A fine yellow light started to chase away the night's mist. Thomas decided it was a good time to get up and stretch. Yesterday had its bumps, but Thomas felt the day went well. Standing he reached his arms over his head. Going to his bed, he shut the curtains on his bed to create a private place to change. Slipping out of his plain black robes he changed into his new house colours.
Looking at the burgundy and gold stripes of his tie. Thomas's thoughts drifted to Lars. He would be wearing the silver and green of Slytherin today. He had mixed feeling on that. Hanging the tie around his neck, he flipped it around Like Uncle Liam showed him. He's happy that he could help Lars get what he wanted. What he needed. That vision he had scared him, he didn't like to see Lars in pain.
"Haa," Sighing he folded his white collar over the tie and smoothed it down. Forming an even know that he pushed up to his neck. Honestly, he regretted no having the courage to face Lars's vision, and demand to be in the same house has him.
" Haa," Another sigh slipped out, while he slipped on his robe. Thomas wasn't there, yet.
"One day at a time." Thomas whispered to himself. Walking pass the other students still tuck into their beds. He spared a glance at his dorm neighbour, Bernard. His face was a flush and comfortable, much better than yesterday. Sorting was a stressful event. Today classes would begin, and Potions would be first; and that was something to look forward too. Walking down the stairs, he remembered that all classes were shared with Slytherin. Thomas would get to hang out with Lars all day. In a class. Like a normal kid.
"Today is going to be a good day." Thomas nodded, and turned to the common room. Wanting to check it out, since it would be a space where he would come to spend most of his time. The room was warm, and bright as it was last night. Looking around Thomas couldn't find any reason to hate the room.
"What's that?" Thomas's eyes flicker to a black shape in front of the fireplace. Was that there last night? Curiosity brought him closer to it. Within a few steps Thomas figured out what it was. Running the last foot. He pushed the big chair in front of the fireplace out of his way. Kneeling he turned the black lump over. It was a student.
"Are you okay?" Thomas asked, knowing that they, she was not. Under his hands it felt like he was touching a lump of ice. Her freckle face went beyond any shade Thomas had ever seen on a human. She was white, a horrible shade that even her freckles had succumbed too. Her brilliant red hair only made the colour more painful to bare.
"Emma?" Thomas racked his head, last night with that boy, there was a girl with freckles. Was this her? "Emma!" Thomas put his hand under her nose, air brushed his fingers.
"She's breathing." Thomas's heart skipped a beat, her chest wasn't raising, but she was breathing. "I need help." Thomas hated this feeling of not being able to help someone right in front of him. Thomas looked around, who could he get to help? It's not like he could call on a house elf like he did with Lars.
"Her brother." Thomas shot up, and ran to the stairs. This could be some sort of medical condition. Something her brother could fix. Taking the stairs two at a time, Thomas leapt up the stairs in record speed. He reached the landing he released he didn't know which bed was her brothers. Looking around he looked around for... Daniel! His name popped into Thomas's head. Unable to see the judgmental black mop of hair, Thomas only had one option.
"Daniel!" Thomas shouted, going from bed to bed, he yelled again. "Daniel wake up!" Students were stirring, and some were glaring daggers as Thomas passed them by.
"What do you want!" A voice yelled, finally green slits starred at him from one of the beds. Daniel recognized the judgmental stare the moment he received it.
"It's your sister!" Thomas pulled the boy out of bed, not giving a wit for his undressed state. "Hurry she's down stairs in the common room!" Thomas dragged the boy to the stairs, before his own feet could carry him. Bernard and Daniel's friend, were among the many that followed.
"This better be good-" Daniel shot off, then his face paled when he saw the sight before him. "Emma!" He ran like Thomas did earlier. Shaking his sister's shoulders. "Emma what did he do to you?" He? Thomas frowned, surly he wasn't going to? "What did you do to her?" Daniel turned his angry wet eyes at Thomas.
"I did nothing!" Thomas denied, shaking his head, didn't he have better things to do than to blame him?
"I came down here to check out the room and found her there." Thomas said his bit. There wasn't much to say.
"Did you come to me after you regretting sucking her dry?" Daniel stood up, and rushed to plant himself right in Thomas's face.
