The next morning Aubrey was sitting at the Slytherin table with Elle, slowly eating a bowl of cereal when a large group of owls flew in overhead.
"Oh good, the mail is here!" Elle exclaimed, looking up at the tall ceiling.
A folded, white piece of parchment dropped from one owl's beak and floated down from the ceiling, landing gently in front of Aubrey. She recognized the quick and messy handwriting immediately.
"Your dad?" Elle asked as Aubrey tore into the letter.
"Mhm" Aubrey mumbled, quickly scanning over her father's words.
"Is he upset about Charms?" Elle pressed on a few moments later.
"Yeah...I think so" Aubrey replied sadly, setting the letter down. "I told him about Stretton, but I don't think he believes me...he probably thinks I'm just not trying hard enough."
"Awe, I'm sure he doesn't think that, Bree" Elle said, "and it will get better now that you have a tutor."
"Right" Aubrey agreed, still saddened that she had disappointed her father. "He's pleased that I'm in the Slug Club though."
"Well of course he is!" said Elle more cheerfully, "it's just like your mum."
The clock in the great hall chimed nine o'clock and the girls left the long, wooden table and made their way to History of Magic. Aubrey tried to forget about her father's letter and his disapproving tone. She had written him almost every other day since her arrival to Hogwarts and had been keeping him updated on her progress at her new school. Aubrey had always been a good student, and her father's disapproval over her sudden struggling gave her an unpleasant feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Elle asked as the girls entered Professor Binn's classroom.
"Yeah...sorry, I'm fine" Aubrey lied, sitting down at her desk and finally pushing thoughts of her father out of her head.
The rest of the day passed by more quickly than Aubrey had realized, and before she knew it, the girls were again sitting at the Slytehrin table having dinner.
"Stretton seemed a bit better towards you today" Elle said brightly.
"You know, I thought so too" Aubrey replied, remembering how her teacher had seemed to criticize less than normal during today's lecture.
"Hey, Aubrey" a deep voice said and Aubrey noticed Garridan Smith standing over the girls.
"Hi, Anastasia" he continued, "still up for tonight?"
"Oh yes" said Ana, smiling.
"Great, I'll see you tonight in the common room then."
"See you, Garridan" Anna replied, batting her eyelashes.
"What are you meeting him for?" Elle asked once Garridan was out of earshot.
"He's tutoring me in Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"You don't need help in that class" Aubrey chimed in.
"I know!" said Anastasia enthusiastically, "but it's the perfect way to get to know him."
"By playing dumb?" Elle asked, seemingly unconvinced.
"Exactly!" Anastasia exclaimed, "I got my inspiration from Bree" she continued, shooting Aubrey a grateful look.
"It's kind of brilliant, really" Elle finally agreed a few moments later.
"I thought you and Abraxas Malfoy were going together?" an eavesdropping Gabrielle asked from down the table.
"Don't get me started on that!" Ana started, just as the clock chimed seven.
"I better head off to my tutoring session" Aubrey said, standing up.
"Ooh, good luck!" Anastasia said brightly.
"Thanks" Aubrey replied, adjusting her skirt. "Do I look alright?"
"Amazing" Elle reassured her.
"I'm nervous."
"You'll be fine' Elle continued, "just remember how you were yesterday and you'll do great."
"Thanks, I'll see you later then" Aubrey said, before making her journey towards the library to meet Tom Riddle.
"Miss Knight" Tom said, addressing her with a smirk once Aubrey reached the entrance to the library.
Tom was waiting for her, leaning causally against the stone wall with his arms folded against his chest. His green Slytherin tie hung loosely around his unbuttoned collar and his dark, usually perfectly placed hair was slightly tussled. Aubrey couldn't help but admire how handsome he was.
"Mr. Riddle" Aubrey replied, returning his smile as she finally came face to face with the wizard.
Tom opened the door and motioned for Aubrey to step inside the large, dimly lit room. She had visited the library several times before, as it was one of the few places in the castle where she could study or write quietly, without interruption.
"This way" Tom said, "I've saved us a table over here."
Aubrey followed Tom to the back of the library to a little table with two chairs. An assortment of Charms books were piled neatly on the tabletop.
"This is where we'll meet from now on" Tom said coolly.
"And if it's not available?" Aubrey retorted.
"It will be" Tom answered confidently, sitting down in the chair across from her. He leaned back with his hands folded across his chest in front of him, and stared intently at Aubrey.
Aubrey sat down and began in to pull out her Charms books.
"What?" she finally asked when Tom's stares would not relent.
"I'm just wondering how a witch who was bumped to seventh year Transfiguration can be so horrible at Charms?" Tom said, smiling.
"I'm not horrible at Charms" Aubrey replied, sternly.
"Well that's yet to be determined."
"Alright then Tom" Aubrey said calmly, "evaluate me."
Tom sat up straight and pulled the Charms books closer to him. Aubrey spent the next two hours practicing the spells Riddle found for her, including incantations she had learned in previous years, spells covered with Stretton, and new content she had yet to come across.
"You seem to have a clear understanding of the material" Tom said once Aubrey had finally mastered a spell she knew was above that of sixth year curriculum. "Stretton must have it out for you or something."
"Clearly" Aubrey said, placing her wand inside her book bag.
"What are you doing?" Tom asked, sitting up.
"Leaving" Aubrey answered calmly, now reaching for her Charms book across the table.
"You should practice more" Tom said, grabbing the book away from Aubrey's grasp.
"Why? We've been at this for two hours and you said I understand the material."
"I did, but Stretton obviously doesn't think you do, so keep practicing" Tom smiled, sliding back into his seat.
"Give me my book, Tom."
"I'm not ready to let you go, Miss Knight."
"Give it here, now" Aubrey said again.
"No."
Aubrey stood up and stared violently at Tom, scowling. Muttering a spell silently in her head, her Charms book floated gently up from in between Tom's hands and glided over into hers, where she quickly stuffed it into her bag.
"How did you do that without a wand?!" Tom exclaimed, quickly rising to his feet.
"Magic" Aubrey replied coolly before turning down the hallway lined with books and exiting the library.