A Question of Loyalty

The Dark Arts are contrasted from Light Magic only through definitions given by various Ministries. Currently the British Ministry has precedence in the International Wizengamot to decide which spells are classified as Dark and which are classified as Light. However, within their own territories, countries may subvert these international laws as they please. Australia, for example, classifies the Imperius Curse not as a Dark spell but as one that must be monitored carefully by their Ministry much like the Obliviate charm.

There is no inherent difference between the two Magics. In fact, spells which are Dark now may have been Light in a bygone era. Nevertheless, there are still general differences between Dark spells and Light spells. Light spells generally have a Latin base to them and were developed by the British witches and wizards during the Dark Ages where wizardkind were hunted. Most Dark spells, however, have an Arabic root and were practiced freely in the Middle East until the Dark Ages. The true reason for the classification of that period in history as the Dark Ages refers to the assimilation of these Dark spells into the wizarding culture of Europe and especially Britain.

Hermione blinked and stared at the book in her hands. She had just skimmed over the first two paragraphs. Somehow, they were nothing like what she had expected a Dark Arts book to be like. She wasn't really sure what she had anticipated when she opened the book. Descriptions of ritual killings, maybe. Or perhaps even a step by step guide on how to cast Avada Kedavra. But certainly not this dry history of Dark Magic compared to Light Magic.

A small voice in the back of her mind cautioned her to be careful. There was a good chance that Lucius - seeing her reactions to the idea of Dark Magic in the Ministry - chose to take a theoretical approach.

Well surprisingly, he made a good choice, she thought with a mental sigh. If I ever wanted to learn the Dark Arts - which I don't! - I would have probably chosen this very book.

Hermione suspected that in itself should be incentive enough for her to not read the book. She carefully closed it, placed it on the table and looked around again. The room really was a boring place. So utterly white. Even the table, chair and floorboards were painted white, though she could see the grain of the wood underneath. There was a blankness about the room. As if somebody had decided to wipe out all the personality of the room. Surprising, really, that she hadn't noticed this as she was walking into the room. Even the presence of another person - regardless of the fact that he was a hated enemy - softened the glaring whiteness.

Before she could panic, Hermione made herself take deep calming breaths. He put me in here deliberately to break me, she told herself sternly. Don't satisfy him. The walls aren't closing in on you. You aren't going to be somehow assimilated into the room. It isn't going to wipe out your personality. The walls aren't closing in.

The walls aren't closing in.

She closed her eyes in an attempt to shut out the whiteness but it was useless. She could almost feel the glare through her eyelids. How could candles make such a glare? It felt like she was under fluorescent lights. Of course, she reasoned, there was a good chance that they were charmed candles. Somehow this didn't exactly make her feel better.

Hermione had once read in a Muggle book that this was an effective torture device. To stick somebody in a small space with bright floodlights. However, she didn't think that Lucius Malfoy would ever lower himself to use Muggle torture methods. After all, a Crucio would be equally effective. Besides, she had the book, didn't she? She could always read the book and there would be no problems. The walls wouldn't close in if she read the book.

Eyeing the book as if it were one of Hagrid's monsters, Hermione debated her options. She really shouldn't read the book. It would be falling into Lucius's trap. But, Hermione had to admit that she was genuinely curious what the book said. The first two paragraphs had piqued her curiosity. Besides, as loathe as she was to admit it to somebody like Ron, Hermione had always wanted to know more about the Dark Arts. Coming from a Muggle background, the idea that some spells could be inherently evil had always struck a discord with her. It felt too much like some sort of reverse-discrimination.

But as she found, much to her disappointment, the Hogwarts library didn't have anything beyond the normal criticism of the Dark Arts as being bloodthirsty and evil. She had yet to check the Restricted Section but suspected that the teachers were unlikely to give her a pass simply to assuage her curiosity. It wasn't as though she would ever try any of the spells she had heard of in passing. Hermione had always been a firm believer that knowledge for its own sake couldn't hurt anybody. There was nothing wrong with knowing the theoretical principles behind casting a Dark spell. After all, without practice, she wouldn't be able to cast it properly anyway even if she was desperate. So it was okay to learn about it.

Wasn't it?

Hermione wasn't really as sure as she wanted to be. Sometimes she wished that she could see the world in the black and white that Harry and Ron saw. But Hermione had always seen the world in gradations, much like the shading she had to do for art in primary school.

