Blaine lent his head against the cool glass of the train window. He couldn't bring himself to care that the gel from his hair might leave a mark on the pristine glass, sighing into the empty compartment as the great train pulled away from the station filled with sobbing, proud parents.

None of which were his own.

As students continued to walk past his compartment, Blaine couldn't help the small self-depreciating smile on his face, picking up the bird cage next to him and smiling weakly at the small, scruffy owl.

"Looks like it's just me and you, Pav," the first year said quietly with a heart that was sinking, just as the compartment door opened to reveal a young, pale boy, looking at Blaine with a bemused expression.

"Were you just talking to your bird?" the boy asked in a tone of mastered condensation. Blaine curled slightly in on himself, putting the bird cage back down and blushing.

"Y-yes," he stuttered, his golden eyes unable to meet the other boy's.

"Weirdo," the boy smirked, just as the hand of a slightly older boy clamped onto his shoulder, frowning at the other boy with a sense of familiarity.

"Kurt, don't be mean," he said, pushing the boy who must've been Kurt further into the compartment before following him in, beaming friendlily at Blaine. Kurt looked slightly uncomfortable having been pushed into a closed space with someone he'd just deemed a weirdo, but the boy who had followed him in was instantly contented in Blaine's presence.

"My name's Finn," he said, extending his hand out to Blaine. The young boy shook it in return, looking at the strangely tall boy with timid eyes. "I'm in Gryffindor house, second year. And this is my little brother, Kurt." He ruffled Kurt's hair, who flinched away from his brother's touch, glaring.

"We're not really brothers," he corrected quickly, looking at his reflection in the window as he fixed his hair. "And if you touch my hair again, I know the spell that can kill you."

Finn gave Kurt a warning look, but the younger boy just brushed it off, turning to Blaine and taking him in. Blaine felt naked under his stare; the boy was judging him, there was no doubt about that, as his eyes slowly raked him over. Blaine folded his arms across his chest, shuffling in his seat and looking down at his shoes, suddenly wishing he was alone again.

"What's your bird's name?" Kurt asked. There was less of an edge in his voice, and Blaine relaxed a little.

"Pav. Well, I call him Pav, but his name's Pavarotti," he smiled. "He's actually a baby from my brother's owl."

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "You have a brother?"

"Cooper," Blaine replied. "He's in his seventh year right now, but he… He couldn't sit with me. I guess I understand, it's his last year here, and… He wants to spend it with his friend's, you know?"

Kurt gave him a small smile, and Blaine smiled back, trying not to wince at the pity there.

"Brothers are over rated, anyway," Kurt smirked, his older brother sitting with a blank expression on his face before gradually frowning, finally turning around to say "hey!" Blaine didn't even notice he was giggling really until the door opened, shocking him into stopping.

"Hi," a young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes said, her smile picture perfect and a slightly airiness coming off her. "My name is Brittany S. Pierce. What are yours?"

"This is Kurt, and that's Blaine," Finn smiled. "And I'm Finn."

"Cool. We're friends now." She smiled, waving at them all and spinning round before trotting off down the corridor, leaving them all rather confused.

"I think she might be one apple short of a fruit basket," Kurt murmured, causing Finn's confused expression to turn on him. Kurt only shook his head, and Blaine giggled again. Despite his previous reservations, he was quickly warming up to Kurt, finding his quick wit and confident energy almost enchanting. He found himself wanting to know more, and before he could even really think about it, he was quizzing Kurt on his life. He found out how Finn and Kurt were step brothers, and how Finn's mum was actually an acclaimed author in the wizard world. He discovered that Kurt had really wanted an owl, a white snowy owl to be precise, but after a rather melodramatic episode with Finn and his own pet cat, the Hummel-Hudsons were wary of either of the boys keeping a pet. Kurt thought wizard fashion was tacky (Blaine didn't even know "wizard fashion" was a thing), and did his best to put his own creative or sophisticated spin on the wizard robes, which he still wore as he was proud of his heritage. The conversation was all going smoothly, Blaine finding Kurt's humour perfect and easily losing himself in his tales, but when the other boy asked what house he wanted to end up in, he froze.

"I… I'm sorry?"

"What house do you wanna be in?" Kurt repeated. "At Hogwarts?"

"Oh… I… I don't really know much about the school. Neither of my parents are wizards, and Cooper doesn't really tell me... Well, anything. I know there's Gryffindor? That's a house, right?"

Blaine couldn't help but notice Kurt wince at the comment about his parents, looking slightly distressed and turning his gaze to look up at his big brother, who fixed him with a be reasonable frown. "Kurt…" the Gryffindor said softly, and Kurt turned back, smiling at Blaine but still looking uncomfortable.

