Percy and Nico Undercover at Hogwarts

Chapter Forty One

Ron's POV

The five of us were sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room later that night. It was around ten and we had out waited even the Seventh Years so we could be alone. Why we didn't just go up to our dormitory? I had no idea, but I didn't feel like arguing with Hermione.

"You know what I'm going to ask," Hermione said to Percy and Nico and they sat up straighter on the couch that the two of them were hogging.

"Yeah, but instead of just explaining thing and possibly missing things, how about you just ask anyways," Percy said and ran a hand through his hair. "Like you're always doing," he added quietly under his breath, but we all heard him.

I knew that Hermione had been dying to ask Percy and Nico about their boggarts, and I'll admit, I was quite curious too. Nothing about those two boys was simple.

"Why were you one of your own fears?" Hermione asked and Perce sort of shrugged, not really sure how to answer.

"I guess that was me being a traitor. I'm a very loyal person and the thought of being the reason that my friends have died is terrifying to me."

"That asked more questions than it answered," Hermione mumbled but we heard her.

"Why do you mean?" I asked and she just looked at Percy.

"You're friends have died. How? In the war?" Hermione asked and Harry and I glared at her.

"Hermione!" Harry yelled, sounding angry. "Professor Apollo told us not to mention that!"

Percy froze, his eyes wide. Nico was the one to talk. "If you're going to talk about the war, don't ask Percy. Ask me."

"Okay," Hermione said, not as bothered as Harry and I about Percy's reaction to this topic. I knew that we should change it, but if Nico was willing to answer, she might as well ask her questions now.

"What friends?"

"Almost all of them," Nico answered with a blank expression. "I've never had as many friends as Percy so it wasn't as bad as I watched people die."

"Apollo told Harry that you two have killed someone before," Hermione said and Nico gave her a dumbfounded expression.

"We were in war," he said slowly. "What do you think we did? Arm wrestle?" Hermione looked slightly offended at Nico's response.

"He also said that you guys would kill someone to protect me," Harry said, trying to get the attention off of Hermione.

"We would."

"Why?"

"Because you're our friend."

Harry looked oddly touched at that, and of course, Hermione ruined the moment and started to ask questions relentlessly.

"Apollo said the Percy lead the war with six others, like the prophecy from Divination said."

"He did, and only three of them are still alive," Nico answered simply. He looked at Percy and I followed his gaze.

Percy seemed to be coming out of his trance that he was before. He no longer looked scared. He just looked sad now.

"What about the civil war that you stopped?"

"I returned something that had been missing that caused the feud in the first place."

"Apollo said a weird poem thing that Harry can't remember." We looked at Harry who just shrugged. "It was something about you becoming shadows. What did it mean?"