In the thrilling third installment of the American Royalty series, the stakes have never been higher. As the world teeters on the brink of war, the demigods find themselves entangled in the final, deadly battle against Voldemort and his dark forces...
Hogwarts had changed. As Will walked through the corridors, he could feel the differences as acutely as if the walls themselves had shifted around him. Once vibrant and warm, the halls now felt cold and hostile, as though life itself had seeped out of the castle stones. Where there used to be laughter and the whispers of spells mingling with the quiet hum of students, there were now mutterings of fear and watchful eyes that followed every movement. Death Eaters patrolled the corridors like they owned the place, their sharp eyes and cruel sneers a constant reminder of the new order. Even the castle's magic, usually a comfort, felt oppressive, as though it, too, had grown wary of its new occupants.
The Great Hall had lost its former charm, too. The enchanted ceiling reflected stormy clouds almost every day, amplifying the gloom below. Once a sanctuary for feasts and gatherings, the long tables had become places where students sat in silence, casting nervous glances at the Carrows, who watched them with malicious delight. And at the head of the staff table sat Severus Snape, his expression unreadable but colder than ever.
As Will's gaze traveled down the hall, he noticed Nico looking even tenser than usual. Since the train ride, Nico had been withdrawn, a sense of unease hanging over him that was hard to ignore. He was lost in his thoughts, more so than usual, and although Will had held back from asking, worry nagged at him. Nico's face, normally so schooled to hide his emotions, occasionally showed cracks—a furrowed brow, a distracted gaze, the flicker of something haunting just beneath the surface. Will knew Nico too well to push him about it yet; whatever was on his mind, Nico would share it when he was ready.
Later, in the common room, the demigods and Jamie gathered around the crackling fire, each nursing a butterbeer. The dim light cast long shadows over their faces, illuminating the worry that had been etched into each of them since their arrival at Hogwarts. The familiar warmth of the common room was a small comfort amidst the gloom of the castle, but even here, they couldn't quite shake the tension. Rocky, the demigod's faithful companion, sat by Nico's feet, his fur now covered in brilliant, oceanic blue patches. When Apollo had first given them Rocky and said he was fully mortal, this wasn't what they had expected but the whole day the dog had been changing colours from orange to pink to green and had now settled on blue. Rocky seemed thoroughly pleased with himself, oblivious to the strange looks he was attracting from the others.
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Will broke the silence, glancing at Rocky with an amused smile. "So, does anyone actually know how to turn Rocky back? Because if not, Percy's going to flip when he sees him."
"Flip?" Clarisse snorted. "Percy will want to keep him like that permanently. Kit would too, honestly. They'd probably argue over who has more 'claim' to the color blue."
"Bet Percy's already planning Rocky's 'blue-themed' wardrobe," Thalia added with a smirk, her attempt to lighten the mood. She reached over to scratch Rocky's ears. "You like being blue, don't you, boy?"
Rocky barked in response, his tail thumping happily against the floor, and for a brief moment, the others chuckled, grateful for the bit of normalcy. It was a reminder of the bonds they shared, even in a place as dark and uncertain as Hogwarts.
Reyna sipped her butterbeer, her gaze distant as she looked into the flames. "I know we're trying to joke, but... Hogwarts isn't the same place anymore. It feels like it's wrapped in this... suffocating darkness. Even the walls seem to be listening, waiting for something to happen."
"Yeah," Will agreed, his tone more serious. "It's like the entire castle is holding its breath. Like it's just... waiting for something bad to happen."
Jamie, who had been staring into her drink, snorted. "I didn't think things could get worse around here, but, clearly, I was wrong."
Clarisse grumbled, looking around with a scowl. "Yeah, I mean, I thought this place was at peak shithole, but apparently Hogwarts just keeps on giving."
Rocky barked as if in agreement, his tail wagging, his bright blue fur still mesmerizing everyone. Thalia laughed softly, though a trace of worry lingered in her eyes. "Guess Rocky's ready to fight too. Maybe the Death Eaters won't even see him coming."
Will snorted, reaching over to scratch Rocky's ears. "Honestly, if Rocky went after the Death Eaters, they'd probably be so freaked out by a color-changing dog they'd run screaming."
Clarisse cracked a grin. "Honestly, that might be the best strategy we've got at this point. Let Rocky loose, watch him work his magic."
Reyna chuckled, shaking her head. "Let's face it, a blue dog is probably the least strange thing Hogwarts has ever seen."
Jamie grinned, leaning back into her chair. "Not sure how much that says about this place. Hogwarts: home of enchanted staircases, talking hats, and now, color-changing service dogs. Almost feels normal—if normal here even exists."
Their laughter trailed off, leaving a silence that settled over them as they fell back into their thoughts. The fire crackled softly, casting dancing shadows on their faces, illuminating the worry they all felt. The reality of Hogwarts now pressed down on them, seeping into even these moments of lightheartedness.
"We need to be careful," Reyna said finally, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying the strength of a command. "This place isn't the Hogwarts we expected. And if we're not careful, we're going to draw too much attention."
Will nodded, his face grim. "Yeah, it's... different. Darker. Like even the walls are watching us, waiting for us to slip up."
Thalia's gaze swept over each of them, a fierce determination in her expression. "Then we don't slip up. We stay under the radar, keep each other close, and do what we have to. We've faced worse than this before."
"Here's hoping it doesn't get that far," Jamie muttered, though her voice was tight with worry. "Then again, when do things ever go smoothly for us?"
Reyna's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Not often. But as long as we stick together, we'll handle it. Just like we always do."
Will raised his bottle. "To us, then. To getting through this, to making it out with all our limbs intact, and maybe even taking down a Death Eater or two."
They clinked their butterbeers together, sharing a moment of fierce camaraderie before settling back into their chairs, each mind whirling with the weight of what lay ahead. As the fire flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room, the silence grew heavy again, yet in it lay an unspoken promise: that they would face whatever this strange, foreboding Hogwarts had in store, together.
Rocky barked once more, his blue fur glistening in the firelight—a beacon of brightness against the shadows around them, reminding them that even in the darkest of times, there was still light.
