Their Own Agenda
By val'tanelle

Summary: Percy, Thalia, and Nico each have their own agenda, except Percy is a wizard, hunting magical creatures is bad, and Voldemort's soul won't easily be taken. Plunged in the problem of mortals and minor gods, the gods are of no help...as usual.

Author's Note: This one took FOREVER. As a consolation, a lot of information in this chapter. Be prepared :D

There's a trivia that children of Hades can summon Stygian iron but I never knew that. Can anyone tell me the reference for this?

Important Fix:I mixed up Britain and England. Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are both in Scotland, Britain. Also revised the first paragraph of chapter 3 for better transition.

EDIT2: Fixed a lot of the way Nico talks. Apparently, he calls his father "Dad" and refers to him much more formally.

EDIT3: Noted Xover Queen's review. Added it so you won't be confused.

Their Own Agenda

Chapter 4: Little Hangleton Whodunit

Nico went off, his thoughts initially occupied with Dumbledore's reaction. What kind of teacher could just shrug if he heard his student's going to get killed? Nico's sure there were probably horrible teachers like that but he didn't expect such thing from Dumbledore. Although he did seem like a dubious, mad scientist guy at first, Dumbledore had that honest, good-guy air from what Nico could tell. Unless he was a perfectly good liar, Nico doubted Dumbledore could kill a fly.

At least not without a good reason.

It didn't take long to get to Hogsmeade, the wizard village where Nico met Hagrid, because as a son of Hades, he could shadow travel and get where he wanted to be. Nico wasn't quite familiar with the world map so he had to drop by his grumpy informer by a pub in Hogsmeade to ask where Little Hangleton was. His discovery was overwhelming that he forgot everything about Dumbledore.

"Excuse me?" Nico asked, jaw dropping.

"Does your brain process slower than mold growing? You said you wanted to know where Little Hangleton is. It's in England in Surrey. Down there," the bartender answered. He pointed his finger down the ground to emphasize.

"Bu-but isn't this in Scotland?" Nico asked again, panicking.

"It is," the bartender said, giving him a weird look.

Nico had never EVER shadow traveled from one country to another even if the two were bordering countries. His trips to China were all by accident. Nico had zero ideas how the heck shadow travelling abroad works. He thought about riding the train instead but that would take hours. Imagine how many monsters would have attacked him by then. Nico couldn't take a plane either or else Zeus would find out what his dad had in mind. Nico had to work quickly and secretly. He breathed in and sighed heavily. There was no other choice.

"I guess I should pray to my dad," Nico thought dryly. He ran toward the shadows and disappeared, his last thoughts being on the anger on his dad's face and the glee on Persephone's if he came back home dead.

The shadows caught him just fine and immediately, Nico's vision went dark. He didn't pass out though like how he always did. He was still running except he seemed to be wrapping through time. He didn't go any faster than he had been but he felt like he was. So fast that his bones were getting crushed by pressure.

Nico held his breath. Never mind the fact he was probably going to collapse after because shadow traveling used up a lot of his energy. But to be able to shadow travel between countries? That was seriously cool.

The distance covered seemed to be proportional to be the duration of shadow traveling. Usually, Nico got to his place in an instant but this one was actually taking a second. Nico was worried something might go wrong until he saw the light at the end of the tunnel—that was his stop. As he prepared to push the breaks and brace himself for the incoming fatigue, something DID go wrong.

He tripped.

Nico tumbled onto the ground and rolled through a patch of overgrown weeds. Nico was sure he did a pretty good imitation of a bouncing rubber ball and it didn't feel very nice.

More importantly, what the heck happened?

"Ugh…pff…" Nico spat the dead leaves from his mouth. He tried to stand up only for his knees to collapse and he promptly fell back to the ground with gravity and dirt in his mouth. "…bad idea."

Even worse, though expected, the side-effects of shadow traveling was kicking in. Nico's eyelids were already dropping. It was thanks to the pain that Nico was still partially awake. He managed to get a good look of where he landed. It looked like he was in someone's garden. If you would call a bunch of weeds a garden anyway. The owner wouldn't probably care if some kid sleeps in here…

"You have work to do," his inner voice said.

"I know."

"Get a move on then."

He mentally shook his hand like he was swatting a fly. "Yea, yea, I know…"

Nico yawned, inhaling tons of dirt. He rolled over to face-up and coughed. When it subsided, he stayed still for a couple of seconds.

"Get up now," his voice said again.

"You're annoying."

