By the time Pollux finally spoke, Cassi's hands were trembling. It wasn't because she was worried about what her brother might say. That concerned her a little, if she was honest, but not nearly as much as the rest of it. The idea that perhaps she hadn't done enough, or hadn't done the right thing at all, and she'd be found out and then there'd be scandal. She didn't think she could bear that, to have everyone think the worst of her when she wasn't even to blame.
Cassi clasped her hands together, tightly. 'He didn't hurt me,' she told Pollux, her voice firm and clear. 'He demanded that I give him money, and when I refused him, then he had the knife and he started threatening me. I didn't wait to see if he meant it or not, Pollux, I just took my wand and I - I dealt with the situation, I suppose.' Not that it hadn't terrified her, but for once Cassi's fears hadn't prevented her from taking action.
'He's not dead,' she carried on. 'At least, I don't think he's dead. He was still alive when I left. I didn't want-' she frowned, not knowing what her brother would make of this next part of the tale. 'I didn't want us to get in trouble for it. I used a memory charm and then I got him to this alley and - the only visible signs of damage, that a muggle would see, were a few burn marks, so I started a fire in this pile of rubbish that was there. So when they find him they'll blame that,' she finished, shooting Pollux a hopeful look. Cassi had no idea whether or not it'd work, but it had to be better than leaving him there inexplicably injured.