On the horizon of Carina's fifth year at Hogwarts, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. Carina paid it little mind since every pureblood Slytherin family knew to disregard him despite the absurd charges he faced which sent him to Azkaban. Considering the few times Lucius and Narcissa had mentioned Sirius, Carina knew there was no way he had actually killed thirteen innocent people or was a Death Eater. It simply wasn't plausible for a friend of James and Lily Potter to do so considering how much he had gone through getting disowned from his family. Now, if he hadn't been disowned or placed in Gryffindor, the charges may have been more believable considering the dark reputation of the Black family.
But regardless, Carina had more on her mind than Sirius Black.
Over the summer, Carina was busier than usual. She visited Sylvia, and they watched loads more movies, particularly ones that took place in space with strange laser swords for some reason. Adrian visited her at the manor, and they practiced dueling spells and charms in the garden to get ready for their upcoming O.W.L.s at the end of their fifth year. And Fred and George sent loads more letters than usual, detailing their adventures in Egypt to visit their Curse Breaker brother Bill and trying to push Percy in a pyramid since he was acting arrogant at having been named Head Boy.
She decided against telling them straight away at her appointment as a prefect. She wanted to see their faces when they found out.
Snape also visited the manor a few times at Narcissa's request when Carina mentioned she had been studying up on Occlumency. As a skilled Occlumens herself, Narcissa had been pleased to discover Carina's interest in it but didn't want to be responsible for actually teaching it. Since Narcissa knew Snape was a skilled Occlumens as well as a decent Legilimens, she decided to call upon him.
Occlumency was a skill that came relatively easily to Carina. Clearing out her mind or blocking thoughts from surfacing had been the first steps that she had been implementing since she had first read about it in the Occlumency book she read the previous summer.
Snape actually praised her the first time he attempted to delve into her mind as she had put up a decent resistance to someone probing through her thoughts. While he did see some things, such as helping Hermione in the library or some private conversations with Adrian and Sylvia, he didn't see anything with Fred and George. They had been the first thoughts she smothered.
It only came easy to her because of her practice of stoicism and not wearing her heart on her sleeve. Most Slytherins with their Slytherin facade would find themselves decent at Occlumency. They hid their true thoughts and feelings on a regular basis, so Occlumency was only a step up from that. Quite a few Ravenclaws would be good at it, too, as many found themselves shutting down their thoughts and feelings, but most Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs? The ones who were unflinchingly loyal and open and emotional and always ready for a fight? Definitely not.
By the time school came around again, Carina was fairly skilled at it.
The day before heading back to school, Carina used Apollonia to send Fred and George a small box filled with dungbombs, much to Corvin's dismay because he could smell them without them even going off. Carina chuckled as the black cat sneezed and climbed beneath the comforter of her bed as she continued packing after sending the owl off. Carina sometimes wished she could hide under the covers to get away from her problems, too.
Once Carina and Terence left their friends in their compartment to go to the prefect meeting, they ran into Cedric when he left his compartment. Carina narrowed her eyes at the prefect pin on his robe. "Diggory," she greeted with a nod. Blimey, had he gotten fitter over the summer? she asked herself. She tried not to show any emotion at his close presence despite her quickening heartbeat. "You made prefect, too?"
A smile spread across his face. Merlin's beard, he definitely got fitter. And taller, she thought as she tried not to stare. "I did. Can't say I'm surprised you did as well." He pointed down the hall. "You on your way to the meeting?"
"I am."
"Would you like to walk with me?" Cedric asked, his eyebrows shifting upward.
"Yeah, yeah, of course," she replied, the corners of her lips quirking up.
"I'm here, too," Terence couldn't help but blurt out as he looked between the two. He wanted to roll his eyes, sigh loudly, and smack them both upside the head, but he'd probably get hexed if he made a scene like that. Instead, he shoved past them, Cedric and Carina having the decency to show slight embarrassment.
Cedric held his arm out, gesturing for Carina to go first, so she did, following after Terence with Cedric right behind her. "So, how was your summer?" the Hufflepuff asked while shoving his hands in his front pockets.
"It was good. Learned a few tricks to get ready for our O.W.L.s. You?"
