▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 ▌ 

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 to leave for Hogwarts and most of the Aurors would be coming with them. Junipers mom walked beside of her while Sirius was walking around in his animagus form. She stopped and watched as Sirius walked into an empty room in the train station, Harry following him in with Alastor watching the door. Juniper stood there with her mom who was giving her a kiss and telling her to be safe. When she saw Harry walk out, Anastasia ushered her daughter towards the door and Juniper entered the empty room.

She looked at her father and quickly wrapped her arms around him. "I wish you could be standing out there with me."

"I know." Sirius softly said, hugging her tightly. "You look after yourself, Juniper. Watch your friends backs."

Juniper pulled away and nodded. "I will."

Sirius pressed a long kiss to the top of her head. "I love you, little star. I'll see you for Christmas."

Juniper smiled and nodded. "I love you too. Until Christmas." She walked out of the room, accepting one more kiss from her mother before climbing on the train and finding the compartment where the other three were. "Glad to see you're not expelled."

"It was a relief, I have to admit." Harry said.

"I bet." Juniper smiled.

She turned her head to look at Hermione, sending her a bright smile. Hermione chuckled and shook her head, letting Juniper pull her into her side. She tried to hide her face, knowing blood had rushed to her cheeks. "You seem happy."

"I am, 'Mione." Juniper sighed. "My family is finally a family. It's more than I could have ever hoped for." Hermione fell asleep under Juniper's arm and Juniper had her head laid on top of Hermione's, fast asleep as well.

When they pulled up to Hogwarts, they got off and began walking towards the castle, only to stop when they heard the sound of Draco Malfoy's voice. An annoyed groan immediately left Juniper's lips. The boy walked by them, Crabbe and Goyle following. "I'm surprised the Ministry's still letting you walk around free, Potter. You better enjoy it while you can. I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it."

Harry lunged for him and Ron quickly grabbed him, holding him back. "What'd I tell you? Complete nutter."

"Just stay away from me!"

"Watch yourself Malfoy, I'd hate to send you to the hospital wing on the first night." Juniper called, sending the boy a sarcastic smile before it fell and she glared dangerously at him. He quickly ran away after that.

"It's only Malfoy," Ron said. "What'd you expect?"

The group all walked off the arrival platform onto a path where carriages were being pulled by something they couldn't see. They stood there, watching as one of the last carriages pulled away. Neville came up beside them. "Hey guys."

In unison they all said, "Hey Neville."

Harry turned when a carriage pulled up behind them. "What is it?" Harry asked. They all turned to look at him.

Hermione frowned, joining his side as Ron asked, "What's what?"

"That." Harry nodded. "Pulling the carriage."

"Nothing's pulling the carriage, Harry." Hermione said. "It's pulling itself like always."

Harry walked forwards, looking at something they couldn't see before stopping beside the carriage. Luna Lovegood was already sitting there, the paper in her hands. "You're not going mad." Luna said, causing Harry to turn and look at her as the rest of them joined his side. Luna lowered the paper and softly smiled. "I can see them too. You're just as sane as I am."

They all climbed on the carriage, Neville, Harry, and Hermione on one side, Luna, Juniper, and Ron on the other. "Everyone this Loony Love. . ." Hermione stopped talking, Juniper's eyes widening in surprise while Hermione had a horrified look on her face. "Luna Lovegood." Hermione looked around, completely embarrassed before looking at Luna. "What an interesting necklace."

Luna picked the necklace up. "It's a charm, actually. Keeps away the nargles." She looked off to the distance. "Hungry. I hope there's pudding."

Juniper smiled at everyone else being uncomfortable. "I hope so too, Luna. Now, do enlighten me." Juniper placed her elbow on her knee, using her hand to prop her chin up. "What exactly are nargles?" They started towards the castle and Luna and Juniper kept up a friendly conversation the entire time while the other four were silent. When they got off the train Juniper flashed Luna a kind smile. "I like you, Luna. We should hang out some time."

Luna smiled. "I like you too, Juniper. You can always find me in the library."

Juniper nodded. "Good to know."

They made it into the Great Hall and as soon as Juniper and Hermione sat down, Juniper immediately started picking on Hermione. "I can't believe you called her that to her face, Granger! That was so disrespectful. You know, Luna's so nice and you just called her that out of nowhere. Very disappointed in you."

Hermione's face turned red. "It was an accident! I didn't mean to."

Before Juniper could tease her anymore, Dumbledore's voice echoed over the hall. "Good evening, children. Now we have two changes in staffing this year. We're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave. We also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Dolores Umbridge." The short woman let out a small giggle and Juniper almost gagged at how much pink she's wearing.

"I wonder if her favorite color's pink," Juniper whispered, looking at Hermione.

