▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 at the table at the great hall. She sat beside Hermione, Ron sitting across from her with Ginny sitting beside Ron and in front of Hermione. Hermione was worried about Harry, she had expressed as much that morning when they awoke. Juniper grabbed her goblet, taking a sip of her drink as she reached under the table and grabbed Hermione's hand, interlacing their fingers. After last night, Juniper wasn't quite sure what they were. They weren't dating, but they certainly weren't just friends, not after that kiss.

Hermione looked at Ron who was reading a paper with one hand and using the other to stuff his face with food. Hermione frowned, "Do you ever stop eating?"

Ron paused. "What? I'm hungry."

Hermione just shook her head, stopping her further complaints when she turned her head and saw Harry. "Harry."

Harry stood there, nodding towards the empty spot beside Juniper. "Can I join you?"

Juniper smiled widely at him. "Harry, you never have to ask."

Before he could sit down, Umbridge's voice echoed from outside the Great Hall. "Pardon me, Professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?"

Juniper quickly stood. "I have to see this." She ran from the hall and her friends followed after her along with other students. As they made it out of the Hall, they saw McGonagall and Umbridge standing on the steps, and McGonagall did not look happy.

"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students you conform to the prescribed disciplinary principles." McGonagall replied, turning to look at the woman. Umbridge turned to face her as well.

"So silly of me, but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom," Umbridge went up a step so she was standing above McGonagall, "Minerva."

"Not at all, Dolores," McGonagall took a step up as well, "merely your medieval methods."

Umbridge scoffed. "I am sorry, dear. But to question my practices is to question the Ministry and by extension, the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."

McGonagall went back down a step, almost in disbelief. "Disloyalty?"

Umbridge took another step up, looking at the students. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."

For the next few days, multiple new rules were mounted into the walls, and with each class Juniper had, Umbridge always found herself in them, examining the teachers, asking questions and writing down something on a clipboard. Juniper was about sick and tired of seeing that woman's face, and rest assured the torture for her detentions had not stop. So many marks had covered her body, and where the original words had started fading, new words would form. Hermione had done everything in her power to stop Juniper from going, but when she had convinced Juniper not to go to one detention, she had been given two more in replacement.

The woman walked around like she owned the place, and Harry and Hermione had to hold Juniper back more times than they wanted to admit. They both knew she didn't need more detentions, and when Hermione wasn't there to hold her back, Ron would take her place. Now, here she was, standing in the courtyard, standing beside Hermione and Ron and watching with a deep frown as Professor Trelawney stood in the middle of the court yard, her bags behind her as she cried.

Umbridge was standing in front of her, having decided to fire the woman and dismiss her from the grounds. Juniper turned her head when Harry had joined them, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion before looking back at the scene. Trelawney walked forwards, having to catch her balance when she almost tripped over her luggage. She stalked forwards towards Umbridge, tears rolling down her face. "Six. . . sixteen years I've, I've lived and taught here. Hogwarts is my home. Y-You can't do this."

Umbridge gave her a look of false pity. "Actually I can." Umbridge held up a piece of folded paper. McGonagall appeared, pausing to take in the scene before rushing forwards and enveloping Trelawney into a hug. McGonagall sneered at her and Umbridge asked, "Something you'd like to say, dear?"

"Oh, there are several things I would like to say." McGonagall snapped back.

They all turned their heads to the giant doors that led back to the castle when they opened and Dumbledore walked through, quickly walking towards the three women. "Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?"

McGonagall did as he asked and as she passed him, Trelawney grabbed his hand, repeating her thanks over and over. Umbridge, of course, was not happy with this. "Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree Number 23, as enacted by the minister―︎"

"You have the right to dismiss my teacher's." Dumbledore cut her off. "You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the Headmaster."

Umbridge smiled. "For now."

Dumbledore stared at her for a moment before turning and walking back towards the doors. He yelled at the students, "Don't you all have studying to do?" He went through the doors as the students began to disperse and Harry quickly ran after him, calling for him.

Juniper softly sighed before turning and making her way back to the common room with Ron and Hermione following her. She sat on the couch beside Ron, Harry making an appearance shortly after wards and sitting down in one of the chairs. Hermione, however, was pacing back and forth in front of them. "That foul, evil, old gargoyle." Hermione hissed. "We're not learning how to defend ourselves. We're not learning how to pass our OWLs. She's taking over the entire school."

Harry turned his head when he heard the Minister's voice over the radio. "Security has been and will remain the Ministry's top priority." Harry leaned over and turned the radio volume up. "Furthermore, we have convincing evidence that these disappearances are the work of notorious mass murderer Sirius Black." Juniper's face drained of color.

