September, 1978

Juliet Lupin had one older brother. Despite popular belief of the 'marauders', she had one brother and a group of boys who liked to bother her. She loved her brother, the Lupin children would happily go to the end of the world for each other. Remus and Juliet had been raised in a house of love and hardship; they came from very limited resources, a run down home, yet the two often seemed happy. The two knew they were luckier then some, at least they were alive and at least they had a roof over their heads — even if the house was at risk of falling down and their parents were fairly old, and they were halfblood and one was a wolf. They were rich with love, and that's all that mattered.

Juliet was proud of where she came from, even if she didn't show of her home to her friends, much like Remus. It was never that they were ashamed, they just didn't like the pressure of coming from poor when their friends were much better of then them. The two understood their father had lost his claim to money, all for the sake of love, chasing their mother around York, doing what he could until the muggle woman would love him like he loved her. Lyall distanced himself from magic, turned to the muggle world and embraced its flaws. He left his job, became a chef at a local dinner that their mother used to waitress at. Hope fell for Lyall very slowly, she wasn't ashamed for her poor life and didn't want to bring the man down with her. But, live changed it all and brought them too magical children.

But despite their love for their parents, the two children could never bring themselves to invite their friends. They liked to believe they weren't ashamed but it was awfully difficult when their friends were much better off than them — like James, Sirius and Peter who seemed to believe that they were also Juliet's brothers. She had tried to argue, many moons ago, that no girl needs four brothers, no girl needs four boys causing havoc in their life. Of course, they didn't listen.

James Potter was the first to take Juliet under his wing. One Christmas when coming to collect her brother, a whole year before she had even started, she had run over to her big brother with lots of questions and excitement. And somehow, that day James decided she was the sweetest little thing and told Remus that she was now his sister too. He promised or rather "solemnly swore" that Juliet deserved the world and that he was happy to be a big brother. Juliet figured that James had always wanted a sibling, she couldn't imagine a life with out her brother; Juliet would have been lonely and she imagined that's how James must have felt.

Peter Pettigrew was the next to fall for Juliet's sweetness. Her first day at Hogwarts, Remus had pulled her into his carriage, introduced her to his friends with a grin. Twelve year old Peter shared his snacks with her as James and Sirius told them some rather dramatised story about how they were going to be the kings of Hogwarts. Unlike James, Peter didn't swear her be his sister, but much like James he wanted to protect her curiosity, and couldn't help but enjoy having her near. Peter always shared his snacks with her and checked in on her.

The final one to decide he loved Juliet was Sirius Black. It took nearly three months for the boy to care for the girl as intensely as the other two. Which, was strange, Sirius had always wanted a sister (he even used to get his brother dress up as a girl when they were children) but he couldn't bond with Juliet. But in the early November month, Sirius found the girl curled up in a hospital chair the night after the full moon. She wasn't a sleep, she never could sleep when she knew her brother was in pain all because he had saved her when she was only two. Sirius had snuck out of the room to check on the wolf boy. The boy sat on the floor next to her, his head leaning on the chair as Juliet handed him a bit of her chocolate. That fateful night, had led to Sirius having a place for her in his heart, a genuine care for his best friends sister. Much like James and Peter, he had fallen into her heart, and somehow claimed to be her brother.

During her first year, it became difficult for herself and Remus. The two were covered in scars, especially her brother. People often believed they were abused, which was hard to explain they weren't when they couldn't admit the truth. No one knew, not until late November when Sirius Black, a boy who had some sense of understanding when it came to the moon and stars, had discovered the truth and ran to Peter and James to know what to do.

Juliet's friends, did not get to know the truth. She simply couldn't do that to her brother. On a few occasions Evan Rosier had worried about her, asking if she was abused. And, one cold night when the two had snuck out to the kitchen the boy had a very serious conversation where he had exposed his own life in an attempt to sympathise with Juliet — she truly felt bad having no explanation and opted for 'we were attacked as babies'. Which was true just not the full truth. She couldn't exactly say a man attacked them and changed her brother into a wolf and her brother on occasion when they were little had accidentally attacked her (she managed to distract him with her toy bunny which she was still totally sad about) and in essence damaged a lot of her skin. Evan of course felt ashamed but Juliet sympathised, she had a suspicion most of the "sacred twenty eight" had abusive tendencies, especially the families like his that were more "powerful". Juliet often worried about the slytherin's home lives, a lot of them came from families like Evan's and Sirius' and she couldn't help but wonder if the teachers cared. Did Dumbledore care? She couldn't really work out what the safeguarding policy was in hogwarts.

