We all went to the carriages. Harry was staring at something in awe and looking at it, I couldn't help saying it was majestic.

The dead looking horses, Thestrals... they are one of the animals in the Underworld and actually liked me. It's no difference with this batch who nickered at me and was neighing happily. No one noticed apparently except Harry.

"What are those?" Harry asked aloud to no one in particular.

"Thestrals," I answered quietly and Harry jumped at the sight of me. That has become second nature that I ignored it and continued, "They can only be seen by those who have seen death."

"Oh..." he said, nodding, "Your mother..." he said, gesturing to the horses. He can see those horses because of his parents and he assumed I could see them because of my mother.

My eyes became lifeless and I simply nodded.

"How... how did she die?" Harry asked.

If anything, my eyes became even more lifeless and the shadows cling to me.

"Lightning," I answered quietly, "If you don't mind, I don't like talking about it." Then I went into a carriage and the horses pulling nickered happily.

The rest filed in with Harry looking at me before looking away. I was more interested in the view.

'It's him, the Son of Hades.'

"Who's there?" I asked. They all looked at me peculiarly.

'No, it's us, sir. The Thestrals, speaking in your mind. We are honored by your presence.'

'Thank you,' I said, mollified, in my mind.

"What did you hear?" Hermione asked.

"Nah, just the wind," I said.

When the castle came into view, I was awestruck. It was certainly beautiful, Annabeth would be jealous that I could see such a sight.

I decided to take a picture and took the phone to snap one but it started buzzing.

Hermione noticed this, and said, "Technology doesn't work in Hogwarts. There's too much magic in the air."

"Dang," I said. And there goes the convenience of texting.

"What did you want to do, anyway?" Hermione asked.

"I wanted to send a picture of this to my friend. She loves architecture," I said.

Hermione nodded, "Alright, I can get a picture if you want."

"How? You said tech doesn't work," I said.

"Tech doesn't include an old fashioned camera," she said.

"Thanks," I said.

"Look," Harry said, pointing to some hut, "Hagrid's really not here."

"Don't worry, mate," Ron said, "He's just busy, alright?" He gave a sideway glance at me.

I went out first and the horses were all over me. One of the animals who actually liked me and I petted one. It neighed with happiness. Everyone looked at me weirdly.

Then, we were all over the threshold and I was grouped with the first-years waiting to be Sorted.

Everyone was looking at me like an oddity but I was able to blend in the shadows even with the darning robe. I reminded myself to ditch it as much as I can. At least it's only school hours.

"It's time for the Sorting. If you'll follow me..." a regal looking professor said.

We all trooped under her and was in something called the Great Hall.

It was extremely grand with five tables, four under different banners, the school houses and one head table where all the houses were united under the large 'H'.

I looked up and was surprised to see the stars above like there was no ceiling. Maybe there wasn't one...

Then, the professor placed a raggedy hat on a stool. Everyone was waiting for something.

Then, the brim of the hat opened up and it... sang.

Definitely a weird one. Wizards never ceased to amaze me.

I didn't listen. ADHD won't let me, and the hat stopped singing. Suddenly whispers were going around. What about?

Then, the professor holding a name list was glaring at all the students and quiet resided in the hall.

All the first years were extremely nervous when their names were called. The Hat always needed a few seconds before shouting the name of House.

Sometimes, it will take for a minute or two.

'How long will it take for me?' I wondered.

I was the only one left but the professor didn't call my name. Instead the headmaster stood up and said, "Now, I know you notice that there's a new student among us..."

Everyone was looking at me and I wanted to hide more in the shadows.

"Nico di Angelo, a transfer from America," he said, "We welcome into Hogwarts as a fifth year. Now, will you please be Sorted?" He asked.

Everyone was hushed and tense as I walked to the Hat and placed it on my head. It covered my eyes that I could only see blackness.

'Hmm... you have a very complicated life... son of Hades...' a voice said in my head.

'A Hat is talking to me...' I said telepathically.

'Does that surprise you? I'm sure a talking Hat won't be the top of the weirdness factor for you, demigod.'

'Please tell me that no one could hear you,' I pleaded.

'Duh, of course not. It's all in your head. This Hat is all about privacy, everything here is seriously Hat-student privilege.'

'Your real name is not Hat, right?' I asked.

'No, it's Arthur and it's been a long time since I had someone older than 11 sit here. Your life is exquisite my friend.'

'You have seen my life?!' I asked. This is a breach of privacy! What happen to all about privacy?

'Mmm-hmm. How else can I Sort you? Most students are kids cartoons but yours was a blockbuster and really sad moments. I really wished I had popcorn.'

'I really wish I could send you to the Underworld right now,' I scowled, the shadows a bit pissy.

'Hey, hey, I don't mean anything about it. In fact, at least you didn't see those flashbacks. They were so PG-13, I swear...'

'Can you please hurry this up?' I asked.

'Hmm... fine. Your loyalties are screwed up when you betrayed that Percy Jackson to your father. Hufflepuff's out. And you ain't that smart enough to be Ravenclaw. You quit school at ten, right and never came back. That says a lot about not seeking wisdom, not that I necessarily blame you. Hmm... between Gryffindor and Slytherin. You were darn brave to face off Kronos and undergo Tartarus but not without agenda.'