"Can't say I learned any tricks, but I've been studying up. This year will be hectic. I'm not sure I'm ready for it."
Carina raised an eyebrow at him. "You're not ready? Merlin, if you're not ready then I don't know how I can be."
He chuckled at her teasing. "Well, you're not a prefect and the captain of your house Quidditch team."
She hadn't expected him to announce he made captain for the Hufflepuff team. She couldn't help but be proud of him, knowing how much he enjoyed playing the game. Smirking at him, Carina replied, "You made captain, too? I'm happy for you, Ced." She hadn't realized she called him by a nickname until he spoke up. It had just slipped out.
"Ced?" he repeated.
"Diggory," she corrected. She turned back to face forward again, missing the way he smiled.
Terence wanted to strangle them.
The three weren't the first to arrive at the prefects' compartment, but they were the first Slytherins and Hufflepuff. In it sat Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw, as the Head Boy and Head Girl for that year, as well as three other Ravenclaw prefects, one being Roger Davies, and two Gryffindor prefects.
The compartment, at the front of the first passenger car, allowed for a more open layout compared to the other compartments considering it had to seat twenty-four prefects at any given time, six from each house, and occasionally, one or two more if the Head Boy or Girl weren't chosen from the seventh year prefects.
Carina nestled in between Cedric and Terence, and Roger made his way over to sit on Cedric's other side. Carina assumed it was because they were in the same year, and he felt more comfortable sitting by them, especially Cedric who he was decent friends with through Quidditch.
Once everyone had arrived, the group first went around introducing themselves, much to Carina's silent dismay because it brought attention to her and allowed for the Gryffindor prefects to sneer at her, not like Percy or Penelope saw. Strangely enough, Percy didn't seem to mind Carina's presence as much as a few of the others, but Carina chalked it up to him caring more about school and his position as Head Boy than her familial ties.
After introductions, Percy and Penelope outlined the roles and duties of prefects, not like most of them were paying attention. Most of their responsibilities had been outlined in the letter they had received with the pin, and at least half of them wouldn't take the role too seriously anyway. They weren't all Percy Weasley. Sure, they'd do rounds and occasionally take points, but most of them would only enforce the rules to people who broke the major ones, such as dueling in the halls and bullying, not sneaking out late or skipping a class.
They were then also given the schedules Percy and Penelope had drawn up for rounds. They each had rounds two nights a week for two hours. The other times were filled by professors and Filch. For one of the days, Carina and Terence were partnered, and for Carina's other day, she had Cedric. She couldn't say she minded. They could technically study while on rounds. And he wasn't bad to look at or talk to either.
As the meeting came to an end and they began to trickle out of the compartment to return to their friends or begin patrolling the train, the train skidded to a stop and Carina was thrown back, landing roughly on Cedric who was still seated.
"Bloody hell," she heard Cedric mutter below her. "What happened?"
Carina was about to untangle herself from Cedric's arms when a dark mass came to a stop in front of the compartment door. The air grew colder and the overhead lights dimmed. Carina could see her breath as she leaned subconsciously back into Cedric's embrace. Her limbs grew heavier and chest tighter. Every dark thought she'd ever had went to the forefront of her mind. She wanted to curl up and cry.
The cloaked figure slowly continued to move along the corridor, away from the prefects' compartment.
The prefects still in the room remained frozen and wide-eyed until the lights turned back on. "What was that thing?" a Gryffindor girl prefect asked.
Carina's voice was barely above a whisper. "A Dementor."
They came to learn the Dementors were there to stay.
The first week of classes passed before Carina asked Professor Snape for permission to check out two books from the restricted section to supplement her studies. Seeing as how she was by far his favorite student, a Slytherin, and the god-sister to his own godson, Snape was inclined to give it. It also meant she would likely bother him less during their Occlumency lessons every other week.
Once Madam Pince had handed her Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk and Moste Potente Potions by Phineas Bourne from the Restricted Section, Carina sat at a table in the back of the library, and Cedric joined her soon after having just finished with Hufflepuff's first Quidditch practice if it could even be called that. It was more of a meeting with the returning members to see what spots were open and to figure out when their try-outs would be. They also practiced a little since it was sunny, but it had mostly been talking.