"You have four houses in Hogwarts," Kurt explained after a moment of hesitation. "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Gryffindor-"

"We're the brave ones," Finn cut in, grinning wide and proud at Blaine.

"And the arrogant," Kurt murmured, smiling fondly at Finn before continuing to explain. Blaine listened attentively, trying to work out which one he'd prefer to be in as Kurt spoke but really wasn't sure. He could tell they all had there good points, and truly had no idea which would fit him best.

"Maybe a Hufflepuff," he finally said. "I can't say I'm brave or… I don't have a super mind... But I can say I'm loyal," he smiled. Kurt smiled back at him, making Blaine's heart grow warm, like he did something right. "What about you?"

Kurt dithered before answering. "I think I'll be in Slytherin," he replied quietly, not meeting Blaine's eye. "It's not really something I want, but… I have the qualities, and everyone says that's where I'll end up…"

"Why don't you wanna be there, then?" Blaine asked.

"Because of their… ideals." Kurt sighed. "Slytherin's have a tendancy to look down on mu- on muggle borns…" his eyes held Blaine's gaze for a moment, as if he was undecided about something- "and also Gryffindor's. I can't avoid my own brother."

"Then don't be like the rest?"

"And have no friends? It's not that simple."

Blaine opened his mouth to argue, but realised Kurt was right. It was hard to stick to your morals in an environment like that, especially by people like Slytherin's who didn't sound like they took anything light.

"You might not get into Slytherin?" Blaine offered, giving him a hopeful smile.

"Maybe. I'd love to be in Gryffindor like Finn. He's told me a lot of fun stories," Kurt smiled. Blaine smiled back, remembering things he'd overheard from Cooper, too, and how much fun it really did sound to be in Gryffindor house. They found themselves exchanging stories they'd heard from their brothers, Finn having his occasional input and the three of them laughing along. Blaine couldn't believe how quickly he'd managed to make a friend, two friends even, when he was sure he'd be the outcast here just as he was at home. As the sky began to darken, Finn pointed out they needed to change into their robes, and as they did Blaine finally let himself think of all the possibilities Hogwarts held for him. New friends, new environment, a new world… Blaine had nothing to lose.

As the train approached the platform, Finn left the two boys on their own, explaining how he had to take the carriages. Blaine frowned, looking to Kurt for an answer, but he was already joining a clump of small, unsorted people, just like them, being ushered away by what Blaine was pretty sure was a giant. He gulped involuntary, and Kurt laughed.

"That's Hagrid," he told him, linking Blaine's arm so they wouldn't get separated. "We can go on the same boat, right?"

"What?" Blaine asked, looking at Kurt with confusion but felt the same warmth in his heart because Kurt chose him to link arms with, to stay close to. Blaine was never anyone's choice.

"We take boats over to the castle. There's about six students to one boat," Kurt explained.

"But I don't know how to row!"

Kurt smiled affectionately, and Blaine had to appreciate how much it lit up his face. "That won't be a problem."

Blaine just stared at him, a million questions flooding his mind and a small feeling of anxiety crawling beneath his skin, but with his arm in hold of a boy who had so easily accepted him and a great castle just a lake away, he was silenced by how overwhelmed he was. Kurt moved them forward, smiling as if he had everything under his control, and Blaine was sure he'd never felt more elated. Kurt was so collected, so hard to faze and so quick to get a situation under his control, and he was like no one Blaine had ever met. He was almost an enigma in Blaine's mind – and yet, here he was, happily striding by Blaine's side with his head held high. There was no shame or pity. Kurt wanted to be with him.

"I hope we're in the same house," Blaine blurted out, his cheeks quickly flushing and he stared shocked at Kurt, hoping it wasn't too presumptuous of him. The boy in question turned to face him, smiling with an eyebrow raised.

"There's no way I'd be a Hufflepuff," he smirked, though there was a light teasing in his tone. "Besides, yellow would look terrible with my complexion."

Blaine couldn't help but giggle. "You really worry about stuff like that?"

"Presentation is important," Kurt replied. "They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but you'd be lying if you said you didn't." Blaine only smiled, looking back in front of them as they were joining a group of people to get into a boat. At Kurt's words, he couldn't help but remember the judging stare he had seen Kurt give him earlier on, and felt a weird satisfaction that he had passed that test. "I hope so too, though," Kurt added softly, smiling warmly and giving his arm a quick squeeze before letting it go, climbing into the boat gracefully. Blaine felt a bubble of warmth in him again for the third time that day, which was more than he had felt the whole summer, and quickly followed Kurt into the boat.

