"We are nearly done," Draco said, staring at Hermione who was examining her glove. "Perform on more spell and we don't need to continue battle lessons."

"One more spell?" Hermione asked, her eyes slightly narrowing. She knew what spell he was talking about and she was afraid of it. "I haven't done it before, Malfoy, it might not work."

Draco laughed coldly and strode over to her. "Might not work? Granger, anyone can do it... you just have to mean it. You knew this day would come,and you knew you'd have to do the spell sooner or later." Slowly, he raised the glass cover of the last Acramantula and made it levitate to land on the table. "You know the words... Now raise your wand and do the spell."

It was as if she was on a trance. Hermione was staring blindly at the spider as she raised her wand. Her lips looked dry, her stance was stoney. When she spoke, her voice seemed far away. "Avada... Kedavra!"

The green light was nearly blinding. The power that came out of Hermione's wand was surprising. As the light faded, Draco saw the spider nearly in cinders, the desk was scorched and smoking; Hermione looked surprised with herself.

"I-I... Did I..."

"Of course it was you, Granger." Malfoy scoffed, trying to will himself to recover from what he saw. "Good, Granger. We are done with battle lessons. You are talented. No wonder the Dark Lord chose you."

Hermione scoffed and sat on the chair. "Tell me something I don't know, Malfoy."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Maybe that head is getting a little big. Maybe that would help you with your Occlumency. You have been here since early July. It's been four months, Granger, and you still can't master Occlumency. You may be skilled with your wand, but your mind cannot concentrate. You're jut as hopeless as Potter."

"Potter and I are not the same!" Hermione exclaimed, suddenly up on her feet. "And I would appreciate it if you do not compare me to him!"

Draco stared. He thought he saw something flash in Hermione's eyes. "Lessons are over, Granger. You may do whatever you please."

Hermione gave Draco one deadly glare before turning on her heels and leaving him alone. Once in her room, Hermione gave a heavy sigh and looked around. There was something inside her that she didn't know what was happening anymore. It was as if there was something unleashed. What she did back in the dungeon was, by far, the worst. She had tortured, taken over one's body, now she had killed... and she just felt numb about it.

I need to read, she thought and made her way to the library.

Just as she entered, there was a plain white, hard bound book on the center of the table. It was the first time that she saw the book. She cautiously approached it, not knowing what to expect. Her finger grazed the cover, Gold Lettering gracing the front. "The Realm's Division". As she lifted the book in her arms, the front slowly turned into ink black, the gold lettering fading until nothing was left.

"Hermione?"

Hermione turned sharply on her heels only to find Narcissa standing by the door way. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Sorry to startle you,:" Narcissa smiled kindly, looking at the book in Hermione's arms. "Draco mentioned that you are finished with your afternoon lessons. I thought I would find you here. Would you lie to join me for tea in the garden?" Narcissa's eyes seemed to have spotted the black book in Hermione's arms. "Draco's very fond of that book, but I never knew why."

Hermione looked down at the book, frowning. "Do you think he would mind if I bring this to my room?"

"I don't think he would. He already read that many times already."

"I'll join in a moment, Narcissa."

Hermione swept past Narcissa and headed to her room. She wanted to read the book, wondering why the camouflage. She recognized the spell, but why hide the book? she placed it underneath her pillow for safe keeping and headed down to the garden where Narcissa said she would wait. But what greeted her made her frown rather than make her feel better.

"Malfoy?"

"And you are pertaining to whom, Granger?" Draco sneered, sipping his tea noiselessly.

"Hermione, do sit down and join us, " Narcissa said, indicating to the empty seat beside her.

Hermione glared at Draco and sat down beside Narcissa. "I don't think this afternoon tea is such a good idea, Narcissa. I wanted to spend my free alone, not with the man who makes my blood boil."

"Ooh, nice retort there, Granger. I was wondering what you were doing here as well. I thought I wasn't going to see your face till later tonight."

"Children," Narcissa said in a very stern voice.

"We are not children, mother," Draco snapped.

"If you two keep on acting the same way, you might as well be called as one," Narcissa said in a calm, but stern manner. "Now, I asked for both of you to join me in order to get along. We are under certain circumstances that we might as well push each others' differences aside. You might find out that you have something in common with each other."

"I beg to disagree, Narcissa. I have nothing in common with your son."

"Yes, you do, Hermione." Narcissa replied with a very cheeky, un-Malfoy like smile. "The both of you enjoy a day in my garden. Both of you love to read books- you may not believe it, Hermione, but Draco has already read all of the books in the library. Both of you seem to have the same liking of tea. Both of you prefer Chamomile than other tastes."

