CHAPTER SUMMARY
Persephone speaks to Nico. Ron has his first demigod dream. The camp discusses the prophecy. Cho moves forward with her plan.
BEGINNING NOTES
Chapter Rating: General Audiences
Content Warning: Cursing
Word Count: 4036
This chapter is less disjointed than the summary implies, I promise.
And all the characters are owned by JK Rowling, or Rick Riordan.
_NICO_
Nico's eyes fluttered open. Sunlight hit his cheeks. Around him, beautiful trees and flowers grew beside meandering slate paths. Life-sized statues stood on soft grass. Persephone hummed as she plucked pomegranates from a tree and placed them in a woven basket hanging from the crook of her elbow. She turned, beaming as bright as the sun itself.
"You took your time," she teased.
"You're in a good mood."
Persephone laughed. With it came a warm breeze that smelled like wildflowers. "We're winning this war, Nico. Thanks to you." She caught herself with another giggle. "Well, you and Cho Chang."
Nico blinked. That was a name he hadn't heard in a while. "Cho Chang? What does she have to do with the war?"
Persephone moved to an apple tree. Blossoms ripened into fruit as she reached to pluck them. "She's a prisoner of war Hades and I recently dug up from the wrong side of the Styx."
Persephone stared at an apple the size of her face. She sighed, "Too small," and threw it on the ground for the cockroaches. Those guys lived everywhere. "It's perilous in Hecate's lands now that she has summoned the Founders for her war council. There have been riots over the past two days. A spy informed me that your friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are planning to stage a coup against the Ministry of Magic tomorrow night. We'll see how that goes." She threw another enormous apple on the ground.
Nico collapsed on a nearby stone bench. "What? How could... why would... huh?" He knew about the violence from his dream, but hearing it all, knowing it was real, put him at a loss for words. Blaise. Hestia. Ron. Hermione. Even Malfoy. None of them deserved that. And Cho... she was innocent, too young to die, caught up in some deadly game of chess played by hands too powerful to take notice of her until she served a purpose. Just like Harry.
"I'm surprised you haven't asked about your surroundings."
Nico waved Persephone's comment away, lost in thought. "Psychic link. I'm used to it."
Persephone's steely gaze woke Nico from his fog. "How are you 'used to it?' " He didn't answer. She stepped closer to him, leaving her basket of fruit on a stone bird bath. "Nico, you weren't a prime target for Gaea or any of her children. Only the Earth Mother and her children have the power to induce a psychic link without the aid of magic. I didn't summon you. Pan didn't summon you. Why are you 'used to it?' "
"I thought you said 'empathy link,' " Nico mumbled half-heartedly.
Persephone put a hand to his chin and lifted his head, forcing him to look her in the eyes. "Was Hecate whispering to you in the Wizarding World? Is that why you joined her?"
"I joined her because she was going to give me the Artifacts," Nico growled. Psychic link or no psychic link, that was one of the few moments he'd defied his fate and Persephone would not take that away from him. "And, no, Hecate didn't contact me until after I renounced Hades. We're done here." He shoved Persephone away. "Get away from me."
"Nico-"
"GET AWAY!" Nico screamed with wild eyes, cheeks flushing with heat.
Persephone was completely unaffected by his breakdown. "It was Torrington, wasn't it?" In shock, Nico nodded. How could she know Alabaster?
Persephone gave an indignant huff. "That hero is a thorn in my side! Hecate's most egregious break of the ancient laws-and that's saying something-and I can't prosecute her for it! If he meddles one more time, I swear on the River Styx I'll-"
"How is Al against the ancient laws?" Nico asked, cutting Persephone off before she could make an oath everyone would regret. "And why can't you charge Hecate, again?"
Persephone stopped ranting long enough to remember Nico was still there. She turned, a sad little smile on her face. The anger was gone. "It's nothing, Nico."
"What's happening to the Wizarding World?" Nico insisted. "Who are the Founders?"
Persephone retrieved her basket of fruit and sat beside him. She offered him an orange, but he pushed it away. "You're dreaming, Nico. This fruit won't curse you."
"I don't want to take the chance."
Persephone reluctantly put the orange back in the basket. "The Founders are Hecate's husband Merlin's personal servants. They each control a key component of the Wizarding World. The four of them founded Hogwarts together the year that land passed from Demeter to Hecate. You already know Slytherin, god of magical creatures. Then there's Gryffindor, god of spells; Hufflepuff, goddess of potions; and Ravenclaw, goddess of the Mist, called divination in her lands.