Blaine couldn't stop the gasp he made as the boat began to move forward on its own accord, looking around to see if anyone was just as surprised as he was. Kurt was beaming at him fondly, as if he had already predicted his reaction, and it was only then Blaine realised the blonde girl from the train earlier was on the same boat as them.

"Cool, isn't it?" she grinned, seeing Blaine's expression. Blaine could only offer a dopey smile in response, unable to get over the fact they were moving for no apparent reason.

"Th-the boats are enchanted," a timid Asian girl said, swallowing as if she wondered whether she should have spoken at all. Blaine smiled softly at her, realising he could relate to her insecurity.

"Guy's, this is Tina, Mercedes, and Artie," Brittany said, smiling radiantly at everyone in the boat. Artie, a small boy with thick rimmed glasses, gave them a quick awkward wave, smiling friendly at them. Mercedes offered them a "what up?" to which Blaine saw Kurt didn't know how to respond. "This is Kurt and Blaine," Brittany continued, gesturing to them. Blaine waved, surprised the dotty girl even remembered their names. "And I'm Brittany," she finished, a little quieter as if she was trying to subtly remind them.

"I remember," Blaine smiled. Brittany's own smile grew at that, and she threw them into conversation about each other, effectively getting to know each and every one through very random questions. Blaine learnt that she had a cat named Lord Tubbington who she loved very much, and was amused by the way she spoke about him. ("Sometimes, I put a little firewhisky in his milk to take the edge off.") He was surprised at how easily he could get along with these people, taking a liking to Brittany despite her airiness as well as forming a connection with the others, too. He found Tina was a little shy and reserved, which was something he could relate to, and she seemed much more relaxed in Blaine's company after a while. Artie seemed to think he was a little strange, but they shared being amazed and fascinated by the castle and everything going on around them. Mercedes was extremely easy going, making her easy to talk to and get along with. But Blaine couldn't help feel a pull towards Kurt more than the others, allowing himself to trail off into quiet conversation with him while the others talked amongst themselves.

"Are you nervous?" Blaine asked, trying to hide his fond yet amused smile. Kurt held his gaze for a moment with a straight face before cracking.

"I just don't wanna let my dad or Finn down," Kurt replied, a shaky smile on his lips and his eyes fixed on his clasped together hands. "My dad was in Gryffindor, and his step-son got into Gryffindor… Slytherin is the total opposite. What's he gonna think of me if I end up there?"

"That you're his son?" Blaine offered, putting a reassuring hand on Kurt's shoulder. "And that he's proud of you?" Kurt looked at him for a moment, before his face cracked into a relaxed smile, straightening up a little.

"Yeah, you're right," he smiled. "I'm really lucky to have my dad." Blaine couldn't help the small pang of jealousy he felt, wishing he could say the same about his parents. "What about you? Nervous?"

"Excited," Blaine replied, beaming ridiculously.

As the boats docked and the first year students followed the half-giant up into the school, Blaine was so in awe of his surroundings that he couldn't speak. There were paintings on the walls that greeted them as they passed by, suits of armour whose heads turned to follow them, and ghosts cruising through the magnificent castle in a casual manner, welcoming them all to Hogwarts. He felt Kurt's arm link his again and didn't hesitate to smile at him, feeling on top of the world, and as they reached the doors to the great hall he was so eager and overwhelmed that he barely noticed Kurt tense up.

"Well, well, well," a smooth, female voice said. Blaine turned to see a girl with tanned skin and dark hair walking slowly towards them, her eyes fixed on Kurt. "If it isn't baby face Hummel. Has your House-Elf died yet from altering so many outfits for you? You know it's taunting to have an elf be playing with clothes."

Blaine gawked at her, tightening his arm around Kurt as if he thought that could somehow protect him. He got the feeling she knew Kurt, but judging by Kurt's frozen attitude, he figured it wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"Santana," he eventually said, to which the girl offered him an obviously fake smile. "You're here."

"Ding ding! 10 points to Kurt. I'm sure I'll be seeing you in the dungeons later," she drawled, smiling smugly before walking back up the steps, away from them.

"Who was she?" Blaine whispered, leaning closer to Kurt so he wouldn't have to speak too loud.

