The following morning, she half expected to find Ken asleep outside the common room. She kept an eye out for Harry but he, Hermione, and Ron were absent from breakfast, no sign of any of them at the Gryffindor table. With the heavy overnight blizzard, their Herbology class had been cancelled. Her hopes to visit them in the common room, using the excuse of an oncoming flu to skip Charms, were dashed by Snape, proving again that he could read minds, and his insistence on every Slytherin (his eyes on her as he spoke) attending class.

It elicited several groans from students hoping to get an early start to their holiday break and enjoy the snow. She spent all of Charms worrying about Harry, knowing that the dueling club was a hot topic of conversation. Throughout breakfast, she had to endure whispered accusations against him and fake stories that recalled his shifty nature and his potential to be the next dark wizard.

The minutes dragged on, as if the clock was enchanted to move at a snail's pace. As Flitwick passed, assisting Daphne with her shrinking of a tennis ball, Carina coughed into the crook of her elbow.

"Professor, could I visit Madam Pomfrey?" She coughed again. "I think I'm coming down with the flu."

Tracey quietly whimpered, wanting her help with the charm.

"Of course, Miss Evans," he said, patting her arm sympathetically. "You've already mastered the shrinking charm so I don't see the need to burden you with extra work. Do feel better."

"Thank you, sir."

Mouthing an apology to a desperate Tracey, who was failing to hide her tennis ball the size of a watermelon, she left the classroom. The halls were quiet, aside from the chattering portraits. Even bits of parchment and paint could not help gossiping about her possibly dangerous cousin. Turning the corner, she nearly knocked into someone.

"I'm sorr—oh, h—hi Carina."

Fear was written all over Justin's pale face and his body trembled though she doubted it was due to the cold.

"How are you doing since last night? A near miss, huh?" His gaze lowered to his scuffed shoes. "T—thanks for trying to help. You were really brave…a lot braver than me and I told everyone not to say a bad word about you."

"About that—"

"Ernie said to hide up in the dormitory until the end of term but I thought maybe Cedric could teach me some good spells," he whispered. "I'm waiting for him to be done with Arithmancy. With everything going on, we should know how to defend ourselves. Not that you need it. I saw you disarm Kenneth Towler twice."

It was now or never. With Harry's temper, he would only make the situation worse. She could at least attempt to fix it herself, before he found Justin and bumbled through an explanation.

"Justin, I know how it must've looked but Harry would never try to hurt you. He's a good person."
He remained unconvinced. "So it's coincidence that every victim so far is related to him in some way? He was angry with Filch and then Mrs. Norris got petrified. The same happened to Colin and everyone knows he was annoying Harry."

"That means nothing." She crossed her arms. "You really think he would try to hurt me?"

"Well, n—no but maybe you're the exception. Maybe he couldn't do it himself and got help. That's why your attack was different."

"Believe me, that's not why."

Taking his arm, Carina led him over to a nearby bench. She understood his fear, having experienced it for those six months in New Orleans. It was driving him and the other students to make the weakest connections to Harry, to paint him as some terrifying dark wizard in training.

"I get it," she said, sitting beside him. "I want these attacks to stop too but pointing your finger at the first strange thing isn't the answer. Harry being a parselmouth doesn't automatically make him a bad person. There's nothing wrong with hearing his side of the story. If it helps, I'll stay with you."

"I don't know…" She jumped up, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. "Carina?"

Her eyes flickered to the stretch of wall behind him. Except for a single torch, it was completely bare but she was overcome with an uneasy feeling. It was as if her magic sensed something that she could not see with her own eyes, something bad.

"I promise it'll be okay," she swore, pulling him away from the bench. "We can go to the Gryffindor common room right now. It's not far."

Her ears perked up at a soft squelching sound, like a slimy object slipping through a tight space. It was replaced by a heavy thud and hissing. As she reached for Justin's hand ("I know a shortcut."), she stopped herself, seeing her fingers engulfed in black smoke.

"W—what's happening?" Justin dug through his pocket for his wand. "Is it the monster?"

The smoke traveled up her arm, soon spreading to her chest. Her concentration was broken by the hissing, getting louder, and Justin's worries that the monster was causing her to disappear. Creeping over her eyes, the smoke plunged her into complete darkness.

How could anyone think he was Slytherin's heir? Had everyone in the castle gone completely mental?

Harry walked down the corridor, somehow feeling worse than before. Fretting over Justin and the rumors spreading about him being Slytherin's heir, he, with Hermione's encouragement, left for the Gryffindor common room in search of the frightened Hufflepuff. In the library, he found a group of second year Hufflepuffs, discussing him and his apparent desire to become the next Voldemort.

His frustration only worsened after an argument with Ernie Macmillan. None of the Hufflepuffs, especially him, were interested in Harry's side of the story, certain that he intended to hurt their friend. It took every ounce of restraint not to punch the stout boy for insinuating that he would ever hurt Carina, claiming that her muggleborn status trumped their familial bond. Not wanting to add fuel to the already raging fire, he merely turned on his heel and left the library.

Only a moron would believe that he was capable of hurting her. A Slytherin maybe, if they deserved it, but his own cousin, the one friend he had before ever learning about Hogwarts? He imagined the Slytherins were doubling down on their torment, taking joy in making her think he was attacking muggleborns.

