Okay, I'll be honest and say I'm rather disappointed at not getting any reviews. I'm going to be updating every weekend or every other weekend on bad weeks. I may update more often, but only on request.

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A Trip to Hogwarts and a Talking Hat

Nico POV

Nico woke up blinking in the bright light. He glared at his loud owl and if he didn't know better he would have thought it glared back. As he glanced at a nearby clock he realized with a jolt he had to leave for the Hogwarts Express in thirty minutes.

Jumping out of the warm bed the cool morning air made him shiver and wrap his arms around his bare chest. He staggered into the bathroom to shower and was greeted by his extremely pale face in the mirror. He had dark shadows under his eyes that he made a face at. 'Can't be helped' He told himself firmly before he could sink into one of his darker moods and ruin the trip to Hogwarts.

He took a quick shower and feeling refreshed threw on some clean clothes and grabbed a piece of toast. A quick glance at the clock as he lifted up his trunk showed that he has ten minutes to get to platform 9 ¾. Thanking the darkness of his room he shadow traveled to the train station.

He a greeted by a wall that said nine on one side and ten on the other. He just stared at the wall in confusion. He knew he'd wanted to travel to the correct platform. Where was it though?

"Where in the world is platform 9 ¾?" he muttered to himself looking from the nine to the ten. He figured it has something to do with the wall in between, but couldn't seem to figure it out.

He heard a commotion and turned to see a family of redheads walking swiftly and with purpose toward the wall. He could tell from the large trunks and outdated clothes that they must be going to Hogwarts.

"Pardon me," he said quietly, just loud enough to be heard as he stepped towards the loud family. "Could you tell me how to get to platform 9 ¾?"

"Oh of course, it's Ron and Harry's first times too," the woman who was clearly the mother said gesturing to her smallest son and a very puzzled looking Harry. Before Nico could say anything she'd ushered the twin boys through the wall and Ron and Harry had also run through. He pulled his trunk into position in front of the wall. As he ran forward he closed his eyes as he passed through on instinct.

With a rush of cool air Nico stepped onto platform 9 ¾. He looked around taking in the families saying goodbye before getting on the huge train. Walking towards the odd red train he couldn't help but marvel at how old fashioned it was. Pulling his luggage behind him he saw a group of students with golden badges collecting all the trunks. He dropped his trunk with the others before turning and walking back towards the train.

He leapt on with catlike grace barely using the offered hand from someone to get in. Gliding down the aisle looking through the rooms on either side he searched for Draco or even Harry.

"Hey! Di Angelo!" he heard a voice he recognizes call out to him. He backed up and leaned into a compartment two doors back.

"Hey Malfoy," he said as he slid into a seat by Draco.

"Nico, meet Crabbe and Goyle," Draco said.

Nico nodded to the two bulky figures. They reminded him of less cuddly versions of Frank. A smile twitched at the corners of his lips at the thought.

"What house do you think you'll be in Nico?" Draco asked as the train began to move.

"House?" Nico responded confused.

"Ya, there's Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw."

"Huh. All of those have pretty stupid names. Especially Hufflepuff."

"I'm hoping to be in Slytherin. They say only the evil wizards come out of that house. That's blasphemous though, seeing as most of the darkest wizards came from Griffindor. I like to think as the wizards coming out of Slytherin as the more clever wizards willing to make a change in the world."

Nico raised an eyebrow at Draco's speech. "Well if that's the case then I hope I'm in Slytherin. I bet Potter will be in Griffindor though."

"I heard the half-blood was on this train. Maybe we should meet him."

Nico lets a glare grace his normally expressionless face at Draco's insult of half-blood. "I'm a half-blood," Nico said as he leaned back and crosses his arms.

"Well, I have no problems with half-bloods. It's just Potter who happened to be famous for something he did at age one." Bitterness crept into Draco's voice at the end of the statement and Nico sighed.

"Well, let's go visit this famed 'Boy-Who-Lived' then." Sarcasm seeped into his voice as he said the last half.

"You're right, why don't we? Crabbe. Goyle," Draco said. The two other boys flank Draco as he rose like overgrown puppies as they heard their names. Nico followed a bit further behind and waited away from the compartment to avoid the conversation. He saw Draco say something and extend his hand politely. When nobody took his hand he sneered and made a comment. Nico heard someone from inside the compartment yell something muffled.

Draco just stepped backwards into the corridor and turned to Nico. Draco stormed down the corridor and flung open the door to their compartment.

"Looks like it went well," Nico said sarcastically. He sunk down across from Draco allowing Crabbe and Goyle to sit next to Draco.

"Gee, you think?" Draco answered with a glare in Nico's direction.

Nico was saved from answering as a witch pushed a trolley to their door and asked, "Anything from the trolley dears?"

Nico searched his pockets before realizing he'd left his galleons in his trunk. He sighed and leaned back against the wall trying to ignore his stomach. Draco got up and chose some items from the trolley before sitting down. Nico took some of the offered treats.

He opened a box labeled with something that Nico couldn't read but clearly ended in beans. With a shrug he popped a red colored one in his mouth hoping for something cherry flavored. The foul taste of pomegranate filled his mouth.

With a gag he spat it out into a nearby napkin. "Di Immortals! What are these!"

"Berty Bots Every Flavored Beans. What did you get?" Crabbe asked Nico, speaking up for the first time the whole train ride.

"Pomegranate," He answered with a shudder.

"What's so bad about pomergrantate? I'm rather fond of them," Goyle spoke up next.

"Long story." Nico waved his hand halfheartedly before saying to them, "You know you don't have to sit that close to Draco. He's not going to fly out the window if you give him some space."

