Chapter IV
September 1st, 1993
The day Thomas was due to Ilvermorny was both stressful and exciting. He woke up at exactly five o'clock in the morning with nervousness and set about getting ready for the day. While pulling on his baggy clothes, he rechecked his Ilvermorny list again to make sure everything he needed was packed. From that point, he waited for his relatives to get up.
A few hours later, they arrived at the station with Thomas being hastily dropped off amongst the Mourys guffaws. While on the way to Command Center Station, Uncle Vile had asked him which platform his "freak school train" was on, and when Thomas had said "Platform nine and a half," they'd proceeded to laugh all the way to their destination. For what? He did not know.
Now Thomas walked through the station struggling to push his cart of things as he searched for the platform. He spied number five and headed that way. He walked past number six… seven… eight… nine!
"Ten?" Thomas stopped beside a large family as he glanced around confused. The platform should've been right there between nine and ten.
"Excuse me, sir?" Thomas asked a nearby security officer. "Where's platform nine and a half?"
"There is no platform nine and a half," he simply said, looking at the boy weirdly before walking off. Thomas then realized exactly why the Mourys were laughing.
"This can't be all a trick," he thought, feeling slightly hysterical. "It must be magical like the entrance to Mariner Bay." Thomas shook his head and closed his eyes. Ernie said he would be able to do magic, so he raised his hands, trying to sense a magical aura.
"Mommy! Mommy, what's that boy in the baggy clothes doing?" Thomas opened his eyes when he heard a little girl from the large family say while he futilely sensed the air. His cheeks swiftly turned red, and at that moment, he wished he had taken Ernie up on his offer to get regular clothes.
"I don't know, sweetums," the mother didn't even spare the child a glance as she went back to fussing over her boys, and she had a plentiful amount of them. The little girl continued to stare and after ten minutes of this, Thomas began to get frustrated at her gaze.
"Everyone sure they have everything?" the mother put her hands on her hips. They nodded in unison like drill sergeants. "Alright then, head to the barrier, we barely have time to spare. Wesley, you first."
"I can't, Mom. That no-maj is blocking the entrance to the Express," the one named Wesley replied. Thomas' eyes widened when they used the same terminology Ernie had used. "They must be magical," he mused.
"What do you mean blocking the entrance?" The mother's eyes landed on Thomas with a warm sternness. She imperceptibly glanced at the trunk and cage beside him.
"Don't worry Ma, I'll handle this," one of the bigger boys said, punching his fist to his hand. He looked like a bigger size Mordant – if that was possible – but meaner. Thomas was getting ready to ditch and run when one of the other boys put a hand on the huge boy's chest and pushed him back.
"Step back, Bulke," the scrawny teen boy who pushed him smirked. He had really greasy brown hair and wore shades and a leather jacket, the appearance of a biker. "I got this." Thomas gripped his cart fearfully as the teen headed for him.
"Schulle, leave the boy alone!" yelled the mother as she walked toward the fearful boy, smacking both Bulke and Schulle upside their head as she passed them. She squatted in front of him. "Do you need help getting on the platform, dear?"
Thomas just nodded, trembling a little.
"Hmm. You oughta be ashamed of yourself Bulke and Schulle. You've gone and scared the boy," the woman chastised her sons over her shoulder before turning back and smiling warmly at Thomas. "It must be your first time?"
He nodded again.
"It's Jason's first time as well. Now the platform is easy to get on, all you want to do is run straight through the barrier separating nine and ten. Just watch my Wes." The woman gestured towards the oldest son who pointedly ran at the brick pillar with his cart. Thomas apprehensively scrunched his face tight at what was sure to be a crash, but to his surprise, the teenage boy disappeared.
"Schulle, Bulke, you next."
The two mean boys saluted her and consecutively jogged to the barrier, but before the first one reached it, however, they simultaneously pointed at their eyes with two fingers and turned it to Thomas, in a classic 'I'm watching you' gesture. The twelve-year-old gulped.
"Ready?" the mother asked him with warm eyes. Thomas instantly nodded but anyone could see he was scared out of his mind. Thomas grabbed his cart and maneuvered it in front of the barrier. He took a deep breath. "This is not gonna work," he thought nervously. "This is not gonna work."
