Chapter Text

“The champion for Durmstrang,” Headmaster Dumbledore read, in a strong clear voice, “will be Nico di Angelo.”

Nico froze. Everyone from Durmstrang turned to stare incredulously. He felt their gaze crawling on his skin, and could hear the polite claps of the other schools dying down as nothing happened. Nico couldn’t move.

If this is how Hecate decides to exact her revenge I swear to the gods-

“Nico di Angelo” Dumbledore repeated his name.

“Come on, my boy.” Headmaster Karkaroff urged.

Shakily Nico pushed himself onto his feet and stumbled towards Dumbledore to collect the paper he held out. Whispers followed wake as people took in his scrawny young form, some forgoing any subtlety and yelling out things like, “the goblet must be broken!”, “he’s the best Durmstrang has to offer?”, “my ten year old brother is bigger than him!”, “how old is he?”, and one weird but distinct, “we got beards trying to get in but he’s fine? That’s rubbish!”

The voices cut off as Nico stepped into the small side room Dumbledore had directed the champions to enter. Robotically he sat down on one of the plush armchairs by the fire and twisted the ring on his finger.

Nico had not placed his name in the Goblet of Fire. He was not an idiot and had no interest in inviting another chance to die into his life. Gods knew the war with Kronos was bad enough.

In fact the only reason he was on this trip was because Karkaroff wanted to brag about how good his school was that he had both a famous Quidditch player and a student “blessed by Lady Magic”. Which really wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Nico wished it was something cool or special, in reality Hecate hated him with a passion after he had joined most of the Underworld minor gods in their yearly poker game and beaten a good number, including her.

It was Minos’ idea to get his Stygian Sword after Nico admitted he didn’t have many skills other than the games he had been playing for the past seventy years. He was lucky most gods enjoyed poker and tended to bet on artifacts and favors. The Lotus Casino was useful for something apparently.

Still, while most of the gods thought it was a good laugh when he kicked their butts (underworld gods were so cool) Hecate had given him the ability to do magic and then promised that one day he would regret his impertinence. Whatever that word meant, Nico wasn’t quite sure. He didn’t have a thesaurus and had never cared to learn the exact definition of the word that surely meant a gruesome disfigurement and death someday. Zeus probably wouldn’t let him live long enough for Hecate’s revenge anyway.

Though the goddess did still get him into Durmstrang when his father got tired of him hanging around in the Underworld last year and complained to his daughter. So she either changed her mind or thought something in her world would kill him. With his current predicament the latter seemed much more likely.  

However, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that it might be his fault. He had started a business where he put people's names in the Goblet for money or favors. It took a while for people to believe him, but after he crossed the age line in front of enough people (if he is going to have to deal with living in a new century, he will certainly use it to his benefit), his business had actually started booming, he had people from all schools buying. Nico had no idea of entering your name more than once actually did anything but it certainly made him heaps of cash.

So something could have gone wrong there, or it could be a mix of both, or even something completely different he had screwed up on. He had the standard demigod luck that came with the package after all.

The door opened with a creak and Nico’s head snapped towards the door. It looks like the champion for Beauxbatons had been chosen, that one part veela girl. The one that everyone fawned over but no matter how hard Nico tried he just couldn’t seem to muster up any affection over then an admiration over how cutting her words could be when she tore into an admirer for getting too close.

“How did you get your name in ze Goblet of Fire?”

em>Well she wastes no time.

“I didn’t.” Nico replied.

“I am not an idiot. Your name came out so you put your name in. How did you do zhat?” Fleur Delcour pinned him under her gaze and despite having faced down his furious father before, Nico struggled not to cower in his seat and spill everything about how he got past the age line. Instead he did his best to embody Bianca when she didn’t want to get in trouble with an authority figure. He met Fleur’s eyes, gave an artful shrug, and repeated, “I did not put my name in the Goblet of Fire. I’m sure this is some kind of misunderstanding.”

Fleur gave him a mistrustful look but was thankfully distracted by the Hogwarts champion walking in. The tall incredibly attractive boy, Nico thought he was a Hufflepuff but the Hogwarts houses confused him, sauntered right up to him and asked, “How old are you? You’re smaller than a gnome.”

Nico's face must have shown an amusing mix of shock, annoyance, confusion, and embarrassment because Fleur snorted softly into her cup, and where in Hades’ name did her drink come from? Is this the French equivalent of Americans wanting popcorn in entertaining situations?

“Sorry, it's just you definitely aren’t old enough to get past the age line.”        

“Maybe ‘e is just ze best Durmstrang had to offer.” Fleur laughed.

Nico ignored her. Something was wrong. He tilted his head and listened.

“Hey, kiddo? What are you doing?”

“Maybe ‘e is just crazy. ‘E put his name in so young, after all.”

Nico shushed them.

“Excuse me!” Fleur looked outraged.

“Do you hear that?” Nico asked.

“Hear what?” The Hufflepuff was starting to look uncomfortable.

“The Great Hall. They sound angry.”

The two older students finally did then shut up and Nico could hear it clearly now. Angry yells sounded through the thick castle walls, before a booming voice silenced them.

The Hufflepuff looked confused. “Yeah that almost sounded like-”

The door to the room opened and a short boy with messy hair walked in. He definitely wasn’t seventeen so he couldn’t be Nico’s replacement, much to his chagrin.

“What is it?” Fleur demanded. “Do zey want us back in ze Hall?”

The boy's mouth opened and closed like a particularly pathetic fish. He looked like that one kid who got claimed in Nico’s first summer at camp, but the boy had been claimed by a goddess instead of a god like he had been expecting.

Ludo Bagman thundered into the room after the fish-faced boy.

“Extraordinary!” he muttered, squeezing the boy’s arm despite his obvious discomfort. “Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen . . . lady,” he added, coming closer to the group. “May I introduce — incredible though it may seem — the fourth Triwizard champion?”

The Hufflepuff looked between Nico and the other boy. “So how many of the rules of the Tournament have already been broken? Any more we should know about?”

Fleur on the other hand, tossed her hair and gave a very thin smile. “Oh, very funny joke, Meester Bagman.”

“Joke?” Bagman repeated, bewildered. “No, no, not at all! Harry’s name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!”

Nico wasn’t sure he trusted a thing the Goblet did at this point.

“But evidently zair ’as been a mistake,” Fleur said pointedly to Bagman. “ ’E cannot compete. ’E is too young. Zeir both too young.” She motioned at Nico.

“Yes, well-” Bagman started loosening his tie ever so slightly as he gulped. ““But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name’s come out of the goblet . . . I mean, I don’t think there can be any ducking out at this stage. . . . It’s down in the rules, you’re obliged . . . Harry will just have to do the best he —”

Nico felt remarkably ignored. Surely Bagman’s mumbling could not be trusted. Nico didn’t put his name in. He had too much to do. Hogwarts was supposed to have one of the best libraries of wizarding literature in the world. He might be able to find something to get his missing memories back. It was a small chance, but one he had been ready to spend all year searching over. Excited even, despite the many headaches that were sure to come.

The door opened again and a group of people consisting of the headmasters, Mr. Crouch, and three other adults Nico didn’t recognize shoving themselves through the door.

“Madame Maxime!” said Fleur, moving over to stand by her headmistress. “Zey are saying zat zes little boys are to compete also!”  

Nico saw a sliver of annoyance break through Harry’s persisting shock.

“What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?” she demanded. Nico could see a firm resemblance and wondered if somehow Fleur and Madame Maxine had any relation.

“I’d rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore,” said Headmaster Karkaroff. His smile was even colder than usual, his blue eyes reminding Nico of when Percy was well and truly pissed. Nico repressed a shudder. “Two Hogwarts champions? I don’t remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions — or have I not read the rules carefully enough?” He gave his signature insulting laugh. One that said you were clearly below him, and how could you possibly forget your place?

“Zhat is not even the worst of it. Two underage champions! I thought your age line would keep them out Dumbly-dorr!” Protested Madame Maxime, glaring at Nico before shifting her furious gaze towards Harry.

“Nico may very well be a special circumstance.” Karkaroff motioned for Nico to join him, a  quick jerk of his wrist and a pointed gaze. Obediently Nico left his comfortable chair and went over to his Headmaster, trying to ignore how small he felt in the midst of all the adults. Even Harry, who couldn’t be all that much older than him, felt like he towered over Nico.

Karkaroff’s hand curled around Nico’s upper arm. “Nico here was blessed by Lady Magic herself.”

“Now is not the time to brag, Karkaroff.” Drawled one of the three adults Nico didn’t know. He had greasy black hair hanging down to the tips of his ears, and he wore all black. “As for the matter of Potter, don't go blaming Dumbledore for the boy’s determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here —”

“Thank you, Severus,” Dumbledore silenced him and turned his attention towards Harry.

“Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?” he asked calmly. Nico was impressed by Dumbledore’s composer. If someone from Durmstrang had humiliated Headmaster Karkaroff so badly they would have detention for the rest of the year, if they weren’t expelled outright.

“No,” the boy said. Nico raised an eyebrow. Was that seriously going to be it?

“Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?” asked the Headmaster.

 “No,” said Harry firmly.

“Ah, but of course ’e is lying!” cried Madame Maxime.

“He could not have crossed the Age Line,” said one of the adults Nico didn’t recognize. She looked stern and worried. “I am sure we are all agreed on that —”

“Dumbly-dorr must ’ave made a mistake wiz ze line,” said Madame Maxime, drawing herself up to her impressive full height. “As air are two underage champions!” a

“It is possible, of course,” said Dumbledore politely

 “Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!” the woman said angrily “Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I’m sure that should be good enough for everybody else!” Nico was sure that accent was Scottish. No one could do angry like a Scottish person.

 “Mr. Crouch . . . Mr. Bagman,” said Karkaroff, his voice unctuous once more, “you are our — er — objective judges. Surely you will agree that four champions are most irregular?” Bagman, sweating by now, looked towards the final judge, Mr. Crouch.

“We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament.”

 “Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front,” said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.

“Wait!” Everyone turned towards Nico and he felt his face flush. “But if he has to compete and he didn’t put his name in, what about me?”

“You are bound by the same rules that Mr. Potter is.” Mr. Crouch stated, sounding bored as stating the date and not the fate of Nico’s life,

“Are you saying you didn’t put your name in Mr. di Angelo?” The angry Scottish woman asked softly. Which geeze, Nico wasn’t ten he didn’t need to be talked to like a child.

He settled for nodding.

“Ez is probably lying just like the Potter boy!” Madame Maxine interjected.

“I’ve been hearing rumors about a boy running a business to get people’s name in the cup.” The final adult Nico didn’t know spoke up. Nico had almost forgotten about him, blended into the shadows as he was. He had a creepy prothetic eye that flicked all over the room. When it turned to face him, Nico felt as though it was peeling back layers of his skin, one by one.

“Well sure, I’ll admit that, but I didn’t put my name in.”

The room emerged into an uproar.

“So ze age line really is broken!” Madam Maxine cried.

“That’s not possible.” The Scottish woman stated. “Not for a student so young, no matter how powerful!”

“And how did you go about doing that?” The man Dumbledore called Severus asked icily.

Now it was Nico’s turn to be a fish. He had two choices, tell the truth, or pull a Percy. Neither option was particularly appealing.

“It does not matter how he did it. If he wrote the students' names down, they would contain his magical signature and not the other student. Therefore the contract applies.” Mr. Crouch stated.      

Nico…Nico did not know that.

Nico could feel what little color he had drain from his face. He locked his knees so they wouldn’t shake. “What are the consequences for not competing?” He asked quietly. He wasn’t ready to die. He just wanted a little more time.

His words put the room in a state of shock.

Madame Maxine and Fleur gasped dramatically, the Hufflepuff boy took a physical step back, Bagman put a hand to his chest and started hyperventilating, and Karkaroff’s hand squeezed so firmly Nico was worried it might bruise.

“Why would you ever ask that, dear boy?” His headmaster asked him.

“I want to make it to thirteen.” Nico deadpanned, forgetting that he probably shouldn’t talk that way to authority figures. He wasn’t Percy Jackson. Unfortunately. He would love the chance to scream to Zeus for everything he had done.

“The penalty for breaking a magical contract is the loss of one's magic.” Mr. Crouch sounded bor

“You cannot seriously be thinking about that, dear boy!” Bagman all but shouted.

“He will compete.” Karkaroff said firmly.

“Headmaster-” Nico started.

Karkaroff leaned down and spoke directly into Nico’s ear, his breath hot and harsh. “You have nowhere else to go and I am the only one charged with your wellbeing. I have authority to make any legal decisions for you and you will compete, do you understand me?” Karkaroff’s voice was dangerously cold.

Nico understood that if he didn’t have his magic he would be thrown out of Durmstrang and left to fend for himself. Nico couldn’t bum off his father in the Underworld, the man had made that clear and he didn’t particularly care to live on the streets again, especially without Minos. For all the ghost hated him, he also needed him alive.

Nico turned his head and made eye contact with Karkaroff. It wasn’t like he didn’t have experience looking monsters in the eye, or being civil with people who would be happy to kill him as soon as he outlived his usefulness.

He nodded.

“Now wait just a minute, if Mr. di Angelo doesn’t…if he doesn’t want to compete then-”

Karkaroff cut off the Scottish woman. Nico should really learn her name, especially if she stuck her neck out to defend him. “Good now Crouch if you wouldn’t mind.” He gestured for Mr. Crouch to speak.

Nico ignored a few stray shocked and pitying looks of everyone in the room as Crouch began to detail the rules of the tournament.

“The first task is designed to test your daring,” he said to all four champions, “so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard . . . very important. . . . The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.” Mr. Crouch dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief as he spoke.

“The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests.” The judge shifted on his feet as he listened off the rules.

At least he wouldn’t have to do exams. That actually might be worth the whole death tournament actually. Exams were downright awful.

Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. “I think that’s all, is it Albus?”

 “I think so,” said Dumbledore, who seemed to be looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?”

“No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry,” said Mr. Crouch. “It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment. . . . I’ve left young Weatherby in charge. . . . Very enthusiastic . . . a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told. . . .” Nico thought Mr. Crouch had to be sick. He had the impression the judge was supposed to be more put together.

 “You’ll come and have a drink before you go, at least?” said Dumbledore.

“Come on, Barty, I’m staying!” said Bagman brightly. “It’s all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office!”

