Over the course of the continuing week and next Minerva kept an exceedingly closer eye on Hermione more so than she would have. She left Albus's office not only promising herself, but the older man who she had seen in his eye, not the twinkle he was famous for. But the fiery gaze of someone with determination. And so far as the little girl's lessons went the more Minerva heard, the more her heart sank.

It appeared that in everyone Hermione had been excelling at a far greater rate than those of the student's around her, her knowledge was something to be greatly admired in a girl her age and her magic was something to be watched with awe. Many times she had her fellow staff members coming up to her and informing her, as she had asked. All that Hermione had accomplished in their lessons

They smiled and told her just what a model and fantastic student she was, just how versatile in studying and how she had performed every spell that they had been taught without mistake, repeat's or accidental damage. And all first time around, the more she heard the more she wanted to cry, ever since Dumbledore had told her about Voldemort and how he too was a brilliant student. She couldn't get out of her head the comparisons between them.

Whenever a teacher came and joyfully updated her she imagined in her head a little boy who was being praised for his outstanding performances. And at the same time it changed until it became Hermione, in the same class, same seat same teacher all mimicking the exact same thing. She wondered who was better. Was Voldemort still unmatched in his skill or did Hermione beat him…If so by how much.

All the little things kept flowing through her mind and she was reluctant to admit that she had lost sleep on it the little girl who was on the forefront of her very mind however, had no such concern's as it was she wasn't fazed at how well she was doing. Call her arrogant but she knew that she was better than her class mates. It didn't take a genius to work out that she outperformed them and the fact that she had both Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom in her class. Well…It didn't really need to take a lot of much at all to outstrip them.

Halloween was coming up and as tradition. So was the feast which had everyone excited and talking about. It didn't matter to her as it was just another feast and just another that she couldn't go to. She had held on to her secret for as long as she could but soon enough she started to hear whispers. How the students at the table noticed that she was never there. Never sat with her house and how on looking, never saw the older McGonagall at the head table either.

They put the two together and worked out that they must have been having dinner somewhere else. Most likely the head's chambers which caused them to talk, Lavender and Pavarati the girls in her dorm whispered to themselves at how she got special treatment. She didn't fail to see the looks she got and scoffed at them with contempt. She didn't care for them…or their thoughts on the matter. But as she currently didn't like them and so made no effort in getting to know them she hadn't refuted them on their assumptions.

Even if they were the truth

Finally the day of the feast had arrived and the endless chatter was annoying her from the moment she woke up, to getting dressed. She had gotten up a little late and as such the others where to awake along with her and so she had to endure their constant giggles. Before she hurriedly left the common room and on to her Mother's where she vented her pent up thoughts on the matter much to the older woman's amusement. She had put off any dark comparisons for the time being seeing as this was their time and so sat and listened and enjoyed the company. Before the bell rang and Hermione's day just got worse from thereon out.

The one class she had come to hate though and they weren't even a month in was history of magic. Good Merlin was that tedious, at first she went into it with an eager and ready to learn vigour. But once the initial new lesson excitement wore off and she began to realize just how mind numbingly boring the teacher was. She didn't have high hopes for this class. The thing that did make her jump at first was when he arrived to the lesson through the wall. But that she assumed after twice of seeing it, was only because he forgot where the door actually was.

Never mind if he was still living the man could bore his fellow ghost's to death. He was just so monotonous. If it hadn't been for the fact they had promised each other early on once they knew that there was no way they could make it a whole lesson without falling asleep, to keep the other awake she was sure that he would have seen and told her Mother…As it was. She was safe. They had been learning about Emeric the Evil, that day as she settled down into a full hour of dreariness and soul sucking boredom.

Binns, the teacher who she was sure was determined to lecture them to death. Droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates and got Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up. that she had to roll her eyes at and lent over as she saw that both Harry and Neville had made the mistake early on before re-correcting them as she pointed to the book and telling them to ignore the man at the front.

"He's been telling us the wrong one!" She hissed as the boys looked at her,

"What" She tilted the book with a pointed gaze and tapped the page as they glanced down and realized that he had indeed been informing them of the wrong wizard.

