Perhaps the hardest realization of Nico's life had been when he realized that nobody cared. He had friends, sure. They'd support him when he needed help, and they'd be there when he wanted to talk. But not one of them cared what he had to say. The same could be said of Hades and the other gods. Even Chiron was more interested in Percy and Annabeth than anything Nico could have said. But the worst part of this was that when Nico was finally given his own quest during the summer of his sixteenth year, not a single one of his friends volunteered to go with him.

He'd asked Jason first, because he thought the blond would jump on the chance to go on another adventure. And hey, bonus that he'd be going with his best friend! No, Jason wasn't interested.

"Jason! I just got done with a meeting at the Big House. I've got a quest to bring some demigods back here to camp from some school in Scotland. Will you come?" he'd asked. Jason gave him a blank look at first, and then realization dawned.

"Oh, you mean Hogwarts? Yeah, no. I went there once to get a child of Hecate. That place is weird, Neeks. Sorry, but I'm not going back there," he replied, not meeting Nico's eyes. Nico knew what that translated to: 'Sorry, I'm busy spending time with Piper and traveling between camps. I don't have time for little ghost kings.'

Asking Percy had gotten the same response, basically. Though Percy had never been to the school in question, he refused to leave the camp before the summer ended, and he didn't' want to leave the country regardless. It didn't matter that Nico needed him. He didn't ask Annabeth; he'd never been fond of the daughter of Athena. He also didn't ask Piper, because he was holding a grudge against her for taking Jason away.

He did ask Leo, and got his first yes.

"Dude, that will be so fun! When do we leave?" he asked, eyes wide with excitement.

"You do realize how dangerous this will be, right? You know that this is a magic school, and most of them have no idea that the Gods are real?" Nico asked in disbelief.

"Sure, you told me. I don't really mind a bit of risk. I did die, after all," he'd joked, laughing to himself even though Nico was not amused.

"Fine, but don't blame me when something happens," Nico had replied, hiding the fact that he was happy to have at least one 'friend' who would be going with him.

He also didn't ask his sister. Hazel would have gone with him in a heartbeat, but he couldn't bring Frank. A quest was for three demigods, no more and no less. She would have gone, but she would have hated being apart from her boyfriend and Nico couldn't bear to see her miserable. But who was left to ask? Everyone else was happily paired off or not willing to risk a quest so soon after the last big prophecy. Nico really couldn't blame them.

Chiron settled it for him. Lou-Ellen, daughter of Hecate, was to accompany them on the quest. She'd volunteered herself when she heard another was needed to retrieve her half-siblings. She'd heard of Hogwarts before and wanted to see it firsthand. She couldn't wait to meet the people her mother had deemed worthy of magic, which made Nico weary about taking her along. She could really cause a lot of trouble if she somehow outed what they were to the magical community of London.

"I just don't understand why we have to go for an entire school year," Nico protested, trying to talk Chiron into only having there for a month or two. Chiron gave him a stern look and a pat on the shoulder.

"Your father requested it, actually. He seemed to think it would be a good place for you to learn how to better control your godly abilities. He informed me of your heritage, and that you'll be taking your place as an immortal when you turn eighteen. That's two years away, Nico. You need to learn all that you can. If, after a year, you still wish to leave the school, we'll make arrangements for you to finish your education at the camp," Chiron replied.

He knew better than to argue, so he just huffed and went back to his cabin to pack. He hadn't told anybody about the immortality thing. He had no interest in becoming a god, but his father insisted it was to be his fate. He wasn't sure what he'd become god of; probably shadows, or something equally useless. All he knew was that in two years he'd be leaving his friends and his home here for good, probably to never see them again. And so far, he was okay with that part.

Just as he was finishing, Leo walked in to check on his progress. "Chiron just told me the plan. We're staying for a whole year? At least we get to come back here for holidays and whatnot. And we've always got the IMs!"

Leo's optimism was going to get on Nico's nerves very quickly, too. He could only handle so much of the cheerfulness before he wanted to claw somebody's eyes out. Preferably Leo's.

"Valdez, I couldn't care less about coming back here for holidays. Nobody here cares whether I'm coming or going. Did you notice that you're literally the only one that I asked that agreed to come? Lou-Ellen is coming because she volunteered. Jason and Percy, Piper, Annabeth, Hazel... they all said no. Do you know why? It's because nobody cares. I realized that after the last big war. Maybe it's time you realized it too," Nico snapped, wanting to stop the talking. It worked, Leo glared at him for a few seconds before turning and walking out of his cabin as quickly as he'd walked in.

"That was harsh, don't you think?" a voice asked from the shadows.

"Father. I don't think it was harsh at all. He'd see for himself soon enough, when nobody answers his IMs and we're stuck all alone in a different country. It's not like things will change just because we've left," Nico snapped, closing his new trunk with a loud snapping sound.

"Things have always been hard for you, I know. But big changes are coming your way. Make sure you visit the Oracle before you leave camp," Hades stated, fading back towards the shadows.

"Wait! You can't just show up and be cryptic like that and then just leave!" Nico exclaimed, whirling to face him. But his father was already gone, leaving darker shadows in his place.

HPPJ

Thousands of miles away, Harry Potter was wishing he could get to his trunk downstairs. He was locked in his bedroom again, all alone with only Hedwig for company. His aunt, uncle, and cousin had all left an hour ago, and Harry was just waiting for them to get back to have the torment begin once more. The worst part for him was knowing that none of his friends would be able to help him. He was stuck here every summer. Well, only one more summer now. He'd turn seventeen next July, and he'd be able to leave this place and never return.

He watched the street outside of his window longingly, wishing he could just go outside. He had a feeling a lot of things would be changing this year.

"You're right, you know. This year at Hogwarts will you your best and strangest yet," a man said behind him. Harry whirled around in shock. He hadn't heard the tell-tale signs of apparation, and he wasn't sure who this man was.

"How did you get in here?" he demanded nervously, hand going to his pocket where his wand would normally hide. But his wand was locked away in the cupboard under the stairs, along with any other piece of magic that could help him.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to get a good look at the man you became. You won't recognize me like this, but I recognize you Harry. You've grown into a perfect young man," he replied, smiling pleasantly.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, backing up to the window. If it became necessary, he could escape that way. He'd probably (definitely) hurt himself, but he could get out.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. You're not ready to hear that yet. But you know me, just... not in this form," the man stated, still smiling. "I looked very different all those years ago. You have your mother's eyes, you know."

Harry had heard that so many times that he wasn't even phased. He could hear his uncle's car pulling into the driveway, and the man across from him frowned. His eyes darkened with hatred that wasn't directed towards Harry.

"I'm sorry, this is confusing... you still haven't given me your name," Harry said, trying to stall for time. Sure, he hated his family, but maybe they could get this man out of here. He hadn't pulled a wand and Harry thought that maybe he was a muggle thief.

"The name that I used last time I was here... well, I go by James down here," he stated, nodding to himself. "I could tell you everything, but it isn't time. You'll understand by the time the school year ends. I promise."

Harry must have blinked or something, because one second the man was there and the next he had vanished. It wasn't apparation, but it was definitely some form of magic. He could hear his aunt and uncle banging around in the kitchen, and he knew that Dudley would already be watching television as he would all night.

Just three more weeks and Harry would be back at Hogwarts, back in his true home. He couldn't wait.