Nico POV
Halloween, the night when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest.
I hadn't attempted to connect with my father since the incident in September. With all my classes and worrying about the war back home, it was impossible to find the time to get back to that room with the door. I'd also Iris Messaged Percy a few times, but the girls didn't need to know about that. I'd found a bathroom that nobody ever went in, probably because it was occupied by a single prepubescent ghost. I'd spoke with Myrtle Warren a few times, but she was impossible to deal with. Thankfully, she did understand who I was and treated me more respectfully than she had, say, Harry, Ron, and Hermione when they used her bathroom to brew a secret potion two years ago. At least, that was her story.
But tonight, Halloween, I was tempted to try again with the Lord of the Dead.
Of course, the whole Goblet of Fire thing made it near impossible to sneak out, especially after Harry and Renee had their names pulled from it. I'll admit I had been nervous before the Goblet, though I didn't know why, and I'd caught a glimpse of the other demigods' faces right before Hogwarts was called. Things weren't looking good.
But hey, if I was going to make this work, it had to be tonight.
I waited for most of the Great Hall to clear out before exiting, and prayed to Hermes and Athena that the Gryffindor prefects wouldn't notice my absence. Then again, Harry's shocker this evening would help me there as well, because Gryffindor would be preparing for a raging party. I wasn't sorry to miss it.
I found the room easily this time, and walked by it three times, saying the words in my head. "I need an entrance to the Underworld. I need an entrance to the Underworld. I need an entrance to the Underworld."
The walls slid apart, as they had done the last time. I walked up to the sensor and laid my hand on the handprint with far more confidence than I'd had the last time.
I paused next to the black river. How was I supposed to get Percy to take a dip in this monstrous thing? Surely there was a precedent with Achilles, but there had to be something I was missing…
I shook my head. That wasn't my main issue right now. I strode to the palace the way I imagined Draco Malfoy might, with my head held high.
This time, the palace was quiet. I was glad I wouldn't come across my stepmother or her mother today. I just needed to see my father.
He was sitting on his throne, and he turned as I made my way in. "Nico," he said in a voice that contained no emotion.
"Father." I nodded, responding in kind.
"You never were good at feigning apathy, son."
"And you're all too good at it. You know why I'm here, father."
Hades rolled his dark eyes. "I know you disobeyed me once again. Tell me, my son, have you heard of the tornado system ravaging the United States right now?"
I nodded. Percy had told me all about it the last time we'd Iris Messaged. "Typhon. But why aren't you and Lady Persephone part of that fight, Father?"
Hades stood up, towering over me. "Olympus never cared about me, so why should I come to their aid now? Listen, Nico, you're going to surpass Percy. You're going to make it to sixteen, and Mr. Jackson is not! Do you hear me?"
"Father, there is no way —"
"Do not presume to tell me what I can and cannot do regarding this war. You are almost twelve. We shall wait four years —"
"Father, I can't, I have school. And that's why I came, you know. I need to know —"
"About your mother, yes. I'll tell you what, you help me, and I will tell you about her in due time. I will not, however, bring your memories back until this war is over!"
"And how do you expect me to do that?" I snapped.
"For now," Hades insisted, "form a relationship with Clarissa Malfoy. If she is to be the accomplice, you will need to sway her to make the right choices regarding Percy Jackson and yourself. I will give you further instructions as we near Jackson's sixteenth birthday."
I stared at him for a moment.
"You may go, son. Do not expect a free ride back to Hogwarts every time I find you here."
"Yes, Father."
I turned around, confused. How could I know what Lord Hades wanted me to do for the war effort if he wouldn't communicate with me?
I was pleased to find the way out was the same as the way in. I placed my hand on the scanner and was buzzed right in, and then I walked to the front of the room, where there was a door with brass handles. I pulled them open, grateful for the easy exit.
As I rounded the corner, a girl shrieked. "Stay away from me, di Angelo!" She protested in a French accent.
I jumped back. What had I done? I'd had no interactions with the Beauxbatons students.
I rounded the corner. It was that short, silver-haired girl, the one who was friends with the Beauxbatons champion. A dark-haired boy held her arm in a death grip.
