▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐀𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 Hogsmeade, and the sound of a cat screeching alarm made them quickly run. They quickly found a place to hide from the Death Eaters that were without a doubt looking for them. Two of them were in the place they were hidden. Someone yelled Harry's last name, making the two Death Eaters stalk off in that direction and immediately the group of four went running down an alley and up a set of stairs only to be met with a locked gate.

     A door opened making them turn their heads as a voice whispered, "In here, Potter." Harry listened, entering the open door and going down the steps. They quickly followed him.

     "Did you get a look at him?" Ron asked Hermione. "For a second, I thought it was―︎"

     "I know. Dumbledore." Hermione nodded.

     "Wouldn't be surprised if it was." Juniper mumbled, grabbing Hermione's hand as she walked forwards. Her eyes landed on a mirror hanging on the wall, a shard missing from it, but it was the reflection that caught the couples attention.

     "Harry." Hermione said. "I―︎I can see you in this."

     Harry walked towards them, holding the shard in his hand. Before he comment, a voice caught their attention. "You bloody fools. What were you thinking coming here? Have you any idea how dangerous it is?"

     Harry didn't answer. Instead he said, "You're Aberforth, Dumbledore's brother. It's you who I have been seeing in here." Aberforth walked over to the window, peaking through the curtain. "You're the one who sent Dobby."

     "Where have you left him?" Aberforth asked.

     "He's dead," Harry answered.

     "Sorry to hear it. I liked that elf."

     "Who gave that to you?" Harry asked, pointing at the mirror.

     "The mirror? Mundungus Fletcher, 'bout a year ago."

     Harry shook his head. "Dung had no right selling that to you. It belongs to―︎"

     "Sirius." Aberforth finished. "Which also meant it belonged to Anastasia." He turned to look at them, a deep frown on Juniper's face. "Albus told me." Juniper felt Hermione give her hand a small squeeze. "He also told me your friend would likely be hacked off if she ever found out I had it, but ask yourself, where would you be if I didn't."

     "Well, considering my dad is still alive, and it is his property, I'd like to take it back." Juniper stated.

     "When the war is over, we'll discuss." Aberforth answered. Juniper clenched her jaw in response.

It didn't take him long to bring them food and drinks. Ron and Hermione immediately took them and Juniper stood there stubbornly with her arms crossed over her chest and a glare permanently on her face.

     "Do you hear from the others? From the Order?" Hermione asked Aberforth, taking a sip of her drink.

     "The Order's finished. You-know-who's won. Anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves." Aberforth answered and Juniper looked down at the ground.

     "We need to get into Hogwarts, tonight." Harry sternly spoke. "Dumbledore gave us a job to do."

     "Did he now? Nice job? Easy?"

     "We've been hunting horcruxes. And we think the last one's inside the castle, but we'll need your help getting in."

     Aberforth looked at him. "That's not a job my brother's given you. It's a suicide mission. Do yourself a favor, boy, go home. Live a little longer."

     "Dumbledore trusted me to see this through." Harry argued.

     "What makes you think you can trust him?" Aberforth challenged. "What makes you think you can believe anything my brother told you? In all the time you knew him, did he ever mention my name?" He pointed to the painting behind Harry, the one that had a young girl in it. "Did he ever mention hers?"

     "Why should he―︎"

     "Keep secrets?" Aberforth cut Harry off. "You tell me."

     "I trusted him."

     "That's a boy's answer." Aberforth scoffed, walking closer to him. "A boy who goes chasing horcruxes on the word of a man who wouldn't even tell him where to start! You're lying! Not just to me, that doesn't matter. To yourself, as well. That's what a fool does. You don't strike me as a fool, Harry Potter. So, I'll ask you again. There must be a reason."

     Harry stared at him for a moment. "I'm not interested in what happened between you and your brother. I don't care that you've given up. I trusted the man I knew. And we need to get into the castle tonight."

     Aberforth looked at him before turning his attention to the painting. "You know what to do." The girl in the painting gave a small nod before turning and walking away.

     "Where have you sent her?" Harry asked.

     "You'll see, soon enough."

     Juniper groaned. "You and your brother both have this way in speaking in riddles. And I hate it."

     Hermione and Ron walked towards Harry and Juniper. Hermione grabbed Juniper's hand, staring at the now empty painting. "That's your sister Ariana, isn't it? She died very young, didn't she?"

     Aberforth paused, glancing at Hermione before looking at Harry. "My brother sacrificed many things, Mr. Potter, on his journey to find power, including Ariana. And she was devoted to him. He gave her everything. . . but time."

     "Thank you, Mr. Dumbledore." Hermione said. He nodded before entering through a door and leaving them alone. The three of them looked at her. "He did save our lives twice. Kept an eye on us in that mirror."

     "Which belongs to my father." Juniper bitterly added.

     Hermione sighed before saying, "That doesn't seem like someone who has given up."

     "Well, Hermione, people can still go to the ends of the earth for you and feel like it's not worth it the entire time." Juniper commented, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "Sometimes, it's not that people want to give up, but it's that they have no choice. Sometimes, they have nothing left in them and giving up is the only way to keep them from suffocating."

