!!!TRIGGER WARNING!!!

There are references to homophobic names. They are not directly said but it is implied that they have been used.

Hermione POV:

Ron along with everyone at school was insufferable to be around, everyone was avoiding Harry and making fun of him, well except for the students from Chirons Academy. Other than a few joking jabs at my best friend there did not seem to be any bad feelings from the group if anything they seemed protective. Harry had told me about how Annabeth and Percy had stood up and fought for him the night of the choosing. I had thanked Annabeth privately for her help. Ron was being a toe rag about the whole thing. He kept asking how Harry could have entered without telling him he was going to, which of course was a load of hogwash, Harry would never. Between the two of us, we had decided to give the students from Chirons Academy a chance, I mean they were ruining their reputations by hanging out with Harry and me. I had heard some pretty nasty things the girls in the dorms were saying about Harry and they all seemed to hate the girls of the group, probably due to the fact that their relationships with the attractive boys were very close. I was pretty sure that at least a few of them were in relationships, but they all bickered enough that I wouldn't doubt if they just stuck together for the sake of familiarity.

Well except for Thalia, everyone had a respective fear of the girl after she cast a cacophony of spells, without her wand and silently at some boy from Ravenclaw who had catcalled her. He had ended up in the hospital wing for a week and still, his hair was standing on end and he constantly smelled like a campfire, I thought I had seen him croak like a frog a few times but I didn't know of any spell that could do that. I had asked her about it out of curiosity a few days after but she had gotten all nervous and said she didn't know she had just wished the boy misfortune and he was croaking of his own accord, something about it being related to fear. She didn't know the actual spell though, just that it was a happy accident.

It was a little more than a month until the first task of the tournament, which we were no closer to knowing what it was.Which was making the two champions of our group wary and short tempered. Annabeth seemed to have a good hold on Percy's emotions though and whenever he got too wound up would drag him out of the common room, the great hall, even class a few times promising to be back soon. She always returned damp and cold with a much more manageable Percy Jackson with her. Harry however could win a gold medal for his attitude, he was sulky and miserable, the fact that his usual friends in the dorms weren't even acknowledging his presence let alone talking to him was not making our situation with his mood any better. Piper was the only one who seemed to be able to calm him, a few soothing words out of her mouth and he was cured, almost like a spell would do.

Harry and I were walking to Potions with Nico, Will, and Hazel. The rest of the students had to attend advanced potions, a few of them had seemed panicked at the notion but Piper had told them they would be fine and they all automatically calmed down, her control over her element was very strong. I had seen her tell some third-year Gryffindor girl that was picking on a first-year Slytherin to dye her hair green in solidarity and that it would really complete her badass look. After she had done it the girl had cried for an hour because she looked like a Slytherin, I had been wary of her ever since.

While waiting for Snape to open the potions door the five of us were interrupted by Draco Malfoy. Who was sporting a large pin that we had been seeing around the castle, stating support CEDRIC DIGGORY until Harry walked by and then they changed to POTTER STINKS.

"Potter, have you seen these pins everyone is sporting around the school? Genius I must say, I designed them myself." Malfoy bosted with a pull of his collar.

"Piss off Malfoy" Harry hissed at the Slytherin in front of us, gaining the attention of Will and Hazel who narrowed their eyes at him, Nico seemed to be looking for his soul.

"Ah, now that's not very sportsmanlike for a champion is it Potter?" Malfoy retaliated with a snicker coming from his gaggle of friends behind him, all sporting the same pin.

"Ah, look what we have here! It's the kids from Chirons Academy, would you like one? I can, of course, change Diggory to Jackson if you would prefer, it's the same concept." I could see the shock and anger registering on Will and Hazel's faces. Before she covered hers up with a sweet smile.

"Oh, how lovely! I, however, don't have the capacity to play on a low playing field such as that. Plus I am sure Percy would not appreciate the gesture, he seems to have taken quite the liking to Harry here, as have the rest of us. So we must, unfortunately, decline your offer. I would love to see what spells you used to make such a masterpiece, however!" I was shocked by her words, so was Will who was staring at her with a mix of shock and pride.

"I see, well Levesque as a fellow witch-" Hazel flinched at the word, "- I think you would understand why I can't do that. I want my inventions to remain intact and just that, MY inventions. Surely you understand." Malfoys voice was low but not quite dangerous. Draco was not a dumb wizard he knew that the way she had answered him was defiant and underhanded.

"Anyways, Potter Granger, you seem to be missing a member. Where is Weaslebee? Has he finally come to realize that you two are not the best company? Perhaps he is too afraid to show his face now that he and Potter have had a falling out. Tsk Tsk, I didn't think you could get any lamer. But you Granger, if Weaslebee has gone why haven't you? Getting a divorce are you?" I felt blood rush to my cheeks, but whether it was in embarrassment or anger was unclear.

