Rising from Shadowed Ashes
GreenCrystal19
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Heroes of Olympus; they belong to respective authors; J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan. Cover art by Viktoria Ridzel (Viria/viria13/vika) as usual. Her art is amazing; she is now the official portrait artist.
Author's Notes: Sorry 'bout that small cliffy. Rule #1 of the Wizarding world: If you value your sanity, don't go near dementors without a good Patronus charm to, as Vernon Dursley said, "give em' the old one-two"—or something like that, anyways. Nico, be prepared to learn. *Evil smile.*
Chapter 4: Nico Discovers the Glory of Chocolate
Nico's PoV
Nico woke up abruptly, jumping and banging his head on the luggage rack. The lights flickered; they were plunged into darkness. The train had stopped moving; the air steaming with cold. "What's happening?" Nico asked warily, already reaching for his ring.
"I don't know," Harry said, tense.
"There's something moving out there..." Ron said. "I think people are coming."
Nico tensed. "I...I don't think they're people...or at least, not normal ones."
Harry glanced at Nico. "What are you talking about, Nico?"
"I...I brought them here." Monsters. I'm a son of Hades; they sensed me and they came.
Ron glared at Nico. "You betrayed us!"
Nico winced. He'd been blamed for betrayal before, and rightly so...that time long ago, in the Underworld. Nico shook his head. "No. They came for me."
The compartment door rattled, and opened. A figure stood in the doorway: tall, cold, and dark. A rotting, slimy hand protruded from the black cloak the creature wore—the hand was scabbed, with thin, rotting skin. The creature turned it's face (or where it's face would have been) to look at Nico. It inhaled, a long, rattling breath, like it was trying to suck more than air into it's lungs.
And that's when it happened. Nico was ten again. Percy Jackson stood in front of him. "She wanted you to have this," he said, offering Nico a lead Hades figurine—the only Mythomagic character he didn't have. Nico took it and held it in his palm, staring at it.
A wave of hurt and anguish rolled over Nico, as he looked at the figurine. Bianca was all he'd had, and Percy hadn't kept her safe. He'd been the reason she died. And yet...Nico still couldn't help admiring the son of Poseidon. "You promised you would protect her."
"Nico, I tried. But Bianca gave herself up to save the rest of us. I told her not to. But she—"
"You promised!" Nico glared at Percy, hatred in his eyes. And guilt—why had Bianca left him? Had she been mad at Nico...? Why had she gone on the quest? "I shouldn't have trusted you. My nightmares were right!"
"Wait. What nightmares?"
Nico threw the statue to the ground. "I hate you!" he yelled.
Another memory washed over Nico. He was thirteen this time.
Tartarus—it had been horrible. Nico had almost been driven insane...but he couldn't afford to think of that. Nico sat in the bronze jar, barely conscious. He'd eaten the last seed—there was no more waiting. Either he'd live, or he'd die. And if he died, if he didn't pass on the information he'd found—Nico would have failed. Again.
The worst memory yet. In a town called Split, encountering Nico's deepest fears.
"Nico, it's okay. I get it," Jason said.
Nico looked at Jason, his face a mask of pain and misery. "No, you don't. There's no way you can understand."
And so you run away again, Cupid chided. From your friends, from yourself.
"I have no friends!" Nico yelled, the truth hitting him like a sledgehammer. He'd always known it, but still, he'd hoped that maybe, just maybe...no. "I left Camp Half-Blood because I don't belong! I'll never belong!"
"Leave him alone Cupid," Jason tried to say. "This isn't..."
Nico looked down. He had to do it—it was the only way. "I—I wasn't in love with Annabeth."
"You were jealous of her," Jason said. "That's why you didn't want to be around her. Especially why you didn't want to be around...him. It makes total sense."
Had Nico's secret been that obvious all along? There was nothing left to say...except...
"I hated myself. I hated Percy Jackson. I had a crush on Percy. That's the truth. That's the big secret." Nico glared at Cupid. "Happy now?"
