Beautiful Darkness by EssTheDreamer

***Chapter Five***

The First Session

Hermione had been reading "Standard Spells for Year 7" when Draco popped up at the Magyck Librarium, alerting her with a pop that she'd grown to regard as familiar to apparition.

"Why are you reading a year ahead?" asked Draco. Durmstrang's curriculum was more advanced and packed with more classes than Hogwart's so he wasn't stressing, but he wondered why Hermione was.

"Hm? Oh, well, I read all the other books on the other years, and they just were too simple," she said. She motioned for him to get closer, and patted the ground for him to sit down next to her, which he did.

In one hand, Hermione held her book, in the other, she held her wand. On the floor in front of her, were a variety of objects, like acorns, buttons, and single earrings. They were all arranged in rows of organized columns, varying from size and color

"I decided to tackle transfiguration first," she said, waving her head and changing the color of an acorn into a deep violet.

"Honestly, Granger, you're taking this too simply. Changing colors is not going to help you in a real life scenario," said Draco.

"Huh? Why? It's not like living in the wizarding world is a life or death kind of thing," said Hermione, joking.

Little did she know, it wasn't, at least not in these times, thought Draco.

"Hermione … I don't know how to tell you this, but the wizarding world isn't all rainbows and unicorns. At the moment, there's a … conflict going on, for lack of better words. Sooner or later, there's going to be an all out war, and you can't change the color of someone's hair to stop someone. Some people are just going to kill you on the spot, or take even pleasure out of torturing you." Draco knew he was piling new and scary stuff on her all at once, but it was best to rip the hypothetical bandage off as quick as possible.

Hermione didn't know how to react. She'd read all about wizarding history, and most of it was bloody. Bloody and dangerous, and she had hoped that all the danger had left with the last wizarding war involving Lord Voldemort.

"Who … who started it? What's it concerning?"

Draco was surprised that Hermione had no particular reaction, not even horrified to this news; If he was guessing right, then she probably read all about it, or she just wasn't surprised by anything.

"The Dark Lord is at the head of it again. Some wizarding historians are calling it continuation of the last wizarding war, part two. Except, this time, it's a lot more deadly. What it's about, I don't know anymore. The last wizarding war was all about killing and separating our world from … yours, and it's just … I don't know. Muggleborns and muggles alike were killed, just for the sake of killing and separating. Now, the beginning of the war was started using the prejudice against purebloods and half-bloods and muggleborns. But now, it's just morphed into a game of power. If you've got it, and you're not scared of killing or hurting, then you join the Death Eater's. If you've got it, and you've got a pure heart made of gold, then you join the Order of the Phoenix. But, be warned, the Death Eater's look down on muggleborns," he said, the 'like you' part hanging in the air.

"Do I … do I need to chose a side?" said Hermione, timidly. She really wasn't a fan of violence, and tried to stay away from it, since all her life, she'd been hated for the violence of her accidental magic.

With hesitation, Draco said, "Yes. The Death Eater's kill any neutrals, and the Order won't protect you unless you're on their side. It's a cruel, cruel world, at the moment."

" … what side are you on?" she asked, after a moment of silence.

"I'm … my family, they were Death Eater's, so I … I'm a Death Eater," said the blond. He pulled up his sleeves, and motioned to his skull-and-serpent mark, which she'd seen the first day that they'd collided. "This, it's the mark, the mark of the Death Eater's, the Dark Lord's mark."

"Oh," said Hermione, not knowing what was best to say. "I thought it was a crazy cool tattoo," she said, trying to lighten the heavy mood.

Draco smiled, but it was a weak one. He knew he'd never be able to joke about this, no matter which future he would live in.

Just then, a thought occurred to Hermione. "Draco, since your family's been in the Death Eater's for a while, does that mean that they … and you, included, look down upon … people like me?"

There. The question Draco had been dreading, the question that would either weaken or strengthen their friendship. The questions on which he would need to be truthful on.

"I'll be honest, I used to. You see, I was raised with the belief that muggles and muggleborns alike are filth, filth at the bottom of my shoes, and then even less. I went with those beliefs, in the beginning, but I saw … someone, a muggleborn, who was amazing, and powerful. She went to Beauxbatons, and she was adopted by Purebloods. Senja Katrinavitch. But, then … she was tortured on my floor for being part of a neutral family, adding onto her being a mudblood, when I was 15. She wouldn't have been killed like that had she chosen a side, but she was a non-violent person, someone who advocated for rights and stuff like that. She was the sister I never had, you could say," said Draco, feeling tears come up. He'd never even knew that Senja was a muggleborn that was adopted till that fateful day.

