Dirty Mouth, Dirty Blood [h.g]

forty three

43

Then

Carina stared at Draco from across the room, her green eyes boring into his silver ones.

Finally, Carina blinked, and Draco laughed triumphantly.

"Ah, the taste of victory! Smell your defeat, sister! Smell it!" Draco called, flipping her off while doing his rendition of a victory dance.

"Yeah, yeah," Carina laughed, "just because you can beat me in a staring contest doesn't mean you're the better twin."

"Um, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it means." Draco teased, hugging her from behind. "Admit it, sister dearest, you are simply inferior."

Carina laughed, swatting Draco. "Shut up you imbecile!"

"You love me," Draco cooed, "come on, Ri-Ri, you can't say no to this face!" Draco showed her his best puppy eyes, batting his eyelashes up at Carina.

"Watch me: no." Carina quipped, but there was no malice behind her words.

Draco laughed, mussing up her once perfect hair.

"Hey! I worked for that!" Carina laughed indignantly, tackling him down.

The two wrestled playfully in the carpet, stopping only when they rolled into Theo, Pansy, and Blaise.

"You two about done? This is a public place, you know." Blaise said, humor coloring his voice.

"Yeah, yeah, Zamboni, we're getting up as you speak." Carina said, pulling herself off of her brother.

"What did you just call me?" Blaise asked, not sure whether to be amused or offended.

"Zamboni. But a better question is, where are Thing 1 and Thing 2?" Carina asked, looking around for Crabbe and Goyle.

"They aren't things," Draco said, annoyed, "they're my friends."

"Friends who don't think," Carina pointed out as Theo pulled Draco off the ground, Pansy latching onto his arm. Carina didn't miss the mournful glance Theo shot Draco, knowing the feeling all too well.

"Okay, so they aren't the brightest bulbs in the bunch," Draco conceded, "but they're still fun to be around!"

"About as fun as a bunch of rocks." Carina said dryly.

"Stop picking on Drakey-Poo!" Pansy whined, and Carina winced at the shrillness of her voice.

"My sincerest apologies," Carina said curtly, grabbing Theo's wrist and making a quick exit.

She loved Draco, she really did, but sometimes he made all the wrong decisions.

Now

"Well, lookie here," Fenrir cooed, "what did we find?" He twirled the Sword of Gryffindor around, and Carina cursed herself for not having found a better hiding place.

"Looks like a bunch of Gryffindors to me," one of his thugs noted.

"Let's take them to the Malfoy Manor." Greyback finally decided.

"Shit," Carina whispered, closing her eyes. Carina felt her body be picked up, and she started praying to a god she didn't believe in.

///

The floor was cold, the bricks digging into Carina's bare knees. She struggled slightly against the bonds, a red curl falling into her face.

Carina looked up, watching her family entre the room. It made her sick, knowing she was related to monsters.

"Draco!" Lucius called out, his cold voice cutting the silence like a knife. "Identify the Potter boy."

Draco slowly walked over to the four, stopping in front of Carina, kneeling down to her level. He took in her face, lips parting just slightly. His breath caught in his throat, recognition showing in his face. He recognized her eyes, and they both knew it. But Draco composed his face, moving on to Harry.

Harry set his jaw, and Draco's eyes flitted back to Carina. It was a telltale move of Harry Potter, the fierce jaw, and it was obvious Draco knew exactly who they were.

Draco stood up slowly, and Carina swallowed hard, for the first time in her life not knowing what her brother would do.

"I... I can't be sure, father." Draco said at last, and Carina felt relief wash over her. They hadn't been found out, not yet.

"Come on," Lucius snarled, "we can identify the Mudblood and the Blood Traitor, all we need now is to make sure it's the Potter boy! We do not want to face the wrath of the Dark Lord if we are wrong!"

"I can't be sure, father," Draco said, though all strength that was once in his voice was gone. Carina wasn't sure how much longer he could last. She could only hope any loyalty he might've had for her was strong enough to keep him from talking.

The door flew open, and Carina felt her blood run cold. Bellatrix Lestrange, in the flesh.

"I say," Bellatrix barked, "we call the Dark Lord and end the whole matter!"

"Let's not be rash, sister," Narcissa said quickly, "you have not seen all they possess." Narcissa held out the sword of Gryffindor, and Bellatrix paled.

"No, this can't be, the sword is safe in my vault!"

"Then I'm afraid you were mistaken," Lucius said coldly.

"No!" Bellatrix cried, "I need answers. But whom to get them from..." Bellatrix's eyes rested on Hermione, and Carina immediately spoke up.

"Please. Out of the four of us, it's obvious I'm the only competent one."

"And who, exactly, are you?" Bellatrix asked, sidling up alongside Carina.

"Oh, auntie dearest, I'm hurt. Really, I am. Dye my hair red and no one can recognize me. I thought you knew me better than that." Carina cooed, trying to take any and all attention off of Hermione.

"Carina!" Bellatrix cried gleefully, "Oh, yes, you will do quite well!"

Bellatrix ripped the bonds off of Carina, throwing her across the floor. She went sprawling, hitting her head against the floor with a painful crack. The iron taste of blood filled her mouth, and Carina looked up at her aunt with pure loathing.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix called, and Carina grit her teeth. The familiar overwhelming feeling of pain overcame her, and Carina tried to disassociate her mind.

Lucius had placed the Cruciatus curse on her many times, telling her she needed to be prepared. Carina had never thought that she would be thankful for the torture, but here she was, eating her words.

It took all she had not to scream, but Carina wasn't about to give Bellatrix the satisfaction. No, she only screamed for Hermione. The things she did for that girl.

Bellatrix lifted the curse, and Carina ceased her writhing.

"Looks like I'll have to try a different tactic." Bellatrix cackled. "Now, what was it you told Crabbe? Way back in third year? 'You do not touch Hermione Granger', yes? Fucking fag."

Carina's breath caught in her throat, terror hitting her in nauseating waves.

"The little Mudblood always has been your weakness. Don't mind if I exploit it, do you?"

Harry and Ron were taken out of the room, presumably to the basement. Carina was bound again, pressed up against the wall. She was mouthing 'I'm sorry' over and over, hoping against hope Hermione could someday forgive her for what was about to happen.