Dirty Mouth, Dirty Blood [h.g]

three

3

Then:

Carina was exhausted, and Draco was not helping. She caught sight of her brother, Crabbe, and Goyle walk into the common room.

Carina rolled her eyes. "Oh, goodie, I needed more incompetence in my life."

Draco pointedly ignored her, and looked to his cronies. "My sister here is being ridiculous, that's the reason I brought you here. That thing in the Chamber of Secrets is only harming Mudbloods. That means we're all safe. So why should we care?"

"You don't have an idea of who it is?" Goyle asked.

"No, but I wish I did. I told you this yesterday, Goyle."

Carina groaned and slammed her head on the table repeatedly. She hated everyone. "I wish I could figure out who it is, and make them stop it. I keep hearing voices, everywhere, screaming 'kill, Mudblood,' yadda yadda. I tried to communicate with it, but it ignored me. Did you know the last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died? I don't want that on my conscience!"

"Carina," Draco chided, "it's dirty blood. It doesn't matter."

She looked up at him then, and she looked so much younger than twelve.

"You can't tell if blood is dirty or pure when it's spilling."

Now:

Carina strode out across the bridge, away from Malfoy Manor. She just hoped her mother could convince Lucius into not coming after her. She had no information that would be too valuable to let go; everyone knew Voldemort was back, and she was unable to produce an heir. Carina was of no further use to him.

Seeing a figure in the shadows, Carina changed course slightly. "Lupin," she said passively.

"Carina. Shall we go?"

The Slytherin nodded. She adjusted her bag, and gripped onto him, ready for side-apparition.

The duo materialized in front of a row of run-down houses. Suddenly, a new one formed in front of Carina, causing her to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Lupin smiled down fondly at the girl. "Welcome to Grimmauld Place."

She looked up at her old professor incredulously. "This is the safe haven you promised?"

"Yep!" Remus beamed at the Slytherin. "Or, as I call it, home."

When Carina entred through the door, the house fell silent. The occupants obviously hadn't expected a Malfoy to come to Grimmauld Place, and subsequently were deeply distressed by her presence. Remus put a comforting hand on the small of her back, edging her forward into the living room where most of the residents had gathered.

In a flash, Mad Eye Moody was on her, pushing her up against the wall with his wand jutting into her neck.

"What are you doing here?" He practically hissed, pressing his wand even harder into her Adam's apple.

"I'm here because I want to be. I'm here to help." Carina had managed to angle her neck so she could speak, but she still didn't like the close proximity between the two.

"How do we know you're not a traitor? A double agent?"

"I'm not here to prove myself to you, because I don't think I can. Your minds are already made up about me, and I'm fine with that. I'm here because my morals and the morals of my family have started to differ, and I wanted out. Not because I want your love and affection. Now get off me."

Carina shoved the man off her roughly, and before anyone had the chance to react, he had his wand pointed at her.

Moody cast a wordless spell, sending Carina flying across the room as if in slow motion. Her body folded in on itself, and her hair flew past her face as she felt her body hit a mirror. The mirror shattered around her as she slumped against the wall in evident pain. Carina looked up with blood running down her face and the scariest look in her eyes anyone had ever seen.