Carina was sitting down on her bedchamber's floor, surrounded by all kinds of books, with a medium size black suitcase in her hands as she studied. Snuffles was laying on her bed watching her with bewilderment and impatience judging by the nervous movement of his tail and shifting eyes.

"Thank you, Newt Scamander." murmured Carina making Snuffles title his head in confusion.

Carina grinned at him "Newt Scamander, is one of the best Magizoologist there has been. Anyway, I read once in his books that in order to move his magical beings from one place to another, he bewitched his suitcase using an Extension Charm."

She turned her eyes to her own suitcase "I believe that I did alright." she opened it and grabbed her wand while saying "Lumos!", she looked inside and hummed in approval. She actually managed to give it the extension of a small room. Then she grinned in accomplishment, her blue eyes moving towards Snuffles who sat up "Come here boy! Take a look!" she said enthusiastically.

Snuffles jumped from the bed walking to her with his tail dancing, he put his head inside the suitcase and Carina ruffled his head as he barked cheerfully forcing Carina to shush him "Quiet! We don't want anyone to know you're here." Snuffles paid no mind to her scolding, he just licked her cheek making her face scowl in disgust.

While she cleaned her face, she saw Snuffles looking around the black room, not really seeing anything. She put her hand on his head gaining his attention "Do not worry boy. I'll transfigure some things to make this small room a little more comfortable" she grabbed a random book "Let's see what these tell us."

Snuffles put his head on Carina's lap as she was reading and absentmindedly she played with his fur. When Snuffles finally fell asleep, her eyes looked down at him. Sometimes he would stare at her with a certain wistfulness that successfully made her heart hurt. Other times, especially when her brother was there with them, he would watch them talk and interact then Snuffles would close his eyes, giving Carina the impression that he frequently imagined somebody else in their place.

Snuffles was a tortured soul, anyone could tell, and Carina promised herself that she'll take care of him.

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Draco stood speechless as he stared around the small room inside the suitcase "Merlin, Cara! You're brilliant!" he commented.

Small yellow light decorated the room like stars making the dark blue of the walls appear as the sky. There was a soft bed made by wood touching the wall that now Snuffles was laying on the gray sheets, his head on the pillow watching Draco entertained. On the side of the bed was a big bowl with water for Snuffles to drink. Moreover, inside the room was a short wooden table with two stools, on it Draco saw couple of snack as well as some books.

He heard a screeching noise, he turned to see Carina coming down the ladder with couple more books in her arms. Draco's grey eyes widen as he read the titles of those books "Carina those are for Dark Arts." he pointed out looking at her with suspicion.

"Do not fret, Dray, dear. They are only for academic purpose." she replied making Draco cross his arms with narrowed eye, not fully believing her.

"You did amazing." Draco changed the subject gesturing around the room. When she was ready, she would speak with him about this.

Carina shrugged and smirked at her brother "I could have done better but I had no time."

Draco rolled his eyes and playfully shoved her as he let a snicker. Afterwards, he walked and petted Snuffles "I guess you're coming with us, boy. What do you think of your new room?"

Snuffles barked happily as he licked Draco's hand "Wait, till you see Hogwarts Snuffles, you'll fall in love."

Carina kissed him in the head "Now I want you to stay here and when we reach, I'll come to see you, okay?" and Snuffles just barked in response.

Carina and Draco moved up the ladder and came out of the suitcase. Before she fully closed it, she waved a last goodbye at Snuffles who silently watched her, then she put it with her other things and nodded to her brother that she was ready to go.

The twins went down the stairs of their manor with their things in their hands. When they reached the living room where their parents were waiting for them, Draco and Carina looked at one another then silence took over them as they stood tall opposite their parents, expecting for them to speak.

Lucius took a step forward, his cold stare glared down at his children, his cain hitting harshly the marble floor. He stood between his children and shot a pointed look to his daughter "This year, I want no funny business, no misbehaving and no shaming further the family name. Have I made myself clear?"

