(A/N I need to write this story as much as some of you need to read it. Here is yet another chapter.)

Chapter 21: Black Eye Fame

Nico

I was one of the first ones to breakfast. Trevor came about five minutes later.

"Nico!" He said seeing my eye. "Where'd you get that?"

"You should've seen it." I laughed it off. "Malfoy and his cronies thought they could attack me."

"They what?" Trevor asked. "You need to tell someone."

"Nah," I said. "Won't happen again. They might be in the hospital wing today."

Trevor laughed. "Awesome."

Ellis, one of my roommates came running over. I didn't talk to any of them, except Trevor, very often so I was surprised.

"Nico," He asked, "Is it true that you beat up Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle?"

"And he has a black eye to show for it," Trevor said.

Pretty soon, we were surrounded. They were all congratulating me. It was strange.

I soon realized that no one, even Slytherins, liked Malfoy. Except of course, the few kids that sat at the other edge of the table.

"I knew I liked this guy," One of my other roommates, Rex said.

"If you really liked him then you'd let him eat," Trevor finally snapped after about ten minutes.

The crowd dispersed.

I snorted.

Harry

"What's going on over there?" I asked.

After Nico had come in, he had been crowded. I wonder if it has something to do with his black eye.

The crowd of Slytherins headed back to their seats.

Ron, Hermione and I headed off to potions.

"Mr. Di Angelo," Snape said as soon as Nico walked in. "I will see you after class."

"Sure, whatever," Nico said.

I admit, I didn't pay much attention in that class. Nico's black eye, the crowd at breakfast, and Snape keeping him after class, they had to be connected.

I listened to the door after leaving.

"I hear you are causing trouble, Mr. Di Angelo."

"Yes," Nico said.

"Yes, sir," Snape corrected.

"Yes, sir," Nico said.

"You will report for detention for the next week, or else I'll bring this to the High Inquisitor."

"Yes, sir,"

"Go."

I ran, so Nico wouldn't see me.

Nico

I actually humored Snape, calling him sir, I didn't want to have anything to do with Umbridge unnecessarily. I saw Harry running away from the door as I exited, eavesdropping again.

I had Transfiguration next, a class I hated because the teacher actually expected me to do the work. In most of the other classes I could get by, by hiding in the back of class.

I felt something fall out of my bag, so I bent down to check. It was the Hades figurine from Bianca. I felt tears fall from my eyes. She died for this!

I walked into class and sat down next to Trevor.

"Nico, you okay?"

"Sto bene. Non è niente." I brushed him off, but couldn't help but think of Bianca.

"Um… okay?"

The teacher said something, but all my anger was still running through my mind. At Percy, at Bianca, at the stupid Fates.

"Mr. Di Angelo," Professor McGonagall said. "For the third time explain the Gemino curse to the class."

"I don't know and I really don't care," I said.

She had obviously had enough of me.

"Detention, Mr. Di Angelo."

"I have detention with Professor Snape tonight."

"Tomorrow then."

"Still Snape. I have a week of detentions with him."

"Next week then, Mr. Di Angelo."

"Alright."

She went back to her lecture. "The Gemino curse is also called the doubling charm…"

"Why'd you snap at her?" Trevor whispered.

"I snap at everyone," I said. "It's in my blood."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"Not on earth," I whispered to myself.

Trevor gave me a weird look.

Thanks a lot, dad.

When class ended, I hurried out.

At lunch, Trevor and I didn't speak once. I wasn't sure if he was annoyed at me or if I was the one ignoring him.

I tried to hurry off to charms when Luna stopped me at the door.

"Are you alright, Nico?"

I realized that she was talking about the black eye.

"I'm fine, Luna. I just…" My voice broke and I gripped the figurine in my pocket. "I just want to go home."

"Aren't you going over Christmas break?"

"That's not home,"

"Then what is?"

I thought for a moment. "Bianca."

Harry

"How did he get that black eye?" I wondered out loud.

"You haven't heard?" Ron asked.

"What?"

"He got into a brawl with Malfoy. Him and Crabbe have been in the hospital wing all day."

I shivered. "So when he said he could've taken care of me the first day if he wanted to, he wasn't kidding about that, was he?"

"Doesn't look like it,"