Nico cautiously surveyed his father's throne room. Hades was sitting there, thoughtfully running his pale hand through his beard as he stared at his bowing son. Nico took this as a cue and raised his head.

"Hail," Hades said softly, and Nico rose to his full height.

"Do you know why I called you here?" Hades said with a sigh, as if he were too reluctant to assign Nico the quest he was called to accept.

"A quest…Something to do with magic." answered Nico uncertainly as the little raven perched on his shoulder gave a squawk, as if conforming this.

"Yes," Hades said in a resigned voice. "Something to do with much more magic than you can imagine, son. I did not want to assign this quest in particular to you, but Lady Hecate insists for reasons I cannot fathom."

"Lady Hecate?" Nico asked. His eyebrows rose.

"Indeed." he said. "I can see you are awaiting an explanation- well, it's a series of things I myself can't explain well enough, but-"

"But I can," said a voice from the shadows. Out of the gloomy throne room in the Underworld, Hecate walked in beside Nico, where he could see her better. He had heard about the goddess of magic- from his sister, Hazel, mostly, but she was one of the plenty goddesses he didn't meet. She looked nothing like Hazel described her- her hair was blonde and short, and she looked about twenty. Hecate wore a white blouse with black leather jeans to match, making her strangely semi-camouflaged in the dark room. Her face was smooth and fair, and he lips were bloodred.

She seemed to notice Nico staring at her, and she smiled. "You like it? It's my Taylor Swift look-you know, the daughter of Aphrodite? I'm taking her place in a concert tonight."

"Hecate," said Hades sounding mildly annoyed as Nico was caught up in bemusement. "Please, this just isn't the time."

"I-I don't understand…" Nico supplied helplessly. Hecate sighed.

"Look, Nico- there are…many, many, many worlds that normally shouldn't clash," Hecate started. She waved her hand- two chairs appeared. Hades nodded to Nico, so he sat down and watched as Hecate did the same.

"There is an entire world, Nico, with those who have magical abilities- a world of witches and wizards." She paused, as if waiting to see how Nico would take this.

His mind was spinning. On the contrary, it wasn't exactly hard to believe, but it was still a surprising bit of information he was sure most demigods didn't know.

"Wizards….and witches…Like, Gandalf and Oz and those hideous ladies with green skin and warts?" he asked before he could stop himself, remembering all the silly cartoons Hazel had forced him to watch.

Hecate let out a soft laugh while Hades looked amused. "I wish it were that simple, Nico." She said. "But it's not- wizards and witches being as you've explained, is about as true as Poseidon having blue skin and a mermaid tail as well as a star-fish laurel. Simply- not true at all. Witches and Wizards are people, like you and I, but blessed with magical abilities."

"Blessed by you?" Nico asked, but Hecate simply shook her head.

"Partly," she said uncertainly. "Only a few chosen mortals gain magic- and that is not entirely my doing. If it were up to me, why, I would have blessed the entire world. But no- when you are born, there is always magical potential in you, whoever you are. The trick is that only a few people can claim the key to unlock that potential- and before you can ask, no, I don't grant them that ability either. But I do sense their magic- whether it is unleashed, manipulated, or…tinkered with, I can sense, and control it. However, stripping a wizard or witch of their abilities is not in my reign of power- it's practically like…like a birth-right. Did you get your answer?"

Nico nodded and Hecate continued.

"Throughout the centuries, the civilization of magic started growing- becoming more powerful, and eventually, coming into hiding, and separating itself from the mortal world much like us demigods have. And like any civilization- there were plenty of good magical folk, working to enhance their way of living, but there were always evil ones forming within it too. And, barely five decades ago, a wizard named Tom Marvolo Riddle, though dubbed Lord Voldemort, came to power in Britain. His reign was one of terror- people soon came to fear his name, and began calling him You-Know-Who, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, if they had to mention him at all." Nico found he was snorting at this bit- fear of the name fueled one's fear of the thing itself. These wizards were asking for all the panic they received.

