Tom felt a surge of embarrassment and anger as his thoughts were laid bare. Reflexively, he reached out his paw, intending to grab the Sorting Hat from his head.
Though ending up in the House of Badgers had been satisfying, the part about the kitchen had rubbed him the wrong way. He had clearly said that his reason for thinking of Hufflepuff wasn't because of its proximity to the kitchens.
"Congratulations, Tom. Hufflepuff will be an excellent home for you. Loyalty and integrity will become your most precious assets at Hogwarts," the Sorting Hat said.
Before Tom's claws could touch it, however, the Sorting Hat had already lifted itself and landed safely in Dumbledore's hands. This treasured artifact of Hogwarts couldn't risk damage, even from Tom. Though protected with the strongest charms from the Four Founders and every subsequent Headmaster, Dumbledore had seen enough of Tom's peculiar abilities to know that ordinary spells might not suffice.
"Of course, considering your uniqueness, and the fact that all other dormitories have been assigned, I can prepare a single room for you if you need it," Dumbledore offered.
Tom, huffing and waving his claws, allowed the topic to shift. He had only meant to scare the Sorting Hat, not actually harm it. Breaking it would have meant trouble he had no desire to seek.
"As for Ariana…" Dumbledore glanced toward his sister, whose expression was tinged with disappointment at not being sorted into the same house as Tom.
"Do you have any plans? Would you like me to prepare a single room for you, or would you prefer to live with other Young Wizards?"
Ariana's status was far more unusual than Tom's. Being a ghost didn't limit her in the way it might other students; she could, if she wished, live among other Young Wizards, though discretion was necessary. Until an agreement was reached with the Ministry of Magic, she shouldn't expose her identity as a ghost.
"(★ω★) Can I share a room with Tom?" Ariana's eyes lit up at the idea. Even though they weren't in the same house, a shared room would make the situation more comforting.
Dumbledore's expression darkened instantly, and McGonagall, who had accompanied Ariana, felt a pang of regret. Why had she checked the book of admittance today? Why had she reported Ariana's anomaly on this very night? It felt like a warning sign hovered over her head: Danger.
"No! Absolutely not! I'm in Hufflepuff, and you're in Gryffindor. How can we live in the same room?" Tom quickly interrupted her hopeful plea.
"But…" Ariana looked pleadingly at Dumbledore, her voice soft.
"No," Dumbledore said firmly, though his heart ached at the sight of her pitiful expression. Though the school rules didn't explicitly forbid students of different houses from sharing rooms, this precedent could not be set—especially not with his own sister, and certainly not with a cat.
Seeing Ariana's persistence, Tom stepped in once more. "Alright, Ariana. Setting aside whether the rules allow us to live together, even as friends, we need our own private space. Besides, didn't you come to Hogwarts to make more friends? If I'm always with you, how will you meet new people? Becoming friends with your roommates is the first step toward making friends with the entire school."
Though he didn't understand why Ariana hadn't been sorted into Hufflepuff, his words worked. "(´-ω-`) Okay, I understand," she said, nodding obediently.
Dumbledore let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Then, little Ariana, have you decided? Do you want an independent room, or would you like to live with other Young Wizards?"
"Um, Brother… are there other dorms with empty spots?" Ariana asked thoughtfully. Her goal, after all, was to make friends. Finding a dorm with roommates was a necessary first step.
"Of course. If you're willing, I can take you there right now," Dumbledore said, and with a glance, he signaled McGonagall to step forward.
"Also, my name is Minerva McGonagall, Dean of Gryffindor. You can just call me Professor McGonagall," she said kindly.
"I'll trouble you then, Professor," Ariana bowed, then looked at Tom. "Don't worry, Tom. Even though we're in different houses, we can still attend classes together, right? This won't affect our friendship."
"That's right. There's never been a barrier between the houses; they're simply homes. What they become depends entirely on the Young Wizards who live in them," Dumbledore added gently.
"As long as you believe that, even Gryffindors and Slytherins can become very good friends," he said.
(Snape, brewing Potions in his office: Atchoo!)
"Brother is right! Tom, see you at breakfast tomorrow! When the time comes, I want to hear all about what makes the Hufflepuff Common Room special," Ariana said cheerfully.
"Sure, but you'll have to tell me the secrets of Gryffindor too," Tom teased back, flicking his tail in amusement.
Dumbledore smiled at the exchange. "Alright, Minerva, it's late. Take Ariana to the Gryffindor dorms; I'll take Tom to Hufflepuff. Children, get some rest once you're back in your dorms. There are many classes waiting tomorrow."
Tom and Ariana nodded. McGonagall also gave a small nod before leading Ariana out of the Headmaster's Office.
"Wait, Minerva," Dumbledore called softly before she could leave. "After you drop off Ariana, please return. I will need your help in communicating with the Ministry of Magic regarding her enrollment as a ghost."
McGonagall paused, but her face remained composed. "Very well, Principal. I understand." She knew that after uncovering so many secrets, tasks would inevitably follow.
After watching them leave, Dumbledore turned to Tom. "Let's go, Tom. I'll take you to the Hufflepuff dormitory."
Tom silently followed behind. As they were about to step out, Dumbledore paused and spoke softly. "By the way, Tom… thank you. Not just for bringing Ariana back, but for resolving the knot in her heart and helping her open up to meeting more friends. In my youth, I overlooked her feelings, and it has always been my greatest regret. Thanks to you, I can finally begin to make amends."
Tom flicked his tail in a casual gesture. 'No big deal,' his expression seemed to say.
Dumbledore chuckled. "I remember you had student Abbott working for you before. Do you need any assistance from the school?"
"Not for now," Tom replied confidently. He knew that with himself as living advertisement, opportunities—and Galleons—would come easily.
"Very well. I can, however, provide you with an empty room—consider it a blessing from this old man," Dumbledore said warmly.
Tom's ears twitched in acknowledgment, and the two continued down the corridors of Hogwarts, a quiet bond of trust and mutual respect forming between them.
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