The rest of Carina's summer had remained uneventful for the most part. The Dark Lord had been away so often that she barely saw him, and her aunt was gone about half as much as he was. Her only source of constant fear was her father, who she tried to avoid as much as possible. Her lessons with Snape had continued, but they stayed away from Bellatrix and Draco. Carina had pushed herself until she was able to finally perform decent Legilimency. Her Patronus was never fully cast, however. Snape promised that he would continue to tutor her once they returned to school, him as headmaster. Carina was entering her seventh year with Draco, and she did not know how she would be able to cope with his constant presence.

The Dark Lord finally returned the day before her and Draco were supposed to leave for Hogwarts. Snape updated him on Carina's progress, leaving out the Patronus and Draco's abilities. The Dark Lord was impressed, and had decided it was time she should join him fully.

"My Lord," Carina bowed before him. She had been summoned like a dog, but she knew better than to ignore an order. She kneeled before her master in the drawing room. The Malfoys and Bellatrix were present as always. But she chose to chance a glance at Snape, looking for some kind of clue as to what her uncle had in store for her. Snape could give her nothing.

"Carina, Severus tells me of your new found talents. I believe it is time you become a true Death Eater. Just because you bear the Mark does not mean you are one of us, just yet. I require some sort of demonstration of loyalty and power, of course," he said, his words coming out like a snake hissing.

"It is only to be expected, my Lord," she replied carefully. "What must I do to prove my worth?"

He smiled, and Carina felt her blood run cold. "This," he gestured to a woman who appeared to be bound by invisible ropes, "is Catarina Severn. She is muggleborn, a disgrace to the wizarding world. Dispose of her."

Carina's eyes widened in shock, as did everyone else's in the room. She looked over at Snape who looked as if he had just been smacked. She figured she looked the same way. "My Lord, she has yet to really use the Unforgiveables-" Snape tried, but the Dark Lord cut him off.

"You will do this Carina," the snake-like man hissed. "Or I will do it myself."

Carina knew this meant he would torture her until she was pleading for him to kill her. She tried to think of a way out of it. She didn't want to kill anyone. She couldn't take a life. She was not her family. She weighed her options. If she refused the woman would die a slow, painful death and Carina would be tortured. If she killed the woman, it would be quick. Carina would not feel the knives pierce her bones. She would not anger her uncle, her aunt, or her father. But she would open the door to a cursed life. She did not want to end up like her uncle. She had no intention of following him willingly.

The woman looked at her, eyes pleading that she do it quickly. Eyes pleading that there would be no torture. Carina would not begrudge the woman her dying wish. She didn't have the stomach not to. She raised her wand and closed her eyes tight. "Avada Kedavra!" The green light was so bright she could see it through her shut eyes. She waited in pure silence, not daring to open her eyes. Then finally she heard the cold laugh and willed herself to see what she had done. The woman lay sprawled across the floor in front of her, eyes wide open and an expression of shock etched across the lifeless face. Carina looked away, unable to bear what she had done. She looked behind her and what she saw gave her the greatest pain. Her aunt, uncle, and father were looking at her proudly. Lucius remained untouched while his wife looked like she was about to cry. Carina saw none of this. Her eyes only saw Draco. His internal conflict was evident on his face. He was proud that she was able to do it, something he could not. He was glad that she would not be tortured like he was for failing. But he was sad for her. She had doomed herself. Her soul was split, but even worse it was now Voldemort's.

"Excellent," the Dark Lord hissed at her. "You are now a true Death Eater."