“I think not, Ludo,” said Crouch sharply.  

“Professor Karkaroff — Madame Maxime — a nightcap?” said Dumbledore. But Madame Maxime was already herding Fleur out of the room.

Karkaroff gripped both of Nico’s shoulders and steered him out of the room. Nico didn’t look back, just took a deep breath and internalized the fact that he might very well die not as expected from his demigod heritage, but from some stupid idea of his fathers to keep him busy.

***** /p>

The three schools had conflicting reactions to Nico being the Durmstrang champion. Some, like Fleur, made fun of Durmstrang for the Goblet of Fire, apparently choosing him out of everyone, others looked at him with pity. Some like the people whose names he had put in the Goblet looked at him with envy and anger.

Though Nico thought he should feel grateful. He was much better off than any other champion, just like before no one talked to him, either too off put by his reputation of being blessed by Hecate or due to his own demeanor. Nico knew he looked scary despite being so young, but maybe that was just something that came with the territory, his father being who he was. Or really his stepmother being who she was. Nico never wanted to meet her again, he still wanted to vomit when he saw dandelions.

Nico walked past yet another Potter Stinks! Badge on his way to the second floor of the castle. Apparently there was going to be a wand weighing ceremony he had to attend, along with photographs for the daily prophet.

Why anyone would want to read about a group of teens fighting for their lives in a death tournament, Nico didn’t understand. It reminded him of a book that Bianca had read at the military academy, The Hunger Games. 

But then again, what did the gods watch on Hephaestus T.V.? And weren’t they supposed to be a reflection of humanity?

Nico was turning the corner after climbing the stairs (and seriously what was the purpose of making them move?), when he ran face first into Albus Dumbldore.

“Well hello to you too Mr. di Angelo,” the headmaster greeted, “having a good day?”

“Uh.” Nico said intelligently. He really was turning into Percy. But in his defense the headmaster came out of nowhere. “Sorry sir, I didn’t see you.”

“Oh it’s quite alright my boy. You looked rather engrossed in your mind, and I find that's never a bad thing.”

 Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye as he motioned for Nico to walk with him and he found himself wondering how the man  kept that up to the point that it was so intertwined with peoples images of him that even Nico himself had heard it as one of the main descriptors for the headmaster.

“Penny for your thoughts?” The headmaster asked, before putting a finger to his chin. “Although I find myself lacking a penny at the moment so I’ll have to hope a lemon drop will suffice.” He said as he held out a piece of candy. Numbly Nico took it and mumbled his thanks.

Was Dumbledore senile? Why would he ask after a rival champion? Better stay diplomatic.

“I don’t really remember. Just lost in thought, I guess.”

“Hmm, well if you ever remember my office is always open. Or if you just wanted a chat.” Dumbledore turned towards him and smiled. “It can get rather lonely up there.”

Now Nico wasn’t a naive kid anymore. He could recognize blatant manipulation tactics. Dumbeldore must want something from him and it would probably be best to ignore it. Still once he got past the initial annoyance that seemed to spring up whenever anyone spoke to him these days, the offer lit a warm echo in his chest. It faded fast, but it was nice while it lasted.

“Of course sir.” Nico nodded dutifully.

“Ah, well looks like we are here,” Dumbledore said, pushing open the door to the room Nico was probably supposed to be in several minutes ago. He muttered another quiet “Thank you” to Dumbledore for holding open the door. It was mostly out of the reflexes his mother and later Bianca had drilled into him. The thought of his late sister sent an old pang of grief and rage through his heart but he was nothing if not practiced at ignoring his emotions. He couldn’t very well get into a fight at Durmstrang every day.

Nico surveyed the classroom that had been repurposed for today. It was fairly small, desks cluttered in the corners, with the exception of three joined together and draped in velvet to make a fancy looking table. Five chairs sat behind them, four of them filled with the judges. Headmaster Karkaroff gave him a suspicious look which told Nico that he would be recounting every detail of his encounter with Dumbledore to the man later.

Fleur and the Hufflepuff champion Nico had discovered whose name Cedric Diggory were politely discussing something or other. He was debating whether to at least try to join them when a loud indigent voice sounded from the walls.

“I have NOT got tears in my eyes!” a voice called. Now that Nico was looking he could see a broom cupboard where the owner of the voice was presumably located. Why the fourth champion, and Nico was pretty sure that was Harry’s voice, was in a broom cupboard, Nico wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He stuck his nose in a lot of people’s business but he was sure he could muster up the strength to stay out of this one.

Dumbledore strode over to the cupboard and yanked the door open before staring down at its inhabitants. Nico leaned around him to take a peek and saw an adult woman squashed inside with Harry Potter before leaning against the wall to watch the show. Sue him, he was curious. Besides, the woman looked like the reporter Karkaroff warned him to stay away from at risk of bad press.

“Dumbledore!” cried the woman, “How are you?” she asked, standing up and almost hitting her head on the cupboards low ceiling before remembering to duck at the last minute.

“I hope you saw my piece over the summer about the International Confederation of Wizards’ Conference?” The woman blabbered on as if she hadn’t been caught shoving a child into a closet to satisfy her curiosity. Although, why was a broom closet even in a classroom in the first place?

 “Enchantingly nasty,” said Dumbledore, “I particularly enjoyed your description of me as an obsolete dingbat.” Nico held back a snort, almost too absorbed in the drama to notice Cedric reaching out to try and poke him in the shoulder.

His good mood evaporated and he caught the finger. “Do not touch me Diggory.” And Geez Louise Nico knew he was intimidating but Cedric looked like he was resisting the urge to jump. Nico let go of his finger with a final warning glare before turning back to the commotion on the other side of the room.

“Woah, kiddo. I was just going to ask why you came in with Professor Dumbledore.”

“Ran into him coming up the stairs.” Nico spoke out of the corner of his mouth, already fed up with the conversation.

“Oookay then.” Cedric said, stepping away and stage whispering to Fleur, “He’s almost as prickly as you are.”

Nico was about to glare at him again when he realized that Dumbledore had taken his seat at the table and was beginning to talk. “May I introduce Mr. Ollivander? He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament.”

A wrinkly old man previously shrouded in shadows emerged. He looked even older than Nico’s chronological age,  with his papery white skin and hair.

“Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please?” said Mr. Ollivander. Fleur handed over her hand with great care. “Hmmm . . .” the man said. He twirled the wand between his long fingers until it emitted a number of pretty pink and gold sparks. Then he held it close to his eyes and examined it carefully. Nico felt as though he was watching something sacred. Or maybe just something everyone else was creeped out by given the complete silence of everyone else. Nico wasn’t sure, he never was good at reading a room.

“Yes,” he said quietly, “nine and a half inches . . . inflexible . . . rosewood . . . and containing . . . dear me . . .”

“A hair from ze head of a veela,” said Fleur. “One of my grandmuzzer’s.”

“Yes,” said Mr. Ollivander, “yes, I’ve never used veela hair myself, of course. I find it makes for rather temperamental wands . . . however, to each his own, and if this suits you . . .” Mr. Ollivander ran his fingers along the wand, likely to check for scratches or bumps; before muttering, “Orchideous!”. A small bouquet of flowers emerged from the tip.

“Very well, very well, it’s in fine working order,” said Mr. Ollivander, scooping up the flowers and handing them to Fleur with her wand.

“Mr. Diggory, you next.” Diggory handed his wand over with just a touch less protectiveness as Fleur. “Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn’t it?” said Mr. Ollivander, with much more enthusiasm, as Cedric handed over his wand.

 “Yes, I remember it well. Containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn . . . must have been seventeen hands; nearly gored me with his horn after I plucked his tail. Twelve and a quarter inches . . . ash . . . pleasantly springy. It’s in fine condition. . . . You treat it regularly?”

 “Polished it last night,” said Cedric, grinning.

Wands were supposed to be polished? Why had no one ever told him? Oh right, he never talks to anyone. Yeah, that would do it. Where was he even supposed to get wand polish?

Mr. Ollivander sent a stream of silver smoke rings across the room from the tip of Cedric’s wand, pronounced himself satisfied, and then said, “Mr. di Angelo, if you please.”

Nico grabbed his wand out of his pocket and handed it over like he would a sword out of courtesy. The tip on either could kill someone, it was just polite.

“Hmm,” said Mr. Ollivander, “this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I’m mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I . . . however . . .” He lifted the wand closer to his eyes, similar to how he had examined Fleur’s. “Yes . . . cypress and dragon heartstring?” he asked Nico. He nodded.

 “Rather odd combination . . . springy . . . exactly eleven inches . . . Avis!” His wand let out a noise like a firecracker before songbirds burst from its tip.

“Good,” said Mr. Ollivander, handing Nico back his wand. “Which leaves . . . Mr. Potter.” Harry handed over his wand without ceremony.

 “Aaaah, yes,” said Mr. Ollivander, his pale eyes suddenly gleaming. “Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember.” The old wizard spent a surprisingly long amount of time looking at Harry’s wand, far longer than anyone else. Nico was getting antsy, shifting his weight between his feet and fiddling with his blood red robes just for something to do.

Finally, he made a fountain of wine shoot out of the wand and declared it in perfect condition.

“Thank you all,” said Dumbledore, standing up at the judges’ table. “You may go back to your lessons now — or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end —”

Nico couldn’t believe it, he was about to escape photos! Suck that demigod luck.

“Photos, Dumbledore, photos!” cried Bagman excitedly.

Applesauce he hated demigod luck. He was terribly unphotogenic and he did not want another talk from Karkaroff about representing his school.

“All the judges and champions, what do you think, Rita?”

 “Er — yes, let’s do those first,” said the reporter, whose eyes were upon Harry before flicking to Nico. She looked hungry in the same way those dracaenae looked in the Labyrinth.. “And then perhaps some individual shots.”

The photographs took a long time. Too long. Fleur’s headmistress was so tall that she cast everyone into shadow no matter where she stood and the classroom was rather small so it was hard to get all of her into the frame. Finally she ended up being ordered to sit while everyone else stood.

Nico’s own headmaster kept obsessing over his appearance, twirling his goatee around his finger to give it an extra curl, but when he wasn’t doing that he was fussing over Nico’s appearance and trying to force him into the front. Unfortunately he ended up in the front with Harry due to being almost a foot shorter than Cedric and Fleur, not to mention the judges.

Is it a wizarding thing for all of them to be tall or is Nico just unlucky?

Then, when Nico thought the torture was finally over, that vile woman insisted on individual portraits. Nico was too old by now to cry over stupid things, but a couple of years ago he definitely would've let a few crocodile tears go in exchange for escaping.

It was well into dinner by the time they were permitted to leave, but Nico wasn’t hungry. The quartet walked in silence, the other three presumably to the Great Hall, and Nico just past that on his way out the castle to the Forbidden Forest for some peace and quiet. Gods knew he wouldn’t be able to find that on the ship. Even though practically everyone was scared of him, or too worried of upsetting him and getting in trouble with their headmaster, a group of newly adult teens confined to a tight space made for a rowdy bunch.

However, his plans were dashed as Cedric spoke up. “So,” he said, “that took forever, huh?”

“How does one become blessed by Lady Magic herself?” Fleur looked at Nico, her gaze as piercing as always.

“I thought Cedric was the king of awkward conversations.” Nico deflected.

“Ouch but fair. Honestly I’m curious myself, how did you get blessed by Lady Magic?” He could feel their collective gazes burrowing into his skin like ticks. Harry might not have said anything but he looked at Nico just as keenly, like he was a specimen in a zoo they could interrogate and then drop when they were satisfied.

“I thought we were supposed to be competitors not pals.” Nico didn’t leave room in his tone for a question.

“Alright Mr. Pouty McGrumpface.”

“Don’t call me that!” Any attractiveness Cedric had was lost by his horrid personality. And where did that thought come from? Cedric isn’t attractive. That’s dumb. Although…Nico guesses he’s conventionally handsome but that doesn’t mean anything. 

Nico stormed ahead, but storming ahead on his short legs was like slightly lengthening the strides to Cedric’s lanky walk.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry.” Cedric caught up to him with an easy smile.

Nico craned his neck to look up at Cedric. The boy was smiling, completely unbothered like he always was. He looked the picture of innocence. Something was clearly wrong.

“What do you want?”

The question clearly put Cedric offput, unsure. “What do you mean?” His smile faltered.

“You’re talking to me. You want something but you don’t know how to bring it up. What is it?” Nico bit out. It had been a long day and if Cedric would just be blunt, Nico could avoid his questions and go take a walk, hopefully avoid Karkaroff, and sneak back into the school to spend the night in the library.

Cedric put his hands up in a universal show of surrender. “I don’t have to want something to talk to you short-stack.”

Nico ignored the nickname. “But you do.”

Cedric opened his mouth, then closed it. He pressed his lips together in obvious thought.

“Spit it out.”

Cedric raised an eyebrow. “What, you in a hurry?”

“I zertainly am. Dinner will not be open for much longer.” Fleur folded her arms across her chest.

Harry looked lost.

“Okay, well, uh-” Cedric started.

Fleur clicked her tongue. “You boys and your inability to get on with it. You are twelve, yes?”

Nico nodded, cautious.

“Zell, you will likely die. You are za youngest champion to ever compete. And you did so accidently.”

“I’m well aware of my poor chances. Did you want to remind me about my upcoming death or is there an actual purpose to this conversation.”

And speaking of his imminent death Nico had totally forgotten to see Hazel one last time and warn her. He didn’t want to worry her but it would definitely be worse if he just stopped showing up one day.

Cedric picked back up the conversation with a wince. “Look kiddo, I don’t want to see you die.”

Pansy-faced twat with a savior complex. Bestowing your gracious help on people because a bit of gore freaks you out.

“But if Durmstrang curriculum is anything like Hogwarts, you don’t know very many spells and, well-”

“You are going to need support more than anyone and you have no friends.”

Cedric winced. “Just I’ve seen you on campus a lot and you never talk to anyone. These tasks are going to be putting us through the wringer, even with the new safety regulations. You're going to need a support system.”

Nico had no interest in dealing with this right now. “What, are you stalking me now?”

“No!” Cedric held up his hands. “I’ve just seen you roaming around a lot these past few days and there is never anybody with you. And you're the only second year Drumstrang brought so there isn’t anyone your age. That’s not the point, just kid-”Cedric took a deep breath and his eyes were somehow both pleading and pitying. “The first task is in less than two weeks and I don’t want to see you get killed. You need a support system, even if you have this tough loner act going on that really makes you look like a wet cat sometimes.”

