Cassie's POV:

I was really pissed off. Why would Anne have to burst out like that? I sat down at the bottom of the tree, and sighed when I heard the muffled yells of Draco and Anne.

I was really irritated and without thinking, walked out of the protected area. I walked in circles, and angrily kicked at the ground. I heard a crunch of leaves, and turned around to see Walburga Black in all her galore. My heart stopped, as I realized where I stood.

I patted my pocket, in search of my wand, but I realised that I had left it in the tree house. Fear took over me and I froze. My insides felt like they were doing summersaults. She didn't care to spend time much longer, she hit me with a spell and we apparated.

-----

A cold, dark room is where we were right now. A single lantern gave a small light to the room. I could make out Walburga standing in front of me. A cruel smile etched on her face.

Fear took over me, and I could not think. I didn't have a wand. My body was stiff and unmovable from the spell she cast on me. My mouth and mid were the only two things I could move.

"And we meet again. When the Death Eaters were alerted about you, I had to come and catch you myself." She said in a slow voice. She twirled her wand and walked around me. My breathing ragged, and I desperately hoped for someone to come and save me from here.

"What do you want now?" I asked.
"You" she said cooly.

"You took away my only protection, you made mine and Sirius' life unsafe. What more do you want?"

"My son's Gringotts account."

"Regulas?"

"No Sirius!"

"Since when did you consider Sirius as your son?"

"Ever since I realised that all the Black wealth went to him. I know you know the password to his account. I know you went alone to take money from it."

"No.... Sirius takes it for me." I said trying to act calm.

"Don't try to trick me foolish girl.. I saw you take it. I have inside men."

"What do I get from it though?" I asked

"You?!"

"I'm not doing free help!" I thought about it. If I told her the password, I could probably escape. But it was not right. Was it?

That's when my mind crosses over the mini account. It was a small account Sirius opened in my name, incase of emergencies. It didn't have that much money, just a few hundred galleons. This was my chance of escape, if I could negotiate.

"Fine. I'll give you the password to my money."

"Really?" She asked surprised.

"But on one condition." I said, staring into her eyes to show some kind of authority.

"What?" She asked; annoyed and rolling her eyes.

"You let me go."

She laughed maniacally. "Let you go? I'm going to get the money and the Dark Lord."

"Then I'm not going to give you the password."

"I can squeeze it out of you. You are powerless right now."

"Why kidnap me just for the money?"

"The thing you don't know Smith, is that Gringotts holds all our valuables. But you have something in you that will help me. And you know what it is. You also should know, that there are many cruel and evil things in there. Cursed things."

"You really think I'm going to help you now?"

"Yes. Either help me the easy way, or I get it out of you." She threatened.

"If you attack me, I am not doing anything you say." I said sternly.

"Oh... Smith. If I could make Sirius cry, I think I can do that to you too." She said, and evilly smiled as she casted The Crutious Curse.

It burned and hurt everywhere. I fell to the ground and twitched and turned. I felt my throat tearing and hurting as I cried in pain. It felt like hours, but it finally stopped.

"What about now?" she asked.

"It isn't a fair fight." I croaked out.

"Who said this was a fight Smith. This is torture. Punishment. Threat."

I didn't know what she would do. Whatever it may be, I wasn't about to let my family get hurt. Not the Weasleys, Harry, Remus, Sirius, Anne. They could be safe, if I just kept shut. If I just didn't cooperate.

Another round of spells. Verbal and non-verbal. But all of them had one thing in common, Pain. Both mental and physical. Walburga was getting more angry and frustrated. The idea of just telling her everything was getting tempting by the minute, but I couldn't. I was human, and there was so much one could handle.

As always I felt dizzy and blacked out, a final streak of light blinding me.

------------------

I slowly opened my eyes, but closed it just as fast. My head hurt. I opened it slowly, while the inside of my head was shaking. "Cassie!" someone screamed, and my ears hurt.  I heard someone shushing everyone. I was staring at the ceiling.

I felt someone's hand in mine, and another slowly said my name. Where was I?

I looked around slowly. I saw Molly, Sirius and Remus in front of  me. Terrance sitting down on a chair; holding my hand, and Anne by my side.

"You're awake cub." said Sirius giving a pat on my leg. "Are you okay Cass?" asked Terrance.

Everything that happened last night rushed to my mind. I could feel myself burning up. Something was different. I felt an urge to harm. To attack. Someone or something.

"Cass your eyes are fully black." whispered Anne. The curse. I remembered what I read about it! Black eyes were a part of it!
"All of you. Leave." I said.

"What?" asked Remus.

"Leave! Everyone! Now!!" I said, as my breathing became faster. Everything bad that had every happened in my life flooded in to my mind. Everything small in the rom, started shaking. Anne ushered everyone put, but ran back in.

"Cass just breath..."

"I can't- j-just leave." My voice shook.

"Think of something good. Something nice. The thought when we cast the Protonous Charm. "

"Anne... leave."

She held my hand, as she repeated, whatever she said. I could feel a sense of calmness. I closed my eyes, "Please let her be alright." I heard Anne's voice in my head.

I opened my eyes quickly. "Anne, think of a colour or fruit or something!"