Harry entered another corridor, one unusually dark. The torches were extinguished by an icy breeze flowing through an open window. Trying to clear his head, currently occupied with the image of Ernie Macmillan being thrown to the giant squid, he tripped over something on the floor.

His stomach leapt when he realized what caused him to trip: Justin, a shocked expression on his face and his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Reminded of Colin when he was carried into the hospital wing, Harry knew that the Hufflepuff had suffered the same fate. Next to him was a floating Nearly Headless Nick, now black and smoky instead of transparent.

His breath already shaky, he wondered how he was able to breathe when he looked a couple steps behind Justin. Carina was standing completely rigid but she did not share Justin and Nick's shocked faces. He would have thought she had been hit with a body binding curse, if not for her eyes. They were pitch black, as if someone had drawn over her sparkling grey eyes with a marker.

"C—Cari?" he asked, waiting for a response. "No, no, you're okay. You're not—you can't be—"

A wisp of black smoke slipped through her closed lips. It circled her body before disappearing into her palm. Had she been affected differently because of the obscurus? What if Professor Sprout was unable to cure her? How could he even explain it to to the Dursleys or to the Fawleys?

"Cari, please say something."

Still no answer. Swallowing hard, he moved his hand towards her. His fingers were barely an inch from her face when a door to his left opened with a bang. Peeves shot out, teasing him as he somersaulted in mid-air. His taunts were cut short by the scene before him.

"Peeves, don't!" he hissed, resting his hand on Carina's cheek. "Come on, Car—"

Like a punch to the gut, a powerful force lifted him off his feet and slammed him into the wall. He ducked his head at the sound of shattering glass. Lifting his head slightly, he saw that every single window in the corridor was in pieces, the glass scattered across the floor, piles of ash were in place of the benches, vases, and statues, and several portraits had been torn to shreds. It looked like a tornado ravaged the small corridor.

That black smoke returned, circling Carina before seeping back into her mouth. Clutching his side, Harry rose from the floor. Peeves's head whipped between Carina and the destruction.

"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE!
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"

All along the corridor, doors flung open and people flooded out, some coming from the upper and lower floors. It was sheer pandemonium as they spotted the petrified Justin and Nearly Headless Nick and possibly petrified Carina. Squished against the wall, he saw several teachers, including McGonagall, hurrying up the staircase.

"Cari!"

Ken pushed past a group of third year Hufflepuff boys. When he gripped her shoulders, he was not thrown like a rag doll but her eyes remained pitch black. He tried to get her to speak but no words came out of her mouth. McGonagall silenced the panicking crowd with a loud bang emitted from her wand and ordered them back to their classes.

Harry, feeling a sharp pain in his ribs, started to step towards Carina until he saw the hundreds of eyes on him, accusing stares all thinking the same thing.

"I don't think she's—"

"Shut up!" snapped Ken.

His aggressive tone stung, considering he and Ken got along quite well. He had his reservations about him and Carina dating but knew that he would never mistreat her. It was why he understood the older boy's reaction. A burst of pink light separated him from Carina.

"Mister Towler, step away, please." Any objection was halted by her stern gaze. "We don't want to cause more damage."

McGonagall likely knew the truth about Carina. Was she afraid of the obscurus wreaking havoc again and hurting more than portraits?

Carina's vision steadily returned but a teary-eyed Ken was now in front of her, not Justin. Before she could even figure out what happened, Ernie stumbled into the corridor, panting.

"Caught in the act!" he shouted at Harry, who was leaning against the wall and clutching his side.

Turning her head slightly, she watched Flitwick and Sinistra carry a petrified Justin on a floating stretcher up the staircase. Nearly Headless Nick was close by, looking like he had been burnt. McGonagall angrily shooed away a singing Peeves and through the mischievous spirit, Carina saw the destroyed corridor. It was a scene she had witnessed many times before, worse than what she had done to the dormitory.

Catching her eye, Ken practically flung himself at her. He ignored McGonagall's reprimand ("What did I tell you, Towler?"), refusing to let go.

"I—I thought you were petrified," he choked out, fighting back tears. "You weren't moving and your eyes—"

They were pulled apart by McGonagall tugging on his robes. He managed to hold onto her hand, their fingers intertwined. Seeing that sending him away was impossible, she allowed him to accompany her, Carina, and Harry, while Ernie used a giant fan to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs.

McGonagall brought them over to the large gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office. Given the password (lemon drop), it hopped aside, revealing a moving spiral staircase that led to a gleaming oak door, its handle in the shape of a griffin.

"Towler, you'll wait outside."

"But—"

"I understand you are concerned for Miss Evans," she said, giving him a shrewd look. "However, this is a private conversation between the headmaster and two students. It does not require your presence."

He nodded, glumly. "Yes, professor."

Carina briefly squeezed his hand, to give him some reassurance. She entered the office with Harry, who took his turn sucking the life out of her with his tight embrace. His head buried into her shoulder, he muffled an apology, wishing he had gotten to the corridor before the attack.

"Then you could've ended up petrified too." Just imagining that scenario worried her. "And we swore we wouldn't end up in a hospital bed again this year. I'm alive, aren't I?"

