"I can't believe him!" Elle shrieked once Aubrey had returned to the common room, and told her roommates about the encounter with Tom Riddle, "that's so unlike him."

"It's like he was waiting for you!" Anastasia added.

"He definitely likes you" Elle said confidently.

"Oh, for sure!" Anastasia agreed, "he even said he wanted to spend more time with you."

"I don't know though" said Aubrey sceptically, "the way he was acting...was strange. He wasn't acting like he wanted to get to know me" she admitted truthfully, instead feeling like he only wanted to exert control over her.

"Then why would he want you in the Slug Club?" Elle asked defiantly.

"I don't know" Aubrey admitted, "but if he likes me then why doesn't he just ask to hang out, rather than devise a plan that involves me in detention?"

"Because just asking you to hang out would be boring" answered Elle, "and that's clearly not his style."

"Well I don't like him" Aubrey said sternly, receiving unconvinced looks from Elle and Anastasia. "I don't!" she insisted, "you two were right about him...he's a jerk."

"Yeah," Anastasia agreed, "but at least he's a good looking jerk."

The girls spent the next morning in their quiet dormitory room, trying to catch up on missed readings and the weekend's homework for tomorrow.

"This is so boring!" Anastasia exclaimed, putting her Defence Against the Dark Arts text down. "I'm hungry...is it lunch time yet?"

"Yeah, it is" Aubrey said, looking at the little clock beside her bed.

"Thank Merlin" Elle said cheerfully, getting up off of her bed.

"I'm going to go ask Gabby and Celinda if they want to come with, okay?" Anastasia said, "I think they're in the common room...so I'll meet you there in a few?"

"Sure" Elle responded, "I'm just going to freshen up...in case Brishen is there."

Elle touched up her makeup and was just finishing her hair when she asked Aubrey if she was ready to go.

"Can you get the door, Bree?" Elle asked, hands still on her head, pinning up loose pieces of hair.

"Sure" she replied, still by her bed straightening out her books and pieces of parchment.

Aubrey waved her hand towards the door, whispered "Alohomora," and the door swung gently open.

Elle's hands fell out of her hair.

"How did you do that?" she asked Aubrey, her eyes wide.

"Alohomora" Aubrey answered, wondering how Elle could forget about the elementary spell.

"I know the spell!" Elle snapped, "but did you seriously just do that without a wand?" she asked, motioning to Aubrey's wand that was resting on the bed beside her, out of reach.

"Yeah..." Aubrey answered, "it's not that special-"

"Are you serious!?" Elle exclaimed, now moving closer to Aubrey. "You can do wandless magic!?"

"Just for simple spells" Aubrey answered. "Why? Can't you?"

"No!" Elle shrieked, "I've only ever heard about it."

"They don't teach you it here?" Aubrey asked, surprised.

"Obviously not!" Elle said sarcastically, "did you learn it at Laurier?"

"Yeah" Aubrey started to explain, "in Defence Against the Dark Arts, our professor said that it's a useful skill to have...just in case something happens."

"Wow!" Elle said, still looking at Aubrey in amazement. "I can't believe you can do wandless magic!"

"Only with simple spells" Aubrey reminded her, "and I can't believe they don't teach it at Hogwarts."

"I don't know that they ever have" Elle said. "I've heard it's because Dippet is afraid that it will be misused, like for dark magic" she continued, "but those are only rumours."

"It makes sense" Aubrey agreed, "I suppose if a wizard was really skilled at it, they could be quite dangerous."

"Do you have any other surprises?" Elle asked, looking at Aubrey suspiciously.

"Pardon?" Aubrey asked, puzzled.

"Well first we find out that your mother was a Slytherin and you know Dumbledore, then that you're amazing at Transfiguration and finally, that you're the only girl Tom Riddle bothers to pay any attention to."

"That's not true" Aubrey interjected, "and you forgot that I'm also horrible at Charms."

"Oh, right" Elle replied, smiling. "That wasn't really a surprise though" she said, winking.

"Neither was your failure to join me in seventh year Transfiguration" Aubrey retorted teasingly.


The roommates spent that Sunday evening studying in the Slytherin common room, reviewing for a Charms quiz the following afternoon.

"This is awful" Anastasia complained, "it sounds like we're going to have a quiz every other week in Charms."