Draco and Carina nodded with a blank face, only uttering "Yes, father."

Lucius left the room and immediately the Malfoy twins were engulfed into a tight hug by none other than Narcissa Malfoy. She let them go as she softly caressed their cheeks with grey eyes that held back her tears "My babies, you have grown so much."

Carina and Draco said nothing.

Narcissa looked at her daughter, her perfect daughter "Carina, please sweetie, do not anger your father any further."

"Are you kidding me?" snapped angrily Draco to their mother, her perfect son "She did nothing wrong!"

Narcissa smiled sadly at them "How could you let him do this to us?" asked Carina for the first time her mother.

Narcissa took a step back "It's for your own good-"

"OUR OWN GOOD!?" Draco and Carina glared at their mother. Carina spoke "You'll follow a maniac for our own good? Or your bigoted reasons?" her blue eyes blazed with fire.

Narcissa shook her head "This is bigger than you can face!" she cried.

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW WHAT ARE WE CAPABLE OF?" the twins screamed at once.

Narcissa shifted, composing herself then she began once again to talk "There's a Ministry car waiting for you outside that will take you to King's Cross Station." she hesitated before she kissed her children on their foreheads.

She accompanied them outside, as they were about to get inside the car, Carina and Draco heard their mother calling them. They turned around with tensed shoulders and guarded eyes. Narcissa smiled at them sweetly and spoke with a soft tone "My sweethearts, please do write us more frequently as possible."

The twins didn't answer, they just nodded. Draco opened the door for his sister then followed after her getting inside the Ministry car that drove them away from the bleach place that they were unfortunate to call their home.

As Narcissa Malfoy watched the car taking away her children, her perfect children, she let the tears to fall one by one. She whispered words that were meant to be taken away with the wind in hope of finding them on their way, " I love you, my dear ones." Then she went inside, ignoring the fact that her perfect family picture has already cracked. Ready to be broken.

But you know what they say, ignorance is a bliss.

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The journey to King's Cross was quite uneventful with the car sliding through the gaps, reaching to the station with half an hour to spare. The Ministry driver found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, with the exception of a black suitcase that Carina felt more comfortable when she held it by the handle. The driver touched his hat in salute, Draco nodded politely while Carina gave a small curtsy and he drove away.

Slowly the Malfoy twins dragged their belongings onto the trains, the suitcase tight into her grip. They found a compartment with Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott and decided to sit with them.

"Theodore, Blaise, hello. " Carina greeted politely while Draco did a weird handshake with the boys.

"Carina, how have you been?" Theodore asked.

"As well as I can possibly be. "

"Have you heard about Black?" questioned Blaise in excitement.

"Who hasn't?" scoffed Draco and then the discussion began. Along the way, Carina caught a glimpse of red walking past their compartment. She got up, gesturing to her brother that she'll be outside, opened the door and as she thought, Ginny Weasley was looking around a bit lost. Suddenly, Carina traveled back to the Chamber of Secrets with the girl before her almost died.

"Ginny." she acknowledged kindly.

The Gryffindor girl turned around, her brown eyes immediately brightened and grinned cheerfully when she realized that it was the older Slytherin girl who called her, "Carina!" she shouted gleefully and run to hug the slightly taller girl who returned her gesture.

"How have you been, ma petite rouge?" Carina over the summer had exchanged few letters with the Weasley girl. She actually grew fond of the little red-headed girl who held so much spark inside her, give it a little time and that spark will be well known around the Hogwarts.

"Fantastic! We went to Egypt over the summer to visit my brother, Bill!" she gushed "It was amazing. Fred and George almost locked Percy inside a tomb!"

Carina chuckled "Why are you not in a compartment? The train has already started." she said in a curious tone that made Ginny grow red and look at her feet.

"Well, Ron threw me out because Harry wanted to tell them something." she grew silently "And well, I have no one to sit with since, you know, last year..."

Carina petted her head "It's a bit hard to make friends, huh?" she took gently her hand "Come on, petite rouge, you'll sit with me."