"Why are you paying us so much attention Malfoy? Feeling left out of the conversation?" I shot back, his face turned into one of anger and disgust.

"Left out? Of course not what would I gain from paying you any attention, other than a need for a shower, Mudblood." I saw Harry draw his wand beside me, Hazel gasped and Will stepped forward pulling the two of us back.

"Malfoy, I don't appreciate those kinds of derogatory terms in my presence. They hit a little close to home. I would be grateful if you would refrain from using them." Will calmly told him, however, the tenseness in his shoulders indicated that he was holding back some words of his own. Malfoy sneered at the taller boy in front of him. Who seemed to be emitting a dull light.

"Oh, Potter got yourself another Mudblood friend, do you? Shame you seemed a decent fellow." Will narrowed his eyes at the platinum blond in front of him,

"Halfblood actually, we all are. I just don't appreciate you calling out derogatory names around me. I've had enough of them over the years. I will not warn you again Malfoy." Wills's voice was very low now, even though I was not on the receiving end of his look I could feel the seriousness of his words. I felt a rush of admiration for the boy. Malfoy did not seem to understand the seriousness of the situation.

"Halfblood is a little better. But that doesn't prove anything. What sort of abomination are you that you would have a derogato-" Malfoy was cut off by Will's cold voice echoing across the corridor.

"I'm Gay you absolute prick." The whole room went dead quiet as Will stared at the group in front of him waiting for a reason to fight. I could see a few Gryffindors who had previously not been interested in our exchange slyly pull their wands from their robes. I also saw a few scrunch their noses and turn away from the boy beside me. Hazel had spun around, seemingly to be either ignoring the situation or searching for something. The whole room was still for a few more moments as Malfoys eyebrows screwed upon his face to one of surprise and anger, he had not taken his wand from his robes, neither had most of the Slytherins behind him, except for Parkinson and Bulstrode who both seemed hesitant at their own actions but were eyeing Harry's and I's wands warily.

"So?" I all but stepped back at Draco's words. "I don't care if your gay, that isn't my business. I have no issue with you because of that. Now, the company you hang out with in terms of students here at Hogwarts I find questionable at best, and insulting at worst." the students around me shuffled nervously, I had never heard Malfoy be so civil before. His soft look had vanished midway through his speech, returning once more to his permanent smirk.

"As you were Gryffindorks, I have no quarrel with your Sunny boy" The Gryffindors around me hesitantly go back to their conversations, probably about the newly discovered side of Draco Malfoy. While the boy in question turned his gaze to me causing me to stand taller,

"Now that that's cleared up. Granger, you really should-"

"Draco Malfoy, right?" All eyes jumped to the small Italian boy now standing between Will and Harry. Malfoy seemed surprised, it seems he hadn't seen the kid show up either, Harry all but jumped away from him and into me.

"Of course, you're that DiAngelo kid right?" Nico nods at him and begins to close the distance to Malfoy.

"Nico!" Will hissed at him staring to follow only to be held back by the small arm of Hazel, I heard her whisper watch at him, never taking her eyes off of the stupidly brave boy as he crossed the small distance.

"Woh, hey! DiAngelo, back up what the hell? I don't have a problem with your boy, Solace, back off." The Slytherins seemed alarmed at the approaching boy, Parkinson and Bulstrode raised their wands once again now aiming at Nico. He stopped right in front of Draco and tilted his head. Other than our two groups no other members of the houses were watching, I could see Ron suspiciously watching our interaction, his hand in his pocket clutched presumably around his wand, waiting to attack if things went wrong for Harry and I. With my attention back to the staredown in front of me.

"What the hell, DiAngelo, what are you playing at?" Malfoys hand was in his robe pocket and he leaned away from the boy in front of him, whose hands were hanging loosely at his sides.

"You aren't what I expected." Malfoy balked and opened his mouth to speak but Nico began again before he had the chance. "You are much more of a slimy grease ball snake than Elizabeth told me. Now your reputation around here isn't great but I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt because of the glowing remarks from our inhouse ghost." Draco stumbled away from Nico with shock written all over his face. Nico did not seem fazed, the wands pointed at him wavered slightly. I made eye contact with Harry, who looked just as confused as I did, I didn't know of any ghosts named Elizabeth at the school. I could see Hazel and Will smiling now, neither one concerned for their friend any longer.

"How do you-" Draco began but was cut off once more.

