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: Okay, I'm so so sorry! I haven't updated in like TWO WEEKS! I caught the flu, (YES the flu, I was tested), and am STILL attempting to catch up on work and stuff—and do work that was assigned while I was catching up. Also, I've been tired recently—lots of wasting time on YouTube. But I finally got this out! Whee!
Chapter 8: A Dream, A Feast, and a Break-In
Harry's PoV
To Harry's great surprise, and also annoyance, Nico was back in the common room. Harry had just gotten in from a good training session (Quidditch season had begun) and wasn't pleased to have Nico ruining it. He'd told Hermione about his theory, and she had snorted and told him that Nico couldn't possibly be Voldemort's son, or apprentice, or whatever Harry thought, and that Harry should stop bothering him.
And as for Nico ruining Harry's evening, there wasn't much chance of that happening, either. Nico was curled up under a mass of red and gold covers, with his bird on top. Deciding that he would be better off if Nico stayed asleep, Harry chose not to bother him and got ready for bed himself.
Ron came up awhile later from the common room; Harry gave him a meaningful look, glancing at Nico. Ron raised his eyebrows like, What?
Harry shrugged and looked at Nico again. He looked a lot younger when he was sleeping, like his surname, di Angelo. Maybe when he was sleeping, he wasn't constantly thinking about whatever he'd seen in the boggart, or whoever he'd lost.
Nico had evidently lost someone; his reaction when Harry had told him about his parents said so. Harry felt a little guilty that he hadn't asked about it at all; and Nico hadn't volunteered the information. Maybe he'd lost his parents, like Harry.
Shaking his head, Harry squirmed under his covers and closed his eyes, although it took him awhile to fall asleep. When he did, he had strange dreams...dreams about his parents.
Nico's PoV
After getting all of his things organized again, Nico crashed on the bed and buried himself under the covers. Ambra flapped up and joined him. He was glad that he'd found her, along with his other animal friend. While he'd been around the castle, Nico had had plenty of opportunities to sneak off and give Snuffles some food. The large black dog enjoyed sausages and chicken, Nico had noticed. He would need to bring Snuffles some more soon.
When Nico fell asleep, he dreamed of Bianca.
A giant bronze statue, as tall as a skyscraper, stood in a massive junkyard, surrounded by a satyr and five demigods: Grover Underwood, Thalia Grace, Zoë Nightshade, Percy Jackson, and...and Bianca di Angelo.
Percy was talking. "There may be a way to control the thing. Switches or something. I'm going to get inside."
"How? You'll have to stand under its foot! You'll be crushed!" Bianca said.
"Distract it. I'll just have to time it right."
Bianca's jaw tightened. "No. I'll go."
"You can't. You're new at this! You'll die! " Percy said, trying to persuade her.
Nico knew what was coming. He could hardly bear to watch this; the actual moment when Bianca had died. Even Tartarus hadn't hurt this much.
"It's my fault the monster came after us," Bianca said. "It's my responsibility. Here." She picked up the little god statue and pressed it into Percy's hand. "If anything happens, give that to Nico. Tell him... tell him I'm sorry."
"Bianca, no!"
But she wasn't waiting for Percy. She charged at the monster's left foot, towards certain death.
Nico's dream changed, even as tears came to Nico's eyes. "No, Bianca!" he whispered, closing his eyes tight. "You shouldn't have gone..."
When Nico opened his eyes, he saw a new scene; although it was blurry. A slim man with messy black hair and hazel eyes was shouting at a women with dark red hair and bright green eyes. Harry's eyes, Nico realized. These were Harry's parents.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off—"
The sounds of someone stumbling from a room—a door bursting open—a cackle of high-pitched laughter and eyes, reptilian eyes with slit pupils, eyes that glowed red as blood...
Nico woke up, startled. Where had that dream come from? Unless...
He looked over, and Harry Potter was looking back at him, with something new in his eyes.
Harry's PoV
Harry was dreaming of his parents.
The scene was blurry, but clear enough. A slim man with messy black hair and hazel eyes was shouting at a women with dark red hair and bright green eyes. Harry's eyes, Nico realized. These were Harry's parents.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off—"
The sounds of someone stumbling from a room—a door bursting open—a cackle of high-pitched laughter and eyes, reptilian eyes with slit pupils, eyes that glowed red as blood...
The scene changed, red fading to black, and black fading to a junkyard with a giant bronze statue and four people standing around it. The fifth figure appeared to have...goat legs?
One of the people was talking. He had dark black hair and sea green eyes, and looked about fourteen. "There may be a way to control the thing. Switches or something. I'm going to get inside."
"How? You'll have to stand under its foot! You'll be crushed!" A girl with olive skin and dark hair and eyes said. She reminded Harry of someone, although he couldn't think of who.
"Distract it. I'll just have to time it right."
The girl's jaw tightened. "No. I'll go."
"You can't. You're new at this! You'll die! " The boy said, trying to persuade her.
"It's my fault the monster came after us," the girl said. "It's my responsibility. Here." She picked up the little god statue and pressed it into the boy's hand. "If anything happens, give that to Nico. Tell him... tell him I'm sorry."
"Bianca, no!"
But she wasn't waiting for him. She charged at the monster's left foot.
Harry woke up, and he realized that now he knew who Nico had lost. The girl who'd died—Bianca di Angelo—was his sister.
Harry looked at Nico with newfound respect...and saw that Nico was looking right back at him.
Nico's PoV
"What...what just happened?" Nico asked warily. He was worried—had Harry dreamed of Nico's secrets? Bianca, and...Cupid, Percy?
Harry shook his head. "I had a weird dream. About...a statue? And..." he trailed off, a wise decision. Nico was glaring at Harry pretty fiercely.
