Oscar sat stiffly in the chair across from Alonso's desk, arms crossed, one foot tapping restlessly against the floor. He wasn't even sure why he was still here- Carlos had already stepped through the Floo, disappearing into swirling green flames to visit his sisters.

Oscar had considered leaving the moment Carlos was gone, but something kept him rooted in place. Maybe it was the fact that he still had things to say.

Professor Alonso, meanwhile, had returned to grading papers at his desk as if nothing had happened. As if this was just any other evening, and not one where a student, who also happened to be a close family friend, had to go home and tell his family he'd been cursed again.

Oscar clenched his jaw. "You don't even look guilty."

Alonso paused, setting down his quill, but didn't look up. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Oscar snapped. His anger had been simmering all day, but now, with Carlos gone and the room quiet, it began to boil over. "You just let him go, like it's normal. Like he's just telling them he got detention or something. But you blame him for this. You said it was his fault."

Alonso finally met his gaze. His expression was unreadable, but there was a weight behind his eyes- tired, calculating. "I didn't say that lightly."

Oscar's hands curled into fists. "You should've never said it at all."

He exhaled sharply, but it wasn't a sigh of regret- it was more like he was trying to keep himself in check. "You don't quite seem to understand, Mr. Piastri. This isn't just about what happened in that chamber. It's about everything leading up to it. About choices. Recklessness. Ignoring warnings."

Oscar let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, yeah? And what were you doing while all this was happening? Sitting here in your office, hoping he'd listen to warnings you barely gave? You think he's reckless? Then where the hell were you when he needed help?"

Alonso's jaw tightened. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"No," Oscar shot back. "I do. I know that whatever happened in there nearly killed him. I know he's been dealing with this alone. And I know that instead of doing anything useful, you decided to make him feel worse about it." He shook his head, disgusted. "You're supposed to protect him, aren't you? He speaks so highly of you, and for what?"

Alonso's face darkened, and for a second, Oscar thought he'd actually struck a nerve. But instead of anger, his expression hardened into something else- something quieter, heavier. "I am protecting him."

Oscar scoffed. "By making him feel like it's all his fault?"

Alonso stood abruptly, his hands braced against the desk. "By making sure he understands the consequences of what he's done." His voice was sharp, but not raised. Controlled. Dangerous. "You think you're helping by sitting here and lecturing me? You think this is about who feels guilty? If I wanted to make him feel worse, I wouldn't have held back."

Oscar felt something cold slip down his spine.

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing. "You don't know the weight of this curse, Piastri. You don't know what it does. What it takes. Carlos does. And if he doesn't learn to control himself, then sooner or later, the choice of who to blame won't matter- because there won't be a choice at all."

Silence settled over the room, thick and suffocating.

Oscar's fingers dug into his arms. He wanted to keep arguing, to tell Alonso he was wrong, that Carlos would never let that happen. But something about his expression- the way his mask had slipped just a little- left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"You're still an asshole."

Alonso didn't flinch. "Noted. You're staying by his side, then?"

"Yeah. Someone has to."

The emerald flames roared as Carlos stumbled out of the fireplace, brushing soot from his robes. He barely had time to steady himself before he froze- Oscar was still here.

Carlos had expected him to leave. He thought Oscar would be halfway to the dorms by now, or at least out in the corridor pacing off his anger. But instead, he was tense, arms crossed, facing Alonso with the kind of expression that could kill. Alonso, on the other hand, looked as unshaken as ever, though there was something heavier in the air- something thick with tension, like the aftermath of a storm.

Carlos swallowed. "You're still here?"

Oscar turned slightly, looking Carlos over, as if checking for any more damage since he'd left. "Yeah." His voice was tight, clipped. "Figured someone had to hold him accountable while you were gone."

Alonso scoffed from behind his desk. "How noble of you."

Oscar shot him a glare. "Shut the fuck up."

Carlos blinked between them, already exhausted. He hadn't even been back thirty seconds, and it was clear Oscar had spent the entire time fighting with him.

Before he could ask what had been said, the fireplace roared again, and two figures stepped out, causing Carlos to sigh loudly, groaning.

Blanca was the first to emerge, brushing her hair back as she scanned the room with sharp, dark eyes. Ana followed right behind, still fuming from their conversation back home. Neither of them hesitated- they stepped forward in unison, their anger practically radiating off them in waves.

Alonso barely had time to stand before Blanca spoke.

"Hijo de puta," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

"Maldito desgraciado," Ana snapped right after, eyes blazing with fury.

Oscar's eyebrows shot up. He didn't speak Spanish, but he knew an insult when he heard one. He finds the phrase vaguely familiar, no doubt something Carlos had once shouted at him.

