1938 September 12
Harrison and the Headmaster had ended up staying the whole day in Diagon Alley buying replacements for the useless muggle things the Headmaster had burnt. Because of this by the time they had returned to the castle all of the students were in bed and there was no time to contact Tom about the day's events. Even though Harrison spent nearly half an hour begging.
The morning of the next day found the Headmaster surprisingly absent from his seat at the head table which he always occupied from before the first student arrived until after the last student left. His absence was all that anyone in the great hall was talking of until he arrived.
When he did arrive a small boy with dark, red hair accompanied him. The boy had his head bowed low so no one could see his face but Tom did not need to see it anyway, as he would recognize that distinctive hair colour anywhere. The Headmaster had gone to remove his Harrison from the dreadful orphanage and he was here at Hogwarts. Wanting with all of his heart to go to the boy he had grown up with but knowing it would not be proper and would only cause more problems between him and his housemates.
Reaching the front of the hall the Headmaster turned to face the students and the all quieted. "I know that you are all in the middle of breakfast and some of you have classes soon but I have an important announcement to make. This boy here is Harrison Thomson. He is, as of today, a ward of Hogwarts. He is only nine but in order to keep him occupied he will be attending classes with the first years. I expect all of you to make him feel welcome and not ask him about the reasons behind his stay here; if he wishes for you to know then he shall tell you. Now though, he must be sorted to, find out who he will attend classes with."
Conjuring up a stool and summoning the hat that had been used to sort the first years with, he gestured for Harrison to sit and put on the hat. Doing so Harrison was startled to hear the hat speaking to him like it was any other person.
Well now, it said. You are the youngest child I have sorted in a long time. It is sad that this is because of circumstances and not your own intelligence, for you are a very bright boy, as you already know. But the question is where to put you. Definitely not Hufflepuff, though you are both loyal and hard working you do not have their trust, it truly is sad. Ravenclaw would suit you, however I don't believe that it is quite right and they would all become jealous of you quickly. Slytherin is where I put your friend-
"Slytherin, please put me in Slytherin." Harrison muttered.
-But you are not nearly as self-preserving as them and they would tear you to shreds the moment you sat at their table. So that leaves Gryffindor. Yes, I think you will do well with them and their propensity to put themselves in danger for the sake of others. Just remember not to go too far with that recklessness and you'll do fine in…
"Gryffindor!" Hearing his new house shouted out to the world he got off the stool, thanked the Headmaster and went down to the table that sat the students with Gryffindor badges on their chests.
The rest of the day Harrison was in and out of classes and catch-up sessions with no time to talk to Tom. At lunch and dinner he was immersed in introductions to his new house and any friends they had in either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. As hard as Harrison tried he could not find any way to tell Tom what had happened and catch up on what had happened to him in the last fortnight.