She found herself less on board with his continued investigation into Slytherin's heir. There was little chance of his Draco theory being correct but the constant snooping could lead to retaliation from the actual culprit.

Clearly anxious that Dumbledore was about to expel him, he looked at the numerous objects around the office and the portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses on the walls. As he picked up the sorting hat from a shelf, she walked over to Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix. She had only met one other phoenix, when her mother was caring for it while a friend was on vacation.

Looking like a half-plucked turkey and gagging, she assumed it was close to a burning day. As Harry joined her, somehow more anxious than before, Fawkes burst into flames. He yelled in shock, immediately searching for any water to extinguish the fireball that soon became smoldering ash.

"Harry, it's okay," she insisted. "It's not—"

A somber Dumbledore entered the office, leaving Carina at a loss for words. She was uncertain if Harry was about to be expelled, but at the Ministry's request not his. Forgetting about the latest attacks for a second, he apologized for the seemingly dead bird. Her fears lessened when Dumbledore smiled, telling Harry about the special qualities of phoenixes. From the ashes, Fawkes, now a tiny, wrinkled newborn, poked out his head.

Sitting at his desk, his eyes were fixed on Harry with a penetrating stare. Hagrid rushed through the door, his balaclava perched on his head and a dead rooster in his enormous hand. He frantically began to defend Harry, with Dumbledore unable to say a single word.

"Yeh've got the wrong, boy, sir. I know Harry never—he'd never lay a hand on anyone and 'specially not on Carina. He—"

"Hagrid!" said Dumbledore, raising his voice. "I do not think that Harry attacked those people."

Embarrassed by his outburst, Hagrid apologized and stepped out of the office. When Dumbledore asked if Harry had anything to tell him, Carina internally screamed at her cousin's denial.

"If that changes, I do hope you will confide in me. May I ask you to wait outside while I speak with Carina?" Once Harry left, he flicked his wand. "I'd prefer complete privacy, as I'm sure Mr. Towler still has his ear pressed against the door. Tell me what you remember."

She told him as much as she could, starting with meeting Justin in the corridor on her way to the Gryffindor common room. Some of the details, after hearing the strange noise in the wall, were fuzzy.

"The smoke got to my eyes and then…it's a complete blank," she explained, holding her wrist. It felt like just a few seconds but it was obviously longer because I saw Ken in front of me and Justin and everything else…"

Dumbledore nodded. "The damage was easily repaired. I spoke with Professor McGonagall and hearing both of your accounts, I believe I understand what happened. You've made great strides in learning control, Carina. As I've told you before, it is impressive that you've survived this long. I believe the obscurus was protecting you."

"Protecting?"

"Yes," he said, rising from his desk. "It sensed that you were in grave danger. If you were petrified or killed by this attacker, the obscurus would lose its host and be unable to survive. You see, it is evolving. It is what Newt was afraid of when I suggested allowing you into Hogwarts."

Carina remembered the argument well. When she visited California with the Fawleys, she and Olivia had eavesdropped on a conversation between Mrs. Fawley, the Scamanders, and Dumbledore, though he was communicating through the fireplace.

Dumbledore believed that being around other wizards would be beneficial to Carina, allowing her to practice her magic in a safe, controlled environment. Mr. Scamander argued the opposite but his words were cut short when Seth discovered them and forced them into the backyard.

"B—but it is helping," she said, trying to be optimistic. "You said yourself that I'm getting better."

"In many respects, you are, Carina, but Newt was concerned that it would benefit the obscurus as well. It has become more attached to you, to the point that it will not see you harmed. Being in the wizarding world is quite a shift from what it was used to before and it is growing stronger…faster than you are learning control. To send you back to your family before we can find a way to impede this would be dangerous."

Carina felt a giant lump in her throat. "You can do that, right?"

"I will not rest until then." He clasped her shoulder. "But I do ask you to exercise caution. It is not my place to interfere in a student's personal life and I see that Mr. Towler cares very deeply for you. Until we better understand this growth in your…condition, I do suggest a slow approach."

She decided not to voice the dangerous question creeping in the back of her mind. Deep down, she knew the answer and hearing it from Dumbledore, if he answered at all, would merely confirm her fears. The sight outside the office was not much better, with Ken and Harry standing as far apart as possible and refusing to make eye contact.

"Hey, how'd it go?" asked Ken, consolingly. "Do you need to see Madam Pomfrey? Or maybe Snape for a calming draught?"

She did her best to look calm. "No, I feel perfectly fine. Dumbledore just wanted to ask if I remembered anything but I guess whoever it was did a good job of wiping my memory."

"Probably for the best. I uh wanted to show you something…unless you'd rather go back to your room."

"Can it wait? Harry and I—"

"Go on," interrupted Harry, his thin smile not hiding his nerves. "I should go talk to Ron and Hermione before someone spreads another crazy rumor. I'll find you later."

Despite her gut telling her to stay with him, she followed Ken down the spiral staircase. The halls were completely empty, thanks to the recent attack. She suspected that it was not just the teachers keeping them from roaming, but their fears of being the next student sent to the hospital wing. He led her to the seventh floor, stopping halfway down the corridor.

"My mother told me about this place when I was little," he said, turning towards the bare wall. "I used to come here all the time in first year, before every choir practice. Everyone knew who my mother was so it put this giant weight on my shoulders and I didn't want to embarrass myself. I've never told anyone about it."

