▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐖 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 later, Juniper was let go from the hospital wing. The first thing that Juniper did was make her way to Remus' office. She made her way up the steps, gently knocking on the door before peeking her head inside to see Remus. Everything was packed and a frown pulled on her face. "You going somewhere?"

     Remus looked up at the sound of Juniper's voice. He'd felt nothing but regret, he couldn't face her. He knew what he'd done, he knew the scars that were going to be permanently on her body. "Yes. Snape's told everyone about what I am, and the letters have already started coming in, so I'm preparing my leave."

     "He had no right." Juniper snarled, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "That was your secret, you should've been able to keep it. I hate that man."

     Remus looked at her and shook his head. "I don't understand."

     Juniper cocked her head slightly. "Understand what?" He opened his mouth, trying to find the right words, but Juniper knew what he was thinking. She hummed. "You thought I would hate you. Look at you differently." Remus said nothing. Juniper moved closer to him. "Remus, you're my family. I don't think of you any different. You practically helped mom raise me, I owe you everything."

      Remus was upset with himself, upset he'd hurt his own god-daughter. "I hurt you."

     "I know, I was there." She felt pain run through her scars. "I have the marks to prove it. But what can I say? They're pretty cool scars. I officially have a battle story."

     "Juniper, this isn't fun and games."

     "No, it isn't." Juniper agreed. "But you know what it also isn't? Your fault. Remus, you can't help what happened to you way back when. I don't blame you at all. You're not a monster, Remus. You're a man, a respectable one at that, that simply didn't have a choice." Juniper walked behind his desk. "You're still my Uncle. The person I look up to. I love you and nothing is ever going to change that. You were a father when I didn't have one. Sirius may be back and innocent, but I don't fully know him, so you're still the closest thing to a father that I have. Please, don't push yourself away from me because of what happened. I need you in my life, okay? I don't have a lot of people in my life, but you're one of them and you're one of the important ones." Juniper shook her head. "You can't abandon me."

     "I'd never abandon you." Remus denied, engulfing her into a hug. "I love you, Juno. So much."

     Juniper smiled, hugging him tighter. "I love you too, Rem." She pulled away and looked up at him, smiling. "I'm gonna miss having you as a teacher, you know? You're the best one yet. I could be a little biased though."

     Remus chuckled at this. "I have something for you." He pulled out the Marauders Map from his desk, handing it to her. "I tried to give it to Harry, but he said it didn't feel right having it. He said that you should have it. Don't tell your mother though, she might kill me for it."

     Juniper accepted the map. "I won't tell a soul. Well. . . except for the other three of course."

     "Of course," Remus nodded.

     "Let me walk you out."

     "Your friends are waiting for you in the Great Hall," Remus tried.

     "My friends can wait." Juniper told him. "Harry's gotten a new broom, glanced at it before coming up here. I actually passed Harry on his way to the great hall. In fact, Harry's probably trying his new broom out as we speak. I'm sure half of Gryffindor is watching him do it and I simply know Ron and Hermione will gush about it the entire train ride home. Now, please, let me walk you out."

     "You really are your mother's daughter, don't you know."

     Juniper flipped her hair over her shoulder dramatically, shrugging her shoulders. She had a proud smile on her face. "I know. Don't tell Hermione, but I looked at our grades, I'm beating her by one point. Not a lot, I know, but I'm still at the top."

     "I thought you were over that?" Remus asked as they made their way outside of the castle.

     "Sometimes you have to push your pride aside and give in. It's now a secret of mine. I will get that spot, you know. I've just decided not to boast about it and cause another rift between Hermione and myself."

     Remus nodded his head. "Smart choice."

     "Agreed."

     "You and Hermione. . . I've noticed you two have been really close this year. Something you'd like to tell me?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.

     Juniper shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know what you're talking about."

     "I think you do." Remus told her.

     "Even if I do happen to know what you're talking about, which I don't mind you, it would never happen."

