▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 ━︎━︎ 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐖𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐄 day without Hermione was not something Juniper was used to. At least, not while she was in school. Waking up without Hermione waiting to walk with her to class was not something she was ready for. She didn't like how quiet the room was without Hermione. Although Juniper would never admit any of this out loud, part of her actually missed Hermione. The thought itself made Juniper shudder and it made her want to gag. Juniper walked with Ron and Harry, following silently behind them. She hoped Hermione would be alright.

"June, have you talked to Hermione?" Ron asked, bringing the girl from her thoughts. She looked up and Harry and Ron slowed their pace until she was walking in between them. 

Juniper shook her head, "No. Not since last night." It wasn't a very good conversation albeit.

A frown fell on Harry's face when he spotted a puddle of water. "What's this?" The three exchanged a look before following the puddle of water. It led to the Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. The whole floor was flooded. Ron let out a noise of disgust. "Look's like Moaning Myrtle's flooded the bathroom."

"Let's go see why." Juniper mumbled before making her way to the bathroom with the two boys following after her. She pushed the door open, all of the sinks were on, the entire bathroom was flooded up to her ankles. Juniper's lip screwed up in discomfort, a scowl on her face. She could hear Myrtle crying somewhere in the bathroom. They found the ghost sitting in the window sill of the bathroom.

Moaning Myrtle snapped her head towards them. "Come to throw something else at me?"

Harry frowned, confused. "Why would I throw something at you?"

"Don't ask me." Moaning Myrtle looked at the three. "Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks its funny to throw a book at me."

Ron's face scrunched up in confusion. "But it can't hurt if someone throws something at you. I mean, it'll just go right through you."

Myrtle swooped down, landing right in front of Ron. "Oh, sure! Let's all throw books at Myrtle because she can't feel it. Ten points if you get it through her stomach!" She punched at Ron's stomach, making him jump. "Fifty points if it goes through her head!" She sent a punch to his head.

"But who threw it at you anyway?" Harry questioned.

"I don't know. I didn't see them. I was just sitting in the U-bend, thinking about death, and it fell through the top of my head."

Juniper blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry, did you say 'thinking about death'?" Myrtle didn't answer and instead began crying like she usually did, turning away from the trio and disappearing.

Harry's eyes landed on the book that had been thrown at Myrtle. It was completely soaked with water as was Juniper's socks which she was not happy about. Harry leaned down and picked up the book, shaking off some of the water and looking at the two who shrugged in response. "I guess this was the book."

"Let me see that." Juniper took it from him, flipping through the pages. "It's empty. There's not a damn thing in here. No wonder they threw it at Myrtle." She handed the book back to Harry. "Well, I think it's time we all head to bed. It's been a tiring day and I don't know about you two, but I am absolutely exhausted."

The three made it to the Gryffindor common room, saying their goodnights before heading up to their rooms. Juniper sat on her bed, staring at the empty bed of Hermione once again. She didn't know if she could handle sleeping in the room alone once more. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, a frown on her lips. Hermione's words played in her head again and if she was being honest it was eating her alive. The guilt was really starting to get to her.

The sound of the door opening made her look up. Instinctively she went to reach for her wand because she didn't want to be bothered, but she immediately let her wand go and let her body relax when she saw Hermione standing there. Hermione looked at her for a moment and Juniper sent her a small smile. Hermione didn't return it. The curly haired girl closed the door behind her, walking over to her bed. The tension in the room grew thick and Juniper opened her mouth but if she was being honest she didn't know what she wanted to say and she didn't think Hermione wanted to hear it so she closed her mouth again.

Hermione got under the covers, turning the lights off, sending them into darkness. A soft sigh fell from Juniper's lips. She waited until she was sure Hermione was asleep before standing up and lighting a candle and throwing her robes on. She grabbed pen that Hermione had given her and a journal before making her way out of the room. She snuck out of the Gryffindor tower, carefully making her way to the astronomy tower and praying that she didn't get caught.

She climbed the steps, pausing when she made it to the top. She looked at the large telescope that was placed in the middle of the tower, a small smile pulling on her lips. She walked over to the edge, placing her hands on the wall as she looked out at the grounds below her. Hogwarts really was beautiful at night. She could see the Black lake from where she was standing and she thought back to her mother telling her about how that used to be her mother and fathers meeting spot back when they were kids and wanted alone time.

Juniper climbed up on the wall, sitting down and pressing her back against the wall. She pulled her legs up to her chest, her eyes looking up at the stars. It was so incredibly peaceful. She closed her eyes, the light from the stars shining on her. She felt her shoulders relax and she inhaled deeply, the smell of the fresh air giving her peace of mind. She opened her eyes and grabbed her journal, opening it up to the next empty page. She had to admit that she'd written a lot in her journal this year. After finding out she couldn't write to her father in Azkaban, she decided she would write to him in her journal and hope that one day she could give it to him.

She sighed as she grabbed the pen, twisting it in her hands for a moment before she began writing.

Dear Sirius,

Something's happening here at Hogwarts. I can feel it in my gut and mother always says to listen to my gut. People, ghosts, they're beginning to become petrified and we think that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. We aren't exactly sure who opened it or how it opens, but Harry has been hearing this voice that's been calling to him, leading him to the petrified people. It's almost like the voice is trying to frame him because twice now he's been in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't know if they'll believe him if he shows up somewhere he shouldn't be a third time.
Ron suspects it might be Draco Malfoy or Lucius Malfoy, but I'm not sure. Something tells me that it's much deeper than that, but I don't want to say anything because I might just be thinking too much into it. Besides, I don't really know if any of them want to hear my opinion. Hermione still isn't talking to me. I think I really hurt her feelings, I don't know what to do. I thought I wouldn't care, and at first I didn't, but then I realized that when I'm not with her I'm alone. I never realized how much time I spend with Hermione until she had to stay in the hospital wing overnight because of her own screw up. A honest mistake, really. It was quite funny though watching her be a cat.
I've also come to the dreadful conclusion that as much as I want to deny it, I think I'm beginning to care about Hermione, Harry, and Ron. I guess I've cared about Harry since the beginning, he was the first person to look at me like I wasn't a disgrace to society. That made me feel good. I wish more people would look at me that way. The looks have died down for me this year. I think people are finally realizing that no matter how many glares and snarls they send my way that I'm here to stay. I don't plan on going nowhere. I'm a Black, we Black's don't back down from a challenge. Isn't that right, dad?
I think people would think I'm crazy if they found out I was writing to you. I wish people wouldn't talk so badly about you. I know you've seen this in every letter I've written (assuming you actually have the chance to read them), but I don't think you did it. There's a missing piece to the puzzle. It just doesn't make sense. I wish I could see you. I wonder if you know that I exist. Did you remember me while you were Azkaban? Probably not. I am quite forgettable. Nothing special about little ol' Juniper Black.
This feeling is getting old. And tiring. I'm only twelve, I shouldn't be getting tired already. Anyways, it's getting late. Maybe Hermione will talk to me tomorrow. I'll write you another letter in a few days. Until next time.

Love,
Juniper

Juniper closed the journal with a sigh. She ran a hand over the black leather cover, a deep frown on her face. She didn't know why she kept writing. She'd written him so many. Each time without fail she made herself upset. She wondered what it was like to have a father in her life. How different her life would be. How happy her mother would be. Juniper softly sighed to herself before standing up and making her way back to the Gryffindor tower. She entered her room as quietly as she could, not wanting to wake Hermione. She got under the covers as she started to fall asleep, not knowing that Hermione was awake and had heard the girl not only leave but come back as well, filling her with curiosity.