THE EXCHANGE - Nico Di Angelo at Hogwarts

Four ; Learning Magic

Over the next couple of weeks, Jemma came to camp and taught Nico all that he needed to know to pass as a wizard.

She taught him how Ilvermorny, the school he was 'attending', functioned. The courses were more progressive and had gone through a big change after Grindlewald's attacks. It was more no-maj (the name for non-magical mortals in America) friendly, and students were more versed in the non-magical world.

It was very democratic, and one of the least elitist schools in the world. Students are taught wandless magic, an art passed down by the native American. Nico noted that it would be a very handy explanation if he was ever forced to use his powers.

They learned essentially the same subjects as at Hogwarts, the school he would be actually going to. They did a different kind of divination, which was future telling, with sticks. And Hogwarts focused on some subjects more than others.

Nico had always been able to absorb information fairly easily. He had always been naturally curious, and after his sister died, he had researched about the world constantly. He had been to many different libraries, including his father's, Athena's (secretly, of course), and Thoth's just to name a few. He had struggled through dyslexia and had found ways to live with it (although he still took three times longer than the regular person to read something). So all this new information was a little overwhelming but he wasn't finding it incredibly hard to remember it all.

When they moved onto performing simple spells, he was interested to find that a lot of spell incantations were just Latin phrases. This obviously made pronunciation fairly easy, as most demigods were hardwired with knowledge of the dead language.

It also meant that, if worst came to worse and he didn't know a spell, he could just say what he wanted to achieve in Latin and wave the stick around a little. He was sure that wouldn't be recommended by anyone with any actual magical knowledge, but since when did he care about a professional opinion?

He found the magic fairly simple, catching on quickly. They practised in a clearing in the forest where they wouldn't be interrupted by confused demigods. And with all the loud noises, the nymphs and other creatures stayed far away.

Will sometimes came to watch, calling words on encouragement. He seemed interested in the magical world as well and engaged in light chatter with Jemma about it.

The time passed very quickly, and soon it was only the day before Nico would be off to Hogwarts. He was finishing up with packing, while Will sat on the bottom bunk of his bed and read off a piece of paper.

"You got all your books?" Will asked.

He pointed to the pile of reading material stacked in his trunk.

His boyfriend looked up incredulously. "That's a lot. Have you seriously already read it all?"

"Almost all of it. I've still got one or two left." He answered distractedly, folding yet another sweater. It would apparently be very cold wherever in Scotland the school was.

"You're so lucky you don't have as bad dyslexia as the rest of us. It's absolute torture getting through all the material I have to. You would be really smart if you actually did school."

"No point. I'm pretty sure I pretty much don't exist now. I mean Alecto faked all the records when I was younger but I think dad got him to revoke that so I wouldn't get in trouble with the authorities." Nico said.

"There's still a point, you could get a job."

"Maybe I'll take up regular school after this quest." He sighed and closed the trunk, finally happy with his packing. "I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow. After so long preparing."

"Kind of surreal, huh?" The son of Apollo gestured for him to sit with him, and swung an arm on his shoulders. "I'll miss you so much, sunshine."

Nico buried his face in his shirt, breathing in the smell of Will."I'll miss you too. Gods Will, it'll be so weird not being with you constantly."

He looked up to see tears building in his boyfriend's eyes, shining brightly in the blue orbs. He laughed slightly. "Stop, you'll set me off too."

They brought their hands around each other, hugging so tightly that he felt breathless. They stayed like that for what seemed like a lifetime, until the bell rang out for dinner.