"Am I supposed to be seeing something?" she asked, curiously.

Ken covered her eyes. "It's a surprise."

Standing behind her, he gently moved her towards the wall. She waited to bump into it but instead, she heard the creak of a door. As he lifted his hands, she was no longer in the corridor, but in the middle of an open field with a beautiful lake, the sound of chirping birds sounding very realistic.

Glancing back at the wall, she was surprised to see a highly polished door. A checkered blanket with a picnic basket had been set up by the edge of the lake.

"I thought you could use a good distraction and maybe it could also count as a second attempt at our date," he said, hopefully. "It was supposed to be outside but I'm pretty sure if you step out of the castle, the teachers will flip out. Maybe we can still do that though."

In a split second, the sun vanished, replaced with a shimmering crescent moon and a sky filled with stars.

"How—"

"My mom said it has special enchantments that let it mold to whatever you need," he explained, bringing her over to the blanket. "She used it to practice before big performances so for her, it would look like an arena. Just think and it happens. I mean, it can't make everything like food but that's where the house elves come in."

She looked at him, shocked. "There are house elves here?"

"In the kitchens. Don't worry, Dumbledore treats them better than they would be with some snooty family. Fred and George sneak down there all the time to get snacks. It's a lot easier to get food from them than going to Hogsmeade. D—do you like it?"

"This is amazing," she said, still in awe of how something so wondrous could be contained in a single room.

Ken flipped open the basket and grabbed two bottles of butterbeer, a small fruit platter, and trays of chocolate covered strawberries and cucumber sandwiches. Her excitement over all of it was dampened by Dumbledore's words of caution. As they ate and talked, she tried to push past those doubts, wanting to believe that her control was stronger than whatever was growing inside her.

"I like these," she said, biting into a strawberry. "My aunt always makes them for dinner parties but she never lets me have more than one."

"I may have asked Olivia for a little help," he admitted. "She also told me to take pictures but that would be a little weird. How's her grandmother doing?"

Carina shrugged. "I wrote to her yesterday but she hasn't gotten back to me yet. They might still be at the hospital. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to write. It's the first time they're meeting because her grandparents didn't approve of the marriage but maybe a Christmas miracle will happen and they'll patch things up."

"That'd be nice." He placed the butterbeer bottle on the blanket. "Speaking of Christmas, I know you were planning on spending the holidays here. I get why…Lucas would have a harder time getting to you here than in the muggle world but it could get lonely."

"Well, Harry's staying too," she pointed out, wiping a spot of chocolate from her bottom lip.

"Right," he said, looking skeptical. "It's just that trouble seems to follow him and whoever tried to hurt you this time was definitely not Lucas. What if they're staying behind too and—well, not to brag, but my house is pretty big. Plenty of space for anyone who might want to come over and my mom would love seeing you again."

"I appreciate the offer but this place is like a fortress and from what Snape says, Slytherin's heir or whoever this psycho is likes the attention. They won't bother petrifying anyone else when most of the school is gone. Not that I wouldn't like to see your mom again too but Snape thinks staying in the castle is the best place for me."

Ken laid his hand over hers. "If you're sure…but maybe I could see you on Christmas, to give you your present in person? N—not that I got you one yet—or at all…I mean, friends give each other gifts so it's not that—"

Carina silenced him with a peck on the lips. Before she could even process what she had done, without thinking, he kissed her again. A spark traveled up her spine when his hand rested on her waist. She deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck, and felt a tickling sensation on her cheek. Opening her eyes slightly, she saw a thin wisp of smoke emitting from her index finger.

She pulled away, lowering her hands to the blanket. "S—sorry."

"No, that was…" He looked a bit speechless. "That was your first kiss?"

Her cheeks redder than a tomato, she nodded. "I should um get back to the common room. McGonagall wasn't happy with Daphne's essay so she's making her redo it and I promised to help her."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll uh walk you back."

As she entered the common room, her heart fluttering from Ken's kiss on the cheek, she heard someone call her name. Madeline, more commonly referred to as Mousy Maddie by her fellow first years, hurried through the open archway, holding two envelopes. She was one of the nicer Slytherins, never treating Carina poorly though lacking the courage to stand up to her less than friendly housemates.

"I was sending a letter to my aunt in the owlery and I recognized the owl that's always bringing you mail," she said, in her soft spoken voice. "It was carrying these."

She handed Carina the envelopes. "Thanks, Maddie."

The shy first year continued through the archway, receiving a teasing 'Hey Mousy' from Daniel. Carina opened the top envelope, recognizing Olivia's handwriting. Though she should have been relieved to hear about her grandmother's hopeful prognosis, something felt off about the letter. Maybe it was her own paranoia causing her to overreact.

Trying to ignore that nagging voice in her head, she looked at the second envelope. There was no writing on either side, which she found odd. She carefully opened it and turned it upside down, a single piece of parchment falling into her hand.

Last warning, brat. If you don't show up by Christmas Eve, I'll get you myself and don't think your dumb little school will stop me. I better see you at Randolph Manor or I'll drag you there myself, even if it means taking a bite out of your boyfriend. You know I make good on my promises.

