▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ━︎━︎ 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 was over and it was time for her to go back to Hogwarts, a sad sigh left her lips. She really didn't want to part ways with her mother again, but she knew she was going to have to get used to it. Hogwarts was going to be her second home for the next seven years of her life. Being eleven sucked. Juniper stared at the castle as it came into sight and she still couldn't help but gape at how beautiful it was. Hogwarts may not have been her home, but it was absolutely stunning and she didn't really mind having the amazing views, especially from the astronomy tower.

The first thing Juniper did when she got inside was head to her room. She made her way up the steps, pushing her door open and smiling when her things were already up there. Immediately she began to unpack, putting everything back where it belonged. Just as she had finished, closing the trunk and stuffing it underneath her bed, the door opened causing the brunette to turn her head. Hermione stood there and sent Juniper a small smile.

"Juniper," Hermione greeted.

"Hermione," Juniper greeted back.

As Hermione began to put her stuff in its rightful place she asked, "How was your Christmas?"

"It went well." Juniper answered. Hermione couldn't help but notice the lack of joy in her words. She wondered if something happened, but knowing it wasn't any of her business, she decided against saying anything. "How was yours?"

"It was alright." Hermione glanced at Juniper, noticing a necklace around her neck that hadn't been there before. She turned and pointed at it. "Is that new? Did you get it for Christmas?"

Juniper held the locket in her hands, nodding. "Yes. My Uncle Remus got it for me."

"Well, it's a really pretty necklace."

Juniper smiled shyly, "Thanks."

"Have you seen Harry and Ron?" Hermione questioned and Juniper shook her head. "Also did you read up any on Nicholas Flamel?" Embarrassed, Juniper lowered her head. "Well, I think you sent them to the wrong section."

Juniper frowned. "What?"

"I don't think it's in the restricted section."

Juniper groaned. "Are you serious?"

"Come on. I'm sure they're in the library." Hermione walked out and reluctantly Juniper followed behind her. As they made it to the library, Hermione walked directly to a certain section, running her finger across the book spines until she stopped on a particular one. When she found it she smiled and pulled it out. "This is it. I read it a few weeks before the break."

"I feel so stupid." Juniper mumbled.

Hermione looked at her, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "It's just an honest mistake." She walked away and Juniper sighed before following after her. When they spotted Ron and Harry, Hermione quickly walked up to them, "Juniper had you looking in the wrong section." She placed the book loudly on the table, the two boys glancing at her.

Juniper put her hands up in defense, rolling her eyes. "I know. How could I be so stupid?"

"I checked this out a few weeks ago for a bit of light reading." Hermione said as she sat down in front of the two, Juniper taking a seat beside of her.

Ron stared at the very large and thick book with raised eyebrows. "This is light?"

Hermione gave him a look and Juniper had to glance down at the table as a smirk pulled at the corner of her lips. Hermione flipped through the book for a moment, her finger scanning down one of the pages before a gasp left her lips. "Of course! Here it is!" She glanced at Juniper as the girl leaned over her shoulder, fighting the smile that wanted to creep on her face. "Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's stone."

"The what?" Harry and Ron questioned in unison.

"Honestly, don't you two read?" Hermione asked and Juniper chuckled at this. "You know what I'm talking about, don't you, Jay?" She looked at Juniper who was taken aback by the nickname before nodding her head. Hermione smiled before continuing. "The Sorcerer's stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will transform any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of life which will make the drink immortal."

"Immortal?" Ron frowned.

"It means you'll never die." Juniper told him.

"I know what it means!" Ron said defensively, Harry shushing him.

"I'm sorry, the look on your face said otherwise." Juniper smiled sarcastically at him before motioning for Hermione to continue.

"And the only stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicholas Flamel the noted alchemist, who last year celebrated his 665th birthday."

"Alright, but," Juniper paused Hermione, "who on earth would want to live for that long? This world may be beautiful and all, but I don't think it's 600 years worth."

"You're telling me if you were given the chance at immortality, you wouldn't take it?" Hermione questioned her.

Juniper shook her head. "Absolutely not. Would you?"

Hermione frowned before shaking her head. "I don't think I would."

"I guess you never know until the option's presented to you." Harry offered and the two girls nodded in agreement.

"Anyways," Hermione got back on the subject at hand, "that's what Fluffy is guarding on the third floor. That's what's under the trap door. The Sorcerer's stone."

"I still don't understand why Hagrid would name it Fluffy. I mean, if it's as scary as it sounds and as scary as you all say it is, Fluffy is a questionable name is it not?" Juniper asked, glancing between the three of them. Hermione just rolled her eyes and the three stood up, beginning to walk away. "What? It's a valid question." Quickly Juniper stood up and followed after them. When she caught up to them she asked, "So, what're we doing?"

"Well the only one that seems to have any information about this topic is Hagrid himself." Harry told her. "I say tonight we go out to his hut and ask him about, maybe he'll give us more answers this go around."

"Alrgith," Juniper nodded. "Can it wait until after dinner though? I'm starved."

"You really are a food junkie, aren't you?" Hermione sighed. "More than Ron. That's saying a lot."

