Carina Gray is a sharp-witted, fiercely loyal Slytherin with a knack for mischief and a heart of gold she tries hard to keep hidden. Known for her bold sense of humor and unwavering courage, she isn't afraid to stand up for her friends, even if it m...
Carina Black slipped through the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room with ease, despite the fact that she absolutely should not have been there. But when had that ever stopped her before? The fire crackled warmly in the hearth, casting flickering light over the red and gold décor. A few students were still scattered about—Ron and Harry included—but it was the two familiar redheads in the far corner, whispering urgently, that caught her attention.
She narrowed her eyes. Fred and George up to something? No surprise there.
With a smirk, she strolled across the room, her Slytherin-green tie loose around her neck, untucked from her uniform in a way that would have given McGonagall a heart attack.
"What are you two conspiring about?" she asked, folding her arms and raising a brow as she leaned against the back of the couch beside them.
Fred and George both jumped slightly. It wasn't often someone snuck up on them.
"Oh, you know," Fred said with an easy grin. "Just discussing the weather."
"Very ominous clouds," George added, his tone far too innocent.
Carina tilted her head. "Right. And I'm the Minister of Magic."
Fred snickered, but George shot his twin a warning glance before sighing. "Alright, fine. But you're not going to like it."
Carina rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Try me."
George hesitated before finally explaining, voice dropping low. "It's about the bet at the World Cup. The one we made with Bagman."
Carina frowned. "The one you won?"
Fred scoffed. "Yeah, that's what we thought too—until he gave us the winnings in bloody leprechaun gold."
Carina's expression darkened. She remembered that night vividly—the way the twins had been so excited when they pooled all their savings, the way she had reluctantly thrown in her own money just to support them. Not that she cared about the money itself, but it had meant something to them.
"And let me guess," she said coolly, "by the time you realised it, he was long gone?"
George nodded grimly. "Exactly."
"We're going to get it back," Fred declared, grinning as if this were just another prank to be pulled. "One way or another."
George shot him a look. "We were going to handle it ourselves, actually."
Carina narrowed her eyes at them. There was something off about their tone—almost... guilty? "What do you mean 'were'?"
Fred sighed. "Look, Carina, we know you only put in money because of us."