"It's gonna work," the little girl said as she came up and took his shaking hand. "Don't be afraid." Thomas met her eyes and was taken aback at how deeply brown they were, almost black.
"Together?" she said, staring at him, and suddenly Saba let out a trill from her cage which Thomas took as agreement. He peered at his falcon and then looked back at the girl.
"Together," he answered, and they ran for the barrier.
The second Thomas' eyes took notice of his new surroundings, he stumbled, taking the little girl down with him. "Sorry," he immediately apologized, helping her up but still staring at his environment with wide eyes. The materialized platform was packed with people seeing their children off, and next to it a navy and burgundy steam shuttle sat proudly with smoke billowing from it. The respective signs of Platform Nine and Ten had disappeared, and now an archway with the words Platform Nine and A Half stood.
"It's okay," the girl replied as she avidly fixed the ghastly bows on her short, brown pigtails. Her mother and younger brother, who must've been Jason, came out of the barrier then.
"I'm Kimberly, what's your name?" she stuck her hand out and Thomas nimbly took it, pausing as he pondered her question. This was his first time interacting with a girl his age without having to look over his shoulder for Mordant. He wanted to seem cool. Thomas grinned at the girl and tilted his head.
"Tommy," he said with a grin. "The name is Tommy."
Kimberly smiled sweetly at Tommy. "Well, Tommy, after going through the platform together, I'd say we're best friends now." The little girl walked off with her mother. "Catch ya on the flip side!"
Tommy stared after his newfound best friend with a cheeky grin. He never had a best friend before. The boy's gaze never wavered from her small figure until the train's horn blared. He guessed that meant he only had a few minutes to board.
Tommy hurriedly pushed his cart off down the platform in search of an empty seat. The first few carriages were already packed with people, but he found an empty compartment near the back of the train. He lifted Saba up the stairs to the entrance first, placing her down on the floor. Tommy then turned back around for his trunk. Closing his eyes, he prayed to his higher-ups for guidance before grabbing a hold of his heavy trunk. He pulled with all his might, but the trunk didn't even move. Huffing, Tommy kicked the wooden box in irritation.
"Woah!" the boy named Wes yelled as the trunk almost landed on his foot. "You might wanna be careful where that foot flies, bro." He chuckled. The teen's eyes were just as darkly brown as the little girl's. "Hey, want a hand?"
"Yes, please," Tommy ran a hand through his long hair in frustration as Wes lifted the trunk.
"Woah!" he exclaimed again but this time in shock. He dropped the trunk. "Shite!" he cursed as it landed on his foot.
"Are you okay?" Tommy ran down the stairs.
"Yeah…" Wes said, staring at the boy weirdly. "Yeah! Um, I'm fine." He picked up the trunk again and they headed into the compartment.
"So," he started once Tommy's trunk was safely put away. "You're, uh, Thomas Oliver?"
Tommy cocked his head at him. "How did you…" his hand clapped to his forehead where his swoops were no longer covering his scar. "Oh."
"Yeah," the friendly teen smiled at him. "Well nice meeting you, Thomas Oliver. Don't be afraid to hit me up if you need anything else."
Wes left.
Tommy tiredly flopped to his seat; he'd almost forgotten he was famous in this world. The boy sighed and gazed out of the window next to him, absentmindedly watching the huge family that helped him say their goodbyes. He had to look away, however, as an envious feeling of longing filled him.
If he had only stared any longer, he would've noticed the family's shocked expression as the oldest son told them all about the famous boy they had helped onto the platform.
A whistle sounded then and the train shifted a little. Tommy made himself comfortable, and as the train started to move, he glanced out the window again. His new friend was running alongside the moving steam engine, waving at her brothers who were hanging outside the entrance door. Tommy jumped on his seat and opened his window. He leaned half of his body out, and catching her attention, he waved goodbye to her. Kimberly stopped and wiggled her fingers at him with a blush before burying her face in her hands with newfound shyness. Tommy grinned and sat back down, happy to be able to say goodbye to at least someone.
The door of his compartment slid open as the train rounded the corner. It was the youngest boy from the family that helped him. What was his name again? Jack? James? Jimmy?
"Mind if I sit in here?" the boy asked, pointing towards the empty side of the compartment.
