"He's not at the staff table." Hermione observed from the Gryffindor table on Monday morning.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry were sitting quieter than usual. Hermione was staring off into space, and Harry was tapping his fingers on the table nervously. Even Neville had to ask Ron if he was okay seeing has Ron had hardly touched his breakfast, a rarity for him.

"He hasn't been sitting there all week even though he started teaching on Thursday. It's so weird. He's never in the great hall. I haven't even seen him yet!" Ron said nervously as he continuously picked up and put down his fork unsure of how to act.

"My guess is they rest of the staff has made it clear he's not wanted. Even if he's had to bribe his way into teaching with student lives." Harry replied darkly. "Have either of you heard anything else about what his classes have been like so far since we last spoke?"

The trio and Draco had met over the weekend several times to discuss their predicament about Amycus and Hermione. They tried to gather as much information as possible from students who had already taken his class the previous week.

"Nothing." Ron said glumly, stabbing at his eggs.

"I tried to ask a Ravenclaw girl about it last night in the library." Hermione said, wringing her hands in her lap. "She looked nervous when I asked, then said it was 'fine' and walked away fairly quickly."

Hermione had only seen Amycus once from afar, he was roaming the upper corridors on Friday in-between classes and she only caught a glimpse of the back of his head. There was no mistaking it was him as he seemed to clear a path of students out of fear with just his presence. All of the students knew he was a death eater. The question on everyone's mind was what he was doing at Hogwarts, and how much power did he have there.

Hermione reached for her glass of water, the only thing she'd been able to keep down at breakfast so far. She took a gulp and her eyes automatically shifted to the Slytherin table where Draco sat. He was staring at her intently from afar, Pansy talking away into his ear, and him not listing to a word. His eyes shifted silver when he saw her glance, and they seemed to say more than words ever could. She knew that it was going to be nearly impossible for him to follow through with their plan today, but Hermione knew he'd keep his distance.

Their plan was simple enough. Feel out what Amycus' own plans were. Was he going to target Hermione today? Or wait a few days? No one knew what to expect, and the idea that the students were keeping quiet about the lessons was not a good sign.

They were to be on their best behavior today. No interference. Hermione needed them to stay safe, especially Harry. The power to be expelled and banished from Hogwarts still resided with McGonagall, but for how long they didn't know. She knew that if Harry felt that they were in danger he'd want to take them all out of Hogwarts, but Hermione knew that there were still horcruxes inside of Hogwarts to find and even if Amycus was at Hogwarts, they were still all safer inside its walls.

She averted her eyes from Draco when the bell for morning classes rang out, startling the trio into reality. The students in the great hall carelessly stood, chatting with their classmates loudly on topics of no importance. Hermione, Ron and Harry stayed glued to their seats.

"Don't you two dare do anything today other than what you're told." Hermione repeated for what felt like the thousandth time. "No matter what he does. Unless I'm on the brink of death I can handle it okay? Today is a test run. We can't blow this. We need to find out what his plans are. I can take more than a few curses, or an unforgivable. And I can definitely take a few insults."

"Unless your physical well being is in danger, we promise not to make a move." Harry said tensely.

It took the three boys days to agree to the plan, but Hermione knew it was the only way they could find out what Amycus' own plan for her was.

…

…

…

The trio entered the DADA classroom as late as they could without getting in trouble. Amycus had yet to show up, and oddly enough the class wasn't the chaotic state it usually was in before a Professor entered. A few students were whispering to each other quietly, and the rest were carefully taking out their books and preparing their wands and quills as much as they could. The room was filled with a static tension that Hermione couldn't shake as she took her seat near the back. Draco turned slightly in his chair a few rows in front of her and gave her a quick look to show he was alert and ready if he felt she needed him.

She shakily took out her wand and book, and hoped silently that she would not need Draco's interference today. She needed him safe, and she needed her friends safe. If Draco were to react poorly today to whatever Amycus might do, it would not fare well for anyone. He would be exposed as a spy and their lives would all come crashing down.