The visions all combined, spiraling and thickening into a wall of darkness that pressed against Nico's mind, and his very soul. He couldn't see. He couldn't hear. He could barely feel the floor under him. It was all darkness, cold, lonely darkness—Nico would never be happy again. Colder and colder, deeper and deeper—he would be trapped forever.
"Expecto patronum!" Nico became aware of his surroundings again, although he still felt awfully cold...Silver light surrounded him. Where did that come from? Nico thought. The cold presence retreated—whatever that creature was, it was gone. But the darkness and the cold remained. Nico tried to sit up, before realizing that he'd faded again. He was dark smoke, a shadow of his old self. No! It had taken Coach Hedge three days to restore him last time this had happened. I can't start fading! I need to stay here! Please, Hades—Father—if you're listening, please help.
Nico focused on what was important—talking to Hazel, Reyna, Jason, and Will again, seeing Camp Half-Blood again...and suddenly, he was solid again. Although Nico doubted he would be able to go anywhere for a while. He closed his eyes. I'll be fine. I just need a moment.
"Are you alright?" a voice asked. Nico opened his eyes. The man from earlier—the one Nico hadn't noticed when he'd first came into the compartment. "My name is Professor Remus Lupin. I'll be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Professor Lupin's brow creased. "When the dementor—that's what that was, that hooded thing—came into the compartment, you...faded. Turned to smoke. Harry collapsed as well, but he didn't...undergo any changes."
Nico managed to sit up, bracing himself against one hand. "It's...a personal problem. I thought I'd fixed it." That wasn't entirely true—Nico hadn't been at all sure that he'd fixed the fading issue—but he didn't need any teachers fussing over him.
Lupin nodded, although his expression said he'd want to talk later. I'll need to avoid that, Nico thought to himself. Lupin interrupted his thoughts with an order: "Here. Have some chocolate."
Nico blinked. "Have...have some chocolate?"
Lupin nodded, jerking his head towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were looking at Nico with expressions ranging from suspicious to shocked to very concerned. Oh, schist! I collapsed in front of THEM? Nico attempted to get to his feet, but dark spots danced around his vision, and he stumbled. Lupin caught him, so Nico could sit down on one of the benches and try to look dignified. "The chocolate helps," Professor Lupin continued, as though nothing had happened.
Nico wasn't so sure about that, but he took a piece and nibbled on it. The chocolate did help—Nico decided right then and there that as soon as he could, he would be stocking up on chocolate. Who knew? Maybe it would let him shadow travel better. "...Thanks," Nico managed. "What exactly was that...dementor...doing on the train?"
Professor Lupin nodded to himself. "Yes, I figured you'd ask. The dementors are the guards of the wizard prison Azkaban—" Nico shuddered. Wizards were put in prison with those? And Nico had almost joined them... "—and are hunting for an escapee named Sirius Black, the only one to have ever escaped Azkaban. They came from Hogwarts; they will be guarding the entrances during the year, which Professor Dumbledore finds...improper."
Harry looked odd when he heard the name Sirius Black—Nico wondered if Harry knew anything about him. "Oh," Nico said. "Um...thanks." Nico leaned against the compartment wall and proceeded to look out the window, purposefully ignoring the others. What he'd seen...those were the worst things Nico had ever experienced. And that cold feeling of heavy darkness, like Nico would never be happy again...Nico didn't like that feeling. He shivered. Never again, Nico promised himself.
Around half an hour later (the dementors would've come from Hogwarts, presumably, so they couldn't have been far away when the one dementor had arrived) the train pulled into a platform, and it was time to get out. The others had changed into their Hogwarts robes, simply pulling them on over whatever they were originally wearing. Nico hadn't bothered; he still felt weak from when the dementor had appeared—as though he'd been shadow traveling too much, which frankly, he had been. The cold feeling still hadn't left him, either. Nico was reminded of that one time, long ago, when he'd gotten the flu. Bianca had taken care of him for a week, and then helped him get all his homework done; this had been during Nico's time at Westover Hall. He felt a bit shaky—and if any other monsters came for him, Nico would probably do one of the following: A) drop his sword, B) cut off his arm/leg/head, or C) trip and fall on his sword. Nico was hoping to avoid any of that nonsense.
