Thank you for the reviews! Yeah, Carina really doesn't care who she hurts if they threaten her, especially if they're a Death Eater. She knows better than anyone that if she doesn't get rid of the person or only stuns them, they'll just keep coming back around to bug her. And yeah, I made Gabrielle a couple years older, she's supposed to be eleven. But, I wanted her to have at least hit puberty as well and just be a bit older. And just saying, but adding a French accent is NOT my strong suit. XD Anyway, here you go!
Carina had certainly not expected to walk into the kitchen alongside George and find Harry and Ginny snogging in the kitchen; really, all she had wanted was a glass of water, not this!
She grumbled to herself that it was too early for this, got herself the glass of water, and downed it all in one gulp, leaning back against the counter. George casually sipped his coffee, watching the other two.
"Morning," he greeted amusedly, watching as Harry and Ginny both jumped, though the latter shot him a glare.
"Anyway," said Ginny in a rather flat voice. "Happy birthday, Harry." She stormed from the kitchen and Carina sat her glass down and followed with a yawn, rather roughly hitting Harry on the back in greeting as she went. Her birthday had been a few days prior and they hadn't really celebrated hers; only Hermione, Harry and Ginny had really given her any gifts and the twins had offered her congratulations for making it to seventeen, but that was about it. Well, besides the cake Mrs. Weasley had made her. It had been a small one but she had quietly thanked the woman nonetheless.
Carina separated from her and made her way to where Hermione and Ron sat, gracelessly throwing herself down into an armchair. The other two teens both glanced at her, a bit startled.
"Morning," she said shortly, copying the greeting of George from moments prior.
"Good morning, Carina," replied Hermione nonetheless, offering her a smile. It was clear that she had interrupted something, however, more than likely an important discussion. "How are you?"
"Fine." Gray eyes flickered between the two, and with a small pang, purposefully overlooked how close the bookworm and redhead were sitting. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, nothing," said Ron hastily. "It's nothing, just about the party, is all…"
"Oh really?" Carina turned to the older girl. "Hermione?"
"We were talking about the horcruxes," admitted Hermione quietly, so that no one else could hear. "And the mission. We won't be going to school this year...are you sure you want to go? You could always stay at Hogwarts, protect Luna…"
"No. She can take care of herself by now, and with Ginny and Neville around—especially Ginny—she'll be okay. Hopefully." The raven haired girl was wide awake now and leaned forward in her seat, tone firm. "I am coming, whether you like it or not. Harry and I have already established this and there is nothing you can do to be rid of me, short of killing me."
"You don't need to!" the only boy in the room protested quickly, though not altogether rudely. "I mean, there's already three of us…"
"So what's one more?" She leveled her calm gaze on him, and he deflated. They could not deny her the right to come, especially if she were determined. "I could definitely help, and four would mean extra protection."
"It's not that we don't want you there," Hermione sighed, tone gentle. "I'm just worried about what will happen to you after all that's happened in the past couple years."
"Me?" Carina could not believe it. Did Hermione actually think she was weak? Vulnerable? "I think I'll be fine, I survived this long already, Hermione. I lasted well in the battle months ago and I commanded a small army of students, I think I can do this."
Her eyes met the brown of the girl across from her, who seemed to sense the slight hurt in the gaze and offered an apologetic smile. "I know."
"Sure you do." Carina offered a wry smile and stood. "I think I'll just go outside and leave you two alone." She eyed them for a moment, before pausing in the doorway. "I'll talk to you later."
And then she left, went outside, and seated herself on the ground far enough away that she was sure no one would spot her as they gathered to set up the tents for the wedding.
She twisted the bracelet from her father around and around on her wrist absentmindedly.
Hermione doubted her now. Sure, she had gone through hell in Azkaban and wished for death countless times, and sure, she might have attacked people, but she was always in near perfect control of herself most times and she was not some weak, vulnerable girl.
She never had been, really. She had dove through fire to get to Harry when she heard him screaming as he battled Quirrell—boy, had that hurt—and she had been there in the Chamber of Secrets, protecting the body of a young Ginny Weasley while he battled the basilisk. In third year, she had been ready to kill her own father for them all, just to save her friends and get them out of there before Remus transformed. In fourth year, she had stood by Harry when his name was called out of the Goblet and she had made sure that she kept Ron at bay when the boy was jealous and hurling insults, spent countless hours in the library with Harry when Hermione wasn't there with them. In fifth, she had made a stupid, stupid decision to help him and had inadvertently gotten her father killed, before running off to chase her cousin.
She broke away from the group, from Hermione, and ran into the atrium after Harry; when she entered, Bellatrix was on the floor and his wand was pointed at her.
"You have to mean it, Harry," hissed the voice of a man unseen. They knew who he was, they could both hear him.
The boy clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on his wand.
Carina stepped forward and pushed him to the side none too gently, burning with grief and a rage so deep she could feel it consuming her.
"Little cousin," taunted Bellatrix with a laugh. "Come to get revenge. You can't do it. You're weak."
She gritted her teeth. The edges of her vision were blurring red.
"You won't hurt me," the woman continued surely, voice no more than a mocking whisper. "You can't. And to think, all this because I killed poor old daddy."
