▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 and snow covered the ground. Juniper kept picking up snow and throwing it at the group and Hermione had finally made her stand between her and Harry to keep her from doing it anymore. Hermione had explained to Harry her idea, she wanted Harry to teach the students of Hogwarts how to defend themselves, and Harry wasn't particularly fond of the idea.

     "This is mad." Harry muttered. "Who'd wanna be taught by me? I'm a nutter, remember?"

     "Look on the bright side," Ron offered, "you can't be any worse than old toad-face."

     "Thanks, Ron." Harry replied, clear sarcasm in his voice.

     "I'm here for you, mate."

     The group of them were in Hogsmeade, Juniper had forced them to stop by Honeydukes so she could get herself some treats before they walked into the building that would have all of the students they'd convinced to join waiting for them. "Who's supposed to be meeting us then?" Harry asked as Juniper popped a chocolate in her mouth, humming in delight.

     "Just a couple of people," Hermione answered.

     "June?" Harry asked, looking at her.

     Juniper slowed her chewing, turning to look at him. She shrugged. "Don't ask me, I have no clue what's going on."

     Hermione scoffed. "I told you."

     "You told me while I was half awake, Hermione. I don't recall a single word that came out of your mouth." Juniper answered, swallowing the chocolate.

     Ron pushed open the door. "Lovely spot."

     "Thought it would be safer somewhere off the beaten track." Hermione said as Juniper pushed past them and walked inside. She stared at the moving hogs head, scrunching her nose up in disgust. Hermione grabbed her hand as she walked by, pulling Juniper with her as she took a seat. They sat there and waited, watching as people began to show. Juniper was too invested in her sweets to really care.

     When no one else came, Hermione finally stood. "Um. . . hi. So, you all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."

     "Why?" A boy, who Juniper couldn't recall the name of, asked.

     "Why?" Ron repeated. "Because You-Know-Who's back, you tosspot."

     "So he says."

     "So Dumbledore says." Hermione corrected.

     "So Dumbledore says because he says. The point is, where's the proof?"

     Another boy with dark hair said, "If Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed."

     Finally, Harry stood. "I'm not going to talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here you might as well clear out now." He turned to Hermione. "Come on, Hermione. Let's go. They're just here because they think I'm some sort of freak."

     "No, wait." Hermione whispered.

     "Is it true you can produce a patronus charm?" Luna Lovegood's soft voice called out, interrupting the mini argument.

     Harry and Hermione looked at her. Hermione answered, "Yes. I've seen it."

     "Blimey, Harry." Dean said. "I didn't know you could do that."

     "A-a-and he killed a basilisk with the sword in Dumbledore's office." Neville stuttered out.

     "It's true," Ginny confirmed.

     "Third year, he fought about a hundred dementors at once." Ron bragged.

     Finally, after Juniper sitting there in silence, she said, "And last year, he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh."

     "Wait." Harry stopped them. "Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that but the truth is, most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half of the time. I nearly always had help."

     "He's just being modest," Hermione tried.

     "No, Hermione, I'm not." He looked at all of them. "Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow. But out there. . . when you're a second away from being murdered. . . or watching a friend die right before your eyes. . . you don't know what that's like." Harry sat back down and Hermione followed suit.

     "You're right, Harry, we don't." Hermione said. "That's why we need your help. Because if we're going to have any chance at beating. . . Voldemort. . ."

     "He's really back?" A younger boy asked.

     Harry looked at him and nodded. Suddenly, all of the students were writing their names down on a piece of parchment. When all of the students had wrote their names down, Harry kept the paper and they began making their track back to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Juniper, Ginny, Neville, and the twins walked on the bridge in between two sections of the castle. "Right," Harry said. "First we need to find a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out."

     "The Shrieking Shack," Ginny offered. Juniper tried not to recoil at that idea.

     "It's too small."

     "Forbidden Forest?" Hermione asked.

     "Not bloody likely," Ron replied.

     "Harry, what happens if Umbridge does find out?" Ginny asked, causing the boy to turn his head to look back at her.

     "Who cares?" Hermione asked and Juniper's eyes widened in surprise. "I mean, it's sort of exciting, isn't it? Breaking the rules."

     "Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Ron asked with a smile.

     Juniper wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a wide smile. "Welcome to the dark side, love."  

     "I told you, she's been hanging out with June way too much." Harry said and Juniper laughed.

     "I told you I'd break her." Juniper smiled, sending Harry and Ron a quick wink.

     "Anyway," Hermione continued, "at least we know one positive thing that came from today."

     "What's that?" Harry asked.

