AUTHOR NOTES

Okay, yesterday I had this chapter done, I just forgot the notebook it was in at school. :) Thanks to all who reviewed and favorited. This is my first fanfic, so it's exciting! :) Onto story.

When they had arrived there, they were immediately taken care of. A girl with silvery blond hair greeted them before they even reached the door. A man with a scarred face stood by - Nico guessed they were husband and wife. He also supposed that he was Ron's brother; judging by the identical red hair.

Nico wasn't even asked who he was, although when he took his jacket off he observed they paid special attention to his left arm. He hadn't even noticed the tension about it until the blond woman sighed in relief.

"They were looking for a Dark Mark." Luna explained to him, as if that made Nico any less confused. The woman took Nico, Ollivander, and a litttle creature who was Dobb'y size but looked slightly humanoid to some bedrooms on the second floor. Luna had stayed behind on the beach, waiting for Dobby to come back. He'd gone back to the manor to get Harry and Ron, if Nico understood correctly. Which he doubted he did.

After he'd lay down on the bed and found himself relaxing finally, there was that sharp crack! in the distance. He jumped up at the noise and ran to the window. Sure enough, Harry and Ron were there, accompanied by another girl. Harry was holding something tiny to him, and was facing the window Nico was looking out of. Nico's nose filled with the smell of death as he recognized the tiny body.

"Aw, not Dobby." Nico mumbled, unaware he'd said it out loud. Luna knelt next to Harry, and through the open window, Nico heard Luna say through Harry's sobbing, "We should close his eyes. So he looks as if he's sleeping."

When he turned away, he really set to wondering. Honestly, where in Hades was he? And why couldn't he shadow travel back to camp? Did people die everyday like this here?

Nico frowned and lay back on the bed, and had barely any difficulty falling asleep.

In the dream, his questions were answered.

Nico didn't know where he was, but he did know there was a very powerful presence in the room. Nico heard himself take the direct approach and ask. Who're you?

The person rose up into the air while preparing to answer. Nico could see and hear the wings on his shoes flapping. So, it was Hermes.

Nico, I know you don't know why or even how you're here. He began. His mouth didn't seem to move. It was all via mind. But believe me, Son of Hades, there is a reason. All the gods were in on this. Where you are , it is England. 1990s. The late ones. You have a purpose at the Battle of Hogwarts.

There had been a battle about the warts on pigs? What the hell?

Hermes smiled at this. Very funny, Nico. But you don't understand. These wizards need you, more than you know.

Wizards? You mean, children of Hecate?

Hermes shook his head. No, Nico. They are wizards. They have no godly blood in them. Theirs just has magic. He paused. But back to the point. Nico, this battle will decide the fate of their world. Voldemort - their villian - has somehow gotten the help of your father and his forces. Hades cannot unchange it unless one of his own fixes this.

Nico grimaced. That's where I come in, isn't it?

Hermes nodded. Right. You need to dismiss all the help that comes from your father. It will take all the strength you have. But, you will live after this has been done. The battle will play out as it was meant to. Then you will have the option of going back home.

Nico nodded. Why would he want to stay here? He barely understood their ways. Then again, it was something new, different, from camp. He did need to go home, though. He wasn't going to stay here. No sir.

Hermes smiled mysteriously. Aphrodite has said she'll give you a reason.

With that, his dream ended.

He awoke to knocks at his door. He sat upright, and yawned. Whoever it was was obviously very impatient, as the door flew open on him. It was Harry, Ron, and that girl he didn't know.

"Nick, right?" she asked. Nico noticed she was pale and had a nasty gash on her arm. Then he realized it spelled out a word; Mudblood. He guessed that wasn't a compliment. He looked her in the eyes and nodded in answer to her question.

"Okay. How did you get into Malfoy Manor?" He must've looked confused, because she went on in more detail. "You. In the dungeon with Luna, Ollivander, and Griphook."

"Way to be blunt, Hermione." Ron muttered. She glared, and he shut up.

"I just. . . I don't know." Nico admitted. The girl, apparently Hermione, narrowed her eyes.

"Hermione, you can lay off a bit - it's obvious he just woke up." Harry said, stepping forward. "If he wanted to call You-Know-Who, he would have called the name by now."

"You mean V - ?" Hermione's hand snapped blindingly fast over his mouth.

"Don't say the name! It's Taboo!" she nearly hissed. Thanks for the warning about that, Hermes. Nico thought, annoyed. He pried Hermione's hand off his mouth.

"Sorry. I didn't know. . ."

"How do you live here and not know about Voldemort?" Ron asked, bewildered.

"I'm a very sheltered child." Nico lied, trying hard to keep a straight face but failing, as his trademark smirk came through. The statement was just so untrue, unless you were talking about when he still had Bianca.

"Do you have a wand?" Harry asked him in such a normal tone of voice, it made Nico laugh. They really were hardcore wizards, weren't they? Even wands. . .

"No. I don't." Nico was about to continue and say he wasn't one of them, but he stopped. Don't let them know who you really are. It was his father's voice; cold, cruel, and incredibly demanding. Nico gritted his teeth. The three looked like they gave him sympathy.

"Taken by Snatchers?" Ron questioned. Nico realized that they must have taken that facial expression and interpreted it as anger over not having a wand. He didn't even know what Snatchers were. But he nodded yes, nonetheless.

Hermione pulled a long stick out of her pocket. "We have extras, if you don't mind using. . ." She trailed off painfully, as if she couldn't bear to speak the name. She handed a black slightly twisted wand to Nico. He was hit with a blast of power. He could feel the insanity pulsing from it. He just nodded again however and stuck it in his own pocket, never planning to use it. Hell, he didn't even know how.

"Thanks." he said after a long moment of silence when he realized he hadn't given thanks.

"Well. . . Nick. Luna wants you to tag along with her. She seems to trust you." Why? Nico thought. "We've got business to attend to. We'll be off." Harry said and with that, they left his room, and Luna entered, smiling as always.

"I think it's time we got to know each other a bit, before we take off for Hogwarts."