History of Magic ended and the girls made their way to the dungeons for potions class.
"So was I right about Binns?" Elle asked Aubrey, smirking.
"Unfortunately" Aubrey replied.
"Professor Slughorn, for potions, is a lot better" said Celinda over her shoulder, walking ahead with Gabrielle.
The group of five were about to head down a staircase leading to the main level when a small girl with a red and gold tie bumped into Anastasia.
"Watch it, Harrow" she said rudely, while a bunch of other students wearing the same red and gold tie around her burst into laughter.
"Awe, cheer up Edgecombe , I'm sure your father will get a promotion one day" Anastasia retorted, and the Gryffindor girl stalked away.
"That's Lydia Edgecombe, her and Ana's father work together at the Ministry of Magic" Elle said, noticing Aubrey's confusion over the confrontation.
"My father was just promoted to a job that Edgecombe wanted" confirmed Anastasia, "and apparently Lydia is bitter about it."
"She is such a Gryffindor" continued Anastasia.
"What do you mean?" Aubrey asked.
"You see Aubrey" Elle said, linking arms with her and lowering her voice. "Each house has its little...ticks about it, little things that really define certain members."
Aubrey gave her a puzzled look.
"Take Slytherin, for example" she continued, "we're cunning, ambitious...and probably, if I do say so myself, the most interesting house"
"Kind of mysterious like" added Anastasia seriously.
"Right" continued Elle, smirking as though she was aware of her own prejudiced opinion on the different houses. Aubrey smiled back and continued to walk between Elle and Anastasia.
"But seriously" Elle now had a more serious tone, "the Hufflepuffs...well they claim to be all loyal and hardworking" she paused, "and they are sweet, but also pretty soft."
"The Ravenclaws are super smart" chimed in Anastasia again.
"That's right" agreed Elle, "and then there's the Gryffindors...the brave and noble Gryffindors" she finished with a tone, and Anastasia snickered.
"What's wrong with them?" Aubrey asked.
"They're just a little high on themselves...even more than Slytherins!" Elle said defensively, "and Slytherin and Gryffindor have always been enemies."
"There's a lot of competition" Anastasia added further.
The girls headed down a corridor leading further into the dungeons and Aubrey smiled. Though she knew Elle's account of the different houses was certainly biased, she couldn't help but be pleased that she was in the "interesting" and "mysterious" house. She had a sudden urge to live up to this expectation, the same way she believed her mother had.
"I'll meet you guys down at lunch" Anastasia said as she broke away from Aubrey and headed toward to the direction of the common room.
"She's not taking potions?" Aubrey asked, once Anastasia was out of earshot.
"No" replied Elle. "She won't admit it, but I'm pretty sure she didn't pass her O.W.L."
The girls followed Celinda and Gabrielle into the dungeon room to begin their potions lesson.
"You did amazing!" Aubrey exclaimed to Elle once class was over and they began their way to the great hall for lunch. "Your ageing potion was perfect!"
"Thanks" said Elle, beaming. "I've always had a thing for potions...did you enjoy the class?" she asked.
"Honestly...not really" answered Aubrey, and Elle laughed. "I've never really enjoyed potions... but somehow I've always managed to pass."
"Cheating?" asked Elle sarcastically.
"I may start having to if you keep showing off like that" retorted Aubrey, smiling.
"Aubrey!" a voice called, interrupting the girl's laughter. "How did you like Slughorn?" Celinda asked, suddenly catching up to them, with Gabrielle in tow.
"He was certainly a lot better than Professor Binns, that's for sure" Aubrey replied.
"Yeah...um, can I speak to you for a second?" Celinda asked, just as they approached the doors to the dining hall.
"Sure" Aubrey replied, and Elle and Gabrielle continued into the hall.
"I just wanted to say" she started, "that I'm sorry for answering for you last night."
Aubrey stared at Celinda blankly, trying to recall what she was talking about.
"Last night" Celinda pressed on, "when Anastasia asked if you were a pureblood...I just sort of jumped in."
"Oh! That's alright Celinda!" exclaimed Aubrey, who had already forgotten about the event, "it's not a problem."