She exchanged a nervous look with Harry before diverting her eyes around the room. Amycus had decorated. McGonagall's simple style of a few books, and a desk in the front was completely upturned. Amycus had made the room feel nearly claustrophobic, even with only sixteen students in the room. Jars of sickly looking creatures in mysterious liquids formed a line along the various window sills, with curtains pulled shut. Every candle in the room was lit to make up for the lack of natural light and their orange glow was overbearing on Hermione's eyes. There were no paintings or portraits on the wall, but instead there were several different versions of the same mark strewn across every surface she could see. The mark was simple enough, a triangle with a circle inside, and what seemed to be a simple line down the middle. They were crude looking, as if a five year old had drawn it carelessly in crayon on the walls. She wondered how he had time to do it, and what it meant.

A loud bang echoed through the already quiet room, the door at the top of the stairs of the office slammed open and Amycus strode down the few steps. Hermione's stomach churned as she finally saw Amycus face to face for the first time. She wasn't surprised to find him seeking her out as he walked down the stairs, his mouth creeping into a no good smile as he reached the floor and turned to face the class.

She had seen him in pictures before, death eater warnings in the paper, the break out in Azkaban in fifth year, but nothing sent more chills down her spine than seeing him in person. His dark brown hair was cropped neatly around his face, and his pale blue eyes shone at her in the darkest sense, only illuminated slightly from the candle glow. He was tall, but still a few centimeters below Draco. He wasn't completely ugly as far as death eaters usually go. In fact, if it weren't for the psycho look in his eyes, and the sick twisted way his lips curved to form an up to absolutely no good smile he wouldn't have been horrible to look at.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts." His voice was deep and low, menacing. "So sorry I'm coming into the semester late, but there were a few…discrepancies that kept me from assuming the position." He began pacing up the aisle that was just one away from Hermione's as he spoke. Each time the floor of his dark boots hit the stone floor, she had to keep in a shiver.

"Hogwart's seems very concerned about these N.E.W.T things I'm supposed to be teaching you, but where is the practicality in an exam?"

He was almost halfway up the aisle now, hands behind his black cloak. He seemed to enjoy the fearful silence.

"I asked you all a question. Where is the practicality in an exam?"

"There is none." Hermione heard Draco say in a monotone from a ways in front of her.

"Very right Draco. There is no practicality. Not in the way the world is going that is. Maybe in the old world, but this is a new age. One where people like myself teach at Hogwarts, one where we can finally separate the students who should be here, from the…lesser ones."

"What's the supposed to mean?" An accusing voice rang out from the front of the classroom and Amycus whipped around so quickly, Hermione could feel the slight shift of air hit her face. He strode back the way he came and stopped in front of the student's desk who spoke.

It was Neville Longbottom. Hermione felt her face drain of color and she clenched her fists tight in her lap. She had hoped that something else would catch Amycus' attention today, but she didn't think it would have to be Neville.

"What is what supposed to mean?" Amycus asked dangerously as he glared down at Neville from the front of the desk.

"What does it mean when you say that some student's should be here and others not? I think everyone here received an acceptance letter which means we're all equally able to attend the school." Neville's voice was strong, and Hermione admired the way he stood up for indignation, but this was not the time.

"What is your name?" Amycus asked suspiciously.

"Neville Longbottom."

"Ah. Well as much as it pains me to say it Longbottom, you are one of the few that actually should be learning at Hogwarts. You should be thankful." Amycus started carefully. "However, as it is a privilege to be at Hogwarts, it would be prudent if you would keep your mouth SHUT when a Professor is speaking. Are we clear?"

Neville could only nod. What bravery he had moments ago seemed to be shocked out of him. Hermione suspected that he never thought a professor would speak to him that way at Hogwarts, Death Eater or not.

"Great. Now as I was saying. There are people, however annoying they may be, who as wizards and witches deserve to come to Hogwarts, and learn more hands on things about the wizarding world than they were exposed to by their parents as children." Amycus looked around the room expectantly at the blank faces. He was clearly waiting for someone else to step in and say something.

"Now the obvious question I thought you'd be asking now is: who are the people at Hogwarts who are here, but should not be?"

Hermione knew the answer, and so did everyone else in the classroom, but who could say such a thing out loud?

"People like her." Pansy Parkinson's shrill voice echoed in the room and Hermione flinched as she turned expecting her finger to be pointed directly in her face.

