"Let's get a cabin." Lars said turning and going down the hall. The floor was shaking with the movement of the train. Lars moved down without opening any of the doors. Thomas could hear laughter and happy conversations happening beyond the frosted train doors. Trailing beyond Lars, he didn't question where he was going. The vision he had Lars took the night to explain it more to him. While his parents slept.
Lars explained that what he saw would lead to a deadly end — if drastic turns weren't taking. Thomas agreed to follow along, as long as he was in the worried about Lars, and wanted to help him more, but Thomas was a people watcher. Lars acted different when he tried to pry more details out of him. His eyes grew cold, his shoulders stiffened and his words bordered on a lie. Thomas would rather be at his side with half-answer's than be away from him without any.
Thomas felt, no knew that Lars would drive him away. If that fixed things, stop things. Watching that back walking away from him. He felt he was looking at the Old Man's back. Lars knew more than he would say, and said more than you could figure out. Perhaps, that's why it was easier for Thomas to go with it. He was used to it.
"Here we are." Lars opened up the door on the last door.
"You don't mind sharing, do you? Everywhere else was full." Lars asked, smiling at whoever was inside. Entering he saw a boy look tall even while sitting. His pale face framed in straight sliver blonde hair. His bangs, pinned back with a clip, his honey brown eyes looked sad but that didn't stop him from appearing cute. Was he even a boy — cute?
"Already in your school robes?" Lars said getting himself a window seat.
"Uh, yes." The blonde boy hesitated. Not looking Lars in the eyes, and picking at the black slacks beneath his black robes. Pants meant he was boy, Thomas gave an inward sigh of relieve. Lars saved him from a rather embarrassing talk. Sitting beside Lars the boys darted up and stop right at Lars face.
"Your from Ireland?" The golden brown eyes looked as curious as they did timid.
"Originally, but my family moved to England. That way I could attend Hogwarts with Thomas." Lars said. Thomas knew that they had moved to England to pick up Thomas, but to attend Hogwarts specifically? That was never brought up.
"Hogwarts take students from Ireland." The boy's voice kept to a soft tone, but sounded confident. Lars shook his head.
"We are on the wrong side. My folks went to Durmstrang." Lars grimaced. "It's gotten better over the years, but not a place my parents felt that I or Thomas should attend."
"It does have a certain..." The blonde boy paused. "Reputation."
"They are many good people there, but why take chances." Lars shrugged his shoulders.
"What is wrong with Durmstrang?" Thomas asked, wanting to know more. He thought Aunt Merry would want to send Lars to her old school. He could see her getting all excited about it and reminiscing.
"It's known for its focus on dark arts." Lars said, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"Hogwarts has a dark arts class." Thomas said, thinking to the defence of the dark arts books he had picked up together with Uncle Liam.
"That's defence against." The blond boy spoke up. "Durmstrang. Is known for teaching it or at least something that borders on the dark arts themselves."
"My parents were lucky, they had were strong; but others." Lars shook his head. "Let's say some old habits die hard."
"Using magic to hurt others. I can't image it." The blonde boy paled at bit and looked out the window. He looked like he wanted to escape through it, a feeling that Thomas could relate too. "It's very much like Slytherin."
"Slytherin is not bad." Thomas offered, he knew that Lars would be there, and Lars would never go into a house filled with bad people.
"Many a witch or wizard that enters Slytherin is bad or worse." His hands trembled as he pulled him into his robe.
"Ask the hat for another house then." Thomas said, shrugging his shoulders. It seemed like an easy fix to him. After-all that is what Lars and him planned on doing.
"Malfoy's are a Slytherin family." He folded his hands into himself. "I've prepared myself for it." Thomas didn't know what else to say, looking at Lars. He saw him watching the other boy with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Let's change." Lars said. Completely ignoring the atmosphere.
"Okay." Thomas not seeing anything else he could do here. He looked at his ring, pulling the robes from its depths. He noticed that Lars didn't need to look at his ring to get his robes, but that didn't surprise Thomas one bit. Changing without a care with who was around him. He finally got to donning the robe, when the head a whimpering coming from the window seat.
"You're the vampire." The blond boy took in a sharp breath, his body was wavering in his seat. Thomas gave Lars a sharp glance. How did he know? Thomas's reach for his hair, the braid that covered the one ear, got caught behind his ear. Revealing the pointed tip. The other? Covered in his thick black hair.
"The school knows." Lars shrug, leaning back his brogue didn't seem to have any sort of soothing effect on the boy as it did Thomas. Instead, his legs trembled. "Hogwarts is working with S.T.V. For vampire like Thomas can attend school."
"S.T.V. ?" Thomas asked sitting beside the relaxed Lars. Ignoring the boys reaction to him.
"Society for the Tolerance of Vampires. The S.T.V.. Is an organization that supports the mainstreaming of vampires into polite wizarding society." Lars nodded, and offered Thomas a smile.