"This is Uric the Oddball, what we were supposed to be learning. He's telling us about this guy." As she tapped the other page

Harry scowled and crossed out the words before adding the correct ones underneath with Neville too nervous to complain but doing the same quietly, Ron was sitting just a little to the left of the pudgy boy but she didn't bother to inform him…He could get it wrong for all she cared, but Neville told him being the nice boy that he was as the red- head glared at the teacher before calling him a fool and scribbling out his already messy handwriting.

"Emeric the Evil was a short-lived but exceptionally aggressive wizard. Who terrorised the south of England in the early middle ages, he was eventually defeated in a ferocious duel against Egbert the Egregious. Who rose up to oppose him in battle" She dropped her head to the desk in front of her and groaned quietly.

"Och…Don't think I've heard, granted it may be true…But never spoken from such a boring Eejit in my life." She said. Her voice slightly muffled from the desk as Harry and Neville looked at each other, they were still getting used to understanding her, and her accent didn't help matters. Especially when she was talking either fast or annoyed…Which was a lot most times and so had come up with their own dictionary of 'thing's Hermione's say's' that they were still in the middle of processing. And trying to work out which word was which and translate into English.

"What was that?" Neville muttered as Harry shrugged. Hermione heard them and sighed before lifting her head and explaining, "It mean's idiot." Both boys stared at her as she glanced to them with a raised brow. "Don't think I don't know about your little 'Hermione translator'…" She spoke as both looked to the floor quickly avoiding her gaze which amused her before the droning of the teacher had her looking away.

"That's it for this lesson. Next we will be learning about Emeric the Evil" Harry gaped as she stared to the front Neville sighed, Ron snorted and called him a fool as Hermione rolled her eyes and gathered her things.

"What do we have next?" Neville asked as they slowly made their way outside the class much to their relief and down the hall. Harry scrunched his face slightly before sighing. "Potion's" This caused the pudgy boy to whimper as he remembered how the potion's master yelled at him for melting his cauldron. It wasn't his fault if he wasn't so intimidating all the time he might be better. But knowing that wasn't going to happen he resided himself to an hour of torture when Hermione spoke.

"Nae…We have Charm's" She spoke up correcting him as Neville's heart gave a leap, Harry frowned. "Are you sure? How do you," And stopped as she spun around to find her holding her timetable and smiling pointedly at him as he nodded and said.

"Ok…We have Charm's"

Charm's was in Hermione's opinion. Much better than most other classes they had taken so far, she guessed it was because of the tiny teacher who taught them Professor Flitwick was a firm favourite of hers. She enjoyed being around the diminutive and happy half Goblin. As he was cheerful no matter the mood of others and never failed to make her smile. Of course that was when she wasn't a student and it was holidays or weekends.

Now that she was here and he was teaching her he couldn't be the same as he was before making her laugh and talking about non-school related stuff. But she still liked his class for other than that. Charm's after Transfiguration. Was her favourite subject and she looked forward to learning what she had been begging him to since she was nine.

They ambled into the class and found their seat's to which her great misfortune. She was sat next to the ginger weasel as they both gave each other little looks of disdain before turning away content to not bother with each other again she smiled when she saw the mop of dark brown hair come into sight just a little over the table before the small half man climbed up the pile of books to greet them.

"Welcome class, welcome to another hour of Charm's…As the first lesson we have already reviewed the dangers and rules of the art. We are today, going to perform our very first spell." A few excited mutters went around the class as he smiled and let them. Hermione for her part simply waited. She had, before even stepping on the train to come to the school performed some of the basic spells to try and see if she could.

She would have liked to have practised more but she didn't for fear of her Mother finding out she was very strict about her trying out the spells before she got to school and so forbade her from it…Not that she listened, she just couldn't it was like they were calling to her from inside the pages. Telling her it was her duty to learn them and so she did. She took them down to the small lake where Addy lived as he came and watched her try. Congratulating her when she got them right

She had this one down already and so wasn't all that fussed about rushing. As the little teacher at the top carried on talking,

"The first spell we are going to be learning is the levitation spell. Now this is relatively simple and so should be easy to master." He picked up his wand and they watched as he waved it in a simple twist of his hand and a few of his books rose from the table. More mutters erupted as he held them for a few seconds and placed them back on the table smiling. He looked back up to them and in his squeaky little voice.