Regardless of their past and their home situation, Juliet loved her family, even the extended ones who had never stepped foot in her house. Even the brothers she had never asked for who were adamant about taking her to the platform for her last year. Sirius Black walked with his arms draped on her shoulder; rambling about making this her best most memorable year. The boy tried to paint a picture of glory in her mind, but Juliet merely laughed telling him her year would be like every other, except this time she was free to not be pestered by a group of boys with silly nicknames. Whilst Sirius rambled, James continuously questioned the girl, asking if she had everything she needed and telling her to owl him if anything happened. Remus watched the two boys talk to his sister, her finger and thumb gripping the bridge of his nose for just a second.

Lily Evan's had joined the little outing, laughing ever slightly as she walked with Remus and Peter. "She's an adult, James, Sirius. Juliet will be fine."

"Thank you." Juliet spoke, looking at the two boys beside her. But, they both scowled at Lily, telling her that they were allowed to be worried about their sister. As much as she loved them it was ever so slightly embarrassing.

The ginger leaned forward as she walked grabbing James hand and pulled him to walk with her. James grumbled before leaning down to place a kiss on his lovers lips. He threw his arms over Remus' shoulders, a sad sigh leaving his lips. "They grow up so fast." James said, bringing the hand linked with Lily's to his chest.

"You're so dramatic."

A shoulder bumped into hers. A voice muttering something mean as it passed her, something along the lines of blood traitor. Juliet turned her head, seeing her blonde friend look back at her. Evan hated saying this to Juliet, she truly was his best friend. Juliet smiled a little at him — she understood, to some degree. Evan lived a similar life Sirius had and she supposed not everyone could run away and be safe. Evan Rosier, much like Regulus Black, was the final chance for their names to be passed down. Evan's sister Pandora had left for a ravenclaw halfblood, turning her back on blood purity. But unlike the Black brothers, the Rosier siblings still spoke frequently.

Evan wasn't the only one to mutter, Sirius words of wisdom soon turned negative about the boy, warning Juliet to stay away. And Juliet knew he meant good, but she had always hated how quick Sirius was to judge. The boy was always against the judgmental ideals of 'Slytherin folk', yet he judged them with every ounce of hatred his body could muster. He himself was once like Evan, he himself once believed in blood purity. Sirius may have broken free, but he should have understood the other children. But, he was prejudiced to them. Juliet raised her brow at the Black boy, she hated feeling like a child — Sirius wasn't even her brother, but here he was talking to her like she was his to protect, and she loved it as much as she hated it.

"It's ok, Sirius, I won't get hurt, my women's rights movement is going beautifully and I don't think E—Rosier and his friends would really pay any mind to me, they have bigger worries. Like the head girl being muggle born."

Remus looked at his sister, she didn't quite get the tall genes like he had, she wasn't too short just not tall exactly, a little taller than average. He watched her carefully as he pushed the trolly of her stuff. Girls and their bags. "Just remember, if you see anything speak to Dumbledore, he can help you, Juju."

"I don't think he likes me."

"Of course he likes you. If he likes James and Sirius I think he can like almost anyone."

"No, he doesn't like me, Riri, I know it."

Juliet never liked saying goodbye, there was something so finale about the words that caused her heart to shatter. Her brother was the same. Maybe she had learned it from Remus, but the two refused to ever say goodbye, even now as he sent her off too her finale year. Remus placed a kiss to his sisters head, reminding her to write to him every day as Sirius and James leaned against each other pretending to shred a tear, holding their hearts. Peter handed the girl her snacks, reminding her to write if she wants anymore through out the term and Lily reminded her she was free from those 'idiots'.

