"Ready to go?" Anastasia asked once dinner was over.
"Sure" Elle replied, "we usually hang out at this little spot in the basement of the castle" Elle explained. "It's really pretty when the moonlight comes in through the windows."
Aubrey followed the two girls down deep into the dungeons before coming to a deserted corridor with tall windows, letting the moon's light cascade in.
"So Ana" Elle said, as they sat down on the cold stone, "what's the deal with you and Malfoy?"
"I don't know" Anastasia sighed, frustrated. "He didn't write me all summer...not one letter!"
"I thought you guys were fine on the train ride here?" Elle asked, confused.
"Me too!" she answered, "but ever since we got off the train he hasn't even looked at me."
"Strange" Elle said.
"I don't know" replied Anastasia, "I saw him talking to that blonde girl from Beauxbatons."
"I'm sure it's nothing" Elle reassured her.
"Do you mean Malfoy the Prefect?" Aubrey asked when there was finally a break in the conversation.
"Yeah" answered Anastasia, looking at Aubrey suspiciously, "do you know him?"
"No" Aubrey answered truthfully, "I've only met him once, during the first night. He just said told Garridan and I he was a Slytherin Prefect" she lied, not wanting to upset Anastasia.
"He is pretty proud of that" said Anastasia, backing off from Aubrey.
"Well don't worry about it Ana" Elle said, changing the subject, "see any other guys you like?"
"A few" said Anastasia, perking up. "You know...that Garridan boy seems kind of nice."
"The exchange student?" Elle asked. "Are you going to give him a warm welcome to a new country, Ana?" Elle joked.
"Well he is a pureblood" Anastasia replied, now shooting her focus towards Aubrey.
"Do you like him, Bree?" she asked, anxiously awaiting her answer.
"No!" Aubrey replied, "not at all."
"It just seems like you guys are friends are something" she continued, "so if you like him, I'll back off."
"No Ana, he's all yours...I only know him through the exchange program is all."
"Great then!" Ana said, smiling.
The girls continued to talk and Aubrey learned that Elle had been seeing a boy named Marcus Avery all last year, though they had ended their relationship before the summer. Elle admitted that Avery had tried to reconcile with her during the train ride back to school, but she hadn't agreed to go back out with him because she was interested in someone else.
"Brishen Black is good looking" Anastasia agreed, once Elle finally revealed who she was interested in.
"Yeah...I just got to figure out how to get him on his own sometime" Elle said, frowning.
"So Aubrey" Anastasia said, "see any boys at Hogwarts that you like?"
"I don't know" lied Aubrey, immediately thinking about Tom Riddle. "It's kind of soon for me to meet people-"
"Oh whatever!" Elle exclaimed, moving closer to Aubrey. "Who do you fancy?"
"Or just think is attractive...maybe" chimed in Anastasia, who also moved in closer.
After a few minutes of their prying, Aubrey finally admitted that she fancied Tom Riddle after her brief encounter with him her first night at Hogwarts.
"Riddle!" Elle shrieked, "You spoke to him?"
"Yeah" said Aubrey, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"Like, actually had a conversation? He asked you questions?"
"Just my name really" said Aubrey, now feeling deflated.
"Wow!" Elle exclaimed, "he hardly speaks to anyone...especially girls."
"That can't be true" Aubrey argued, remembering the argument she had with Celinda yesterday.
"No, it is' Elle reassured her, "Riddle is...different."
"How do you mean?" Aubrey asked, "he seems nice enough."
"Yeah" said Elle, "I mean, obviously he's handsome-"
"But he's such a goody two shoes" interrupted Anastasia, "all the teachers love him, especially now that he's Head Boy."
"Yeah" agreed Elle, "not to mention his award for special services to the school two years ago."
"His what?" Aubrey questioned, as the girls began to explain how two years prior, the Chamber of Secrets was opened, how a student was killed, and how Tom had caught the culprit and was given a special award for his services.
"Isn't it a good thing Tom caught them then?" Aubrey asked, now more intrigued with the handsome wizard.
"Oh, definitely" Elle agreed, "but still, there's just something about Tom."
"He's an orphan" Anastasia added, as though that's what Elle was talking about.
"It's not that" Elle exclaimed, "it's just that he's smart...good looking...has that group of friends who worship him...but he's such a jerk sometimes."
"He's never gives anyone else any attention" Anastasia added, "and he never goes to any school functions, he just studies and performs his Head Boy duties all the time...it's weird."
"I think Anastasia's bitter about Tom because he wouldn't go with her to the ball in fourth year" Elle said, smirking.
