▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐢𝐱 ━︎━︎ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 to their next destination, a silence about them minus Ron's radio that was listing off names of the wizards that had been killed. Juniper had listened, closing her eyes in relief when no one's name she recognized came from the radio. Ron was taking his turn wearing the necklace, Juniper would be next and quite frankly she wasn't excited for it at all. When Death Eaters flew by, they hid in a barn they had walked by and when the Death Eaters were gone they continued their trek. They walked for most of the day, coming to a stop when they found the encampments. Harry was standing by himself as Juniper sat on the ground, not caring it was wet. Hermione and Ron sat beside her.

"He doesn't know what he's doing, does he?" Ron asked as Hermione fixed his bandage.

Hermione looked at Harry. "None of us do."

"Alright, Ron." Juniper sighed. "It's my turn." Ron looked at her before handing her the locket. Juniper placed it around her neck and her body recoiled at the touch. Her stomach churned with nauseous and Juniper tightly closed her eyes.

Hermione noticed. "Are you alright?"

Juniper forced herself to nod and smile. "Peachy."

When they woke up the next morning, they immediately began their trek again. When they stopped again, they set their tent up right beside the lake, a forest ahead of them which meant they could hunt for food which is what Ron and Harry were currently doing. Juniper hadn't been able to wear the locket for long and it went through them again and once again it was Ron's turn.

Harry and Ron had come back unsuccessful and Juniper was watching with amusement as Ron tried to teach Hermione how to skip rocks. She softly chuckled and shook her head before walking into the tent. Harry looked up when she walked in and Juniper walked over to him.

"Had any luck with that thing?" Harry asked, nodding his head towards the journal that was sitting on the table.

Juniper sighed, shaking her head. "No. I haven't the slightest clue how to open it. I've tried different spells but nothing's working." Juniper picked up the journal, examining it. "I keep thinking about how Dumbledore addressed it in the letter, that I would feel closer to home. What do you think that means?"

Harry shook his head. "I don't know."

Juniper pursed her lips. "Home," she mumbled. "I never saw Grimmauld Place as my home, not at first anyways. Home was simply where my mother was." She frowned. "Closer to home."

Harry watched as the puzzle pieces slowly started to piece themselves together. "Do you think it could have something to do with your mother?"

"Maybe." Juniper breathed. She sat the journal down, looking at Harry. "Harry, is something bothering you?" Harry shook his head and Juniper sent him a look. "Harry, you know you can tell me anything."

Harry looked at her for a moment before glancing at the opening of the tent and then looking at her once more. "When Ron and I were hunting, we spotted a rabbit. We went after it, shooting spells and then. . . well, the rabbit got away but when Ron aimed his wand again, he almost hit me."

Juniper frowned. "I'm sure it was an accident."

"That's what I'm trying to tell myself. But June, he was looking right at me."

"Do I need to have a word with him?" Juniper asked. "Because I will."

Harry managed a small smile before shaking his head. "No. It's alright."

As night fell, Hermione was giving Harry a hair cut and Juniper was sitting at the table with the journal in her hands. It was starting to bother her, not knowing how to open it. She thought back to what Harry said as well as Dumbledore's words in the letter. It had to have something to do with her mother. Juniper's attention was pulled away when she heard Hermione say, "Oh my God."

"What?" Harry panicked, running a hand through his hair.

Hermione walked over to the table where Juniper was sitting. "I'll tell you in a minute."

Harry quickly stood. "Maybe you could tell me now."

Hermione began flipping through the book Dumbledore had gifted her. Hermione looked up at him. "The Sword of Gryffindor. It's goblin-made."

"Brilliant." Harry said, holding two thumbs up.

Hermione shook her head. "No, you don't understand. Dirt and rust have no effect on the blade." She pushed the book towards him. "It only takes in that which makes it stronger."

"Okay. . . " Harry said unsurely.

"Harry, you've already destroyed one horcrux, right? Tom Riddles diary in the Chamber of Secrets."

"With a basilisk fang." Harry countered. "If you tell me you've got one of those in that bloody beaded bag of yours. . ."

"Don't you see?" Hermione asked.

Juniper rose a brow. "Elaborate. Even I'm confused." Harry pointed a hand to her in silent thanks.

Hermione took a seat beside her. "In the Chamber of Secrets, you stabbed the basilisk with the Sword of Gryffindor. It's blade is impregnated with basilisk venom."

Harry looked at her as it finally clicked. "it only takes in that which makes it stronger." Quickly, he sat down across from them.

"Exactly, which is why. . ."

"It can destroy horcruxes." Harry finished.

"And that's why Dumbledore left it to you in his will." Juniper realized with a smile. "Well, this is just excellent news." She pressed a kiss to Hermione's cheek. "You're brilliant." Hermione blushed.

Harry agreed. "You are brilliant, Hermione. Truly."

