Saying I'm surprised is an understatement. I'm quite happy. So, I decided on something. The most person who can find pros and cons in my writing gets to decided on one major thing, and I swear on the river styx that it it suited me, I'll agree, and do it, I will. Like, you could ask me to do this up to book seven, and I just might. But I won't stop, or have this on HIATUS. ENJOY:

Piper McLean wasn't usually moody, but today wasn't any day. Today, Chiron had called a council's meeting. Today, they were in deep discussion, and today, they were joined by all the Romans of the seven, and Reyna. Only one seat was empty- Nico's, the head of the Hades cabin, who was away on his quite interesting quest.

Squashed around the ping pong table, the head-counselors and the Roman praetors plus Hazel, were deep in discussion.

"Why, would a magical creature attack us? Mother keeps the boundaries safe." Lou-Ellen insisted, banging her hands on the table. She wasn't always angry, but the fact that someone accused her mom, Hecate, of not doing her job was beyond offending to her.

"Lou, we know Lady Hecate's doing her job," Hazel soothed. "That's why we're confused."

"We need Nico here," Piper started to say. "I mean, Hades is also the Lord of balance. He'd know why we lack it right now."

"Well, I thought you guys send him a letter?" Will asked, staring at Piper, Hazel, and Reyna. As if on cue, Xavia the black Raven flew in, with a letter clutched tightly in her talons.

The somewhat quiet table exploded into chatter. Chiron stomped his hooves to quiet them down. Jason controlled the air currents and brought Xavia to him just to show he can. He smirked at Percy, who just rolled his eyes.

Jason unrolled the piece of parchment and read it silently. He snorted. "What does it say?" Will asked, hopefully.

"Nothing much," Jason replied, still reading. "He's hoping you won't run him through with your arrows, Will. And he's saying he'd like to find his cabin the same way he left it. Also would appreciate it if Piper wouldn't make his dye his hair pink." The ping-pong table erupted into fits of laughter. Jason grinned at Piper, who just huffed in annoyance.

"I wanna see!" Percy said trying to grab the parchment. Jason dodged to the left to avoid Percy, only to have the parchment grabbed out of his hand by Hazel.

Hazel quickly skimmed through it, then nodded. She passed it to Lou-Ellen, who passed it to Will, who passed it Chiron, who in turn, passed it to Annabeth, who avoided giving it to Travis and Connor, and successfully handed it to Reyna, who smirked, then gave it to Piper.

Travis, Connor, and Percy groaned. Leo set himself on fire. Clovis snored, still asleep. The others who didn't get to read it waited patiently.

Piper smirked as she read the letter, once, then again to confirm.

"He says he'll do his best and research about that strange monster. He also has a request, guys." Piper's expression turned serious.

"What?" Everyone who hasn't read the letter, or hasn't read it until the end in Jason's case, asked.

"This," Piper said. Her face unreadable, she stood up, stretched her hands, and smacked Percy and Jason upside their heads. "Ow!" they said, staring at her accusingly. "That's from Nico. For being butt-heads and not keeping your heads in the game."

Everyone expect Percy and Jason cheered.

"So, we count on Nico, then?" Leo said, his hand set on fire. "How long?"

"You took about three months to come back with Calypso," Pollux said.

Leo blushed. "Totally worth it!" he demanded.

Frank and Reyna looked at each other. Should they break the news yet? "There's another problem," Frank finally said, as Piper settled down in her seat once again.

"The Lares of New Rome. They're not speaking, or anything, really. They just...exist. Floating around the place and the usual, but they don't interact with us."

Silence showered the demigods. "Well, maybe it's some sort of tradition they have?" Katie Gardner offered.

"We think they're keeping a secret." Frank reasoned. "Whenever you talk to one, they just float away, looking panicky. Reyna and I are trying to find out the golden answer: what?"

Reyna nodded in agreement. "That's why we need some help. Namely, we need a few children of Athena. Since we don't have any at camp." Reyna cleared her throat, then looked requestingly at Annabeth.

Annabeth, the ready warrior she was, nodded. "I'll go. Malcom, too." Reyna gave her an approving smile.