"Not at all," Tommy shook his head and the boy sat down. He stared at Tommy after he sat down, averting his gaze just when Tommy began to get uncomfortable.
"Hey, Jase!" Bulke and Schulle entered the compartment. Tommy became fearful and inwardly began making escape plans.
"Oh-oh, Schulley! Look who we have here!" the big one with a bandanna wrapped around his head and ponytail folded his arms.
"Only Mr. Thomas Oliver himself!" the biker-looking one joined in.
"The defeater of You-Know-Who!"
"The savior of wizardkind!"
"TO THE ONLY SURVIVOR!" they both chimed.
"Nice to meet you," the two teens held their hands out. Tommy tentatively took both of them. Big mistake. The boy was snatched out of his chair and brought into a double bear hug.
"Thank you so much Thomas!" the one named Schulle cried with fake tears.
"Should we call him Tommy for dear ol' Kimmy?" Bulke cried as well.
"TO TOMMY!" they yelled, swinging him around. When they finally set him down, Tommy scooted back to the window as far away as he could possibly get.
"Anyways we just came to see if our baby brother was all settled in."
"Also give little Jasey a beat down!" They simultaneously dived on the boy who Tommy now remembered was named Jason.
"Ger'off off me, you douches!" he yelled as they rubbed noogies on his head.
"Hey!" Tommy jumped out of his chair. "Leave him alone!"
Bulke and Schulle paused and looked at him. They glanced at each other, then looked back at him.
"You heard the Only Survivor, Bulkey. Let's leave him alone!" Schulle said and they both jumped up and headed for the door. Before they left they gave Tommy that 'I'm watching you', gesture again.
Tommy just rolled his eyes and offered a hand to Jason who took it and pulled himself up.
"I'm sorry about my brothers," mumbled Jason. "They're a little eccentric."
Tommy sat back in his chair. "That's okay," he said, and then an awkward silence settled.
"Are you really Thomas Oliver?" Jason blurted out before clapping his hand over his mouth, embarrassed.
"Yep, and before you ask, I really do have the scar," Thomas sighed and lifted up his hair, showing his ghastly scar.
Jason glanced at it before bowing his head down. "I wasn't going to ask you that."
"Oh…" Tommy thought embarrassingly, he might've just lost his third friend after Ernie and Kimberly.
"I'm Jason Scott Hart. Well, just Jason Hart. I don't know why I added my middle name."
Tommy laughed and shook his outstretched hand. "Tommy. Call me Tommy."
"Okay, Tommy," the boy smiled, and soon they were deep into conversation. Tommy told his new friend all about the no-maj world and his horrible relatives, also about how Ernie brought him into the fold of the wizarding world. Jason on the other hand told him all about the wizarding world and the Ilvermorny' houses, about Quidditch, and more.
"…yeah, I'm the second to the youngest child of seven. So I have a lot to live up to. My eldest brothers, Mike and Leo, they're both co-heads of the Department of Terra Venture in the Magical Congress, kind of like the Aurors of Space. They get to travel all over the galaxy and fight the neighboring wizarding planets that threaten ours. My-"
"You mean aliens are real?" Tommy interrupted.
Jason looked at him confusedly "Aliens?"
"The no-maj term for living beings in Space."
"Oh," Jason raised his eyebrows. "Well, yeah, I guess. Anyways, my third brother is Wes. He's a prefect and is probably going to be the Head boy next year. He's super-duper smart but mostly humble about it. He's a pretty nice person."
"Yeah, he helped me get my trunk on the train."
"Uh-huh, that's him for you. Next, there's Bulke and Schulle. They're wannabe bullies, but no one takes them seriously. They're more so class clowns. Everyone finds them funny. Oh, and a weird fact, they're twins."
"What?" Tommy started, his expression wide, not believing that all.
"Yeah!" Jason laughed at his face. "They're twins, fraternal though."
Tommy shook his head in disbelief. "That's crazy."
Jason smiled. "The craziest. After them, there's me, then there's Kimberly. We call her Kim."
"I met her," said Tommy with a grin as he thought of his new 'best friend.' "She's…"
"Eccentric? Vibrant? Pain in the ass?" Jason chuckled.
