▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐎𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐎 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑, 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 had been the best summer she's ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Even if she had to stay in the house the entire time, she truly didn't care. Being with her father, it meant everything to her. It felt like her family was finally a family and she loved it dearly. Her father had told her stories from his time at Hogwarts and Juniper loved sitting there and listening to him talk, she loved the way a smile would grace his face every time he would mention James or Remus and how a frown pulled on his lips whenever Peter came up into conversation.

Juniper sat there on the couch, her legs laying in her fathers lap with his arm wrapped around her. It was like they were both scared that the other would disappear. Anastasia Black had never been more happy in her life than she had that summer. Her daughter and her husband were talking like they hadn't been apart for twelve years, and Anastasia would forever be grateful. A smile seemed to stay on her face permanently. The two people that she loved the most were under the same house. Her family was finally together. She had waited so incredibly long for this, and now it was here and it was more than she could have ever hoped for.

"Dad," Juniper hummed, "out of all the stories you've told me, you've never told me how you and mom met. Mom's mentioned a few things, but I tried not to ask her about you because it would make her sad."

Sirius glanced at Anastasia who had walked in quietly, leaning against the doorway as she watched the two of them interact. He smiled to himself before looking at his daughter. "Well, the first time I ever met your mother was on the train in first year. I met her and James on the same day. She was very closed off that first year because of what happened to her parents, but even though she was always frowning and kept herself tucked into James' side, I had thought she was the most beautiful girl the moment I laid eyes on her."

Anastasia rolled her eyes. "Oh please, as if." Anastasia walked further into the room, taking a seat on the arm of the couch. "Your father was the playboy of Hogwarts."

Sirius chuckled. "Yeah. . . I can't deny that."

"In fact, he didn't even make a move on me until fifth year."

Juniper frowned. "Why'd you wait so long?"

Sirius shrugged. "Because she was basically James' sister. They called each other brother and sister all the time, and James had threatened my life multiple times and told me if he ever caught me trying to make moves on his sister, he'd killed me." He chuckled. "The first time we ever kissed was at a party. We were playing 7 minutes in Heaven, something one of the muggles had picked up and made quite popular around the school. It landed on your mother and I and well. . . that's when our first kiss happened."

"More like make out session," Anastasia muttered.

"I was trying to spare her of the intense details I'm sure she doesn't want to hear." Sirius laughed.

"You'd be right." Juniper mumbled, scrunching her nose up.

Anastasia laughed and Sirius continued. "She kept telling me it was just a game, it meant nothing. But to me, it meant everything. I had made a promise to myself that I'd never kiss another soul if it wasn't her. I kept true to my promise. Well, one day, James had found out. I was never more scared in my life than I was in that moment."

Anastasia smiled. "James chased him around the entire school, yelling that he was dead over and over again because even though I was only a month younger than James, I was still his baby sister."

"'Bout did it too, that one." Sirius said, shaking his head. "Got me real good right here." He pointed to his cheek. "Bout beat me to death, he was not happy. My reputation didn't really help that either."

Juniper frowned, furrowing her brows. "But you still went for her? Even after that?"

Sirius nodded. "It was a few days later, James had refused to talk to me and he saw Ana and I talking. She had gone up to bed and he approached me. Warned me again. That was the night that I told him that I loved her."

"James had no choice but to let it happen after that," Anastasia finished. "He kept a close eye on him though."

"James made sure I wasn't trying to hurt her―︎ not that I would have ever hurt your mother. If I even talked to another girl I was threatened."

"It was quite funny if you ask me," Anastasia smirked.

Sirius gave her an incredulous look. "It was not funny. I was scared for my life our entire relationship. It wasn't until we got married that he finally calmed down."

Juniper chuckled. "Must've been some reputation if he kept an eye on you for that long."

"It was." Anastasia commented, taking a sip of her wine.

"It's my turn to ask you something." Sirius said, Juniper rose a brow. "What's going on with you and Hermione?"

Juniper seemed to pale slightly as she cleared her throat. "Oh, uh, it's nothing."

"You've been non-stop talking about her. It's not nothing," Sirius denied. He nudged her slightly. "You can tell me."

Juniper sighed. "I just. . . I don't know what it is Dad, truly. We kept having these-these moments last year. She was upset I hadn't taken her to the Yule Ball―︎I didn't even know she wanted to go to the Yule Ball with me. I didn't think she even swung that way. She's my best friend, I don't want to ruin anything."

"From what I've heard," Sirius glanced at Anastasia before looking back at Juniper, "she seems to like you back."

Juniper frowned. "But what if she doesn't? What if I'm misreading the signs?"

Sirius gave her a small smile. "You'll never know until you ask."

"But that's scary."

Anastasia chuckled. "It's not real if it isn't scary."

"Do you love her?" Sirius asked.

"We're not even together, how would I know if I loved her?" Juniper asked.

"Trust me, little star, you'll know."