"You vampire!" His green eyes were fill with a dark anger, and Thomas chest sat in a lump. Daniel believed what he said was the truth. It would be hard to change his mind, and the whispers turning around him only let Thomas know. That like before, there was no-one at his side.
"I don't bite people." Thomas' ground out. Trying to stand up for himself, to have some pride in himself. A lesson he had come to feel with his time with the O'Sullivan's. He wished that Lars was here, but he was someone else in the castle. Thomas had to, and could handle this himself.
"Check her neck if you don't believe me." Thomas said starring into those hate filled eyes, until it was Daniel and not him that turned away.
"There is nothing on her neck Daniel." The long hair boy, Bill said. He had someone gotten to Emma's side and was checking her over.
"We should get her to the nurse's office." The shouting attracted girls from the other dorm. Thomas could feel the weight of their added stares.
"I should drive a stake in this blighters' heart!" Daniel turned like a beast lifting Thomas off his feet and rushing him back into the crowed. Where they tripped and tumbled until Daniel fell on top of Thomas. His fist raised, Thomas saw the tears stream down his face. "What did you do?!" He demanded to know.
"Get off of him!" Hands pulled Daniel off of Thomas, and Bernard stood in front of him.
"You should be getting your sister help Potter." Bernard looked like a cold tower starring Daniel down. Thomas was gob smack, stunned into silence. Also, impressed, he didn't judge Bernard as someone who would do this, stand up for him that is. A sour feeling stuck in his throat, he had misjudged Bernard, and that made him no different from the people in front of him right now.
"Instead you're blaming others for your faults. Don't want to let the heritage of yours down do you? Potter." Thomas sat himself up with shaking legs. The room went dead quiet. Bernard had silence them all.
"What is a Malfoy doing in Gryffindor?" Daniel asked backing up into not one but a couple of his friends. Each one starring holes into Bernard's head.
"I would like to know what a coward is doing in Gryffindor." Bernard's hands sat at the small of his back, folded with grace from the front, but behind him. Only Thomas could see the shaking of his hands. "If you're afraid of vampires. Go to Hufflepuff, I hear they accept everyone there. Even a black spot on the Potter name." Bernard back quivered while he spoke, "Should be welcomed."
"You bast-" Daniel wiped the tears off his face, and with them gone. Only anger remain, Thomas shot to his feet. Ready to pull Bernard out of trouble if he went for them.
"That's enough!" A wind billowed through the common room. A lean man wearing a kilt, and a long black robe with weird intricate geometric shapes on it enter the space. His blond hair was swept back. Navy stripes rushing through it Thomas was curious if it was a natural colour?
"Everyone not involved. You better be getting ready for breakfast." He raised his eyebrow and looked at the filled room. His voice was calm and even friendly. Thomas noticed that the older kids were already scattering from the room. "Or I'll have you clean my quidditch field." His gold eyes flickered, "Without magic." The crowed cleared out in a flash, and Pipa came flying out from behind the teacher in a flash of fuzzy pink?
"Are you okay Thomas?" She ran around him, long floppy ears on her hoodie swaying as she checked him over. Thomas nodded, looking her over he was trying to figure out what she was wearing.
"Good." Pipa put a hand to her chest. "I ran to get a teacher as fast as I could."
"Thank you." Thomas said, earning a smile from the tired Pipa. Thomas looked at Bernard, a bit worried; he seemed okay...but something felt off.
"Potter, get you sister to the infirmary." The Professor turned his head in a nod to the door.
"But Professor!" Daniel waved a hand at Thomas his green eyes sparking. "What about him?"
"Cloverleigh is my concern." He waved his hand, "You should be take care of your sister."
"But!" Daniel edged towards Thomas. Looking like he wanted to roll Thomas to the floor again. "Or we can discuss you starting a fight on your first day of school?" He quirked a brow, with an easy smile on his face.
"He does seem suspicious Professor." Bill spoke up, looking at Thomas with a squinted gaze.
"Thomas is a young vampire. He had no fangs to damage anyone." He shook his head, "Now go or I'll have you join me for a cup of tea." Smiling with a flash of teeth. That made Thomas shiver. There was no way that was normal tea he was offering.
