thick skin and an elastic heart

Chapter 2

The sky darkened ominously overhead as they entered the castle, where it was warmer. Juliana exhaled in relief as the welcoming heat from the fires burning in the hearths wrapped around her. She glanced at Valentina in the soft yellow light. Valentina still had Juliana's Gryffindor scarf wrapped around her neck. The nose and tips of her ears were bright pink from the cold, and the red scarf highlighted her cheekbones and flawless face. Juliana bit her lower lip, sneaking more glances at her in the light.

"Your Spanish is perfect; you're not from here?" Valentina suddenly asked.

They walked together through the hallways, arms linked for body heat, so close they almost bumped shoulders. Valentina's hand covered her face.

"I'm sorry, that sounded bad-"

"No, it's okay," Juliana laughed. "I'm from San Antonio. I transferred here last year," Juliana paused. "And you? I thought everyone at Beauxbatons is French."

"You're from Texas?" Valentina asked. Juliana nodded.

"I'm from Mexico City," Val continued, "Beauxbatons is in France, but anyone from Europe can attend, or by invitation. It's my family's tradition to attend Beauxbatons. My sister and my brother both graduated; I'm the last."

"We're both far from home," Juliana acknowledged. Another thing they had in common.

"Why Hogwarts?" Valentina asked. "Don't Americans attend Ilvermorny?"

Juliana froze, before quickly springing back into action. "A fresh start. My father..." Juliana paused, her brain scrambling to string together a convincing lie. "Well, he's not a good man, and my mom and I wanted to start over, far away from him."

"I'm sorry." Valentina turned her big blue eyes on Juliana. Her face twisted into a sad pout, looking sympathetic and concerned all at once.

The lie sat sour on her tongue. It wasn't a complete lie; she ignored the heavy guilt crawling up her chest. This was an opportunity for them to start over; she reassured herself. She hadn't seen El Chino in over a year, and he was as good as dead to her the moment he chose greed over his family. He was a horrible father and the worse husband.

"It's okay. We're better off without him," Juliana shrugged, wondering if she was trying to convince herself or Valentina. She didn't want Valentina's pity. "I have my mom."

"My mother passed when I was six. My papá is all I have. And my siblings, of course," Valentina added.

Heavy silence fell over them. Valentina's face was downcast, introspective, and it made Juliana's heart twist uncomfortably in her chest. Juliana wanted to break the tension, and put a stop to that sad look on her face. More than anything, she wanted to make her smile again.

"What's it like, having siblings?" Juliana asked.

"Loud," Valentina laughed. Juliana grinned, enjoying the way Val's laughter bounced off the castle's walls. "Eva is the oldest. After our mother died and dad started working so much, she took over and likes to boss us around. I love her, but she's so difficult. My brother Guille is my best friend. I miss him so much. He's the sweetest, but he's a dummy. Some of the things he does...He and papá are the only men I love. Seriously."

Juliana scrunched her nose. "Not even your boyfriend?"

"Lucho?" Valentina's face twisted into a frown. "No. He just pisses me off."

She looked down, her face troubled and a proverbial storm cloud forming over her head.

"All boys piss me off," Juliana said, making sure Valentina didn't feel bad.