Chapter 2

Harry led Ron and Hermione to the only carriage with any seats. There were three people inside. Harry recognised the two exchange students from Diagon Ally. Will was once again talking to Nico, who injected something, causing Will to throw his head back in laughter. The third occupant was an adult, the only one Harry had ever seen on the Hogwarts express, a very careworn man, with threadbare clothes. Hermione knocked tentatively on the door, and Will looked over.

"Come in!" he exclaimed in an exited tone, causing Nico to roll his eyes.

"Harry, right? We met in Diagon Ally!" Harry nodded, and said in answer to Ron and Hermione's questioning looks.

"Will, this is Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. You guys, this is Will Solace and Nico di Angelo, transfer students from America." Hermione started to eagerly question them on schooling in America, to which they gave monosyllabic, and extremely stilted answers. Even Ron seemed to notice their discomfort, so he cut Hermione off, gesturing to the sleeping man.

"Wonder who he is?"

"Professor R.J. Lupin." Hermione answered at once. Ron rolled his eyes at Harry.

"How does she know everything?"

Nico muttered something to Will, ("Annabeth") causing Will to chuckle.

"It's on his case." Said Hermione exasperatedly.

Ron and Hermione kept glancing at Harry, wondering what Harry had wanted to tell them, but Harry sent them a look as if to say later.

"So what school did you go to before Hogwarts?" Harry asked, he was interested, he had never heard of foreign wizarding schools.

"Chiron's academy." Nico spoke up for the first time. "Apparently Chiron, trainer of Heroes, once taught there." Will snorted. When they looked at him strangely he just muttered

"Inside joke."


"Anything from the trolley dears?" The kind faced woman who pushed the trolley asked from outside the carriage. Harry walked outside and bought a large assortment of sweets for him and his friends. Will followed behind him.

"Jellybeans, please." The woman smiled kindly at him and handed him a box of Bertie Botts every flavour beans.

Entering the compartment Harry unloaded the sweets onto an empty chair and told the compartment at large:

"Help yourselves."

Will opened the box and offered one to Nico, who took it without looking, a risky thing to do with Bertie Botts. He popped in his mouth and frowned.

"It tastes like… Potatoes? What the H…" But before he could finish his sentence Will started gagging on his bean.

"Oh my Gods! Chilli! What are these?"

"Bertie Botts every flavour beans. Don't you have them in America?" Ron asked.

Nico shook his head.

"Will, we have to show Reyna these!" He exclaimed; the most enthusiastic Harry had ever seen him. Will chuckled.

"Yeah, she'd love them."

Nico threw a bean in the air and caught it in his mouth, but as soon as he tasted the flavour his eyes widened and he started to choke. Will pulled a tissue out of his jeans pocket and handed it to Nico, who spat out the offending confectionary.

"What you get?" Ron asked nonchalantly "Vomit?" Nico shuddered.

"Worse, pomegranate." Will shot him a sympathetic look, but Hermione looked as nonplussed as Harry felt. When he felt their questioning gazes on him, Nico shifted uncomfortably.

"Long story." He muttered, not meeting their eyes.

They talked about mundane topics for a while, even Nico interjected sometimes, though not often, but after a while three of the people Harry disliked the most walked in the door.

"Well look who it is," Malfoy drawled. "Potty and the Weasel." This caused Crabbe and Goyle to chuckle stupidly.

"I heard your father finally got his hands on some Gold this summer Weasley. Did your Mother die of shock?" Ron stood up, but before he could say anything Nico spoke.

"Like yours did when she saw your face?" Harry snorted. Malfoy surveyed Nico and Will.

"Ah yes, the transfers from America, my Father told me about you. Father has very high connections in the ministry, you see." He held out his hand to Nico.

"Name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. You haven't been here long enough to know who to hang out with. I could help you there." Nico's lip curled.

"I'm a better judge of character than you think Malfoy." He didn't move.

"Your choice." Malfoy shrugged. "Come on Crabbe, Goyle." And he left the compartment.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Will laughed.

"Not your best insult, di Angelo." Nico shrugged.

"What's with the name thing anyway?" Will inquired, "Who does he think he is, James Bond?" Hermione and Harry laughed, but Ron and Nico looked confused.

"Who's James Bond?" Nico asked and Will turned to him.

"You've never heard of James Bond?" Nico shook his head.

"Well, that's on our to see list." Will declared, causing Nico to groan.

"Seriously, Solace? How many is that now?" Will just chuckled.

"Who is James Bond, though?" Ron asked.

"Muggle film." Harry explained. Ron opened his mouth again, probably to ask what a film was, but Hermione cut him off.

"Don' t worry Ronald."


The train began to slow, and they started to rise, believing they were at Hogwarts, when the lights suddenly flickered off.

"What's going on?" Ron asked.

"Nico!" Will sighed. He didn't sound concerned though, he sounded exasperated.

