One King

| Chapter 8 |

Draco and Hermione arrived at Mt. Hogwarts, the moon rising above Greece as the sun rose in the Underworld. The Four Seasons sat near the golden gates of the palace and, at the sight of Hermione and Draco, blew the gates open to allow them in. The King and Queen of the Underworld followed the marble pathway up to the palace, but Hermione couldn't help but look over at the gardens. The olive trees were bursting with fruit and the variety of flowers were in full bloom. A large, marble fountain sat in the middle of the garden, nectar dripping from the stone. Glowing lights floated amongst the branches and flowers and the butterflies. Majestic peacocks, Queen Ginny's (Hera) pride and joy, strutted across the grass and danced along the edges of the fountain.

As the King and Queen arrived at the palace, Hermione noticed how different it looked since she was younger. Everything appeared to be at peace and like the immortals inside held no worries. The palace was entirely made out of bronze, iron, and marble, the doors shining gold in the light of the moon. The door opened silently and inside was the throne room. It was a large room, twelve thrones surrounding the outside of the room. In the center was a large fire, the ambers a dull glow. Hermione and Draco were the last to arrive and when King Harry (Zeus) saw them, he smiled. Raising his hand beside him, the marble platform that the thrones sat on started to grow and two more thrones appeared. One was the same size as Neville (Poseidon) who sat beside Queen Ginny and the other, beside it, was the same size as Ginny's.

"Welcome, brother!" Harry announced them and stood up. Everyone in the throne room stopped talking to each other and turned to look at Draco and Hermione.

"Harry," Draco said and the two brothers embraced. Hermione turned to Ginny beside Harry and they embraced, too.

When the pair's let go, Harry turned to the rest of the gods, "Now that everyone was here, please take your seat."

By the time that the gods sat down there were fourteen gods siting on the thrones. In the middle sat Harry and Ginny. Beside Harry sat Draco and Hermione and beside Hermione sat her mother, Hannah (Demeter), who looked like her younger self now. Next to Hannah was Ron (Hephaestus), his calloused hands playing with a bronze looking creature. Following him was the goddess of love, Cho (Aphrodite), who was perched neatly on the marble throne and beside her was her lover, Theo (Ares), the god of war. On the other side of the room, next to Ginny was Neville, his trident in his hand. Lily (Athena) was next in the line of thrones; a snowy white owl perched on her shoulder. Astoria (Artemis) sat next to her, her loyal grey hounds at her feet by the fire place snoozing silently. Beside her was her brother, Blaise (Apollo), who sat bored on his throne, no doubt dreaming up poetry in his mind. Next to him was the swift god, Dean (Hermes), who lounged in his throne quite comfortably. The god of wine, Seamus (Dionysus), sat beside him, a goblet full of wine in his hands, his eyes foggy, but staring at one of the serving nymphs standing off to one side. But there was a fifteenth god amongst them that didn't get her own throne, and she liked it just so. Pansy (Hestia), the goddess of the hearth, sat near the fire in the middle of the room, her hand dangling into the fire pit, but her flesh did not burn. She simply watched her family, a small knowing smile on her face.

"Welcome, my brothers and sisters," Harry started, "I have called you together because my brother, Draco, has discovered some terrifying facts," and with that, he motioned for Draco to stand.

The King of the Underworld did, clearing his throat, "Last night, a large group of villagers arrived in the Judgement Room claiming that they were killed by the Titans," quite murmurers erupted around them. The goddess of wisdom's face frowned, while Theo (Ares) grew a wicked grin knowing what this meant, "Now, I know that you are all thinking, 'what do these simple mortals know?'" and Draco walked toward the large bonfire, "I have an answer, and invite you all to walk among my memories," raising his hand, he touched his temple with his finger. Pulling away, a silvery, milky strand dangled from his fingertips and he dropped it into the fire. Pansy (Hestia) stood from her place as the fire exploded into an electric green color. From the smoke, an image appeared. Everyone in the room recognized it as the Oracle of Delphi.