Being reborn wasn't so bad. At least, that's what she told herself, whenever a situation came up that was caused by one of her past lives. This time, she was born into a family that was oh too proud for being normal - she already dreaded the day she'd receive her letter to Hogwarts, inevitably showing she was not as normal as they wanted her to be.

The Dursleys were people she immediately knew wouldn't be there for her. Not that it mattered, but it would've been nice to have someone care for you. This time, she was simply unlucky to land herself a family that would host the chosen one, as she had learned, and favored her brother for this lifetime over her, simply because they were able to. She could only shake her head whenever they made snide remarks to a child that didn't even know of his fate yet, and if she was honest, she pitied him more than anything. And herself, for it just didn't seem possible for her to have a simple, nice life that didn't involve dark magic or death threatening her every second she spent alive. She would've guessed it was in her genes, but since they changed every time she was born again, that was practically impossible.

Her letter had been buried under Harry's, which multiplied by day, when Vernon destroyed every single one he could find. In her eyes, it was hilarious, until Hagrid came to them personally, to hand them their letters himself. The looks her 'family' gave her could only be described as horrified, furious and shocked at once, mixed with a new kind of hatred.

The content of the mail revived bittersweet memories, both good and bad. Time seemed to drag along for the rest of the time she'd waited for school to start. She felt Harry's eyes follow her every move, watching her whenever he thought she wouldn't notice. Wondering, curious about her. During his few years alive she had never shown any signs of being like his uncle, aunt and male cousin. If he truly thought about it, she had never been as horrible to him like they were, but actually silently took care of him, in ways he only now noticed. Maybe, just maybe, he thought, their school would bring them closer to each other.

The sorting hat had different plans.

„Ahh... it's been a while, hasn't it, dear? The last time I was on your head was quite a few years ago... I hope your journey was fair?"

„It was, thank you."

„Now, any requests for this lifetime...? I see you're related to the Potter boy... perhaps you wish to stay in his house...?"

„A life in peace would be nice...", she answered to that, hearing him chuckle almost immediately. She paused. „Although I do believe that it will not be quite possible if you are already laughing."

„Don't you worry, darling... Ah... smart enough to be a Ravenclaw, cunning as a Slytherin, empathetic, kind and loyal like a Hufflepuff, and brave like a Gryffindor.... Yet this life, it seems, you have to be everything combined to survive, no? Hah... I do believe I've got the right house for this lifetime...

Slytherin!"

Why are you doing this to me..., she sighed quietly.

And so the same old routine begins...

Truth be told, she did not actually listen to the speech their headmaster held, to her, it was pointless. She knew the castle grounds by heart, knew the rules that would stay no matter what year... though, the forbidden parts for this year peaked her interests, she had no intentions of running into trouble this year. Staying low was her goal, which she soon learned to be impossible in a lifetime where Harry Potter roamed the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

„(Y/n), c'mon. I just wanna talk."

„Save it, Potter. I've no interest in joining your little gang or whatever."

„I just wanna know... why did you never act like the rest of the Dursleys?"

„Hah. Stupid Potter's cousin I see. Living in the shadows, rotting away?"

„Quite the opposite. I'd say I flourish in the dark, Malfoy."

Stunned silence. Her reply was calm, not like he thought it'd be like. It somehow... made him curious. He scoffed. „Whatever, mudblood. It's not like your special or anything, especially not enough to open this chamber of secrets."

„If you say so, incest child."

„Let's go."

„What? Where?"

„Rescuing your friend's sister, what else?"

„You know where the chamber is?"

„Unfortunately, yes."

„I'll stand guard. You go rescue her. If anything happens, shout Phoenix."

The notebook in her hand, destroyed and useless now, brought up a face she had hoped would no longer bother her. Emotions she did not want to feel, sadness she did not want to relive. Tom Marvolo Riddle.

He had not forgotten her.

Her thoughts came to a halt, as the train suddenly stopped, leaving her compartment without any light. A frown etched itself unto her face, until she felt a familiar cold running up her spine.

Dementors.