Chapter 7: Dark Secrets

Nico

Luna immediately pulled away from me.

"Nico," She said. "Tell me the truth. Who are you Nico Di Angelo?" The next part was whispered. "You aren't a wizard, what are you?"

"Luna…" I said. "If I told you, you would be in danger. I can't do that."

"Fine." She said. "Never speak to me again, Nico."

"Luna…"

She stomped away.

Great. She hates me now. Maybe it's for the better. After all, I was a demigod. Being around me would just get her hurt.

I wandered around the halls for a little while, looking for someone.

I found him in the great hall, singing something I couldn't hear.

"Peeves," I called out. "May I speak to you?"

The ghost flew down and bowed. "Of course, my lord. How is your father?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why do people keep asking that?" I said. "He's fine as always."

"What do you need, my lord?" Peeves asked.

"A favor." I whispered what I wanted.

He nodded and flew off.

I had promised Travis and Connor to be a lot of trouble this year.

Harry

After class, Nico managed to lose me for a few minutes.

I found him and Luna in a heated argument.

"Nico," She said. "Tell me the truth. Who are you Nico Di Angelo?" Then she whispered something I couldn't hear.

"Luna…" he said. "If I told you, you would be in danger. I can't do that."

"Fine." She said. "Never speak to me again, Nico."

"Luna…"

She ran away.

Nico didn't even looked hurt. He just started walking off towards the great hall. He walked in, where only Peeves was, and looked around.

"Peeves," Nico called out. "May I speak to you?"

The ghost flew down and bowed. "Of course my lord. How is your father?"

"Why do people keep asking that?" Nico said. "He's fine as always."

"What do you need my lord?" Peeves asked.

"A favor." He whispered something to the ghost.

Peeves nodded and flew off.

Nico walked back to the door, which I was standing outside off.

I ran and only looked back at him when I was out of sight.

He looked around, as if to make sure no one was there. Then he disappeared.

It was like apparition except Nico was far too young to do that.

I had to find Hermione. I ran.

The first place I looked was the library, but only the librarian was there. I ran to the common room.

"Mimbulus mimbletonia," I said to the fat lady's portrait.

I blinked as soon as I stepped inside. I was sure I must be going crazy, but no. The common room was wrecked.

Chairs were flipped, ashes from the fire were everywhere, and students stood with their mouths wide open.

"What happened?" I asked.

"We don't know." Hermione said rushing down the stairs from the dorms. "The dorms weren't touched, but the common room is destroyed."

"That's strange," I said. "If someone were to come in here, why would they leave the dorms alone?"

I suddenly remember why I rushed to the common room in the first place.

"Hermione," I said. "We need to talk. In private."

She nodded. "The library. No one is in there on the first day."

She seemed to understand how important it was.

We rushed out of the common room and to the library.

The only one in there was the librarian.

We sat down at one of the tables far away from her desk.

"It's about Nico, again," I explained the disappearance he had made and the talk with Peeves.

"Huh," She said.

"Who is this guy?" I asked.

"I don't know." Hermione said. "He knew Luna, threated Malfoy with a knife, threatened Professor Binns, got Peeves to do something for him, has a father both of them knew, and took a detention for you."

"I know." I said. "He seems to hate us and be up to mischief and then he convinces Umbridge to give him the detention and not me."

"Explain what happened again." She said.

"He was having some sort of argument with Luna. She stomped off and he went to find Peeves. Peeves asked how his father was and then Nico asked for a favor. He walked out of the great hall, looked around, and just disappeared." I said.

"Dark magic?" Hermione asked.

"People always assume the worst of me." A voice in the corner of the room said.

Nico stepped out into the light.

"Uhh…" Hermione stuttered.

"No, no." he said. "Carry on. Tell Harry how horrible, stupid Nico Di Angelo is. I'm used to it."

"But…" She started.

"What?" He asked. "Done insulting me? I doubt it. No one ever is"

"Stop it!" I yelled at him. "Leave her alone."

Nico's eyes flared, "Alright, Harry. I will. But next time I hear you insulting me…" He let the threat hang.

"Why did you take the detention?" I asked suddenly.

He flinched and out of the library.

"He dropped something." Hermione said.

"So..?" I asked.

"Maybe it's a note, or some sort of clue." She said.

I went and grabbed the slip of paper Nico had dropped on the floor.

"It's a picture." I said disappointed.

I walked back and handed Hermione the picture of a girl.

"She's beautiful." Hermione said. "But who is she? A girlfriend, maybe?"

"My sister." A voice behind us said.

How did Nico get back there? We're facing the exit and there is no other way to get in.

"Now give it back." Nico said.

Hermione handed it to him without complaint.

"What's her name?" She asked.

Nico looked solemn. "Her name was Bianca. She's dead now."

Hermione turned pale. "Oh, Nico I had no idea that…"

"You couldn't have known." He said. "Goodnight."

Hermione and I exchanged looks as he walked out of the room.

"What just happened?" She asked.

"Maybe he did that disappearing thing to get behind us." I suggested.

"I meant about his sister," Hermione said. "He looked like he was ready to kill us for holding it."

"Maybe they were close," I said, not really caring.

She sighed. "We should get to bed."