"So, you're a ghost?!"
Early the next morning, a yawning Tom was dragged to the Great Hall by Hannah. Hermione and Ariana, who had arrived earlier, were already sitting at the Hufflepuff table.
Thanks to House-elves delivering meals directly to students, the Great Hall was unusually quiet, as many Hufflepuff Young Wizards had Charms Class with Slytherin that morning. This made the presence of the two Gryffindors, Ariana and Hermione, stand out even more. Still, the empty hall had its advantages—they could speak freely without worrying about anyone overhearing, which was likely why Ariana had chosen this spot.
After consulting with Dumbledore the night before, Ariana had decided to confess her secret to her two closest friends, leading to the dramatic revelation.
Hannah almost cried out in surprise when she learned the truth. Fortunately, her conversation with Hermione the previous night had made her suspect Ariana was hiding something, and she managed to contain her reaction. She had thought Ariana might be under a curse preventing her from touching things, like a cursed king in a fairy tale. She never imagined the truth: Ariana was a Ghost Wizard.
A ghost as a classmate? Merlin's beard, that was even more shocking than having a cat for a friend! Unlike a living creature, a ghost was an imprint of its former life, unable to truly grow or change. Could such a being really learn magic?
Seeing Ariana's form, however—perfectly human in appearance—Hannah felt relieved. After all, if a unique existence like Peeves could interact with the world, a Ghost Wizard capable of magic didn't seem impossible.
"But this must be a very important secret. Are you sure it's okay to tell us?" Hermione asked, concern evident on her face. Logically, such knowledge should be kept from ordinary students.
"Don't worry! I discussed it with Headmaster Dumbledore last night, and he said it was fine to tell you," Ariana replied, relaxed and confident.
She had also spoken with Tom about it. Without the Principal's approval, she wouldn't have shared her secret.
"Of course, only you two are special because you're my friends. You mustn't tell anyone else! At least until the Principal and the Ministry reach an agreement," Ariana added with a playful wink.
"I'm not a big mouth like Ron. I promise I won't say a word," Hermione said solemnly. Hannah mirrored her gesture, raising a hand as if swearing to the heavens.
"But is it really okay?" Hannah asked, a slight frown crossing her brow. "Don't you have Transfiguration Class with Professor McGonagall this morning? Since you can't touch objects as a ghost, what will you do when she asks you to practice spells?"
Ariana had only attended Herbology and History of Magic so far—classes that didn't require touching much—but Transfiguration was different; it demanded a wand.
Tom, previously drowsy, perked up at the mention. Was it finally his moment to shine? He spun, and his wizard robes transformed into a sharp suit. Loosening his tie with dramatic flair, he coughed twice, clearly ready for a performance.
Before he could proceed, Ariana spoke: "It's okay. Professor McGonagall knows about my situation and will help cover for me."
"And me! I'll do my best to cover for you too!" Hermione added.
"Thanks, Hermione," Ariana said. "It's nothing, we're friends!"
"I'll help too, Ariana! Don't worry," Hannah chimed in.
Watching the three interact harmoniously, Tom felt a question mark pop over his head. You guys are making me look silly!
Ariana noticed his expression and quickly smoothed things over. "Tom, were you trying to say something?"
With everyone looking at him, Tom rolled his eyes irritably and snapped his fingers, changing his suit back into robes.
"Did you forget what I said yesterday? I said I would help you!" he declared proudly.
"Really?" Ariana was stunned. She had thought Tom was only comforting her. Ghosts, she knew, couldn't physically interact with objects. Peeves was an exception, and she couldn't rely on him as a model.
"I'm Tom!" he said, chest puffed out, then pulled out a pair of gloves he had prepared the night before.
"Put them on and see for yourself," he said.
Cautiously, Ariana reached out. The moment her fingers touched the gloves, she froze. It was the first physical sensation she had felt since becoming a ghost—excluding contact with Tom.
"Try putting them on," he encouraged.
Ariana carefully slipped on the gloves, eyes closed, savoring the feeling. Tom then placed a piece of bread in her hand.
Her eyes snapped open. "I can feel it—the air, the softness, the warmth!" she exclaimed, turning the bread over in wonder.
"Of course. Look who made them," Tom said proudly, though he quickly added, "Unfortunately, these are essentially magical items. Their effects rely on stored magic, which will eventually weaken."
He continued, "After that, you'll only be able to pick up light objects like feathers. Holding a wand will be difficult."
"Also, I used parchment as a temporary material, so the magic storage is limited. Two or three hours at most."
"Once I find better materials, I'll make you a better pair," he added, though his words likely didn't fully impress the first-years present. Conceptually, creating gloves that allowed a ghost to touch physical objects was revolutionary. Even Merlin would have struggled.
"It's okay, two or three hours is enough. I'll be careful," Ariana said with a smile.
Seeing her smile, Tom explained further. "After the magic runs out, you can ask a professor to recharge them. If you have enough magic, you can recharge them yourself. Still, it's safest to ask a professor."
Hermione, lost in thought, focused on one phrase: 'no better materials.' She recalled Hagrid's hut, with its piles of magical creature materials. Maybe the items Tom needed were there.
'But Harry and the others…' she hesitated, remembering their recent rule-breaking. For now, she decided to help her friend rather than dwell on school rules. Seeing Ariana's joy, she sighed: Fine, I'll ask Harry later if he can take Tom to see Hagrid.
"Alright, it's about time to go to class," Tom said, checking the time.
"Ariana, if you have any suggestions about the gloves, let me know. I'll consider them for the next version," he added.
"Okay!" Ariana agreed, fist lightly clenched. Under the morning sun, she looked like any other Young Wizard, eager for magic and lessons. To anyone watching, there was nothing unusual at all.
The group packed their things and left the Great Hall. In the bustling corridor, they parted ways, each heading toward their respective classrooms, carrying with them the warmth of friendship and a secret that bound them together.
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