"But your friends-"

"They'll say nothing if they know what's good for them." she replied before she looked at Ginny with a mischievous stare "Unless, you're scared of a couple Slytherins?"

The red-headed girl narrowed her eyes, the Gryffindor inside her roared "Of course not!"

Carina nodded in approval "Good, I don't think that I have to ask you to be polite. Unless they are rude to you first, then do whatever you think it's right."

Ginny nodded fiercely as she watched Carina open the door of her compartment while saying "Guys, this is Ginny Weasley, she'll sit with us."

She turned to the young girl "Ginny, this is Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini, I believe you remember my brother Draco."

"Weaslette." Draco smirked mockingly at the girl gaining a glare from her and a warning look from his sister.

"Malfoy." she said in a sneering tone that made them raise their eyebrows. You have to give it to the girl, it was better than most Slytherins, and we sneer a lot.

Carina pulled Ginny into a conversation and not long after the boys also joined. Theodore and Blaise were complete gentleman-like while Draco was the problem. He seemed to like aggravating the Gryffindor, since he ignored all the warnings Carina send him, who once Carina gave her approval she started to fight back. It was quite entertaining to watch them fight back and forth until Ginny reached her point and threw him a Stinging hex.

"YOU ANNOYING GIRL!" Draco yelled in pain holding his face.

"YOU OBNOXIOUS BRAT!" she yelled back with her wand still up.

Carina blinked before she started to laugh making Draco gape then glare at her "Are you not not going to do anything about this?" he gestured his face.

She threw a nonverbal healing spell then answered "You had it coming." she smiled at the girl who turned even more red than she already was because of her anger "Good job." Ginny immediately brightened from the praise.

"Traitor!" huffed Draco at his sister.

Carina smirked and ruffled his hair "Do not tickle a sleeping dragon, brother dear."

"What's that?" Theodore wondered gaining their attention. The train been slowing down and it jerked to sharp stop.

"That's not good." commented Draco.

"You think?" snapped Ginny.

Carina looked out of the window at the blackness outside and shivered, suddenly all the light went out and the compartment was nothing but a black void.

"Lumos!" Draco's voice was heard followed b the other Slytherin boys.

Carina stood up and Draco followed after, she opened the door and the sight that greeted her was not what she expected. It was a tall, ghostly figure, its back hunched as its head threatened to connect with the ceiling and the tail of its robes flared with the ethereal wind. Long dun-colored fingers unwrapped themselves around the edge of the door and pushed forward, forcing Carina and Draco to take a step back, bringing an unmistakable chill that rattled their bones.

"Dementor." whispered with a shaky voice Blaise leaning back in his seat.

Carina could see its face, sunken and blind. Only scabbed skin filled the sockets and her breath caught at the sight of it, shuddering when its mouth opened wide, too wide, and breathed.

Carina at once raised her wand and cried "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

And out of the end of her wand burst a blinding,dazzling silver animal. A beautiful fox, to be exact, managed to shield them and overpowered the foul effects of the Dementor. Carina felt her kneed to weaken and stumped but Draco caught her with a worried look on his face.

"Carina, are you okay?" Ginny asked helping Draco to place her on her seat.

"I'm alright." she replied in a weak tone.

"Was that a corporeal Patronus?" Blaise asked after a minute of silence gaining a glare from both Draco and Ginny while Theodore shook his head.

"Is everyone alright?" wondered an unfamiliar male voice. Carina raised her eyes taking the sight of a man, scraggly looking man with battered robes and swallow, thin face with premature lines and light brown hair with a little bit of grey then and there. The moment his hazel eyes met he blue eyes they widen in recognition "Alyona?"

Carina blinked "Carina, actually. Carina Malfoy." she stretched her hand "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, I assume?"

The tall man returned her handshake "Remus Lupin." he studied her for a second "Were you the one who casted that Patronus?"

Carina nodded making the man smile at her, he put his hand in one of his pockets and pulled a chocolate frog giving it to her "You look like you need one Miss Malfoy."

