Disclaimer: Only Sofi Cohen is mine.

Chapter 2:
New Year, New Hope

Looking back on the past three years, Sofi couldn't help but think that despite the hardships she had faced, it could have been a lot worse. Sure, she barely scraped a passing grade in potions and she had absolutely no idea how she passed transfiguration at all. But there had to be worse things than exploding the tortoise you were supposed to be transfiguring into a teapot, right? Sofi hadn't even gotten detention for that one. Although, that probably had more to do with the fact that it was the last day of term than Professor McGonagall being kind or understanding.

Even Sofi's frequent nightmares had their benefits if you looked hard enough. In an effort to keep her dorm mates from hating her more, Sofi had learned to cast the silencing charm on herself before she went to bed each night. This, of course, necessitated her learning how to silently finite the charm each morning. An unforeseen side effect was that Sofi could now cast any of the spells she learned silently. Sofi was pretty sure that she was one of a very few (if not the only one) to have mastered silent casing by the time she was twelve. Not even Granger could claim that.

In second year, the events surrounding the Chamber of Secrets had caused her to reveal her true blood status to her head of house. Upon doing so, Sofi was treated to the rare sight of Professor Snape in shock, and the even rarer event of him genuinely smiling and meaning a complement.

'Impressive. You've fooled everyone, Miss Cohen. I have to say, you belong in Slytherin, beyond any doubt.'

He had promised to keep her secret and assured her that as long as she told no one else, she would be safe. Considering Sofi had just spilled one of her biggest secrets, she felt safe in explaining what really happened to her family. After a few sessions during which Sofi had let loose her bottled up emotions, her night terrors lessened in frequency, allowing her to function better.

Not much happened in third year, unless you count the incident with the boggart during Defense class. When Sofi took her turn with the boggart, it began playing out her family's murder. For some reason, Professor Lupin didn't react, necessitating Professor Snape, who was luckily walking by, to interfere. Sofi ended up in the Hospital Wing for the remainder of the day, trying to calm down. Parkinson and her little gang had tormented her endlessly after that.

As she boarded the Hogwarts Express, Sofi could only hope that this year would be better.

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Severus Snape was in a bad mood as he headed to the Headmaster's office. He was always in a bad mood when it rained. A carryover from his early childhood he supposed. Rain had meant that he wasn't allowed to leave the house and escape his father. However, today was especially bad. Not only was it pouring, but Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody was due to arrive to take over the Defense position. The only good thing about this as far as Severus was concerned was that the student would actually learn something useful this year.

In addition to Mad Eye's impending arrival, Severus had awoken to find that he could see his Dark Mark slightly more clearly than the day before. Having notified Albus of this discovery while at breakfast, Severus was at a loss as to why his presence had been requested in the Headmaster's office.

"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum."

'I have plenty to prepare before classes start tomorrow and little time to do it. Albus better not be wasting my time,' Severus thought as he rode the moving spiral staircase. Upon knocking Severus was bade to "Enter."

"Ah, Severus, thank you for coming," Albus twinkled.

"Of course, Headmaster," Severus replied, sitting in one of the chairs that stood before the desk.

Knowing that pleasantries would be rebuffed and met with annoyance by the Potions Master, Albus got straight to the point. "I wished to talk to you about one of the students–"

"What special privileges do you want for Potter now, Albus?" Severus interrupted, his face twisting in disgust. "I already told you that he shouldn't be going to Hogsmeade. The boy has already proven that he–"

"Severus! It is not Mr. Potter who I wish to discuss," Albus said, his twinkle severely diminished. Severus hid his surprise behind a blank mask and waited for the Headmaster to continue. "I have decided that there are some things you should be aware of when it comes to Miss Sofi Cohen."

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"Anything from the trolley, dear?"

Sofi looked up from her tattered second-hand copy of Intermediate Transfiguration to see the kind old witch with the lunch cart. She briefly thought of the sixteen silver sickles in her pocket. "How much for three Pumpkin Pasties and three Cauldron Cakes?"

"Five Sickles."

