Author's note:

Yep, this chapter is out of the usual upload schedule, so you're getting two chapters this week. That is due to Waves of Darkness, who has been a huge inspiration with all of their reviews, as well as my two wonderful beta-readers; 2017tnt and Milton's knife, who are helping me massively improving the first part of this story. A huge thank you to all of you! You're what motivates me to continue to try and improve my writing and finish this story, so this chapter is dedicated to you three. Waves of darkness, I have already replied to your reviews over private messaging, so I won't go into much detail here, but I'm super sorry about Solangelo! And of course I wouldn't kill off Nico completely, he's my fav character after all ;) Thank you again!

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter, although I wish I did.

Percy POV:

Nico stayed in the hospital wing for another two days. During said time, Percy and the other demigods got on with their coursework. Annabeth and Percy used the breaks to practice and teach Calypso what they knew, but it turned out that the titan's daughter knew more about magic than she had let on. She quickly became the best of the campers, and slowly began to rival the class best, Hermione Granger, as well.

The demigods had found an empty classroom that had turned into their new hangout. Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets wasn't comfortable enough and still filled with tools from building the Argo III, and the common room had turned into the most hostile place imaginable. At least they weren't disturbed here. The other students didn't bother to visit and it seemed as if Dumbledore had told the teachers to stay off their backs, for the reprimanding for mis-cast spells had also dropped to a minimum.

Annabeth had hung up an old and ragged Camp Halfblood flag she had originally used to wrap up weapons within. Once an item so cheap, now one of their last reminders of home, the cloth covered the wall across from the door. Leo and Percy had worked together to scribble puns on the left blackboard, while Calypso had occupied the right one with her drawings. Some of the weapons from the chamber below had been brought up, Annabeth's invisibility cap worked wonders with that sort of stuff. The tables in the middle had been pushed to the side, allowing for light sparring in the middle of the room.

"One. Two. Three!" Percy called at fast tempo, watching as Leo was going through the sequences of a basic longsword technique."No! The fools guard has to be lower. Again." The teen shook his head. The son of Hephaestus was decent with a hammer, yet the Eternals were too nimble and without armour; the better weapon against them was a nimble spear or sword; not the unbalanced and overswinging power of a war-hammer. And thus, he had to drill Leo.

"One. Two. Three!" Percy called out a few more times, before signalling a break. The latino was sweating badly, they had been at it for almost an hour now. Calypso threw her boyfriend a bottle of water. Leo grinned as a thanks and poured half of it in his mouth, the rest over his head.

"Gods, and I thought getting to grip with a hammer was difficult enough." He complained, yet with a twinkle in his eyes. Percy knew he was welcoming the physical activity after a full day of school, sitting at a desk.

"You're getting better. Swords are some of the most difficult weapons to get a grip on, especially these beauties." He said, pointing at the longsword rack in the corner.

Calypso shook her head "Stop stealing Leo's nicknames."

Percy grinned and rubbed the back of his head. He was happy things weren't as awkward as they had been originally when she had come to Camp. They hadn't even been able to greet each other, it had been that bad.

"Fine, I'm ready. What now?" Leo asked, his voice determined, although all his body reeked exhaustion.

Percy smiled, making Leo groan. "Sparring?"

"Yep, sparring."

The session was over quickly; Percy had won every round. The synthetic practice swords were thrown in a corner, their sweaty masks on top. Percy groaned. It was pathetic. At Camp Halfblood, practice was always fully committed; real weapons, real armor, real wounds. Yet at Camp, they had had the materiel to heal the worst of the worst; even what would have killed any mortal. Collapsed lungs, ruptured livers, the whole deal of a long-lasting stabbing.

Here at Hogwarts, even their supply of Ambrosia and Nectar was limited, not to speak of qualified healers. He supposed Madam Pomfrey could have stitched them together, but he rather wouldn't have to explain how they had gotten the stab wounds. Thus, they were stuck with safe practice tools and a thick layer of protective clothing.

The door opened, and Annabeth came in, a book in hand.

"From the library?" Percy asked, pulling her into a hug.

