Dirty Mouth, Dirty Blood [h.g]

twenty eight

28

Then

Carina stood in the kitchen next to Daisy, a house elf that her parents had named her keeper. She had developed a love for the small creature, as much as she could love something her parents had dubbed inferior. Daisy was kind, and she baked the best cookies, and Carina struggled to wrap her mind around the fact that she was lesser.

So Carina treated Daisy like she would a member of her own family, reveling in the company she provided. Carina didn't get out of the house much, so aside from her brother she didn't really know many children her age. She simply assumed they'd act like Daisy did. Sweet, but respectful. They'd challenge her opinions, but never in a way that made her feel attacked.

Carina had come to treasure the relationship she had with the house elf over the years, and so when she came home after her first summer at Hogwarts, Carina wanted to tell Daisy all about it.

It took Carina a month and a half to figure out that Daisy had been murdered by her father. Lucius had overheard the small creature praising Carina, how Carina made Daisy seem like her equal.

That behavior was intolerable.

But Carina had not shed a tear. The urge had been beaten out of her many years ago; the only time she ever cried was at her father's hands, and she had resolved not to give him the satisfaction of seeing what he did to her.

Carina was a stone cold bitch, and she had reputations to uphold.

But that didn't mean it hurt any less.

Now

Carina walked downstairs, scratching her hair absentmindedly. Harry and Hermione were standing next to Kreacher, the house elf Harry had inherited, and upon her entrance the small creature apparated away, tears streaming down its disproportionate face, clutching a locket.

"Okay," Carina said after a few seconds of awkward silence, "please tell me what I just witnessed. I think I deserve to know."

Hermione nodded mutely, turning to Harry for confirmation. Once he acknowledged her decision, Hermione spoke. "You know about the Horcruxes...?"

Carina rolled her eyes as the Gryffindor trailed off, motioning for the girl to continue.

"Yes, well, the locket was replaced by one a guy named R.A.B supplied. We figured out that was Regulus, Sirius's younger brother, who replaced it."

"Oh, now that I think about it, where is Sirius?" Carina asked, cutting Hermione off for a moment.

"He's with Lupin and Tonks currently, pretending to be their pet dog. Didn't want to stay cooped up here, I suppose. Anyways, apparently the real locket couldn't be destroyed because of all the enchantments on it, and Mundungus Fletcher is currently in possession of it, having stolen it when he was last here. Kreacher is going to find him and bring him here." Hermione finished with a flourish, and Carina resisted the urge to kiss her.

"Alright. I digress. Carry on."

Carina left to fix herself a cup of tea, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

///

A few days later, Lupin came to Grimmauld Place, fidgeting. Carina, beaming, embraced him.

"News from the outside world," Lupin said in lieu of greeting, dropping a newspaper on the table. Ron picked it up, reading aloud the important details, "Harry's wanted for question with the Ministry, and, bloody hell, wizards have to give proof of their lineage. If they're a Muggleborn, they're presumed to have stolen secrets and will be prosecuted."