I Dream of Sin

Chapter Five: Deeper and Deeper Down

I am having these dreams
So dark and full of sins
Let me tell you about my dreams
Where I don't have wings
I'm a nocturnal creature
I'm so thirsty for a bite
It's witching hour

-Blackbriar, Witching Hour-

6 months prior

"I'm going away on very important business, my star," Bellatrix's note said when Hermione walked into her room that evening. "I would have liked to tell you in person but I didn't have the time. It was quite urgent so I had to leave right away. Lessons are postponed until I come back. When that will be, I do not know."

Hermione flipped the card between her fingers, unhappiness filling her body. She had grown used to these nightly lessons of hers with Bellatrix. What would she do now? What would she dream of? She was not looking forward to this absence of her mentor. When would Bellatrix even be back?

She slumped down in her chair, sighing as she glanced over the text books Bellatrix had somehow magically sent her. Hermione still didn't know how these objects got here in the corporal realm and she had never bothered to ask only because it seemed insignificant compared to the grand scheme of things. At least she would have these books to keep her mind occupied until the next lesson.

But if Hermione had been fearing that she would have lackluster dreams or empty nothingness to accompany her into the void of sleep- the thought of not having Bellatrix in her dreams, of being alone in them, was utterly frightening and she didn't know if she could ever fall asleep again like normal people did- she was wrong.

Or had no need to be worried.

She had dreams. Dreams so filthy and realistic that she woke up sweating, panting and wet between her thighs, sucking her bottom lip in so she could get a taste of where her dream self had been kissed by vivid and passionate red lips.

She felt so ashamed by those dreams. So bewildered as to why she was having them. Or no, she knew why. Anyone could see how beautiful and stunning the dark haired witch was. She was a marvel in looks, skills, and intellect. What about her was there not to like?

And her voice.

Merlin.

Hermione could never get enough of her voice. It had all the right notes. She could lose herself and find herself in it in circles. And in Hermione's dreams, that voice could simply push her to orgasm.

She was no stranger to the carnal needs of a body, but her body was insatiable after those dreams. She would wish they were real if only so her body's aching could cease. If only so she could be relieved of this wild hunger and desperation with which she kissed those lips each night.

The dreams frightened her a bit at first, because of how intense they were. Bellatrix's lips were so soft and her body hard but pliant in all the right places. And she would take and take from Hermione, bending her, spreading her, thrusting into her with skilled fingers that were relentless in their quest to make Hermione cum. And she did cum. In her sleep. In her dreams. In the day world when she jilled off to the fresh memories of what she had imagined.

Very rarely was she allowed to touch or pleasure Bellatrix back. Only her mentor was allowed to touch her, to meld her into any position she wanted. She sent scores of marks down Hermione's delicate skin. Bit her hard enough to leave marks, gripped to leave bruises in purples and greens. Sometimes she went hard and blood would seep from crescent marks, from deep indents. Not that Hermione minded. She liked it. The pain and the pleasure, something she didn't know she needed or craved.

She had thought she wanted a gentle lover. Even a male lover. But it seemed she didn't know herself too well. And that Bellatrix was not only introducing her to a world of magic but to also a world of forbidden desires.

For after Hermione had spent herself, got rid of the arousal, she felt dirty. Like she had disrespected her mentor. She knew she had felt something romantic for the woman but had thought it was merely because she admired her so much and wanted to get closer to her.

It was concerning feeling this way, because how could she ever look the woman in her eyes again after thinking such dirty things? She was a mess. Now, she was dreading the time when her dreams with her mentor would begin again because of all this.

And yet.

And yet, a small part of her. The small part that was growing bigger, told her this was normal. The way things should be. That she shouldn't be ashamed of liking women. Of pleasuring herself to them. She just would have to be careful to never think about this in the other woman's presence especially because she could read minds if she wanted to.

While Hermione longed for her mentor's appearance once more, a longing that settled in her body and made her feel heavy and her bones weary, she got closer to Ginny. Ginny who was bullied as badly as Hermione had once been. Not that Hermione wasn't still bullied. They pushed her and shoved her around and left nasty surprises in her locker.

But she wasn't weak now. She wouldn't let these insults stand. So when no one was looking, she went and got revenge by pranking them. And it was glorious, for those three idiots had no idea on what was going on.

