"Ron said it's silly to keep it but I can't help—Cari?"

Harry waved her hand in front of her face, blocking her view of the staircase that led to the Gryffindor dormitories. She had been staring at it from the moment she met him inside the common room, waiting for Ken. Ever since his mother's charity gala the day before, he acted strange, forgetting all about their plans to spend time in their secret room on the seventh floor. When she visited the common room to check on him, Fred and George stopped her from going up the staircase, claiming that he was feeling ill.

"You're not even listening, are you?" he asked, exasperated. "People get sick, you know."

"I just feel like he's avoiding me." She glanced down at her shoes. "I shouldn't have told him anything. I'm an idiot."

"Well, we can agree on that. I'm kidding," he said, hurriedly apologizing for his sarcasm. "I mean, I understand why you told him. You want him to be prepared in case Alec does somehow show up one day but it might've scared him a bit. Good thing you didn't tell him the whole truth. He'd probably faint on the spot."

"I'm gonna go talk to him. I'll be right back."

Climbing up the staircase, despite his protests, she found the door to the fourth year dormitory. The lock clicked open with a quick flick of her wand, revealing Ken sitting on the floor. A dazed expression on his face, he stared directly ahead at a lingering silver mist. An image formed in the mist, showing her body dangling high above the lake. The view shifted to Seth on top of Ken, choking him.

At the sound of the door opening, he sliced through the mist with his wand and slid a bowl of a similar silvery liquid under his bed.

"H—hey," he said, his cough sounding fake. "I was just—sorry I cancelled last night. My mom and I got into a fight—well, more of a disagreement and I didn't want to ruin our date. I was um—"

"Why do you have a pensieve?" she asked, choosing the least interesting question on her mind.

"My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas," he explained, not making direct eye contact. "She said it's a good way to hold onto memories I wouldn't want to forget when I'm old. I haven't used it that much but I uh thought I'd try it out."

He was clearly hiding something. "And the night at the lake is a good memory?"

"No, of course not. I just—it's the—I was looking at it because…well, because…hold on."

Grabbing a quill from his bedside table, he scribbled on a piece of parchment and handed it to her. She tried to keep calm as she learned that he encountered a disguised Alec at the gala. He claimed that he had been watching Carina inside the castle and if Ken mentioned the conversation to anyone, he would hurt his sister Charlotte.

It was why Ken had drawn the curtains and extinguished any source of light, leaving the room in mostly darkness. He worried that if Alec somehow was able to spy on Carina, he would do the same to those closest to her.

"I was trying to figure out how he could do it," he whispered. "If it was him that cast the imperius curse that night, he could already know a way into the castle. I've watched it a hundred times and I've got nothing."

Ken looked like he had not slept all night. She cupped his face in her hands.

"Please don't obsess over this. It's exactly what he wants," she said, knowing Alec's tricks. "He likes to drive people mad and then strike when they're vulnerable. He's toying with you."

"Well, it's…working. He said all this stuff that got under my skin like how he didn't need to try getting into Hogwarts because you'd go to him yourself, that you wanted to be back with him. I know that isn't true but the way he said it…"

Trying to take his mind off of Alec, she asked about the disagreement with his mother but that only made him more uneasy. He muttered about her old pureblood prejudices resurfacing in a conversation with Cornelius Fudge.

"I don't want to think about her," he said, taking her hands in his. "It's Valentine's Day. Today's all about you."

He conjured a red rose, making her smile. Together, they headed down to the common room where Harry was still sitting on the couch, flipping through the empty diary.

He and Ron had found it in Myrtle's flooded bathroom, the wailing ghost whining that someone had chucked it at her. It apparently belonged to a past student named T.M. Riddle, who attended Hogwarts fifty years ago and had received several awards over the years.

One award was for special services to the school, leading Harry and Hermione to believe that he had caught the heir of Slytherin the first time. Ron was skeptical, thinking it was nothing more than an old diary. Carina agreed with him, wanting to put that whole mess in the past with the attacks coming to a halt, though she could not shake the strange feeling in the pit of her stomach whenever she looked at it.

Harry hid the diary behind his back. "Ready to get some breakfast?"

"Just a second." She folded a piece of parchment and tossed it into the fireplace. "I promised to write Simone once a week. She's still upset over Lucas being gone."