"Merely fourteen years ago, Voldemort wanted to complete- well, he wanted to do something. You'll find out soon enough. Anyway, Voldemort wanted to wrap everything up, and went to the Potters' home in Godric's Hollow, that's a magical place, by the way. He killed both the senior Potters, but a power, a power so ancient and strong, the power of love, prevented Voldemort from killing James and Lily Potter's son- Harry Potter. For this, he became famous and known widely- as he had defeated Voldemort at the age of one."

"That's it?" Nico said, raising his eyebrow in incredulity. "I mean…the power of love. Pushing all the unbelievable things aside, I feel like there's something missing in this story."

Hecate smiled at him appreciatively. "True. Voldemort did not die, you see. But he was broken- less than a soul. Less than alive, but definitely not dead."

"He…cheated death?" Nico asked in disbelief, feeling anger start to boil inside him, throwing his curiosity aside for the moment. Only cowards who could not face it would cheat death.

Hades, participating for the first time, nodded grimly. "He uses Horcruxes. Funky soul containers, if you ask me. Eight of them to be exact- at least two of them have been destroyed, though. That's where you come in- Potter is important, as we believe he was somehow destined to kill Tom Riddle once and for all, after his Horcruxes are destroyed." Nico noticed Hades' blatant use for Vol- Tom Riddle's real name, rather than his alias.

"So…I'm supposed to- protect this Potter person? And like, help destroy the Horcruxes?"

Both Hecate and Hades gave him disapproving looks which he felt like he didn't deserve- they were the ones who were involving him in this, after all.

"No," Hecate said. "Well, yes. You're only there to make sure Harry Potter wins the war like he should- or we're all going to be in trouble, according to Apollo. You may…destroy any Horcrux if you absolutely have to, but try avoiding that if you can help it. We don't want to involve ourselves too much; we simply have a main objective. Also, try not to shadow travel or raise the dead- it makes them uncomfortable. The Ministry of Magic and the staff know about your identity as a necromancer and a demigod, and both the Camps will know about your quest soon enough, too, but keep your head low and try to blend in."

Nico just gaped at her- the way Hecate was putting it, it was as if she fully expected Nico to accept the quest, and the way she put it…"Hold on…Where's 'there'? What staff, and what in the Underworld is the Ministry of Magic?"

Hecate looked like she rather enjoyed this. "The Ministry of Magic is a republic system- a Minister, elected by the people but without any real year-limit, has the many jobs, the main one being to keep the Magical world a secret from mortals, which they call muggles, under a set of rules dubbed as the Statute of Secrecy. But the current Minister, Cornelius Fudge, is not doing a very good job. Voldemort is, as you might have guessed, back, and he has been since earlier this year. Their local News Paper, the Daily Prophet, has been ridiculing Potter and claiming that he is simply seeking attention and lying about Voldemort's return to avoid panic." Nico snorted, again, but gestured for Hecate to continue.

"'There' refers to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry Potter is stationed, and where you need to go to not only protect him, but enhance your own magical powers so they could assist you in the war."

"Wait- you want me, to go to a school?" Nico squinted at Hecate as though she was crazy. "And what do you mean 'fight in the upcoming war' with wizards, and-and magical powers I don't even have?"

"Yes, and I mean that when the time comes, you demigods will fight against wizards…Voldemort's followers to be exact…Eh, I think they're called Death Bleachers or something. Anyway, the demigods- they'll need someone who has experience with magic then. And oh, you demigods don't have magic?" she raised a questioning eyebrow. "So you can't manipulate the mist with just snapping your fingers and a little practice? No, almost all demigods can unlock their magical cores, though they can't do it to a large extent, since they already have divine cores, apart from my children. But for you, Nico, as I've done your sister, I can bless you. In fact, I've already done it, but you won't notice- every bit of knowledge a fourth-year at Hogwarts has is now within your grasp, and a little extra info, too- I even brought you a wand." She dug her hands into her pockets and removed from them a gray wand with elegant carvings around it.