Alonso exhaled sharply, closing his eyes for a brief second as if summoning patience. "Nice to see you both, Ana, Blanca. I see we're keeping things civilised."

"Civilised?" Blanca scoffed, stepping forward. "You think we owe you civilised?" She gestured toward Carlos without breaking eye contact. "You let this happen. And then you blamed him."

Carlos winced. "Blanca-"

"No, Carlitos," Blanca cut him off, eyes still locked on Fernando. "I'm not going to stand here and let him pretend he's helping you."

Ana nodded fiercely. "You're a coward. What would Papá do if he found out?"

Alonso's jaw tightened, but he remained silent.

Oscar, still recovering from the sheer force of what had just happened, cleared his throat. "Not going to lie, that was really satisfying to watch."

Carlos let out a tired sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Are you two done?"

Blanca rolled her eyes, but she reached out to squeeze his arm. "We just wanted to make sure he heard us before we left."

Ana crossed her arms. "And we wanted to make sure you're okay."

Carlos hesitated- he wasn't, not really, but their support settled something deep inside him. He gave them a small nod. "I will be."

Blanca studied him for a moment longer before finally stepping back toward the fireplace. "We'll see you soon. And if he makes things worse..." She shot another withering glare at Alonso. "Tell us." Her gaze then paused on Oscar, who she seemingly had on;y just noticed. "Lo siento, señor. Tell Lando we say hola."

Ana didn't even spare Alonso another glance as she followed Blanca back into the flames. Within seconds, they were gone.

Silence fell over the room once more.

Alonso, who had remained unnervingly composed throughout the entire exchange, turned his gaze back to Carlos. "Are you done?"

Carlos tensed, his exhaustion morphing into renewed anger. "No way." Alonso's expression flickered- just for a second. And then, just as quickly, it was gone.

Carlos turned to Oscar. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

Oscar didn't hesitate. Without another word, they left, slamming the door behind them.

As they walked through the dimly lit corridors, Oscar couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Okay," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Your sisters are insane."

Carlos let out a breath of amusement, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, tell me about it."

"No, but like- actual legends. I don't even know what they said, but it sounded brutal." Oscar ran a hand through his hair, still reeling. "I mean, I know they care about you lots, but I didn't think they'd be that-" He gestured vaguely. "—that."

Carlos huffed a small laugh. "They don't hold back."

"No kidding." Oscar shook his head, still grinning slightly. "I kind of respect it. Especially Blanca. She looked like she was ready to murder Alonso and just live with the consequences."

"She would've," Carlos muttered. "She's always been like that."

Oscar glanced at him. "And Ana?"

Carlos hesitated for a moment before answering. "She's... quieter. But when she gets angry? You do not want to be on the receiving end." He exhaled. "They've always had my back."

Oscar nodded slowly. He had spent so much time seeing Carlos as just Sainz- his rival, the infuriatingly talented one, the reckless one, the one who never let anyone in. But this was different. This was Carlos Sainz Jr in a way Oscar had never seen him before- someone with a family who fought for him, who stood by him. Someone who had people in his life who would curse out a professor for failing him.

Oscar wasn't sure why, but it made him see Carlos in a new light.

Before he could say anything else, though, they rounded a corner- and walked straight into Lando.

He had clearly been in a rush, but the second they collided, they stumbled back, blinking between Carlos and Oscar with wide eyes.

"Oh," Lando said, recovering quickly. "There you are."

Carlos stiffened immediately, his exhaustion and irritation returning all at once. "Lando."

his gaze flickered between them, narrowing slightly. "What were you two doing?"

Oscar, who had just started to relax, tensed up again. He knew he couldn't say anything- not about the bite, not about Alonso, not about Carlos' sisters showing up to tear into Alonso like a pair of rabid wolves. Lando wasn't allowed to know that Oscar knew anything.

Carlos beat him to it. "Nothing." His voice was flat.

Lando's frown deepened. "Doesn't look like nothing."

Oscar quickly forced a smirk. "Yeah, well, looks can be deceiving."

Carlos shot him a look.

Lando crossed his arms. "Right. So you just so happened to be sneaking around the castle together?"

Carlos exhaled sharply. "I don't need to explain myself to you, Lando."

His eyes flashed. "Since when do you and Oscar do anything together?"

Oscar rolled his eyes. "Relax, it's not like we were planning a murder."

Lando didn't look convinced. His gaze lingered on Carlos, something unreadable flickering in his expression. "Just... don't shut me out," he said finally.

Carlos hesitated, just for a second. But then his jaw tightened. "I'll see you later, Lando. Oh, Blanca and Ana say hola, by the way."

And with that, he turned, motioning for Oscar to follow.

Lando watched them go, a knot of suspicion and confusement twisting in his chest.