Not that Nico was mad at Harry. It's not like the guy chose what to dream about. But had they just...traded dreams? How was that possible? What were the circumstances?
"How much did you see?" Nico snapped. This can't be happening. No way.
Harry shuffled his feet. "Your sister, Bianca...she sacrificed herself. Do you miss her?"
Nico snorted. "Of course I miss her, you idiot!" And I can't bring her back. Because, once again, she couldn't just wait a little longer. Just a little bit.
Harry seemed able to sense his anguish, as he didn't even respond to being called an idiot.
Nico glanced at him, and added: "I'm sorry about your parents. I...lost my mother, in an accident. If you ever want to talk...I know what it's like."
"..."
Nico broke the awkward silence that followed. "Well, I'm going back to bed."
He rolled over and closed his eyes, but Nico knew that neither he nor Harry would get much sleep that night. Welcome home to Gryffindor, Nico thought to himself.
Nico's PoV
Nico had doubted that he'd fall asleep again, but he must have—because when he woke up, everyone was scrambling around the common room excitedly. Nico blinked, sat up, and rubbed his eyes. "What's the big deal?" he asked.
All five boys stopped and stared at him. "Hogsmeade!" everyone said.
"Haven't you heard about anything?" Dean Thomas asked. "Today's the first visit of the year!"
Ron nodded. "And after that—the Halloween Feast!"
Nico found all of this a little underwhelming. "Oh...yeah. Hogsmeade. Wizarding village?"
Everyone nodded.
"And there's this permission slip, right?"
Everyone nodded again.
"Eh. I got mine signed, but I didn't actually plan on going."
Harry blinked. "You got yours signed?"
Nico nodded. "Why? Is that surprising?"
Harry blinked. "I mean—what with your—"
Nico glaring at Harry. "Yes?" he said, although the real message he was sending went more like: SHUT YOUR WIZARD FACE RIGHT NOW, OR I WILL STICK A SWORD IN IT.
Harry quickly changed course. "Who signed it?"
Nico rolled his eyes. "My dad."
Harry glanced at Nico's bag, as though planning to read Nico's permission slip when he wasn't looking. Nico rolled his eyes. Does this guy ever stop intruding on other people's personal secrets?
Harry apparently decided that the dormitory wasn't the best place to play detective, and decided to leave Nico alone. Nico was thankful; he didn't need more questioning about his family, especially early in the morning, after a bad night's sleep. And speaking of that, what kind of crazy dream trade-off had happened? By the gods, if I have to start sharing dreams with Harry, about my past no less...
Nico didn't finish that thought. He got up and walked out of the dormitory; since he was wearing the same clothes he'd had on yesterday. And just for safekeeping, he brought his permission slip with him. Harry wasn't about to find out about demigods any time soon; not on Nico's watch.
And Hogsmeade?
...Nico might as well go. Who knows? He might actually enjoy himself. Maybe Luna would be there, and Ginny didn't sound that bad.
In a good mood, Nico found his way down to breakfast and plunked down at the Gryffindor table. A red-haired girl, who looked about eleven or twelve, came over and sat next to him. "Hi," she said. "I'm Ginny Weasley. My friend Luna—" she pointed at the Ravenclaw table— "told me about you."
"Oh?" Nico said, eyeing her warily. "What did she say?"
Ginny was unfazed. "Well, she said something about you having a nargle problem—" seeing Nico's expression, Ginny added: "—but Luna can like that sometimes. She said that...um, that I should make friends with you." Ginny shrugged. "I just came over here to annoy Ron and Percy—they told me to stay away from you. And whenever Percy says something is a bad idea—I'm in."
Nico did a double take. "Percy? Oh, you mean Percy Weasley. And...I guess we could be friends? I don't know. Maybe."
Ginny shrugged again, and started eating her food.
"So," Nico said, pouring himself some O.J., "do you mind telling me what exactly happened last year? Luna told me the basics—monster, chamber, something about a diary—but I'd like a second source."
"Oh, that," Ginny said flatly. "Well, I got possessed by the book."
"You what?!" Nico almost spilled his orange juice.
Ginny snorted. "I see that Luna didn't mention that."
"No, she didn't," Nico agreed. "You're...um, back to normal now, right?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Duh."
"Well, that's great," Nico said, awkwardly trying to think of what to say. Oh, I was possessed by a book, but I'm fine now. Want some biscuits? It wasn't easy, thinking of a response to that statement. "Did anything else crazy happen here?"
"Well, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher almost got Harry and Ron killed by giant spiders last year," Ginny said casually.
Nico choked on his toast. "What?" he asked, after a fit of coughing.
Ginny started explaining the story, which Ron had refused to tell her. However, he'd told Fred and George, who of course had told Ginny. Nico couldn't help but laugh; it had probably been terrifying, but compared to his monster-fighting experiences, Nico found that the whole ordeal sounded hilarious.
When she'd finished, Nico, desperately trying to keep a straight face, said: "Well, that sounds awful, but seeing as I was attacked by a manticore when I was ten..."
It was Ginny's turn to be surprised. "A manticore? Fred and George told me about those! They said they were really dangerous! Nico, you're joking." Ginny crossed her arms. "No one's life is that crazy."
Nico laughed bitterly, thinking about all that had gone wrong in demigod-land lately. A manticore was nothing compared to that. "Oh, it sure can," he said.
Ginny blinked. "Can you tell me a little bit, at least? Your family?"
"I'm Italian," Nico said shortly. "My mother was the daughter of a diplomat in Washington D.C, so we moved there for..." Nico couldn't exactly mention World War II without some funny looks— "family reasons," he said instead. "There was...an accident. At the hotel. And my mom didn't make it out."