Carina once again blinked and thanked him before commenting "I hope you'll be better than the ones before you, Professor Lupin."

Professor Lupin let a chuckle fall from his lips "We shall see Miss Malfoy." and he moved away.

Carina smirked at her brother and said "I like him."

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"You won't believe what I heard Longbottom say!" out of nowhere appeared Pansy Parkinson along with Daphne Greengrass as Draco helped Carina come down from the carriages. The Malfoy twins just raised their pale eyebrow each waiting for her to finish "Harry Potter fainted because of a dementor!"

Carina kept her poker face on whereas Draco smiled in delight "He did?"

Carina looked at her brother "I'd thought that after what happened last year, you'd made up."

Draco scoffed "Please, scarface and I?" he then glanced forward "Speaking of scarface..." Carina's eyes followed her brother as he walked towards the Golden Trio.

Harry Potter also grew over the summer, Carina decided. His hair was still as messy as she recalled and he still wore those circular glasses but he got taller, almost the same height as Draco. Moreover he was not that skinny as the boy she met in the first year. At least he was eating better.

She looked at Ron Weasley who actually was the tallest of them all but gone that baby fat from his face. She then glanced at Hermione Granger with the same old bushy hair like Carina she didn't grew that much. Then there was Neville Longbottom who also grew taller and managed to lose some pounds.

"You fainted, Potter?" wondered with a drawling, delighted voice Draco as he elbowed Hermione coming face to face with Harry. Carina wanted to roll her eyes at her brother's childish behavior but she just to a step ahead, moving towards them.

Harry Potter was about to snap at him when his bright green eyes looked past Draco's shoulder meeting Carina's blue eyes and he immediately closed his mouth as he messed with his hair nervously. Draco noticing his attention averted to his sister, he sneered "Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?"

Carina sighed as she reached the little group with the suitcase in her hand "That's enough Draco." she shushed him then acknowledged them politely "Potter. Granger. Weasley. Longbottom."

"Malfoy." Harry grinned "Good summer?"

Carina shrugged indifferently and turned her yes to Hermione's brown eyes who looked at her impatiently.

"Yes?" questioned Carina.

"What electives did you chose Malfoy?"Hermione asked.

"This again Granger? As I have already told you, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures."

Hermione nodded "As did I."

Draco was about to drag his sister away from the Gryffindors when suddenly Harry blurted "I like your ribbon!"

Everyone turned at him "It's pretty..." he justified awkwardly as he blushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Thank you Potter." Carina shot him a weird look.

Harry's eyes fell upon the suitcase in her hand and asked "Do you need a help with that?"

Carina's blue eyes narrowed in suspicion "Thank you but there is no need." she voiced yet Harry paid no mind "It's alright I can help you with it."

Draco appeared in front of Carina, hiding her from Harry's sight and glared at him "She said no, Potter." he sneered.

Harry also glared at him and was about to respond when they heard a manly familiar voice speak "Is there a problem?"

Carina turned her head to see the man they met not long ago, Professor Lupin, she remembered, getting out of the next carriage.

"No Professor." responded sweetly Carina and stared pointy at her brother "We were just leaving." and she grabbed him by the arm and left.

"You're out of luck mate." said Ron "Seems like He-Malfoy doesn't want you near his sister." he commented as they watched Draco threw them a glare behind his shoulder.

"I don't care what he wants." announced Harry with a dazed stare towards Carina "It was a really pretty ribbon." he said making Hermione and Neville shake their head whereas Ron slapped him in the head pulling him away from the previous state.

Then they walked towards the castle, not noticing the man that watched the situation with sad, nostalgic eyes. Everything way too familiar.

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Word got around Hogwarts that Carina Malfoy could actually cast the Patronus Charm and managed to scare the Dementor away. Carina couldn't really decide what was worst, listening to the gossiping murmurs of the student body or the intrigued stares that everyone gave her. Most likely both.

