Carina opened her trunk with a flick of her wand, her belongings floating out and settling neatly into place. The Slytherin dormitory, though dark and moody, exuded an undeniable charm with its rich emerald drapery, silver accents, and the faint glow of the Black Lake filtering through the underwater windows. The room smelled faintly of wood polish and damp stone—a scent she decided she didn't entirely hate.
As she adjusted her belongings, the door creaked open. Two girls entered, both pausing mid-step when they saw her.
The first was tall, with jet-black hair swept into an impeccable bun. Her features were sharp, aristocratic, and her posture screamed superiority. Her cold gray eyes narrowed as she assessed Carina, and her lips curled into a disdainful smirk. "And who are you?" she asked in a voice dripping with condescension.
Carina paused, raising an eyebrow at the tone. Fantastic. It's my first day, and I've already found the annoying one, she thought dryly.
The second girl, shorter and softer in appearance, stayed silent. Her hair, a pale shade of blonde, was pinned neatly at her shoulders. Her icy blue eyes regarded Carina with caution, though there was no immediate hostility in her gaze.
"Carina Malfoy," she said smoothly, turning back to her trunk as though girl question wasn't worth more than a passing glance.
The blonde girl stepped forward first, her voice quiet but firm. "I'm Alexie Carrow. And this," she gestured toward the raven-haired girl, "is Walburga Black."
Carina turned her gaze back to Walburga, studying her for a moment. Sirius' mother. How quaint. No wonder she already seems unbearable.
Walburga's eyes flickered with surprise, though she masked it quickly. "Malfoy?" she repeated, her tone sharper now. "What are you doing here at Hogwarts? Aren't you supposed to be at Beauxbatons?"
Carina settled herself on her bed, crossing her legs elegantly. She smiled sweetly at them, though her voice carried a sharp edge. "I got kicked out."
Walburga's perfectly arched brow shot up. "Kicked out?" she echoed, her tone incredulous. "What on earth could you have done that your father couldn't *pay* the school to let you stay?"
Carina's smile widened, though her eyes remained icy. "No construction fund was needed, darling. My dear father had already donated generously for most of the six years, just so I could stay there. But alas, even money has its limits. Devastating, really, considering I now have the pleasure of being here."
She paused dramatically, tapping her chin as though in thought. "Although," she added with mock sincerity, "I can't imagine why they'd ever want me gone. I mean, top of my year ,exceptional talent, and impeccable style. It's practically a loss for them, don't you think?"
Walburga's lips curled into a sneer. "A Top student?Please. If you were so perfect, they wouldn't have kicked you out, would they?"
Carina tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, but they didn't want to, darling. I was simply too much for them to handle. Perfection can be overwhelming, you know." Her smirk deepened, her tone growing sharper. "Though I suppose you wouldn't understand."
Walburga's cheeks flushed a furious red,"Overwhelming? More like a liability. You must've caused more trouble than you're letting on."
"Well," Carina said, shrugging casually, "there were a few minor incidents.A cursed chandelier, a potion explosion... Maybe a rogue niffler or two. But really, nothing worth expelling me over. It's not my fault they have such fragile rules."
Walburga sputtered, her fists clenching. "And they still let you stay for six years? Your parents must've been desperate to keep you there."
Carina's smile didn't falter. "Desperate? Hardly. They just knew I had potential. But here we are. I suppose now Hogwarts will get the privilege of my presence."
Walburga's jaw tightened, "Clearly, Beauxbatons standards aren't as high as everyone thinks if they let you in for so long."her temper clearly nearing its breaking point. "You're insufferable."
"And yet," Carina replied sweetly, leaning back with a smirk, "you're still here, darling. I must be fascinating."
Walburga stepped forward, her posture rigid. "Let me make something clear, Malfoy," she hissed. "This is my house, and I won't tolerate some spoiled Beauxbatons brat waltzing in here and acting like she owns the place."
Carina tilted her head, her lips curving into an infuriatingly smug smile. "Your house? My apologies, I wasn't aware Hogwarts had a monarchy now. Should I address you as Queen Walburga?"
Alexie, who had been watching the exchange silently, let out a small laugh, which only seemed to fuel Walburga's fury.
Walburga opened her mouth, clearly about to launch into a tirade, but Alexie interrupted. "Walburga," she said in a measured tone, "perhaps you should cool off before you embarrass yourself further."
Walburga shot Alexie a glare before turning back to Carina. "Enjoy your little act while it lasts, Malfoy. You won't last long here."
Carina raised an eyebrow, her smirk never wavering. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about me, Walburga. I'm quite adaptable. The real question is, can you handle me being here?"
Walburga let out an exasperated growl, spinning on her heel and storming out of the room, slamming the door so hard the windows rattled.
As the door slammed behind her, Carina burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking with amusement. "Well, that was entertaining," she said, turning to Alexie.
Alexie smirked, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "You certainly know how to push her buttons."
"It's a gift," Carina replied breezily. "And she makes it far too easy."
Alexie smirked, finally stepping closer to sit on the edge of her bed. "I've always hated her," she admitted with a shrug. "She thinks she's better than everyone because she's a Black."
"Well then," Carina said, grinning slyly. "It seems we already have something in common. Who knew making friends here would be so easy?"
Alexie chuckled, the corners of her mouth lifting in a rare, genuine smile. "This might actually be fun."
"Oh, I guarantee it," Carina said,
The two girls exchanged a look of mutual understanding, their shared disdain for Walburga sparking the beginning of a dangerous and delightful alliance.