"We both know it should have been me, admit it," the boy hissed icily. His other hand swung around and nearly hit the girl's face. She flinched, and he laughed. "That was a warning, bitch. I know you had something to do with it. Why else would you be here? We know you can't compete."
The girl twisted out of his grip, but the boy tightened it.
I ran at them. "She asked you to stop! So stop it!"
The boy saw me and smirked. "Oh look, an ickle firstie. Run along now, this is adult business."
"I don't think so. Does your Headmistress know you're harassing her favorite student?" I don't know why I guessed the girl had that relationship with Madame Maxime, but it felt like the right thing to say.
"If you tell her —"
I laughed dryly. "What could you possibly do to me? You've got nothing on me. In fact, I have raw talent like you couldn't imagine, di Angelo."
"You don't know anything about my family! The di Angelos are a rich and powerful family in Italy. We will hunt you down, firstie!"
The boy threw the girl violently to the ground and ran in a direction I could only assume were the Beauxbatons guest quarters.
I jogged over to the girl, who was struggling to regain her composure and stand up.
"Merci," she said as I offered my hand. "I am surprised 'e listened to you."
"Who is he?" I asked once the girl had regained her footing.
"His name's Giovanni di Angelo. Italy's about 'ze far reaches of Beauxbatons' influence, but 'ze di Angelos have connections all across 'ze Italian and Iberian peninsulas. That family will ruin you for what you did today."
I shrugged. "The di Angelos…" I mused. "Was there ever a member of their family who went missing, say, under strange circumstances? Like, around World War 2?"
"What an odd question. I 'aven't the faintest. Fleur and I spend enough time avoiding di Angelo, and most others to be honest. You'd 'ave to ask him, and I would not recommend 'zat!"
I stared at the girl for a moment, not sure how to explain myself to her. "Interesting," I said after a pause. "I definitely get avoiding people. But it's just, well, I'm an orphan in mysterious circumstances, and my last name's di Angelo as well. I was just wondering…"
The girl's face softened. "Ah," she said. "I see. Well, good luck with him if you ever want some answers, especially after tonight. Of all 'ze Beauxbatons students the Goblet could 'ave chosen, 'e'd be 'ze least likely in my book. 'E iz a bully and a cheat, and 'orrible to women to boot."
"I can handle that," I muttered, thinking about all I could do in retaliation. "Is there a way you could help me get a conversation with him."
The girl grimaced. "It iz not possible. I'm sorry, Mr. better di Angelo, but I cannot."
I nodded, figuring that's what she would say. "I'm Nico," I said after a moment. "If you don't want to call me by the name of your tormentor."
She smiled. "Thanks. I'm Vivianne Petit. Well, I'll see you around, I guess."
"You too. Tell Fleur congratulations, and good luck. She deserves it far more than some."
Vivianne narrowed her eyes. "Shouldn't you be supporting one of your champions. There's definitely enough to go around."
I sighed. "I make my own agenda," I countered. "And I do support my own. But I can also be happy for a champion who's humble and strong."
Vivianne smiled. "Thanks. I'll tell her you said that. See you around, Nico."
"See you around."
I left that conversation with my head reeling. I'd found a clue in the unlikeliest of places, and even if my father wouldn't help me, I could look to Giovanni for answers, though it would be hard to overcome what had transpired between us tonight.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice how close I was to Gryffindor tower until I walked smack into someone.
"Nico?" an incredulous voice asked. "What are you doing here, wandering around the castle on Halloween night?"
Draco POV
Sandra Ballias stood alone in the Slytherin common room, shaking her head in bewilderment. Her friends, including Daphne, Tracey, Lily, Astoria, and her sister, had tried to talk to her, but she was firm. Tomasz had gone after Gill to try and talk some sense into him, and I could hear them yelling even in the common room.
She plunked down on the couch, tears streaming down her face, as Stacey, Cassius, and the other prefects attempted to clear the common room. The party was most definitely over.
As the room cleared out, I felt myself compelled to go over to her. Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, Kaylee, Morgana, and Ariana had cleared out surprisingly quickly, and there were only a few students left milling around.
"Mind if I join you, Miss Ballias?"