"The four of them plus Merlin and Hecate keep her lands running; the intense magical energy coming from so many chosen mortals in one place makes the site reek to monsters and can turn men's mind to jelly. Paranoia, anger, and fear overtake her lands without Merlin holding it all together, and their systems are already collapsing without the Founders there to prop them up. Hecate's protections will only do so much. She intends to call on her followers as her military until the camps fall, but has underestimated how quickly things will deteriorate."
"But... it's only a week until January 1st. They'll be okay... right?" Nico asked desperately.
"Many things have fallen in far less time than a week."
He was speechless. That place housed him for three months, long enough for him to get to know it. It was home to so many people...
"That's why I called you here," Persephone continued. "Hades is considering reviving Cho as another spy on the inside. I want you to collect her. Bring her to camp or send a representative, and keep her informed. A small team in the Wizarding World is just what we need to-"
"Sabotage it," Nico snarled. "Why should you care? That's Hecate's army, and you're fighting against her! Why should I help you? I'm done being an errand boy!"
"Nico-"
"No! Don't 'Nico' me! I wanted nothing to do with any of this, and then you send Hazel off to a crumbling realm, kidnap Cho, an innocent girl, and terrorize the Hunters with Underworld creatures so Thalia has to run off into the Arctic and get herself killed! No! No! I don't give two-tenths of a shit about the godsdamned Great Prophecy or your stupid war! You don't get it! I won't do you one more favor, Persephone! You don't know what it's like! I just want it all to stop!" Nico fell off the bench, fell on his knees onto the stone path, and sobbed. "Let it stop..."
A soft hand touched him on the shoulder. He felt warmth spread from the tips of its fingers down his back, then into the rest of his body. Somehow, it felt familiar.
"You think I don't know what it means to be a puppet with my betters pulling the strings?" Persephone laughed a soft, pitiful laugh. It echoed like they were in the wide, open fields of flowers from her youth, not a small garden in the middle of the Underworld. "I want nothing more than your freedom, Nico. I've kept Hades at bay for you more than once. But, for you to have a free and mortal life, there has to be a world left for you to live in."
Nico slowly sat up, looking at her warm face with new eyes. "You have?"
She ran a tender hand down his cheek. "Why do I see so much of myself in you when you are not mine?" Nico wiped his tears away with his sleeve as Persephone watched with a tender expression. "Do you remember the winter before the Battle of Manhattan? You were twelve, I believe."
"I came to live with you," he reminisced, still sniffling. "After we saved your sword. I thought you hated me. But you shared the food your nymph servants brought you from the surface world so I wouldn't go hungry. You didn't have to do that. Then, you got sick-the winter was harder on you than usual, and you couldn't leave your room. Hades made me watch you when he couldn't. He was so afraid for you."
Persephone smiled. She took Nico's hand and led him back to the blossoming apple tree. "Take one," she said. Nico hesitated; he couldn't do nature magic like Persephone could. But something inside him told him this time it would be different. He reached for the apple blossoms, and one ripened into fruit. He closed his hand around the apple, as full of wonder as he had been as a little kid.
Persephone held up her basket for him. He put it in. She put the basket at his feet, then looked up with shining eyes. "What was that song you would sing to me? The one about being free? You said it was Bianca's favorite song."
"I Hope You Dance."
Persephone took his hand and pressed a vial into his palm. It was all too familiar: a potion for a dreamless sleep, the one Alabaster had given him so many times at Hogwarts. Alabaster... that's why he recognized this warmth. It was the same spell Alabaster cast after the boggart attack. But this time, Nico didn't feel stronger... he felt at peace.
"When we see the other side of this, Nico, I hope you dance every day of your life."
With Persephone's eyes on him, he took the potion. His eyes closed, and he collapsed into her arms.
"He's awake," Lou Ellen announced. He opened his eyes as the daughter of Hecate left to check on another patient. He was in the hospital wing of the Big House back at camp. All of his friends and family were hovering nearby.
"Where's Will?" Nico croaked, sleepiness in his voice.
"With Leo, sweetheart," Sally said softly. "He's checking in every time he gets the chance, I promise." She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "How are you feeling?"
