▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐰𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 out Mad Eye was supposed to be their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, she was not at all happy.  Juniper and Hermione were standing in their dorms, preparing to leave, and they would have left ten minutes ago had Juniper not sat on her bed in complete denial. Hermione was standing there in front of her, arms crossed with her books held against her chance, amusement dancing on her face as she listened to Juniper rant. She would give an eye roll here or there, feigning annoyance, but she was more amused than anything.

"June," Hermione interrupted her, "we're going to be late."

"I'd rather not go at all if I'm being honest." Juniper huffed, accepting Hermione's outstretched hand. "Are you sure you don't want to skip? Just this once."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, Jay." She pulled the girl off the bed, pushing her gently towards the door. "It won't be so bad."

Juniper stopped, turning to look at her. "Won't be so bad? Won't be so b—Hermione, my mother has told me stories about that man, he's a lunatic!" Hermione walked up to her and continued pushing her out of the door, down the steps, out of their common room and into the hall. "He'll probably try and kill us. He seems like the type of person to prove a point in the most stressful and horrible ways possible." Hermione kept a tight hold on Juniper's hand, assuring herself that the brunette wouldn't attempt to run away. "I mean, his entrance alone in the Great Hall yesterday told me everything I need to know about him."

Hermione hummed. "And what, per say, is that?"

Juniper let Hermione lead her down a set of stairs as she said, "He's crazy. And dramatic. That was the most dramatic entrance I've ever seen in my life, and my father is Sirius Black. Plus, the ceiling acting up like that? Don't you think it's a little weird? It has never done that before. Never, Hermione." Hermione hummed again as Juniper gasped loudly. "Oh my Merlin! What if he's an imposter!"

"And you say he's the dramatic one." Hermione replied, coming to a stop in front of the room.

Juniper frowned. "I'm not dramatic."

Hermione rolled her eyes and shoved her towards the door. "Go."

Juniper planted her feet firmly on the ground. "I don't want to."

"Well, you don't have a choice." Hermione quickly shoved her into the room, closing the door behind them so Juniper would try and run out. She dragged the girl to a desk, forcing her into a seat before sitting down beside her.

Juniper turned towards Hermione as the girl placed her books on the desk. "Why do you pray on my downfall?"

Before Hermione could answer, Mad-Eye began talking. "Alastor Moody. " He turned to the chalkboard and began writing. "Ex-auror. . . Minsitry malcontent. . ." He threw the piece of chalk to the side after writing his name. ". . . and your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I am here because Dumbledore asked me. End of story, goodbye, the end. Any questions?" Juniper went to raise her hand but Hermione quickly grabbed her wrist, planting it firmly on the desk.

Mad-Eye continued, "When it comes to the Dark Arts. . . I believe in a practical approach. But first, which of you can tell me how many Unforgivable Curses there are?"

"Three, sir." Hermione answered, a slight shake to her voice. Immediately Juniper knew she was uncomfortable with the topic.

"And they are so named?"

"Because they are unforgiveable. The use of any one of them will —"

Mad-Eye cut her off. "Will earn you a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Correct. Now, the Ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different!" Juniper's eyes widened at his aggressive tone. "You need to know what you're up against! You need to be prepared!" He turned to the chalk board, aggressively writing. "You need to find a new place to put your chewing gum besides the underside of your desk, Mr. Finnigan!"

They all turned to him. "Ah, no way." Seamus sighed. "The old codger can see out the back of his head."

Mad-Eye quickly turned, chucking the chalk at Seamus's head. Juniper had to bite hard on her tongue to keep herself from bursting into laughter. "And hear across classrooms!" He walked forwards. "So, which curse shall we see first? Weasley!"

"Yes!" Ron answered, voice cracking with fear.

"Stand!" Slowly, Ron did as he asked. "Give us a curse."

"Well, my, my dad did tell me about one. The Imperius Curse."

"Oh, yeah," Moody drawled, "your father would know all about that. Gave the Ministry quite a bit of grief of few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why." He went over to a glass jar, removing the lid. He greeted the bug inside, putting it into his hand before using a spell to make it larger. "Imperio!" He used his wand to send the bug onto Dean's desk, before sending it flying onto Crabbe's face. "Don't worry. It's completely harmless." It then went onto the Patil twins desk, causing the girls to freak out. The entire class was laughing, but Juniper was watching the whole thing with a raised brow. "If she bites. . . " the bug floated above Ron's head, "she's lethal."