Ginny was silent for a moment after this. "I'm sorry."
Nico sighed inwardly. She wasn't a demigod. Sure, she'd had some rough experiences, but she didn't know what it was like for Nico. Only demigods had ever been able to even imagine what it was like—losing your mother, then your sister, then leaving camp. Being plunged into Tartarus. "It's fine. You didn't know."
"Did you...did you have any other family?"
"I had a sister," Nico said, not waiting for Ginny's reaction. "I have a half-sister as well. Oh, she's fine—she lives in California. I have a lot of...um, I'll call them family friends. There's a guy named Jason—I guess the closest thing is a cousin?—and also a guy named Percy, and a girl named Reyna. Then there's Leo, Piper, Frank—"
"Okay, okay," Ginny said, looking overwhelmed. "I'm sorry about your mom, and your sister—and I'm, um—"
"Completely lost when it comes to the rest of them?" Nico suggested.
Ginny nodded, before changing the subject. "So, I guess you'll have fun in Hogsmeade."
"You're not coming?" Nico asked, surprised that he felt a bit downhearted about that. He'd liked Ginny—she seemed like someone who wouldn't immediately ditch him if he did something wrong. Although she didn't know he was a demigod.
Ginny spread her hands, looking quite annoyed as she said: "I'm not in third year yet. Only second year. I can't go to Hogsmeade, and neither can Luna. You'll have to get along with them, I guess."
Ginny nodded at the doors to the Great Hall, which Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just entered through. When Ron saw Nico sitting next to Ginny, he freaked out, and nudged Harry. The the two of them came over to Nico and Ginny as fast as they could...which wasn't very fast...considering the crowd of students coming for breakfast, and things. Wizard logic.
Nico watched them, managing a blank face. Something told him that this was either going to be very funny, or very embarrassing.
"Ginny! What are you doing? Do you ever listen to what people tell you?" Ron asked.
Ginny wasn't impressed. "I'm sitting here, eating my breakfast, and talking to another student. That's what I'm doing. Now go away, or I'll tell Mum about Hermione doing half your homework last week."
Nico made a mental nincredibly. sassy to her older brother. Or at least, Nico was pretty sure Hazel was younger. He knew they were both eighty something...?
Ron processed this information, before saying: "I mean..." he gestured at Ginny, then Nico, before throwing his hands up in exasperation. "You need to stay away from...um..."
"Me?" Nico suggested, still keeping his blank slate face.
"Yes! I mean no! I mean—"
Nico couldn't hold it in anymore. He jumped to his feet (Harry and Ron again freaked out) and beat a hasty retreat. In the relative safety of the Entrance Hall, Nico finally couldn't hold back his giggles any more. Gods, why were these wizards so hilarious? Finally stamping down his amusement, Nico walked back into the Great Hall, whereupon Ron and Harry continued to stare at him.
"What?" Nico asked, assuming his blank slate face. Although when Ron and Harry looked away, he glanced at Ginny, who rolled her eyes, then winked, like: They're being such idiots! And we can laugh at them behind their back all we want!
Nico was starting to like Ginny. Perhaps Luna was right, and not all Weasleys were that bad. He wondered what he'd do when they went to Hogsmeade—Nico had decided that he'd go, even if Luna and Ginny couldn't.
After breakfast was over, the students who were going to Hogsmeade filed out of the Great Hall into the Entrance Hall, where a grumpy looking Filch was looking over the students' permission slips, making sure no stragglers snuck into Hogsmeade. Although Nico had a feeling that one Harry Potter would be visiting Hogsmeade today, permission slip or no.
Whatever. Harry or no Harry, Nico was determined to at least try to have a good time.
After getting his permission slip checked (the Mist helped cover the Ancient Greek, apparently) Nico filed put with the other students, heading down the path towards Hogsmeade. However, Nico hadn't considered that (duh) to get to Hogsmeade, you had to pass by the front gate. And Nico knew who would be waiting at the "entrances to the grounds"...
Yup. Dementors. "Oh gods, no," Nico muttered.
Hermione gave him a worried look. "You don't have to go to Hogsmeade, Nico," she said. "It's not required, so if you'd rather—"
"No," Nico said, gritting his teeth. He'd survived worse then dementors. He'd trekked through Tartarus, alone, surviving on fire water and his own willpower. "I'm not going to be stopped by some dumb dementors."
Hermione didn't seem to think this was a good idea. Secretly, Nico agreed. But he needed to do this—especially after the boggart incident, Nico needed to prove that he wasn't a wimp. Partly so his classmates wouldn't laugh at him, partly to reassure himself. Was all of this—messing around at Hogwarts instead of training at camp (or with skeletal warriors; either-or) making Nico forget his training? If that happened, Nico would be schist when he returned to demigod life.
The students walked closer, closer...Nico was hoping that the dementors would be distracted by all of the other people, so they wouldn't notice Nico. No such luck. As Nico passed through the gates, the two dementors (why only two, Nico didn't know) turned and stared straight at him. Well, they didn't exactly have visible faces, but Nico didn't give a schist about proper dementor terminology.
The memories were coming, rushing through Nico's head—Cupid, Bianca, Tartarus, and Cupid again—Nico could feel himself losing it. No! I will not faint. I will not faint, collapse, or think any distracting thoughts. No. It took all of Nico's mental strength, but he pushed away the memories, grit his teeth, and kept walking.
It was like being pinned under a heavy object, like a rock or something, and trying to keep it from falling down and crushing you—you couldn't focus on anything except the object, and not dying. Or like trying to swim against ocean waves during a hurricane. Actually, it sounded a lot like what Percy had said about holding up the sky.
