The villagers of Little Hangleton still called it "the Riddle House," even though it had been many years since any member of the Riddle family resided there. It stood on a hill overlooking the village, over the years erosion weathered away its once grand old fashion features. Fifty years ago, when the Riddle House had been in mint condition, a maid entered the drawing room to find all three Riddles dead.

"'Lyin' there with their eyes wide open! Cold as ice! Still in their dinner things!' Aye boy, aye! That's what my third wife said!" An old balding man slurped his coffee and waved his arms for emphasis. "Son, don't cha go near that house if ya love livin'!"

Nico chuckled at Frank's story, he had meant most of the Riddles. A vile bunch, sort of greasy. "That's a nice tale there Mr. Bryce, I've heard one about the Yeti you might like..."

"Ooo, boy ya haven't been around love enough to start tellin' tales! But let's see what-cha got, aye?" Mr. Bryce turned around and called to the bartender in a gruff voice. He quite liked this boy, after the war he couldn't find his family- he forgot their names and location. This boy seemed like a grandson of sorts. "Give this here laddie a drink o' whiskey will ya?"

Then Nico got a pull in his stomach, one he always got when he was at a crossroad in life. "Actually Mr. Bryce I'm going to call it a night, the folks will be worried. I'll see you around man." Nico bid Mr. Bryce good bye but not for long, he could smell the scent of death all over this man. Thanatos or the Keres (lovely sisters of death) were coming tonight to claim his life. I'll make sure to put in a good word.

Frank Bryce had recently divorced his fourth wife and moved back to Little Hangleton, where his third wife used to reside. They were on good terms, but Frank kinda screwed things up when he forgot he had a third wife and married the fourth one. The amnesia had severely affected his memory, so severely that he thought he was still the gardener for the Riddle House when in reality the house had been abandoned for years.

On this night, he glimpsed a strange glimmer in the Riddle House, probably the flashlight of those rowdy teenagers. Frank mumbled under his breath about teenagers these days, that brought back memories of Nico, the boy he believed he meant a few hours ago, or maybe a few days... weeks... years even? Frank temporary forgot about the glimmer, Nico watched from the shadows. He breathe a small sigh of relief, whatever Frank had noticed, it wasn't for his eyes. The feeling in his stomach told him that whatever was in that house would decide his future.

Creeping closer, he drank in the scent of old mead and tainted purity. An unnatural mixture that came long after supernatural death, the Riddle myth must have been true. As he carefully opened up the back door, he swore he could hear murmuring. Decay hit his nostrils, dust circled the air, he sniffled a sneeze. The pull in his stomach grew stronger. However Nico's ADHD mind made a fatal mistake that would cost him four years.

Off to the distance, he felt a life force leaving the grounds, Mr. Bryce.

The muttering got louder, he rounded a corner and abruptly stopped. Nico caught a glimpse of a small balding, rat-like man, an oily man, and a child, they were obviously homeless people that needed a place a stay. The dull scraping noise of a heavy chair being dragged across the floor produced a screech that urged Nico to leave the place. Screeching of chalk, nothing could sound worse, and then the feel of chalk, ugh. He reminisced back to the times of classrooms (Hades forced him to go to school in the Underworld). If only Nico had stayed for a few seconds longer, then he would have realized they were much, much more than homeless.

Inspecting the limp body of Frank Bryce, Nico spotted a vampire-like bite by his neck and another set on his shoulder. Bam, mystery solved, the old man had died of snake venom. Leaves rustled around, haunting winds rattled the little cabin windows. It was a wonder the house hadn't collapsed yet, Nico expanded his senses to feel other life forces around the mansion. Mice, plants, grasshoppers, crows, and so much more, he wouldn't be finding that snake tonight.

Down in the Underworld Hades placed his thumbs on his temples and cursed angrily, glaring at Hecate. "Riddle didn't die. What's the plan?"

And that's how Nico ended on up on a train to Hogwarts.