He could still remember her heart-wrenching screams, he could still remember the way her tears stained her face, and he could still remember the way the light in her eyes left like a switch turned off

"But, it was what it was, and she died. And I … don't think that, that muggleborns are undeserving of magic anymore, I swear! Which is why, Hermione, you have to somehow demonstrate to the Death Eater's that you are a formidable opponent and someone they should fear. By the end of the summer."

Hermione looked at Draco. She took his hand, which was shaking from the memories,and squeezed it. "I understand, Draco. It's ok, really, and it's good that you've changed. We've got the rest of the summer, haven't we? We'll use it accordingly, and after, we can go out to the muggle world and show you one of my favorite things, relieve some of this stress!"

"Right, I'd forgotten I had agreed to that," hoping she'd not go to extremes. He'd heard of a muggle amusement park, and that just didn't sound nice. Composing himself, he moved onto talk about other things. "Ok, but before I start teaching you, show me what you've done so far."

"Well, I've done some Transfiguration, some Charm work, I've made some potions, and -" She was cut off by Draco.

"Show me, not tell me, Hermione. Saying is one thing, acting is another."

Glaring, Hermione picked up an acorn. She didn't even pick up her wand, she wandlessly transformed the acorn into a blue bird. Remembering what Draco told her about the ruthless state the wizarding world was in, she transfigured it into a sharp, jagged knife, which surprised Draco. Draco nodded at what she'd done, and she dropped the knife.

Then, she used a spell to shoot Draco to the other side of the room, which she'd prepared with a cushioning charm in case they started learning dueling early on.

"Granger, what in the hell are you doing?" he said, picking himself up from the floor and brushing off any dust.

She smirked. "I'm showing you what I learned, Malfoy. It's Show and Tell, wizarding edition."

She too stood up, picked up her wand, and used a charm to send the knife that she'd made at Draco. His eyes widened, but his instincts resulted in him putting up a shield charm just as the knife came near him.

At the collision of steel on magic, the knife burst into miniature pieces, but not of a knife, but of the original acorn. Of course, Hermione just transfigured another acorn into a knife and shot it back at him, this time being sure to add a spell so that it doesn't burst, but revert back into acorn form.

"Really, that's best you've got? Princess, I went to Durmstrang and I did dark magic. Over my summers, one of the darkest witches and wizards tutored me, " he said, dodging the numerous knives she'd made and putting up shield charms, as well as trying to shoot a Stupefy at her.

"Well then, instead of telling me the story of your life, shoot back!" Tired of playing with knives, she transformed the acorns into rabid dogs, taking inspiration from Akita barking in the background. Using a spell she'd read about in one of the dark spell books, she commanded them to attack Draco, but nothing fatal.

"Granger, what kind of books did you read? Controlling animals like this is illegal," he said, using a spell to jump up, and shooting every single dog back into an acorn using a Finite Incantatem and magnifying it so he didn't have to do it individually.

"Oh, nothing much, just one labeled "Druella Black's Guide To Control." It's not that illegal, is it? All's fair in learning and war, after all," she said, deciding to use her Elemental powers, the ones she had before meeting Draco this time. She wanted to try using a wand this time, for better access and control, but she was unable to block one of his Expelliarmus shots, and her vine wand flew out of her hand into Draco's.

"That illegal?" said Draco with amusement. "You really are something, Hermione Granger," he said, while pocketing her wand.

Just then, the ground of the library cracked open, sending Draco to one side of the room, after nearly falling in. "Granger! Where are you learning this, and how are you doing this without a wand?"

"Maybe I'm just gifted," she said, sending a blast of water at him. The water hit him full in the face, and Hermione strengthened the force at which she sent the water to make him topple down to the wet ground.

Hoping she didn't take it too far, she stopped the water force and raced to the other ride of the room where Draco lay.

"Draco … are you - are you okay?" she said to his unmoving and drenched body. Strands of wet blond hair was hanging over his eyes, letting droplets of water slide down his face. She leaned down to poke him, and when nothing happened, she started shaking him slightly.

"Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! Malfoy! Draco, wake up, wake up, wake up," she said. Just then, Draco woke up, and flipped her over so that he was over her with a giant smirk on his face.