Sandra gave no indication, so I sat myself down gingerly on the other side of the couch, keeping my distance but still reaching out. She was Renee's close friend, and I wanted to get her side of the story on what happened.
I waited a moment, and then Sandra choked out, "she didn't do it, you know."
"I know."
"You do?"
"I mean, I don't think she would have. I'm not too happy about it, either. Potter, on the other hand…"
"I don't think he did it either."
I smirked. "On that, we can agree to disagree… for now."
Sandra rolled her eyes. "I want to go after her. She needs a friend right now."
I nodded. "There are two places where she could be, I guess."
"Hufflepuff or Gryffindor?"
"Yep," I said, popping the "p." "I'll take Gryffindor."
Sandra stiffened. "I didn't ask you to-"
"I know. I'm going whether you like it or not."
"How do you even know where Gryffindor is?"
"I have my ways."
Sandra just shook her head at that. "How will you let me know if you find her?"
I fished around in my pocket. "Here's one of those communication coins Renee uses. Just toss it by some sort of rainbow or prism and say my name. I have another one."
Nico had given me a small pile of drachmas, but Sandra didn't have to know that.
Renee POV
First Clara and now Gill. Could this possibly get any worse?
I stared at the first year in front of me. This wasn't the first time I'd caught Nico in a guilty stance at odd hours.
"I was, uh, going to the library," Nico said weakly. "I wanted to get an early start on… yeah."
"Funny," I said through clenched teeth. "Because the library is that way." I pointed in the opposite direction of the way Nico had come. "And, it's after curfew. You know you can tell me what's going on, right Nico?"
Nico thought for a moment. "No, I really can't."
"Ugh, fine. I'm not in the mood for this. Can you get Harry?"
Nico nodded, looking grateful for the opportunity to escape my scrutiny. I probably should have cared more, but at that point I just wanted one supportive friend, and I knew I could find that in Harry.
I tapped my foot while I waited, but soon I noticed that wasn't the only noise. Someone came running up to me, panting hard.
"There you are," Draco muttered. "We were worried after Gill did that to you. I would have come sooner, but the stairs changed on me like five times, and then Sandra got stuck in the trick step."
I glanced around, and the Slytherin girl materialized beside me. "Gill is such a-"
The portrait of the Fat Lady swung open. "He's asleep," Nico whispered, "or at least pretending to be. Ron's angry, though."
"Oh for Zeus's sake!" I snapped. "We didn't do it!"
Nico shrugged. "I really have no opinion. Ron just kicked me out of the fourth year dorms. Can I go to bed now?"
I waved my hand. "Yeah. Go."
Nico disappeared back into the portrait hole, and I rounded on my friends. "Don't tell me you two were actually working together?" I said in a small voice. "I know you don't believe me either!"
Sandra put her hand on my shoulder. "Do you remember our pact, last September?" she asked quietly. "In the Hufflepuff room?"
I held her gaze. "But if you think I entered—"
"It still wouldn't matter. Gill hurt you tonight, in a way none of us thought he was capable of. That was right after that fight with Kaylee, Ariana, and Morgana, where they hurt you badly. And we said—"
"You said you'd never speak to that person again." I hung my head. "I always suspected if there was a mistake it would come from Tomasz or you. I never thought Gill…"
Sandra nodded. "You should have seen Tomasz. He chased Gill to their room, screaming about things going back to when we were little. I could practically hear them from the common room. Stacy and Cassius cleared most of the room out directly after that, but I was uncertain. I don't believe you entered that competition, but I do suspect that whoever did is someone known to you, and I couldn't return to that room with Kaylee, Morgana, and Ariana. What if they were somehow involved?"
Draco looked up, meeting my gaze. I knew instantly that he was going over our conversation from last month, and what he had heard the girls discussing. He glanced quickly at Sandra, and I shook my head. He nodded, then continued Sandra's story.
"I came over to her in the common room, and she told me with complete conviction that you had nothing to do with it. We might or might not have argued about whether Potter did, but we both knew coming after you was more important in the moment."
"Harry didn't have anything to do with it either!" I snapped.
Draco looked away, and Sandra's eyes narrowed at him. "I told you so!" she hissed.
