Nico POV:
It took a few days but I was finally able to leave our campsite in the Forbidden Forest, not alone but I don't care. Micheal was to always be with me whenever I leave the magical barrier around our site. It wasn't as strong as the barrier around CHB but we only had like 9 tents so it's good. From what I could gather, one of Hazel's witches was the 'Champion' for our school. It didn't interest me enough so I decided to go deep into the Forest to find out as much as the darkness of the area could offer me. Hazel and Micheal at my side made a great family bonding experience. At least for Hazel and me, Micheal took to staying in the trees. He swung from tree to treetop like some kind of forest ninja. Scouting ahead of us and keeping an eye on the surrounding area. As we were speaking to the Threstrals, we came across a young wizard with platinum blond hair. He was focused on the skeletal pegasi to notice us. I looked over to Micheal who gave me a slight nod. This wizard was not a threat, but it made me wonder how he's able to see the underworld creatures.
"Why hello there, who might you be?" Hazel asked, trying to break the ice. The boy looked startled, jumping a little bit away from the Thestrals. He looked at both of us wide-eyed before straightening himself and then bowed to us.
"My name is Draco Malfoy, heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy Madame Levesque, King De Angelo," he spoke so formally. I heard rustling in the trees, Uh-oh
"OHHH! A prince?! Dad! I want him!" Micheal shrieked as he jumped off of the trees to land on the poor boy. I watched as Micheal released a little bit of his aurora to calm down the boy a bit before picking him up.
"Micheal, his name is Draco, and we were trying to have a conversation. Put him down and continue doing what you are supposed to be doing." I scolded him with a smirk. Micheal gave a huff as he placed Draco back down on his feet and jumped back into the trees with a pout. I shook my head, that boy is gonna be the death of me but I can't tell him no without reason. I looked over at Hazel and she gave a subtle nod. "So, Draco Malfoy, why don't you tell me about Hogwarts so far?"
He gave me a short version of everything that's happened in the school, most of which I was shocked to hear while Hazel was growling at. As he finished by telling us the happenings of how a creature was able to nearly kill every single student I wondered just how 'safe' the magical community is. "I still don't understand how Headmaster Dumbledore could've possibly been alright with embarrassing Slytherin like that during my first year. I understood how most of the other houses thought us all to be evil and cruel, but it wasn't like they hadn't helped in guiding us that way. We've only ever known darkness because of the light shunning us out." Draco then looked up at us with tears in his eyes. Opening himself up to us, truthfully and wholeheartedly. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Draco, look into my eyes and answer me truthfully," I started as I tilted his head to look up at me. Letting the shadows around us embrace the poor child, I then started to absorb the emotions within him. "Do you wish to leave this world, this community that has cast you aside for your affinity towards the dark arts? If so, I am willing to bring you with us, your sins and transgressions will be forgiven and wiped away. You'd join my Guard and swear to protect me as I will protect you. All those who judge you will do so based solely on your actions, no matter its nature."
A look of confliction donned his pale facial features. "My friends, I don't want to leave them to suffer. It's selfish but is there anything you could do for them?" His voice broke, I glanced at Hazel who understood my intent.
"I Madame Hazel Levesque, Witch of New Orleans and High Priestess of Hekate hereby release Draco Malfoy and all those who follow him from the laws of magic to serve Nico De Angelo as part of his Guard." Hazel began to float in the air as the white mist started to surround her. Eyes shining gold, with the ground trembling at her very feet, magick itself recognized her power and obeyed. A purple light shone around Draco and began to fade, in its place dark shadow tendrils took its place. Enveloping the boy in the cool darkness, he felt protected and safe inside of the shadow cocoon. And when he emerged his physical appearance changed with him. No longer was his skin deathly pale, but a healthy tone of olive, much like Nico. His hair had grown longer and looked wild. His eyes a former color of calming grey had taken up to be the same color as smoke. Unknowingly, the other Slytherins whose loyalty remained with Draco had gone through a similar process where they looked wilder and their auras matched a feeling of restlessness and dread. "You are now under the protection of Nico de Angelo, Ghost King of the Underworld, and son of the God of wealth and King of Hades, Hades," Hazel announced.
"Let me explain before you ask questions," Nico started to explain his history and how they are demigods to Draco. Micheal dropped down to the forest floor to stand next to the young wizard. "The reason why I just revealed all these secrets to you is that now that you are under my protection and have agreed, you are now one of my children. Originally it was just subordinate, but your brother over here," I gestured to Micheal as he smiled innocently, "along with your other siblings decided we are now a family. So you and everyone Loyal to you are now my children. When the school year is over you will all be following us back to America for the summer to get some practice in. After that, I will be sending some of you back here to the British wizarding world for research and information gathering."
"Now Nico don't forget about me!" Hazel pouted.
"Yeah, Auntie Hazel is as much a part of our family as Uncle Frank." Micheal teased.
