OKAY, SO THE BEGINNING TWO PARAGRAPHS WILL BE IN THIRD PERSON, CAPISCE? AND WHOEVER'S NAME IS CALLED, THAT IS THE POINT OF VIEW. IF NICO IS CALLED TO BE SORTED, THAT'S HIS POV, GOT IT? OH, AND THEIR ARMOR MAGICALLY CHANGES INTO ROBES OF THEIR HOUSE WHEN THEY GET SORTED. TOO LAZY TO ADD IT, BUT IT'S UP HERE!
"This is the Sorting Hat." McGonagall gestured to a ratty old thing on a chair. All the demigods glanced at it quizzically.
"When I call your names, please come to the chair, sit, and put the Hat on. When you are Sorted, sit at your assigned table." McGonagall conjured up a scroll and glanced at it briefly. "Di Angelo, Nico!"
I stepped out of the line and walked over to the stool, my head high and my back straight. I caught Will's eye and he gave me a thumbs up. Cape swishing, I sat on the stool and put the Hat on my head, if it could even be called a hat.
Almost immediately, I heard a voice in my mind.
Strange, very strange… a nearly equal match for all four houses, haven't seen one of these in a few millennia! You are wise beyond your years, oh, yes, you would do nicely in Ravenclaw. But you are amongst the bravest whose minds I have delved into as well. A single-handed survivor of Tartarus, a boy who was told my the goddess of misery that he was perfect! A potential Gryffindor through and through. Oh, and ambitious, yes, yearning to prove yourself to the world, thirsting to belong. Slytherin would be a wonderful choice.
Get on with it, then. I used all my strength to extend the message. Sort me in Slytherin, already. Hermione told me it was the house from which most evil people came from. I belong there.
Evil? Tell me, son of Hades. From the bottom of your heart, can you swear it on the River Styx that you are truly evil?
I hesitated. So maybe I'm not evil, hat, but I'm a loner. I don't have any friends.
You have no friends? The hat scoffed. Who are those in the crowd, those who joke with you and laugh with you and support you to no end? Jason Grace, the son of Jupiter, who you would trust with your life. Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, the daughter of Bellona, from whose shoulders you've lifted an unimaginable burden. Hazel Levesque, the daughter of Pluto, to whom you gave a second chance. Will Solace, son of Apollo, who wishes that you could be happy, like a normal person. Who are they to you?
They're- they're my… my…
Your friends. Your family. And correct me if I'm wrong but you would do anything to keep them safe, even if the cost was your own life?
I would. I really would. They mean the world to me, even if they don't know it and- wait! Why am I telling you this?
Hm, the hat mused. A perfect match for Hufflepuff, I think. Yes, Hufflepuff it is.
Hufflepuff? I sputtered. No! Why? I'm not a Hufflepuff? I am darkness, I am death, I am-
Tell me, son of Hades, why did you plunge into Tartarus?
Wha- you know about that?
I know everything about you.
I wanted to find the Doors of Death for Percy and the rest of the Seven. What's it to you?
And why did you keep the two camps a secret?
To avoid a war and mass bloodshed, duh.
Why did you free Hazel Levesque from the Underworld?
Because she was also my sister. She deserved a second chance too.
Why did you not inform Percy Jackson of his identity upon his arrival at Camp Jupiter?
Because the prophecy needed to unfold on its own, and I had to allow that to happen.
Why did you convince your father, Persephone, and Demeter to rise to the aid of Olympus during the Second Titan War?
Quit it with the mind games, hat! I did it so Olympus wouldn't fall, to save the lives of our forces!
Do you know what the traits of a Hufflepuff are? I hesitated. I didn't really know. Loyalty. Patience. Fair play. All traits you possess, traits that outshine your wisdom, your sheer bravery, your ambition. I think it is fair to say, Nico di Angelo, that you are to be Sorted into HUFFLEPUFF!
The last word was shouted for the whole Hall to hear. Nobody said anything, momentarily stunned and I cringed away from the silence. Until one Hufflepuff stood up on the table, glaring at the entire Hall, and started cheering. As if snapped out of a gaze, everyone else started cheering, including the demigods.
I tried to steady my breathing as I removed the Hat from my head. Oh, and one more thing, the voice rang in my head. I waited. How are you still sane? Grinning, I passed the Hat to McGonagall and said aloud, "Well you see… I'm not."
The hat smirked. "Fair enough."
Ignoring everyone's startled glances, I strode over to the table with the kids in black and yellow. The boy who had started the cheering scooted over and patted the spot next to him. I gratefully sat.
"I'm Ernie Macmillan." He stuck out his hand and I took it.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Nico."
McGonagall glanced at the scroll. "Atlas, Calypso!"
I tried to calm my nerves as I placed the Hat on my head.
An ex-goddess, the daughter of a Titan! How interesting. A voice spoke in my head.
I do think I know where to place you. Stuck on an island for several thousand millenia, falling in love with those who always left you.
Way to rub it in, I shot back snarkily. I have Leo now, anyway, so why don't you fuck off?
Manners, my dear girl. Speaking of 'Leo,' you made quite the ruckus when he arrived on your island.
Well, yeah. I mean, he destroyed my dining table!
And yet you still found the courage to let him go, which is a Gryffindor trait, but I believe the trait that overpowers that is the faith and patience you put in him, knowing if he swore he'd come back, he would. And he did, did he not?
Of course he did. I would have waited a thousand years for him to return.
Ah, yes. I am correct yet again, it seems. HUFFLEPUFF!