"They were tinkled when you choose to go to Hogwarts." Thomas blinked in wonder. A society that liked vampires? That sounded...good.
"Did my father work with them?" Thomas asked Lars. It sounded like they shared similar goals, at least from what little he knew about his father.
"Not sure." Lars shrugged, tapping a finger to his bottom lip he continued. "At the very least they have the same ideals. Wanting an interrogation of vampire and witches." Tipping his head back and forth, Lars added. "They used to be viewed as crackpots, your kind of validation of their work 'til now."
"Oh," Thomas didn't know what else to say. It was a bit strange, and seemed out of place from his life until now.
"Should I do anything?" Thomas wasn't sure if this group was at the school or?
"I wouldn't worry about it." Lars stretched his arms in the air. Looking very relaxed. "If anyone bothers you about it. Send them to me."
"Thanks." Thomas had no doubts that Lars would have his back. It made the overwhelming — manageable. "It's good to have a friend." Thomas smiled and leaned back, basking in the pleasure of knowing he was no longer alone.
"You-you aren't scared?" The blond boy broke in looking around with a whisper. Thomas put his hands back on his lap, was the boy scared of him?
"Of what?" Thomas asked, confused.
"Reactions." His brown eyes looked up, shaking but firm.
"I have Lars." Thomas shrugged, he didn't care much about other people. He didn't see himself mingling with others. Let alone those who would judge him by his vampire nature. By his ears like the Rows.
"Oh," he turned away. Looking at the speeding trees rushing past the window. Thomas looked to Lars, who only shrugged his shoulders.
"Where's the vampire!" The door busted open. Thomas recognized the girl from the tailor shop a month ago. She left an impression on him, the image of the tape measure smacking at her was firming implanted in his head.
"There." The blonde boy ratted him out with a pint of his finger. Thomas gave him a sideways stare.
"I remember you!" She came over her braids trailing behind her. "I saw you getting your robes."
"Um, hello." Thomas nodded.
"You don't sparkle." She slumped onto the floor. Looking disappointed before sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of him. In her school skirt. Staring at him sparkling brown eyes. Thomas didn't think eyes could sparkle, but there they were. "Do you bite?"
"Um, no." Thomas shook his head.
"Drink blood?" She asked again placing her chin in her hands and staring at him. With the eagerness Thomas thought was like a puppy. Thomas shook his head. "Garlic?" Thomas paused, and nodded. He came across it a few times in the Rows attempt to cleanse him.
"I didn't know that garlic affected you." Lars game closer, not bother by the girl at all.
"Well he is a vampire." The girl nodded with her eyes closed, like she knew.
"Makes my eyes burn and my skin break out in the nasty rash." Thomas explained to the pair. Feeling more relaxed since Lars joined in.
"Like an allergy." Lars mused. Thomas nodded agreeing with the assessment.
"So no blood?" The girl slumped her shoulder looking very disappointed.
"I'm not old enough yet." Thomas said with a pause. "I think." He muttered more to himself than to her.
"When you get older can I see your fangs?" She perked back up. Thomas nodded and shrugged, why not?
"It's agreed then." Lars clapped his hands. "Would you like to sit? On a train seat." Lars pointed to seat behind her.
"I'm wearing shorts under my skirt." She gave Lars two thumbs up, like all was good. Thomas shook his head, unable to stop the smiling from forming on her lips. She was an odd girl, but he couldn't stop himself from liking her. At least a little bit.
"Want to see my wand?" She asked Lars, already onto the next subject, she was already pulling her wand out from her robe. The wand was big, rich chestnut brown with a dark rainbow stripe down the middle. It had a large knot in the middle, that makes the wand tilt off center.
"What an interesting colour." Lars pulled out his own from his robe.
"I know! He said it was the only one he made from that strange rainbow apple wood." She placed her wand away, clapping when she saw Lars shimmer silver under his hand. "Pretty!" She turned towards Thomas. He pulled out his pale, red streak wood wand from its holster on his hip.
"Wow! A wand holster!" She sprung to her knees and lifted his robe for a better look. Thomas held his wand above his head. Looking to Lars for help. His shoulder were shaking in silent laughter, and that made him no help.
"Your wand has a jewel!" She turned to look up at him. Uncomfortable with the closeness, Thomas turned away before answering.
"Um, yes. I like it myself." Thomas continued his useless plea to Lars. It only seemed to make his laughter worse. A small noise escaping Lars twisting lips.
"Something from the trolley dears?" An older voice called out from the hall.
"Me!" She dashed out the door, braids whipping Thomas's nose with her speed. Slumping with relieve. Thomas once again learned how much he valued his personal space. Things were different with the O'Sullivan's, Thomas couldn't explain it, but other people? No way he wanted them that close.
"You okay?" Lars laughed outright. "She's a whirlwind that one."
"Fine." Thomas said putting his wand away into its holster.
