I knew I would be in for a long night of writing. I have two cups of hot cocoa. I'm ready.

Q: MoonWatersLight: I wanted to cry on this chapter, I hope everyone is okay. :( It was also really good! I enjoyed it a lot and though it was cute how protective Nico is of Hermione! X) Unfortunately to find out what happens next I have to wait for the next amazing chapter... please update soon!

A: Everyone will probably be fine.. although I'm thinking I'll kill someone off over the summer. I know exactly how I'd do it, too. But, I won't tell you who. ;)

Q: OliviaNeith: Great chapter. :)

A: Awww, thank you!

Q: Anomaly (Guest): Hey! Me again. That idea for an eventual Nicomione get together sounds amazing. Fred and George would seriously do that? Wow. :) For a possible plot point:
You mentioned Dean and Sheamus. Why don't they get together? Deamus! :D
And Draco should start dating somebody. With the ones listed below, (OFC) could bring him out of his shell. (OMC) would understand the pressures of a high-society family and trying to please his father.
And you said you could use more OCs, so here: (Insert OCs here) So, that's all for now! Bye! :)

A: Thank you for the OCs! I'll put them into the Masterlist straight away. And, I already know who I'm gonna pair up Draco with, and you'll see in this chapter or in one of my other stories that I am not afraid of gays, and I was already planning on Dean and Seamus hooking up. Never put it past Fred and George to spike drinks at a party.


Hermione woke up in the Hospital Wing. Out of them all, she had been the first to wake. She went and sat at Nico's bedside.

He looked so much younger when he slept. Nico had always looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, for reasons unknown to Hermione. He looked so much older than he should have, but in sleep he looked his own age. Although he acted much different, Nico was still only fourteen years old. His birthday was in the same month that term started, so he was included in that year.

Hermione brushed a stray lock of black hair behind his ear. His skin was so cold, so pale, but so smooth. She had never felt his skin before, except when she kissed him on the cheek...twice.

He had been held under the Cruciatus for over five minutes after Voldemort had realized that Nico being in pain had the most effect on Harry. And even though he had been held under torture for so long, he retained his sanity and used the last of his strength to save Hermione.

Hermione was flattered. It wasn't like she had a crush on him or anything, but she felt her face heat up at the thought. Nico could've waited until after she had been tortured to jump into action, but he didn't. When he saw her about to be Crucio'd, he was like a ball of black-hot fury. Hermione saw how his eyes had burned, how his attacks held none of their usual coordination. She saw how angry he had been that someone had tried to hurt her. And she didn't know how to feel.

She gazed at his face for a second more, before realising that someone was shaking her shoulder.

It was Terry. He looked miserable, and Hermione realised that he had been asleep with his head on the foot of Tony's bed when Hermione woke up. It was understandable that he had been there. Tony was Terry's best friend, some would go as far as to say brothers in all but blood.

"How long was I out for?" Hermione asked her friend.

"Only a few hours. It's currently," he glanced at his watch. "Three forty-seven in the morning, July the twenty-eighth, nineteen ninety-one. You and the others got here around midnight." Terry looked back at Tony, his eyes sorrowful. "What happened, down there, Hermione? What happened to you all?"

So Hermione told him. And Terry seemed to age ten years in the short span of time it took her to tell the whole story; The Cerberus, the Devil's Snare, the Winged Keys, The Giant Chess Set, the Potions Riddle, Nico Shadow-Travelling them all twice. The whole Voldemort fiasco, with the Cruciatus included in her rendition of the tale. She didn't censor anything; She told him the cold, hard, facts. Nothing but the truth. The knowledge seemed to weigh down of Terry heavier than ignorance had, not fifteen minutes before.

Terry buried his face in his hands and sobbed. Hermione put her arm around his shoulders, which were shaking as he cried. He kept sobbing that he should've been here, he shouldn't have let them go without a prefect or something or at least him. Hermione tried to console him.

"Terry, you would've just gotten hurt too. Then you would be here, laying in one of these beds, not knowing if Tony was alive, or anything. I'm glad you weren't there. You would've gotten seriously injured, just like the rest of us."

"But, I should've been there."

"No, it was a good thing that you stayed here. Who else would've gotten Professors Flitwick and McGonagall? Who else would've known where we were if we weren't back by breakfast? Everyone else was bitter that you had stayed behind, but it was really the best thing you could've done in the situation. Dont' feel bad, Terry. You did a wonderful thing today... or, rather yesterday, wouldn't it be? That doesn't matter. Stop trying, you did your best, Terry."

He lifted his head from his hands, his eyes now red and puffy, their hazel irises clouded by tears. It was at times like these that Hermione remembered how young Terry was. In the same way that Nico had his birthday just before term started and Hermione had hers just after term started, Terry had his just after it ended. He was still only ten, and his best friend had been tortured. He didn't know how to deal with it. Hermione's instincts kicked in, and she pulled him into her shoulder. She brushed her fingers through her hair, acting like she imagined a big sister would. She'd never had siblings before coming to Hogwarts. She did her best in the situation.