That last word wasn't telepathic, so I placed the hat back on the stool and found a spot next to Nico, who was sitting next to a boy with blond hair. I recognized him as the one who had started cheering when Nico was Sorted.
Nico smiled reassuringly and I knew he was happy here. The people seemed very nice. I knew Nico from my time on Ogygia. He would visit me often, bringing me news of the outside world and other things to pass my time. He was a good friend when I had had no other. And unlike the others (besides Leo) he always came back.
Professor McGonagall called the name, "Blackstone, Lou Ellen!" And a dark-haired girl rushed forward eagerly to be Sorted.
I tried not to show my eagerness to be Sorted, but this was a magic school after all! I placed the hat on my head and waited a second.
Daughter of Hecate. If I am not mistaken, Hecate had blessed chosen mortals and those chosen ones became wizards?
That's right!
You have a mischievous mind. Those with the power to manipulate the Mist often use that to their advantage, something I can respect.
You're thinking Slytherin, I'm supposing. House of the cunning, ambitious- I can live with that.
Oh, and Miss Blackstone?
Yes?
Before I Sort you, I'd like you to know that the pig balls you placed in the Stolls' bags will go off around eight PM tonight, alright? So act natural.
How did you know-
But before I could finish, the Hat shouted SLYTHERIN! and I took off the hat to join the table of the kids in green. Punks. Like me. I can live with this.
McGonagall was now calling for Annabeth. I watched with interest as Percy paced anxiously and Annabeth's cool demeanor becoming more and more transparent with each passing second.
I was hyperventilating as I awaited the Hat's words after placing it on my head. I would probably go in Ravenclaw, so this would be quick- I mean, I am a daughter of Athena.
Ravenclaw, eh? A voice boomed.
Holy fucking shit, what the actual fuck, how the fuck did you fucking do that? I thought.
I have my ways. Now, you say you are a Ravenclaw. Constantly craving knowledge and understanding of the world, yes, that would be a magnificent choice- however…
Cold stones settled in my stomach. Was I not smart enough for Ravenclaw?
I feel there is more to you than your intelligence, Annabeth Chase. There is your cunning and conflicting sense of wrong and right. It is wrong if it is for your wrong reasons, but right if it's right in your book. Your mother, Athena, is goddess of wisdom and strategy in warfare, correct?
Yes… she is. Why?
Slytherin the house of manipulation and cunning. A large part of warfare is the ability to trick your enemy into letting their guard down, outsmarting them into playing for your own victory.
What are you saying?
You are very much a Ravenclaw. You are a quick thinker and know how to improvise in seemingly hopeless circumstances. But that is what makes you a Slytherin. Ravenclaw and Slytherin play into each other perfectly, and for those reasons I sometimes think that Ravenclaw and Slytherin combined are the most dangerous. You have power, Annabeth Chase. Knowledge without ambition is like a bird without wings.
I was beginning to understand, and the disappointment was beginning to fade. So I'm a Slytherin because my intelligence is fuelled by ambition?
Exactly. SLYTHERIN!
I leapt off the stool and found a spot next to Lou Ellen, who seemed very pleased with her Sorting.
"Dare, Rachel!"
I approached the seat and desperately prayed I wouldn't deliver a prophecy, dear gods, don't let it happen!
Once the hat was on my head, a voice pounded into my skull.
Dude, turn it down! I complained mentally.
All you needed do was ask. Now, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, mortal, host of the Oracle of Delphi's spirit? Curious, very curious. An artist for sure, interpretation of prophecies in form of art, I know just where to put you.
Pray tell! I rolled my eyes.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare, RAVENCLAW!
Fine with me. My hair tickled my neck as it bounced with every step I took towards the table of blue. The house of the creative and intelligent, not a bad deal.
When I got seated, Katie was walking towards the stool, glancing everywhere and drinking all the sights in.
I plunked down on the stool, mostly curious instead of anticipating. I heard from Hermione there was a Herbology class where you could handle exotic plants, and I was actually pretty excited for it. I scanned the Great Hall quickly and caught Travis Stoll's eye. He looked momentarily surprised, then grinned cheekily and winked.
My face burned and I scowled at him, ignoring the flipping of my stomach.
I'm detecting plenty of Gryffindor spunk, but the bristle of a Slytherin… where to put you, Katie Gardner…
I don't know how to answer that.
You don't have to. And please, stop eyeballing the Stoll boy, it is making it quite difficult to read you clearly.
I'm not eyeballing him!
That's what they all say, now let's see. Definitely very much able to hold your own, your work in the Battle of Manhattan was quite impressive and- oh, yes, a raging desire to protect what shall be protected.
So what'll it be? Surprise me, Hat.
Ah, yes, I think- not Gryffindor. Your courage is not the Gryffindor's front line courage… no, your courage is the Slytherin courage, the kind where you know when to hold your tongue and how to live another day because that's what's better.
Well? What do you think?
SLYTHERIN!
I sprinted to the table with the kids in green and quickly found an empty seat. Then I turned to watch Jason get Sorted.
When I put the hat on, I heard nothing at first but felt strangely as if I was being CAT scanned.
Son of Jupiter, child of Rome… where to put you?
Child of Greece and Rome, I corrected. (A/N This child is such a pure lil cinnamon roll omgs)
Plenty of courage, an almost equal amount of loyalty. Brave stupidity and plenty of it.
Hey! I am not stupidly brave!
