Young and Old, Back and Bold

Chapter 22

"We should head up to our common rooms." Nico sat up with a dazed expression, having almost fallen asleep against Percy's warm body. Next to him, he felt as he did next to Ron or the twins. "We all need some rest. Will comes tomorrow."

"Yeah, he does." Annabeth smiled as she rose to her feet. "Then we can start training. Any ideas where?"

Nico nodded. "I'll show you after dinner tomorrow." He sat in silence for a minute before speaking. "Was Will excited to be able to meet me again?"

"He..." Percy looked to Annabeth for help. "He..."

"Is nervous." Annabeth admitted. "Apparently you and him were kissing and stuff and now...your age..."

Nico scowled. "Of course."

"Sorry." Annabeth put a hand on his shoulder. "But at least you can see him. We can figure it all out. I promise. McGonagall gave me access to the Restricted Section and everything."

Nico raised his eyebrows. "She gave you access? So she knows the...situation?"

Annabeth nodded. "Chiron and Dumbledore are old friends. That's how we got in so easy. Dumbledore told McGonagall and Snape."

"Oh," Nico blinked twice before looking to the teacher's table. Sure enough, both Snape and McGonagall were watching them. "Now they're gonna judge me... Apparently Hades is seen as the bad guy."

Annabeth and Percy exchanged glances, Piper having gone to her own common room not long before the Tartarus talk.

"He's not the bad guy." Percy finally stated. "He's messed with us less than the other gods."

Nico sighed. "They don't know that. They just know the mythology." He frowned. "Wait a second."

"What is it?" Annabeth asked. "Are you okay?"

Nico scowled. "If my dad is a god...why did he let all of this happen to me? Why'd he let the gods do this to me? The voice..." He froze, remembering that one sentence. "It said...it said 'Hades won't allow anymore mind wiping'."

Annabeth paled. "Oh gods... So he knew..."

The gods don't need to know that, son of Hades. The voice came again for the first time in weeks. It's between me and Hades, young demigod. It will stay that way.

Nico's voice shook, his heart dropped, but he relayed what it said. "What's...what's that mean? I...I'm not used to gods and stuff like you guys are. I'm not used to being in danger."

"You're going to have to get used to it." Percy mumbled. "Sounds like they really do have something in mind for you."

"Percy..." Annabeth sent him a warning look before returning her eyes to Nico. "The voice is female you said, right?"

Nico nodded, causing Annabeth to look around. "Where are you going?"

"Library." she pulled Percy up. "I can talk to McGonagall and she'll let me after hours. Percy, you're coming."

"But..." Percy sighed. "You're not going to let me get any sleep, are you?"

Annabeth shook her head before pointing to Nico. "You go sleep. You have classes tomorrow and Will's coming. You can't let your grades drop just because of a voice." She leaned in so no one could overhear. "Just because we're not wizards doesn't mean you aren't. You're going to actually have these powers all your life. So learn them."

"You've got me there." Nico stood up and stretched. "Don't stay out too late. You need sleep, too."

Annabeth nodded once before dragging Percy away, leaving Nico alone at the Gryffindor table. The voice hadn't spoken again, hadn't given its input, but he could feel it watching, waiting, keeping track of everything Nico did and thought.