▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 her warmest clothes, wrapping the scarf molly had given her around her neck before turning to look at Hermione. When Hermione was ready, the two girls left the dorm. They were going on a Hogsmeade trip today and the winter snow was out in full force. The group of four walked together through Hogsmeade, keeping up casual conversation while Juniper had one hand stuffed in her pocket and the other hand was holding Hermione's.

"For weeks, you carry around this book practically sleep with it, and yet you have no desire to find out who the half-blood prince?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"I didn't say I wasn't curious." Harry argued. "And I don't sleep with it."

"Well, it's true." Ron said. "I like a nice chat before I go to bed. All you do is read that bloody book. It's like being with Hermione and June."

Hermione glared at him. "Well, I was curious, so I went to―︎"

"The library." Ron and Harry finished.

"And?" Harry asked.

"And nothing." Hermione answered. "I couldn't find any reference to the half-blood prince."

"There we go." Harry shrugged. "That settles it, then."

"Filius, ah, I was hoping to find you in the Three Broomsticks!" The group turned when they heard Slughorn's voice, watching him as he walked up to professor Flitwick.

"Ah, no, uh emergency choir practice, I'm afraid, Horace." Flitwick said, walking past the man and then walking past the group of four.

"Does anyone fancy a Butterbeer?" Harry asked.

Juniper perked up. "I want a Butterbeer."

The three looked at her and Harry flashed her a smile. "The Three Broomsticks it is, then."

They made it into the Three Broomsticks, Harry picking a specific table. Ron and Harry sat on one side while Juniper and Hermione sat on the other. A waiter walked up to their table. "Something to drink?"

"Um, four butterbeers and some ginger in mine, please." Hermione answered. The waiter nodded and left. Juniper pulled off her scarf, shrugging off her coat with Hermione helping her take it off, draping it over the back of Juniper's chair.

"Oh, bloody hell." Ron sighed, his attention on somewhere else. The three of them turned to spot Ginny sitting with Dean Thomas. "Slick git," Ron mumbled.

"Honestly, Ronald, they're only holding hands." Hermione scoffed, turning to look back at Ginny before quickly looking back at Ron. "And snogging."

Ron nodded his head. "I'd like to leave."

Juniper frowned. "But my butterbeer."

"What? You can't be serious." Hermione said to Ron just as their butterbeers arrived. Juniper took the drink and silently sipped on it, letting her eyes dart back and forth between Ron and Hermione.

"That happens to be my sister."

"So?" Hermione asked. "What if she looked over here and saw you snogging some other girl? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Ron didn't have a response and Hermione took her drink, taking a sip from it.

Juniper turned her head only to find Harry missing. "Where'd Harry go?"

Hermione nudged Juniper, nodding to the spot right beside her. "Talking to Slughorn."

Juniper looked up to see Slughorn and Harry standing beside her. "Oh."

Juniper didn't bother listening to the conversation, keeping her sole focus on her drink. She tuned in only when both she and Hermione were mentioned. "You'd be welcome too, Granger, Black." Slughorn said.

"Welcome to what?" Juniper asked.

Hermione faked a chuckled, patting Juniper's arm. "She's only kidding. We'd be delighted, sir."

Slughorn smiled. "Splendid! Look for my owl." He looked at Ron. "Good to see you, Wallenby." He walked away and Harry sat back down.

"What? What are we being delighted to?" Juniper asked, looking at Hermione with a frown. "Why am I being delighted?"

"Slughorn's invited you to a party." Hermione explained.

Juniper's frown deepened. "Why?"

Hermione closed her eyes and let out a soft laugh. "Never mind, I'll explain later." She took a sip of her butterbeer.

Juniper shrugged. "Okay." Hermione put her drink down and looked at Juniper. Foam was on her upper lip and Juniper reached forwards, wiping it away. Hermione's cheeks burned red in embarrassment. "Slob," Juniper mumbled and Hermione just smiled and Juniper sent her a small smile back.

Ron looked at Harry. "What are you playing at?"

"Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him," Harry answered.

"Get to know him?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. It must be important. If it wasn't, Dumbledore wouldn't ask."

"We should go here more often." Juniper said, finishing her drink. "These things are really good."

Harry let out a small chuckle. "Whatever you want, June."

"You know, according to the map, there's a secret tunnel that leads here―︎oh wait, you already know that. Sorry, I forgot." Juniper let a frown fall on her face.

"Oh, it's okay, June." Harry waved her off. "I'm surprised anyone even remembers that."

"Third year was something else, I couldn't forget even if I tried." Juniper shrugged. "My mom used to love Hogsmeade." The table grew silent and Hermione reached over and grabbed her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Sorry," Juniper mumbled.

Hermione shook her head. "There's no need to apologize."

Juniper stood up, shrugging her coat back on. Without saying anything, the other three followed suit, following her out the door. They made their trek in the snow, walking behind two girls. Hermione started walking backwards, grabbing Juniper's hands and smiling widely at her. She spun Juniper causing the girl to let out a soft chuckle that made Hermione smile widely. She pulled Juniper to her, continuing to walk backwards. She gave her a kiss on the nose before giving her a kiss on the lips. Juniper chuckled and shook her head. Hermione walked properly and wrapped her arm around the beck of Juniper's neck as Juniper wrapped an arm around her waist.