Mad-Eye began laughing like a lunatic and when Draco laughed he snapped his eye towards him. "What are you laughing at?" He sent the bug flying onto Draco's nose causing the boy to freak out. That of course earned a laugh from Juniper. "Talented, is she?" Mad-Eye laughed. "What should I have her do next? Jump out the window?" He sent the bug flying towards the window and the laughter disappeared. "Drown herself?" He hovered the bug just above a pot of water. He brought the bug back to him, placing it in his hand.

"Scores of witches and wizards have claimed they only did You-Know-Who's bidding under the influence of the Imperius Curse. But here's the rub. How do we sort out the liars?" He looked around the classroom. "Another, another." Students began raising their hands. "Up, up. Come on." Hesitantly, Neville raised his hand. "Longbottom, is it?" Neville nodded. "Up." Neville stood. "Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for Herbology."

Neville nodded. "Th-there's the, um, the Cruciatus Curse."

"Correct! Correct. Come, come." Mad-Eye motioned the boy forwards towards the bug. "Particularly nasty. The torture curse." There was a pause before he said, "Crucio!" The bug began squealing in pain, Neville's face shriveling up in pain for the creature.

Juniper clenched her jaw. Why could no one leave that boy alone? When it went on for a moment she finally shot up from her seat, beating Hermione by a second. "Stop it!" She yelled, her voice echoing along the room. "Can't you see it's making him uncomfortable! Stop!"

Mad-Eye seemed to snap out of some sort of trance, his eyes immediately moving to her. The man cleared his throat before picking up the bug and walking over to her. Juniper held eye contact, her eyes blazing with rage. "Miss Black." He said, clearing his throat. He sat the bug on her desk, right in front of her, but she didn't look at it, she kept her eyes trained on the professor. "Perhaps you could give us the last Unforgivable Curse."

Juniper's eyes glowered as she stared at him. "The killing curse."

"Yes, I guess you would know that one." Mad-Eye mumbled.

Juniper straightened. "What in the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Mad-Eye didn't answer her as he preformed the curse on the bug. "Avada Kedavra!" The bug was dead. "The killing curse." Mad-Eye walked away from her desk and Juniper forced herself to sit back down. "Only one person has been known to have survived it and he's sitting in this room." He walked over to Harry while Juniper clenched her hands into fists. Hermione gave her a worried look, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"If he says one thing to him, Hermione, I swear I'll lose my temper." Juniper hissed. Hermione just grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze to try and stop it from shaking. They were dismissed not too long after, and Juniper was still simmering with rage.

"Brilliant, isn't he?" Ron asked. "Completely demented, of course and terrifying to be in the same room with but he's really been there, you know? He's looked evil in the eye."

"There's a reason those curses are unforgiveable." Hermione snapped. "To preform them in a classroom. . . I mean did you see Neville's face."

Juniper came to a stop when she saw Neville standing on the steps, staring out of one of the windows. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her rage growing at the traumatized look on his face. "Neville, are you alright?"

Neville didn't get a chance to answer her before Mad-Eye made his way down the stairs and placed a hand on Neville's shoulder. "Son, are you alright?"

"Of course he's not alright!" Juniper snapped. "You forced him to stand there and watch you torture an innocent creature! What kind of demented person does that?"

Hermione, Harry, and Ron's eyes all widened. "Jay," Hermione whispered.

"It's alright." Neville barely whispered to her. Juniper looked at him before watching as he turned towards the professor.

"Come on. We'll have a cup of tea. I want to show you something." Mad-Eye began making his way back up the stairs, glancing at Juniper who glared harshly. After a moment, Neville followed after him.

"June, are you alright?" Harry asked.

"I'm fine!" Juniper snapped, shoving away from the three and storming down the stairs.

Harry went to chase after her, but Hermione stopped him. "Give her a minute. We remember what happened last time one of us were angry. Unkind words were said." Harry winced at the memory before nodding.

Juniper made her way down the last set of steps. She turned down a few halls before finding an empty one and pressing her back against the wall, closing her eyes. She needed to calm down. She leaned her head against the wall, letting the coolness of it seep through her robes and calm the burning anger that riddled her body. She didn't pay attention to the footsteps approaching her, too busy closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing.

"Are you alright?" A delicate voice asked, a slight accent in her words.

Juniper opened her eyes, ready to yell at the person to leave her alone, but the words died on her lips. The blonde beauty from yesterday was standing before her, a slight down turn of her lips and concern dancing in her light blue eyes. "Yeah." Juniper nodded, clearing her throat when her anger pierced through her words. "My professor just pissed me off."