"Harry!" Juniper's head snapped towards the fireplace when she heard her dad's voice. She practically leapt from the couch and over to the fire.

"Dad?" Juniper whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"Answering Harry's letter." Sirius answered. "Your mother's not happy with the last one you sent, quite frankly neither am I. But we'll discuss that later." His attention went to Harry. "You said you were worried about Umbridge. What's she doing? Training you to kill half-breed?"

"Sirius, she's not letting us use magic at all." Harry replied.

"Well, I'm not surprised. The latest intelligence is that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat."

"Combat?" Ron asked. "What does he think? We're forming some sort of wizard army?"

"Oh, that's exactly what he thinks." Sirius confirmed. "That Dumbledore is assembling his own forces to take on the Ministry. He's becoming more paranoid by the minute. The others wouldn't want me telling you this, Harry, but things are going at all well with the Order. Fudge is blocking the truth at every turn and these disappearances are just how it started it before. Voldemort is on the move."

"Well, what can we do?" Harry asked.

"Someone's coming." Sirius quickly whispered. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help. But for now, at least. . . it looks like you're on your own."

"I love you, Dad." Juniper softly whispered.

Sirius smiled at her. "I love you too, little star." And then he was gone.

Juniper sat there for a moment as the other three stood. "I can't believe they're blaming my dad for this. I guess I'm about to get a bunch of backlash."

Hermione held out a hand for her and Juniper looked up at her before letting the girl pull her from the ground. "Then they'll have us to deal with." Juniper glanced at Harry and Ron who both nodded their heads in agreement. Lightning cracked outside, making the room light up before it went away. Hermione moved to stand in front of the window as Juniper sat down on the couch. "He really is out there, isn't he?" Hermione shook her head. "We've got to be able to defend ourselves. And if Umbridge refuses to teach us how we need someone who will." She turned to look at Harry, and Harry just met her eyes.

"I've got to go." Juniper spoke up, making the three turn to look at her.

Hermione clenched her jaw. "You shouldn't be alone with that woman. Not after the Minister just blamed your father for these attacks."

Juniper stood, rubbing her arm. "It's my last detention. I'll survive."

"Hermione's right." Harry said. "You shouldn't go."

"It'll only make her add more on there." Juniper replied. "Besides, both of my arms are already covered in marks, unless it's moving to the rest of my body, it won't hurt." Juniper gave a small wave before walking out.

"I'm worried about her," Hermione whispered.

"It's June," Ron replied. "She'll be alright. Honestly, I'm surprised she hasn't attacked that vile woman yet."

"Maybe this will be her final straw." Harry muttered. "But for her sake, let's hope not."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍 the blindingly pink office once more. She'd been here way too many times and she was sick and tired of it. Umbridge watched her as she wrote the lines on the paper, the same ones she'd been writing for over a week now. She discovered that she could be in more pain, in fact, she couldn't help the tears that spilled from her eyes. The words simply wrote over the words already imprinted on her skin, making the carving deeper and blood to gush from them.

It had been silent, Umbridge had stopped explaining what to do four sessions ago, so now she just sat there in silence. Until tonight. "I hear your father is the one that has been causing these murders. Such a pity, it is. For a child to have to watch her father worsen his life with each passing day."

Her tears stopped immediately, being replaced with blind fury. Her hand tightened around the quill as she stopped writing, her jaw clenching as she snapped her gaze up to meet the woman's eyes. "My father isn't doing this and you know it."

"Well, according to the Minister―︎"

"I don't give a damn what the Minister thinks!" Juniper snapped. "I have and always will vouch for my father's innocence. But you, you disgusting, vile woman, are too infatuated with the Minister to realize that Voldemort is out there and he's about to cause another war. You won't let any of us learn how to defend ourselves, and because of this students are going to die. Every single one of their deaths will be on your hands."

"You will not talk to me like that young lady!" Umbridge snapped.

"I can and I will!" Juniper snapped back. She shot up from her seat and Umbridge followed suit. "You're so keen on convincing us that he isn't back even though it is so very clear that he is. I have half a mind to think you're on his side."

Umbridge leaned in close to her. "Listen to me, Miss Black, and you listen well. He is not back, he will never come back. This behavior of yours is outrageous, and I have the right mind to have to expelled."

Juniper smiled at her. "Please, be my guest. But I can assure you, that is a fight that you will not win. Talk to me like that again, and I'll have no choice but to send my mother down here. I'm sure you know her. Anastasia Black?" She watched as Umbridge's face fell slightly. Her mother may get looks for getting married to Sirius Black, but that didn't change the fact that she had not only a lot of control within the Ministry, but she was also a powerful witch. "I thought you knew her. I've already told her what you've been doing, and she is not happy. But please, by all means, push the matter further. I'd love to watch you lose your job."