"Very sure of herself," he replied laughing.
"Got that right. Never get in an argument with that little spitfire. It's not worth it," he shuddered. "She has one of the biggest hearts though. Bigger than my Mom's, and that's saying something."
"Anything from the cart, dears?" they looked up when the compartment door slid open. Tommy glanced at Jason to see if he was interested but instead saw the uncomfortable look the boy had on his face. His eyes shifted to the poorly wrapped sandwiches beside him.
"No, thank you-" he began.
"We'll take the motherlode," Tommy interrupted, pulling out a handful of coins. His new friend's eyes almost popped out of his head.
Ten minutes later, wrappings were strewn all across the floor as they tore through treat after treat. Tommy grabbed a box called Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans as Jason chewed on a Licorice Wand. At first, when Tommy offered to share, he ardently refused - though anyone could see he didn't mean it - but after Tommy's persistent proffering, Jason gave in to Tommy's delight. He never had someone to share with, not to mention to spend his then nonexistent money on. Doing this made him happy.
"What is this?!" Tommy spit out the bean the second it touched his tongue. It tasted distinctly of lint - not that lint should have a taste.
Jason laughed. "Ah, Bertie's beans. I should've warned you. When they say every flavor, they really do mean every flavor," he shook his head. "I once got one that tasted like the sole of my shoe. I honestly don't even know how I knew that."
They laughed.
Tommy reached for a box of Chocolate Frogs to get rid of the taste, happily casting aside his box of beans. He began to open his box but paused. "Are these really frogs?" At this point, he wouldn't even be surprised if they were.
"No," grinned Jason "But if you get a Trey of Triforia card in it, can I have it? That's the only one I still don't have."
Tommy just shrugged and unwrapped his Chocolate Frog, picking up the card. It showed an old, but strong man. He had a bald head where his wrinkles were most noted. He wore a long wool robe with golden cuffs attached to it. Underneath the picture was the name Zordon Eltar.
"So this is the Zordon I've been hearing so much about!" Tommy exclaimed.
"Ugh! I feel like I got a million of him."
Tommy turned over his card to read. It said:
ZORDON ELTAR
CURRENT HEADMASTER OF ILVERMORNY
Zordon Eltar is considered to be one of the greatest wizards of all time, this is due particularly to his infamous defeat of the dark wizard Ivan Ooze in the time before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He is also known for his work on electric tethering with his partner, Alpha Pentad. Professor Eltar enjoys collecting antique coins in his free time.
Tommy turned the card back around. Zordon smiled at him and gave him a two-fingered salute before walking out of the picture. Tommy shook it to see if he'll come back. He didn't. Casting the card aside, the boy turned back to his friend who was going through the zenith of Chocolate Frogs. Tommy shook his head and leaned on the window to watch the fast-passing scenery go by. He looked up when there was a knock on their compartment door.
Jason and he both raised their brows as an Asian girl entered the carriage. She had long, silky black hair and a proper air to her.
"Have any of you seen a cat? A boy named Billy has lost one?" She had an even more proper voice.
Jason laughed. "The hell? How do you lose a cat? All you have to do is feed it and it'll love you."
Tommy joined his laughter.
The girl looked at him disgusted. "That kind of language is not proper for our age! And I'll have you know that cats have to be more than just fed in order to gain their love. They are prideful creatures."
"Yeah…yeah," Jason rolled his eyes. "This Billy guy should've just got a hamster, like this one I got from my brother," he picked up the animal that was resting under his sandwiches. "Presley is a boring rodent though. All he does is sleep all day. Big, fat, stupid rat-"
"You shouldn't speak to animals that way," the girl interjected. "Humans are considered to be animals themselves, so that makes us no better than any other creature."
Tommy and Jason stared at each other, dumbfounded.
"Anyways, I'm Trinity Kwan. Call me Trini. Nobody in my family's magical so I guess that makes me no-maj born. I was very surprised when I got my letter but pleased nonetheless. They say Ilvermorny is one of the best wizarding schools so I'm glad to be going there. Though I did consider Hogwarts, the school in Scotland. Who are you?"
Not fifteen seconds had passed by the time she finished, and the boys were admittedly even more dumbfounded.
"Jason Hart."