The sky was empty of both clouds and the sun. Apollo's probably taking a different route today. That's good. Nico never liked the sun for some reason. It's probably why he'd always stayed underground. He got to admit though. The sky's not half-bad. It had that warm and cool feeling of it like sleeping on the arctic with a superheater blanket. That'd be perfect for hibernation.

Nico stretched and yawned, water filling his eyes. This wasn't so bad. He could just take a few minutes of rest. He'll just skip lunch so he could use the time to sleep for a while.

Nico was back in his nice and cozy home, the dark and unforgiving Underworld. At least that's what Nico thought when he realized there were no souls around. It was dark—even darker compared to the Underworld. He walked around, realizing that he was in a cave on top of a hill. When he came out at its mouth, he saw the black-clad figure of Hades.

"Da-er, my Lord!" Nico cried out, kneeling down immediately. That was a big surprise. He'd never seen his dad outside his domain except the time he joined the battle to save Olympus.

Hades was like the moon on top of the hill. He radiated such a strong power that repelled even the thick darkness around him. Nico could see his dad's figure clearly and his face that locked a poker-face.

"You've arrived at the right place," Hades said. "You've done well."

Nico furrowed his eyebrows, not sure what his dad was referring to. "Th-thank you."

"There seemed to be interferences from one of my nephews…no, it seems they are of another agenda. But you must be careful, Nico. They must not realize what we are up to. What your mission is about. Leave Jackson and other half-bloods to their business."

"Yes, my Lord," Nico said faintly.

Hades frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, my Lord," Nico said hastily. He didn't know what his dad was talking about but Nico felt it was something he should know.

"Oh, what a stupid boy. He doesn't even know the difference between mortal and oracular dreams."

Nico bristled at the familiar voice. Since it was autumn, she was supposed to be with her cereal-loving mother, Demeter. The past few days have certainly been bearable in the Underworld without her.

"Persephone," Nico said icily.

A single stem sprouted from the ground and burst into a full-fledged flower. Colorful petals sprinkled the air and nose-itching floral aroma made Nico sneeze. The petals swirled in one tall column, erupting to reveal the beautiful Persephone. She appeared much older and matured, almost like a splitting-image of Demeter. Her black hair was tied with a grapevine and there were orbs of various fruits adorned on her rainbow-colored dress. She was pretty all right but with all those vegetation hanging on her, Nico couldn't help but snigger.

"Is tree fashion in season?"

Persephone glared venomously at Nico. "Mother made me wear this for our mother-daughter bonding. Ugh, I can't wait for winter so I could take this off. And you better be careful, stupid boy. My temper is short as it is already."

Hades cleared off sunflower petals from his shoulder like brushing off dandruff. "Nico, is what Persephone said true?"

"I don't know what she's talking about," Nico said.

"He probably doesn't know what you told him earlier about his mission," Persephone said lazily.

"Yes I do!" Nico said stubbornly.

"Go on then. Tell him what news I brought him and the mission he entrusted upon you."

Nico hesitated. "Well, I—I kind of remember but—"

"Nico di Angelo," Hades said warningly, his eyes burning that Nico felt frightened. "A demigod's dream is his advantage, his weapon over his enemies. But if you could not differentiate it from a mortal dream, then it is your own grave you're digging…AND MINE!"

Hades' words were like a hammer that wham Nico's head. Awareness whirled in his head and immediately, information finally registered. Nico's eyes widened in realization. "Oh yeah! I have to get Tom Riddle's soul as a peace offering for—"

"Nico!" Hades interrupted harshly. "Be careful of the names you speak! Not only did you fail to realize this as a oracular dream, you dare forget whose domain we are in."

Nico swallowed. "Morpheus."

"Yes," Hades said, slightly placated. "His loyalty is questionable but he's unlikely to be on our side. It's best we don't discuss matters through dreams—"

"Then don't contact me anymore," Nico said. Hades' jaw hang opened from being interrupted but Nico continued, "I will be able to manage on my own. I apologize for my mistakes. I will do better."

Nico looked at his dad's face. He didn't know if Hades were insulted or shocked at Nico's audacity. Hades regained his composure so Nico was able to sigh in relief—mentally. "Very well. Do not waste the blessing given by the Fates. You barely have two days left."

"Yes, my Lord."

The darkness thickened until both Hades and Persephone were covered by it. Nico closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was wide-awake at the ground, starring at the sky.

