In the following days Abigail was treated with more respect by the Gryffondors. When she passed in the hall people would talk behind their hands, 'That's Abigail Snape, isn't it?'

Without her meaning to she became widely popular. This made it harder for Hermione, Harry and Ron to speak with her alone, for she was always walking with someone, although you could tell she did not always enjoy it.

At breakfast the following morning the trio saw a seat next to Abigail and a few across form her.

"Come on." Muttered Hermione, " and remember, let me do the talking."

"Right." Replied Ron, glancing at Harry and raising his eyebrows.

"Morning, Abigail!" called Hermione cheerfully when they had reached the girl, "May we sit here?"

Abigail looked them up and down and then nodded once.

"Thanks!" said Hermione gratefully.

They sat down and Abigail watched them. Hermione served herself some breakfast, and when she saw that Harry and Ron where not, she hissed, "Act natural! Eat something!"

At once Ron started laughing. Harry, Hermione and Abigail looked at him, and he broke of embarrassedly.

"What on earth are you doing?" asked Hermione through her teeth.

"You-you told me to act natural." Said Ron unsteadily.

"Yes, natural! Not laughing-git!" snapped Hermione, and Abigail looked down.

"I don't mean to be rude," said Abigail, clearing her throat, "But I can see right through your little act." She looked at Hermione with a furrowed brow and continued, "Ever since I stood up to my fath-Snape, everyone has been really nice to me, for all the wrong reasons. What do you want to know, now? Who I am? Why I'm in stinking Gryffondor? How I'm related to," she gestured toward Snape, ".that.?"

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but Abigail was not finished, "Yes, stinking Gryffondor! I'll have you know I was treated with decency at the Slytharin table. I was accepted as not someone who was related to Severus Snape, but someone who belonged in that house! You think I'm happy to be in Gryffondor? You think I want to be away from Snape? Well if you do you are sorely wrong. Sorely, sorely wrong." She looked around at them sadly, ending in a deadened tone.

"Excuse me." Whispered Abigail, standing and looking around once, then making for the door that led into the hall.

"She was rude, wasn't she." Said Ron, "Starting with 'I don't mean to be rude' just put me off her."

Hermione glared at Ron, "Oh, yes! And how many times have you stated a sentence with words like that! I can't even count them on one hand!"

Ron looked at Harry, who looked at Ron. "What are you on about?" asked Ron, flabbergasted.

"Stop picking on her, Ron! Didn't I tell you she was upset about something!" exclaimed Hermione.

"No, I don't remember you ever telling me that!" spat Ron.

"Oh Ron, listen to yourself!" snapped Hermione.

She stared down at her toast, and swallowed. "What's the matter Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Malfoy." Said Hermione, looking up and flinching, "He's looking at me, he looks ready to kill."

Oh how right she was.

A.N. HAHAHAHAHAHA! I love Cliffhangers, don't you!