"Now pick up your wands and repeat after me Wingardium Leviosa" Before waving his wand in the same pattern as he did so, the rest followed his example and picked up their wands to begin trying as soon the room was filled with student's repeating the two words over in a bid to get their feathers to fly. Hermione waited and watched as she eyed the rest of her class waving their wands about before smirking a little to herself.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" She looked to her side and pulled back harshly when Ron began waving his wand back and forth in a vain attempt to get the feather to fly. She watched him for a few moments as he screwed up his face to no avail and wondered if he secretly might have been a squib before dodging the pointed end of the wrong side of the flailing wand as it nearly hit her again.

"…Ok stop, stop…Please stop." She spoke gripping his arm and halting his movement. He looked at her a little in shock at the contact before she eyed the stick in his hand wearily and lowered his arm.

"What" He asked a little sullenly as she faced him eyeing him once more she sighed and pointed as they both looked at the less than fully functioning wand in his hand. It was frayed and the unicorn hair that was woven into the design was sticking out at the top. All in all it was a pitiful excuse for a wand and they both knew it.

"Well for one you're saying it wrong." She began as he turned to look at her; she gave the wand in his hand another look and raised her eyebrows. "But looking like that I'd say the wording is the least of your worries." He glared at her as she spoke. He didn't like what she was implying and grew steadily more annoyed with every word she said.

"But I guess with it being how it is. You'd have more chance of actually beating someone by poking them in the eye's, as it's the only way you'll win a dual with that thing," His ears were now as red as his hair as she continued. "Anyway It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' clear…And keep it holding a little longer…That way you'll get it floating." She finished with a little sniff as she looked at him.

He was mad at her casual brush off of his wand and the way she was staring at him with a cool demeanour, just because she was so stuck up, didn't mean she could speak to people how she liked. They didn't speak as he glared before he had enough and pointed to the un-moving feather.

"Right if you're so smart why don't you do it then" He growled as she shrugged and took up her wand. She breathed in for a moment before she flicked her wand over the feather as naturally as if she had been doing it all her life…It did help that she had already learnt this spell and smiled as the feather shook and rose from the desk. Ron watched in silence as the feather hovered high in the air and very slowly more student's noticed as they stopped their chanting and looked before seeing the successful castor and was not surprised to see that it was the curly haired girl.

"Oh well done Miss McGonagall, well done. Ten point's to Gryffindor!" The little man squeaked happily on seeing his secret but favourite student be the first to complete the spell. Not that he had any doubt's as Ron rolled his eyes, he should have known she wold best him once more and threw down his wand before placing his head on his arms. Hermione kept up the charm despite jumping a little when a small explosion from the other end had them all looking to see a stunned Shamus covered in dirt marks after having somehow blown up his feather.

The end of class came as they all gathered their belonging's with the diminutive man telling them they did good and that they would all get it right next lesson with the three boys leaving with Hermione promising to catch up, they went down the hall with Ron still sulking about his humiliation to Hermione in the class.

"Ron…What can we say, you know how good she is" Harry spoke after hearing him complain. Neville nodded his agreement as Ron turned to them. "Yeah she may be. But she is a nightmare…Seriously how can you lot stand her, she's arrogant. Annoying, thinks she's better then everyone and she's condescending." He ranted not knowing that she was behind them listening in she had caught up and was going to announce her presence but decided against it on hearing that she was the main topic and heard him rant about her.

It actually amused her instead of hurt her feelings like it should of if she was anyone else. But she wasn't, and as annoying as it was to have the ginger weasel say that she knew it was only because on some levels it was true…Yes she could be condescending, yes she could be haughty. But only because she had the talent to back it up, unlike the boy in front of her who had by now, talked about her for too long.