A ghost flew through the wall above them and promptly screamed, “It’s him! It’s the boy!” and fled, shrieking all the way.

“Huh.” Cedric said, turning around. “That was weird. Anyway the fact of the matter is that you might very well die if you don’t get comfortable asking for help.” Cedric got quiet. “That night, you seemed pretty against the whole thing. You said, well, that you just wanted to make it till thirteen.”

“And what, you think if I hang out with you, I’ll just magically live? How lonely are you? Or maybe just pathetic.”

“Okay look kid I’ve taken a lot of crap from you but-”

“I have a name, I suggest you use it.” Nico stepped into Cedric’s personal space and looked him in the eye. He could feel his mouth twisting into the scowl that made campers cower and run. Cedric flinched and Nico felt that sour sick feeling fester in his gut.

Cedric made a point of rolling his eyes but Nico saw through it. He took a step back and Nico could see nervousness dancing in his eyes.

“I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help. I want you to stop harassing me.” Nico was the one to take a step back this time. He turned away, and towards the path that would take him to the castle's front doors. “I just want to be left alone.” The words tasted bitter but Nico pushed it down. People were annoying. He didn’t want to be around them. That’s it. That’s safe.

He stormed away and no one followed him. Just like he wanted.

So why did he still feel so wrong?

Chapter Text

Nico is going to win the first task. If there was one thing he could do, it was be petty and annoying until he got what he wanted. He wasn’t just a wizard, he was a demigod from the House of Hades and he would be damned if he brought ridicule back to that name. w

He changed out of his robes so red they sometimes reminded him of blood dripping down kids’ bodies, pooling on paved roads so covered in shimmery golden glitter that it was hard to see the actual color beneath.

Nico blinked hard and pulled on his most comfortable pair of jeans and a soft tee shirt that had three funny looking dancing skeletons on it.

He shook his head harshly to dispel the last of the memories and grabbed his sword, the worn hilt fitting perfectly into his palm. It felt like a breath of fresh air. Nico began his trek towards the Forbidden Forest. He desperately needed the chance to think, and a workout would do just that.

He stalked through the forest, leaves crunching underneath his feet as evening turned to dusk overhead. The last few dregs of light filtered through the trees as he headed deeper in. It was blessedly free of people.

Nico walked until he found a small clearing and kicked the falling leaves into a barrier that would tell him if someone was coming. He could not get caught with his sword on him. It would be a pain to explain without seeming insanely paranoid.

He took a deep breath of the cold crisp air and began to settle into a rhythm. Nico went through a few of the forms so many ghosts had painstakingly tried to teach him, letting the muscle memory wash over him as his sword whistled through the air. His mind, which never seemed to quiet, different things always warring for his attention, calmed and his thoughts sharpened. His brain took an assessment of his energy, which forms he slipped on, and a worry floated in the back of his mind about whether the dampness from the grass would seep into his shoes or not. Everything always seemed easier when he was moving.

“Excuse me?” A soft, worryingly ethereal sounding voice called out.

Nico startled. Please don’t be a nymph I accidently woke up. He crossed his fingers and resisted the urge to pray. Angry nymphs were terrifying and Nico couldn’t fathom why so many immortals were stupid enough to make them mad.

A girl with lightly colored long wavy blonde hair, maybe a bit taller than Nico walked into the clearing with a small wave. Nico panicked and hid his sword behind his leg.

“I can still see that you know.” The girl tapped her glasses. “The sword I mean.”

Nico bit his lip and searched his brain for even a semi-believable excuse.

The girl turned away from him, looking about the clearing. “There’s an awful lot of Wrackspurts here,” the girl glanced back at him, “your head is full of them.”

“What are Wrackspurts?” Nico asked, bewildered.

“Little creatures that float in your ears and make your brain go fuzzy. They’re invisible.”

Nico frowned. He hadn’t heard of Wrackspurts before but he knew little about magical creatures. “How do you make them go away?”

“You can try thinking positive thoughts.” Nico guessed he was stuck with them then.

“Do you want to help me feed the Thestrals?”

The question was so out of the blue that Nico blinked a few times. “Uh, what are Thestrals?” He asked, feeling dumb.

“They are like skeleton horses.” She frowned. “Very misunderstood.”

“Oh.” Nico could understand that. “Sure I’ll come with you.” It's not like he had anything better to do.

The girl brightened and gave him an excited smile. “The herd is normally this way.” She rocked up onto her heels and pointed deeper into the forest before skipping off.

“Umm, what’s your name?” Nico felt unbelievably awkward as he half-ran after her.

“I’m Luna Lovegood.”

At least he had a name now. “Nico di Angelo.”

“I know.” And if that wasn’t a creepy response. He had heard it enough times, but that had been from immortals who had seen the scandal break on Hephaestus T.V.

She turned back towards him, as if sensing his unease. “You’re the Durmstrang champion.”

Right. People would start recognizing him for that. He was going to need to get used to that.

Luna stopped skipping abruptly. They had reached another clearing, albeit this one fairly larger than the one Nico had been in.

“That makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it? People knowing who you are?” Luna looked at him, tilting her head. “Or rather making assumptions on you before they know you?”

“What?!”

But Luna had already turned her attention away from him. She opened the satchel bag on her shoulder and threw a piece of raw, bloody meat a few meters away.

Nico stared at her, but she kept her gaze on the trees. Nico could do nothing but blink and blubber about how that wasn’t true until she shushed him and pointed. A small black nose was poking through the trees.

A foal emerged, sniffing the ground until it reached the meat. The pegasus, because Luna had said skeleton horse but it was really a skeleton pegasus and how did he not know these existed they were so cool looking, threw the chunk of meat up in the air with its teeth and caught it, bobbing its head as it chewed.

“Woah.” Nico stared. “She’s beautiful.”

“He.” Luna corrected absentmindedly. Then she whipped her head around to face him. “You see them too?”

He nodded, confused.

“Only people who have seen death can see them.” Luna frowned. “They have a rather bad reputation because of it.”

“That's not their fault.” Nico blurted.

Luna smiled so bright Nico thought he was a vampire with a migraine faced with the rising sun. “It’s not!” Her smile dropped. “It really isn’t.”

She threw another piece of meat as another thestral, trodded into the clearing.

“People think they look scary, and their reputation doesn’t help. But I think they’re quite sweet.” She held her hand out and the foal came over for pets. Luna giggled before giving Nico a scrutinizing look. Whatever she found, she didn’t share.

“Do you want to try?” Luna held out a small chunk. It felt cold and slimy. Nico grimaced but threw it in the general direction of an older thestral who was entering the clearing.

“People do that a lot, don’t they? Stereotype something they have never met.” Nico had no idea why he spoke up but something about Luna’s presence felt calming rather than the usual annoyance.

Luna plopped down on the wet grass as she spoke, “They do tend to assume.” She paused as the foal nosed her bag. She fed it one more chunk before silently handing the bag to Nico. “My mother loved to experiment with odd spells and potions. She gained an awfully eccentric reputation.” The foal, as if noticing her discomfort, shoved its nose into her hand. “It’s what killed her in the end. An experiment. I was there. People liked to call her loony. They call me loony too.”

Nico wasn’t sure what to say. ‘My condolences’ never seemed to do anything, neither did ‘I’m sorry for your loss’. Luna seemed to understand his silence though.

Nico turned back to the thestrals. “A lot of people expected certain things of me because of the reputation my father had.” He started, being vague enough that he wouldn’t give anything away, while still responding in kind. “My mother was murdered because of who he was. My sister and I were there. I don’t really remember it-” Nico was surprised to find himself sniffling a little, “or her.” Not for long though, Hades might not have wanted to help him, but Nico always did better on his own. He would find a way to restore his memories. Somehow.

The foal Luna had been petting barreled into his legs, headbutting him like a goat. Nico fell and the foal bulldozed its way into his lap before licking his face and shoving its cold bony nose in Nico’s hands.

“I wasn’t right before, was I? You might not like people making assumptions about you, but you're more afraid of them knowing you.” Luna’s voice brokered no argument. She turned towards him. “I think you’re rather nice. I’m glad we met.”

Nico’s face warmed. He looked down at the foal and mumbled, “me too.”

“You should name him.” Luna said, gesturing towards the foal. “He really likes you.” Luna reached back in her bag and threw another couple chunks of meat at the now sizable herd of thestrals.

“Ciro.” Nico said. “It means ‘of the sun’. How’s that for defying expectations?”

Luna hummed and smiled. Nico couldn’t help but grin back.

They sat there for a while, enjoying each other’s, and the thestrals, company. Eventually the meat was gone, the temperature cold, and their clothes soaked from the wet grass.

Luna stood from her criss-cross applesauce position on the ground in one smooth motion. “It's getting rather late.”

Nico nodded and was about to get up himself when he noticed something. “Luna? Where are your shoes?”

“The nargles stole them.” She looked dejected and Nico’s heart dropped. “They steal a lot of my things.”

“Is there nargle repellent? Like bug spray?” Nico asked.

“No. Most people don’t believe they exist.” Luna gazed up at the bright moon. “I’m going to prove it someday.”

“You will.” Nico was surprised to find that he really meant the words. He had only known Luna for a few hours but he was already certain of her ability. “Still it’s a long walk back to the castle even without cold wet feet.”

Luna hummed. “I suppose you’re right. We can stop by Hagrid’s.”

“Whose Hagrid?” Nico asked.

“He’s the gameskeeper.”

“Okay,” Nico wasn’t totally sure what that meant. “Will he have spare shoes he won’t mind you borrowing? Or some kind of thick cloth to wrap around your feet so you don’t get frostbite?” It was pretty cold by this point and a long walk back to the castle. Nico wasn’t sure at what point a person could get frostbite but Luna’s feet were not going to fall off on his watch.

“He makes good tea.”

“That’s not exactly what I asked.”

Luna shrugged and began walking, presumably towards the gamekeeper's house. Nico followed her dumbly, waving goodbye to Ciro. The pair forwent conversation, both tired and somehow comfortable enough in each other’s presence despite not knowing each other long. Nico was going to call it demigod intuition.

Nico didn’t know what he was expecting when he met Hagrid but it didn’t hold a candle to the man. Although maybe it should have been a given considering that he was apparently close with Luna. The man towered over the pair of them, Nico could admit to being a bit jealous. It felt like the man had taken all the height in the world for himself.

“Luna! What ‘re ya doing here at this time of night?” Hagrid smiled and somehow his intimidating demeanor vanished. Nico couldn’t fathom how he did that, he could feel his own muscles untensing against his will as the apparently gentle giant moved to let them inside his home. It was almost unnerving.

Luna waltzed confidently inside before ignoring several large comfy looking armchairs in favor of plopping onto the cold wooden floors next to a giant dog. If Nico hadn’t met Mrs. O’Leary before, he might’ve been wary. But he had met Mrs. O’Leary before, and Cerberus too. If he has learned anything it was to not judge a dog by how large they were. The only thing it would tell you is how much it would hurt when the dog inevitably forgot how big they were and tried to stand on your pinkie toe.

…Nico had needed ambrosia after Cerberus had broken his foot by accidentally smashing it into the ground in his excitement over someone to play with. It had not been a pleasant experience.

Nevertheless this dog didn’t look like he was big enough to break any bones, just crush Nico to the ground with his body weight. So, not wanting Luna to be alone, and only a little bit wanting to see if the dog was as fluffy and friendly as he looked, he crouched on the dog's other side and held his hand out for the floofy goober to sniff.

Vaguely he heard Hagrid welcome them in, ask who he was, and start making tea as Luna made small talk. Nico was much more concerned with the dog, whose name he learned was Fang, and how much he could pet Fang while getting the least amount of slobber on him. Nico wasn’t very successful, his thigh had a large damp spot where the dog had taken to resting his head. Still, Nico had a feeling he wasn’t going to have the heart to move unless he was forcefully evicted from Hagrid’s house. It would be rude to Fang to move when he was providing the service of pillow and pets.

He only realized the pair had fallen silent when Hagrid cleared his throat loudly.

Nico felt his eyes go wide and scrambled to apologize. “Sorry, sir, I just-” He averted his eyes and felt blood rush to his cheeks. “Your dog is very nice.”

A great booming laugh came from the giant man. Nico felt himself turn scarlet, his pale skin not doing anything to disguise his embarrassment. Despite that, and the laughter's overly loud volume, it made Nico feel something. The laugh was warm, and comforting, it filled the space in a way that Nico hadn’t realized it was empty. Nico found he wanted to make Hazel laugh like that, even if it meant embarrassing himself like he was now.

“That he is, even if Fang is a right coward.” Hagrid gave Fang a playful look and the dog let out a happy bark. “Tea?” Hagrid offered, holding out a cup that was closer to the size of a mug.

Nico nodded and Hagrid poured him a cup.

“Now, not that I mind your late night visit, but what ‘re ya doing out this late at night? I might not know old Kardaoff’s rules on curfew but I know ‘nough about Hogwarts to know you oughta be in a good bit of trouble Luna.”

“I was going to feed the thestrals out in the forest. Nico accompanied me.” Luna said serenely, sticking out her pinky as she took a sip of her tea.

Nico thought it was comical considering the teacup was a very large mug, and he was getting the sense that Luna, despite all appearances, was anything but serene. Nico was also slightly disappointed in Luna’s immediate admittance of their trespassing. It was likely pretty obvious given the mud on her bare feet but the ability to try and come up with an excuse just in case he ran into Karadoff in one of his moods would have been nice.

Hagrid though just smiled and said, “They musta appreciated the visit, they love you. It's not often someone can tell their head from their hindquarters.” He turned to Nico. “I remember getting a right scare the first time I encountered one. I had no idea they existed, you see. Meat for Professor Kettleburn’s class kept disappearing, I had started to think that an animal had somehow managed to become a ghost! So, Luna warned you then?”

Right, you could only see thestrals if you had witnessed death and Nico had practically grown up around that. Memories flashed through his mind unbidden. Faint recollections of gunshots on the streets, then running towards someones warm embrace.Thunder rumbling, a bright light, the scent of fire and burnt flesh, a woman's burning body. Swords flashing in every direction, monsters and children screaming, a gaping hole in the rock and a bone deep exhaustion as he released an old man’s spirit. Tall buildings reflecting the bright sun, sweat beading his skin beneath his heavy armor, the noise of a slaughter so loud it pierced his ears until they rung, the horror that came when his sword ran into another body and he felt a mortal soul join the others in his blade, death that felt like sharp glass closing in on him from all directions.

