Chapter 6
Fear.
It was everywhere.
She could feel it smoking up the room around her, clouding the area like a disease.
She could taste its sick coating covering her tongue and causing her to trip over her words.
The stench of fear surrounded Carina, but so did power.
He was drowning in it.
The man looked sickly, like his body couldn’t hold the extent of his power. But he was just that. A man. He looked just barely younger than her parents, with combed back deep brown hair. His eyes were a similar colour, but seemed to have a touch of red to them as well. He could have been attractive, if it weren’t for the snake lying on his lap or the terror that his presence exuded.
Carina didn’t know what to think while his eyes dragged over the twins, scraping their figures with his eyes.
Regulus stood tall, with his hand interlocked with her own.
The twins knew what they needed to do, and had discussed their plan on the train ride home after short apologies were passed between them.
Carina let the man scan her up and down. As fear threatened to paralyse her she twitched one of her fingers against Regulus’ palm, hoping that the small movement would allow her some peace of mind. Regulus repeated the action, and the touch allowed her a moment to breathe.
“Ah.” The Dark Lord straightened in his seat, throwing a sickening smile onto his beautiful face. “The twins are here.”
Regulus and Carina both bowed their heads to the man, showing him the respect that his presence demanded.
Carina looked up after a moment, using one of her hands to sweep her bangs out of her face, the other still entangled in Regulus’.
“My Lord.” Carina spoke in greeting, praying her words did not stutter the way her heart seemed to be. “We were ecstatic to receive your invitation.”
“Yes. We do have business to discuss, but first, let us get to know each other.” He said with a wave of his hand.
“Of course.” Regulus said, “Anything that would please you.”
“You are both still in Hogwarts, are you not?” He asked, raising a perfectly groomed eyebrow.
“Yes, we’re in our sixth year. Top of our class” Regulus seemed proud of this, his ability to express his worth to the man in front of them. Regulus did always need that extra touch of validation.
Looking at her brother, Carina struggled to hold back a grimace. She did not want to be here, not with the man that looked sick with power. Not with her parents who were happily smiling on the left hand side of the table where the Dark Lord and his followers sat.
But she would be here for her brother. She would do anything for him. Sirius had given up on being the twin’s protector, but Carina would die before leaving her twin’s side. Even if that meant standing in a room full of people who brought forward only terror.
Because he needed her.
Carina straightened, she needed to end this meeting as quickly as possible. And that would require less ‘getting to know each other’ and more ‘attending to business.’
Pushing some stray hairs behind her ears, she said, “My Lord, how may we be of service to you?”
“How direct of you.” Voldemort straightened his cloak, his smile remained on his face, but it never touched his eyes. “You will act as my entrance into Hogwarts.”
Carina had to fight the urge to furrow her brows. Entrance to hogwarts?
“When or If I need to get myself or my ranks into the school of wizardry, the two of you will have a way to lead us onto the grounds.
Hogwarts? He wanted to bring the fight to Hogwarts?
“Anything My Lord.” Carina spit the words out of her mouth before she could begin to protest.
Regulus looked at her deeply then, a question that she did not know the answer to swirling in his eyes.
“Of course, Anything.” Regulus spoke after his moment of hesitation.
“You’ll need to be marked.”
“Marked? Whatever for?” Carina threw a hand over her mouth, her parents had told her explicitly not to question the Dark lord, or his motives.
But the man in front of her just grinned.
“For communication purposes of course. And as a symbol of your devotion to the cause.”
Carina knew what the Dark mark was, she was no fool, however, she had never heard of someone as young as her or her brother getting one.
Regulus spoke for her now, “Whatever you require.” He swiped a hand through the air as a symbol of nonchalance.
“But first, a test. For your allegiance.”
Carina looked up from the spot on the table she had been previously staring intently at, and locked eyes with Voldemort.
“I need to know that your allegiance lies only with me. And not solely each other.” He stared solely at Carina then, as if he knew the reasoning for her presence.
She could only nod, and she heard her brother mutter an “Anything.”
“It’ll only take a moment of your time.” Voldemort grinned then, but it was lifeless, as if his soul itself was missing from his very body. “You will each use the Cruciatus curse on each other for a measly thirty seconds.”
This could not be happening. Carina could not help the obvious gape that covered her face then.
“Is there a problem?” The Dark Lord was still grinning.