I rolled my eyes and mouthed to Draco, 'You'll see later.' Focusing my attention back to our original reason for being in the Forest, "Draco sweety, is there anything out here in the Forest that could be classified as dark or dangerous?" I asked. He shook his head, no. I sighed and started to walk back towards our campsite. Hazel followed while Micheal pulled Draco along when he saw the blonde confused. "Draco, is there anyone of romantic interest to you here at Hogwarts?"
"No sir, although there was some nice eye candy, like the Hufflepuff champion, Cedric Diggory. Also some beautiful women like Daphne Greengrass, I don't have any relationships nor have I been in one." He answered back.
"Tom 'Voldemort' Riddle has been confirmed dead my lord," A skeleton servant of my father appeared from the earth, passing along the news to me and Hazel. Draco looked at me with wide eyes.
"Draco, why don't you go back to the castle and pack up everything you own? Tell the others to as well. We leave next week, Hazel I trust you to be able to handle the rest of this without our help. But just to be fair we'll let everyone else know tonight that I will be leaving and I'm taking Will with me."
"Fine, but I want you to send the rest of my coven here, I know you and the others will manage without us for now." She said nodding in acceptance as they reached their campsite. Draco then continued his way up to the castle with Micheal still on him.
Percy's pov:
I was minding my own business at the bottom of the lake with Annabeth, totally not making out with her. When a stone was thrown in, and then another, and another. Curiously I looked over to Annabeth. She gave me a small nod and we swam near the surface of the lake. Still far enough from the shore to be seen but close enough to hear the sobbing cries of a student. We slipped into our merfolk forms, I had a tail with sea-green scales, two. The same as my half-brother Triton, my upper human body had patches of scales too with black tattoos that I'm able to channel some of my dad's power through for emergencies. The tattoos were always changing shape, this time they settled to be of waves crashing against a rock. Annabeth had a single tail of the color stormy grey. Similar to mine except for the tattoos, she had none. We broke the surface of the water while I asked the kid, with subtle sea magic to calm him down, what was wrong.
Startled, he backed up a few with his eyes wide. "My name is Nevil Longbottom, I'm sorry I disturbed you both. It's just that life at Hogwarts isn't all I imagined it to be…" And so Nevil began to vent to the two merfolk who listened to his woes. How the other students picked on him due to his awkwardness, and them blaming him for his clumsiness. How bad the bullying from the students was, and worse was the ignorance of the staff who refused to help him. He pleaded with Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout. The only ones who helped him were the potions master and herbology teacher. How their Houses were to only two that ever welcomed Nevil. The Slytherin tutored him in the ways of how Purebloods acted around others. And the Hufflepuffs provided him with a place to sleep whenever the other Gryffindors would lock him out of the Tower. He then admitted that if it weren't for the squid in the lake who saved his life, he would have been gone during his third year when the Dementors were roaming about.
"Annabeth, we have to help this kid out. You heard what his life sounds like, and the fact that it's already near sundown shows nobody is even looking for him." Percy and Annabeth were talking in merfolk as Nevil lay on the shore sound asleep. Exhausted from all the emotions he just finished sharing with the couple.
"I know Seaweedbrain, but we can't just take him like he's a pet. He still has a life here and maybe a normal life is possible. Why don't we stay with him until he wakes up then we can ask. If he says no then we offer advice, if yes then we let Hazel know and take him back to the crew." She reasoned as they got up from the lake. Percy placed Nevil's head on his lap, stroking his hair as Annabeth sat down next to him.
After a few hours, the boy woke up in confusion when he saw the two royals looking at him. "I'm sorry Prince Jackson, Princess Chase," he was all flustered as he scrambled to get up. Percy just took his arm to place him between himself and Annabeth. The blonde whispering soothing words to calm him down.
"Neville it's ok! We saw you sleep and decided to change back to keep you company till you woke up again. You looked like you needed it after your ranting session," Percy explained. "We have something important to talk to you about and now is as good a time as any. How would you feel about becoming a part of my crew?"
"Huh?! I don't understand," Neville started mumbling, face pale as he looked back and forth between the two Royals.
"Seaweed Brain, he doesn't know the whole story yet! Be patient next time," Annabeth scolded Percy as she looked back to Neville and started explaining everything to him. After all the stories, the young wizard finally understood the offer.
"Are you sure you'd want me? I'm not that great at much except Herbology. I wouldn't want to drag you down," He said.
"Hey! How about we go check Hazel first? We have to eventually, plus we have that meeting tonight so we might as well take Neville with us!" Percy exclaimed.
"That's a good idea, Percy. What do you say, Neville? Would you please follow us to our campsite?" Annabeth offered as she stood up with her hand out to the nervous wizard. He took her offer and stood up, Percy then carried Neville and tossed him over his shoulder.
"Alright! Race you there Wisegirl," he then proceeded to run back to their campsite to see everyone there. Plus one blond wizard sat close to Nico and in the lap of his Guard, Micheal. "Hey everyone, this is Neville and he'll be joining us for our meeting! Also Hazel can I have him, please? Nico got one already so it's all good right?"
