I made my way to the front hall at seven to find Swell waiting there for me.
"Ah. I was expecting you to come down earlier." Swell drawled.
"You did tell me seven didn't you?" I said acting the part of an apologetic little girl.
"Yes, seven. But it's a little odd that you have not given into the hunger yet." She was looking at me with a slight frown, staring at me as if she knew I was deceiving her. I had to think of something quick, she couldn't know that I had drank nearly every drop of Draco just the other day.
"Well, I didn't want you to think I was weak. So I've been restraining myself the entire day." Swell seemed to brighten at this and smirked at me.
"So strong." She murmured under her breath, "Come now. Let's hunt."
Swell lead me to the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"Hermione. Have you ever entered this forest before?" She asked in all seriousness.
"Yes." I nodded and she looked at me slyly. She obviously was up to date on my (mis)adventures with Harry and Ron.
"Listen well. There are creatures in there that can sense your power, either they will run from it knowing that they are weaker," she paused, "or they will seek you out to fight. I find that the ones stupid enough to think they are more powerful then us taste better." She finished with a smirk. I smiled back. The vicious nature in me was surfacing and the lust for blood wasn't far. We entered the forest in a stride, Swell walked on up ahead.
"Watch first." She commanded as she glared around at the surrounding trees. I knew what she was searching for. There was something trying to hide from us nearby. I could smell it. I watched as Swell bent her knees and steadied herself as she stepped forward one step. Then in an instant she leapt in the opposite direction in which she was looking. If I had blinked I probably would have missed it. I heard a growl then something small like a low yelp, I walked over cautiously to the brush. There, Swell sat with a small hilderbear in her lap, probably just a cub. Swell looked up into my eyes with ferocity before snapping the tiny animal's neck to the left and lowering her mouth to his furry collar. My eyes could not look away at this disgusting display of power. I was entranced and low in my throat I felt a hunger like the one I felt right before I sank my teeth in to Draco. Swell tossed the now limp body aside as if it was nothing and stood up to me. Her lips were the shade of blood and she began to speak,
"You'll get over the vileness of it. Now go. Hunt." With that she left me there, standing near the dead bear's body. I looked at it, so pitiful, it's eyes were still open and I could see the fear in them still. As I looked I felt the dread of its mother finding it. Swell wanted me to kill helpless animals.
"I will not do that." I mumbled aloud to myself and I started walking, searching for prey that would try to fight me of its own will.
