A week before their Fifth Year started, Tom summoned his Knights to the Nott manor. Lord Nott promised that they were going to have the party of the lifetime.
"What are doing?" Rosier asked as he took a sip of Firewhiskey.
"I have no idea what my father has planned." Cantankerus shrugged. "Hermione went into his office the other day and when she came out they were both grinning like fools."
Tom arched en eyebrow in his witch's direction. "Mia?"
"Have you ever heard of a Dark Revel?" Hermione smirked.
The boys exchanged confused looks.
"I'll take that as a 'no'." Hermione shook her head in mock shame. "Tonight you boys get to practice your spells on living beings."
"You're serious?" Mulciber asked.
Hermione grinned. "Quite."
"What are we going to be practicing on?" Malfoy asked.
"Muggles." Lord Nott answered, levitating fifteen unconscious men and women into the front parlor.
Dolohov cast a nervous glance at Hermione.
"You made sure they wouldn't be missed?" Hermione tilted her head to the side.
Lord Nott spread his hand to the side. "Of course. Now, I'll leave you all to have fun."
"You won't be join us?" Tom asked, not out of any real desire for the man to join them, but out of social necessity.
"No." Lord Nott shook his head. "My time has passed, the future is yours."
Hermione gave him a small smile.
"So, are we supposed to pick a muggle?" Rosier whispered to Avery.
Avery frowned at him. "How am I supposed to know?"
"Tom." Hermione enjoyed the way his name rolled off her tongue. "Pair our followers with a muggle." Without waiting for an answer, she prowled through the quaking muggles. Spotting a young, blonde female, Hermione grinned as she yanked her up by the hair. "This one's mine."
Tom inclined his head, all too happy to oblige his witch.
"No, please." The woman struggled, kicking Hermione in the shins.
Grabbing the woman's wrist, Hermione twisted her arm behind her back. "Enough of that. Tom, it's time to practice.
Smirking, Tom started paring his cronies off.
Hermione dragged her muggle to the high backed chair and settled down into it. With a flick of her wand a collar appeared on the muggle's neck with a leash that ended in Hermione's hand.
"I'm not an animal!" The muggle exclaimed.
Arching an eyebrow, Hermione allowed her magic to lash out and slice into her cheek. The dark wisps lapping at the blood that welled on her skin allowed Hermione to draw strength from the woman.
The muggle woman cowered in the shadows.
"No." Hermione sneered. "You will watch." The wisp that had been lapping at the muggle's blood dug into her chin and jerked her head toward where the Knights of Walpurgis were practicing their magic.
The woman sobbed as friends and strangers were tortured in front of her, she wondered what this girl was going to do to her.
Hermione breathed deeply, breathing in the stench of fear and pain. Drinking in the sight of her Knights perfecting their spells. And Tom, Tom was an artist to behold. Unlike their peers, Tom didn't butcher his victim. No, Tom drew out their agony and had them begging for death.
When the last muggle's labored breath gurgled off, Hermione rose to her feet. "You all did well. Tom, your spell casting is beautiful to watch."
The young Dark Lord smirked, he had been showing off.
"Now, Knights, watch and learn." Hermione spun and face the muggle woman. Raising her wand, Hermione sneered as the fear rolling off the woman.
The woman suddenly arched off the ground and started screaming.
"The Cruciatus Curse, can be used wandlessly and wordlessly." Hermione instructed. "It can be used to gain information, or just for fun." Canceling the spell, she watched and the woman dry heaved onto the floor.
A snap was heard, and the muggle shrieked.
"Medical spells can be very useful, is used properly."
Tom smirked, so that was why she enjoyed light magic.
"And now," Hermione grinned as she walked over to the woman. "There is no reason why we can't use a little muggle violence."
The witch kicked the woman's shattered tibia.
"Please." The woman sobbed. "What did we ever do to you?"
Hermione snorted. "Nothing, we just need someone to practice on."
"But why?" The muggle just wanted to know why this was happening to her.
Softening her face, Hermione sent wisps of her magic to brush the woman's hair out of her face. "Because we can and need the practice." The magic that had been soothing the woman, shot out and blinded her.
The muggle jerked backwards. "Stop it!" She shrieked. "Just stop!"
Hermione smirked at her Knights. "And I have barely even started."
Cantankerus swallowed hard, while it had been enjoyable trying out the banned spells on the muggles, Hermione was just terrifying.
A/N: I did tell you there would be demons. Also, review; it's not that hard. I do it at least once a day, depending on how many updates I get.