▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 ━︎━︎ 𝐈 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 for what felt like hours trying to wedge the rocks out of the way but eventually she gave up, sitting on the floor as Ron took his turn to try and free the rocks. A huff fell from her lips as she sat there. Worry was filling her stomach as she anxiously waited for Harry to come back, hopefully with a young Ginny Weasley following suit. Juniper stood up and placed her hands on her hips, they almost had a hole big enough for Juniper to crawl through. She grabbed her wand, looking at it for a moment before making eye contact with Ron. Quickly, Ron took a few steps back and Juniper held out her wand and sent a spell towards the rocks causing them to go flying.

     "Why didn't I think of that sooner?" Juniper asked, putting her wand back in her pocket.

     "I don't know, but at least you thought of it." Ron said before turning towards Lockheart who was beginning to wake up again. "Oh no, not him again. If Harry doesn't hurry up, we might give him permanent brain damage from how many times we've knocked him out."

     "I wouldn't mind giving him permanent brain damage." Juniper said with the shrug of her shoulders.

     "Maybe you have a little bit of Slytherin in you after all. . ." Ron mumbled and Juniper had to bite back her amusement. The sound of a bird cawing grabbed their attention. The two stopped, turning their heads to see a phoenix flying towards them and in tow was Harry with Ginny right beside him.

As soon as they made their way through the giant hole Juniper had managed to make, Ginny was quick to run to her older brother, throwing herself into his arms. Ron didn't hesitate to hug his sister back. They may argue like crazy but Ginny was his blood, his little sister, and he had been simmering in worry since he had discovered she'd been taken.

     Juniper smiled at Harry as she quickly pulled him into a hug and Harry didn't hesitate to hug her back. "I'm glad you're alright," Juniper whispered. She didn't realize how terrified she was of loosing him until she wasn't able to get to him. Harry was her god-sibling, but Juniper was quickly starting to see him as her real blood related family. She wished he could stay with her and her mother. Maybe over the summer break she could convince her mother to try and get him under their care.

The two pulled away and Harry offered her a reassuring smile and nod before he and Ron hugged each other. Lockheart's voice grabbed their attention and the three of them sighed whilst Ginny looked at the teacher with awe and pure confusion. The phoenix, who Harry informed them was Dumbledore's bird cawed and grabbed onto Lockheart and starting pulling him into the air. Ron grabbed his foot, Harry grabbed Ron, Juniper grabbed Harry, and then Ginny held on to Juniper like her life depended on it and Juniper kept a secure arm around the young redhead's shoulder.

     When they made it to the castle, Juniper made sure that Ginny was safely placed into the hospital wing before she, Ron, and Harry all reported to Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster stared at the three Gryffindors. He was sitting at his desk with Tom Riddle's diary―︎thanks to Harry―︎and his hands folded as he looked at them. "You three realize, of course, that in the past few hours you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules."

     The all had their heads lowered as the three of them answered in unison, "Yes, sir."

     "And there is sufficient evidence to have all three of you expelled."

     Again they all answered, "Yes, sir."

     "Therefore, it is only fitting that all of you receive special awards for services to the school." The three of them looked at their Headmaster with utter surprise. Juniper had to keep her mouth from falling to the floor. She had been sure that this was her end for Hogwarts, and if she wasn't being honest, she was actually starting to like this place and her friends.

     "Thanks, sir." Ron spoke with a smile on his face.

     Dumbledore nodded. "And now, Mr. Weasley, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban." He walked out from behind his desk, handing Ron a letter. "I believe we want our gamekeeper back."

     "I should go with you." Juniper said to Ron. "I have a letter to deliver to my mother anyways." She smiled at Dumbledore before looking at Harry and giving his hand a small squeeze before she quickly followed after Ron. She walked beside of him with a sigh leaving her lips. "Maybe if we're lucky, Astra will be here. She likes to come once a week and see if there's a letter from me."