'Can you not talk about it?' I asked. That Hat is giving me flashbacks and insults.

'Fine... I made my decision. It's...'

"SLYTHERIN!" The Hat shouted out. Finally!

The table at the end clapped, the green one. I saw Malfoy looking at me smugly. And as I walked to that place, I couldn't help but hear the whispering and see the pointing from other Houses. I saw Harry, Hermione and Ron in an animated discussion with Ron pointing at my direction with a few words spoken.

For some reason, I felt like he was saying, 'He's DEFINITELY a Death Eater!'

Afterwards, I saw no seat except between Malfoy and a girl my age. I had no choice to sit between them.

"Well, I have two words for you now: Tuck in!" Professor Dumbledore said.

And like a magic trick out of a hat, food suddenly appeared out of the table.

I took some to the plate and took out my wand. Muttering 'Incendio,' I burned a portion of my food and prayed to Hecate and Hades before eating up.

"You burn your food?" The girl next to me asked with an open mouth.

"Religion," I said.

"Fine," she said, "I'm Daphne Greengrass."

"Nico di Angelo," I said.

"Italian?" She asked.

"Yes, but I moved to America when I was about 7 or so." I said.

"And what made you come to Britain?" Daphne asked. I didn't mind her questions. Incredibly normal, I like it.

"I'm part of my Dad's business. And I had a job to do, so I wound up in Britain." I said.

"Job? What does he do? Travel guide?" Daphne joked.

"World's ghost hunter," I said casually.

"Really?" Daphne asked, with her eyes wide. Then, she looked around. "Is that why there are no more ghosts?"

I was drinking pumpkin juice and then spat out some.

"What?! There are ghosts here?!" I asked.

"Yes, and they usually hang around in the Hall during the first day of school. I don't know why they aren't here," Daphne said, puzzled.

Now that she said it, I remembered on my first day of captivity that a witch, Tonks, if I remembered right, said something about ghosts here. Now, opening up to my senses, I could fell a multitude of ghosts in this school, nervous energy getting away from... me.

It's the first time that I could feel any ghost scared of me. Mostly they just lived their lives under Melinoe, apparently but this batch... hmm... 'escaped death under Hecate's protection', according to Hecate's info.

And she convinced Hades by letting her handle the paperwork for him. Sounds legit to me.

I didn't want anything more suspicious to happen. So I sent the message:

I'm not here to dispatch your souls. I'm just a normal student, act normally...

A moment ticked by when the ghosts trickled to the Great Hall, looking slightly apprehensive but relaxed when nothing happened.

Four ghosts went to four respective tables, a bloody ghost going to mine but he placed himself far away from me.

"Oh, so there you are," Malfoy said, looking at the bloody ghost. "What was the hold up that we didn't see you until now?"

"Umm..." the bloody ghost gave a quick look at me before giving out an answer, "Ghost Meeting. Took longer than expected."

"Oh," Malfoy no longer probed and looked at me, "So welcome to Slytherin."

"Yeah," I said, and hoping that not all Slytherins are Malfoy or I might pull a Percy and blow up a school or at least horrors unimaginable.

"So, the Hat knew what it was doing when putting you here, away from the riff raff," he said, smug, "You will learn the ways around here."

I frowned at him, no idea what his endgame is.

"Why did you transfer to Hogwarts?" Malfoy asked. He seems to want to pry something out of me.

"Gaining new experience," I said nonchalantly.

"Why were you with those trio?" Malfoy asked. By trio, he meant Harry, Ron and Hermione, I presumed.

"The other places were full," I said.

"But you seem to know them?" Malfoy pressed.

"Yes," I said.

"Where?" He asked.

Now, I'm thinking he wanted to know what they were doing during the hols. Why?

"At the train," I said, and decided to strike up a conversation with Daphne who seemed likeable to me.

Soon enough, the food cleared up and Professor stood up. After this must be sleep, but I'll be using it to find another Horcrux and have a talk to the ghosts. I need information.

"I know you must be full and sleepy but I only asked a few minutes of your time before you go to the luxuries of bed," The professor said.

"The Forbidden Forest is forbidden to enter by any students," he said.

Meaning the perfect place to sneak away and IM Will.

"Quidditch tryouts-" then he stopped abruptly. All the students were wondering why until we heard a girly 'Hem hem.'

"Thank you, Professor, for those kind words," a woman simpered.

My best description is that she looked like a toad that I was surprised that there was no webbing between her fingers when she spread them wide open.

If you want more accuracy on this description, then let's just say she is an offspring of the Princess and the Frog except she got mostly frog out of her parents.

Professor Dumbledore promptly sat down and paid close attention to the woman. You know what, I'll just call her Toad.

"It's so good to be here, and it's nice to see all those smiling faces here..." she said.

The way she talked, she would be better off as a nanny for kindergartens but I guess they didn't want her because of her Toad-ness.

"Now, the Ministry has always valued the education of students and..."

My ADHD went from there, and who cares.

When she finally finished whatever, Dumbledore continued.

"That was boring," Daphne commented.

Yes, it was.

When we were dismissed, I smiled.

The real work starts from here.