"She just makes me so…OWW!" He reached up and held the back of his head were a sudden hit landed hard, as they all turned to see the girl in question swing her bag round and purposely aim a blow. Neville winced as he knew just how many books she had in there as Harry smirked, he felt bad because he heard the connection but at the same time couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for him. Hermione smirked as she passed them as Ron stood rubbing his head before turning back to them as she walked away.

"Better to be a nightmare than a failure Ronald" She called to him as they stood there. He scowled at the passing girl as she giggled before adding,

"At least I can shake of my nightmarish tendencies later; you on the other hand, will still be a complete idiot at spell casting. Through life…And I pity the poor people who are next to you when you try" Before she looked at Harry who was grinning like a moron.

"If anyone asks tell them I've gone to the bathroom." She called to him before spinning back around and carrying on her way "Which one!" He yelled as she called over her shoulder "The third" And went inside leaving the three in the middle of the yard

The feast came quicker then they knew and before long the entire school was in the hall sitting at their tables. Harry looked around expecting to see Hermione until he remembered that she had gone to the bathroom's and also that she hadn't for as long as they had been there. Actually stepped foot inside the hall during meal times, he looked to the head table to see Professor McGonagall and wondered why she was there when normally when Hermione wasn't she wasn't either.

Minerva had spoken to Hermione some hours earlier on seeing her climb the staircase. She stopped her and informed the young girl that due to the event being held. She would have to be in the hall along with the other teachers. Hermione nodded on hearing it and promised when asked that she would stay inside her Mother's chambers until she returned before Minerva smiled at her and with a quick look around to make sure no one was looking kissed her on her cheek and sent her on her way as she moved down the stairs.

With that promise in mind the older woman could relax and enjoy the feast as well as keep a watchful eye on the student's especially the twins who revelled on the holidays, Halloween no exception. She had just leaned over to speak with Hooch when the double doors burst open and in ran Professor Quirrell came legging it down the middle screaming at the top of his lungs.

"TROLL IN THE DUNGEON'S!" The other teachers all sat up at hearing his word's as he stopped in the middle.

"Thought you all should know" And promptly collapsed on the floor leaving the rest of the hall silent before chaos started, the student's all of them began screaming as a sudden rush mad their way to the door. Albus stood and came to his podium before bellowing out.

"SILENCE!" That seemed to have the right effect as everyone immediately stopped and looked at him. "Now prefect's lead your houses back to your room's immediately. Teachers with me to the dungeons. As they all moved much calmer this time out of the hall. Harry and Ron made their way into the large entrance hall until Harry on remembering something suddenly stopped at pulled on Ron's arm.

"What" The ginger boy asked looking around; Harry looked panicked as he replied. "Hermione."

"What about her?"

"She doesn't know about the troll. Remember? She said she was going to the bathroom." He saw the reluctant look on his face as he pushed him a little, "Ron! We need to tell her" Sighing the other boy nodded and they looked at the disappearing Gryffindor's before sliding away and running down the other way. They ran all the way around until a loud groaning had them stopping as the thunder outside cracked and the lightning illuminated the large shadowy figure coming up from the level below.

"I think it's out the dungeons" Ron muttered the other boy nodded before pulling him behind the pillar as the troll itself came into view. They gasped at how tall the creature was, and how wide it was as it trudged up the hall and stopped as it looked around they watched as it moved onward again and bent it's head low before entering a room.

"It's gone into the girl's bathroom!" Harry hissed as he pulled on Ron's shirt before they took off again.

Hermione had only come out of the cubicle and was about to head to the sinks before going back in for some tissue. After she had dumped her bag in her Mother's room she had waited for a bit before deciding to go to the bathroom like she had originally intended. Sure she could of gone to her Mother's one but the one of the third floor was always deserted and so here she was.

"Stupid Ronald…Just because he's stupid doesn't mean he can call me a nightmare" She muttered angrily as she ran her hands under the water, "Who does he think he is? I can't help it if I'm smarter than that fool….Should be thanking me really, if I hadn't of shown him he would be more of an idiot." She finished her vocal ranting as she dried her hands deciding to leave the bathroom and head back to her Mothers so that she didn't get shouted at for not being there.

