Candrala: Obviously, I do not own Avatar or the ideas from Harry Potter that are tied to this story.

Chapter 2: Won't you come

The children had unpacked quickly, the intense feeling of hunger setting in on everyone's stomachs. They had not eaten since their departure from their homes and even then most of them had not seen foods in days.

The main hallway was clogged with students trying to pour into the dining hall. Protests of the traffic flowed variously throughout the students. Torches casted gentle shadows across the students and the walls of Ba Sing Se.

Aang perched lightly on the bench, glancing around. He had to take in everything. All the sounds and smells were so interesting to him. After his scan of the room, he looked at the selection of food before him. Being strictly vegetarian, he settled on a bowl of litchi fruit and claimed it for himself.

Katara settled next to him, smiling warmly, "Well, at least they have more food options for you this year, Aang," Aang nodded, taking a testing bite of the fruit, eyes widening in delight, then beginning to shovel the fruit into his mouth.

Sokka sat at the bench across from them, his eyes immediately scanning the meat selections. He was starving, way more than he had realized. Katara looked at him, reaching forward to fill her plate. "Let me get some food first, please. If I don't, it'll be gone after you touch it."

Sokka glared at her, childishly throwing his arms into his lap and pouting. "I don't eat that much. Plus, you're a woman. You should be watching your figure."

Katara snorted, placing her plate on the table before her, "Oh, and you shouldn't eat so much meat. It makes you stupid!" She had to admit her comeback was stupid but their sibling tiffs weren't something she could just give up on.

Sokka's eyes widened slightly as he tried to think of a retort. When nothing came to mind, he crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin in the air slightly.

"Hey guys!" Aang exclaimed, "Look at this!"

Aang held out his hand, litchi fruits spinning around and juggling in his palm. Sokka launched the upper half of his body across the table, "What the hell is that?" He was more interested in what Aang was eating than the talent his monk friend had found.

Katara clasped Aang's shoulder lightly, smiling, "That's wonderful, Aang."

Aang glanced at her, smiling sheepishly. "Thanks, Katara."

Sokka settled back into his bench, picking up various pieces of meat as he sat back down. "So, hopefully our first classes will actually be worth it. I want to get to work early this year." He murmured as he gnawed on a piece of seal.

Aang, still spinning his litchi fruit, looked over across the room, watching something with intent curiousity. He seemed worried yet at the sametime hopeful.

Katara scrapped her fork around her plate, suddenly selfconcious of the comment Sokka had made earlier, "You know no matter when the seriousness of classes begins, you're going to work 10 times harder than you need to."

"I happen to enjoy my work!" Sokka proclaimed defiantly, throwing his arms up. His eyes widened when his fist collided with someone's chest. Katara stared steadily at the person Sokka had hit while Aang's smile expanded across his mouth.

Slowly, Sokka turned around, a look of sheepish apology written across his face. Sheepish apology turned into immediate freak out and he quickly whipped back around, shoveling food into his mouth as quickly as possible.

Zuko lowered himself nervously onto the bench next to Sokka. He was terrified, clearing his throat before looking at Katara and Aang. "I was wondering," his voice was calm, conflicting with how he actually felt inside, "if I could maybe sit with you."

Aang threw his arms up, quickly forgetting about his litchi fruit. "Of course you can, Zuko! We're all friends here!"

Sokka looked at his sister, clear distress written on his features. A small smile curled up the corner of her mouths. She looked at Zuko, resting her hands cooly on the table. "Oh, of course you can sit with us, Zuko. The more company the better, right?"

Sokka groaned audibly behind the volumes of food in his mouth, slamming his head into te table. Zuko sat back, blinking down at him. "Well, thank you very much." Sokka's head rolled against the table as he craddled himself and mumbled behind his food.

Zuko watched him curiously before glancing back up at Katara and Aang. "Are you both ready for classes tomorrow?"

Katara nodded, taking a small bite of her food, "We can't wait. Sokka was just saying how he can't wait to get to work. He's a very hard worker." Sokka's head shot up from the table, glaring at his sister. He knew this meant Zuko would start talking to him.

Zuko rested his elbow on the table, cradling his chin in his palm, "What about you, Aang?"

