Carina and Alexie walked side by side down , the echoes of their footsteps bouncing off the stone walls. Dinner was calling, and after the tension with Walburga, both girls were in need of a distraction.
"So," Alexie began, glancing at Carina with curiosity, "are you ever going to tell me the real reason you were kicked out of Beauxbatons?"
Carina tilted her head, her mischievous smile playing at her lips. "Oh, darling, that's such a loaded question."
Alexie rolled her eyes. "Don't be coy."
"Well…" Carina said, her voice light and playful, "let's just say I orchestrated a little competition. Boys being boys, you know. They do love to prove who's the better wizard."
Alexie arched an eyebrow. "A competition? What kind of competition?"
Carina opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by the faint sound of voices coming from the Slytherin common room. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing slightly as she listened. Recognizing one of the voices immediately, she sighed, "That would be my dear brother."
Before Alexie could press further, the sound of voices drifted from the Slytherin common room. Carina stopped mid-step, her attention drawn to the familiar timbre of her brother's voice. They rounded the corner to find Abraxas Malfoy standing among a group of boys, their postures relaxed but commanding. Abraxas was deep in conversation with someone Carina didn't immediately recognize—a tall boy with pale skin, jet-black hair, and dark brown eyes that seemed to absorb the dim light around him. His presence was magnetic, even without speaking.
Abraxas noticed them first, his expression shifting into a rare smile. "Carina," he said, his voice smooth as ever. "Come here."
As they approached, Carina took in the rest of the group. Theodore Nott stood nearest, his angular features sharp and his gaze calculating. Beside him, Reinhardt Lestrange leaned against the fireplace, his dark curls falling artfully over his forehead, his confidence practically radiating from him. Thomas Avery was all boyish charm, his golden hair catching the flicker of the flames, while Elliot Rosier stood slightly apart, his piercing blue eyes studying her with quiet intensity.
The group fell silent, their attention now fixed on the two girls. Alexie shifted uneasily beside Carina, but Carina merely offered a polite, if bored, smile.
Abraxas gestured to the group, his voice smooth with practiced elegance. "Carina, you remember Nott, Lestrange, Avery, and Rosier, don't you?"
Carina tilted her head, pretending to study their faces as though trying to recall. After a moment, she gave a faint smile and shrugged. "Oh, forgive me. I'm terrible with names. You all look vaguely familiar, though."
Reinhardt Lestrange was the first to step forward, his lips curling into a grin. "Reinhardt Lestrange," he said smoothly, his voice low and honeyed. "We met as children, though I doubt you remember. You were... quite enchanting even then."
Carina laughed lightly, tilting her head. "Oh, you do know how to flatter, don't you?
He chuckled, clearly enjoying her playful banter.
Before the conversation could continue, Theodore Nott stepped forward with a wry smile. "Theodore Nott," he said simply. "I'm sure you don't remember me either, though I remember you. Always had a sharp tongue, didn't you?"
Carina smirked. "It's a family trait, I assure you."
One by one, the others introduced themselves, each with their own blend of charm and charisma, and Carina responded to each with playful wit. By the time Elliot Rosier spoke, Alexie was eyeing the group warily, though Carina seemed perfectly at ease.
Finally, Abraxas turned back to Tom, who had been watching the exchange silently, his gaze fixed on Carina with an unreadable expression. "Tom," Abraxas said, gesturing toward her, "this is my twin sister, Carina."
At the name, Carina's attention snapped to the boy. Recognition dawned slowly, her stomach flipping as she realized who stood before her. Tom Riddle. Her mind raced. The future Dark Lord. The terror of the wizarding world.
Carina turned her head to look at the boy her brother addressed, the name settling in her mind with a jolt. Tom Riddle. Her heart skipped a beat as she took him in, trying to mask the flicker of recognition that threatened to betray her thoughts. The boy before her was not just handsome—he was striking, his features sharp and almost otherworldly, his dark eyes glinting with intelligence and quiet authority.
She swallowed her initial shock, forcing herself to appear unbothered. Instead, she allowed a small, playful smile to tug at her lips as his gaze met hers. His eyes were steady, focused, and unrelenting, as if he were attempting to decipher her, piece by piece.
"Well," Carina said after a pause, her voice laced with teasing amusement, "do you like what you see?
The room fell silent, and even Alexie stiffened beside her. Abraxas looked as though he might choke, and the other boys exchanged incredulous glances.
The silence in the room was palpable. Abraxas's eyes widened in alarm, and the other boys looked at her as though she had just slapped the King of Slytherin across the face. Even Alexie, who had been standing tensely beside her, took an audible breath.
Tom, however, didn't flinch. Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile, his expression calm yet undeniably intrigued. "Perhaps," he said smoothly, his voice low and resonant. "It's not every day one meets someone worth noticing."
Carina felt her pulse quicken but refused to let it show. "Well," she said, her smile widening, "I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was meant as one," Tom replied, his voice softening just enough to carry a subtle edge of charm. His eyes flicked over her once more, then returned to meet hers directly. "Though I imagine you hear those often."
"I do," she said lightly, shrugging with feigned indifference. "But coming from you? That's something I'll remember."
The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment, the weight of their exchange settling over everyone. Abraxas looked torn between irritation and disbelief, while the other boys shifted uncomfortably, clearly unused to anyone matching Tom's energy so boldly.
Tom, however, looked entirely at ease. "Good," he said simply, his lips curving into another faint smile. "I'd hate to think my words were forgettable."
Carina laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension in the room. "Oh, don't worry, Tom . Forgetting you seems... impossible."
Tom inclined his head slightly, his gaze never wavering. "Likewise."
For the first time since entering the room, Carina felt a flicker of unease—not because of fear, but because of the undeniable pull of his presence. As much as she hated to admit it, there was something magnetic about him, something she couldn't quite place.
Tom's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned back to Abraxas, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "You didn't mention your sister was so... bold," he said, his tone neutral but laced with intrigue.
Abraxas cleared his throat, still looking flustered. "Yes, well... Carina has always had a way with words."
Carina shot her brother a teasing smile. "Oh, don't sell yourself short, Abraxas. I learned from the best."