Nico closed his eyes again, thinking of Persephone in her garden. She was kind to him for the first time... well, ever. She had moments when she was friendly or thankful, but never to that degree. She said she'd gone to bat for him with Hades. All this time he thought nobody could understand, but here was someone who both could and did. He thought no one in the immortal world cared a damn about him, but Persephone defended his freedom. He thought of Hestia, another goddess who seemed to care even more than Persephone. That talk in his tree before he left on his quest... she was trying to guide him, and he'd barely listened to her.
"I'm sorry," he told everyone. "I'm done feeling sorry for myself. I mean it this time. Hazel..." he looked at his sister, and the worry and fear in her eyes made his heart sink. He hated seeing her like that, and he'd done that to her. "I'm sorry I broke down like that. I'm fine, I promise. I'm okay."
"You swear you won't be a little shit anymore?" Thalia asked, the corner of her mouth twitching.
"Thalia!" Jason cried.
"She's/I'm joking," Nico and Thalia said in unison.
Will came to Nico's bedside. He looked exhausted; he must've gotten next to no sleep with Leo in such bad shape. Well, except... Nevertheless, his bloodshot eyes brightened when he saw Nico awake. He sat down next to him and pecked him on the lips.
"Yeah, Thalia," Nico said. "I promise I won't be a little shit anymore."
With Persephone's comforting words, Will's sparkling blue eyes, and Sally's warm hand in his, Nico felt light and free for the first time since the holiday party. The next Great Prophecy was about him, and he'd be leaving camp to lead it in just a few hours. He could, would, do it.
After all, he was Nico di fucking Angelo.
_RON_
Ron had never had a demigod dream before.
That's what Percy Jackson called them. "It's how the Fates give us info on our quests," he'd explained. "Sometimes gods summon you-that's usually not a good sign-but most of the time you get events in real-time, or glimpses into the past or future. They're usually horrible nightmares, but at least they're helpful."
So, when Ron found himself standing in a massive throne room made of gemstones and precious metals, at least he knew what was going on. Vaguely. Cho Chang stood in a crystal cage off to one side of the throne room. She was fast asleep.
A teenage girl in a pastel dress entered the room. She flicked her fingers upwards, and a vine the size of a tree trunk grew from the bronze floor. With a wave of her hands the center caught on fire, burning through the vine and mixing with other plants buried in its center. She waved the fire away and filled a crystal goblet with liquid from the vine. With another wave of her hand, the vine sunk into the floor as though it was never there at all.
A man in black robes walked in. "Persephone, why is our prisoner sleeping?" he asked the teenager.
"Mortals do that," she told him.
"The dead do not."
Dead?
"Fine. I was testing my skills on the girl. It's called the Draught of the Living Dead in Hecate's lands. The potion makes psychic links much easier if you channel it through a mortal."
"And who were you speaking to?"
"Hazel Levesque. Now, could you get rid of the cage, Hades? I want to wake her up."
Hades. That's Nico di Angelo's father. The god who wanted Riddle.
Ron suspected the divine force Hermione mentioned didn't translate into dreams. Which was good, because the effect of two gods would probably be too much for him to take.
As Persephone walked towards Cho's cage, the crystal disappeared. She poured the potion into Cho's mouth, and she woke. "Sit up slowly," the goddess advised.
"You've given me a lot to think about, Cho Chang," Hades began. "And I've decided-you're more use to me in the surface world than down here. According to my daughter, there's been a new prophecy. One of your American friends will likely call on Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger to aid their quest. I want you with them. In exchange, I will grant you a second life."
"You- you can do that?" Cho asked.
"I can do anything I want. We're at war."
"I'll do it!" Cho promised.
"Good." Hades stepped towards her. Persephone motioned for her to kneel. She did so. "I, Hades, god of the underworld and Lord of the Dead, offer you my patronage. I ask that you join Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley when they join the demigod quest, that you seek out any information I or Persephone, goddess of spring, request, and regularly report to one of us on what you see and hear." Hades' expression hardened. "And you are, under no circumstances, to join Hecate's cause. In return, I will grant you a second life"
Hades waited expectantly. Persephone whispered something in Cho's ear, then Cho said, "I accept my Lord Hades' terms and his patronage. On the River Styx, I swear to the terms he lays before me, and will serve him with pride until I meet all his wishes."
