Here's seventeen for the few that do read my story, thanks for that, by the way. Review, please!
Weeks later, Luna and Carina sat outside the castle next to the Black Lake, watching the Giant Squid splash about in the water.
"You know," remarked Luna. "You look much more fierce with scars than without."
"Oh really?" said Carina with a snort. "I don't care whether I've got them or not, much. But I think that after all this ends I'll be covered in them."
"Yes," the blonde nodded along in acknowledgement. "I suppose we all will." There was a pause, and then she spoke again innocently, "How are your secret meetings with Harry and the others?"
Carina was not shocked at all and merely offered a wry smile. "I'm not surprised you know about that. They're fine." And really, they were. Harry would pull she, Hermione and Ron all aside and tell them everything that went on, and Carina would sit there silently and listen to them discuss the things. She did not contribute much, didn't feel the need to. She and Ron had begun tolerating each other during these times after the amortentia incident and his breakup with Lavender, but it was more for Hermione's sake than anything. "We haven't killed each other yet."
"I don't think Hermione would allow that," Luna smiled back serenely. "Nor Harry, after the incident."
That was true. After the incident Harry had been very careful to keep his temper in check when she unintentionally riled him up with a sarcastic remark she made, and his emerald orbs always searched her for some sort of reaction after pulling his wand out; upon seeing that she was alright, he had begun to relax more, though she could tell that everytime he saw the scar on her face, he felt guilty.
"I just...try not to look at him." The raven haired girl let out a breath. "Ron, I mean."
"I understand," Luna looked sympathetic. "You know, he likes Hermione back."
Carina sighed again. "I know. In the hospital wing that day she was right there, holding his hand. And then all of a sudden he started mumbling her name and sent Lavender out in tears. Hermione looked happy."
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Luna spoke up again.
"I think that their relationship wouldn't really work," she told the older witch, silvery eyes steadily meeting hers. "They fight too much, you see, and he's just not the right kind of person she needs. You two have already shared a kiss—"
"—it was a prank—"
"—and there's much more chemistry between you, anyway. You bring out the best in each other," continued Luna, as though she hadn't heard Carina's interruption. "And I think you should keep waiting. Something good will happen."
"So you say." Carina didn't bother questioning her. "Have any of your housemates been picking on you anymore?"
"One tried the other day, but Ginny hexed him."
At that, the older girl let out a small chuckle. "Of course she did."
"CARINA!" came a call from near the castle. Said girl turned her head to see Ron standing there, waving wildly. "OI, GET OVER HERE QUICK!"
"I've been summoned," mumbled Carina, getting to her feet. "You'll be alright back here on your own?"
"Of course I will," Luna replied, as though such a thing were ridiculous. Nevertheless, she was not angry or offended and smiled. "Go on."
The raven haired girl did not reply, but nodded gratefully and sprinted off, skidding straight past Ron, up the stairs and into the common room, where Hermione and Harry were.
Moments later, the redhead appeared beside them, panting.
"Bloody hell," he gasped. "You're fast."
"What did you expect?" Carina did not bother to look at him, keeping her attention instead on the other two. "I work out. I have to build my strength somehow."
Idiot, she very nearly added, but held her tongue.
"Listen," started Harry hastily. "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting the cloak, but…" And so, he proceeded to explain to them exactly what was going on, not pausing for Hermione's gasps of horror or Ron's questions. His emerald gaze leveled on Carina, who had not spoken. "..so you see what this means? Dumbledore won't be here, so Malfoy's going to have a clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me!" he hissed, when both Ron and Hermione showed clear signs of interrupting. Still, Carina listened intently. "I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here—" He shoved the Marauder's Map into Hermione's hands. "—you need to watch him, Snape as well. Use anyone you can get from the D.A.—those Galleons still work, right? Dumbledore's got extra protection up, but if Snape's involved he'll know how to avoid it, but he won't be expecting you to be on watch."
"Harry," began Hermione, eyes wide with what Carina could clearly read as fear.
"There's so time," he cut across her, and began distributing items. He had given Ron his bottle of liquid luck, and though she thought he was paranoid, Carina was happy that she had saved her own bottle, for something felt very wrong here. He spoke some last words, and then Harry hurried off to Dumbledore.
