Order of the Demigods chapter 2.
I'm glad to hear how popular (ish) this story is. I really need a cover photo for it, so it'd be cool if someone out there could make one. I don't really want pictures of the characters on it, and it needs to be clear it's a xover. Aside from that, you can have free reign. Email it to rainbow_raptor .uk and it'll get to me. Thanks. And may I remind you that this is semi-AU, so any continuity issues like Ron and Hermione being prefects are probably on purpose.
And, I don't know if I should reset this in Prisoner of Azkaban instead, because Nico and Dementors would sure be cool. I need advice!
On the train.
Nearly all the compartments were full. Ron huffed as he dragged his trunk down the train after Hermione in search for an empty compartment. Harry followed him, grumbling. Finally, they found a compartment and sat down, sliding the door shut after them.
Nico kept on walking down the train, looking for another compartment.
Inside the golden Trio's booth, Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He sat next to Hermione, with Harry opposite them. Hermione pulled out a book from her trunk the moment she sat down.
Wizarding Schools of the World.
She flicked through the book before moving to the index. Trailing her finger down the page, she found schools listed under 'D'. There was Delhi institute of Magic, Denmark school of the Magical Arts, and Djibouti Academy of Magical Learning. There was no Delphi Academy of Magic in the book.
"So he was lying?" Ron asked.
"Don't be so quick to accuse, Ron," Hermione retorted, "Some newer schools aren't listed here, and some schools don't want to be. There's a good chance Delphi Academy of Magic does exist, it's just not in the book." Harry was quiet.
"But…what was that weird appearing-out-of-the-darkness thing he did?" Harry asked, "I've never heard of it. Hermione?" He asked. Obviously, the bushy haired girl, being the know-it-all of the group, was asked this.
"I don't know," She started. Ron gave a mock gasp in response, "He's definitely not old enough to apparate, but I don't know what else it could have been." She thought for a moment, frowning. Then, a tap on the glass made them all jump. Standing in the train's corridor was the boy, Nico, from earlier. Harry slid the door open and Nico grinned at them.
"Everywhere else is full, and I don't fancy going into that compartment." He said, gesturing down the train to where they could clearly see Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle laughing at a passing first-year from inside a compartment. "So, can I come in here?" He asked. Harry nodded, and Nico dragged in his trunk and sat down next to him. Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks.
Harry pulled out his wand and put it on the table. Nico remembered receiving his from his father, a week before he was aware of the mission, and checked his pocket to see if it was there. Surprisingly, it was still there. He put his wand on the table next to Harry's, and compared them. His wand was midnight black, and had a gorgon's hair (a very thin, dead snake) as the core. It was made of the wood of a tree from the fields of Asphodel, and was 15 inches long, and brittle. Harry's wand looked friendlier, shorter, and just a whole lot better.
"So… Hermione, right?" He started, "Any pointers on how to survive Hogwarts?" Ron rolled his eyes, and for the next half an hour, they explained about the numerous secret passages around the castle, how to avoid Filch the caretaker and his cat Mrs Norris, and what to expect for detentions from different teachers.
"…And that's why you should never provoke Snape." Harry finished dramatically. Nico snorted, amused. Ron and Hermione looked at each other suspiciously again, before all but dragging Harry out of the compartment with them.
"Er…Bathroom." Ron excused lamely, as Harry followed them outside the compartment.
"What was that for?" Harry hissed at his best friends, annoyed that they'd interrupted him. "I was just getting to know the new kid."
"Harry, mate, that kid's seriously creepy," Ron began, "For all we know, he could be a junior Death Eater." Harry had to hold back a snort of his own at this. The kid was thirteen and Ron was accusing him of supporting Voldemort? That was far-fetched.
"Seriously? He-" Harry argued.
"He did that creepy shadow thing outside, and his school might not exist. We have reason enough to suspect him." Hermione added. The argument continued.
Inside the compartment, Nico heard the whole thing. When they came back in, he was a bit confused. They had mentioned a 'Dark Lord' which sounded a lot like dear old dad to him. Chiron hadn't explained this bit to him, just that he needed to protect Harry. They'd said he might have been a Death Eater: a supporter of the Dark Lord. If the Dark Lord was Hades, Nico wasn't sure if he supported him or not. Hades could be very temperamental, but he did love his son underneath the rough exterior.
He coughed. They all looked at him. He pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet, and pointed to an article which read: Mulciber confirmed working for the Dark Lord.
"Erm… who's you- sorry, who's the dark lord?" He asked. No-one missed his near mistake. He'd nearly said who's your Dark Lord. Cursing in Greek under his breath, he waited for an answer. The others exchanged looks again.
"Very, very evil wizard." Harry answered. "He killed lots of people, including my parents, and he tried to kill me, but failed."