James had previously told her this was the year she'd find love, but she wasn't allowed to fall in love unless they approved. She didn't really understand, but nodded and went about her day. She knew he meant well, but apart of Juliet believed she was destined for tragedy, just like her name sake. Even if she did find love, Juliet had always doubted the purity of it would be savoured, she doubted it would last. Juliet believed her love would be like those sad songs James liked to sing to when he was drunk as he told them each how much he loved them. Juliet believed her love would rip heart out and crush it.

But regardless of her ideas of tragedy, Juliet loved the excruciating long train ride. She loved being able to relax with out the loudness off her home, the worry of if she'll be able to eat that night and if her part time job was supporting her parents enough. On the train, she got to relax, find her friends and have a laugh. Except this year was somewhat different. Juliet may not have made it to be headgirl, but her two best friends were the student versions of head of prefects. Carrie Langdon and Felix Greene were to be ever so busy on the train ride, and well, Juliet wasn't looking forward to that.

She couldn't pester her brother and his friends, and for most of the ride she would not see her best friends. Of course, there was Evan but they could only meet on passing and secret. The Hogwarts Express was far from secret.

As she stepped through the train, pulling her luggage with her, a shoulder bumped hers and a note pressed into her hand. Evan Rosier kept walking, not turning back as he spoke to another Slytherin. She did her best not to listen in, Evan had to be a good person (even if it was just her hoping he was good, for her own mental sanity) and his family and friends weren't — she couldn't hold that against him. But, meeting in secret sometimes made her feel unworthy, even if it was for both their safety. She almost felt like she was worthless all because she had very different beliefs to the ones he was expected to have.

From what Juliet knew, there was only one person who knew of their friendship, and she was fairly sure that person hated her because of his brother. Regulus Black had found out the two were friends in third year when Juliet had been sat in the library with Evan, helping his clean an infected cut from his home life. Regulus had stormed out pretty dramatically in Juliet's opinion and had not spoken to her since unless it was at the utmost importance to do so; like in fifth year when Regulus had to steal her on the train and help Evan fix a busted lip. Regulus had watched how delicate and soft spoken she was with his best friend, and how much Evan truly admired the friendship they had — he just couldn't understand how; Evan was supposed to hate girls like Juliet, blood traitors. Her brother, his friends had hated people like Evan, yet Juliet truly truly cared for him in the most true and honest way a friend could. Other than Evan, Regulus didn't have that.

Juliet never really understood the pure anger he always had, the need to remind her she was not worth his time and her family were traitors. She didn't understand why he felt that way and Evan didn't. But, she supposed they were two different people with different beliefs and ideas. And with that she knew she had to move on; curiosity about Regulus Black was hardly worth the stress.

So, she walked through the carriage, careful to keep the note secure in her pocket until she found an empty carriage to call home until they got to Hogwarts. Usually her ride would consist of jokes and muggle card games, but that day it consisted of silence and an attempt to read as a few new students asked to share the carriage.

Felix Greene fetched Juliet to join himself and Carrie for a meeting discussing new found duties. Carrie was a clever witch, a muggle born who some people in the school did not appreciate but Juliet was willing to challenge needed behaviour to protect her best friend.

So with a group of seventh, sixth and fifth years Carrie led the meeting discussion partnership working and the importance of it. She had also discussed how they had agreed that working just as houses would not work and would not provide the services that was needed, something she had observed from previous years. 

"... and Felix have discussed who we have partnered with who. I have been kind and matched everyone with someone they should get along with outside of their house, a very hard matter at the moment. I have aimed to keep everyone within their age group just to keep you feeling more comfortable as these are also your class mates, so hopefully you'll have a better bond." Carrie had always been well spoken, it was truly no surprise that she became head girl, she truly did deserve it. She knew better how to lead a meeting than most people. "I will share these partners at the end of the meetings because then you can stay back to talk privately with me if you need. I would also like to inform you all there is a no tolerance rule to any form of abuse and harassment, I expect to see no one being targeted, bullied, or harmed in anyway."

Carrie led the meeting, much to Felix's relief, he always hated speaking, he hated being in charge; which when finding out he was head boy he had owled Dumbledore attempting to drop out of it — it did not go well.

But soon the names were being shared for the partnerships, it was clear Carrie had been very careful in picking people. She was cautious with the muggleborn students being extra careful to not place them within harms reach. Finally Carrie got to the seventh year names.

"Juliet Lupin and Regulus Black."