Nico sat at the Hufflepuff table as soon as he got into the Great Hall, watching as Dominic already tried to hang a spoon from his nose. He reminded Nico of Percy sometimes, though what first brought him to Nico's mind First Year was his physical resemblance to Will. Blond hair, blue eyes, a hint of "I want to save the world" in them.

Dominic had started the friendship, that was for sure. If not then it never would've happened. Nico...Nico wasn't one for making friends. He hadn't really ever done it on his own. Percy stuck like glue even when he was pushed away, Hazel was his sister. Jason...Jason stuck in his own way, back then. Then Will...Will would never be just a friend no matter how hard they tried.

The only reason he tried to keep the friendship with Dominic was the fact that he needed someone in the Hufflepuff House. Then...then he just stuck.

Nico slapped Dominic in the back of the head, the spoon falling to the table in a clatter of dishes. "Hey, Fucking Psychic, I have news."

Dominic picked the spoon up before attempting it again. "What's up?"

"Harry and Ron are missing, Ginny's about to get sorted, and I have a dandelion in my collar bone."

The spoon crashed to the table again. "Excuse me?"

Nico sighed as he started to explain. "Ron and Harry missed the train but I felt their souls close behind. You know about Ginny, worried she won't get into Gryffindor cause her whole family did except for me. Then look." Nico moved his robes aside to reveal the dandelion. "Persephone blessed me to help with my energy loss."

Dominic raised an eye brow. "You get a dandelion to help with energy? Well, you seem like you could make a good one."

Nico shuddered as he thought back to the time when him and Persephone were at each others throats. She had turned him into a dandelion when she didn't want to handle it anymore.

The Sorting started soon enough. He gave Ginny an encouraging smile as the hat was placed on her head. Gryffindor was expected and received.

Nico soon felt the death attached to Harry's soul nearby. He still wasn't sure exactly what it was, but it was easy to pinpoint in a crowded room. "They're finally here."

Dominic glanced around. "Where?"

Nico shrugged as he eyed the food. "Dunno."

Dominic filled both of their plates, something Will Solace had often done at camp. It gave Nico a sick feeling inside. Instead of making him fall for Dominic, the similarities just had him missing Will even more.

After they ate, Nico went with Hermione to look for Harry and Ron.

"There you are! Where have you been? The most ridiculous rumors — someone said you'd been expelled for crashing a flying car!" Hermione ran up to meet the boys outside the Gryffindor common room, Nico following behind.

"Well, we haven't been expelled," Harry assured her.

"You're not telling me you did fly here?" Hermione asked.

"Skip the lecture," said Ron impatiently, "and tell us the new password."

"It's 'wattlebird,'" Hermione replied, "but that's not the point —"

Nico watched the door open. "Don't do anything else stupid. Or at least take me with you next time."

"Nico, not helping." Hermione snapped.

Nico smiled as he stepped back, melting into the shadows. Ron's expression was worth it.

He appeared on his bed with the pain from his collar bone. Persephone, was it really necessary to make me a plant?!

What else would you have me do? I'm not Zeus.

Nico rolled his eyes before leaning back in bed. He looked over at Dominic, whose eyes were on a Divination book. "You know it doesn't help your psychic stuff to read more about sight seeing."

"And it doesn't help you to shadow travel but you still did." Dominic retorted. "Did you find them?"

Nico nodded. "Idiots flew dad's car here. Didn't get expelled but should've."

"It's good they didn't." Dominic sighed as some hair fell into his face. "Would you give me a hair cut?"

"I'll butcher it, but sure." Nico took his boots off. "Abracadabra some scissors up or something."

As he cut his hair, Nico told him about where he'd be going on weekends. Even the thought of teaching those kids made him sick.

"You're not a kid person." Dominic sat still, his hair falling around them as Nico cut. "It won't go good."

"Trust me, I know." Nico sighed. "Your hair grows fast as fuck."

"I know."

"Why do you always wait to get here to cut it?" Nico asked. "It gets too long."

Dominic's face turned into an expression he only got when talking about the hardships of his home life. Nico was sure he didn't know half of it yet. "My mum won't let me."

Of all things, Nico wasn't expecting that. "What? Why?"

"She wants a daughter." Dominic shrugged. "It doesn't do anything but she still makes me. Says it makes me look more feminine."

"I'm liking your mom less and less." Nico shook his head in exasperation. "What does she do when you come home with it cut?"

Dominic didn't answer. "She can't grow it back."

"Yeah, I guess not." Nico couldn't stop thinking how much his hair looked and felt like Will's. The strands were just the same. "I gave Will a haircut once."

"Yeah?" Dominic picked at his nails.

Nico nodded. "His hair is just like yours. Grows fast, too."

Dominic stared at the pile of hair on the floor. "Hm."

"There." Nico tossed the scissors aside before laying on his bed. "Clean it up."

Dominic felt at his hair. "You butchered it!"

Nico grinned. "I told you I would. I don't lie."