Lucas's threatening letter put her on high alert. While most were enjoying the break from mountains of homework and hours of studying, Carina was spending all her time in the library, researching protective enchantments and spells far beyond her years. No matter how well Dumbledore fortified the castle, Lucas's desperation and determination would help him find a way. Even her many Christmas presents, her aunt and uncle sending theirs with the Fawleys (some apparently too big to be carried by owl), were not enough to lift her spirits.

Several presents stuffed inside her backpack, with the help of a charm, she walked down the staircase. Going from sharing a room with five other girls to being alone was quite the change but one she admittedly enjoyed, the silence a much needed reprieve from Pansy's endless taunts.

"Evans."

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were sitting on the couch, surrounded by opened boxes and colorful wrapping paper. He tossed a small red box with a golden ribbon to her.

"Mousy found it by the archway. Tell the Fawleys to get a better owl."

Before she could thank him, he returned to opening more presents. There was no card or any other indication of who sent it. If it had been the Fawleys, it would be covered in Olivia's favorite reindeer wrapping paper. She slipped the box into her backpack and left the common room.

"Hi professor." Snape was outside his office, fastening his cloak. "Do you have Christmas plans?"

"A meeting at the Ministry. An old acquaintance asked for my assistance with a matter involving potions."

"On Christmas?" she asked, thinking she heard him wrong.

He flicked his wand, sealing the door shut. "An auror's work is never done, I'm afraid, but I will be back for dinner, per Dumbledore's request. Before I leave …"

Snape handed her a rectangular shaped present. Pulling apart the wrapping paper, she looked at the silver picture frame. Inside was a photo of her mother and aunt Lily, at about twelve and thirteen respectively, in front of a Christmas tree. Both waved at her, as her mother made bunny ears behind her aunt's head.

Tears pooled in her eyes as he told her that he had taken the photo himself. Aunt Petunia never displayed pictures of either of them around the house, likely wishing to forget that she had siblings who were, in her eyes, abnormal. Looking at her mother at her age, she saw the resemblance that so many strangers and family friends had commented on over the years. Aside from their eyes, it was like looking in a mirror.

"I imagine your aunt doesn't have many photos of—"

Her tiny arms wrapped around him. He was clearly taken aback but it was her only way of showing how much she appreciated the gift.

"Thank you." Blinking back tears, she reached into her backpack and gave him a tiny box covered in golden wrapping paper. "Happy Christmas."

"Carina, there was no need—"

"Well, you got me something," she said, holding up the frame. "Don't open it yet. You should do it at night and stand outside, trust me. Good luck with your meeting."

In the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Ron were in the midst of a game of exploding snap while Hermione was sitting in an armchair, her nose in a book, and Ginny was huddled in the corner, writing in her diary. As they exchanged presents, she sat beside Harry, who passed her a plate of Hagrid's treacle fudge.

"Surprised you managed to get out of your room with all the gifts the Dursleys probably sent you." He put his hand on his chest. "Did Uncle Vernon get you a pony?"

"You're hilarious," she said, pushing his shoulder. "What did they send you? You did get a present from them, right?"

"A toothpick," he replied, with a shrug. "Better than I expected."

"I have something to cheer you up."

Carina showed him the picture frame. Never revealing Snape's past with their mothers, she lied that it was a gift from Mrs. Fawley, who found the photo in an old album from her school days. She was thankful that he did not question why Mrs. Fawley was friends with a girl four years younger than her.

"Cari, good, you're here," she heard. "We have your present."

Fred and George stepped into the common room, shoulder to shoulder. She jumped up from the couch as they moved apart, revealing Ken.

"Told you I'd see you on Christmas," he said, lifting her off the floor in a hug. "I would've come sooner but I had to stop my little sister from following me through the fireplace. Miss me?"

Harry muttered to himself, earning a harsh glare from Hermione. He rolled his eyes when Carina pulled Ken over to the couch.

"Is that your mom?" Ken asked, seeing the picture frame on the table. "You look just like her. Where'd you get it?"

"Sn—the Fawleys." She avoided eye contact with Hermione, who certainly heard her near slip. "It's from a Christmas party. Do you want your present?"

He draped his arm around her shoulders. "I already have it."

Eating a piece of fudge, Ron scrunched his nose. Carina stamped on Harry's foot when she heard him scoff under his breath. Ever since the attack on Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, there was a slight tension between them. Harry was not as willing to accept his relationship with Carina, going back to his old excuses of Ken being too old and taking advantage of her innocence.

George gave Ken a thumbs up. "Good one, mate."

"We could try that too. Cari is just a delight but we'd still like presents," said Fred.

Carina grabbed their three remaining presents from her backpack. Ken's present to her was an enchanted sketchpad. Whatever she drew on it would move like the portraits in the castle. The twins were already planning how to prank the Slytherins with their new collection of joke products.

"Who's that for, Cari?"

At Ron's question, she stopped drawing. The unmarked box was visible from inside her backpack, turned on its side. When she mentioned that Madeline found it outside the common room and its lack of a card, Harry, Hermione, and Ken looked uneasy.

"Maybe you should show it to Professor Snape," suggested Hermione. "You didn't see Madeline find it."