"It wasn't me! Gods you jump to conclusions."

"Sorry."

Soon they were joined by Ginny and Neville, and were debating about what was going on when a hoarse voice rang out through the compartment.

"Quiet." Professor Lupin was awake, holding a handful of flames.

Just at that moment the compartment door opened, and a hooded figure glided into the room. And Harry's world dissolved into blackness.


Hermione didn't know what to do. As soon as the Dementor had entered the compartment, Nico, Will and Harry had seemingly fainted. Lupin stepped forward, though he was obviously shaken, and drew his wand.

"We're not hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks, leave." When the Dementor didn't retreat Lupin muttered something under his breath and a silver shape shot at the Dementor, causing it to withdraw out into the corridor. Hermione was impressed, banishing a Dementor was quite a feat from what she'd read. Even the ancient Greeks had a myth about them. They said that the blood of the memory Goddess (Mnemosyne) and the Goddess of misery (Akhlys) mixed on the soil of Tartarus and from that spot the Dementors arose.

Suddenly Nico started screaming, guttural screams that shouldn't be made by anyone, let alone a teenage boy. This seemed to rouse the other boys from their stupors, and Harry shot up, looking around. Will immediately rushed to Nico's side and shook him by the shoulders.

"Nico! C'mon sunshine, wake up!" Will continued shaking Nico until the boy's screams died down and his eyes snapped open. He stared wildly around the compartment, drawing his knees to his chest. His eyes finally settled on Will, and he let out a shaky breath. Will held out his hand, and Nico took it for a second, before drawing away. Why did he do that? It made no sense to Hermione. Will looked around and asked:

"Does anyone have chocolate?" Lupin nodded, looking faintly surprised.

"How did you know?" He handed Will, Nico and Harry a large piece of chocolate each, and smaller pieces to the others.

"Ummm…" Will faltered, a look of panic passing across his face so quickly that Hermione wondered if she had imagined it. Nico spoke up quietly, pausing from nibbling on his piece of chocolate.

"Will took a selective module on healing magic at our old school." Lupin nodded, but his brow was still furrowed. He strode out of the compartment telling them that he needed to speak to the driver.

After a while of eating their chocolate in silence Harry spoke up.

"Why did we faint, and not you guys?"

"Memories." Nico spoke so quietly it was almost inaudible. "The Dementors bring out your worst memories and force you to relieve them." He shuddered, and pulled his arms tighter around his knees. Will laid a hand on his arm, and Nico slowly began to unravel his arms from around his knees. Professor Lupin came the compartment, and looked around.

"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. Are you alright?" He looked at Nico and Harry, pausing briefly on Will.

Will nodded quickly to Lupin, and Lupin gave a half-smile and walked out.

They didn't talk for the rest of the journey, and when they reached the platform Hagrid called out to them.

"Alrigh' you three? Will? Nico?"

They didn't get a chance to reply as the crowd shunted them forward, until they reached the carriages. Harry, Ron and Hermione ducked into the carriage straight away, but they noticed that Will and Nico didn't follow. When the looked outside for the duo they saw that Nico was patting thin air, as if grooming a horse.

Will looked back at Harry, and said:

"What are they?"

Harry was nonplussed.

"Uh… there's nothing there." Ron told Will, looking worried. Nico turned.

"Skeletal horses?" Nico asked, causing Hermione to gasp.

"Thestrals!" she exclaimed "I never knew they pulled the school carriages!"

She turned to Ron and Harry.

"We can't see them because they can only be seen by people that have seen…" Here she faltered, but continued. "…seen death."

Will looked again at the Thestrals, before turning and entering the carriage, Nico muttered something to the Thestral before following suit.

As they stepped out of the carriage Malfoy came strutting up to them, asking in a drawling voice.

"You three fainted? You actually fainted?" Nico glared at Malfoy, but Malfoy ignored him.

"Did they scare you that much?" At these words Nico launched himself at Malfoy, but Will grabbed him, and stopped him from reaching Malfoy. Will looked Malfoy straight in the eye, and those blue eyes-which were usually happy- were steely and projected hate.

"Do you know what the Dementors do, Malfoy?" His voice was so dangerous that Draco merely shook his head.

"I didn't think so. I suggest that find out. The Dementors have nothing to do with fear, and I suggest that in the future you get your facts strait before sprouting ignorant observations." Malfoy gave Will a half-hearted glare, but quailed under the intensity of the healer's gaze, and turned and made his way into the Great Hall, muttering something about his father.

"Do you want to get expelled before we've even started?" Will asked Nico.

"He deserved it." Nico ground out between clenched teeth.

"Agreed. But Nico, you can't beat up anyone unless they hit you first."

"Yes, mother." Nico said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"I just don't want to get kicked out."


They had just reached the doors when Professor McGonagall called out.