She nodded. "I understand." She held out a hand. "Fleur."

Juniper took her hand, shaking it. "Juniper. But you can just call me June."

"I like Juniper better. You have a lovely and unique name."

Juniper gave her a small smile. "Thank you. Your name is beautiful too, just as you are." Juniper's eyes widened in horror. "Oh Merlin that was so cliche!"

Fleur laughed. "Well, thank you, Juniper."

Juniper almost melted at the way Fleur's accent flew through her name. "I-uh-you-" Her face flushed and she cleared her throat. "What are-what are you doing all the way over here?"

She held up a paper. "I was trying to place my name in the Goblet, seems I must've taken a few wrong turns."

"Oh, darling, you are on the wrong side of the castle." Juniper softly chuckled.

"Would you mind showing me the way?" Fleur asked.

Juniper nodded. "Sure. This way, m'lady." She motioned a hands forwards and the girl laughed at her antics. Juniper hooked her arm into Fleur's, pointing out some of her favorite talking paintings, giving her some slight history on Hogwarts but not enough to bore her. She led her to the room where the Goblet was, coming to an extremely confused stop when she saw the twins with grey hair rolling around on the floor fighting.

"Is. . . is this normal?" Fleur asked.

"For Fred and George?" Juniper asked, turning to look at her. "Yes."

The crowd that was cheering for the twins to fight went silent as Viktor Krum walked in the room, placing his name in the Goblet and sparing a glance at Hermione before walking out again. Juniper watched the exchange with narrowed eyes before turning her head to look at Hermione only to find the girl already looking at her. Her eyes were focused on Juniper and Fleur's interlinked arms. In an instant, she went back to her book. Juniper removed her arm from Fleur's as she watched the girl place her name in before walking back to Juniper.

Hermione glanced up from her book to spare a glance at Juniper, watching with a deep frown and aching heart as Juniper and Fleur exchanged a few words, a smile and laugh coming from Juniper's lips. A feeling bubbled in her stomach, one that she couldn't quite decipher. More and more students began to file in until the room was full and the teachers were there.

"Sit down, please." Dumbledore instructed and the students listened. "Now the moment you've all been waiting for. The champion selection." He used his hand to dim the fire lighting the room, leaving the glow of the blue flame from the goblet to keep the room alive. The flame turned red for a moment as it spat out a name. It did this three times. The champion for Durmstrang was Viktor Krum, the champion for Beauxbatons was Fleur Delcaour, and the Hogwarts champion was Cedric Diggory.

The three of them stood at the front. "Ececllent! We now have our three champions! But in the end, only one will go down in history. One will hoist this chalice of champions, this vessel of victory, the Triwizard Cup!" He pointed to the cloth covering the cup, sending it flying. The chalice was clear with silver outlinings, a soft blue glow emitting from the cup. The students all clapped but when Snape stepped forwards, staring at the Goblet behind Dumbledore, he noticed Snape's furrowed brows and turned to the cub, watching as the blue flame turned red once more and spat out a name.

Dumbledore reached up to grab the paper, the silence in the room was deafening. "Harry Potter," Dumbledore mumbled. He looked around the room. "Harry Potter?" Harry, who had stood, quickly sat down in his seat. Juniper, who was sitting behind him and beside Hermione had pure shock written on her face. "Harry Potter!"

"Go on, Harry." Hermione urged, but Harry didn't move. "Harry, for goodness sake." She shoved the boy up from his seat and all eyes turned to him as he hesitantly made his way forwards. He came to a stop in front of Dumbledore who shoved the paper into his hands. Harry looked down at it before looking at his headmaster with confused eyes. He moved past him, going to stand with the others at the front.

"He's a cheat!" One boy yelled.

"He's not even 17 yet!" Another said.

The champions were whisked away to another room and the rest were dismissed to their dorms. Juniper couldn't move. She was frozen in shock. How had Harry's name gotten in there? He hadn't wanted this, he told her as much. Her stomach churned with unease. If he didn't put his name in there, someone else did. But who? Hermione turned to Juniper when she noticed her not moving. "Jay?"

Juniper didn't answer. Hermione reached down and grabbed her hand, gently pulling her from her seat. "I have to. . . uhm. . . I have to tell my parents."

Hermione nodded. "Come on, we'll write them both a letter." Juniper nodded and let Hermione lead her back to the dorms.