Aang sat back in his bed as Toph filled him in on current events. He learned about the attack, the trip to Hogwarts, and his near death experience. He couldn't believe he actually died, he remembered his vision about Roku, that's probably why he was in the spirit world. He looked down at the water bender who was asleep in the chair next to his bed, her head lay on his leg, how long had she been waiting for him? He didn't dare wake her, shee looked too peaceful.

"I can't beleive I failed," Aang sighed, he slumped back on the bed, his sides and back screamed.

"Wait," Toph paused how did you fail?We got Katara back! that is why we went into the caves anyway,"

Aang covered his head with his arms, A head ache was forming in the back of his head, "In case you haven't noticed Toph, the earth kingdom has fallen because i was too weak to protect the people. They all think i am dead! How can i fullfill my destiny when i died?" Aang grumbled into his sleeves angrily. he had failed the nations and didn't deserve to be called the avatar. Avatars were suppose to bring peace and serenity throughout the land, not die when there was war. How could he face anyone knowing that not only did he abandon them for hundred year, letting the war get out of control but when he came back to help he ended up dieing. he failed.

Something moved on his leg. "Aang?" Katara whispered his name as she opened her eyes slowly. She lifted her head from the bed, awakening from her sleep. Aang lifted his eyes from his folded arms to see the water bender in tears of happiness, "Aang, you're awake!" she jumped up on the bed and gave him a huge hug. He gave a yelp as his sided and back blazed with pain. "Oh i'm sorry!" she said letting go of him hesitantly.

Aang would have normally loved the hug from Katara and would have loved for it to continue but with his back and sided in that condition it was too painfor for any sudden movements or pressure. "It's okay Katara," he smiled weakly.

"Yeah i was just filling Twinkle Toes here on what happened, how you saved him and stuff," Toph said as she flopped down on the hospital bed next to him. Her dirty feet smudged the white sheets and blankets, giving her a well earned glare from the nurse.

"It was nothing really, Madame Pomfrey got you stabilized and awake." Katara said blushing a bit. She was just being modest.

Aang leaned over and grabbed her hand, "You brought me back to life, i think the entire four nations are in your debt," He said soothingly. The water bender smiled and started blushing even more. Aang wanted to hold her hand forever but knew with things as complicated s they were he had to let go. he gave her hand one last squeeze then released his grip letting his fingers go slowly out of her palm. he gave a sigh, "So what's the plan now? How do we defeat the firelord?"

"Well i can help you there," Sokka came sauntering in with piles of books and scrolls in his arms. A small caring smile came across his face, he too was enjoyed to see Aang awake. "You see the new plan is the old plan," He set the books and papers on his side table. "You just need to master earth and fire before the comet arrives."

"But if i go back to the Nation's," Aang said, "I will just be hunted down by the fire nation again,"

Sokka gave a big grin in Toph's direction, even though he knew she couldn't see him, "That's what we were thinking, when Toph came up with a brilliant plan,"

"what is it?" Aang inquired, he knew Toph had good ideas sometimes but they usually had great risks tied to them. He thought Sokka would have been the one making up the plans.

Sokka Jumped and grabbed a book from the pile, "You are going back it school!" he thrust the book at Aang who caught it with a wince of pain. The book was old and bound in a leather cover that read Hogwarts A History on the cover.

"Wait we are attending Hogwarts? but how we don't have Magic!" Aang knew all about Hogwarts from his years at the air temples meeting with a young man named Dumbledore. He heard that the wizard still worked there but hadn't seen him yet.

Toph made a big grin and jumped up from the bed and gave a thump on the ground, a rock hovered in the air, "We are going to fake it," She was grinning, her teeth pure white against her dirty skin. "There are most likely fire nation spies tracking us, so keeping up the appearance of wizards and witches is crucial. But with false wands and a bit of bending we can make it look like Magic. Dumbledore promised to keep our identities a secret, only people who know are him, the nurse, and a lady named Mcgonagall." The earth bender looked so excited to be at the school, almost as if it was play time. boy she would be sad to know that there is homework at the school too, "While we are here you can practice earth bending from me. There is a huge library in the other wing, it is bound to have some foreign scroll on fire bending to get you stared."