"Tommy Oliver."
Trini started. "Tommy for Thomas? You're Thomas Oliver?" he nodded. "I've read all about you."
"I'm in a book?" Tommy's chin dropped.
"Multiple ones," she said. "Well, I best be going to find that cat. Oh, and you should probably change. I expect we'll be arriving soon."
She left.
"That one was…" Jason began. "Completely wild."
Tommy snorted and they went into a laughing fit. They only stopped when the compartment door slid open yet again. Three boys entered. Tommy immediately recognized the boy from Madame Fairweather's robe shop.
"It is true then?" the boy drawled. "Thomas Oliver is indeed in this compartment? It's you?"
"Yeah…" Tommy glanced at the boy's goonies. They were big and mean-looking like Mordant and his gang. They looked like common bullies.
"Well this is Squatt and Booboo," said the boy gesturing to his bodyguards. "And I am Mercer. Terrance Smith Mercer." Terrance said his full name proudly as if it was the best name to have in the world. Jason began coughing in a way that distinctly sounded like laughter. Terrance Mercer's gaze shifted to him. He sneered.
"Black eyes with brown hair? Dirt on your nose? Let me guess, you're a Hart. My father told me all about your kind. He told me in these exact words, 'If you come across someone with black eyes and unwashed brown hair, check your pockets because they're most likely a Hart.' Broke lot they are," the boy snarled. Jason went red. "Thomas, you'll find out soon that some families are more worthwhile than others. You shouldn't hang with the likes of blood traitors like his family."
Tommy jumped up with anger, but Terrance Mercer stuck his hand out as if Tommy was instead agreeing with him on his disgust to be sitting with the likes of Jason, rather than him.
"I think I can choose what families I like to associate with by myself. Thank you," Tommy replied and the boy with pitch-black hair narrowed his eyes.
He slowly snapped his fingers to dismiss Squatt and BooBoo and they left the compartment, glaring. "You should be careful with what you say, Oliver, or you just might meet the same likely end as your parents." He walked out as Tommy's eyes darkened.
"Don't worry about him, Tommy," Jason shook his head as the boy sat down. "My dad told me the Mercers are just an old and rich, pureblood wizarding family that think they're the best thing ever. He said to just ignore any word that comes out their mouth."
Tommy sighed and turned back to his chair to sit down, but before he did, he looked out of the window and saw how dark it was getting. "Maybe we should change now."
"I was just about to say the same thing," Trini Kwan was back. She was already dressed in her robes. "I suspect we'll be arriving in half an hour." She glanced at Jason and gestured at his mouth. "You have a little something…"
Jason wiped off the chocolate at the corner of his mouth with his finger. He peered at it, shrugged, and then licked it off. Trini scrunched her face up at him in disgust before leaving. Jason glared at her retreating back.
They spent the next half hour eating the rest of their treats and then getting ready. By the time they were putting on their robes, the train was slowing down. Excitement burst through Tommy as it came to a stop. Jason and he pushed their way out of the entrance door and onto a small platform, crammed with students shivering in the cold night air.
"First years over here! Follow me, first years!" Ernie's innocent face appeared over the crowd. "Make way! First years to me!"
Stumbling over each other, they assembled after Ernie who led them down a muddy path and into the woods, the moon and Ernie's lamp the only light to guide them. A fearful boy with giant spectacles was trembling beside Tommy. As they walked through the dimly lit trees, suddenly the path opened into the edge of a lake. On the other side stood an enormous castle, with glorious towers, glowing ethereally under the starry sky.
Tommy sucked in a breath.
"Everyone to a boat!" Ernie told them and they anxiously piled into the floating devices residing in water by the shore. Tommy and Jason were joined into their boat by the boy with the spectacles and Trini.
"Grip the sides!" called Ernie. A second later the boats took off.
Not a minute after their journey began did the boats stop. They smoothly glided to a standstill under the castle. The first years quickly clambered out of the boats, some with maniacal grins like Tommy and Jason, and some who looked like they were about to toss up their lunch. The boy with the spectacles' trembling had reached a new height, and Trini appeared to be faring no better.
Ernie gave them all time to calm themselves down before he led them up a flight of stone steps. Everyone's breath stood still as he raised a large hand to the big oak doors and knocked.
