Sub title: The Unexpected. Or would've been expected if Helena paid attention.
The Dark Arts had always been demanding in ways that students never knew. But for those bare few who actually understood the limitations of the Dark Arts often underestimated the ability. Amycus Carrow, who not only thought that this particular branch of magic was limited to torture, killing and controlling, but he often shared the view and dangerously underestimated this magic. Therefore, it was common knowledge that he wasn't very well prepared in these lessons, and to nobody's surprise - he did not live up to the standard provided by the current Headmaster of the school.
So a week after Voldemort had confronted Helena, he seemed it fitting for Mr Carrow to 'carry on elsewhere' on 'much more important business'. In short, he was in a distant role, entirely unrelated to Hogwarts school. Not to mention that it wasn't even high demanding and perceived to have such low importance that Voldemort didn't seem to care of the certain risks involved. Since then, he hasn't been heard of, and probably is dead for all we know.
But apparently, the unexpected took a spin on these lessons. Or more likely, it would've been expected if Helena simply paid attention to what the Dark Lord said to her last week - or more about Mr Carrow not even being there when the weekend ended. Though, Helena neither cared or wanted to know about Mr Carrow's sorrow and was deeply surprised - even shocked - when she found out who would be pursuing these lessons with them from here on.
And so it was to be Monday afternoon, where they found out the abysmal news of who they'd have to endure for at least 2 hours every Monday and Friday. The door opened and several surprised gasps came from the group. Yes, you guessed it... Peter Pettigrew - I'M KIDDING. Anyway, the Dark Lord stood there. No one dared to mutter but most people just stared like they were suddenly in the presence of royalty. Voldemort smirked amusingly as Helena's face was in utter bemusement.
"Enter," he said, going in first. The rest of the class followed in silence.
No sooner than they sat down, Katie's hand shot up into the air.
Surprisingly, Voldemort said, "Yes, Katie?"
"My Lord, where is Professor Carrow?" she asked.
Helena immediately went to stand on her foot and crush it. Katie winced slightly.
"That's none of your concern, is it Katie?"
"But -"
Helena cut her off with a silencing charm. Katie glared at her furiously.
"It's for your own good you know," she muttered to her.
Katie didn't talk to her all day after that.
"Now as you're all probably realising, Professor Carrow is indeed not here. I have deemed him inappropriate to teach these lessons and until I can find a suitable substitute for you. I will be taking these lessons much to some people's displeasure," he smirked at Helena.
Helena groaned inaudibly.
"Now as I am fairly aware, you are all deeply behind in these lessons and so I will start with what you should've been able to do at least last year. Now - the Unforgivable curses."
Helena covered her face with her hands. She expected the worst.
"You all need to understand how to use them effectively - and I know some of you are resentful toward them," he paused and looked at Helena. "Yet these are the most powerful spells in the entire wizarding world. They're also the most important to learn. These are fairly obvious reasons to why they need to be learnt. So," he said, people sitting up sharp at this sudden change of tone. Some even looked alarm. Voldemort continued as though there hadn't been a change of atmosphere that had been tense moments before. "Can anyone here already cast a-so-called-Unforgivable Curse?"
Helena shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Everyone expected to raise her hand, yet she did not. She had never done an Unforgivable curse before and nor did she want to. After all, she had much better ways to duel people.
Voldemort knew that she was thinking all of this, and that was why he had rounded on her. But she wasn't surprised that he did.
"Let's see... Ah, yes, Miss Prince. You can be our volunteer," he said cruelly.
Her face went pale white and ice cold. Everyone was now paying their highest attention now - they were curious to see if Helena would accept and what she would be: the victim or the abuser.
"Fine," she said calmly, but very numbly. She drew out her wand of her pocket and stood up. All eyes were following her as she reached the front of the classroom. Voldemort then brought out a young boy covered in cuts and bruises and dried blood. He was pale white, though compared to Helena he looked like a polar bear. He had a great circular black bruise on his left eye, his lips big and swollen as though they'd been sliced open repeatedly with a sharpened knife. He was shaking and shivering as to plead to not harm him.
Helena saw the boy and went even whiter than she was before. She thought that she was going to faint, but somehow she could not. She somehow knew what she had to do before Voldemort even asked her to. Helena looked down at the boy and he had tears in his eyes.
"Now, can anyone tell me one of the Unforgivable curses?" Voldemort asked, not paying attention to Helena. Every hand went into the air, including a shaky one from Helena. "Yes, Miss Corner?"
"The Imperius curse," she answered, apparently honoured that the Dark Lord called on her first.
"Correct. Now, Helena, if you would please demonstrate."
Helena took a few deep breaths and stared at the young boy. She tried to ignore the fact that he was attempting to yell out, despite the silencing charm. She pointed her wand at him and thought wildly,
Do a back-flip.
In her mind loudly, then she said,
"Imperio."
And the boy did do an excellent back-flip.
One down, two to go, she thought grimly.
Voldemort seemed to be smiling as Helena made him do a back-flip. Or maybe it was because she was successful for doing so.
"Any others?" asked Voldemort.
Again, every hand rose up and Helena's was more confident than before.
"Mr Burke."
It only occurred to Helena now that Voldemort had learnt their names before coming into to teach today, or rather he had a list in front of him. Helena thought that the latter was more likely.
"The Cruciatus curse," he answered. This brought Helena back to reality.
"Yes. Helena, if you will..."
Helena knew that the curse needed it mean it, yet she couldn't feel like that to this pleading muggle-born... Then, she remembered why she had to do this - Voldemort was forcing her. She realised she wanted to cause him as much pain as possible. But not here. The only way she could get her revenge was by torturing this boy. She felt the desire to hurt him fill up her body. She knew she was ready.
"Crucio," she said, and the boy screamed with pain that she was giving him. She wanted him feeling as much pain as possible - she even wanted him dead.
Then, she stopped, heaving slightly, and the boy withered dramatically. She knew what was next and everyone was so startled that for the first time, everyone faltered and their hands were quite stiff and quite still beside their sides.
"Miss Fielding - perhaps you'd like to give us the last curse?" said Voldemort, his voice a whisper, yet so clear.
Katie shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"No? Ok, Helena - if you will."
Helena's throat want dry. The curse that tore her family apart. She couldn't do it.
Voldemort seemed to read her mind.
"Avada Kedavra," said Voldemort, killing the boy like he has done so many times before. His teary eyes went blank and cold - relieved that his suffering had finally ended. "The Killing curse kills instantly and painlessly. It is probably the easiest way to kill someone."
The bell rang distantly. Everyone looked around, shocked, surprised they were still in a classroom. How did two hours go by so quickly?
"That time already?" asked Voldemort to nobody, also surprised the hours went by so fast. "Homework: write a roll of parchment on the Unforgivable curses and how to use them."
Katie hastily scribbled this down in a notebook and left without a glance at Helena.
Authors note: THIS CHAPTER STARTED OFF AS THE BEST CHAPTER I'VE HONESTLY WRITTEN AND THEN IT TURNED DARK WITHOUT ME EXPECTING IT. It's still the best chapter I've ever wrote, though. And the sub title is there purely because I couldn't fit it all on as the actual chapter title.