Carina Malfoy is not amused. Correction, Carina Malfoy is beyond pissed with the situation she found herself involved in. When she first appeared in the Shack, she described these circumstances as a greek joke, now it's closely reminded of a Greek tragedy. Especially if she dies by the wand of this sorry of excuse wizard-like Peter Pettigrew because then she'll come back and make his life even more miserable than it already is. Nonetheless, she doesn't know who in Salazar's name is writing this story but one thing is certain, someone wants to fuck up with her life.

She breathed by her nose, trying to calm her nerves, staring at Harry Potter's furious emerald eyes as he was being held back by Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, worriedly watching her. Sirius Black, whose anger displayed on his face is identical to the one of Alphard Black that she remembers, kept them behind him and protecting them. Professor Remus Lupin looked calm if you didn't observe closely the death stare painted in his expression while Professor Severus Snape, now released from the moment the rat took her wand, was blank, void of any emotion and cautious.

"Drop your wands!" Pettigrew roared "Or else I'll blow her head!"

"Keep your hands off her!" Harry screamed Ron and Hermione grabbing him from Remus's hold trying to calm him down as they whispered to him.

"Peter," said Lupin "Don't do anything stupid. You won't be able to get away with this. Let. Her. Go."

Carina felt his disgusting nails sinking deeper and a drop of blood fell slowly from her neck forcing her to wince. She started to panic making it obvious in her blue eyes and Harry who never once looked away from her started to panic too. Because if Carina Malfoy, the girl who in every single situation had a plan A to a plan Z, was losing her nerve, her cold logic then something is extremely wrong.

Honestly, everything is wrong. Never once came across her mind that Remus Lupin was a werewolf, it was fortunate that she found the potion and return it to him, that Sirius Black was Snuffles, that Severus Snape was angry beyond hearing reason, and most importantly that Peter Pettigrew was alive, keeping her captive. So, yes. She had no plan whatsoever to get out of this without the idiot rat-man killing any of them, intentionally or unintentionally. Unless she acted as a Gryffindor and depended only on her luck which didn't seem much right now.

"Okay, Pettigrew." spoke Snape grimly "We'll put our wands down." he stared pointy at the Gryffindors, young and old, urging them to follow his lead "Now, let her go." and they waited.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" asked Pettigrew, gripping her even stronger.

"That's up to discussion?" commented sharply Sirius.

"Sirius!" warned Lupin then glanced at Peter with a fierce look "We dropped our wands, now release Carina."

"And how will I know that you'll not attack me the moment that I let her go?" he asked not giving them the chance to reply he continued "I'll take her with me and when I'm far away I'll release her. However, if any of you follow us then this is the end."

"NO!" jumped Harry getting away from his friends standing beside the adults "I'll come with you!" he said quickly "You let her go and take me instead." as always, facing trouble bravely ignoring the protest of the rest of them.

Carina's gaze softened and in a second her glare would cut them in half if it was a sword "Don't be stupid Potter." she scoffed. She went straight to the last resort, acting as a Gryffindor it is. She stood tall, looking fiercely at the Boy-Who-Lived "I'll be alright." she said trying to convince more herself than the others "Just do as he says."

Harry was about to open his mouth to disagree but Snape didn't allow him to "Alright. Leave and then let the girl go, unharmed." he spoke pointedly.

"But Professor-!" Hermione cried while Ron turned red in anger and Harry watching him in shock.

"Not now, Miss Granger!" he snapped.

"Snivellus you cannot be serious!" Black barked "You cannot honestly believe he'll keep his word?"

"Our hands are tied Black, don't you see? It's almost full moon! We have to go!"

"Remus won't hurt them!"

"He's right." Lupin said.

"See-"

"Severus is right, Sirius." he stated making the others stare at him with wide eyes, not expecting that at all. This night is full of surprises it seems.

He glanced at Pettigrew sternly "Leave, we won't follow you. However, if she doesn't return unharmed and safe then you will pay."

Carina felt the rat urging her to follow him as they stepped back slowly until they disappeared from their sight.

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They slowly began to make their way down from the Shrieking Shack and Carina quickly plotted. Alright, she has to let go of the Gryffindor inside her because as Sirius said, she also didn't believe that the rat will keep his word. There is a small chance that he will but she cannot leave her fate only to luck and chances. Now that she has no Gryffindors to make things harder, she needed a good enough plan and she remembered.

Draco. Her dearest big brother. Her twin. Literally her other half. She told him to bring Aurors to the Shrieking Shack even if he was not able to do so, better Hogsmeade where there were better chances to be seen than Hogwarts where no one but Hagrid and the cowardly dog Fang. The little lion inside her was pushed down by her snake who hissed with a warning, showing his fangs promising revenge. Because one thing is for sure, she will eat this rat who had the nerve to threaten her.