     Hermione smirked. "Cho couldn't take her eyes off of you, could she?"

     Juniper chuckled at that, patting Harry on the shoulder as she and Hermione walked past him. "Congrats."

     They made it off the bridge, travelling through the courtyard and to the double doors leading to the entrance of the castle. "Right. Over the next few days we should each come up with a couple of possibilities of places we can practice. We've got to make sure that wherever it is there's no chance she can find us."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐃 a new rule to the wall and Juniper couldn't help but stare at it with narrowed eyes. All student organizations were to be disbanded immediately and if they didn't disband then they would be expelled. Juniper decided she would take that chance. The brunette sighed before walking away. She turned around a corner, coming to a stop when she saw Neville staring at the wall.

     "You alright, Neville?" Juniper called, making the boy turn to look at her. She walked over to him, coming to a stop when she saw that he wasn't staring at a wall at all, but instead was staring at two doors that were forming in the wall. The doors opened, revealing a big open space.

     "Think this could work?" Neville asked her.

     Juniper smiled brightly. "Neville, you're absolutely amazing!" She grabbed his hand. "Come on, we have to tell the others." Juniper quickly ran to the common room gathering her three friends along with Ginny and the twins. They made it back to the room, the doors reforming in the walls before opening up to them. The group walked inside and Juniper couldn't help the smile on her face.

     "You've done it, Neville." Hermione said with amazement. "You've found the Room of Requirement."

     Neville frowned. "The what?"

     "It's also known as the Come and Go Room." Hermione explained. "The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it. And it's always equipped for the seeker's needs."

     "So, say you really need the toilet. . ." Ron started and Juniper rolled her eyes.

     "Charming, Ronald." Hermione commented. "But yes, that is the general idea."

     "It's brilliant." Harry nodded. "It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back."

     Juniper stepped forwards, examining the room. "We've got to get this show on the road, starting tonight." She turned to look at the group. "Gather everyone, meet here. I'll make sure to keep everyone off your track."

     Within the span of an hour, they'd managed to get everyone that had signed up and now they were all standing in the room in two lines. In front of them was a statute that had a moving arm, a wand in its hand. They would learn expelliarmus first, and Neville was the first to go. He said the spell and instead of sending the statues wand flying, he sent his own flying. Neville frowned. "I'm hopeless."

     "You're just flourishing your wand too much." Harry disagreed. "Try it like this. Expelliarmus!" The statues wand went flying.

For weeks they did this. They would practice different spells. They had practiced a stunning spell and Juniper had the delight of going against Hermione and winning. She hadn't stopped bosting about it and Hermione would have to kiss her to make her shut up. Hermione had went against Ron and beat him, of course the twins had made a bet and Fred won.

Of course, Umbridge had made another rule. One that involved her questioning students about illicit activities. Juniper had sat there staring at the woman with a straight face, but her eyebrow was raised in amusement.

     "Now, Juniper, I believe you and I have a quite fond relationship." Umbridge said.

     Juniper snorted. "Of course, of course."

      "You would tell me if there were something going on? Like a group organization that involves the practice of magic?"

     Juniper put on a false sincere smile. "Why, of course I would. But I assure you, Umbridge, if there is one I have no knowledge of it."

     Umbridge nodded. "Let's hope you're telling the truth."

     Juniper sent her a wink. "One must not tell lies, isn't that right? I do have to study for my OWLs, so if I could go."

     Umbridge smiled that fake smile Juniper loathed so much. "Of course, dear."

     She left, immediately making her way to the Room of Requirements. Everyone else was already in there causing their heads to turn when she walked in. "As you were," Juniper waved.

The next spell they practiced involved being able to levitate someone in mid air. They would practice these spells over and over and Juniper was having the time of her life. She felt so relaxed.

     "Working hard is important." Harry told them, walking around the room as he watched the other students. "But there's something that matters even more. Believing in yourself. Think of it this way. Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now, students. If they can do it, why not us?"

They all stood in a circle, the statue flying between them as each student shouted out a spell. When Ginny had shouted reducto, the statue exploded and was nothing but a pile of dust on the floor. They went back to working in pairs, and finally after multiple days, Neville had finally succeeded in the expelliarmus spell. Naturally, they all cheered for him.

     Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Juniper stood at the front, staring at the other students. Harry said, "So that's it for this lesson. Now we're not going to be meeting again until after the holidays. So just keep practicing on your own as best as you can. And, and well done, everyone. Great, great work." They all clapped for him and Juniper gave Harry a proud smile.

