Hello my darling readers! I'm sad to say this is the last chapter. I love you all, and my big ending speech is at the bottom if you want to skip it. Also! Sorry Nico turned his back on Voldy, I didn't really think about it at the time.

Thanks for reading,

Bella

Lots of hugs and Ending a Year

Nico POV

Nico opened his eyes and blinked a few times in the blinding light. He was surprised to see the white ceiling of a hospital and thought for a moment that he was in the infirmary after a capture the flag game. He realized that wasn't the case at all as a potion was levitated into his view. He blinked as he realized he was still at Hogwarts, most likely in the hospital ward.

"You need to drink this before I can let your friends in to see you," Madame Pomfrey told him before continuing, "It's unicorn draught. I've been informed by the headmaster that this works better than ambrosia for you. Drink up!"

Nico tried to inform her he was fine but the second he opened his mouth she poured the potion into his throat. He hacked as he tried to swallow from his laying down position. He sat up and managed to stop choking as the curtains around his bed opened to reveal Draco, Gregory, and Vincent with a few other Slytherins waiting for him to wake up.

Nico raised an eyebrow and asked slowly, "What's warmed me such a welcome?"

"We've been hearing all sorts of things about what you did when you four disappeared," here Draco looked at him funny before continuing, "two nights ago and you all came back in bad shape. You and Potter were unconscious when the headmaster found you. No one knows what really happened, and we of course wanted to know the real deal before anyone else. Oh, and we wanted to be good friends of course," Draco told him flippantly, looking ignorant, but the concern in his eye was genuine.

Nico rolled his eyes and then responded sarcastically, "Oh gee, I feel so loved guys."

"That was, of course, our goal," one of the taller first years, Blaise maybe, told him and looked rather bored. "So, before I learn that we've waited here for over an hour for no reason, I would request that you tell us what happened."

Nico was on the verge of laughing, but felt it wouldn't be very nice to laugh at the normally quiet boy for just speaking as he was raised. Instead, he decided to answer, "Just some stuff with Quirrel being evil, all the teachers trying to protect something, and a magic stone to defy Death that all three of us were after. I'll tell you more in detail if you like."

Nico couldn't help but smirk as a rather fat and pug faced girl was leaning forward begging for details. He wouldn't tell anyone this, but friendly and rapt attention made him feel warm and fuzzy after all his years of being ignored or feared. He spent some time giving them the details, leaving out the whole Voldemort thing. As his story finished everyone looked entranced.

Nico came back to the present to see Draco looking at him oddly, scrutinizing him really. He raised his eyebrows slightly and Draco looked away as he realized he'd been caught. Nico filed it away into the back of his mind to consider later, and focused on the weathered old man coming into the room. He caught Nico's eye and winked before making his way over to Harry's side.

He hoped he didn't invoke the wrath of the medi-witch by doing this, but he knew he really needed to give Albus and Harry some alone time without the Slytherins. He moved to get up from the bed and was pleased to see he was still in his familiar black jeans, even if he was wearing a simple white shirt. His old one must have been destroyed by the curse.

"Hey, let's go back to the common room. I'm still pretty tired, and these beds are insanely uncomfortable to sleep on," he told before he pushed himself to his feet. All the blood rushed to his head, and his vision was completely covered in black spots. He felt himself sway precariously for a moment before a pair of hands steadied him. He smiled at Draco before he straightened and strode with the other Slytherins out of the flawless infirmary.

He saw a few of them look at Harry and slow slightly, clearly curious. He staggered slightly, slightly faking but mostly just letting his weakness show for just a moment. The three girls that were there at the time immediately rushed forward and he caught the attention of the boys when Daphne started fretting loudly over how thin he was by desperate 'help me' movements until they turned away from Harry.