"What? Why?""

"Just do it!" I said. I closed my eyes again. "A red apple." I heard in my head.

"What is it Cass?" she asked.

"Think of good memories. Good memories with me." I urged.

"Shouldn't you be doing i-"

"Annalise May just do it!"

"Cassie Smith! Let us in." I heard Sirius scream from the other side of the door. But I just closed my eyes, and the memories came pouring in.

It was like a movie. One scene after another, but there was not particular order. The first Herbology class we had, the time I pushed her into the Black Lake, the Yule Ball, the Christmas Party and so many others.

I felt my body calling down. The headache became faint, my heart beat slowed down, and I could feel myself again.

"Cass..... you okay?" asked Anne. I gave her a small thumbs up. Anne opened the door and the others rushed in. They all asked questions at the same time, and I couldn't make sense of anything.

"What is happening here?" asked a confused Molly.

"Nothing. It's nothing." I said.

"We'll I saw 'nothing' then. What was that?!" asked Sirius.

"Just a panic attack." I lied.

"I don't think panic attacks make your eyes go black and shakes the things around you."

"I can't tell you guys okay?!" I said frustrated.

"Of course you can. We're here for you." said Terrance.

"That's not it. I can't change the timeline."

"You're already part of it."

"That's the problem. Annalise was never related to the Order or Harry or the Weasleys! Who even was she? Terrance too. I was not even his girlfriend. Sirius was supposed to be dead. And everything is changed!" I felt everything shake again.

"But we can't help you if we don't know what's happening." Molly said calmly.

"Anne and Terrance knows. It's more than enough." I stressed.

"But-" started Remus but I stopped him. "Please just this once. I tell you all later. But first, what happened?"

"When you disappeared me and- and... Felicia Bones looked around. But we couldn't find you. So I went and told McGonagall and Dumbledore. They alerted the order, and we looked for you. When you were found, you were just there. On the concrete floor. We took you to St.Mungos and after 2 days here you are." Explained Anne.

"I don't understand. Why am I soo weak to spells. Why does it affect me more than others?" I asked. Every time a spell hit, I pass out for days. I didn't want to be this weak.

"Maybe it is connected to the magic core explanation u gave me. Your core is growing onto the magic core. A growing core, like a child." Anne said.

It did sound reasonable. The room got quiet for a bit, but not for long. Dumbledore entered. "Smith you look better." He acknowledged.

"I do feel better. I'll return to Hogwarts in 2 days." I said.

"No need to worry. Hogwarts is going to be closed down for a week and a half." He said sorrowfully.

"Closed down! Why?" Asked Terrance.

"Mister Walter. Glad to find you here." Dumbles said, and Terrance gave a nod of his head.

"Katie Bell got cursed and word got out that you were attacked. Parents were quick to pull out their children, and the ministry demanded a closure...." he sighed. 

"What actually happened? Why were you there Ms. Smith?" he asked. 

"Death Eaters.... they just took me I guess."

I could tell he didn't believe me. But he didn't say anything, maybe he already read my mind. 

------ 

St. Mungos discharged me and I was free to go home. Terrance took a leave for two weeks. I was waiting in the lobby while Sirius payed the hospital bills. "Terrance?" I asked. 

"Yeah?" he answered and passed me a bottle of water. 

"Can I stay with you at your home?"

"Only the two of us?"

I nodded my head. "Why?" he asked doubtfully. 

"If I go to Grimmauld they will just question me. And besides, we can catch up and have some alone time." I said leaning on to him. 

"I have no problem with it. Good luck on convincing the others." he chuckled. 

It took me a while, but I finally convinced them. Anne did not want to leave me alone, incase the curse becomes bad again. I assured her that it would be fine. 

----- 

We apparated to the house that I've only been twice to. Once for the party, and the second time when Terrance felt that his life was falling apart. "Don't worry. I cleaned it yesterday cause' I knew I was gonna take a few days off. Besides, I slept on the couch yesterday." Terrance said. 

He opened the door using the key, and the empty silence of the house greeted us. There was a blanket on the couch which was not folded. It was kept the same way, as if he just woke up. 

"You go take rest. I'll bring you something to eat." he said, and made me sit on the couch. I gave him a small kiss and replied that I didn't want anything, but he payed no heed. 

A while later, I could smell real yummy food. I got up and went to the kitchen, which had the dining room attached. 

"Smells good." I commented. 

"Chicken soap and bread. Can't go wrong." he said, and continued stirring the soap. He came over with some of it on the spoon and urged me to taste test. "Good isn't it?" he asked. 

"Could use a bit more black pepper..."

"But it's spicy!!" he cried. 

"You do know I have a high spice tolerance right?" I asked. "Just sprinkle it in only your bowl." he said annoyed. 

We had our dinner and then went to bed. But I kept twisting an turning in my sleep; nightmares just kept appearing into my mind. 

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A/N:
Aahh!! I hope this was good. Merlin knows how long I took to write this......... 

More coming in further chapters!! So sorry for the delay in chapters. I was just caught up with school work. 

Thank you so much for reading, and stay tuned for more adventures :)

~C.G