"Princess, let me teach you something. When in battle, never let your compassion get the best of you, no matter how much you like who you're dueling. Just send an extra spell at them to make sure they're out, and leave without turning back. Or else, this will happen," he said. Hermione heard him, alright, but most of her brain was trying to ignore on how compromising this position was. Or how his breath smelled like vanilla and something minty. Or how the strands of his hair was beautifully arranged, even when wet or dripping on her face. Or how -

Hermione Jean Granger! Get a grip of yourself, she thought, blushing at her thoughts. She flipped Draco over while he was smugly smirking down on her, and said, "Well, Mr. Malfoy, if you're going to give me battle tactics, how about I give you one? Don't just sit on your enemy, tie them up," she said, binding him with an Incarcerous.

She then stood up and dried herself with a drying charm, thinking of putting one on Draco. She decided not to, and put the room back in order with a swish of her wand, glad that she'd been prepared with keeping the books and the furniture prepared with a couple of sticking charms and preservation charms so that their dueling wouldn't ruin them

"Hey! You can't just leave me here! I'm wet! And I'm supposed to be your tutor!" said Draco, indignantly.

Hermione snorted. "Some tutor, if your protégé beats you the first duel."

"How was I supposed to know you were going to pull out Elemental magic? And without a wand?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down on a chair with a book, calming her breathing rates. Soon, she was so immersed in her book, she never noticed Draco creep up on her. He pulled her up and hugged her tight, making her just as wet as he had been.

"Ugh! How did you get out? Why are you so cold, get away!" she said, trying in vain to push him away.

"Ah, ah, ah, little witch. You've forgotten I can do wandless magic like you. Quite simple to use a wandless Finite Incantem," he said, pulling Hermione to him as close as he could, savoring the warmth she provided.

She didn't like being wet, so she used a (wandless) warming charm on both of them. He finally let her go, much to the sadness of Hermione, now that they were both dry. But she wouldn't tell him that.

"Why didn't you just do that at first, Draco?"

"Now, now, what's the fun in that," smirked Draco, enjoying riling Hermione up. As much as he loved teasing her, they had bigger fish to fry. "Anyway, what else did you do? You mentioned making some potions?"

Nodding, Hermione went off and disappeared into a room, and brought out a crate full of vials of potions.

"You did all this in 3 days?" said Draco, bewildered at the rainbow of potions in the crate.

"Yes, well, you supplied me with enough vials and materials to last a couple of years, so I thought why not make the best of it. I made some useful potions, too, and some just for the sake of," she said, pointing to a swirling pink one.

She picked up the pink one and uncorked it. She took a whiff of it, bringing it to her nose. "Mmm, vanilla and chocolate, a little minty, new books, and- um, nevermind!"

Draco grinned. "So that's what your Amortentia smells like? Who's the lucky man?"

"Um, no one! Just … someone! Forget it," she said, blushing red, redder than Draco ever saw her so far.

He chucked, and brought the vial from her hands. He closed his eyes and breathed in. When he last smelled Amortentia, he hadn't liked anyone, so it just smelled like his favorite dessert, chocolate cake and green apples, memories of his childhood. "Hmm … spicy, delicious, and … butterscotch? I don't even know. It smells like -" He stopped himself from blurting out the name.

It was Hermione's time to tease. "Aww, Drakey-poo's got a widdle, little, crushy-wushy," she said in a high-pitched voice.

For the first time in Hermione's relationship with Draco, she saw him blush. His eyes were wide and he tried to cover it up by face palming, but Hermione saw it. She saw it, and she was laughing.

"Granger! Nothing to laugh over! It's no one in particular, I was going to say it smells like my childhood!"

"Sure, sure," she said, calming down her giggles. "Anyway, like I said, I have healing potions of different varieties in the top three rows, and the rest are different potions of different varieties, all labeled. I made five sets of Polyjuice, all we have to do is add the hair and consume, and since I had some time on my hands, so I attempted a couple of Felix Felicis, but it's not that good. The instructions said to turn it counterclock three times, the 2nd time a bit slowly, but I went slowly for the 2nd and 3rd time, so it's probably screwed up!"

It was Draco's time to laugh. "Granger, it's ok. My godfather, he's a potions master, and he's recalled thousands of times where he's had adjusted the recipes when the instructions are wrong. If you'd like, I could get you a couple copies of his handwritten notes if I ask nicely, I suppose. My birthday did pass recently, so I could work that out, somehow," he said, a plan already formulating in his mind.

"Well, whatever he may write, this is the latest updated version, so it will work, though it may not be the best. Want to test it out?"