"Good riddance," countered Ken. "Maybe you should've told her that he was working with him."

Carina knew that the truth, in this case, would do more harm than good. Even if she had irrefutable proof of Lucas's betrayal, none of them would believe her, due to how well he played the role of their savior. In their minds, his departure was another noble sacrifice and it had been hard enough to convince them to leave his grandfather's manor and move to Athena's own safe house.

Upon entering the Great Hall, she thought she was still asleep, in some weird dream. The walls were covered large, bright pink flowers and heart-shaped confetti fell from the ceiling. Girls giggled over the ornate decorations while many of the boys looked disgusted. Lockhart, dressed in matching pink robes, rose from his seat at the teachers' table, the other teachers not nearly as enthusiastic.

"Happy Valentine's Day!" he shouted as Carina sat beside Daphne at the Slytherin table.

In honor of the holiday, he had arranged a special surprise. A dozen surly dwarfs marched into the Great Hall, sporting golden wings and carrying tiny harps. Calling them 'his card-carrying cupids', he announced that the dwarves would be delivering valentines. Carina vaguely remembered him mentioning instructions to leave any valentines in a glass bowl outside his office. Tracey was sneaking hopeful glances at Blaise, who was listening to Cassius whine about Clare's obsession with a romantic date.

"Do you think Ken sent you a valentine?" Carina looked away from her mirror and over at Daphne. "Maybe he wrote you a song. That'd be the cutest."

Her eyes followed Snape as he left the teachers' table. She caught up with him before he passed through the double doors.

"Professor, could you take a look at my essay?" she asked, handing him a piece of parchment.

"I'm sure it's excellent work as usual, Miss Evans," he said, adopting a more formal tone. "I don't see the need."

She tapped it with her finger. "Does this part make sense? I would've asked one of the older students but I feel like you're the only one who understands."

Giving her a quizzical look, he glimpsed at the parchment. "Carina—"

He was cut off by the bell ringing, signaling the end of breakfast. She grabbed the parchment from him, slipping it back into her backpack.

"Thanks, sir," she said, seeing Daphne and Tracey walk towards her. "I really appreciate it."

"Did you just give Snape a valentine?" Tracey asked, pulling her out of the Great Hall. "That's like giving a broom to a fish."

"No. I asked him to check my essay." They joined the crowd on the main staircase. "Did you know who get yours yet?"

Her cheeks reddened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Sharing a knowing glance with Daphne, both girls stifled their giggles. Ken joined them, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Kettleburn got a nasty burn from an ashwinder so he cancelled lessons. I've got a free period to walk you to class."

"I don't see a valentine in her hand," pointed out Daphne.

"I've got something else planned," he said, squeezing Carina's shoulder. "Only the best for my girlfriend."

He whipped his heard around at a gagging sound. The other second year Slytherins were standing behind them and based on Pansy's extremely high-pitched giggle, the noise had come from Draco.

Ever since their secret trip to Hogsmeade, her relationship with him could only be described as weird. He stopped insulting her on a daily basis and was somewhat cordial (well, what he considered that to be), but it was not out of the goodness of his heart. Her confrontation with Lucas seemed to convince him that they were more alike than she wished to admit, something she chose to hide behind her overly kind nature.

"I'm trying to keep my food down, Towler," he said, his lip curled. "No one wants to hear your lovey-dovey rubbish."

"Ignore him," Carina whispered, placing her hand on Ken's chest.

One of the dwarves was handing a valentine to a sixth year girl. She expressed her gratitude by kissing her boyfriend, a fellow Hufflepuff, which soon turned into a heavy makeout session.

"Now I'm gonna be sick," said Tracey, covering her eyes.

"Carina Evans."

The dwarf turned away from the tongue wrestling couple. Elbowing past the other students, he walked towards her. She grinned at Ken but he looked confused.

"I've got valentines for Carina Evans."

Thinking she misheard him, her heart skipped a beat when he handed her dozens of cards, with sweets attached to some. She thanked the dwarf and he continued down the staircase, leaving an air of awkward tension. All of the cards were anonymous but their messages were more than friendly.

Ken was clearly annoyed with the boys who dared to send her a card, knowing that they were together. Tracey opened one of the boxes of cauldron cakes.

