Nico POV

I was never a normal boy. I have always been different, whether it was because I was an Italian boy living amongst Americans, my inability to read properly or focus, or how I felt around certain boys, but I always had my sister.

I don't have Bianca anymore… She's dead and I couldn't help her. Why did I trust Percy? I should have gone on the quest myself, maybe if I had figured out my abilities sooner I could have saved her, but no I had to trust him because of how handsome he was with his sea green eyes and messy black hair; how he seemed so confident fighting the Manticore, like he could do anything…

My thoughts are interrupted by an owl flying through the motel window. Annabeth must have sent it. Percy told her! Of course he did, why would I think for a second he would keep what I am a secret? He probably couldn't wait to tell everyone what a freak I am.

I throw my dagger through the letter between the Owls claws.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yell, making the ballistic owl fly away.

I sigh, and fall back onto the motel bed.

As a child of the god of riches you'd expect me to be rich, not living in a rundown motel that is probably even older than I am. Add my age to the list of reasons why I am no normal eleven year old boy.

I feel my eyelids getting heavier. No, I can't sleep. The nightmares won't leave me alone. Every time I try my mind is flooded with images of Bianca.

I pull myself off the bed, determined not to sleep, and begin practicing with my sword skills.

The Stygian iron of my sword seems to become even more impossibly dark as I use it to command the shadows to raise skeletons from the ground, they attack and I respond by slashing through them with my sword, before dodging another's attack and killing it from behind.

Once I had destroyed all the skeletons I feel unbelievably exhausted.

Before I can collapse I see an owl fly through the window carrying another letter.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I yell, before using what's left of my energy to manipulate the shadows into sharp blades which rip through the letter.

I pass out almost instantly.

I wake up to yet another owl, sitting on my head. I scream and shake the bird off my head.

"GO AWAY!" I scream throwing my sword through one of the letter which was floating to the ground.

The bird gawks at me before zooming out of the window.

I scowl and throw all of my possessions into a small black backpack, along with the rest of the stuff I had "borrowed"

Annabeth knows where I am. I need to leave so that good for nothing daughter of Athena won't find me.

I know I shouldn't hate her. It's not her fault Bianca died on a quest to save her, or that Percy is obviously in love with her, but that doesn't mean I have to like her.

I huff, walking straight out of the motel, not sparing a glance at the shady man at the cash register.

"HEY KID! YOU FORGOT TO PAY!" He screams, but I ignore him.

I could shadow travel, but I don't feel quite up to it. The last time I tried I ended up in China, which I don't feel like reliving.

I scowl and start walking.

One week later.

"BIANCA WAIT UP!" I yell as her black hair disappears around the corner.

"It's not my fault you're so slow!" she yells from ahead of me, laughing.

I chuckle and accidentally run straight into one of the soldiers.

He glares at me coldly. "You're coming with me, you filthy scum."

"I-d-don-t k-know w-what you're t-t-talking about." I stutter, before trying to run away, but he grips my arm.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, faggot." He hisses.

I struggle against his grip, but a cold laugh shocks me out of struggling.

I turn to see Bianca's familiar face sneering at me.

"I'm so glad you're leaving. You deserve it." Bianca hisses. "Do you have any idea how much I hate being around you? You sicken me."

"No! This isn't real." I remind myself.

"Then why was I so happy to take the first opportunity to get away from you? To get rid of the horrible burden of being related to you." She says with a heartless smile.

The soldier pulls me away screaming.

I wake up screaming, drenched in sweat.

It was just a dream, but that doesn't make it any less true. Was my childhood like that? Playing with Bianca and hiding from soldiers?

The door flies open to reveal the man who had offered to let me stay with him in the flat above his bar for the night "Nico? Are you alright?"

"Yea, it was just a dream. Sorry for waking you." I puff, trying to catch my breath.

"It's no problem. I was awake." He says, with a kind smile. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine." I say signalling for him to leave the room.

I look over to see an owl on the window, looking at me curiously.

I throw my shoe in its direction, and go outside for some fresh air.

I lean against the building, trying to push away my thoughts.

My dream was right. She took the first opportunity to get away from me.