Wouldn't it be so much easier if everything could be classified as good and evil? Light Magic is good. Dark Magic is evil. Nothing in between. But it seemed to her that the older she got, the more she seemed to be stuck in the nuances in between.

Hermione gave a wry smile as she toyed with the book in her hands. Wasn't she the perfect example of a shade of grey now? A Muggle-born who didn't believe that that the Dark Arts were pure evil. For Merlin's sake, the laws against the Dark Arts were there to protect people like her. And now she was forced to study them.

She looked again at the book in her hands. Surely it wouldn't hurt to just read it? She didn't have to believe in it and if it used rhetoric, then she would be able to notice, wouldn't she?

Hermione was confident in her abilities not to be swayed by the text, but suspicious as to why she was so confident. It wasn't as though she had any real reason to be confident. Perhaps it was simply bravado on her part.

She threw her hands up in disgust. She honestly didn't know what to think.

And this, she thought with a mental sigh, is why I usually react instead of thinking about it when people talk about the Dark Arts.

Her natural reaction was to react with as much disgust as her fellow Gryffindors, though Hermione now suspected that was more habit now for her than anything else. The more she thought about it, the more unfair the current rules regarding Dark magic were. People simply reacted without thinking about the real reason why they hated them. Dark Magic doesn't kill people. People kill people. A well place levitation spell could kill as effectively as Avada Kedavra.

Hermione wasn't sure what she would have become if she grew up in a wizarding household. In a way, she had never questioned the principles she grew up with. The ideals of freedom and liberty. The hatred of slavery. What if she had grown up hating Muggle-borns? Would she have really rebelled against it or would she have simply accepted it as given. Hermione couldn't help but feel a great deal of admiration for Sirius when she thought this way.

I suppose what I'm really scared of, Hermione thought, is that I have some sort of inherent inclination for the Dark Arts. And if I read this book?

She stopped that train of thought abruptly.

I'm being ridiculous, Hermione scolded herself. It's a book. It can't brainwash me. I have a choice!

Of course, she amended slightly, it could brainwash me. It's a wizarding text, after all. But it isn't Tom Riddle's diary or anything. Surely?surely I'm strong enough to resist it?

With an uncertain expression on her face, Hermione picked up the book again.

The most well-known Dark spells are the Unforgivable Curses: Imperius, Cruciatus and Avada Kedavra. Imperius causes the subject to be completely under the control of the caster. To cast the spell, the caster must say: 'Imperio.' Cruciatus causes the subject to experience severe pain. To cast the spell, the caster must say: 'Crucio.' Avada Kedavra kills the subject. To cast the spell, the caster must say: 'Avada Kedavra.' These spells, however, despite being well known and widely used, are by far some of the least severe Dark spells.

Hermione blinked rapidly. This she certainly didn't know.

The Imperius Curse is a completely painless curse and will not harm the subject even with prolonged use. Although the Cruciatus Curse is extremely painful, and may cause side-effects of shaking limbs, vomiting, stuttered speech, etc, is nevertheless, far less painful than its cousins. Finally, Avada Kedavra is a painless killing method that was considered merciful during the Dark Ages.

Most Dark spells have currently gone out of fashion. Many European wizards feel that to use spells with Arabic roots, they are insulting their ancestors who fought to keep those spells out of the European spellbooks. This book, however, will teach the willing wizard Dark spells from all nationalities.

"Dobby askes miss to excuse him," came a small voice from behind Hermione.

She jumped and spun around. The small elf was standing there holding a tray of food. "Dobby?" she repeated incredulously.

The elf nodded earnestly, big ears flapping. "Dobby is sorry miss, but Dobby is delivering food to miss."

The tray was offered towards Hermione who took it.

"Dobby is going," the elf said before bowing and disappearing.

"That was," Hermione muttered, "a very obedient Dobby." She frowned and then looked the food tray. It was surprisingly well stocked with cut sandwiches, cold meat and vegetables on the side. There was even a jug of ice cold pumpkin juice and a glass.

With a shrug, she picked up the knife and fork and began to eat. It was unlikely the food was poisoned. Besides, what else could she do? Starve?

After a pause, Hermione picked up the book and laid it carefully in front of her and read while she ate.