Ron was still mad about Hermione getting Crookshanks and Nico getting Bianca, the small black kitten. Though he was slightly angrier with Crookshanks after noticing a small clump of hair missing from his head. (btw, to see how I imagined Bianca the Kitten, just look up Bat Kitten on Google bc i couldn't upload the pic on this sry)

"One day," Ron muttered to Harry, "I'm going to wake up completely bald."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Oh please, you should've seen me when Nico came out of that bronze jar."

"What bronze jar?" Hermione asked, Crookshanks on her lap.

Nico shuddered. "We'll tell you about it on the train," he said. He, Percy, and Annabeth decided they should keep that part of the quest to the demigods for the time being, but the wizards would have to know soon.

"How are we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" Fred asked, spooning pudding into his mouth. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stopped talking over their dinner and hesitated.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," Mr. Weasley said. Everyone looked at him curiously.

"Why?" Percy Weasley asked. His tone of voice made it clear he was upset he didn't know, as Hogwarts' new Head Boy.

"It's for you, Perce," George said seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them--"

"-- for Humongous Bighead," Fred finished. Everyone but Percy Weasley and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.

"But why are the Ministry providing cars though?" Percy Weasley asked again, trying to retain his dignity.

"Well you see, we haven't got one anymore," Mr. Weasley said, "And as I work there, they're doing me a favor--"

Nico noticed Mr. Weasley's ears had gone red, like Ron's when he was under pressure. Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat with a pointed look at Mr. Weasley.

"And a good thing too," she interrupted. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle underground... You are all packed, aren't' you?"

They all stood up, suddenly finding vague reasons to excuse themselves.

 >>>•O•<<<

The next morning went by in a flash, which included fitting all 17 of them into three small ministry cars. The quick journey was uneventful, besides Bianca the kitten playing on Nico's lap, occasionally getting up to find a more comfortable spot on Hazel, Jason, Piper, Thalia, and Hermione's laps. Nico could tell Thalia was struggling to keep her comments on the kitten to herself.

"Right'o, then, let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us." Mr. Weasley hustled them out of the cars as soon as possible, glancing around as he did so. "I'll go through first, with Harry."

Nico raised an eyebrow at the suspicious actions, but Mr. Weasley and Harry had already disappeared through the barrier.

One by one, they all disappeared through the barrier. Nico held his breath as he and Hazel both walked in, then released it all as they emerged on the other side of the platform. The train was already whistling, the doors beginning to slide shut one by one. Nico spotted Harry off to the side with Mr. Weasley, and hoped that Harry wouldn't have to crash into Hogwarts via flying car again. Apparently Mrs. Weasley had the same thoughts because she bustled over to them. "Hurry!" she urged as the train began to very slowly move. Nico hopped into the inside and reached out, his hand stretched, for Harry to jump on.

"I need to talk to you in private," Harry muttered as soon as he was safely on the train.

"Go away, Ginny" Ron said. Ginny huffed and walked away after aiming a kick at her brother.

"There's a compartment in the back," Piper said to them, walking up. "It's mostly empty, except for one other guy. A teacher, I think."

The teacher was wearing a very shabby set of robes and was huddled under them, fast asleep next to the window. One look at him and Nico knew he'd been through a lot. His skin was tinted gray, as if he'd been sick his entire life. He looked fairly young, though his hair was already flecked with gray. His battered case was tied closed with several strategically knotted strings, and peeling letters were stamped across one corner.

"What does it say?" Percy asked.

"Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione whispered. "He must be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Well, I hope he's up to it," Ron said. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "He's probably stronger than he looks. A lot of people are," he said.

"Yeah," Thalia agreed. "Death Breath is the scrawniest person you'll ever meet, but he'll at least put up a pretty pathetic fight if you try to take him down."

"Fight me," Nico dared her.

"Anyways, what were you going to say, Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry quickly explained in a low voice about how Sirius Black was secretly plotting to hunt down and kill him.

"Well, now you know what it must be like being a demi-- Half-blood," Hermione said, giving a side glance at Professor R. J. Lupin. "I mean, the hunting down and killing sort of thing, right?"

"Yep, pretty much," Frank agreed.

"Except this is an actual, thinking person who had a mind and is apparently super powerful," Hazel added.

"Cheery," Harry muttered.

"We could teach you sword fighting if you want," Percy offered.

"Or archery, if you're more long distance" Thalia said. "Then we don't have to constantly flock you wherever you go."

"Look, you're not his bodyguards, alright?" Ron said. "And why would he need to know that stuff when he has a perfectly good wand right here?"

"Wands can be unreliable," Jason warned.

"So it would be safer to teach Harry to rely on something he hasn't used before, and a very pointy something?" Ron fired back.

"Ladies, please, break it up" Piper said, rolling her eyes. "Harry can choose what technique he wants to use. And Ron's right, we're not his bodyguards. Harry can take care of himself."

"Thank you." Harry nodded to Piper.

Not his bodyguards, eh? What's the point of this quest then? Nico heard Percy mutter to Annabeth in Greek.

She was just breaking up the fight, Seaweed Brain. Annabeth replied under her breath.

"You might not need the help, but just be careful in Hogsmeade, alright?" Hermione pleaded Harry.

Harry sighed sullenly. "Well, I can't exactly be careful if I'm not going, can I?"