     "Better your owl than mine." Ron said with a slight chuckle. "That bloody owl is an idiot."

Juniper chuckled before walking into the owlrey. Sadly Astra wasn't there so they had to give Dumbledore's letter to Ron's owl. Juniper gave hers to another random owl before both the owls went on their way.

     "I'm starving," Ron groaned.

     "Me too," Juniper agreed. "Lucky for you, I keep snacks in my room. Come on." She and Ron made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. Ron waited in the common room as Juniper bounded up the stairs. She grabbed them both a little snack before making her way back down the steps and handed the snack to Ron.

     "Bless you," Ron smiled.

A few days passed, Ron, Harry, and Juniper had all recieved looks but not the kind that Juniper was used to. People were sending her smiles. Smiles! She'd never been given smiles before. She had girls come up to her, talking to her excitedly almost as if they'd always been friends. Boys looked at her with flirty smiles. For once Juniper wasn't being burdened by her last name and she realized in that moment that she didn't need to be the top of the class for people to respect her.

She woke up from her nap and it was still an empty room with no Hermione. She was missing Hermione more than ever and it was bugging her. She just wanted her friend back. She made her way to dinner, Harry and Ron having saved her a seat. She sat beside Harry who offered her a smile and she returned it. Sir Nicholas was back from being petrified and he was going up and down the isle saying his thanks as students welcomed his return.

     "Harry!" Neville suddenly called, grabbing the boy's attention. "It's Hermione!"

     Harry, Ron, and Juniper quickly turned to see Hermione standing in the door way. The three stood up when the girl made a run towards them. Immediately she engulfed Harry and Ron into a hug. Hermione turned to Juniper and hesitated, and Juniper just nodded at her and tried to hide the frown that wanted to pull on her lips. "Welcome back, Hermione." Juniper told her and Hermione sent her a small smile.

     "It's good to be back." Hermione told her. She then looked at Harry. "Congratulations. I can't believe you solved it."

     "Well, we had loads of help from you." Harry told her. "And of course Juniper here. She really is smart."

     "I'm telling you, head of the class." Juniper smirked and the three rolled their eyes at her but they all had smiles on their faces.

     Harry turned and looked at Hermione. "We couldn't have done it without you."

     "Thanks," Hermione said.

     The sound of glass clinging made the group sit down and turn towards Dumbledore. He stood at from his seat, looking at everyone. "Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been petrified." Claps immediately filled the dining hall and Juniper couldn't help the wide smile that pulled on her lips. "Also, in light of recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been canceled." Immediately the students cheered whilst Juniper and Hermione both frowned. All that studying for nothing.

          The dining hall doors opened grabbing everyone's attention. There stood Hagrid. "Sorry I'm late." He walked down the isle. "The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol." Immediately Harry, Hermione, and Juniper turned to look at Ron who's face flushed in embarrassment. Ron slowly turned to look at Dumbledore and gave him a sorry-filled look and Dumbledore just looked at him with amusement. Hagrid came to a stop behind the group of four. "And I'd just like to say that if it hadn't been for you Harry and Ron and Juniper and Hermione, of course, I would still be you-know-where so I'd just like to say thanks."

     Harry glanced at Ron before standing up and looking up at Hagrid. "There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid." Harry gave the man a hug and Hagird hugged back. Juniper looked over at Hermione who had tears in her eyes and Juniper grabbed the girls hand, giving it a squeeze. Dumbledore stood up and began clapping, followed by McGonagall and then suddenly everyone was clapping for Hagrid. All the students stood up and began cheering for the man before he suddenly became surrounded.

Hagrid looked at the students with wide eyes, surprised at the amount of support he was getting. A wide smile blossomed on the giants face and Juniper could help but chuckle at him. She really did love Hagrid, they all did. Harry was right, it wasn't Hogwarts without him.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 that time where they were headed home for the summer. Juniper sat on the train, waiting for the others and she smiled at them when they entered the same cart as her. She immediately looked at Ron as she smiled brightly before saying, "Two years down, five more to go."

