Hecate's Kin

Chapter 16 - Howlers and Draco

Nico's POV

Term flew by pretty uneventfully. We'd been at Hogwarts for about 5 weeks so were nearing the time when Mid-term break would normally appear, but it seemed that Hogwarts didn't actually have a holiday until Christmas. Nothing odd had happened much since our first week: Trelwany hadn't made any more prophecies; Leo hadn't publicly lit himself on fire and Annabeth hadn't had any more nightmares as far as we were aware. Jason was now a chaser on the Gryffindor quiditch team and has been training most nights, ready for the upcoming match against Hufflepuff next week. On the whole, we were all improving at magic and didn't have to cheat anymore... well, not much

Anyway, we were all down in breakfast and the post owls started arriving. I never got any post, some of the others did, but I guess that was because they actually wrote to camp. I hadn't written to anyone all term. And that was why I was so surprised when a raven flew into the hall with the owls and dropped a bright red envelope which landed on the table in front of me.

I was hungry that morning so I decided to just put it to the side and read it later. I'd only just re-started eating my bacon and eggs when Ron tapped me on the shoulder.

"You might want to open that, mate. Someones sent you a howler!"

"What's a...?"

I didn't get time to finish my question, the letter answered for me. It suddenly exploded open, unfolding into a mouth. My first thought was, 'what the Hades?'. Then it began to speak and my opinion changed to more like 'I'm dead'. The letter turned away from me so it was facing the others and started speaking in a voice that I'd recognise anywhere.

"Hey guys, nice to hear form you. We've all loved receiving your letters at c... school. Chiron read out some of the best ones. The Stolls nearly died laughing at your first charms lesson. I don't think you'll ever hear the end of that one, Leo. Everything's pretty normal hear. Grover spends all his time with Juniper. Coach Hedge is still showing off Chuck to everyone who will listen and basically everything's pretty much back to how it was before.

"So yeah, that's kind of all. It was so nice to her from the nine of you... Actually, wait a minute, I could've sworn that ten of you left. Yeah, there was that other kid. What was his name again, Nick, Nicky, Nicholas..."

Percy looked like he was about to die laughing, Jason was trying to stop himself from breaking down but he wasn't doing a great job. Through his hysteria, Leo managed to breath out my name before breaking down again. Somehow, Will had managed to time the damn letter to turn towards me and start talking again at the exact same time Leo spoke.

"Yeah, that was it. Nico! Remember me? I'm that guy, Will, from school. The one you promised to write to, cause I swear, my threat about my father still stands!"
 Practically the whole hall was looking now, I was so tempted to melt into the shadows, it was taking all my will power to remain solid.

"Don't think you can just melt into the shadows and avoid me!" (can he read my mind?) "'Cause I bet that the whole schools listening to this and, unless you want me to start shouting about your most embarrassing moments... Nah, just kidding, I'm not that mean... yet. But, by Apollo, if you go until Christmas without writing once, I will personally send Clarisse after you. I mean, I'd come myself but I'm not one for violence, healer not harmer and all that. Now you might be thinking that she's not that bad but if you dodge her then... DEATH BY HAIKU IT SHALL BE!!!!!!!!!!"

Finally, the letter turned back to the others and said in a really monotone voice. "Hope you have a great rest of term. Yours sincerely, Will Solace, Cabin 7"

And with that, the letter tore itself into shreds and floated down to the table.

Ron's POV