▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲-𝐎𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑, Juniper sat in her room, leaving three times a day before hiding once more. She left twice to eat, and a third time to take Shadow walking. Sirius and Remus were worried about her, no matter how many times they had tried to talk to her she either wouldn't respond or would give them both one word responses. Even Nymphadora had tried to talk to her, but Juniper would say nothing. Juniper had completely shut down.

She had received multiple letters from her friends, even Ron had sent a few letters and he didn't like writing letters. They were all worried about her, and grew even more worried when she didn't respond to them. Juniper laid down in her bed, Shadow sitting at her side. He pawed at her, a whimper leaving his mouth.

Juniper sighed. "Shadow, I just took you out." The dog whimpered again and Juniper sighed, throwing the blankets off of her. Shadow let out a happy bark before jumping off the bed, pawing at the door until it opened and bolted down the stairs. Juniper pulled her shoes on, managing to get a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked rough. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun, her clothes were wrinkled, dark purple bags were under her eyes from the lack of sleep she got. She couldn't close her eyes without seeing her mother's body, most of the time she stayed up until her body gave out from exhaustion and sent her into a dreamless sleep.

A frown seemed to be permanently marked on her face, she couldn't remember the last time she had smiled or laughed. She made her way down the stairs, grabbing the dog leash and hooking it onto Shadow's collar. She pulled open the door, walking outside. Shadow used the bathroom before forcing Juniper to walk a few miles. When he was a ready to go back in he turned around and started back towards the house. Juniper entered the house, unhooking Shadow's leash. Shadow went running into the kitchen as Juniper hung up the leash. She turned her head when she felt a presence. Her father stood there with his hands in his pockets, an unsure look on his face.

"Are you hungry?" Sirius asked. Juniper shook her head and Sirius nodded. "Another letter came for you." He pulled the letter from his pocket, walking forwards and handing it to her. "Molly's invited you over, she said Hermione would be there. I could take you."

Juniper shook her head. "No. I'll stay here."

Sirius softly sighed. "June, I'm worried about you. Your friends are worried about you."

Juniper shrugged. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." Sirius shook his head. "You're not fine. You just lost your mother, no one expects you to be fine."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. I'm fine." Juniper mumbled before turning to go back up the stairs.

"I'll let Molly know you'll be coming."

Juniper narrowed her eyes, turning to look at him. "I'm not."

"Juniper, this isn't up for debate. You have been sitting in your room for three months, you barely eat, you don't sleep. I don't even see you anymore, you dodge me every time I come in the room. If I'm doing something wrong, please tell me. I'm new at this. . . this. . ."

"Whole being a father thing." Juniper finished.

Sirius nodded. He let out a soft sigh. "I understand you're grieving, I am too, but you can't shut the people who love you out like this. It's not good for you. You're not alone in this, you know."

Juniper clenched her jaw. "I don't need anyone's pity."

"No one is giving you pity, Juniper. You lost your mother, people caring about you is not the same thing as pity. So, you're going to go to the Weasley's, and you're going to let your friends be there for you, and I don't want to hear any complaining." Sirius sternly said. Juniper opened her mouth to protest. "This is not up for debate. I won't sit here and watch you whither away." He paused. "I lost her too, you know. I'm not losing you as well."

Juniper swallowed. "I know." She walked back down the two steps she had went up. "I'm sorry."

Sirius shook his head. "Don't apologize." He pulled her into a hug and Juniper hugged him back. "Everyone cope's in their own ways. But it hurts sitting here and watching you fall apart and not being able to do anything about it." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, resting his chin there.

"I'm sorry." Juniper whispered. "I'll go to the Weasley's, maybe a change of scenery would be nice." She pulled away, looking up to meet his eyes. "For the record, you're doing a good job at the whole being a father thing."

Sirius gave her a small smile before nodding his head towards the stairs. "Go get your things." Juniper nodded before walking up the steps. A few minutes later she came back down with her trunk. Shadow let out a bark and Sirius watched as his daughter kneeled down, rubbing the dogs fur before pressing a kiss to his head.

