This chapter's a bit longer than the others... should have a better editing job too. Spell check alone wasn't cutting it! Sorry for mistakes in the first 2! Hope you like the story! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

Disclaimer:

none of these characters are mine, I don't own anything in the story. So don't sue, all you'll get is a hyperactive, insane, dog, and 25 cents.

Chapter 3- Isolation

Hermione woke the next morning bright and early and knocked on Ron's door. She waited a few minutes then realized he wasn't there. He must of already gone down to breakfast without her. She sighed with disappointment.

"Your little boyfriend left without you? How sad," Malfoy snorted, seeing the pathetic look of disappointment on her face. She tried to hide it.

"He's not my boyfriend." she stated firmly.

"No that's right. He's too good for you. Which is sad really, with him being just about as low as one can stoop. The again, maybe you might have a chance with Longbottom. That stupid squib you might just have a chance with." he laughed bitterly taunting her.

"Neville's a hundred times better than you." she spat.

"Ahhh, so there is a bit of a crush there after all!"

"Shut up. Just shut up." She said not wanting to fight anymore than with words. The last thing she needed was Malfoy cursing her teeth so they were the size of a beaver's again. She calmly turned on her heel and walked right down the stairs to breakfast.

"Hey, Ron, Harry." Hermione said sitting down with them.

"Hey Hermione, sorry but we've got to run. Important Quidditch meeting with McGonagall to elect a new captain." Ron said proudly. Important meeting… of course this meeting was important. On the train Ron felt horrible about leaving Harry alone, but he didn't take a second glance before leaving Hermione by herself to eat breakfast.

"Catch up with you in class!" Harry said rushing off following Ron. Hermione nibbled on her toast alone. Ron didn't care about her like that, no one did. Harry, didn't either. But she didn't exactly have feelings beyond friendship for Harry anyway. It still hurt, knowing that no one cared She decided to go to the owlery to write Krum, who was miles and miles away right now. He cared but she just didn't return the feelings.

Dear Viktor,

How as your year been so far? I read you won your last quidditch match. Congrats! I was thinking I might come to one of your games during winter break and see you again. I've really missed talking to you.

With Love,

Hermione

There, that was nice. Short, but sweet. She felt sort of bad confiding in Viktor when she really didn't have feelings for him. She was leading him on a bit, but she was so lonely. At this point she'd rather be with a guy she liked but didn't have true feelings for rather than no one at all. She reluctantly walked down to the dungeon for her double potions class. At least, she was prepared. After all, she read her potions book for the year, twice. Still the class would be no picnic. It was with Slytherin. She found a seat, but Harry, and Ron weren't there yet. They'd be late if they didn't show up in a few minutes. Snape stood in front of the class menacing. Neville looked as if he was going to pee his pants he was so scared. Hermione thought he would have started class seeing that Harry and Ron weren't here, but he was waiting for something. Someone she soon realized. Draco Malfoy came in the room and took his seat smiling at the Potions Professor. The second Draco sat down, he started class. Ron and Harry came in a second after.

"Your late." Snape said spitting each word at them individually with great emphasis on each word.

"But sir, Malfoy came in just a second ahead of-" Ron started panting, but stopped when Harry elbowed him in the gut. Harry clearly realized complaining about Malfoy was not the best approach of getting out of this.

"Sorry sir, we were at a Quidditch meeting, er- you can check with Professor McGonagall. Won't happen again." Harry covered apologetically, knowing this wouldn't do much good though.

"20 points from Gryffindor… each." Ron's mouth hung open at that statement. Harry hoped he didn't plan on saying something else. He seemed like he was going to but stopped himself. They went to take their seats next to Hermione but Snape stopped them. "I think it's time we changed the seating around here. We will be starting a difficult potion today, I do hope you all came prepared. Potter, sit with Goyle. Crabbe and Weasley, Longbottom and Pansy, Mr. Malfoy sit with Granger…" he continued to spout off seating arrangements. At first Draco seemed mad Snape had put him with Hermione but then it sank in that she would be doing all the work and he could just sit back and put his feet up. With that thought a smirk formed on his face.