Scene. And action.

"Mister Pettigrew," she said in a small voice faux scared "Where are you taking me?"

"We'll escape from the Wimping Willow then I'll let you go while I disappear." he replied surely.

"But-" Carina whimpered "There are Dementors all over Hogwarts!" she said forcing him to pause and let her go, his hand now on her still her wand pointing at her. She'll have to disinfect that later in order not to catch any fleas.

"Word got around that Sirius Black was in the Forbidden Forest, so the Dementors are way too close if we go from the Wimping Willow." he wavered as he listened "How else do you think Lupin, Snape, and I knew that Black was here? He was sighted!"

She could see him shiver from fear, even in the thought of being near one and she continued "It would be safer for both of us if we leave by the Shrieking Shack, to Hogsmeade than risking being kissed by a Dementor." she pointed out "And, I'm pretty sure that the others have gotten hold of Dumbledore till now, so you're doomed if you step on Hogwarts' grounds either way."

Pettigrew began to grow even paler and being the idiot excuse of a man, he believed her without a second thought. Though, have they all forgot how cunning Slytherins are? Disappointing, and he was doing so well acting as the bad guy. Voldemort just fell short of soldiers to fight for him it seems.

They stood before the only door of the Shack. Pettigrew looked around desperately searching for a way out. Here's the problem the Shrieking Shack actually has no working doors or windows that allow entry or exit of the premises but nothing we cannot easily fix.

Carina blinked and titled her head "I think a Bombarda will do nicely."

Pettigrew made us took a step back and yelled "BOMBARDA!" and Carina immediately covered her face with her hands from the dust and pieces of wood that hit her. After a minute, she felt him once again grabbing her by the arm making their way outside and as if Merlin heard her prayers she heard the one she expected to call her "CARA!"

"Draco Malfoy, you brilliant wanker, I'll allow you to eat every single green apple you come across from now on." she thought happily coming across the sight of Aurors, Ministry Officials, and even the Minister himself. She doesn't know how was he able to convince them but then again he is her brother.

Then she started to shed fake tears, an accomplishment she figured out the summer before, and whimpered loudly like a child "Help! He said he'll blow me up as he did with those muggles twelve years ago!"

This made the Aurors act quickly, started to throw disarming spells forcing Pettigrew to release her to fight back. Carina quickly moved behind the wooden wall of the Shack to dodge any rogue spells. It didn't take long but a couple of minutes for the fight to end, I don't think that Pettigrew was a capable opponent anyway, when a tall black wizard with broad shoulders wearing a single gold hoop earring kneels before her.

"It's alright now. You're safe." he spoke in a reassuring, slow, and deep voice "I'm Auror Shacklebolt, you can come out now, Miss Malfoy."

"Cara!" she heard Draco running to her then he held her, his face concerned and even paler than usual "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you want me to kill that bastard?"

Carina once again started to cry pitifully gaining the man's compassion as well as the rest of them when she appeared next to him as they walked outside. Truth to be told, it became hard to cry when all she wanted was to grin smugly at the rotten rat who was chained standing between two other Aurors.

"Miss Malfoy," said the portly little man or else known as Minister Cornelius Fudge "could you explain what happened?"

"That man," she cried weakly pointing to the rat successfully hiding the feeling of glee "He held me captive, stealing my own wand and threatening to kill me the same way he did to those muggles."

"But that impossible!" protested a man with short grey hair with a neat parting and a narrow toothbrush mustache known as Bartemius Crouch "Those muggles were killed by Sirius Black!"

Carina shook her head "You're wrong. I heard him confess that it was him!"

"You're lying!"

Carina grew angrier, scorn made way to her lips and her blue eyes grew threatening cold making the elder man step back "I am not lying." she emphasized, "I'll even take Veritaserum Potion to prove you otherwise."

"There is no need for that." an unearthly calm and relaxed voice said belonging to none other but Albus Dumbledore "I have a Pensieve in my office. We'll take Miss Malfoy's memory and review it, any objections?"

And as you can imagine there were none.

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"Professor Lupin is a werewolf."

"That's true."

"Sirius Black, Azkaban fugitive, is Snuffles."

"That's also true."

"Who we sneaked in Hogwarts."

"Uh-huh."

"Peter Pettigrew is alive, the actual murder of those muggles, traitor of the Potters and hiding as a rat for twelve years."

She nodded.

"Bloody Hell! This is so messed up!" Draco exclaimed frustrated.