"Hey!" Ron frowned, looking at her. "No one likes food more than me." This made the group chuckle.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 grew darker and Juniper grew sleepier, it was time for them to go meet Hagrid. Juniper hummed a song to herself as they made it down the steep hill, taking the path that would lead them to Hagrid's Hut. It was a small little place, but Juniper couldn't help but feel like it was homey. They could see that a light was still on in the hut, meaning that Hagrid was still awake. Harry stood in front of the three as he knocked on the door repeatedly. It wasn't too long before Hagrid pulled the wooden door open.

"Hagrid," Harry spoke first, quickly.

"Oh, hello." Hagrid greeted them. "Sorry, don't wish to be rude but, I'm in no fit state to entertain today."

Hagrid began to close the door and collectively the four of them said, "We know about the Sorcerer's stone." Hagrid stopped the door.

He pushed the door back open, looked at them and said, "Oh," before turning on his heel and walking back into his home. The group of four followed after him.

"We think Snape's trying to steal it," Harry explained as they all took a seat. Naturally, Juniper sat by Hagrid's dog, smiling at him and giving him scratches and rubbing his fur.

"Snape?" Hagrid questioned. "Blimey, still on about him, are you?"

"Hagrid, we know he's after the stone we just don't know why."

"Snape is one of the teachers protecting the stone." Hagrid quickly revealed and Juniper rose her eyebrows in surprise. Juniper wasn't really sure why this was any of their business in the first place, it was distracting her from her studies, but whether she wanted to admit this or not, these three idiots were starting to become her acquaintances and she didn't want them to get hurt. "He's not about to steal it."

Harry shared a look with Ron before looking back at Hagrid. "What?"

"You heard. Right, come on now, I'm a bit preoccupied today."

"Wait a minute. One of the teachers?" Juniper asked, raising an eyebrow. Who else was protecting it?

"Of course." Hermione said and Juniper sighed. She was sick and tired of Hermione figuring things out before her. It was quite frustrating if you asked her. "There are other things defending the stone aren't there? Spells, enchantments."

"That's right." Hagrid nodded his head. "Waste of bloody time if you ask me. Ain't no one gonna get past Fluffy. Ain't a soul knows how except for me and Dumbledore."

"Do tell." Juniper smiled sweetly at him.

"I shouldn't have told you that." Hagrid frowned. "I should not have told you that." The sound of rattling grabbed the groups attention. Hagrid, who was wearing gloves on his hands, walking over to the fire that had a pot dangling over it. He reached it and pulled out what looked like a head, whispering ow over and over again due to how hot it was. He sat the egg on the table and Juniper looked at Hagrid questioningly. They all stood up and followed Hagrid over to the table, staring at the egg.

"Uh, Hagrid, what exactly is that?" Harry questioned.

"That, is a. . . it's um. . ."

Ron's eyes widened. "I know what that is. But, Hagrid, how did you get one?"

"Care to enlighten the rest of us on what it is?" Juniper asked, motioning to the rest of them. When Ron didn't say anything she nodded. "No? Alright then."

"I won it, off a stranger I met down at the pub. Seemed quite glad to get rid of it, as a matter of fact."

They watched as the egg started shaking, part of it beginning to crack. A gasp fell from Juniper's lips when a baby dragon emerged. Hermione looked at the dragon before slowly turning her head to look at Hagrid. "Is that. . . a dragon?"

"Hagrid, has anyone ever taught you not to take things from strangers?" Juniper questioned, her eyes never leaving the creature. "Or maybe you should stop making bets at pubs filled with strange strange people."

"That's not just a dragon," Ron told them. "That's a Norwegian ridgeback. My brother Charlie works with these in Romania."

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid asked, tearing up. the dragon turned towards Hagrid, cooing at him. "Oh, bless him. Look, he knows his mummy." Hagrid chuckled. "Hello, Norbert."

"Norbert?" Harry questioned, narrowing his eyes.

"Yeah, well, he's got to have a name, doesn't he?"

"But. . . Norbert?" Juniper asked. "Why Norbert? Hagrid, I just really think―︎" Hermione stopped her, just shaking her head. Juniper sighed and nodded.

When the dragon let out a hiccup of fire, synching Hagrid's beard, Hagrid quickly hit the fire until it died. "Well he'll have to be trained up a bit, of course." Hagrid then looked past the group, his eyes narrowed as he looked out his window. "Who's that?" The group turned their heads only to see none other than Draco Malfoy peering through the window, quickly ducking when he realize he was spotted.

"Malfoy," Juniper sighed. "A.k.a, not good."

"Oh, dear."

"We should head back." Juniper told the group and they all nodded in agreement. After saying their goodbyes to Hagrid, they made their way through the halls of the castle, headed back to the Gryffindor common room.

"Hagrid always wanted a dragon." Harry told them. "Told me so the first time I ever met him."

"It's crazy," Ron said, still in disbelief. "And worse, Malfoy knows."

"I don't understand." Harry frowned. "Is that bad?"

"Oh, it's bad." Juniper nodded her head. "Very very bad."

The group came to a sudden stop when they saw Professor McGonagall standing there, looking at them. "Good evening." And of course, behind her, was Draco Malfoy.