“Wow,” Thomas whispered. Pipa tugged and smiled at him, giving him a thumbs up. Up ahead was a single, three-legged wooden stool. With a limp and tattered hat on its circle seat. Thomas knew this from his talks with Lars. His parents, too, were amazing at gathering information. Without it being a school they themselves never attended, they knew a lot. That worn and tattered gray fabric was nothing else but the sorting hat.

Once all the students got lined up and faced the hat, it came alive. Rising up in a breath, it folds and wrinkles, forming dark eyes. It's opening the fold that created its mouth and starting to sing in a rough-and-tumble voice.

“Times will always change,

But you can always count on me,

To remain the same.

Into your houses I will arrange.

For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat!

I may not be the best looking chap,

But let not your hearts get lost in its appall;

For inside, I top them all!

Inside your head, I see it clear.

The vibrations of your heart and soul,

That's the ability of the Sorting Hat, see.

That's how I tell — where you ought to be.

In Gryffindor, oh Gryffindor.

To be here, you must have a brave heart,

Wavering, not with your daring and nerve.

But don't forget — chivalry also sets Gryffindor's apart

Hufflepuff, Devote Hufflepuff

You work hard and play hard,

Your souls are loyal as they're true.

Use your patience to see who you should regard.

Ravenclaw, Earnest Ravenclaw

If learning is what makes your heart tick,

Then in this year you'll be thrilled to find;

You'll learn more by accepting teachings of every-kind.

Slytherin, Dear Slytherin

In your cunning, you are misjudged,

Laying in your hearts are many means,

If you don't let the past intervene.

It's an amazing time to be alive!

The world is yours to own!

So come on up, and sit on down,

And place this Sorting Hat on your crown!”

Thomas joined the others in clapping for the song. Suffering from tunnel vision, Thomas didn't see anyone else in the packed room. Thomas focused on that hat and what he had to do. It's not because he believed in Lars's visions, but because he believed in Lars himself and wanted to help. Professor Walker came up to stand beside the stool, a large scroll unrolling in his hands. He began the most nerve-wracking part of all. Name-calling, and c's was before s's. Lars was counting on him to speak up for the hat.

“Psto 1464” Tripping over his own robe, the young boy stumbled forward. Blushing from the tip of his glasses to the tips of his ears. He sat on the stool, shaking so hard that the stool shook along with him. Thomas felt a bit bad for him.

“Slytherin!” Psto was out of the seat and had the hat off his head before the professor could blink. He ran to the Slytherin table like he was being chased. Was he? Thomas shook his head and sighed in relief alongside him when he sat down. At least he made it there.

“Megan Albert.” Professor Walker's voice was a sigh. With twin tails trailing behind her, a blind girl ran up to the stool. Professor Walker lifted the hat and placed it on her head when she sat down.

“Hufflepuff!” Sorting Hat took no time in placing the cheerful girl in her house. Thomas' chest tightened at the fast pace of the decisions. The next several names were a blur.

“Thomas Cloverleigh.” Professor Walker called out, and Thomas looked at Lars. His eyes swirled in different shades, and he gave him a thin smile. Lars was nervous, too. Thomas took a long breath and walked in the silent stretch between him and the hat. The stares didn't bother him, but they disappointed Lars. That would kill him.

“You'll be okay.” Thomas looked up, surprised at Professor Walker's encouragement. He nodded at him, grateful for the small act of kindness. He sat on the stool, holding onto its sides until he felt the wood dig into his short nails. When the hat fell on his head, the rim shaded his eyes and made his ear tips itch.

“M mm,” The hat shivered on his head, like when he spoke. Thomas shook, took in some quick breaths, and prepared himself for battle. “My first vampire.” Thomas wasn't sure if the hat was talking out loud or in his head, so he whispered his desires.

“Mr. Sorting Hat.” Thomas whispered. Deciding to be polite first. “I need to be in Gryffindor, please.” Thomas braced himself and waited.

“Slytherin would be a better fit for you.” The Sorting Hat said after some pause. “It would help grow your natural nature, bringing you to your greatest self.”

“I know, but...” Thomas whispered, picturing the sick and scared look on Lars' face when he woke up from that vision. “I need to be in Gryffindor.” Thomas   firmly. “Please, Mr. Sorting Hat.” Thomas' fingers hurt from clutching at the stool. “Please.”

“Troublesome ones pop up every generation.” Thomas felt the hat shift on his head with a sigh. “Fine then.”

“Thank you.” Thomas whispered. Slumping on the stool in relief

“Gryffindor!” The Sorting Hat shouted Thomas sighed, raising a hand to his chest in relief. Thomas looked at Lars, who opened, smiled, and clapped the loudest out of all the students. Walking on shaking legs. Thomas got a rather warm welcome from the other Gryffindor students. Sitting at an empty table, Thomas waited to see what would happen to his new friends. A few names later, Pipa's turn came up.

“Gryffindor!” The Sorting Hat shouted without even settling on her head. People around Thomas clapped. Thomas got tackled off the table's bench seating by Pipa's hug. Laughing, some older students helped Thomas and Pipa up to watch the rest of them get sorted. When Bernard's turn came, the Slytherin students perked up and started to whisper.