When Cedric slid into the seat across from Carina, he eyed the two books in front of her. "What are those?" he asked while pulling out his homework from Transfiguration and Potions.
"Snape let me check them out from the Restricted Section for supplemental studies before things get crazier over the term," she explained, skimming through the spells outlined in the first book.
Cedric looked at her blankly for a moment. "Why do I get the feeling that's bullshit?"
She smirked and looked up at him. "What's wrong with wanting to learn more spells?" She then turned the page to continue down the Table of Contents.
"So why those books in particular?"
Carina slid the potion book towards him so he could look it over. "Moste Potente Potions has dangerous, controversial, and arcane potions. Knowing how to brew even one of them on top of the normal curriculum will surely get me at least an E on my Potions O.W.L. if not an O. Book of Spells is a fascinating book even without the spells."
Cedric's expression pinched together as he flipped through the potion book. "How so? Isn't it just a spellbook? Don't tell me it has some of the hardest spells ever created or something that you plan on using during the practical exams."
"It's enchanted, Diggory." Carina gave him an unimpressed look at his sass. "It projects text out for simpler reading, conjures objects, and can even create rooms to safely practice the spells in the book."
His hand stilled in the middle of turning a page. "Are you serious?"
"Very." She then gave in. "And it also has spells I haven't learned yet that'll help raise my DADA and Charms O.W.L. scores."
Cedric laughed a little too loudly, drawing Pince's infamous, "Shhhhh," from the front of the library.
He immediately quieted back down and shut the mildly scary potion book. "I'm sure even without the extra spells and potions, you'll do well on your O.W.L.s. But why do you need a book that creates a room to practice spells when you can just use the Room of Requirement? It's probably a lot more reliable and might offer equipment to practice on."
"The Room of what?"
"The Room of Requirement," Cedric repeated. "I would've thought you out of everyone in our year would've found it. My dad told me about it before first year. Told me I should try and find it. It supposedly can appear as any sort of room the user needs, so a dueling space to practice, a broom closet to hide in, a loo, anything."
"Wicked," Carina murmured. That would come in handy for the twins especially. "Do you know where it is?"
Cedric shook his head. "No, sorry. I haven't found it. But it's probably in a corridor not often used by students; otherwise, it'd be a lot more common knowledge." A small smile graced his lips as he looked at her staring off in thought. She wondered where it could be with the twins not having found it, or maybe they had but didn't know it. "I've just given you a mystery to unravel, haven't I?"
"Yes, you have, Diggory."
A few beats passed as Cedric thought about something. He then spoke before he lost his nerve. "You know, if you want, you can call me Ced like you had on the train. I like it." He felt his face heat up under her gaze.
"Alright, Ced it is."
"This ancient and mysterious charm conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all your most positive feelings. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity. You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it."
Carina's eyes narrowed at the description in Miranda Goshawk's book. The Patronus Charm was one of the most powerful defensive charms known in the wizarding world and used against Dementors, the wraithlike creatures in charge of looking for Sirius Black and guarding Hogwarts.
"Find something interesting?"
Carina looked up from the book to see Cedric standing in front of her with his charming grin. She closed the book. "Wouldn't you like to know."
"Precisely why I asked." He held out his hand to help her off the half-wall she sat on that lined the courtyard. She easily slipped her hand into his, allowing him to help her down. "Ready for rounds?"
She playfully nudged him with her elbow. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. I just hope we don't have to deal with any stupidity like we did last week." Two first-year Slytherins had tried to sneak out of the dungeons then tried to pretend they were sleepwalking. Carina put the book in her bag, and they began patrolling the lower corridors of the castle.
"So, what have you found so far in the book?" Cedric wondered as they turned down a different hall.
"Well, some of the spells we've already learned, like the Shield Charm and Knockback Jinx," she began, spouting off the information with ease. "But there's the Reductor Curse. It blasts solid objects to pieces. And also, the Patronus Charm for repelling Dementors. Then there are spells written in the margins by previous students, like the Bubble-Head Charm which makes a bubble around your head giving you a continuous supply of oxygen and the Oppugno Jinx which directs an object or objects to attack a target."