"those are just simple things, Narcissa. On the whole, we have nothing else in common," Hermione huffed, still refusing to drink her tea.

"For just once, I agree with Granger. We are simply too different. I cannot stand her-- She's a know it all who cannot shut her mouth for more than a minute. It was no wonder no one can stand her. And no wonder her so-called friends hasn't come yet. Maybe they knew they were better off without her."

"Draco!" Narcissa gasped.

Hermione went stiff, glaring madly at Draco who sat just across her wearing a smirk on his face. Oh how her hand itched to hex his head off. 'I'm sorry, Narcissa, but I would like to leave," she said, exerting much effort to keep her voice straight as she stood.

"Sit back down, Granger, I was only testing you." Draco sneered, setting his now empty cup down.

"I'd rather be alone than sit anywhere near you, Draco Malfoy," she said in a deadly whisper. "Thank you for inviting me for tea, Narcissa, but I'd rather spend my afternoon alone."

Draco gave another sneer as he watched Hermione walk off, her arms wound up so tightly that it looked she was trying to keep herself from doing anything so harsh. "That went well," he said.

"That was uncalled for, Draco," Narcissa snapped, glaring at her only son.

"You heard me mother, I was only testing her anger."

"You said lessons were over."

"I conduct the lessons when I want them."

"And I conducted this tea." Narcissa said, her voice raising an octave higher. "You know what is at stake, Draco. We need her. Why are you making this harder that it already is. you know the plan, you need her."

"i was trying to toughen her up."

"She's tougher than any women you could ever meet, Dragon, and you know that very well. We need her on our side. The Dark Lord needs her, that means we need her. You go up to her and apologize. Malfoys never treat women in such a way that you treated her."

Draco gave his mother a questioning look. "What are you on about, mother?"

"Nothing. Only be nice to our guest."

"Fine, mother. But whatever you are planning..."

"I am not planning anything, Dragon," Narcissa said simply and sipped her tea. "Go and apologize."

Draco stood with a frown on his face. Narcissa watched him walk away, smiling to herself as he stopped for less than a minute and resumed walking.

"Granger," Draco called, knocking on Hermione's door. "Open up."

"I would liek to spend my time alone, Malfoy," Hermione harshly yelled back. "So leave me alone!"

"Granger, just open the door!"

"NO!"

"Please?" Draco suddenly said in a much softer, but strained, voice. "Can you please open the door?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. When did Draco Malfoy ever learn to say the word please? "What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione said as she opened the door only to find Draco Malfoy Frowning like he's just eaten something very disgusting.

"How long does it take to open a door?" Draco snapped. "I thought I was going to blast it down."

"Watch your tongue. It was you who wanted to talk, not me."

"Can I come in?"

"And when did you ever ask to come in?"

"Granger," Draco snarled as if trying to control his temper.

"Fine, if you want to play a game. Do come in, sir." Hermione said viciously, giving him a curtsy that was meant for a king. "Is that enough?" she snapped once she stood again. "What do you want?"

"Granger, I just came to apologize. I acted unreasonably back in the garden."

"Back in the garden?" Hermione laughed, turning to glare at him. "You're apologizing for the insults you threw at me at the garden? Did your mother put you up to this? Can't apologize on your own? If you're apologizing, Malfoy, apologize for kidnapping me and taking my parents as hostage! If you want me to accept, set me free! You can sleep in peace after that!"

"I'm sorry, granger, but I can't do that. If I disobey orders, I will be the one in trouble. I will be the one who will suffer."

"Than suffer! I DON'T CARE!" she screeched. "Do you possibly think that I would care? Suffer! Die! You deserve to!"

Draco's eyes narrowed, giving Hermione a very deadly glare "For one who's supposed to be in the side of light, you're thinking very darkly. My apology."

Draco threw a long stemmed rose on top of Hermione's pillow before turning on his heels and slamming the door as he left. Hermione stared at the flower, Draco's words sinking in her mind. She knew everyone had a light and dark side. Was her dark side more dominant than the light? Did Voldemort see that and picked her because of it? She didn't realize it until then, she was slowly getting darker and darker... and she didn't know what to do.

A/n:

Another chapter done! To the last person who reviewed, there's a chapter explaining that Hermione's parents' situation. Their memories were modified to think that they never had Hermione at all.

Next chapter would be important so I hope you guys wait for it! I'm uploading as soon as I can.

reviews are much appreciated!

_patz_