"That sounds good and all," the air bender started, "But what about Sokka? he doesn't have any bending. "

"No problem," Sokka whipped out a stick. it was hickory wood with small intricate designs of the water tribe carved into the handle. "Dumbledore gave me this, its a type of joke wand. when swished, it makes sparks and magic, though it only knows three spells, levitation of small objects, stunning, and light." Sokka gave it a small wave and one of Tophs small rocks levitated towards Sokka. "Look! I'm Earth bending!"

Toph gave him a hard punch, "Don't Mock me"

Aang was starting to get excited himself, "When do we get sorted? i really want to see where i am placed,"

Katara laughed, "Well if you want to get sorted now we can go fetch Mcgonagall, she can do the ceremony in here since you shouldn't walk for a while,"

"I'll get her!," screamed Toph, she must have been excited to get placed too for she practically ran out of the hospital wing and down the hallway.

a couple minutes later Toph returned with a witch. A tall, black haired witch in emerald green robes came walking up to the one hand the witch had a stool, and in the other she held a wizard hat. the hat was tattered and old, it looked very ancient and a bit dirty. The lady set the stool down on the floor and the hat on top of it.

"Now," she began, her shrill voice matching her stern face. Aang knew she was not one to be messed with. "The ceremony will begin with opening words from the hat and then when i call your name you will sit on the stool, i will place the hat on your head and you will then be sorted into your houses. any questions?"

Sokka jumped in, "Yeah, how is the Hat going to start the opening words?"

"like this," A voice came from the direction of the stool. Aang saw the hat jump alive and start wiggling around in the chair. A small tear at the brim of the ugly worn hat was moving around like a mouth without lips. the hat cleared its throat, or pretended to due to his lack of one, then opened his brim wide and began to sing.

Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

When the raspy voice of the hat died down, the group just sat and stared, it was weird being in a magic school but a hat that had musical tallents was very strange. Sokka began clapping cravenly and had tears of beauty in his eyes as he cheered calling 'bravo! bravo!' the hat nodded and sokka calmed down, but a big grin was left on his face. Aang heard his friend whisper something that was in awe of the artful hat.

"Now let's beggin," Mcgonagal stated, she pulled out a small peice of parchment then looked around the room,"Sokka from the southern water tribe,"

The warrior looked excited and terrified as he jumped up on the stool, the hat was placed on his head. the brim went down over his eyes, the hat was too big.

"Wow, that hat must be really big to fit over my brother big head," Katara teased Sokka, but with a glare from McGonagal she quieted down.

The hat started mumbling something as if it were both talking to Sokka and pondering to himself. "I got it," the hat finally gasped, "Ravenclaw!" a smile grinned across Sokka's face as he started to return to his seat. he was almost there when he had to walk back over to the stool, he forgot to take the sorting hat off, he gave the hat a small apology and then sat down near Aang.

McGonagal looked back at her scroll then back at the group, "Katara from the southern water tribe!'

The water bender got up and walked over to the stool. she looked more nervous than Aang had ever seen her, she was almost shaking. The hat was placed on her head and it slid back so the sorting hat was almost staring at the ceiling. "Hmmm," the brim puckered as the hat contemplated the sorting, "Hufflepuff!" Katara shot a glare at Toph who instantaneously cracked up. Ignoring the earth girl's hilarity she smiled and thanked the hat, giving it a respectful bow then went to sit near Aang. The avatar knew she was happy to be in Hufflepuff, she was caring and hard working, she was a weak waterbender when Aang first met her but with her persistence and ambition she became one of the most powerful benders he knew.

"Toph from the earth kingdom," Mcgonagall called the earth benders name who sauntered over roughly and plopped down on the stool.

"hmm," the brim stated, "you are different from the other two," more murmuring continued and then the hat straightened out as if coming to a conclusion, "Slytherin!"