"The reason I don't wanna be in Slytherin," Kurt replied, his eyes trained ahead of him. Blaine got the feeling there was something more to it, but before he could offer any words of comfort, the giant doors opened, and the first years filed into the majestic great hall. Blaine gasped as he stepped through the doors; the ceiling was impossibly high and resembled a peaceful night's sky, much like the one outside. There were candles floating above the tables, and Blaine couldn't believe they were just floating there, blinking his eyes several times to make sure he wasn't imagining it. He caught site of Cooper at what must've been the Gryffindor table and waved, feeling like he was in a dream. When they finally came to a stop, a teacher, who Blaine overheard from some other students was named Professor McGonagall , instructed them to sit on a stool to the side of her when she called their name in order to be sorted. Before any of this could happen, however, the hat apparently had a few words to say, and Blaine stared in awe as the headpiece began to recite a poem. He noticed Kurt stifling a giggle next to him, but despite how stupid he probably looked, he couldn't hide his amazement. The entire hall clapped when the hat had finished its piece, and Professor McGonagall pulled out a long piece of parchment, ready to read the names of the first years.

"Artie Abrams," the teacher called, and Blaine smiled as the boy in glasses passed him slowly, approaching Professor McGonagall and easing himself onto the stool. The hat would have covered his eyes if it weren't for his glasses, and Artie seemed a little amused by this but his face suddenly dropped, his body language frozen and tense. Blaine frowned as he watched him, unsure how this whole process really worked; how was a hat meant to determine their house? By the way it looked on them? Was Kurt so right about people judging by appearances that it meant even more in the wizard world and Professor McGonagall determined whether you were more Ravenclaw-chic or you were more suited to a Hufflepuff style?

"GRYFFINDOR!" Blaine heard the hat call, looking around as applause exploded from the Gryffindor table and the rest of the school, bar the Slytherins, clapped politely. He frowned; sure, the hat could speak, but he'd figured it was more of an enchantment than anything. Could it really get into your mind to work out where you belonged? Blaine suddenly felt much more nervous about the whole thing.

"Blaine Anderson," the teacher called, looking into the sea of first years to try and find the boy in question. Blaine looked at Kurt in sudden terror, not wanting to leave him so suddenly to be judged by a hat. Kurt gave him a reassuring smile, sliding his arm out of Blaine's grip and patting his shoulder.

"Whatever you get, you'll be great," Kurt murmured, and Blaine genuinely felt better, approaching the stool and barely getting a chance to sit down before the hat was placed on his head. He was shocked to hear it speak, sure that the hat was quite silent when Artie was being sorted, and he froze as the hat picked apart his thoughts, wondering if the whole school could hear. He tried to find Kurt's face in the crowd as the hat mumbled in his ear (there is a lot of good in you, dear boy… a lot restrained in you, too…), and just spotted the pale, anxious looking boy when the hat roared –

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Blaine's jaw dropped, finding his eyes landing on his brother almost immediately who was clapping and cheering along with everyone else. He quickly beelined towards the table, grinning at Cooper who gave him a pat on the back but found himself sitting next to Finn, who gave him an even bigger pat on the back and told him "I knew it all along, man!"

As the next students got sorted, Blaine felt himself grow more and more anxious as the names got closer to the letter "H". The stuttering girl from the boat, Tina, got herself sorted into Ravenclaw, and a boy whose name was Mike took the seat on the other side of Blaine after being sorted into Gryffindor. A cheery looking girl, Rachel Berry, was sorted into Slytherin. Sam Evans, blonde and smiley, was in Hufflepuff. The names went on and on, until finally, Blaine saw Kurt making his way slowly to the stool, sitting down and closing his eyes, looking as if he could be pleading with the hat. Blaine suddenly wished he could hear what the hat was saying, his palms growing sweaty and his heart in his mouth. He wanted Kurt to be happy, unable to think of anyone who deserved it more than him in that moment. It was taking longer than the others, and some students were even starting to grow irritated, when the hat finally made its announcement and Kurt's eyes opened to look nothing but panicked.

"SLYTHERIN!"

As the cheering began, irrational noise that in no way matched the newly sorted boy's feelings, Kurt made his way to the Slytherin table as if he were in slow motion. Blaine sensed Finn's shoulder's drop behind him, but couldn't take his eyes away from Kurt. He looked like he was caught in a daze, caught in some awful regret, but the force of what Blaine was feeling for Kurt was nothing compared to when the other boy lifted his eyes to look directly into his. Blaine suddenly understood, his heart dropping and time feeling like it was standing still. Kurt's eyebrows were drawn together, his mouth open ever so slightly and his eyes screaming with the hopelessness he felt. Blaine's hand gripped at nothing, desperate not to let something so good slip away from him so soon. He shook his head, feeling dizzy with the fear of what was about to happen. Kurt's eyes, so unique and bright and heartbreaking to look in to, bore into his own just a moment longer, but as soon as a teacher ushered him to his seat and Kurt broke the gaze, Blaine knew that was it.

He'd lost the first person to have ever accepted him entirely and still stay by his side.

He'd lost his first real friend.