If I had eyes, I'd be rolling them right now. You got stabbed through the side with a deadly weapon and decided to go kill a giant a little less than a week later. However, yes, I do think… I have decided. Jason Grace, GRYFFINDOR!
The house of the brave. Nice. I hope Piper would be in Gryffindor, too. Hermione smiled reassuringly at me and I returned the friendly grin. I watched with interest as Thalia walked up to be Sorted. This would be fun to watch.
"Ten bucks she starts cursing out loud at the hat." I mumbled under my breath to nobody in particular.
"Fifteen Galleons she starts cursing within the first thirty seconds." Harry mumbled, catching my eye.
Oh, it is on.
I stepped up to the hat, glancing at it suspiciously. I poked it with one of my arrows, and when it made no reaction, I put it on my head.
I felt ridiculous sitting there with this brown floppy thing on my head. I was the Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis! This was demeaning.
After a little more than twenty seconds of silence, I snapped.
"Listen, you stupid fuck, let's get this fucking shit over with. Do you know how fucking demeaning this is? I am Thalia, daughter of Zeus, lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis. I survived two wars and came back from the dead and I'm waiting on a floppy brown rag? BULLSHIT!" I said loudly.
Jason groaned and Harry whooped as Jason handed him a bundle of coins. A lot of the students looked shocked.
Alright, then. A sly voice spoke in my mind. Thalia Grace, GRYFFINDOR!
I strutted over to the Gryffindor table, flipping my short hair at Jason. "And that is how it is done, baby brother." I smirked.
"Hey, look, Percy's being called up to be Sorted!" Ron whispered loudly at us, and we all turned to watch. Kelp Face was walking up to the stool, looking like he'd been reaped as a tribute to the Hunger Games.
I probably looked terrible, I thought nervously. Scratch that, actually. I KNOW I look terrible, and that was saying something. Annabeth got into Slytherin, I had to get into the same House as her. I couldn't leave Wise Girl with a bunch of creepy strangers, even though she is a crazy badass warrior lady and could more than fend for herself. And kill anyone who touches her. Yikes.
I jammed the hat on my head, fidgeting with my fingers because ADHD.
Son of Poseidon… let's see. A survivor or Tartarus, like Annabeth Chase and Nico di Angelo. All three of you possess remarkable bravery, but your bravery is different- no, not Gryffindor, it isn't right.
Put me with Annabeth! I demanded.
A fatal flaw of loyalty, Hufflepuff would be my first choice. But you, no, your loyalty is only to those who you feel earn it, and it cannot be improvised. A will of iron, one so strong that only few Hufflepuffs possess.
Dude, I'm talking to you! I need to stay with Annabeth!
A ruthless warrior, almost choked the goddess Akhlys with her own poison! Yes, I know where to put you. SLYTHERIN!
Hm, so I am with Annabeth. Awesome! I practically sprinted over to her- no, our table, and planted a kiss on her then and there.
"Seaweed Brain." she scoffed once we pulled away, but she was smiling. "Who's going to be Sorted ne-"
She was cut off by McGonagall shouting, "Levesque, Hazel!"
"There's your answer." I mumbled.
- I was surprisingly calm as I walked up to the Sorting Hat. Nico managed to catch my eye and smiled reassuringly. I returned it and sat on the stool, gently placing the hat on my head and staring straight ahead.
Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto. I think I know where to put you. But first, are you not nervous?
Listen up, hat, I've been through the attempted resurrection of a giant, the realm of my father, a war, Lupa's training, and the House of Hades. A Sorting doesn't scare me.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but I could have sworn the hat was smirking as it spoke. Ah, yes. I know where to put you. GRYFFINDOR!
Oh. That was fast. Oh well. I found a seat next to Jason and listened for the next demigod who was going to be Sorted.
"McLean, Piper!"
I didn't know if I should be scared or not, but it would be nice if I were placed with Jason and Hazel.
When I sat on the stool, I immediately noticed all the boys and some of the girls were practically drooling. A few of the boys were whistling and catcalling and Jason looked ready to leap out of his seat and murder someone. I sent a hopefully calming glance his way and put the Hat on my head.
Your reaction to those, as they say, hitting on you, is quite peculiar. Why do you not let young Mister Grace have at them?
Uh, are we here to talk about my love life? But to satisfy your curiosity, Jason knows I can handle myself.
Strange. Well, how would you handle yourself?
Charmspeak. Nothing like a little, "Slap yourself, darling" or, "Go hit on Percy in front of Annabeth" or vice versa to get revenge.
Hm… how would you feel about being Sorted into Slytherin?
Er, why, exactly?
You're not above using charmspeak on mortals, are you?
Not really, I admitted.
There you go. Willing to take advantage of others in order to get what you want. But at the same time, you would not threaten innocent lives. Piper McLean, SLYTHERIN!
I saw a flash of disappointment cross Jason's face, but the next minute he was clapping and whooping along with the rest of the Great Hall. He was truly amazing.
I found a seat on Annabeth's left and across from Lou Ellen, who looked like she was about to jump out of her seat with excitement. I turned my attention to McGonagall as she straightened out the list with a crackling noise and shouted, "Ramirez-Arellano, Reyna!"
At the sound of my name I hopped up and briskly marched to the stool. The tall woman handed me the Hat with a small smile and I felt a pang of sympathy for what Nico and Hazel would have to do.
Pushing those thoughts away, I jammed the Hat on my head and sat on the stool. Almost immediately, a voice spoke in my head.
A child of Bellona, fully, truly Roman… like mother, like daughter. Oh, yes, quite fascinating.
