"Now Arthur, you be a good boy, and I don't want to hear about you getting into trouble, right?" the hooded figure said to her youngest son. The boy in question looked up to meet his mother's gaze, giving a smile and nodding. Returning the smile, the women swept him into a hug, before quickly pulling away as a bell rang, signalling that the train would be departing soon. She turned to go, taking the bells toll as her signal to get out of here, but her departure was halted by a tugging on her sleave. "I'll miss you mom" the boy murmured before hugging her, tears threatening to spill. With a gentle smile, she bent down, eye level to Arthur, "Cheer up love, you'll love it. Now buck up and hop on that train before it leaves without you" she then stood up to her full height, which wasn't that much but she still struck as quite the figure, before ruffling the unruly blond locks that she herself shared, before disappearing in the crowd, leaving Arthur to make his way to the crowded train by himself.
Arthur managed to secure a compartment to himself, that he was greatful for. The swarm of children and families surrounding the train made him uncomfortable, not being overly fond of crowds. He looked out the window, like so many of the other children abroad the iron machine, searching the crowd for loved ones and returning their departing gestures and words, he tried not to be upset when he couldn't find his own in the throngs of the crowd. His mother was a busy person after all, he should be grateful that she spared as much time as she did in taking him here. As if sensing his distress, a head poked it's way out of his satchel. Looking down, Arthur met the gaze of his beloved friend, "Hello there Gawain, sorry if I woke you up." reaching down to fully remove the emerald serpent from it's confines. The snake nuzzled his cheek as Arthur draped him around his neck, before settling down once more. With his long time companion's familiar weight pressing down on his shoulders', he felt calmer, the embrace comforting him, as he gazed out the window, taking in the passing English country side. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
Shortly into the journey, Arthur's older brothers and sister had managed to find him. They all piled into the comportment he's claimed as his own and made themselves at home. His oldest brother, Scott, recognisable by his thick red hair and his Scottish accent, was hanging out of the window, cigarrete hanging from his lips. When things behind him got to loud for his liking he gave a well aimed kick at the causes. The causes were the next oldest, a set of twins, Patrick and Erin, who were constantly at each others throats about one thing or another. The other remaining Kirkland child was Oliver, who was quietly sitting in the corner, reading, or at least giving the appearance of, seeing as Arthur swore he was the one who kept on shifting the twins belongings enough for them to start their fights anew. What was odd about the Kirkland siblings is that out of all of them, the only ones that shared a father were the twins. This didn't bother any of them though, except for Arthur, he was the only one who didn't get to live or see his father. Though they were spread across the United Kingdom, every-time they were reunited, it was like they had never been apart, though that could be said more so for Arthur's older siblings, seeing as they had been going to this school for a few years, and having all been placed in the same house, spent the majority of the year together. Arthur hoped that he'd be placed in the same house as them, so he could get to know them better. With that he settled back, Gawain relocating to curl up in his lap, before he resumed watching the passing country side.
When they disembarked the train, Arthur was left to go join up with the rest of the first year students as his siblings all went to the carriages together. He nervously stood to the outside of the huddle of students, his hand stuck in his pocket the feel the familiar, papery coils of Gawain. Already most of the other students had become familiar with each other, leaving Arthur feeling more left out than ever. This being especially apparent as he was one of the last to be found a spot in the available boats. As they glided across the surface of the lake, they were met with the sight of the castle, illuminated from within, creating a striking image into the minds of the children drinking it in. Arthur though, quickly tired of it, turning his attention instead onto that of the inky depths that they were travelling over, finding the possibilities of what dwelled below the surface to be of more interest to him, trailing his fingers through the water and giving a slight smile as his gesture was returned with soft caresses from below, the surface only stirring slightly, leaving the rest of the population none the wiser of what lay beneath. Arthur liked it that way. He enjoyed having secrets.
They all stood in a line in-front of the whole school. Four tables stretching to the back of the hall, each full of students garbed in the colours of their respective house, with another table across the front, were the staff and faculty sat. All eyes were trained onto the small figures standing at the front of the hall and the worn-out hat, which was placed atop a small stool. On by one, the new students were called up to take a seat on the stool and have the hat placed on their heads, after varying time, the hat would shout out what house the child on whose head it was placed upon would be in. At each new announcement, the elder students, particularly those of the house that had just been announced, would cheer loudly, though the loudest cheers would have to have been from Gryffindor, originating from the elder Kirkland's, who were always ones to really get into festivities.
When Arthur's name was called out, the hall fell silent, before a buzz of whispers started to fill the silence. Hearing the things being said, Arthur yet again seeked out the comfort of Gawain's presence, the snake nuzzling into his palm as he made his way towards the stool. He was glad to hear his siblings yell out encouragement to him, and as soon as they started, the tenseness from before seemed to have disippated. As he sat, the hat was placed atop his head and slid over his eyes, causing giggles to emit from some of the student body, 'It's not my fault this thing is so damn big' Arthur grumbled to himself, If that's what you want to believe then by all means, a voice sounded. 'And who might you be?' Arthur asked in response, why the Sorting Hat of course, the hat replied smugly, now to sort you, it continued. 'Well personally I wouldn't mine being in Gryffindor, my siblings are all there' Arthur asked. Well sometimes what you want and what you need are two completely different things, Though you have potential for Gryffindor, I see a much more promising future for you in another house, something that'd better nurture the talents you have to offer. 'Well whatever you think is best, you're the Sorting Hat after all, who am I to tell you how to do your job.', Damn right kid, the hat chuckled in response before shouting it's decision. "SLYTHERIN".
The hall once again was filled with silence as Arthur slipped off the stool, placing the hat back on it, and making his way the the Slytherin table. All eyes followed him, and the whispers came back in full force. Throughout all of this, The other Kirkland's kept silent, and Arthur kept his head held high as he walked to an empty seat, ignoring the whispers, the looks and the way the other students edged away from him as he took a seat. As soon as he was seated, the headmaster called out the next name, and things went on how they previously had, except for the sudden silence that had struck the elder Kirklands down.