When it was finally over, and the dementors were long behind them, Nico was exhausted—not physically, but mentally. He hadn't fainted, but he still felt cold and shivery. Shaking his head, Nico looked around, actually processing his surroundings. And Hogsmeade was amazing.
It was a picturesque village, little cottages and shops. A larger street cut through the middle of town, lined with all kinds of interesting places. But that wasn't what made Hogsmeade amazing. The whole place was bustling with magic—wizards, witches, enchanted objects...it was like New Rome, but less Roman, and more...wizard-like. Or British.
"This is High Street," Hermione said, talking to both Ron and Nico. "The main street. Ooo, that's Zonko's Joke Shop. And way over there—the Shrieking Shack, where—um, where you camped out, Nico. It's supposed to be one of the most haunted buildings in Britain."
Before Nico could stop himself, he said, "Wait. Haunted? I didn't sense a single spirit there. Are you sure—"
"You can sense spirits? What?" Ron asked, looking sharply at Nico with a startled expression.
"Styx!" Nico said. "I'm such an idiot!"
"Wait. Were we not supposed to know that? What else are you not telling—"
"It's pretty cold out here," Hermione interrupted Ron. "Maybe we should head to the Three Broomsticks and have a Butterbeer."
Hermione wasn't lying. It was quite crisp, and Nico's run-in with the dementors hadn't helped matters. "That sounds fine," Nico saidl "But...Butterbeer?"
"It's not very alcoholic," Hermione reassured him. "It really only would effect smaller magical creatures, like goblins or house elves."
"Ah...I see," Nico said, not particularly reassured by Hermione's words. Even so, Nico didn't plan on having much.
They arrived at the Three Broomsticks, and upon walking in, Nico almost had a heart attack. "Hazel? Will? What on earth are you two doing here?"
The two were sitting at a table near the back, but jumped to their feet and came over when they saw Nico.
Will grinned. "Well, a Hogwarts ghost, Sir Nicole or something—"
"Sir Nicholas," Nico corrected.
"Yeah, Sir Nicholas told another ghost, who told a wind spirit, who told a harpy—"
"Can you please get on with it?"
Hazel took over. "We got word about the Hogsmeade visit and decided to give you a little surprise," she said. "I came because, hey, you're my brother—I missed you. And Will came because—"
"Hazel! It's not like that! Just because Travis and Connor Stoll told you that doesn't mean it's—urgh!" Will face-palmed.
Nico looked at Hazel like What in the actual Hades was that about.
Hazel just smirked, then said, "I ordered some...Butterbeers." She made a face. "Despite the name, they're actually pretty good."
Nico smiled. "Seriously? Alright...I'll try one. Oh my gods, so much has happened here—the headmaster got these things called dementors to guard the gates. I had to pass them to get here. Also, Will?"
"Yeah?" Will said.
"The dementors? They're causing a few problems. Fading, once."
"What? For Zeus' sake, Nico! You should have told me that you still had the fading issues! I could have helped you!"
"Well, I've been busy, what with the boggart revealing my darkest secrets, and then camping out in 'the most haunted building in Britain.'" He made air quotes for that last part.
"Wow," Hazel said. "You really have been busy—you should tell us more about what happened while we have out Butterbeers. Also, who're your friends?"
"They're not my friends," Nico said automatically, then winced inwardly at the hurt expression on Hermione's face. "Um...sorry. I don't make friends easily," Nico said.
"It's...fine," Hermione said. "I'm Hermione Granger." She offered her hand to shake. Hazel, being from the 1920-40s, accepted.
"I'm Hazel Levesque," she said. "This is Will Solace."
"I'm Ron," Ron said. "Ron Weasley."
Will smiled. "Well, now that that's over, Nico here can tell me exactly what he's been up to." Will gave Nico a pointed look. "Doctor's orders."
"Urghhhhhh," Nico said. "Why are you so annoying?" Even so, he allowed Hazel to drag him over to their little table, and started telling them about his adventures at Hogwarts, while sipping the Butterbeer. Some of the dementor side-effects had worn off, but the Butterbeer got rid of the rest—it seemed to fill Nico with warmth, down to his bones. In short: it was great.
Nico started telling his story: arriving in Diagon Alley, being forced to stay at Hogwarts, facing the dementors, the boggart, and the teachers—and about Harry Potter.
After he'd finished, Will and Hazel for silent for a moment. Will sipped his Butterbeer, then, probably to change the subject, said: "You know, I'm considering mixing this, hot chocolate, and unicorn draught. Anti-dementor fun for everyone!"
"You do that," Nico said. "Just make sure it tastes decent."
"Alright. I'll be sure to make it pomegranate flavored."
"Will! Don't you dare!"
Hazel laughed. Will and Nico looked at her. "Yup. You two definitely like each other."
"No we don't," Will and Nico said in unison, before looking at each other and blushing, like: Oh my gods, did we just speak in harmony? Now Hazel will NEVER leave us alone!
"It's fine, guys," Hazel said. "Just have fun. Drink your Butterbeers or whatever."
Hermione and Ron were sitting at the other end of the pub, but even so, Nico wanted to hide in his aviator jacket and die for a while. The two were talking to each other, no doubt about the three of them, considering the furtive glances towards their table. However, they almost seemed to be talking to a third person as well...and whenever they paused, as though that person were talking, Nico got a slight tingling sensation, the hairs on the back of his neck rising.
"Harry's here," Nico decided.
"Ummm, no, Nico, he's not. Please don't hallucinate on me," Will said.
"No," Nico said. "I'm sure he's here. I can sense his presence."
"Evil?" Hazel asked.