“Oh, I-” Nico started.

“He could see them.” Luna interrupted.

“Ah.” Said Hagrid, looking sad. “Beautiful creatures, thestrals are. Terribly misunderstood.” He shook his head sadly. “But ‘nough of that,” he said, thankfully changing the subject. Nico forced the remnants of the deaths he had witnessed, and even caused, out of his head.

“You two oughta be in bed.” Hagrid looked like he was trying to be stern but he wasn’t doing a very good job of it.

“Well uh, Nargles stole Luna’s shoes and we didn’t want her getting frostbite or anything on the way up to the castle.” Looking at Hagrid now, Nico sincerely doubted he could lend Luna an old pair of shoes but maybe the castle was close enough now that it wouldn’t be a problem. Worst case scenario he could always give Luna a piggy back ride.

Hagrid frowned and looked down. Scratching the thick beard that took up most of his face, he said, “Well suppose I gotta make some more tea to warm yer up then?”

Luna smiled, “That would be appreciated. Your tea is quite nice.” She tilted her head. “But I feel we should be going now. Too much longer and…” She trailed off, eyes far away.

“Oh alrighty then. You’ll come and visit at a more appropriate time next, I expect?” Hagrid asked, bushy eyebrows raised.

“Yes, sorry for bothering you sir. Thank you for the tea.” Nico said politely, trying to convince himself to move out from under Fang.

Hagrid laughed again. “Sir? I dunno where you found ‘im Luna, ‘es not from Hogwarts to be sure!”

Fang lifted his head at Hagrid’s laugh, compelling Nico to move while he still had the discipline to do so, sending one last longing look at Fang before standing up and brushing some fur off his pants.

They bid their goodbyes, which took almost absurdly long, and set off towards the castle. Nico told Luna that he would walk her up to the side door she had snuck out from and then he would trudge down to the Black Lake and see if the gods decided he could sleep for a few hours.

They had been right about to say their goodbyes when a voice came out of the shadows, startling the both of them despite Nico’s abilities. “Out for a late night rendezvous in the Forbidden Forest?” The same man with a magical eye and a prosthetic leg that was there the night Nico’s name came out of the Goblet of Fire, stepped out of the inky shadows. “Did you use protection?”

Nico almost furrowed his eyebrows before he realized that sounded awfully like a comment Minos had made forever ago about a couple they walked past. Nico had made him explain it and just like before, he went beet red. Nico panicked, glanced at Luna, then at the half prosthetic man and began to stammer. “We aren’t-we didn’t-I would never-eww.”

The man waited, almost as if he expected a comment before he said, “I should hope not. Reporters will have a field day with that one, bloody cockroaches they are.” He paused. “Well come on then girl, into the castle.” He said gruffly.

“You’re not going to take points away?” Luna tilted her head like she was trying to figure the man out and Nico had the urge to blink at her stupidly. That's the number one thing you don’t do when you get in trouble and they are about to let you go lightly!

“Never thought the point system was good enough for punishment. Now off to bed, and be glad I don’t turn you into a lizard!” He motioned inside the castle with his staff and Luna moved towards the door.

She turned back around just before entering. “It was nice to meet you, Nico di Angelo. I hope the Wrackspurts clear up. And goodnight Professor Moody.”

Well at least he had a name now. Nico looked back at the professor/ “You too, off to your ship before I decide something more drastic.”

“Of course sir.” Nico agreed and turned towards his bed.

“Oh and di Angelo?” Professor Moody grinned, “Do tell your headmaster I’m looking forward to a little chat.”

Nico was not going to tell his headmaster anything. In fact he wasn’t going to talk to him if he didn’t absolutely have-Nico was going to have to talk to him wasn’t he? He had almost forgotten about the chance meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore that Karadoff will surely want to interrogate him for. He still wouldn’t talk to him about Moody, but now he had something more than nightmares to dread as he nodded to the professor and headed back to the ship.

Sure enough, when he boarded the ship, a boy was sitting on the deck, shivering, and waiting for him. The guy glared at him, mumbled about how he sure got back late and the headmaster wanted him, before scurrying off, presumably to bed.

Nico sighed and went to Karadoff’s office. Hopefully this wouldn’t take all night. Oh who was he kidding, Nico wasn’t going to sleep tonight, even if he made it out of the office before day broke.

Karadoff’s office was decorated in the school's colors of blood-red with jet black accents. The man himself sat behind a heavy, imposing, vintage wooden desk that he always claimed was gifted to him by some old rich alumni who had had it in their family for generations. It wasn’t true, Nico had seen old photos of the previous headmaster who had the same desk.

“Sit, sit.” Karadoff ushered him towards the desk.

Karadoff used a lot of methods to keep his students in line and convey his favor. He ruled the school with an iron fist, having no interest in many of the traditional responsibilities that came with being headmaster, but wanting all of the benefits. He set his students to compete against each other for the opportunity to be one of his favorites and get ‘special responsibilities’ with certain privileges that came with them. These responsibilities were essentially just doing his job for him, and the privileges were always a double edged sword.

They got the majority of the student body to hate you, and you might be close with Karadoff but he reminded you at every turn how someone else would love the chance to replace you and if you didn’t perform exactly to standards you would be thrown out without mercy, forced to suffer as an outcast from the student body for the rest of your schooling years. There were even stories of Karadoff using his power as headmaster to make it harder for you to find a job after school.

The point being, it was very important that Nico keep his headmaster happy. Nico was one of his most coveted students, right alongside Victor Krum, an international Quidditch player and one of the best seekers in the world. This meant that Nico had a bit more leeway than any other ‘honor student’ but he was also in a position to lose much more.

While Nico wouldn’t typically care too much about a headmaster’s opinions, Karadoff functioned as his legal magical guardian, the only legal authority any wizarding government would recognize. He couldn’t afford to piss him off, no matter how much he knew Karadoff was manipulating him.

It wasn’t like with Minos where Nico had all the power, he was just too naive to realize it. Karadoff could and would make him homeless again, and Hades’ had already proven he wasn’t likely to take Nico back. And if Nico didn’t want to go crawling back to camp then he was out of options. It’s why he was going forward with the Tournament.

Besides, he liked being a wizard. Sure he didn’t have any friends and the only person he really talked to was his headmaster which was a constant game of chess but something about going to school and having some kind of structure again was comforting.

This was all to say that when Nico came forward into the room and looked at the two chairs Karadoff always had set up he knew he was in trouble when his headmaster gestured to the one that was designed to be uncomfortable.

The chair had no cushion and was made of hardwood. It had an awkward halfback and a weird slant to the seat itself so that for Nico to sit properly in it, his feet wouldn’t be able to touch the ground. The other chair had red comfortable cushions, armrests, and was well built. This was just one of the ways that Karadoff kept his students in line and Nico knew it. Still though, his face burned with embarrassment as he took his seat.

His headmaster’s chair was considerably taller and Nico had to angle his head upward to look him in the eye. Another intimidation tactic, and Nico was ashamed to admit that despite everything he had gone through and survived, it still worked. He felt small, in the shadow of Karadoff’s imposing figure.

“Nico my dear boy,” His headmaster began, “You’re back awfully late.” He paused, waiting for Nico to say something.

Nico opted to nod instead, he wasn’t sure how well his voice would work.

“I know I bend a few rules for you, let you stay out later but this is frankly ridiculous, I’m sure you can agree. After all, it’s two in the morning and you need sleep for your studying. You're a champion now, you can’t afford to slack off.”

“I’ll watch the time more carefully next time sir.” Nico wouldn’t, but that wasn’t what Karadoff really cared about so he doubted it mattered.

Karadoff nodded slowly. “And speaking of you being the champion, I couldn’t help but notice your conversation with Dumbledore earlier today.” He trailed off, giving Nico a pointed look.

“Yes sir, I encountered him on my way to the wand weighing ceremony and he struck up a conversation. It was a coincidence, headmaster.”

“Ahh I see,” he said, stroking his goatee, “And what exactly did Dumbledore have to say to you of all people?”

“It wasn’t really much of a conversation. He just asked me how I was doing.” Karadoff frowned, and Nico scrambled to give him something of more substance. “Although he did invite me to his office whenever I wanted to chat.”

“Oh?” Karadoff hummed. “I’m not sure what that old coot could offer you that you don’t already have.” He chuckled sharply.

“I didn’t have any plans on going sir.” Nico said, following the script of things Karadoff wanted him to say. It had taken a while to learn but after a year of constantly being called in his office for a friendly chat Nico felt like he had a fairly good handle on his headmaster’s expectations.

Karadoff smiled thinly. “I suppose he just developed a special interest in you after your little debacle on Halloween. It made several members quite concerned.”

Translation-Karadoff still had not gotten over the embarrassment of Nico’s unwillingness to participate and he wanted Nico to soothe the rest of the judges. Nico could do that, it would be annoying, but he could do that.

“Would you like me to reassure him?” Nico asked.

Karadoff smiled fondly at him. “I think that would be a good idea, boy. Of course he may just be curious about how you breached his age line.”

Nico nodded, and waited for dismissal.

Karadoff stroked his greasy beard. “Although, I admit, I am curious myself as to how you did so. The blessing of Lady Magic must only get you so far, to break Dumbledore’s age line must have required a certain level of ingenuity.”

Uh oh. How was Nico going to explain this without saying that the age line technically never applied to him in the first place?

“Oh, uh, I think the line must’ve been a bit faulty. After all, Harry got past too. Between that and the fact that my magic is a bit different because it isn’t hereditary, probably is what got me past.” Nico itched the back of his neck and threw Karadoff a sheepish smile. “I didn’t really think about it.

“I see, yes even great wizards must make mistakes. Your right, how else would the Potter boy have entered.” Karadoff muttered before snapping back to himself. “I can’t help but notice the way you address him. You must know that its not too smart to get close to your fellow champions. They will all be fighting as hard to win as I presume you will be?”

“Of course, I’ll do my best.” Nico parroted like the obedient student he knew he had to be.

Karadoff raised an eyebrow. “You will do better than your best, you will win. I know you must be capable of it, boy, why would Lady Magic herself waste a blessing on someone useless? I merely mean to advise you to be careful. Those children would sooner stab you in your back then be your friend.”

Karadoff gave him a slimy sympathetic smile. “I do know how much you struggle with making friends but you need to find people who will really support you. I know I’m not much of a replacement for someone you age, but I hope you know how much I care. I just want you to be happy, and happiness comes with success, as I always say.”

“I know, headmaster. Diggory pitied me due to my age.” Nico could feel the anger that had cooled since he met Luna rise up in his chest. “I have no interest in associating myself with him, only proving him wrong.”

“That’s my boy,” Karadoff praised. “You’ll show them all.” He glanced at his wrist. “Although, now I think it's time for bed. Tomorrow you should focus on practicing for the first task. I’ll make sure the teachers look past any late work throughout the year, you just focus on proving Mr. Diggory wrong.”

Nico nodded and stood up to leave. When he was at the door, however, Karadoff stopped him.

“Oh and Nico? I do hope you know how proud of you I am.”

His words rooted Nico to the floor. “I-thank you headmaster.” He choked out. He knew it was manipulation, but by the gods above it worked for a reason. He felt warm, comforted in the same way he had when his father praised his efforts in the war and for restoring glory and honor to the house of Hades. It shouldn’t be so easy to manipulate him, not after Minos and his father both succeeded in doing so. He should know better. So why was it still so easy to play with his emotions?

Nico frowned as he made his way down the hall, turning right as he headed towards his room. As one of his privileges, he got his own room instead of having to share with boys at least five years his senior. It was one of the few perks Nico was not ashamed of taking advantage of. No awkward interactions, especially concerning his frequent nightmares was something Nico could get used to.

Nico laid down on his bed, and as he waited for Hypnos to take him, he had one final thought.

Nico was going to win the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. He didn’t have any other option.

Chapter Text

“Hey! Wait.” Someone ran up to him, panting. Nico turned around. It was Harry Potter. What could he possibly want?

“di Angelo,” he greeted as he finally caught up. “You’re pretty fast, I’ve been trying to catch up to you for a while.”

Nico waited for Harry to get to the point.

“Right well, er…I wanted to ask you a question.” Harry started.

Nico motioned impatiently for him to continue.

Harry took in a short, sharp breath and began to speak. “Well that night you said you could get past Dumbledore’s age line-“ Nico had not been looking forward to creating a lie for this situation and might have done a bit too much procrastination. As evidenced by his current state of panic over this particular topic of conversation.

“I said nothing of the sort.”

“So then you can’t? Because I thought-“

Now Nico just felt bad. People who had been through so much should not be this easy to gaslight. “It’s called plausible deniability Potter. I never exactly said that I could pass the age line, just that I sold people the opportunity to get their name in the cup.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed. “But you did put their names in because you accidently entered yourself. So you would have had to get past the age line. How?”

Nico definitely could not have told Harry that he made it past the age line because he was secretly a very, very old man.

Harry, as if sensing his reluctance to speak, pleaded with Nico. “Professor Moody says that it's likely someone put a Confundus charm on the Goblet of Fire.”

Could that be why he was chosen? It would make more sense. It’s a wizarding competition and Nico is barely a wizard. And certainly not the worthiest person in his school. Durmstrang had the youngest professional Quidditch player in the last 200 years by Zeus’ hairy chin!

“He says that someone probably crossed the age line, got my signature from some old class assignment, put my name under a fourth school, and bewitched the cup into thinking there were four schools and I was the only candidate from the forth.”

"So, what does this have to do with me?” If Harry was accusing him of something he swore to the gods-

“Well obviously if you got past the age line others could too which means that I can’t even guarantee the person who put my name in is an adult.” Harry seethed.

Nico could sympathize with wanting to know who exactly wanted to murder you. “I won’t tell you how I did it,” Harry opened his mouth, looking positively exasperated and maybe even  ready to yell so Nico held up a hand, “but I will tell you that no one else can use the way I used. Besides, to produce a Confundus charm that strong they would definitely have to be an adult. Few teens’ magic is that steady or developed.”

Harry chewed on this for a few moments before speaking. “Why can’t you just tell me how you did it?”