"And now we wait," mumbled Carina to herself, but instead of sitting down like the others were, rushed to her dorm instead to grab the hidden bottle of liquid luck and slip it in her pocket. When she returned to the common room, she sat down next to Hermione without a word.
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Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Carina sniffed at the air, and Hermione and the others stopped walking behind her.
"What is it?" questioned Hermione, brows furrowing.
"I smell something," the other girl told her, a frown appearing. "But I don't...hold on." She shifted for a moment, and the wolf lifted its head into the air, nose twitching. A moment later it let out a guttural snarl and shifted back; Carina crouched on the floor, teeth still bared as her wand slid into her hand and out of its holster. She had transformed back just in time, so none of the D.A. had seen her.
"What?" came the question from Ginny.
"Seriously, what're you growling at?" said Ron.
"They're here," cut in Luna quietly, grabbing Carina's arm and pulling her to her feet. "Death Eaters, right?"
"Yes," confirmed Carina, nodding once. She was on the alert now, and the others all drew their wands as well. She narrowed her eyes and tugged the map from Hermione, scanning it over; when she spoke, the sharp and commanding tone she exhibited had everyone listening closely. "They're coming from the Room of Requirement because they're appearing out of nowhere. We need to get anyone under fifth year to their houses and keep the there. Fred, George—" She glanced at the twins. "—go get the Gryffindors. Chang, Luna, go for the Ravenclaws. Abbott and Bones, get the Hufflepuffs. What little Slytherins there are, I want Ginny and Ron to take that. They're in the dungeons, I'm pretty sure the password is pureblood. If not, hurry and guess."
"What about the rest of us?" piped up a voice from the back.
She looked back at them. "Half of you can split up and follow them to help protect the younger years and see they get there safely. The people I first named off are in charge. The other half will round up anyone fifth year and above who wants to fight."
"And why should we listen to you?" sneered Zacharias. "You're unstable, a sadist. How do we know you're not sending us to our deaths?"
He froze at the wand pressed to his throat.
"She isn't," said Ginny Weasley hotly. "She's taking charge and trying to save our arses, including yours. If you don't want to be blown to bits, I suggest you do as she says now."
Carina could not help the satisfaction she felt at that, not to mention the small surge of appreciation.
"You heard her," she told them. "Luna, come here." She uncorked her bottle of liquid luck, and when Hermione caught on she did the same. "I'm splitting this with you and Ginny. Hermione can split the other with Ron and the twins. Ready?"
The redhead and blonde both nodded, and everyone passed around the bottles until there were none left. Soon, the groups were setting off, but before they did Carina did not forget to shout, "Get ready to fight when you've got the kids locked up!" Her voice softened. "Luna, I need you to notify the professors as to what's going on as well. Tell them to get the Order down here quick. And, Luna...just, watch yourself, okay?"
Luna smiled slightly and saluted her, before hurrying off after Cho.
This left Hermione and Carina alone, staring at the map.
"What do we do?" inquired Hermione, watching as the names spread and some grew closer and closer.
"We fight," answered Carina immediately, firmly. "You'll watch my back?"
"Always."
That was all they had the chance to say before four masked Death Eaters rounded the corner, and upon seeing the teens, immediately began to fire off curses.
Hermione stood directly in front of Carina and erected a shield, so that the curses bounced off and back at them. Two of them hit one Death Eater, who fell back onto his back, his entrails spilling from his stomach.
It looked painful, but then again, Carina did not care. Hermione had turned a little green, but otherwise did not react to the disgusting display before them. She dropped the shield and they both began to fight.
Carina ducked as a jet of red light shot by her ear, before pointing her wand at the Death Eater she was squaring off with and sent him flying into a wall with enough force to break his back. Actually, it probably had, but she felt no remorse.
She turned to find Hermione facing the two other Death Eaters, fighting with an intensity that surprised her as she sent both of them flying, petrified and bound. Knowing that the other girl would not kill them, Carina reached over to stomp on each of their wands, snapping each in half.
"Let's move." She did not bother to offer any congratulations and turned, knowing Hermione was following as she sprinted toward the Great Hall.
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The battle was still going on when Carina saw Harry sprint into the fray, petrify Greyback, before blasting Amycus Carrow away from Ginny, who had done very well against him.
Seems like the training did her some good. Well, and my Felix Felicis.