What's fascinating?
There's immense bravery- a reservoir of strength to share, even when facing execution! Willing to sacrifice yourself to Orion to keep the winged horses safe and the mission continued, put down your pegasus simply because you did not wish for him to suffer-
Dude, don't bring up Scipio. That's a below the belt blow. Besides, I did those things because if I didn't, friends and family would die. It was necessary.
-and many more achievements, as well as one of your strongest qualities you can lend being your own heroism! I think it is safe to say that you, Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, are a GRYFFINDOR!
I shrugged off the hat and found a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione as the Hall burst into applause. I watched with intrigue as Chris Rodriguez got called to his Sorting.
I half-sprinted to where McGonagall was standing. Clarisse wasn't the hugs and kisses type, but she had locked eyes with me and given me a look that conveyed everything that could have been said.
I really didn't deserve her.
I placed the brown hat on my head and waited. After a moment, a voice boomed in my head.
Chris Rodriguez, such a conflicting personality.
Gee, thanks.
However conflicting your personality may be, I feel that Hufflepuff would be the best fit for you.
Aren't they the loyal and just? 'Cause I'm- cause I'm anything but that.
Oh? And why would that be?
I betrayed my camp- no, my home. I betrayed my home and when I came back from the Labyrinth half insane they didn't drive me away or abandon me. I didn't deserve that, I admitted bitterly.
Hmm, and you do not think you are worthy of Clarisse la Rue either, interesting. Well, let me tell you- you are one of the most Hufflepuff characters I've ever seen. You could have left your friends once more after you were healed, you could have fought for the enemy once more in the final battle. And did you?
No, I didn't, but only because I owed it to them if anything for everything they did for me. It would have been a lousy way to thank them for saving my life.
A sense of justice, like the Hufflepuffs all possess. I think I can Sort you a Hufflepuff, but before I can, you must try to forgive yourself for your past. You cannot be a true Hufflepuff unless you are able to forgive yourself and others for mistakes made in time long past.
I don't think I can promise that.
I never said to promise, the Hat scoffed. I said to try. Chris Rodriguez, HUFFLEPUFF!
I slid off the stool and numbly found a spot next to Nico and a fair-haired boy, who were chatting it up. Off the glares Will Solace was sending in his general direction, I guessed he wasn't too happy about that. Gods, when were they going to make out already?
"La Rue, Clarisse!" McGonagall called, and I focused my attention on my girlfriend as she made her way to the Sorting Hat.
Ugh. I totally agreed with Thalia. This was so freaking undignified and I hated every moment of it. I, Clarisse la Rue, drakon slayer, wearing a brown mop on my head.
The drakon slayer?
More like electrocutor, I responded silently. Thinking about the drakon reminded me of Silena… that idiot Aphrodite girl got herself killed for my own pride.
Silena Beauregard was a brave soul, daughter of Ares- much like yourself. Do you know where this is going?
I do, actually. So what's it gonna be, punk? I conveyed the message with as much telepathic snarkiness as I could.
GRYFFINDOR!
I left the hat on the tiny chair and took a seat next to Hermione, who was watching McGonagall intently.
"Solace, Will!"
The way he walked up to the front of the Hall with his back straight and head held high made me think of Michael Yew, that arrogant little pipsqueak. If the Ares cabin had been fighting the war from the very start, somehow I have a feeling so many people, including Yew, would have survived.
When I approached Will after the fighting was over, I could tell from the first glance he was just barely holding himself together. There was sweat on his face and blood streaking his arms and hands as he ran around tending to people. He was and still is our camp's best healer and he knew that. So when I saw this thirteen year old child, trying to save an entire camp of wounded soldiers, who had tried and failed to save his brother a few days prior and was probably blaming himself for Fletcher's death, I immediately decided to be his friend. It was the least I could do to make up for not leading my cabin to fight.
He wanted me to teach him combat so if another war happened he wouldn't be so useless, and I agreed. He tried so hard but I knew even then that he couldn't make it. He barely even smiled then and it wasn't the Will Solace that we had before the war. So when di Angelo came along and they start hanging out and after so long, I see his smile coming back just barely. So I think that di Angelo kid is good for him. But I'm still going to keep a very close eye on them both.
The second the Hat was on my head, a voice started whispering in my ear.
Ah, yes, the son of Apollo, the most powerful Healer to ever be born, where to place you?
I didn't relay anything in response, so the hat continued talking.
You are so very brave… and yet…
And yet?
There is so much kindness in you. What to choose, what to choose?
I'll deal with whatever comes.
Ah… very well, then. I believe my initial decision has been further confirmed.
What was your initial decision?
Stubborn, enterprising, resourceful- albeit pushy. Refuses to rest until the job is done. Will Solace, SLYTHERIN!
I definitely was not expecting that. I was the least Slytherin person you could find, and yet… I felt completely fine with it. It was kind of funny, actually; the sunshiney son of Apollo placed in the 'dark' house.
I slid in next to Piper on the far end of the table and let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. Personally, I thought I was going to be Sorted into Hufflepuff, but Ron told us that the Hat is never wrong.
"Stoll, Connor!"
I ran up to the stool and dropped the hat on top of my hair. It nestled between my ears and a voice roared in my ear.
Oh, too easy. I know where to put you, son of the god of thieves and trickery.
Slytherin, amirite, my dude?
What? Of course not.
Wait- what?
I'm thinking Ravenclaw.
Dude, I am the least intelligent guy you'd ever meet.