Lou-Ellen conjured a piece of parchment. "Anyone got a pen?" she asked looking around. Lou was sure she could summon one, but she wanted to break the concerning silence. Clarisse , although no one knew why she was carrying one, gave Lou-Ellen a ball-point pen.

"Thanks," she muttered. "Alright, what should we tell Nico?

GOD-I-HATE-MY-STUPID-BREAK-LINES.-I-HAVE-TO-BE-MORE-CREATIVE-EH-?

"Ah, Briana Jones, eh? From Nico's school?' Dumbledore said, smiling at her, brightly.

No, she wanted to say. She was not Briana Jones. She was not from any other school, and she did not know who Nico was. All she wanted was to go home. All she wanted was to stop having to swallow that horrible liquid, all she wanted was to be herself again.

"Ah, I am glad you came here, young lady. I am quite sure Nico needs help in his...journey?"

That, she did not understand. And she knew, neither did they. She was worried, still, about the information they were

gaining, and about what they will obviously use against them. And she could not help, but wonder, if this was all her fault.

Unwillingly, her head tilted to the side, questioningly. "I am only send to gain education, Professor. But I can help with whatever journey that thought I am absolutely sure I'm not from said person's school." She smiled.

Dumbledore looked at her quizzically, although not unkindly. Her gray eyes would not leave him, and she was frustrated that she didn't even have control over that.

"I see. You have done the right thing, young lady, coming to my office. I shall inform everyone that you're a new transfer student from elsewhere. You must be sorted now." He looked at the Sorting Hat in the corner.

No, she thought. She didn't belong here. She didn't want to do this. She was an honorary student elsewhere, and she felt a terrible sense of guilt overwhelm her.

Her face broke into a grin. "Of course." She walked up to the hat, picked it up, and placed it on her head after settling down on her seat.

My, my, I don't know what to think! You're a Beauxbaton! And your name is Vanessa, eh? I honestly am stumped.

Please, Vanessa begged, feeling like she wanted to sob, but of course, she couldn't. She didn't even have control over her own body.

I am aware. I am very sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot help you. I can only contact anyone if I'm on their head, and I'm afraid you can't tell anyone that!

Please help me! Please! I'm betraying my own kind, please!

I can hardly do. Not when you're forced to swallow Veritaserum all the time, no. And Persopheus, too. But I can tell you this: seek Nico Di Angelo. I am no advice giver, usually, but I am bound to this school, and I feel obliged to protect it. I'm afraid I can say no more, my dear. Now I must sort you.

Vanessa didn't reply. She felt too miserable to.

Oh, don't be! Now, you have a lot of bravery! Quite enough for Gryffindor, but I'm afraid I can't place you there, hm? I can hardly worsen your situation, but this will, believe me. And yes, you have the sharp mind of a Ravenclaw. But that is not as noticeable as your extreme loyalty! And dear me, you are fighting very hard against this, aren't. Don't give up hope, now. I pronounce you...HUFFLEPUFF.

Vanessa's throat closed. She very nearly sobbed, and she would have, really, if she could. But she couldn't She was forced to stay here, to betray everyone. Her heart sinking, she realized, that this must be the first time that a Hufflepuff would betray the school.

NOW-THAT-WAS-CHEERFUL-WASN'T- IT?-WELL-I'M-NOT-DONE-YET!-STILL-HAVE-TO-OBVIOUSLY-FIX-MY-BREAK-LINE-UH.

The next time Nico woke up, he was surrounded by white walls. His first thought, was that he was in the infirmary. He didn't know why...Maybe he tired himself working with will. After all, there were many demigods who frequently managed to stupidly injure themselves, including Nico himself, and Will would drag him against his desire to help him when Lou-Ellen wouldn't.

Then, he remembered. Umbridge...last night. He immediately sat up. Only to be met by Madame Pomfrey, and a pretty girl beside her.

