"So, you a first year too?" Beckah asked.
"Yeah, and I didn't know I was a wizard either, kind of pathetic if you ask me." She frowned a little.
"I'm a pureblood. Are you a mudblood?" Tom was again slapped with confusion, but he quickly realized that he was neither pure nor mudblooded.
"No, I'm a halfblood. My mother was a pureblood, my dad...was...a muggle."
"I'm sorry. Muggles are so ignorant, they don't even care about trying to be different. It is the same way with mudbloods. They are not worthy of being magical if they don't believe in magic. How come you didn't know you were a wizard?"
"I...felt I was...but my mother was...died as soon as she named me. My father left...He didn't think he could raise me alone...so I was put in an orphanage...but he made sure that I was cared for, and I lived there because he couldn't bear to see me with another family." Seymore made a gagging noise, and Beckah's eyes were filled with tears. Tom was trying not to congratulate himself for being the most truth based liar he had ever met. He was looking down, trying to look in pain, but he was struggling greatly with that task.
"That is awful. Your father must have been an awful man. Never even telling you that you were a wizard."
"Yeah...I agree. That woman I jinxed with the babbling curse would not have expelled us had I known. She would still be talking in English that wasn't backwards..."
"Wow! You already know a lot! You must be a quick learner! Could you tutor me later in the year? Or maybe you could learn about the Dark Arts in great detail! That way you could teach the other students! That would be soooo useful! I hear the defense against the dark arts teacher this year is as bad as the last." Tom was overwhelmed. He didn't even know where his classes were yet and a girl was asking him to teach her about many strange subjects he didn't know existed. But the Dark Arts did sound quite interesting.
"Sure..." The boat that was steering itself slowed and then stopped. All of the first years jumped out in a dash. Several looked back to see that they had everything, but it didn't matter. The boats were already drifting away.
"Well, look here, Arthur! Tom already has himself a girlfriend. Quick worker this one. They'll be married in no time."
"No, mainly because I don't believe in marraige. I also don't believe in eros love. And I also know nothing about Beckah except her name. So the fact that dating should even come to your minds is quite absurd." The group standing around him wore a confused look. He was trying to figure out why they were so confused, what he said was so blunt.
"Okay, Tom, we are normal people. We don't spend thirty hours over weekends trying to outsmart our teachers. Why don't you put what you just said in easier words so that we know how to fight your offense. Being the defense-
"You should be able to properly question the opponent and stand up to them with ease. Study law for two years, then get back to me. What I meant was I don't think love between two people exists. I think that friendship is as far as it goes. No further. It is not a special type of love, but it can be strong or weak. But, if you have a strong offense, elaborating on your analogy Seymore, that love can easily be broken." It seemed that a lightbulb struck inside everyone, and the people all caught back on. Then they all began to disagree or to agree.
"Prove it."
"Why should I deprive you of the chance to prove your point first? If I go first, it will only make me stronger in my belief. The one who goes second will have more pressure and their presentation will not sway the first. Unless you would like to present this as a debate, every man for himself?" No one took Tom's challenge. It seemed they would much rather talk amongst themselves.Everyone except Rebeckah.
"You are smart. But I think that there are three types of love. Philos, Eros, and Agape. Brotherly love is demonstrated clearly between Seymore and yourself. Agape is demonstrated by existence and in happiness, by Jesus Christ. And then Eros, that is, yes to part of your belief, a friendship as well, but it is also an undying love between a man and a woman trapped in unity created by the passion they feel in each other's very souls. They instantly connect, they feel like they have known each other forever. They are fit together by fate. You do believe in fate, don't you?" Tom was shocked that he had actually been contradicted. He didn't know his answer to the question she had asked, he was lingering on her every word, writing it down in his mental notepad.
"Fate, I do not believe. Destiny? That is an entire new subject.But, if twisted enough, they do basically explain each other, so I must trust that fate exists."
"Seymore is right, come down off of your own little world, and talk to people as your equals. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people here who could easily destroy you. So don't talk to them as though they are weak." Tom was slapped. He thought he had a new friend, not some snotty girl who thought he was worthless.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just trying to tell you that you have a beautiful personality, and that by trying to be the best before you even know what you are, your hurting yourself. You are wonderful, but don't hurt the person you are inside by trying to be someone else!"
"Oh...I see..." Tom felt guilty, he had thought too much, But he wasn't used to feeling bad simply because he thought someone wrong. He was definately going to get a good night's sleep. Then he would be relaxed and calm. Then he could do whatever and feel normal around people. He had four days before he had to start classes, he could study a bit, socialize a bit, then relax. He could also get to using that wand of his, though it did seem strange that he got such a long one. He was quite the small boy, scrawny and thin. But the little bit of him that was there was pure muscle from wrestling with Seymore and Manfred. He was tough, but to have a thirteen inch wand seemed a little absurd. But then again, the fact that he was walking into a school for witches and wizards, that was weird.
"First Year Students! Come Here!" A stout man with a chubby face and little hair covering a bald spot walked out. He was red faced and turning a different shade, yet he seemed calm. Another thing to add to Tom's weird list.
"In a moment, we will be going into the Great Hall to feast, be sorted, and to recieve your schedules for the upcoming year. You will also learn about your house and the responsibilities you must fulfill this year and years to come. This will be reflected by your House points. Do well, and win, do poorly, and lose. Simple enough. Those who were sorted last year, please go in and have a seat. First Years, follow me. I am Professor Jorkins, the current Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. The most important thing I have to tell you is this, Your friends are your family in this world, and your family is a part of you. Your enemies should be treated as your friends until the end of all time, that way you will always know where to look." Tom was impressed that some short fat guy actually knew what he was talking about. He did doubt that this teacher came up with that one on his own, but he still liked the quote.
"So, Tom. What house do you think you will be in?"
"Not sure..." He lied again, that was three and he had only been at this school for thirty minutes. Storm walked up beside him purring gently before leaping into his arms. He caught, her and walked into the largest room he had ever seen. The enchanted ceiling had candles floating just below it, the room smelled of pumpkins, chicken, and cakes. Storm purred louder at the sweet aroma that wafted around the nostrils. Tom was completely aghast, even in his wildest imagination he had never seen quite a magnificent sight. He saw the Slytherin table cheering, the Gryffindor table hollering, Hufflepuff were waving and the Ravenclaw were simply chaotic. This school was pleasant already. Then Tom saw a stool with an old hat sitting on it, and he was quite confused about what he was seeing. Then the room grew quiet...
