Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter.

Writers notes, thanks to my beta HGranger89.

Hermione spent the entire day crying in the girl's bathroom. She thought it was a nice thing to do, helping Ron and Harry in Charms, but all they did was make fun of her. The young witch had hoped that once she arrived at Hogwarts, she would finally make friends. Nevertheless, just like in her muggle primary school back home, boys teased her for being a teacher's pet, and girls called her ugly behind her back. She felt embarrassed for thinking things would be different now that she was a witch, but she was starting to realize that no matter where she was, home or at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger would always be an outcast.

After spending an entire day silently crying to herself, Hermione eventually opened the bathroom stall door. She physically could not cry anymore, and she was starving, not wanting to miss the entire Halloween feast. Hermione slowly made her way to the sink; she just stared in the mirror as she let the water run. She splashed the cold water onto her face and gripped the sink with hands as she stared in the mirror. She tried forcing herself to smile when a loud grunt made her jump; she turned in the direction of the sound, and her entire body froze in fear at the sight of a twelve-foot troll towering over her. She closed her eyes tightly hoping that this was just a nightmare and that when she opened her eyes again, she would be safe in Gryffindor tower.

She opened them again and found, to her horror that she was still in the girl's lavatory. The troll raised its club and swung at her. Thankfully the thing had terrible aim and smashed the sink next to her. The little witch let out a blood-curdling scream and ran to the nearest stall, curling herself in a ball to hide next to the toilet, just as she had been taught during drills in primary school. The troll swung its club smashing the wooden stalls, managing to miss Hermione. As the troll moved in the other direction, Hermione quickly picked herself up knowing that death would come if she did not act quickly, and dashed to the doors.

The door swung open, slamming into the adjacent wall just as Hermione was about to pull it open, and the young girl felt more fear as she stared at her potion master with his wand drawn. If given a choice, she was not sure who she would rather face, the troll or Professor Snape. The strict potions professor, looked ready to dock one hundred points and throw her in detention until Christmas for being out after hours, however, once his eyes found the troll, he pulled Hermione behind him and sent the troll into the wall with a powerful, stunning spell. The bushy haired girl watched as her Professor shrunk the troll down to the size of a mouse. He carefully picked it up and placed it in a small jar he transfigured from the shattered shards of mirror glass littering the floor.

Professor Snape slowly turned around to face the little girl as he pulled out a small vial from the inside of his robes. He simply handed it over to her and ordered her to drink. She stared at the bottle in her hands, trying to discern what potion it contained, but slowly swallowed no questions asked. She felt her muscles, bones and nerves begin to relax and a sense of calm washed over her. She looked back up at her teacher as the doors swung open once more, revealing Professors McGonagall and Quirrell.

The young girl's Head of House wrapped her in a tight hug and demanded to know why she had recklessly put her life in danger. Hermione looked down at her feet and bit her lip.

"Miss Granger!" Snape snapped, making the witch jump in shock, "Professor McGonagall asked you a question, of which we would all like an answer."

"I didn't know about the troll... I was here all day."

"Are you not feeling well," Minerva asked in a motherly tone, "Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?"

"No..." Hermione looked down, afraid to tell them she had been crying. At her old school tattling meant, she would be picked on more. "I'm just sad."

"Sad... Why... Ho... Homesick... Most fi...fi... first years are." Quirrell joined in.

"No..." She was telling the truth. Hermione could not be happier to be here and away from home, especially away from her father. She did not have friends at home either, so there was nothing back there to miss.

"Is someone picking on you?" Minerva asked with worry before she turned to the Potions Master. "Honestly Severus your students are out of line." Professor Snape did not reply or react to the Head of Gryffindor's obvious house bias.

"No, Professor McGonagall, it wasn't anyone from Slytherin." Hermione piped in before realizing she had said anything.

"Who then..." Minerva asked as she knelt down next to her cub and held her hand, "Please tell us."

"It was Ron and Harry," Hermione answered. Minerva and Quirinus' jaws dropped, while Severus stood by impassively He had been telling Dumbledore and McGonagall for months that Potter was a bully just like his father, and now he had proof.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Potter wouldn't do something like that," McGonagall said patronizingly. The first year's face crumpled in sadness. Hogwarts was just like primary school, her teachers never believed her.

"Is it hard to believe that your precious Potter is not the golden boy you imagined Minerva."

Hermione was shocked at Professor Snape's belief in her, and a small smiled appeared on her face. Severus turned to Hermione, "Miss Granger if you are feeling better, return to your dormitory and get ready for bed."

"Yes sir, umm thank you for saving me." The little Gryffindor left her Professors behind and slowly began the long trek back to her common room.