Hermione looked in the mirror and sighed. Thank Hecate for magic. There was a fine line between curls and frizz, and she was grateful to have found a way to pass it. She pulled her hair into a ponytail, and shoved her hairpin into it. It had been hard listening to Nico's story. The life of a demigod was never easy, but Nico's had been downright cruel. He had been suffering, when she met him, but it was hard to imagine, what he had gone through since then. Tartarus. She also had a feeling, that his sacrifices went rather unappreciated. He wasn't one of the seven, but she was quite certain, that if not for Nico, the world would be no more.
Knowing him, he probably didn't see it that way. Maybe he had grown, but she was pretty sure that he was still insecure, at least on some level. From the time, she met him, he had been self-conscious about being the son of Hades. It had been hard for him to accept, that she didn't care about that. She still wondered, if he knew just how much she cared about him though. He often came of as dismissive and cold, but he could be caring and gentle. He just needed a little push. Okay, a hard shove.
When he exited the bathroom, she was struck again, by how handsome he had gotten. He was so tall now, and his black hair had grown. She was trying very hard, not to notice, how tight that t-shirt was around his biceps. He was looking at her strangely, and she suddenly felt rather self-conscious.
"All yours" he said, and she scurried through the bathroom door, anxious to hide her red cheeks.
After freshening up in the bathroom, she returned, and they made ready to go. Hermione didn't dare send a Patronus near so many muggles, so the plan was to borrow the phone at the desk before leaving. Mr. Weasley had finally convinced Molly to get a landline. If he had managed to actually install it properly, she didn't know.
"I think there are some cafés near that park we landed in, we could get something to eat there."
"Good. I'm famished."
He had just opened the door, when – WHIISH – a black spike passed Hermione's ear with the speed of sound and impaled itself in the wall behind them.
"Oh, Styx." Nico grumbled.
"I heard you had been through Tartarus. I was terribly disappointed that you didn't come to see me."
Nico would recognize that accent anywhere.
He looked exactly as Nico remembered. One brown eye and one blue, his mouth stretched in a wicked smile, that never failed to send shivers down Nico's back.
But that was the point of monsters. They were supposed to be immortal, to never change. How else would they remind you of your own mortality.
His very first monster. Dr. Thorn.
"And I see you brought a friend? She smells positively… divine." The monster purred, taking a step closer inhaling deeply… Creep.
While Dr. Thorn was momentarily distracted by Hermione, Nico took the opportunity to slowly draw a stygian iron dagger, he had hidden at the small of his back. He loved his sword, but it wasn't exactly great for stealth or close combat, and Dr. Thorn stood uncomfortably close in a narrow hallway. He just had to work that to his advantage.
Nico took Hermione's hand and squeezed it, sending her a silent message. He just hoped she understood. They had done this before, but that was a long time ago.
Apparently, she did, because she ducked, when he charged, knife first, and slammed Dr. Thorn into the hallway wall, effectively pinning the scorpion tail behind him, so he couldn't shoot any more spikes.
Hermione then pulled out her hairpin and twisted it in her hand, revealing it to be a celestial bronze sword with a leather covered hilt and black, swirling engravings on the double-edged blade.
Dr. Thorn gave an inhuman growl. Nico had stabbed him in the side, with his knife. Not enough to kill him, but enough to slow him down. The scorpion tail had gotten stuck in the plaster, but they all knew it wouldn't stay stuck for long.
"RUN!" Hermione screamed. Nico took her hand and they bolted down the hallway. Nico took a second to look back and saw Dr. Thorn starting to transform into the full manticore he knew was hiding beneath the otherwise human exterior.
They ran through the reception (so much for making a phone call), out into the street. They could hear the Manticore roar behind them. Hermione wondered absently, what other people heard. If they could even hear it.
They ran down the street. Hermione glanced back, to see the Manticore, now on all fours, charging towards them.
"Nico, into the shadows, now!" She ordered.
Nico pulled Hermione along by the hand into the shadow of a nearby building.
When they walked out of the shadows, they were standing at the entrance to Camp Jupiter.
Even if she had just faced a dangerous monster, it wasn't until now she felt really nervous. Scratch that – she was terrified. She felt like her entire body had gone rigid and her stomach and throat were constricting. She was certain, that if she had had anything to eat, she would have vomited. In a way, she supposed she ought to be thankful to the monster for interrupting their dinner plans.
It would be her first time meeting other demigods other than Nico. She might see her half-brother today.
Nico seemed to sense her distress. He pulled her into a hug. "We don't have to do this right now. Let's go to get something to eat like we planned and we'll return when you're ready" he whispered into her ear. "There are still things we need to talk about."
Hermione didn't know what to feel about that. She was pretty sure, he was going to want her version of the last five years. She wasn't sure she was ready to talk about it yet.
It was different with him, though. Maybe it would help. He knew horrors enough to relate.