"Actually, I'm highly logical, which allows me to look past extraneous details and perceive clearly that which others overlook." Hermione dismissed.

Juniper playfully rolled her eyes. "Same difference."

Hermione looked at her. "I'm surprised you didn't think of it yourself."

Juniper shrugged. "Well, I've been so focused on this bloody journal I can't think straight."

"Yeah. There's only one problem of course." Before Harry could continue, all of the lights were taken. The three looked up, turning their heads as Ron walked over to them.

"The sword was stolen." He returned the lights. "Yeah, I'm still here. But you three carry on. Don't let me spoil the fun."

Harry closed the book, turning to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong?" Ron asked. "Nothing's wrong. Not according to you, anyway."

"Look, if you've got something to say, don't be shy." Harry urged and Juniper shared a look with Hermione. "Spit it out."

"Alright, I'll spit it out. But don't expect me to be grateful just because now there's another damn thing we have to find." Ron snapped.

"I thought you knew what you signed up for." Harry argued.

"Yeah. I thought I did, too."

Harry stood. "Well, then, I'm sorry but I don't quite understand." He walked up to him. "What part of this isn't living up to your expectations?" Juniper and Hermione slowly stood up as they watched the two of them. "D-Did you think we were going to be staying in a five star hotel finding a horcrux every other day? You thought you'd be back with your mum by Christmas?"

"I just thought after all this time we would have actually achieved something. I thought you knew what you were doing." Ron argued back. "I thought Dumbledore would have told you something worthwhile. I thought you had a plan."

"I told you everything Dumbledore told me!" Harry yelled. "And, in case you haven't noticed, we have found a horcrux already."

"Yeah and we're about as close to getting rid of it as we are to finding the rest of them, aren't we?"

Juniper looked at Hermione as she moved to stand in front of Ron. "Ron. Please take―︎please take the horcrux off." Hermione reached for him and he shoved her away. Juniper went to step forwards but Hermione held out her hand subtly to stop her. "You wouldn't be saying any of this if you hadn't been wearing it all day."

"Do you want to know to know why I listen to that radio every night, do you?" Ron asked. "To make sure I don't hear Ginny's name or Fred or George or Mum."

"What, you think I'm not listening, too?!" Harry shouted. "You think I don't know how this feels?!"

"No, you don't know how it feels!" Ron snarled. "Your parents are dead. You have no family."

"Woah!" Juniper called. "Ron, that was completely uncalled for. What the hell?"

Harry ran at him and the two began fighting, Hermione yelled for them to stop and Juniper stepped in, shoving them away from each other and standing between them. "Fine then, go!" Harry shouted. "Go, then!"

Ron looked at him before taking the horcrux off, throwing it to the ground. Hermione watched him with heartbreak and tears in her eyes. "Ron."

Ron grabbed his things, coming to a stop right at the tents entrance. He turned to look at Hermione and Juniper. "And you two? Are you coming or are you staying?" Hermione glanced back at Harry and Ron took easy notice of it. "Fine. I get it. I saw you two the other night when June wasn't paying attention."

Juniper furrowed her brows as Hermione said, "Ron―︎Ron that's nothing."

Ron looked at Juniper. "Watch your back with those two." He walked out of the tent.

"Ron." Hermione begged, following him out of the tent. "Ron, where are you going? Please come back. Ron! Ron!"

Juniper looked down at the ground for a moment. "I'm going to go to bed."

"June." Harry spoke and Juniper turned her head to look at him.

Juniper bit the inside of her cheek. "What was he talking about?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Nothing happened. Or ever will happen. June, you know I'd never―︎"

Juniper cut him off. "I know." She ran her hand through her hair, looking up when Hermione came back inside with tears streaking down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away. Juniper softly sighed before walking up to her and wrapping her arms around her. Hermione immediately hugged her back, burying her face into the crook of her neck. Juniper ran a hand through Hermione's hair, softly shushing her. "It's going to be alright. He'll be back."

Hermione shook her head, her voice coming out muffled as she said, "You don't know that."

"Yes, I do." Juniper assured.

Hermione pulled away and looked at her. Juniper wiped away her tears. "How could you possibly know that?"

Juniper gave her a soft smile. "The four of us have been through too much together for him to walk away and not come back. You might be good at seeing things clearly, but I'm good at putting the pieces together and reading people. I know Ron, just as you do, he'll come back. He always has. It was just the horcrux talking." She pushed a strand of hair away that had fallen in Hermione's face. "Do you trust me?" Hermione nodded. "Then trust that I know what I'm talking about."

"You haven't been wrong yet," Hermione mumbled.

"No. No I have not and I don't plan on starting now." She pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Let's get some sleep, yeah?" Hermione nodded and walked away. Juniper turned her head to look at Harry, giving him a small nod before turning and following after her girlfriend.