“No, my Lord.” Regulus forced the words out, before promptly sticking his lips in a straight line. “There is no problem.”
The distaste was written over both twins faces, but with a quick glance in their gleeful parents directions, they realised that there was no escaping this.
“Carina dear, why don’t you go first.” Offered the Dark Lord.
Carina was unable to do anything more than nod once, she turned to her brother, tears already gleaming in her eyes. “Sit Reggie.”
Regulus sat on the nearest chair. He kept nodding at his sister, his black curls dancing across his head as he tried to affirm his sister that this was alright. Everything would be alright.
Carina raked her hands through her hair. She had to find a way out of this.
She could not do this.
She could not.
She would not.
She lifted her wand.
“The trace.” She spoke loudly. “I cannot use an unforgivable with the trace.”
“Orion, offer her your wand.” Voldemort's eyes did not leave Carina’s own as he spoke to her father, the deep pits of his eyes boring holes into the back of her skull.
Her father looked appalled, “My wand?”
Only then did the Dark Lord’s eyes leave her own.
“There isn’t a problem? Is there Orion?”
“No my Lord,” Carina’s father shook his head adamantly. “No problem at all.”
He handed his wand over to Carina, and as she gripped it, her hand shook violently.
Regulus looked back at his sister, continuing to nod determinedly.
Carina sucked in a breath.
She pointed the wand towards her brother.
“Crucio.”
Legend has it that you need Hatred, pure, unadulterated, hatred to cast the Cruciatus curse.
The legends were right. Although she did not hate her brother. Her hatred for the man who put her in this position was more than enough for the curse to be successful.
As Carina’s brother’s screams echoed through the room Carina became more and more determined.
She would end Voldemort.
She would kill her with her own bare hands if that's what it took.
Regulus was all she had.
Tears streamed down her face painting her face a violent red as she burned with rage.
“Perfect!” Voldemort clapped gleefully.
Carina did not hold back the glare covering her face.
“And now for the boy, it is your turn!”
Regulus was still panting on his chair, he attempted to stand, but his knees were shaking with the adrenaline that the pain brought along.
Carina kneeled in front of her brother.
Placing her fathers wand in Regulus’ hand, she muttered an incantation under her breath, one she had found in a book in their family library after a particularly nasty fight between her mother and Sirius. A small amount of colour returned to her twin’s face with this.
“Go ahead.”
She nodded once at her brother before closing her eyes.
“Crucio.”
Slowly, the pain crept on her.
It was blinding.
1.
2.
She couldn’t breathe.
9
10
11
12
Her head pounded.
13
15
She slumped further into the floor, clawing at it with her nails.
20
21
24
22
She would not scream. Would not give him the satisfaction.
Grunting, she held her chest tightly.
When Carina awoke many hours later, she stared at the dark curtains that surrounded her large bed.
She had always loved darkness, the way it seemed to move even when one wasn’t looking.
She reached towards the curtains, attempting to open them, but paused when she saw dark ink swirling on her forearm. It was hideous. And the message that it sent was worse.
Carina was going to vomit.
She leapt out of bed, stumbling to the bathroom that connected with her bedroom and Reggies, but tripped over something on the floor. She tumbled to the ground. And retched right there.
When she felt someone rubbing her cold shoulder, she realised that it was her brother she had tripped over.
He cleaned up the mess with a simple spell before pushing her back into her bed.
“What are you doing here, Reg?”
“I had to be sure you were breathing.”
With that he closed the curtains to her bed and returned to his spot on the floor.
Her sheets were a tangled mess and sweat clung to her body, but Carina attempted to return to sleep.
“Carina! You needed to be ready hours ago!” Walburga screamed at her daughter.
“Sorry mum.” Carina threw her book onto her bed before looking sheepishly at her mother. “I look fine.”
Carina looked down at herself, she was wearing a dress her Mum had bought her for summer time, it was light pink and felt light as air, while also having long enough sleeves to cover the hideous mark that now rested on her left arm. She had braided a small crown atop her hair, in a fashion that many muggles wore, but her mother needn’t know that.
Walburga had a sour look pass her face, “It’ll have to do.”
She turned to leave the room, and Carina followed quickly after.
Reaching the dining room, Carina saw a small group of people seated around the table.
There was Regulus.
Her Father.
Her Mother.