"Behave while I'm gone." Juniper softly said. Shadow licked her in response. Juniper stood and they walked over to the fire place, using the Floo Network. When the green flames disappeared, Juniper stepped into the home of the Weasley's. Her father followed behind her, setting her trunk gently on the ground. The two Black's turned their heads when they heard approaching footsteps.

Molly came around the corner and smiled. "Sirius, Juniper."

Molly gave Sirius a hug. "It's good to see you, Molly."

"You as well, Sirius." Molly replied before turning to look at Juniper. "Hermione, Ron, and Harry are upstairs sweetheart."

"Thanks," Juniper mumbled.

"I'll see you for Christmas, little star." Sirius said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "I love you."

Juniper nodded. "I love you too." Sirius left and Juniper hesitated before forcing herself to walk up the stairs. She stood in front of the doorway that led to Ron's room, Harry, Hermione, and Ron sitting on the floor and talking. She should just turn around now and leave.

"Jay," Hermione's voice stopped her in her tracks.

Juniper looked at the three of them. "Uh, hi." Hesitantly, she walked into the room, taking a seat on the floor.

"Why didn't you respond to any of our letters?" Hermione immediately chastised. "We were worried about you. Ron had to stop me from going to your house myself."

Ron nodded. "It's true. I did."

"Oh." Juniper mumbled, picking at her clothes. "Sorry."

"When did you get here, Hermione?" Harry asked, having just arrived a few moments before Juniper.

"A few days ago." Hermione answered. "Though, for a while, I wasn't sure I was coming."

"Mum sort of lost it last week." Ron told them. "Said Ginny and I had no business going back to Hogwarts. That it's too dangerous."

"Oh, come on." Harry scoffed.

"She's not alone. Even my parents, and they're Muggles, know something bad's happening."

"Remus and Sirius didn't want me going either." Juniper said, barely above a whisper. "I'm only going because they said I needed to get out of the house."

"Anyways, dad stepped in, told her she was being barmy and it took a few days, but she came around." Ron finished.

"But. . . this is Hogwarts we're talking about." Harry said with a frown. "It's Dumbledore. What could be safer?"

Hermione hesitated. "There's been a lot of talk recently that. . . Dumbledore's got a bit old."

"Well, that's rubbish! We'll he's only. . . what is he?"

"150? Give or take a few years." Ron answered. The three of them burst out laughing and Juniper mustered a small smile before it fell.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 twins joke shop, Juniper couldn't help but feel proud of them. They'd worked really hard for this and seemed to be doing well. The store was filled with students of all ages, trying out the different products, buying some as well. Juniper stood there beside Hermione with her arms crossed as the girl picked up a love potion.

The twins walked over to them. "Love potions, eh? Yeah, they really do work." Each sentence was switched back and forth between the twins. "Then again, the way we hear it, sis, you're doing just fine on your own."

Ginny, who was standing beside Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Meaning?"

"Are you not currently dating Dean Thomas?" George asked.

"It's none of your business." Ginny said, walking away.

Juniper turned her head, spotting Cormac looking at Hermione. Juniper turned her head to look at Hermione, watching as she quickly put the potion down. Hermione grabbed her hand and walked off. The group of four all walked out of the joke shop, Hermione interlacing her fingers with Juniper's. "How are Fred and George doing it? Half the Alley's closed down."

"Fred reckons people need a laugh these days." Ron answered.

"I reckon he's right," Harry replied.

The group came to a stop in front of Ollivander's when they saw it was shut down. Hermione frowned. "Oh no. Everyone got their wand from Ollivander's."

Harry walked forwards, pushing the door open. The three followed him inside. The place had been completely torn up, shattered glass and wood was all over the floor, the walls were stained with smoke from a fire. Ron came to a stop, his eyes looking out one of the windows. "Harry?" Harry joined his friends side. "Is it me or do Draco and Mummy look like two people who don't wanna be followed?" Hermione and Juniper joined their side, looking out the window to see Draco and Narcissa. Narcissa glanced around before walking down an alley way with Draco following.