"No, no, just put it away somewhere safe. We might actually need luck on our side. Wait, how many vials did you make?"

"Three. In science, it's like muggle potions and transfiguration and charms mixed together -"

"I know what science is Hermione. Wizarding culture may be somewhat ancient, but some people like to be kept updated."

"Yes,well, it's best to have three different trials, so I did three."

"Hmm, give me one, and I'll show you what happens when you put in a phoenix feather of a drop of basilisk venom," he said, looking for where Hermione put all the potions supplies.

"Here, let me take you. I kept all the potions stuff in a separate room, I think it used to be the break room for the librarians," she said, pulling him over to the room. It was quite small, but it held the essentials, tables and counters. Hermione had also brought in things to organize the supplies and such.

She fished through one of the clear plastic boxes where she kept the supplies. She pulled out a vial of Phoenix feathers, as well as one of Basilisk venom, as well as getting some empty vials and getting out the cauldrons.

"What the - why does basilisk venom and phoenix feather's cost so much?" she said, looking at the outrageous price tag on the vials. She'd done some research on wizarding currency, and now she knew as much as the average wizard did, if not more on the value of money.

"It's because these are used for dark potions and spells. The more expensive, the less produced and purchased, at least that's what the Ministry thinks. Maybe not the phoenix feathers as much, they tend to exist to stabilize potions more than leading to a more darker profile than the basilisk venom," he said, taking the vials and placing them on one of the counters.

"So what you're saying is that the Ministry is stupid for not thinking money will stop someone?" said the brunette, watching at Draco divided half of the Felix Felicis into two different cauldrons.

"Pretty much. If the Ministry was a little more effective, and less for show, maybe things would be different, and Voldemort would be a thing of the past. But, unfortunately, most of the Ministry higher-ups are the stupid ones, chosen by those just as dumb," said Draco. He got out a dropper, and pinched out some basilisk venom.

"You're going to want to be very accurate when dealing with the potions supplies that a litte more potent, doesn't matter whether it's used for dark or light potions. Just ingredients that are powerful as hell, you have to be careful. Like here, I'm adding in one drop, not too little, and not too much. Too much could result in a fatal explosion - which, by the way, a potioneer is always cautious of and has a shield ready - and too little could ruin the potion and result in a failure." Hermione took in every syllable, every word, every sentence Draco spoke, and stored it in her head.

The clear honey colored liquid of the Felix Felicis turned a shimmery green for just a second, before reverting back into Felix Felicis, the color change reflecting in both of their eyes.

"This is no longer just Felix Felicis, the lucky potion. It's a bad luck potion. This is rare, and extremely dangerous to the drinker. The bad luck won't be just stubbing your toe or something mundane like that, but something possibly fatal or just horrible in general, such as the death of a family member, or failure in battle. Don't ask me how it works, it just does, and it's been in the Malfoy family recipes for generations, used against the worst of enemies. Keep this in storage, but make sure to keep a few protective spells on it, just in case," he said, pouring the bad luck potion into a new vial and corking it, then proceeding to label it using his wand.

"Wow," said Hermione, nearly speechless. Draco had looked so concentrated at his work, and so at ease. She hoped she could just do that, rather than having to memorize directions.

"Don't worry about mastering potions, I've been doing it since I could walk. You're a pretty fast learner, I think in these two months of summer, you'll be well ahead of any Hogwart's, or even Durmstrang graduate," said Draco, reading the awed look in Hermione's golden eyes. Hermione basked in the praise.

"What happens when you add in a phoenix feather?" she enquired, staring at the orange-and-red feathers lying on the counter.

"Why don't you try? Just put in one feather," he said, stepping aside from the cauldrons.

Hermione waved her wand to ready a shield in case anything went wrong (also because Draco advised as such), and also used her wand to get the small phoenix feather out, and dropped it into the cauldron.

Just as soon as the phoenix met the liquid, the color went from a clear honey, to a shimmery, thick, gold. This time, it didn't revert back, it stayed the same.

"Now, Grang-Hermione, this is a highly illegal potion. This can give you the best of good luck there is. Felix Felicis isn't illegal in real life, just in games and other things like that, but this version of Felix Felicis, is illegal just because of how good and potent this is. Phoenix feathers are really rare, and like I said, they really stabilize a potion and add more to its purpose, so be careful when you use it. I'll try to get some more soon, by the way."