Juniper pushed herself away from the desk and walked towards the door. "Oh, and Umbridge?" She turned to look at the woman. "This won't be happening anymore." She opened the door and left.

Juniper pulled her sleeve up, wincing at the blood that covered her arm. She knew that if she didn't go to the hospital wing, Hermione would make her, so to keep herself from an argument she turned down the hall and made her way there. She pushed the door open and gave Madam Pomfrey a small smile. Pomfrey smiled back. "Juniper, what are you doing here so late?"

Juniper sat down on one of the beds, removing her robes and showing the woman her arm. "This is why."

Pomfrey's face contorted into one of horror. "That awful woman." Immediately, Pomfrey began working, healing her arm to the point that almost all of the words were gone. "Have you told your mother about this?" Juniper nodded. "I'm surprised she hasn't stormed in here and cursed that vile creature into the next century."

Juniper softly chuckled. "Oh she wants to. I told her to hold off, that I had it handled."

"Is this what you call handled?" Pomfrey asked, raising a brow.

Juniper smiled and shrugged. "It's a work in progress." When Pomfrey was done she pulled her robe back on. "Thank you." Pomfrey nodded and smiled at her before she walked out.

Juniper made her way to the common room, making her way up to her dorm and sighing as she laid down on her bed. Hermione looked up from the book she was reading, placing it to the side and walking over to her. Hermione took a seat on the bed, running a gentle hand through Juniper's hair. "How bad was it?"

Juniper turned her head so her voice wasn't muffled by the pillow. "Well, needless to say, that woman won't be messing with me anymore."

Hermione raised her brows. "What'd you do?"

"Threatened her."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Jay!"

"What? She was asking for it." Juniper shrugged. "It was quite satisfying watching her face contort into one of fear."

Hermione shook her head, but an amused smile pulled on her lips. "You know, usually I'd reprimand you for this, but she deserves it."

Juniper smiled and moved over on the bed, patting the pillow as a sign for Hermione to laid down. She did. Juniper reached forwards, pushing a curl of hair that had fallen in Hermione's face behind her ear. "I had to go to the hospital wing this time. Turns out, if it runs out of room, it just carves over the words already there. A lot of bleeding." Juniper showed Hermione her arm. "But I'm all healed up now."

Hermione sighed. "I wish you'd stop putting yourself in these situations."

Juniper chuckled. "The day that I do is probably the day that I die."

Hermione scrunched her nose up. "Let's not talk about you dying, I don't need that on my conscious."

Juniper smiled. "Don't worry, 'Mione. I'm not going anywhere any time soon. In fact, I think you're going to be stuck with me forever."

Hermione sighed dramatically. "I'm not going to live very long then."

Juniper gasped. "How dare you!" She turned so her back was facing Hermione. "I can't even look at you."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh you're so dramatic." Juniper sighed dramatically in response. Hermione rolled her eyes again and moved closer to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and turning Juniper flat on her back. Juniper crossed her arms over her chest, keeping her head turned to the side. Hermione chuckled in amusement. "Jay, look at me."

"Not until you apologize."

Hermione laughed, mouth dropping. "For what? I didn't even say anything wrong!"

"You implied that I would be the death of you in the future and you called me dramatic. Quite hurtful, H. I don't appreciate it."

Hermione rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time. "I'm sorry for calling you dramatic." She paused. "But you really are."

Juniper snapped her head towards Hermione, her mouth opening with a scoff. "You are not very good at apologizing. Apology not accepted."

Hermione placed a hand over her heart. "I'm so sincerely sorry, Juniper. It will never happen again."

Juniper smiled. "That's better."

"Am I forgiven now?"

Juniper sighed. "I suppose so."

Hermione looked at her for a moment before leaning closer to her. Juniper's breath hitched in her throat at how close she was. Her heart slammed in her chest as her palms became clammy. Hermione grew closer and Juniper couldn't help but think she wasn't close enough. Their noses were practically touching at this point. Finally, after a few agonizing moments, their lips connected and Juniper's eyes fluttered closed. She brought her hand up to cup Hermione's cheek, pulling her closer.

Hermione broke the kiss, only moving back slightly. "Do you forgive me now?"

Juniper nodded. "Mhm." She pulled Hermione back to her, pressing a more deeper, passionate kiss to her lips. Hermione would be the death of her, and she would gladly go peacefully.