It was really odd being back at Hogwarts. Everything was familiar, and yet so much had changed in the year Thomas had been away. New faces. SO many NEW faces.. and a lot of the old ones were gone. The sixteen year old had always had a tendency to migrate towards the older students. He felt more like one. He had experienced a lot in his short life, and although some of his behaviour was that of an adolescent, he was mature in other ways.

As he wandered into the Great Hall, his gaze swept across some of the first years. They seemed so small. Was he really ever that small? He guessed, because of living where he did, his childhood had been cut short prematurely. ..It was sad in a way.

He took his place at the Gryffindor table, ravenous after the eventful journey and grateful to finally get to Hogwarts. His stomach rumbled loudly. To be warmed by a fire and to fill his stomach would be like heaven on earth.