Yes, but if you were Slytherin you probably wouldn't be caught half of the time.
Listen, I put the landmines on the wrong hill one time-
You would have to be a Ravenclaw to commandeer live landmines for a war effort without dying.
But-
RAVENCLAW!
Well fuck. Shit. This is going to be AWFUL for my reputation.
I wasn't even at my seat before the old lady who looked like she could kill you with her eyes called out, "Stoll, Travis!"
Do I even have to say it?
Say what? I mean, I know I'm perfect evil Slytherin material but-
Density must run in the family. Well, duly noted, then.
Hey! Who do you think you are?
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge by what you see!
I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me!
What the fu-
You can keep your bowlers black-
Please stop.
Your top hats sleek and tall!
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and I can cap them all!
Alright! Alright, enough! My ears can't take it! Stop this torture!
Had enough, eh? Your bark is worse than your bite, I can tell that much. Travis Stoll, RAVENCLAW!
I discreetly flipped off the hat as I tossed it at McGonagall. I could hear it scoffing as I plunked down next to Connor with as much force as I could- which, wasn't a lot.
"Underwood, Grover!"
My hooves were probably flopping out of their sneakers, weren't they? Stupid hooves.
My first impression of the Sorting Hat was something not even I'd eat. Seriously. It looked nasty.
Have you ever heard of not judging a book by its cover?
I harrumphed. Books are made of paper, paper of trees. Trees have to be cut down for books. Not the most efficient thing ever.
The Lord of the Wild, if I'm correct? I know exactly where to put you.
Hopefully not with the brutish looking kids…
HUFFLEPUFF!
Wait- they're pacifists, for the most part… right?
But the Hat was already off my head and I was being pointed in the general direction of a bunch of kids in yellow. I gulped and tried to look more intimidating than I was. Like I could summon Panic at the flick of a wrist (yeah, right.)
I settled down next to Calypso because she looked the nicest out of everyone (though I knew from experience she could kick your rear end if she needed to.)
"Valdez, Leo!"
The son of Hephaestus, fire-bender-
I know! It's like I'm from Avatar- and if you don't think I haven't done that before, you, sir, are extremely mistaken. It didn't turn out so well, I had to call in Festus and dump water on a burning Big House, but-
Where are you hoping to be Sorted?
Well, uh, see- I didn't really- hold on a minute, isn't that your job?
Leo Valdez, I have asked that question annually for millenia, and nobody had answered with, isn't it your job to Sort me?
Is that good or bad? I mean, I know the Supersized McSchizzle is something else but-
RAVENCLAW!
The hat was yanked off my head so suddenly I accidentally set my hair on fire. Of course, those dumb wizards did their magicky water spell and I was soaking wet in a matter of seconds. Just to mess with them, I set myself on fire briefly to dry off. Then, very disgruntled, I took a seat next to Rachel, who was shaking with laughter.
"Zhang, Frank!"
I put the hat on my head carefully, hoping I wouldn't rip it accidentally (it seriously looked that ancient.)
Um, hi-
Oh, this is too easy. HUFFLEPUFF! The hat screamed so loudly I shrieked and turned into a bulldog. McGonagall recoiled a little and I quickly changed back, muttering a quick apology.
The only available seat was- oh gods. Next to Nico. And that little schist knew it, I saw it in his eyes. He rigged this so that I would be stuck next to him and then he could threaten to kill me if I hurt Hazel, I knew how this was going to go. He looked so self satisfied that I wanted to turn back into a bulldog and hide. Oh gods- did he just- he patted the bench next to him. And moved over. And he's SMILING at me.
My father really wants to see me die, doesn't he?
Nico's POV (because I like doing this smol child's POV and I think you all like reading it)
"The demigods will be treated like any other newcomers to Hogwarts. I expect that all of you will do your best to be courteous and kind to them- after all, they have come out of two wars in the past few months. Does anyone have any questions?" McGonagall's expression was stern, but her eyes were glinting kindly. Once again, I dreaded my task.
One Gryffindor girl raised her hand and asked loudly, "Are any of the demigods single?"
Several of the demigods, myself included, choked. I noticed the Gryffindor girl looking very intently at me and if I wasn't vermillion already, I was now.
"I do not believe that is an appropriate question, Miss Brown!" McGonagall said sharply, but
Percy, bless his Seaweed Brain soul, stood up and cleared his throat.
"I'm dating Annabeth, Jason's dating Piper, Hazel's dating Frank, Grover has a girlfriend back at Camp called Juniper, Leo's dating Calypso, Chris and Clarisse are a thing, Katie and Travis are basically dating at this point but act like they hate each other- don't you two give me that look we all know Tratie is canon- and everyone else is single as a pringle except Rachel and Thalia cause they're the Oracle and Hunter of Artemis respectively." At everyone's stunned faces he bowed deeply and sat back down.
I thought it was over. And then Jason stood up. "Nobody is allowed to make moves on Nico."
I groaned and hit my head on the table. Was it possible to melt into its shadow if I slunk down far enough?
Then Reyna stood up. "Anyone touches my brother and they die. I have killed much worse people than any of you."
And then Clarisse stood up. "Touch Will and I will put you in a place you won't get out of." Will made a noise like a dying vulture and hid his face in his hands.
Everyone was silent until a Slytherin boy raised his hand. "Professor, is there anything we should know about the demigods to help them adjust better?" He sounded genuinely concerned about us.
"Maybe we should let them answer that."