The rest of the year went by without incident, and thanks to his magic glasses he passed the exams with the feeling that he did alright. He noticed that Draco would stare at him or watch his movements more carefully, and then dash off to the library more often, but it wasn't too different from his usual behavior, so Nico didn't press. He wanted to say he was glad that he'd finished his quest in time, but what he really thought was that he'd really found where he belonged. He wasn't judged for his father, and even if they knew his father they'd probably just treat him with the same equality.

On the last day when the house points were divided and Griffindor was winning by only five points Dumbledore quieted the houses as they cheered for the admired house. "I do believe we've forgotten someone. Someone for which without our three heroes may not have made the necessary sacrifices, or even found the drive to finish their adventure. For Nico Di Angelo, ten points to Slytherin!"

Cheers erupted from the Slytherin table and even a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws cheered, though a bit less jubilantly. Nico smiled slightly, even as he felt bad for winning the house cup for Slytherin again. They deserved it though, all the Griffindors had to do to win was go on one adventure to win. The houses beat them fair and square, and that was how Nico convinced himself his win was justified.

As all the young wizards stepped off the train at the official end of the school year, Nico was very sad to see everyone leave and have to say goodbye to his friends. He couldn't help but smile though as he saw his friends waiting for him. It made him so happy to be able to consider them close friends when it wasn't just a pity friendship.

"I'm going to miss you guys this summer, will you owl me?" Nico asked Draco as the four Slytherins stood waiting for Draco's mom.

"Sure, if my father will give me an owl to message you with I will," Draco answered while Crabbe and Goyle just nodded their confirmation.

"Great, i'll send my owl and you can just use her. I'll see you next year guys." Nico stroked his owl in its cage absentmindedly. He stopped though when she bit him and stuck her head under her wing again. Glaring at her halfheartedly he waved at the trio again as they left. Narcissa didn't stop to talk, she'd just acknowledged Nico with a nod and then rushed off the three children. Nico didn't blame them, and he couldn't find it in himself to be mad at her.

He'd then made his way back through the wall to the muggle world. He spotted a loitering group of redheads loudly gathering all up. He wiggled his way over there with a small amount of shoving to stand before the Weasleys, the Grangers, and Harry.

"Hey guys. Will you owl me at all this summer?" Nico said as way of greeting.

"Oh you must be Nico! These three were saying you were the only nice Slytherin they'd met all year! Oh come here, don't be shy!" who he presumed to be the Weasley matron exclaimed the second she laid eyes on him before wrapping him into a big hug. He froze and had no idea how to respond to this random woman hugging him.

"Mom! Bugger off, he doesn't even know you!" Ron shouted over the din. Nico was almost able to thank him before he was swept into hasty introductions and questions about things like if he was really a Slytherin. It really was quite biased and offensive if he was being honest. He was getting continuously overwhelmed and couldn't help but sigh happily as with one last bone crushing hug from Mrs. Weasley the whole gang left. With a more reserved hug from Hermione she left with her family next. Harry then smiled at him and shook his hand as way of goodbye before going off with some simply ghastly looking humans, or maybe they were actually creatures. Nico was honestly willing to think his relatives were at the least related to monsters.

He was about to go and find a nice place to shadow travel away when a familiar voice called out, "Hey! Little bro! Over here!" Nico sighed as Percy dragged out the 'here' unnecessarily long. Nico walked slowly over to the group of seven. As he was picked up by both Percy and Jason and carried all the way back to the horses he was smothered and forced to recount every single detail of his year and tell them who the people he was saying goodbye to were. He admitted to himself he may love staying at Hogwarts, but he'd missed the people he considered family.

A/N: Well, this is the end and I admit I'm pretty excited. This is the end to my very first fanfic and I thank everyone who supported this, even if after my hiatus hardly anyone actually read or reviewed anymore. I love every one of my followers and reviewers. I'm going to give a super special shout out to Random Chick's Pen for being the biggest reason I actually finished this. Seriously, you are amazing. I thank everyone for pulling me out of my hiatus after a fairly crushing review, and for dealing with me being a stumbling writer.

The end and all that,

~Bella.

Thank you guys

The Sequel Is Out! Check it out on my page