"So was it a dragon, a wolf or a snake?"asked with an amused tone Cedric Diggory as he took a seat next to Carina, opposite Draco.

The twins raised their eyebrows "Shouldn't you be at you Table since you know? Prefect?" pointed Draco.

"Don't worry Annie can handle it for the meantime, until we go to our dormitory. I wanted to sit with my favourite twins." Cedric dismissed then looked at Carina "So what from was your Patronus?"

"A fox actually." she replied as she studied his expression.

"So it's true then?" at once Cedric turned towards Draco with an accusing stare "Can you also cast the Patronus Charm?"

Draco shook his head "Cara tried to teach me but only white fog came out of this."he gestured his wand.

"That's because you neither practice nor the happy memory is strong enough." criticized Carina and Draco only rolled his yes as he shoot a knowing look at Cedric who just smirked amused.

"How was the Prefect meeting?" Carina wondered glancing at Cedric who just groaned and started to talk, none of the three really paying attention to the sorting. It was funny to watch the first year Slytherins stare confused or mortified at the fifth year Hufflepuff.

Suddenly, Harry Potter stormed inside he Great Hall along with Professor McGonagall who took place in the open seat of the Staff Table. Harry was about to sit next to Ron until he noticed the Hufflepuff next to her and glared. Ron had to pull him down, shaking his head in the process.

Professor Dumbledore stood up to speak at that moment. He beamed around at the students, his blue eyes gleaming under the candle light. Carina could swear that he winked at her brother and her but she couldn't be sure.

"Welcome!" he said in a joyful tone "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is serious, I think it's best to get it out of the way before you become befouled by our excellent feast..."

Dumbledore then cleared his throat and continued "As you all are aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some dementors of Azkaban who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises or even Invisibility Cloaks."

At that comment Carina glanced at the Wonder Boy who also turned his emerald eyes at her. If this wasn't a direct warning at him then she didn't know what it was.

Carina titled her head with her arm on the table as her hand was holding her cheek. She observed the Boy-Who-lived that boldly continued to stare at her and began to wonder, did he know that Black was also accused fro his parents' deaths? She didn't think so.

"It is not the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuse I therefore each and everyone of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Perfects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no students runs afoul of the dementors."

"Unless you can cast a Patronus Charm." commented Cedric in Carina's ear who winked at him in mischief. Harry didn't like that, at all.

Dumbledore paused again and looked around the Hall gravely. Nobody moved or made a sound "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

There were some scattered applause, most unenthusiastic. Carina noticed her godfather, Professor Severus Snape, staring down the Staff Table at the new D. A. D. A. Professor with pure hate and utter loathing. Well, that's interesting. It seems to be some kind of beef between between them.

"As to our second new appointment." he continued as the applause died away "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettledrum, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

The applause was quite boisterous at the Gryffindor Table in particularly. Carina's lips quirked up as she clapped seeing that Hagrid was red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard.

"Of course!" groaned Draco "Who else would have assigned us a monstrous biting book?"

"Draco." said warningly Carina and Cedric.

Draco rolled his eyes and raised his hands in defense before taking a bite from his mashed potatoes "I still don't understand why you like him."

Carina glanced at the half-giant who was conversing happily with the other Professors "He's like a big teddy bear. You cannot hate him."

"Speaking of animals..." said Cedric "Did you bring the dog?" he asked quietly.

Carina smirked "You mean Snuffles?"

Cedric stared open-mouthed "You named that thing Snuffles?"

Draco nodded and pointed his fork at Cedric "Exactly my reaction."

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In the dark night, when Carina was certain that her roomates were deep asleep, she grabbed the suitcase quietly, moving towards the bathroom and locked the door. She opened the suitcase and went down the ladder.

Snuffles jumped happily and ran towards her. Carina giggled as she felt Snuffles lick her palms then she grabbed a napkin which held meat that she grabbed from the feast and gave it to her dog.

"Welcome to Hogwarts Snuffles." she smiled and kneeled down, petting him in the head.

Gaining only a happy bark as a response.