"I'm sure you'll all join me in whishing the professor good luck." Dumbledore continued. "Now, as usual our caretaker Mr. Filch has asked me―︎" He was cut off by Umbridge clearing her throat. Dumbledore paused, slowly turning to look at her.

Umbridge stood, walking around the table and over to Dumbledore. Juniper turned her head when she heard Harry say, "She was at my hearing. She works for Fudge."

Juniper rolled her eyes. "Perfect. Just what we need."

"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." Umbridge turned to look at the students. "And how lovely to see all your bright happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we're all going to be very good friends."

In unison Fred and George said, "That's likely." Juniper snorted and quickly covered her mouth.

Umbridge continued, "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. Although each Headmaster has brought something new to this historic school progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved. . . perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be prohibited." She smiled and gave a little giggle and Juniper wanted to slam her head on the table.

The woman walked back to her seat and Dumbledore clapped, causing some of the other students to clap as well. Juniper just stared unimpressed before going back to her food. "Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That really was most illuminating."

"Illuminating?" Ron asked. "What a load of waffle."

"What does it mean?" Harry quizzed.

Hermione sighed. "It means the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts."

"Cause why not." Juniper muttered, stabbing a piece of her food with her fork. "I hate the Ministry. I don't like that woman either. She looks like she's going to piss me off." Juniper pointed her fork at Harry. "I blame you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Thanks, June."

Harry and June walked back to the common room together, Hermione and Ron walking behind them. "You know I love you." June smiled, hugging Harry dramatically. Harry shook his head, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. Juniper slapped his arm. "Say it back."

"I love you too, June."

Juniper scoffed. "Well, you could have at least pretended that you meant it."

Harry chuckled and wrapped an arm around her, squeezing her into a side hug. "I love you too, June."

Juniper smiled. "There we go. Was that so hard?"

Harry looked at her. "You know, you make it really difficult to be around you sometimes." Juniper laughed at that.

The two of them made it into the common room, slowing down slightly when Harry began getting looks. The silence was so loud and Juniper had half a mind to yell at them. She separated from Harry and stood there with her arms crossed. He passed Seamus and Dean saying, "Dean, Seamus. Good holiday?"

"Alright." Dean answered. "Better than Seamus', anyway."

Seamus slammed the Daily Prophet down that had Harry on the front page, standing up and walking over to him. "Me mum didn't want me to come back this year."

Harry asked, "Why not?"

"Let me see. Um, because of you." Seamus answered. "The Daily Prophet's been saying a lot of things about you, Harry, and about Dumbledore as well."

"What, and your mum believes them?"

"Well, nobody was there the night Cedric died."

"Well, I guess you should read the Prophet then like your stupid mother. It'll tell you everything you need to know."

Seamus shook his head, getting angry. "Don't you dare talk about my mother like that."

"I'll have a go at anyone that calls me a liar." Harry snapped back.

Ron and Hermione walked in. Hermione joined Juniper's side as Ron walked over to Harry. "What's going on?"

Seamus pointed at Harry. "He's mad is what's going on. Do you believe the rubbish he's come out with about You-Know-Who?"

Juniper took a step forwards as Ron said, "Yeah, I do. Has anyone else got a problem with Harry?"

Juniper added, "Speak now or forever hold your peace." When no one said anything, Harry turned and went up the steps to the boys dorms with Ron following. "Seamus." The boy turned to look at her. "Talk to or about Harry like that again, I'll be obliged to send you to the hospital wing for the rest of the school year." She sent him a false kind smile and turned and walked up to her room with Hermione following.

Hermione sighed as she sat on her bed. "You couldn't go one day without threatening someone?"

Juniper shrugged. "He was the one talking shit, not me. I don't like when people talk bad about the ones I love. I'd do the same for Ron, and for you."

Hermione stuttered. "You-you love me?"

Juniper frowned and looked at her. "Of course I do, 'Mione. You're my best friend."

Hermione nodded, swallowing. "Right. Best friend."

"You alright?" Juniper softly asked.

Hermione forced a smile and nodded her head. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm alright."

Juniper smiled and nodded. "Good."

Hermione forced herself to return to regular conversation. "So, how much trouble are you going to cause with Umbridge?"

Juniper smirked. "So much trouble. Like I said, she looks like she's going to piss me off, and if she does, I can't help the words that'll come flying from my mouth."

Hermione chuckled and rolled her eyes. "You always love keeping the year entertaining, don't you?"

Juniper sent her a wink. "It what I do, baby." Hermione's eyes widened and her face flushed. Juniper didn't notice. She got ready for bed and crawled under the covers. "Goodnight, Hermione."

Hermione crawled under the covers. "Goodnight, Juniper." She turned off the lights.