"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade together?" he blurted when she was finished rambling. He greatly enjoyed listening to her talk excitedly about spells and potions. It was one reason why he liked her.
Carina's eyes widened as she turned to look at him. "Like. . . a date?"
"Yeah." Cedric then shook his head and looked at the floor. "Unless you don't want it to be a date. I'm okay with that, too."
The usually charming, confident boy had been reduced to worry, so Carina let a smile spread across her face as she looped her arm around his. "It's a date."
The following day, while she was giddy about the upcoming Hogsmeade trip that Cedric had asked her to go on with him, Carina had something else on her mind that she deemed marginally more important than her first date with a boy.
Once Transfiguration had ended, letting out at lunchtime, Carina hung back as her classmates trickled out of the room and made her way up to Professor McGonagall's desk where the older woman sat.
"Professor McGonagall?" Carina said tentatively.
McGonagall looked up from the parchment she was reading over. "Yes, Miss Lestrange? Is there something I can help you with?" she asked. In all four years McGonagall had taught the young Lestrange, she had never asked for help. She figured it had been because of the young girl's upbringing to never show vulnerability, so it was odd to see Carina standing in front of her desk.
Carina adjusted the strap of her book bag. "Can you produce a Patronus Charm?"
"Yes, I can." McGonagall straightened in her seat. "Do you have a particular interest in the charm?"
"Yes, professor. Professor Snape gave me permission to check out Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk from the Restricted Section since my O.W.L.s are this year, and I read about it. And with the Dementors around, I'm interested in learning it."
If only all students could have such a keen interest in more difficult spell work, McGonagall thought to herself. The professor set the parchment in her hand down on the desk. "While I admire your drive to learn spells that aren't a part of the standard curriculum of a fifth-year student, I recommend asking Professor Lupin to teach you as it's more his area of expertise."
"I thought of that, professor," Carina explained, "but he always looks so tired. I thought maybe he was having a difficult time getting used to teaching, so I didn't want to bother him. And Professor Snape has already been tutoring me in Occlumency, so I didn't want to take up more of his time. Salazar knows how you professors can handle us all without wanting to hex us."
"You're learning Occlumency as well?"
Carina admired McGonagall's infallible stoic expression. She couldn't tell if the professor was impressed, annoyed, or something else. "Yes, professor."
McGonagall adjusted her glasses as she studied the fifth year. "So, on top of your nine classes and schoolwork, studying for your O.W.L.s, private Occlumency lessons, and prefect duties, you also wish for added lessons on the Patronus Charm?"
A sheepish grin graced her face. And can't forget her trying to find time to spend with her friends and sneak around with the twins. Even Carina had to admit it was a little much, but it wasn't as if she didn't spend most of her time with her nose in a book or practicing her wandwork anyway. "I don't go to Quidditch matches anyway."
With the slightest smirk revealing itself, McGonagall had to admit Carina Lestrange continued to surprise her. "Well, I must say, Miss Lestrange, that is quite a workload. However, I won't deny a student's desire to broaden their learning. How do Tuesday evenings after dinner for an hour sound?"
"Oh, brilliant!" Carina exclaimed. With the way the conversation had been going, Carina didn't think McGonagall would agree to teach her. "Thank you so much, professor."
"Of course, Miss Lestrange. See you on Tuesday."
The first trip to Hogsmeade was the first weekend in October. Carina found herself, for the first time in a long time, nervous and fidgeting and unsure of what to wear. The Malfoy's had taught her to be steadfast in her decisions and never second-guess, but surely going on a date was different than other things? Where's Sylvia when I need her? Carina asked herself.
Gertrude and Mildred, Carina and Sylvia's two other roommates, watched Carina with strange looks as Carina fussed over her clothing in front of the bathroom mirror.
Gertrude, despite Mildred shaking her head, took a few steps forward and asked, "What are you doing?"
Carina whipped around to look at her roommates. "Oh, nothing, I just. . ." She trailed off. She didn't have a good explanation.
Gertrude narrowed her eyes at Carina's choice of clothing: a short black skirt with grey leggings, a light green knitted sweater, and black heeled boots. Even though most of Carina's wardrobe was filled with skirts and dresses, only one reason stood out to Gertrude for this trip to Hogsmeade being different than the others. "Do you have a date?"
