Chapter 4
The twins didn't talk to Carina throughout the entire feast. After the feast everyone retired to the common room. After about an hour of playing exploding snap the common room was almost empty. Fred and George were playing this round and Carina was playing the winner. When the last person went up the stairs Carina goes and gets the map from her trunk.
"Are you guys still too shocked to talk to me? Or are you willing to put the shock aside to see what I have in my hand?" Carina asked them.
George stopped and looked at her. "I understand why you didn't tell us but we're supposed to be best friends. Who can you trust if not your best friends?" He asked her.
"I was told not to say anything by Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. I hated not telling you guys but now you guys cant tell anyone either." Carina explained.
"We won't say anything, Carina." Fred said. " Now what do you want to show us?"
Carina placed the parchment on the table, took her wand out of her pocket and pointed it at the parchment and said "I Solemnly swear I am up to no good." Before the twins' eyes the parchment turned into a map. "It's a map of Hogwarts." She said excitedly.
And as the weeks after halloween passed by the twins were talking about their plans for Christmas and Carina was going to be the only Gryffindor left at Hogwarts. It was right at that moment that Carinas owl Orion came swooping down with a letter. It was from her mother. It read.
Dear Carina,
I know that the holidays are coming up. Your father would like you to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. However if you have some friends that wouldn't think having you over would be a burden you are more than welcome to spend all the holidays there. Including the majority of summer vacation. In the envelope are two keys. They're for you. They are the keys to your family vaults. One is your mothers and the other is your fathers. Your father and I will see you when school lets out.
Sincerely, Your mom
Carina got up and ran from the great hall and left the letter on the table. She ran out onto the grounds and found a tree by the lake and sat down.
Georges P.O.V.
He sat there and watched Carina run from the great hall and he picked up the letter and envelope. "Let Professor Flitwick know will you?" He said to Fred.
"Yea sure go calm her down she always listens to you more anyway." Fred replied.
George ran out after Carina and found her over by the lake. He walked over and sat down next to her and handed her the letter and envelope. "Wanna talk about it?" He asked her.
She turned her head and took the envelope from his hand but left the letter. "Go ahead and read it for yourself." She said flatly.
George read the letter a couple of times before handing it to her. "Look you might be adopted but I know if I write to my mum you would be more than welcome to spend the holidays with us. And all you would have to do is show that letter to Professor McGonagall." He said enthusiastically hoping to cheer her up.
Normal P.O.V.
Carina looked at him and asked. " You really think your parents would let a complete stranger into their home? I mean I'm apparently the daughter of a notorious mass murderer." She said getting slightly hysterical. " My own Adoptive parents don't even want me around. Why would anyone else?"
George found himself angry at her words. "You listen to me, Carina Malfoy. I Do Not care if you are the daughter of a mass murderer or the adoptive daughter of a former deatheater. You are MY best friend and Freds too. My family won't care about whose daughter you are. You are our friend and that's all that's going to matter to them. And they will treat you like family because that is what they do. I've seen it with my brother's friends. Not Percy but Bill and Charlie." He said as he pulled her into a hug.
Carina held onto him and cried for a few minutes before she was able to put on a brave face. "Thank you George I really needed that. Like I really needed that but hey if you guys ever need help with anything just let me know I have two family vaults we can tap into." she said, forcing a chuckle.
"Yea I doubt that." He said. "Anyway now that you have calmed down. What did we have after charms today?"
Carina sighed. "Double Transfiguration. Then we're done for the day. Now if you think your folks will let me come over the holidays, write to her. I would rather have both letters before we go to Mcgonagall."
The week before Christmas break George received the long awaited reply. "Carina mum said yes. She doesn't expect you to help out in any way, she just wants you to have fun." George said, showing her the letter.
Classes had let out for the week before Christmas so Carina and the twins went to Mcgonagall's office and showed her the letters.
"While I appreciate your efforts both of your parents have already written to myself and Professor Dumbledore. And everything is all set up actually." Professor Mcgonagall explained to them.
Carina looked at her shocked. "I guess all that's left is to pack then."
She and the twins left the office to go have a snowball fight. After lunch Carina decided to pack for Christmas break. The train was leaving tomorrow.