Despite having the dementor-flu, Nico steeled his resolve and stood up, grabbing his backpack and schoolbag off the luggage rack. Lupin had left to assist anyone else the dementor had bothered—and probably to make sure no more came. Unfortunately, when Nico stood, he experienced a wave of disorienting darkness so bad that Nico almost sat down again, swaying slightly, like he'd spent fifteen minutes spinning in circles just to get dizzy. No. Get your stuff and leave. You need to think somewhere—away from people.
Nico slung on his backpack. He doubted he could walk three feet without tripping or collapsing or falling or something, but he wasn't about to admit that. Nico took a step forwards. "Do you need any help?" Hermione asked.
"I'm. Fine," Nico said through gritted teeth, walking forwards and trying to look inconspicuous as he used the compartment wall for support. Nico made it off the train alright. That was easy—the hall was narrow and crowded, so Nico didn't have to worry about tripping or anything. It was when they got off the train that things got worse.
For one thing—it was dark on the platform; Nico could already feel his outline shifting to swirling black smoke. Another problem: no walls. And Nico wasn't sure he'd be able to walk all the way to the castle, which perched on a rocky hill. Fortunately, Nico could see a row of carriages pulled by...skeletal black horses, with bat-like wings and dragonish heads. Nico followed Ron, Hermione, and Harry and joined them in a carriage.
"So...since you've all been here before, can you answer a few questions, please?" Nico asked.
"Sure," Hermione replied. The other two exchanged nervous glances and nodded. "What do you want to know?"
"Well," Nico started, "when do I get sorted?"
"Right before dinner," Hermione answered. "Every year, the Sorting Hat sings a song, before sorting all of the new students into their houses."
"Wait..." Nico said. "This Sorting Hat...it talks? Does everyone have to hear it as it talks about whatever it sees in your head?"
Ron's eyes widened. "God, no," he said. "That would be so embarrassing."
Nico breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Hades," he muttered to himself.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Um...nothing," Nico said quickly. "Also, what are those things pulling the carriages?"
Hermione blinked, looking out the window. "...What things, Nico? I don't see anything. The carriages pull themselves."
"You...you don't?" Nico asked confused. "But...they're right there. They look like black skeletal horses, with black wings."
Harry blinked. "I still don't see anything," he said. "You're not going nuts, are you?"
"No!" Nico snapped. Maybe the Mist conceals them. I guess I won't be mentioning them again any time soon, that's for sure. "Never mind. Forget I said anything." Nico turned away looked out the window for the rest of the ride. They passed the two dementors guarding the gates; Nico almost passed out again, reliving the memory of when he'd found out that Bianca had been reborn. She was gone. Nico would never see her again...
A few minutes later, the students got out of their carriages and began walking to Hogwarts. As Nico stepped out of the carriage, a dark shadow swooped out of the sky. Ambra cawed proudly. "Nico!" she said.
"You seem happy to see me," Nico said, scratching the raven under her chin. Ambra cawed again, before picking at Nico's hair with her beak, like she was cleaning it. "Um...thanks?" Ambra made a small cooing sound before continuing to pick at Nico's hair. Nico couldn't help smiling.
Hermione looked amused. "You look happy," she said to Nico.
Nico shrugged, before continuing up the hill towards Hogwarts. Something about Ambra seemed to have helped Nico recover after the dementor episode. The students entered two large wooden oak doors, before emerging into a grand Entrance Hall. A marble staircase was directly opposite of the entrance doors, leading to the castle's higher levels. To Nico's right was another set of double doors, which the other students were walking through—the Great Hall, no doubt. Along the wall were four hourglass-labeled Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin, filled with their respective colored gems.
A tall witch wearing emerald green robes appeared next to Nico. Her face was stern, and her black and gray hair was pulled into a neat bun. She also wore a pointed black hat, like the type people wear during Halloween. "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall. Since you are new to Hogwarts, Nico di Angelo, you should come with me to the Chamber of Reception."