     As the students began to disperse, Juniper made her way over to Hermione, grabbing her hand as they walked out. Hermione glanced at her with a small smile. "Are you excited for Christmas?"

     Juniper smiled widely. "This is going to be my first Christmas with both of them."

     Ron joined Juniper's other side. "I think we're spending Christmas with you."

     Juniper looked at Hermione. "Which means you'll be joining too, I hope?"

     Hermione nodded her head. "I will."

     "All my favorite people under one roof, this will be the best Christmas ever."

     They entered the common room and Juniper held out a hand, lighting the fire as Ron and Hermione took a seat on the couch. Ron shook his head. "How do you do that?"

     Juniper turned her head to look at him. "Do what?"

     "You just lit a fire without your wand and without even saying a spell for it." Ron explained.

     "Oh." Juniper said, taking a seat in between the two of them as she shrugged. "I've been able to use non-verbal magic since I was baby. I don't use it often, seeing as I forget I can do it sometimes, but when you're lazy and don't feel like moving, it comes in handy."

     Hermione chuckled. "The first time she ever did it in front of me was first year. I was furious, naturally."

     Juniper sent her a smirk. "I know, it was quite amusing."

     They cut their conversation when Harry entered the common room. Spotting them, he walked over and took a seat in front of them. "I kissed Cho."

     "Well, how was it?" Ron asked.

     "Wet." Harry replied and Juniper scrunched her nose. "I-I mean, she was sort of crying."

     "That bad at it, are you?" Ron smirked.

     "I'm sure Harry's kissing was more than satisfactory." Hermione quickly defended him. Ron quietly snickered. "Cho spends half her time crying these days."

     "You'd think a bit of snogging would cheer her up." Ron said, completely amused with the situation.

     "Don't you understand how she must be feeling?" Hermione asked. That made Ron go quiet. "Well, obviously, she's feeling sad about Cedric and therefore confused about liking Harry and guilty about kissing him, conflicted because Umbridge is threatening to sack her mum's from the top of the ministry and frightened of failing her OWLs because she's so busy worrying about everything else."

     Juniper cocked a brow. "Hermione, something you need to tell us?"

     "One person couldn't feel all that. They'd explode." Ron said in disbelief.

     Hermione looked at him. "Just because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon."

     Immediately, Juniper started chuckling at that, Harry and Ron joining her. Hermione let out a laugh as well. "Good lord," Juniper breathed, smiling and shaking her head. "I think it's someone's bedtime."

     "We should all get some sleep," Harry agreed.

They all went to bed and Juniper fell asleep almost immediately, only to shoot up in the middle of the night with heavy breaths. She snapped her head towards the door when their was an urgent knock, waking Hermione up. Juniper practically leapt out of the bed and pulled open the door to see Ginny.

     "Ginny?" Juniper breathed. "What is it?" Hermione stood from the bed, joining Juniper's side.

     "It's Harry."

     Hermione frowned. "What about him?"

     "He's had a dream. About my father. He dreamed that he got hurt. I have to go with my brother's to Dumbledore's office."

     "Go." Juniper ushered. "Come back and tell us what's happened."

     Ginny nodded before quickly running away. Juniper closed the door, placing a hand on her forehead. She took a seat on her bed and Hermione sat beside her, gently grabbing her hand and interlacing their fingers. "He'll be alright, Jay."

     Juniper closed her eyes and nodded. "I know. I'm just worried about him. These dreams have been happening far more often. It always involves Voldemort. I have a bad feeling, Hermione. A really bad feeling."

     Hermione met her eyes. "We'll figure this out. We always do."

     Juniper nodded, laying her head on Hermione's shoulder. They stayed like that until a knock came at their door. Juniper stood up with Hermione, pulling the door open to reveal Ginny once more. "My dad's been hurt, my brothers and I are leaving."

     "How did Harry know?" Hermione asked.

     Ginny hesitated. "They think. . . they think he's somehow attached to Voldemort, that he can see what the Dark Lord sees, and that the Dark Lord can see what Harry sees."

     "Is Harry alright?" Juniper questioned.

     Ginny nodded. "He's with Snape now. I don't really know why. I have to go."

     "We'll see you at Christmas." Hermione said, giving her a small smile which Ginny attempted to return before she turned and left. Hermione turned her head to look at Juniper. "We should try to get some sleep."

     Juniper shook her head. "I don't think I can."

     "Come on." Hermione walked Juniper back over to her bed, pulling back the covers and making Juniper lay down before placing the covers over her. "Harry will be fine. Get some rest." She walked to her own bed and laid down, closing her eyes as she drifted off to sleep. Juniper stayed awake the rest of the night.