After I told him that I didn't remember if I was a girl, Tom gave me a funny look and I decided not to leave like I wanted to before. I used healing magic on my arm while I was holding it, but I don't think he noticed.

"You're strange," Tom said, "Why would you say something like that?" I sighed.

"Even if I tried to tell you," I said, "I don't know the reason myself. I just know that something is off and I can't put my finger on it."

"So, you're not sure?" Tom asked. I frowned, that's not where I was going. I was trying to remember my past life instead of my life as Alice and that was the problem. I sighed, it would probably confuse him more if I told him the truth.

"I am," I said, "I just momentarily forgot that I was a girl."

"How could you forget something like that?" Tom asked. Memories flashed before my eyes, Alice's memories. They weren't very good memories either and I'm glad I killed her Father now.

"I didn't want to remember," I said.

"That's odd," Tom said.

"I know I am," I said, "But I just arrived so it's only natural. You want to become friends or what?"

"Why should I become friends with you?" Tom asked.

"Because it's better than dying alone," I said. Tom raised his eyebrow.

"Why mention dying?" Tom asked, "That sounded more like you were asking for more than friendship."

"Says who?" I asked, "I was asking if you'd like to be my best mate."

"With a girl?" Tom asked, "I don't think that would be possible."

"Then you plan on having no friends for the rest of your bloody life?" I asked, "What a lonely life that would be. I mean, it's probably better than having all your friends turn against you and plot your death, but not as likely."

"You said that as if you experienced it, Alice," Tom said, "Could that be why you didn't remember you were a girl? Because you used to be a boy?" I couldn't help but laugh at how spot on he was. "Why are you laughing? It wasn't a joke. I was asking because I was curious."

"I'm not laughing because it was funny, Riddle," I said after I finished laughing, "It's because you were right. It was nervous laughter, I just can't seem to get it quite right." Tom's other eyebrow rosed, so that they were now both raised.

"I don't seem to understand," Tom said, "When did you become Alice?"

"Yesterday morning," I said, "Before I burnt the house down."

"Oh," Tom said, "But when did you die?"

"I think where should be the better question," I said.

"What do you mean?" Tom asked.

"I died on another planet, not Earth," I said. Tom furrowed his brow.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tom asked.

"I'm just joking," I said, "I died deep in Appalachian mountains in the US on August 29th, 1906." Tom didn't seem to believe me.

"You can't be," Tom said, "You don't have the right accent."

"I don't think those cross over," I said, "Otherwise, my ma and pa..." I frowned, that seemed to sound like the right accent, "Would've thought I was speaking tongues when I was reincarnated the time before this one."

"You were reincarnated twice?" Tom asked.

"No, this has got to be my 8th time at least," I said, "But I've always been magical, even that one time I was mute."

"So, have you ever been to the future?" Tom asked.

"I can't tell you," I said.

"Why not?" Tom asked.

"Because that's the problem with reincarnation," I said, "I can talk about the past all I want, but if I say one word about the future my tongue gets twisted and I lose the ability to speak."

"Is that why you went mute?" Tom asked.

"Why are you assuming things like that, Riddle?" I asked.

"Because it seemed plausible," Tom said.

"That's a big word for an eight year old," I said, "But no, that one time the body was born mute."

"So, why are you telling me this, Alice?" Tom asked.

"Because I'm sick of not having anyone to talk to," I said, "Especially about stuff like this... No one ever believes me."

"So, you're expecting me to believe you?" Tom asked.

"Of course not, Riddle," I said, "That's like expecting a cat to give birth to a dragon, it's highly improbable." Tom looked a bit confused for a second.

"Dragons are real?" Tom asked.

"Of course they are," I said, "I don't tell lies for no reason." Tom frowned.

"How would I be able to distinguish lies from the truth with you, Alice?" Tom asked, "Because most of what you just said sounded like nonsense."

"I haven't noticed it yet," I said, "But I tend to wring my fingers then I am lying."

"So, I should be watching your hands?" Tom asked.

"I guess," I said, "But that's not the point, Riddle. There's something I have to do here, but I haven't the faintest idea what it is. My senses are telling me that it might have to do with you, but I don't completely trust them quite yet as it's only been a day since I was sent here into this muggle girl's body."

"What's a muggle?" Tom asked, "And why are you so sure that your body was one?"

"Non-magical folks," I said, "And I can tell because my magic was diminished by quite a bit. It's funny..."

"You can still nullify my attacks with your magic diminished?" Tom asked, "How much wish magic do you possess?"

"Enough to destroy the entire world if I wanted to," I said, "Not that I'd do that, but I could. I just have to figure out what to do about the missing magic, so I can save the world like I am always forced to, only to have my friends kill me out of spite anyway."

"What if we change it?" Tom asked, "What if you don't have to die that way? What if you change the parameters and make this life a peaceful life?" I scoffed at the idea that it would be any different.

"I mean, it's a lovely idea," I said, "But only in theory. I tried that before and it didn't work."

"But were you a girl before?" Tom asked, I guess his curiosity got the better of him.

"Never," I said, "This is the first time."

"That's probably a start, right?" Tom asked.

"I don't think..." I started, but then realized he might be right, "Nevermind. You're probably right."

"I usually am," Tom said.

"So, do you want to try to be my friend, Riddle?" I asked.

"I don't see any problem with that," Tom said, "But I don't really have any reason to trust you."

"I understand, Riddle," I said.

"I didn't expect you to say that," Tom said, "You just seem more and more interesting, like I'm reading a mystery novel instead of talking to a person."

"Why would you compare me to a book?" I asked.

"Because books are better than people," Tom said.

"So, it was a compliment?" I asked. Rom folded his arms like he was upset with something I said.

"Why wouldn't it be a compliment?" Tom asked.

"I just met you," I said, "I don't know your personality as of yet. Some people might think it's insult, but I figured I should ask before I assumed." Tom frowned.

"How would it be an insult?" Tom asked, "Books are the best thing, much better than people."

"Well," I said, "Let's leave it at that."