"???"
Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged a look, each sensing an unmistakable trace of doubt in the other's eyes.
They were fully aware of Tom's origins. In fact, it was only through their combined efforts that the Ministry of Magic had officially recognized this Cat as a legitimate "student." (Though it was mostly Dumbledore directing McGonagall to communicate with the Ministry on his behalf, he was technically involved in every step.)
Because of this, the enormity of Tom's "lofty ambition" seemed almost impossible to believe.
The Lovegood family was a wizarding family, yes—but even putting aside the fact that they were fairly ordinary, Tom was ultimately just a Cat they had adopted!
Had Tom been adopted by Newt Scamander, Dumbledore might have held a glimmer of expectation and trust. After all, Newt was one of the few wizards who truly understood the obscurus. But the Lovegoods? They inspired no such confidence—not because of disdain, but simply because they weren't capable of it.
And now, an obscurus that had the entire Wizarding World scrambling helplessly was supposedly under the control of an ordinary—well, not-so-ordinary—Cat claiming he could solve it? It was like hearing a neighbor's Border Collie claiming it could prove Goldbach's Conjecture.
"Brother, what did Tom just say?"
Ariana, who could not understand Cat language (unlike everyone else present, not counting the portraits), tilted her head in confusion. She had been feeling lost since she couldn't enroll at Hogwarts to make friends. Why were her brother and the female professor suddenly staring at Tom with such skepticism? Had he just said something shocking? And…
'(;´д｀)ゞ Why can't I understand Tom anymore since leaving that place?'
Her mood sank further. The obscurus inside her surged faintly, but ultimately, it failed to break free.
Dumbledore didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at Tom, who scurried around the Headmaster's office as if nothing had happened. In Dumbledore's mind, since Tom had chosen to communicate in Cat language, perhaps he didn't want Ariana to know. Or perhaps he wasn't confident himself.
Dumbledore certainly didn't want Ariana to get her hopes up, only to have them cruelly dashed. Yet, it seemed Tom didn't grasp this. Noticing Dumbledore's gaze and understanding the question he wanted to ask, Tom—who had originally wanted to avoid extra explanation by speaking Cat—sighingly pulled out his whiteboard:
[I said, I should be able to solve the obscurus in your body.]
"Really?! Does that mean… I can finally come to Hogwarts to make friends?!"
A brilliant light burst from Ariana's eyes as she stared at her brother, her anticipation clear. Since McGonagall had previously refused her enrollment due to the obscurus, removing that obstacle meant there was no reason to keep her out anymore.
Despite her lingering trauma with magic, Ariana longed to make friends in the Castle.
'When that time comes, even if Brother Albus chooses to side with Grindelwald, I won't be lonely anymore. Brother Aberforth probably won't have to argue with Brother Albus for my sake either!'
"(;one_one) That's right, Miss Ariana. I refused your enrollment before because, as Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, I must consider the safety of the other Young Wizards. If you are no longer an Obscurial, and no threat remains from the obscurus, I naturally won't oppose your enrollment."
Dumbledore's sentiment echoed hers—they already had a ghostly colleague, so one more ghost student was hardly an issue. The real concern had always been the obscurus. Once that hidden danger was removed, he would override any objections and ensure the Ministry recognized her enrollment.
Why play the villain and shut her out? Besides, the book of admittance had already recorded Ariana's name. Anyone questioning it would effectively oppose Hogwarts itself—and the four founders. In that case, Dumbledore had no problem showing exactly why he was known as "the Greatest Wizard of Modern Times."
"But Ariana, Mr. Lovegood has only recently interacted with the Wizarding World. He might not be able to completely remove the obscurus. Perhaps we should wait for an expert who has extensively studied the obscurus. If we have him participate as well, the success rate may be higher…"
Dumbledore did not want Ariana's hopes crushed in the event of failure. His suggestion was meant as a precaution, to prevent disappointment before it happened.
"No need, Brother. I believe in Tom!"
Ariana's gaze was determined. She had witnessed Tom's miraculous nature firsthand: the sack that pulled her out of the Mist-Enveloped Realm, the ability to turn invisible with an ordinary bedsheet, the skill to take her into the world of paintings. She had no doubts.
"If you say so…"
Dumbledore watched Tom, who was peering curiously around the office. "Mr. Lovegood, I'll leave Ariana in your hands."
(Leave it to me!)
Tom pulled up in front of Ariana and focused on her intently. Despite lingering doubts about whether he could succeed, Dumbledore and McGonagall stepped back, giving him space to begin his "treatment."
The office fell silent, heavy with expectation.
After a long while, just as Dumbledore began to wonder if something had gone wrong, Tom moved—then pulled out his whiteboard.
[Um, does anyone here know how to get that pitch-black thing out of her body?]
The room froze. Ariana began to doubt if her trust in Tom had been premature.
(╯°□°）╯︵┻━┻ I'm helpless too!)
Internally, Tom wailed. If the obscurus emerged on its own, he had countless ways to handle it—but the problem was that it was hidden deep inside Ariana. Finding things inside a human body was not exactly his specialty.
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