Pansy found dog shit in her book bag when she went to take out a book for class. Blaise found his hair green and his teeth the size of a beaver's and Daphne was suddenly farting every two minutes. They were all spells that would wear off in a while but they made Hermione crack a grin and hold back her laughter so much she felt she would burst a blood vessel, as she watched them rage and accuse any students standing around them at the time it happened.

Some of these things weren't explained easily and they were so confused and distraught by all this. Their tiny brains could not comprehend.

Ginny too shared in the bullies misery. "Are you doing this?" she asked, one bright eye focused on Hermione because her other one had been bandaged up after she had gotten punched so hard in it, her eye socket bone had shattered and she had needed surgery for it.

Hermione's hands had shook when she learned about it, and if that day she had pranked the three bullies to trip and fall down the stairs than so be it.

Hermione gave a coy yet innocent smile. "I don't know what you mean."

Ginny didn't pursue the topic more. The two of them had become fast friends, sticking together whenever they could. Hermione had learned a lot about the red haired girl and found that she was a native born Brit but had moved here when her dad needed new work. She was into sports, and the color red, plus she loved to eat crazy amounts of food especially with cinnamon on it.

And most of all, she was kind.

Their friendship grew quickly, born out of the necessity of needing each other emotionally to get through the torment of their early teenage years. They did homework together, ate lunch together, and talked on many topics, never finding themselves shy of conversation. And Ginny was happy. When she was with Hermione the smile on her face was never ending and it made Hermione feel warm to know she could make someone feel happy like this.

The brunette felt like she mattered. Like she made a difference, even if it was in one person's life for now. Soon, soon she would be helping more.

Any grief Ginny received from being bullied was wiped away by Hermione simply being next to her and caring for her. But one night her anguish had blown up full force.

They had both shared a bottle of wine between them and Hermione had no tolerance for it. Neither did Ginny, given the red nose and half lidded eyes. "Ya know," she slurred, slumping onto the bed. "Sometimes I wish I could just, -hic- snap my fingers and get rid of all the bad people in the world."

Hermione could feel a rock sit in her stomach. That was exactly what she wanted. She didn't talk; she let Ginny finish.

The red head had her hands up in the air, looking at the freckled backs of them as she spoke. "I would get rid of them to protect the good people in this world. Those who were innocent. No one deserves pain, but there are -hic- assholes out there who make pain for those who don't deserve it."

"And you would kill all those bad people?" Hermione asked from where she lay on the floor, the itchy and stiff carpet fibers biting into her back. She really needed a better carpet. She wondered if she could magic one up.

Ginny peeked her head to look down at Hermione. "I would. If it meant others didn't have to go through this shit like you and me did. Then I would do it for the greater good."

"But isn't it bad then? To kill is bad."

"Not if you do if for good reason. Self defense it's okay. Just like," Ginny waved a hand in the air, unable to voice what she meant. "You know what I mean. Sometimes it's okay to do bad things as long as there are good results."

Hermione drunkenly contemplated this, her mind whirling. There was no question about it. She would love to pay back Blaise, Pansy, and Daphne for all they had done to her. Pranks weren't enough. Sure, they were funny, but they didn't actually hurt them.

She wanted them to be afraid of her.

They didn't even know she was the one doing the pranks. Sure it had been funny they hadn't known, like a private joke. But it had lost the spark. What good was doing all that if the bullies only went back to bullying more? And they had been tame recently. That was never good. Usually in the past it meant they were planning something. Something truly dreadful. She hated to think what it was.

She needed them to be stopped. She needed them to fear her and respect her.

Suddenly what Bellatrix had said about respect being a true determination of Hermione's success at reforming the school came back up to her mind. She couldn't just prank them and expect to make real change like this. She had to actually put her foot forward and make an effort. She needed a battle plan.

A smile tugged up one end of her mouth as she fantasized of a revenge that would leave them pissing in their shoes.

"I suppose," she answered softly to Ginny's question but her eyes were looking past her peering head, up to the bright light of the ceiling bulb as her mind wandered on what she would do.

"Are you real?" Hermione blurted out of the blue, startling Bellatrix so that she let out a wild laugh and held her belly as she let it out.

"Am I real? Star, did you only really think to ask me that now?" her all consuming eyes turned to Hermione, holding her still. The young girl began to feel foolish of her inquiry.

"It's just that-these are all dreams. I know that they must somewhat be true because the books and potions and the wand I have in them are real and back with me in my waking world. But everything else-you, the house, the town we visit and the lands around it- I have not seen. How are you even communicating with me right now?"

