The following morning Aubrey was sitting at the Slytherin table in the great hall alone, mulling over the Daily Prophet. She had come down for breakfast early, while her roommates were still getting ready.
"Morning" said Elle when she finally arrived, sliding onto the bench across from Aubrey.
"Have you decided what you're going to do about Dumbledore's class?" Elle asked, helping herself to some cereal.
"I think I'm going to switch" Aubrey said, smiling.
"Congrats" Elle replied, "looking forward to class with Riddle?" she asked.
"Yes" Aubrey admitted, "but I think it's an opportunity my mum would want for me as well."
"Killing two birds with one stone" Elle replied, seemingly impressed, "efficient."
Aubrey laughed, and studied her new schedule. Instead of Divination after the lunch break, she now had Transfiguration, and then a spare block afterwards.
"It's too bad that you're free block is when we will be in Transfiguration" Elle said, as if she were reading Aubrey's thoughts.
"I was just thinking that" Aubrey replied, frowning.
That afternoon Aubrey headed alone to her new Transfiguration class. As she reached the classroom she saw Tom Riddle standing near the doors with the same group of Slytherin boys surrounding him. As Aubrey approached she noticed that their attention shifted to her and one boy with shaggy brown hair began to step forward before Tom outstretched his arm, preventing him from going any further. Aubrey stopped near a group of Ravenclaw girls and was surprised to see Tom make his way towards her.
"Miss Knight" he said, smirking slightly.
"Hello" she managed to stumble, softly.
"So the rumours are true" he said coolly, "a sixth year has been transferred to a seventh year course."
"Indeed it has" a cheerful voice said, coming up beside Tom. "Miss Knight has a true talent for Transfiguration spells, Tom" Dumbledore said.
Tom smiled politely at Dumbledore.
"Please, step inside" Dumbledore said, motioning the class room door open with his wand.
Aubrey took an empty seat near the front of the class with a Hufflepuff girl who didn't introduce herself. She noticed that Tom Riddle and his gang had occupied the section of desks two rows behind her, and again swore that she could feel his eyes on her throughout Dumbledore's lecture. The class was fairly straight forward as they were reviewing a spell the class had learned last time. Aubrey had never performed the incantation before, and spent the last thirty minutes of lecture practicing conjuring flowers with the Hufflepuff girl.
"Excellent job, Mr. Riddle!" Aubrey heard Dumbledore exclaim ten minutes into the practice session.
Tom had already mastered the spell and successfully managed to produce a healthy bouquet of wildflowers. The boys around him beamed as he sat back at his desk, lazily making the flowers disappear and then reappear again. It took Aubrey significantly longer to master the spell, but by the end of the class only she and Tom had managed to perform it successfully. Dumbledore had awarded Slytherin house ten points on account of their success and the class was dismissed.
The next morning came and Aubrey finally felt as though she was beginning to get into a routine at Hogwarts, however her optimism was shaken during the Charms lesson that afternoon. It was much the same as it had been two days ago, as Professor Stretton continued to criticize Aubrey's technique. That night at dinner Aubrey vented her frustrations.
"I don't understand" she started, "I know I didn't do the spell perfectly, but at least I didn't light my wand on fire like that other boy."
"Ha!" laughed Elle, "yeah, that Nelson kid was pretty bad today."
"Have you tried talking to Professor Stretton?" Gabrielle asked, joining the girls at the Slytherin table.
"No" Aubrey responded.
"You should" Gabrielle began, "it might-"
"No she shouldn't!" exclaimed Anastasia, "that will just make him more angry."
"It's the most sensible way to resolve a conflict" Gabrielle began, "and find out what you're doing wrong."
"I'm not doing anything wrong" Aubrey retorted, offended by Gabrielle's tone.
"I agree" Elle said defensively, "it's not like Aubrey was asking for trouble...he just picks on her."
"Well" huffed Gabrielle, "maybe you should report it to Professor Slughorn then. As head of house, he may be able to do something" and she got up and walked away.
That night the three girls visited the deserted corridor in the dungeons again.
"Do you think I am doing something wrong...with Charms?" Aubrey asked, once they had sat down.
"No", Elle replied, "Gabby just doesn't like to admit when teachers are being unfair. It goes against her whole 'school is wonderful' ideal."
Aubrey laughed.
"You didn't give him attitude or anything" Anastasia reassured her, "you were just practicing the spells he gave us and he got upset."
"Yeah" Aubrey sighed, "I just don't know how I'm supposed to please him."
"Try not to worry about it" Elle said, "Gabby's right, if Stretton does keeps acting like this you can talk to Slughorn...give it another week and see how it goes."
"I suppose I'll have to" Aubrey sighed, causing a pause in the conversation.
"So" Elle started, sounding more cheerful, "I talked to Brishen today" she said, excitedly.
The girls spent the next hour gossiping in the dungeons, listening to Elle's story of how she met Brishen during break and they agreed to get together sometime. It was just after midnight when they decided to head back to the common room.
"Is Gabby patrolling tonight?" Anastasia asked as they walked the dungeon corridors.
"I'm not sure" Elle replied, "were almost back though, so we should be fine."
The girls had just rounded the final corner leading to Slytherin house when they heard footsteps coming toward them.
"Shit!" Elle whispered, "what do we do?"
But before anyone could answer a tall figure was standing in front of them.
"Tsk, tsk" a voice said coolly, "you do know it is after curfew, right ladies?"
"Just heading back now, Riddle" Anastasia said, grabbing Elle and Aubrey's arms, trying to direct them around Tom.
"And keeping a new student out so late" he continued, blocking their path. "That's not a good way for senior students to start off the school year."
"We don't need your advice, Tom" Elle said, trying again to sneak past him.