"Is he okay, Madame?" the girl asked. Madame Pomfrey tut-tutted at him. "Lay down, now! You must be exhausted." But Nico felt fine. Really. He wanted to argue, but something about the way Madame Pomfrey looked at him told him he wouldn't get no for an answer. Sort of like Will. He would glare at his patients when they demand they're okay, then tell them to shut up and get some if they argued further, he would literally threaten them. 'I swear I'll lock you up here to work with me for a week,' in Nico's case. Or, 'I'll have Lou-Ellen keep you awake for a week." in Clovis'.

So, with slight confusion and frustration, Nico obliged. "I must say, Nico, dear, you must be glad for a friend like Harry. I knew from the moment she walked in, that she was nothing but trouble!" she stressed, looking at Nico worriedly. "What happened, dear? Did she do anything to you?"

"Not that I remember," Nico half-lied. In fact, Umbridge had made Nico black out, which he was still frustrated at. Percy and Jason wouldn't let him hear the end of it if they figured out a pink lady got the best of him. How, he didn't know. But Nico would find that out soon. He would.

"What happened?" Nico demanded, still not happy about what happened.

"You fainted, dear. Harry called for me. He is quite a loyal friend, hm? Here, have this." She pushed an aqua blue potion into his hands. Knowing well what she would probably do if he the potion felt like drinking liquid helium. Immediately, Nico felt too aware of everything around him.

"Better?" she asked. Nico nodded. Some Gryffindor Nico was...He could only think of what the others would think of this. Namely Harry. Then, he thought of why he cared about what anyone else thought.

"Darling, you are quite talented in potions! But it's getting late, I fear. You may return to your dormitory." She beamed at the girl beside her

The girl smiled at Madame Pomfrey. "I'm okay Professor. I'll go back right now. I've made the Draught of Sleep potion as you've asked. It's on your desk."

"What a lovely girl you are!" Pomfrey said, smirking at her. "You will make a fine healer one day," she insisted. She gave Nico one last look, and then walked out of the room, looking proud.

The girl turned to Nico, smiling at him. She had long chocolate-colored hair and pretty gray eyes. "You're Nico Di Angelo, right?" Her eyes glinted, and she looked at him expectantly.

"Yes, I am." Nico said, sitting up straighter. "And you are?"

The glint in her eyes died a little. Her shoulders slumped. "Briana Jones." she said, as if being 'Brinana Jones' was the worst thing in the world.

"I'm Madame Pomfrey's new assistant," she said, regaining her posture quickly. "I've only joined Hogwarts a few days ago, too." She held out her hand to Nico.

Nico shook it. Briana seemed nice enough. And she was really, really, pretty. Not that it mattered, but really. Nico had seen many beautiful girls around Hogwarts, but she was different. Her beauty seemed...foreign. Like it didn't belong between the brits, but she was quite attractive, he had to admit.

"How long have I been out?"

Briana smiled at him, again. "About three hours. You just drank a refreshing potion, so you should be free to go. I made it, so...It might not be quite as good. I used to..."

Briana's eyes widened. She looked like she was choking herself, then quickly shook the feeling away.

"Are you alright?" Nico asked, squinting at her. The girl was barely his age. A fourth-year, maybe younger. He felt protective over her, like he would usually do for Hazel.

"Y-yes." Briana demanded. "I'm fine. Really." She stood up, and dusted herself. "I should be going now." She turned to leave, but gave Nico one, last, look.

"So, will I see you around?" She asked hopefully?

Nico didn't know what to think. He was in no place to do so, actually. He was still pretty overwhelmed, perhaps a little embarresed too, but if Briana was new, he thought she'd need some friends too keep her up. Why wouldn't he be one?
"Count on it," he said, smiling. Hazel would have nodded in approvment, he knew. He was glad Piper wasn't there, though. He knew quite well what she would've done.

"What house are you in?"

Briana gave him a lopsided smile. "Hufflepuff. I'll be around here in my free time, usually. Good Night." And with that, she left.

Not seconds after her leaving, Nico hopped off the bed, wondering why it took him so long to do so.

AN: Hullo. Notice: I don't do non cannon pairings. And the canon ones that I do won't go above a kiss of the cheek, holding hand, or tight hugs. I might exceed this occasionally, but it depends.