Nico nodded. "Although he hasn't actually done anything that bad. And Ginny and Luna say that he's saved the school, and saved Ginny's life."
"I thought you didn't have friends here," Hazel noted.
Nico waved his hand. "They're an exception."
"An exception."
"Yes. An exception," Nico replied.
"Well, want to explore this town now?" Will asked. "I can take this Butterbeer and make the anti-dementor fun for everyone now."
Nico gave him a startled look. "You've got the ingredients?"
Will nodded. "I have unicorn draught—because I knew you'd be up to something—and we can get chocolate at Honeyduke's."
"Alrighty, then," Nico said. He glanced at Hermione and Ron. "Harry, you can come out now." The feeling of being watched had been going on and off over the past few minutes, as though Harry was flipping an invisibility switch on and off...probably every time he talked to Ron and Hermione.
Harry's head appeared put of midair. "How did you know I was here?"
"Holy Jupiter!" Hazel yelped.
Nico answered Harry's question. "I'm special that way. How were you hiding?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Invisibility cloak. But if you tell anyone—"
Nico snorted. "Why would I tell anyone? I don't care whether you sneak to Hogsmeade! In fact, I might join you. Stupid dementors are guarding the entrance."
"But I should be done with the anti-dementor fun for everyone soon," Will said.
"Could we not call it that?" Nico asked, mildly irritated.
"Fine. I'll shorten it to anti-dementor F.F.E."
"Just call it anti-dementor stuff, for Hade's sake," Nico grumbled.
"Fiiinnnnne," Will replied.
Hermione interrupted the important discussion of the "anti-dementor stuff."
"You keep making references to Greek and Roman mythology," she noted cautiously. "Can you explain what that's about?"
"Oh Styx!" Will said.
"This is really not helping with the whole I'm-a-normal-student plan," Nico muttered.
Hazel saved them. "Alright, Hermione. We've known each other for a long time—by our standards, anyways. Nico and I are half-siblings. So, we have a lot of inside jokes. Like this card game that—"
Nico glared at her, and she stopped.
Hermione didn't look convinced, but she decided not to push the matter. "Alright...Just curious."
"No problem. Well, we're planning on heading to Honeydukes. See you around."
Hazel steered Will and Nico out of the Three Broomsticks, barely giving Will enough time to grab one of their Butterbeers for the great experiment. Once they were outside, she said, "You guys have got to be more careful! Hermione's smart. She's obviously close to finding you out, Nico! And you haven't exactly been covering your tracks—you've been leaving clues all over the place!"
Nico sighed. "Things happened quickly. They're going to find out no matter what we do—you realize that, don't you, Hazel?"
"Yes, I do, but that doesn't mean we can't stall a bit!"
"Nico's doing his best," Will said. "I'm sure that if he's careful the wizards won't find out for a while."
Hazel didn't seek satisfied with this, but she let it go. Will had that effect on people. The trio of demigods then headed down High Street towards Honeydukes.
There, Nico brought a ton of chocolate-related candy. He'd kind of developed...an obsession with the stuff, which couldn't be very healthy. Although Nico didn't really care; with all the demigod things he did, Nico wouldn't be in danger of getting overweight anytime...well, ever.
Passing about four packs of the stuff to Will, Nico unwrapped some Chocolate Skeletons and started munching off the heads. Hazel ate a handful of Every Flavor Beans and immediately gagged. She swallowed, then said, "What in the world—?"
"Oh, yeah," Nico said, laughing. "When they say every flavor, they mean every flavor."
Hazel nodded, looking a little sick. "I...I can tell," she said.
Will had been mixing his concoction together, using some unicorn draught from the large medical supplies satchel that he insisted on wearing everywhere. Grabbing an orange water bottle from the Camp Half-Blood store (almost as big as one of those large milk cartons), he dumped most of the stuff into that, and the rest into a more reasonably sized water bottle—and reasonably colored, as well.
"Thank the gods," Nico said. "You got a black water bottle."
"Oh, did you feel like carrying an hot-pink water bottle around Hogwarts, as well?"
Nico shook his head. "Most definitely not."
"Good answer!" Will said cheerfully, giving Nico the two bottles.
Nico didn't feel like carrying the huge, orange one, or stuffing it into his bag—so as they were walking out of the store, he did the easy thing. Letting out a loud whistle, Nico, Will, and Hazel watched as a certain raven soared towards them. "Hi, Ambra!" Nico said. "Mind taking this to the dormitory?"
Ambra cawed, snatched the bottle with her claws, and soared off again, before disappearing into the shadows of the Forbidden Forest.
"So, you did get a raven," Hazel said. "I knew you'd do it!"
Nico smiled. "Yup. That's me. Just a typical son of Hades with his typical magic raven."
Will grinned. "Should we go to that Zonko's place now?"
Hazel shrugged. "Why not?"
And so the demigod trio continued their adventures.
Zonko's was crazy—all kinds of wizarding pranking-tools were lying around. Dungbombs, flying frisbees, Peruvian darkness powder, sugar quills, spell-checking quills...the list went on and on. There were also some Muggle magic tricks and card-games, and wizard takes on them.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione also happened to be in the shop, Harry invisible. Nico couldn't sense him, but figured he must be there.
"Hi," Hermione said to them.
Nico nodded back, before going back to examining the various products, Will and Hazel occasionally pointing out stuff they found interesting. And then Nico saw it.
"Oh my gods! IT'S FREAKING MYTHOMAGIC!" Nico said, grabbing a deck of Mythomagic cards off a shelf. "And the CARDS MOVE! Now I have to collect them all again!"
Hazel was doubled over in laughter. "Oh...my...goodness...Nico!" she giggled.