"I see my long absence has made your heart fonder," she cooed, not in a rude manner but a lightly teasing one. "Here." She took Hermione's hand and placed it over her breast, right where her heart was. "Do you not feel how my heart beats and the blood thrums under it? How my chest heaves with my inhales and exhales?"

Hermione nodded her head, mouth dry.

She could feel it alright; the steady and strong pounding of her mentor's heart. But she could also feel the warmth and softness of her breast through the material of her silken shirt with a swallow tail at the top. It was distracting. Making it hard for her to focus on what Bellatrix was saying next.

"I am real. Just because I do not come back with you to the waking world does not mean I cannot."

"Why don't you," Hermione blurts out more words, cursing her young heart and girlish crush and the admiration she is having on her mentor. Oh, she knows it's a crush now. Not when her dreams had been so filthy and hungry, wanting more of Bellatrix. Needing more of her.

Perhaps it's not a crush than. Crushes are cute, sweet, and innocent; reminiscent of childhood. Hermione's dreams were full of lust and blood and brimming power. Of carnal desire that made her insides churn with need. A need to get impossibly close and even then it wouldn't be enough.

So, an obsession then.

"Because it is not yet time. You need to train more. Learn more. And when you are done, I will take you from your wretched surroundings."

"Why not now? My parents wouldn't even mind me leaving. I could just come up with a lie. Say I got a scholarship to a good school-"

"A great witch is not only defined by her magic potency but by her circumstances. Those born to squalor, fighting against the tides, rise high. Those who have it easy, are easy to defeat," she cupped Hermione's chin as she said this before leaning in and kissing her on her forehead. "Don't forget that, my star," she murmured against the skin there, sending shivers down Hermione's spine. She closed her eyes briefly.

Damn. Her feelings had grown stronger so quickly that it left her dizzy sometimes. Feeling unable to stop spinning in this still world. She looked forward to her lessons at the same time she dreaded them.

And she knew she had to keep her mind shut from her mentor. Not to think of the dreams, otherwise that could make things a lot more awkward. And she didn't want that right now. She just wanted to get back to her training's. It had been three weeks since she'd been to one and her evenings had felt so empty, her mornings so bleak, without it.

But now she was electric with excitement of having them back. Of having Bellatrix back.

The woman was currently eating up Hermione's expressions. "You are so adorable. Like a puppy. Are you truly that happy to see me?" she asked, softly.

Hermione nodded her head reluctantly to share this information. "I'm-I'm just happy to progress. And to learn from you."

Bellatrix smiled approvingly at this.

"During lunch, you might have a surprise. Wait on the steps in front of your school. Do keep an open mind about it."

Hermione opened her mouth to ask questions but Bellatrix cut in. "And don't ask questions. Just do as your told, so that you might be back for class in time. I don't want your other studies to slack just because." She gave a knowing grin.

"A 90 isn't bad," Hermione mumbled as she crossed her arms and then she was awake in her bed, sitting up with a huff.

She kicked her covers off and got ready for school.

All day long she was antsy with the anticipation of what surprise would be awaiting her during lunch. A new wand? New books? Bellatrix showing up to see her?

That idea made irrepressible joy fill her but she tempted down on it because she knew that wasn't the cause; Bellatrix had said as much.

So, when lunch finally arrives, she shots up from her chair and rushes out of the room, going outside, wondering what surprise will be for her there. She waits on the steps and nearly screams out loud when something pops into existence next to her. She bolts up from where she had been sitting as the creature bows in front of her, it's droopy ears flopping.

"Gibbsy is here to serve miss Hermione. To take her to the practice site," he intoned in a tinny voice. It was grating on the ears. He got up from his bow, affording Hermione a better look at his ugly countenance. Long nose, short stature, and big ears. She had seen his kind somewhere before. He was a house elf. Was he Bellatrix's?

She gave a nervous look around. Had anyone else seen him? He noticed her distress.

"Don't worry Miss. No one can see Gibbsy if Gibbsy does not want," he assured and then held out his hand. "Bellatrix has told Gibbsy to take the young miss to the training. Hold on."

A training? Would she use her new found witch abilities there?

She was reluctant to take his hand but did so, because if Bellatrix had sent him, then it meant he could be trusted. As soon as she took it, the world blurred around her and with a gasp she let go just as the surroundings came into focus again. She found herself somewhere else entirely.

"Where am I?"

