After reaching Hogsmeade, they were immediately herded off based on their respective houses and years while Hagrid shouted orders to the first years to follow him at the docks separating them from the rest of the upperclassmen. Second years and up fall in queues following House Prefects leading them to the line of carriages waiting at the side of the road that will carry them off to Hogwarts. Nicholas supposed the Thestrals were some made up story to scare the young ones since he hasnt seen one himself, and he's heard talks about them being ugly, and terrifyingly deformed. It sounded so fictitious to him, so he let himself assume the carriages were being moved by some sort of enchantment, but decided to not let the others know he doesnt believe them. 

The thing is, Nicholas is very different when it comes to friends, his parents, his brothers, and the general public. He keep a certain figure depending on who's going to see it. Sure, you can see him goof off in the common rooms, kid around with fellow Slytherins, throwing in some occasional jinx and jeers at the castle hallways, but that too is rarely seen. The [i]public[/i] Nicholas is usually cool, reserved and fairly uninvolved with anything other than Quidditch and being a Slytherin. Though he tries to participate, he always keeps it at a formal level with no personal attachments. He couldn't quite get the idea of opening up. Though he must admit (at least to himself) that it makes him feel sort of lonely. He's afraid that if he starts to let go, he wouldnt fit in.

So when the Sorting began, he would clap and cheer at the kids that has been sorted to his house along with the rest of the Slytherins, though secretly hoping it would end soon. Nicholas doesnt really care who ends up to what house, he just wish whoever is sorted to Slytherin would make themselves worthy to carry the House's name. He has his fair share with freeloaders, and he's not going to spend another year dealing with them.

Potter went on about his speech, but mostly Nicholas tuned him out. He was looking over at the Ravenclaw table, towards where Lovegood sat in particular. She can make people feel impossibly awkward and weird, but at the same time (and in Nicholas' opinion) makes them genuinely at ease, like it was the normalest thing for her. She acts so care free like it doesnt really matter what other people think of her. And then, suddenly, Nicholas had this epiphany, that Lovegood is the exact opposite of himself. And that he was jealous of her. He hates the fact that she can take it easy being weird and all and people take it like it was normal, when here he is, struggling desperately just to fit in. It's unfair.

Nicholas was so consumed in his thoughts that he hadnt even noticed the food is served. He filled his plate with some roasted chicken, and fruits, and a slice of fresh baked bread. He busied himself with his food while agreeing and laughing at the right moment as he half listens to the chatters around him. And then, he noticed them, its really impossible to miss the huge form of Hagrid hurrying out of the Great Hall, "What's going?" He asked to Lonan and the others as the the Headmaster and a few teachers vacated their seats and followed suit. He can sense the other students from the other tables noticed it too. There's something definitely off here.