➪ AUTHOR'S NOTE ➪

Physical violence ahead! You don't have to read if you don't want to. The ★ symbol will be at the start and end of the section if you wish to skip.

➪ MATISSE ➪

"GOOD MORNING, PRINCESS."

Sirius swung his arm over Loki's shoulder. He leant down to peer at her face.

"How was your date with Remus?" He grinned, his teasing tone made the girl turn her face away. "He looked like a crushing schoolgirl when he came back yesterday."

"It's because he asked me out," Loki mumbled, her face heating.

"Hmm? What was that?" Sirius cocked his head.

"He asked me out," Loki repeated, her voice slightly louder.

Sirius's eyebrows lifted, and his eyes widened in shock. Loki raised her head, turning to him. She nibbled her bottom lip, her eyes trained on his before she spoke once more.

"And I said yes."

"Holy shit," Sirius blinked. He let out a breath of laughter, a half-grin forming on his lips. "Well. I—uh, congrats to you two then, Princess."

Sirius put his hand on the girls head and ruffled her hair. She scrunched up her face in annoyance.

"I've got to get to Runes, you know," Loki told the boy. She desperately wished to change the subject. "I'm sure you've got somewhere you need to be."

"Muggle Studies," Sirius shrugged. "I'm sure the teacher won't notice if I'm late." Loki shot the boy a look. "Alright, goody-two-shoes, I'll go." He messed up her hair once more, spinning on his heel. "I'll see you later, all right?"

"Goodbye, Sirius," Loki called, laughing.

She listened as the boy retreated down the corridor. She turned the corner, a smile on her face, and not noticing the group ahead of her.

"Loki! Fancy seeing you here!" The girl recognised the voice immediately and gritted her teeth. "Aw, don't look like that. I was saying hello. It's going to happen a lot in the future, remember?"

"Shut up," Loki looked up at Marcel, staring him down. "I am not going to marry you."

"Loki," Thor barked, frightening the girl. "Don't." The taunting laughs of Marcel and Thor's two followers annoyed the girl even further.

"I don't know why you think I'm just going to allow this to happen," his sister glared. "Why. Why would you think I would allow myself to be bound to such intolerable, disgusting scum like Marcel? Huh?"

There were a few students — most likely first or second years — who rounded the corner, facing the argument. Their eyes widened, and they hastily scurried away. Loki couldn't hold back her anger. And Marcel couldn't either.

★

"What the hell did you call me?" He seethed.

His hands clenched into a tight fist. Marcel refused to be talked to like that, and certainly not from a girl. He ground his teeth together

Loki hesitated, already knowing the dangers. She breathed heavily, her heart flipping.

"Marcel," Thor spoke quietly, half-stepping forward. "Loki," his eyes flicked to his sister, who looked just as frightened as he felt.

"You don't even realise my brother's been lying to you," Loki let out a weak laugh before she could stop herself.

Marcel stared. Thor's eyes widened.

"Loki—"

"He's been lying to you this entire time. I'm not even pureblooded. I'm one of the half-bloods you call filthy."

It only took a second for Marcel to have Loki pinned against the wall. Thor's cries were lost in his throat as he watched his friend trap the girl.

"You're lying," Marcel growled. When Loki didn't respond, he moved his hand from her collar to her throat, shoving her closer. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not," she managed to squeak.

She could see Marcel quiver in anger. He raised his hand. Loki flinched, preparing herself. However, she felt Marcel get ripped away instead. Her eyes widened, her hand coming to her throat immediately, and she gasped for air. She could only stare as Thor hauled Marcel back, punching him square in the jaw.

Loki's breath became uneven as she watched the two Ravenclaws become more physically violent. Her heart thumped rapidly, her limbs tingling as her anxiety increased.

"Stop!" She sobbed weakly. Her eyes flicked to the other boys, pleading with her eyes. "Help them! Stop them!"

The boys didn't act. They stared in shock. Loki turned back. Her legs moved on their own as she pushed herself between them. Her first move was to get Marcel away, knowing Thor would have more self-control. She hoped, at least.

Marcel and Thor shouted at each other, cusses and foul names falling from their mouths. Loki knew she couldn't hold Marcel back. Marcel knew it too, and promptly grabbed her arms, too tight for her to handle and she let out a cry. He shoved the girl off him, onto the floor.

Loki was ready to cry. The boys were too strong for her alone. It didn't help that they were burning with anger, as well. She sat up, scooting herself away before hurriedly getting up. If she couldn't stop them, she had to get a teacher. She wasn't in a good state to be using a spell on them. Her face stung from where it hit the floor, and her vision was blurring from tears.

★

Loki stumbled down the corridor, tears blinding her vision. She rounded the corner, bumping into someone.

"Loki?" The girl looked up. Despite her blurry vision, she could recognise the familiar flaming red locks of Lily Evans. "Loki, what's the matter?"

She went to speak, but could only manage to get out a sob. She rapidly pointed behind her.

"Marlene," there was a sound of retreating footsteps, then them coming back. "What is it."

"I'm pretty sure it's Loki's brother and his friend. They're fighting. I'm going to get a teacher."

"Alright." Loki felt a hand on her shoulder, and she couldn't stop herself from flinching. "Loki, it's okay. I'm going to take you to out Common Room, alright?"

Loki weakly nodded. Lily wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulders. Loki heard Marlene run off. Her hand found Lily's robes and gripped them tightly in her fist. Her body shuddered, still hearing the boys yelling.

Loki and Lily hadn't walked more than fifteen metres before Sirius appeared, looking distressed.

"I saw Marlene sprint past, what's goi..." His words die in his throat as his eyes rested on Loki. "Princess." He began to panic as he noticed her tears. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Her brother and his friend are fighting. It's gotten physical. I don't know if Loki got hurt," Lily explained.

Sirius immediately began to examine the girl. He gently lifted her face, noticing the angry red on one side. His eyes flicked to her neck, catching the mark. He stopped, staring.

"Lily," his tone was scarily calm. "You've got Loki, right?"

Loki finally managed to look at him. His dark eyes seemed to cloud over. She didn't like the way it looked. Her hand moved from Lily's robes to Sirius, shaking her head at him. Sirius's eyes connected with Loki's, and his face softened.

"I was going to take her to our Common Room," Lily replied.

Sirius frowned. "But Moony," he spoke simply. "It is in a few days."

"Shit," Lily muttered the word. "I'll take her to her Common Room." Sirius nodded. "Use petrificus totalus on the boys."

"I'll be back soon," Sirius smiled softly at Loki. He began to walk, but Loki's hand on his robes tugged him back. "What is it, Princess?"

"Get Nicolas. Please." She croaked.

Sirius nodded. Loki let him go, turning back. Lily quickly began to take the shaking girl to her dorm.

"You're lucky you've got Sirius," Lily smiled. She hoped to provide some comfort despite their situation. "He's great."

Loki smiled to herself. "I know," she whispered.

➪ AUTHOR'S NOTE ➪

um, take a cookie. i'm sorry. next chapter won't be happy, either. :(

I luv you. Drink water. Have snack.

until next time :)