Nico POV

The train stopped just as Annabeth re-entered their compartment. She beckoned for them to follow her and with much grumbling and complaining they got up and went after her to join the hallway filled with jostling students., Nico was screaming inside from every time someone bumped into him (which was every two seconds).

They were moving slowly along behind Hermione and the others from her compartment. As they finally got outside, Nico noticed that the black haired boy with glasses – Harry – was missing, but he shrugged it. It wasn't his business, so he didn't want to know.

The twelve followed Hermione to the carriages, which were pulled by some sort of black, skeletal Pegasus.

"What are they?" He found himself asking Hermione.

"Thestrals." A look of surprise was written rather obviously on her face. "You can see them?"

"Yes. Why is that so surprising?"

"They can only be seen by those who've seen death." She answered him.

"Oh. I've defiantly seen death." He followed Will into the carriage, leaving Hermione stood wondering about the small sixteen-year-old boy, whose eyes held so much sadness for a child, and about the whole group, because judging by their stares, every one of them had been able to see the Thestrals.

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Nico sat close to Hazel and Will. He tried to ignore the tiredness that was spreading through his bones. He laid his head on Will's shoulder, but refused to shut his eyes. If he did, he would fall asleep. And if he fell asleep... well. On his quest with Reyna and coach hedge, his companions had made it clear how hard it was to wake him up. His boyfriend looked at him in concern, sensing something was wrong, but he shook his head. He was fine.

When the carriages drew to a stop, Nico was relieved. They got out, and he got his first view of Hogwarts. On the outside, it looked like a huge old castle. Turrets, towers, a courtyard and all surrounded by forest. He wondered of it would have the same medieval vibe as the entrance.

He wasn't disappointed. The first room they walked into was huge, but room wasn't the right word for it. More like colossal entrance chamber. He was distracted from the moving staircases and suits of armour by a voice.

"American exchange students?"

Nico turned to see a tall man a tall man, with a hooked nose and dressed in dark robes. It was Annabeth who answered him. "Yes, sir."

"Follow me." Without waiting for an answer, the man strode of. They followed in quick succession, along corridors, up staircases, down hallways until they came to a halt in front of a stone gargoyle.

"Sherbet lemons" the man seemed to address the gargoyle. The demigods looked at each other incredulously, but the gargoyle began to move to reveal a set of spiral steps, to which the man entered. They followed him up to a corridor, where the man knocked on a large wooden door.

A voice from inside called "enter" and the man gestured for them to do so. Percy pushed open the door and they all entered. It was what looked like an office, but an extremely strange one. It had bookshelves and cabinets that were all filled. Tables held strange whirring objects Nico couldn't identify, and in the corner was a large stone basin. Portraits filled the walls, and with a start Nico realised they were moving. He drew his attention to a desk in the middle of the room, behind which sat an old man with silver grey hair, a long beard and half-moon spectacles.

As they entered, he stood. "I am professor Dumbledore. Welcome to Hogwarts"

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"That'll tell us what house we're in?" Percy looked at the patched and fraying hat with an expression of pure disbelief.

"That is correct." Dumbledore nodded. "Who would like to be sorted first?"

"I volunteer as tribute!" Leo yelled, and ran and sat down in the wooden stool. Looking slightly bemused, Dumbledore placed the hat on Leo's head. After around 30 seconds had passed, the hat shouted:

"RAVENCLAW!" After the hat was removed from Leo's head, he joined Calypso, who gave him a smile before walking over to be sorted. She was put into Ravenclaw, much to Leo's delight. With her was Annabeth. Next, Percy, Jason and Reyna were sorted into Gryffindor, then Will, Hazel and Frank were put into Hufflepuff. After the hat proclaimed both Thalia and Piper Slytherins, he reluctantly put on the hat. As soon as he did so, he could feel it going through his mind.

Hmm…. This is interesting… you're brave, loyal too, and smart, cunning, but no ambition. I'll have to sort through your memories…

As he felt it access the most private parts of his brain, he saw what the hat saw.

His mother's death… The hotel explosion from the lightning that killed her.

Bianca's death… how he felt so alone, so desperate, terrified of what he was.

Tartarus… The memories that haunted his dreams, crawling through the pit alone…

The hat let out a scream, "GET ME OFF! SLYTHERIN, SLYTHERIN!"

Dumbledore took of the hat with great haste, and Nico walked over to Will. He put on his best poker face, and only Will knew how deeply the scar went, as Nico clutched his hand so hard Will thought that soon he would cut of the blood supply. But he didn't say anything. The hat looked through their minds, and he knew there were many things his boyfriend didn't want to think about or revisit. He wanted to ask Nico about it, to make sure he was fine, but judging by the guarded expression he was wearing, he was trying not to crumble in front of everyone. And as much as Will wished he wouldn't do that, he understood.

Just so no-one is confused:

Gryffindor - Reyna, Percy, and Jason.

Slytherin - Thalia, Piper and Nico

Hufflepuff - Hazel, Frank, and Will

Ravenclaw - Annabeth, Calypso and Leo.