"Lighten up. It's just a card," she said, handing a cake to Carina.

He swatted it out of her hand. "Don't eat it. What if they laced it with a love potion?"

Carina stopped herself from giggling, seeing that he was serious. "You actually think someone would do that? Ken, they're harmless."

"Looks like someone's trying to steal your girlfriend, Towler," said Draco, moving past him.

"Don't you have better things to do than eavesdrop?" Tracey replied, with a glare. "No one was talking to you."

Carina stayed behind with Ken, ignoring the curious stares.

"You're being silly. Some card isn't going to make me magically like someone else. You're telling me that none of the other girls are going to send you valentines?"

"I never said—" He quietly sighed. "I am being silly. I can definitely do better than chocolates and a card."

"I don't want to be late for Charms. I'll see you later," she said, pecking his cheek.

Throughout the day, the dwarves interrupted lessons, to the frustrations of the teachers. Tracey nearly fainted when she received a valentine from a secret admirer and spent half of Transfiguration trying to match their handwriting to Blaise's. At lunch, Ken attempted to weed out Carina's own admirers, Fred, George, and Lee causing more havoc by pointing out any boys who looked at her for even a second.

For the first time in awhile, Harry was siding with Ken, just as curious about who sent the valentines.

"Don't you want to know?" he asked, walking out of the Great Hall with her, Ron, and Hermione. "What if it's some creepy seventh year or—"

"It's a card, not a marriage proposal," she argued. "Calm down, Watson."

"Oh ha ha," he retorted, sarcastically. "If anything, I'm Sherlock Holmes. Ken's not smart enough to solve any—isn't that Mrs. Fawley?"

Following his gaze, she saw a terrified Mrs. Fawley at the entrance to the dungeons with Snape and Seth. She spoke in a hushed whisper, clutching an envelope. As Carina got closer, she noticed its crescent-shaped seal.

"Carina, hello," she said, hiding the envelope behind her back. "It's wonderful to see you. I came here to see Professor Snape. Seth is progressing so quickly through his curriculum and I wanted his advice on some potions I could have him attempt."

"Abigail, this concerns her and Carina is mature enough to handle it," insisted Snape. "It appears Alec sent her a letter this morning…a warning of sorts."

"W—what?" asked Carina. "A—are you sure—what does it say?"

"We will be discussing it with Professor Dumbledore." He opened the dungeons door. "I advise you to go about your day as normal and we will speak later. Come along, Abigail."

Mrs. Fawley wiped a stray tear from her eyes and hugged Carina. "I promise that everything will be okay. Dumbledore will handle this."

She followed Snape down to the dungeons, leaving Carina alone with Seth. When his mother found the letter, he offered to accompany her, seeing how shaken she was, but Olivia was still at Smelting's, unaware of the situation.

"She didn't want to scare her. If she could barely get the floo network to work, she wouldn't have let me come either." He noticed Harry watching them intently. "You should get to class. Don't worry. You're not in any danger."

"What do you think it says?" asked Harry, following her along the corridor and failing to hide the panic in his voice. "Shouldn't you be there too? It might not be about you at all but why else would she come here?"

"Snape said he would talk to me later," she said, stepping over a sticky substance on the floor. "If it was that serious, he would've pulled me out of class."

"It could be him saying that he's alive," suggested Ron. "You said Snape's been skeptical to believe it, even when you showed the messages between you two."
"I doubt he's foolish enough to reveal himself like that," said Hermione, dubiously. "Wouldn't he be afraid of her going to the Ministry or at least Dumbledore to protect Carina?"

"Alec's not afraid of anything," Carina told her. "He didn't get his reputation by hiding in the shadows."

They passed by a group of first years waiting outside the Transfiguration classroom. She shuddered when Daniel winked at her. With Draco not treating her like a nasty slug, his behavior reverted as well, back to that first night at the castle. She was sure that he sent one of the valentines.

"Oy, you! 'Arry Potter!"

One of the dwarves moved through the crowd, kicking people's shins. Harry, looking even more fearful, attempted to run but barely took one step before the dwarf seized his bag, intent on delivering his musical valentine. His bag split in two, sending his belongings all over the floor. Carina repaired his bag and began to pick up the fallen books and shattered ink bottles when she was momentarily distracted by Percy's arrival and the dwarf sitting on Harry's ankles.

