▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱 ━︎━︎ 𝐍𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃 back at Hogwarts, the first thing Juniper did was jump into Hermione's arms. Hermione hugged her tightly before pulling back and noticing the burn marks that still decorated her arm, immediately Hermione fussed over her and sent her to the hospital wing to get the burns healed. It didn't take long for the marks to be healed before Hermione dragged her back to their dorm room. Juniper explained everything that took place, from the outburst with Nymphadora, the letter of approval for Harry's adoption, the Weasley home getting burned to a crisp with Juniper being stuck inside. Needless to say, Hermione's mouth was open the entire time in shock.

"You can't even catch a break on Holidays anymore?" Hermione asked with a scoff.

"I guess not." Juniper muttered.

"So, what exactly did you say to Tonks?" Hermione questioned.

Juniper covered her face with her hands. "It was awful, 'Mione." She lowered her hands, shaking her head. "I just snapped. There were so many emotions on Christmas."

"It was the first one without your mom." Hermione softly said. "Of course emotions were going to be high."

"All she was trying to do was tell me that she was a shoulder to lean on if I needed it, and I shut her down so quickly. I didn't even give her a chance to speak." Juniper sighed. "I know she told Remus, and I'm sure he's upset with me." Juniper shook her head, reliving the conversation. "I told her that she wasn't my mom and she never would be. The look of hurt on her face. . ."

"Jay, I'm sure she understood, and I highly doubt Remus is upset with you. Remus probably explained the situation to her." She squeezed Juniper's hand. "Don't worry about it, alright?"

Juniper nodded, softly saying, "Alright."

Hermione sent her a small smile, pushing the hair from Juniper's face. "We should probably get some rest, yeah?" Juniper nodded.

The next day, Juniper, Hermione, and Harry were walking through the halls. Hermione had the Daily Prophet in her head, glancing down at it before looking at Harry. "It's so easy for them to get to you. You're bloody lucky you weren't killed. You have to realize who you are, Harry."

"I know who I am, Hermione, alright?" Harry sighed out. Harry glanced at her before quickly letting out an apology. "Sorry."

Hermione interlaced her fingers with Juniper's. "So tell me what Arthur said."

"'If Dumbledore is traveling, it's news to the Ministry.' But what about this? That night at Borgin and Burkes Draco was looking at a Vanishing Cabinet."

Juniper frowned, furrowing her brows. Hermione asked, "What would Draco want with a Vanishing Cabinet?"

"You tell me."

"He looks different, don't you think?" Hermione asked, looking between the two of him. "Draco. Almost ill."

"Well, who could tell the difference?" Harry replied.

Juniper's frown deepened. "He's looks. . . tired." They looked at her in silent question and Juniper sighed. "Listen, you two know I'm not his biggest fan, but Draco looks like the life is being drained from him." Juniper chewed on her cheek. "What if. . . I mean, what if he's being forced to do this against his will? I mean, think about it. His father is a Death Eater, his mother most likely is too, what if Draco is being given no choice?"

"Everyone has a choice, June." Harry argued.

"Did you choose to be the chosen one, Harry?" Juniper asked. "No, you didn't. And when it comes to your family, you never have a choice. It's his parents, his dad's a piece of shit, but from what I've heard from my dad, Narcissa has always had a mostly kind soul."

Harry paused for a moment, a look of surprise on his face. "You're not really vouching for him."

"I'm not vouching for anyone." Juniper explained. "I'm just saying, Draco is in a position where he doesn't have a choice. He wants to make his parents proud, and if he's taken the mark as you've so bluntly theorized, he probably didn't have a choice. What did you expect him to do? Fight the Dark Lord? No. For all we know, his life, his family, could've been threatened." She looked at Harry, shaking her head. "You forget that he's part of my family, you forget that I know more history about them than you do. I'm telling you, I know what I'm talking about it."

