The following evening Aubrey was in the dungeons with Elle and Anastasia, once again replaying the passionate kiss she had shared with Tom Riddle the night before.

"I'm surprised he even knows how to kiss" Anastasia said, "you're sure it was good?"

"Pretty sure" Aubrey replied, remembering how easy had been to fall into Riddle's arms and get lost in his kiss. If it wasn't for her distracting anxiety, she was sure they would still be in the hallway outside Slughorn's classroom, kissing one another.

"Garridan said that Tom has had 'one night deals'" Aubrey said quietly, "so I'm sure he knows how to do much more than just kiss."

"I don't think so" Anastasia replied calmly, flipping through a dress catalogue.

Aubrey shot a sceptical look at Elle.

"There have been rumours" Elle finally said, "but who knows-"

"The only rumours going around" Ana said, looking up for her book "are from that Caroline Foster, and we all know she's a bit of a liar."

"She is?" Aubrey asked, "wait...who is she?" suddenly remembering she didn't even know who this girl was.

"She's in our year, a Ravenclaw" Ana continued, "but it's not just her brains that get her attention."

Aubrey's heart sank a little bit. She had visions of Tom Riddle and a beautiful, brilliant Ravenclaw girl walking hand in hand throughout the castle, stealing kisses in the corridors at night and engaging in anything else that could be included in Garridan's description of a "one night deal."

"It's not like that, Bree" Elle said, noticing her friend's saddened face. "Last year, Caroline said that her and Tom got together and snogged and... well, you know. But Ana's right, Caroline's a bit of a liar...and Tom never confirmed it, they didn't even hang out together."

"They didn't?" Aubrey asked, a feeling of relief slowly washing over her. She knew it was absurd to not want Tom to have had experience with anyone else, but she was starting to enjoy the idea that he had never shown a serious interests in the opposite sex until she came to Hogwarts.

"No" Elle replied, "and besides, he's never put this much interest into a girl before, ever. Caroline Foster or otherwise."

Aubrey smiled, trying to push Tom from her mind. "So, when are we going to get these dresses for the ball?" she asked, changing the subject.

"This weekend is the first trip to Hogsmede" Elle said brightly, "there's a dress shop there that we can look at."

Aubrey had only been in the tiny town that lay just outside the Hogwarts grounds once, on her first day to Hogwarts when she arrived by port key.

"That little store doesn't have much" Ana said, again looking up from her catalogue, "but it will give us somewhere to start."

"And you'll get to see what other stores Hogsmede has, Aubrey" Elle smiled, "it should be fun."

"What do you think about this dress?" Ana asked, passing the magazine over to Elle and Aubrey, "do you think it'd look good on me, standing beside Garridan?"

Anastasia wasn't the only student at Hogwarts preparing early for the dance. When classes were out, the great hall, corridors, common rooms and even the library was littered with discussion over who was going with who and what everybody was going to wear. Boys wandered around the castle awkwardly, sheepishly approaching girls to ask for their company to the ball. Conversely, gaggles of girls roamed the school in packs, attentively discussing all possible date options before accepting an invitation. It was still just over a month till the actual date of the ball, but excitement ran throughout the castle's walls.

"I was thinking" Ana said the next afternoon during the lunch break, "we should definitely mail order our dresses...from a catalogue."

"Why?" Elle asked, "what happens if you find one in Hogsmede?"

"Everybody will be shopping in Hogsmede" Ana replied, "and we do not want to have the same dress as another girl."

"I agree" Aubrey said immediately, "I had the same dress as another girl for a ball at Laurier, once. It was awful."

"Awful?" questioned Elle, laughing.

Aubrey turned a slight shade of pink, embarrassed by how vain she was being.

"I think it would be awful too, Bree" Ana said reassuringly.

"I should go to Transfiguration" Aubrey said, noticing the chime of the clock in the great hall.

"Have fun" Ana said, still absorbed in her catalogue.

"I'll make sure no one tries to order the same dress as you" Elle said, teasingly.

Aubrey smiled and exited the great hall, making her way up the stone steps towards Dumbledore's classroom. Tom arrived later than usual, just before Professor Dumbledore was about to begin his lecture, and did not acknowledge Aubrey. Like the many classes before, the pair worked together in silence, muttering only the incantations of the spell. After an hour, Dumbledore dismissed the class and Tom quickly grabbed his belongings and strode quickly out of the room. He seemed more rushed in between classes more than usual lately, but Aubrey attributed it to his being busy with various Head Boy duties.

"Miss Knight?" Dumbledore asked, just as the remaining students filed their way out of his classroom, "do you have a quick moment?"

"Yes, Sir."

"How are you?" the man asked, his blue eyes twinkling over his half moon spectacles.

"Well, thank you" Aubrey answered, "and you, Professor Dumbledore?"

"Very well, indeed" Dumbledore replied, pulling up a chair in front of Aubrey's desk and motioning her to sit back down. "I was just wondering how you've enjoyed your time at Hogwarts thus far" Dumbledore continued, sitting down, "you've been here nearly a month already!"

"It seems difficult to believe, it's gone so fast" Aubrey smiled, "but I've been enjoying my time very much, it's a lovely school."

"Very good" Dumbledore replied, "no problems or concerns have popped up?"

"Nothing so far" Aubrey said, pushing the thought of Stretton and her failing Charms mark out of her thoughts, as she didn't want to trouble the kind professor sitting in front of her.

"Good, good" Dumbledore said, "I must apologize though, Aubrey."

"Sir?" Aubrey asked, confused.

"I feel as though I've...neglected you, since your arrival" Dumbledore continued, "you've been here a good while now, and we've hardly had the opportunity to chat!"

Aubrey stared at Dumbledore, unsure of how to respond.