As he sang a cutesy song, she spotted Ginny hiding behind another first year girl, who was laughing hysterically with the crowd. Percy attempted to disperse the crowd, oblivious to Harry's humiliation. Before she could cast a quick summoning charm on the rest of his things, Draco picked up the diary.

"Wonder what Potter's written in this." He met Carina's gaze. "Or is it yours, Evans?"

"Hand it over, Malfoy," said Percy, sternly.

He waved it tauntingly at Harry. "When I've had a look."

"As a school prefect—"

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry's spell sent the diary flying out of Draco's hand and back to the floor. As Percy reprimanded him for breaking a rule, Draco, looking furious, turned towards a ghostly pale Ginny.

"I don't think Potter liked your valentine much!" he yelled, spitefully.

A few of the first year Slytherins, including Daniel, sniggered. Ginny, hands over her face, hurried into the classroom and Harry grabbed ahold of Ron's robes to stop him from attacking Draco.

"At least an actual person likes him, not some oversized pug," snapped Carina. Draco merely smirked. "You're such a—"

As she picked up the diary, a burst of energy flowed through her arm. In the blink of an eye, she ended up on the floor, a slight pain in the back of her head. Harry was kneeling in front of her, his robes hiding the smoke swirling around her fingers. Seth was to her right, revealing the pain in her head by twirling his wand clockwise.

Percy bent down beside Harry. "Carina, are you all right?" he asked, concerned.

"No, I'm okay," she said, feeling the opposite.

It was hard to maintain that lie when her hand was trembling. Making it twice as hard was the intrigued, concerned whispers surrounding her. She leaned close to Harry as he helped her up from the floor.

"Get rid of the diary," she whispered in his ear. He looked at her oddly. "Promise me you'll get rid of it. I—it's dangerous."

"I can take her back to her common room, Percy," offered Seth. "You wouldn't want to miss class."

Percy looked offended at someone younger and a non-Hogwarts student giving him orders. Conceding that it was best, he shooed away the other students. Keeping his arm around her, Seth guided her down the staircase. He opened the door to an empty classroom.

"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing her wince. "Does your head hurt again?"

She wiped a spot of blood from her thumb. "No, I just brushed up against a sharp nail. Why are we in here?"

"I thought you needed some rest," he said, helping her sit on top of a desk. "You may have fooled Percy but he doesn't know you as well as I do."

Seth nodded towards her hand. It was still trembling though not as frequently. Conjuring a bowl and a teal colored potion, he poured it into the bowl. She hesitated to place her hand inside but the moment she did, the trembling stopped.

"What happened?" She tensed up when he massaged her hand. "It helps the potion spread quicker. Did Malfoy hit you with a hex?"

"I don't—everyone probably thinks that but you're gonna think I'm crazy," she said, thinking about the diary. "Harry found this diary in a bathroom and it's…well, it looks normal but I kept getting this weird feeling around it. I didn't realize what it reminded me of until I picked it up. I think it has dark magic."

"A diary?"

"I'd never forget this feeling." She curled her fingers. "Alec used to have me pick up random objects during our sessions and sometimes, this would happen. He said it was the obscurus feeding off the dark magic. I know the chamber was opened before. What if the diary belonged to that person and that same dark magic is controlling someone else? Like they're letting the monster loose without realizing it…"

"I don't see how a diary could cause that much trouble," he said, his fingers moving over her palm. "Whoever is opening the chamber, they're not doing it because a book told them to, Carina. Maybe you hit your head harder than I thought. You're lucky I got there when I did."

She rubbed a sore spot in her neck. "You're always there for me. Here, the lake…you know, he never mentioned you ran across the ice to get me."

"I'm not surprised," he muttered.

He stopped in the midst of vanishing the contents of the bowl. Raising his eyes from the bowl, he saw her frowning slightly.

"He's disliked me from the day we met. I know you care about him but I don't think he's right for you." He gently squeezed her hand. "You deserve better than someone who's so prone to jealousy. Why else would he not tell you how I helped to save you? He wanted to be seen as the hero. Look how he reacted over you getting valentines."

"How'd you know about that?" she asked, puzzled.