The doors opened.
A tall, stern-looking woman with golden curls stood there. She wore an emerald cloak that did nothing to cover her long, nude legs. Tommy blushed and averted his gaze quickly. He had enough home training to know that looking at a woman's body was inappropriate. Jason on the other hand had a grin on his face. Tommy suspected he had enough home training as well but in a different way.
"Thank you, Ernie," she said and flashed a bright smile in the giant's direction. Her face changed from stern to pleasant in that instant. Jason swooned.
"I will take it from here." She gestured to the door, and all of them shuffled in.
She led them into the entrance hall that was so enormous, you could fit two platforms in it. The hall with stone walls was lit by flaming torches. To the right stood a giant marble staircase. To the left stood another set of giant oak doors. The woman led them to these doors, stopped, and turned to face them. Tommy suspected the rest of the school was behind them.
"Welcome to Ilvermorny," the woman flashed that smile again, and again, Jason swooned. He frowned when no second later it was changed back into sternness. "My name is Professor Dulcea Nathadian. You will address me as only Dulcea. You will not address the other professors as so. You are about to enter the Great Hall for the beginning of the term feast. Before it begins, you will be sorted into your houses. I'm certain that you all are familiar with the houses, but to be sure, the four houses are known as Thunderbird, Pukwudgie, Wampus, and Horned Serpent. These houses will be like your headquarters here at Ilvermorny. They will determine where you sleep, who's in your classes, etc."
Dulcea then reached into her cloak and magically pulled out a staff. "File into two lines," she demanded and began to rhythmically tap her staff hard into the ground. "The Sorting Ceremony is beginning." Fear and nervousness plagued them all as they quickly shuffled behind each other. Dulcea stopped tapping once everyone was in place. She then harshly slammed her staff one good time in the ground and the oak double doors opened. In unison, they followed Dulcea as she turned and strode inside.
The first years glanced around in awe as they entered the magnificent Great Hall. It was lit by floating chandeliers dripping candle wax, emanating a golden glow. Actually, the entire room was golden. From the golden plates, goblets, and the tables. The only thing not golden was the ceiling above them where the night sky was manifested. It showed the moon and stars glowing brightly. They walked in the split of four long golden tables, filled with students.
Tommy sighed and bowed his head as everyone he passed gawked at his scar. He meticulously fingered his swoops over it. Dulcea stopped them in front of a platform where the professors sat. Then, a man wearing some type of brain helmet came out with a three-legged stool in one hand, and a raggedy hat in the other.
"That's Corcus," Jason whispered to Tommy as the man placed the hat on the stool. "He's an Aquitarian - an alien. My brother Leo told me all about him. He came here from the Planet Aquitar during the Galaxy Wars to escape from their king."
"Wicked," Tommy whispered as Corcus walked away, and silence swiftly fell over the room. The first years' looked around, confused as to what was going on. Then suddenly the hat opened its mouth and began to sing:
Oh, when you look at me at first glance,
I'm just an ugly hat.
If you open your eyes and give me a chance,
You'll see I'm more than that.
I may not be a bowler,
I may not be a cap,
But don't you get squealy,
For I'm the Ilvermorny Sorting Hat
No other hat is like me,
No other hat knows your mind,
So don't try to hide for I will see,
Which house will treat you kind.
You might end up Thunderbird,
Where goes adventurers at heart,
Their braveness, soul, and chivalry
Set them far apart.
You might belong in Pukwudgie,
Where everything is just
Puk's leading heart and healing nature,
Sometimes is a must.
If you are wise and anxious,
You have a ready mind,
You might end up in Horned Serpent,
Where you will find your kind.
Or perhaps you belong in Wampus
Where truly you will make your friends,
The house of warriors and ambitious means,
Always achieves their desired end.
So come on up Firs' Years,
I have no teeth to bite.
Pop your legs and sit on my stool
For it's time to go to school.
"What?" Jason whispered incredulously at Tommy as applause burst through the great hall when the hat finished its song. "Bulke and Schulle told me we had to fight a giant bug."
