Nico Di Angelo at Hogwarts

Chapter 25

The second wave massed just inside the forest border, the shadowy figure of their leader standing still, staring out towards the castle. Two wizards stood by her side, each nervous to be in her presence, but too scared to move away. They watched as demigods and wizards alike assembled, tending to their wounded and sorrowfully wrapping the dead in long white cloth, it's pristine fabric becoming tainted scarlet with blood. Nyx smiled with a psychotic glee as her eyesight honed in on a certain three, her main targets. They were the way she'd break the resolve of the rest.

Sons and daughters of Hephaestus climbed and crawled on and around the catapults, repairing and altering the damaged structures. Students used spells to help them reposition particularly large portions, enabling them to re-secure the massive beams.

Apollo children jogged around the courtyard, passing out nectar, ambrosia and healing potions to those in need. Bandages tightened, blood stopped dripping to the stone floor, and fighters began to regain their strength.

Nico wouldn't leave Will's side, following him around as the blonde tended to the injured. The son of Hades' helm was fastened to his belt, his sword hung heavily by his side, bumping into his thigh annoyingly. His hair stuck to his forehead, making his already pale skin look whiter. His skin crawled, not liking the thin film of sweat, dirt, blood and monster dust that covered it, seeming to seep into his pores. The armor strapped to his body felt much heavier, his muscles tired and strained. A small canteen in his hand was lifted to his lips occasionally, letting cuts and bruises fade from his olive skin. As time crawled on, he felt less fatigued, more prepared for the fight ahead.

Percy and Annabeth sat on a balustrade, their feet dangling over the rocky ravine without fear. The daughter of Athena rested her head on her boyfriend's shoulder, playing with his fingers. They exchanged no words, not needing to. They knew what the other was thinking, and didn't want to disturb the silence that coated them in a thick blanket. The future was always hazy for them, this was not anything special, but this never seemed to stop Percy from worrying about the woman sitting next to him. She was his everything, he had fallen to Tarturus for her, turned down immortality for her, sacrificed so much for her, and she sacrificed just as much for him. He also thought of his mother, the woman who raised and cared for him. She, Paul, and their new little girl were unaware of this war. Worrying them was the last thing he wanted to do, but now he was slightly regretting not contacting them. What if he had died, and someone had to visit and explain that he had died in a war they didn't know was going to happen? Who was going to help raise his little sister? Who was going to surprise visit with a package of blue cookies in the middle of dinner? His fingers carded through Annabeth's blond hair absentmindedly as he stared at the mass shifting, waiting, in the forest.

Tom and Emma had joined the group, reporting that they had only lost one witch and one Roman demigod from the astronomy tower group. Frank bowed his head slightly, aching that he had lost a soldier, his family member, his friend.

Unfortunately, as the couple had relocated, so had Ron and Harry. The two stared around in shock, surveying the damage that had been inflicted on their home, the strangers that were helping defend it, and their fellow schoolmates. Di Angelo followed his boyfriend around like a lost puppy, sipping a mystery substance from a small water bottle. But most importantly to them, they watched their long time best friend speaking with a tall Asian man, who was clasping a long bow in one hand, his other gripping a leather strap that was slung across his shoulder. Hermione, or should they say Emma, stood next to another that they thought they knew. Malfoy, or Tom, as he insisted on being called, who had his arm wrapped securely around her waist, and a skeleton kitten sitting on his shoulder, it's tail swinging nervously.

A cry swept through the group of warriors, all eyes snapping towards the forest as hoards of monsters and dark wizards flooded from it's cover, enemies dripping from behind every tree. Without a command, catapults fired explosives, these lit with greek fire. More were fired, four green spheres of death raining down on the advancing army.