"She's right. It could be a trap," agreed Ken, taking the box. "What if it's from Lucas? What if you open it and some poisonous powder hits you in the face? He could be trying to get you into St. Mungo's where it's easier to snatch you."

"If you were talking about anyone else, it would be plausible but Lucas isn't…he's not that smart," she argued. "If it's a trap, why wouldn't it be mixed in with my other presents with some fake card from the Fawleys?"

"To be safe, I'll open it," he offered.

Instead of his hands, he unwrapped the present with his wand. Harry kept her back pressed against the couch as Ken tipped the black velvet box forward. There was no poisonous gas or powder, just a familiar rag doll with golden blonde hair. Ken poked it with his wand, as if expecting it to claw out his eyes.

"Last year, Quirrell taught us a spell that checks for curses and hexes on objects. I could—Carina, wait!"

She picked up the doll, her fingers brushing over the x-shaped stitch over the heart. "It's not cursed, Ken. I used to have one when I lived in New Orleans. My mother's friend Lucinda makes them."

"Why?" asked Ron, unnerved by its black button eyes.

"Voodoo magic is kind of big over there and her family owns the biggest shop in the city," she said, remembering visiting the shop often. "She used to love pranking the muggle customers with stuff that was obviously fake but these dolls are real. They're enchanted with protection charms."

"I still think Snape or Dumbledore should look at it," said Ken. "You haven't seen her in years so how would she know you're here? You don't know that she sent it because there's no card."

Brushing off his concerns ("It's a doll, not a bomb"), she placed the doll, which comforted her in a way, inside the front pocket of her backpack. For the first time in a week, her mind was not plagued with constant paranoia over Lucas suddenly appearing in the castle to snatch her. Around Ken, she felt relaxed and somewhat normal, not feeling the need to look over her shoulder every few minutes.

Her only worry was for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who planned to use the finished polyjuice potion that night. They were not dissuaded by her long list of what could go wrong, including being partially transformed (Ron disgusted by the idea of his face being half Crabbe) and being discovered by a suspicious Draco and faced with suspension. To make matters worse, they decided not to warn Carina ahead of time, to make the ruse more authentic.

"I should head back. I promised my mother I wouldn't miss her party," said Ken, finishing his slice of chocolate cake. "Want to walk with me to McGonagall's office? I used her fireplace to get here."

"Sure," she replied, distracted. "Can you give me a minute?"

Snape was in his own personal hell, forced to listen to one of Lockhart's outlandish stories. Getting closer to the teacher's table, she heard him mention fighting a mermaid king.

"Sorry, sir. I don't mean to bother you but I had a question about the potions essay you assigned," she said, making up a quick excuse.

"Not at all, Miss Evans. I'd never want to interfere with a student's learning," said Lockhart, acting like it was some noble gesture.

He shifted two seats down to bore Professor Sinistra with the same story, starting from the beginning.

"You looked like you were about to choke him. How was your meeting?" He responded with a blank stare. "With your auror friend…"

"Ah, not particularly stimulating, as you can tell. It was a simple matter but he's never been known for his intelligence."

Carina stifled a giggle. "Did you open your present? I wasn't sure if I got the potion right but I guess I did because your face doesn't look like a rainbow."

"Exemplary work, as always," he said, showing her the piece of black quartz. When the moonlight from the ceiling struck it, an array of stars shined on the wall. "If one of my NEWT students attempted it, it would've been far more disastrous. Perhaps I should bring you in to teach them."

"If it gets me out of Lockhart's class, sure." The corner of his lips flicked a fraction upward, the closest thing to a smile. "I'm glad you liked it."

After saying goodbye to Ken in McGonagall's office, she returned to the Slytherin common room. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were in their usual spot by the fireplace, the table between them covered with sweets. Crabbe's fists were clenched around a newspaper clipping, sporting an expression that she could only describe as angry confusion.

"Evans, we were just talking about you," said Draco, breaking off a piece of chocolate. "Do you want in on the bet? How long before you end up like Finch-Fletchley? This is what, two near misses now?"

For a moment, she thought Goyle glared at him. "Too bad Pansy isn't here to pretend you're funny. You can't even be nice on Christmas?"

"Why would I ever be nice to a mudblood like you?" he asked, his mouth full. "Don't think your little stunt the other night actually scared me. You're about as threatening as a—"

Carina was roughly jerked backwards by her arm, the motion nearly dislocating her shoulder. Cassius's fingers dug into her wrist, down to the bone.

"You're coming with me," he growled.

Her wand in her bedroom, she pulled at his fingers. "Let go of me."

Just as she managed to slip out of his tight grasp, he pointed his wand at her chest, the tip bright green. Draco rose from the armchair and cautiously moved towards her. Even more surprising, Crabbe and Goyle abandoned the pile of sweets, standing beside him.

"Mate, what are you doing?" He raised his hands in self defense as Cassius turned his wand on him. "Are you mental? Put it down."

"Don't get in my way. Let's go, Evans. You don't get a say. You're coming with me, whether you like it or not." His words caught her attention. "If I see you reach for your wand, I'll blast off your hand, Draco. Keep your hands up until we've gone through the fireplace. Go on, Evans. I said—"

With no other option and his focus not on her, she kicked his knee and socked him across the face, the blow knocking him unconscious. The three Slytherin boys looked at her like she sprouted two heads.