Tommy just smiled in relief as the raggedy object said a few thank you's before it became inanimate again. He had thought he would have to cast a spell or something, which he knew none of. Putting on a hat should be a whole lot easier. He had hopes of getting in Pukwudgie, or even Horned Serpent. He considered himself a just and nice person, and he had to use his wit to escape Mordant and his gang more times than he could count. He didn't think he was courageous enough to get in Thunderbird, however.
God forbid he get in Wampus.
Dulcea stepped forward, holding a long roll of parchment that fell all the way to her bare feet where she wore green ankle bracelets made of grass. "Alright first years, the sorting has now begun. When I call out your name, I want you to put on the hat and then sit on the stool," she said, enunciating herself very clearly.
"BooBoo, Blake!" was the first name she called, and one of Terrance's giant bodyguards came forward with sweaty nervousness. He put on the hat – which looked small on his fat head – and sat down. There was complete silence, and then...
"Wampus!" shouted the hat. The table all the way to the left cheered. They all looked like bullies in Tommy's opinion. BooBoo grinned as he sat at the Wampus table.
"Cranston, William!"
The boy with the spectacles walked up the stairs, still trembling. He tripped over the stairs as he was walking up, causing a great round of laughter to go through the room. The boy embarrassingly sat on the stool and placed the hat on his head. They waited.
And waited.
Waited some more, and Tommy thought something was wrong,
Finally, "Thunderbird!" shouted the hat. The boy quickly scampered off the stage amongst cheers and whistles from the Thunderbird table.
"Cornell, Cassidy!"
"Wampus!"
"Crazen, Cestria!"
"Horned Serpent!" The table right of Wampus cheered.
"DeSantos, Rocky!"
"Thunderbird!"
"Earhardt, Taylor!"
"Horned Serpent!"
"Enrile, Alyssa!"
"Thunderbird!" shouted the hat again.
"Enrile, Maya!"
"Pukwudgie!" Alyssa Enrile's sister became the first Pukwudgie. They jumped up with the loudest cheers yet.
"Hart, Jason!" the boy gulped beside him and slowly walked up the steps. Jason sat on the stool with a green face. He closed his eyes as the hat was placed on his head.
"Thunderbird!" he opened his eyes and smiled as the hat instantly shouted, running to the table, relieved. His brothers patted him on the back as he sat down. Tommy smiled, happy for his new friend.
Trini Kwan's name was called out next.
"I hope she's not in Thunderbird," Tommy heard Jason loudly whisper to whoever would listen as the hat was placed on her head. They waited as long as they did for the boy with the spectacles.
"Thunderbird!" the hat finally shouted, and Jason cursed in disappointment.
"Manx, Sydney!"
"Pukwudgie!"
Terrance Mercer's name was called next, and he sauntered forward with an annoying smirk. The hat had barely touched his hair when it called, "Wampus!" Terrance swaggered to the Wampus table with a satisfied look.
As Jarrod Skinner was placed in Horned Serpent, Tommy began to get nervous. His name was getting closer, and he had the distinctive fear that the hat was gonna place him in Wampus, or worse, don't place him anywhere at all. This all was like a dream to him, one he desperately hoped to never wake up from.
"Mason, Squatt!" joined his fellow bodyguard at Wampus.
And then...
"Oliver, Thomas!
The still ongoing cheers from Wampus abruptly silenced.
Whispers and murmurs broke out like hissing steam around the hall.
"Is that really him?" Tommy heard as he stepped up to the stool. Dulcea gave him a small smile before dropping the hat over his head and eyes.
"Hmm," the sorting hat's voice came suddenly in his ear. "Thomas Oliver, the Thomas Oliver. Very difficult choice indeed. A fair heart but Pukwudgie just won't work. Maybe Horned Serpent – plenty of wits, but no, that's not your calling. Ah-hah! A lot of ambition, Wampus will suit you just fine-"
Tommy blanched. "Not Wampus, please not Wampus."
"Not Wampus?" the hat questioned. "But you will do well there. A great warrior, a great wizard." Tommy didn't know if it was due to the hat, but suddenly a flash of a man dressed in green and destroying cities went through his mind. "Not Wampus, eh?"
"Please no," Tommy squeezed his eyes shut.
"I suppose not," said the hat. "I guess it'll have to be – Thunderbird!"
