Demigods At Hogwarts

Aftermath (Nico's Perspective)

Will guided me to the Gryffindor table- apparently, I had passed out. He urged me to take a few bites of an apple, but that was all. I wasn't hungry- in fact, I felt like throwing up. The hat had gone through my worst memories. It wondered how I was still sane; I asked myself the same question every day, so I had no answer.

Will couldn't eat much either. I leaned on him as I limped back to our houses. I deflected the stares and expressions of bewilderment and fear as we turned the corner out of the Great Hall.

"The password's Bidulcem Sio!" Someone called. We turned and I caught a glimpse of a girl with long red hair running back to the hall. I had no idea what that meant, but we soon found out after a fat lady in a painting asked us for a password. I assumed she meant the words the red-haired girl had told us, and I repeated the words. The painting swung open to reveal a huge hole, and we stepped inside.

Will looked around at what I assumed was the Gryffindor common room. I spotted a dark wood door with my name engraved on a gold panel. Will saw it as I pointed him in that direction. The door swung open without us having to touch it. Will looked surprised for a second, then went in.

It was beautiful, spacious, and elegant. The walls were a dark, rich brown wood. The floor was a lighter pine wood, a red and gold rug covering half of it. Thriving green plants resided in every corner of the room; I winced, hoping they were fake. Otherwise, they'd probably wilt in my presence. A beautiful crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, providing a bright white light, illuminating the canvases on the walls. The pictures portrayed gold and red shades, mixed and splayed. I'd never understand abstract art; all you do is do some random stuff, throw paints wherever, and voilà! A (supposed) masterpiece. However, the art looked breathtaking paired with the stylish, cultivated dorm. We gawked.

"I..." I had to clear my throat after so much silence.

"It's perfect." Will finished for me. He helped me onto a soft brown bed in the middle of the room, pulling closed the rich red curtains to hide the huge window, and went to the bathroom to IM Annabeth. I turned over and almost immediately fell asleep.

My life flashed before my eyes. I woke up sobbing multiple times throughout the night and Will was always there to comfort me. The professors had allowed us to be in the same room this night, and I was grateful. By the time morning had come, I was in no state to attend class; I had had almost no sleep. The tenth, or maybe eleventh time I had woken up the sun was shining through the curtains. I made to get up, but Will, who was sleeping in a second bed that the teachers had conjured for the night, muttered sleepily that we were excused from classes today.

I didn't want to receive the news that Bianca died for the fourth time. I didn't want to recount my journey through Tartarus. But my body protested, and I blacked out the second I pulled the covers up again.