     Remus came to a stop beside of the carriage that would take him away from her. "How do you know if you never try?" Juniper didn't say anything. Remus dug in his pocket, pulling out some chocolate and handing it to her. "A goodbye gift." Juniper took the candy with ease. "I'll see you soon, Juniper."

     "See you soon, Remus." Juniper stepped back and watched him disappear. She looked down at the chocolate in her hands, smiling softly to herself. She unwrapped the chocolate and began eating, making her way back towards the castle. She hummed softly to herself, making her way up to the Gryffindor common room. She needed to pack her things. She entered her room, continuing to sing softly as she packed everything up. Hermione's things were already packed and waiting to be taken away.

     Hermione entered the room and smiled when she saw Juniper. "You missed Harry trying out his new broom."

     Juniper nodded. "I know. I didn't think his feelings would be hurt if I missed that."

     "You all ready?"

     "Yep." She sat down on her bed and looked at Hermione. The scars on her torso seared in pain for a moment before it went away. She tried not to wince, but she simply couldn't help it.

     Hermione frowned, noticing. "Do they still hurt?" Juniper nodded. Hermione came to sit beside of her. "Can I see?" Juniper hesitated for a moment before gently pulling her shirt up, revealing the three long scars that would linger on her body forever. She hated them, but she wouldn't tell Remus that. She didn't blame him for it and she'd meant every word that she had said to him.

Hermione looked at the scars. They were as healed as Madame Pomfrey could get them. Involuntarily her hand reached out, touching the scarred skin with the tips of her fingers. They were rough, her skin no longer smooth. Hermione knew Juniper was trying not to let what happened affect her, but she knew Juniper. Maybe too well. She knew that Juniper wished that they weren't there, that this was going to be a permanent scar that she would have to live with for the rest of her life.

     "They don't look bad," Hermione told her. It was the truth.

     Juniper lowered her shirt, Hermione removing her hand, and Juniper almost immediately missing the touch. "Don't lie, Hermione. You're not very good at it."

     "Neither are you," Hermione softly replied.

     Juniper looked at her and suddenly the desire to kiss her overwhelmed her senses, but she held back. She and Hermione had just become friends, she couldn't mess this up. "I don't blame him for what happened. At all. Do I wish it hadn't happened? Sure. But, that's how my life goes."

     "Are you okay?" Hermione asked her. "I know a lot happened. So, tell me, are you really okay?"

     "I will be." Juniper whispered, offering her a small smile. "I just. . . I just can't wait to see my mom."

     "I know." Hermione sighed, nodding her head.

     "So much for third times a charm, huh?" Juniper chuckled, shaking her head.

     "It wasn't all bad. You proved your dad's innocence."

     "Yeah, and now I'm never going to get to see him again because he's on the run. Probably forever. I still lose."

     "I'm sorry, Jay." Hermione softly said, grabbing her hand. Juniper squeeze her hand in comfort. "Come on. We're going to be late for the train." Juniper nodded and followed Hermione out.

     They made it to the train, sitting in their usual spots. Juniper waited until the train began moving before a sigh left her lips. "Three years down, four more to go."

     "This was an interesting one, that's for sure." Ron breathed.

     "And the others weren't?" Harry questioned.

     "Well, the other ones didn't include freeing an innocent man and my rat turning into a human."

     "No, just a psychotic teacher and a giant snake." Juniper scoffed, rolling her eyes.

     "It's always something new." Hermione sighed. "We made it out alive and mostly unscathed."

     "I got battle scars now." Juniper smirked. The three rolled their eyes at her but shared a look of amusement. As the train ride passed and they finally pulled up at the station, Juniper said her goodbyes and quickly jumped off the train, running straight into the arms of her mother.

     "Whoa!" Anastasia laughed. "I missed you too, sweet girl."

     "Can we go home?"

     Anastasia nodded and smiled. "Of course." And so, they did.