"Listen, rather than memorizing directions, just memorize the effect of certain ingredients and certain motions and what they do to the potion. That way, making a potion will just become 2nd nature to you," added Draco, hoping that this tip would help Hermione, like it once did for Draco.

Hermione nodded furiously. If she had a notepad and a pencil, she'd most likely write this down, but alas, she did not, so this was more to add to her file cabinet of knowledge on potions.

Draco checked his watch, and whistled. "Wow, this took longer than I anticipated. Well, Hermione, I should get going, see you soon, I guess."

"Wait, how do I know you'll pop up?" Frankly, Hermione was tired of waiting for Draco to show up, she was not a patient person.

"I don't know Hermione, I really am sorry, but I'll explain it to you one day-"

"Explain. Now, please, you've done a lot of explaining today, why don't you do some more?" glared Hermione.

Draco returned the glare head on, but replied, "Fine. You want to know the truth? You already know I'm on the dark side, but what you didn't know is that the Dark-fucking-Lord lives under my roof, and if he were to get suspicious of what I do when I visit you, you would die, after getting tortured, and then I would die as well. Are you happy, now?"

The truth of what Draco said hit Hermione straight in the face, and she felt sorry for pushing Draco. "Draco, I'm sorry! I didn't know - you know what!"

Draco looked at her outburst with a question in his eyes.

"Not only will I learn, I'm going to push myself to the limits! You should as well! If push comes to shove, don't you want to be ready to at least hit Lord Voldy with your best? Don't you want to go down with a blast?"

Draco didn't know whether to laugh at Hermione's enthusiasm, or let it wash over him as well. He settled on a smile. "I can try. Two heads are better than one. Anyway, I really need to get going now. Use you owl, Hermione. Oh, I'll be taking Akita back with me today, I told mother I had to pick something up, might as well him. I promise to bring him back, I suppose," he said, calling for Akita.

"Yes, I'll owl. I just tell Midnight to take the letter to you, right? Nothing else, nothing big?"

"Yep, just remember to tell her to make sure she's not sighted. My aunt … has a tendency to just, well, kill anything that moves, if she's feeling like it, so fair warning, you know," said Draco, sheepishly, grabbing onto Akita's leash as he came, walking to him.

"I swear, Malfoy, your family, I just - I don't even … just go, bye!" said Hermione, smiling and shaking her head, waving to Draco.

"Bye, Granger, see ya whenever!" he said, before disappearing in a pop.

When he arrived back at the Manor, he realized he never told Hermione about Dumbledore.

Better hold that thought for later, maybe at the end of our training sessions, thought Draco.

Akita barked beside him, as if letting Draco know that was the right idea. Draco petted the dog, and thought, You're right, Akita. I really don't want her blowing me up.

AN: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another chapter! This is my new longest chapter, 4,400+ words, whew! I was surprised at how the words came pouring out, haha. This is also my favorite chapter, the action/dueling scene and the semi-flirting was super fun to write!

I hope I'm not cramming things in or rushing things. The reason I try to pack so much stuff about the wizarding world in is because Hermione doesn't know about this stuff, and Draco's teaching her, so I'm trying to be realistic rather than having her just read everything, because something's, you need real world experience in, lol

Senja Katrinavitch is an OC of mine. I don't know if this is a real person, but if it is, quick disclaimer: not basing this OC based on any living or deceased person, animal, place, or thing. Just my brain. I figured Draco would need someone, something to pull him from his prejudiced beliefs, and who better than a person you regard as family?

Their Amortentia, you should be able to guess, I've placed clues in this chapter and the ones before. For example, the spicy part was mention near the end of Chapter Four.

Quick note on updates: winter breaks is ending, so that means updates are now slower, around once a week (or two, if I'm busy), especially these long chapters that I have a knack of writing, so sorry! My school is far from my place, so by the time I get home, its pretty late, and then all the HW that I have, projects, and another annoying things, so writing time is limited. But, I'll update whenever possible, and hopefully long chapters! Also, if you didn't know, I don't abandon fics, ever. PM if you feel that I did, and I'll respond back as quickly as possible that I am not abandoning, just writers block or not enough time.

Also, for all the responses to "The Right Mistake" one-shot/drabble that I did, thank you! If I ever have time, maybe I'll continue it, but for now, it will just stay in one-shot/drabble format in "A Collection of Silver and Gold".

Have a great day/night/whatever you're having,

Ess

Reviews are Hermione's skill, Draco's matching abilities, and ACORNS! (so you can transfigure them into whatever, lol)