"Boss, who was that guy? He looked awfully mysterious," a regular at the Hog's Head chuckled. "And by the looks of it, you two get along pretty well. You even let him go upstairs."
Aberforth didn't bother looking up from mixing drinks. "Barnes, don't let your curiosity get you killed. Some people—you're better off not knowing at all."
"…Right, right, no need to say it twice." Barnes gave an awkward grin and shut his mouth.
Aberforth didn't immediately head upstairs. He still had orders to fill.
Meanwhile, Tom was already wandering the upper floor, curiosity in his eyes as he examined the room. He didn't touch anything, only studied what was openly displayed.
A massive two-way mirror caught his attention.
"So big…" Tom murmured, impressed.
Who would have guessed Aberforth was hiding wealth in plain sight? Daphne's little hand-sized mirror was nothing compared to this—this enormous pane could be smashed into hundreds of those trinkets.
Of course, it didn't really work that way. A two-way mirror only connected with its other half—no matter how many pieces you cut it into, it would still only show the other mirror's view.
Tom tried activating it, curious to see what lay on the other end. He tried several times, but the glass remained stubbornly dull. Either it had been sealed by powerful enchantments—or its twin was long destroyed.
Beside the mirror, something else stood against the wall: a large painting covered completely by a heavy velvet cloth.
"Ariana… I'd wager that's your portrait hidden under there. Want to see it?"
Not just a portrait—Tom knew well enough that behind it lay a secret passage into Hogwarts itself.
Inside the Learning Space, Ariana twisted nervously for a long time before giving the faintest nod. "Mm…"
"But I can't just go around messing with other people's belongings." Tom sighed.
Ariana thought he was teasing her and puffed out her cheeks, lips pouting in protest. Before she could scold him, however, the window suddenly rattled.
A violent gust of wind tore through, banging the shutters wide open. The velvet cloth flew off the portrait and crumpled to the floor.
"Well now, isn't that convenient?" Tom grinned, eyes gleaming. "What a coincidence. Just what we wanted, handed to us."
Ariana rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her own brain. Fine—she'd pretend to believe that was "natural wind" and not someone's deliberate handiwork.
But even so, she couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips as she looked toward her own portrait.
Her smile froze in the next instant.
"Pfft—" Tom burst into laughter before he could stop himself.
"Who in Merlin's name painted this? The resemblance is there, sure—but is that supposed to be you at forty years old?"
"Tom!" Black mist began to seep from Ariana's form, her fury spiking. She shrieked, "Even when I'm forty I wouldn't look that hideous!"
Quickly, Tom suppressed the rising energy inside the Learning Space before she lost control.
"No, no—listen, Ariana! That's just the portrait looking bad, not you. I think you're adorable. Why else would I treat you so well?"
It was shameless, betraying Tom's weakness for a pretty face. But girls loved hearing such words. Ariana's anger melted away, her cheeks flushing pink. Still, when her gaze slid back to the ghastly portrait, she bristled again.
On the wall, the painted Ariana had noticed Tom—this stranger—entering. She squeaked, ducking behind a painted tree, peeking out with half her face in a timid attempt at "being cute."
"You've got no right to act cuter than me!" Ariana fumed in indignation. She wanted nothing more than to unleash her newly-learned Shattering Charm and rip the painting apart, then hunt down the best artist alive to paint her a brand new, breathtaking portrait.
"Tom… maybe the wind could blow just a little harder?" Ariana hinted wildly.
But Tom only feigned ignorance. If the portrait were his, he would've happily indulged her. But tearing down Aberforth's painting? That was asking to recreate Grindelwald's infamous duel—only this time with Albus Dumbledore himself chasing him down.
And perhaps worse. Dumbledore had once held back against his former lover. Against Tom? He would have no reason to pull his punches.
Just as Ariana was pleading and coaxing him further, the door creaked open.
Aberforth entered, one hand holding a bag, the other balancing a tray. When he saw the window open, the cloth on the ground, and the portrait bare, his face instantly hardened.
Tom quickly raised a hand and pointed at the window. "Didn't touch a thing. Wind blew it open."
Aberforth's glare softened slightly. Whether or not he believed it didn't matter—he decided no one could be so foolishly petty.
"…Fine. You've seen it, then."
He set the bag on the floor and the tray on the table, his tone casual. "I only kept it covered so strangers wouldn't frighten Ariana. She doesn't like unfamiliar faces."
"Ariana?" Tom prompted innocently.
"Ariana Dumbledore," Aberforth said, stepping up to the portrait.
The painted Ariana brightened at his arrival, peeking fully out from behind her painted tree and smiling warmly at him.
"She's my sister. Your Headmaster's sister too. Isn't she beautiful?"
"Not beautiful," Tom replied flatly.
Swish!
Aberforth's fury exploded. His wand flashed into his hand, aimed directly at Tom, rage burning in his eyes—ready to curse the boy on the spot.
But Tom's next words rang out with absolute conviction:
"This portrait isn't nearly as lovely as Ariana herself must have been. The real Ariana had to be far more beautiful, far more kindhearted, far more gentle. A girl who was thoughtful, understanding, and sweet beyond measure."
The words were so firm, so heartfelt, Aberforth could feel it—Tom wasn't lying. It was as though he had truly seen Ariana before.
The anger drained from him in an instant, replaced by wistful memory. His lips even curved into a small, rare smile.
"You're right… Ariana was far more beautiful."
Inside the Learning Space, Ariana was crimson with embarrassment. She buried her head under her blanket, squealing silently to herself.
"Tom thinks of me that way…?"
[Approval +1 +1…]