The pages had become crumpled and worn from being shoved into the pockets of her robes and rubbed out flat to rest on her bedside table. Carina hadn't let it leave her side since its arrival, reading it come morning when the run began to peak through the velvet curtains that draped around her window and again when the silver moon danced on the surface of the reflection pool. The quill ink was slowly beginning to fade, getting lost in the wrinkles. Lucius chastised Carina, claiming they wouldn't know what to get her to come time to purchase her materials. This only brought her to laughter, as if she hadn't had it memorized already. Everything from the uniform she would have to dawn to the books she would have to bring were etched in her mind and recited as she dressed for her trip to Diagon Alley.
She skipped pulling on her slippers, moving straight for her wardrobe where he favorite robes awaited her. She pulled the billowing sleeves up her arms, over the black dress her mother had laid out for her the night before. Carina would have much rather worn one of her pairs of shorts and sneakers often used to venture into the garden, but she would appease her parents and maintain the family appearance. Having to hear Draco whine about not getting to go to Hogwarts yet would be torture enough.
"One wand, one cauldron, crystal phials…" she sang rhythmically to herself, slipping on her black ballet flat shoes before moving off into the hallway. The paintings that lined the walls greeted her with smiles, most shined of relief as she would be off to school instead of causing trouble that would leave their frames askew. No more would they have to worry about the windows becoming shattered in the middle of the night when a nightmare struck her, or the terrible winds that would chill them.
"Telescope," she hoped down one marble step, "brass scales," then the next, only to fall silent when she heard Draco pout behind her. If he wasn't going to Hogwarts, why should he have to go to Diagon Alley? Upholding family appearances wasn't enough for young Draco, there had to be something for him to gain from it. Waiting at the bottom of the stairs, Carina peered upwards, her amber eyes watching as their mother knelt down in front of Draco, promising him everything from sweet to a pet owl. Her jaw slacked, a heavy breathtaking her form as she fought the need to protest. If she was to wait until she was eleven for her own companion, so should Draco - but she knew their parents wouldn't keep to such strict standards for their beloved son. If he could have gotten away with getting his own wand, Carina was sure they would have allowed it as well.
A pair of freshly polished shoes clamored against the marble floor at the bottom of the winding staircase. This time, it wasn't in a fit of frustration, but rather a series of celebratory taps. Draco had gotten his way and he going to assure that Carina knew it. He despised nothing more than being the youngest sibling, having to sit back and watch as Carina received her letter first, would acquire her wand from Ollivanders first, and be sorted into her house first. The least his parents could do was gift him an owl. His lips pulled back, his dimples pushing at his cheeks as icy gray eyes met her fiery amber hues framed by thick lashes. Draco's mouth fell agape as if to gloat, but the firm touch of a gloved hand against his shoulder silenced any ill intentions. His father was ready to leave.
The Malfoys paired off, the father with son and mother with daughter. Then, one pair after the other, they departed the manor house. Carina couldn't breathe as she was pressed from all directions. If she hadn't known any better she was sure they would be crushed by the weight that surrounded them, though it would subside when they arrived. With the slightest of sounds, Carina stumbled as her feet found the cobblestone roads of Diagon Alley. If it wasn't for Narcissa's firm grasp, the first-year would have been on her hands and knees in the streets.
"Compose yourself," Lucius' words were a hiss in Carina's ears, his hot breath washing over the side of her features that were twisted with the threat of vomiting. Draco watched Carina intently, waiting for her to make a mess of her shoe, but the moment never came.
Thank you, Dobby.
Carina pulled her hand free from the grasp of her mothers, before bringing both hands up to push the platinum tendrils that had gone askew away from her face. With the strands pushed out of her way, Diagon Alley could be appreciated for all it had to offer. She had traveled there before, more than once from what she could remember, to buy sweets from Sugarplum's Sweets Shop while father carried out his business in Gringotts and Knockturn Alley. It had always been the perfect distraction, especially when they had been younger, and was completely to blame with Draco's sweet tooth. Carina hadn't completely found her footing when Draco had sought out his mother's hand. He tugged at her arm, his glinting loafers taking eager strides towards the candy shop.
Carina's jaw slacked to protest, her brows coming down to furrow at their center. The candy could wait, couldn't it? "But mother-" her protest had earned a sharp glare from her father. Sighing, Carina fell in line behind Draco, merely becoming his shadow. Her head hung low, watching as the toe of her shoe kicked a lonely black pebble along her path. A simple chime on of a bell above a door startled her step, sending the stone off course. Quickly looking up, Carina looked around to assure she wasn't to collide with another only to find a door to a dimly lit shop wide open inviting her inside. Her neck craned, looking up peeling gold lettering above: Ollivanders.
Drawn into the solitude of the shop, Carina only wished she had a candle. If her family had followed her in, she would have felt trapped in the door that gently closed behind her and the counter she was barely tall enough to peer over. A sneeze tickled her nose as a nervous breath inhales the film of dust that decorated the counter. Mr. Ollivander must not have any elves, Carina thought to herself her head leaning to the side as the wand-maker appeared between towers of wand boxes. Lips pulled back tight into a grin at the wizard's messy white hair and wrinkled cheeks. His robes were a brilliant shade of plum, even with their frayed sleeves, the color left her envious.