"He wouldn't go with you either!" Anastasia retorted, and Elle blushed slightly.
"He's too pure for a Slytherin." Elle said, trying hard not to let her face go any redder.
"Especially for a Slytherin!" Anastasia agreed, "he'd definitely be a lot hotter if he didn't play by the rules so much."
"Well maybe he likes Aubrey" Elle said, grinning. "Maybe you'll be the one to make him break some rules."
Aubrey smiled and lowered her face from the dim candlelight to hide the fact that she was now blushing.
"Is Celinda seeing anyone?" she asked, trying to divert attention from her reddening face.
"Well she had been dating a boy from Slytherin for years" Elle began to explain, "but they broke up last term."
"I heard that she's now dating this boy from Hufflepuff" Anastasia said with a tone, "apparently a friend of Gabby's boyfriend."
"Gabby's dating a guy from Ravenclaw" said Elle, "and it really bothers Ana."
"I just think she can do better is all!" said Anastasia defensively, "and so can Celinda."
"As long as they're happy, I guess" said Elle who was now examining her fingernails.
"You know, Celinda was really good in Divination" Aubrey said, trying to avoid one of Anastasia's rants on the role of blood purity in relationships Celinda had warned her about.
"I know!" exclaimed Elle, "it suits her."
Aubrey laughed, divination did suit Celinda somehow.
"Wow, its midnight already" Anastasia said, looking down at her watch, "we better get back, it's way after curfew."
"Good idea" said Elle, standing up. "Isn't Gabby on patrol tonight? We shouldn't get in trouble if we're caught."
"True" replied Anastasia, and the three girls headed back towards their dungeon common room.
By the end of the next day, Aubrey had attended all of her classes at Hogwarts. Overall, she had decided that she liked her teachers and would enjoy her classes, apart from one exception; Charms with Professor Stretton. The first class was spent reviewing last year's spells and despite Aubrey's success with the charms, Professor Stretton criticized her. Although Stretton admitted that Aubrey was able to achieve the ultimate outcome with her spell, he insisted that her technique and pronunciation were incorrect. He also said that, during her years at Laurier, she had most likely learned Charm theory incorrectly, which would be a hindrance for her in the future.
"I can't believe he said that to you!" Elle exclaimed as the girls left class and headed towards the great hall for dinner.
"I know!" said Aubrey. "Was I really doing that badly?"
"No, you were doing better than me" Anastasia said.
"I just don't understand how after all these years my theory and technique can be that wrong" Aubrey said, sadly.
"I'm sure he was just having a bad day, Bree" Elle said, "and it was easier to take it out on you because you're-"
"New" Aubrey sighed, and Elle grimaced at her.
"Come on, I'm sure Thursday's class will be better" Elle said, hugging Aubrey and leading her to the Slytherin table.
After dinner, the girls were lounging in the common room, chatting, when Gabrielle approached Aubrey and handed her a letter.
"This is for you" she said, smiling.
"Thanks" Aubrey said, sitting up to read her mail. She unfolded the parchment and read the contents:
Dear Miss Knight,
I was most impressed with your performance in class yesterday, and feel that you may not benefit from attending sixth year Transfiguration any longer.
My suspicions were confirmed when I wrote to your Transfiguration professor at Laurier Academy, who informed me that you have already learned many of the spells covered in my sixth year course.
Therefore, I am extending an invitation for you to join my seventh year class, where I believe you will be more challenged with the course material.
The course takes place on rotation day one, during the period after the lunch break. I realize you may already have a course planned at this time, so please feel no obligation to change your current schedule.
Kind regards,
Professor Dumbledore
P.S. I'm sure you are already aware, but you have your mother's talent for Transfiguration.
"So?" Anastasia asked once Aubrey was finished reading her letter.
"It's a letter from Dumbledore" Aubrey started, "he wants me to switch into his seventh year course."
"Well that's not a surprise" said Elle, looking up from a book, "you were amazing the other day."
Aubrey smiled.
"I would have to drop Divination though" Aubrey said.
"What a shame," Elle said sarcastically. "You'd still be taking six courses though, so I don't think your transcript will really be affected."
"True" Aubrey agreed, "he said I was like in my mum in Transfiguration."
"Was she good at it as well?" Anastasia asked.
"I guess so" Aubrey lied, knowing her mum had excelled in the subject.
"Well then you should definitely switch" said Elle, now sitting up. "Not that I want to see you go but...you would have class with Tom Riddle" she smiled mischievously.
Aubrey smiled and looked back down at her letter, reading Dumbledore's words over again.
