Young and Old, Back and Bold

Chapter 24

Annabeth stepped out of Dumbledore's office with the key held close to her chest. Knowledge of Nico's family filled her brain, sparked new ideas and old. He was a wizard, that much was certain. He was a wizard that was picked by the gods for a reason. If they had wanted one powerful in both magic and demigod abilities, he was the go-to man.

But she still didn't know exactly what they needed him for. And that killed her to think about.

The di Angelo's. According to Dumbledore, they had been a higher and richer wizarding family than the books let on. Maria, Nico's mother, was known for her looks and charms. Unlike the rest of her family, she took a liking to Muggles and half-bloods (in the wizarding sense). When she first got pregnant, it had been a scandal. No one had ever seen the guy before, nor had she been married to him. Her daughter was birthed in secret.

When Nico was born it got worse. The higher-ups looked down upon Maria, the other rich families grew by pushing the di Angelo's down. Eventually, Maria and her two kids disappeared along with a large chunk of the di Angelo's money.

And now, according to Dumbledore, all that money belonged to Nico and was sitting in the wizarding bank, waiting to be opened by the key in her hand.

"Excuse me," Annabeth stopped one of the yellow ties in the hall. "Can you lead me to your common rooms? I need to talk to my friend, Nico."

"Weasley?" the girl nodded. "Yeah, course. Follow me." She looked to Annabeth as she walked. "You got sorted into Ravenclaw, right?"

Annabeth nodded. "Though I can't say I've been around them much. I've got some family things happening that are taking up a lot of my time."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is everything okay?"

Annabeth didn't stop making a mental map of the castle as they walked. "Yeah, it'll turn out okay." She eyed one of the ghosts that drifted by. "What's up with the ghosts?"

The girl shrugged. "They've always been a part of this place, I guess. You get used to them. Did you not have them at your old school?"

Annabeth shook her head as they got to the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room. "Never." She looked to the girl once it was open. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

"No problem." she directed Annabeth to Nico's dormitory before heading out. "I've got to get going. Maybe I'll see you again some time?"

"Yeah, sure." Annabeth waited until she was alone before going to Nico's room, knocking on the door. "Nico, Will? Can I come in?"

"Yeah, come in, Annabeth," Will replied. "No one else is here."

"Good." Annabeth came into the room quickly and closed the door behind her. "Nico, I have a solution to your Dominic problem." She frowned, glancing between the two as she noticed the tears and sad eyes. "Is everything okay?"

Nico buried his head back into Will's chest, not answering nor commenting on what she had said. After a minute of silence, Will took his eyes off of him to look to Annabeth. "Yeah... We had to break up, you know. He's got to finish school and until he does, we can't get him back to his normal age. And by that time..."

Annabeth nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry... Nico, you'll be okay?"

Nico nodded into Will's chest, his voice merely a whisper. "I need my memories...but as long as I know that he's alive...I guess it's okay."

"That's a good thought process to have." her voice had lost its pride as her accomplishment now seemed nothing more than ordinary. If she could help these two, that'd be the ultimate accomplishment. "So...Will, are you going back home?"