Aang smiled brightly, offering a piece of fruit to Zuko which was accepted politely, "Oh, I can't wait! I love school, and I love working with Gyatso, and I love the people here!" After a pause, Aang added, "Are you, Zuko?"

Zuko tugged on his bangs absently, irritated that they were getting in his eyes, "Yes. School gives me something to do."

Sokka was peering over at Zuko through the corner of his eye, his fingers laced together under his chin. He wasn't sure if they should trust Zuko. Sure, Zuko had never done anything to make him believe that. They just had common house rivalries. It bothered him, though, that Zuko never interacted with anyone and now he was trying to make friends.

Zuko side-glanced at Sokka, the corner of his lips turning up slightly. Sokka looked away, down at the table as he felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment of being caught.

Iroh's voice echoed off the walls of the dining hall as he announced it was time for the students to return to their houses. Sokka hopped up, grateful he could get away from Zuko. "Well," he stretched his arms over his head, forcing a yawn, "I'll see you guys tomorrow." And he scurried out of the dining hall before anyone else.

Zuko watched him as Katara mumbled, "What the hell has gotten into him?"

The next morning was slightly brisk, autumn getting closer to arriving. Classes would be held inside rather than outside as planned. Sokka, however, couldn't sit still listening to his father drown on about how to properly track a turtleseal. Instead, he settled on wandering the woods around the school grounds.

He was making his way towards the river when he heard a throaty cry. Sokka looked around and when he heard it again, he sprinted forward. If someone was in trouble, he had to help. It was only right.

Sokka followed the screams into a clearing. He came to a hault then backed up into the trees, hiding behind one.

Zuko was practicing his firebending. He stood silently, his eyes closed. After a few minutes, a small snarl captured his face and he thrust his arm forward, fire dancing from his fists, before turning and kicking up his leg and crouching rapidly throwing out his arms; the whole time fierce cries echoed from Zuko's throat. Fire formed and danced with him and Sokka couldn't help but be amazed.

Zuko fell back into the grass, spreading his arms out and letting the cool air brush against his fevered skin.

Sokka took a deep breath, deciding he had to find out why Zuko suddenly wanted to be their friends. He took a first cautious step, building up his courage. He puffed his chest, silently reminding himself he was a warrior from the Souther Water tribe.

Zuko opened his eyes slightly, sensing the movement of Sokka coming towards him. He looked up, when Sokka's head shadowed his face. Sokka peered down at the older boy, swallowing his nervousness silently.

"What is it?" Zuko asked irritably as he sat up. He didn't like when people interupted his training.

Sokka took a deep breath, letting it out through his nose. "Why... are you suddenly wanting to be all buddy-buddy?"

Zuko threw his head back, looking at Sokka with bewilderment on his face. "You interuppted my training for that?" Sokka crossed his arms definatly, "I didn't interupt anything! You were just laying here! I waited until you were finished."

Zuko blinked, confusion and irritation washing off his face, "You were watching?"

Sokka waved his hand around absently, like it was no big deal, "I was walking around, heard something..." He shook his head, then pointed at Zuko, "Hey!" he cried, his voice cracking gently, "Don't avoid my question!"

Zuko stood up, facing Sokka. Sokka had to look up at him, though there was only a year difference between them. He set his feet and clenched his fists, showing he was more than determined to get his answer.

It was silent for a few minutes.

Zuko ran his hand lightly over his face, sighing. "Look, Sokka, I really only want some friends. I'm tired of being on my own. I mean, my uncle's my only friend! How sad is that?"

Sokka had to admit that was pretty sad. He still didn't believe that was it.

Zuko continued, looking out across the meadow, his hand resting on his neck, "Granted, surrounding yourself with people doesn't make you any less lonely," he glanced at Sokka, who had stepped back slightly in surprise of Zuko's comment.

"I..." Sokka flatered, looking down at Zuko's feet, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Zuko looked steadily at Sokka, his hands now at his side. His voice was steady and sure, "We're more alike than you think."

With that Sokka turned around and ran back towards the school. He didn't want to deal with this, not yet.

Candrala: I hope I got across what I wanted to. Read, review, enjoy.