Chapter 3

Hermione was having the worst time of her life at Hogwarts. She was alone all the time, forced to sit by herself in classes, have to live with the whispers made by her classmates, and the worst part of it was that she didn't know how to get back to her sixth year, so she might have to go through seven years at Hogwarts without any friends, and knowing of the glorious life she led before.

One day in mid-November was a day no different. Hermione went to her classes, sitting wherever a seat was left, and trying to learn while listening to the whispering and pointing in her direction.

As she was going to lunch, she was stopped by the last person she wanted to see.

"Granger, I have to talk to you,"

Hermione sighed in annoyance. "What is it Parkinson?"

"Well, a group of Slytherins and I are planning something against a certain Gryffindor," She sneered.

Hermione nodded slowly. "And...?"

"Well, since you have no friends-," She smirked, "-we were thinking that you might wanna help us on getting this person expelled."

"Expelled?"

"Yeah... unless you're afraid of getting shunned from the mean old Gryffies," Parkinson smirked some more.

Hermione smirked back, and said, "Of course I'll help," and not regretting it in the least.

Parkinson didn't expect that; her smirk turned into surprise as she stammered, "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Hermione smiled evilly. Maybe she could get back at the Gryffindors for treating her like dirt.

Parkinson started smirking again, and said, "Come on over to our table, Granger. You're acting like a true Slytherin right now."

Hermione followed Parkinson to the Slytherin table, receiving many surprised glances.

Parkinson led her to the end of the table, where all of the other first year Slytherins were huddled together. They looked up at Hermione and Parkinson, confused.

"What's this, Parkinson?" Malfoy spat.

Hermione rolled her eyes as Parkinson answered, "Granger agreed to help us on our plan."

They all blinked.

"What if she rats us out?" Malfoy asked. "She IS a Gryffindor!"

Parkinson glanced at Hermione. "That's true. She might rat us out."

Hermione signed in annoyance. "Do you think I would wanna try and stop you all from trying to expel someone who's been treating me like a piece of crap?"

There was silence for a moment as they all thought that over. "No," Parkinson spoke up first.

"Exactly," Hermione sat down, Parkinson following suit. "So, what are we going to do?"

As Hermione was on the other side of the Hall discussing what the Slytherins were going to do, the Gryffindors were discussing something of their own.

"What the bloody hell does Granger think she's doing with the Slytherins?" Ron asked angrily, glancing every few seconds at her.

Harry shrugged. "I dunno,"

"Maybe she's turned to the Dark Side!" Seamus suggested.

"Good," Dean said. "She won't do anything harmful."

They all laughed.

"This isn't a laughing matter, guys," Lavender spoke up.

They all glanced at her. "Why not?" Neville asked.

"Hermione is probably over there because she's not welcome here," Parvati said.

All the guys blinked. "So?"

Parvati sighed. "Fine. So when Hermione goes to the Dark Side and is killed, we'll all know whose fault it is." She and Lavender got up huffily and left to their dormitory.

Ron and Harry glanced at each other.

Back at the Slytherins table, they had all discussed their plan of action. The Slytherins were trying to expel Harry Potter, acting on an order from Malfoy's father. Harry Potter was a great threat to the Dark Lord, and they had to keep him from getting the magical education he needed. So Malfoy was going to challenge Harry to a duel at midnight in the trophy room, and then tip off Filch. We were all to try our best to help Filch catch Harry, and then, if that doesn't work, we'll need to think of other ways to expel Harry Potter. Hermione didn't even care that she was helping the Dark Side, which surprised her; all she cared about now was getting back at Harry and his little friends for treating her like an alien. She knew the was changing the future, but it had already been changed, so what could happen if she changed it a little more?

"So, does everyone know what they're going to do?" Malfoy asked, yet again.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, Malfoy, we all know what we're going to do, what you're going to do, and what everyone else is going to do."

Malfoy looked at her and smirked. "Looks like some of the Slytherin touch is wiping off on you, Granger."

Hermione blinked. He was right, it was... but its better this way, right? Because she had friends with the Slytherins... and none with the Gryffindors.