"I accept your patronage," Hades said. "And I swear on the River Styx to the mentioned terms. Rise." Cho stood, beaming.
"Your body is in St. Mungo's," Persephone said. "I will escort you to the surface world. Don't take your vow lightly. Terrible things happen to those who break an oath on the Styx."
"I won't disappoint you," Cho promised.
Cho and Persephone turned their back on Hades. Cho trailed behind Persephone, a gleam in her eye so shrewd that Ron wondered if she'd planned all this from the beginning.
The scene changed to St. Mungo's. A young woman sat at Cho's bedside in a private ward. For a moment, there was nothing. Then, Cho's chest started rising and falling. The woman beside her gasped and grabbed Cho's hand. Tears wet her cheeks.
Cho's eyes opened. "Genevieve?" she asked weakly.
"I'm here," Genevieve assured her. "The healer said you were dying, but I didn't lose hope. You saved my life, Cho, I couldn't live with myself if you died in my place."
"Don't worry about it," Cho mumbled. "Is anyone around?"
Genevieve glanced around the room. "No. The healers are with some other patients. Why?"
Cho laughed as much as she could while being so weak. "I have to tell somebody. You'll never believe it. You said you were muggle-born, right?"
"Yes. What is it?"
"The Greek gods are real," she whispered. "I did die. I met Hades and Persephone. But, they-there's a war going on, them against-"
"Hecate. Yes, I know," Genevieve finished for her. Cho's eyes widened. "I'm a half-blood, Cho. I was told to protect you. Hecate's made it clear she hates anyone even remotely connected to Nico di Angelo, and Hades hates any follower of Hecate. But, I failed, and I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Cho reassured her. "And I'm glad you're a half-blood. I... I have to talk about this with someone. It's... crazy."
Genevieve gave a knowing smile. "I felt the same when Mum first contacted me. Why did the Lord of the Dead let you out of the Underworld?"
"He captured me and I joined his side. He wants eyes in the Wizarding World. But, you can't tell anyone-promise me."
"Won't, I swear on the River Styx."
Cho smiled. Genevieve squeezed her hand. "Told you that?" Cho asked.
Genevieve just smiled at her, leaned back, and continued in a normal volume. "Your friend Marietta swung by, said to call her when you woke up. She'll be back tomorrow. She mentioned something about the Ministry?"
"Tell her I'm still going," Cho insisted, a little stronger now. She still seemed curious about Genevieve's mother, but not enough to pry. "Come with me. Let's figure out what's going on together. We can track down Ron and Hermione-they're our ticket to Nico."
Their conversation stopped short when a healer pushed Genevieve away so he could examine Cho. She shrugged 'what can you do' and said, "Well, I'm off to the snack bar. Back in a bit. I'll bring you a thank-you-for-saving-my-life cookie."
The scene changed again, this time to a campground. Twelve cabins in a reverse U surrounded a huge campfire. At least a hundred people sat there, chatting nervously. When Ron saw Percy and Annabeth seated near the front of the crowd, he knew this had to be Camp Half-Blood.
A centaur, probably Chiron, trotted in front of the campers. A few teens and an adult couple took seats next to Percy and Annabeth. Nico stood in the shadows, watching Chiron as he addressed the crowd. A girl with vibrant red hair joined him there, and the two started a grim conversation.
"Heroes!" Chiron called. "I know this evening's events have affected us all. But, we must remain calm. This camp has faced many prophecies and many dangers. As many of us have learned, fear can be our greatest undoing.
"News from Olympus is grim. Ceres has accused Hades of conspiracy to commit treason against Olympus during the Wizard Genocide last winter, and blames him for the near-murder of Persephone. She does this in Hecate's name. Though Nico di Angelo convinced Ceres to delay the trial, something much of Olympus hoped would keep us from war, Hecate and Hades have escalated the situation. Zeus and Poseidon have both chosen Hecate's side. While most of the other gods are still neutral, they threaten to fall along the same lines as they had in World War Two."
Ron could've heard a pin drop. He didn't know what World War Two was, but the name was pretty self-explanatory, and something that didn't need to happen a third time.
Chiron turned to Nico and the redhead. "Nico, Rachel, you have the floor."
_NICO_
Nonno, Mamma, Bianca, stay with me. It's time to be a hero.