Will grinned, pointing out the figurines next to the cards. "The statues move, too," he said.
"OH MY—I need these. Right now," Nico said.
Ron and Hermione had came over to see what the commotion was, and were watching with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "I...didn't know you played card-games, Nico," Ron said.
"I don't," Nico responded. "I mean...I didn't. I mean—"
Ron snorted, but somehow, even though they were laughing at him, Nico was still in a pretty good mood.
"Psst," someone whispered.
Nico almost jumped out of his skin. "Holy Hades, Harry! Don't sneak up on me like that, for Ze—um, for goodness' sake!"
He thought he could hear Harry smothering laughter under the invisibility cloak. "You may not be that bad, Nico," he whispered, after he'd gotten his giggles under control. "If you want, I'll show you the secret passageway."
Nico blinked. "Um...why?"
"So you don't have to pass the dementors."
"Oh...sure, I guess. I was planning on just shadow-traveling—"
"Except you're not supposed to be doing that," Will said, walking over. "Doctor's orders."
"You're not even my doctor! Just because your dad is Ap—um, a doctor, doesn't mean you're one too!"
Will snorted. "Whatever, Sunshine."
"Sunshine? How am I Sunshine? I don't even like summer!"
"Okay, Death Breath."
"That's even worse than Sunshine," Nico grumbled, "and last I checked, that's not even possible."
Hazel walked over. "Alright...Zombie Dude."
Nico covered his face with his hands. "You two are going to be the death of me someday."
"Now wouldn't that be ironic," Hazel said.
"Mmm-hmm."
"Okay, okay, we'll stop now."
"Mm-hmm," Nico said, crossing his arms and giving them a skeptical look. "I'm sure you will."
"I'm...not sure what I just witnessed," Harry said from under the cloak. "But I'll show you the passageway when it's time to head back to Hogwarts. Also, is shadow-travel the teleportation thing you did?"
"Yeah," Nico said. "Although it's tiring—"
"—and so Nico is not allowed to do it," Will finished.
"Hey!" Nico protested.
"That is, unless he wants to be a puddle of darkness on the floor," Will added.
"Wait," Ron said. He and Hermione had joined the conversation at some point. "That can happen?"
"...Yeahhhh..." Nico said.
"And so he isn't allowed to do it," Will reminded everyone, in case they hadn't gotten his message.
"Will, we get your point, okay?" Hermione said.
"Great. Try to keep him away from dementors, and boggarts."
"And make sure he IMs us if something important happens," Hazel added.
"IMs?" Harry asked.
"Instant-messages," Hazel supplied.
"But technology doesn't work within Hogwarts," Hermione said. "It goes haywire. Malfunctions."
"Um..." Nico said, unsure of what to say. "Our technology is...special."
"Special," Will agreed.
"Unusual," Hazel added.
"Unconventional!" Will said.
"Troublesome."
Will and Hazel looked at him like, Gee, thanks, Nico di Emo.
"...Okay, then," Hermione said. "We'll try to do all that. In the meantime, we should probably buy all this. It'll be time for the Halloween Feast soon."
"There's a feast?" Nico asked.
Hermione and Ron looked at Nico like he was crazy, and under his cloak, Harry was probably doing the same thing. "The Halloween Feast," she repeated. "In the Great Hall."
"And...everyone's invited?" Nico asked.
"God, Nico! Of course everyone's invited!" Glancing at Will and Hazel, Hermione added: "That is, everyone in the school."
"Alright...I guess I'll go."
Ron looked at him. "It's dinner, mate," he said. "How could you not go?"
"Uhhh..."
"Don't answer that," Harry advised.
"Okay," Nico said. "Whatever. Harry, where should we meet later?"
"Honeydukes. You know where that is, right?" Harry answered.
Hazel nodded. "Yeah. My brother went on a chocolate spree."
"He's quite addicted to the stuff," Will added. "He even made me make this fancy chocolate drink with it."
"That. Was. Your. Idea!" Nico said.
Will smiled. "You can thank me later."
Hazel laughed at the expression on Nico's face. "Well, I'm probably not going to get anything here."
Will smirked. "I may get a few things for Travis and Connor to play around with."
"Oh—" Nico glanced at Hazel— "God no. That would be a nightmare."
Will shrugged. "We could prank Clarisse's cabin, if you let me give the Stolls some stuff."
"Deal," Nico said.
Will smiled. Hazel looked worried about Camp Half-Blood's safety—a reasonable concern, if the Stolls got their hands on the Zonko's merchandise.
The group headed to the counter to purchase their stuff; Harry passing his over to Ron, along with a handful of gold and silver coins. "That should cover your stuff as well," he whispered.
Ron blushed, but took the money. He obviously didn't like being poor. Nico felt bad for him—maybe, once this was all over, he'd give the Weasleys the rest of the money in his vault. If Hades let him, that is.
Nico did, in fact, buy a pack of Mythomagic cards. He had no idea why—maybe it would prove itself entertaining. He also brought a figurine of Apollo, to surprise a certain friend of his at some point...maybe more than a friend.
Afterwards, the demigods and wizards went their separate ways. Nico, Will, and Hazel wandered around, checking out random shops before walking out again. Nico started nibbling on his chocolate. Will shuffled through his bag, bringing out random herbs and tossing them back in.
Then, a large, shaggy black dog ran up to them. "Snuffles!" Nico said, scratching the dog's ears. "What are you doing here?"
"You have a raven and a dog?" Will asked. "Seriously?"
"He's not mine," Nico said. "I just found him in the Shrieking Shack. Snuffles, I have some food for you—" Nico started digging around in his bag, where he'd stashed a large amount of sausage and toast from breakfast. He held it out, and Snuffles grabbed it in his mouth, glanced around nervously, and darted off down a side street, heading towards the forest.
