Lives Collide, Harm(fully)(lessly)

Chapter 9

Nico and Harry were stuck in the hospital wing the whole weekend, which Nico didn't mind much. He didn't plan on visiting Camp Half-Blood anytime soon, if ever again.

But Will Solace...what did he think of Nico, now? What did the others think? If the secret got out...

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, late one night after the visitors had died down.

Nico looked over from the large book he had had Hermione bring him. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Er, your foot," Harry said. "I haven't been able to thank you yet, for catching me. If you hadn't...I could have landed on my neck, broke it."

Nico shrugged. "I...I was doing my job. Besides, I've been fighting to save people since I was ten. It's just my life." He sighed. "And it's my life to be lonely, apparently," he muttered.

"You have us," Harry offered. "We're your friends, you know. I know you like to keep things to yourself and you don't get to know people well, but we're here for you."

Nico wanted to tell him the truth, wanted to tell him the real reason why he didn't want to get close to him. He knew he was going to die, knew he only had years left. He couldn't take the death of another friend, not after Jason.

He gave him a smile, anyways. "Thanks, Harry."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was another trip to Hogsmeade, and by the time it came up, Nico had successfully declined all Iris Messages that tried to reach him. Camp Half-Blood and Dominic Cook were far in the back of his mind, but Will Solace still shone as bright as ever.

If only Will Solace was a wizard, than everything would be solved. But he wasn't. He was a demigod, he was a healer, he wanted to be a doctor in NYC and not in England. He was older, now, and he had a life ahead of him.

Nico didn't want to pull anyone down with him.

He was walking alone in the snow of Hogsmeade when he spotted Ron and Hermione acting suspiciously. Not putting anything past them, he quickly went to see what was up.

"So, what are you two doing?" Nico asked, falling into step beside Ron. "You can tell you're up to something."

Hermione pulled Nico closer to her and whispered how Harry had snuck out of the castle with something called the Marauder's Map. As soon as she was done with the explanation, she started to state her fears about this choice.

"He could be killed!" she hissed. "Black could be anywhere."

"There's dementors, Hermione," Ron argued. "They're everywhere. And have him see Harry through this." He gestured to the blizzard around them.

Nico elbowed Hermione slightly. "I've got my wand and a dagger. We'll be fine."

"You're carrying a dagger around with you." Hermione said slowly, sounding as if she was scolding a young child. "That's dangerous, Nico. And illegal!"

Nico rolled his eyes. "No one's going to know. It's in my boot. Besides, monsters aren't damaged by magic. I need to have it with me."

"Fine, but I warned you." she looked to Ron and where he assumed Harry to be under the Invisibility Cloak. "What to go to the Three Broomsticks?"

Nico felt his spine warm. "Butterbeers?"

She nodded. "Harry, you need to try one."

They walked into the building and went to the back, hopefully far enough to talk to Harry without anyone listening in. Ron went to get the drinks, leaving the three of them to sit at the old, wooden table.

Ron soon came back with four butterbeers balanced in his hands. "Merry Christmas!"

Nico downed his before laying his head on the table, taking in the smells and sounds around them. A soft feeling had risen in his chest, a small happiness he hadn't felt nearly as much as he used to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the holidays, Nico spent his days exploring the castle more and catching up in his schoolwork. When the later was done, he spent his time in the library again. Eventually, he found himself by the Restricted Section.

Nico doubted clues about his family would be held in there, but something in his gut told him to at least look. So, when no one was looking, he shadow traveled into it as quietly as he could.

Immediately, he could see why the section was closed off to most students. The books were on dark subjects, subjects that would only be safe to be seen by some eyes. After ten or so minutes, he found the book he had been looking for for months, though he didn't know it yet.

History of Dark Magic. Nico took the book in his hands and traced his finger over the cover. Something inside pulled at something in his gut.

Nico looked around once before sitting down and cracking the book open. Inside, the table of contents labeled each section as a different type of dark magic. Necromancy caught his attention, so he flipped to it. Halfway down the page, he saw what his gut had wanted him to.

Another rumored family to have practiced necromancy were the di Angelo's. Before Tom Riddle's rise to power, they were said to be one of the most powerful families in Europe. At Voldemort's rise, however, they died off just as most of his enemies did.

It continued on from there, going on about necromancy and leaving the topic of his family. But already, he found out more than he had known before. They had practiced necromancy, a dark magic, and that was probably what had attracted his father to his mother. And their power, they were known for their power...

And they were all dead. If the book was right, he was the only living member left. And all clues pointed to Voldemort for the fault.

Had they turned against him last minute? Had he simply wanted to be the most powerful? Yet, still, he didn't know whether or not they truly worked for the Dark Lord. He would ask his father, but bringing up Maria di Angelo around him was always a mistake. Nico had learned that years ago.

The bell rang soon after, leaving him to save the rest of the Restricted Section for another day, only able to hope that he would find what he's looking for.