Juniper huffed. "If you say so. Anyways, not to be blunt, but are the Aurors using our house as a meeting spot?" Sirius and Anastasia's eyes widened. "Because I know you and mom are part of the Aurors, and so is Uncle Remus, and I know you don't think I notice because you have the meetings late at night, but Shadow isn't exactly quiet when a new person he doesn't know comes into the house."

The two parents were silent for a moment before Sirius finally nodded. "Yes."

Juniper grew quiet. "It's because of the Death Eaters, isn't it? He's really back."

Anastasia sat beside of Juniper. "Honey, that isn't something you should be worried about."

"How old do you have to be to become an Auror?"

Sirius looked at her. "17. . . why?"

"Oh." Juniper frowned. "Well, I want to be one. If he's back, I want to help stop him."

"Juni―︎"

Juniper cut her mother off. "My best friend is being hunted down by him. I want to help him because in the end I know they're going to have to face off, and I want to be there to back him up."

Sirius shook his head. "June, you don't need to worry about these things."

"But I do." Juniper disagreed. "I haven't been allowed to talk to him all summer. I'm worried about him. They're taking too long to approve mom's request of adopting him and at this point I just want to break in and kidnap him. He's safer here with us then with those people he lives with."

The sound of an owl flying in caused the group to turn their heads. Astra flew into the room and Juniper held out her arm, letting the owl perch itself there. She gently took the letter that was wrapped around her leg. Juniper smiled. "It's from Remus. Mom, would you get Astra a treat?" Anastasia nodded before walking out and coming back in, giving the owl a treat before it flew off. Juniper opened the letter and began reading it out loud.

"Dear Sirius and Ana, I don't know if you've seen the paper or heard the news, but apparently Harry has been expelled from Hogwarts for using magic in front of Muggles. The Aurors plan to meet tonight, the Weasley's will be staying and Hermione will be coming too, make sure you tell Juniper. Sincerely, Remus." Juniper closed the letter slowly and looked at her father. "This is why I have to worry."

Anastasia took the letter from her daughters hands and read it over silently. Anastasia closed her eyes and sighed. "This has to be a misunderstanding."

A knock came on their door and Shadow started barking. Juniper shot up from her spot on the couch and ran towards the door. Sirius and Anastasia quickly followed after her and Anastasia grabbed her daughter, stopping her before she could reach the door. Juniper frowned and Sirius walked past them, wand tight in his hand before he opened the door. He relaxed when he saw it was Remus.

"We just got your letter," Anastasia said as Remus entered. "What happened with Harry?"

"Dementors." Remus answered.

Juniper gasped. "What? Is Harry alright? Is he really getting expelled?"

Remus shook his head, entering the home further with the family following after him. "Dumbledore has convinced the Ministry to let Harry have a hearing. The Weasley's are on their way. They've already picked up Hermione."

Juniper felt herself begin to panic. "Is Harry alright?" Remus didn't answer. "Remus, is Harry alright?" He looked at her. "Merlin!" The girl exclaimed. "Is he dead or not?"

Remus glanced at Sirius and Anastasia, Anastasia gave him a small nod and Remus looked back at her. "Yes, he's alright." Juniper let out a breath.

"Juniper, go upstairs. Take Shadow with you." Anastasia said and Juniper gave her a look of disbelief.

"What? No! I'm not going upstairs so you can hide more things from me. I deserve to know what's going on."

"June, listen to your mother." Sirius sternly said. Juniper looked at her father, betrayal dancing in her eyes. "Come on." He led her out of the room. "As soon as I know, so will you." Juniper stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to him, quickly she wrapped her arms around him before letting go and running up the stairs, whistling for Shadow to follow her.

Juniper sat in her room, legs crossed and feet tucked underneath her as she ran a hand over Shadow's fur. The school year hadn't even started and already something's happened. She sat in her room for ten minutes before there was a knock at her door.

"Come in."

The door opened and Juniper looked up to see Hermione standing there. Slowly, Juniper stood up. Hermione closed the door behind her and walked forwards, wrapping Juniper into a hug. Juniper hugged her back, closing her eyes. The two pulled away and Hermione turned her head to look at Shadow. "Is this your dog?"

Juniper nodded, sitting back down on the bed. "Yeah, this is Shadow. Shadow, this is my friend Hermione. Can you say hello?" Shadow barked, smiling at her as his tongue lolled out of his mouth. Juniper chuckled before reaching over and grabbing a bone, handing it to him. Shadow began chomping on it and Hermione chuckled, rubbing a hand over the dog's fur.

As Hermione continued to pet the dog, her smile fell. "Did you hear about Harry?"

Juniper nodded. "Yeah."

"You responded to my letters this year," Hermione smiled. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Juniper shrugged. "Well, I was stuck inside all summer long. I had nothing better to do."

Hermione frowned. "You didn't go on vacation?"

Juniper shook her head. "No. I spent the summer with my dad."

The smile pulled back on Hermione's face. "I'm so happy for you, June."

"It was the best summer." Juniper softly said. "Until it wasn't."

Hermione nodded. "Ron's waiting in the other room. Come on." She held out a hand and Juniper looked at her before softly smiling, grabbing her hand and letting Hermione lead her from the room with Shadow happily trailing behind them.