"Maybe." Gertrude and Mildred let out twin squeals, and Carina winced at the noise, reaching up to rub her ear. She wasn't exactly sure why they were so excited. It wasn't like she ever really talked to them.
The dorm room door then ripped open, Sylvia rushing inside. "Car, Cedric's outside the common room waiting for you," she said, not bothering to start with anything else. "You better get out of here fast. I think Adrian and Cassius are about to try and intimidate him."
Gertrude and Mildred turned on Carina. "Your date is Cedric Diggory?" Mildred asked, completely shocked.
"Yes, he is," Carina answered. "I better go before Adrian and Cassius chase him off."
Sylvia snorted, leaning against the door frame. "I doubt that's possible. The bloke's besotted."
Carina took in a deep breath and straightened out her skirt. "Do I look okay?"
"Okay? You look better than okay. Now get your sorry arse out there." Sylvia moved to grab Carina by the arm and pull the girl from the room. Carina barely had the chance to grab her purse before they were out, leaving Gertrude and Mildred speechless in the room. They couldn't understand how someone as withdrawn and sarcastic as Carina Lestrange could snag the Hogwarts Golden Boy even if they were friends.
When Carina walked out of the common room, she saw Adrian and Cassius standing in front of Cedric and rolled her eyes. "Leave him alone, you wankers," she said, pushing between the two, grabbing Cedric by his coat, and dragging him down the hall.
"Thanks," Cedric said once a good distance away. "They were asking all these questions and looked about ready to hex me. Not sure how I'd feel about getting into a duel with your friends."
"I'm sure you could take them."
Together, the two fifth years walked down the path to Hogsmeade. The wind was sharp and the sky overcast, but it didn't seem like it would rain, much to the happiness of the Hogwarts students.
As Cedric and Carina neared the village, Carina asked, "So, what do you have planned?"
"I thought that was your job." Cedric gave her a teasing grin when she lifted an eyebrow at him. "I would offer to take you to Madam Puddifoot's for tea and lunch, but that doesn't exactly seem like your type of place."
"And what is my type of place?" she wondered. "The Hog's Head?"
Cedric chuckled lightly. "Definitely more than Puddifoot's. How about the Three Broomsticks? Can't go wrong with some butterbeer and lively atmosphere. Then we can walk around and shop. I'm sure you'd like to pop into Tomes and Scrolls."
He was correct even if she didn't say it aloud. She could always use a new book. "Sounds like a plan."
At the Three Broomsticks, they sat at one of the few open tables near the fireplace. The awkward silence that grew between them as they got their butterbeer and plate of fish and chips with extra chips to share made the two uncomfortable to the point where Carina finally laughed and shook her head. "We can talk for hours in the library and on rounds, but the moment it becomes a date, neither of us has anything to say," she said as she picked up her mug then took a sip of the warm drink.
"You're right, but don't you get the feeling we're being watched?" Cedric wondered, lowering his voice so he wasn't overheard by the students and older patrons nearby. "I can't think straight."
Carina leaned forward on the table and shrugged. "Your friends are eyeing us from the back corner, and Draco is glaring at you. I give it a few more minutes before my roommates or friends walk in to watch us, too." She grabbed a chip from the plate between them. "I've gotten used to being watched and finding who's doing it. Would've thought you had, too."
He frowned and his eyebrows furrowed together. "Why would I be used to that?"
Her hand stilled as she went to bite into the chip before lowering it, staring at Cedric. "You're joking." He made no move to retract his question, continuing to look confused. "You're you. You're Hufflepuff's Golden Boy, the Pretty Boy of Hogwarts. You know how often I've had to listen to girls gush about how handsome you are?"
Cedric's cheeks turned a deep scarlet. "Really?"
"Sorry, but yes." Carina laughed a little at his embarrassed expression. "You've seriously never heard any of it?"
"No!" Cedric exclaimed with a laugh. "I thought they were jokes from the lads. I didn't think any of it was real. When did it even start?"
She shook her head while smiling. "You've been the Golden Boy since first or second year, and the Pretty Boy since third year."