"I overheard Snape mention it to your mother," he explained. "It's why he didn't bring you down to the dungeons. He wanted to wait until that mess was behind you. If he was secure in his feelings, he wouldn't feel threatened by a simple card. He'd know that no matter what, you would always choose him."

"I think you have the wrong impression of him," she said, jumping down from the desk. "I want you two to get along. You're both really important to me, Seth. I mean, you know everything about me…even the parts that I couldn't share with Harry until recently. I feel like it's the same for you. I've been there for you and Liv about your father and those nasty letters you still get all the time. So help me understand why…"

"I may have my issues with Ken but for you—"

"I wasn't talking about Ken," she said, feeling her hands tremble again but not because of any dark magic. "I want to know why you're helping Alec."

Her accusation was met with an extremely uncomfortable silence. Seth stared at her, his expression blank yet several emotions passing through his eyes in a matter of seconds. Instead of an outright denial, he grinned.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, trying not to laugh. "I think Alec's letter has got you on edge. A cup of tea should help. We could go down to the kitchens and—"

Carina refused to be fooled by his charming smile. In the past, she would have considered the idea ridiculous but Ken's memory of the night at the lake and his conversation with Alec helped her put the pieces together. Not feeling half as bold as she sounded, she accused Seth of not being under the imperius curse that night, that he was acting of his own free will and had cast the curse on Olivia and Ken.

Remembering his trick about the curse, she noticed that his eyes looked completely normal. She thought back to Ken's insistence that parts of that night seemed strange, including Seth's behavior and what he said while choking him.

"He said when Snape mentioned you visiting me the first week, Olivia looked like she never heard of it."

"Carina, she just woke up from getting hit by a stunning spell and being under a dark curse," he argued. "Her mind was probably all jumbled."

She flipped her Charms textbook to one of the pages. It was filled with messages between her and Olivia, written during Flitwick's lecture.

"I considered that so I took a page out of Alec's book," she said, reversing the enchantment on the page, the words now a paragraph on freezing charms. "She was clueless about your planned visit and the bracelet. You faked that message from Alec after that message appeared in your fireplace…the one telling Liv that Ken spoke to Fudge about you. You would've gone after him if I didn't get hurt by the diary…"

He raised his hands defensively. "You're not thinking straight. You need to go lay down. I'd never hurt you."

"Then why?" she repeated, pointing her wand at his chest. "Is he blackmailing you? Did he threaten to hurt me or your family to make you cooperate? Because I can't think of any other reason why you'd help him. I have all the proof I need, Seth, so tell me why. You don't deserve to end up like your father. Whatever it is, Dumbledore can help you. What did he promise you?"

"You."

His answer was short and simple, not at all what she anticipated. She froze at the sound of Ken calling her name.

"Cari? Wh—I heard what happened. What are you doing in here?"

"Don't," she warned, stopping him from entering the classroom. "I'm waiting for the hex to wear off. I don't want to hurt you. I'll meet you in the courtyard."

"Secrets are never good for a relationship," said Seth. "Why should he have to go? Come on in, Ken, and don't move a muscle."

Ken stepped through the doorway, casting a sideways glance at Carina. His body suddenly went stiff as a board, making it look like he was not even breathing. There was an unsettling, mischievous glint in Seth's eyes.

"Even behind bars, my father's a great teacher." She found herself unable to move her arms and legs. "Wandless magic is useful too. I could teach you that and a lot more."

"S—Seth."

He circled Ken like a lion stalking its prey. "Do you know how many times I've wanted to tell him to throw himself from his bedroom window? It's so tempting but I'd never do that to you. Look at how pathetic he is…taken down by a few words. I honestly never thought you'd say yes but you're young. You don't know any better yet."

"Seth, please…"

Lowering his wand from Ken's throat, he walked towards her, cupping her cheek in his hand. His thumb brushed over her pink lips. With Ken unable to move, he could only respond with angry mumbling.

"All I want is you," he whispered. "Alec understands that. He sees what I see, Carina. We're soulmates. I love you with all my heart and I know you feel the same. You just never thought it was possible. That's why you settled for this idiot. You don't need to do that anymore. Once we break my father out, you can leave all this behind and be where you're truly meant to be. We can accomplish his vision together."