"Where was he before?" she asked, picking up Cassius's wand. "Did he go down to Hogsmeade? Am I speaking Spanish?"

"No, he went outside to destroy a Christmas card he got from his grandmother." Draco nodded towards the fireplace. "He tried to throw it in there but it didn't work."

"Why was he getting rid of it?"

"Because it was annoying," he said, as if it settled the matter. "It kept singing over and over again and he couldn't figure out how to make it stop. Not that the woman was a bad singer but it got tiring after the fifth time."

She handed him the wand. "If he wakes up, hit him with a stunning spell. Do you know how to cast it?"

"I'm not a moron, Evans," he spat, back to his old self.

Heading up to her room, she reached under her bed and grabbed her wand and the pouch of nightshade powder, a batch Cassius had given to her the second day of break. He was still unconscious, Draco nudging his side with his shoe.

"You need to hold his head," she told him, flipping Cassius onto his stomach. "Have those two stand on either side in case he wakes up before I'm done. They'll be strong enough to keep him down."

"Why am I—" His eyes widened as she retrieved a knife from her backpack. "Am I the only here that hasn't gone mental? Why do you have that?"

She sat on Cassius's back. "The card wasn't from his grandmother. It was from Simone."

"Why would Dubois send him a card?" he asked, doubtful. "They barely know each other and if it was her, why not just say so?"

Careful not to move too much, she opened the pouch. "Because it was a trick to get to me. She and her brother are sirens…a quarter on their mother's side. It's how she froze Snape at the showcase. When we were at the camp, Alec tried to amplify their abilities but they couldn't hold it for long. She's gotten stronger, enough that she can pinpoint it to a specific person."

"Let's say you're right. Why not have it affect everyone who heard it?"

"Easier to cover their tracks." She pushed back Cassius's hair, exposing his neck. "It's clever. If only he's affected and he gets caught, it just gets blamed on him bullying me. He's got the magical version of an earworm."

His lip curled. "There's a worm inside him?"

"No, it's—when she uses her siren song, whoever is affected has to do what she says, no matter what. Until they do, it'll keep playing in their head over and over and it'll drive him mad."

Carina had suspected that Simone was to blame for Adrian's behavior in Hogsmeade. It was such a sudden switch, to go from blackmailing her into doing his homework to threatening to hurt her and Ken. At the time, Snape reasoned that it was his excessive drinking, mixed with anger over his supposed girlfriend's absence. She knew that Simone and Lucas were adamant about her joining them but did not think they would go this far, to potentially damage two teenage boys beyond repair.

Draco pushed aside his own skepticism and pressed his hands on top of Cassius's head.

"If we're not getting Snape, I'm guessing you've done this before?" he asked, his eyes on the knife. "Evans."

"I saw Alec do it once," she said, knowing it did not inspire much confidence. "Simone's brother was the more rebellious of the two and he almost made three of the scourers cut out their own tongues. I don't have the same ingredients but this should work the same."

"What'll it do?"

"It negates any magic." She picked up the knife, knowing her idea was risky. "Say you poured it over a portrait. It would stop moving and be just like a picture in the muggle world. It can work on wizards too. If you ingest it, you'll lose your magic. Not forever but it can take a couple hours or even days for it to come back, depending how much."

Feeling Cassius begin to stir, he applied more pressure. "Where'd you get it?"

Her first instinct was to lie, saying that it belonged to an old friend of her mother's. For some reason, she did not see the need to lie to him. It was not like talking to someone close to her like Olivia or Harry. If Draco blabbed about it, who would believe him, considering his open hostility towards her?

"From him," she admitted. He looked up from the back of his unconscious friend's head. "Fred and George get some banned ingredients for joke products from his brother. He got it for me in exchange for helping him and Clare get back together."

"I'm guessing they don't sell it in Diagon Alley."

"Probably not even in Knockturn Alley," she said, placing the knife behind Cassius's ear. "I—it was banned after the scourers were disbanded. They were known for using it in their attacks and all of the Ministries were worried about other people following their lead. I got it to protect myself…in case Lucas showed up or one of Alec's old friends tried to come after me."

Making a small incision, she poured a handful of nightshade power into the open wound. The effects were immediate, a slimy black goo seeping out onto the floor.

"When no more comes out, it's finished," she said, wiping the goo from the knife. "It'll take a couple minutes."

"What's that powder going to do that Dumbledore can't?" he asked, watching her seal the pouch. "He's a fool but anyone who tried to sneak into Hogwarts knows it would be like signing their death warrant. Doesn't Potter always tell you how great he is? I'm sure he says it ten times a day."

"I don't trust him."

It was the first time she voiced that fear out loud. She could never imagine herself saying it to Harry, who, as Draco mockingly said, held Dumbledore in such high esteem. Goyle frowned slightly, probably wishing he was stuffing his face.

Draco looked at her, intrigued. "You actually think Dubois's boyfriend stands a chance?"

"Of course he doesn't. I just—" Of all people, she never thought she would open up to him. "They're scared that Alec is still alive and think that we're safer together than apart. If he is, he'll eventually get into the castle and Dumbledore will stop him from getting to me, even if it means killing me himself. I could never say that in front of Harry but it's true."

