The Great Hall was abuzz with chatter and poorly veiled excitement. This was their first day at Hogwarts since the summer break and in the midst of friends reuniting and gleeful laughter, one boy was not taking part in the festivities. He was sitting at the Slytherin table with a book in hand, and even though he was surrounded by a sea of green-trimmed robes, there was still an all-too-recognizable air of isolation surrounding him. He did not mingle, and no one mingled with him. No one clapped him on the shoulder, no one greeted him with a smile, no one even bothered to say hello. Kairo Murray had no friends but he was fine with this, perfectly content with drowning out reality if it meant he could delve into the fantasy worlds he so desperately craved – anything to mask the harsh truth of his rather lonely existence. He didn't love reading, but he didn't dislike it; it was a happy middle. His green eyes did tear themselves away from the multitude of words long enough to glance around the large room to see if the Sorting Ceremony was beginning, and every time he realized it wasn't he would return to his book.
