When they were called forward, Wolf handed the headmaster his form.
"Hello, sir. I'm Wolf."
Was there something on his face? The headmaster was looking at him strangely.
Wolf's palms started to sweat. He hadn't said anything to him yet.
Finally, the headmaster gripped his hand in a firm handshake.
"Good afternoon. I am the vice headmaster, Johan Agares. I shall take a moment to look through your form."
Suddenly, it dawned on Wolf.
He was in England!
. . .And he couldn't speak English.
"No, no, no. . .g-good. . .English. . ." stuttered Wolf.
The headmaster gestured towards a young boy standing behind him.
Perhaps a translator?
They whispered for a moment before the boy pulled away and nodded at him.
"He says, 'Good afternoon. I am the vice headmaster, Johan Agares. I shall take a moment to look through your form'."
Wolf smiled at the boy. "Thank you!"
He handed his form to the vice headmaster.
As he reviewed it, the boy went back into his position.
Wolf nervously shifted and tugged at his collar. He wondered where the real headmaster was.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Vice Headmaster Agares spoke.
"Scarlet Fox."
Wolf cocked his head to the side.
Was that bad or good?
He hoped Alwin got into Scarlet Fox too.
The vice headmaster pointed him to a tall boy with long hair. Wolf wiped his palms on his thighs and approached the boy.
"Hello! Welcome to Weston College! If you'll join the other boys over there," he pointed Wolf over to a group of boys standing by a pillar, "I will show you to the dormitories.
Again, Wolf hesitated and repeated his earlier statement.
The boy nodded and pointed him towards a group of boys clustered by a pillar.
Wolf situated himself at the edge of the group, too afraid to go in and socialise.
Then, he looked for Alwin.
At first, he couldn't see anything through all the unfamiliar bobbing up and down as they each walked towards their respective houses.
Then, he caught a glimpse of Alwin's grey jacket that was so familiar. . .
Heading towards a boy with a gloomy expression and a hood.
No! Alwin was the one who could speak English! His best friend! He couldn't just be sorted into another house!
Wolf stared at Alwin through a haze of shimmery tears and felt a lump in his throat.
He didn't want to be alone!
He pressed his forehead into his palms and took a deep breath.
And another. And another.
Then, it was time to leave and Wolf was being whisked away in a current of boys like a leaf whisked away in the wind.