Thalia stood up, shifting her bow from shoulder to shoulder. "Some of us have night terrors, Percabeth and Nico have PTSD, and nearly all of us get nightmares. We sleep with our weapons, have quick reflexes, and tend to lash out with our powers when we get scared and/or nervous or feel threatened. Just a heads up."
The boy looked confused. "Who's Percabeth?"
"Percy and Annabeth, of course. One whole Percabeth." Rachel answered for Thalia.
Meanwhile, the Gryffindor girl was still looking at me. Frank glanced at me. "Uh, Nico, I think that girl's checking you ou-"
"It's fine, Zhang." I'm about as straight as a circle, anyhow… I thought. Then I noticed the way Frank was looking at me.
"Di immortales…" I cursed. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did." Frank admitted quietly.
A few people were watching me with disgust. Then Will shot out of his chair. "I'm bi, and my best friend is gay. If any of you have an issue with that, gladly do everyone a favor and stay the hell away from us."
Piper waved her hand. "I'm pan, so… yeah. I like everyone."
"And, uh- if we're doing this right now, I want to say that I'm bisexual as well." Harry admitted, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, was bi? I couldn't get my head around the fact. Slowly, more and more people came out, as Jason had put it a few weeks earlier.
Percy leaned over and whispered something to Will, who's face lit up and nodded. He thrust his hands upward at the same time Percy flicked his wrists and suddenly water and light came together to cast a huge fucking rainbow over the entire Great Hall.
The professors were all watching with dumbfounded expressions. Finally, a bearded old man stood up, smiling.
"What a wonderful display of coming to terms with one's self! In celebration of such an occasion, let the Start of Term Feast begin!"
He waved his wand and a banquet appeared on all the four tables. Will shot me a look that said, eat something!
I rolled my eyes but piled some spaghetti on my plate anyway.
*timeskip and some angst because you know I had to*
I was sitting on something cool and glassy, but the air was stuffy and I felt like something was crawling down my throat, choking my insides. I was dimly aware of people surrounding me. I didn't exactly know where I was but I knew I was in trouble. I reached out to them, only for my hand to come in contact with a translucent wall. I pressed my palm against it, then banged it with both fists.
I was trapped. My oxygen supply was being cut off and I was suffocating, why weren't those people helping me? I hit the wall harder and their eyes turned to me, brown, blue, gold, green, black.
A figure separated from the group and knelt down, smiling.
"Bianca… help-" I choked out.
"Mm, no, I don't think I will…" She traced her fingers along the wall and tapped it experimentally.
I cried out in alarm as she gazed out me, expression barely flickering.
"You left me to rot, I think it's time to return the favor." Bianca's smile was as gentle as ever; she could have been tucking me in for bed at Westover Hall.
"But- I didn't- Percy-"
"You put all your trust in someone you barely knew, you put my life in the hands of someone you had just met, you miserable freak!" Her smile turned into a sneer and I scrambled backwards only to crumple onto my side.
"You know what they would do to people like you in Italy? Do you remember our next-door neighbors?"
"Stop- sorella, per favore-"
"Antonio Conti, do you remember what they did to him?" Her eyes were gleaming. "They dragged him out of his house-"
"Si fermi, per favore-"
"-And into the street, and they beat him to death, him and his filthy lover, unnatural faggots like you!"
I was rapidly running out of air, and she was watching with a smile on her face. I was dying and she was savoring it.
"Goodbye, Nico." she whispered, and my world tilted. I was falling, falling, falling into nothingness…
If I was screaming, I didn't know. My body crashed into ground that seemed to be absorbing me, molding around my structure and encasing me until I was part of the ground itself. My eyes snapped open and I heaved blistering breaths as I tried to haul myself off the ground. My strength was gone, dissipating, why couldn't I move?
"Get up!" a voice roared. "You worthless child!" I raised my head and made out a silhouette looming over me.
"Father…"
"You are no son of mine! What have you done to earn the right to call me your father? How did I, Hades, Lord of the Underworld, one of the Big Three, manage to sire such disappointing offspring?"
I couldn't speak. This wasn't real, it couldn't have been…
"Your sister would have been a thousand times better, but you had to go and get her killed, now didn't you?" Hades spat, seething.
"Not my fault- Bianca died- gave herself up- save everyone- " I could barely form coherent sentences as I scrabbled at the ground, pulling myself into a standing position. My body was no longer flesh, it was lead, growing heavier with every breath. I came to the sudden thought that I was weighing myself down.
"LIES!" Hades boomed. What happened next happened so fast I barely registered it: His hand shot out from his side and struck me hard across the face. I staggered backwards several feet, clutching my stinging cheek.
Hades grotesquely morphed in front of my eyes. The hair elongated, eyes narrowed, skin darkened, robes silkened into a dress.
"You deserve to die here." Her lips were twisted and her eyes were hard. "In Italy they would have had frocche disgustose come te taken with the Jews to the gas chambers! Not like it would have been a loss for me- a che serve un bambino danneggiato?"
"No…" I closed my eyes. The air here was no better than the air behind that wall. It was probably blistering my lungs and poisoning my insides.
"Finally, I get to see you as you should be. An outcast. The pit called to you, Nico. It only takes those who truly deserve to die." A pair of sea green eyes were slanted, glinting wickedly.
"Percy, please-"
"You think I'd help you? Yeah, right. Jason told me all about everything. I know your secret, Nico. It disgusts me more than you do. And you let me and Annabeth fall. You could have saved us, but you didn't."