"You can say that again." Carina replied as she walked beside her brother at two in the morning. The Ministry took her memories, proving that old man Crouch that she was saying the truth, and they decided to arrange a secret trial for Sirius Black who was being transferred from one of the cells in Hogwarts into the Hospital Wing whereas Peter Pettigrew was taking his place.

They finally reached the doors of the Hospital Wing and opened them entering the room. The Golden Trio were bedded next to each other, with Weasley in the middle, unconscious, sickly looking, with warm blankets covering them. In the farthest bed, next to Harry Potter, was Sirius Black tired but awake with grey eyes staring at them amused.

"You are alive." he stated dauntingly at Carina.

"You didn't die either." Carina replied "Dementor, wikes." both of the twins

"Harry conjured a Patronus, a Stag." Sirius commented proudly.

Carina nodded smugly "After all, I taught him."

"Are we seriously going to act as if this is normal?" wondered Draco making the other two chuckle.

"Nice to see you too, Draco." smiled Sirius then an awkward silence took over until hesitantly started to speak "Hey, thank you for taking care of me."

The Malfoy twins glanced at one another and shrugged "That because we thought you were a dog." said Carina.

"Or else we would have let you starve." Draco added.

"Most probably calling the authorities."

"And getting your arse back in Azkaban."

"In other words, you were lucky we didn't figure out sooner." pointed Carina.

Sirius Black shook his head entertained by their act. He looked at them with a faraway look, a nostalgic one, a sad one. He observed them before he gazed at Carina "Why didn't you attack me at the Shack or better yet why didn't you let Snape attack me?"

"That's why, I'm here." she started "I didn't do it for you." she stated clearly, his expression turned confused "But, for Alphard Black, our Uncle whose heart you completely captured, the man who never once believed you were guilty. I wanted to see if what he believed was true and if his love for you was worth it. No one could take your part in his heart. Not even us, and believe me, we tried really hard to do so."

Carina could see unshed tears making the way to his grey eyes that reminded her of her Uncle, of her mother, and of her brother, the people that she loved the most. The resentment in her heart was gone and she spoke "Be a man, he would be proud of. Be the godfather that Harry Potter needs."

His face turned gloomy "If they will not have me take the kiss."

Draco smirked "That won't happen, don't worry cousin."

And they left. Their job was done. Alphard, you own them one just so you know.

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The Great Hall is always full of students, boisterous and passing the Daily Prophet to one another being the final day of the school year. When the Malfoy twins entered the room everyone watched them, both could guess why. Draco and Carina made their way to their favorite Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory looking at them enraged. Knowing that it would be better to get it over it because there is no way possible that the elder boy will calm down unless he scolded them. They mentally prepared themselves for what was about to follow.

They took a seat opposite Cedric, who had a stern expression with pursed lips and watched pointedly Carina "You went an escaped murder-"

"Proven to be innocent."

"A werewolf on a full moon-"

"He took his Potion."

"And was held as a hostage by the actual murder!" he snapped angrily "What were you thinking?"

Carina blinked "Well, it was one of those rare occasions that I was not thinking but everything worked out in the end!"

Cedric glared, bright grey eyes shining dangerously "Since when you are such a Gryffindor?" forcing Draco to hold back his laughter.

Carina frowned and groaned "Come on, now, Ced! There is no need to get nasty!"

Cedric began to mess with his hair groaning, a habit that he gained after befriending them. Carina believes that they are most probably a bad influence for him but who cares. The twins are way too selfish to let the older badger go. Not that he wants to anyway, he adores them even though they bring him too much stress.

The twins chuckled and began to fill his plate with his favorite food to ease his frustration. Nobody said that their friendship would be easy even though sometimes it felt as if it was. For the twins, their familiarity with Cedric was as needed as breathing. Moreover, there was no one else in the world that they trusted more, that they could depend on with an exception of each other but that was a given. Being twins and all.

Carina noticed one of the younger Hufflepuff reading the Daily Prophet and asked if she could borrow it for a moment. She began to read;

PETER PETTIGREW FOUND ALIVE AFTER TWELVE YEARS! SIRIUS BLACK PROVEN TO BE INNOCENT!

Peter Pettigrew was thought to have died along with twelve muggles by an explosion caused by Sirius Black according to witnesses claiming that they heard Pettigrew shouting that Black was the one who betrayed the Potters on that faithful Halloween night, only to be proven as a great plan! Peter Pettigrew managed to escape, brilliantly faking his death, framing Black, and going into hiding.

On the night before, Carina Malfoy, daughter of Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black), first cousin once removed with Sirius Black found herself falling a victim of Peter Pettigrew being held captive by him as a means to escape. Fortunately, Aurors surrounded Hogwarts to prevent Black from attacking and saved her on time. She testified against Pettigrew and thus giving the chance for Sirius Black to be given a trial and to be proven that all along he was innocent.

