This is my very first fanfiction. I really hope you will be patient with me. I have taken the liberty of manipulating timelines which puts Nico and Hermione at almost the same age. Most will probably find Nico rather OOC, but the main part of the story is set about three years after Blood of Olympus, with flashback-ish episodes to the period between The Last Olympian and Nico's appearance in The Son of Neptune. That means that Nico is around 18-19, so he has had some time to mature and gain a bit of confidence.

Hermione was having a normal day. Or at least it would have been a normal day, had she been a normal person. For Hermione, having a quiet day, relaxing in the sun, was quite abnormal.

Naturally, she was suspicious. The Fates rarely gave her a 'day off'. Odds were that a monster would be lurking around the next street corner or a dark wizard was creeping up on her from behind. A lot of Voldemort's followers had fled when they saw they were fighting a losing battle. That was about a month ago, she would be foolish not to be on guard. It wasn't more than a couple of days ago, that Weasley Wizard Wheezes had been vandalized. Molly had been beside herself, but that was really her general status since the war.

Even so, Hermione felt relatively safe. She had her wand strapped to her forearm and wore a very special, very useful hairpin. That was really all the safety she could expect, or ask for.

She was going to meet Harry and Ron at The Three Broomsticks. She was fine with meeting Harry, but she was getting a little fed up, with Ron's pushiness. Just because Harry and Ginny were riding happily into the sunset, it didn't mean they had to do the same. She had trouble looking at him in that way. Gods, she had tried, but it just didn't work. He had a hard time realizing that.

The three of them had been visiting Hogsmeade to check on the rebuilding of the village and the castle, but they had split up. She to the bookshop and Harry and Ron to Quality Quiddich Supplies.

That suited her just fine. She didn't really understand the need to spend 45 minutes looking at broomstick polish. Books however were something else. Five types of polish, the boys said, but there were millions of types of books, ready to take you anywhere.

She was supposed to be dyslexic, but then again, she was supposed to be a lot of things. The running theory was that magic had fixed that part, thank the Gods. Reading was her lifeline, and her knowledge had saved them on numerous occasions. Of course, all her knowledge didn't come from books. Some things need to be lived in person, but knowing what you're dealing with, is generally better, before charging in. She had been in some hairy situations over the years, and it always pays to be prepared. No matter what, knowing your enemy would always be an advantage.

She was walking through the small cobblestone streets, and had almost reached the pub, when she saw a familiar face, that was completely out of place.

Standing near the fountain across the square was a young man looking directly at her, with a very serious expression.

He was taller and broader than the last time she saw him. Granted, last time she saw him, he was basically anorexic. That was five years ago. But there he stood, dressed in black, looking gorgeous.

Nico di fucking Angelo.

She could see the boys waving at her through the window of the pub, but she really had no choice but to send them an apologetic glance and walk up to the mysterious young man.

And slap him. Hard.

"Where in Hades, have you been?!" She hissed.

He chuckled. And smiled crookedly, seemingly not at all affected by the rather hard slap he just received. Infuriating bastard.

"Funny choice of words, Princess."

She blushed, having momentarily forgotten that this was probably exactly the place he had been spending his time.

He took both her hands and looked at her, suddenly serious. He hesitated, as if he couldn't find his words.

"This isn't a social call, is it?" she whispered.

"I would have come for you either way, but no. Unfortunately, it isn't."

"Are your friends okay?" She felt a cold sense of dread settling in her stomach.

"For now, but things are going to shit fast. I need to bring you in. It's not safe for you anymore. Not even in the magical community, and it isn't safe for them. We need get away from here, fast." He said urgently.

Hermione sighed heavily. So much for a normal day.

"All right Ghost King. Sweep me off my feet."

He grinned and led her away by her hand.

…

Harry and Ron had gotten tired of waiting. They exited the pub just in time to see their best friend being led away into the shadows behind a house, hand in hand with a strange guy who didn't look at all benign. Especially judging by the black sword hanging by his side.

Harrys face went white. Rons just turned an alarming shade of hot pink.

As soon as they turned around the corner Harry and Ron sprinted after them. Only to find the alley completely empty.

"Who the hell was that guy?!" Ron exploded.

"I don't know! Maybe a Death Eater?"

"I don't think so. They looked pretty cozy didn't they." Ron was now almost purple.

"I think we need to contact the aurors. Don't you feel it? I get the creeps from just standing here. There's got to be dark magic involved. It doesn't make any sense!"

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but why would she go with him if he was a Death Eater?"

"Maybe she was under the Imperius curse" Harry said, wide eyed.

"But he didn't look like any Death Eater we know, and Hermione can throw off the Imperius without even trying. She probably just got another boyfriend or something" Ron ground out.

"Again, it doesn't make any sense. She was supposed to meet us here. Why would she want to meet us here, only to go with someone else?"

"I don't know, but can't she take care of herself? She doesn't need us." Ron sulked.

Harry sighed. "Ron, you're not together, you know that, right?"

"But we should be! Everyone thinks so!"

"No. You wouldn't be right for each other like that. You would only end up resenting each other, ruining your friendship."

"You don't know that!" Ron exploded. "We're meant to be! She just needs to give us a chance! I know, I could make her happy!"

Harry, who was used to his friend's temper, figured it was time for a change in subject.

"Maybe, I don't know, but right now, she might be in danger. We should go see the aurors."

He took Ron's arm, and apparated away.