Tommy let out a breath and took off the hat, heading to the Thunderbird table which was going wild. He was relieved to not be placed in what looked to be the worst house of Ilvermorny.
"We bagged Oliver!" Bulke and Schulle were chanting as he sat down, receiving hard pats on the back and handshakes. Tommy glanced at the teacher's table, and they were all looking at him with approval.
He grinned.
Dulcea gave the Thunderbird table a stern glare to quiet them down. They complied instantly, and she continued the sorting. Zachary Taylor became a Thunderbird as well, and finally, Carlos Vallerte became a Pukwudgie. Dulcea spun her staff, and the stool and roll of parchment disappeared into nothingness to Tommy's awe. Seeing magic still surprised him. She took her place at the golden staff table beside a man with a wrinkled bald head.
The infamous Zordon Eltar.
He, in turn, got to his feet, and said, "Let us eat!"
Like a blink of an eye, food appeared on the gold platters in front of them, and Tommy almost gauged his pupils. He had never seen this much food in his life. If you added all the bacon and biscuits he's eaten together in his twelve years of life, the food in front of him would still be more plentiful. As Jason began to pile his plate beside him, Tommy tentatively got a small portion of everything. He was so used to getting such little, that now that a lot was in front of him, he was scared to get his fill. That quickly changed, however, when he got a taste of the beef stew in front of him. By the time it was time for dessert, all of his reservations were gone.
As he was helping himself to his tenth Choco Ball, the chatter in the hall suddenly diminished. Tommy glanced up with a ball in his mouth to see Professor Eltar standing up again.
"Now that we are all sated, I have a few announcements to make," he began, and Tommy's eyes began to wander the teacher's table as the man spoke. Ernie was sitting at the end, admiring Professor Eltar as he still snuck bites of his cheeseburger. Beside Ernie was a strong man with long dark hair, staring intensely at the headmaster. His gaze suddenly shifted to Tommy, and the boy's hand flew to his scar in pain as he hissed loudly. The pain dispersed after a second, fortunately, but he still rubbed at it.
The man clothed in white cocked his head. He then turned to his left and whispered in the ear of the dog-man Tommy had met in Mariner Bay. Professor Finster.
"-And finally," Tommy gave his attention back to Professor Eltar just as he was finishing up. "The highest corridor on the left side of the castle is out of bounds. You can risk going up there, but you just might get decapitated, thank you. Prefects, in your hands."
"Thunderbird first years! Follow me!" Jason's brother, Wes, immediately began to call. They quickly shuffled after him. He led them up a moving staircase and through multiple animated portraits that hid secret doorways. After about ten minutes of this, they came to a halt in front of a painting of a ghastly Victorian-style dressed woman with silver hair. She held a mirror in her hand, narcissistically admiring herself.
"Listen closely first years," Wes said before he addressed the painting. "Mystic, the password is morphinominal might."
"Mystic?!" the woman rasped angrily, harshly casting aside her mirror. "Address me right, young man, or you shall never get in."
Wes sighed and rolled his eyes. "Mystic Mother, the password is morphinominal might."
She smiled in satisfaction and swung open to reveal a giant hole in the wall. They all climbed through it to enter a nice and warm room of navy and cranberry red with plush armchairs and a large fireplace. It was so homey that Tommy felt like he could drop right where he was and sleep.
"Welcome to the Thunderbird common room," Wes began. "Your dormitories are right up those spiral staircases. Girls to left, boys to the right. Breakfast starts at eight in the morning and ends at ten. You will receive your class schedules tomorrow morning during so make sure you don't miss it. Have a nice night." Wes walked away after he finished, after gesturing they headed up the stairs.
Tommy found out his room was all the way to the top, and that it was shared between Jason, the boy with the spectacles, and two other boys whose names he'd forgotten. Their trunks were already there beside their poster beds. Saba sat on his windowsill with an irritated look, and on their bed tables were a tie and scarf in purple and silver for each of them.
One of the other boys, a dark-skinned male, instantly dived on his bed with a laugh. The other one just shook his head and sat down on his bed. "I'm Rocky," he said.
"Zack," the other said.
"Jason."
"Call me, Tommy."
"My name is Billy," said the boy with the spectacles.
Thanks,
Gwynn J.