word count: 1165

I am so so sorry this took so long! Writing this chapter was a pain in the ass, and it's so short </3

either way,

enjoy!

~

Hermione was annoyed.

They couldn't find a single empty compartment on the train, and it was driving the four of them insane.

"How about we just join the first mostly empty compartment we find? Clearly, we won't be finding an empty one any time soon." Ginny suggested.

The other three agreed and started looking for compartments with three or four people.

"Oh, found one!" Ron announced after another five minutes of searching.

The compartment in question held four people, three boys and a girl with the prettiest hair and face Hermione had ever seen.

Harry was about to open the door when Hermione spoke, "Harry, how about Ginny and I ask? You and Ron can be rather...harsh."

Harry sighed and stepped back, leaving enough room for the two girls.

Hermione knocked softly but firmly before slowly opening the door.

"Uhm hello, would you mind if my friends and I joined you? All of the other compartments are full."

"Of course not! Come right in." The girl with the blonde braids replied.

The group made their way in and sat in front of the other four. Hermione entered first, followed by Ron, then Ginny, and finally Harry.

It was quite awkward, to say the least. Hermione couldn't recognize any of the people sitting in front of her, though they appeared to be her age.

"Do you recognize any of them?" She whispered to Ron.

He shook his head, "Maybe Ginny knows."

He nudged his sister and asked her the same question.

"No, never seen them before."

"Well, their accents did sound a bit strange," Harry whispered, Ron and Ginny nodded in agreement.

"Where do you reckon they're from?" Ginny asked.

"Maybe they're Canadian, I've never met a Canadian before," Hermione answered.

"How about we just ask them?" Suggested Harry.

"Which one of us?"

"I can do it."

The group turned to the four strangers, who seemed to be having their own conversation.

"Hi!" Ginny started.

"Oh, hello." The blond boy smiled.

"What houses and year are you all in? We don't recognize you." Ginny asked.

"We're exchange students actually! We're from the American school, Illvermorney so we don't have houses yet. Annabeth and I-" He gestured at the blonde girl, "Are both 18, and Nico and Will are 17."

"Sorry, what are your names again?" Ron looked a bit lost.

"So I just told you who Annabeth is, Will is the other blond, Nico is the short one," He got smacked by the boy for that, "And my name is Percy! Who are you all?"

"Well my name is Ron, this is my little sister Ginny, her name is Hermione, and he's Harry."

When none of the others made a comment about Harry, she heard the boy sigh with relief. Though he would never say it himself, he hated the attention he got just by being him. This was like a breath of fresh air to Harry.

"Well, what's Illvermorney like?" Hermione asked. Of course, she had read about the school, but she had learned over the years that sometimes people and their experiences were better than a dusty old book- however nice a book can be (or smell).

"It's umm..." Percy started.

"Big! Yeah, it's really big. And cold, not the best to be honest." Will interrupted.

"Is that why you four are coming to Hogwarts?"

"Actually, there are seven more of us! The school announced a pretty big exchange program and we jumped at the opportunity." Annabeth replied.

"Oh what I would give to go to another magical school, this is such an amazing experience! You're going to love it here." Hermione spoke excitedly.

As the train continued on the two groups shared more with each other, bonds forming quickly.

~

They arrived in Hogsmeade right after sundown and were quickly ushered onto one of the carriages, their large group never once separating.

"What type of horses are these?" Percy asks once everyone is seated.

Hermione, Ginny, and Ron looked concerned not only at the question, but what it implies as well.

Harry on the other hand did not look even the slightest bit surprised at the question, and quickly answered it.

"They're called thestrals, people who have seen death firsthand can see them."

If the Americans reacted to that response, they didn't show it.

As Hogwarts came into view the exchange students fell silent, watching the large castle come into view.

Their eyes grew wide, full of awe as they took in the medieval structure they were approaching. Hermione couldn't help the swell of pride she felt knowing that this was her home, and damn right it was beautiful.

They made it to the castle only 5 minutes later, and the exchange students were pulled in a different direction.

"See you after the sorting!" Ron called as they walked away.

~

The sorting of the first years was largely uneventful, as was much of McGonagall's speech.

Truth be told, Hermione didn't pay much attention until she heard whispers of new students.

When she looked up, she saw the 4 she was in a cabin with on the train, along with a few more kids. Their names were being called as they too were sorted.

"Chase, Annabeth."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Di Angelo, Nico."

"Gryffindor!"

"Grace, Jason."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Grace, Thalia."

"Gryffindor!"

"Jackson, Percy."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Levesque, Hazel."

"Gryffindor!"

"Mclean, Piper."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Ramirez-Arellano, Reyna."

"Slytherin!"

"Solace, Will."

"Slytherin!"

"Valdez, Leo."

"Slytherin!"

"Zhang, Frank."

"Hufflepuff!"

The three newly assigned Gryffindors made their way to the table, but while the two girls sat down together, Nico made his way toward the trio.

"Mind if I sit next to you three?" He asked quietly.

"Of course!" Ron scooted over to make room for the newcomer.

Nico shot him a small smile before sitting down, turning his head back towards the head table where Professor McGonagall had just stood up.

The Hall quieted down, anxiously waiting for the headmistress to speak.

"Welcome back students for another year at Hogwarts, and a very large welcome to our first years and exchange students..."

Hermione tuned her out, not meaning to of course! She just gets so bored of these speeches. They're almost exactly the same every year.

The only difference this time is the new headmistress, a mention of how Hogwarts is officially safe again since the war has finally ended, and the exchange students.

"...without further ado, let the feast begin!"

Hermione watched as Nico's eyes grew wide as the food magically appeared across the table.

"What, is this not how it works at Illvermorney?" She asked, curious.

Shaking his head he replies, "No, we just get our plates and the food that we want appears on them."

"Really? That's so cool!" Harry butts in.

Nico smirks, "Yeah, it is, isn't it?"

The meal goes by quickly after that, the group chatting idly about everything and nothing, growing close by the second.

Hermione quiets and looks around, a small smile growing on her lips and she softens.

Maybe everything will be alright after all.

~

Well I kinda hate this chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it!

First hp pov, the demigods are at Hogwarts and sorted, what could possibly go wrong?

if you don't remember the sorting it is,

Leo: Slytherin
Will: Slytherin
Reyna: Slytherin
Piper: Ravenclaw
Annabeth: Ravenclaw
Jason: Hufflepuff
Frank: Hufflepuff
Percy: Hufflepuff
Nico: Gryffindor
Hazel: Gryffindor
Thalia: Gryffindor

If you have a problem with the sorting, feel free to tell me! I'm not gonna change it tho 🤭

love ya'll,

JJ out! ❤️