"I think those are mostly for like table manners and such."

"Yeah... I doubt the way my relatives wanted me to act was written into any etiquette books, their expectations changed too often. I hope Hogwarts isn't like that but if people are trying to find fault they usually can."

"...yeah, they can."

"I think there are enough people not like that to make plenty of friends though. Especially if I avoid getting a reputation as a loner. It's hard to make friends when nobody expects you to."

"Well you already have me," she says brightly.

"I'm glad. I feel the same way."

"And just imagine the rumours—Slytherin firstie corrupts Girl-Who-Lived, most terrifying Dark Lady in history in the making?"

"You might make a terrifying Dark Lady. I don't think I'm cut out for it."

"I'm sure I could corrupt you if I try my hardest and believe in myself."

Sarah laughs. "Maybe. I don't quite know what dark is supposed to mean. Nobody could make me stop caring about people, but that doesn't seem to be on your agenda."

"Nope, you're gonna Darkly bring unity and peace to all of mankind."

"We'll just have to see."

Giggle. "I think there is a thing in the real world that can usefully be called 'Dark' though, when you read—history books, and when you look up certain spells—the forbidden curses for example—"

"Yeah, the history books I read never got too detailed but I got the sense."

"It's the sort of thing where, like—I can see why Imperio might be useful but the Killing Curse is literally made for killing—self-defence I guess but still—"

"There's lots of ways to kill. I'm not sure why that one is particularly awful. Being forced to hurt people you care about though..."

"Because—that one is just for that, a knife can be used to cut bread but a gun can't and Imperio can be used to help—I don't know, someone who is too depressed to do stuff—but the Killing Curse is just that."

"I wouldn't want to learn it. I still feel like I'm missing something though. The idea of dying slowly feels scarier than the idea of dying fast."

"Well, yeah, the Cruciatus curse is also probably just inexcusable."

"Definitely."

"Although I'm not sure it actually kills you, from what I read it at worst, er... makes you go insane." Pause. "That happened to Neville's parents."

"What does that even mean?"

"One of the Dark Lord's minions... tortured them... and now they're in St. Mungo's and can't string thoughts together for long enough to function."

"I'm not really sure that's different from being dead. I guess there's some hope that someone will find a cure but that seems almost cruel. Poor Neville."

She nods. "Maybe don't mention that to him."