"Your robes are lovely, Mr. Ollivander," she chimed, pressing up further onto her toes to try to take a closer look at the velour. Maybe, one day if she begged her mother insistingly enough, she too could have purple robes.
Ollivander gazed upon the girl with squinted eyes. It wasn't often a first-year student would wander alone into his shop, especially when they seemed to speak of him so fondly. The old wizards leaned over the countertop, looking down at the petite blonde, taking in the sight of her sleek black robes with the slightest glisten on the silver trim. It was clear she came from old money but he couldn't quite place her.
"Thank you, child," Ollivander let his eyes soften as he let their eyes meet. His heart stilled, he had looked into those same eyes decades ago and was sure he wouldn't gaze upon the dark eyes again. "Your parent…" he trailed off into a careful breath.
Her face twisted into a knot, "They're at the sweets shop with Draco," Carina sighed, glancing back out the dusty window. Had they even noticed she had gone? Reaching into her robe pocket, her fist wrapped around cold coin before pulling it out and letting fall onto the counter with a clatter. "I should have enough for a wand," she offered the pile to him with a hopeful smile.
His gaze left the young witch, falling on glistening galleons. A careful finger counted out seven galleons before offering her the remainder. As Carina stuffed the coins back in her pocket, Ollivander took to the shelves searching for just the right wand box. He removed each one from the shelf carefully as to not cause a collapse before returning to the counter with a small collection.
"Ms. Malfoy," he spoke gently, handing out the first wand to her. A smile took his lips when her eyes went wide. There was no doubt that she had grown up watching others' wands, and now she was about to handle one for the first time.
Carina let her right hand take it with caution at first. She had heard many stories of how wands could react if they did not choose you. The last thing she wanted was to bring harm to the elderly wizard or his shop, even if it did look like it needed a good clean. She held it up carefully, letter her eyes run along the fine wood of the wand. It was long, feeling too big in her hands.
"Holly, 11-inches, phoenix feather core," Ollivander watched with great curiosity, waiting for any sign that the wand called to the child.
Pressing her lips into a firm line, Carina wondered if the wand was broken. Sighing, she flicked her wrist carefully. It was with the slight of movements that the glass was blown from the shop windows. Shards floated down on the cobblestone outside like the first dusting of winter snow.
Drawing his own wand, Ollivander pointed it towards the window and hummed, "Reparo," reassuring eyes then fell to Carina, "Don't worry, it wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last. Now, let's try another." It was clear that the holly wand wasn't a good fit for the girl. He tucked it back into its box before drawing another. "Elm, 10-inches, dragon heartstring."
Her hold was much more confident this time, even if she continued to wear her embarrassment on her cheeks. It was an ornate wand, decorated with silver at the handle. The wood was pale and slim, light to the touch. She wanted it to be the one, knowing her mother would fancy the craftsmanship. The wand, however, disagreed, sending the candles in the room to a raging burn that threatened the drapery with its heat.
Flicking his wand again, Ollivander snuffed out each candle before the fires could rage out of control. Nose wrinkling he searched for another box, its dark leather calling to him from the shelf. "Maybe something smaller," he offered, pulling a dark wooded wand from the hold of the velvet it rested within, "black walnut, 9-inches, dragon heartstring," he held it out to her again, letting her delicate fingers take hold of the ornate handle. It was springy like the one before it and didn't flex under the pressure of her flick. There was a gust of wind that tossed her curls back, then black sparkles danced out of the tip of her wand like a firework.
"Whoa," she breathed, captivated by the sight, "Is that good?" Carina was almost scared to ask, offering the wand back to the wand-maker. He took it carefully, placing it back into the box before offering it back to her.
"Very good, Ms. Malfoy," he assured her, any bit of worry that had been in his eyes gone now. "Black walnut can be tricky to master, but Hogwarts will teach you well." He assured, his gaze rising as the door chimed once more, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy coming into view, their son Draco kept close to their side as he let the chocolate frog melt between his fingertips. Ollivander nodded to them respectfully, "Goodbye Ms. Malfoy, and we will see you Mr. Malfoy, next year."
Even as they strolled from shop to shop, robes dancing around their ankles as they sought out the list of items Carina would need for her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, their focus was on their dear Draco. While Carina's arms were struggling to carry her shiny new cauldron, books, and robes, Draco devoured sweets from the sweets shop and whined at every opportunity. Jealously could be seen in glassy gray eyes that watched his sister collect each item on her list. Normally, they were on good terms, but since her letter arrived, Draco, starved for attention took every chance to make Carina regret being the first-born Malfoy.
