▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 ━︎━︎ 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲, 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 in the common room, her feet tucked beneath her as she read against the arm of the couch, her book propped in her hand. The fire was roaring, keeping her comfortable. Approaching footsteps made her turn her head and she gave Harry a small smile as he made his way around the couch, taking a seat beside of her. A frown pulled on her lips when she noticed the frown on his face. She placed her bookmark in her book, leaning forwards to sit it on the table before interlacing her fingers and cocking her head to the side. She stared at him for a moment before softly sighing.

     "What's wrong, Harry?" Juniper softly asked, turning her body to look at him. She placed her hands in her lap, her eyes never leaving his face.

     Harry didn't answer her for a moment, mulling over the conversation he and Ron had the night before. He turned to look at her, the concern dancing in her eyes sent a wave of relief through him. She wasn't angry with him, and she wasn't looking at him like he had committed the worst crime in the world. It was just her. His shoulders relaxed as he leaned back into the couch. "Ron's mad at me."

     Juniper frowned, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "What? Why?"

     Harry sighed. "He thinks I got someone to put my name in the cup. It's not true, June. I swear to you it isn't. I don't want this. I don't want eternal glory. I don't want to do these trials. I want. . . I want to be normal."

     Juniper reached over, placing a hand on top of his. "I know, Harry. I believe you." She gave a small shrug. "If there's anyone here who understands the want of being normal, of having a normal life, it's me." She met his eyes, giving him a small smile. "I know you don't want this, but you're in this now and there's no going back. Be safe. And please, let me help you. I've heard the stories, of how dangerous these trials can be, and I need you to come out of this alive." She paused. "If no one else is on your side, Harry, then trust me when I say that I am."

     Harry nodded his head, giving her the best smile he could manage. "Thanks, June."

     Juniper moved closer to him and pulled him into a hug. "You're going to be okay, Harry. I promise."

     After a moment, Harry pulled away. "I have to go meet up with the other champions, I'm supposed to have an interview with Rita Skeeter."

     Juniper pulled a face. "I hate that woman." Harry stood. "Good luck."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

THE REST OF THE WEEK FLEW BY IN A FLASH, EVERY DADA CLASS THAT JUNIPER HAD MADE HER WANT TO BASH HER HEAD INTO A WALL. Ever since she'd had that little stand off with Mad-Eye, the stare off's between them were tense. After his meeting with Rita Skeeter a few days ago, Harry had ranted to her about the woman's wording, emphasizing how she'd claimed his eyes were "glistening with the ghosts of his past". Juniper had laughed at that. Now, it was Saturday night. Juniper was once again in the common room, it was well past midnight and she couldn't sleep. She was staring blankly into the fire, hoping the warmth would make her tired but it wasn't working. She glanced up when she heard footsteps, Harry was making his way down the staircase and came to a stop when he saw Juniper.

     "June? What are you doing down here?" He made his way over to her.

     Juniper sighed. "I can't sleep. I didn't want to keep Hermione up with my restlessness, so I came down here. What are you doing up?"

     Harry opened and closed his mouth. He was down here because Sirius sent him a letter to meet him, but he had specified he come alone. He looked at Juniper and decided he couldn't lie to her. Plus, Sirius was her father. He didn't think the man would be too upset to talk to his daughter for a moment. "I. . . uh. . . Sirius told me to meet him here."

     Juniper sat up straighter at that. "What?"

     "Is he here?"

     Juniper frowned. "No."

     Harry looked around. "Sirius," he whispered. When he didn't get an answer, his eyes fell to the Daily Prophet that had his picture on the front. He quickly grabbed it.

     "I wouldn't read that if I were you." Juniper warned.

     Harry read the words anyways, quickly crumpling it up and throwing it into the fire. He turned away angrily only for the fire to hiss at him. He exchanged a look with Juniper who quickly stood from the couch as Harry carefully approached the fire. The fire hissed again before a gasp came from it and her father's face appeared in the flames and burning sticks. "Sirius?" Harry asked. "How?"

     "I don't have much time, Harry, so let me get straight to it. Did you or did you not put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Sirius asked.

     Juniper appeared then. "No, of course he didn't."

     Sirius looked at her. "Juniper?"

     She smiled. "Hey, dad."

     "Hello little star, how are you?"

     "I'm good."

     Harry went back to the topic at hand. "No, I didn't."

     "I had to ask." Sirius said. "Now, tell me about this dream of yours. You mentioned Wormtail and Voldemort. But who was the third man in the room?"

     "I don't know."

     "You didn't hear a name?"

     Harry shook his head. "No. Um. . . Voldemort's giving him a job to do. Something important."

     "And what was that?"

     Harry took a deep breath. "He wanted. . . me. I don't know why. But he was gonna use this man to get to me. But, I mean, it was only a dream, right?"

     "Yes." Sirius agreed. "It's just a dream. Look, Harry. The Death Eaters at the World Cup. . . your name rising from that goblet. . . these are not just coincidences. Hogwarts isn't safe anymore."

     "W-what are you saying?"

