The scenery outside slowly shifted as the Hogwarts Express made its way towards King's Cross station. Carina gazed out the window, while her mind was focused upon the events of that night. The night from where Carina's life changed.

He was a short man, his thin colorless hair was unkempt and there was a large bald patch on top. His skin looked grubby like Scabber's fur, and something of the rat lingered around his pointed nose and his small watery eyes.

After Snape had been knocked out, and an argument had ensued over Scabbers true identity, the rat had been forced to morph into a man and he pleaded for his innocence, pinning the blame on Sirius Black.

"Believe me," croaked Black. "Believe me, Harry. I never betrayed James and Lily. I would have died before betraying them."

Harry nodded.

"No!"

Pettigrew had fallen to his knees as though Harry's nod had been his own death sentence. He shuffled forwards on his knees, groveling, his hands clasped in front of him as though praying.

"Sirius - it's me... it's Peter... your friend... you wouldn't-"

Black kicked out and Peter recoiled.

"There's enough filth on my robes without you touching them," said Black.

"Remus!" Pettigrew squeaked, turning to Lupin instead, writhing imploringly in front of him. "You don't believe this - wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?"

"Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter." said Lupin. "I assume that's why you didn't tell me, Sirius?"

"Forgive me, Remus."

"Not at all, Padfoot, old friend," said Lupin, who was now rolling up his sleeves. "And will you, in turn, forgive me for believing you were the spy?"

"Of course," said Black, and the ghost of a grin flitted across his gaunt face. He, too, began rolling up his sleeves. "Shall we kill him together?"

"Yes, I think so." said Lupin grimly.

"You wouldn't... you won't..." gasped Pettigrew. And he scrambled around to Ron.

"Ron... haven't I been a good friend... a good pet? You won't let them kill me, Ron, will you... you're on my side, aren't you?"

But Ron was staring at Pettigrew with the utmost revulsion.

"I let you sleep in my bed!' said Ron.

"Kind boy... kind master... " Pettigrew crawled towards Ron. "You won't let them do it... I was your rat... I was a good pet..."

"If you made a better rat than a human, it's not much to boast about, Peter," said Black harshly. Ron wrenched his broken leg out of Pettigrew's reach. Pettigrew turned on his knees, staggered forward, and seized the hem of Hermione's robes.

"Sweet girl... clever girl... you - you won't let them... Help me..."

Hermione pulled her robes out of Pettigrew's clutching hands and backed away against the wall, looking horrified.

Pettigrew knelt, trembling uncontrollably, and turned his head slowly toward Carina.

"Carina... you - you have your mother's eyes... Marlene's eyes."

Carina's eyes widened and she couldn't help herself.

"You - you knew my mother?" she asked curiously as tears welled up in her eyes. 

"HOW DARE YOU SAY MARLENE'S NAME?" shouted Black, making both Carina and Pettigrew jump.

"Carina," said Lupin slowly, "Marlene was your mother, and she... died a while back."

"You knew my parents?" Carina questioned with shock. Carina noticed how Lupin glanced at Black, whose eyes were transfixed upon her. Carina gasped as she connected the dots. She turned towards Black.

"A-are you m-my..."

Black's eyes widened before he silently nodded, and Carina went numb with shock, the tears running down her cheeks. Only one thing was repeating itself in her head.

My father is alive.

A bit by bit, Carina's heart swarmed with happiness, knowing she had someone that she could call family.

"I'm sorry," said Black quietly, "I didn't mean to leave you."

Carina merely nodded, not knowing how to express her feelings into words. Meanwhile, Pettigrew had turned towards Harry.

"Harry... Harry... you look just like your father... just like him..."

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO HARRY?" roared Black. "HOW DARE YOU FACE HIM? HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT JAMES AND LILY IN FRONT OF HIM?" 

A hand nudged Carina, bringing her back. Jerking slightly, she turned to her right to find Draco watching her with concern.

"What are you thinking about?"

Carina looked down at the ground.

"I was just recalling the incident from the other night. I still can't believe I have a Dad."

Draco warmly smiled, glad to see his friend happy and also grateful she'd forgiven him for almost having Buckbeak executed. Carina probably forgave him because Buckbeak had mysteriously escaped right before the sentence was supposed to take place.

A comfortable silence befell the two once again. Crabbe and Goyle, had been told by Draco to find their own compartment while Pansy was in another compartment with some other Slytherins, mostly upset by the fact Draco hadn't let her sit with him as well.

The train pulled up into Platform Nine and three-quarters.

"We're here." said Draco as he stood up, while Carina finally peeked up from her book she began reading a while back and closed it, before copying Draco's actions. The two made their way off the train.

Draco pulled Carina into a hug.

"Write to me over the break, OK?" he said.

Carina smiled. "Of course, who else do I have to write to anyways?"

With a final wave, the two grabbed their trunks and separated ways. While Carina was searching the platform for Amelia, she passed Harry and a man with a beefy moustache, catching a few words of their conversation.

"It's a letter from my godfather." said Harry. Carina felt her stomach drop and disappointment find its way onto her face.

How come he never wrote to me? She shook her head rather vigorously. Maybe he was too busy or something. Just because he didn't send me a letter doesn't mean he doesn't love me.

Although Carina convinced herself Sirius had his reasons for not writing to her, the heavy feeling in her chest wouldn't ebb away.

If only she had known this was the start to even more disappointment.

Hey!

Finally Act 1 is complete! I just finished writing this chapter, and this time I didn't restart it, since I had already done that twice and I was more satisfied with how this one turned out, so I decided to keep it. 

The next chapter may be out next week, and until then, take care guys and I hope you liked this one! I'm excited for Act 2! :)

Mini-Padfoot