"But―︎"

"Harry," Hermione interrupted him. She gave the shake of her head, a silent signal to not push any further. Hermione herself was surprised, but she didn't have a doubt in her mind that Juniper knew what she was talking about. Juniper was a smart individual, she was able to put pieces together faster than even Hermione herself. Hermione thought back to fourth year, when Juniper had told all of them that Moody was an imposter, and they had all waved it off. Maybe it was the smart choice to listen to her this time.

Their attention was pulled away when they heard Ron talking. "Lav, come on. Of course, I'll wear it." They spotted Ron and Lavender sitting by one of the windows in the corridor, Lavender was placing a necklace around Ron's neck.

Lavender let out a giggle. "That's my Won-Won."

Juniper gagged, covering her mouth with her hand. "I think I'm going to throw up." She turned to Hermione. "Promise me that we will never become that."

Hermione shook her head, a horrified expression on her face. "Never." Juniper let out a breath of relief.

"I can't watch that. It's disgusting." Juniper muttered. "I'll see you later, Harry." Harry nodded and Hermione and Juniper quickly parted.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐃 into Hermione as they sat on the couch in the common room, Harry was sitting beside the couple with his nose in the marauders map. Juniper had her nose in a book and Hermione was reading over her shoulder. Harry had just come back from interrogating Slughorn, explaining to them their conversation about dark kinds of magic and his relation to Tom Riddle.

Hermione looked up at him, gently running her fingers through Juniper's hair. "Did you honestly expect that you could just walk up to Ol' Sluggy and ask him to reveal his deepest, darkest secret?" Harry let out a soft chuckle. "Honestly, Harry, sometimes I think the Daily Prophet should call you the Dim One." Juniper snorted at that.

Harry let out another chuckle. "Nice."

"Well, you're gonna have to persuade him somehow." Hermione continued. "Now you've made it even harder. I'm going to bed." She looked down at Juniper, running a hand over her hair. "Are you joining me?"

"In a little while," Juniper softly said. She leaned her head back, looking up at her. Hermione pressed a quick kiss to her lips before Juniper moved so Hermione could get up.

She headed towards the door, stopping only when Harry called her name. "Hermione? I think Malfoy's leaving the castle. I've seen it sometimes―︎sometimes he just disappears off the map."

"That's not possible." Hermione sighed. "No one can leave the castle these days. The map's wrong."

"The map's never wrong," Harry argued, stopping her from ascending the stairs once more.

Hermione turned to look at Harry, a soft sigh leaving her lips. "Goodnight, Harry." Hermione walked up the stairs and Harry leaned back against the couch.

Harry turned to look at Juniper who was focused back on her book. He looked back down at the map, glancing up when Juniper spoke. "I believe you, Harry." He met her eyes and Juniper gave him a soft smile. "You're right, the map never lies."

Harry nodded. "Sorry for arguing with you earlier. I'm just skeptical about the whole thing."

Juniper glanced to the fire. "I trust you, Harry. All I ask is for you to do the same for me."

Harry's face fell. "I do trust you. I do. I rely heavily on your opinions, and your thoughts, and everything you say." Harry shook his head, running a distressed hand through his hair. "There's just so much going on right now."

Juniper nodded in understanding. "Believe me, Harry. I know." She reached over, grabbing his hand. "I'm on your side, I'm always on your side. That will never change. But I really believe what I said about Draco. Obviously, we don't know if it's true or not, but my gut is telling me it is. My mother taught me to always trust my gut. You just have to trust me on this."

Harry gave her hand a small squeeze. "I trust you."

"Good." Juniper nodded before standing up. "You guys are the only people I have. I can't have you losing your faith in me. We've come too far."

"We have," Harry agreed. "Goodnight, June."

Juniper gave him a soft smile. "Goodnight, Harry."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 told Ron had been taken to the hospital wing by Ginny, Hermione and Juniper quickly hurried down there. She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at Harry, letting him explain what happened. Ron had ate chocolates on Harry's bed that had been gifted by Romilda Vane, naturally they were laced with a love potion. Harry took him to Slughorn, Slughorn gave him a remedy, and he came to only for him to started choking and coughing before Harry had to find a tonic for that. Now, here they were.