"Okay" said Celinda quietly, "it's just that Anastasia's really into this blood purity thing."
Aubrey nodded.
"And Gabby...well she's seeing this muggle born boy from Ravenclaw, and Anastasia just won't let up about it."
Aubrey frowned, suddenly feeling a tinge of sympathy for the red haired Prefect.
"She's my best friend" continued Celinda, "and I know how much it bothers her...I just didn't want Anastasia to have someone new to question too."
Aubrey smiled, touched that the witch she had thought was so thick also had a heart of gold.
"That's really sweet of you Celinda" Aubrey said, "and I appreciate it, so don't worry about it."
Celinda nodded and the two made their way into the great hall, taking a seat near the end of the Slytherin table. Aubrey noticed Tom Riddle right away, he was near the middle of the long table surrounded by a small group of other Slytherin boys, one of which Aubrey recognized as Abraxas Malfoy, the Prefect she met on her first night.
"What are you staring at Aubrey?" Anastasia asked, looking up from her pudding.
"Nothing" Aubrey answered quickly.
"Liar" Elle said, rising from her own seat to glance down the table.
"Hey Aubrey" a cool voice came from behind her, "how are you managing?" it continued.
Aubrey turned around to see Garridan Smith standing behind her, smiling brightly.
"Oh, hi Garridan" she said, "It's alright, how are you doing?"
"Pretty good so far," he replied, "Hogwarts sure is different from my school though."
"Mine too" Aubrey smiled sympathetically.
"Smith!" a loud voice from across the hall echoed. One of the boys that surrounded Tom Riddle was motioning him to come join him.
"People do seem to be friendly here though" Garridan said, smiling. "But, I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah, see you" Aubrey replied.
"We are friendly here, aren't we" smiled Elle, her eyes looking up innocently, revelling in Garridan's compliment.
"Friend of yours?" Anastasia interjected.
"Um...kind of, I suppose" Aubrey answered truthfully. "His name's Garridan Smith, he's an exchange student here-"
"Is he a pureblood?" asked Anastasia, interrupting.
"I'm not sure" Aubrey replied.
"Hmm" mumbled Anastasia as she got up from their end of the table and headed towards the group of boys Garridan had just joined.
"How are you liking Hogwarts so far, Aubrey?" Gabrielle asked from across the table, just as Aubrey began to eat.
When lunch was over Aubrey agreed to meet Celinda at the grand staircase to head to Divination after the break. For the next hour, Aubrey joined Elle outside where they sat on a grassy hill overlooking the Black Lake.
"So" started Elle as they sat down, "how are you like Hogwarts?" she asked, teasingly.
"Ugh" sighed Aubrey, "I know it's a nice gesture, but if one more person asks me that..." and her voice began to trail off in frustration, leaving Elle laughing. During their break, Aubrey told Elle more about her home and Laurier Academy, why she enrolled in the exchange program, and how her mother was once in Slytherin as well.
"What!?" Elle had exclaimed when Aubrey revealed her mum's past. "You never told me your mother went to Hogwarts...and was a Slytherin!"
"I guess it just never came up" replied Aubrey.
"Well" Elle continued, "that's excellent then...my parents were in Slytherin too, so it looks like we have both got reasons to represent the house and make them proud, hey?"
Aubrey agreed and girls continued their conversation, with Elle telling Aubrey more about herself, her family and her years at Hogwarts. The hour passed more quickly than Aubrey realized, and the girls were soon walking back up to the castle.
"So I'll see you in Transfiguration then" said Elle.
"Right, with Professor Dumbledore" replied Aubrey.
"Yeah..." said Elle, shooting her a confused and puzzled look.
"He knew my mother" said Aubrey, answering Elle's unasked question. "He um..." she paused for a moment, "he came to her funeral...so that's how I know him."
"Aww, Bree" Elle said, putting her arm around Aubrey. "I'm sorry...but you know she'd be pleased that you're here now though."
"I hope so" replied Aubrey, smiling.
"You don't mind if I call you 'Bree', do you?" Elle asked, changing subjects.
