'Feel the anger. Let it burn inside you. Don't suppress it. Let it writhe and rage. Delve deep into your mind, let the hate take root and fester. More'

'I can't.' Hermione pushed away. 'I can't.'

They were at another Dark Arts lesson. Voldemort held these on a whim, never consistent in his tutoring of her. Rose on the other hand had them daily. Hermione desperately worried for her daughter, a child far too young to be doing this training. Voldemort pushed her every time to unleash hate. He knew that it burned within her, but she would not let him use it. The darkness frightened her. It was that darkness that had enveloped her when she'd killed Krum. Hermione tried to never think of it, but every night she saw his face as she closed her eyes. She was a murderer. Her soul would never be clean again.

'You're pulling away every time you come close to it!' Voldemort snapped, grabbing her roughly by the shoulder. 'You are close enough to taste it!'

Hermione wrenched herself free. 'There's nothing there.' She spat. 'Nothing.'

Voldemort laughed mockingly. 'Of course there's darkness there.' He hissed, his cold eyes focusing on hers. 'There's darkness in everyone. Even your beloved Saint Potter.'

Hermione was astounded. And by the look on his face, so was he. So many years had passed since she'd last heard anyone reference Harry, let alone Voldemort. As far as she was aware, the name was illegal. It was a name that signified rebellion, disruption, hope. What shocked her even more was the look in Voldemort's eyes, he looked afraid. He'd let his guard down and misspoke. That made him fearful.

'Any darkness in Harry was there because you put it there.' Hermione stepped close towards him, forcing herself to stare him in the face. 'You put it there when you murdered his parents.'

Voldemort waved his hand impatiently as he strode away from her. 'Darkness would have found him orphan or not. He wasn't exceptional.'

'And yet he beat you so many times.' She taunted. 'Not just as a baby protected by mother's love, but eleven years old as well! You were bested by a child.'

Voldemort flew at her and wrapped his hands tight around her throat. Frantically she fought against him, but his grip was too hard. Just as she was sure she would pass out, he let go and she fell to the floor gasping for air. Voldemort grabbed the back of her hair and forced her to look at him.

'Never speak to me like that again,' he hissed, his face pale.

But Hermione wasn't listening to his lecture. She'd focused her attention on something far more interesting. Just inches away from her lay Voldemort's wand, quite unattended. The one she used for practice was enchanted so that it could not be used against Voldemort. His own one, would not have such protections. Still faking that she was struggling for air, Hermione got ready to pounce.

Voldemort was still talking as she lunged past him and grabbed the wand, he made to snatch it but she used it to send him flying across the room.

Hermione went over while he lay in a heap on the floor. He stared up at her in disbelief. She pointed to wand to his head. 'Crucio.'

Nothing happened. Not even a spark.

Voldemort began to laugh. Hermione flushed in panic as she tried again.

'My dear, do you really think I would have risked such a thing happening? You can do no real damage to me. I am protected. My wand would never work against its master.'

Hermione still felt the anger drive through her. It felt electric. The fire burned in every fiber of her body. She bathed in its glow and channeled it until it was in her control. Then she readjusted her aim and said in a soft voice that wasn't quite her own.

'Crucio.'

Voldemort screamed in shock and anger as the curse hit him. It could have only lasted a few seconds before he overpowered her, but to Hermione it felt like hours. She felt triumphant. She could win.

Voldemort fought the curse and threw her onto the ground, pinning her down. He grabbed her head and smacked it hard against the stone floor.

'You stupid bitch!' He screamed. 'You whore! You could have overpowered me. Your blood could have overpowered mine!' He stopped suddenly. It was another mistake.

'My blood is more powerful than yours?' They stopped fighting and stared at one another. Voldemort didn't speak. He looked like a dying man gasping for air.

'My blood is more powerful than yours?'

Voldemort looked frantic. A deranged animal. 'The blood of Salazar Slytherin is more powerful than any other.'

'Then why are you so worried?' Hermione was growing in confidence again. 'And why do you look so scared? And why-'

She was cut short as Voldemort put his fingers to her temple and she blacked out.

I can't wait to start writing my story about Hermione's origins! Need to get this one out of the way first xx