Juniper closed her eyes. "Godric. So, what I'm hearing is that I'm going to have to kill Romilda Vane."

"Why is threatening someone always your first go to?" Harry asked, thought there was amusement dancing in his eyes.

"It's Juniper. You should expect nothing less at this point." Hermione spoke up. Hermione was sitting on one side of Ron while Ginny was sat on the other side.

Harry sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

"It was meant for you, I have viable reason." Juniper shrugged. They turned their heads when footsteps approached. McGonagall, Dumbledore, Snape, and Slughorn all quickly joined them.

"Quick thinking on your part, Harry, using a bezoar." Dumbledore complimented, nodding towards Harry. "You must be very proud of your student, Horace."

"Hm?" Horace turned to look at him. "Oh, yes, very proud."

"I think we agree, Potter's actions were heroic." McGonagall noted. "The question is why were they necessary?"

"Why, indeed?" Dumbledore said, turning to Slughorn. "This appears to be a gift, Horace. You don't remember who gave you this bottle? Which, by the way, possesses remarkably subtle hints of licorice and cherry. . . when not polluted with a poison." He handed the bottle to Snape.

"Uh, actually I had intended to give it as a gift myself."

"To who, might I ask?"

Slughorn hesitated. "To you, Headmaster."

"Where is he?" Lavender's voice cut through the conversation as she ran into the room. "Where's my Won-Won?" She pushed her way through the Professors. "Has he been asking for me?"

"No, thank Merlin." Juniper bluntly answered.

Lavender's gaze landed on her, and then on Hermione. "What are they doing here?"

Hermione shot up from her seat. "I might ask you the same question."

"I happen to be his girlfriend." Lavender answered, taking a step forwards.

Instantly, Juniper grew defensive. "Well, it so happens, Lavender, we're his friends." She took a step closer to the girl.

"Don't make me laugh," Lavender scoffed. "You haven't spoken in weeks. I suppose you want to make up with him now that he's suddenly all interesting."

"He's been poisoned you daft dimbo!" Hermione snapped.

It was a known fact that when Hermione was upset, it started a chain reaction. Instantly, Juniper would get angry and defend her, when Juniper got angry Harry was the one that backed her up, and when Harry back Juniper up Ron quickly joined in. Juniper ran a finger over her brow, a low chuckle leaving her lips. It was a dangerous laugh. Harry knew it, Hermione knew it, even Ginny and the Professors knew it. Harry, who was standing closest to Juniper, prepared himself to grab her if she tried to attack.

"Watch your tongue, Lavender. I do not like you, I will have no problem hexing you in front of all of my teachers." Juniper told her. "Do not test me. I'm unstable right now, and I promise you I will go off."

Lavender narrowed his eyes, opening her mouth, but Harry interrupted her. "I promise, you don't want to say what you were about to say. She holds true to her threats."

Ron shifted and their eyes moved towards him. "Ah, see. He senses my presence." Lavender moved past Juniper and Juniper almost turned and grabbed her but Harry stopped her. "Don't worry, Won-Won, I'm here." Ron mumbled something under his breath, but all Lavender knew was that it wasn't her name and she quickly turned and ran from the room sobbing. Juniper snickered.

"Oh, to be young and to feel love's keen sting." Dumbledore commented.

"Hopefully she'll stay away now. I can't stand her." Juniper muttered. She then turned to look at McGonagall. "I understand if you have to take away points for threatening a student."

McGonagall looked at her. "I don't know what you're talking about." Juniper smiled to herself before turning back to Ron.

"Well, come away, everybody." Dumbledore said. "Mr. Weasley is well-tended."

Ginny stood and walked over to Harry as Dumbledore and the other Professors left―︎ minus Slughorn. Juniper took her seat. Ginny said something to Harry before walking away. "All I must say, is good riddance."

Harry and Hermione both softly chuckled. "Indeed," Harry agreed. "I have to go. Tell me when he wakes." Hermione nodded and Harry left.

Juniper sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Maybe we'll finally have our friend back."

Hermione glanced at her and nodded. "Yeah, hopefully."