Draco shook his head. "Renee, I wouldn't be so sure…"
"I don't want to talk about this right now. But you know what I do want to do, go interrogate Kaylee, Ariana, and Morgana! I bet they had something to do with it!"
"You're kidding, right?" Sandra gasped. "I mean, my mom's a cursebreaker at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She'd tell you there's no way a third year could have done it!" she looked around wildly. "Although those three definitely have the intent," she said after a beat.
"Sandra, there's some things I know more about Renee than you do, and one of them concerns those girls' involvement in various magic," Draco claimed, standing tall and puffing out his chest. I tried not to laugh at his display of self-importance.
"As much as I hate to admit, he's right," I sighed. "And right now, I want to go confront them. Is the common room empty?"
"It was when we left, except for Stacy and Cassius, but they probably went to bed."
"Great. I'll need your help, then, Sandra. I don't want anyone to know about this but the two of you."
Sandra stood at the barriers between our half of the room and our evil roommates. Draco waited in the hall, just outside the door to the girls' area, where he wasn't allowed to go.
"Kaylee Parkinson, your time has come!" I boomed in Kronos's cold voice, charmspeak flowing through every word. "Rise and join me."
Kaylee jolted awake. "Wha… but Jackson is barely fifteen. There has to be a mistake."
"You will join the army. We are waiting for you outside this room."
Kaylee grumbled, but then turned to her friends. She hurriedly shook them awake.
Morgana and Ariana, who had been sleeping under what looked suspiciously like harpy wings, rose quickly. None of them suspected it could be a trap, and I shuddered to think what that might mean. Had he visited them here?
As soon as the girls stepped toward the door, Sandra jumped out of the shadows. "Immobulus! Silencio!"
"Wingardium Leviosa," I whispered, and Sandra and I levitated their bodies to the main dorm hall.
I held my wand to Morgana's throat, while Sandra circled Ariana. I released the silencing spell on Kaylee "Swear to me," I hissed through clenched teeth. "Swear on the River Styx you did not put my name in the Goblet of Fire, nor did your lackeys. Swear on the Styx that you don't know who's responsible. We'll let the gods decide for themselves!"
"You must think you're very clever, trying to pin the blame on me, acting like you'll hurt my friends. But the gods know it was you. I swear on the River Styx that I did not enter your name in the Goblet of Fire, and that I have no idea who did it. Although if I ever find out, we'll be delighted to help their cause."
Ariana and Morgana stared blankly back, and Kaylee cackled. I took the moment of distraction to reinforce her silencing spell. I released the silencing spell on Morgana. I repeated the same ritual with her, my wand now at Kaylee's throat.
Morgana leered over me. At six foot three inches, she was the tallest girl I'd ever met. I shook my head. I was past her intimidation.
She too, gave me a negative response. Then she spat in my face.
Behind me, Draco yelled, "Stupefy!" I groaned. He wasn't supposed to show himself unless our lives were in imminent danger.
He pointed his wand at Morgana's unconscious body. "One wrong move and she gets it!"
Ariana and Kaylee couldn't do anything anyway. I kept my wand trained on Kaylee as I started interrogating Ariana. "Swear on the fucking Styx, bitch. I fucking dare you."
Ariana stared at me for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "You've exposed yourself to all of Slytherin!" she howled. "You're hilarious! Shall I call Kronos?"
Thunder rumbled dangerously overhead, and Sandra stepped closer to Draco. "I fucking swear," Ariana seethed. "On the fucking Styx. That I would absolutely love to know who put your name in that fucking goblet. Happy?"
"Stupefy!"
Sandra and I heaved the girls up. We would enjoy throwing them on their beds. They could easily wait for the spells to wear off.
Sandra made to go back into our corner, but I stormed out of the room. I barely even noticed Draco as I burst into tears for what felt like the millionth time that day.
I flopped down on one of the couches in the common room. A moment later, Sandra and Draco sat on either side of me.
"It'll be okay," Sandra said, rubbing my back. "It's okay."
"I so wanted it to be them," I whispered through tears. "If it had been, maybe I could have gotten out of it when they died!"
Sandra jumped back in alarm, and Draco shook his head at her. Maybe he knew more than he was letting on, but Sandra certainly didn't.