Nico checked his wristwatch. It was 10:45, fifteen minutes since he was asleep. Nico tried standing up. He felt his body screaming for rest even more but he had no time to waste. He already angered his dad. It was his first demigod-dream and he messed up. Although he had a dream before about Bianca, that doesn't count. He had to get a move on. If neither Zeus nor Poseidon realized what he was doing, it would be Athena who would catch him first.

Zeus had only confided with his brother and entrusted strategist. He was sure to keep it from Hades because he suspected him already, but Persephone was with Demeter in Olympus at that time. She overheard their discussion and went back to the Underworld one last time to tell Hades about it. None of the other Olympians knew about the war about to happen.

Nico got up to take a good look where he landed. First of all, he had to make sure this was Little Hangleton. His dad said he arrived at the right place so Nico assumed this must be it. Second, what caused him to trip back there in shadow traveling? Does it have to do with the gods interfering, as his dad mentioned? But his dad said that they have their own agenda. If they were already aware of their plan, then Hades would have notified him in his dream.

In any case, Nico should take a good look around. There should be a clue as to where Tom Riddle's…

"Who's there?" Nico demanded, withdrawing his black Stygian sword instantly. He heard something move. He was sure it came from behind but whatever it was, it moved damn fast. He could also feel the presence of a person. Or at least a mortal soul. This power doesn't come from being the son of Hades though but the blessing of the Fates. This would proved to be useful in sensing Tom Riddle's soul if it were nearby. He could tell whether the soul is healthy, dying, or damaged/corrupted. Tom Riddle fell on the last criteria.

"Show yourself. I know you're there!" Nico said loudly. "What the—" Nico kept his sword pointed to where he felt the soul was. The guy was running away toward the house but the biggest mystery was…there was no one there. His sword pointed at nothing but air.

Nico barged through the door and went inside the house himself to investigate. He kept his sword up. Whatever it was, it could apparently be invisible. It couldn't hide from Nico forever though.

It was dark inside the manor. The windows were boarded up too so only streaks of light could pass through. Cobwebs occupied the corners and the hanging chandlier, and dusts filtered everything from the tiniest edge to the broad, wooden floor. The house was most likely abandoned, yet aside from the cleaning and repairing of vandals the house needed, it didn't look like as messed up as it should be. Tables and chairs were still intact and fragile wares like plates and glasses were undamaged. Even the family portrait hanging on the dinning room looked untouched, granted that the color was slightly faded.

Nico made his way upstairs. He was making a lot of creaking noises but he could not see nor hear anything from his invisible prey. He followed the presence to a corner and paused to think. Was it trying to lure him into a trap or it thought it could remain invisible from Nico?

"I got you now…" Nico said. He readied his sword and ran. He could sense the soul being closer. There was only an end table with a vase ahead but Nico was 100% sure the invisible guy was just there. He'd just have to slash through it to find out. Nico raised his sword and charged. He caught a movement. It was in there, in the vase!

But a few seconds after, his feet stopped and the momentum almost made Nico fall. Nico stopped his sword in mid-air. The vase was shaking like it was frightened of him. Nico frowned. It couldn't be, could it…? A thought hit him. Since this house seemed abandoned, maybe he misunderstood something.

"You're a ghost, aren't you?" Nico asked the vase. "I can't tell if the soul is a living person's or, well, a dead person's. Guess the blessing can backfire. Well, I'm not here for you, so don't worry. Sorry for the scare. Actually, I'm after someone else. Do you know whose house this is and have you ever heard of the name Tom Riddle?"

The vase was still shaking. "C'mon, I said sorry already. I don't collect ghosts. If my dad ever asked me to, I'd have to spend eternity to finish." Nico sighed. "Fine, if you don't want to answer, I'm leaving."

His progress was in all vain. Nico felt twice exhausted and his sword twice heavy. There's no way he could deal with any more dead ends. He never had taken a quest so Nico never knew how godly deadlines were like. Nico couldn't believe Percy had taken this like...a couple of times. That's a lot for demigod standards.

Nico went back to the stairs, thinking already what his next step would be. While walking however, he stopped just as an unusual difficulty in breathing hit him. Like something frightening made him too stunned to move. He whipped his head around and locked his eyes to an unsuspecting door. He could feel it. The odd, disturbing, and grotesque soul like its limbs had been ripped apart yet it was still walking on earth, decaying and rotting. It was certainly a state worse than death.