“Uh” Nico wracked his brain for a reasonable excuse. His mouth opened without permission… “It’s a religious thing.” Nico’s brain short-circuited. No one was dumb enough to just accept that as an answer!

“Er, how exactly is making it past the age line something to do with religion?”

Yeah, might as well dig his hole deeper. “It’s just the method I used was a…very religious method. Nobody here would know it, it’s a very obscure religion in America.” Nico wanted to slap himself. “You said Moody thinks someone put your name in the goblet? You never get a break, do you? I keep hearing about how something weird happens at this school every year with you at the center.” Sure good enough subject change, blatantly obvious but Nico was panicking too much to really be clever about this.

Harry likely would have been off put by the abrupt deflection but it seems Nico struck a nerve.

“I know! I just wanted a normal school year, I was looking forward to watching someone else in life threatening situations for once! And now everyone is right pissed at me for what's probably another murder attempt! And I don’t even know who's behind it this time!” Harry folded his arms across his chest and scowled. Nico had to hand it to the guy, he was almost intimidated. Unfortunately for Harry, his long messy hair flopped pathetically into his face during the tirade, covering the most unnerving part of his face, his piercing green eyes.

Nico felt bad for Harry, and had the inexplicable urge to comfort him. “Well, look at it this way, you survived everything else. And even if you do hit the big sleep this year, you're alive right now. So why waste that time worrying? Enjoy your life, you don’t even have to worry about exams at the end of the year.”

Nico wondered how it felt for Harry, someone who by all means shouldn’t have to worry about death constantly, who was forced to deal with murder attempts every year. Demigods were made for that stress, or at least they were supposed to be. Nico supposed it could very well just be another lie from the gods. Most didn’t live long enough for the stress and chronic pain to get too bad anyway so Nico really wouldn’t know.

Harry laughed bitterly. “How do you just stop worrying?”

Nico shrugged. “I have no idea. If I did, don’t you think I would have started to sell the idea?”

Harry snorted. “Well thanks anyway.”

Nico nodded, and brushed him off. “It's nothing.”

“No, really. Thank you. I probably shouldn’t have put that on you at all, but you have a point. I’m alive now and I should at least try to enjoy that.” Harry smiled at Nico. He opened his mouth to say something else but a girl with thick bushy hair called his name and Harry whipped around. “Sorry, I got to go, ‘Mione looks like she's in a mood. See you later though.” He threw over his shoulder as he half-walked, half-ran to the girl.

Nico didn’t know when Harry planned on ‘seeing him later’ but he shrugged and began making his way to his original destination of the library. He wasn’t sure exactly how to start, especially since some of the big tomes looked like they would crack his skull open and stomp on the remains, but he might as well get started on why he had been excited to come to Hogwarts in the first place.

Sighing, he trudged inside the library and flagged down the librarian. Being as polite as he possible could under her deep scowl, he inquired how the library was organized to which the answer was that while it did have a system, only she knew it and it was not only so complicated that there was no point in trying to memorize it but books apparently didn’t like to stay in their sections. Whether students would move them, or the books themselves would fly off themselves, nothing was organized in any sensible manner.

Nico didn’t know whether he wanted to faceplant on the floor and stay still until the earth consumed him and he met his dad, or grab one of said heavy books and throw it at the librarian, Madame Prince.

“I don’t know what kind of Madame she is-” Nico grumbled as he stalked off to the vague area he had been pointed in. Tilting his head and walking slowly to be able to read the faded titles off the spines, he stomped deeper and deeper into the library. When he had finally caught sight of a book that looked like a good starting place, Memory Charms: Application, Effects, and History, he was in a quiet secluded area.

Good enough place as any to read.

He pulled the heavy tomb off of the shelf, sneezing as the thick coat of dust over the book was disturbed. Nico sank into one of the surprisingly comfortable chairs nearby, bringing his knees up to his chest and balancing the book on them as he began to flip through.

Eventually he found a chapter that seemed to hold the most promise and he settled in to read. Just like always letters seemed to shift and Nico narrowed his eyes and poured every inch of focus he could on it. Unfortunately he could hear Madame Prince shushing other kids in the distance and his mind danced over to join them, tossing a two fingered salute and a smirk as he reached to yank it back.

He spent awhile like that, getting distracted by something stupid and having to wrangle his focus back to the text only to realize that everything was mixed up again and he had forgotten what he had read. Staring at the page, but not really digesting anything wasn’t going to help him get his memories back. So, Nico did what he had seen his sister do several times when she couldn’t focus and stood up. Unfortunately walking only made it harder to digest the words on the page, and he doubted he could do the splits like his sister used to do. At least, not without any practice.

Nico eyed the sidetable a few meters away from his chosen chair. He had an idea that might get him thrown out of the library and would definitely annoy Madame Prince but it's not like she was here, was she? The section of the library was empty and if no one was there to see or stop him…

He dragged the table up to his chair, the edges lined up with only a small gap, and clambered into the chair so that he was sitting upside down with his head resting on the edge of the sidetable and his legs propped up by the high back of the chair. He held the book on his chest, tucked his chin in, and finally began to make more than a few pages of progress.

It was slow going and the material was dry but at least Nico felt productive. He had been there for a while, about forty pages in, when a shimmery mist manifested above his head.

“Annabeth Chase from Camp Half-Blood Long Island, New York is calling. To accept, toss one golden drachma into the message.” The cool clear voice of Iris, goddess of rainbows rang through the library.

At first, Nico was annoyed. He furiously glanced around, making sure no one came running. Then a realization hit him. He never talked with Annabeth, not even with other people around. By Zeus above, he had managed to avoid talking to her even in the labyrinth.

Nico kept the reason why he hadn’t wanted to talk to Annabeth far out of his mind. If anyone from camp was calling him, something was horribly wrong. If Annabeth Chase was calling him, the world was probably ending…again.

Quickly he scrambled for a drachma before the message closed. Frantically, he searched his pockets and found one, covered in hair and old slobber from Cerberus. The dog had bowled him over and a coin had fallen out of his jacket pocket. The moron then tried to eat it, Nico had had to practically climb in his mouth to get it back. He hadn’t gotten all the slobber out of his hair for at least a week.

Looking at it, he winced but threw it in anyway. Unfortunately he misjudged his movement and fell out of his chair just as Annabeth’s face materialized.

“di Angelo,” Annabeth started. “Uh, what are you doing on the floor?”

Nico’s face burned. “Uh, nothing.” He stammered as he rightened himself.

Annabeth looked like she wanted to comment but she shook her head lightly and opened her mouth. “Right well…I IM’ed you for a reason.” She took a deep breath. “Percy is missing.”

Whatever Nico expected to come out of Annabeth’s mouth, it wasn't that. Percy couldn't be missing…it just seemed impossible. He was Percy Jackson, Savior of Olympus, alive and thriving without fear despite being a forbidden kid.

“But Percy has the curse of Achilles. He’s invincible, what monster could get the drop on him?” Nico had made sure Percy was protected, that he was able to fight in the war without worry. He had done hours of research and interrogating various ghosts to help protect Percy from the prophecy his father had told him of.

Annabeth’s face tightened. “I know, believe me I know.” She scrubbed her face. “I’ve seen him eat enough dirt on his skateboard without a scratch. But–we got to camp and he went to his cabin, only he never came back out. And-” She drew in a shuddering breath. “And I don’t want to be that overbearing girlfriend but-”

“What's all that racket!” A yell sounded from the more populated section of the library. Loud footsteps grew closer.

Annabeth’s face twisted in confusion. “Where are-” She started to ask.

“Drat!” Nico slashed his hand through the rainbow just as Madame Prince emerged from behind a nearby bookcase, looking around.

“What are you doing boy?” She demanded. “I heard another voice, you better not be up to anything.” She poked her bony old finger into Nico’s chest before sniffing, surveying the area one more time, and stomping away with a glare.

Nico let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He didn’t have any other drachmas on him and if Annabeth was right…if she was right then he didn’t have time to run back to his room on the boat.

 Wincing, Nico ran into a shadowy alcove between bookcases. This was going to be a long one.

*****

Nico tumbled through darkness, shadows wrapping around him, begging for his attention. He pushed past them, stumbling at rapid speeds, the wispyness of his body fading and mixing into his surroundings. He plunged into a particularly cold swath of inky black.

The ocean.

Nico grimaced but pushed on. Now came the hard part, the part Minos had been so anal about when he trained him. Focusing, Nico conjured images of camp in his mind's eye. He envisioned Athena’s cabin, or rather the show it created as it stood against the sun. He rematerialized, falling onto soft green grass, the shadows leaving a chill deep in his bones as they receded.

Never can stick the landing.

Nico scowled as he pushed himself up off the ground. His scowl only deepened as the movement made his head swim and knees shake. He rarely made such a long jump on purpose. His condition only worsened as he stepped into the sun, the bright light clawing through his eyes, stabbing at his brain with a vengeance. Nico regretted anything good he might have ever said about Apollo when he first met the god as a naive ten year old.

“Nico?” A boy with grey eyes excited the cabin. “What are you doing here?” The guy, Malcolm, his memory provided, looked him up and down.

“Nevermind that. Is Annabeth inside?” Nico knew his tone was sharp but his head was throbbing, Malcolm was looking at him weirdly (Nico knew he made people uncomfortable but he was so sick of it), and apparently Percy was missing. He felt pretty justified in breaking the social contract.

Nico ignored the pang that went through his chest at the thought, sharper than even the daggers twisting their way into his skull.

 “Uh-she’s inside.” Malcolm pointed his thumb at the door he had just excited. “But you should know she's pretty upset so-”

 “She’ll want to see me.” Nico said briskly, walking up to the door and knocking sharply twice before entering.

“di Angelo!” Anger flashed through Annabeth’s face, leaving in favor of surprise.

Nico stumbled inside, still weak from shadow-traveling. He caught himself on the frame of a bunk bed and lowered himself to the floor. He faced Annabeth who was sitting on her bed, a pouch of drachmas inside. Or so he assumed, the bathroom door was still open, a clear prism visible on the countertop.

“Sorry I didn’t have another drachma on me. WHat do you mean Percy’s missing?” The faster he got out of this room the better.

“Why did you- where even were you-” Annabeth opened her mouth, closed it, and sighed. “It doesn’t matter. Yesterday Percy and I got to camp. That evening, after the campfire, he went to his cabin. He just never came back out. It’s been fourteen hours and thirty-six minutes since he was last seen. By me.” Annabeth’s voice had been steady and monotone but it wavered on those last words. Nico had never seen her look so fragile, it almost scared him.

“Are we sure he didn’t just wake up early, go out for a walk, and get stuck in something?”

Annabeth glared at him and Nico felt himself shrinking back. “If you’re not going to help-” She spat.

Nico held his hands up. “No it's just…hard to believe. It’s Percy I mean.”

Annabeth’s glare softened. She shook her head. “We’ve searched the entire camp and three search parties were sent into the forest. They all returned not long ago. No sign of him. I’ve called everyone I can think of…Percy’s brother Tyson, his mom, I even called the Hunters-” She cut herself off.

The familiar pain thrummed in his gut. The pain of losing his untrained sister on a suicide quest because that lunetic didn’t want to lose anyone else. So she turned his sister into a sacrifice.

Nico forced everything down. This wasn’t the time and Annabeth didn’t mean anything by it. With a deep breath he spoke, “Why did you call me? You clearly aren’t desperate for bodies and my shadow travel isn’t good enough for tracking someone when we have no clues to his whereabouts.” It stung to admit he couldn’t do much for Percy but it was better to be pragmatic about it. It made it easier to push away the hurt and helplessness if he clung to logic.

“Is-” Annabeth cut herself off again, blinking back tears.

Nico leaned back in alarm. He had no idea how to comfort someone crying. He wished Malcom would come back.

“Is Percy dead?” Annabeth was crying softly now.

Nico blinked. “No! Why would you think that?” He felt like he was having an out-of-body experience.

Annabeth leaned forward, eyes glistening but sharp. “Are you sure?”

"Yes, of course I’m sure.” Said Nico, feeling vaguely insulted.

“I know you’re the son of Hades but don’t you have to, I don't know, go down and check or something?”

Nico would actually. For anyone else. It was one of the things he was actually grateful for about his powers. If he felt the deaths of everyone on earth, he would never stop feeling that horrible reverberating snap as a person’s life thread was snipped. Instead his subconscious only latched onto the people he cared about. Sometimes he envisioned running his hands along Percy and Hazel’s thread like a guitar, listening to the sweet music life produced. It might be just his imagination but it soothed him regardless, the knowledge that they were safe, alive.

Some days it was the only way he could lull himself to sleep, running his hands over their threads, listening to them thrum like a guitar singing the music of life. Those nights were happening more often than not and unless Percy had died in the last twelve hours, his life thread was as strong as ever.

He didn’t bother telling Percy’s girlfriend any of this, just flatly said, “No I don’t.”

Annabeth nodded, fidgeting with her camp necklace.

Nico frowned. “Why would you think that he is dead? It hasn’t been that long, especially considering that he must’ve been asleep for most of the time he’s been missing.”

Whatever barrier, whatever wall Annabeth had been too desperate for answers to uphold slammed closed before Nico even finished his question. Her face went scarily blank, her posture straightened, and her hands fell clasped into her lamp. “No you’re right. He probably just-he probably just left.” She sighed. “I’m just being silly, he doesn’t have any obligation to stay in my sight or tell me where he’s going. I’m just being dramatic. As usual.” Annabeth looked resigned and her speech sounded a little too rehearsed.

This was far above his pay grade.

Nico shifted uncomfortably. Annabeth looked like she just got turned to stone by Medusa and he got the sense that he had just stumbled onto something of a landmine and he didn’t know exactly what he said wrong. Or how to backtrack. Nico was twelve. He was not equipped for this. He opened his mouth, paused and closed it.

Think! What would Bianca say?

 “I didn’t say that. I merely meant that it's far more likely he got wrapped up in something godly.” Nico paused, considering. “He does have a lot of enemies and now that the prophecy has come to pass, immortals may be more comfortable attacking him since they won’t have to worry about the Fates’ retribution.

Annabeth perked up, furrowing her brows and running her fingers along the beads of her camp necklace, pausing and twisting one in the middle with a trident on it. “That’s great! Well not great but that's actually really smart. I can’t believe I didn’t think about that.” She flashed him a blinding smile.