"Later Cloverleigh." Daniel spat at him, carrying his sister with the help of Bill and a few other students. Watching them go, Thomas let out a breath. What a rough start to the day, Thomas thought looking up at the Professor.
"Thank you for intervening Professor Barlow." Bernard offered, giving Thomas the teacher's name.
"Yes. Thank you." Thomas added. Things were getting heated fast, and in a school of magic. Thomas was sure it would lead to more than a set of black eyes.
"What happen here?" Professor Barlow tilted his head to Pipa. "Miss Jones was thin on details."
"I found her on the floor when I came down this morning." Thomas said, shaking his head. "I have no idea what happen to her."
"What were you doing up so early?" Professor Barlow asked with a frown.
"I don't sleep." Thomas said, trying to keep everything simple. "I was up in the dorm all night." Thomas added, "I swear Professor." Looking up into Professor Barlow face. His eyes still looked at Thomas kindly, there wasn't any hatred in them yet. Thomas was hopeful.
"Thomas is a good vampire, Professor!" Pipa pulled on the Professor's sleeve. "He would never do anything bad." Pipa's strong believable in him...Thomas shook his head. Was to amazing for words, where did it come from? Thomas may never know.
"Professor Barlow. I don't believe Thomas would act in such a manner either." Bernard shook his head. "I believe he was just in the wrong place in the wrong time."
"You all are such good friends." Professor Barlow smiled and patted Pipa on the head. "It's nice to see." Thomas hid his dropped mouth behind his hand. Having people defend him, was a new feeling. One he only got with Lars. To have two more people do that, made him fill with a bubbly feeling; that he couldn't quite explain.
"You won't be getting Thomas in trouble now, will you Professor?" Bernard asked, acting very adult in his conversation. Thomas wondered if Bernard was used to talking with adults more than people his own age. Not that Thomas was one who could say anything about that sort of thing. Seeing as his socializing before Lars was with adults.
"Fighting is prohibited, but as magic was not used." Professor Barlow sighed, "I let you off with a warning."
"Daniel didn't get a warning!" Pipa spoke up, "And I saw him all over Thomas!"
"He'll get his warning later." Professor Barlow said, his gold eyes spun in a ring when he looked at Thomas.
"I don't believe that Thomas hurt Emma Potter, but not everyone will." The hair on Thomas neck rose, as an eerie wind crept over him. The Professor's eyes shimmer in a light. What Thomas felt was awfully familiar to Lars when he had that vision. Did this mean? Thomas looked up at the Professor, his mind drifting to Lars's summer vision.
"This is a rough road for you. Thomas Cloverleigh." Professor Barlow's voice drifted over them. Making Bernard inhale a sharp breath inside him, and Pipa duck behind them with a quiver. Professor Barlow swelled with a glowing aura that was not visible to the naked eye. Thomas felt it in his heart, an instinct that screamed; that his words should be heard. "Even with those large changes will not affect that future."
"Professor?" Thomas reached a hand out, worried that when the energy sucked out of him. Like with Lars.
"I'm fine Mr. Cloverleigh. My gift isn't as strong as Young O'Sullivan's." Professor Barlow put a hand on his shoulder. "Please let him know what I said." Thomas nodded.
"Does this mean it will still come to pass?" Thomas asked to himself, worried that what they did would mean nothing.
"There are many windows in a house Mr. Cloverleigh." Professor Barlow smiled and patted his shoulder. "Opening one, can make an old house new again. Same goes for closing one." Thomas nodded like he understood, Lars didn't talk like that, he wouldn't talk about it all. If it was a seer thing, Thomas would ask Lars about it later and get his answers. Thinking about visions and Lars, his chances didn't seem that good, but he could try. "I'll be here, if you or he should need me."
"Thanks, I'll let him know." Thomas thought Lars might like the idea of someone else to talk too about his visions. Professor Barlow gave Thomas a lop-sided smile.
"He already knows, but it doesn't hurt to remind him." Professor Barlow straightened himself and, put a hand through his hair. "Now you three, get ready for breakfast. I'll see you for your flying lessons later today."