"I didn't want your journey of settling into life at Hogwarts interrupted by the inquiring mind of your mother's old professor" Dumbledore said, "I must admit, it was a situation I was unsure how to approach."

Aubrey's heart melted a little for the eccentric man sitting in front of her. How thoughtful he was to want to speak to her about her exchange, yet still kind enough to leave her to her own accord.

"Professor Dumbledore, you don't have to apologize" Aubrey replied, "really."

"Thank you, Aubrey" Dumbledore smiled.

"So, I know I asked you this upon your arrival, but I'm afraid we were interrupted" Dumbledore beamed, "but how is your father doing?"

"He's well, thank you Sir" Aubrey lied, knowing full well that ever since her mother's death six years ago her father hadn't been the same. Thus far, her had managed to keep it together reasonably well, but Aubrey felt that something had changed within him, and he had become demanding of his daughter.

"Still working at the Ministry is he?" Dumbledore pressed.

"Yes, that's right."

"And your mother, she worked at Madame Althea's, correct?"

"Yes, Sir" Aubrey answered again, impressed that the old Professor remembered the magical hospital her healer mother had once worked at.

"You look very much like her" Dumbledore smiled, "and, like I said, you certainly have her talent for Transfiguration."

"Thank you, Professor" Aubrey replied, pleased.

"You've certainly given young Mr. Riddle a run for his money" Dumbledore said calmly, "tell me, are you two close?"

"I'm sorry, Professor?" Aubrey asked, unsure exactly what details Dumbledore was trying to gather from her.

"Riddle is working with you in Charms, no?"

"Yes, he is...but that's the extent of it, sir" Aubrey replied, embarrassed that Dumbledore knew of the Charms failures and of the extra lessons she had been receiving from Riddle. She didn't want to look like a poor student in front of her mother's favourite teacher. She also didn't want Dumbledore to know of the weeks of flirtation that seemed to characterize her and Tom's relationship.

"Ah" Dumbledore sighed, resting back in chair. His blue eyes no longer sparkled, but instead had a look of deep concentration in them, concerned looking.

Aubrey didn't say anything but continued to sit at her desk, feeling embarrassed, as she wanted to impress the Professor the same way her mother had.

"There's no shame in a struggle, Miss Knight" Dumbledore said gently, "we all struggle with some course material from time to time."

"Thank you, Professor" Aubrey said weakly. There was silence between them for what seemed like minutes.

"Well, Aubrey" Dumbledore said, rising from his seat, "I'm sure you have much more pressing matters to attend to than chats with your Transfiguration teacher."

Aubrey smiled.

"If you ever need anything, Miss Knight" Dumbledore said, "please don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you, Professor" Aubrey said, unsure of what exactly Dumbledore was referring to.

"Enjoy your evening" Dumbledore replied, and Aubrey left the stone classroom.


Two nights later, on Friday evening, Aubrey made her up to the library for her study session with Tom Riddle. She made her way through the seemingly endless aisles of books to find Tom sitting at their usual table in the back, his nose buried in a book.

"Ah, Miss Knight" he smiled as Aubrey approached the desk, "I wasn't sure you'd come."

"And miss this?" Aubrey replied sarcastically, "how's the wandless magic?"

Tom waved his hand and the chair across from his pulled itself out, ready for Aubrey to take a seat.

"Very good" Aubrey said taking a seat, genuinely impressed, "I told you you would get it."

"I had no doubt" Tom replied seriously.

"Of course" Aubrey grimaced, temporarily forgetting how confident Tom was.

"Get out your book" Tom said sternly, "you need to study for Charms."

"Why bother?" Aubrey replied, suddenly feeling annoyed.

"As I understand it" Tom said calmly, "you have a very important midterm tomorrow."

"Right" Aubrey agreed, "and Stretton already thinks I'm going to fail cause of you."

"Go to the dance with me and he'll hear otherwise" Tom said, resting his hands on the table.

"Do you really want people to do things just because you tell them to, Tom?" Aubrey asked.

"Yes" Tom answered firmly, "that's the definition of power, Aubrey."

"How lovely" Aubrey retorted, now pulling out her Charms book and turning to the relevant pages.

For the next hour Aubrey practiced every spell that Stretton had given the class so far, but despite her success with the incantations, Aubrey was uncertain that Monday's test would go well. She had just finished packing up her books and had risen from the table when Tom spoke.

"I'll tell Stretton that you've improved, Miss Knight."

"Pardon?"

"I said" Tom repeated, "I'll tell Stretton that you've been studying hard, putting in much effort and have improved in your Charms studies."

"Why?" Aubrey asked, perplexed.

"Your words interest me" Tom said, now to rising from the desk and walking towards Aubrey. "I don't want you to oblige to my requests because you have to, Aubrey. I'd like you to oblige to them because you want to" Tom hesitated a moment before continuing, "because you want me, and I know you do, Miss Knight...but perhaps I'll let you accept it on your own accord."

Aubrey was shocked. Was Tom Riddle actually backing off? Being nice? She couldn't be certain, but somehow she still felt as if he was controlling her, just in a more indirect way. It took all of her effort not to run towards him, leap into his arms and accept his invitation to the ball right then and there.

"Thank you, Tom" she replied sincerely, unsure of what else to say.


"Strange!" Ana said later that night, once Aubrey had returned to the Slytherin common room and informed Elle and her of Tom's odd behaviour.

"It's weird" Aubrey agreed, "why would he do that?"

"Who knows" Elle said, "probably to keep things interesting...that or he really likes you, and genuinely wants you to like him, without feeling pressured."

"The former" Aubrey said automatically, causing Elle and Ana to laugh, "Tom wanting me to do something on my own accord isn't like him."

"No" Elle agreed, "but like I said, neither is Tom putting this much effort into a girl."