Of course, they followed them. They hid around a corner, watching as the two entered Borgin and Burke's. Harry stood back, looking up when he saw a light. Immediately, he began crawling up the roof and they followed him. They peered over the edge, watching as a line of people clad in blacked all walked inside. They looked through the window, watching as Draco pressed his hand against a large cabinet, his mother pressing a kiss to his cheek. A figure approached the window and they quickly ducked. After a moment, they pulled back up, only to see the shade had been drawn to cover the window.

They left Diagon Alley, making their way onto the train and finding an empty cart and sitting in it. Harry and Ron sat on one side with Juniper and Hermione on the other. "So what was Draco doing with that weird-looking cabinet?" Harry asked. "And who were all those people?" The three of them looked at him. "Don't you see? It was a ceremony. An initiation."

"Stop it, Harry." Hermione chastised. "I know where you're going with this."

"It's happened. He's one of them."

"One of what?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed. "Harry's under the impression Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater."

Ron let out a chuckle. "You're barking. What would you-know-who want with a sod like Malfoy?"

"Well, then what's he doing in Borgin and Burkes? Browsing for furniture?"

Ron shrugged. "It's a creepy shop. And he's a creepy bloke."

Harry held out a hand. "Look, his father is a Death Eater. It only makes sense. Besides, Hermione saw it with her own eyes."

"I told you. I don't know what I saw." Hermione corrected.

Harry stood. "I need some air." He walked out.

They pulled up at Hogwarts and Harry had yet to return. The three of them walked out with Hermione looking down the hall. "Where's Harry?"

"He's probably already on the platform." Ron reasoned. "Come on."

They entered Hogwarts, going to the Great Hall. Ron had dived into his food and Hermione was glaring at him. Ron shrugged. "Don't worry. He'll be here in a minute."

Hermione began hitting him with her books. "Will you stop eating?! Your best friend is missing!"

"Oi, turn around you lunatic." Ron mumbled, nodding his head.

Harry was walking towards them with blood on his face, Luna at his side. Ginny sighed. "He's covered in blood again. Why is it he's always covered in blood?"

"Look's like it's his own this time." Ron replied.

Harry took a seat beside Ginny, across from Hermione. "Where have you been?" Hermione asked. "What happened to your face?"

"Later." Harry dismissed, holding a cloth to his nose. "What have I missed?"

"Sorting hat urged us all to be brave and strong in these troubled times. Easy for it to say, huh? It's a hat, isn't it?" Ron explained and Harry nodded.

Their attention was turned towards Dumbledore when he began speaking. "Very best of evenings to you all. First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff. Horace Slughorn." Slughorn stood, giving a small wave as the students clapped. "Professor Slughorn, I'm happy to say has agreed to resume his old post as potions master. Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape." Juniper closed her eyes and sighed at the news.

"Now, as you know each and every one of you was searched upon your arrival here tonight. And you have the right to know why. Once there was a young man who, like you sat in this very hall, walked the castle's corridors, slept under its roof. He seemed to all the world, a student like any other. His name? Tom Riddle." This earned a bunch of chatter from surrounding students. "Today, of course, he's known all over the world by another name. Which is why, as I stand looking out upon you all tonight I'm reminded of a sobering fact. Every day, every hour this very minute, perhaps dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's walls. But in the end their greatest weapon is you. Just something to think about. Now off to bed. Pip-pip."

"That was cheerful," Ron sighed as they all stood.

They made their way to the common room, wishing each other goodnight before going their separate ways. Juniper changed into her night clothes and crawled underneath the blankets. Hermione walked out of the bathroom, looking at Juniper before looking at her bed. She took a moment to think before walking over to Juniper's bed. "Move over." Juniper glanced at her and listened. Hermione crawled under the covers, wrapping an arm around Juniper's waist.

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Juniper softly asked.

"Giving you comfort. Even if you don't want to ask for it." Hermione answered, grabbing her wand and turning off the lights. "Goodnight, Jay."

Juniper hesitated before allowing herself to grow comfortable with Hermione's arm wrapped around her. "Goodnight, 'Mione."