"No thanks to you." Lars shrugged, not looking at all bothered by it.
"Here." The girl came back in and dumping her goods in the free train seat. Turning around she placed her hands on her hips. "I can be a bit much at times — my father said I should warn the friend I make." Waving a hand to the piles of colourful snacks she continued. "I forgot, so I'll share these instead."
"Thank you." Lars smiled, standing to offer his hand. "I'm Lars O'Sullivan."
"I'm Pipa — Pipa Jones." Pipa shook Lars's hand, before turning to Thomas.
"I'm Thomas Cloverleigh." Thomas nodded, a move he saw the Old Man pull off a few times. It seemed save him, as she nodded back.
"You're not related?" Pipa asked.
"I'm adopted." Thomas shook his head. Explaining his situation in the simplest fashion. Pipa nodded not paying it any further attention to it. Like it was no big deal, and really? It wasn't.
"What's your name?" Pip turned to the blond boy by the window.
"Bernard Malfoy." He stood with an adult grace and offered Pipa a small bow. Before sitting once again.
"Let's all be friends, Bernard!" Pipa smiled and tackled Bernard into a hug. Thomas approved. Better Bernard than him. After that the four of them sat around. Not speaking of anything much. Thomas freaked out and hid behind Lars when the chocolate frog was released. Pipa gathered and banned the frogs to the train hallway.
Making Thomas feel much better around her. If a girl can save him from a frog, Thomas didn't care if it was candy frog. Then she was alright in his books. Bernard still looked like the weight of the world was sitting on him, but Lars managed to pull a smile from him. Somehow. Thomas missed how he managed that. Pipa took off to gather her bag she had left in the other room. Then the three of them waited out the rush and left the train together.
"First Years!" A man twice the width of any adult Thomas had seen called out. Wearing an elegant robe, over which he wears a short vest. The whole outfit was grey and rich red. Wine red hair that flied around his shoulders. Making a striking image in Thomas mind. One of knights he read about in his old sonnets. He could see the man wielding a sword over a wand.
"Come on Thomas." Lars took Thomas's hand. Following the man who was now holding a lantern. Thomas, Lars, Pipa, and surprising Thomas — Bernard. Stuck together while following the man down a winding dark path. The night was brisk, but Thomas liked it. Somehow the whole thing felt more magical. With this air of mystery surrounding them.
They piled into boats, mere slips of wood that sat four per ride. They went together, and glided across the water. Thomas looked into the water's depth not at all fazed by the seeming endless depth. Instead, he felt a pull, like something was calling him from below.
"Thomas." Bernard pulled him back, to sit on the seat. Thomas didn't know he was leaning on the boats edge.
"Ah, thank you?" Thomas said. Feeling disappointed that he couldn't figure out what was calling him before they passed.
"No problem." Bernard said his face pale and shaking. The boat ride didn't seem to be sitting well with him.
"I'm sorry." Bernard rubbed his hand together while managing to look him in the eye while he shook.
"For what?" Thomas couldn't image why Bernard offered him an apology.
"For judging you." Bernard said looking him in the eyes for the first time. "I know what that is like, and it was wrong of me."
"That wasn't judging." Thomas shook his head, to him judging was trying to hurt who you hated or feared. What Bernard felt he did? Thomas's couldn't begin to guess.
"It was to him Thomas." Lars's voice came out gentle as the surrounding water. "Accept the apology."
"It's fine Bernard." Hoping that was okay, because no one ever apologized to Thomas before. He wasn't sure on the proper response.
"Thank you Thomas." Bernard paled, and then turned to look at Pipa. His eyes turned wide and looked like he was surprise she was there.
"What?" Pipa said looking at Bernard with a tilted head.
"A woman on a boat." Bernard paled to white, "Surly this vessel will fail."
"You think of me as a woman?" Pipa blushed beet-red in the glow of the boats lamp. Not at all insulated by Bernard's words. "I don't think I'm old enough."
"I don't think this counts as a vessel." Thomas frowned at the small boat.
"This year is going to be great." Lars said with a laugh. Thomas watched Lars laugh, a big smile on his face. A smile formed on his own face, Lars looked like he was having fun, and that was was enough to make Thomas happy.
"Bloody hell." Thomas whispered as their "vessel" parted a green vine curtain. A great castle, striped from the pages of Thomas favourite books. Appeared before his eyes. The tiny lights of other boats and students came around them, but their interest pales before the stones towering before them.
"Language." Lars said admiring the view from his seat, while sounding like his father.
"This is the best year of my life!" Pipa shouted shaking the boat when she stood up and swung her arms into the air.
"Down we go." Bernard slid off his seat, and hunched himself onto the boats floor.
"And to think it has only just begun." Lars said to Pipa moving to stand up beside. Both of them staring out at the castle. Letting her grab him into a side hug. Thomas looked down at Bernard, and wondered if he was even going to make it to land, let alone the start of the school year.