Guest: Glad you enjoyed it. We would love some more feedback.
Guest II: Thanks for pointing that out, but I do have reason behind it. Though the majority chose Gryffindor, I though Hazel and Frank would feel safe as long as they are together, and Hufflepuff is the kindest house. As for Nico, he traveled the world alone. As the son of Hades, he would have attracted hordes of monsters, and yet he survived. He's fine.
IcyFox17: We wanted it to be unique, thats why. It also makes sense. At least to me. Also, it seems like all HP/PJO crossovers are Protect Harry Potter!
Guest III: Thanks for the support. Sorry, but we really can't update every day. We like to take our time with them. And stories written hastily fill up like 70% of HP/PJO crossovers.
Claire: Every review counts. We're glad you liked the story.
Thank you all for you're continuing support and encouragement. You are all awesome.
Nico
Nico looked towards the other demigods, gauging their reactions. To the left, Jason looked stricken, and, predictably, guilty. Besides him, Piper was staring at Reyna, a look of slight horror on her face. Thalia had nothing but concern in her eyes. To his right, Annabeth was biting her lip, looking slightly worried, but mostly relieved. Percy had a look similar to Jason's. Frank looked surprised and somewhat guilty, and Hazel had her face in her hands. As one, they rushed forward, not entirely trusting Dumbledore. They followed him all the way to the Hospital Wing, flanking Reyna. They were kept outside by a fussy-looking woman, while Dumbledore proceeded in. Percy protested, but they were shut out. The woman, Pomfrey, assured them they could see Reyna after she was done, which none of them were very pleased about. So they waited, followed by a mob of curious people. Nico was slightly irritated by all the attention. Can't they ever leave someone alone?
"Who was that?" Hermione asked, popping out from the crowd with Harry and Ron behind her.
"That was Reyna." Hazel said.
"A friend of your's?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Piper said.
"What's her last name?" Ron asked nosily.
Jason shrugged."Better not say it. She hates her last name. And it won't end well if you mention it in front of her."
It seemed a long time before the door finally swung open. Pomfrey looked out, her eyes widening with surprise at the number of people who had come."You may come in now." She said to the demigods."But no more than eight."
The Hospital Wing was spacious, with numerous white-linen beds and large windows. In a corner was a separate room, perhaps Pomfrey's office. They saw Reyna on a bed, her armor and cloak on a coat hanger, most of her cuts mended, bandages on the nastier ones, her numerous weapons on the ground next to her, and a flask with a goblet on her bedside cabinet. She was wearing a purple Camp Jupiter t-shirt and jeans. Reyna was sleeping peacefully, but Nico could see were her muscles were tensed, like she was ready for battle. He walked over to the flask, which was filled with purple liquid. He sniffed it cautiously. He couldn't identify the smell, but it was soothing, a little like lavender."It's some sort of concoction. Could be anything."
Pomfrey burst through the doors, looking irate. She headed straight for her office, but Annabeth seized her arm and swung her around."What is that thing you gave her?" She demanded, her eyes stormy.
The healer huffed indignantly."It's just a sleeping draught. I won't poison her." Her tone was annoyed. She snatched away her arm and stalked towards the office, muttering under her breath; and slammed the door shut. Frank, Hazel, Percy, Annabeth, Jason, and Piper took a seat. Nico and Thalia remained standing on opposite sides of the bed. They waited patiently for Reyna to wake up, and in silence, which left Nico to his own thoughts. He kept his hand on his Stygian iron sword, his muscles tensed. He hadn't felt quite safe since their encounter with a nearly headless ghost and a monster.
It felt like hours before Reyna woke. Predictably, she was in a violent mood when she came around, reaching for a sword that wasn't there."Reyna! You're awake!" Frank said.
She looked at each them carefully."What is this place?" She asked finally.
"This is the Hospital Wing, in Hogwarts." Percy said.
She frowned, pulling away her ragged hair."Hogwarts?"
"Hogwarts is a school of witchcraft and wizardry. This is Scotland, and it's 1996."
"Reyna opened her mouth to respond, but she was cut off by Jason, who interrupted "We can explain later back in the Common Room. And while we're here, why don't you tell us your story?"
Reyna's arrival was similar at first. She had ended up in the Forbidden Forest just as the rest of them had. But, instead of encountering centaurs, she had face giant spiders-Acromantulas, Ron had called them. She explained how she had gotten herself surrounded, how she tried to negotiate with the old blind spider Aragog, how he couldn't deny fresh meat to his children, and allowed them to attack. She didn't explain in detail what happened, but it seemed like her Aegis had proven affective. She had also tried calling Aurum and Argentum, but neither had come. Outnumbered, she had fled, wounded and exhausted, and somehow stumbled upon Hogwarts grounds. She remembered nothing else."Wow…" Hazel said faintly."That's just…wow."
Percy smiled."Facing a horde of giant spiders on your own? I know I wound't have managed that without Annabeth."
Annabeth shuddered."No way I'm going in there again. I've had enough of giant spiders. Or any spiders, for that matter.
"I'm just glad you didn't run into any other monsters in that forest." Jason said. I've heard there are werewolves and such."
Reyna swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and Jason scooted away to give her room. She winced slightly as her feet took her weight, but otherwise, she seemed fine. Pomfrey suddenly burst out the door, looking alarmed."You shouldn't be up! It would be better if you stayed for the night, young lady, and maybe some more potions. Your body needs to heal!"
