Death Breath, the Debt Collector. (PJO/HP XC)

Chapter 12: Distractions

Alright y'all it has been some time, hasn't it? Enjoy this update!!!

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When Nico woke up and didn't see the curtains of his four-poster bed, he was caught off guard. When he remembered his dream, he was curious.

Something wasn't right in his world. Nico had mixed feelings about the centaur's words. He felt a loyalty to his own world compared to this Wizarding world, but why? He couldn't find a reason. He had been screwed over time and time again by his own world. His dad gave him a mission for the world, gave him a leg up to get out of the hellhole that was Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter for a few months. Maybe Nico didn't want this mission to be over so soon.

Had he made friends? No. Nico couldn't call the trio his friends so long as their friendship was based on ulterior motives. But maybe, if he tried harder, maybe, he could become actual, real-life friends with the people of Hogwarts. It would certainly make the next few months easier.

Nico rose from the bed, silently thanking Hypnos for sleep. Sweet, glorious sleep. He looked around, realizing he was in the Room of Requirement, and took analyzed the situation. He wasn't in the four-poster, and he was trying to lay-off using his powers for a while so he could recover. So, he either had to hope that the boys thought he had been there the whole night, and went on to breakfast themselves, or....

Or what? How could Nico convince them he had been there the whole night?

'Well,' Nico thought, 'Do I really need to?'

Nico shrugged, laced up his converse, and left the Room of Requirement. It was Sunday, which meant students would be either down in Hogsmeade for another day of fun, finishing homework, or sleeping.

Nico didn't pass anybody on his way down to the Great Hall. When he approached the room, he spotted Ginny sitting with Luna and another Gryffindor boy, Seamus something or other. Might as well start now with the whole 'friends' thing, right?

"Hey, Luna. Ginny. Seamus." He said as he sat down, nodding to each of them. Luna smiled at him and told him good morning, and, after exchanging a glance at each other, Ginny and Seamus did the same.

"How did Hogsmeade treat you guys?" He asked them, genuinely interested in knowing what it was like from somebody who had been there multiple times.

Seamus answered first, "Same ol' same ol', got a butterbeer with Dean down at the Three Broomsticks. Stopped by the Joke Shop."

Luna nodded at him. "That sounds nice, Seamus. Ginny and I went to the Three Broomsticks as well, then to Honeydukes and Madame Puddifoot's."

Ginny turned around, noticing company arriving. "Good morning Harry." Ron sent a look Ginny's way, which she ignored. Ron and Hermione both sat down next to Luna.

"I hope you slept well," Luna told the trio, and they nodded sleepily.

Nico smiled at them, which they looked surprised at-- as if wondering what the jig was.

Ron immediately began piling breakfast onto his plate, Nico wasn't really paying attention once he saw beans were involved. Hermione made herself cereal, and Harry chatted with Ginny while gathering toast and jam. Nico shrugged to himself, feeling a bit out of place. He didn't move to grab breakfast, however, preferring to just drink a glace of cold water that appeared in his cup.

"So, guys, what's the plan for today?" Nico asked the group at large.

The trio shared a glance, and Nico decided to play it cool- he grinned and said "Homework?" He internally shook his head. They were lucky he was playing with them, allowing them to keep their secrets. The group laughed nervously and Ginny groaned, going off to talk about how Snape had assigned 3 sheets of parchment due next class.