"I'm sorry!" I was past denial, I would take it if someone would just get me out of here. I could see the monsters crowding in a circle, the second this was over, so was I.
"Like you saying sorry is going to do anything. You're a son of the Big Three but you're as pathetic as the dirt on my shoe."
"You must be even dumber than I thought you were if you think I actually cared about you." a new voice snapped.
The scar on his lip stretched with his Cheshire cat's grin.
"Jason! Don't leave me here, please, I can't take it anymo-"
"How many times are you going to fall for the same old trick, you worthless bastard?"
"Not you too, please, not you-"
"Nobody who says they care actually cares. The world doesn't work like that, least of all for you."
"You told Percy- you promised you wouldn't! You said you trusted me! You said!"
"You're an idiot for believing me, then."
I choked on my own onslaught of tears as Jason was replaced by someone else.
"Hazel?"
"You know, if I wanted to, I could help you. Do you know how easy it would be for me to get you out of here?" Her normally soft golden eyes were piercing and cold.
"Then- then why don't you?" I stammered.
Hazel's laugh was high and cruel. "Because I know who you are! You killed your mother and your sister, you thought Jason Grace cared for you, you thought that Percy Jackson could love you- you thought I could love you, like anyone could possibly love someone like you."
"But- Hazel, I don't love Percy- anymore-" I could feel my eyes tearing up.
"That may be true, but you and I both know you've fallen for a new Prince Charming." she spat. "If you thought I'd ever support you, you were wrong. You were only a way I could come back to life, and nothing more. Not a friend, not a colleague, and least of all a brother…"
As quickly as I could breathe, she was gone and replaced with someone else.
"Trust you? I wouldn't trust you if you laid down your life for me. Your death isn't worth a speck of my trust." Reyna scoffed, crossing her arms over her chain mail. Aurum and Argentum prowled at her side.
"Don't talk like that." I choked out. "Please- Reyna, you said, you said you trusted me. YOU SAID!"
Reyna only idly twirled her braid. "You did nothing but make my burdens worse. Aurum, Argentum-" She paused, locking gazes with me.
"Attack."
The dogs sprang at me. Their teeth were inches away from my face and they were on me, biting and clawing and tearing flesh and bone. The ground was rapidly soaking up my blood like a sponge.
I'm going to die here.
"STOP!" someone shouted frantically. It wasn't Reyna, Jason, Percy, Hazel, or anyone else. It was a new voice that almost make me sob with relief.
"Nico- oh my gods, what are you doing here? Come here, you're gonna be okay. My gods, Death Boy, I can't take my eyes off you for a minute before you get all bloodied up." Will Solace was standing there, arms outstretched, blue eyes full of concern.
"Will- everyone- they all-" I gulped, my breathing uneven.
"Sh, it's gonna be okay, Neeks. Come here."
This was Will, even in Tartarus Will wouldn't do anything to hurt me, would he? After all, he didn't know anything about my past. And he was bi himself, so would he care if I was gay?
No. No, he wouldn't.
Finally shedding all restraint, I lurched around blindly, my vision too blurred up by my own tears to see properly. Over the past several weeks, I learned Will's arms were always good for a hug.
I had learned that Will was safe.
My fingers came in contact with a warm body frame and I locked my own arms around it, only to be shoved to the ground. I landed hard on by back and stared up in horror into Will's blue eyes, crinkled as he doubled over in obnoxious, raucous laughter.
Even in hell, they never ceased being so blue.
"My gods- can't believe- you actually FELL for it!" He wiped one of his eyes, a malicious smirk playing on his lips.
My lips started quivering and my nose was probably sniffling and Will only glared tauntingly.
"What's the matter, di Angelo? Gonna cry?"
He sounded like the kids who lived down the block in Italy, who would pull Bianca's pigtails and trip me in school, who would throw wadded-up paper and pebbles at us when we passed by their houses, jeering and jibing us for not having a father and calling our mother a variety of names for not having a husband.
He drew his foot back and I curled up into a ball instinctively as he landed blows in my side repeatedly.
"Had enough? You don't think the kids at camp don't gossip about the infamous Nico di Angelo? You don't think your friends haven't warned me about you? Because let me tell you-"
He leaned down and lifted my chin with one finger.
"They have."
He yanked his finger away and a split second after his palm came in contact with my cheek. It was a slap not nearly as forceful as Hades's, but it stung a thousand times more.
Will's POV
A scream echoed through the castle and I sat up straight in bed. Nico.
There was a cold sweat on my face and I was hyperventilating at what I had just witnessed. Before we left, I asked Clovis to link our dreams so I'd know what the hell was bothering Nico, since he refused to tell me. But I never expected something of this intensity. Was that really what he thought of me? Gods, I had tried to help in the dream, I tried. But my effort was overthrown by that- that manifestation of Nico's worst fears.
But I couldn't worry about that now. I ran for the exit of the common room. More Slytherins were gathering in the common room, some pissed, most confused.
"Is the Baron going at it again?" one groaned.
"Whoever this Baron is, not really." Percy explained, already opening up the entrance. "It's Nico- PTSD and all that stuff. It's bad. Come on, Will!"
As we ran down the halls we collided with Jason, Reyna, and Hazel.
"We heard-" Hazel gasped, grasping the stitch in her side.
"Us too, how do we get into the Huffly-puff room?" Percy answered for me.
"Uh- somewhere near kitchens, I think?"