"WHAT?!" Toph cried out, "That can't be right!" she yelled.

"The sorting hat has chosen, please return to your seat Ms. Toph," The emerald robed lady gave a stern glare towards the bender, though she couldn't actually see it. Toph reluctantly sat down on the floor in a huff.

"I would rather be in Hufflepuff," she grumbled to herself.

Aang looked around at his friends who have all been sorted, he grinned nervously, "I guess i am next then!"

McGonagall glanced down at her list and nodded, "Aang from the eastern airtemple." she stated as if confirming his identity, "Would you like to sit in the stool or shall i bring the hat to you?"

Aang thought for a moment, his sides burned with pain but he knew he had to walk through it. In order to get better had to act better, he will not let his injuries control him, he already failed the nations he wont fail his own body. He began sitting up, pain surged through his spine but he pushed on. A hand pressed against his chest stopping him, he looked at katara, her face was full of worry and she had water in her eyes. Aang knew what she was going to say, he gave a weak smile and grabbed her hand, "It's fine Katara, I am fine." He reassured her and squeezed her hand, removing it from his chest. He stood up with more pain than he thought, his legs felt like jello as he slowly made his way across the room. He winced every few steps but pushed on and soon was able to sit down on the stool, relieving his back from the pain. The hat was placed on his head, his new grown hair ruffled underneath the fabric. Unlike on everyone else, the sorting hat didnt cover his face or fall over his head, instead the brim was propped up on his out cropped ears.

"Those are some ears you got," the hat chuckled, happy to finally fit on someone's head. His friends chuckled a bit.

Aang blushed, his whole face must have been red from how embarrassed he was. "They aren't that big," he mumbled trying to cover them up with his hands.

"Oh come on Aang, you are just being modest," Sokka teased, he grinned, "They are huge!" the other benders laughed a bit harder, he even saw a small smile crease on McGonagall's face.

A voice whispered in his ear, "hmm the avatar eh?" Aang then noticed, it was the hat trying to sort him. His heart practically stopped. "You have courage, yes, Gryffendor might suite you well but then a see a clever mind, maybe Ravenclaw." Aang gripped the edges of the stool, his back was starting to get weak from the walk over and he had to hold on to keep from falling off. "Oh you are also one who tries to prove himself to be a great Avatar, slytherin would be a good choice too," The hat wiggled around, pondering in Aang's thoughts. "I know! You are equally matched for almost all the houses, but the power of a warm heart, loyalty, and understanding will be the key to help you on your path to becoming a great avatar," The hat gave a small pause then yelled out so everyone could hear, "Hufflepuff!"

"Oh come on!" Toph Growled from where she sat on the floor.

Aang smiled and looked towards Katara, they were going to be in the same house. He wouldn't change it for the world, he now had more chances to spend time with her during the school year. He stood up slowly and made his way back to the bed. The trip back felt shorter and less painful than it did before, maybe the pain was over shadowed by the big grin on his face.

"This concludes the sorting ceramony for this evening," Professor McGonagall said, she looked unphased by the events, probably since none of them were sorted into her house Gryffendore. She pulled out peices of paper from each of her robes and started handing them out to the children, "School will start in a week, here are the list of things you need for the year. I would advise taking a trip to Hogsmead to buy your supplies," She turned towards Aang, her face softened ever so slightly, Aang doubt anyone noticed,"Now i thing Aang should get some rest, it has been and exciting day,"

"thank you professor," Aang said, and gave a small bow, the best he could do while sitting in a hospital bed. The lady picked up the hat, who gave one last farewell, then left the ward. Toph got up from the ground still mumbling about being in slytherin. Katara put her hand on Aangs shoulder.

"The professor is right Aang, you need your rest. we will leave you be," she said sweetly, it looked as if she too were tired.

"You can stay if you want," he yawned and lay his head back down on the pillow. sleep was coming and he was welcome and content with the idea of it. Toph and Sokka shuffled out of the room as Aangs eyelids fell, pushing him into a deep sleep.