AN: Hello once again! Firstly, those of you who follow me know that I posted a chapter for Honor Bound veeeeery early this morning (seriously, it was, like, three a.m). Please check it out if you get a chance!

Now, this is for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and assignments. Check it out, its cool. We are having a Triwizard Tournament!

The Defense Against The Dark Arts assignment was about the Cruciatus Curse, and the task was to write about someone using the curse and why, particularly their feelings. We also had extra prompts to choose from. I choose the word twilight.

Hopefully you enjoy it! Read and review!

Heidi was sitting at a table in the Ravenclaw Common Room, when she felt the burning. Her arm seared, and she pulled up her sleeve, glaring at the Mark there.

She knew it was part of her cover. Heidi knew it would have seemed suspicious if she had refused. However, that didn't make her despise it any less. In reality, the fact that she hadn't had a choice made her hate it even more. It made her feel like Voldemort owned her. With the Mark, Heidi was at his beck and call at all hours.

Heidi realized that it would be unwise to linger for long, even under the guise of homework. With a sigh, she stood and hurried upstairs to get her cloak. Knowing that she wouldn't be stopped from using it, Heidi walked to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo Powder. She threw the powder in, and the flames roared green. Stepping in, she spoke the name of her destination. The flames that should have burned her only slightly tickled.

"Malfoy Manor."

A second later, that's where she was. The Malfoys large parlor was decorated opulently for the holidays, but even the twinkling Christmas lights now seemed dimmer than they should have. Perhaps it was because of the twilight coming in through the curtains, but the atmosphere of the whole place was extremely gloomy.

"Welcome, Adelaide," a high, cold voice said. By now, Heidi knew the voice of Voldemort. It came from a high backed chair in front of the crackling fire, but was barely distinguishable from its hissing and cracking. "I trust you are well?"

It was wrong, unnatural, to be having a conversation like this with Voldemort, of all people.

"I don't think you really care, do you, My Lord?" Heidi replied. The seat swiveled around, and Heidi's brown eyes met Voldemort's red ones. She didn't flinch, holding his gaze. "Surely you have something much more important to discuss? If not, I must go. I have quite a lot of homework, and I'm behind already."

"Indeed." Voldemort seemed surprised that she had been so bold. "You are correct, however. There are more important things to do than converse about health or academics. Come."

Voldemort stood and walked out of the room, and Heidi had no choice but to follow. She noticed, as they walked through the manor, that even his walk resembled the slithering of a snake.

Finally, Heidi realized where they were going, or at least she thought.

"The cellar?" she questioned. Voldemort shook his head, but did not answer.

Voldemort did not speak until they were at their destination, a small. "You are a fairly new member, and have not, as of yet, proven that you belong among our number. I am providing you with that opportunity."

Heidi knew that whatever he asked she had to comply. That was her mission from the Order of the Phoenix. She was to do everything asked of her, to ingratiate herself into the Death Eaters' ranks.

"Anything you ask will be done, My Lord," she replied.

"Good," he responded. "Inside this room is a young girl. She is thirteen years old. I believe she recently had a birthday. Don't let her youth trick you, however. She is a Mudblood, and has somehow stolen magic from a proper witch. She must be punished for this, don't you agree?"

Heidi didn't want to give the reply, but she knew she had to. If she refused, she would be accused of sympathizing with the girl. "Yes, My Lord. What should I do? I don't think you'd want an innocent girl's' blood on your hands, so will you have me kill her?"

"I don't think she's done quite that much wrong," Voldemort said, his tone becoming slightly more dangerous than it already was. "A round of torture will do for today, I believe."

Heidi knew the incantation for the curse, of course. Crouch Jr had taught everyone in their fourth year about the Unforgivable Curses. She had never imagined she would actually end up casting it. She was a good girl, who usually played by the rules, but now that was impossible.

"Very well," she said, working extremely hard to keep her breath even and her mind clear of anything that could give her away if Voldemort decided to read her mind. Without another word, she opened the door and entered the room.

The sight that met her eyes was a pitiful one. The girl Voldemort had said would be here was there, on the ground crying. As she turned to face Heidi, she was shocked to recognize her. Before her was her friend Noel's little sister, Raina. She had started Hogwarts only a few years back, and was sorted into Ravenclaw, which made sense because she was incredibly smart. Heidi didn't know her terribly well, but she knew her enough to know that this was on purpose. Voldemort was making her torture someone she knew on purpose, to see how she would react.

"Heidi?" Raina asked, nervously staring at her. "Heidi, did they capture you, too?"

"N-no, Raina," Heidi answered, barely holding back tears. She hated herself for what she was about to do- what she had to do, for the sake of the Order. She could not lose her place among the ranks of Death Eaters. "I… I came because I'm on a mission. I can't tell you what it is, but it's going to help a lot of people."

Heidi didn't want to say too much. She knew Voldemort would be listening, so she couldn't lollygag for very long. She tried to convey more of her feelings in her eye contact, hoping that Raina would receive her plea for forgiveness for what she was going to do.

It seemed to click in Raina's mind. Her eyes went wide, and she grew quieter. "I understand, Heidi. Just do it, okay?"

Heidi could hardly believe how Raina could trust her so completely? She didn't understand what she now had to do, of course, but something like this would be hard to forgive.

And then she could stall the moment no longer. As she raised her wand, she saw a look in Raina's eyes that she had hoped no one would ever give her. There was fear in Raina's eyes as Heidi spoke the word that would ruin them both.

"Crucio."