Nico felt blood rushing to his face and he hunched his shoulders. Annabeth paid him no mind as she practically leapt up from the bed to stand in front of a whiteboard covering one of the two walls of the cabin that didn’t have bunk beds pushed against them. The other wall was covered with a cork board that had red string running in all directions. He glanced at it when he entered but shivered and decided he didn’t want to know.

Nico was just thankful Annabeth wasn’t looking at him anymore as she began fervently mumbling and writing something illegible on the board.

“Okay!” She said, turning back to him with the marker cap in her teeth. “What we need is a list.”

“Maybe sort by ones that hate him, ones that might have some actual reason to do something, and a list of immortals that might know something and be willing to share that information.”

Annabeth nodded before wincing. “That last list is going to be pretty short. Especially compared to the first two.”

Nico grimaced. “That’s okay, we just need a starting point.”

Annabeth drew three columns and wrote Zeus in big letters under the first two. Nico found himself almost longing for it to be the king of the gods, there was no doubt in his mind that Percy could rally a force strong enough to crush the lord of the sky, but then he winced as he remembered the events of the summer.

“Put my father in the first column.” Nico said after a brief moment of consideration.

Annabeth wrote the name down on what seemed like autopilot, then turned around with a look of mild surprise.

Nico shrugged, “He might’ve trapped him somewhere. My father both dreads and excitedly awaits the day Percy becomes one of his subjects.”

Annabeth looked faintly alarmed at that.

“Don’t worry, I'll make sure he is fine. He’ll listen to me, he did about the war.” Nico did not inform her about the amount of cajoling and straight up begging he had had to do for his father to even glance in his direction. He would do all that and more to help Percy and keep him safe. No matter what his father demanded, he couldn’t leave Percy to suffer for an eternity. Even if just looking at him hurt something deep inside him. “Regardless, his father would be furious and I doubt my father wants to give up his new throne after only a few years of having it.”

Annabeth nodded but she still looked uneasy. “Right well, one problem at a time. What other gods can you think of?”

Nico tilted his head to the side. “Not many? I wasn’t there for most of his quests, just a piece of one. We got all the titans last summer right?”

Annabeth bit her lip. “...Some of them are unaccounted for. Although we don’t have confirmation that they even rose in the first place. Some like Krios never had any sightings, even though they were high in Kronos’ ranks.”

Right, the Romans took care of half of them. Nico shrugged. “Then other than that I wouldn't know. You should IM Grover and talk it over with him.”

Annabeth nodded and Nico got up off the floor, wobbling slightly. “I’ll see if I can wring any information out of my father. Maybe he got the down low from the immortal responsible for this, or at least heard some whispers.”

Annabeth hummed, still facing the board.

“I’ll keep more drachma’s on me as well so you can IM me anytime. Keep me updated. Or if you need me to join search efforts I can do that too.” Nico didn’t give two craps if he had to leave Hogwarts, he wanted to keep his magic and a warm place to stay but he would give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant Percy would be able to come home. Maybe he would even smile at him. He had such a nice smile. Nico shook his head, dispelling the weird intrusive thoughts.

Annabeth hummed again, this time very clearly not listening.

Nico sighed. “Well bye then.”

Annabeth’s only response was to grab several colors of markers and attack the board in a frenzy, building some sort of elaborate key while writing names down faster than Nico would read. Her handwriting was atrocious and Nico thought most of the names were misspelled but then again he might be mistaken. Still he winced as he felt the phantom pain of a ruler cracking against his knuckles.

He exited the cabin, groaning as the light hit his eyes, making his head pound. He had almost managed to ignore it in the cabin, the pain reduced to a dull throb. Now it was back with a vengeance. Though at least he felt marginally less exhausted now.

Nico glanced towards the infirmary, he was already exhausted and he had a few more jumps to make, some nectar would be appreciated. He hadn't been able to bring any of his own stash since he left so quickly and Percy’s disappearance was too time sensitive for him to be able to risk passing out for several days. Besides, it might help with his migraine as well as his exhaustion. It normally didn’t work too well but, well a guy could pray, couldn’t he?

Though the last thing he wanted was to seem like a freeloader. Nico sighed but began trudging towards the forest. The shadows were firmer there, and  the lack of light would be easier on his head. He kept his face angled down, towards the ground, eyes half lidded to avoid the sun. In retrospect, this was a mistake.

“Watch it twerp!”

Nico was sent stumbling to the ground after colliding with a solid wall of muscle. He landed on his butt in the grass, and the sun took its chance to assault his senses. Nico had to resist the urge to hurl all over the shoes of the person who he had bowled into like an idiot.

“Sorry.” He mumbled, not looking up in fear of Apollo’s chariot.

“You look like shit di Angelo.” Clarisse, councilor of Ares Cabin, yanked him to his feet. His vision swam.

“Thanks.” He mumbled.

“Annie call you in?” He nodded. “Going somewhere?”

“Yeah. Are we done?” Nico scowled. Everything hurt and he did not have the patience to deal with people.

“You’re not going anywhere but the infirmary.” Nico blinked and found himself slung over Clarisse’s shoulder like a misbehaving sack of potatoes.

“Wha-Let me go!” He screeched as he futilely kicked his legs.

“Nope. You try to shadow travel again and you’re going to pass out. Then Annie will be furious at you and take it out on the rest of the camp. You can get checked over and take a two hour nap before she sends you off to do her bidding.” Nico pounded his fist on her back. Clarisse squeezed his ankle painfully in retribution. “I wouldn’t suggest doing that. I can make your life far more miserable than you would dare make mine.”

“I can make your afterlife far more miserable.” He mumbled but obligingly went limp.

A few moments later, Clarisse ducked her head to fit inside of the door frame to the infirmary and greeted the head healer, a kid around his age, maybe a year older. He recognized him vaguely from camp beforehand. “Hey Will, I caught this idiot walking around trying to leave camp. Beat some sense into him for me, will ya?”

The world spun as Clarisse manhandled him off her shoulder. Nico rubbed his neck to try to force himself not to throw up. By the time his nausea had passed Clarisse was gone and the healer was scrutinizing him.

“Hi! I’m Will, can you sit over here please?” Nico moved. “I think I remember you, it's Nico right? You passed out for about a week on that bed after the battle? I kinda thought you were dead cause I had some trouble finding your pulse but I could tell you were breathing if I put my hand on your chest. Sorry, is that weird? Anyway, why are you back? Not that-” Nico held up a hand. This was why he didn’t want to interact with anyone. He knew he wasn’t welcome. Why would he be?

“I just need a little nectar and then I’ll be on my way.”

“No.” The healer raised his chin and looked him defiantly in the eyes. “Number one, ambrosia is better for you right now, I can tell you’re nauseous and you don’t want liquid sloshing around in your stomach, it's more likely to make you throw up. Number two, you really need a nap, you look pretty tired and the ambrosia will only keep you going for so long. Plus you’ll only crash harder later and I don’t have any migraine medicine anymore so sleep is the only way to get rid of it.”

Nico tried to maintain eye contact but the guy almost seemed to glow and his head was throbbing too much for him to put up much of a fight. He blinked and conceded. “What’s a migraine?”

“It's a severe headache on one side typically with throbbing and commonly comes with nausea, and sensitivity to light and movement.” Will recited. “You have one, it's obvious. They can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days and again let me emphasize that your only options are sleep or waiting it out. I can heal broken bones and stitch limbs back on but I’m not using my powers to mess with the brain, that's stupid.”

Okay, so Nico had a fancy headache. Nice to know it's painful and widespread enough to get its very own name. “I don't have time to sleep. Can I please just have the ambrosia and leave?”

Will glared and opened his mouth to speak but a girl walked in with a dismembered hand dripping blood all over the floor and he rushed towards them with a disapproving shout. Nico took that as his opportunity to grab a sandwich baggie of ambrosia and quietly slip outside. Munching, he slunk his way towards the forest to find the largest darkest bit of shade he could. Within no time he was on his way to his father.

*****

Nico didn’t want to talk about the nap he took in the dirt halfway to the palace. No siree, what nap would that be? Either way, alleged nap or not, he arrived at his father’s throne room doors and he was pretty sure it was still November 22 so it was fine…probably.

“My lord.” The skeleton guards greeted and bowed in unison. They were really there more for any intruder's benefit rather than Hades’ but it was the principle of the thing. They pulled open the doors and Nico slipped in with a quiet “thanks” that he wasn’t sure they even heard. The doors shut with an ominous thud behind him.

“My son. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” Hades sat upon his throne, maybe twenty feet tall. The throne next to him was empty, thank the gods it was fall.

Nico kneeled before his father. “I have come to ask you a question.”

“Of course you don’t visit your father just to see me, you want something. Have demigod children! They said, It’ll be great, they’re cute and they’ll do stuff for you! What a load of bullcrap.” His father sighed before flicking his wrist upwards. “You may rise, boy.”

Nico opened his mouth then closed it, trying to settle on how to respond. These meetings with his father were a delicate dance, say the wrong thing and he would need to not only run damage control but likely be relegated to days of pleading to get anything out of the encounter. It would be so much easier if he could just manage to say the right things this time. “I apologize, I was under the impression that I was meant to stay away with the exception of an emergency. Especially with your status as an Olympian now.”

“That I am. However, if you think I will subscribe to all of their nonsensical rules just because they have decided to recognize my existence for once then you are dead wrong.”

Nico blinked. “Did you just-” he blurted out.

“Yes, I am capable of making a pun now and again.” His father grinned and settled back into his throne. “You may ask your question, my son.”

“Percy Jackson has gone missing.” Nico tested the waters.

“Was there a question at the end of that statement?” Hades leaned forward and his tone was low. The hairs on Nico’s neck and arms snapped to attention.

“Did you have anything to do with it?” Nico held his breath. He wasn’t sure what he wanted the answer to be. If yes, then getting Percy back could be so much easier. If it was a no, well Nico didn’t want to believe the worst of his father. He was the king of the Underworld and sure he hadn’t always been the nicest to Nico–

“It would’ve been better if Bianca had lived”

–But it wasn’t like anything he said was false, just rude, and Nico couldn’t imagine that Mama hadn’t seen anything worthwhile within his father.

Hades snorted. “Unlimited audacity and courage but not much critical thinking to back that up huh? Of course I didn’t have anything to do with the Jackson boy’s disappearance, I’ve only just got my seat as an Olympian and I wouldn’t do anything so blatant at the moment. Especially not towards a mortal I will collect anyway. I’m several millennia old, I can be patient. Besides I’m far too busy cleaning up after Thanatos–”

Nico narrowed his eyes. “You told me about that months ago after I pulled Hazel out of the Underworld. You said it would be a quick fix, how can you not have found him yet?”

“Don’t take that tone with me young man! And no, he is beyond my reach so I’m left trying to maintain as much order as possible.”

“Beyond your reach? There are places the gods can’t reach?”

“Unfortunately there are several. But I think we can rule off space, at least for Thanatos. Tartarus too…”

“Space?!” Nico exclaimed in awe. “The gods can go to space?”

“Yes?” Hades gave him a weird look. “The mortals can too. Yeah I think it was Yuri Gagarin who started that little fad? Several followed him too, it was a big thing in the sixties. Weird decade for mortals, very chaotic.”

"Space? We went to space! How? What? I-” Nico sputtered.

“Oh right you were still at that hotel. Yes, it's very impressive, can we move on? It’s quite hard ruling over the billions of souls that have died without having to take on the job of reaper and find those blasted Doors. However, it is none of your concern and I believe I have sated your curiosity so you really should be on your way back to school. You have your Tournament thing in two days, you should practice.”

“But-”

“No buts, I’ll send you back to school myself.” Hades huffed and snapped his fingers.

Wait!” But it was too late. The world disappeared into inky black and Nico went tumbling through the void.

Chapter Text

Nico smelled moist dirt and the distinct scent of air just after rain stopped. His eyes flew open.

“Oh hello.” Luna waved. She was lying down next to him.

“W-what are you doing?” Nico cleared his throat, still groggy.

“Well I was going on my morning stroll to see the sun rise when I saw you laying in the dirt and I went to lay down next to you so everyone would think we were just hanging out.”

“Lying.” Nico corrected automatically, a faint memory rising through the fog in his head, only to dance away when he tried to grasp it.

“What?”

“Nevermind.” Nico rubbed his eyes and sighed. His vision was still bleary and his head throbbed but the pain had lessened. “What day is it?”

“November twenty-third. Have you time traveled?” Luna tilted her head at him.

“No, I was just making sure I hadn’t slept longer than I thought…wait time travel? Is that a thing wizards can do?!”

Luna giggled. “Of course wixen can time travel, Nico. You’re very strange, even your Wackspurts behave unusually.”

“They were the ones that give you brain fog right?”

Luna brightened. “You remembered!”

“How do they behave around me? What’s different about it?”

“I’m not exactly sure how to describe it. Your brain is a little different from most peoples isn’t it? But it’s not quite the same as mine either.”

Nico collapsed back into the grass, shrinking in on himself. “Yeah.”

“Well, I suppose we can just be different together then.”

“But you're not weird? Maybe a bit odd but it’s not like there is anything wrong with you. Not like me, I can never focus or read…” His cheeks went red.

“I am too weird!” Luna insisted firmly. “I don’t like eye contact, it just feels uncomfortable and awkward, and people always tell me I’m too passionate about creatures, especially the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. But my mum always said that the only thing worth being is weird because they’re the people who change the world.” Luna had a far-away look in her eye before she added, “Plus being weird is fun!” Her eyes twinkled as she sat up, smiling at him.

“Maybe you're right.” Nico didn’t think so but he couldn’t bear to bring Luna’s spirits down.

“I’ll convince you one of these days. But not now, your headmaster will be looking for you. He wants to talk about the dragons.” Luna pushed herself to her feet.

“Dragons?!” Nico's eyes went wide.

“Yes. The Wackspurts told me they had something to do with the first task. Anyways good luck! I’ll find you again soon.” With a wave, Luna skipped off towards the castle, her long blonde hair swishing behind her.

Nico collapsed into the dirt and groaned.

*****

“Sit. Now.”

Nico wasn’t sure he had ever seen Headmaster Karadoff so angry.

“You have been missing for over twenty four hours less than two days before the first task. I know I give you a lot of leeway but I don’t think I’ve ever seen more irresponsible behavior in all my years at Durmstrang. You kicked up a big fuss, embarrassing me and this school, because of your juvenile fears of dying in this tournament and yet you fail to do any kind of preparation for it. As a result you will be confined to the ship until the first task. Someone will bring you your meals and if you need books from the library those will be supplied as well, as long as they pertain to the task. You will take this seriously if it is the last thing I do.” Karkaroff paused. “Well?”