Falling back from alongside her mother, a foot snuck out from beneath his robes. Not noticing it in time Carina's feet collided with his smaller, sending her down onto the harsh cobblestone that lined the streets of Diagon Alley. Green eyes shut tight, fighting back the burn of tears that threatened to spill. She could feel the cuts on her hands from bracing her fall, and the soreness that came with her cauldron digging into her side- but worst of all she could feel the eyes of many watching as she remained on the ground.
She wanted to shout at Draco, to draw her parent's attention to the poor behavior, but Carina knew all too well that if she let it consume her. It would only bring further shame and embarrassment to herself and the Malfoy family.
Eyes only did open once more when a gentle touch found her shoulder. Peering through thick lashes, Carina expected to find the womanly figure of her mother gazing down upon her, instead, she found an unfamiliar pair of warm brown eyes and flaming red hair. A Weasley.
Pushing up from the ground, Carina stumbled back, pushing herself away from the boy. If her uncle saw her with him, the punishment would be grand. He loathed the Weasley family. There wasn't a day that she didn't hear about their hand-me-down robes or their horrible taste in muggle artifacts. The Weasley's were pureblood witches and wizards but had lowered themselves down to the ranks of the muggle-borns - which was something the Lucius could not ignore.
"It's alright," the boy assured, his other hand reaching back to show that he had picked up some of the books that had fallen from her clutches.
"-You need to go," her words were cold, even if she craved to be kind. It would be better for him if she kept up appearances and they both returned t their families. "Get out of here before-"
"And what do we have here?" It was the voice of her father cutting through the air in a voice laced with privileged. His next words were a laugh; "Another Weasley," his eyes rolled. They did not know when to stop, did they?
It was obvious by the look on the young Weasley's face that he had not realized Carina had been with the Malfoy family- he seemed almost petrified as Lucius gazed down upon them. He had been warned to stay away from them, but he had always sought out trouble, though he preferred to cause it. Before Lucius could speak again, a plump woman with frizzy red hair and a young girl on her hip marched out into the alley.
"Fred Weasley!" Her tone was harsh but carried an undertone of worry. Caring for seven children was hard enough, never mind when they were running off and getting themselves lost. "What do you think you're doing?"
The boy who once wore a friendly smile let his face fall into a frown, he knew better than to talk back with both Mr. Malfoy and his mother breathing down their necks. Handing the books back to the girl, he moved back towards his mother with quick strides. The words they exchanged were too soft for Carina to hear, but she knew they were about her- the gaze of their honey-hued eyes looking back her way. She almost expected the woman to start screaming, but instead, a kiss was placed on top of the boy's head. Then, the red-haired family continued on with their shopping at the stores the Malfoy's wouldn't even consider walking in.
A rough hand soon broke her focus on the wizarding family that contrasted her own. It was the hard pressure of Lucius' hand around her thin arm. He pulling her off into a dark alley lined with witches and wizards that made her shiver in fear. Harsh words fell on deaf ears. He was scolding her for falling, making a fool out of him and his family but worst of all, associating with the Weasley boy even if it were just for a moment. Carina didn't dare part her lips to protest, her punishment would only grow exponentially if she had. It was always better just to sit and listen.
"Lucius," it was the stern voice of Narccisa that interjected, "Draco has chosen his owl." Drawing Lucius' attention to Draco, put him at ease. His brows still rested heavily over his eyes, his lips coming together in a firm line. He would be expected to get Carina a companion as well, even if he wasn't happy with her presentment during their trip to Diagon Alley.
"Get inside," he ordered, "you have five minutes."
Disappearing into the shop, Carina was greeted by the buzz of blowflies that quickly met their fate at the accurate tongue of a giant purple toad. She grimaced at the thought of caressing the slimy amphibian. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the crumpled Hogwarts letter and read the bold letters once more:
Students may also bring if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
There were many creatures that caught her eye, from the pale white ferrets that scurried through their tubes to the mischievous baby niffler that was left in awe by the silver fastenings of her robes. Maybe if she had been on better terms with her father she could have convinced him to try to get Hogwarts to make an exception. Sighing she moved to the owl cages where Draco lingered.
"This one's mine Sissy," he spoke pointedly as he stood proudly in front of the young eagle owl. Its beak parted, squawking proudly. "I think you'd be better suited for one of those," a thumb jeered towards a cage of black rats with long bald tails.
Her nose wrinkled, preferably not.
It was then she noticed a pair of big yellow eyes in the shadows. Her hand reached out, she approached the eyes that had been watching the pats play, and had now fixated on her. Its eyes were not reptilian, much too wide and curious. "Come here…" she whispered out, enticing it with the gentle snap of her fingers. Pouncing out of the darkness with a welcoming trill was a sleek black cat. The cat walked into her touch, welcoming it down the arch of its back.
"You will do just fine," Carina smiled wide, scooping the cat up into her arms and holding her tight to her chest. She waited by the door for her parents to pay the shopkeeper, her nose buried in the cat's fur and her eyes focused on the ground. With her new robes, wand and now her companion in arms her first day at Hogwarts couldn't feel nearer. Come September 1st, Carina would be leaving her family home and she could only hope that Hogwarts would welcome her as her new home.