There's a giant of a man walking towards me. He has shaggy dark hair and beard covering almost all of his face except his pitch black eyes, which in spite of their colour seem warm and comforting. This man was either a monster, or took way too many steroids.

"Get lost, It's closed. Find somewhere else to avoid your wife." I say cautiously, ready to attack.

He chuckles "Closes thing I have to a wife is me dog Fang."

Thick accent

"Sounds like a friendly dog." I say.

"Im not 'ere for the pub, boy." The man says.

I glare, waiting for him to make the first move.

"I'm here to talk to yeh bout Hogwarts, and why yeh haven't been returning yeh letters."

Wait what?

"What the hades name is Hogwarts?" I ask.

"Didn't yeh read yer letter? It explained it." He says, scratching his beard.

"Wait, you were the one sending letters via owls? I thought they were target practice!" I exclaim.

He looks taken aback "YEH HURT DA POOR OWLS!"

"NO! Just the letters! I have good aim." I shrug.

He mutters something that sounds like "Slytherin."

I give him a confused look "You going to explain what you risked owls lives to tell me, or just stand there?"

He huffs and hands me a letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledor

(Order of Merlin, First class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed of Wizards)

Dear Mr Di Angelo,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely, Minvera McGonaall

Deputy Headmistress

What in Tarterus? Is this some kind of joke?

"You're kidding right? Is this the Stolls? Sending a Troll to tell me that I'm a Wizard?"

"I'M NOT A TROLL. THANK YEH VERY MUCH! And this is very real." He bellows.

Maybe this is true. Demigods are real, so why not wizards?

"Prove it." I demand.

"I'm not suppos to be doin this, but fine." He says, taking out a pink umbrella and aiming it at my sword.

He exclaims something in another language and waves his umbrella, making my sword transform to an abnormally large daisy.

Oh gods, he's actually telling the truth.

"MY SWORD!" I scream.

"Yer too young for aye a weapon anyway." He says.

I glare at him.

"Hagrid! Is everything alright?" A scrawny boy around my age asks, crossing the road. He had dark hair and circular rimmed glasses, unfitting clothes and a British accent. He reminds me of Percy, somehow.

"Yeh Harry, just explaining our world to Nico ere." Hagrid replies.

"More like destroying my sword!" I exclaim, signalling to the flower in my hand.

Harry attempts to stifle to laugh.

Something about him gives me a sick feeling in my gut

"Well good luck harming deh poor owls now."

"You hurt the owls?!" Harry asks shocked.

"No! Just the letters." I huff, making Harry give me a weird look.

"Well aren't you meant to be explaining magic?" I ask Hagrid.

"Alrighty, Call me Hagrid. I'm Keeper O' keys at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizadry, and yer a Wizard, Nico." He explains.

Seriously? Could I be more of a freak?

"This is ridiculous." I mutter. Harry nods in agreement.

"We hadn't known about yeh til recently wen yeh and yer name appeared on our list. yer sister's name also appeared fer third year but it disappeared."

What does it mean third year? Had she attended before?

I look away "Don't expect her to be riding a broomstick any time soon."

Harry gives me an understanding look.

"Well I'm guessen yeh don't have any books so yer comin with us to Diagon Alley." Hagrid says, changing the topic.

I nod. "Will I be coming back?"

"O'course yah will. We wouldn't want'a take yeh from yer family." Hagrid says.

I grit my teeth at the mention of my family.

"I'll go." I agree. "But only if you change my sword back.

He reluctantly nods, and takes out his umbrella again, transforming the flower back into a sword.

I quickly run up to the room, throwing everything I own into the black bag.

I follow Hagrid and Harry away from the bar, towards a teddy bear lying in the middle of the road.

"We're going to buy books with a teddy bear?" I ask confused.

"That's a port key, that is." Hagrid says. "Put yer hand on it to teleport yourself back to England."

"Wait, England?" I ask surprised.

"Where did yah think we were from? Tennessee?" Hagrid replies, sarcastically.

It will make it easier to hide from Percy and Camp…

"Let's go then." I say, putting my hand on the Teddy bear. They do the same and I feel like there's a grappling hook in my nose, pulling me into the bear.