On the other side of the room, Tony stirred. Terry lifted his head at the noise of sheets rustling, and was at his best friend/brother's side before you could say 'Quidditch'.

"Tony?" Terry said, taking his friend's hand in between his own. Tony's hazel eyes flickered open. The first thing he saw, with his head tilted to his left, was his best friend who looked like he'd just been crying his eyes out ten seconds ago.

"Terry, why do you look like you were crying?" Tony asked, noting the tears still on Terry's cheeks. "Were you crying over me? Really, it's sweet, but they're your tears. Keep them off me." Tony said, his voice holding only concern for his friend and the humor in his joke. All of the sudden, the sadness in Terry's eyes was gone, and in no time at all they were chatting aimlessly about something Hermione wasn't really paying attention to because Neville and Victoria were starting to wake up. they were next to each other, so Hermione went and sat between them, taking one hand each in her own. Victoria's eyes opened. Hermione smiled.


It was six thirty when Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and McGonagall came to check on them. Flitwick and Sprout because these were their own 'Puffs and 'Claws, and McGonagall because she just liked them.

The days passed. Three of them, to be exact, before Harry wakes up. He and Nico were the only ones still asleep after three days, and the world spun on without them. Hermione, Neville, Draco, Dean, Seamus, Victoria, Terry, and Tony all went back to class. They waited three days for their friends in the infirmary to wake up, but only going there at second free period to visit them. Sure, their resident master swordsman and supervisor of the study group were gone, but that didn't mean they were going to skip out on training or study group.

Colin, the fifth-year Ravenclaw prefect, and his boyfriend Edric Simmons, a sixth-year Slytherin prefect, supervised in Nico's place, and Kathleen Rodgers of Gryffindor trained people in swords for three , it was after three days, just after dinner, that Nico woke up.

Hermione had been sitting there after dinner, doing a few revisions to Seamus' homework. He still couldn't see straight, so she and Dean split up time rewriting his homework for him. The curse, which Hermione honestly tried to forget about but just couldn't, had done something to his head. If there had been a chance before that he would be able to see again in his left eye, it was gone now. But at least he got rid of the eyepatch.

She was just copying Seamus' Potions essay when Nico stirred. She had taken to spending every second of spare time at his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. Seamus and Dean were playing Go Fish at the end of the bed, while Harry and Victoria talk about the obscurities of blood magic and why it was forbidden and also why it should still be legal. They all turned to look when Nico turned his head.

His black eyes fluttered open. He looked around and tried to sit up, which was a mistake. While he hadn't broken any bones, whatever Hadesmagic trick that he had used on Quirrell had taken up almost more energy than his body could spare. He had been on the brink of death for two days while regaining his strength. The whole time, he had refused to open his mouth, even in sleep, for ambrosia or nectar.

Nico tried to sit up, but flopped back down onto the bed after not much effort on his part. "Help" he said, his face half covered by the pillow which had puffed up around his head when he fell onto it. Hermione smiled, amused. She and Harry, each on a different side of Nico, grabbed one of his arms and put one arm behind his back. On the count of three, the pair supported him as he sat up successfully, this time. Victoria shifted Nico's pillow so that it would support him better. After sitting him up, the first thing that happened was Harry hugging Nico.

"We were worried there, Nico. Never do that to us again."

Nico smiled over his step-brother's shoulder. He patted Harry on the back as he swore never to scare them like that ever again. Then he was hugged by Hermione. At first he was shocked, the he was blushing, then he was hugging back. Then the both of them blushed even more when they said "I'm glad you're safe" at the exact same moment. They hugged for a while. Then Seamus cleared his throat. Hermione jumped back, her face still red, but Nico pulled her back and kissed her on the cheek briefly. She blushed even harder, and so did he. Just as one of them was about to say something, Madame Pomfrey came up behind them.

"I know this is nice and all, but it's almost nine o'clock. Get back to your common rooms before the clock goes, or you'll get points taken away." the kindly Healer told them.

The kids started to pack up their things. Just before she left, Hermione pressed a kiss into Nico's cheek. The both of them blushed again. "See you tomorrow, Nico. Sweet dreams."


The End-of-Term Feast was an even more sumptuous affair than the Start-of-Term Feast had been. Even though they were all sad to go, the entire population of the castle was celebrating the end. Even the castle itself was brighter and warmer than usual. Nico had been released from the Hospital Wing after another good night's rest and some ambrosia. Harry and Hermione kept at his side the whole time, just to make sure he didn't fall and hurt himself. He insisted that he wouldn't, but they made him walk at the front on the way down the narrow, winding staircase of Ravenclaw Tower just so that, in the unlikely event that he did fall, he wouldn't knock anyone else down as he fell.

As they sat together at dinner, Hermione looked at the people around her. Tomorrow, they would be off and she wouldn't see them until September. The seventh-years, Sariah the shy, James the rowdy, Cindy the adventurous, Keiko the careful, Franchesca the neutral party, Duncan the loner, Helena the geeky, Bronwyn the friendly, Tanner the jumpy, Ryan the asshat, and Jacob the everything. They would all be leaving tomorrow, never to return unless as teachers. Only Bronwyn knew what she was going to do after Hogwarts.