"Yeah, 'an extensive guide on ghosts, ghouls and therelike'. Maybe that will help us sort out were those damned ghosts went."

The son of Poseidon chuckled. "Come on wise girl, I think that's Nico's expertise. You need some rest!"

She ignored that though, typical Annabeth fashion - working herself to death, he thought, almost laughing out loud.

Leo looked up. "Where is Nico by the way? I thought he said they'd let him out of the hospital wing by tonight."

Annabeth shook her head. "I hope he comes soon, but with all these ghosts gone, I don't know what even he can do. I think- I think it's time we talk to Dumbledore about all of this."

Calypso choked on her drink. "Why didn't you tell him previously, then? Wouldn't this compromise the mission?"

The daughter of Athena nodded. "It is risky. But I don't see how else we can get the information we need. We need to know how to defeat the Eternals. Our only lead were the ghosts. Without them- It is time for us leaving our secrets behind us."

Percy put his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. "If wise girl wants to go through with it, we aren't the ones to criticise. She's the best strategist of the last two millennia."

She blushed at that. "Hey, I don't thi-"

Percy turned to face her straight on, their noses almost touching. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You're the reason we got there. Without you, we wouldn't have had any of that plan. None of the halfbloods in Camp would have survived. Calypso here, wouldn't have survived," his hands motioning towards the titan. "You're our strategist. With Chiron gone, you're practically our leader."

She laughed. "Stop it! The flattery isn't going to get you an advantage in bed, you know that," the daughter of Athena winked.

"It's not flattery if it's the truth," Percy chuckled and pulled her into a kiss.

"Hem. Hem." Someone coughed. The two jumped apart. Percy could have sworn that Umbridge had made that sound, yet he saw Leo and Calypso bending double in laughter and realised it had only been an imitation from one of the two.

"Hey, if you're lovebirds are done, we should send someone to Dumbledore. It is getting late, and I am not sure how long the headmaster is awake." Leo said, trying to hold a stern look, yet failing miserably, his giggling still filling the room.

"You're right," Annabeth said. "I'll do it, after all, I do have my invisibility cap, so it'll be less likely for Umbridge or any of the teachers catching me."

Nico POV:

Madame Pomfrey had finally released him from her care. The headache was still there, and most of his body was stinging every time he moved an inch, but he had lived through worse. The ghost king guessed he was a good liar. He had told the worried witch that he was in perfect condition, and luckily, she had believed him.

For now, his main goal was to find Kai. His second- to figure out all of this ghost shit Annabeth had told him about. He passed Seamus in the hallway, yet the Gryffindor did not greet. Nico didn't care though. Colin and Vince had visited him in the hospital wing, and those were the only two wizards he kinda cared about. Well, and then there was Kai. He groaned. Something was wrong. Colin had evaded every question Nico had thrown at him. The son of Hades knew he should have told the wizard before leaving, but there had been little time. And what should he have told his boyfriend? Oh, by the way, I'm a greek demigod and currently all my mates are biting the dust, so see you later! That wouldn't have worked out well, even someone as antisocial as Nico knew that.

Don't worry, it'll be fine. The voice said.

Shut up, Bianca! Nico exclaimed silently.

He walked into the Gryffindor common room, and smelled the trouble. Colin was sitting with Vince and Kai next to one of the fires, but his smile faded the moment he saw Nico. It replaced by a look of worry when he glanced back to Kai. The latter had also seen Nico, and stood up, his entire body tense, walking pointedly towards the stairs. The glimpse Nico caught of his face was shocking.

The ghost king was pretty sure Kai was about to cry, but his anger was radiating across the room as well. Nico increased his speed. He didn't want to make a scene in the common room, so he suppressed the instinct to call. On the cold marble of the staircase, he caught up with the wizard. He grabbed Kai by the wrist and pulled him around. Shit, Bianca! It definitely isn't fine! He thought when he finally got a full view of his boyfriend's face. His eyes were swollen and wet. His lip was trembling.

"Please. Just- just leave me alone." He whispered as he ripped his arm out of Nico's grasp. The lone figure ran up the stars, the Ghost King starring after him, dumbfounded.