"...Okay then," Hazel said.
Nico just shrugged. "Snuffles is like that. He never stays in one spot for long. Speaking of dogs, how did you get here? Mrs. O'Leary?"
"Yeah," Will said. "She's waiting over there somewhere." He nodded towards another section of forest.
"Cool; make sure she gets enough sleep afterwards, though," Nico reminded him.
Will smiled. "I'm a doctor, Sunshine. I'll take care of your dog."
"She's Percy's dog, not mine," Nico corrected.
Will just smirked.
Hazel checked her watch. "Well, I think you should head to Honeydukes now."
Nico nodded. "I will. Just one more thing: any news on Leo?"
Hazel shook her head. "We've informed Camp Half-Blood; but Leo hasn't arrived yet. Someone'll IM you if anything happens."
Nico nodded. "Great. Just saying...I doubt he's alive. It may just be Festus."
"I'm sure that Leo'll find a way back," Will said evenly. "If any demigod can, it's Leo."
Nico knew that. Even so...he and Hazel had sensed Leo's death. But if they'd picked up Festus' signal, that meant that someone must have repaired him...and Nico doubted anyone but Leo would know what to do with the bronze dragon.
"Well, I said one more thing. Bye Will, Hazel," Nico said.
"C'ya, Nico," Will said.
Hazel gave Nico a hug—which surprised Nico. Awkwardly, he hugged her back. "Bye, Nico," she said.
Nico smiled. "Bye. Off to have more crazy adventures at Hogwarts."
Will gave Nico a stern look as he began walking towards Honeydukes. "No crazy stunts for Halloween," he said. "Doctor's orders!"
Nico nodded, and, still smiling, found his way towards Honeydukes. The shop was almost empty; Nico gathered some of the late-afternoon shadows around himself and snuck in. He didn't want to be seen, especially if he'd have to find a secret passageway. Will would forgive him for that small bit of Underworld magic.
A few minutes later, the door swung open of its own accord. Harry had arrived.
Nico stepped out of the shadows. "So, where's the secret passageway?"
"Merlin's beard, di Angelo!" Harry said, surprised. "How'd you sneak up on me like that?"
Nico gave him a cold, creepy smile. "You're not the only one with tricks, Potter."
"Huh. Well, the passageway's in the basement. There's a trapdoor built into the floor," Harry said.
"Underground. My favorite place," Nico said. "This will be fun."
And so Nico followed Harry into the basement.
Harry's PoV
Nico was back to his usual self. Harry was partly relieved—he hadn't known exactly what to think of the new, cheerful Nico that had shown himself earlier that day—around his friends, Nico was a completely different person. Harry was glad that the guy had friends, of course—but right after Harry had started to get a sense of Nico's moods, he'd seen a completely new part of Nico's personality. Why was he so unpredictable? Sometimes he was nice (or at least polite) to Harry, and other times Nico was an inch away from using his sword on him.
And then there was the boggart—and the odd dreams. For the hundredth time that day, Harry studied the boy walking next to him, wondering: Who exactly is Nico di Angelo?
Nico hadn't spoken since they'd entered the passageway. He was no longer acting angry or annoyed, or cheerful and honestly a bit hyper. Nico seemed...reserved, almost shy, like he was worried that Harry was about to start asking questions.
And honestly? Harry was tempted to take out his wand and start asking away: Where had Nico's friends come from? What had happened last night, with the dreams? And the boggart? And most important of all—who was Nico's father?
Harry had meant it when he'd said that Nico maybe wasn't that bad, after all. But now, in the dark passageway, thinking of all that had happened, he wasn't so sure. He'd taken off the Invisibility Cloak in the safety of the passageway; and was consulting the Marauder's Map—carefully not letting Nico see exactly what it was. But Harry had some questions.
"Nico?"
"What?" Nico responded quickly—which reinforced Harry's suspicions that Nico had been tense, nervous about being questioned.
"Last night. Do you know what happened?"
"No, Potter. I don't." Nico continued walking, keeping his gaze fixed on the tunnel ahead.
Harry decided to try again. "Er...would you mind explaining what I saw in the boggart? And the dream?"
Nico sighed. "I can't tell you everything. It would put all of us in danger. But I'll try to clear the air a little."
Harry waited. "I'm listening," he said.
"My sister left me when I was ten. She joined a...a club, you may call it. Where I wouldn't be allowed. And then, she just left." Nico shook his head. "She volunteered for a mission, a quest. And...she didn't get out of that with her life."
Nico wouldn't meet Harry's eyes. There was something he wasn't saying about Bianca...didn't get out of that with her life?...but Harry couldn't put his finger on it.
"In the boggart...the wasteland, the jar...what was that about? And who was the angel—"
"Cupid is not an angel," Nico snarled. "He's awful—he's a jerk, and a bully, and—you know why, I really don't want to talk about him."
"Cupid? I thought Cupids were those little—"
"You think a lot of things," Nico said quietly.
Harry stopped talking—something about Nico's tone made Harry want to curl into a ball and hide.
"As I said," Nico continued in a normal tone of voice—still quiet, but not with that hard, cold note— "I can't explain it all. It would be risking your safety. But I was imprisoned in the wasteland, and the jar—I almost died. I never want to be trapped like that again."
Harry didn't know what to say to that. "Is...is that what you see, when the dementors are around?"
Nico nodded. "Those, and other memories. Bianca. My mother. And..."
Harry waited.
Nico stopped talking. Harry could feel him retreating, closing up. "Nothing. How long until we arrive?"