"I'm fine." Reyna snapped."I've been in war, suffered injuries far worse."
"But-"
"No."
"Fine. You can go up to the dormitories with your friends. But don't do anything risky."
"You don't need to fuss, really." Her tone was annoyed.
Pomfrey pursed her lips, then turned and slammed the door shut a second time. Reyna picked up her equipment, wheeled around, and left. The rest hurried after her."There are four houses." Annabeth said, once she caught up."Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. You'll need to choose one. Gryffindor is for the brave-hearted. Ravenclaws are smart. Hufflepuffs are kind and loyal. And Slytherins are ambitious."
Reyna tilted her head slightly, considering."Gryffindor, then."
They were already attracting a lot of attention. The mob had dispersed, but the few who saw them turned to stare. Reyna glared at them, and they quickly looked away, shuffling back to their own business. Thalia led them back to the common room, informing Reyna about Hogwarts along the way.
In the Common Room, they found Ron snoozing on an armchair next to the fire, Harry playing a sort of marble-game with a red haired girl who looked to be Ron's sister, and Hermione looking into a ratty old book, a length of yellow parchment next to her. Ron stirred when they entered, mumbling "Who's there?" in an exhausted voice.
"It's us." Percy said, like "us" helped.
The red-haired girl looked up."You're the newcomers. Though I don't remember seeing you before." She nodded at Reyna.
"That's Reyna." Hermione said, without looking up from her book.
"Reyna who?"
The praetor scowled."You don't need to know."
"Ginny Weasley." The red-head said. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too." Reyna said, but she didn't sound very sincere. She was staring at them with cold eyes, the way they had when Nico first brought Hazel to Camp Jupiter.
"We've got a lot to discuss." Frank interjected."We'll see you later."
Harry nodded." I can repair the armor, though." He said.
Reyna regarded him suspiciously, then handed over her armor. He tapped them with his wand, and muttered an incantation. The gold burnished itself, scratches disappeared, gouges filled themselves in and dents were smoothed over again. He handed it back. "I honestly don't get why you wear this." He added.
Reyna ignored him, turning over the imperial gold. Finally, she looked up." Thank you."
"It's nothing."
They all crowded into the boy's guest room, since Percy made a big show of trying to climb up the girl's staircase and ended up sliding back down. Nico looked around. Not bad. Certainly not as gloomy as the Slytherin Dormitories. Jason, Percy, Piper, and Annabeth sat around the table. Frank and Hazel occupied one of the beds, and the rest remained standing."You've got a lot to catch up to." Percy said. He began telling her about their time at Hogwarts, Harry's adventures, all of it. The rest helped here and there, and Nico merely listened. Reyna's face betrayed none of her thoughts, and she took it all in without saying a word. She maintained her silence even after, taking her time. Finally, she nodded.
"I see." Was the only thing she said. After that matter was turned aside, they discussed. Simply to much had happened in a two days. "Should we trust this place?" Piper said. "We've already seen enough. A headless ghost, giant spiders, a hippogriff, who know's what else the've got?"
"Well Nick did say he wasn't beheaded at the castle right?" Annabeth replied. "And the hippogriff seems to be perfectly trained."
"And why should we trust him?" Thalia asked."And do I have to remind you that they have a psychotic caretaker who enjoys torturing students? A cerebus and a basilisk lurking in the castle?"
"Dumbledore never allows him to use those chains." Jason said. "But I think he would if he had permission to. And Fluffy was there to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, not to eat anybody."
Percy shook his head. "I think they have been trustworthy enough. The've shown us hospitality so far."
"And introduced us to a new Dark Lord." Thalia muttered.
"I see no reason to trust them either." Reyna agreed.
"You could have ben easily poisoned or anything by that Pomfrey woman, but she only gave you a sleeping draught. I believe we can trust them." Hazel said.
"And if it's an act?"
"We keep our guard up." Frank said."Never travel alone. That sort of stuff." He glanced at Nico."Maybe you should join us."
The son of Hades shrugged."I've survived on my own, without the help of the camps."
"Suit yourself." Percy said. He had a frown on his face, and Nico could see that his words hit him hard.
"There's also the problem that Celestial Bronze and Imperial Gold doesn't seem to work either. They don't dissolve monsters anymore. It left injuries on those centaurs like if you used a steel blade." Annabeth said.
"That is weird." Piper agreed."As far as I recall, the Olympians have been in Europe."
"You recalled correctly." Reyna assured her.
"The screech owls sense something, but don't recognize me. It's as if Hades doesn't exist at all. Or any of the other gods, for that matter." Nico said.
Frank's brows were furrowed."You mean there're no gods here? But how does that happen?"
Jason shook his head."I don't know.
Nico knew what they were all feeling. Even though the gods used them as toys and clever tools, they did care to some degree. He had always known that whatever happened, Hades would protect him. Or, if not, he would always have a place in the palace. He didn't have the slightest idea were he would go if he died here, what sort of underworld they had, and if he even had the ability to return as a ghost. The small sense of safety he never knew he had vanished."What are we going to do?" Jason said.
"Confirm there are no gods." Annabeth said."Percy could try and communicate with whatever's in that lake. If they don't recognize him, well…" She didn't finish.
"If we're stuck here, we might as well live here." Reyna said."With or without the gods."
Piper didn't look very sure about it, but nodded."All right."
Sorry for the shorter chapter. I know it was slightly boring, but the next chapter should be better.