"Roman also told me some varying reviews. He said you were a true Slytherin if a little prejudiced. He was a half-blood too you know." All of the Slytherins were now displaying the same shocked faces, Pansy and Mellicents wands now down at their sides as they stared at the small boy in front of them. Harry and I just got more confused I assumed Roman was a ghost as Nico was referring him in the past tense.

"The rest of you have reputations as well, yes Blaise Zabini even you." I watched the dark-skinned wizard jumped at his name and grabbed Nott's arm sleeve.

"How do you know their names? You don't even go to this school. You've been here like two months?" Theodore Nott stammered out still unaware of Blaise clinging to him like a koala.

"He prefers we don't call him Roman." Pansy hissed out still surprised. Nico raises and eyebrow at her.

"I know, Pansy Parkinson, he's also told me about you. All about how back in first year you had a crush on-" Pansy's face went whiter than a sheet and Mellicent jumped forward with her wand to Nico's throat, effectively cutting him off. Will growled beside me and with Hazel the took one step forward only to be stopped by Nico's hand shooting up in stop motion, still eyeing the girl threatening him calmly.

"Be quiet. We get it, he trusts you, don't go out spilling all of our secrets to the bloody Gryffindors, or anyone for that matter. Got it?" Her eyes were also wide and she was shaking so bad I doubted she could cast a spell properly. He nodded and the girl backed off to her friend's side.

"You've proven your point DiAngelo. Now, why was that necessary?" Malfoy now recovered from his shock asked the boy in front of him calmly. Nico with a devilish smile that causes the Slytherins surrounding him to lean away from him warily.

"Just to prove to you that if you mess with MY significant annoyance or any of my friends again I will personally make your life a living hell. You stay out of my way I'll stay out of your way. Deal?" Nico extends his hand to the blond boy in front of him. With a quick glance around at his silent friends, he extends his hand to meet Nicos shaking it.

"I don't appreciate being blackmailed DiAngelo. However, I never break a promise, I hope you will extend the same courtesy. I will stay away from you and your friends, you keep those dirty little secrets to yourself. And if you break this deal I will make all of your lives a living hell in return. Understood?" Nico smiled a removed his hand from Malfoys. As Harry and I stared on in shock, his jaw was nearly, truly on the floor. As Nico began to walk back towards us Malfoy called out once more.

"I intend to continue making and wearing my badges. I will not support a fake campion DiAngelo." Malfoys signiture smirk was back on his face now as he called out. Nico stopped walking once he reached his two companions, and faced the group of Slytherins once again, with a small smile.

"I would expect nothing less." Malfoy nodded in acknowledgment and sneered once more at Harry and I before leaving for the newly opened Potions room. We hung back as the students around us shoved forward to get into the classroom. Harry and I rounded on a now uncomfortable Nico.

"Gods that was awful, I need to have a shower I can smell the hair gel on me," Nico complained. Will shook his head and gave Nico a kiss on the top of his head with a chuckle making Harry and my's jaws to drop once more.

"Sunshine that was amazing. Who knew you were so protective?" Will laughed out, Hazel was grinning.

"Oh wait till Jason hears how you stood up for us. Oh boy is he going to freak out." She commented, Nico groaned and put his head in his hands.

"Sis, Tesoro, you guys are the worst. Solace you are still my significant annoyance, so don't go all soft on me." the small group laughed, I cleared my throat gaining their attention.

"I'm sorry... what just happened? Nico who is Elizabeth and Roman? Why did Draco Malfoy and his gang seem so shocked and unnerved that you knew them?" Nico blinked at me a few times before answering me.

"Well Hermione, I believe you would know Elizabeth as Myrtle, she only allows close friends to call her Elizabeth. And-" he was interrupted by Harry,

"Hold on Moaning Myrtle? Like the one in the second-floor girl's bathroom?" Nico rolled his eyes,

"Yes Potter, that Myrtle, is there any other? Anyways the other you would know as the Bloody Baron. Please do not tell him or anyone else I told you, only Slytherins are supposed to know. He really does prefer Bloody Baron from his given name." I nodded still a little shocked by the information.

"Any other questions before we head into class? I don't want to anger Professor Snape again." Hazel cut in after a moment of silence. Harry raised his hand.

"Uh yeah- you two? Uh..." he was pointing at Will and Nico, both of which had narrowed their eyes at the dark-haired boy in front of them.

"Yes. Is that a problem, boy who lived?" Will mocked. Harry quickly shook his head.

"No, of course not, just making sure I understand so I can hex anyone who messes with you guys." The duo relaxed at his words and Will's hundred-watt smile reared its head again, blinding Harry and me.

"I appreciate that Harry. Come on, Hazel is right we don't want to anger Snape again. Once was enough for me." Harry and I laughed with them as we entered the classroom and took our seats.