Nico woke up in a strange bed. The room was mostly dark, ragged grey curtains that had seen better days hanging limply in the window. Soft grey light swept into the room through the cracks. He reflexively reached for his sword, and tensed when it wasn't by his side.

It took him a moment to remember where he was and what he was doing there.

Tom Riddle. Soul collection. Wizards.

Right.

He sighed heavily and swung his legs out of bed. He smacked his mouth, wrinkling his nose at the taste of morning breath. He twisted the shadows and summoned back all of his belongings from wherever it was the wizards had taken them too. His sword, knives, jacket, and the awful black "reaper of death" cloak appeared on his lap.

He shrugged into the worn and familiar jacket and pulled out his questing supplies from one of the cloak's many inner pockets. His mouth twitched in triumph as he found his toothbrush.

Silently padding out from the room, Nico poked through the various doors that lined the hallway. He accidentally poked his nose into several rooms of sleeping children before he found the bathroom. He managed to shower, brush his teeth and change before he heard any other signs of life in the house.

As he stepped out of the steamy, and slightly grimy, bathroom, he heard a loud creak coming from downstairs.

Nico drew a knife and silently slipped down the hall, his feet silent as he crept down the crooked wooden staircase. It was still early enough that there was no reasonable reason to be awake. Unless, of course, they were a demigod who was used to getting up early in the morning for training.

The house was nearly silent, the rest of its occupants asleep in the upper floors. Nico padded across the main hallway, suspiciously eyeing the heavy black curtains hanging across several gilded frames. He walked down into the kitchen, and to his surprise found Sirius Black sitting alone at the table, sipping carefully from a steaming mug of tea. The other man didn't appear to have noticed Nico enter the room, but seemed instead hyperfocused on the contents of his cup.

Nico tucked the knife away into his jacket pocket, and deliberately creaked the floorboard on the last step. The man jumped, wild eyes flying around the room until they landed on Nico. His mug was knocked to the floor, the shattering ceramic echoing in the otherwise silent space.

"Good morning." Nico said plainly, choosing to ignore whatever it was that just happened. His powers over fear were limited, but it didn't take a demigod to see that Sirius Black was haunted by something.

"Ah, yes. Good morning. How did you sleep Nico?" Sirius tried to cover his mistake, flicking his wand to clear away the broken mug. Nico plodded over to the table, and sat down, reaching for the bread and butter that was sitting in the center.

"Fine." The man looked like he wanted to ask him more, but Nico ducked his head and avoided eye contact. He carefully sliced off a hunk of bread and buttered it. He then considered the food in his hand, and the gently flickering fire in the hearth. He tore his breakfast in half and walked over to the fireplace.

"To the gods." He muttered, tossing in the bread. The edges of the bread curled, blackening quickly. Then, like any offering to the gods, it vanished - leaving behind only the uniquely good smell that burnt offerings gave off.

He quickly crammed the rest of the bread into his mouth. Sirius watched him, both eyebrows raised. Nico shrugged and reached for a second slice. The older man just sighed, and gently set a hand over Nico's grasping fingers.

"How about a real breakfast?" He offered. Nico had quickly learned over the last few years to never turn down food - especially when it was offered so freely. Nodding, he sank back down into a seat. Sirius wandered around the kitchen, his wand flicking back and forth, sending all sorts of things flying through the air. Nico watched with thinly disguised excitement.

Magic! Real life magic!

Somehow, even though Nico has spent the last year and a half with some of the most powerful demigods of the age - possibly most powerful to ever exist - seeing magic was still one of the coolest things ever. He wished Bianca could be there to see it too, or even Hazel. He had a feeling both of his sisters would have loved magic.

Sirius slid a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, with a heaping side of potatoes. A wry grin twitched across his face at Nico's open amazement.

"For someone as powerful as you seem to be, you don't seem to know all that much about magic." He observed. Nico paused, mid-bite.

"I haven't seen magic like this before." He conceded. Sirius nodded, sitting across from Nico with his own plate of food.

"Have you had any formal magical schooling?" Nico shook his head.

"I can't do what you do. My, uh, magic. It's different than yours. Different source." He explained, shoveling eggs into his mouth. They were a little rubbery, and needed salt. But Nico's missed enough meals while wandering around outside of camp to be grateful for the hot food in front of him.

"I see." It was obvious that he was fishing for more information. Nico, while not entirely sure on the protocols when it came to not totally normal mortals, kept his mouth shut.

"Thanks - by the way. For the food." Nico adds, suddenly remembering his manners. He can practically hear Bianca's chiding voice behind him, a warm hand curled over his shoulder, a light squeeze to remind him of his manners. But not too tight. Never too tight.

Regardless of her leav- joining the Hunters, Bianca had always been patient with him, had always been there for him.

There was a slight clamor on the stairwell behind him, and both Nico and Sirius turn around to see a haphazard group of adult coming down the stairs. Nico's forehead scrunched as he tried to remember their names.

He remembered the older red headed couple, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. And the lady with the spiky hair that would remind him of Thalia if it was a bright bubblegum pink was… something ridiculous and went by…. Tonks! He remembered triumphantly. And the last man, the werewolf was… Nico almost smacked himself in the head as he remembered. Remus Lupin. The werewolf with the ironic name.

Only Tonks missed a step when she realized Nico was downstairs, everyone else took it in stride.

"Good morning Nico, dear. Did you sleep alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked him, bustling around the kitchen, tutting over the dirty dishes left out.

"Fine." Nico repeated himself, then scooted to the far end of the table. Just because these people were supposed to be his allies, didn't mean he was going to get all friendly with them.

"Good, good. Oh, here he comes." She responded distractedly. Nico glances up with the other adults to see a half asleep Harry come down the stairs. His heart jumps as Harry stretched, ruffling one hand through his hair. For a moment, the wizard looked a lot like…

Nico turned away, and huffed softly, shoving away the intrusive thoughts. It doesn't matter, and besides, Harry isn't Per-

Nico abruptly stands up, his chair scraping noisily. The room freezes in an odd tableau. Lupin and Sirius had their heads together, and Mrs. Weasley was hovering over Harry, comb in hand. Mr. Weasley had a spoonful of what looked like oatmeal halfway to his mouth.

"I uh-" He scrambles for an excuse. "I need to check in with my father. About my mission. Uh… bye." Nico flees the room as gracefully as he can, internally smacking himself in the forehead for behaving like a certain idiotic son of Poseidon.

AN:

Ok, I know it's been a long time since the last time this updated. I am so so so sorry about that guys!

However, I also don't think I'll be updating this story again for a while. My muse has kinda deserted me on this one, and I've been trying to keep writing, but nothing good or interesting has come out. So until further notice, Nico's adventures in the wizarding world are going to be put on hold.

I hope having at least this one last chapter helps!

Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, followed, favorited, messaged me encouragement, or even just read the story. I really do love hearing from you guys, and all the comments and requests for more did help me get this last chapter done. I do hope to one day finish this fic, but for right now, that's just not going to happen. Thank you again to everyone who has supported this story.

Stay safe and healthy and wash your hands!

Cheers,

Hartley