A middle aged man, who was horribly unattractive, he had greasy shoulder length hair, and his facial hair gave him a rugged and unkempt look.
A middle aged man who was quite attractive for his age.
And a young girl, maybe 10.
With a well placed hand, her mother gestured to the unattractive man, “Carina, this is Antonin Dolohov, Your betrothed. I mentioned him in your letter.”
This had to be a joke.
Carina searched the room, waiting for someone to laugh.
Waiting for James Potter to pop out of the shadows saying something about this being his best prank yet.
Maybe this was a dream.
Stupidly, Carina lifted a hand and pinched her arm.
Not a dream.
Real.
Carina turned towards Regulus, He looked like he was going to be sick.
She painted on the loveliest smile she could manage.
“Splendid to meet you.”
The return to Hogwart was a much needed reprieve.
The prefect’s changing room on the train was the last place Carina would have thought to find herself, pushed up against the countertop where the sinks rested, while William Pointgan was pressing a trail of sloppy kisses down her neck. Every once in a while, he’d find a spot that he particularly liked and would take his time, leaving lovebites and hickeys alike.
Distraction.
That was what she needed. From her betrothal. From the ugly ink on her inner arm. And from the screams of her brother, that continued to echo in her ears no matter how much time had lapsed.
Carina had her head turned towards the ceiling, and had her eyes closed tightly when she felt his fingers graze her abdomen, attempting to lift her shirt up.
She snapped.
Pushing William off of her, she straightened her clothing out. He let out a grunt in protest, sloppily pulling his hands out of the tangled mess that was her hair.
Picking out a wrinkle in her skirt where it had risen up her waist, she said, “See you at Hogwarts, Pointgan. I start my rounds soon, gotta go.” before swiftly leaving the changing room. Carina did not start her rounds soon, but soon she would run out of excuses for why her shirt needed to remain on, and honestly, she was growing bored of the boy.
Rounding the corner outside the door, she saw an impatient looking Potter, holding his school uniform in his arms. He leaned against the wall outside of the changing room, occasionally lifting his head, and lightly slamming it back against the wall.
“Potter.” Carina said in acknowledgement before attempting to walk away.
“Black? But-I-wait-.-I”
Carina stared at him, questioning him with her eyes.
“Yes?”
“I thought Pointgan was in there.”
Carina raised her eyebrows at him. “He is.”
“Bu-You?”
“Your point Potter?” Carina grinned at him then. “.....Oh…. Yes, we were in the changing room together. Is there a problem?”
“Uh. No?”
Carina found herself tugging at her sleeves, making sure that her arms were fully covered.
“Don’t be so innocent. I know for a fact that you did the same thing in your fifth year.”
“But -it’s different.” James raked a hand through his already messy hair.
Carina’s eyebrows must be touching her forehead at this point.
“Excuse me?”
“No- not.” James took a steadying breath. “It’s just- I don’t know-It’s weird.”
“Weird?” Carina laughed out loud. “I’m not twelve. I’m a Black. I have needs. Unless you forgot that I’m only a few months younger than you”
James gave her a lopsided grin at this. “And Pointgan helps with those needs?”
“Is that any of your business?”
“I heard he’s a terrible kisser.”
Carina couldn’t disagree with this.
“Evans tell you that?” Carina grinned wider, “Or did you find out for yourself?”
James took a step closer to her then, ignoring her previous question he said, “Although no one can compare to me, can they?”
Carina couldn’t help the burning in her cheeks at this statement.
She looked up at him determinedly, now not more than a wands length away from him, “You were a lousy snog and you know it.”
“Oh, I don’t remember you saying that at the time.” Carina could feel the air tense round them as James seemed to move closer to her, his eyes now darting between her own eyes, and just a step lower, at her lips.
“James. I was 13, there wasn’t much competition.” She smirked up at him.
“Excuses, Excuses.” James was very close to her now, his warm amber eyes staring into her own.
Something was shifting in their relationship. She could feel it in the air.
She needed to ask for her letter of recommendation for Head Girl, and never speak to him again. She already had too much on her plate to handle an invested Potter. He was a nosy boy, always determined to save someone, even when they did not ask to be saved.
She heard the changing room door slam, and looked up to see William.
Stepping away from Potter quickly and clearing her throat, she said, “See you boys at the castle.” before swiftly exiting the carriage.