Hey y'all! So sorry I missed last week's update, I will be doing a double update to make up for it! Nothing else is really new right now, so as always, sit back, relax, enjoy, and on with the story!

-Sav

Chapter 10: We Meet the Ultimate Cat Lady

After we got off the boats, we followed Hagrid inside the castle to a fairly empty hallway, minus a tabby cat sitting on one of the railings of a massive staircase. The cat jumped off the railing and started to walk down the stairs. As it was doing so, the cat changed shapes, morphing into a tall lady with a tight bun and stern expression.

"Good Evening," the cat lady said as the room went silent. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, and the professor of transfiguration. In just a few moments you will walk through the doors of the Great Hall, and you will be sorted into your houses. The houses are like your family. There are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. When I call out your name you will walk to the front and I will place the sorting hat on your head. Then you will join the rest of your house at the table."

We followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall, and were again impressed by the sight. The entire ceiling looked like the sky. I don't think I'm ever going to get used to this. I vaguely heard Hermione Granger telling a girl that it's not a real sky, but I was too distracted to fully comprehend her comment. Professor McGonagall stepped up to a stage-like portion of the hall, and immediately the conversations between the rest of the students in the hall died down. Professor McGonagall started to speak.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. This year's sorting will happen a little bit differently. We are so pleased to welcome our first ever group of American exchange students! For the sorting, the students will all be placed into the same house to make their transition the easiest, so after the hat has been placed on all of the exchange students heads, the hat will call out the house that has the most shared qualities between them. We will now sort the exchange students, and then we will proceed with the normal sorting." She gestured for us to approach the stage.

"Percy Jackson!" A ratty looking hat was placed on Percy's head, then after about a minute, the hat said "Next student please." It's pretty sad that a talking hat doesn't surprise me at all. Then again, nothing really surprises me anymore. I watched as the other demigods' names got called, then finally it was my turn. "Nico di Angelo!" I walked up towards Professor McGonagall, who promptly placed the hat on my head.

A small voice startled me. "Ah yes," the hat said. I stiffened. Nobody gets to look through my head.

"Let me in, Nico. I can't sort you without looking through your thoughts and history."

I sighed, and slowly let my mental walls down.

"Oh my."

Look, I thought. I know my mind's a mess, and I know my life has been pretty messed up, so don't try telling me that.

"So much pain..."

You don't think I know that? Even the Goddess of Misery herself said she could not possibly make me any sadder! Now stop trying to tell me what I already know and sort me! The hat continued to flip through my thoughts and memories, making me very annoyed. Finally the hat said let Professor McGonagall know that it was finished invading my head. I stepped to the side where the other demigods were standing. Will shuffled over next to me.

"You okay Death Boy? You looked like you were going to murder something."

I looked up at him. "The only thing I'll be murdering is that stupid hat."

Will laughed. "Let's not deface school property, Neeks."

Suddenly, the hat yelled out "The exchange students go in Gryffindor!" A table cheered, and we took that as our cue to go sit down. We moved in a clump and started socializing as the other Gryffindors made space for us at the table.

After a long time, all of the students had been sorted. Harry, Hermione, and Ron had all been sorted into the same house, which was great for us. Then, a man with a long beard and half moon glasses stepped up to an owl shaped podium. He raised his hand and the room went silent.

"Let the feast begin!"

Suddenly, the empty tables filled with platters of food. Leo looked like he was in heaven. Then the room grew cold, and ghosts started to fill in. I sighed. Why doesn't anybody warn me about these things? The ghosts who were talking with students a minute ago, quickly flew over to me. They gathered around me on all sides, some of them were even floating in the middle of the table.

"M-my Lord," stuttered one.

I felt the room start to go silent yet again, and now curious eyes were all on me. So much for keeping a cover.

"Your highness, we beg you, please don't send us back." The ghosts crowded around, bowing their heads, and begging me to not send them to the underworld.

I heaved another big sigh, and spoke in a strong but cold voice. I was very quiet, but my low volume was not effective in the slightest. The Great Hall was dead silent, listening for what I would say.

"Ghosts, shades, and spirits," I addressed them. "There is no need to bow to me, or beg for mercy. I am not going to vanquish you, or send you back. I am simply here to attend school. Now, proceed as if I were not here." There were a chorus of "Thank you, my lord"s, and "Yes, your highness", and "Your majesty's", and even some "My king's", as they went their separate ways.

As they floated away, all eyes were on me, waiting for an explanation or response. I tried to play it off as nothing had happened. "What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and talking in a cold voice, daring someone to say something. No one ever did.

Slowly the conversations started back up. Will and the rest of the demigods were trying hard to stifle laughter. I looked at them. "Oh shut up you guys." I said. Nothing happened for a few seconds, then Percy said "Sure, Your Highness." This made them lose it. I raised my eyebrow, and then looked around to make sure no one was watching. When the coast was clear, I summoned a skeleton to grab Percy's ankle, making him scream. The demigods laughed even harder, and I earned a glare from Will.

"Nico, you know you shouldn't be using underworld-y stuff!"

"Oh, come on Will! It was just a small skeleton. It was worth it too! Besides, I'm absolutely fine." Will crossed his arms and glared at me.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. You have to admit it was funny though."

Will raised his eyebrow, and then cracked a smile. "Fine. Maybe it was a little bit funny."