I do not own Harry Potter or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Chapter 3: Tinvaak Ko Fin Hofkahsejun Do Mindok

"What?" Habaura spoke first, but the word was quickly echoed by her sister.

"I wish for the two of you to stay here, at Hogwarts. It will allow you to keep up on your studies, and," Dumbledore's face turned serious, but there was a playful glimmer in his eyes. "Hogwarts has an extensive library. Perhaps you can find something there which will shine light on why you have appeared here."

The twins turned to stare at each other. Habaura blinked as her sister shuffled over to her, muttering in her ear.

"Think about it, sister. If Hogwarts' library is anything like the Arcanaeum then it may have what we are looking for."

Habaura sighed, turning to speak into Inorahin's ear as well. "You speak reason. This one does not know if it is the smartest decision—she has never heard of a school that uses foci nearly as much as this one seems to—but it seems wise nonetheless."

Habaura turned towards Dumbledore. "We are willing, but this one wants to see the library before agreeing to anything."

Dumbledore smiled genially, looking over at Poppy. "Of course, though I must say that it is not my permission you need."

The twins' eyes turned to Poppy, who stood there in silence. "Oh alright," she huffed at last. "But you will be coming back to the hospital wing immediately."

It was not a question. Habaura nodded, and Inorahin slid off of the bed, feet landing on the stone with a near-silent tap. Dumbledore started turning to walk out the door, speaking as he did so.

"If you would just follow me." The three began walking through the halls of Hogwarts, ignoring how the numerous paintings and portraits lining the walls would turn to gawk at the twins, though Habaura watched them out of the corner of her eye. Alastor nearly followed, but a shake of the head from Dumbledore stopped him.

Eventually they stepped through a doorway into a massive chamber, with the walls lined with thousands of towering bookshelves. Tables sat in one corner of the room, chairs lined around them, though no-one currently occupied the space.

Near the back of the room stood a counter, much like the one in the Arcanaeum, manned by a thin, vulture-like woman, with papery skin and a hooked nose who watched them with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

Habaura's eyes blew wide as she drank in the sight. Inorahin, seeing this, chuckled. "This one believes she has lost Habaura. At least Inorahin can still visit her." Dumbledore's eyes glittered with mirth.

Habaura jumped as a deep, booming clock struck seven, thundering out the required number in the form of the ringing of a great bell. By the time the seventh toll had finished echoing over the school, Habaura's fur had fluffed out, her tail twitching erratically.

"By Merrunz's tantrums, why?"

Inorahin had one ear covered with a hand, the other ear angled backwards. She was staring at Dumbledore in bewilderment. Habaura carefully closed her book, looking over the cover briefly for claw marks before setting it down.

Dumbledore winced slightly. "Ah, yes. It is safe, I assume, to believe that your ears are more sensitive than a humans?"

Habaura stood up from the table she was sitting at, walking over to Inorahin, winding her tail comfortingly around her sisters. "All Khajiit have more sensitive ears, yes."

Dumbledore sighed. "Well, I'm afraid I don't know what to do for the short term, but I will tell you that none of the cats currently living in the castle have any problems after the adjustment period."

Inorahin stared at him, eyes roving over his face for a moment, before she nodded. Her hand slowly unfurled from over her ear.

After a moment of silence, Dumbledore spoke. "On that note, it would be best if we go back to the hospital wing. We can continue our talk tomorrow."

Habaura nodded, but looked back at the table stacked with books, hesitating.

Dumbledore chuckled. "You can, of course, bring the books with you."

Uncurling her tail from Inorahin's, Habaura bounded over to the table she sat at before. She gathered up the more interesting books, setting them to the side, and put the rest back on the shelves she had first pulled them from. As the three left, Habaura saw the vulture woman walk over to the books she put back, checking them over herself.

Night had fallen. The twins were back in the hospital wing, moved to the beds furthest from the door. Dumbledore had suggested it, saying that if any of the students got hurt then the twins wouldn't startle them. Habaura wasn't quite sure why her appearance would be that startling, Khajiit were a commonplace appearance in most provinces.

Habaura sighed. This one supposes it is just another mystery of where we have ended up. She sat up slightly, looking at the bed across from her. The mound underneath the other bed's blanket moved in a steady rhythm as Inorahin slept. Rolling over, Habaura closed her eyes.

The pleasantly warm breeze swirled through the desert air, carrying grains of sand as it danced along a path northward. Under the tall branches of an acacia, several figures sprawled out on the dusty earth.

A fluffy, bipedal saber cat-like Khajiit wheezed where he slumped on the ground. "Oh- This one could've- could've caught you, mark his- words!" The statement was forced out between heaving breaths, and the other two kittens nearby burst into laughter.

"This one will have to take your word for it, Zoarsha!"

"Habau~ra!" Zoarsha whined, dramatically reaching out his hand towards the person in question. "Inorahin is being meean!"

Habaura grinned, shooting her twin a mischievous wink. "This one doesn't know, from where she was, it looked-"

"No!" The loud cry from Zoarsha effectively cut off the rest of her sentence, sending all three into another fit of laughter.

Habaura's smile nearly split her face as she sat up, still shaking with silent laughter. However, it slowly slid off her face as the wind brought a trickle of noise to her ears.