     "I'm saying the devils are inside the walls." Sirius answered and fear began to bubble in Juniper's stomach. "Igor Karkaroff. He was a Death Eater. And no one, no one stops being a Death Eater. Then there's Barty Crouch. Heart of stone. Sent his own son to Azkaban."

     A door opened in the distance, causing the two of them to snap their heads in the direction only to turn back towards Sirius. "Do you think one of them put my name in the Goblet?"

     "I haven't a clue who put your name in the Goblet, Harry, but whoever did is no friend to you. People die in this tournament."

     "I'm not ready for this, Sirius." Panic crept into Harry's voice and Juniper placed her hand on his shoulder.

     "You don't have a choice."

     Harry turned his head at the sound of approaching footsteps. He snapped his head back to Sirius. "Someone's coming."

     "Keep your friends close, Harry." Sirius said before looking at his daughter. "I love you, little star."

     Juniper smiled and nodded. "I love you too." She watched her father's face disappear from the fire and her heart warmed slightly. Although it was horrible news they were just given, she couldn't help but be glad to hear her father's voice again.

     Ron appeared from the stairwell. "Who were you talking to?"

     "What?" Harry asked.

     "I heard voices."

     "Maybe you're imagining things." Harry replied. Juniper decided not to move, carefully laying down to pretend she was asleep. Ron couldn't see her. "Wouldn't be the first time."

     "You're probably just practicing for your next interview I expect." Ron bit and Juniper rolled her eyes. He walked back up the stairs and when she was sure he was gone she sat up.

     "Wow, he's really jealous of you right now."

     Harry turned to look at her. "I don't know why."

     Juniper rolled her eyes but decided not to make the conversation worse. "I know a lover's quarrel when I see one." She stood. "I'm going to bed. I'll talk to you in the morning." She gave Harry a gentle smile before making her way up the stairs and quietly entering her room, crawling under the covers and closing her eyes. She fell asleep as soon as the sun began rising.

      The following day, Juniper was walking with a very annoyed Hermione and a very stubborn Ron, Ginny trailing behind them. They were on their way to find Harry so that Ron could relay a message to him. However, as they grew closer to the boy who was hanging out with Neville, Ron quickly told Hermione she had to tell Harry and told her the message. Hermione huffed. "Look, it's already been through enough people. Why don't you just go and talk to him yourself?" They grew closer and when Harry heard her voice he stood from his spot on the ground. "Ron, this is your problem not mine." After a moment she sighed. "What do you want me to say again?"

     Ron repeated it and Hermione sighed, walking towards Harry. "Ronald would like me to tell you that Seamus told him that Dean was told by Pavarti that Hagrid's looking for you."

     "Is that right? Well. . . what?" Harry frowned.

    Hermione sighed before turning and walking back towards Ron, getting him to repeat the words before walking back over to Harry. "Dean was told by Pavarti that. . . please don't ask me to say it again. Hagrid's looking for you."

     "Well you can tell Ronald—"

     "I'm not an owl!" Hermione snapped before walking over to Juniper and grabbing her hand as she passed by, the two of them and Ginny making their way up the hill. Ron followed soon after.

     "I don't understand why you don't just talk to the guy." Juniper said, looking at Ron over her shoulder. "This whole thing is stupid, Ron. Be mature for once in your life and talk to the boy." She shook her head before looking over at Hermione. "I've got to go, I told Fleur I'd hang out with her today."

     Hermione stopped, a frown falling on her lips. "You're hanging out with Fleur?"

     Juniper nodded. "Yeah. See you guys later." She walked away and Hermione watched after her and scoffed before going the opposite direction. Juniper found Fleur and sent her a bright smile. "Fleur," she greeted.

     "Juniper," Fleur smiled back.

The two of them stayed together for the rest of the day. They played wizards chess a few times, Fleur asked questions about Hogwarts and Juniper happily answered them. As night fell, Juniper grabbed Fleur's hand and led her up the stairs to the astronomy tower. Juniper pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately walking over to the railing to look out on the grounds. Fleur joined her side.

     "The view is beautiful up here," Fleur smiled.

     "It's my favorite place." Juniper told her. The amount of nights she spent up here, writing in her little journal to keep her father updated. She really needed to give that journal to her father. She really wanted to see her father again.

     "Juniper, you seem upset. Is everything alright?" Fleur placed a hand on her shoulder.

     Juniper sent her a small smile and nodded. "Of course. I'm just worried about Harry is all. These tournaments, they're dangerous. I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

     Fleur's hand fell from her shoulder. "I see. So, are you and Harry—?"

     Juniper's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, no, no, no. Harry is my god-brother. We're family."

     "Oh." Fleur nodded, her shoulders seeming to have relaxed an inch. "Juniper, I wanted to ask you something." Juniper nodded for her to continue. "With these tournaments, they always host a ball. It's called the Yule Ball, close to around Christmas. I know it's a little early, but, I was thinking, maybe you would like to go with me?"

     Juniper didn't know there was supposed to be a ball. Internal panic echoed in her chest but she forced a smile. "Of course. Of course, I would love to be your date to the ball." This time she smiled a wide real smile. "Thank you for asking me."

     Fleur smiled back. "Thanks for agreeing to go."

     Juniper chuckled. "I would never deny you, Fleur." Fleur blushed at that.