"Come on," Sandra urged. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we can try to figure this out. Come on."
I wanted to protest and scream and wake up all of Slytherin, but a small part of me knew I needed some sleep if I wanted to think rationally about this. Harry might have his own ideas, and I just did a very stupid thing by blowing up at the girls. Now, they'd know I was looking, and maybe that would set them to looking as well.
I said goodnight to Draco and let Sandra lead me to our room.
Clara POV
How could she? I seethed. How could she possibly risk her life and the life of her friend, just for kicks? How could she possibly do this after the ruse she asked me to pull with Cedric last year, for the Quidditch Cup? Was she fully bent on taking away all Hufflepuff's glory, and her and Harry's lives in the process?
I'd forgotten all about Tony's letter when she mentioned it. I hadn't taken the time to read it yet, but as this was already turning out to be my worst birthday ever, I didn't figure it could make me feel any worse.
Tony Pov — two weeks prior
Dark rain pelted the window against a blackened sky as I rolled out of bed on the morning of October 15th. I pulled Clara's old Rainbow Poodles school mascot sweatshirt on. I could have used my own, but Clara's was oversized, and I needed to envelope myself in something that reminded me of her today. I could already tell the day was going to go horribly, though I didn't know why.
It wasn't just the weather, although that could have stemmed from that "tornado" issue that Rachel's convinced isn't a tornado at all. Yeah, I've been talking to her recently. She's been a great mentor through all of this. Mom and Dad and everyone think I'm out with Chevy and Axel, but I usually meet up with Ruby and Diamond. Percy and Rachel pick us up in Rachel's car, although sometimes Percy drives, and we go to the beach and talk. Diamond thinks it's Chiron's way of keeping an eye on her and Ruby, but either way it's incredibly useful. Often, Percy will work with the twins on training, and Rachel will help me with the sight. Ruby and Diamond haven't yet succeeded in teaching Percy how to properly wield a bow. Apollo picks the twins up at sunset in his chariot and drops them back at camp, and David comes to pick me up most days, since the beach we go to is near his school.
Anyway, I'm getting away from my point. David knows about my meetings and what happened today.
So he gave me a ride to school like he usually does, and when I walked in there was a sub. I don't normally mind subs, but this one was giving me bad vibes, I mean really bad. He said we could work wherever we wanted and with whoever that day, so I made sure the twins stayed with me and Chevy and Axel, and I let the girls know of my suspicions.
Chevy and Axel were messing around as usual, and then Chevy accidentally threw a wad of paper at the sub that was aimed for the trashcan. The sub's eyes changed color! I mean, it was freaky, okay, and he started to grow exponentially taller.
Many of the students ran out the door at this point, but he lunged for Ruby and Chevy, and so Diamond and Axel and I were forced to stay behind as this guy grew into some sort of giant. He gripped my friends as if he wanted to squeeze the life out of them, but then he looked more closely at Ruby and Diamond, and he said, "You will be of great help to the Titan Lord." Then he looked at Chevy in his hands, and then Axel and me, and licked his lips. "And you will make an excellent dinner, and after that, a sacrifice to Kronos."
At that point, Axel picked up a desk and threw it at him — Axel's grown like a foot since the end of fourth grade, and I think he's been lifting weights, so he could manage this easily — but I tried to dive in front of it so it wouldn't hit Ruby and Chevy, and somehow that desk stopped in midair. At first I thought Diamond was doing something, because she was making this really high pitched noise and fumbling in her pocket for her keychain, but she looked just as confused as Axel and I did.
I sort of hoped that the desk would crash on his head or something, and then it did, miraculously not hitting Ruby or Chevy in the process. I used the classroom phone to call David immediately, and he came by a few minutes later. Ruby and Diamond managed to convince the office that he was allowed to sign all of us out, I don't know how they did that, because it's not like they have Charmspeak like Renee. David drove us all to Camp Half Blood where Diamond had contacted Chiron ahead of time. Ruby lost consciousness a few times during that ride, and Chevy and Axel both shook their heads a lot as if trying to work out what had just happened.
Chiron questioned us and then used the Mist to wipe Chevy and Axel's memories. He then magically teleported them back to the school, none the worse for wear. David signed me out for the rest of the school day and I went home.