Only when she turned around to leave something was blocking her way, she took a few steps forwards only to stop on seeing the large foot of something unknown as she slowly raised her head to follow its foot up to its leg, then its leg to it's very huge body and eventually the rest of the troll that was connected to it as it peered down at her from its position in the doorway. None of them moved as they continued to face off with Hermione gazing at the enormous creature speechless…For once.

She opened her mouth several times but no words came out as the troll eventually moved as it took a step forwards. To keep the distance she stepped back before it fully came into the bathroom and was now looming over her, she hit the door of the cubicle and bit her lip.

Her Mother's bathroom didn't seem like a bad idea now and jumped a little as the troll gave a loud yell and raised its club.

"Oh…Hell." Before diving out its way as it brought the huge weapon down smashing it against the door she had been leaning on as she looked up at the now shattered mess that could have been her from the floor. She looked back to the troll eyes wide before it raised its club again intent on bringing it down when Harry and Ron came flying through the door.

"HERMIONE!" Despite the very real threat of being pummeled into the ground she could not help roll her eyes at the dramatics' of the raven haired boy.

"Say it louder Harry I don't think the rest of the school heard you," She hissed as they both stared. Another yell had her looking and rolling out of the way just in time for the club to smash into the ground.

"Well don't just stand there you came in here for a reason!" She yelled over the rampaging troll as she scrambled up, Harry had been thinking and as he saw the club come back he didn't know why he just improvised and jumped, both Hermione and Ron watched as he was lifted into the air and jumped on the troll's back the large creature felt pressure on his back and looked around stupidly before thrashing.

Harry was yelling as the troll was swinging violently as both the two on the ground had to dart out of harm's way. Ron skittered back as the club swung around as Hermione fell back eyeing the huge piece of wood wearily waiting for her chance until Harry's yell had them both looking up only to see that the troll had succeeded in yanking Harry of its back and was holding him upside down. Angry it lifted its club and swung.

The other boy had to lift up quickly before being hit by the oncoming attack as he yelled to Ron who was behind him

"DO SOMETHING!" He lifted up again as Ron shook his head, "Like what!"

"ANYTHING!" Hermione due to the fact half the entire stalls was in her way would have done something as she didn't trust Ron but due to the fact she couldn't get a good angle. Meant that it was up to Ron as she prayed he could do it.

"RON!" The ginger boy looked to where she shouted to him. "WHAT!" Ducking a flying piece of debris she called out again.

"What did Flitwick teach us?" He scrunched his face up confused.

"YOU'RE ASKING ME THAT ….AT A TIME LIKE THIS?" She sighed and knew it was a stretch to get him to remember and so shouted,

"No….THE LEVITATIING CHARM YOU IDIOT!" He listened to her as she told him to use the spell they had just previously learnt and one he had failed at as Harry's yells still rang out.

"I KNOW I SAID YOU WHERE A FAILURE…AND I'M….I'M SORRY FOR THAT BUT I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT NOW" He looked to where he imagined her to be and was shocked but now determined to succeeded as he pulled out his wand and turned to the troll who was still swinging madly.

"SWING AND FLICK!" He nodded remembering as he focused. Hermione did her best to distract the troll by throwing bits of wood at it as it bounced of its skin but got the desired effect as it looked at her…

"Oh bugger" She backed up a little as it ambled forwards and raised its club now aimed at her as she called out "RON HURRY UP." He nodded and aimed his wand at the club which was raised high.

"Wingardium Leviosa" He held the wand up and watched as the troll brought it down aiming at the little girl only to swing with nothing in its hand, Ron smiled with glee as the club was now floating in mid-air. Hermione smiled as the troll looked at its empty hand before looking up as the club dangled before coming down and hitting it on its head.

Her smile slowly turned into a frown as she watched the troll drop Harry who scrambled out of its range before it took a stumbling step to her…She backed up as much as she could only to watch it take two more steps before squeaking as it crashed directly in front of her knocked out cold, it's huge body blocking her from the view of the two boys who were staring at the creature with wide eyes as Harry turned to thank him only to jump when a shocked gasp and a sharp voice had them spinning round.