"Ash," she said. "with phoenix feather for the core. Ten and the half inches." It seemed to Nico that Hecate had counted on him agreeing to this, and had gone as far a getting him a crazy wizard's stick.

"I also had the insight to get you your school books for the year." She snapped her nail-polished fingers, and a silvery travel-cart with several trunks piled on top of it appeared right beside her. Xavia the raven crowed thoughtfully while Nico just shook his head in disbelief.

"This is just….Just too much to take in." he sighed, putting both his hands on his temples. He had just learned about yet another hidden world- and Hecate had mentioned to him that there were more, too. Now he was supposed to go on a quest, to a school, no less, to…do many, many things.

"How long am I supposed to attend?" Nico asked her, knowing there was really no way out of this one. She looked like she fully expected him to agree, and Hades looked upset about it, but determined nonetheless. He knew there must have been countless reasons for him to be chosen for this quest, which he wouldn't bother asking because he just knew from experience he wouldn't get an answer.

"Well…considering you're fourteen, about four years- but, since you'll have to be attending fifth year, three years should do it. But don't worry- you can visit camp during the holidays, and summer."

Nico was simply at the limit of being humanly speechless.

"I've tried loosening up your dyslexia- but…er, yeah, sorry, but your brain's only wired for Ancient Greek and Latin, so I didn't do a very good job.

"Is…there anything else that you have in store?" Nico asked. "I don't really see a way of not accepting this- and clearly it's major, and I can keep in contact with Camp. I accept. When do I start, though?"

Hecate smiled whereas Hades frowned and looked begrudging.

"First of September," Hecate answered. "Half-past ten. Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, King's Cross Station, London, England. Namely, now."

With thoughts spinning around his head and Xavia perched firmly on his shoulder, Nico took the wand out of Hecate's outstretched arm, unable to ignore the warm feeling that traveled through his body once it his hand made contact with the ash wood. He reluctantly approached the cart with his new 'study items' on it. Before clasping it, he gave one almost pleading look at his dad, silently asking if there wasn't any other way, any other person to take his place. Inwardly, Nico was sick of war- sick of a reason to have to fight, although he knew he'd never back down if he had something to get aggressive for. He really did enjoy dueling- the feeling of adrenalin shooting through his veins, the action, the competition of it all. But he hated the consequences- the deaths, and the pain and sorrow that always came, whether after victory or loss. And it angered him that no matter how many times they won, no matter how much malevolence they demolished; there was also more evil lurking in the shadows. But Hades simply shook his head ruefully. Defeated, Nico gripped the handle of his travel-cart and allowed the shadows to overcome him.

Nico looked around curiously. The weather in Britain was warm and pleasant for a September, he had to admit. People were running wild, giving their kids or relatives last good-byes, crying melodramatically, or waving cheerfully. Nico had visited many places out of boredom and for pleasure- but Britain was not one of them, oddly enough. He may just come back here for sight-seeing one day, maybe force Hazel along if she'd come, after he was done with this crazy new quest-thingy. If he was alive after that.

He looked around at his destination- Platform three and nine tenths….Or was it Nine and three quarters? He really didn't know. The quest was simply that abrupt. Nico steered his trunk and stared at Platform three- no, there were too many mortals around it. The wizards would be stupid to have their station there. Even if they had some equivalent of the Mist, mortals were sure to notice people suddenly disappearing. He turned his attention to the space between Platform nine and ten. There was a fair number of mortals there, too, but not an alarming number. The wizards must have guaranteed that the first of September wasn't busy at that Platform. Making up his mind and deciding there was nothing to lose, Nico casually pushed his trunks toward Platform ten. Several eyes turned to him, but he was not surprised. He found himself smirking, and feeling rather conscious that Xavia, Lou-Ellen' s magical pet raven she had lent him.

As the pleasant wind ruffled his hair, Nico headed to the Platform. A family of red-heads were arguing nearby- they had trunks, too, and a snowy white owl was even in a cage above a boy's luggage. They must have been wizard.