Hermione just decided to make the most out of her time with these people. People she would probably never see again after breakfast tomorrow. She smiled at the thought of summer, then scowled at Nico, who had just downed his fifth Butterbeer. He knew that the drink was over 25% alcoholic, and he had never shown any tendencies to having much restraint. Alcohol would not help him with this. One of his dorm-mates, Richard, leaned over and whispered something into Nico's ear. Nico turned bright red. He may have been slightly drunk, but this wouldn't stop his inability to fully understand sexual innuendos and the like. Richard fished five Galleons out of his pockets to wave in Nico's face. They were betting, then. Hermione's frown deepened. Nico pushed the coins away.

It was half an hour later when they left the Great Hall with the rest of Ravenclaw.


The next morning was a bit tearful. This was the end of the year. They were going home and leaving their friends behind for months. Hermione and her group, however, she no tears.

Hermione would be going back home to her parents, as would Terry, Tony, Seamus, and Dean, with Neville going home to his grandmother.

Nico would be spending half his summer in the Underworld, then split the remaining time between the two camps, who were still blissfully ignorant of the fact that there was another camp at all. Harry would go back to the Dursleys until about a week before term started back up again, whereupon Nico would come get him to live in the Underworld for a week.

Draco and Victoria would be going to Camp Half-Blood; Draco had been going for three years already, and it was Victoria's second.

All the demigods in the group had the opportunity to go to either Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter, but they got the necessary training during the school year, every other day in the Room of Requirement.

While walking to the Hogwarts Express that would take them back to the modern world, Nico decided to go secure a cabin for them. The rest of the group argued that they should all go together, but Nico insisted. If he took someone with him, he would be fine. Eventually, the rest of the group agreed. Hermione was volunteered by Seamus and Dean to go with Nico. Hermione didn't argue.

Nico took them, via Shadow-Travel, straight to the train. They were among the first to be there, the only others being other demigods with teleport powers and their various companions.

There was Liesl Harveys, a daughter of Apollo who could use her powers to teleport after an arrow she's shot. There was Shelley Ertwig, a daughter of Trivia who could already Apparate, and there were no charms that could hold her back. There was Oliver Wood, a son of Hermes who just had a badass sword that could rip holes in space for him to step through. It was a Hermes thing.

Hermione and Nico selected a cabin near the front of the train for their group. Then they sat in awkward silence for a long moment.

"So... what were you and Rich betting on last night?" Hermione asked, trying to break the silence.

"He and the other boys wanted me to do something. I told them I had no need for their gold." Nico wasn't meeting her eyes.

"But what was the bet?" she leaned around to meet his gaze.

"They bet me I couldn't do this." He took her cheek in one hand, and gave her a swift peck...

On the mouth.

Hermione almost didn't believe it. After a minute of sitting there in shock, then said "Well, you've just earned yourself five Galleons."

He smiled at her. She smiled back.

The train's whistle blew and other student started getting on. The rest of the group joined them.

No one would ever know about the kiss.

No-one noticed the Extendable Eye on the floor.

Fred and George felt a plan forming.


Ravenclaw: Chapter Eleven: A Clear Sky

Word Count: 2,649

Additional Notes:

Hugs.

Hugs.

Nico hugs.

Nico hugging Hermione hugs.

Nico trying to fix the world by hugging everyone.

HUGGING

*PTERODACTYL SCREECH*

And that's the end of this first bit of the story. You'll only have to wait a week until the new one comes out, though! So do not fear!

Read the rest of this A/N to see a way to get another chapter out of me before then.

Damn. Cocoa went cold. See how long I was writing? See how devoted I am to you guys? I let my cocoa go cold so I could keep writing.

I wanted to give you an actual kiss between Nico and Hermione, but I had to keep reminding myself that she's only twelve. I looked it up, she turned twelve about two weeks after the start of term. Nico is fourteen. But then I saw the perfect opportunity, but I waited to write it because I didn't know if I should. I ended up asking my mother how I should go about it. Thank you, mum.

That's right, Colin's gay. He tried dating girls, but his Author Mama Procrastination D.(If you can guess what the D stands for, I'll give you a little one shot as an epilogue to this one part of the story, otherwise it'll be part of the next story, so you'll have to wait a week) Cliffhanger kept scaring them off. She liked Edric, though. If Colin is Alan Humphries, imagine Edric as Eric Slingby. Maybe that was what I had in mind when I made up the character or something. If you don't know who they are, just Google them. They're just the cutest thing ever.

Do you guys have any idea how tempting it was to have Tony lose all his memories of Hogwarts? I had to try really hard not to do it, and I only just barely managed. You're welcome. I saved your feels.

For now... MWAHAHAHAHAHA

Anyways, I'm thinking I'll pair up Victoria with either Tony or Terry, with the possibility of a sweet and sexy threesome. I'm leaning towards the threesome. I'll put up a poll on my profile for you guys to decide, so don't forget to vote!

Peace, Love, and Bacon,

Pwnie3