"Gibbsy used magic to teleport us to the training ground."

"This is just another town," Hermione said, recognizing this place as a town nearby to the town where she lived. She was currently in an alleyway with Gibbsy and it was a quiet day.

"Yes. Mistress wants you to train here."

"Train? To do what?"

"She wants you to use your magic and cast harmless jinxes on passerbys without getting caught. All this to prove you can do magic."

"But I can do magic," Hermione insisted, confused by this. Bellatrix had seen her do it, so why demand it?

"Yes, but sometimes magic must be cast on others. And she wants to test if you can cast it."

Well, that wouldn't be too hard. Hermione had been casting pranks all the time on the three idiot bullies. This would just be a walk in the park for her. She let the wand slide out from where she hid it up her long sleeves. She never knew when she might need it. Luckily, Bellatrix had been requesting Hermione take lower doses of the restraining potion because the young witch was in more control of her magic and wouldn't need the potions aid. This lower dosage allowed Hermione to do minor spells easily but she would not be able to do big ones.

She twirled the wand between her fingers, feeling it's unyielding firmness.

"How long do I have to do this for?" she asked, determined to do well.

"Just for a little bit. Gibbsy will prepare some lunch for Miss Hermione in the meantime." And he disappeared with a poof, leaving the young witch alone in the alleyway.

Hermione eventually settled on some jelly legs jinks on unsuspecting people carrying groceries. There cries of surprise as they suddenly couldn't support themselves and thus dropped their bags as a result, was hilarious and Hermione had to stifle her laughter at seeing them becoming so bewildered.

She wandered around the park, or the shops and when half an hour had passed, Gibbsy popped up and took her away to the park where he had a lavish picnic spread out. It was a bit chilly to be eating outdoors but when she sat on the blanket she found it had magically warmed, so that she was enveloped in a bubble of warm air as she ate the delicious food he set out for her, all which was on gold plates.

She didn't even get to finish all of it, so full she became.

"Mistress wants Miss Hermione to do this every Thursday during lunch time with Gibbsy."

That was interesting. Seemed Bellatrix now that she had trained Hermione, wanted to have her work the spells outside of their sessions and with real time experience. Hermione didn't mind. After all, she was here to become the best witch she could be. And, Gibbsy did make one hell of a lunch.

She just had to make sure she didn't get caught by the townsfolk.

When Hermione walks into her house that evening she is shocked to find both her parents sitting on the couch, looking expectantly at her. "Uh, is everything okay?" she asks, shutting the front door behind her and tapping snow off of her shoes.

"No. It's not. We need to talk about your grades," her dad says and indicates for the chair in front of the couch for Hermione to sit in. Her stomach churns in nerves and she takes the seat. Folds her hands across her lap, awaits their words with a brave face.

"Hermione, we've noticed your grades have been going down," her mother produces a report card for the fall semester. She opens it and shows it to Hermione, who notices there's a couple A's there, and one B plus.

"These are the lowest grades you've had in...in forever. Is everything alright? Is something bothering you?" her dad pressed, leaning in towards her as if this might give him the answers he wanted.

She almost wants to laugh out loud. Now, they notice something wrong? But when she had been bullied they hadn't been able to see the misery on her face? The scars on her forearm under her long sleeve itch and she is tempted to scratch them until they bleed.

"I'm fine," she murmurs and knows they aren't convinced.

"Is it because you haven't been sleeping well? You look tired all the time Hermione. You barely talk to us and you barely eat at home," her mother adds on.

All false. She sleeps well at night, knowing that shutting her eyes brings her closer to Bellatrix. She doesn't talk to anyone who gets in the way of her nightly teachings. And she always eats herself full at Bellatrix's mansion; she has no need for her mothers sub-par cooking.

Hermione shakes her head. "I'm fine. I promise. Better than ever, actually." She smiles and gets up, deciding this is the end of the conversation. She has no more to contribute to this.

"Hermione!" her father cries out in alarm as she goes upstairs and throws herself onto her bed.

"She's almost there," the younger witch spoke, leaning against a door frame to the older witch's bedroom. The older witch had her back to her, brushing her hair with an ornate brush as she gazed into a magical mirror that did not reflect her visage.

"He will be most pleased to hear this."

"I only need the potion of Tempus Mortis to continue with my scheme. To finalize it."

"And what of them? Can they be trusted to carry this out?"

"Of course not. They need an extra nudge to do the deed. But I trust that you've already thought about the ramifications of it."