She grinned and said, "You know it,"

They all got up and went to their dormitories; Hermione was upset that she was going to have to go to the Gryffindor common room with people whom she hated, and vise versa, while it would be so much better for her to go to the Slytherin common room, where she actually had friends.

She got to her dormitory, and said nothing to anybody as she showered, changed, and climbed into bed. She was about to drift off to sleep when she heard "Um, Hermione?"

She sighed, exasperated. "What?" She snapped at Lavender.

Lavender and Parvati were both on Lavenders bed. They glanced at each other quickly and Parvati said, "Um, why were you at the Slytherin table today?"

Hermione glared. "Why does any of that matter to you?"

"Well, because they're Slytherin!" Lavender exclaimed.

Hermione sat up. "So? Why are you suddenly worrying about me? It's not like you ever made an effort to become friends with me. As a matter of fact, no one made an effort to become friends with me. And now I'm friends with the Slytherins. And you can't stop me." Fuming, she closed the curtains and turned away from the other girls.

"Hermione-,"

"SHUT UP!"

Silence. Hermione smirked and then drifted off to sleep without the help of tears.

The next day, Hermione woke up bright and early. The first thought that came to her was that it had all been a dream. That she still had no friends, and Harry was going to be at this school all seven years. She quickly showered and got her books and then went to breakfast.

Not knowing what to do, she sat down at her usual spot in the Gryffindor table and ate quietly.

"Granger!"

Hermione spun around and saw the Slytherins sitting in a group. Parkinson was motioning for her to join them. Hermione smirked and joined them.

"Why were you eating at the Gryffindor table?" Malfoy asked.

Hermione shrugged. "I guess I kinda forgot. I'm like that in the morning."

"Okay, I'm going," Malfoy announced, and he walked his way toward the Gryffindor table, his bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle, at his side. He talked to Harry for a minute, and then Ron jumped to his side, and made a remark. Malfoy smirked and said something. A moment later he came back.

"Part One is completed," Malfoy reported. "Potter is going to 'meet' me in the trophy room, midnight tonight. Weasley is his second, so he'll be there too," He smirked.

Hermione glanced over at Harry and Ron and they looked up from their conversation, right at her. She fakely smiled and waved. Then she turned back to the Slytherins.

"I'll tip of Filch," She muttered. The Slytherins nodded in agreement.

Hermione left breakfast early, and took a detour to her first class, Charms, by passing Filch's office. The door was opened and Filch was seated at his desk, stroking his cat, Mrs. Norris.

She casually walked in. "Hello, Mr. Filch," She said smoothly. His head snapped up to her.

"What do you want?" He snarled.

"Well, I was going to tip you off about a student that was going to be out of bed tonight," She said, and he was instantly more alert, "but since you were so rude to me, I've decided not to tell you."

Filch stood up. "You better tell me girl, or you'll be kicked outta this school along with the other student."

Hermione grinned. "Okay. Well," She leaned closer, "you didn't hear it from me, but a certain Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are going to be in the trophy room tonight at midnight. Now, make sure you catch them, or you'll have no way to prove that they were there. Got it? Trophy room at midnight."

"Good job, girl. Now get to yer class." Filch snapped.

Hermione smirked. "My pleasure," and she went off to Charms.

At lunch, Hermione seated herself at the Slytherin table yet again, and said, "Part Two is completed,"

"You told Filch?" Parkinson exclaimed.

"Yup. I even told him who it was," She grinned evilly.

"Good job, Granger!" Nott smirked. "Now all he has to do is corner them, and then, not only do we get Potter kicked out, but Weasel too!"

"He'll be a disgrace to the Weasley line," Malfoy smirked as well. "Perfect."

"Granger, I gotta hand it to ya, I didn't think you were gonna be able to pull through with this," Parkinson admitted. "But... wow! You ratted out that two of your own house so that they'd be expelled. AND you're a bookwormy Gryffindor. You're gonna go down in history."

They other Slytherins nodded. "Definitely."

Hermione grinned. She didn't know why she was acting this way, but she did know one thing... she liked it.

And then she remembered about her future, and how much she was changing. What if she suddenly woke up, back im her sixth year, except totally different? What if she was with Slytherin? For some reason, that didn't seem to worry her much anymore.