"Yes Professor." Bernard nodded, his eyes darting to Thomas. Thomas looked away, he had forgotten they were their for a second. When his darting eyes caught Pipa's curious gaze, he looked down with a sigh. When the Professor left, Pipa wasted no time pouncing on Thomas.
"What was all that about?" Pipa's eyes were wide with curiosity.
"It's not my place to say." Thomas clamped his lips shut, Lars could tell them only if he wanted too. Otherwise, no one would learn it from him.
"Aww," Pipa whined, but her attitude turned around fast. "I'll get Lars to spill later." Pipa placed her hands on her hips. Bringing his attention to her pink fuzzy outfit.
"Are you dressed like a rabbit?" Thomas asked, blinking a few times to see if he got it right.
"Ah!" Pipa looked down with a squeal. "I need to change!" Running to the stairs Pipa turned her head.
"Don't leave without me!" Her bunny tail flashing out of sight.
"Bernard?" Thomas turned to Bernard, with the two of them finally alone. He wanted to thank him. "Thanks for sticking up for me."
"It was nothing." Bernard turned away a pink line running across his nose.
"It meant a lot to me." Thomas pressed on, "You could have had an easier time. If you had left me there." Thomas dragged it out into the silence of the room unsure on what more he could add. "Just... thanks."
"I know what it's like to be judged on what your are." Bernard turned his head, and looked at Thomas. "Malfoy or Vampire. These traits don't make us who were are."
"No — they don't" Thomas agreed. "I felt like you push yourself there." Thomas thought back to Bernard's shaking hands. "Are you…okay?" Thomas asked unsure if he was pushing where he didn't belong.
"It's always like that with my family. Nothing new." Bernard put out his hand, his eyes filled with shadows. Thomas knew there was more to it, but wouldn't push.
"I feel like we could have got to a better start." Thomas took the offered hand. Feeling a connection with Bernard that wasn't there earlier.
"I'm Thomas. Part vampire and a bit anti-social." Thomas smiled, being honest with himself and facing his vampire side straight on. Thomas felt a knot realizes from his chest, why deny what he couldn't change, and people already knew. It's not like he could hide it. He shook the hand with a firm strong grip.
"I'm Bernard. Family failure and vegetarian." Bernard smiled, but Thomas wondered; what exactly was a vegetarian?
"Vegetarian?" Thomas asked, confused.
"I don't eat meat." Bernard said. Tucking his hands into his robes, looking at ease with him, for the first time since they meet yesterday.
"Oh," Thomas thought it was a shame, but if that was how it was then. "I can eat it for you." Thomas favourite was always meat, the bloodier the better, of course, now he knew why.
"Deal." Bernard nodded, his shoulders slumping with a relieved sigh. Thomas titled his head, did Bernard expect a different reaction?
"What deal?" Pipa came bouncing down in her school robes, her hair curling about her shoulder in waves. Bernard looked like he was in was a trace. Thomas worried that there was another seer in his mist, but without the swell of power. He put it down to Bernard being weird.
"Bernard's meat is mine." Thomas said ignoring Bernard stunned face. Unwilling to give up an ounce of the possible rare treat. "I think it's buffet style here." Pipa wrinkled her noise, her hands busy in her hair, turning the waves into two plain braids on each side of her head. "We'll find out this morning."
"Gryffindor's colours suit you Pipa." Thomas didn't mind saying it. The colours looked nice against her olive tanned skin. She looked cute, but the bunny outfit was imprinted in the depth of Thomas's mind. He thought Berry would like some like it, it was something else he could talk to Lars about.
"I like the bunny outfit better." Bernard muttered under his breath but Thomas's ears picked up on it. Pink suits her too, Thomas agreed without a word.
"Thank you, Thomas." Pipa beamed and twirled around in her knew grey skirt. "I like the bunny outfit better too, but it's against school rules." Pipa whispered at Bernard. Humming while she flowed by him, Thomas watched poor Bernard light up red.
"Let's go!" Pipa turned leading the charge to breakfast. Thomas could almost forgot the drama of the morning, with the idea of seeing Lars again in the front of his mind. After all, Emma was sure to be fine under the care of the school nurses.