Reina sat at the back of the art room, her brush gliding across the canvas, attempting to lose herself in the soothing strokes of paint once again. Art was the one place she felt truly in control, where her worries about school, anxiety and fitting in faded, where the biting comments from people like Toby Mulciber couldn’t reach her—at least for a little while.
The colors on her canvas blurred slightly as her mind wandered. She hadn’t eaten anything today, but that was nothing new. (Plus she was sure that with her new status as a potential cheerleader she could use dropping a few pounds.)
Her stomach felt hollow, but the thought of eating twisted her insides more than hunger ever could. She bit her lip, focusing harder on the painting, hoping it would distract her from the gnawing emptiness she couldn’t seem to shake.
Pandora sat beside her, quietly sketching some strange, dreamlike scene in her notebook. Her pale fingers moved delicately over the paper, creating something Reina couldn’t quite make out. Pandora was a steady presence—calming, even. Reina appreciated that.
But the peace of the moment shattered when the classroom door swung open, and Toby Mulciber swaggered in. His cold eyes scanned the room, and as soon as they landed on Reina, a twisted grin spread across his face.
“Well, well, look what we have here,” Toby sneered, making a beeline for her. “The school’s very own little Asian half-breed. Still trying to paint your way into a world where you actually fit?”
Reina froze, her hand gripping the paintbrush so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She kept her eyes on the canvas, trying to ignore him, but her heart pounded in her chest. She could feel Pandora stiffen beside her, but Pandora had never been the confrontational type. Neither was Reina, and that’s what made her an easy target.
“Seriously, Black,” Toby continued, his voice dripping with venom. “You think you belong here? With those eyes? You can barely even see straight with those slits, can you?” He laughed, the sound cruel and cutting. “I’m surprised you’re not off doing math problems or playing the violin or something. Isn’t that what your people are good at?”
Reina’s throat tightened as a surge of shame and anger bubbled up inside her. She blinked rapidly, willing herself not to cry, not to give him the satisfaction.
She had heard comments like this before, but it didn’t matter how many times—it always hurt. It was always a reminder that she didn’t fit in, that no matter how hard she tried, she’d always stand out for the wrong reasons.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the tension, sharp and furious.
“Back off, Mulciber.”
Reina looked up to see Sirius standing by the door, his jaw clenched and eyes blazing with fury. She hadn’t even noticed him enter, but now he was there, his protective presence looming between her and Toby.
Toby scoffed, not the least bit intimidated. “Oh look, the other half-breed comes to the rescue. What’s the matter, Black? You don’t like when people remind you of what you really are?”
Before Sirius could respond, Barty Crouch Jr. appeared from the other side of the room, his expression just as fierce. He crossed the distance between himself and Toby in an instant, standing shoulder to shoulder with Sirius despite their usual differences.
“You need to shut your mouth before I make you,” Barty said, his voice low and dangerous.
Toby raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “What, Crouch? You’re sticking up for her now? I thought you hated people like her too.”
Reina took in a deep breath. Not Barty. No.
Barty’s eyes narrowed, and his grin turned cold. “I hate you more.”
Toby’s smile faltered, but he recovered quickly, stepping back to size up both boys. “You two make quite the team. A freak and a coward.”
Sirius’s fists clenched, his voice low and shaking with barely contained rage. “Say one more thing about her, Mulciber. I dare you.”
Toby’s sneer only deepened. “Alright then, how about this? Your sister’s just another Asian girl trying too hard to be American. You think you can pass for one of us, but no one’s buying it. Especially not her with those eyes. Maybe if she was a bit more obedient and smiled a bit more, she could at least live up to a few stereotypes.”
That was the last straw.
Sirius and Barty lunged at the same time, both of them swinging before Toby could even react. Sirius shoved him hard into the nearest desk, and Barty’s fist connected with Toby’s jaw, sending him stumbling back with a shocked expression. The room erupted into chaos as students gasped, some backing away while others leaned forward to see the fight unfold.
Toby struggled to push Sirius off, but Sirius was relentless, his anger finally boiling over. “You think you’re better than us? You think you can just say whatever you want?” Sirius shouted, his voice hoarse with fury.
Barty landed another punch, this time to Toby’s ribs, and Mulciber let out a grunt of pain, clutching his side. “Guess you’re not as tough as you think, huh?” Barty said, his voice dangerously low.
Before things could escalate further, the teacher rushed over, shouting in a panic. “Stop! Stop this immediately! Sirius Black! Barty Crouch! Detention—both of you!”
Barty backed off, his hands raised in mock surrender, but his smirk never left his face. Sirius hesitated, his chest heaving, but eventually he let Toby go, watching as he slumped to the floor, coughing and holding his side.
“You’re going to regret that, Black,” Toby spat, his voice weak but full of venom.
Sirius just glared down at him, his fists still clenched. “Not as much as you’re going to regret what you said.”
The teacher quickly ushered Toby out of the room, muttering something about seeing the principal, but Reina barely heard any of it. She was too focused on the tightness in her chest, on the tears she’d been holding back for what felt like forever.
She couldn’t stop them anymore. They came all at once, hot and angry, spilling down her cheeks as she sat frozen in her seat, shaking. She hated that she was crying, hated that Toby’s words had gotten to her so deeply. But she couldn’t help it. It was too much—everything was too much.
Sirius turned to her, his expression softening when he saw the tears streaming down her face. He crossed the room quickly, kneeling in front of her. “Reina,” he said quietly, his voice thick with guilt. “I’m so sorry.”
She shook her head, wiping at her tears furiously, trying to compose herself. “It’s not your fault. I just… I hate that he makes me feel like this. Like I don’t belong.”
Sirius reached out, gently placing a hand on her arm. “He’s wrong, Reina. You do belong. And you’re not alone. I’m here.”
Reina let out a shaky breath, her emotions swirling inside her. She had felt so distant from Sirius ever since that night he left, so disconnected from the person she had once been closest to. But now, seeing the way he had defended her, seeing how much he cared—it made her realize just how much she had missed him.
“I… I thought you didn’t care anymore,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Sirius’s eyes widened, and he shook his head fiercely. “I’ve always cared, Reina. I just… I didn’t know how to show it. I didn’t know how to be there for you when I was falling apart myself. But I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, Reina let herself believe him. She nodded, her tears slowing as she looked up at him. “Thank you.”
Sirius pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as she let out the last of her tears. She buried her face in his shoulder, letting the weight of everything fall away, at least for a moment. He held her as if he could shield her from the world, from people like Toby, from the pain of not fitting in.
And maybe, just maybe, they could start to heal the wounds that had formed between them.