Suddenly, one of the two girls that was walking in front of them let out a scream, causing the group of four to stop. One of the girls was standing while the other was laying flat on the ground. The girl turned to look at them. "I warned her! I warned her not to touch it!" Suddenly, the girl that was laying on the ground was jerked side to side before she was thrown high up in the air, floating. She held her arms out wide, mouth wide open as if she were screaming but no noise came out, and then she fell to the ground and began shaking.

"Don't get any closer." Hagrid came up from behind them, rushing past the group and towards the girl. "Get back, all of you." Hagrid quickly lifted the girl up bridal style. Harry turned towards the object that had been unraveled from the cloth it was covered in. He walked towards it and Hagrid quickly warned, "Do not touch that, except for the wrappings. Do you understand?"

Juniper looked down at the object and realized it was a necklace with pretty blue gems in it. Juniper stood there, the silence unnerving. "You guys ever seen The Exorcist?" The group all turned to look at her. "Because if you haven't, we just witnessed it."

Harry let out a sigh. "Glad to have you back, June."

They were all brought back to Hogwarts, standing in front of McGonagall in her office. The four of them stood a little ways back as McGonagall talked to the other girl that had been Katie Bell's friend―︎the one who Juniper was convinced got possessed. "You're sure Katie did not have this in her possession when she entered the Three Broomsticks?" McGonagall asked.

"It's like I said. She left to go to the loo. . . and when she came back, she had the package. She said it was important that she deliver it."

McGonagall frowned. "Did she say whom?"

"To Professor Dumbledore."

McGonagall took a sharp intake of breath. "Very well. Thank you, Leanne. You may go." Leanne turned and left the room. McGonagall then turned her attention to the group of four. "Why is it when something happens it is always you four?"

"Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years." Ron replied.

McGonagall looked at something behind them. "Oh, Severus?" They turned to see Snape standing there. He entered the room, walking over to the necklace and using his wand to lift it. "What do you think?"

"I think Ms. Bell is lucky to be alive," Snape answered.

"She was cursed, wasn't she?" Harry asked. "I know Katie. Off the Quidditch pitch, she wouldn't hurt a fly. If she was delivering that to Professor Dumbledore she wasn't doing it knowingly."

"Yes, she was cursed." McGonagall confirmed.

"It was Malfoy," Harry decided.

McGonagall turned to look at him. "That is a very serious accusation, Potter."

"Indeed," Snape agreed, putting the necklace down. "Your evidence?"

"I just know."

Snape looked unimpressed. "You just. . . know. Once again, you astonish with your gifts, Potter. Gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be. . . to be the chosen one."

"I suggest you go back to your dormitories." McGonagall said. "All of you."

As they were walking back, Harry looked to Juniper. "Hey, June, can I borrow the map?"

Juniper pulled a chocolate from her pocket and nodded. "Sure."

Ron looked at her in disbelief, nodding his head towards the treat. "Where did you even get that?"

Juniper furrowed her brows. "I always have chocolate on me." She pulled out another. "Want one?" Ron gladly accepted.

After Juniper gave Harry the map, she and Hermione went back up to their dorm. They both got changed into their sleep wear before Hermione took a seat on Juniper's bed. "Why do you always have chocolate on you?"

"Uncle Remus," Juniper answered. "He always had chocolate on him no matter what, I don't remember when I started doing it myself, but I guess I just accidentally stole his idea."

Hermione hummed, nodding. She reached over and grabbed Juniper's hand. "How are you feeling?"

Juniper shrugged. "Better than I was two months ago." Juniper sighed. "This school year's going by way too fast. Christmas is just around the corner."

"You think so? I thought it's been going quite slowly."

Juniper frowned. "Well, I usually zone out for half of the day. I blink and suddenly it's time to go back to bed. That might be part of it."

Hermione placed her head on Juniper's shoulder. "Will we ever have a normal year?"

Juniper sighed. "No, I don't think so." She leaned her head against Hermione's. "I should probably write to my mo―︎my dad, I should probably write to my dad." She cleared her throat, sitting up. Hermione nodded her head. Juniper grabbed a parchment and quill and quickly began writing.

Dear Padfoot,
I'm sorry I haven't written to you all that much this year. I'm just. . . I don't know, it's been hard. I'm doing better, I think. You were right, I shouldn't be trying to do this alone. Hermione's been very helpful. Writing has helped me too. Something's already happened this year. We saw a girl get possessed, it was slightly terrifying. How are you? Oh, also, Hermione and I are officially dating! Make sure to tell Uncle Remus. He'll be excited to know. I wish I had more to tell you, but I don't. I'm sorry for snapping at you right before I left. That was unfair to you and I shouldn't have done it. I love you and I miss you. Stay safe.

With Love,
Juniper