Nico blinked. "...What?"
"The Chamber of Reception. First years and new students wait there to enter the hall for the Sorting Ceremony."
"Oh," Nico said. "Alright."
Professor McGonagall eyed Ambra. "And your bird shouldn't come into the Great Hall with you. I can have Argus take her to the Owlery."
Nico did a double-take before realizing that the Professor probably didn't mean Argus from Camp Half-Blood, who had one hundred eyes. "Um...I think Ambra would rather just fly free."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "Very well."
Nico opened one of the doors that led outside and released Ambra. "Watch the Sorting Ceremony," he whispered. "Meet me in whatever dormitory I end up in." Ambra cocked her head and cawed; Nico could have sworn that she nodded.
Nico followed Professor McGonagall until he arrived in a chamber filled with younger students, who all looked nervous. She then went over how the Sorting worked, and how house points worked. Nico didn't really pay attention—without Ambra around, the effects of the dementors were returning again, and Nico felt tired and cold once more.
When the Professor had finally finished talking, Nico joined the first years to be sorted. The list was alphabetical by last name, and since Nico's last name was Angelo, he was almost first in line. After watching the two kids in front of him get sorted, Nico warily approached the stool where the Sorting Hat of Doom sat, and let Professor McGonagall put it over his head as Nico sat on the stool.
Ah, what have we here? A demigod...and a son of Hades, no less! The hat murmured. Probing deeper, the hat said, You are going to be a challenge to sort. So much pain...and death...and—and—the hat now seemed overwhelmed. Nico decided to help it.
"Yeah, get on with it," Nico growled. In his mind, Nico said: I know. I've been through a lot. Now, get on with sorting me.
Powerful, and determined...but you have quite the temper, the hat continued. Must it be insufferably annoying?
The hat was silent for a long moment. ...I see. You did all of it out of love for your sisters, or for him-
"Do not go there," Nico muttered.
Even more powerful than I realized, and cunning. Your fatal flaw is holding grudges. You'd do well in Slytherin.
No! I will not be sorted into the evil house again!
But your power is also one of your greatest fears, along with being left out and—Nico knew what was coming. He clamped down his mental shields, but it was too late. The hat continued, —and your true loves being discovered.
Drat. The hat was a pile of schist. Really? REALLY? Nico thought at it.
You're a feisty one, the hat mused, sounding amused. Well, you may fit in in Slytherin. But you are brave, very brave, and willing to take risks. I feel you belong in...GRYFFINDOR!
The hat shouted the last word. Nico was relieved—he wasn't in the evil house—but also horrified. He was in Harry's house! What kind of prank were the Fates trying to play on him? Harry's expression said that he agreed.
Nico looked up. He could see Ambra looking in one of the windows, before flying off. And the ceiling...the ceiling was amazing-like the sky, black, and covered in stars and galaxies and planets, a bit like the palace on Olympus. Hogwarts really was magical.
Nico walked over to the Gryffindor table, a small splattering of applause following him. It seemed that somehow, everyone knew about his strange dementor episode, as well as his trying to kill Harry. Okay, he hadn't actually tried to kill Harry, but apparently that was the story Harry had told.
Nico walked over to where the trio was and sat there. Why? Well, it wasn't like Nico knew anyone else. Even sitting next to three annoying people was better than sitting next to three hostile people Nico didn't even know.
"So, you're in Gryffindor now," Harry said.
"Yup."
"You stay at Hogwarts for the whole year?"
"Yup."
"Okay," Harry muttered. "Now two of them are after me."
Nico gave him a curious look. Hermione and Ron looked like they already knew what Harry was talking about, but didn't explain it to Nico.
Dumbledore stood and began talking. "Welcome!" he began. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . ."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused, and Nico remembered what Lupin had said about Dumbledore not being happy with the dementors guarding the school. "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other.
Nico wondered what that was about.
"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses," Dumbledore continued. "I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors."
Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. "On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Nico and Harry clapped more enthusiastically; if not for Lupin, Nico wasn't sure he'd be alive right right now.