There was a confirming hum. "I took care of the needed arraignment myself. You know how he is. He needed complete assurance it would be a success."

"He doesn't trust me?" the younger witch pouted. "But I have done nothing to disprove my trustworthiness."

"And neither have you done enough to prove it."

The younger witch frowned, but without another word she left, leaving the other to finish brushing her hair in silence.

"Today, we are going to learn the unforgivables."

"What are those?"

"What does the title sound like, my star," Bellatrix huffs in amusement, twirling her wand through a curl in her hair. Hermione finds herself momentarily distracted by that but shakes herself back to focus. "Um, something bad?"

Bellatrix tsks. "There is no such thing as an evil spell. It is only how the spell is used that can make it evil. Now, there are three of these spells. And we are going to learn how to cast all of them."

"Aren't they dangerous? Or to high level for me to learn?" Hermione asks because she's not certain if she's progressed high enough to get to learning them.

"Don't be daft. You're a stellar student and you are more than ready to progress onto these new spells." Bellatrix brandished her wand. "Now, don't copy me just yet. Simply observe my casting and the effects when the spell is used."

Bellatrix revealed a rat in a cage. She took it out and placed it on a table. It began to wiggle it's nose, sniffing it's new surroundings. She stepped back and pointed her wand at it. "Imperio!"

The rat froze.

"Hop up and down for me," she commanded and the rat began to do exactly what she asked. "Spin." It did so as well.

"This spell, controls motor functions?" Hermione inquired with her best guess.

"Close. Keep going," Bellatrix encouraged.

"Controls minds?"

"Excellent!" the dark haired witch exclaimed.

Hermione's eyes were wide in wonder. "There are spells that control others minds? Isn't that dangerous? And a violation?" But even as she said this, her mind was lingering on if she could use this spell, she would make the bullies stop their bullying.

"Wrong," Bellatrix sounded off, and Hermione felt a prick in her mind, symbolizing Bellatrix had dived into it. "When a caster casts it, they need to actively keep it turned on. You cannot simply cast it and walk off with your day. It is an active spell and it takes quite a toll on whoever uses it because it becomes your mind over theres."

Hermione is bitterly disappointed by this. "I suppose that's swell then, so people don't go around controlling whoever they want."

"It's also banned by our government because it's a messy spell to deal with and no one likes being mind controlled. In the wrong hands it can cause a lot of damage which is why it's not taught in schools today. A pity, really, since it's also important to know how to throw the spell off."

"You can throw it off?"

"Naturally, but it takes a lot of training to do so."

"Will I be learning how to do it?"

"If we have time, but it's not a major concern of ours right now since not a lot of witches or wizards know this spell, it's quite unlikely to run into anyone who knows it."

"Now, you try it."

Hermione didn't know how she would get into the mind of a rat, but she wouldn't know until she tried. She flicked her wand like Bellatrix had and saw the rat stiffen. "Uh, chase your tail."

The rat did this. Hermione let the spell go. "That was easy," she said in astonishment.

"Because it was a rat mind. Not much to struggle in controlling them," the dark witch said. "Humans are harder to control. And I would advise against trying but the spell can also backfire and hurt your mind."

Bellatrix then turned her attentions back to the rat. "Crucio!"

The rat began to screech in pain, writhing on the table. Hermione's eyes went wide at this and her breath stuck in her throat. Before she could even say anything about it, Bellatrix stopped the spell and the rat lay their weakly, barely moving.

"This is a torture spell. I want you to try it."

"Try it?!" Hermione blubbered. "But I- I don't want to hurt the creature!"

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "It's just a rat. And you're letting your compuncture about a rat, get in the way of your training. If you don't finish learning these three spells then you can't progress," she explained sternly and non-apologetically.

"But why must I learn them?"

"Because, is it not best to know ones history than to be blind to it? We have to know these spells, all witches and wizards, so that we can avoid using them or avoid having them used on us," she sagely said. "Besides, you need not do these spells ever. You only need to learn them so we can moved onto other spells, spells more complicated as these."

Hermione twisted up her lips. Hurting another animal...? She didn't want to do it.

But Bellatrix was right. It was only a rat. And...Hermione did want to progress. She didn't want to be stuck on this point in her lessons.

She would just do it quickly. Would close her eyes as she did it.

She raised a shaky hand and shouted out the spell name. "Crucio!"