"Not too long. Maybe fifteen minutes?" Harry answered. He knew Nico had changed the topic; but he'd been through a lot—even more than Harry. Somehow, Harry knew now that he'd been wrong—Nico certainly wasn't like any wizard Harry had ever encountered, even Voldemort, but he wasn't evil. Harry didn't exactly trust him, and he certainly didn't trust his father—Nico may still not have Harry's best interests at heart. But Harry couldn't hate the guy—not anymore.
Nico nodded, then continued walking in silence. He really was completely different without his friends around—and he seemed much happier when they were around. Maybe if he had more friends at Hogwarts...
No, Another part of Harry said. You can be nice to Nico, but you can't be friends. Not yet.
The two walked in silence the rest of the way to Hogwarts.
Nico's PoV
When Nico walked into the Great Hall, he gasped. The decorations were stunning—giant glowing jack-o-lanterns instead of candles, live bats flying overhead. Ambra would have fun at dinner tonight, that was for sure. Ghosts were everywhere—probably having decided to dine (or at least, hang out) in the Great Hall for Halloween's sake.
Nico, being über spooky, would fit right in. He considered summoning some dancing skeletons just for the heck of it, then remembered Will's warning to not use any Underworld magic.
Spotting Ginny at the Gryffindor table, Nico headed over to sit next to her. Ron, Hermione, and Harry headed towards that area as well. Harry.
Nico already felt that he'd said too much—he didn't know why, but he'd let down his guard a little in that tunnel. He'd told Harry about Bianca, even about Tartarus and Cupid, a little. What Harry would do with that information...Nico didn't want to know.
"So, how'd it go?" Ginny interrupted his thoughts.
"Pretty well," Nico said. "My sister, the one from California—Hazel—she was there. She brought a friend, Will Solace, from my...uh, summer-camp. We had fun, eating all the chocolate."
Ron glanced over, looking a bit annoyed, but he didn't say anything. Harry and Hermione looked over too; Hermione waved at Nico; Harry nodded curtly.
Nico nodded back before returning his attention to Ginny. "Anyways, I've got a secret."
"What?" Ginny asked, smiling mischievously. "Is it about Harry?"
"Yup," Nico said. "He was there too, in his invisibility cloak. He told me not to tell anyone, but..."
Ginny snorted. "Come on. Ron told me all about it already."
"Oh, that's good," Nico said. "Anyways, he showed me a secret passageway so I could avoid passing the dementors."
"I knew you two could get along," Ginny said triumphantly.
"Well...we're not exactly friends," Nico said. "Just not trying to kill each other, or anything."
"Still an improvement."
"True, that," Nico said. "Okay, I'm not much of a food person, but I've just got to say: this Hogwarts food is really good."
Ginny nodded. "That's the best part, for Ron, anyways."
Nico glanced over at the red-head; he indeed seemed to be enjoying his food. "You don't say."
Ginny snickered; Nico decided that she really was a pretty good friend. He'd started making those since the Giant War—even if he didn't know it. Hazel, Jason, Reyna, Will...and now Ginny and Luna. And Percy...maybe Nico should tell him, at some point. Percy and Annabeth hadn't ever hated him. Although Nico found it annoying that Annabeth had to be so nice, at times. Why couldn't she be a brat, so Nico could hate her? It would be easier that way.
After the feast, the students paraded back upstairs to the Gryffindor tower—or at least, the Gryffindors did. A crowd had gathered outside the portrait, which confused Nico. "Why aren't they going in?"
Percy Weasley strode through the crowd. "Let me through please—What's the holdup here? You can't have all forgotten the password—excuse me, I'm Head Boy—"
Then, the crowd fell silent. Nico wondered what was going on—probably something horrible, considering his luck. Percy's voice again: "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick."
"What's going on?" asked Ginny, behind Nico. Nico just shrugged; even though he hated it, he had no clue what had happened.
Soon afterwards, Professor Dumbledore arrived, and Nico moved closer to see what was going on—as did Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Oh my—" Hermione, shocked, grabbed Harry's arm. Nico shared her surprise. What the Hades happened here?
The Fat Lady was gone; her portrait was shredded to bits, chunks of canvas missing—some on the floor, some seeming to have disappeared into thin air.
Professor Dumbledore, meanwhile, looked at the portrait, before turning to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape rushing towards him. "We need to find her," the headmaster said. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."
"You'll be lucky!" Peeves the Poltergeist cackled, hovering over the scene.
"What do you mean, Peeves?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
Peeves didn't dare to openly tease the headmaster; but that didn't mean he'd tell. "Ashamed, your Headship, sir," he said in an oily voice. "Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running—"
"Peeves," Nico snapped. The poltergeist looked at him. "Tell the headmaster who did it," Nico ordered in a quiet, dangerous tone.
Peeves paled, before saying: "He—he got angry when she wouldn't let him in—Sirius Black. Nasty temper, he's got—that one."
Author's Notes: Alright, rereading House of Hades, Nico is supposed fourteen now—oh well, Nico. You are now a year younger. There's some debate over his age; but in Mark of Athena and House of Hades, it says he's fourteen. Oh well.
EDIT: He jumped from 12-14 in canon. Rick made a tiiiinnny mistake—though he said that "Percy didn't know Nico's age. He was just guessing." Or something like that. So yeah, he's 13. Fits right in! Haha...not really but—
Sorry this took so long. If you've noticed, I'm loosely following the original Prisoner of Azkaban's chapter layout.
Also: about coronavirus, or COVID-19. I hope everyone stays safe and healthy—if any of you/someone you know has it, I hope they get well soon! Stay safe, everyone. (Wash your hands, wear masks, etc. etc.)
