"Draco, Narcissa, go upstairs," Lucius ordered as the family entered the Manor.

"But Father, I want to eat lunch!" Draco whined.

"GO UPSTAIRS, NOW!" Lucius roared at his son. With a sneer, Draco scurried up the stairs.

"Lucius, is this really necessary? She tried to help him!" Narcissa pleaded with beady eyes.

"Yes Narcissa, she didn't listen to us, now go upstairs!" Lucius growled. With a pitiful gaze in Carina's direction, Narcissa walked upstairs. Carina knew what was to happen next. Lucius gripped Carina's wrist and dragged her into the parlor with his nails digging into her skin. He slammed the door with such force that a painting fell from the wall, but he didn't seem to care as he whipped out his wand and pointed it directly at Carina's throat.

"I do believe my orders were clear," Lucius stated as his tone turned threateningly low,
"and I do believe that Harry Potter was not kept out of trouble. Is this true?"

"Yes, Father," Carina mumbled, unable to meet his cold, grey eyes.

"So why wasn't he stopped, girl? Were you too busy with that boy of yours?" he hissed, his face only inches from hers. Carina flinched at the mention of Oliver, but she remained silent regardless, knowing that he would only worsen the punishment if she protested. 

"Oh yes, don't think I don't know about him," Lucius spat. She could tell that the man was straining to remain calm, but that calmness was fading rapidly.

"Father, I tried to protect Harry!" Carina remarked.

"WELL CLEARLY NOT HARD ENOUGH!" Lucius roared, causing his daughter to flinch,

"I HAVE FED YOU, RAISED YOU, CARED FOR YOU, EVERYTHING! AND THIS IS HOW I'M REPAID? YOU FOUL LITTLE PIECE OF SCUM, YOU MUST LISTEN TO ME WHEN I GIVE YOU ORDERS! CRUCIO!" Lucius thundered. A pain similar to a thousand, white-hot knives piercing her skin shot through the girl's body. Please don't scream, Carina thought, but a scream escaped her lips regardless. She writhed on the cold, stone floor in pain, and watched as her father stood above her. After a few seconds, the pain faded, leaving Carina exhausted and weak. At least it was short, she thought.

"I'm sorry, but that had to be done. Will you listen to me in the future?" Lucius asked after a few moments of silence. Carina couldn't help but notice that her father genuinely sounded sorry.

"Yes, Father," Carina replied from the floor.

"Very well then, you may leave," Lucius stated. Carina struggled to stand, but practically flew out of the room once she had. She bounded up the stairs towards her own room, but ran into Draco in the process.

"What's the matter, Carina? Didn't listen to Father?" Draco scoffed. Narcissa appeared in a neighboring doorway, with a line of tears streaming down her face.

"Don't you dare say anything, Draco!" Narcissa shrieked, before gently reaching for Carina's hand and guiding her towards a spare bedroom. With a creak, the door shut, and Carina was alone with her mother. The girl immediately collapsed onto the bed and burst into tears.

"I tried, Mother. I tried, I swear I tried to protect Harry!" Carina sobbed with her head buried in the pillow. The girl had already soaked the pillowcase, and was practically choking on her own tears before Narcissa could reply.

"I know, Carina. I know. Shhhhh.... It's okay," Narcissa whispered, but no amount of comforting could make Carina feel any better.

"Mother, why does he hate me? I try so hard to please him, and then he does this! I can't do anything right for him! What am I even supposed to do? I just want my family to love me," Carina wailed. Feelings of guilt, rage, and anguish coursed through her body, but all she could do in that moment was cry.

"Carina, we do love you. Our family is much different from others, and as a result we have certain standards to meet. Father is only trying to better you. Punishment is all he has ever known in the world of parenting, and it is likely all he will ever know. I understand that your friends may have different lifestyles from us, but you must also understand that we are Purebloods, and therefore must act like them," Narcissa explained. Carina disagreed with her mother in every aspect, but didn't have the energy to express any form of dissent. The girl simply nodded in response.

"Now, I recommend that you rest. We have company coming tomorrow," Narcissa stated. She stood up from the bed, and walked to the door, before pausing, "Carina, I love you, Draco loves you, and even your father loves you. Don't ever forget that," Narcissa affirmed, before closing the door. Within seconds, Carina let exhaustion carry away her concerns.

-

"Make sure you're wearing matching, formal attire!" Lucius shouted to his children from the first floor.

"Have any idea who's coming?" Carina asked Draco, who's bedroom was across the hall from her own.