"We are" Gabby said, causing Anastasia to scowl. "It's so Professor Stretton can monitor our progress."

"I think he just enjoys watching us suffer" Elle said, causing the other girls to laugh.

"You shouldn't speak about professors that way, Elle" Gabrielle said, "especially Professor Stretton...he's an excellent teacher."

"It sounds like you have a crush on him, Gabby?" Anastasia asked.

"I do not!" Gabby said defensively.

"He is kind of good looking" said Elle, "if you're into middle aged men."

Gabrielle stood up, "I have to go...Prefect duty" she said before storming out of the room.

"I'm just kidding Gabby!" Elle shouted after her, but she was already gone.

"You know, I had a crush on Stretton my fourth year" Celinda said.

"Yeah" Elle replied, "I think we all did."


The next day Aubrey started her second week of classes at Hogwarts, and though she had already established a routine in her other courses, Charms was still a problem for her. The class wrote their quiz that afternoon and Professor Stretton, who had graded them quickly with a marking charm, had returned the tests back to the students at the end of class.

"I failed!" Aubrey exclaimed that night at dinner, "I've never failed any test in my life!"

"This is ridiculous!" Elle exclaimed, grabbing Aubrey's test to compare it to her own. "We practically have the same answers."

"You should go talk to him, Bree" Anastasia suggested.

"You're right" Aubrey said, standing up. "I'm tired of this...I'm going to go right now."

"Do you want some company?" Elle asked.

"No, it's alright thanks" Aubrey responded, "I'll meet up with you in the common room after."

Aubrey made her way through the grand hall toward the dungeons, fuming over her poor grades and Stretton's unforgiving demeanour with her. She stormed through the stone corridors and reached Stretton's closed classroom door. She could hear the mumbling of voices inside, but knocked lightly anyway. The door swung open and Aubrey saw Professor Stretton sitting at his desk and Tom Riddle sitting across from him. They both looked up and Aubrey saw a smirk form on Tom's lips.

"Miss Knight" Stretton said, "can I help you?"

"Um" Aubrey stuttered, surprised by Tom's presence, "I was just wondering if I could talk to you about my quiz, sir?"

"I thought you'd be coming to see me about that" he said, standing up from his desk and walking towards her.

"I must say Aubrey" he continued, "I'm concerned about your performance in Charms."

Aubrey blushed and glanced at Tom Riddle, embarrassed that he was witnessing her failure, and annoyed at Stretton for allowing Riddle to stay during their discussion.

"Oh don't mind Riddle" Stretton said, noticing Aubrey's glances, "he'll keep this confidential, won't you Tom?"

"But of course" Tom replied, smiling coyly.

"Professor" Aubrey went to protest, but was interrupted by her teacher.

"Actually" Stretton said with a look of realization on his face, "Riddle...you excel at Charms, and you're one year ahead of Miss Knight."

"Professor!" Aubrey tried to interrupt, fearing what Stretton was about to suggest.

"You should tutor Miss Knight!" Stretton exclaimed before Aubrey could stop him. "I think you could really benefit from some extra lessons, Aubrey...and you won't find a better tutor than Tom here."

"Thank you, sir" Tom replied, politely.

"Sir, I don't think that's necessary" Aubrey pleaded, desperately.

"Nonsense Miss Knight" Stretton said firmly, "you'll be lucky to work with Tom...that is if Mr. Riddle has time. I know you're busy Tom, being Head Boy and all."

"That's right!" Aubrey exclaimed suddenly, "I would hate to interfere with your Head Boy duties."

"No problem at all" Tom replied, "it would be my pleasure."

"Excellent!" Stretton said. "Tom will give you lessons... for extra credit, of course" he added, looking at Tom approvingly, "and it will be an efficient way for me to further monitor your progress Aubrey" Stretton said, winking at her.

Aubrey glared at Tom who was now beaming at her from across the room.

"Shall we begin Wednesday evening then?" Tom asked, now walking towards her. "Say in the library, around seven?"

Aubrey continued to glare at Tom, loathingly.

"Sounds great" she replied sarcastically, turning on her heel to exit the room.

"I look forward to your improved progress, Miss Knight!" Stretton shouted behind her, but Aubrey kept walking, leaving Stretton's office more annoyed than when she had first arrived.