"Arghh!" Nico cried out. His eyes squeezed in pain just as his knees buckled in when all his remaining strength was sapped away. He could only hear the hissing of a snake and his noisy collapse down the stairs. But not even the pain of falling down the stairs could be compared to the horrible sting on his right thigh. His Stygian sword had slipped off somewhere, forgotten, while both his hands squeezed his thigh, attempting to lock the searing pain. It was hot. Burning hot. Nico could feel his whole body burning up like he was on fire. His mind was clouded with nothing but the feeling of pain.

Nico heard a man with a rather high-pitched voice talking. There were snake hisses, one of which was something like a human, but not. He felt cold scales rubbing his skin and soon encircling his neck like a chain. Nico choked. He gasped for air in desperation and got a sniff of the snake's breath as it opened its mouth. It smelled of blood.

There were shouts, the shattering of glass, and the strangled cry of a snake. Nico felt its grasps loosen but its heavy weight still upon him. He heard voices but their cries merely echoed as he slipped out of consciousness.

When Nico woke up, it was daybreak. He was still groggy but he could tell he was in a room. There was a wet towel on his forehead and he lied with blankets wrapped all around him. He didn't bother moving. He was tired, exhausted. It felt good just staying like this. He closed his eyes again and fell asleep.

The second time Nico woke up, the household was already up. He didn't wake up from the noise though. They moved and talked quietly out of kind consideration. Nico adjusted his eyes to the light. There were two girls talking. One of them was very familiar.

"Nico, are you feeling okay?" the familiar girl asked. She leaned down and checked his temperature, which promptly made him red in the face. "Your temperature's higher just now. I could have sworn you cooled down a few minutes ago…"

"I'm okay," Nico said. At least he tried to anyway. The only thing that came out was air. He cleared his throat and was about to try again when the familiar girl put a finger on his lip.

"It's fine. You need some serious rest. We won't forgive ourselves if we let our sister's brother join her in the Underworld."

"Thalia?" Nico hoarsely said.

Thalia nodded. Thalia hadn't changed one bit since he last saw her. That was an understatement since she and the others, the Hunters of Artemis, were immortal. But Thalia felt something less of a punkish girl but kind of a regal officer with a cool air around her. Like she was hiding a pack of wisdom in her pockets. Maybe it's a Hunters Package Deal.

"Don't talk," Thalia sternly said. "I'll explain to you what happened so just listen. The Hunters are positioned in the village by Lady Artemis' orders. It was by chance that we saw you in back there. You triggered one of our traps so we went there immediately. I guessed you were shadow traveling." Nico nodded. So that was why he tripped though he had no idea someone could intercept shadow traveling. "We saw one of our preys but we didn't want to move yet because you were roaming around. When it attacked you—a magical python, that's when we went in. Rhodes saved you. She killed the snake," Thalia finished, grinning.

Nico looked at the other girl. She raised her hands defensively. "Oh no, I'm not that scary girl…I'm, well…"

"Her name's Genevieve," Thalia said, nodding to the redhead. "When we came here, we asked if she wanted to join the Hunters."

Genevieve shyly smiled. "Oh, it's an honor but my family and Charles. I'd have to think about it."

"That's fine. We'll wait for your answer as long as it takes," Thalia replied, smiling warmly before turning to Nico. "I'll grab you some food. Stay here and have a good rest."

"Wait," Nico said weakly. "My sword. Where is it?"

"The Stygian iron one?" Thalia frowned. "I wasn't at the frontline myself and nothing was reported of a sword…I'll ask my sisters," she added hastily, seeing how Nico paled even more.

"I'm sure they'll find your sword, Nico," Genevieve said cheerfully once Thalia left. "They're such great people. The Hunters."

"What are you?" Nico asked.

"Huh? Oh, well, I'm…"

"I mean…" Nico breathed in heavily. "A half-blood, a nymph…?"

"Oh no! Dear heavens no. I'm just a village girl. An ordinary human, I suppose. Is it offending if I call myself an ordinary human? Oh, I'm so sorry," Genevieve said continuously. She was probably two years or three older than Nico. She looked as mature as Thalia, having that serene composure and graceful gestures.

"No, it's okay…but I can't talk much."

"Oh please, don't do so much! I'm not telling you to quiet down, dear no. I'm sorry if it meant that way but a magical python bite! I don't know what that is but a snake bite is so venomous. Thalia said that if they were a second too late, you could have been dead!"

Nico just nodded. Genevieve was a nice girl but she talked too much. It was a bit overwhelming since he couldn't say more than ten words in one breath.

Nico closed his eyes. "Don't join the Hunters."

Genevieve blinked and tilted her head like a confused dog. "Huh?"

"Don't ever join. You'll be missed."

