Chapter 2

Nico was not the happiest or luckiest person in the world. One can even say he was just the opposite, perhaps only 2nd in worst luck to Percy Jackson. He had to get to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that day.

Of course, he must first wake up on the wrong side of his bed. As the Ghost King, he first had to handle all the mess of ghosts refusing to go to the Underworld. Then, he had to handle all the paperwork for Charon and Hades.

Charon wanted to make sure that all the dead had their drachmas paid for and those who didn't had to get this long report with all such incidents and percentiles on how they should get off. Hades needed all his complains from the Olympian gods filed and answered.

Problem was, technology and half-bloods didn't get along. He had to hand-write all the papers and with dyslexia, it was near impossible. When he was finally finished with all his work, he was thankful that the time difference in Britain was large enough for him to pack his luggage.

His luggage consisted of basically some coats, and his whole collection of weapons which was literally a small armory. "The wonders of shadow travel," he thought as he made his way to Hogwarts.

*I am just a line I am just a line I am just a line*

Dumbledore had, thankfully, known of Shadow Travel beforehand. "Good evening, Nico," he greeted. "Good evening, Professor," Nico replied bowing.

"No need for such formalities. I believe the goddess told you that I have need of your help," he started. Nico nodded. "I know that in Hogwarts we have plenty of subjects already. However, I am adding this subject not in hope to make your relationship with the Gryffindors bad. I feel the need to teach and educate them in the Dark Arts," he continued.

"I understand sir," Nico responded. He knew full well after Hecate's talk about the houses that he would most likely end up in Slytherin anyway. He started analyzing his surroundings. Hogwarts had a strange air to it.

It had a strange feeling of home, but also certain wariness, like he had things to fear and yet should feel at home. "Your room is behind your classroom, you can set-up your items and prepare for the new school year," Dumbledore explained.

With that, Nico stepped out of the headmaster's office the 'normal' way. As soon as he walked down the stairs, he knew why the strange feeling existed at Hogwarts.

Ghosts.

They made him feel at ease because he could summon them at will, yet the uneasiness was because these ghosts never did pledge loyalty to Hades or Pluto or even Thanatos.

The ghosts froze at the sight of him. "My Lord… My Liege…" they stuttered out. "At ease," he responded with experience. "Please, don't bow to me here. I'm… not supposed to be known, as far as anyone is concerned, I'm just a simple wizard who studies the Dark Arts," he continued.

The ghosts nodded stiffly. "If you ever need assistance, I would be glad to help," the Bloody Baron offered. Nico nodded and proceed to his room.

It was rather simple. He began unpacking. Dumbledore had assured him that no one could come in without the password for the portrait. First, he placed his robes and potions (courtesy of Hecate) in a neat order.

Unlike Percy or in fact many demigods with the few exceptions which included the Athena cabin, he was a neat freak. His potions were all in order according to uses and his clothes were based by days (it would be useless to do them by color as all were black or dark grey).

Next of course were his weapons. Ranging from daggers to shields, he hanged them on the walls. He would normally secure them in place, but this was an un-familiar place, which meant that he could possibly get attacked in his room. Hence, he hanged them just right so that with the right amount of force, they would come off.

After finishing all his unpacking, he looked around, his room was rather personalized. Yet, it lacked a touch from his cabin back at camp. The creepiness was missing.

If I'm going to stay here for the rest of the year, I might as well make it feel more like camp. He thought. He whipped out his wand, trying it out with a few flicks. He imagined the candles disappearing, the candles flickered out and dropped to the ground.

The room fell to darkness. He then tried summoning some torches from the underworld. It wasn't as easy as it seemed. I don't know any spells he tried telling Hecate through the wand. Words started to flow through his head- words that didn't make any sense. That should work his mind rang.

After waking up (he blacked out after Hecate's involvement), he knew what spell he could use. He guessed that Hecate gave him all the necessary spells and uses. "Accio torches."

The torches from the underworld burning with green flames hung around his room. That looks better he thought before he got to bed.

*I am just a line I am just a line I am just a line*

The Golden Trio had just gotten to Diagon Alley. After much pleading with Molly, she decided to let them go for one afternoon, that is, after many warnings to not look for trouble.

As they walked out from the Joke Shop, Harry spotted Draco Malfoy. "Ron, Hermione, do you see what I see?" Harry got ready to tail Malfoy.

"Molly told us not to go looking for trouble…" Hermione started. Harry had already started following Draco, Ron after him. Hermione muttered something about two idiots looking for trouble under her breath before following them.

The Malfoys went into a shop. The trio stood near as they watched more Death Eaters enter. "See? I bet this is some ceremony to introduce Malfoy to the Death Eaters," Harry proved a point he made earlier.

They could barely make out anything they were saying.

"There's one other… at Hogwarts… Learn well…"

That was all they caught. By that time, the setting sun was casting its radiant glow and they had to go back to the burrow.

*I am just a line I am just a line I am just a line*

"There is a new professor at Hogwarts. Based on my intel, he teaches a new subject, the Dark Arts!" the Dark Lord cackled. "And Albus Dumbledore does not stop it!" This time, all the Death Eaters laughed in a crazy manner.

"However, this professor may yet be of use for us. His family name is Angelo. They were once a powerful family, as some of you might know. That might be over a century ago, yet the facts are there. The Angelos were one of the most pure of blood families back in the 19th century before they moved to Italy," Voldemort continued.

"Draco, you have one more mission. Get that professor on our side. The Angelos had a power long forgotten. They had an affinity with death. They attracted death, some records say, but never suffered it. He will be of use," the Dark Lord assigned.

Although one would believe that Voldemort merely knew a lot, the truth was, he learned about Maria di Angelo from his father. His father was none other than a son of Hades.

Voldemort had disowned any relationships to Hades long ago. Yet, he only knew recently that he should not have done so. Only a person who had ichor in their veins could successfully claim the title of Ghost King. The Angelos attracted death, with a son of the Angelos, he could get him to summon Hades (who was probably Nico's great-grandfather as Voldemort believed), and Hades would have no choice but to give him the title.

What Voldemort did not know was that the power over all ghosts was dangerous, and that the person he got Draco to get, was the Ghost King himself.

AN: I hope you like this chapter. In case any of you don't know, the line breaker is for change-of-scenes or time-skip. All those who reviewed have a chocolate! And that's it, hope to come back soon. Review! Criticism is welcome but flames aren't. - I am Void