"Potter! Granger! I'd like to see you in my office! And the two transfer students, if you please!"

When they entered her office she sat down and looked at them.

"I heard you three were taken ill on the train."

"Yes, but-"

Here Will was cut off as Madame Pomfrey bustled into the room.

"Who is-" But Will gasped when he looked at her.

"Poppy?" He asked, and she stared at him, before engulfing him in a hug.

"Will? What are you doing here?"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"Do you two know each other?" They broke the embrace, and Madame Pomfrey turned to McGonagall.

"Yes, we're related. I haven't seen him in years though." She must be an Aunt

"Well, could you just examine these three before you catch up?"

"Of course."

"We've already had chocolate, it was just the affects of the Dementors." Will interjected, and Pomfrey looked at him briefly.

"Well, there's not much we can do apart from that. Dementors in the school, I'm surprised you were the only three."

She made to leave, but before she did she turned to Nico.

"Many acquaintances of your father inhabit the school. Shall I inform them not to acknowledge you?"

What in Merlin's name did that cryptic message mean? Nico seemed to understand even if Harry didn't because he nodded and thanked her.

"Oh and Will?" She called. "Please come and see me tomorrow, I'd love to catch up, you can tell me the latest from Chiron and Mr D."

"Well, then." McGonagall looked at Will. "You are related on your Father's side?"

Will looked sideways at Nico before answering:

"Yes, ma'am. Are you perhaps related to Εκάτη(Greek for Hecate)?" He said a name in a language Harry didn't know, but McGonagall smiled.

"Her Granddaughter. Well, that's all in order you three. I must have a conversation with Miss Granger about her timetable, and then you two will have to be sorted."

They walked outside and stood in silence for a few minutes. Will's conversation with Pomfrey and McGonagall confused Harry, but he gave up trying to make sense of it, deciding to talk to Hermione later. Hermione came out of McGonagall's office looking very pleased with herself, and they went to get sorted.

Nico walked into the Great Hall, and saw hundreds of students turn to look at him and Will, making him inwardly cringe as they were escorted to the front of the Hall. Dumbledore glanced at them, eyes twinkling.

"These are our transfer students from America, they will be joining third year and whatever house they end up in, I hope you will give them a warm welcome!"

McGonagall called out:

"di Angelo, Nico" And gestured for him to walk forward. He approached her, and she whispered to him

"Put on the hat, and you will be sorted."

He sat on the rickety old stool, and placed the threadbare hat on his head.

Ahh… A son of Hades, I see. A small voice whispered in his ear, and he flinched.

"What are you doing in my head?" He retorted angrily, causing the Hall to break out in whispers.

I merely sort you into your Hogwarts house.

Ravenclaw… Fair mind. Good at battle strategy I see, but I feel you wouldn't fit in there.

Hufflepuff… You are loyal to your friends… Memories was brought to the forefront of Nico's mind, himself defending Reyna from Bryce, almost dissolving himself in the process. Travelling to the underworld to talk to Bob. But you have betrayed them in the past… Betraying Percy to his Father. Your loyalties were split. Travelling to the Roman camp, then to the Greek camp, telling neither about the other.

Slytherin… The hat mused. Perhaps. Had you done these things for personal gain. But you were never one to enjoy the limelight.

But THIS… The memory of Croatia assaulted his mind, and he made as if to rip the hat from his head.

"Do not go there." He ground out quietly.

Jason Grace was right. The hat continued, as if Nico hadn't spoken. That IS one of the bravest thing I have seen in a long time. Better be…

"Gryffindor!" This he shouted to the hall, and the table Harry was sitting at erupted into cheers. Ron waved him over, and he slid into the seat, murmuring thanks. He turned in time to see Will place the hat on his head.


Will saw Nico say something to the hat, his knuckles white. The hat suddenly shouted

"Gryffindor!" Nico made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Ron.

"Solace, William."

Will made his way to the stool, and placed the hat on his head.

Apollo, hmmm? The hat spoke into Will's mind. You have none of his arrogance, I see. Fair brain for medicine and healing. Not quite a Ravenclaw. Definitely not Slytherin. Plenty of compassion and loyalty, perhaps Hufflepuff. But I see here…

Memories of the Titan war, diving into the fray to pull out wounded campers. The Giant war, running off to distract a horde of angry Romans. Such foolish bravery, better be…

"Gryffindor!"

Will stood up, and made his way to sit next to Nico in the cheering mass of red and gold.

A/N- So I made my reasons for the houses pretty clear, but if anyone wants to question it, feel free to PM me.

I better explain my headcannon about Madame Pomfrey. Okay, so Will was taken to camp at age five because his mother couldn't deal with the monsters. During the year Chiron took care of him, but in the summer Madame Pomfrey came to camp and took care of Will, she is a sort of mother figure, but also a daughter of Apollo, and her mother was a witch.

I am not sure when I will next update because school is evil.

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