The journey seemed to be faster than travelling by Portkey, soon she arrived at the familiar King Cross. She could still remember that special day when her Muggle parents drove her to the station. As soon as she stepped in, she knew she was one step closer to her dream.

A girl with wavy brown hair walked pass Hermione with her parents pushing the trolley. She was the prettiest girl Hermione had ever seen, though appeared to be very young, Hermione knew she was already eleven, as she was only accompanied by her parents, with the screech owl snoozing.

"Ready, my little girl?" said the father.

"All set," replied the little girl, smiling brightly.

"My little Helia is always bright as ever," said the father.

"Stop spoiling your daughter in that sugary tone," said the mother. "She is no longer only child once steps into Hogwarts. She will have to learn—"

"—learn how to cooperate with others and keep my good temper at all times no matter what," said Helia, rolling her eyes. "But mom, people say I am good-tempered and I won't throw any jinxes or hexes at anyone. So you don't have to worry."

"Okay, let's go," said the father. "Do you want to run with your trolley? With my help, perhaps?"

Helia nodded eagerly. Once she grabbed the grip, she and her parents dashed into the wall. The scene immediately changed, with the scarlet red train puffing out smoke in front of her. Through the crowds, she could see Helia pushing her trunk up to the train with her father's assistance. She followed Helia onto the train, it was the same old train compartment. A tall boy with platinum blonde hair stopped in front of her. Beside him, was a group of tall pale boys. He said,

"Can't get the trunk into the compartment?"

"It would be nice if you lend me your helping hand," said Helia.

"Why should I? You look so much like a Hufflepuff," said the tall boy and he let out a disdainful laugh. "None of my family members are sorted in Hufflepuff and never will we help Hufflepuffs."

"I am not an outsider!" said Helia. "I haven't yet met you before, I don't know you, how can you tell that I am a Hufflepuff?"

"Judging by your little size—"

"Being little does not mean I am a Hufflepuff!"

"See you!"

Helia clutched her fists and stormed out of the compartment, while the boys kept laughing behind her. As she was about to jump off the train, she overheard her parents' conversation that she could not comprehend.

"They will come across each other anyway!" said the mother. "Why don't we tell her earlier?"

Helia frowned, but Hermione knew exactly what the parents meant. It was unavoidable though unacceptable.

"I just want her to choose her path when she can."

"They will be sorted in Slytherin together anyway. There's no way we can prevent it from happening. This has always been the ancient inheritance. Our generation is the Bulstrodes."

"Oh, yes, Gwendolyn Winter, your sister —"

"What's more, she chose to end her life—"

"That's just an accident!"

"Accident! Do you know that the curse is real—"

"Hush—"

Helia sprinted towards her parents and tried to hide her curiosity.

"All set?" asked the mother.

"Everything's great," said Helia, giving her biggest smile.

"Okay, my little one, be good and send us a letter when you arrive" said the father.

"Daddy, will—will I be in Slytherin?"

"Oh sweetie, it doesn't matter if you are in Slytherin or not," said the mother. "We will still love you the same, though surely no one wants to be in Hufflepuff."

"So you mean Gryffindor and Ravenclaw are alright for me?"

"Why yes, of course. To be honest, Gryffindor and Slytherin are quite the same in some way, though both sides claim that they are completely different."

"Just don't worry too much," said the father, trying to comfort her.

The engine hooted.

"Okay, time to go," said the father.

Helia hugged her parents and the scene slowly dissolved when she jumped onto the train, waving back as her parents as the train slowly accelerated…

The scene changed into the Great Hall, with students in black robes and hats sitting at the benches, chattering and giggling. Professor McGonagall came in with a group of small boys and girls following behind her, gazing up at the hovering candles and the lovely ceiling. Through the crowd, she could see Helia walking proudly and stopped as she stood before the tall stool, with the sorting hat sitting on it.

"When I call your name, please step forward and place the sorting on your head—"

She could still remember that day when she was still muttering spells as she walked to the stool. If Professor McGonagall had told her about this beforehand, she would have put more time on her history and potion textbooks. The number of students dwindled and only a few were unsorted, including Helia and the platinum haired boy who had teased her in the train.

"Syrus Wilkes!"

The platinum haired boy stepped forward and Helia let out a gasp. The sorting hat immediately announced him to be a Slytherin. Helia did not like the idea of being in the same house with him, though she had wanted to be in Slytherin, she did not want to be in the same class with him for her whole school life.

"Helia Winter!"

As she sat on the stool and placed the hat on her head, Hermione thought she could also hear the sound echoing.

"Oh, a Slytherin again. But not quite there yet, but still—"

"No, don't put me in Slytherin, please—"

"Why, you have always been a Slytherin, there's no doubt of that—"

"I don't want to be in Slytherin, I don't belong with those people—"

"Why—"

"Please, just don't—"

Helia was keeping her eyes shut tightly, then a voice erupted,

"RAVENCLAW!"

Helia was so relived that she immediately bounced to the Ravenclaw's table, enjoying everyone's blessing. Hermione could see Syrus a bit disappointed with an unknown reason. In the midst of cheers and rounds of applause, the plates on the long table were filled with piles of food, the scene blurred and finally faded into darkness…

Her sense immediately came back as cold air touched her bare skin. It all seemed so real and the scenery was still lingering. Though she enjoyed the experience, she did not understand what her grandparents were talking about. There seemed to be some curses behind the misfortune. She tried to search through all rumours and legends she had heard of, so far, none of them matched to the case.

The diary was just barely a memoir, but it was not enough, she needed more. The locket was still in the drawer. For times, she had wanted to wear it, but something told her that she should never do this until she had made everything clear. She could still remember the Slytherin's locket. It was uncomfortable to wear the locket, she was easily irritated and depressed. She could still remember Harry hissing in order to open the locket. She did not know much about the language and she surely hoped Harry could remember how to say the words out. She had heard him saying that phrase, but the memory was not clear enough for recitation.

The more she discovered, the more baffled she became, she wished she could just be a simple Muggle-born witch that had no relations with any of the pure-blood families, this way she did not have to be involved in the muddy water. But on the other hand, she wanted to dig out the roots, for certain as a pure-blood, she would be related to Salazar Slytherin? But she was not in the mood of thinking, she was way too worn out by the 'adventure'. Tomorrow she would try to find Harry in order to go further, even when she knew Draco would be monitoring her trace.

But it was a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, and nothing will stop her from seeing what she wanted.

I know I am being lazy...but first, let me finish off my homework and revisions. I am way behind my studies. Still, I won't stop writing this fanfiction, hope that everyone enjoy it. If not, please tell me why.

Now I am making the story more complicated with the introduction of 'the curse'...I hope I can manage to make things sensible though I am incredibly insensible.