Bernard walked up slowly; if Psto wanted out of there, Bernard was the opposite. The hat landed on Bernard's head, and he looked sick. Thomas felt bad for him. On the train, he worried about Slytherin House, if Thomas remembered right. The sorting hat stayed quiet for a long time. So long, Professor Walker moved his feet around, looking down at Bernard and the Sorting Hat.

“Gryffindor!” The room exploded in noise. Slytherin's house denied it, and other houses became a blur of whispers. Bernard's face remained pale, and he wobbled but made his way to Thomas and Pipa. Thomas stood up and ran to Bernard's side, who leaned on him right away. Between him and Pipa, they got him to sit on the bench at their table.

“Lars O'Sullivan,” Professor Walker continued on, ignoring the ruckus. Thomas looked on as Lars walked up in a slow, easy stride and had the sorting hat placed on his head. Within seconds, Thomas got his answer.

“Slytherin!” The Sorting Hat called out, and Lars turned and winked at Thomas. Thomas clapped so hard that his hands stung. They did it. Thomas sighed; that would be the end of it. Thomas thought, watching Lars walk and get welcomed by the Slytherin house. Other names like Potter, Weasley, and others were soon used. Everyone got excited, but Thomas didn't care. He and Pipa worked on getting Bernard to remember how to breathe.

“I have a few words to say before we begin our new year. First big welcome to the new faces I see this year.” An older man, small, round, and with a curling black and white beard, wore a gentle swirl of pale blues and greens. Stood up from the long table that Thomas had just noticed. The chair behind the man, detailed in gold, made Thomas think he was a very important man.

“He's the headmaster, Professor Longbottom.” Bernard used his arms on the table to steady himself. Pipa still rubbed his back, keeping a close eye on the still sick-looking Bernard.

"Thanks,” Thomas said. Getting a small nod when they turned back to the headmaster's speech. Thomas found his voice soft and very soothing to listen to.

“We are all born solitary, yet after the moment we first open our eyes,” He raised his hands, and a brilliant ball of light appeared. Shattering into a colorful, fading twinkle of rainbow-colored chains. "Chains, like rainbows, of interactivity are formed.” Closing his hands, he vanished.

“Makeshift chains, often desperate, sometimes ridiculous, always strange.” His beard opened up into a brilliant smile. “It is my wish to take these chains. Every social action has an optimistic chance. An opportunity between the strange and the known.”

“Not only is the universe stranger than we think, it is stranger and more wonderful than we can ever imagine.” Clapping his hands, some students that Thomas hadn't noticed earlier came from the sides. All holding giant toads!

“!” Thomas shook in horror at the sight of the giant, bumpy, croaking horrors. It was also the fact that people were not only touching them but also holding them!

“Altogether now.” Professor Longbottom pulled his wand out and waved it around like a baton. All the older students started to sing.

“Hogwarts, Hogwarts,

Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something, please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now, they’re bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we’ve forgotten,

Just do your best, we’ll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.”

The students and frogs croaked in harmony. It was quick to turn into one of the most horrible moments of Thomas's life. Professor Longbottom seemed into it. Closing his eyes and keeping up with even the slowest of students

“Ah!” Professor Longbottom opened his eyes. Looking satisfied, Thomas was glad the whole ordeal was done. “Now let the feast begin.” Waving his hands, Thomas found the strong smell of food. Surrounding him and piles of food appearing out of nowhere.

“They're gone now.” Pipa said, and Thomas assumed she meant the frogs or toads. Whatever they wanted to call them, he couldn't bring himself to look at the head table. Who knows if one of the creatures escaped? The mere idea made the food before him look like unappetizing piles. The meal came and went quickly.

Once the meal was over, a small group of students from all the houses Wearing badges on their chests, they were gathered together. Lars managed to give Thomas a quick hug and wink before they went their separate ways. Where Thomas went up, Lars went down. At least he had Bernard and Pipa. They walked with him and watched with the same interest as they stopped in front of a portrait of the Fat Lady. According to Bernard, that was her real name.

“Nicker Bonkers,” a serious student who led them here said. The fat lady in the photo nodded and opened her frame. Showing a secret room. Entering with the rest, Thomas looked around on his own. Ignoring the boring drawl of the badge student. 

The room gave off a warm vibe. It was a large, round room with cozy chairs and snug sofas. Round tables in several shades of red sat in front of a crackling, burning fire. A majestic landscape picture of a lion sat proudly above it, over a shelf stacked with dusty books and a trophy. It was a nice space that Thomas felt would be easy to live in.

Following the boys to their wing, Thomas loved the large windows that let in moonlight in the round room. There is no need for ceiling lights, and Thomas likes the seating available by the window. With no need to sleep, he could picture many of the upcoming nights there. Looking out onto the large, expansive view of the school grounds.

Thomas and Bernard were given a wide berth. Thomas didn't mind, and Bernard seemed too tired to be bothered. He helped Bernard organize his things by his four-poster bed. Thomas's things were all tucked inside his black storage ring. It didn't take long for everyone to fall asleep around Thomas. In the quiet of the night, Thomas spent his first night staring out the windows of the shared bedroom. Letting his mind wonder as the mist took hold of the grounds.