Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1

I walked onto Platform 9 ¾ alone. To a bystander, it would appear strange. A sixteen year old girl, walking through the train station by herself, pushing a cart with a large trunk. As I looked around, I didn't see that many people. Few students had arrived this early, yet all were accompanied by family members who had come to wave them off.

When I left for my first and second year, both of my parents had accompanied me to the train, exactly like the students surrounding me today. For third year, only my mother accompanied me. My father had been away on business. In fourth year, my father had walked me onto the platform but left before I could even board the train. Last year, my parents dropped me off in front of King's Cross, not even bothering to leave the car. This year, they had agreed that I could spend the last week of summer in London alone, meeting up with a few of my friends in Diagon Alley as I saw fit. I had told them they didn't need to bother bringing me to the train station.

I jumped when suddenly someone took my hand and turned around. I was met by Hermione Granger, one of my only friends in Hogwarts.
"Hey Liz, you're early!", she said. I had hoped to board early, avoiding the usual crowd and settling into a compartment quickly. Hermione's plans would be different. Her friends were never early and she always waited for them on the platform.

I hugged Hermione quickly. "You know me, always early. When do you expect the boys?" Just then, I heard a noise behind us. I turned and saw the Malfoy family approaching. They walked by us quickly, the youngest ignoring us completely. I turned towards Hermione, who was still looking around, trying to spot the familiar mob of redheads. "Any moment. You ready for the new schoolyear?" I tried to smile enthusiastically, but I noticed she wasn't convinced. She grimaced knowingly. I had written her over the summer, and while I hadn't gone into detail, she knew I had a difficult time at home.

I had spent most of my summer in my parents' house. My father, the Earl of Derby, had spent even more time in his study than last summer. My mother, Caroline, had tended to estate matters, and had even helped organising different events and weddings that were held on the estate. Normally, she would never spend her time with those details. It was clear to me that my parents looked for every excuse not to spend time with me. My only sibling, Henry, had just completed university and had left immediately after graduation for a year of traveling. As the relationship with my parents worsened over the years, he would always be there for me. His absence had hit hard. I had never felt this lonely in my own home, summer vacation had never felt longer.

We fell into silence, neither of us knowing what to say. As we saw the Weasley clan approaching, she squeezed my hand softly and said, "If you want to talk about it…" I smiled, hoping to ease her worries. "I know".

Fifteen minutes later, I had settled into a compartment with Hermione, Ron, Harry and Luna. The train had just left the station when I took my bag with my school uniform. As Prefect, I was expected for the first meeting in a few minutes, alongside Hermione and Ron. After changing, I checked myself in the mirror quickly. My long black hair fell in loose curls over my shoulders, halfway my back. I wore a dash of make-up, to brighten my complexion and accentuate my dark brown eyes. I had reapplied some lipbalm, a habit since I always bit my lips when I was thinking or worrying. I looked over my uniform, checking my silver and green tie was straight, my blouse was neatly tucked into my black skirt. My black stockings were run-free and my black flats were shining. I left for the meeting quickly. It was better for me to arrive without the Gryffindors.

I entered the compartment and took my assigned place. I was joined quickly by the other prefects. My partner was late, as he usually was for these things. Just seconds before the meeting was supposed to start, he sauntered inside the compartment. I shook my head as he took his place next to me. "Cutting it close, huh?" He sneered, "Shut up, Mudblood." I cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm disappointed, Malfoy. I had some hope you would take the time this summer to maybe think of some new insults. I've grown a bit bored of the whole Mudblood thing." I replied brightly. He leaned over to me threateningly, "I'm sure you'll sing another tune by the end of the year, Stanley." I rolled my eyes and elbowed him in the ribs, taking back my personal space.

As the meeting progressed, it became clear rather quickly that the new Head Boy and Girl would just continue what their predecessors had installed. I tuned out quickly, reminiscing how I had landed in the snake's nest.

I had waited for my turn patiently, taking in the Great Hall and the professors at the Head Table. Soon, professor McGonagall would call out my name. When she had delivered my acceptance letter a few months earlier, she had explained the school to me. She had told me about the four Founders and the houses that were installed in their name. So I knew about the cunning Slytherin, the loyal Hufflepuffs, the brilliant Ravenclaws and the brave Griffyndors.

"Elizabeth Stanley", she called out loudly. I approached the stool and felt the Sorting Hat land upon my head.
"Well, well. Stanley, huh. That's a first, for sure. But there's something familiar about your mind, yes, very familiar. I put them in Slytherin, but what to do with you?"
I was paying more attention to the people around me. I noticed it took longer for the Sorting Hat to decide where to place me than it had for the previous students. I wondered what that meant. Surely, he would find a solution for me?

"Placing you in Slytherin would be beneficial for sure. You would thrive there. But what about the hardships that you would face there. Hmm. If there's someone who can deal with them, it would be you. So that's… SLYTHERIN".

During his monologue, I had remembered what my tutors had said. There hadn't been a muggleborn in Slytherin for centuries. It was the house that separated itself based on its purity. I glanced at McGonagall and she smiled faintly to me. I walked towards our House Table and took my seat next to another girl, who I remembered to be Pansy Parkinson. Nobody said a word. Not a sound was heard in the Great Hall. Everybody was looking at me, completely dumbfounded. I took a glass of pumpkin juice and sipped lightly. While there was a storm brewing inside, I knew I had to pretend to be perfectly calm and collected. Silently thanking my parents, I put years of Etiquette lessons to good use. I sat up straight, displaying confidence. My deportment teacher would have been proud, I was sure.

As McGonagall proceeded with the Sorting Ceremony, I quickly glanced towards the Head Table. A few of their eyes still rested upon me, even when the next student was called. One pair of eyes in particular was studying me. By the description, I knew him to be head of Slytherin House, professor Snape. I threw him a polite smile. He just cocked an eyebrow and turned his focus back towards Sorting.

I was thrown out of my thoughts when the train hit its familiar 'just over half-way there'-bump. I looked towards the other prefects. Hermione was, as expected, paying full attention. Ron was stuffing his face with sweets. Everyone else was doodling on the rosters of patrols or looking outside. Only the new prefects were still paying attention, determined to take their role seriously. Malfoy was looking at me curiously. "Can't get enough of my face, Malfoy?", I whispered sarcastically. He rolled his eyes and cast his glance back towards the roster.

The rest of the train ride went by uneventfully. I had joined Malfoy briefly during our obligated stint of patrols before we went back to our compartments. I greeted his friends, my housemates, briefly as his compartment was on the way of mine. No love was lost between myself and the other Slytherins, but over the years we had learned to keep up decorum while in public. It wasn't proper to fight your classmates in public and Slytherin was best at keeping things private. Even the way they treated their own little scandal.

As we made our way towards the castle and into the Great Hall, I took my usual seat next to Parkinson. The sorting ceremony went by smoothly and Dumbledore's pre-dinner speech was short. The tables filled with numerous dishes of delectable food. Everyone loaded food onto their plates and started conversing, sharing their summer experiences. I looked around. Let's survive another school year.

Story notes:

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