"I heard that Father's having another business meeting," Draco replied.

"Weird that there's been so many meetings recently, is it not?"

"I was thinking the same thing... Say, why did Father punish you yesterday? I hadn't realized he gave you any serious orders," Draco inquired.

"He wanted me to keep Harry Potter out of trouble last school year, and was upset to find out that I hadn't done so properly."

"It seems like Father's rather interested in famous Harry Potter to me... in fact, I wonder if this meeting relates to him," Draco trailed off.

"Who knows... Do you have anything which matches this dress?" Carina asked as she held up a long, dark green dress.

"Yes, actually I think these robes were made to match it," Draco commented as he pulled out a matching set.

"Great," Carina answered before shutting her door and pulling the dress over herself. She pulled her sleek, platinum blonde hair into a half-up hairstyle, then clipped her necklace containing the Malfoy family crest around her neck. With one last look at her pointed features, Carina walked downstairs, where her father and Draco were waiting.

"Perfect. Now, I want you both to stand at the front door and greet those who are coming in. Be sure to lead them to the meeting room!" Lucius ordered.

"Yes, Father," the two children replied in unison, then stood and waited for guests to arrive. After just ten minutes, various witches and wizards dressed in black arrived at the front door. The pair of siblings did as they were told, guiding them to the meeting room, then returning to the door.

"I reckon that's all of them," Draco whispered as they heard the chattering die down in the meeting room.

"I hope so," Carina sighed tiredly while plopping into a nearby armchair.

"We should listen in," Draco suggested suddenly wirh a smirk.

"You can, I'm not getting punished again," Carina whispered harshly.

"Oh, come on, don't you want to know what they're discussing?!"

"Of course I do, but I'd rather have Father like me than hear their conversation."

"Fine, I'll do it."

"Tell me what happens!" Carina whispered, then watched as Draco disappeared around the corner. Good luck, Carina thought as she watched him go. Within seconds, another knock sounded at the door. Carina opened it hesitantly, and the face of Amycus Carrow greeted her.

"Hello, Mr. Carrow," Carina greeted kindly.

"Miss Malfoy, it's delightful to see you again. Last time I saw you, you were probably four-years-old," Amycus stated, stalking into the foyer.

"It's excellent to see you again too, sir. Please, follow me," Carina ordered, striding towards the meeting room. Carina attempted to clack her heels as hard as she could against the ground to warn Draco of her coming guest, but the boy didn't seem to take the hint. With a sigh, Carina quickly came up with a plan in her head.

"Draco here was just leading another guest to the meeting," Carina stated plainly as she strolled up the stairs and motioned for Amycus to find a seat in the room. With a glance in, Carina noticed that the table had been shrunken to fit approximately five people, and that all five of those seats were gathered around a simple, black book.

"Thank you, Miss Malfoy," Amycus said, before filling the last seat.

"That was close," Carina whispered to Draco as the two strolled down the stairs together.

"I know, nice comeback!" Draco commented when they went back to the door.

"So tell me what they were talking about! Carina exclaimed quietly.

"Well, you saw the book... they all seemed to be rather interested in it, and were discussing something called the Chamber of Secrets. I'm not quite sure what that is, but they kept saying Dumbledore this, and Dumbledore that, so I can only imagine that it had to do with Hogwarts," Draco explained.

"Wow... we'll have to research this Chamber of Secrets, then," Carina suggested.

"I agree."

"Have you noticed how few of them there are now? I'm not sure if you remember, but when we were just children, they would hold meetings with thirty people, maybe even more."

"I vaguely remember those, but it is rather strange that all of a sudden they're holding meetings like this again."

"I wonder if it has anything to do with the Dark Lord? I mean think about it, all of a sudden Harry Potter goes back to Hogwarts and all this chaos erupts! And why else would it be taking place at Hogwarts if Harry Potter wasn't involved?"

"I suppose it could be... I mean, if you haven't figured it out yet, it's rather obvious that Father was an active Death Eater in the Wizarding War... I always thought he was trying to move past this, but I suppose I could be wrong... maybe the Dark Lord is returning?" Draco questioned unsurely.

"I did figure it out, this school year actually. I also wanted to tell you that, although I didn't go into the room with Harry, I heard rumors that Harry was facing the Dark Lord in competition for the Sorcerer's Stone... I'm not sure in what form, or how that's even possible, but if you look at it from that perspective, it all makes sense," Carina trailed off.

"That's so strange," Draco muttered, "how all of a sudden, after this many years, he is deciding to come back now. Do you really think that he is?"