“I’m sorry for my shortsightedness sir.” Nico ducked his head.

Karkaroff sneered. “Since you are proving incapable of handling this yourself, I took the liberty of figuring out the first task. It has to do with dragons. They may make you fight one or get around it in some way…” He paused. “You do not look surprised.”

Uh oh. “Someone may have mentioned something about dragons being involved.”

“Who? I had to walk around the horrid forest for hours searching for any clues!”

What sounds plausible? “Oh uh she is friends with a staff member and he probably showed her.”

“Ah. Yes, that makes sense. The groundskeeper perhaps? I did see him and Madame Maxine together…” He stroked his beard in thought. “I suppose it does not matter. We must begin planning your approach for the first task since you’re already so far behind.

“Of course sir.” Nico nodded politely.

“Now the easiest way to best a dragon is to go for its eyes, they’re the weakest part of the beast. The Conjunctivitis Curse should prove adequate. It will blind the dragon, that should be a good enough show of strength.” Karkaoff mused.

The blood drained from Nico’s face. “Blind them? Like permanently?”

“I did say blind , didn't I boy?”

Nico sputtered. “But-I can’t just blind it!”

“You can and you will.” Karkaroff ’s voice was dangerously low.

“There has to be another way to subdue it. Blinding it would ruin its life! It wouldn’t be able to hunt or survive in the wild anymore. It’s cruel and it's not like the dragon wanted to be here. It’s probably just as scared as I am!” Nico’s breaths came hard and fast, and he looked imploringly at his headmaster.

“Langlock!” Karkaroff shouted, jabbing his wand in an upward motion before slamming his hands on the desk and standing up. Nico’s tongue flew up and cemented itself against the roof of his mouth. He hated this spell, it was Karkaroff’s favorite but he always put too much power into the spell, causing his tongue to stretch painfully at the base when it glued itself.

“You insolent moron! What does the beast matter? You will not fight me on this, the longer the match takes the less chance you have of survival and you will not die in the first task. Just think of the embarrassment!” Nico could practically see smoke coming out of the man’s ears.

 “No, I will have books sent to your room and you will learn the curse before noon tomorrow. Forget about the creature’s livelihood, it will be trying to kill you.” Karadoff scoffed. “How Lady Magic could have ever picked one so weak and emotional I will never understand but you will bring prestige to my name whether you like it or not.”

His lip curled before he could stop it. His name. It was always about Karkaroff ’s reputation, not the school, not Nico’s wellbeing. No, why would anyone ever care what Nico wanted?

“Don’t give me that look child. Do not make the consequences worse for yourself. I can withhold meals as well.” He paused, then flicked his wrist so Nico could respond.

“Yes sir.” Nico smiled and Karkaroff narrowed his eyes but there was nothing particularly malicious or sarcastic he could point out. He didn’t notice the shadows twisting in the corners of the dimly lit room.

Nico inclined his head in a mockery of a bow and exited Karkaroff ’s office.

*****

Nico had no idea how he was going to defeat a dragon. The first task would be in broad daylight so he wouldn’t even have access to most of his powers as a backup plan. He was doomed.

He had made a list of all the spells he knew and it was a disappointing few. What’s worse is with Thanatos gone he might keep getting burned alive only to come back to a crispy body that will only die again and repeat until his body no longer exists and he can’t get down to the Underworld so he’ll be cursed to wander the Earth until Thanatos catches up on all the dead souls which who knows how long that could take and-

Nico was pulled out of his thoughts by a knock on the door. “Come in!” He shouted. He might not like people but anything would be better than his spiraling thoughts.

“Hello di Angelo. Kakaroff sent me vith these.” Krum showed the stack of books in his hand, all on dragons or dark curses.

“Oh. Thanks.” Nico looked glumly at the titles.

To his surprise, Krum walked over to Nico’s bed where he was lying upside down with his head over the edge of the bed and sat next to him. “So the first task is dragons? The Conjunctivitis Curse is an effective choice. Difficult though, you may vant a training dummy.”

Nico deflated. “Is-do you think-are there any other options? One that doesn’t cause permanent damage?” He blurted out.

Krum gave a surprised but warm smile. “You are concerned for the creature's health? It vill vant to kill you.”

“Well yeah, but it's not like it gets much of a choice. Neither of us do. I can’t maim it for trying to survive. It’s not right.” Nico had already done too much of that. Cutting off limbs or lifelines just to live another few seconds, blood caking every crevice of his armor, watching terrified eyes dim and turn glassy. No. He wouldn’t do that again. Not if he had any say in the matter.

“I vill admit I had been vondering vhy the Goblet chose you over me. I see I now have my answer. Your kindness makes you vorthy, far more than my experience makes me.”

“You should have been chosen. Not me, I don’t even want it.” Nico protested.

“The Goblet is thousands of years old. I think it has more visdom in choosing its champions than ve do.” Krum smiled. “And I think it chose right.”

Nico blushed beet red.

“However I do not envy the choices you will have to make.”

Nico maneuvered so he was sitting upright and then mumbled, “I don’t know what I can do. I’m only a second year, how do I stop a dragon from burning me to a crisp?”

Krum hummed. “Do you know vhat I like to do vhen I am up against an opponent more experienced than myself? I start at the root. The first problem is fire, yes?”

Nico nodded.

“Vell do you know how a dragon makes fire? They secrete two compounds, one inside their mouths and one in their throat. Vhen they cough, it moves the second compound up and vhen the two interact it creates a chemical reaction making fire. So can you stop the compounds from interacting? And if not can you make yourself fire resistant?”

Nico thought. “Isn’t there a charm for that? When wixen were getting burned at the stake? What was the name…Wendelin the Weird?”

Krum nodded. “The flame-freezing charm, that's an option. It may prove to be a bit risky, you von’t know if it has vorked until you are on fire. Dragon fire is also hotter than normal flames so you vould need to be very good at casting it.”

Nico grimaced. “Backup plan then?” After a moment he spoke again. “Aren’t there ice jinxes too?”

Krum made a so-so motion. “Dragon fire may be too hot for that.”

“There's always augmenti?” Nico asked, somewhat desperately.

“Same problem.” Krum shrugged. “Refocus. Start back at the beginning.”

Stopping the two compounds from interacting…some kind of spell stopping movement…no it would need to be more targeted, he wasn’t strong enough for that kind of spell…

“Oh!” Nico perked up and grinned. “Langlock! Gluing the tongue could stop the dragon from opening its mouth very far so it can’t spew very much fire at a time. If I’m quick, I should be able to evade it and I can use the flame-freezing charm as a backup!”

And as a perk it would be a special kind of ironic if Nico defied Karkaroff with his favorite spell to use against his students.

Krum hummed and stroked his chin. “That may vork. It would be difficult…but yes that may vork.”

“And dragons have fireproof mouths right? Because it would turn the fire back on them and I don’t want the fire to do anything more than distract them.”

Krum raised an eyebrow. “The fire comes out of their mouths. It vould not burn it.”

Nico turned pink. “Right, yeah. Umm…so that would take the fire out of the equation but how do I subdue it?” Nico thought of the spells he knew and came up blank.

“I do not know. Vhy don’t ve vork on the first step though? You know the vand movements for Langlock?”

“Yeah but I’ve never done the spell.”

“Then you shall need to practice. Ve vill learn together.” Krum nodded as if solidifying this promise to himself.

“You don’t have to, I’m sure you have better things to do.” Nico protested weakly.

“No.” Krum said and left it at that. So Nico conceded. They practiced throughout the day, only taking a break for lunch and still Krum drilled him on the best defensive spells in a pinch in between bites. When Nico finally mastered Langlock Krum gave him an approving nod and high five before jumping right into the flame-freezing charm.

By the time Krum left Nico’s room it was midnight and he felt a lot more confident in his chances. Nico still didn’t have a solid plan for actually subduring the dragon but he had a few wispy ideas and he always thought better on his feet anyway.

For the first night in three weeks, Nico went to bed with a determined and almost happy smile on his face. Whatever happened tomorrow, he would survive. He had too. Plus the look on Karkaroff's face when Nico proved him wrong using his favorite spell would be priceless.

*****

It was the day. Nico was going to hurl. He had woken up at half past seven when Sebastain from down the hall had brought Nico breakfast but Nico hadn’t even tried to choke any of it down. Then from eight to eleven he practiced the two spells from yesterday until he was sure he was powerscaling them enough for a dragon.

The next hour he paced, thinking of other spells he could use and making sure he remembered how to do them. He even got so nervous that he took out his sword and thrashed a training dummy from last night into nothing more than unrecognizable metal scraps. At noon, Krum came to check on him.

“Are you prepared?” He asked.

“No.” Nico answered honestly.

“I vouldn’t be either.” Krum shrugged. “But it is time. I am meant to escort you down to the Champion’s tent.”

“Great. Yeah, okay. Perfect. Let's do that.” Nico tapped his foot against the wood of his floors.

Krum smiled. It was a terrifying smile, even for Nico. “You vill do fine. You vere chosen for a reason and you vill honor the spirit of the tournament. I have faith.”

For some reason those words allowed Nico to finally take a deep breath. It felt like he hadn’t truly breathed since Annabeth called with the bad news. Speaking of which he never updated her…but that would have to wait until he wasn’t about to kneel over. When they reached the tent Krum gave him a pat on the shoulder and left. Nico wanted to call him back but he hardly knew the guy. Krum had already done more than anyone else would have.

Fleur Delacour and Diggory were already in the tent but thankfully they were too distracted with their own nerves to notice his entrance. Nico melted into a dark corner, allowing the shadows to wrap around him and offer what comfort they could. It felt like Hades wishing him good luck but Nico dismissed that as wishful thinking. Nico stood, one leg causally pushed up against the wall behind him, and just breathed as best he could as Diggory paced.

Harry entered just a minute before Bagman came to talk to them.

“Well, we’re all here — time to fill you in!” Bagman smiled way too widely at a group of kids about to walk to their deaths. “When the audience has assembled, I’m going to be offering each of you this bag” — he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them — “from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different — er — varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too … ah, yes … your task is to collect the golden egg!”

“We don’t have to fight–uh it?” Nico slapped a hand over his mouth. He didn’t mean to say that out loud, nor sound that relived in front of his competitors.

“No boy, you don’t have to fight it.” Bagman laughed condescendingly and Nico glared as hard as he could.

The sound of hundreds of feet pounding across the grounds echoed through the tent. Bagman rubbed his hands together and grinned. “Well we best get started! Ladies first,” he said, offering the small purple bag to Fleur. She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon — a Welsh Green.

Nico couldn’t help it–he cooed. It was just so cute! Sure it tried to burn Fleur’s hand, and that must suck for her, but it was jumping all around and flapping its wings and it was just so small! Everyone turned to look at him and he shrunk in on himself as Bagman laughed and offered him the bag.

Nico pulled out a beautiful scarlet Chinese Fireball. It coughed flames up at him and Nico couldn’t help but stroke it’s back. His cheeks flamed when he noticed everyone giving him incredulous looks again. This time though, he ignored them and continued to coo. If he was about to die, he wasn’t going to die with regrets. He gently stroked the dragon’s back with his index finger until it relaxed into his palm, eyes lidded.

 “Well, there you are!” said Bagman, pulling Nico’s attention away from his new sleepy friend. “You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers around their neck refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I’m going to have to leave you in a moment, because I’m commentating. Mr. Diggory, you’re first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? Now … Harry … could I have a quick word? Outside?”

“Er … yes,” said Harry blankly, and he got up and went out of the tent with Bagman. Nico winced, Harry’s gait was awkward and sluggish like a newborn Giraffe. A few minutes later a whistle blew and Harry stumbled back into the tent.

Cedric left the tent, looking completely green. Harry wished him good luck in a horse voice. Nico and Fleur remained silent. Nico glanced down at his own dragon, he would be third to go. Nico cradled the tiny thing in his palm as he began a series of stretches to warm up.

 The more he moved, the more the pit of nerves in his throat settled. It didn’t unwind but it sank down into his gut, ignorable for the time being. Nico even started to grin. Sure he might be burned to a crisp by a dragon but what a cool way to go, much better than most demigods got. And he got to see a dragon! That was wicked cool, how many people got to stand right next to a dragon? And if his model was any indication, a beautiful dragon at that. Nico could make peace with death if it was by a dragon.

The roar of the crowd echoed through the tent, interrupting Nico’s thoughts. Bagman’s voice boomed, commenting on Cedric’s maneuvers. Nico felt disgust rise in him, the tournament wasn’t a game show. Or maybe it was, after all it was meant to be voluntary. “Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow” … “He’s taking risks, this one!” … “Clever move — pity it didn’t work!”

The crowd cheered when Cedric presumably passed the task. Nico got the sense that Hogwarts wasn’t as bloodthirsty as some of the Romans could be.

 “One down, three to go!” Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again. “Miss Delacour, if you please!” Fleur was trembling from head to toe as she silently approached Nico with her dragon model in hand. She dumped the Welsh Green into his hands, took a deep breath and marched out of the tent with her wand clenched in her fist and her head held high.

Nico blinked, and looked down. The two bitty dragons were play-fighting now. They were adorable and for a second Nico just sat and watched them. He looked up a minute or so later to see Harry sitting down with glassy eyes. Nico glanced around like there was going to be someone else to help, but of course there was no one.  He sighed and sat down next to Harry, placing his two dragons into Harry’s palm to join his Hungarian Horntail with the hope that the light heat from their fire might bring some sensation back to him. Harry’s palm instinctively cupped to hold the models.

“I wonder if you could use a dancing jinx on a dragon.” He mused, watching Harry’s reaction carefully.

It took a second for the words to sink in but Harry jerked and croaked, “What?”

“A dancing jinx. I wonder if it would work on a dragon.”

“I don’t know.” Harry’s eyes slowly cleared as he thought. “Probably not, you might if you could put a lot of power into it, but their skin repels most jinxes.” He looked down at the three dragons in his palm. “When did these-” He glanced over at Nico before dumping them into his waiting hands. “Here. Sorry I don’t know-” He cut himself off.

