"Why are you staring at Tom like that?" Orion asked Abraxas, who was staring at their leader-cum-friend sitting across the table, as if trying to solve some puzzle.

Abraxas looked at Orion, then spoke in low voice "I think he is hiding something from us."

Orion just shook his head, and replied in low voice, "That's nothing new. He hardly shares anything with us."

"That's what I am trying to solve. I think he is hiding someone."

"Huh.." Orion just looked at Abraxas confused. Not understanding what he was trying to say.

"You were with Crabbe that time. You won't know how he looked when he came back in our compartment." Abraxas said looking sideways, to make sure Tom was still engrossed in his conversation with Lestrange.

Then moved his head closer to Orion, and spoke in hushed voice as if telling something about great conspiracy, "His face was flushed, his hair were slightly dishevelled, and he looked really distracted. He kept on looking out of window the entire way."

Orion's mouth opened up in surprise, then he started grinning and asked, "So you think he is hiding a girl?"

At this Abraxas started snickering and nodded, "Yes I think so. But don't tell anyone. Let this be our secret. We'll solve this puzzle together and help Tom secretly if that girl gives him any problem. If he is in love, then I want to be his helping hand."

Orion also started snickering, then said, "But Abraxy, I really want to know who has caught our friend's eye here, as he has always been so ignorant about opposite sex."

"Ori, let's just keep a close eye on Tom for that" Both friends looked at each other, then nodded and looked back at Tom.

Just then door opened, to let new students in.

Tom's eyes immediately sought out for that green eyed brunnette. He found her standing at the back, with four other transfer students. She looked towards their table, as if searching for him. He narrowed his eyes when she looked at him. She raised her eyebrows, then looked back towards Dumbledore who was calling out the names for sorting.

Then he called "Evans, Harry"

She moved forwards, Tom was surprised by her name, wasn't Harry supposed to be a boy's name. Earlier that day, when that boy called her Harry, he thought that it must be her pet name or something. But its her real name. He shook his head thinking, that this witch was truely weird.

Her sorting was taking a bit of time. He thought Hat will definitely put her in Griffindor as she is a loud mouthed fool.

He picked up the Goblet and took the sip of water. Then hat shouted "Hufflepuff"

Tom immediately put a hand on his mouth, to stop himself from spitting water on Abraxas, who was sitting across him.

Oh..this was epic...She was so full of herself when she snatched that book from him; her superior attitude today when she challenged him on the train, then laughed when he slipped; this weirdly named loud mouthed witch got herself sorted into Hufflepuff, and Tom was finding it hard to stop himself from laughing out loud in front of his friends. He kept his hands on his mouth, just in case, and looked towards her.

Harry marched towards Hufflepuff table in anger and took the empty seat next to some pigtailed witch. She could not believe that she got sorted into Hufflepuff. She argued with that hat for so long to sort her into Slytherin.

But as per Hat, if she get sorted into Slytherin, then Tom would roast her alive, however he would take her lightly in Hufflepuff.

She looked towards that dark tosser, and found him looking at her, but he was not glaring at her this time. He had his mouth covered with his hands as if trying to control his laughter. She glared daggers at him, and he covered his entire face with his hands but his shoulders shook in laughter.

She huffed and looked towards Sirius who was getting sorted. After few moments the hat shouted, "Slytherin".

She closed her eyes then shook her head. This was not going as per her plan. She wanted to support him in Slytherin, but now he would be all alone there.

Back at Slytherin table, Abraxas and Orion were observing Tom the entire time. They noticed that the entire time he kept on staring at that new brunette, trying to catch her eyes. Then they saw him actually laugh for the first time, when she looked at him after her sorting. He hid his face but his shoulders shook in happiness. Both looked at each other and agreed that they'd never seen Tom in such a good mood before. If just one look from that witch could do this, how happy their friend must be with her. They gave their silent blessings to the new couple.