I haven't seen Ruby and Diamond since, and I think they'll be switching schools. Chiron Iris-messaged me and said he's keeping them away from me for now. Rachel and Percy say we either met a Laestrygonian or a full-grown cyclops, not from the forges but one of the more rogue, land based ones; the ones that eat people.
I didn't leave my room for two days after that, and then David said maybe I should write everything down and he could make a copy at school, and then I could send it to Clara, so that's what I'm doing now. I hope she and Renee will have some advice for me. Maybe Nico as well. I don't know why that happened, or how we were able to make that desk freeze in midair and then direct it to hurt the monster. I'm scared, and Rachel and David and even Percy don't have much advice for me.
Clara POV
I read Tony's letter with a building feel of suspense. Why hadn't I heard about this sooner, maybe from Percy, who my brother was talking to frequently. He could have Iris-messaged.
That reminded me of something I should have told Tony. As much as I hated the boys going in my room, he needed to know where my spare stash of drachmas was. I kept them rolled up in a pair of old socks in my sock drawer. I had a few, even stashed at home while I was at Hogwarts, because you never know…
I tried to ignore Tony's last line of the letter. Clara, and Renee as well because I know she'd be with you when you read this…
She wasn't with me. She hadn't been with me all day, on my birthday, when she decided to test the limits of her stupid charmspeak and enter that stupid tournament when everyone was out of the castle. She'd probably even staged the thing with Gill, and then sent Sandra as a distraction.
Now, she wouldn't be witness to me, bawling my eyes out in the hidden room, all alone except for my brother's nightmare experience of a letter. All alone except…
Someone knocked on the door to the hidden room. I sighed, hugged the letter to my chest, and went to see who it was.
Franklin stood there, and he frowned when he saw it was me who had come to answer the door. "Oh, hi Clara. Sorry, I know tonight's probably not the best time to ask, but Tomasz and I need the room right now. Er, Tomasz doesn't feel safe in the Slytherin dorm tonight."
Franklin shuffled his feet as if he were trying to hide something.
"Tomasz? I'd expect him to be celebrating his house's victory."
Tomasz stood up from a nearby couch. I hadn't even noticed him there, but now the green tinge on his robe was glaringly obvious.
He looked at me. "So, you actually think she did it, huh?" he asked, walking over.
"I know she has the means, Ruddernot. I'll wager I know her far better than you do."
"Be that as it may," Franklin asserted, stepping between us, "Tomasz needs a place to stay tonight. And you have a perfectly good bedroom down the hall. Do you think you could give us some space?"
I nodded reluctantly. I'd only needed private space to read Tony's letter anyway.
I stepped out of the room and into the raging party. Hufflepuff didn't really have parties, not in the way Gryffindor and occasionally Slytherin did, so this was a first for me. Rebecca, Lucy, and Emma were part of the snack task force, running back and forth between Hufflepuff and the kitchens.
Someone had hung up a blindingly yellow poster claiming, "We support Cedric Diggory, The TRUE Hogwarts champion!" and people were climbing over each other to sign it.
Cedric sat in a corner, talking to some younger students. They looked absolutely in awe to be in his presence. Head Boy and Hogwarts champion… it was almost too much to take.
"Cedric's always been great with the kids," a sixth year girl told me as she walked past. "My little sister, Gemma, is in that crowd. She won't shut up about him." The girl smelled sweetly sour, like stale beer. I couldn't believe the House Elves had actually provided us with alcohol for tonight. I wondered idly if Gryffindor and Slytherin got the same treatment.
No! I told myself in a panic. I won't go there! It's not my place. My place is here, with the True Hogwarts Champion!
I stood up to go sign the poster. Tonight was for celebration. I could berate Renee tomorrow.
But how could she possibly think this was a good idea?
A/N: So this one was shorter than I had planned and kind of filler, but I don't really know how to say more without overloading the chapter. Next chapter I'll hopefully be able to get in all the lead-up to the first task, including the chats with Sirius and Hagrid.
So we got our first Tony POV. What do you think, how did I do with him? Any predictions for what I might do with him?
Hope you enjoyed! Please review!