"POTTER, WEASLEY!" They gulped at the sound of their names as they turned and came face to face with their stunned head of house that was looking with wide eyes at the out cold troll before looking back to them. Snape and Quirrell lingered behind their eyes taking in the scene as Minerva reprimanded them,

"Just what on earth do you two think you are doing?" She hissed at them getting her bearings back as they looked at her, "Answer me?"

"Well….We…You see….We were"

"Well" She asked looking at them…."And what are you doing in the girl's bathroom here anyway?" She was waiting for their answer only to see movement at the side of them and looked only to be stunned sideways once more as Hermione shifted a few pieces of wood out of the way, seemingly unaware of her presence. As she climbed her way over the troll.

"…Ok that was horrible. You couldn't of knocked it the other way could you Ronald? Do you know how much that thing stinks?" She looked back before turning around as the girliest squeal any of them had ever heard left her lips as she instantly backed away at the sight of her very pissed off Mother. The older woman saw her daughter moving from the other side of the troll and her heart nearly jumped out from her chest.

She gazed at the three first years in front of her as she pointed for Hermione to join them as she licked her lips and very slowly complied. Once her heart had slowed down long enough her rage came back she glared at the three baleful children in front of her and shouted.

"JUST WHAT IN ALL THING'S HOLY. DO YOU THREE THINK YOUR DOING?!" They leaned back as far as could without actually moving and alerting her lest it incurred her wrath more as she bared down on them eyes still alight with rage.

"Hermione" She asked looking form the two speechless boys to the girl as she stood up straighter. "What are you doing here? I thought I told you to wait in my rooms?" The older woman looked at the younger girl who bit her lip and struggled to come up with an excuse. Minerva could see her tiny mind working hard to think of a way to dissuade her and that had her ire flaring more.

"And do not think of lying to me young lady"

With that in mind and knowing that no matter what she came up with her Mother still wouldn't believe her seeing as the large elephant sized troll in the room was still lying behind them she sighed and decide to go all in.

"It's my fault….Professor." This had them all looking at her as Hermione coughed slightly before carrying on. "I know that you said to wait in your room and I was going to…Until I decided to come down here." She stopped at the look she was getting, her Mother was furious that much she could tell and so was in for it that night. Minerva glanced over to the two boys who were gawping at the only girl of the group with wide eyes.

"And what about Mr's Potter and Weasley here? What do they have to do with all this." She said eyeing them carefully as Hermione shrugged. "I don't know…." Turning her attention back to her daughter she narrowed her look until Hermione amended her answer, "I mean….I guess they must have come to warn me seeing as told Harry to infirm someone if they asked." She said truthfully before stopping and sighing.

Watching her very carefully she could tell that she was telling the truth and so stood up straighter before giving a curt nod, she looked behind the three to the unconscious troll and then back to them.

"Well….I have to say, not many first years cane take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale." Despite knowing how much trouble she was in the curious side of Hermione rose up at the sentence, as she looked to the older woman and spoke before she even knew that words had left her lips.

"Not many? Just how many first years have taken on a fully grown mountain troll before?" A genuine questioning to her tone as she looked back to the knocked out creature and then back to the little group only to close her mouth at the scathing glare she was getting from her Mother.

"…I'm just going…To you know, shut up now." She nodded and looked to the floor. As Minerva closed her eyes and sighed. It was late the students were back in their rooms and they had a troll to take care of she didn't need to add three more chores to the list and so lifted her hand before pointing to the door.

"Go…Go back to your rooms." They looked at her before each other as a sharp cough broke their eye contact to see her face before they nodded and all but rushed to the door. But before they could, Minerva called out.

"Oh and before you go," They all turned slowly slight apprehension of their faces. She smirked before carrying on. "Five points to Gryffindor…Each" They smiled as she rolled her eyes. "For sheer dumb luck." Before she shooed them away.

"But mark my words we will be talking more in the morning." It didn't take an idiot to work out that she was talking to Hermione who cringed slightly at the promise before they passed the other teachers who were staring at them as they moved to take care of the troll before they legged it down the hall and back to their common room before anything more could get them into trouble.