Nico sighed in relief; it wasn't Hades after all. No, he could remember being told something about a Lord Voldemort, which must've been the Dark Lord they were talking about.
"Oh." He said, not quite knowing what to say in a situation like this. Luckily, they were interrupted by the food trolley going past. Nico got up and walked up to the trolley, where he bought some liquorice wands, a chocolate frog, and some Bone Flavour Skulls. He dug into his pockets and pulled out some golden drachmas. Ron and Hermione were confused by this; why wasn't he using galleons/sickles/knuts instead?
She accepted two drachmas from Nico, before handing him his sweets. He looked at her coldly as she examined the coins, and she gulped.
The woman pushed the trolley on without even asking the others if they would like anything to eat. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at him in surprise. He muttered a curse under his breath in Ancient Greek.
"What language was that?" Hermione asked, eager for information like a bloodhound on a scent, "I haven't heard of anything like it before. And what were those coins? They weren't galleons. Where was your old school? Where do you live?" She asked, rapid-fire question-ing him.
Nico glared at her. It was nice when they were all talking, like friends who'd known each other for months. Now, under the suspicious stares of her and Ron, he felt threatened and put his barriers back in place, becoming the sulking, antisocial teen he usually was again. And why were they trying to find out about him? Had he done something wrong or acted suspiciously?
"My, ah, paternal language, you could say." He answered, "And as for the other questions, well, wouldn't you like to know!?" He said sarcastically. Hermione and Ron frowned, and Nico realised he was standing up, heart beating fast, his body preparing for fight-or-flight. Clenching his fists, he sat down again and ate his sweets. He particularly enjoyed the Bone Flavour Skulls which made him reminisce about his home in the palace of Hades. The rest of the train ride passed in silence.
When they got off the train, Nico left his luggage in the carriage with the others' and let himself be caught up in the tide of people. They arrived at a place filled with ornate carriages, and the things pulling the carriages-
My lord, Nico heard in his head. "Gah!" He said, startled by the mysterious voices. Harry looked at him questioningly. "Er… Headache," he hastily explained. Harry, too, seemed transfixed by the strange creatures. They had somewhat reptilian scaly black skin, with flowing manes, also black. What are those things, he thought to himself. He didn't expect an answer.
We are Thestrals, he heard a voice say. He looked around and saw a large Thestral behind him. You can only see us if you've seen death, the Thestral explained. Another voice, one sounding younger, spoke to him.
We have been awaiting you, lord. It said. Suddenly he heard a murmuring of more voices in his head, thanking him for coming to them.
Wait, why are you thanking me? He thought at them.
We are spirits from the Underworld, one said, Created by our King, Hades. Your father. You are our Prince.
Nico now understood how Percy felt in the presence of horses. Nodding, he got into the nearest carriage. Strangely (or not), nobody wanted to ride with him, so he got going quickly. He could feel the young thestral's pride at pulling the carriage with Nico in it.
When they got to the doors of the castle, he hopped out. A witch in a green tartan dress stepped up to him.
"Ah, you would be Mr Angelo, correct?" She asked. He nodded. "I am Professor McGonagall. Please wait here for someone to collect you after the first-years have been sorted." She told him, gesturing to a small door he hadn't seen yet. He obeyed, opening the door and walking in. The small, simple room had only a candle and an armchair in it. Suddenly tired, Nico sank onto the armchair and drifted off to sleep.
He was awoken by a hand on his shoulder. Immediately, he twisted his skull ring on his middle finger, summoning his Stygian Iron sword into his hand, startled by the sudden contact. The bearded old man who woke him chuckled.
"There will be no need for that just yet, Mr Angelo. Or do you prefer Nico?" He asked. Nico hastily touched the skull emblem on his sword and it shrank back into a ring. This old man didn't look like much of a threat.
"Nico is fine. Wait, how did you know me?" Nico said, confused.
"I am Professor Dumbledore. I spoke to Chiron about protection for Harry Potter. I know who you are, but a lot of the teachers don't. So be careful what you let slip. None of the students know."
"Professor, could you tell me who does know?" He asked politely.
"Myself and Professor McGonagall know exactly who you are. Madam Pomfrey knows about your world and that you are a demigod, but not your parentage. Firenze the centaur knows you are from powerful ancient heritage, but not if you are mortal or a god. A couple more teachers know this, but I shan't bother you with whom just yet."
Nico was disgruntled at how many people knew who he was. He thought this was meant to be a secret mission! Dumbledore seemed to pick up on this, but merely chuckled again.
"Time for your Sorting." He said.
Another chapter done! Next I'm planning on having the Sorting and some Angsty!Nico for you guys. I think I'll have him belonging at Hogwarts more than camp. It's like he doesn't quite fit in at camp, or Hogwarts. Poor Nico! (But he's still kinda… yeah.)
REVIEW PLEASE!
bye