"You really should be associating with more responsible students, Miss Knight" Tom said, taking a step closer to Aubrey.
"I think I'm fine, thanks" Aubrey retorted, causing Elle and Anastasia to giggle.
Tom remained silent and stepped aside to the let the girls pass.
"Detention should fix that attitude" he said coolly before turning away, walking in the opposite direction.
The girls reached their dormitory and got ready for bed while Anastasia did her impersonations of Tom.
"You really should be associating with more responsible students, Miss Knight" she said, in an exaggerated deep voice, causing the girls to laugh and wake Celinda and Gabrielle.
"I can't believe he called us irresponsible!" Elle said in a whisper, trying not to anger Gabrielle any further.
"I know!" Anastasia agreed, "do you think he'll actually give us a detention?"
"Definitely not" Elle said confidently.
"No?" Aubrey questioned, unconvinced.
"He wouldn't dare" Elle said, as the girls made their way to their beds and turned off the light.
The next morning when Potions class had ended, Professor Slughorn asked Aubrey to stay behind. After the rest of the class, other than Elle and Anastasia who were purposefully dawdling, had left Slughorn approached Aubrey.
"As you know Miss Knight" he began, "you were caught out of bed late last night."
Aubrey saw Elle and Anastasia's mouths drop open out of the corner of her eye.
"As breaking curfew is against Hogwarts rule, a punishment must be served" Slughorn said, "Mr. Riddle was kind enough to alert me to your misbehaviour early this morning, so I was able to set some time aside for this Saturday evening."
"I have detention?" Aubrey asked, in disbelief.
"That is correct" Slughorn replied, "you may come by at seven, this Saturday night."
"Thank you, sir." Aubrey said dismally, exiting the room.
"I can't believe he actually reported us to Slughorn!" Anastasia exclaimed as they exited the class.
"Not us, just me" Aubrey said, correcting her.
"I'm sorry hun" Elle said sympathetically.
"Don't be" said Aubrey honestly, "I'm glad you two don't have to suffer too...and besides, I think I'm the one who really pissed him off."
"I think he likes you" said Elle, smiling. "This is just his demented little way of showing it."
The following evening Aubrey made her way to Slughorn's classroom to serve her detention. The hour went by faster than she had initially expected, as Slughorn had kept her busy reorganizing bottles of ingredients and asking her questions about her schooling at Laurier.
"Your mother was a student of mine, you know" he said to her later, as she placed rows of bottles neatly on a shelf.
"I thought she might have been, sir" Aubrey responded.
"Dumbledore tells me that you have her gift for Transfiguration" Slughorn replied, "and that you've been transferred to his seventh year course."
Aubrey participated half heartedly in Slughorn's conversation, as he continued to tell her stories of her mother, and how she was a member of his prestigious "Slug Club", which Aubrey now had an invitation to join. When the hour was up Aubrey left Slughorn and made her way back towards the Slytherin common room. She was rounding a dark corner when she saw his tall figure walking towards her, a feeling of anger crept up inside her.
"Out late yet again, Miss Knight?" Tom asked, smirking as he approached her.
Aubrey glared at him continued to walk, not saying a word.
"It's rude to ignore people" Tom snapped, grabbing her arm as she passed causing her to stop. "Especially figures of authority."
"You have no authority" she replied coolly, pulling her arm away from his grasp.
"Oh, the ignorance of a new student" he said, now smiling "don't you remember, Aubrey? I'm Head Boy-"
"With a shiny, little badge" Aubrey interrupted, "that's all you really have...isn't it, Riddle?" she continued, staring into his dark eyes.
It took Aubrey all her concentration not to get lost in Tom's stare. Although she loathed Riddle for giving her a detention, and living up to the reputation Elle and Anastasia had warmed her about, she still couldn't deny her feelings of attraction for him.
"Such an attitude" Tom snickered, now turning to face her head on. "Why so feisty, Miss Knight?"
"Why did you report me to Slughorn?" Aubrey asked boldly, almost shouting at Tom.
"Because you were out of bed after curfew" Tom responded, calmly.
"So were the others!"
"Would you have preferred it if I had given your friends a detention too?" he asked coyly.
"No" Aubrey replied sternly, embarrassed that she let herself fall into his trap.
"Curfew is set for a reason, Miss Knight" Tom said seriously, stepping closer towards Aubrey as she started stepping backwards, attempting to keep a distance between them.
"It's dangerous for pretty, young witches to be wandering the castle at night" Tom said smoothly, as Aubrey's back suddenly hit a wall.
"You never know what dangers could be lurking in the corridors" he said, resting his arm against the wall and eliminating the distance between himself and Aubrey. "Rule breakers must be punished."
"You're sadistic" Aubrey said, maintaining eye contact.
Riddle laughed.
"Perhaps" he replied, "but he invited to you to join the Slug Club, did he not?"
Aubrey shot Tom a puzzled look, confused as to how he knew about her invitation that was extended only minutes prior.
"Slughorn likes to bring together students who he feels are the best of the best" Riddle said, "I knew he wouldn't be able to resist adding you to his little...collection, shall we call it?"
"Why do you care?" Aubrey asked.
"Do you really think that Slughorn would have a club without me?" Riddle asked seriously.
"I know I would" Aubrey retorted.
"So clever" Riddle replied sarcastically, and his face suddenly went cold. "I look forward to seeing more of that wit at Slughorn's meetings."
"That's why you gave me detention?"
"To spend more time with you... and you with I" Tom replied, coolly.
"Well, I don't want to spend time with you, Riddle" Aubrey tried to lie. She began to inch her way sideways along the wall, trying to gain distance from him.
"You're lying" he replied confidently, and Aubrey bolted into a brisk walk towards the common room, leaving Tom Riddle alone in the dark corridor.
