Dragged roughly into the room, Cassandra was thrown to the ground with force. Instinctively, she reached for the wand concealed in her robes. But before she could draw it, another wand was already pressed against her forehead.
As Cassandra calmed herself, she took a moment to survey her surroundings. Compared to her last visit, there were noticeably more wizards in the room now.
"Cassandra, are you alright?!"
The voice, though filled with concern, sounded weak. Cassandra turned sharply to see her father, Thomas Vole, still bound to a chair. His face was pale, and he looked utterly exhausted.
"Father!"
Cassandra cried out and tried to rush to him, but before she could rise, the wand at her forehead held her firmly in place.
At that moment, Christine's voice echoed from the corner of the room, cold and unyielding.
"Cassandra, it seems you haven't taken our instructions seriously, have you? Perhaps we've been far too kind to you. Or could it be... you don't care much about your father?"
As Christine finished, she gestured toward a nearby wizard. Cassandra's heart sank as she and her father watched in horror. The wizard approached Thomas Vole, raised his wand, and intoned the words:
"Crucio!"
"Aaaargh!"
Thomas immediately screamed in agony, his entire body convulsing violently.
"No! Please, no! I'm begging you, stop!"
Cassandra cried desperately, struggling against the wizard restraining her. But she was powerless, forced to watch helplessly as tears streamed down her face.
After what felt like an eternity, the wizard finally lowered his wand. Thomas slumped in his chair, drenched in sweat, his head hanging lifelessly.
Christine sauntered toward Cassandra and lifted her chin with a finger, her icy gaze piercing.
"This, Cassandra, is the consequence of toying with me," she said with a chilling smirk.
Tears streaming, Cassandra shook her head frantically.
"I didn't... I wasn't... I swear I wasn't playing games with you! I just haven't had the chance!"
Christine let out a derisive laugh.
"A chance? Weeks have passed, and you still claim you couldn't find an opportunity? Are you mocking me, Cassandra?"
Cassandra hastily tried to explain, her voice trembling.
"No, I swear I'm not! I've tried, I've really tried, but Wentworth is so elusive. These past weekends, I've searched every corner of Hogwarts and haven't seen him once!"
Christine narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Cassandra intently. After a tense silence, she let out a cold chuckle.
"We'll see whether you're telling the truth. If you've been lying, Cassandra, today will be the last day you see your father."
Christine nodded toward the wizard holding Cassandra. He stepped forward, locking eyes with her, and raised his wand.
"Legilimens!"
A moment later, the wizard broke his gaze and turned to Christine, looking perplexed.
"Well?" Christine demanded.
The wizard sighed and shook his head.
"She's telling the truth. Every time she searched for Wentworth, he genuinely wasn't there. She even scoured all of Hogwarts but couldn't find him."
Christine frowned, disbelief written across her face.
"Impossible. If he wasn't at Hogwarts, where else could he be?"
Her expression darkened as a thought struck her.
"Could it be... Dumbledore? Has he realized our intentions and hidden Wentworth for protection?"
The wizard beside her nodded slowly.
"It's possible," he admitted.
Cassandra, still crying, pleaded through her tears.
"I told you! I wasn't lying! I truly couldn't find him!"
Christine's demeanor softened slightly. She forced a smile and helped Cassandra to her feet, guiding her to a nearby chair.
"My apologies, Cassandra. If Dumbledore has indeed taken precautions, it's no fault of yours. You couldn't have done anything."
Christine gestured to another wizard.
"Take care of Thomas Vole. Heal him and prepare some food for him."
As Thomas was led away, Cassandra's tear-filled eyes followed him. Christine's voice broke through her thoughts once more.
"If Dumbledore is shielding Wentworth, it's unlikely you'll have another chance to act within Hogwarts."
Cassandra's heart sank, and she stammered.
"Please... give me another chance! I'll try again, even if it's during class—"
Christine cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"No need. That would be far too obvious, and you'd never fool Dumbledore."
Cassandra looked at her in desperation.
"But... my father..."
Christine patted her hand reassuringly, her tone suddenly kind.
"Don't worry. This isn't your fault. We'll arrange for your father to be sent back to your family's manor in London."
Hearing this, Cassandra's initial relief gave way to suspicion.
"And... what's the price for that?"
Christine smiled, pleased by Cassandra's compliance.
"Nothing too difficult. Of course, London is under strict surveillance by the Ministry of Magic after the Pureblood Party's uprising. For our safety, we'll need to stay at your manor for a few days."
Cassandra nodded quickly.
"That's fine!"
Christine's smile widened.
"Excellent. And since Christmas is approaching, why don't you host a Christmas ball at your manor? Invite your schoolmates, perhaps even Wentworth Grindelwald."
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