"Not at all! It's my nickname back home" Aubrey responded as they reached the great wooden doors, leading back into the castle.
"Hey," Elle said, just as they stepped into the entrance hall, "do you want to hang out with Ana and I tonight? We usually get together and gossip...you know, girl stuff."
"Yeah" Aubrey said enthusiastically. "That sounds like fun" she finished before heading over to the staircase to meet Celinda for class.
Despite having a less than reputable reputation among most witches and wizards, Aubrey did not really mind Divination. She even enjoyed making predictions, although usually unreliable ones, from the tealeaves. It was for this reason that Aubrey was surprised that none of her roommates, other than Celinda, were taking the course. The girls entered a tiny room at the top of the Divination tower, and took a seat at a small wooden table near the front of the class.
"Not many people take this class" Celinda said, motioning to the virtually empty classroom.
"Clearly" Aubrey replied, realizing that Celinda was the only person she recognized in the room.
An hour later Aubrey and Celinda left Divination and headed to the final class of the day, and the one that Aubrey was looking forward to most; Transfiguration. The girls entered the new class room and Aubrey joined a row of desks with Anastasia and Elle while Celinda sat in front of them, next to Gabrielle. They had only just gotten settled when Dumbledore entered the room.
"Good afternoon class" he said, his half moon spectacles sliding down his long, thin nose. "Welcome to sixth year Tranfiguration!"
He then debriefed the class on what material would be covered this year before finally informing them about today's lecture.
"Today" he said cheerfully, his blue eyes twinkling, "we will be practicing the Aguamenti spell, or the conjuring of water."
"Now" Dumbledore started, "while conjuration is indeed a branch of Transfiguration...Aguamenti is also a spell that you will encounter in Charms, for those of you who are taking it, of course." There was a moment of silence before he continued, "and for those of you that are taking Charms, you may express your eternal gratitude for duplicate course material at any time."
The class laughed and the Professor pulled out his wand to demonstrate the incantation.
"Though difficult, it is a straightforward spell" he said, pointing his wand at an empty bowl in front of him. "Aguamenti" he said clearly and the little bowl filled with water.
"Now you give it a try" Dumbledore said as bowls magically appeared in front of each student.
The three girls began practicing the spell as Dumbledore walked up and down the rows of desks, his colourful robes billowing behind him. Aubrey watched both Elle and Anastasia try the conjuring spell, each producing a few drops of water into their bowls, before performing the charm herself. She pointed her wand at her small bowl, said the incantation clearly and watched as her bowl filled itself to the brim with water. Elle and Anastasia's mouths fell open.
"How did you do that so fast!?" shrieked Anastasia.
"I learned this spell last year" admitted Aubrey, "so I've had a bit of time to practice."
"Okay, so what am I doing wrong?" asked Elle, after a few more failed attempts at producing water.
"I think you're flailing your wand to much...it's more of a short little tap" Aubrey said while demonstrating, filling Elle's bowl.
"Success already Miss Lacroix?" asked Professor Dumbledore excitedly, suddenly appearing at their row of desks.
"No" said Elle bashfully, "Aubrey did though!"
"Really?" Dumbledore asked, waving his wand to empty Aubrey's bowl of water, "would you mind demonstrating, Miss Knight?"
Aubrey preformed the spell again and her bowl refilled itself with water.
"Well done Aubrey!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "ten points for Slytherin!"
The rest of Transfiguration was spent practicing the charm, and by the end of the hour a few students had managed to successfully fill their bowls, including Elle and Anastasia. The girls exited the classroom and made their way to the great hall for dinner.
"I didn't know you were such a star at Transfiguration!" Anastasia exclaimed as they walked the corridors.
"I just got lucky today is all" Aubrey insisted.
"Whatever Bree, you were excellent...and I think you really impressed Dumbledore" Elle said, causing Aubrey to smile.
"Still up to hang out tonight?" Elle asked as they entered the hall and took their seats near the end of the Slytherin table.
"Definitely" Aubrey replied as dishes magically appeared on the table and the girls began to eat.