Nico changed his direction and steered the cart toward the family, ready to ask politely for directions. A few feet away from him, was a girl, who was also a red head. She noticed him, and turned to survey him curiously.

Nico didn't know where to begin- he wasn't good at introductions. Luckily, the girl, sensing this, smiled friendly, and offered him her hand. Politely, Nico accepted.

"I'm Ginny Weasley," she said looking at his trunk. "Hogwarts?"

"Uh-yeah. Nico di Angelo, pleased to meet you. Sorry, but, Hogwarts students have to go through-"

"Platform Nine and Three-quarters," Ginny nodded, just as Nico two scarily identical boys run through the space between Platforms Nine and Ten.

He must have looked at least a little surprised because Ginny was bemused.

"First time?" she asked curiously, craning her neck as if she was searching for something. "Where are your parents?"

"They're gone now." Nico answered flatly. "And I'm an exchange student from America. So….you just run through that wall?"

"Oh, yes," Ginny answered, smiling. "It might help you a little if you run, just in case you're nervous. I can demonstrate, if you want."

Nico considered this, and then shook his head- as much as that was nice of Ginny, he wanted to explore a bit- discover things for himself.

"No, that won't be necessary. Thanks for the help though."

"Oh, okay." Ginny said as he started to walk away- "See you at Hogwarts, I suppose!" she called after him.

Steeling himself and not quite believing it, he started to cross the border. I've done weirder stuff, Nico decided. Nico passed through without any crash. It almost felt like nothing but a bellow of breeze to the face- harmless, and very unexpected.

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was loaded with people, too. Though most of them were wizards-they had pets in cages above their trunks. Owls, ferrets, cats, and some even held toads between their palms as their parents fussed over them.

A long, crimson train snaked its way through what looked like hundreds of rails behind it. The excited wizards and witches boarded the train, occasionally giving last minute hugs to their parents or relatives who had come to see them off.

Well, maybe part of it was Nico's fault since he was so intrigued he didn't know where to turn his head, but he would later swear it was the blond ferret who had nearly made his trunk fall over.

"Watch where you're going, mudblood." a voice sneered. Nico turned his head around to get a good look at that boy who was sneering like he owned the platform. He was still short for his age, so he had to look around it.

The boy was thin with silvery-blond hair. He had that air of arrogance about him that most Ares kids had, but it didn't look well-deserved. He carried himself with an atmosphere of self-importance and dignity that made Nico dislike him on instant.

"Excuse me?" he said calmly, letting just a hint of malice weave its way into his words. A sudden streak of recognition crossed his mind- suddenly, he knew that the word 'mudblood' was a rude term to refer to those wizards or witches who had no magical parents. And it angered him that such a person would consider himself above others for something he wasn't responsible for- only because his parents were supposedly 'pureblooded'. He remembered all too well the days of prejudice when everyone had little trust in him simply because he was a son of Hades- a fact he had no control over.

"The true meaning of blood purity is beyond the likes of you." he said simply, watching as a soft pink tinged the cheeks of the angry boy.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded angrily. "You don't go about mocking Malfoys, you filthy mudblood."

Nico let a satisfied smile curl his lips and he felt his anger ebb away. He pushed his way past the astonished 'Malfoy' boy.

"I'm sorry, but you're just not worth my time." And just like that, the random boy was lost in the crowds of excited magical folk.

The red Hogwarts Express was just as neat and appealing on the inside as it was on the outside. Nico had to admire the work wizards put into all of it- he suddenly wondered why demigods had no trains or magical buses or something. It would have made things a lot more less complicated during quests.

He passed several compartments where students sat, not knowing were to settle down. When his acquaintance Ginny Weasley caught his eye, he grudgingly asked her if he was welcome there. She politely agreed, so he settled down and made himself comfortable.

Several others joined in. Nico nearly laughed at how coincidental life was- one of Ginny's friends turned out to be Harry Potter. The others were two by the names of Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom.