Suddenly, a kid in yellow pajamas came sprinting down the hall. I recognized him as the blond kid Nico was talking to and I felt slight jealousy coil in my gut.
"Frank told me to find you guys- you'd know what to do. Come on, I'll show the way." His tone was determined and with a wave of his arm he turned on his heel and started running again.
A few minutes later, we came to a stack of neatly piled barrels. He held out a hand, then tapped two of the barrels in a sort of five-part sequence. The lid of one of the barrels swung open and he grabbed the edge and hopped in as if this were normal.
None of us followed, all of us slightly perturbed. Then his head popped up and he gestured again.
"It's a passageway." A yelp echoed through the alleged passageway and that was all it took to get me to hop in after him. Everyone followed down the passage and we were in a cozy, dome-of-sorts common room.
"The dorms are over here. Come on. Fourth-years stay in here. And since he's fourteen, well- he's a fourth year. Madame Pomfrey is heading over, she's just getting her ointments and stuff. One of you is also a healer, if I'm correct?"
Jason, Percy, and Hazel all shoved me in front and I shouldered a medical pack that I don't remember grabbing.
"Let's go."
When I heard the whimpering, I started walking faster, and by the time we burst into the dorms I was running.
Nico was encased in his own fear, literal fear woven from the night, and there were flowing down his cheeks. His dorm mates were in the corner of the room, as if Nico's night terrors scared them. Frank was with a middle aged woman who was rummaging through a bunch of bottles, passing them to him to hold.
"Nico! Come on, Neeks, wake up, you're okay." I tried for my most calming voice as I bent the light to dispel the fear. It hissed and melted away slowly.
"That's it, Death Breath, come on. You're not there, you're safe. This isn't Tartarus." With less fear around him, he was breathing slightly easier and the tears had stopped flowing. I gripped his wrist loosely, trying to transfer some calming vibes as I hummed a hymn to my father.
Suddenly his eyes snapped open and he shoved me off him so swiftly I was knocked to the floor. His hand had found his sword and it was pointed at me, Hazel, Reyna, Jason, and Percy.
"Get back." he growled, brandishing his weapon.
"Nico, that wasn't real. Whatever it was, it was fake." Jason tried pleading with him.
"You told everyone. You left me there. You could have done something!" Nico's voice tightened and his muscles went tense.
"Nico! That's enough!" Percy called. "It was just a dream and I should know. Annabeth and I-"
"Fell because I couldn't stop it fifteen feet away. After all, the pit only calls to those who truly deserve to die, don't they, Jackson?" With a jolt I realized he was quoting his dream.
Hazel stepped forward but Nico rounded on her. "Don't you start too! I know what you think of me, I'm no brother to you. And you-" He pointed with his sword at Reyna. "You set Aurum and Argentum on me. You said you trusted me."
"NICO!" I shouted, terror having long since replaced the blood in my veins. "I know what happened, I was there! The Morpheus kids gave me a potion, I saw the dream. I tried to help, but those dreams were just a manifestation of your worst fears! Whatever you feared the most coming from us, you saw. It wasn't real."
I took a few brisk steps forward to grab the weapon from him and he slashed it wildly. It struck my arm, and I clutched the bleeding opening in my flesh.
Blood was seeping between my fingers and I looked at him with such a morose expression that he seemed to realize what he was doing. He dropped his sword and slumped onto the floor.
I let go of my arm and moved towards him. I reached out to touch him, but he scrambled backwards.
"Don't- don't t-touch me! Please- don't hurt me, not again."
"Nico- I would never hurt you, you know that? Come here, you're gonna be okay. It'll all be fine." I opened my arms and in a split second I saw all the layers of insecurity, fear, and weariness peel away like onion skins.
He melted into my chest and I gripped him fiercely.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." he kept saying over and over again.
"Hey, hey. Let it out. It's okay. I'm here, Neeks. I'm here."
And within moments, the six of us were collapsed on the ground in the same emotional state, trying to comfort each other because by the gods, we all needed it.
The middle aged lady wandered over with Frank, who glanced worriedly at Nico behind the mountain of bottles.
"I'm Madame Pomfrey, the head Healer of Hogwarts. I have some things that could help your friend, required he stay in the infirmary overnight." There was a steely glint in her eyes, and I recognized it as the one Nico complained about, the endlessly determined to get my way, glint.
"I'm not leaving Nico. I'm his medic. I've been doing this since I was seven, and, no disrespect, but I'm not leaving this child in the care of a stranger."
"Neither are we." Reyna spoke, standing up to her full height.
"I assure you, no harm will come to him in our infirminary. He may have one overnight visitor if you feel so strongly about it, and the rest of you can visit during regular hours." Madame Pomfrey said with an air of finality.
"Will- you're not gonna leave, are you?" Nico whispered, voice trembling, and I felt my heart shatter.
"'Course not, Angel. I told you, nothing you could say or do would make me leave. Let's go then, how about it?"
"Al- alright."
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NICE CHAPTER AHHHHHHHH.
It's like 6:50 AM right now, I'm sick as a dog, and I'm running on caffeine and a prayer- nah eff that I'm running on solely coffee because nobody even prays for me in the first place. I showed one of my classmates an excerpt of the angst and he looked so fucking horrified and just went "NO STOP IT WHAT THE HELL THAT'S SO MEAN" and called me a troll.
Meh. This bitch is thirty five pages long. Be satisfied, readers.
Lots and lots of kudos to DDaughterofAthena. She helped me clarify which characters belonged in which Houses, so thank you for that! :D
Happy reading, all!