October, 1996

Today, Death Eaters broke out of Azkaban. Those who were caught during the Battle of Department of Mysteries, that is. Nott, Lucius, Rookwood, Dolohov, Rodolphus and Macnair escaped as Voldemort broke them out yet he was displeased, especially at Lucius, for them not being able to keep the Prophecy he sincerely desired. Cassidy knew what the Prophecy contained and she had no intention to tell Voldemort what it contained. Unless he tortured it out of her, that is. Yet, it wasn't very likely he would torture her just yet. But, you never know. The Dark Lord is extremely unpredictable and adangerous. Anything can happen, as she found that out about 17 years ago when she wasn't expecting anything like that to happen to her.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ...
born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ...
and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ...
and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ...
the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ...

The Prophecy rang loud in her mind and she could admit that it was a surprise that she still remembered it all quite effectively.
She was not very confident that Harry could vanquish him as she believed he did not know about his Horcruxes, yet she couldn't put it past him. It was a dangerous task, hunting Horcruxes and especially dangerous if you were the most hunted man in the country. Also, there was the fact that he was staying at the Dursley's house because he had the trace on him for another year and that the magical protection still resides there. And apparently, so far, the Death Eaters have not been able to find the house, let alone attack it. Cassidy suspected it was under a Fidelius Charm, and she hoped to her self that whoever the Secret Keeper was, they wouldn't be betrayed. She suspected that the whole of the Order had the protection of a Fidelius Charm as it was rather difficult to find one when the secret was buried in one's soul.

Truthfully, she did not know who the secret keeper was. All she cared about was if they were worthy enough to keep a secret, or strong enough, or trustworthy enough to keep it and not me intimidated by the Dark Lord's powers. Although, they mustn't underestimate his powers as yes, they can be frightful at times, but after all, the Dark Lord cannot torture it out of them. They only choose to give it up voluntarily. She knew the cost of trusting someone too deeply, and so did her brother. Well, not anymore anyway. There's no one to live to choose who will keep your secret. Cassidy was lucky to be alive, yet she knew that his intentions were not to kill her. If they were, he wouldn't done it all those years ago. He saw something in her, and she didn't want to know what it was but she may have to find out anyway.

x

Voldemort saw her and she seemed fairly strong. Not once had he waited so long to torture one of his victims and he was, somewhat, disappointed in himself for missing such opportunities and letting them go to waste so quickly.
He got his wand - now the Elder Wand - and she took a glance at him and he smiled cruelly. She seemed indifferent.

"What did the Prophecy say?" he asked her.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because, Cassidy, I could always just torture you into madness, but first I must extract the information I need and to do that I can either make you suffer excruciating pain and agony or - you can give it to me."

"I would never just 'give' you information, Riddle."

His eyes reddened when he heard the mention of his Muggle name.

"Then you leave me no choice," he said coldly. "Crucio!"

1000 hot knives pierced her skin and she screamed as each knife became more painful than the last. She shook violently and withered under the painful curse. After a while, he stopped the curse and she still was shaking. He chuckled with his high-pitched laugh.

"Changed your mind, perhaps?" he said mockingly to her. She looked at him full of resent.

"No. I wouldn't tell you a thing."

His eyes burned at her, yet it was inconclusive.

"Determined, aren't you?"

She seemed indifferent.

"Bravery. Rather... unusual, nevertheless it's a valuable quality amongst the-"

"I'm not interested."

"You don't understand what I'm offering you."

"I understand perfectly," she said quietly. "If i joined you then I would be forced to agree with your prejudiced views and do things I'd initially intend of not doing myself, but if I refused to do those things I'd be 'punished'. Ultimately, I would be killed for defecting you completely. It would simply be a waste of our time."

"But I don't think it will be because I could always possess you."

If you could get past my occlumency, that is.

"If you're attempting to make me intimidated, then it's not working."

"Oh, trust me when I say this, Cassidy. You will be eventually."