Mass Collision

4. Cruciatus Curse

The week blurred together. Natalia went to her normal classes, but Dark Arts and Muggle studies were something different.

She walked into Muggle studies, not knowing what to expect, but sat down anyway and waited for the class to begin.

When Alecto finally walked in and shut the door it made a loud slam that rang throughout the classroom. "Now, everyone, this isn't your normal muggle studies class for those of you who have taken it before," she said, leaning against her desk. "I'm going to tell you the truth about muggles." Alecto grabbed her wand and floated a stack of books behind her as she passed them out to everyone. "Turn to page 10 and you'll find the differences between muggles and us. Biological difference, mannerisms, and magic. They are animals, feral, and steal magic from deserving witches and wizards such as you and myself."

Crabbe and Goyle smirked and Draco nodded in agreement as the rest of the class looked in confusement and disgust. Alecto smirked and started making them read from the textbook.

Then, it wasn't even the second day of school before a kid got sent to detention for something. Anyone on that side of the castle had to cover their ears. The screams were so loud. It was if the Carrows were torturing them, which they might actually be.

The following weeks didn't get any better, in fact, it got worse. Somehow, people were gaining confidence, not losing it.

However, the second month of school, Amycus brought in the students from detention to the Dark Arts. "Everyone, I wanted to give you some hands-on experience," he said, rubbing his hands together with an evil look. Everyone was worried as he shoved the group of kids forward, allowing them to be seen by everyone. "As their punishment, they will be used for you to practice your spells on." Several of the Hufflepuffs looked like they were about to throw up, Neville and Seamus looked 10 seconds away from murder and Micheal Corner balled up his fist, ready to punch him.

"Any volunteers to go first?" Amycus asked. Crabbe and Goyle put their hands in the air, waving them around to grab attention. Amycus gestured for them to come up. "Hmm, one more, Natalia?" Natalia rolled her eyes with a scoff.

"No."

"Excuse me?" Amycus asked, getting closer to her with his wand pointed in her face.

She smirked at him, "why would I practice on them? They'll scream if I prick them with my fingernail. I want to make sure I'm doing it right, I want to practice with someone older." Amycus smirked.

"Who did you have in mind?" Natalia smiled excitedly.

"Crabbe?" She suggested and Amycus looked behind him before looking back at her.

"Permission granted," he told her and she smirked before getting out of her seat.

"Any spell?" She questioned.

Amycus nodded, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, "Any spell."

Crabbe looked shocked and scared, "you don–"

"QUIET!" Natalia commanded and pointed her wand at him, "this'll be fun. CRUICO!" Immediately Crabbe fell to the floor screaming. Natalia laughed as she watched him twitch helplessly on the floor. This went on for a few seconds before Amycus placed a hand on her shoulder.

"That's enough, don't want him going insane like Longbottom's parents over there," he laughed, gesturing to Neville who looked pale in the face. Natalia nodded and went back to her seat as Amycus gave the go ahead to Goyle to start his practice.

The worst part was when she had to start doing her head girl duties. It wasn't like she was actively ignoring them– well she was– but Snape had gotten on to her about doing it. It seemed he would rather her get to them before the Carrows. She saw a few fourth years with their robes not on perfectly. She pointed their wands at them wordlessly and their clothes instantly fixed. They looked at her terrified. "Consider this a warning, don't wander the halls like that again," she glared at the kids.

Apparently, everything was just bubbling over and one of the fourth years turned around with a heated glare, "we weren't even doing anything!" She screamed and the rest of her friends yelled in protest, trying to hold her back.

Natalia turned around slowly and menacingly, "She's sorry, she's sorry," one of her friends apologized for her, but Natalia didn't do anything. She just looked at them for a few seconds before shrugging and walking to her next class.

~

It was a few weeks later that the first message appeared.

It was outside the great hall in bright red paint for everyone to see– "DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY STILL RECRUITING"

It was hard to figure out who did it, but without proof, neither the Carrows nor Snape could do anything about it. Natalia found this strange, it never stopped anyone before, why now?

Natalia was sitting doing homework quietly in the common room when Pansy decided to say, "Christmas is coming up, are you guys staying?" Everyone looked at her and then each other.

"No way," Draco scoffed, being the first to move and everyone proceeded to shake their heads. "Probably not coming back after either."

Natalia sighed frustrated, "The dark lor–"

"I know!" Draco yelled. "But, he'll make an exception if I'm helping in some way." Natalia just shook her head and Theo looked distraught.

"I've been confusing realities again," he said softly and Natalia turned to look at him sympathetically. Daphne rubbed his back comfortingly. "In the other reality, I'm so scared because my dad and mom pissed off the Dark Lord and I don't know what's going to happen to them. I'm still in my fourth year and the triwizard tournament has just taken place."

"That was not the best time," Blaise muttered. That was when all of them were on edge, just waiting for something to happen, but it was also the happiest they had been in a while. Fifth Year was when they became the closest and now– that was gone.

"AHHHHHH!"

A second year was screaming being dragged down the hallway towards the dungeons. Every few nights it happened to another one. They were either tortured or kept there for days. Usually, one of the Slytherins snuck in there to give them food and medicine for their wounds. It was the least they could do to at least still feel like they were human.

People were getting really mouthy during classes now that the signs were going around for the DA. Although, there were more and more news reports from the radios about muggles and wizards deaths. They even kept a list of who was missing, who was on the run, and who was found dead.