Crabbe and Goyle glanced at the ground, uncomfortable. "My father is fostering them as long as they don't leave my side. If I'm hurt or something happens he'll send them back to the orphanage," Draco told Nico.

Nico nodded. "I apologize, and you have my condolences on whatever reason you were sent to an orphanage." Nico quickly changed the subject to ease the tension. "I've never been to Britain before, what's it like here?"

"So that's why you have an accent! It sounds american with a hint of what?" Draco stated. He snapped his fingers thinking of what accent it could be.

"I'm part Italian if that's what you mean." Nico shrugged slightly.

"That's so cool! I've never been anywhere outside of Europe," Crabbe said. He leaned forward looking at Nico.

"What's it like in America?" Draco asked.

"Well, I spend most of my time at a camp and the other part traveling around doing business for my dad…" Nico trailed off. He hoped he hadn't carelessly given anything away. From the look on Crabbe's face you could have thought Christmas had come early.

"I've always wanted to go to America," Crabbe said dreamily. "In fact, anywhere but Europe would be fun to go to. I have to many bad memories of this place." The excitement on his face dimmed a little.

"Whats New York like?" Goyle asked. He laid a hand gently on Crabbe's shoulder in a calming gesture.

Nico proceeded to tell them all about America until he noticed the train was slowing down.

"Shouldn't we be changing into our robes by now?" He asked glancing out the window.

"I didn't realize the time had passed so quickly," Draco said honestly. Nico slipped his robe on over his black shirt and jeans. The others quickly follow before brushing creases out of the ridiculous uniforms.

"These are so stupid!" Draco whined and Nico rolled his eyes at him.

"I look like a bat and that's what you're upset about? What a great friend you are."

Draco snickered in agreement as the train stopped. They all stepped out into the corridor and shoved their way through the thick crowd toward the open doors. Stumbling out Draco muttered a few curses as he tripped on the hem of his robe.

"Firs' years o'er here! Firs' years come 'ere!" Nico turned to see a giant of a man. He twisted his skull ring as he walked towards the man with Draco by his side and Crabbe and Goyle close behind.

"A'right, everyone 'ere? Yes? Okay! Get in the boats everyone!" The big man boomed gesturing toward a dark lake. I gulped and edged forward slowly.

"Hagrid!" I turned around to see Harry push his way to the front of the crowd and say something to Hagrid.

"You aren't afraid of water are you Di Angelo?" Draco mocked while mimicking falling into the inky water.

"As a matter of fact I am, and you should be to. After all I may just shove you in for that." Nico climbed into the boat apologizing to Poseidon and praying in just about every language he had the ability to.

After around his fifth prayer the boats had made it halfway across the lake when a beautiful castle came into view. 'Annabeth would love this,' He told himself as he admired the towering spires and intimidating gate.

A wave hit the side of the boat and Nico gripped the edges as he sent more prayers to Poseidon. He tore his gaze away from the castle and stared intently at the far shore that was steadily approaching. The boats touched the beach and Nico all but fell out of the boat.

The second his feet touch the shore he letsout a big sigh of relief. With nothing eventful happening crossing the lake he relaxed and helped Draco out of the boat. He fought down a cringe at the physical contact. He stepped away self-consciously. He glanced around and Draco rolled his eyes at Nico. As they walked through the huge doors Draco teased Nico continuously about his fear of the water.

He was about to start on a new joke when a severe looking witch in green walks forward. She cleared her throat and even Draco went silent.

"When you enter the great hall you with be sorted into one of the four houses," the witch said before Nico did his best to tune her out. She continued to explain the four houses before turning around and flinging open the large doors.

She marched in with all the first years following in her wake. Careful to not step on anyone's robes they lined up haphazardly per her command. A ratty old hat sitting on a stool sang a song before Dumbledore stood up and said in a loud voice, "I would like to welcome our exchange student from America who will be joining the first year classes. Please welcome Nico Di Angelo with open arms!"

Curious looks and polite applause followed Dumbledore's announcement. "Now, would Mr. Di Angelo please step forward," the witch in green, who Nico suddenly realizes was probably Minerva said curtly.

Nico stepped forward and sat on the stool gently. Worried he might break it he tried to avoid putting all his weight on the stool as the hat is placed on his head.

'Oh! A transfer student who's a demigod eh? A son of Hades no less!' Nico only flinched slightly and struggled to keep his face straight.

'Get out of my head.' He told the hat firmly.

'Now, now, I have to sort you!'

'Then hurry up about it.' Nico snapped as the hat sorted through his memories. The hat writhed in pain as though trying to forget what it sees.

'So much pain!' the hat exclaimed before finishing its investigation of the giant war.

'You have the loyalty of Gryphondor, but the qualities of Slytherin. Not to mention Slythrin will be there even in your worst hour. That house is made of the children with difficult pasts, emotional or physical pain, or just being shunned for what they are. You would fit perfectly there, Son of Hades.'

Before Nico could respond the hat shouted, "Slytherin!" A table at the far left side of the room applauded while the rest of the room stayed silent. Many of the other children looked at him with more suspicion than curiosity at that point. He took a seat at the very end of the table and only tuned in when Draco got placed in Slytherin.

He vaguely noticed that Harry wass the only person to take as long as him to get sorted. Thinking nothing of it he watched his friend approach him.

Nico smiled to himself as he realizes this year was looking up already. He smirked at his friend as Crabbe and Goyle joined them. "Maybe this year won't be so boring after all," Nico said as the feast started and he reached for a piece of chicken.

A/N: Thank you everyone that read this!