The next day, Ariel and Hermione did some research and discovered the silver cord that had appeared around their wrists did mean that they were linked. Apparently their friendship with one another, as well as going through fighting a troll, had created a special bond that was deeper than just ordinary friendship. In a way, it was almost like their swearing blood-brother/sisterhood. Harry had actually suggested they do so, but Neville, Hermione, Ariel, Justin, and Hannah were all a little squeamish about blood, so it never happened.

A sixth table suddenly appeared in the Great Hall the morning after the troll incident. It was much smaller than the other tables, with eleven seats. On the table was a parchment that read in writing that seemed to date from the Middle Ages, "For the Hogwarts students that have banded together despite from being in different houses. The Hogwarts Founders"

The teachers had examined the table and writing, and a number of the students had done so as well. Nick saw Professor McGonagall exchange looks with Professor Sprout and heard her say, "This has never happened before. But it seems the Founders are aware of something and had this set up. Do you suppose it could be because of what happened last night?"

A number of students tried to sit down at the table, but the chairs tipped over, dumping them on the ground. Only when Harry sat down did nothing happen. His siblings and friends joined him, and the chairs all glowed green, red, and yellow. After a few seconds, the glow disappeared and the writing on the parchment changed to, "This table now belongs to these students and more who may be a part of all this later on. We foresee that representatives of Ravenclaw will join next year, as well, as two from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Sincerely, the Founders."

Once the teachers and some of the gathered students had read the parchment, it disappeared, and everyone went to their regular tables to eat breakfast and talk about what had just occured. From then all, the eleven students from three houses sat at the sixth table during mealtimes.

Daphne stopped hanging around the other Slytherins and spent much of her time outside of classes with Ariel and the others. Pansy first noticed this, and it spread to the other Slytherins. Most of them started looking at Daphne as a blood traitor, and she began being targeted for malicious pranks as well. After the fifth incident, Ariel lost patience and did something she normally wouldn't have done, which was see Dumbledore about it.

As she didn't know the password to Dumbledore's office, she had to ask Professor Flitwick to take her there. He gave the password (sugar quill), and the stone gargoyle moved to let Ariel in. Dumbledore was in his office, busy writing a letter, but he looked up and set down his quill when Ariel entered.

"Good afternoon, Miss Kennedy," he said pleasantly. "Is something the matter?"

Ariel, tore her gace away from the various magical instruments in the office and said, "Yes, there is. My friend Daphne and I are being targeted by the Slytherins for various taunts and malicious pranks. While it doesn't bother me as much, I am infuriated that my best friend in Slytherin has to suffer for being a 'blood traitor'. I don't want you speaking to Professor Snape and asking him to tell the Slytherins to stop, because it wouldn't do any good. However, I would like it if Daphne and I could move to a separate room. I'm sure Hogwarts has a number of spare rooms."

Dumbledore's eyes did not twinkle as usual. "Oh dear. I had not expected that things would turn out this way. I will grant your request. I will have the house elves move your things to another room. You and Miss Greengrass will be notified of where the room is at dinner, Miss Kennedy."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," replied Ariel. "Good day." She turned and left the office.

Ariel found Daphne outside the Slytherin common room, about to head for the library. She quickly told Daphne about the room change. "Oh, that's a relief. Our dorm room was getting unbearable. There's only so many times you can hear Pansy calling you a blood traitor without it getting boring. Really, she's needs to come up with some original insults, rather than just using the same one over and over. And Malfoy's no better, either. He just repeates variations on the same insults too."

At dinner, a paper airplane flew toward Ariel, who caught it and unfolded it to read the note. It read: Dear Miss Kennedy and Miss Stenson, Something unexpected has occured. It appears that a suite of rooms has been made available not just for you, but for your friends as well. It was made quite clear to me that all eleven of you, plus any that may join you at a later time, are to occupy the suite. You will all still be part of your respective houses, but the Founders' portraits seemed to think that it would be best if you weren't separated by common rooms and shared a place together. Please inform your friends of this change, for all of your belongings have been moved there.

The suite is on the seventh floor, next to a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. A large portrait of the Hogwarts Founders has appeared over the entrance hole and the current password is 'Hogwarts united.' The eleven of you may change the password whenever you like and inform the portrait of the change. You can still go to your house common rooms, though the suite seems to have provided a common room for you all to use.

Sincerely yours,

Professor Dumbledore.

Ariel quickly told the others about the note, and needless to say, they were all very surprised at this. "But I've never read about this happening before!" exclaimed Hermione. "This is a shock."

"Well, at least it means we'll be together and won't have to all meet up in the library or something," said Ernie. "We have our own little common room now."

After dinner, they went to their new rooms. A portrait of the Hogwarts Founders was next to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. "Well, so this is the group," said Godric Gryffindor. "I am very pleased that something like this has happened."

Helga Hufflepuff nodded. "The houses serve their purpose, but we wanted everyone to be united. And the eleven of you art taking a step in that direction."

Salazar Slytherin added, "I agree. I suppose it was rather foolish of me to speak out against Muggleborns and break with the other founders. But at two of my students art taking steps to amend that."

"If only there were Ravenclaws in your group," sighed Rowena Ravenclaw. "Ah well, it seems it will have to wait until next year. You do have a sister, don't you, Ariel? There is a good chance that she will end up in Ravenclaw."

"I'm certain these students wish to see their rooms," interrupted Godric. "Password?"

"Hogwarts united," said Susan. The portrait swung open to admit them inside.

The common room looked like a smaller version of the Gryffindor common room, except there were several bookcases, and instead of red and gold, it was red, blue, yellow, and green. There were two staircases, one which lead to the boys' side, and the other to the girls' side.

The boys' dorm contained six beds, and the girls' dorm five beds. The curtains and hangings were all silver and gold, with the Hogwarts crest, but otherwise looked like a dorm room of any of the other houses. Next to the dorm rooms were the bathrooms, which did not look like the the regular bathrooms. It was fancier, and seemed to be more what the prefects' bathroom was probably like.

They all got settled, then the eleven of them met in their common room to talk things over.

A/N- I have been toying with the idea of creating a fifth house, just for these eleven, plus Valancy and the friends she'll make next year and any more in future years who are different. All of them will have qualities from all the houses. If this fifth house gets formed, it will have its own Quidditch team and be part of the House Cup. If you like this idea, please tell me in a review or PM. If you are against this idea, let me know the same way. Thank you.