Nico went to bed early; after having caught up with his friends within their new 'headquarters', he headed up the bedroom of the fourth graders. Percy had said something about Annabeth talking to Dumbledore, yet Nico didn't really care.

Kai was the only one in the bedroom. He did not move when Nico entered, and fake snorred, at which the ghost king almost laughed. Almost, for he didn't want to ruin their relationship any further. He understood that Kai was mad, who wouldn't be, but he hadn't expected… this. Maybe Kai was too sensitive, but maybe he himself just hadn't realised how important trust was in a relationship. Nico groaned. All of this was so confusing! He knew he should have told Kai, and he still wanted to, regardless if they broke up, at least to prove he trusted him. But how? Everything had gone so fast, and he didn't even know if he was allowed to tell him. What if he compromised their mission? What if he put Kai in danger because he told him? The Eternals seemed to hunt everyone that knew, and Nico couldn't bare to think about them killing Kai. It wrenched at his guts. But although those worries clouded his mind, sleep came fast.

The sky was cloudless. The grass, once green, had turned yellow. Dust was spread in thick layers on the houses, the trees, everywhere. The sun cooked the men without mercy; within their plate armour they were drenched in sweat. Their stench could be smelt from a mile. They all had swords on their belts, yet within their hands were maces, warhammers and halberds. They were prepared for war.

With the dismounted knights came a contingency of archers; longbows slung over their shoulders. It seemed medieval, only that some of their shields had greek symbols upon them, and there were a few men and women without armour, who for their weapons had no more than small, thin sticks.

The leader, an old, gray beard hanging through his open visor, moaned. "Let's get this over with, my lady."

The woman, no armor, just a black dress nodded. "We do what we must."

The village before them lay there, peacefully. Not a soul was on the streets, the heat had driven the people inside. Fire would drive them out.

Slowly, darkness came over the scene, smoke only ripping open to reveal a later moment in time. Nico would have puked, were it not a dream.

The village had been burnt. Smoldering ruins were all that was left of the houses. Their owners had found a similar fate: corpses were littering the ground. The body of a young boy was split in half, his legs close to the door he had just come out of when an axe had hit him. A few heads were mounted on spikes. Most bodies were too charred to identify. There was no sign of any living being in the town. Only two shadows, standing far off in the distance - the old man, who had lead the attackers, and the lady at his side.

"I wish it hadn't come to this," surprisingly, the butcher had tears in his eyes.

The lady nodded slowly. "War makes monsters out of all of us."

"Did the Unspeakable deserve their fate?" The man asked, now actually sobbing.

The woman remained cold. "It was the only way."

"I murdered my own Grandson! His friends, everyone. If this would turn out not to be the only way I would damn all of us; and execute us both." The old man was staring at the lady, his eyes filled with fury, yet his shoulders slacking.

"My dear William, it won't come to that." The figure said, her voice finally revealing some emotion. "I know of your loss. Do not despair. Your grandson will gain a statue in the hall of sacrifices. His death shall be remembered."

"Mylady di Angelo." The old man said in lieu of a goodbye, pulling out a wand and disapparating.

The black glad figure of Isabel di Angelo remained on the field; her gown fluttering in the wind. Her voice began a song of sorrow. The only burial rites the bodies would receive. Somehow, Nico knew that sound, but he did not know from where. He almost began to cry as well; why, he did not know. Yet she stopped abruptly, and turned towards the observer; looking straight into the Ghost King's eyes.

NICO!

The son of Hades awoke with a scream, alerting all the boys within the bedroom. Soon, lights were on, yet by the time they reached his bed to see what was going on he had already slipped on a shirt and headed down to the common room.

Well, it seems his death has caused some nightmares; or did he never die? I'll leave you to figure that out. Thank you again to the three that have motivated me to finish this chapter earlier. You will of course also get a chapter this sunday, during the usual upload schedule. Thank you again to Waves of darkness, your reviews made my day! I hope you enjoyed this chapter a little more lol.

Fives, over and out.