“Still feeling a bit sluggish?” Nico asked. Bagman’s voice shouted out remarks on Fleur’s progress and Nico didn’t know how much time he would have before he got called out. “Come on, stand up. I wouldn’t usually rush you but you don’t have a lot of time so it's best to get the blood flowing. It’ll clear your head.” He tugged Harry’s arm and Harry stood. And then his knees immediately buckled and Nico lunged to catch him before his knees hit the ground.

“Sorry.” Harry mumbled. “You should be focused on yourself, you’re younger than I am and you're next. I don’t know why I’m acting like this, it's not like I haven’t been in life threatening situations before.”

Nico shrugged. “But this time you know it's coming. Anticipation sucks. Now come on, stretch with me.” Harry nodded shakily and they stretched for a few minutes in silence with Nico picking a stretch every thirty seconds and Harry copying his actions. As Bagman’s excited voice blared through the thin fabric of the tent, Nico couldn’t help but bounce on his toes. Harry gave him a weird look.

“What? We are about to see dragons! Actual real-life dragons! How many people can say that, it's so cool!” Nico grinned unrestrained in the face of adrenaline.

“I saw a baby dragon in my first year.” Harry offered with a small smile. “But I guess you’re right.”

Nico’s jaw dropped as he stopped his jumping jacks in favor of staring at Harry. “How? I thought dragon breeding was illegal?”

“It is. It’s a long story.” Harry grinned. “But it was pretty cool to see it hatch.”

“You saw a dragon hatch!” Nico screeched over Bagman’s announcements, then shuffled his feet and apologized.

“Yeah, it was kind of gross. Lots of goo everywhere.” Harry scrunched up his nose.

“But still--a dragon!” Nico bounced on the tips of his toes again.

“You’re right, looking back it was pretty brillant.”

Nico opened his mouth to respond but a shrill whistle and Bagman’s voice interrupted them. Nico looked towards the exit, then bit his lip and turned back. “Just breathe and keep moving. The adrenaline should keep you from zoning out like that again. And–could you watch these until you have to go out. You’ll still have to leave them but I’d rather know they were being supervised for at least some of the time I have to leave them.” Nico held out his two models.

“Yeah sure.” Harry nodded and Nico turned away again. “And hey, di Angelo? Good luck.”

“You too.” Nico threw over his shoulder as he threw the tent flaps open to see the sun high in the sky, shining down on a roaring crowd surrounding him and a truly gorgeous dragon like a gladiator ring.

“And here comes Mr. di Angelo!” Bagman cried as Nico grinned. If there was one thing he knew, it was a gladiator ring. He loved the war games at both camps. Sure a dragon was a slightly different opponent but it was familiar enough territory for Nico to push the last of his nerves down as a broad and slightly manic smile split his lips.

Nico tilted his head back to meet the dragon’s eyes, letting the crowd fade into the background. Distantly he registered the nest the dragon sat on, full of the mothers eggs and one fake golden one, and a brief flash of disbelief hit him like a lightening bolt because why in actual Tarturarus did they have the champions not only face a dragon but a mother protecting its eggs? That’s as dangerous as they could possibly make a dragon, which wasn’t needed considering dragons usually took a team of experienced wizards to subdue them. And they wanted one teen–or in Nico’s case one preteen, to steal from an angry stressed mother.

Rage boiled in Nico’s chest, guiding his hand as he turned his wand on himself. He ignored Bagman’s comments as he cast the flame-freezing charm. That was all the time he got before the Chinese Fireball grew impatient and spat a giant ball of fire at Nico. He dived out of the way, hitting the rocky terrain hard, but scrambling up and running for a boulder as the dragon spewed another flaming sphere in his direction, pulling at the chain around her neck.

Nico shot to his feet, half hidden by the boulder as he yelled “Langlock!” with all the breath he had in his lungs, making a well-practiced jabbing motion with his wand as he flicked it upward to signify the tongue flying. He ducked down behind the boulder again, waiting to see if a burst of flame would come around the corner. It didn’t. Nico wanted to stop and breathe in relief but he didn’t know how long the charm would last so he clenched his fists, desperately wishing for the comfort of his sword, and he dashed away from the safety of his boulder, straight towards the massive dragon.

The beast thrashed, stomping in panic as it failed to open it’s maw more than a foot in length. It’s tail began swishing dangerously fast and close to the eggs. Nico’s eyes widened in panic. He had to protect the eggs, but there was no cover he could take while he cast the spell. He hesitated, but his mind was already made up when he saw the Chinese Fireball start to stumble.

“IMPERVUIS!” He screamed, casting a forcefield around the eggs just in time to save the eggs from the tail slamming down in an effort to maintain balance. The tail bounced harmlessly off. Nico had done it. He turned his attention back to the dragon, wand raised. But he was too late. Despite not being able to fully open her jaw, the dragon had managed to launch a smaller flaming sphere straight at Nico. He tried to run but it was futile, he only made it two steps before the flames enveloped him and the last thing he heard before Nico clenched his eyes shut was Bagman’s shouting.

It-it tickled. He let out a manic giggle as he opened his eyes. The flames didn’t hurt, the charm worked. It actually worked. Nico let out a triumphant shout and pumped his fist into the air just as the dragon realized he wasn’t dead and roared in anger.

Nico ran towards the nest, pumping his legs faster as the dragon swiped her talons at him. He dodged, but only barely. She was much larger than he was and could cross far more ground faster than he could. Nico’s eyes scanned the arena until he spotted another boulder a few feet out of his path. He pivoted sharply, diving behind the rock and scraping his hands.

He panted so hard his ribs ached, clambering to his feet and looked towards the nest maybe fifty feet away. He couldn’t sprint all that way, even if fire wouldn’t hurt him, the dragon’s talons were still sharp enough to cut bone. Speaking of the devil, the dragon’s giant talons curled over the rock and crumbled it to dust right before his eyes. Nico gulped but he didn’t freeze. He needed a distraction.

“Asecndio!” He yelled, flicking his wand at the golden egg and launching it thirty feet into the air. Then he turned his wand onto the dragon and prayed his plan worked. “FLIPENDO!” He screamed, throwing every bit of power he had behind it.

With how massive the Chinese Fireball was, the knockback jinx didn’t move the creature more than a few feet. However, Nico thanked the gods that Minos had included basic physics into his battle strategy lessons, everything had an equal and opposite reaction. And since Nico had focused on the spell’s power and not completing the wand movements that neutralized that effect, he was hurled through the air backwards like a rag doll flying out of a race car.

He ended up slamming into the ground forty feet away, not too far away from where the golden had landed, the forcefield around the other eggs flinging it a dozen feet away on impact. The dragon roared and slammed it’s tail in rage. Nico ignored it and sprinted towards the golden egg as fast as his legs could carry him. Twenty feet, fifteen, ten, five, he was nearly there…one!

He scooped up the egg without stopping, continuing his sprint towards the other end of the arena. If he could only get to the exit, actual dragon trainers would step in and subdue the dragon. All he had to do was run.

The wind whipped Nico’s hair around as his feet pounded against the rock. He could hear the dragon roaring and giving chase, gaining ground far faster than Nico could outrun. He clamped his eyes shut, a few tears streaming down his cheeks as his heart pounded. He felt the warm tickle of the dragon’s flames envelope him again, the flame far larger and hotter this time–the Langlock charm must’ve worn off.

Nico forced his eyes open, the air stinging and the arena blurry as he whipped his head around to see the dragon right behind him, leaping towards him with an outstretched talon. Nico tried to scream but it got caught in his throat and came out as a strangled gasp instead. He ran in a zig zag pattern, trying to confuse the dragon but it wasn’t working. He was so close, only a dozen feet away from the exit now.

Nico kept running, the golden egg under one arm while the other flicked his wand behind him, his mouth forming the syllables to the easiest spell that came to mind, “Periculum!” Red sparks flew out from his wand in huge firework, distracting the dragon for just long enough that, with a sudden burst in speed, Nico sprinted through the exit, leaving the arena behind him.

He slowed, panting loudly. His heart thumped so hard Nico thought it was going to launch right out of his chest. He collapsed on the ground as the Bagman’s voice and the screaming crowd filtered back into his hearing. He could also hear shouting and the roar of the Chinese Fireball, presumably the professionals taking over.

“You survived.”

Nico lifted his head weakly to see Krum.

“Karkaoff sent me to make sure you didn’t need to see a healer.” Krum gave him a fist bump which Nico shakily returned.

“It worked-” Nico panted. “I’m alive, not even injured. Thank you, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Krum smiled. “Kindess and humility? You did it all yourself. I merely assisted in brainstorming. Now stand up. Ve shall valk together to receive your scores, it sounds like the dragon has been removed.”

Nico nodded and took the hand Krum offered. His muscles burned and Krum ended up pulling him off the ground and providing balance as Nico’s head went fuzzy from the lack of oxygen. His chest burned as Nico put his hands on his knees, trying to maintain his balance as his head cleared.

“You are sure that you are uninjured?” Krum’s voice cut through the fog, concerned.

“Y-yeah.” Nico panted. “Just really tired. Maybe a little woozy.” He took a step and stumbled slightly.

“Alright.” Krum said in an uncertain tone. He kept an arm hovering to grab Nico in case he fell which Nico wrinkled his nose at but didn’t protest. When they finally made their way in front of the judges, Nico met Karakaroff's eyes, expecting to see scorn but to his surprise, his headmaster gave him an approving nod and small smile. A warm feeling rushed through Nico and he stood straighter.

Karakaroff shot a number ten in red sparks out of his wand, followed by a ten from Dumbledore, nine from Madame Maxine and Mr. Crouch, and finally a ten from Bagman. Nico smiled and laughed elatedly. Somehow, by the grace of the gods, he not only survived, but he got a higher score than he ever could have imagined. Nico was still short of breath however and he let out a raspy cough. Krum had to thump his back until Nico could breathe again.

“That's it, I vill bring you to a healer just in case.” Krum grumbled as they walked away from the judges.

“No! My dragons!” Nico protested.

Krum looked at Nico as if he had grown two heads.

“They gave us model dragons, they’re so cute, and Fleur gave me hers so I have two now, and I left them in the tent with Harry but he’s gone now and they’re probably lonely.” Nico rushed out in one breath. Krum rolled his eyes but obligingly began walking back to the champion’s tent. After recovering the two mini dragons, which were no less cute after facing and almost dying by a real one, and waiting for Krum to do the appropriate amount of cooing, they waited for the rest of the champions to arrive since apparently they weren’t free to take a nap yet.

Harry came in first about twenty minutes later, grinning. “Nico! That was brilliant! Ron told me what you did.” Harry’s pupils were large and he looked like he was riding the high of victory. “You got first, I’m second.” He offered a high five that Nico enthusiastically reciprocated. Harry froze at the sight of Krum, mouth hanging open.

“Harry, Victor Krum. Victor Krum, Harry Potter.” Nico introduced.

“I think ve both already know each other’s names, di Angelo.” Krum rumbled.

Nico shrugged. “I was trying to give Harry some time to pick his jaw up off the floor.”

“Ah.” Krum hummed, amused.

“Hi, its so nice to meet you. I was at the World Cup, I’ve never seen a better Wronski Feint.” Harry breathed in awe.

Krum nodded politely. “I hear you also play Quidditch.”

Harry nodded enthusiastically. “Youngest seeker in a century.”

“Perhaps we could play a match sometime.” Krum mused.

Nico turned his attention towards his dragons and away from the two asylum escapes who liked being suspended in air with nothing other than a stick to support them. A few minutes later, Harry snorted and Nico looked up.

“You’re really obsessed with those things aren’t you?” Harry asked.

“He insisted ve come here instead of to the healer because he was vorried about them being lonely.” Krum added and Harry laughed.

Nico glared at the both of them.

“You want mine?” Harry held out the Hungarian Horntail model which Nico promptly snatched and cooed at until the other two champions walked into the tent together. One side of Diggory’s face was covered in a thick gooey paste. He must’ve been burned, Nico mused.

 “Good one, Harry.” Cedric grinned as he entered. “And you too Nico, that was incredible.”

“And you,” Harry responded, grinning back. Nico stayed silent but offered Diggory a small smile of his own. He won after all, and maybe it was the adrenaline speaking but Nico supposed he could cut the other champion the smallest bit of slack. Nico didn’t think he would survive either.

“Well done, all of you!” interrupted Bagman, who bounced into the tent. “Now, just a quick few words. You’ve got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth — but we’re giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you’re all holding, you will see that they open … see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg — because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!” Bagman ran out of the tent with more energy than a kid crazed on a sugar rush.

Krum left with a pat on Nico’s shoulder to go hang out with his own friends, leaving Nico standing awkwardly in the tent. Harry and Fleur both left, but Diggory lingered.

“Hey, Nico.”

Nico tensed.

“Look I know you don’t really like me, and I’m sorry I pushed you so hard. You tried to get me to back off and I didn’t listen. As evidenced by today-” Cedric gestured around them, “you don’t really need my help.”

“I was being rude and you were right. I almost didn’t make it today and I needed Krum’s help to even come up with the idea so…” Nico looked away.

“Truce then?” When Nico looked up, it was to the sight of Cedric smiling softly.

“Truce.” Nico agreed.

“Okay great, because you just have to teach me how to manipulate spells like that.”

“The knockback?”

“Yeah, I think I heard at least ten different people near me gasp in scandal because you…well I actually don’t know what you did, it was almost like you purposefully did it wrong but still knew exactly what it would do instead of it just acting up.”

Nico pretended to be in serious thought. “I could tell you, but it’ll cost you a favor.”

Cedric snorted. “Sure, why not? How’d you do it?”

“I prayed.” Nico smirked at Cedric’s scandalized face.

“That’s not an answer! Cheater!” Cedric protested playfully.

“You never said how detailed an answer it had to be, or if it needed to be replicable.”  Nico shrugged. “Really it's your fault for assuming that the person who got into this tournament by scamming people wouldn’t scam you.”

Cedric threw his head back and laughed. “I suppose that's true.” They stopped at a fork in the path between Hogwarts and the Black Lake. “I guess I’ll see you around short-stack?”

Nico grimaced at the nickname. “Sure, I’ll have to cash in my favor eventually.” He smirked, and they parted ways. Nico walked back towards his ship with a warm feeling in his chest, far happier than he thought he could’ve been at the days conclusion. After all, somewhat miraculously, he wasn’t dead. He had even won first place. He might manage this, might live to be thirteen.