The Ministry to correct the wrong they did against Sirius Black gave him back his fortune as well as his rightfully claim as the Black Heir along with the Black Estates. They also promised him to give him whatever he wanted and could provide him. We were all pleasantly surprised when he demanded the guardianship of his godson being none other but Harry Potter, our Boy-Who-Lived! The Ministry had no choice but to accept thus making Sirius Black the legal guardian of Harry Potter. We are all for happy endings!

Sadly, this is not the end. Peter Pettigrew managed to best the Aurors once again, turning into his Animagus and escaped once again...

"Oh no." said Carina worriedly frowning as she stopped reading'

"What is it?" Draco and Cedric wondered.

Carina bit her lip "They mentioned me." she answered showing them the article, as concern took over their expression "I didn't think that they would mention me. I believed that the Ministry would have liked to keep a secret that a student was almost hurt if not dead, but I forgot that the Ministry will do anything to make them look good."

"Come and live with me, you two!" Cedric suggested, "My parents do not mind!"

They both shook their heads "That would make him even angrier." Draco said.

"He won't do anything at you."Carina commented, pushing her plate away, her appetite long gone. "They only said my name.'

"Maybe it won't be that bad." Draco said with optimism, however, the three of them could only wish to be true.

This was a train ride that they didn't want to take.

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The train ride back to London was unusually quiet. Cedric, Draco, and Carina just sat in silence, taking comfort from one another's presence. They knew that this summer will be even harder than the previous one. They just had to become even stronger, as long as they had each other all will be well. Out of the blue, their compartment door opened revealing Harry Potter who seemed way too happy for any of them right now.

"What is it, Potter?" sneered Draco.

"Draco." said Cedric with a warning.

Harry ignored both of them and grinned at Carina "I want to talk to you, may I?" he said in expectation. Carina seeing that no more harm can it bring than it already did, stood up and followed him. They walked for a bit till Harry stopped unexpectedly making her almost crash on his back.

He turned around, fully grinning, his bright eyes "Thanks."

Carina waited for him to continue.

"Because of you, Sirius was proven innocent and now I can live with him from now on, well I still I have to stay with the Dursleys for a week but what is a week when I can spend the rest of my summer-"

"Potter you're rumbling." Carina interrupted him quite rudely.

Harry grinned not minding her until he noticed that her blue eyes seemed washed-out "Hey," he said gently "What's wrong? Are you by any chance hurt? Did that rat do anything to you?" with each word making him even angrier.

Carina raised a dismissive hand and spoke "Keep yourself out of my business, Potter. But to ease you, no I am alright."

Harry observed her not believing her at all "Will I see you over the summer?" he blurted out turning a little bit red.

Carina was taken aback for a second and she responded truthfully "I don't think so."

"But why?" Harry frowned "You and Sirius are family, I thought you'd be able to visit one another."

Carina smiled bitterly "My family doesn't really meet eye to eye with Sirius ideologies." she was about to return to her compartment but stopped before taking a step and said "Be careful this summer." leaving him all alone and confused as usual.

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Lucius Malfoy was dangerously quiet making Carina and Draco even more worried. They arrived at Malfoy Manor, noticing Narcissa's sad look, they knew that things will get even worse than they estimated. Lucius gestured them to follow him to his office which they did and waited as they watched him take a seat on his chair behind the desk while filling his glass with firewhiskey.

He gulped his glass, his cold blue eyes observing them "Once again, Carina, you acted against this family."

Carina gritted her jaw to keep herself from replying.

"However," he continued "your actions seem to take influence negatively your brother and his upbringing."

"Father, what are you talking about?" Draco asked frowning, shutting up by Lucius glare.

"Since we failed to educate you appropriately, my daughter, there is a person who volunteered to correct what we did wrong." he said. As if on cue, a knock was heard, Lucius permitted for the person to enter then a short squat woman resembling a large pale toad appeared. She had a broad, flabby face, a wide, slack mouth, and a little neck. Her eyes were bulging and pouchy, and in her mousy brown hair, she often wore a black velvet bow.

"Well, this lovely lady must be Carina." the woman spoke with a simpering high-pitched voice that was girlish and breathless.

"Carina, this is Dolores Umbridge. You'll spend your summer under her supervision and improve your education."

"Do not worry, Lucius! She'll be in good hands!" she said putting her thick stubby fingers, adorned with several gaudy old rings, on Carina's shoulder gripping it slightly.

The twins looked at each other with wide eyes. It was worse than they thought.

They were separating them.