However, she was pointing to Kylie Sanders, a seventh year from Ravenclaw, who looked scared out of her mind at being called out so suddenly.

"And who is this Miss Parkinson?" Amycus asked darkly.

"A muggle-born." She answered smirking.

"Fascinating." Amycus smirked down at the girl who was now cowering in her seat. "You must be on my little list then. Your last name?"

"Sanders." The girl's voice faltered slightly.

"Let's see." Amycus pulled a short scroll out of his left cloak pocket and examined it for a bit. "Ah yes! Sanders. Such a…simple name. Of course you would be on this list."

Hermione's fluttering stomach seemed to drop completely from within. He was holding a list of names of all the muggle-borns. She watched Amycus slowly move away from Kylie, and Hermione could see her visibly relax as his overbearing presence left her.

"Well then, let's get the lesson started shall we? You'll need to be in pairs for this so when I call the names I'll ask you to move next to your partner."

Hermione watched analytically as he began to split the sixteen students up into eight pairs. She cringed when she was paired with Parkinson. She gazed around the room at the other pairs. They were all split up as perfectly as Amycus wanted it: one muggle-born and one pureblood or halfblood.

"Now let's all move these desks and form lines facing your partner." Amycus said as lightly as he could.

Hermione made to move over to stand next to Harry and Ron. If she was going to be paired with Pansy, at least she would be standing across from her and near her friends.

"Ah, ah, ah." Amycus grabbed her shoulder roughly and spun her around to face his cold eyes. Hermione could see Draco visibly tense on the other side of the room. "I forgot to separate you all."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, trying to keep his voice calm. He pointed to Kylie, his partner. "We're already in pairs."

Amycus consulted his list, his hand never leaving Hermione's shoulder. She could feel his skin burning hers through her robes. She wanted to shake him off.

"Sanders, Thomas, Mackay, Macmillian, Morrisey, Finch-Fletchley, Davis, and Granger. To one side of the room please." Amycus shoved Hermione slightly and released her towards the side of the room Hermione knew was for muggle-borns and questionables.

She lined up with the others, all looking anxiously at each other, knowing full well now what was going on. Hermione gripped her wand tightly, facing Pansy whose pug face was even more scrunched up into a sneer.

"Now I'd like you all to practice with this list of N.E.W.T spells I've been given eventually. However, as a bit of a warm up I'd like to start with some…curious spells I've been wanting to test."

Hermione was at least confident in knowing she could beat out Parkinson in a fight of magic, and she let herself relax and go into school mode.

She spotted Draco on the half-blood/pure-blood line across from her. Their eyes locked briefly before Amycus' voice interrupted.

"Alright, I think its best that we start with one side doing the spells and the others trying to deflect."

"Sounds reasonable." Dean Thomas whispered worriedly to Hermione from her left.

"So far." Hermione responded just as quietly.

"I'd like those trying to deflect to do so with their minds however. No time like the present to work on wandless magic. Expelliarmus!" Amycus pointed his wand at the muggle-born line and eight wands flew toward him. He grabbed them in the air and locked them in the desk behind him and stowed them in his robe pocket.

His evil smile cut daggers in Hermione and their eyes met across the room. The glow of the candles flickering in the dark room reflected flames in his blue eyes and sent the most sinister message to Hermione.

"Okay let's start with a mild shocking spell I've recently come across. It isn't exactly on the N.E.W.T list, but I believe it is useful for many occasions."

"But we've never even heard of that spell!" Neville said incredulously.

"I told you Longbottom, they are simply test spells. I've been dying to find subjects to use them on. Now the wand movement is simple enough, swish to the right and a stab through the air. The incantation is 'ofendiato'. On the count of three now."

Hermione and the other seven muggle-borns stood completely still and utterly defenseless. Dean Thomas turned to her in horror and Hermione grabbed the front of her robes gripping them tightly for support. She cast a quick look at Draco and knew they were both realizing the same thing, just as Amycus yelled 'three!'. This wasn't just an exercise in cruelty and segregation. Voldemort was having Amycus use the muggle-borns as test subjects. As if they were lab rats. Hermione's last thought before the shocking sensation hit her and rendered her temporarily paralyzed in pain, was that she was certain Parkinson's role as spell caster wouldn't be passed off to her anytime soon.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!