A force tugged on her navel, sending her out of the classroom. Instead of the cold, stone floor, she landed beside Snape. Mrs. Fawley and Dumbledore were there as well, all three raising their wands. Ken joined her seconds later and as Seth's spell wore off, he tackled her in a hug, his words muffled by her hair.

"W—where am I?" Seth asked, feigning confusion. "How did—Mom, what happened? Why are you upset?"

"Sweetheart, we heard everything," said a tearful Mrs. Fawley. "Carina warned Professor Snape before we arrived. We'll get through this together, I promise."

His confusion turned to anger. "I don't need your help! You're ruining everything!"

As he flicked his wand, his spell rebounded, destroying one of the chairs. He attempted to leave the classroom but was knocked back by an invisible shield.

"A very impressive barrier spell by Miss Evans, I believe," said Dumbledore, calmly. "Your magic will have no effect outside of that room. The orderlies from St. Mungo's are on their way. They have ensured your mother that you will get the best care."

He looked at Carina in desperation. "D—don't let them do this. Carina, please. You can't let them send me away."

"Don't talk to her," snarled Ken. "Don't even look at her, you—"

"Shut up!"

The floor rumbled beneath her feet, a sign that her spell was weakening. Snape and Dumbledore pointed their wands at the doorway, reinforcing the barrier.

"She loves me! You're nothing to her! Tell him! I gave your mother back to you! What did he do, a stupid picnic?!" She lifted her head from Ken's tear-stained robes. "You were so nervous that day in Diagon Alley and I knew she would make you feel better. I didn't care if Alec got mad. I just wanted you to be happy. Now she's with you every night."

Snape slowly came to the same conclusion as her. "You transfigured her into a cat?"

"I needed to sneak her past the guards," he said, as if it was common sense. "It's a spell of my own making, one only I can reverse. Alec punished me for disobeying but I didn't care. That's how much I love you."

He looked at Seth like he had truly lost his mind. All those times she had been playing with Boots, it was her mother. Did she even know she was trapped in the body of a kitten?

"Mister Towler, take Miss Evans to my office. I will be there shortly," said Dumbledore, looking at Seth with disgust.

Seth angrily pounded on the invisible shield. "Carina, you can get me out! You're stronger than him and he knows it! Please don't let them take me! YOU'RE ALL I WANT!"

His eyes briefly flashed red, causing Mrs. Fawley to step back in fear. As Ken led Carina to Dumbledore's office, she could hear Seth shouting for her and wondered if Dumbledore soundproofed the corridor to keep the students from leaving their classrooms. Together, they sat in silence, Ken rubbing her back as the tears continued to fall down her face.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, quietly.

"Which part?" she sniffled. "One of my best friends lying to my face all this time and working for the guy who wants to kidnap me again? Or the fact that my mother is alive but she's been turned into a cat and the only person who can change her back is the same best friend who's getting locked away in St. Mungo's, probably for good?"

"Cari, I know—okay, I can't pretend to know what this is like but there has to be a way to reverse his spell. If anyone can do it, it's Dumbledore," he said, with full confidence. "He won't let her be stuck like a cat forever."

"I—I'm so stupid."

He lifted her chin. "Don't say that. None of this is your fault. How were you supposed to know he was…look, he had everybody fooled, even his own mother."

"That barrier was supposed to work and it couldn't even hold him until—" She could barely speak. "Alec would've obliterated it in two seconds."

"Is that why—Cari, you're a twelve year old girl, not some super witch. The fact that it held him back at all is impressive. Most of the kids in your year can barely transfigure a beetle into a button and hell, half the ones in mine still can't. Stopping Alec isn't on you. No one is expecting you to take him down all by yourself."

The door opened and Dumbledore entered the office with a baffled Harry.

"Cari, are you hurt?" Harry asked, hurrying over to her. "McGonagall took me out of Charms. She said Seth was working with Alec and he went crazy or—"

"It has been quite the ordeal and I am interested in the details myself," said Dumbledore, sitting behind his desk and looking at Carina with sympathetic eyes. "However, there is a more pressing matter at hand."

Boots appeared on his desk. "He did something to your cat?"

"Boots isn't a cat," she said, knowing it sounded insane. "That's my mom."