Tom knew he'd opened the wrong door when he saw Dalton sprawled face-first on one of the beds. He groaned reflexively--he was so tired and overwhelmed that he really just wanted to find his bed and avoid anymore questions or confrontations--and realized too late that the noise had likely alerted the other boy to his presence.

He blurted, "Sorry! I was just looking for my room. I probably should have waited for the prefects to show us, but everybody else is lingering downstairs and I was just so tired of all the noise and talking..." He cut himself off abruptly, remembering the million times before that his father and brother had called him out on his habit of rambling when he was uncomfortable.