Habaura.

"Habaura!"

Habaura opened her eyes, grumbling slightly as Inorahin shook her awake. "Hmm, what is it Inorahin?"

"Albus wished to see us today, sister, remember?"

Habaura paused, blinking up at her sister before recognition flooded her senses. "Oh! Yes, this one remembers."

Stepping away so that Habaura could sit up and retrieve her shoes, Inorahin spoke. "Poppy wanted this one to inform her when we leave. If Habaura does not object, this one will go now?" Habaura nodded as she pulled a foot into her boot, and she heard the soft steps of Inorahin pad off towards Healer Pomfrey's door.

Dusting off her clothes, Habaura looked up, watching her sister and the healer talk with one another. She watched them speak for several minutes, before Healer Pomfrey seemed to sigh and, with one last exchange, walked back into her chamber.

Inorahin walked back over to where Habaura stood. "Poppy-" Inorahin paused, shaking her head and starting over, "Madam Pomfrey said to ask the portraits to lead us to Albus' office. This one was also told to tell the gargoyle 'Cockroach Clusters.'"

Habaura blinked.

"What?"

Inorahin shook her head again. "It makes no sense to this one either, sister. But that is what Madam Pomfrey said."

Habaura sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Well, if that is what she said. Come, Dumbledore is likely waiting for us."

The twins walked out of the hospital wing, seeking out the nearest portrait frame. After a short conversation, the portrait agreed to lead them to Dumbledore's office and went running through the portrait frames lined along the walls.

Before long, the two siblings had arrived in front of a large bronze gargoyle. The ugly statue stood guard over a seemingly innocuous stretch of wall, its unblinking eyes watching the twins carefully.

"Well, here we are lass. Good luck!"

Habaura watched the painted man leave, before turning back to the gargoyle.

"Ah… Cockroach Clusters?"

In one swift movement the gargoyle leapt away, revealing a tall, spiraling staircase. The stone steps all moved, carrying the two upwards without them needing to climb the stairwell themselves.

The stairs stopped at a smooth, oaken doorway, the face of which was adorned with a brass door knocker. Inorahin lifted a hand, lifting the metal ring and thudding it against the door.

Dumbledore's voice answered her knock. "Come in."

Inorahin curled a hand around the doorknob and swung it open, revealing a large circular room, filled with humming and smoking silver objects decorating tables. The walls were coated with portraits, presumably those of Hogwarts' previous Archmagus. Dumbledore sat behind an enormous table, his fingers laced together. Two chairs sat opposite him, clearly set out for their use, and Dumbledore waved them over.

"Now," The elderly man began. "Have the two of you made a decision?"

Inorahin shrugged and turned to her sister. "This one has no problem with attending."

"It seems to be the wisest decision."

Inorahin grinned at her. "You are just swayed by the library."

Habaura turned towards Inorahin, her face twisted into fake indignation. "Sister! We still do not know what province this is, much less how to head home!" Habaura paused, letting mirth cross her face. "But yes, the library doesn't hurt."

Inorahin's laughter sounded like a purr as she shook with giggles, and Habaura couldn't help but join in.

"Well then, I should go over how this is going to work." Dumbledore began after the laughter died down. "Normally we would just place you with the rest of the sixth year class, however this seems to be a special case." The man peered at the two over his half-moon glasses.

"Your unfamiliarity with wands especially. By sixth year we expect you to be able to cast silently, however this is difficult to ask of someone who has never used a wand."

Habaura blinked in shock. Difficult to ask of someone? But all apprentices are taught to cast silently. This one was not aware there was a way to cast otherwise. Dumbledore's voice cut through Habaura's thoughts.

"So, I have decided on something different. The professors here at Hogwarts will give you separate assignments. Over the course of this year, and perhaps the next—if you are still here, of course—you two will have an expedited curriculum."

Habaura thought this over. It made sense. She and Inorahin would have no idea what would be happening in class if they were dropped in abruptly. Turning to her sister, the two exchanged a nod.

Habaura then addressed Dumbledore. "This is acceptable."

Dumbledore smiled. "Good. Now, we have one more thing to address." The elderly man stood up and made his way to the shelf behind him, carefully taking down an incredibly dirty patchwork hat.

"Here at Hogwarts, students are divided up into four houses; Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Hufflepuff."

Habaura watched the hat carefully. The piece of apparel seemed to be shifting slightly, like a person rousing from a deep sleep. Abruptly, the hat seemed to straighten itself, a seam opening up near the brim.

"Hmm? What's this?"

Next to her, Habaura could feel Inorahin jump as the ragged old hat began speaking in a rough voice, the seam moving as a mouth would.

"We have two new students that need to be sorted, if you wouldn't mind."

The hat snorted. "It isn't as if I have anything else to do. Alright, give them here." The brim of the hat curled, as though beckoning the two over. Inorahin and Habaura shared a glance, before Habaura stepped forwards.

Albus placed the hat onto her head, and all she could do was repress a shiver of disgust as the oversized hat covered her eyes, blacking out her vision. As she stood there in silence, a small voice began to murmur quietly into her ear.

"Well now, this is interesting."