But life was too coincidental- a girl called Cho Chang passed their compartment and went, and then the blond Malfoy ferret came in. Nico learned several things from his little visit- that he was an idiot, that he was a prefect, he was an idiot, his first name was Draco, Ginny and the rest hated him, and that he was an idiot.

The other tried to converse with him, too- he told them his name was Nico di Angelo, he was an exchange student from America, and he was going to be a fifth-year. That surprised them a little, which had Nico nearly rolling his eyes. He knew that he looked a little young for his age.

Half-way through the ride, he changed when the girls left, into his Hogwarts robes. They were black and smooth, with a plain black tie- the rest had red and golden ties though. Only Luna's ties was blue and bronze.

As soon as he wondered why, he found himself bearing the knowledge that there were four houses at Hogwarts- Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Gryffindor, the house of the brave and noble. Ravenclaw, the house of the clever and witty. Hufflepuff, the house of the loyal and patient, and finally, Slytherin, the house of the ambitious, cunning, and manipulative.

The train stopped. It was dark outside, though Nico could still see, and it was raining. Hard. Awkwardly, Nico followed the rest into carriages. He rode one with two other boys and a girl.

But what interested Nico wasn't the carriages- but rather what pulled them. They were creatures Nico recognized- Thestrals. Creatures of death. They neighed softly at his presence, but the other three didn't notice.

His three other companions turned out to be Hannah Abbot, Justin Finch-Fletchly, and Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff. They were friendly enough- just like he expected Hufflepuffs to be.

Hogwarts was beautiful. Nico was never one to admit things as such, but there was no denying it. The castle was huge, ancient, and strong. It had a feeling of safety about it- and Nico felt that as soon as he stepped beyond these walls, no harm would come to him.

He said his good byes to Hannah, Justin, and Ernie before climbing down. Hogwarts' Great Hall was huge. It had four colorful tables which seemed to stretch forward endlessly. Each table was a sea of different house colors. Only one table included older people, whom he guessed were the staff.

Where should he go from there.

Dumbledore, a voice in his head said. The Headmaster.

He had spoken with Dumbledore, right after the crazy hat sang its song. He seemed like a kind grandfatherly kind of person- kind of like Chiron, but with a strange twinkle in his eyes.

"With...that group of eleven year olds then?" Nico asked. Dumbledore nodded and smiled, the light in his eyes intensifying. Nico sighed reluctantly and made his way to the group of eleven year olds.

A strict woman in a green cloak, the one who held a roll of parchment, cleared her throat.

"This year, we will be welcoming an exchange student from the United States. We all expect you to treat Mr. di Angelo, Nico as a part of your family, whatever house he's sorted into."

Nico took his cue as McGonagal gestured to the stool which looked so small and old that he feared he might break it. Fortunately, he didn't. He felt the strict-looking Professor place the ratty old Sorting Hat over his head.

Aha...A demigod! Now, I haven't see your kind in a while.

While he expected this, Nico's head almost hit the ceiling- it was strange to have a hat talking to you in your head.

Yes, you wouldn't be the first to think so, Mr Angelo. Now let's have a look at your mind- and no, this stays confidential between us. Hm...You've been in a war. Two. You have stood by your friend and accepted her- that takes loyalty. But no- you do have quite a problem with grudges, don't you? I suppose Hufflepuff's out of the question. You are open-minded and witty like a Ravenclaw, but you don't own the eagerness to learn and discover, nor the required curiosity in general. You are ambitious, and manipulative, yes...But there is something there. You will not go to any extent to achieve your goals- why is that.

'Some things just aren't worth it.' Nico answered shortly.

Ah yes. You sacrificed the opportunity to save your sister for a greater cause, and you could never manipulate those whom you love. And you are brave- noble, but always...But most certainly brave. Sacrifices like the ones you have made belong in only one house,

'Can you just sort me already?' Nico asked, starting to get annoyed.

Why, certainly. Good luck in...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Yay. I re-wrote this. Hope you guys are happy- I just felt unsatisfied with the results of the last chapter, so I'll start re-writing this later.

-Ambs