"I can't?" Carina asked, flat voice echoing through the atrium. Her cousin merely smiled in response. This made a growl tear through the girl, and she shouted, "CRUCIO!"
She meant it. Oh, did she mean it more than anything in the world. She wanted Bellatrix to hurt, and hurt she did.
The torture lasted no more than a few seconds before she found her wand clattering out of her hand, vision clearing, and a snake faced man standing inches from her nose.
He backhanded her in a vicious swipe obviously magically charged, and Carina skidded across the floor, bumping into the statue behind her.
Voldemort took slow, precise steps toward her and leaned down.
"What," he said softly, cooly. "Do you think you're doing?" She did not answer and reached up to touch her lip, which was bleeding. "Answer me, girl!"
Carina stared blankly at him for a few moments, before possibly doing the stupidest thing she had ever done in her young life.
She spat in his face.
She had lived, of course. Dumbledore had shown up at just the right moment and saved her from death, which was why she was here today. So, as anyone could see, she was not weak, or vulnerable, or pitiful. It seemed like Hermione did not believe in her, although, and that stung.
"'ello," greeted a soft voice. Carina glanced up. Gabrielle Delacour sat next to her, staring at her intently. She may have been thirteen, but she looked much older, possibly sixteen. "Are you alright?"
"Fine," replied Carina evenly, frowning at the Veela. Why was she here? What did she want?
As if reading her mind, the blonde spoke. "I grew bored of ze wedding preparations. I saw zat you looked troubled, so I came 'ere instead."
"I see." Slowly, the raven haired girl nodded, before sighing. She may as well speak to the girl, for she had no one else at the moment herself. "I guess I should say thank you for checking on me, then."
"Eet eez no problem." Gabrielle smiled at her, perfect teeth gleaming. Carina thought of her own teeth, though white, with the slightly more than average pointed canines. She had taken after her wolfish counterpart quite a lot. "You seem very interesting. I am Gabrielle, if you do not remember."
"How could I forget a face like that?" The older girl returned the smile with a small one of her own, and she saw the girl's face drop; she immediately knew why and rushed to speak more, though reluctantly. "I'm...I'm sorry." She sighed again. "I have a habit of ruining things, don't I?"
"That eez 'ow you remember me? By my face?" It appeared that the younger girl was aware that she was attractive, dangerously so because of her heritage, and was probably already being shunned by girls at school because of it.
"Partly," Carina responded truthfully. "But I recognized your voice, too."
"'ow? Eet 'as changed some, surely."
"I still recognize it, Gabrielle." She studied the Gabrielle closely. "I'd know those eyes anywhere, too."
The rather forlorn young witch felt her lips twitch when the older girl lightly tapped her between her eyes. "Not just because I am pretty?"
"Not just because you're pretty. This—" Unconsciously, her hand came to rest over Gabrielle's heart, which had begun to beat very fast for some reason. "—is what matters. The inside."
Call her a sap if you will, but the soul and the heart mattered far more to Carina than the looks. Hermione, Luna and Gabrielle could have all been ugly as sin and all she would have seen was the light from within.
"Thank you." Gabrielle was careful pronouncing these two words, to show just how much she meant it. Dazzling blue eyes roved over her face, and suddenly there was the brush of fingertips along Carina's nose and jaw. "You are scarred."
"Yes."
"You must have many."
"Yes."
Gabrielle cupped her cheek and smiled yet again. "You are still beautiful. You are not like me, with creature 'eritage to make you even more so. You are different. Stunning." The hand fell away and instead landed right above Carina's heart, like she herself had done moments prior. "And I am sure you 'ave a good 'eart as well, or else you would not 'ave tried to cheer me up like this." She glanced back to see her mother beckoning for her, and leaned over to kiss Carina on the cheek. "Thank you for talking to me. I 'ave to go now. We can dance later?"
"Yes," Carina nodded, and felt the corners of her own lips quirk upward. "We can dance later."
As Gabrielle walked away, she leaned back against the tree and shook her head. She really liked that kid. She reminded Carina of Luna, though perhaps a bit bolder and saner.
She needs a friend, I think. Carina closed her eyes and tilted her head back, feeling the breeze on her skin. If all goes well and I make it through the war, I'll try to be one.
She did not know why she decided such a thing so suddenly, when she had not seen the girl in three years and barely knew her; perhaps she had a soft spot for blondes. After all, she and Luna had hit it off very quick and she had felt quite drawn to Gabrielle.
Yeah, that must be it.
Carina heard Mrs. Weasley call that it was time for Harry's party and went inside, deciding that it was for the best unless she wanted to be drug in there by someone.
As she went inside, she stood in the corner of the room with her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. She caught the eye of Hermione, who offered her a smile, and quirked a brow in return.
The brunette pulled away from where she stood beside Ron and Ginny and came to lean against the wall beside Carina, taking her hand.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she whispered. "I didn't mean to make you think I thought you were incapable or weak. I just don't want to lose you, Carina. Not again. I care about you very much."
You have no idea how much I wish you could know how I feel for you.
"It's okay," said Carina, and found that she meant it. The simple touch, the apology, it had all washed away her previous thoughts and she could not help but smile when Hermione leaned into her side as they stood there, watching Harry receive his presents.