"Granger, go get our cauldron!" Malfoy barked at her once Snape finished giving his instructions and told them to start. She rolled her eyes at the way he ordered her around. She didn't mind doing all the work though, she knew this potion inside and out. Malfoy sat there talking to Goyle, who was sitting next to him. She had finished the potion and looked over to Harry to ask him how the meeting went. Everyone in the room was talking and still working on their potions.

"How'd the meeting go, Harr-"

"5 points from Gryffindor, for talking Granger." It was as if Snape had been watching her just waiting for her to say something.

"I'm finished my potion." she stated.

"We've finished, I had to do all the bloody work." Draco cut in complaining. Hermione doubted he even knew what potion they were supposed to be making. She was just glad he hadn't intentionally tried to mess up her work or insult her.

"Well then we'll try it out," Snape said raising his eyebrows. It was a truth-telling potion, The Elixir of Candor. It was dreadfully strong.

"On who?" She asked not wanting the answer.

"You of course. Since your so confident in your work." Hermione's mouth hung. Draco could barely contain his laughter.

"Ask her about her crush on Longbottom!" Malfoy whispered quietly joking to Goyle.

"But professor!" She started to protest.

"Do you think it won't work? Not so confident now." Snape sneered. It was the exact opposite and he knew it… she knew for certain it would work. That is what she was scared of. She just hoped he or Malfoy didn't get a chance to ask anything personal.

"No, it's just… I don't…" Hermione stammered.

"Well take the potion or fail, it's that simple." Snape stated. Harry looked at her face seeing how upset she was. He knew that would do it. Hermione would rather die that fail something.

"Yes sir," she said reluctantly. She poured some of the potion in a flask looking at it for a moment. "Do I have to take it in front of the whole class?" She asked softly, hoping he'd show some pity. She didn't know why she'd bothered. Snape shot her a awful look and she gave up, and took a sip.

"What is your name?" Snape asked.

"Hermione Granger." She stated.

"Your best friend."

"Harry Potter." Ron seemed a bit hurt at this. She felt bad for saying it but it just came out. Ron really wasn't her best friend more of a close friend who she had a crush on.

"Who is your biggest enemy?"

"I've got a lot of enemies." she stated plainly. The potion wasn't meant to turn you into a zombie. She was still capable of being rude, and giving him a hard time. But she had to tell the truth.

"Name them all…" Snape said rolling his eyes at her avoiding the answer.

"Voldemort, Rita Skeeter, Draco Malfoy, Tom Riddle, you-" she couldn't believe that came out of her mouth she'd just insulted a teacher. She was happy to see everyone wasn't watching the process though. Most the class was still working. It was mainly Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy, Ron and Harry that were watching.

"Biggest fear?"

"Failing." She answered quickly. Professor Snape snorted. It amazing him that with Voldemort on the lose this girl could honestly say she was more scared of failing a test than dying, or Voldemort himself. He really did enjoy harassing her and giving her a hard time. Potter and Weasley, were different. He just simply hated Potter because of his dad, and Weasley was no genius and Ron reminded him of the way James had such close friends. Hermione was different. She was smart. He just enjoyed making it so much harder for her though.

"Er- Professor mind if I give it a try? To make sure it really worked of course!" Draco added snickering.

"I mind!" Hermione spat out.

"Go ahead. Just to be sure," Snape said icily. Hermione wanted to kill him.

"Who's your secret crush?" Malfoy asked digging in deep right away.

"Ron, of course." She said plainly then immediately covered her mouth with her hand. Not good, this was not good. Malfoy started howling with laughter. She saw Snape's eyes widen when she said this. In a lot of ways she reminded him of Lily. Lily wasn't quite as cocky though.