"Oh, Helga," he groaned and put his face in his hands. "I had no idea."
"I can't believe you didn't know." Carina had to admit it was endearing that he had no clue how much people seemed to adore him.
Cedric lifted his head back up to look at her, a confused, exasperated smile on his face. "I'm never going to be able to look at people the same again." He grabbed a small piece of fried fish from the plate. "Wait, so then why are people taking particular interest in us?"
"Because you're the most likable person in Hogwarts, and I'm not."
Cedric reached over the table and set his hand on top of hers. "They don't even know you. And that's their problem."
A small bashful smile graced her lips, right on time for more people to enter the pub and see them together. Fred's eyes narrowed at the sight of Carina and Cedric holding hands and smiling. She couldn't have found someone less attractive and perfect at everything for him to compete for her attention with?
While going down the Grand Staircase, Carina eyed the portrait of Headmistress Elizabeth Burke, her great-great-great grandmother on her mother's side, and ended up stopping in front of it. Every time Carina walked passed a portrait of hers, Elizabeth watched Carina silently every time she peaked up from her book. Every other student was told nasty things, such as how they should be rude to Mudbloods or encouraging pure-blood supremacy, but she never said a word to Carina. Sadly, the portrait on the Grand Staircase wasn't the only one Carina saw on a daily basis. Two were hung in the dungeons guarding secret passageways and another was hung in Malfoy Manor.
The only time Carina found herself wishing Elizabeth would speak to her was when her heart ached to know more about her mother and what she had been like at Hogwarts. Lyra Burke hadn't been in Carina's life long enough to make a lasting impression, but the same could be said about her father. At least her father was still alive. Narcissa told Carina when she was young that Lyra had died but didn't say how. It didn't take a genius to assume why. Either she had been killed for being a Death Eater or she had been killed for not being a Death Eater. Those were the only options.
Carina sincerely wished for the latter.
"Who is she?" a voice asked from behind the young witch.
Carina turned to see Professor Lupin standing behind her. Elizabeth sneered in her portrait but continued focusing on her book. Even with others present, as long as Carina was there, Elizabeth refused to speak. "Headmistress Elizabeth Burke. One of my ancestors," Carina answered, turning back to the painting.
Professor Lupin stepped forward to Carina's side, studying the portrait. "I'm sure not many students at Hogwarts can say they have family hanging on the walls."
"Yes, I'm very lucky," Carina quietly muttered, not feeling lucky. "Now if only she'd speak to me."
"Hm, curious that she doesn't talk to her descendants."
"Perhaps." Carina looked up at the scrawny, scraggly professor. While handsome, he seemed more weary and exhausted than anything. "Is there something you need, professor?"
He offered her a kind smile, not something she often received from people. "Not necessarily, Miss Lestrange. Was only curious as to why you were staring at a portrait. Do you know why she doesn't talk to you?"
Carina shook her head slowly. "No. Although, I have always assumed it had something to do with my mother. I know very little about her, you see. She was a Burke."
"I know. I met her."
Carina's eyebrows shot up as she gazed questioningly at the DADA professor. "You did?" she asked. No one had ever readily talked to her about her mother. Even Narcissa and Lucius avoided the subject at all costs.
"I went to school with Lyra," Lupin explained, not taking his eyes off the portrait of the former headmistress. "She was two years older, I believe. A Slytherin prefect, like you. Kept mainly to herself. I didn't know her very well. Although, I do remember her being friends with a Ravenclaw prefect named Kingsley. We only talked for prefect duties, but she was kind to everyone which many people found quite odd. Then right after graduating, she got married. As you can imagine, I wasn't invited to the wedding." He laughed quietly at his joke.
An invisible weight lifted off her shoulders. The strange new professor had told her far more about Lyra Burke than anyone had before. "Thank you, professor. No one ever talks about her."
"Something tells me you know why." While the words were foreboding, his tone clued her into the grief and despair that often came with talking about the war. Lupin turned to her and smiled politely, moving away from the depressing subject. "Professors McGonagall and Flitwick speak highly of your spellwork. Keep up the good work in class. I foresee great things for you." He then left, leaving Carina with more to think of.