Holy shit a review!! *reads it over and over again* I would personally like to thank RL for his/her review. Just that alone inspired me to continue writing the fifth chapter. Chapter 1 was broken up because I realized how intimidating it must have looked in terms of its length. I would also like to thank my Night Staff at Dairy Queen for helping brainstorm new found Potions to be the hardest because Snape could never be replaced *sniff*

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His first night there was an unpleasant one. Albus couldn't help but let his mind repeat what had happened in the great hall. The look on Professor Longbottom's face when he called out Tom's name was unexpected and the strange silence that filled the entire room was chilling. But even more peculiar was how the hat, a very talkative object, carried on that silence. Slytherin. The words rolled over his lips numerous times during the night, in disbelief.

Morning had arrived and the hall was alive once more with voices of hundreds of students. The four large tables supplied a bountiful breakfast to fit all unique tastes. The twins were playing tricks as always with their friends, seeing who could who could out prank the other before the first class. In their first year, the twins were the sole pranksters of the school until their fame exploded. Two years later, they had formed a group of eight master pranksters called Anansi, who is always being blamed and losing their houses points. It was hard for the students to either like them or hate them but they didn't care. They were simply there.

James had sat down besides him, and slowly picked away at his oatmeal.

"Slytherin, huh," James spoke up, pushing chunks of apples to the side of the bowl before shoving a spoonful into his mouth. Albus grunted, having his brother of all people remind him of what happened.

"Bad people go to Slytherin," the older brother whispered and taking another bite.

"He's not bad." Albus didn't want to snap at his brother but he was pushing it.

"Then why was he sent to Slytherin? Of all the houses, the hat picked that one." Reaching over the table, James grabbed a pitcher and poured milk over his remaining oatmeal.

Albus didn't reply. Staring at his toast and eggs, he picked away at the broken yolks. Why had Thomas been sent there? Was there a side to him that he didn't know about that the hat could see? Was it possible to know someone for nearly half your life and not know anything about them at all?

His thoughts were interrupted when a voice behind him called out his name.

Albus tuned around and found himself face to face with a rather disgruntled Thomas, his face and hands were covered in purple splotches.

"What happened to you?" Albus asked him before noticing the plateful of pancakes in his hands.

"Malfoy happened. Can I eat breakfast here with you?"

James grunted and quickly finished his meal before getting up and leaving the table. Albus knew what that sound was, and he glared at his brother. "I don't care if you're in Slytherin! You're still my friend," Albus shouted towards his brother as he headed towards the doors of the Great Hall.

Confused, Thomas raised an eyebrow and looked at Albus, then to James' back and returning to Albus. "Was that a yes?"

Taking James' seat, Thomas placed his plate down as soon as James' empty bowl disappeared from the table, leaving the spot vacant.

"So what did Malfoy do to you.""I think he spiked my pumpkin juice last night because when I went to bed, I noticed little red spots. I thought it was a rash or something but it turned into this.""Does it hurt?""No. It just makes me look stupid."The two sat in silence for a moment, devouring their breakfasts. The other Gryffindor were looking over and giving the two boys strange looks. Though it's happened with other tables, students coming over to visit their friends who were placed in different houses, never before had a Slytherin joined a Gryffindor.

The feeling of having so many eyes on them was testing their nerves, but no more than Thomas. Finally, the boy snapped and spoke up, startling Albus a little.

"Oh for bloody sakes! Have none of you got anything better to do than GAWK at us?"

Martian Nummetz, a third year with dark skin, black eyes and had his hair wound in tight dreadlocks, shot out of his seat and yelled back, "If you don't like being stared at then go back to your table. You should know that Slytherins' don't belong anywhere else other than their own household!"

"Actually, I believe everyone has the right to visit whomever they want to." Lenore appeared behind Martin and smiled at him. "Of course, if you truly believe that students of other houses should not be near each other, then the Anansi group is in big trouble. With…two of you from Hufflepuff, four from Gryffindor and the other two from Ravenclaw. Isn't that right?"

Martin shut his mouth and had gone quiet before sitting back down. The twins patted him on the back before grabbing a muffin each.

"Thanks Lenore," Albus sighed. Despite her drowsy appearance, she was quiet aware of her surroundings.

She walked over and stood between Thomas and Albus as she took out a piece of paper, "So what classes do you guys have today?"

The two boys both reached into their pockets at the same time, nearly forgetting about classes and unfolded the parchment.

Albus looked over his and his eyes nearly popped out of his head discovering just exactly how many classes there were. "I have Trans…Trans…"

"Transfiguration," Lenore smiled. "Same here. I have that class with you I believe."Right again. The Gryffindor had Transfiguration classes with Ravenclaw students, as well in two other classes. He had two classes with Hufflepuff and two classes, back to back with Slytherin.

"I guess we'll have to wait before you and I can be in class together," Thomas sighed and gobbled up the last piece of his syrup covered pancake. "We both end with Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions."

Lenore tapped Albus on the shoulder and leaned in, "We should get going if we don't want to be late for Transfiguration."

Albus nodded took another sip of his pumpkin juice before getting up. He turned to Thomas, who was getting ready to leave as well, and looked at him once more.

"What?"

"You didn't have to shout. You could have just ignored their stares," Albus commented but Thomas huffed and threw his bag over his shoulder.

"They have no right to stare anyways."

"I'm just saying you didn't have to be so mean.""Yeah, well sometimes it's the only way to get your point across."

They left the Great Hall and Thomas waved as he separated from Lenore and Albus. Walking down the corridor, Albus still couldn't help but notice how Tom reacted.

"Maybe he does belong in Slytherin.""Would you have acted any differently?"

Albus chose not to reply.