At the time, Harry was attending the school for witchcraft and wizardry. Your job is to protect him until the given time."

"Huh?" Was Thalia's intelligent response.

"Evil wizard tried to kill baby, baby live, wizard don't. Baby grew up now and wizard will try to kill him again. We protect grown-up-baby," Annabeth said slowly, like she was talking to toddlers.

"Ooh."

"Quick question." Nico interrupted Chiron. "You said he was eleven. I'm fourteen. Or eighty four, whichever way you want to look at it, which I try not to."

"Yes, Lady Hecate will alter your appearance so that you look their age until the quest is over. Did I mention it might take, oh, ten years or so?"

Immediately, as expected, the demigods burst into protest. Chiron put his hand up to silence them (which was difficult as Thalia's eyes had begun to shoot sparks again and the room grew considerably darker).

"It will only feel like ten years, and even that is the maximum. And when it is over, you will be sent right back to this current time so that you did not miss anything while you're gone."

"Wait, but Thalia, Percy, and Nico are going to be in one place for ten years. Don't you think the monsters will notice them?" Annabeth asked.

"There is a magic barrier around the school that should keep most monsters out. And the fact that they're all children of the Big Three is exactly why I chose them. They are the most powerful— more powerful than Jason and Hazel because they're Greek and from the gods original roots— and will most likely protect the school the best. You are coming along, Annabeth, because you're probably the only demigod who can keep them all in check."

Questions exploded, but Chiron silenced them. "For the first week, Lady Hecate will be meeting with you to discuss any questions you have. Hold until then."

They were led inside, where four massive trunks stacked in an anxious tower. "All your necessary belongings are packed here," Chiron explained. "And of course, I have your wands here. Specially crafted by Hecate specifically for you." He reached for four sticks resting on the top of the trunks. "Let me see here... Percy. Cedar wood with a white river monster spine as the core." he added to Percy's confused expression. "Annabeth. Olive branch with a phoenix feather. Thalia. Pine and a thunderbird tail feather. Nico, elder wood with a thestral tail hair."

"Pine," Thalia mumbled humorlessly as she inspected her reddish brown wand. "Very funny."

"Lady Hecate also provided this," Chiron added apprehensively, holding up a small velvet purple pouch. "It has unlimited currency of every kind, including Drachmas and wizard currency."

"Unlimited?" Percy asked, his face lighting up.

"Use it wisely," Chiron said sternly. He handed the purple coin pouch to Annabeth. "Hecate is at the liberty to take it away, so if you use it rashly—"

"Right, right," Percy said disappointedly.

"I forgot to mention," Chiron said as they tugged their trunks from the back. "Hecate has blessed your wands to respond to your commands, as you don't have magic blood in yourself. For all spells, you can just say what you want to happen in Greek, and it will be so. But take care to learn the actual incantations too. And just a warning, wizard spells will not affect you as much because your godly blood is resistant to it."

"Is that all?" Nico asked sarcastically.

"One last thing. The Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, and a few teachers are aware of the fact that you are demigods. Professor Dumbledore himself actually is a descendant of Hecate. Keep in mind that not all know, so unless they show signs that they know you are demigods, do not mention it."

"When do we leave?" Annabeth asked, her fingers running over the beautifully crafted wand.

Chiron hesitated. "Now."

"Now? Wh—"

"You will not miss anything," Chiron said again. "Because when you're done, you will probably be teleported back within the next five minutes in this time. So no one will wonder where you are. And nothing will have changed."

"Still," Thalia said. "This is pretty sudden."

Chiron grimaced. "Again, not my fault," he defended. "Hecate only told me this morning."

"How are we getting there?" Percy asked. "We're going back in time, right?"

"Ah," Chiron smiled thinly. "Right." He clapped three times.

Instantly, a bright white light filled the room. When it vanished, there was a new person in the room. Before they could say anything, Hecate touched their shoulders and they vanished.

>>>•O•<<<

When they reappeared, Hecate was gone. So was Chiron, and the Big House. They were next to a brick wall, their trunks standing next to them.

"Where are we?" Percy asked, peering around the corner. A massive crowd of people met his eyes, all curiously dressed in what appeared to be... bathrobes? He pulled his head back.

"Presumably wherever this quest is," Annabeth guessed. "What now?"

"We probably get on that train," Thalia said. For the first time, the other three noticed the massive, bright red steam train that stood in front of them, whistling merrily.

"I didn't even know steam trains still existed," Percy said as they walked out.

"Don't be a Seaweed Brain," Annabeth chided. "We're back in time, remember? This was probably one of the most efficient ways of transporting a large number of people back then." She shrugged. "I'm guessing. I don't actually know how far back in time we are."

"That is just sad," said Nico. "Isn't this a wizarding community? Where are all the broomsticks? What about the magic carpets?"

"That's super noticeable, and inefficient." Thalia rolled her eyes. "I hope you don't act this ignorant of the wizarding community when we're in the school otherwise our cover's going to be blown by you...."