"Have you ever been kissed?" he asked.

"Yes," he seemed surprised. What surprised her more was him prying into her romantic life. Was it just to embarrass her? It certainly was working.

"I don't think it worked, who'd kiss this dog?" he scoffed quietly, but she'd heard him.

"Viktor Krum." She looked at Snape to see what he thought of this form of questioning. He brushed it off as he wasn't paying attention or just didn't care.

"How'd you finish this potion so fast? Cheat?" He asked stupidly. Of course she didn't cheat.

"No you moron, I read my Potion's book twice over the summer. I memorized a lot of the potions, since professor Snape hates me so much. I thought it'd be good to get a head start so he'd have less to ridicule. This potion was really quite easy. I can't believe everyone is still working on it." she blurted out. Then winced at her words. She couldn't believe she'd just insulted her classmates. Neville looked a bit hurt and went to continue working. Someone just put a silencing charm on me so I'll shut my big, fat mouth!

"What do you think of me?" he asked. What kind of question is that?

"Besides the fact that you're an evil, spoiled prat, who's probably already signed up as a junior death eater?" she asked not believing she said that in class with Snape right here. Why was he asking this, he knew she hated him. Was he trying to embarrass himself?

"Yes, besides that." he spat.

"Your not bad looking. It's a shame you've got such a big head, and are a real jerk, otherwise someone might actually like you," she could not believe she'd said that. It couldn't be true. She did not find him attractive. How much longer till it wore off?

"Professor are you really going to allow him to keep asking me questions like this?!" She cried, knowing her life as she knew it was over.

"I don't know, I'm still not sure it really worked."

"What do you think of our fine Professor Snape here?" Draco asked as a smile spread across his face. Yep, life as she knew it had ended with that question. At least they'd know it had worked.

"I think he is a traitor, who's favoritism to Slytherin is obvious, I think he doesn't give me the least bit of credit for my work, therefore is a horrible teacher, to say the least. His huge nose and greasy hair make a most sore sight, and he probably knows it. Might be part of why he is so bitter-"

"That's enough Miss Granger-"

'Shut up now, shut up now!' She thought, trying as hard as she could to stop.

"I'm not finished," she heard herself say, "You're cold hearted, evil, and probably have never loved anyone in your whole life. I would bet all the galleons in the universe that you are really just backstabbing Dumbledore and the Order-" suddenly she didn't feel she needed to tell the truth anymore. It wore off! Oh no! She'd mentioned the Order!

"Er- and the Order in which things run at Hogwarts, you probably just want to sabotage the whole school. Though you're absolutely horrible to Gryffindor's as much as I hate to admit it, you're a brilliant man." she finished, trying to make amends with the last statement. Professor Snape was glaring at her filled with anger.

"That is enough. 10 points from Gryffindor." he stated.

"BUT I WAS UNDER INFLUENCE OF THE POTION! I HAD TO TELL THE TRUTH!" she yelled. He knew she was right but he was so angry.

"Take another 5 points, and see me after class." Draco had a smug look on his face as he returned to his seat. Class ended and everyone put their potions in a flask, and scurried off. Harry and Ron didn't bother to wait. They didn't seem to want to stick around to hear this.

"Miss Granger!" Snape spat.

"I am sorry- professor, I was,"

"Your actions today nearly ruined the Order-"

"You're the one that made me take the potion! It's your fault. Wanted to embarrass me a bit in front of everyone, is that it? You let Draco have a whirl! DIGGING INTO MY PRIVATE LIFE! You know it's your fault. I can see it on your face, you know I am right. And, of course I know about the Order. I was there 2 summers ago, you saw me."

"Miss Granger you really should learn to hold your tongue."

"That's almost impossible while using the Elixir, you knew that. Boy I wish you'd use a truth potion, so I could see why you hate me so much. See the traitor that you really are." She spat angrily before storming out. He didn't bother to stop her.