Biting her bottom lip Sofi considered. In the end, her need for something to eat won out over her need to save. "Alright."

After the lunch witch left Sofi sat back down and carefully began to eat her snack while she reflected on her summer. She wasn't sure how long she had been gazing out at the horrible weather when she heard the compartment door slide open.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is girls."

"What do you want, Parkinson?"

"Watch it Banshee, or I'll beat the shite out of you."

Sofi snorted. "I'd like to see you try Bulstrode. But then again, you're not worth the trouble I'd get into for sending you to autopsy."

Silence met that comment and Sofi finally deigned to turn and face 'Pugsinson's pack,' as she had dubbed Pansy Parkinson's little gang, even if it was only in her mind. Davis was staring at her wide eyed and the other two just looked confused.

"The morgue." More confusion. Sofi sighed, 'Idiot Purebloods.' "You're not worth Azkaban."

"Why you little–"

"What Bulstrode? 'Bitch?' 'Bastard?' 'Crybaby?' 'Hippogryff shite?' What new epithet do you have for me now?"

Bulstrode's face turned an ugly puce.

"Whore," Parkinson said with a smirk. Davis looked horrified.

"Pansy!" she cried.

Parkinson ignored Davis. "That's how you make enough money to come to school, isn't it? You must not be a great screw if you can't even afford new robes. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll get better with practice."

Bulstrode was smirking now, and it was Sofi's turn to feel humiliated. 'Be the bigger person. Be the bigger person. Do not lower yourself to her level.'

"You know full well that I work at the Leaky Cauldron during the summers. I've served your family often enough," Sofi said, her voice devoid of emotion.

"That the best reply you can come up with, Whore? Normally you've got a better comeback," Pansy sneered.

Sofi gritted her teeth and pointedly turned away. "Fuck off, Parkinson."

"Pansy, come on," Davis said quietly. "We've got better things to do than be around Banshee."

Sofi only turned away when she heard the compartment door slam shut. 'So much for this year being better than the last.'

It wasn't until after the sun went down that the compartment door opened again. This time it was Daphnee Greengrass who stepped over the threshold.

"Hey, Cohen."

"Greengrass."

"Can I sit?"

Sofi hid her surprise at Greengrass' cordiality and nodded.

"I heard Malfoy talking about an event that's supposed to take place this year. Do you know anything about it?"

Sofi's eyebrows rose slightly and she tilted her head to the right quizzically. "Why would I know something like that?"

"Well…" Greengrass began. "I know that you work at the Leaky Cauldron and I thought maybe you heard a rumor there or something. And, well, I hate not being in the know."

The corners of Sofi's mouth quirked a little. "Yeah. I can understand that. I have no idea what he's talking about, though."

"The way he was talking made it sound like some sort of competition," Daphnee said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he mentioned something about entering and their being money involved if you win."

"Oh? Maybe I should find out more. I could always do with a bit of cash," Sofi replied.

"He mentioned something about Durmstrang too–" Greengrass said.

"Never mind then. If they're involved it's probably something dangerous."

"So? If you enter whatever it is and win, it could increase your standing in Slytherin. No offence, but you desperately need that."

Sofi chuckled. "None taken. You're right about that. However, I'd rather be alive and in low standing than dead and in high esteem, ya know?"

"You don't have much ambition for a Slytherin, Cohen," Greengrass commented.

Sofi grinned. "Oh, I do. Maybe not as much as others, but I'd call my ambition to survive a pretty good one, wouldn't you?" Daphnee looked surprised by this perspective. "Besides," Sofi continued, "What I lack in ambition, I make up with cunning. At least I'd like to think so."

Greengrass actually seemed to consider the point. "Survival's a good one. And, yes, I suppose everyone forgets that cunning is a Slytherin trait too, don't they?" Greengrass smiled. "You're not so bad, Cohen."

"Er. Thanks. Well, whatever the event is, I just hope it's enough to distract Parkinson from me."

"One can hope," Daphnee said as she stood. "I'll see you at the welcoming feast, Cohen."

"See ya," Sofi replied. 'Maybe there is still hope for a better year.'