Tᴇɴ Yᴇᴀʀs Eᴀʀʟɪᴇʀ

The floor creaked lightly under Dumbledore's weight. Thick smoke lingered in the air due to the smaller fires that were still burning around them. His chest constricted at the destruction around him. Though the house still stood, half of it was gone. He could hear the distant sound of sirens making their way towards the location and he knew he needed to be quick.  

Entering the dining room, his face landed at the two bodies underneath the rubble that belonged to the ceiling. The scene was horrific. He filled his head down as if paying respects before continuing throughout the house. He reached the family room when something caught his eye.  There, huddled in a corner besides the piece of furniture that was once a couch, were two small children.

The twins. Albus thought to himself.

The two children were no older than eight. Both huddled together, whimpering softly. As Albus got closer, the more in fear they seemed. The girl, if anything, seemed more fearful than the boy.

"It's okay. I am not here to hurt you. Can you tell me what happened?" Albus asked the two siblings.

The girl sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes and went to open her mouth, but the boy spoke first.

"I didn't mean for it to happen. I-I got angry and next thing we know, there is a loud explosion and smoke" the boy explained.

"Is that true?" He asked the younger girl.

She looked up to her brother who pursed his lips. Her grey eyes then flickered over to Albus and she nodded her head. Albus had a grim and concerned look on his face but it disappeared quickly in hopes not to worry the two children.

"I see. I want you to understand that this was an accident. You did not know what you were doing" Albus assured them.

"S-so we are not going to jail?" The boy asked afraid.

Albus smiled.

"No. Of course not. But I need you to come with me. I will bring you somewhere safe" he promised, holding out both of his hands.

The twins seemed hesitant. They didn't know this man. Their parents always told them not to trust strangers, yet something told them to trust this man. The boy stared at Albus, as if he were studying him closely. He then looked down and gave his sister a soft nod of his head, motioning that it was okay. The girl placed her small hand in Dumbledore's and he couldn't help but notice her finger tips were stained black. He figured it was from all the ash and soot from the fire that had destroyed the once welcoming home.

Three days later, the twins find themselves being escorted to a large lavish looking house. It was massive in their eyes and intimidating. Carina held onto her twin brothers hand tightly, her teddy tucked under her other arm snuggly. Both of their grey eyes held weariness in them as they approached the double doors that swung open to let them in. The man who was escorting them motioned for them to walk in and the three now stood in a large foyer.

"What is this place, Cori?" She whispered fearfully.

"I think it's our family's home" Cori answered.

She gave him a questioning look. Her head tilted to the side a little.

"Our family is gone"

He gave her a weak smile. During their time with the man that brought them here, the young boy had eavesdropped on conversations he had no business listening to. He learned that their parents had adopted him and his sister when they were a year old and that they were now set to live with their actual blood relatives.

"Not our real ones" he told his sister.

Suddenly, two people descended down the stairs. Both had an air of power and authority that immediately made the little girl take a step back. Cori took his sisters hand in his to calm her. She was still shaken up from the accident and the two people making their way towards them intimidated her.

"I'm scared, Cori"

"Shh, shh, don't be. I will keep you safe, Cari. You and me? We always stick together. Yes?"

"You and me" she agreed as she always did.

"You and me. I won't ever let anyone hurt you, sister. I dare them to try"Cori told her in a hushed voice.  

𝑀𝑎𝑦 2,1998
𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛

They both had their wands drawn, pointing them at one another. Neither made a move. Despite the chaos around them, they just stood there. Harry's hand trembled as he kept his wand pointed at her and even though she had a calculating, determined look in her eyes, Harry knew she didn't want to do this either.

They both looked exhausted. Both covered in bruises and scratches looking disheveled. The weight of the war heavy on their shoulders. Harry was still pale from coming back from the dead, bags under his eyes, he looked about ready to collapse. She on the other hand looked as ethereal as ever, even in her messy appearance. Her hair, cascading over her shoulders in messy waves, her cheeks painted black due to her eyeliner and mascara streaking down from the tears she shed.

She was something to behold at this moment. She looked frightening and yet beautiful at the same time. But Harry knew. He knew how deadly she was and yet he can't bring himself to utter the spell that was at the tip of his tongue.

Her eyes flickered behind him and then around them. Her hand shook as she clutched the wand tightly. Harry gave her a pleading look. One final plead. Suddenly, a look of realization appeared in her eyes and a calm movement that she made was what made Harry understand what she was going to do.

"CARINA, NO!!!!!"

Just a little sneak peek at Cori and Carina's past and future. So many mysteries revolving around the two and so many secrets to uncover!

I'll try to publish Chapter 1 before this week ends! But for now, what are your thoughts on the prologue? I know it's short, but it's going to line up with the plot of this story!

Thank you for reading!

Stay tuned!

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