Harry looked at Juniper for a moment, taking note of the underlying meaning. She was exhausted from all of the fighting, and the running, and the hiding. Harry couldn't say he blamed her. But he knew Juniper. Even if she had nothing left to give, she would keep fighting until she was dead. Because that's who Juniper was.

     Hermione frowned, taking a mental note to ask her about it later, before looking at the painting. "She's coming back."

     "Who's that with her?" Ron asked, noticing the person following behind her.

     That's when the painting opened up, revealing a secret passage behind it. Harry furrowed his brows in surprise. "Neville! Oh, you look―︎"

     "Like hell I reckon." Neville finished with a smile. He had small cuts and bruises littered across his face. "This is nothing. Seamus is worse." Aberforth made an appearance behind them, causing Neville to address him. "Hey, Ab, we've got a couple more coming through."

     They walked through the secret passage and Juniper said, "I've studied the marauders map more times than I can count, and not once do I remember this being on there."

     "That's because it never existed till now." Neville answered. "The seven secret passages were sealed off before the start of the year. This is the only way in or out now. The grounds are crawling with Death Eaters and Dementors."

     "How bad is it with Snape as Headmaster?" Hermione asked.

     "Hardly ever see it. It's the Carrows you need to watch out for."

     "Carrows?" Harry asked.

     "Yeah. Brother and sister. In charge of discipline." He pointed to his face. "They like punishment, the Carrows."

     Juniper frowned. "They did that to you? Why?"

     "Today's dark arts lessons had us practicing the cruciatus curse. On first years. I refused. Hogwarts has changed."

     Juniper pursed her lips, nodding. "Right. So, I know what I need to do when I get there."

     Hermione sighed. "Jay, you're not killing anyone."

     "Killing? Who said anything about killing?" She shot Hermione a false smile. "No, my love, I'm going to give them a taste of their own medicine. If they like the cruciatus curse so much, I'm sure they wouldn't mind being test subjects for it." Hermione shot her a look. "What? They hurt Neville!"

     Neville managed a small chuckle. "It's alright, June."

     "It is not." Juniper scoffed. "Nobody get's to hurt you and get away with it."

     "What I'm hearing is someone needs to keep at your side at all times." Harry managed a small smile, glancing at her.

     "Possibly."

     They stopped right before the entrance to Hogwarts. Neville turned to look at them, a slight smile pulling on his lips. "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?" He pushed the door open and Juniper looked over his shoulder to see a bunch of kids sitting around, cots were tied to some of the supporting beams. "Hey! Listen up, you lot! Brought you a surprise."

     "Not more of Aberforth's cooking, I hope." The voice of Seamus Finnigan said. "Be a surprise if we can digest it."

     Neville stepped to the side and Harry walked out. The students stood, immediately cheering and applauding him. Harry climbed down and was immediately engulfed into multiple hugs. Finally Neville said, "Okay, okay. Let's not kill him before You-know-who gets the chance, eh?" Juniper climbed down next, followed by Hermione and then Ron. The four of them stood there and Neville crossed his arms over his chest. "What's the plan, Harry?"

     Harry looked at all of the students who were watching him expectantly. "Okay. There's something we need to find. Something hidden here in the castle. And it may help us defeat You-know-who."

     "Right." Neville nodded. "What is it?"

     "We don't know."

     "Where is it?" Neville tried.

     "We don't know that either. I realize it's not much to go on."

     "That's nothing to go on." Seamus corrected.

     "I think it has something to do with Ravenclaw. Um, it'll be small, easily concealed. Anyone, any ideas?"

     Luna spoke up. "Well, there's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem."

     "Oh, bloody hell. Here we go." Ron mumbled and Juniper elbowed him in the side.

     "Lost diadem of Ravenclaw?" Luna asked. "Hasn't anyone heard of it? It's quite famous."

     Cho said, "Yes, Luna, but it's been lost for centuries now. There's not a person alive today who's seen it."

     Ron furrowed his brows. "Excuse me. Can someone tell me what a bloody diadem is?"

     "It's a sort of crown. You know, like a tiara." Cho answered.

     The door opened, grabbing their attention. Ginny appeared, eyes immediately landing on Harry. "Harry," she breathed.

     "Hi, there."

     Ron scoffed. "Six months she hasn't seen me and it's like I'm Frankie first year. I'm only her brother."

     Seamus looked at him. "She's got lots of those though. There's only one Harry.

     "Shut up, Seamus." Ron said, shaking his head. Juniper placed a subtle hand over her mouth, trying to hide her amused smile.

     "What is it, Ginny?" Neville asked.

     "Snape knows. He knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade."

     Juniper rolled her eyes. "Of course he does. Good God." She sighed, running a hand through her hair as Hermione reached over and grabbed her other hand, interlacing their fingers. "Harry, what do you want to do?"

     Harry turned his head to look at her. "The only thing we can do, I suppose."

     "And what's that?" Hermione asked.

     "Blend in."

     "That's so boring." Juniper mumbled. "I don't want to blend in."

     "Only until we're face to face, June." Harry assured. "I'm not hiding anymore."

     Juniper nodded. "Good. 'Cause neither am I."