Rachel stepped forward. "I'll repeat the prophecy for anyone who didn't hear it this evening:
"Half-bloods, hunters, and wizards go east, west and descend,
A god's warrior appears when the first meets their end,
The bane of the gods lies with the world's first high,
At the price of the cherished never seeing the sky,
A parent's mistake leads to a deadly fight,
Black and green destroy or make peace over white,
The flower and angel reach out their changed hand,
For the ghosts of millennia and the promised land."
"We can't stop the trial," Nico addressed the crowd, "but we can keep Olympus out of war. Hades and Hecate both have powerful weapons against each other, which are making them more confident. Last year we hunted horcruxes-this year, we need the Philosopher's Stone and the Artifacts of Thanatos."
"How do you know that's what we have to do?" someone shouted. A few people whispered in agreement. Nico's palms got sweaty. He wasn't expecting questions. How did he know? His only proof was a gut feeling and a painting on Rachel's wall.
He scanned the crowd-he wasn't used to public speaking and was nervous as Tartarus. Will caught his eye and smiled his adorkable smile. I'm here, he said silently. Go on, you can do it.
Nico took a deep breath. "Pluto already asked Hazel to find the Philosopher's Stone. And Lou Ellen, Al, I'm sure Hecate contacted you guys about the Artifacts."
Lou Ellen and Alabaster glanced at each other. "She... didn't not ask for them..." Alabaster muttered.
"We told her we weren't going to get involved, though!" Lou Ellen clarified.
They were all watching him intently, waiting for the plan. He wasn't Annabeth. He had no idea if this would work. But the gods chose him, which meant he had to try.
"I'll go to the Underworld with Percy. That was the last place we know the Artifacts were, so that's where we should start."
"I'll head east to England," Annabeth said immediately. "I'm the only one of us who can survive a plane ride. I'll rendezvous in London and we'll start looking for the Philosopher's Stone."
He turned to Thalia. "You were the leader of Persephone's quest. Your Hunters are already defending against their monsters. Go west with Roszí and Ianthe. Lou should go too, and..." There was one person from last year's quest left... if the camp would accept it.
Annabeth, I really hope your Capture the Flag plan worked.
"Al?"
Alabaster's eyes darted nervously around the silent crowd, waiting for the backlash... one that never came.
"I want Lou to help me command," Alabaster said. He turned to Thalia. "We should start with Los Angeles and New York. I know Merlin, and he'll want to control the ways in and out of the Underworld. I can apparate to San Francisco to organize the legion, then march to Los Angeles. You can use Camp Half-Blood for the Doors." He cursed under his breath. "We need a force in London. Hades will try to kick Mum's lands while it's down. But we're out of manpower."
"I'll tell Yasmina to bring the Hunters there," Thalia said. "Ianthe, Roszí, and I can escort Nico and Percy to the Doors of Orpheus. The camp will join us once I see how many troops we'll need in New York. I'll join you two in L.A. once the Doors are secure."
"Blaise and Hestia could help us," Percy said. "They'll know what the Artifacts looking like if they end up in Hecate's lands again. And what about Will? You almost died like five times on the horcrux hunts, and now that you're mortal..."
"Yeah, yeah," Nico groaned, but he didn't put up much of a fight. He wanted his boyfriend close this time.
"I'll keep my eye on Olympus," Rachel said. "If Delphi gives me more insight, you'll know about it."
There was a glimmer of hope in everyone's eyes. They finally had a plan.
I did it.
END NOTES
Ron's still dreaming when it switches to Nico's P.O.V.. The idea is that I want him present for the meeting. It's just that I needed Nico's inner thoughts.
STORY: Life-sized statues stood on soft grass [in Persephone's garden].
LISSY: Because they buy Medusa's victims as giant gnomes. Don't think I forgot about you, The Lightning Thief.
OLI: ahh, the good old days XD
LISSY: Do you ever wonder what happened to Aunty Em's now that Medusa's gone? Did Hades send the Furies to collect her statues or are they just sitting there for poor mortals to stumble on and be like "what the fuck...?"
Credits:
Melody Rose - Author (Tumblr melody0rose)
Oli - Beta Reader (Tumblr paradoxicalpsychic)
Suhalia - Beta Reader (Archive Of Our Own users/milkandtahoney/)
Please comment so I know what you think! See you tomorrow!