There was no squealing; she opened her eyes. The rat was fine. "Did I do it wrong?" a tinge of relief swept through her.

"Yes. You need to actually wish pain in order for it to happen. You have to have intent for it."

That was a whole other level of wrong, Hermione thought to herself. "I don't think I can dredge that feeling up. It's never done anything to me."

"Think of your bullies. Of all the hurt they gave you. Think of this rat as being a possession of theirs, and that by hurting it, you can hurt them." Bellatrix's voice was darkly seductive as she said this and almost as if by command, Hermione could feel the anger flowing through her. She raised her wand, ready to try once more.

"Crucio!" Still nothing. She focused on that rage more. "Crucio!" The rat jerked and then began shrieking in pain. Shocked, Hermione's anger faded away and she dropped the spell. The rat stopped hurting. Adrenaline shot through her veins. She had done it. She had learned the spell.

"Good job, my star," Bellatrix praised. "Though it was a weak crucio, we'll work on it a bit more later."

Hermione dreaded the idea of that, but she dread a halt in her progress even more, so she said nothing.

"The last curse, is the Killing Curse," Bellatrix said softly and with a flick of her wand, a green light shot out. "Avada Kedavra."

The rat let out one last sound and then it never moved again. Hermione felt a cold chill go down her back. She wasn't surprised there was a killing spell. But, she was surprised by how simple it was to cast.

Her throat went dry. Torturing one thing was something else. But killing it?

At least the rat was dead and she wouldn't have to do it. "This is for later," Bellatrix pocketed her wand, coming up to Hermione and running a hand through her brunette hair. She leaned down and gives Hermione a kiss on the cheek that was a bit too close to her lips. Hermione's whole face began to tingle and she could feel her heart rate skyrocket.

Suddenly, she felt like she could torture or kill as many rats as Bellatrix wanted as long as Hermione would get kisses like those. Bellatrix's lips were so soft and warm. They felt almost like they did in Hermione's dreams, when they weren't biting or nipping at flesh.

And soon Hermione's about to eat her own words because the next night she's expected to kill an even larger animal. A horse.

"I want you to do all three spells on it. Quickly now," Bellatrix urged as they stood outside where the horse was grazing on a grassy pasture, oblivious to what would happen.

"But I-"

"Do I hear objections coming from your mouth? The quicker you do this, you show me you can do it, and I can move on to our next ordained lessons," Bellatrix said hastily. It seemed she had a short temper today and Hermione's reluctance was only exasperating it.

Steeling herself, for she never did like disappointing her mentor or her own witch kind, she began to showcase her spells.

"Imperio!"

The horse began to gallop, then walk on two legs. Hermione could feel a bead of perspiration slide down her back. Controlling a horse brain was harder than a rat, though probably still phenomenally easier than a human one she was sure. Bellatrix nodded her head as she watched Hermione's progress, indicating for her to go on.

Hermione's mouth felt dry as she shouted out, "crucio!" Focusing on really wanting to hurt this animal. On being pissed with it so her torture spell would work.

The horse fell to the ground, neighing in pain. She clamped her lips shut and kept the spell up for ten seconds before she dropped it. Bellatrix nodded her head, making sure Hermione continued onwards.

Hermione knew was coming up next. She had to bolster herself; get it done as quickly as possible. Like ripping off a band aid. Now Hermione's mouth tasted sour as she uttered the last spell. "Avada Kedvra." Said so softly she thought maybe it wouldn't work. But it did.

She watched as her flash of green light took the light from the horses eyes. It stopped twitching, or breathing, or anything. She felt a cold sweat drench her. She didn't feel comfortable killing the animal but...it wasn't nearly as awful as she thought it would be. She thought she would feel worse over it. But she didn't. She only felt mildly guilty and horrified by what she had done.

"Good job my star," Bellatrix praised. "You've passed the hardest part of being a witch." She approached Hermione, digging a hand through her brown curls. "Soon, you'll be doing even grander things. I am sure of it."

And those warm words made Hermione forget she had killed an animal, because a promise of power was too much. She smiled up at her mentor and the two of them looked at the dead animal, both seeing different things in it. Hermione, her future as a witch, and Bellatrix, a future that was dark for the young woman.

A/N: Steadily getting there, step by step. Hermione isn't aware of it but she's becoming darker with each lesson. There's clues on Hermione's progress to the dark side in what she wears when she's in the dream state. White: innocence. Gray: morals lowered. Red: blood. Black: corruption.