Carina did not pay too much attention, though, as she dodged under a jet of green light; Ginny could hold her own, and she did not particularly feel like chasing down Harry at the moment.
Her heart was pounding and her body buzzing with adrenaline as she caught Greyback leap back into the chaos—someone must have helped him—and head straight for Remus, who turned just in time to be knocked over by the other werewolf, who had a manic grin on his face as he leered down at Remus. Greyback was saying something as Remus struggled, but he had lost his wand when he toppled.
Carina did not think as she sent Greyback flying backward due to the knockback jinx, and when the werewolf sprung to his feet immediately after, knew she was a goner, or a possible new werewolf. It seemed that her liquid luck had run out. She tried to erect a shield, to no avail, and had no other option but to shift into her wolf form, sending her flying with the large man on top of her. She snapped and snarled furiously at Greyback, who was doing the same without any regard for where he bit her; she was thankful that when bitten in her animagus form, she could not become a werewolf.
She howled when his teeth sank into her shoulder, and twisted so that she could lock her jaw on his neck, clamping down tightly; the blows rained down on her now, but she would not let go and instead dangled when Greyback stood, attempting to pry her off of him. Instead, he only seemed to injure himself further in the process before he suddenly collapsed on top of her, and she slunk out from under him with some effort.
"Are you alright?" questioned Remus, and he quickly retrieved her wand for her.
Carina shifted back, rubbing her shoulder ruefully before she took her wand back. She inspected her clothing, which was now stained with blood. Miraculously, only a small portion of it was her own and any injuries she had sustained were minimal; however, she was sure to have a good few bruises later. Perhaps her luck hadn't all run out.
"Fine," she responded, running a hand through her hair. "Little banged up, but…" She shrugged. "Did anyone else see me transform?"
"No. Thank you for helping me." He smiled gratefully, wearily. "I'd rather you not have been attacked, but he was going to kill me."
"I know." She glanced about. "It's over?"
"Yes, it's over. But, there is one thing."
"What?"
"Dumbledore is dead."
"What?" She may not have liked the man, but he had been the only protection they had had against Voldemort for the time being. Why would he have went and gotten himself killed, only to abandon the students he had sworn to protect? Unless…
The ring. It had been a horcrux, and he had been about to die sooner or later anyway. Perhaps he had known, and had not fought back when he had been killed? After all, wouldn't he rather the end come sooner so that he would not have to be in a world such as this any longer?
"Snape killed him," Remus informed her, looking rather pained and a bit lost. "Harry says he was there to witness it, though hidden. Your cousin was there as well. Both of them."
Malfoy and Bellatrix.
Bellatrix. Oh, what she wouldn't give to get her hands on that woman's scrawny neck and just squeeze, squeeze hard until the lights went out in her eyes. Carina knew that she would get some sort of sick satisfaction in the killing of her older cousin, but did not care how twisted it was.
"I see. And everyone else?"
"They've all headed to the hospital wing. Come on, let's hurry."
So, she followed the man all the way to the hospital wing, where the younger Weasleys, Hermione, Harry and Tonks were all gathered alongside a few others.
Carina collapsed into a chair as they spoke of Bill's new scars from Greyback, as well as the details of Dumbledore's death. She was not listening, barely even heard a word until she could hear Remus say something along the lines of how Snape would have killed Hermione and Luna.
A growl rumbled through her chest, but thankfully it seemed that no one had heard her but Luna, who made her scoot over and sat beside her, leaning into the older girl's side for some sort of comfort. With a sigh, Carina put an arm around her and eyed everyone else.
"The damage done would have been a lot worse if not for Carina," Hermione told them all. "She took charge and got everyone below fifth year to their common rooms, made sure the Order was notified, and then went straight to fight."
"Is this true?" inquired McGonagall, turning to face the girl, who stared right back at her.
"I did it," confirmed Carina evenly, nodding once. "Someone had to take charge around here."
"Well…" The professor offered her a tight lipped smile, obviously still reeling from the loss of the headmaster. "Thank you, Miss Black."
The raven haired girl tilted her head in acknowledgement just as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley burst in alongside Fleur, looking terrified.
Carina resigned herself to the fact that she would have to deal with all of this for quite awhile and leaned back, meeting the eye of Harry as she did.
She knew one thing for sure—whatever he had planned, she was going to be a part of it.