A/N: Please read A/N's 2 and 3 at the bottom, as they are very important!

Chapter Six: Questioning Authority

Nicci Lestrange was focusing on cutting the necessary roots in Potions class, so as not to meet Jedidiah's eyes. She knew he was studying her, looking for the answer that plagued him, and the rest of the Slytherin house; why had she become so distant since fourth year?

She knew they were too scared to just ask. Her name carried that power, now that she was no longer friends with the Slytherins. That, and the rumor that she knew more Dark curses before she started her first year than the seventh years was enough to keep those who would question her at bay. But that wasn't just rumor. It was fact.

She poured the roots into her cauldron, and looked up into Jedidiah's eyes. His eyes widened in pure terror. Did he think she could curse him with a look?

Looking at her book to see what she had to do next, she smirked. Well, not with a look. A thought, maybe, but not a look. You don't need eye contact to kill a person, even if it is with a thought. This, she knew from experience.

Nicci had been a dangerous person.

But what had changed in her? Could she pinpoint the day when she stopped believing her parents? The day she had changed?

Concentrating once again on cutting the roots, she searched through her memories.

Then it came.

FLASHBACK

It was the summer before her fourth year, and Nicci had been invited to a meeting with the rest of the Death Eaters. As everyone apparated in, they took turns kissing the hem of the Dark Lord's robes. Even her parents had. What had happened to their lectures of never bowing down to anyone? And here they were, bowing down.

She was instructed to stand behind her parents, who had formed a circle with the rest of the Death Eaters. The Dark Lord was pacing inside the circle.

He stopped between her parents and looked right down at her. She could feel the evil emanating off of him. It was glorious. She stood up straighter and boldly met his eyes. Nicci Lestrange would bow down to no one. A small smile formed in the corners of his mouth. He turned to her parents.

"Have you discovered the whereabouts of the Potter boy?" the Dark Lord hissed.

Her mother performed a slight bow, and nearly stammered, "No, no my Lord. We need more time. He is very well protected…" But whatever she was about to say was cut short when both she and her father crumpled to the ground, withering in agony.

"I do not tolerate failure. Nor do I tolerate excuses," the Dark Lord said, as he held them under some sort of curse. It was lifted several seconds later. "Get up," he demanded. Her parents did as they were told. The Dark Lord clasped his hands behind his back, and continued to stroll around the inside of the circle. He came to a stop in front of another masked figure. "Severus, you are to be in charge of finding Potter from now on. With your ties to that fool, Dumbledore, it shouldn't be all that difficult."

Her potions professor performed a slight bow, just as her mother had. "Yes, my Lord. I will do as you command."

The Dark Lord began circling again. "Tonight, we have a very special treat for everyone." He stopped, pivioted a half circle, and nodded to the Death Eater in front of him. The Death Eater nodded, and left the circle. "Tonight, we will initiate our newest member." Nicci felt the blood drain from her face. The Death Eater who had left came back, dragging a young, limp, bloodied girl behind him. Her clothes were ripped, and blood was running from her broken nose. The Dark Lord continued to circle, coming to a stop once again in front of Nicci. "I have heard rumors of your power. I want to see if they are true. Kill this muggle, and join me!"

Nicci could feel the walls closing in on her. Her parents stepped to the side to allow her to enter the center of the circle. She swallowed, and stepped through the gap. The Death Eater holding the girl dropped her; her head made a sickening thump as it hit the ground. She pointed her wand at the girl's head.

She felt the rush of power she always did before she killed someone. What a poor defenseless creature. She let the feeling of power build inside her, taking her breath away. "Avada Kedavara" There was a jet of green light from her wand. Everything became white and her mind went blank, such was the high of her ectasy. Slowy reality came back to her and she realized someone behind her was clapping. Turning around slowly, she saw it was the Dark Lord.

"Congratulations. Hold out your left arm," he commanded. Still filled with the rush of having killed the girl, she obeyed. His cold hand gripped her wrist, and with his other hand, he pushed up her sleeve. He drew his wand, pointing it at her inside forearm.

He mutttered something, and her world exploded in pain.

END FLASHBACK

That night, she had become the youngest person to ever become a Death Eater. It was also the first time she had questioned her parents. From that day on, she'd questioned everything they'd ever said.

Were purebloods really better than mudbloods? She had only to look at Hermione Granger for the answer to that one. She had had the highest marks in her class, and was apparently the smartest girl in her class.

What really was the overall benefit of using Dark Magic? All it ever did was bring pain and suffering, usually to muggles or mudbloods. And Death Eaters if they 'deserved it.' How many times had she used Dark Magic to torture and kill muggles? Countless. And what had it accomplished? She had met many people, felt included, and felt a rush of power. But all these were't enough after for her after she started having questions. All it did was wear on her soul. There were those who said the reason they used Dark Magic was for power, and those who said for glory. She herself had said for power. But those who said that were the same people who bowed and scraped and groveled in front of the Dark Lord. Did they not realize the only power they had was through the grace of the Dark Lord, as was therefore only the illusion of power? She would rather have no power than the illusion of it.

Before she'd started her fourth year, she'd decided she no longer believed in many of the fundamentals of what they believed in, and that she would no longer be a part of it. Not overtly, obviously: that would have been suicide.

Because of that, she soon found she couldn't be around her friends in Slytherin, because she felt that if she was, she'd slip back to who she was before. And she didn't like that person. So, she broke up with Jedidiah, and slowly stopped hanging out with them, preferring solitiude.

But she'd always felt that she was the only one who felt this way, who'd given up the 'Dark Way.' However, after the final battle, she'd been sent to live with Nathan and Ann, two cousins she'd never met before then. At first, she'd been hesitant to reveal what she thought and felt, but she soon learned they'd also secretly turned from the Dark Side to the Light. They answered many of her questions and validated much of what she'd come to believe.

It had been a relief.

Soon, all too soon for her, class had ended. She bottled up her potion, which looked exactly like it was supposed to, and put it on her Professor's desk.

After packing up her books she left the classroom. Alone.

Always alone.

A/N: I'd like to thank my beta, HarryEstel, and my wonderful roomie Justine.

A/N2: Starangel brought up a good point in her last review. She said she felt the last chapter was just filler. If theres anyone who feels that way about this chapter or the last one, please reread them. They provide insight into two characters who will be playing very very big roles in my story, so its important to understand where they coming from. My story will have alot of internal dialogue that will help with understanding charachers. So please pay attention to it!

A/N3: Well folks, its that time of year again: I'm off to camp. I thankfully have plenty of chapters already written, so I will find a way to post. I won't have the time to reply through email to individual reviewers, and I don't think I'll have the time to copy and paste everyone to my story. But that doesn't mean that I won't be reading reviews, so please keep them coming. They'll help me get through camp!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed: Aqua Mage, HecateDeMort,