"What?" Ron looked alarmed. "What do you mean, you're not going?"

"The Dursleys didn't sign my permission form, and Fudge wouldn't either."

Ron's alarm turned into horrification. "But-- but-- McGonagall or someone must give you permission-- or Fred and George, they know every secret passageway out of the castle--"

"--Ron!" Hermione scolded. "I don't think Harry should be sneaking out of school with Black on the loose!"

"But if we're with him," Ron reasoned. "Black wouldn't dare--"

"Oh don't talk rubbish!" Hermione snapped. "Black's murdered dozens of people at once, in the middle of a crowded street. Do you really think he'd not bother just because we're there?"

Ron slumped, then brightened up. "What about you guys, though?" He asked the demigods. "I mean, McGonagall and Dumbledore both know you're half-bloods, right? You can be like his bodyguards!"

"I thought we just had an argument that they weren't my bodyguards," Harry said. "But Ron's got a point. I mean--"

Annabeth stopped him with a shake of her head. "It might be more dangerous. I mean, at Hogwarts there aren't many monster attacks because of the magic boundaries, but out in a Wizarding Village? We'll be attacked every few minutes."

"Aren't there boundaries in Hogsmeade too?" Percy asked, but was cut off by Annabeth's sharp shake of the head. "I mean... Annabeth's right! Too many monsters."

Nico could sense Harry and Ron about to point out the many flaws in their argument, and was thankful for the food cart that came.

"Candy!" Percy roared, tripping over Thalia in an attempt to get closer to the sweets. Annabeth firmly seized him by the hood of his jacket and pulled him back.

"Geez, Seaweed Brain, don't give her a heart attack!" Annabeth scolded. "And don't wake up the professor!"

Nico had almost forgotten about R. J. Lupin in the corner, who was still covered by his cloak. He was almost as good at hiding in the shadows as Nico was, especially for not being a child of Hades.

Piper plopped a box of chocolate frogs on Nico's lap, startling him. "We've got company," she said, turning to the door. Nico heard it too, the heavy thumps of three pairs of feet passing around the cart. Within seconds, the compartment door burst open.

"Potty, Weasel," Malfoy sneered, before catching sight of Piper. "Piper! What're you doing here?"

The shock on his face at witnessing Piper being all buddy-buddy with Gryffindors plainly showed. Jason scooted closer to Piper, his arm around her. "She was just hanging out with her boyfriend," he said coldly. Malfoy stiffened at the word boyfriend, glaring at Jason.

"Hey Piper, your friend Pansy is in our compartment why don't you come with us?" Malfoy emphasized on each word, raising an eyebrow at her. Daring her to refuse.

She refused.

"Sorry, Draco, I'll catch up with you guys later?" she said apologetically. Malfoy's jaw dropped open slightly.

"Piper," he began, but was cut off by all the death glares from the demigods. "I mean, sure. See you in our common room." He, Crabbe, and Goyle left.

"Oh look, even the weather's crying at their arrival," Nico noted, looking outside at the dreary gray sky, where the rain was pounding heavily on the window.

"We must be nearly there," Ron noted, pressing his face against the glass to see how dark it was. "It's pretty cold--"

Right as he spoke, the train began to slow down.

"Great," Ron said, sounding relieved. "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast--"

Hermione was frowning. "We can't be there yet," she said. "So why're we stopping?"

A distant banging sound was heard as the train stopped completely, signaling all their luggage was falling from the racks. Then suddenly, the lamps all went out and they were plunged into total darkness.

"What's going on?" Annabeth pulled out her knife, and the golden glow barely illuminated the compartment. Percy and Jason pulled out theirs as well, and Nico could make out everyone's silhouettes. Hazel kept her sword sheathed, it was too long to pull out in the compartment. Frank and Thalia had bows, and the wood wouldn't glow. Piper's sword would just make it colder, and her reflective blade wouldn't give off any light. And as for Nico, well, his just radiated darkness, which wouldn't help in their scenario.

"There's something moving out there," Harry said, peering out the window. "I think people are coming aboard."

"Ouch!" Someone entered their compartment. "Who'd I step on?"

"Ginny?" Annabeth raised her knife higher. "What're you doing here?"

"I came to find Ron--"

Suddenly a blue light came from the corner. Annabeth, Percy, and Jason hastily put away their weapons as R. J. Lupin's face was illuminated, casting his eyes warily around the compartment.

"Stay where you are," he said softly. Though none of them had met him before, they obeyed him without protest.

He got up and navigated through the crowded compartment, his hands filled with fire. But the door slid open before he could reach it.

Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the blue flames, was a cloaked figure. Nico looked at it and instantly sensed death. Though his face was hidden, a gray, glistening, dead-looking hand protruded from the cloak, disappearing immediately. Nico felt his stomach churn.

Then a rattling breath came from the hood, as if it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. All of a sudden, Nico felt a rush of cold. Goosebumps appeared on his arms, though he shook them away quickly. Hazel, Percy, and Annabeth gave off similar shivers, but everyone else seemed more affected.

Piper inhaled sharply, her posture slumping. Jason's eyes widened and he leaned away from everyone. Thalia, seemed lost in memory, and horrible ones at that. Frank turned into a bat. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione trembled, recoiling from the figure in the doorway.

Then Harry collapsed on the floor, unmoving.