I have firewhiskey. Meet me in the astronomy tower.

-CS

-HS

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Carina didn't know if her note would work, but she felt that she owed it to herself to try. It was well after midnight and it wasn't as though she'd be sleeping any time soon so she was prepared to wait all night. There was no need though. It was barely twenty minutes when a rustle of paper got her attention.

"You mentioned whiskey?"

"Sorry, Draco. I lied. I don't even know where to get firewhiskey."

"Merlin, don't you ever have any fun at all? You are so lucky I'm me." Draco Malfoy sighed as he pulled a flask out of his pocket and held it up in a sort of salute.

"If you already had some why did you come?" She asked.

"Well, I don't know what that 'C S' business was about, but I know who 'H G' is and I knew that you wouldn't ask me to meet you for just anything." He gave her a sideways glance. "I'm warning you, though, if you think you're going to try to relate to my loss, I'm going to leave. I won't deny there's a sick twisted sort of connection there but I'm not going to talk about it, that's for sure and certain."

"Do you remember the other night?"

"If you mean do I remember telling my Godfather that you're my friend and telling you to laugh more, yes I remember. I meant what I said, you know. I wish I'd been a little more suave about it, but there it is. I'm not going to live to the standards of a dead man. I don't know if I'm going to like you as a person, muggle born or not, but I'll give you a try."

Carina chose to ignore the muggle born comment for a moment and instead asked, "So was he pissed?"

Draco frowned. "He laughed at me."

"Well that certainly isn't like him." She laughed.

"Yes, well.. how would you know?"

"I wouldn't. But I will."

Draco glared at her for a moment. "Have you been drinking? You're not making any sense."

"He's my father, Draco. You're my Godbrother. You already knew I'm not a muggleborn."

He perked up a bit. "I knew you had to have pure blood, but I never thought it would be his! Are you sure? How do you know?"

"Oh, I'm quite certain. My real name is Carina." Carina and Draco slid to the floor side by side, in a daze.

"Whoa. Carina... C S, I get it now. It's very pretty. Are you going to keep it?"

"Yes. Dad named me. I looked it up. It means beloved."

"Merlin, I bet that freaks him out. Being called Dad." Draco chuckled and Carina grinned.

"It is fun to see." She admitted. "We filled out the registration papers with the ministry."

"And you haven't heard anything back yet? Is that why you're awake in the middle of the night?"

"Yes." She sighed. "Dad says there'll be tests."

Draco nodded. "Fear not. The balls are worse. You know, dancing. Acting proper..."

"Pfft. I'm not acting anything. If being a good person isn't enough to be accepted then I don't want to be accepted."

Draco laughed. "Okay, fine but can you dance?"

"Yes. But I really don't think it will be necessary."

"I think you should have one. As a coming out party. I bet it would make uncle Severus extremely happy. He'd love to announce to the world that he's got a daughter who is not only brilliant, but beautiful. No one is gonna believe it."

"Okay. I'll do it if you help plan it."

"Me? I'm a guy, Herm- Carina. I don't plan parties."

Carina rolled her eyes. "Fine. I don't care either way. Enjoy all the winter exams coming up without anything else to put your attention into other than studying."

"Ugh, alright. Twist my damn arm then."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. But you should know, I take my social responsibilities very seriously, so I expect you'll have a guest list to me by tomorrow evening."

"Yes, sir!" She mocked. "Pansy's my sister."

"WHAT?! What the bloody hell! I didn't know she even had a sister! Wait...wait.."

"No, don't ask. There were no affairs, nothing nefarious. And don't tell Pansy I told you. It's a very long story. I just..."

"No, I get it. Seriously though? So is Severus her dad too?"

"No, just mine."

"Doesn't make any bloody sense."

"I'm starting to understand, I think."

"She's going to kill me." Draco groaned. "She hates me now."

"She doesn't hate you, she's trying to teach you a lesson."

"Yes, I know. I mean she's going to kill me because she's going to think I'm going to hit on you."

"Are you going to hit on me?" Carina asked, smirking.

"With your dad and sister? Hell no, if I want to spend time with you in any capacity other than friendly, I will ask your father and court you by taking you on supervised dates for many many years before mustering up the courage to kiss the back of your hand, and you can tell Pansy I said so! I'd like to live long enough to make something of myself you know!"

Carina was rolling on the floor laughing at Draco's terrified hysterics.

He glanced at her. "Do you ever wonder or think on what your two old best friends will think when the ministry runs their tests and all this comes out?"

"Well, I imagine they'll shiite themselves and hate me, or not care and continue to hate me."

"Where do they get off hating you?"

"They think I acted unfairly toward them after my- the Grangers died. Then I started 'getting cozy' with Pansy and that really did me in." She snorted. "I'm glad they want nothing to do with me."

"Really?"

"You know, I just don't want to get into it. Can I ask your opinion on something?"

"Sure, I love to put my two cents in."

"I have a decision to make. Something is going to happen soon. I'm not sure what it is, but I know it will change me and I know it will also keep me safe. But outside of those two facts I don't know what to expect and no one seems to be able to tell me. I have the option to go for it now, or wait. It's completely scary, but will happen either way. If it were you, would you wait? Or get it over with?"

"Get it over with, definitely."

"Really? Even if you didn't know exactly what it was?"

"Yeah. You said it would keep you safe. I'm nothing if not a survivor. Always go for that. At the very least, deal with the ministry and the registration first, then get it over with."

"Yes, I suppose...it's just so much all at once."

"I get it, I really do. But, Carina I just don't see how much choice you have. You either be logical and deal with things in a straight line, one foot in front of the other, everything in order, or you become a mental mess and go insane. The insane don't survive."

"You're right. You're absolutely right. I'll deal with the ministry, we'll throw a ball, then I'll opt for what every Lucifer has in store for me."

"Who?"

"Nevermind. Thanks, Draco. I think, maybe I can get some sleep now."

"Here, this will help." He passed his flask to her and she took a swig.

"Oh, that is awful stuff! How can you drink this, it burns!" Carina coughed and sputtered and Draco laughed at her.

"It does burn, but it will also knock a light-weight like you out in no time. Now go, off to bed. I don't think Severus will tolerate you falling asleep in class just because you're his spawn."

"Hey!" She fussed as he shooed her out of the tower.

"And just so you know, Carina? I admit I'm intrigued to know you are pureblooded. But I would have been honored to meet Hermione's parents."

Carina smiled with watery eyes as she went to her dorm.