Nico di Angelo was having easily the easiest day of his life. He was walking around with his boyfriend, checking on campers, things were great for him. Chiron then had him called into the Big House as he was walking around with Will. When Nico walked into the Big House after getting a kiss on the cheek from Will, much to the embarrassment of the son of Hades, he hadn't expected Chiron in his wheelchair to be sitting across the ping pong table from a man who looked like he was about to step through the threshold of death. In other words he was really old.
"Ah, Mr. Di Angelo, it is good to see you." Chiron said smiling at the young male.
"Chiron," Nico greeted looking at the old man before turning back to the centaur, "Who is he?"
"Right I suppose introductions are in order," Chiron said turning to face Nico, as the old man stood walking over to Nico, this was the first time he truly got to look at the older man and saw a twinkle in his eye as though he was thinking of something funny, he had a long purple robe on that he had to pick up in order to walk without dragging the robe on the ground. His white beard fell down to around where NIco supposed his hips were. "This is Professor Albus Dumbledore. He is the Headmaster at the school Hogwarts."
"Hello Mr. Di Angelo." Professor Dumbledore said smiling at the slightly shorter teenager, sticking out his hand to shake "I'm very happy to meet you, my eldest friend Chiron has told me quite a bit about you, and I think you're perfect for my proposition."
"I've heard of you. Ghosts of wizards have told me about you. And I've heard of this Hogwarts. Although Grindelwald has said quite a bit about you the most." Nico said shaking the hand of Dumbledore. He then looked at the older man with a pit of caution, "What proposition do you have?"
"Ah Old Grindelwald, he was once a dear friend," Dumbledore said seeming very sad to Nico, "But that is the past, I'm here to talk about the future."
Dumbledore returned to his seat as Chiron turned back to the table, and Nico sat at the head of the table looking at the both of them. Chiron seemed nervous all of the sudden as they got closer to Dumbledore asking Nico what he was going to ask.
"Now as you know Mr. Di Angelo-" Dumbledore started.
"Nico will be just fine Headmaster." Nico corrected.
"Sorry, Nico as you know I run Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," seeing Nico nod Dumbledore continued, "And I'm sure you've also heard of the war we are currently going through, against Voldemort.'
Nico growled at the mention of the name, "That arse, cheating death. He's the underworld's most wanted."
Dumbledore smiled as he saw the young man's response to the name. "Correct he has cheated death. And has come back officially. Unfortunately the wizard population at large doesn't believe that he is back."
"Right. So what does this have to do with me?" Nico asked not understanding what he's being asked to do. Keep Voldemort from coming back? His dad tried and if a god couldn't he certainly couldn't.
"I am getting to it," The headmaster said with a twinkle in his eyes, "As I was saying the Ministry of Magic, our government has gone on record saying he is not back, and due to it being a student at my school who claimed Voldemort is back they have decided to step in."
Dumbledore seemed angry but he was geniously hiding it. But Nico did pick it up.
"Anyways," Dumbledore said, "As I do not set the curriculum and teachers actually make their own curriculum I can't tell her what to teach. She's the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, one of the more important classes, especially in these times now. And I've seen what she plans on teaching, which is nothing, just theory."
"So she's setting them up to fail essentially and die." Nico said bluntly.
Dumbledore sighed, "Yes, which is why I'm here, I want to offer you the position to be a teacher. To teach the new class called Defense Against the Dark Arts Without Magic. A class that will teach students how to fight when they can't use magic."
"So a physical combat class, huh?" Nico said it not registering the other part of what the Headmaster said, "That's smart, if they can't use magic or get their wand taken away they'll be able to protect themselves still, it's geni- Wait what do you mean you want me to teach it?!"
"Who better to teach combat using weapons and fists than someone who's had to survive for years using those methods?" Dumbledore stated, "Chiron recommended that you be the teacher."
Nico turned to Chiron now, "Why me? Certainly Percy would be better suited? He's also better with people."
"Because Percy has said he refuses to go on any other quest unless it's end of the world big." Chiron said truthfully. "And he won't be around much anyways, he plans on finishing high school then going to college with Annabeth."
"Fair enough." Nico looked thoughtful as he contemplated his choices. Sure he could teach people how to fight and protect themselves, probably. I mean he wasn't that bad at communicating as much now, he still had some trouble, but he was getting better. But what about Will? And how in his dad's name was he supposed to explain this to Will? Nico hadn't told anyone, including him, about the wizarding world because he wasn't supposed to.
Nico sighed as he rubbed his eyes. "Fine, I agree. On a few conditions."
"Name them." Dumbledore said as though he expected this.
"Firstly, my doctor Will Solace gets to come with." Nico said.
"We have a perfectly good nurse at Hogwarts Mr. Di angelo." Dumbledore said.
"I told you Nico would be fine to call me," Nico said, "and secondly he is a… special doctor." Nico said not knowing how to word that he wanted to bring his boyfriend with him. He didn't know if wizards held prejudice against homosexual people, he hoped not but in honesty he didn't know enough about them.
"Nico, you don't have to skirt around the fact you want your boyfriend to come," Chiron said very bluntly as Nico's face turned red before he then glared at the centaur. Chiron put his head in his hand as he sighed, "Dumbledore is also gay."
Nico turned to the old wizard who shrugged sheepishly and waved.
"Okay then fine, I want Will to come because he's my boyfriend, and he actually is my doctor. I don't let any of the other Apollo kids heal me, and not just because he's my boyfriend." Nico spoke quickly his face had a blush across it.
"Alright I suppose he can come and help you teach and be a nurse in the classroom just in case." Dumbledore said, "Anything else?"
"Only two more things." Nico said, "I get to keep my sword on me, and I don't have to change into any robes or other clothes that aren't my own."
"I suppose that can be arranged to be allowed, it is unorthodox but you are an unorthodox person," Dumbledore said smiling.
"When shall we be leaving?" Nico asked putting his elbows on the table.
"In an hour, you will be spending a week at the Order of The Phoenix's headquarters until classes start." Dumbledore said, "I will be back then, please get ready and inform this Mr. Solace."
With a crack Dumbledore had disappeared leaving Nico and Chiron alone.