It was August 1st, 1944 and dull, grey sky hung over Wool's Orphanage just outside of London. Despite the weather, the barren yard surrounding the building was filled with the laughter and running footsteps of the children who resided there. One resident, a tall, dark haired and pale boy, had just returned to the orphanage, slammed through the heavy iron gates that surrounded the grounds, causing a loud and frightening bang. The boy walked fiercely along the stone covered path towards the front door as the other children scrambled to get out of his way, leaving abandoned toys in his path.

"Oh Tom!" a woman called as he entered the building, "I have something for you" and she hurried over towards him, dragging a small child by the arm in one hand, and a crisp envelope in the other.

"This just came for you this morning", she said, thrusting the letter towards him.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cole" Tom replied curtly, snatching the envelope and proceeding up the steep flight of stairs that lay before him.

Within the privacy of his own room, Tom examined his letter, admiring the gold seal before he tore into it. His face remained emotionless as he read the contents:

Dear Mr. Riddle,

It is with great pleasure with which we inform you that you have been accepted into the Intercontinental Schools of Magic Exchange Program!

This recently reinstated program is designed to not only allow young witches and wizards the opportunity to develop and master new magical skill, but to also foster intercontinental relationships and connections between sorcerers across the magical community.

Please send a prompt response by owl regarding your acceptance into the program, and the country in which you wish to pursue your studies (a full description of participating schools can be located on the following page).

Again, we wish you a heartfelt congratulations on your acceptance into the program, and wish you the best of luck in your new adventure!

Sincerly,

Soloma Spoonermore

Admissions Secretary for the Intercontinental Schools of Magic Exchange Program

Tom snickered to himself as he neatly folded the letter and placed it back into its envelope. Although he was pleased, though not surprised, that he was selected for the program he knew that he would not be participating in it. Besides having little interest in transferring schools and developing "intercontinental relationships" with others, he really had only submitted his name for consideration to please Headmaster Dippet, who was constantly reminding him to seize every available educational opportunity. Pulling out a fresh piece of parchment to begin his reply, Tom knew that he could not afford to be away from Hogwarts during his seventh and final year at the school. This was especially true after his successes during his last two years, with the discovery of his notorious ancestor, the opening of the Chamber of Secrets, and the death of that mudblood girl, Myrtle. Tom was confident that this year, perhaps more than ever before, he needed to be at Hogwarts. While he doubted that there were many more secrets to be discovered in the walls of the ancient school, he knew that this year would be dedicated primarily to securing more loyal followers for his plans after graduation.

Across the world, the same letter that Tom riddle had just received had now reached the residence of another young sorcerer. Aubrey Knight stared at the letter she clutched in her hands, a feeling of dread pouring down on her as she began to crack the golden seal. While she thought the exchange was certainly interesting, she was hesitant about the possibility of transferring to a new school so far away. Over the past five years she had grown fond of her small school, the Laurier Academy of Sorcery, which was situated on the eastern coast of Canada. She had grown comfortable there, making a close group of friends, charming professors and the close proximity it was to home. She often imagined what spending her entire sixth year of schooling would be like across the Atlantic Ocean, in a different school, with new people and in a seemingly entirely different world.

"Bree?" a deep voice called from across the large room. "What are you doing?" it continued.

"Just reading a letter Dad" Aubrey hesitated for a moment, "I've been accepted into the exchange program." She gave him a weak smile as his eyes lit up and he walked towards her, arms outstretched.

"Oh, Bree...that's wonderful news!" her father gasped, pulling her into a tight embrace. "You'll be going to Hogwarts then?" he asked, seconds later.

"Possibly" she began, "I need to send a reply stating my school of choice, and then I suppose I'll have to wait and see."

"Oh, they'll be delighted to have you, I'm sure" her father beamed, releasing his daughter from his grasp. "After all, you are your mother's daughter" he said brightly, with a wink.

Aubrey's mother had been a student at Hogwarts, and from what she understood, a fairly good one. She had been a school Prefect and even made Head Girl during her final year. Aubrey's parents had met through the same exchange program that she herself had just been accepted to, when her mother transferred from Hogwarts to Laurier Academy for her sixth year. Ever since the program had been reinstated one year ago, Aubrey's father had been urging her to apply. As the program was only open to sixth and seventh years, this was Aubrey's first opportunity to study at her mother's former school.

"Your mother would be so pleased for you" her father said, interrupting her thoughts. "I'm sure it would be a year for you that would make her most proud" he continued, smiling brightly.

Aubrey smiled slightly, remembering her deceased mother. She had passed away when Aubrey was only ten, just a short year before she began her schooling at Laurier. Aubrey could remember the stories her mother would tell her when she was a little girl, of how she and her father met. It was a whirlwind romance, Aubrey gathered, a true story of love at first sight. After a year together during her mother's exchange, the young lovers were forced to spend their final year of schooling an ocean apart. As soon as instruction was over however, and Aubrey's mum turned seventeen, she moved overseas to join Aubrey's father. Despite the distance and great time apart, her parents were more in love than ever, quickly marrying and beginning a new life together. Ever since she was little, Aubrey could remember her mother, a true romantic, priming her for her own future love story.

"You must take risks in life my darling" she would say to Aubrey, "take them no matter how unfamiliar they may seem, take them to explore a place different from your own...for you never know who you just might find there, and what great things will come with them."

It had been a difficult six years since her passing, and Aubrey and her father struggled to rebuild a life without her mother. Aubrey thought to herself, turning away from the anxious eyes of her father. Maybe this was an opportunity she needed to seize whole heartedly, if not only for the benefits of the program itself, but also as a means of fulfilling her mother's wish.

"Will you be going, Aubrey?" he father pressed, lines of concern gracing his forehead.

The young girl thought for a moment, sighing heavily. "I think I will" she finally answered, summoning a fresh piece of parchment to begin writing her reply.