"I'll think about it, Nico," Genevieve said reluctantly. "I promise."

"No," Nico said, a bit sterner. "Don't. Don't join."

Those were his last words before he fell asleep again. Genevieve curled her lips guiltily; sure that she saw sadness in Nico's face until he dozed off in a, hopefully, good dream.

The third time Nico woke up, it was noon and he was starving. He ate lunch in the room, where Thalia was talking to a raven-haired girl with long hair.

Since his body was stronger, Thalia allowed him to take a bite of an ambrosia, the food of the gods that could heal any wounds instantly. It tasted like hotdogs with mustard. Nothing beats the meaty, chewey hotdog. Nico had only brought a single ambrosia in case a monster visited him.

"Who is she?" Nico asked after finishing his food.

"This is Rhodes, the hunter who saved your life. So where were you heading?" Thalia asked. She sounded business-like, the way her father would sound. Now that Nico was healthy enough to talk, Thalia wanted to do a lot of talking. Particularly what Nico was up to. "Did you get here by mistake? What are you doing shadow traveling abroad?"

"I was just experimenting," Nico lied. He was still lying on bed to regain his lost strength from shadow traveling and the venom. "What exactly was it that attacked me? And do you know whose house that was?"

Thalia looked at Nico shrewdly. Damn, she already knew he was fishing for information. Nico didn't have a day left. The blessing would soon vanish and it would be impossible to track Tom Riddle.

"Just a type of snake monster," Thalia said. It seemed like she was keeping secrets too. Even Rhodes kept a blank face as if Thalia were telling the whole truth. "As for the house, ask Genevieve. She was born here."

"It's the Riddle Manor, Nico," Genevieve answered. "It's been unoccupied for years after the Riddles were murdered. It was a gossiper's favorite story. Until today when the Riddle's gardener, Mr. Bryce, oh poor man, he was killed too!"

Nico frowned. So he did arrive at the right place. Right where Tom Riddle lived. "What happened to the Riddles? And when was Mr. Bryce killed? What's his complete name?"

"Frank Bryce, Nico. Roughly fifty years ago, the Riddles were killed mysteriously. Why, there was no sign of forced entry and the autopsies revealed all three Riddles to be perfectly healthy. But they dropped dead while having a dinner! And they say the look on their faces was that of utmost terror."

"And Bryce was?"

"Killed," Genevieve said quietly like she was afraid to be overheard. "Just a few days ago. The same thing that happened to the Riddles happened to him. The villages reckoned the Riddles had their vengeance on him. So he was killed the same way as they were. People think Mr. Bryce killed them since he had the keys on the manor. He was the Riddle's gardener for a long time, Mr. Bryce was…"

So Tom Riddle was haunting the Riddle Manor. That last moment before Nico was attacked, he was sure he felt it. It was so disgusting Nico felt nauseous just remembering it. The soul of Tom Riddle. Did Frank Bryce really commit the murder fifty years ago? If so, how? Was he, perhaps, a half-blood? And how did he do it? Was it the same murderer or was it really Riddle's vengeance?

Detective di Angelo was now on the case.

He stood up from the bed only to almost fall back down. His bandaged wound, the one on his right thigh where he was bitten, was still sore. "Thanks."

"Where are you going?" Thalia asked sharply.

"To the manor. Maybe my sword is still there. I think I dropped it before I was attacked."

"What are you after, Nico?" Thalia demanded, not believing his story one bit.

"What are your Hunters doing here?" Nico asked back. "What is it about Artemis' orders?"

"That's Lady Artemis," Thalia said dangerously. "We're doing our job hunting monsters, that's all. Don't try turning the argument against me."

"Where is she then?"

"Meeting with her brother, Lord Apollo," Thalia answered, crossing her arms. Behind Thalia, Rhodes' arched an eyebrow subtly. "Are you done? Because it's your turn now."

"Who said we're having a Q&A portion?" Nico said. "I appreciate you saving me and helping me recover but I'm short on time. I only have like half a day left. I need to get there fast."

"Fine," she said, still upset. "Be that way."

Nico felt guilty at the expression on Thalia's face. It was darn scary but it made him guilty after all she did for him. He also felt that it had something to do being Bianca's brother…or being her cousin, maybe, since their godly parents were brothers. He considered telling her his mission but his dad's words rang on his head. He must keep out of other half-blood's business, especially Thalia's because she was still the daughter of Zeus. Anything Zeus was out of the question.

"Whatever," Nico said stubbornly, trying to look away. "I'm off."