"Look at Snape!" Ron hissed. Professor Snape, a man in black robes with thin, oily black hair, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. Nico was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: It was hate.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Nico craned his neck to see Hagrid; he was large with a bushy beard that covered most of his face and beady black eyes. Despite his intimidating appearance, Hagrid radiated kindness, like Bob had after his dip in the River Lethe. Hagrid was ruby-red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.
"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have assigned us a biting book?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. Nico hadn't noticed the biting book; although he had noticed a quivering green book that had been tied shut. That must have been it.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!" The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Nico was about to say that he wasn't hungry, but suddenly realized that he was ravenous. He hadn't had any food since breakfast.
Nico grabbed some chicken-pot pie, bread, and milk and dug in. The food was good—Nico decided he would have to tell the people back at camp about it. The goblets, however, refused to fill with whatever Nico wanted. That was fine though; there was milk, water, juice, pumpkin juice, and soda—more than enough for Nico.
Once everyone had finished eating, the food disappeared, leaving the plates clean and spotless. Then, dessert appeared. Nico gasped. "Oh my gods!" he said.
"What?" Harry asked, looking at Nico.
"I need to replenish my chocolate stash. Right now." The others stared as Nico grabbed all the chocolate he could find and stuffed it in the pockets of his aviator jacket Nico blinked. "What? I didn't take all of it."
"Er..." Hermione said. "Look around."
Nico did. The area of table within Nico's reach was completely devoid of chocolate. "Oh. Sorry...?"
Hermione snickered. "It's fine, Nico," she said, laughing.
Nico blinked. "What's funny?"
Hermione regained her composure. "Nothing."
Nico went back to eating the bits of chocolate that hadn't gone into his stash. Soon enough, dessert ended as well. A Prefect—"Percy Weasley" and the exact opposite of Percy Jackson—led the Gryffindors to their dormitory. He stopped outside a painting of a fat lady in a pink dress—as Nico had soon realized, the paintings in Hogwarts moved.
"Password?" the lady asked.
"Fortuna major," Percy Weasley said. The painting opened, and the Gryffindors walked inside. Nico walked into a circular room. The room was warm and cosy; a crackling fireplace dominated one wall, and a portrait of a lion stood above the mantle. Soft red armchairs stood in front of the fireplace, and red and gold couches, as well as tapestries, were scattered around the room. The bookcases, tables, and other wooden furniture was oak. In general, the whole room felt warm and cosy, a little bit like the flames in Hestia's eyes. (Hestia was goddess of the hearth, and most people, other than Nico, forgot about her.)
Two doors led to two spiral stone staircases. Tired, Nico followed Harry and Ron up the boy's staircase and entered the third year students' dormitory, one out of seven dormitories, for seven years at Hogwarts.
Five four-poster beds were scattered around the room, for Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, and Thomas, the boys in Harry's year. A sixth had been placed by the window, for Nico. Away from the shadows, probably so I don't start fading again, Nico thought. Perched on the outer windowsill was Ambra. Nico quickly walked over and opened the window; Ambra hopped up onto Nico's arm and gave him a sharp nip, like, Why'd you take so long, Death Boy?
Nico got some pajamas out of his backpack and got ready for bed. He wondered what he would do about brushing his teeth; there didn't seem to be a bathroom anywhere. Even the Hades cabin had a bathroom.
Flopping down in his bed, Nico started up at the little roof thingy above him, closing the curtains. Ambra poked her beak between the crack and wiggled in, before making a nest of of Nico's blankets and plopping down on his chest.
"You really want to sleep there?" Nico asked. Reconsidering, Ambra opening the curtains a little bit and perched on the side windowsill (Nico's bed was positioned next to the window in a way that let him look out of the window or use the windowsill as a nightstand, whichever came first) before tucking her head under her wing.
Flopping back down, Nico closed his eyes and fell asleep. His first day at Hogwarts—one day out of a whole school year. Hopefully Nico wouldn't mess up in classes tomorrow.
Ha. Boy, was he wrong. Nico would mess up in class big time.
Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed that! Any reviews and feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