Crabbe and Goyle, hiding their faces and complaining about stomachaches, hurried out of the common room. With a soft groan, Cassius mumbled into the stone floor. Draco, tearing his gaze away from her, reluctantly moved his hands. She quickly healed his wound, hiding her wand in her back pocket.

Cassius lifted his head. "Why do I feel like a troll sat on me? Draco? Why are you—" He noticed a nervous Carina on his back. "Evans, what the hell?"

"You uh got hexed by some Ravenclaw, mate," said Draco, telling an effortless lie. "You were hitting yourself and running into the wall over and over so I knocked you out. I told Evans to sit on you in case I couldn't reverse the hex. I thought it was better than having Crabbe and Goyle do it. Are you all right?"

Once Carina moved, he stood up, holding his head. "Aside from a headache, yeah. I'm gonna lie down."

He slowly climbed up the staircase. As he disappeared around the corner, she placed the pouch and knife in her backpack, deciding to spend the night in the Gryffindor common room as a precaution.

"Evans, wait." Scooping the sweets into an empty tin box, he handed it to her. "You practically saved his life, even if he doesn't know it. Besides, it's technically yours anyway. I went in your room last night while you were with Potter, looking for a scarf Pansy might've taken, and it popped up on your bed."

"And you ate it?" she asked, incredulously.

"I didn't think you'd care," he said, not sounding very remorseful. "The card said it was from your muggle family. You should be thanking me. It was a little sappy."

"Wh—"

He lifted the card from the bottom of the box. "Your family misses you. We can't wait to be together again. Dylan. That's your cousin, isn't it? It's like they haven't seen you in ages. Are all muggles this—"

Carina left the common room, the box tucked under her arm and her face paler than a sheet. Waiting until she was out of the dungeons, she peered into the box, the candy the same that Alec had given her countless times as a reward. Halfway up the staircase, she heard two Ravenclaw first years whispering about Hermione in the hospital wing.

Upon getting there, she saw Harry and Ron by the doors and the curtains closed around a bed, the shadow of Madam Pomfrey bustling back and forth.

"I was looking for you. I need to talk but it can wait. Is she okay? Was it the polyjuice potion?" she asked, hoping Hermione was not seriously injured.

Leaning against the door, Harry acted as if she was invisible. Ron awkwardly explained that Hermione had accidentally used a hair from Millicent's cat, the potion not intended for animal transformations.

"Did Madam Pomfrey say anything? Did she ask how it happened? We should probably tell her it was polyjuice potion so she knows exactly how to treat it."

"I don't know if we can," said Harry, his tone bitter. "There's some things we can't say in front of her. Maybe we should bring your new best friend so you'll feel more comfortable."

She looked at him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

Turning towards her, he revealed that he and Ron had used the potion themselves, pretending to be Crabbe and Goyle just minutes ago. They did not get the confession they wanted from Draco but heard every word of their conversation while she helped Cassius.

"You told Malfoy about Alec?" he hissed. "You said you couldn't even tell your perfect boyfriend. What, have you two been friends all this time? Does he know—"

"No," she insisted, not wanting him to blab her secrets to Ron. "We're not friends. He knows because his aunt used to work as an auror in MACUSA and she helped me escape. He wanted to know more about her."

"Oh, well isn't that sweet?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "How could you say any of that to Malfoy? Is being around those gits rubbing off on you? You honestly think Dumbledore would—if you think what you said is true, you don't know him at all."

She sighed in frustration. "This is exactly why I never talk about it with you or anyone else. Draco doesn't have the best opinion of him but at least he doesn't treat him like some god among wizards. I've been around people like him, Harry. I lived it for six months. I mean nothing to him. He won't put my life above everyone else. He'd snap my neck the second Alec got through the barrier."

"You don't mean that," he said, shaking his head. "All your panicking over Alec isn't helping you think clearly. If that were true, Dumbledore wouldn't bother letting you into Hogwarts. Give me that powder."

"No."

"It's dangerous, you said it yourself." He held out his hand. "Give it to me now or I'll tell Dumbledore you have it. You don't need it, Cari. He can protect you. He's helping you get better."

"I'm not getting better!"

She chanced a glance at the curtains. Madam Pomfrey stiffened but then continued pouring a potion into a vial.

"What, you think I'm suddenly cured because I can listen to Flint call me a mudblood for the thousandth time and a window doesn't shatter? I'm on a ticking clock and each day I get through is just delaying the inevitable."

"Cari, that's not true," said Ron, confidently. "Whoever this bloke is, he doesn't stand a chance against Dumbledore. As long as Dumbledore is around, he won't do a thing and Dumbledore's not going anywhere. Anyone who would try is out of their mind."

"Please give it to me," pleaded Harry. "I don't want you doing something you'll regret. I'm here to protect you too. Magic or not, I won't let Alec lay a hand on you. You can beat it. You're the strongest person I know. You're not dying anytime soon, I promise."

Sniffling, she gave him the pouch of nightshade powder. She nodded when he asked if it was her only supply, knowing it was a complete lie. Her lies only grew as Ron changed the subject, asking about the box of sweets. Pretending it was a gift from the Dursleys and that she thought it would cheer up Hermione, she hid the card under her sleeve and followed them into the hospital wing.