Nico at Hogwarts(Final draft)

VI

Nico sighed. He made his way into the Slytherin common room. Really, the way the place was unorthodox but it was better than the streets in Venice. The clanging of the cell door alerted the others inside of his presence. He hated it. Having people look at him. Letting himself into the spotlight. The spotlight was always meant for others he thought bitterly.
"Hey Nico" Draco's obnoxious voice called to him
"What?" He glared at Draco. Will's call had made him miss home.
"Who kicked your ass?" Draco mocked him.
"No one" Nico snapped back. "What do you want?"
"Umbridge asked us to be part of a school rule enforcement committee" Draco said. "You gonna join?" Nico shrugged and dumped himself on the floor, leaning into the wall and hugging his knees
"Dunno" he said. Actually Nico already knew the answer, like hell he was gonna join Umbridge's little entourage. He felt jittery. His ADHD had emerged at full force at he felt like doing something. He stood.
"Where you goin'?" Draco asked and Nico gritted his teeth
"Why you askin'?" He answered. Draco shrugged
"Just 'cause" Nico wanted to strangle him. All he needed was someone tailing him.
"Somewhere" he answered and then he briskly stepped out the room. Walking down the hall he vanished into the shadows into the forest. It was dark. He understood why no one ventured in the forest. He liked it. Pulling his sword out the darkness he gave a few test swings. He really did love it. He'd gone to hell and back to make it. Literally. He'd bathed it into a bunch of rivers and gone to forges and a bunch of places he was better off not remembering. He imagined an opponent. Tall, taller than him. Blade at a defense position. Nico readied himself to imagine the opponent. It was hard to train like he was training. He was fighting a person that would do what Nico would. He'd make the moves that Nico would because he was Nico's own reflection. He breathed in and readied himself. The imaginary swordsman leapt forward. Then as his feet touched the ground he darted sideways, his sword already in motion. Nico momentarily hesitated, blocking with a lose grip. He leapt back and panted. The figure in his mind looked at him. He put a foot forward but then instead of leaping forward like Nico had expected he blended his knee and swiped at Nico foot, Nico knew that he'd lost. He made the image vanish and breathed. He needed today a physical opponent. He tapped the end of his sword and muttered
Απάντηση εσείς, (answer you)
το πνεύμα σου έχει φύγει,(who's spirits have gone)
ο οποίος είχε το πνεύμα λαμβάνονται,(your spirits been taken)
και έχει εγκαταλείψει(and has been forsaken)
A hand clawed itself free. It was dressed as a Roman and Nico thanked the gods that his trip to New Rome hadn't been useless. He'd learned Latin.
"parere me" told him.
"Evagina gladium tuum" it drew its sword. Nico liked fighting Greeks and Romans. He was able to learn from both and then combine it into his own style. The Roman jabbed at him. Typical. Nico sidestepped and then slashed as soon as he was perpendicular to the soldier hips. He fell and Nico bowed his head in respect. Last thing he needed was for the ghosts to hate him too. Then he stabbed down, disintegrating it. He huffed. He was bored. Ever since Laycon he hadn't really experienced a rush or adrenaline. He was depressed. Sighing he went to it away his blade but thought better of it and, using the his belt as a scabbard he hooked it. Snapping his fingers he felt a current of air. The stay in Venice hadn't been completely useless after all. He put his hands in his pockets and strolled back to the dorm. Nobody was awake at that hour. Nico still didn't feel sleepy but he laid in bed awake. Enjoying the calm bliss that only a few demigods experienced. Soon afterwards he felt the realm of Morpheus pulled at him and he abandoned resistance. His dreams weren't that different. He saw flashes of what could have been had Bianca lived. He was awoken by someone shaking his shoulder. He went to grab the knife e always kept under the pillow by instinct and then remembered that he wasn't in his cabin.
"Hey. We're going be late" Goyle stood there. He was looking at Nico with an expression that Nico was all to used to see, pity.
"What are you looking at?" He snarled. Goyle cowered back and Nico winced. He had forgotten. He was supposedly the heir of Slytherin and powerful. Goyle was used to cowering before others more powerful, like Draco.
"Sorry"he said. Goyle mumbled something that Nico couldn't understand. "What did you say?" He asked.
"Uhh. Nothing" Goyle mumbled.
"No. Tell me, please" Nico insisted
"Nothing, just that you aren't much of a morning person" Nico laughed and Goyle looked startled.
"It's alright, Goyle. You aren't the only one that has told me"
"Who else has told you that" Goyle sounded like he admired anyone that had told Nico that. As if Nico were some big scary mob boss.
"Just my boyfriend" Goyle went wide eyed. Nico huffed. "Anyway. I'll be ready in five" he said. Goyle nodded and Nico turned around but before Goyle left Nico turned to face him again and said
"Thanks. You know, I'm a light sleeper but sometimes" he winced. How to explain that sometimes he attempted to choke the one that startled him awake. "Uhmm. Well. Just be careful when you wake me up" Goyle's eyes widened and he nodded quickly. Nico nodded and then turned and as soon as he heard Goyle leave he suited on his black jeans. His black shirt. A chain for a belt and looked at himself on a mirror in front of his bed. No freaking was he going around in robes and look like a freak'n monk. He grabbed his sword. He'd leaned it on the side of his bed when he'd gotten back from the forest. Hooking it to his belt he made his way to the Grand hall. Or dinning or whatever. Nico arrived to find that the Slytherin table was empty. Goyle was nowhere to be seen and there were few people sitting at the other tables. Amongst the few people that were there the golden trio was there. He sighed and went to the fountain of food that was there. Grapes, apples, raisins and other food was there, Nico picked up a small handful of raisins and sighed. Slumping into his seat he picked at the raisins in his hand.
"Hey" Nico jerked up his head. Hermione looked at him as if he were an insect as Nico wanted to slam a fist into a wall. It was always like that, no matter how he acted all that mattered was his sorting, his parentage. It was never about the soul but the appearance.