"I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but that's my guess. You never know what actually happens in the meeting room though, unless you're there."

"I guess we'll just have to pay closer attention."

"I suppose you're correct," Carina replied.

-

A few days after the meeting, Carina decided to conduct some research of her own. She searched through the extensive library of Malfoy Manor, attempting to find some explanation for what the Chamber of Secrets was. She combed through the book shelves for hours, and much to Carina's annoyance, only found one sentence pertaining to the matter. In Hogwarts: A History, it merely stated that the Chamber of Secrets supposedly existed in Hogwarts.

"That's it?" Carina muttered to herself as she put the book away.

"May I ask what you're looking for?" Lucius asked while strolling into the library.

"Yes Father, I heard your meeting mention the Chamber of Secrets... could you please tell me about it?" Carina asked politely.

"I see.... I'll see what your mother says about that," Lucius replied, then searched the library on his own accord. With a sigh, Carina trudged to the kitchen.

"Hello, Dobby."

"Mistress, what can Dobby make for you today?" The elf asked eagerly.

"Any kind of sandwich works."

"Okay, it will be right out, Mistress!" Dobby chirped, but Carina stayed put in the doorway.

"May I help you with something else, Mistress?"

"Yes, Dobby. Do you happen to know anything about the Chamber of Secrets?"

"The Chamber of Secrets?" Dobby gasped.

"Yes, that. Do you know anything about it?"

"Yes, Dobby knows about that. It's supposedly a chamber which only the Heir of Slytherin can open, and it is said to release a dangerous beast into the school. Very dangerous, indeed. Why does Mistress ask this? Has the Chamber been opened?"

"Well, Dobby, that's what I'm trying to figure out. So you're telling me that if this chamber is opened, it's dangerous?"

"Yes, very dangerous, Mistress."

"Interesting... thanks, Dobby!" Carina said as she grabbed her sandwich and brought it to the dining room.

"Mistress?" Dobby questioned, peeking his head around the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room.

"Yes, Dobby?"

"Dobby would like to know more about the Chamber of Secrets, if you hear anything."

"I can say the same to you," Carina replied while biting into her sandwich.

"What's that?" Draco asked, stalking into the dining room and pointing to Carina's lunch.

"Not yours," Carina replied slyly.

"Dobby! I'd like one of those sandwiches," Draco ordered, then took a seat across from his sister.

"Of course, Master," Dobby replied as he scurried into the kitchen.

"Any word on the Chamber of Secrets?" Draco whispered.

"Not much, although I asked Father and he told me he'd consider telling me more about it."

"And he isn't going to tell me?" Draco sneered.

"Perks of being the favorite child," Carina joked as she flipped her hair back.

"You wish."

"At least I have a Nimbus Two Thousand!"

"Father's going to buy me a Nimbus Two Thousand and One for my birthday this year."

"He is? That's not fair, you aren't even on the Slytherin Team!" Carina shrieked.

"Oh, but I will be when he buys them for the whole team," Draco bragged with a devilish smirk.

"You little bastard," Carina muttered under her breath.

"Get prepared to be crushed in Quidditch, sister."

"Slytherin may have money, but at least Gryffindor has talent," Carina sneered.

"Excuse me, but I don't see the Slytherin players missing matches!" Draco shouted.

"Now, what's going on here?" Lucius interjected. Both children immediately stopped talking and turned to face their father.

"Father, we were just discussing Quidditch," Carina said with a gaudy smile.

"Quidditch, hm? Why such harsh tones?"

"I was just telling Carina about your plan to buy Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones for the entire Slytherin Quidditch Team," Draco stated cockily.

"Now, Draco, with that tone, I might purchase them for Gryffindor's team," Lucius stated.

"Father, Draco doesn't even play Quidditch on the Slytherin team! Why would he get a Numbus Two Thousand and One?" Carina questioned.

"Now, Carina, we haven't finished discussing the matter, but don't think that you won't get one as well," Lucius stated.

"And the rest of the Gryffindor team?"

"You should know by now that I support you, and the Slytherin team, but certainly not the Gryffindor team."

"Very well, as long as I get one I suppose it's fine," Carina huffed. Wait until Oliver hears about this, she thought.

"Good, now Carina, I would like to inform you that your mother and I cannot tell you about the Chamber of Secrets just yet," Lucius stated.

"But Father, you said that if I had any quest-"

"No buts. No means no, Carina," Lucius ordered, before stalking out of the dining room.

"Looks like we're on our own," Draco muttered.