"Please explain everything from the top," Hazel said as she stood up and walked over to Neville, and stood in front of him. Her golden eyes looked as though they were staring straight into his soul. At the end of his explanation, she asked him, "Neville, do you willingly leave the world of Wizards and Witches to serve Captain Percy Jackson and become a part of his crew?" He nodded his head, "Then I Madame Hazel Levesque, Witch of New Orleans and High Priestess of Hekate hereby release Neville Longbottom from the laws of magic to serve Percy Jackson as part of his Crew," similar to what happened with Draco, Hazel began to float in the air as the white mist started to surround her. Eyes shining gold, with the ground trembling at her very feet, magick itself recognized her power and obeyed. A purple light shone around Neville and began to fade, in its place rushing water burst out of the ground and took its place. Enveloping the boy in the saltwater, he felt protected and safe inside of the water sphere.
When he came out of the sphere he looked completely different, he wore no robes. Instead, he had on quick-dry shorts with a dark green Hawaiian print, black flip-flops, and an open-up white button shirt. His wand in a holster on his leg, his body was now tanned as if he spent days under the sun. His hair wild, tattoos littered his left arm. He had an aura of crazed excitement, eyes now as wild and strong as the sea currents. Even his body seemed to have changed and become leaner, showing off a surfer body.
"Congratulations Neville, you are now officially a part of the Crew. Let it be known that your loyalties lie strictly to me, Percy Jackson, two-time Hero of Olympus, Son of Poseidon, God of the sea, earthquakes, and father of horses, and King of Atlantis," Hazel announced.
"Good for you bro, you and Neeks got a wizard! Now can we start this meeting so we can sleep?" Jason asked as he fist-bumped with Percy.
After everyone got their food and gathered around the fire, Hazel waved her hand to form the shadows into a module of Hogwarts. "Thanks to information given to us by Draco and Neville we now know that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is completely broken as an educational facility. Although, based on information my witches gathered while we redid the wards of this castle we now know that the security system was top-notch in its prime. The stone statues and ghosts had dual purposes, providing security, and guidance for the students. A flaw in that part of the system was the ghosts being unregistered and you'd only be able to activate the statues if the school was threatened as a whole, and only by the Headmaster. There were also a few secret passages that slipped past the wards of the castle, meaning that assassins and other threats could've used them to gain access to the school," the smoke formed the various shapes as she spoke.
"So in other words, this place failed as a school," Thalia deadpanned. Draco and Neville looked at each other before nodding. "How has this been going on?! I might not have liked school a lot, but that doesn't mean that it isn't protected right?"
"Well, there was a Baskilisk loose in our 2nd year, our 1st year we were told that we'd die a horrible death if we roamed the 3rd corridor, and our 3rd year was breached by a wanted criminal Sirius Black who had been arrested for the slaughter of some Muggles and a fellow wizard. All of which Harry Potter has been the center of," Draco mused from behind Nico.
"Mistress Hazel, I think we should use this year to get to know this community and understand the 'norm' for now. And if it doesn't seem to meet up to both educational and safety standards, we'll just take it over," said one of her top witches. The witch had long black hair in a braid, eyes the same color as glimmering gold, not quite like the riches of the earth emitting a subtle divine glow from her porcelain skin.
"I like that idea Celena, that way we can gain an understanding of the situation we can't just punch," Hazel exclaimed, "We will begin early stages of preparations now. I think that's all we have to discuss with Hogwarts. Now onto new business," she said as she swept away the smoky figures over the fire with a wave of her hand. She stared intently at the two ex-wizards with a Cheshire grin, "We will go around introducing ourselves so that you get a full grasp of your new family! Starting with me, I am Hazel Levesque, High Priestess of the Goddess of magic, Hekate. My coven and I deal mainly with magical research and creation, we have all come here to gather new information and data on a more independent branch of magic. Since you Draco have joined my brother's Guard you'll be getting to know my witches the most, he tends to worry about my safety so you'll most likely be visiting my coven a lot with him in between missions. Now Thalia,"
"The name is Thalia, Lutenit of Lady Artemis or Diana's Hunters. We are a group of immortal maidens who keep the monster population down around the world so we can keep other demigods safe. We can die in a fight, we can't age, and we can't date. Neville, you'll be seeing us a lot since you're paired with Kelp Head over there but you most likely won't talk to a majority of us since we despise men. I am also a representative of the Amazons like us are made up of female warriors. The only differences are that they can date men and age, however, we do exchange Hunters and Amazons for special cases. My advice for them is to know how to fight to gain their respect. I can also be considered your aunt, especially if you somehow get Kelp Brain to rub off on you. You go, little bro," Thalia stated looking over at Jason.
"Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter and Pontifex Maximus of New Rome. I am in charge of the Elites who protect the inner parts of the city, focused mainly on military might. We are the elite soldiers of Rome who chose to serve after the training done at Camp Jupiter. Our ranks are opened to anyone and if you happen to be in New Rome you'll be able to visit our base because of your status. But be warned, if either of you does anything bad then the punishment will befall Percy or Nico. You'll see us should we feel the need for security. Outside of work though feel free to call me Uncle Jason." He ended with a smile.
A/N: Hey guys and gals, so let me know what you thought of this new chapter. reviews are always welcomed. Bad or good.