"What?" He said. Hermione looked back and Nico saw that he was the only one left along with Harry, Ron and her.
"The bell's rung" she said and then turned away, leaving Nico a bit disoriented and looking after her. He shrugged to himself and grabbed the rest of the grapes. He didn't even show up for his next class. It was history and he didn't feel like going. He already knew, he'd lived it. Plus Bins was showing it si he'd just give him the death glare as Will likes to call it. Lunch passed in a blur and he grabbed the same type of grapes that he'd taken at breakfast. Leaving without even talking with anyone. He ate them while he made his way to DA. He was greeted by a class in shambles. People were laughing and throwing a paper plane in the air. Nico watched as the paper plane went to fall on his lap and he took out his wand, flicking it with and cast a non verbal spell. It flew. Before anyone could once again throw it soaring there was a crack like a whip and the bird wet in flames. Nico didn't even bother to turn his head. He already knew who it was. Umbridge walked in all her pink glory. She made he way to the front room. All eyes following her. Nico had bowed his head down, looking at his legs. He really felt like sleeping. She got to the front of the room
"Well, good afternoon" she said. A few mutters of good morning were heard but otherwise the class was silent.
"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "That won't do, now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"
"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," Nico didn't even bother to open his mouth. He didn't feel like talking to the hag.
"There, now," said Professor Umbridge sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please." Nico hadn't even taken out his. He'd already known the hell that awaited him. Umbridge pulled out her wand and tapped the blackboard sharply; words appeared on the board at once:
Defense Against the Dark Arts A Return to Basic Principles.
Nico felt like really dying or sleeping. He hated Umbridge. He really hated her.
"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" stated Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year." Nico gagged internally. The ministry approved teachers were shit. He'd spoken to them. They really were naive. Not that they taught badly, they were just too naive. They had been educated and taught with the belief that the peace that they had was everlasting.
"You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory- centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please." More like horrified Nico thought.
She rapped the blackboard again; the first message vanished and was replaced by:
Course aims:
Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.
Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic
can legally be used.
Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for
practical use
Nico hadn't missed the fact that it said legal uses for defensive magic. Of course he already knew that the times that he'd need to face Voldemort would certainly not be legal approved. Nico didn't even both pick up his quill. Know that he thought about, he'd been able to read the text. Maybe it had to do with the place.
"Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"
There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class. Nico had not bought it. It appeared that whoever had decided to send hin to the dreaded quest already had everything prepared. He'd found a trunk full of stuff when he'd gotten to the common room.
"I think we'll try that again," said Professor Umbridge. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Um- bridge,' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"
"Yes, Professor Umbridge," rang through the room. Again Nico didn't even open his mouth.
"Good," said Professor Umbridge. "I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk.". Nico opened it and every minute or so he turned a page. His eyes not even looking at the page. They were unfocused. The letters blurred. He was falling asleep. He vaguely heard the argument that Hermione had with Umbridge. He didn't pay much attention. However he was Jared awake when he heard the name Voldemort. He looked up to see Umbridge walk down aisle.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter."
The classroom was silent and still. Everyone was staring at either Umbridge or Harry.
"Now, let me make a few things quite plain. You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead —"
"He wasn't dead," said Harry angrily, "but yeah, he's returned!"
"Mr.-Potter-you-have-already-lost-your-House-ten-points-do-not- make-matters-worse-for-yourself," said Professor Umbridge in one breath without looking at him. "As I was saying, you have been in- formed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."
"It is NOT a lie!" said Harry. "I saw him, I fought him!"
"Detention, Mr. Potter!" said Professor Umbridge triumphantly. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.' "
"So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he?" Harry asked, his voice shaking.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident," she said coldly. Nico felt like face palming. The situation was ridiculous
"It was murder, Voldemort killed him, and you know it." Nico lifted his head back, to look at Harry. Who happened to behind him.
"Would you shut up potter. We all know that Voldemort is loose" he said. His voice dull.

HARRY POV
Harry felt like a gapping fish. Here we the creepy, weird guy actually supporting him. And he was a Slytherin. Weren't they with Umbridge?
"Now Mr..." Umbridge hashtags with his second name
"Di Angelo" Nico offered, turning his body slightly to face Umbridge
"Whatever you've been told it's a lie" Harry saw Nico laugh. It was disconcerting and scary. He sounded perverse and evil.
"Oh that's too good" Nico snorted "have you stopped to consider it might've been the other way. All that you've been told was a lie" he laughed again. "Damn. Woman. My whole life's been a lie" he stood. He didn't exactly tower over Umbridge but he was certainly taller than her.
"This class's bullshit" he said to her face and Harry felt like gapping. Nico turned and walked out. "See you I'm detention" he said without even turning. The class silently stared. Nico's book had been left there. Harry noticed that he hadn't written anything.
"Detention Mr.Potter"