     "Are you going to say that every year?" Ron asked her as the train started moving.

     "Oh it's going to be a tradition now." Juniper answered. "Every year so far we've somehow not gotten through without almost dying, so it's kind of like an award almost. Every year we make it out alive is another year closer to us growing up to be adults. But I swear to Merlin if next year isn't any better I'm just going to become one of the ghosts at Hogwarts." The three laughed at this and Juniper smiled.

     "Any plans for the summer, June?" Harry asked her.

     Juniper pursed her lips for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "My mother and I usually like to travel for a week or something. The ministry grants her a week during the summer every year to spend with me. We always go on vacation. I was thinking about maybe going to this place I've heard and read about, Greece. A muggle place. Mum chose last year so I get to choose this year. It's been a tradition since I was a little kid. My Uncle even joins us on occasion."

     "That sounds fascinating," Harry said in awe.

     Juniper smiled at him. "Would you like to join us, Harry?"

     "I don't think my Uncle would allow it." Harry frowned.

     Juniper frowned at this. "I can come kidnap you?" She suggested. Harry smiled at this and she smiled back. As the day turned to night, Ron and Harry fell asleep. Juniper was staring out of the window and Hermione had her nose in a book but she wasn't reading, she kept looking at Juniper over her book and every time she did, Juniper could feel her eyes on her.

     "What is it, Hermione?" Juniper softly asked, not wanting to wake the boys. She turned her head to look at her and Hermione's cheeks flushed in embarrassment from getting caught. Juniper smirked. "It is because I'm ahead of you in all of your classes? I know you're jealous, Hermione, you can just admit it."

     Immediately Hermione's embarrassment switched to anger and annoyance. "I'm not jealous, Juniper."

     Juniper scoffed, amused. "Really? Your tone says otherwise. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll put up a harder fight next year."

      "You're insufferable, you know that?" Hermione snapped. She closed her book and looked at Juniper with anger and slight desperation dancing in her eyes. "You know what, Juniper? I yield." Juniper furrowed her eyebrows. "If you want the spot, you take it, as long as it means I don't have to fight with you anymore." Hermione sighed as she looked at her. "I don't want to be rivals, I want to be friends."

     Juniper stared at Hermione in surprise and Hermione just shook her head and opened her book again. Juniper pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked back out the window. She didn't want to admit it out loud, but part of her felt that if she didn't say it, she was going to lose Hermione for good, and Juniper didn't want that. Pushing past her pride, Juniper turned to look at Hermione. "Okay."

     Hermione paused, looking up from her book. She didn't think she'd heard Juniper right. "Okay?"

     Juniper nodded. "Yeah." Juniper softly sighed. "The only reason I want the top spot was because it was the only way I knew how to prove myself. I know what everyone thinks of me, the top spot was my chance for people to see me for more than my last name and who my father is."

     Hermione put her book down again, moving closer to Juniper. She placed her hand over top of Juniper's causing the girl to glance down at their hands before looking back up at Hermione. Suddenly she felt heat starting to rush to her cheeks. Hermione sent her a small smile. "Juniper, you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. We appreciate you for who you are and who you are is enough. You cannot control what people think of you no matter how hard you try, but Jay, you are enough. I've always seen you for who you are and you are a brilliant witch that knows how to make light of every situation."

     "Thank you, Hermione," Juniper whispered. She swallowed thickly before saying, "I've always seen you as my friend. I may not have wanted to admit it, but you have been my friend since the beginning, I might even consider you my best friend. I'm sorry for being such an ass."

     "It's alright," Hermione smiled. "I'm just glad the air has been cleared." Hermione placed her head on Juniper's shoulder.

     Juniper smiled as she placed her head on top of Hermione's. "Yeah, me too."