▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 ━︎━︎ 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐚 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐍 her bed, staring at herself through the mirror that was right beside of her bed, softly sighing as she tried to fix her robes. She didn't know what had happened overnight for her robes to look as bad as they did, and no matter what spell she tried they always looked wrong. A frustrated groan fell from her lips as she took the robe off her arms, tossing it aside in annoyance. Hermione, having heard the girls frustrations from the bathroom, walked out, looking at her with slight concern. Her eyes darted from Juniper to her robes that were now lying on the floor. Hermione walked over to her, picking the robes up and staring at them for a moment. Immediately she found what was wrong.

She took the robe into the bathroom, fixing the hole that had somehow managed to enter the robe. The tightened strings inside of the robe were making the robe uncomfortable. When Hermione fixed it, she walked back out and over to Juniper. Juniper looked at her and Hermione motioned her to stand up. Juniper did so and Hermione pulled the robe back over her arms, moving to stand in front of the girl as she fixed the front so that Juniper looked neat and well put together. "There. Is that better?"

"I don't understand." Juniper frowned, confused. "How did you fix it?"

"There was a hole. Truly I don't know how you missed it. There were ripped strings flying everywhere." Hermione hummed before walking over to her dresser and grabbing her books.

Juniper closed her eyes, disgusted by her own idiocy. She was smarter than this. Or she thought she was, but she couldn't even fix her own robes. Despite not wanting to thank Hermione simply for the fact that she was embarrassed, her mother had taught her much better manners so with a deep sigh she looked over at Hermione and said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Hermione smiled.

Juniper pointed at her, "Don't think I'm going easy on you just because you fixed my robes."

Hermione looked at her for a moment, nodding her head. "Of course not." As Juniper walked out, Hermione couldn't help the small frown that pulled at her lips. Shaking her head, she quickly followed after her.

They made it to Professor Flitwick's class, feathers sitting in front of all of them. Juniper picked the feather up with her hand, twisting it around for a moment before sitting it back down when the Professor started talking. "One of a wizard's rudimentary skills is levitation, or the ability to make objects fly. Uh, do you all have your feathers?" Hermione lifted hers up to show him. "Good. Now, uh, don't forget the nice wrist movements we've been practicing, hm? The swish and flick. Everyone." All of the students did the wrist movement before putting their wands back down. "Good. Oh and enunciate. Wingardium leviosa. Off you go then."

Juniper proudly pulled out her wand. "Wingardium leviosa." And like she had done with everything else, she got it on the first try. The feather levitated in the air, and a proud smile pulled at her lips as the students that were near her looked at her before going back to their own feathers.

"Very good, Miss Black. I knew I could expect great things from you." Professor Flitwick said, smiling at the girl. Juniper beamed at him before glancing over at Hermione who looked at her with jealousy in her eyes. Juniper smirked.

After putting the feather back down, she turned her head to look at Hermione. "Come on, Granger. If you're so good at spells, why don't you do it?"

"For your information, Black, I haven't attempted it yet." Hermione turned her head towards Ron and Harry, listening to them fail poorly and rolling her eyes at them. When Ron attempted and roughly started shaking his wand at the feather, Hermione reached out. "No. Stop, stop, stop. You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong." She glanced towards Juniper before looking back at Ron. "It's leviosa. Not leviosa."

"You do it then, if you're so clever." Ron replied. "Go on, go on."

"Watch and learn," Hermione said, looking at Juniper before turning back to the feather. "Wingardium leviosa." The feather began floating in the air, Hermione bringing it up high enough for the entire class to see whereas Juniper only did it high enough for Flitwick to notice. The entire class stopped to look at the levitating feather and Juniper couldn't help the jealousy that pooled in her stomach.

"Well done!" Professor Flitwick called excitedly. "See here, everyone, Miss Granger's done it! Splendid! Well done, dear."

"I did it too," Juniper said with a frown, looking over at Hermione. Now it was her turn to be jealous.

"Wingard leviosa," Seamus started repeating. "Wingard leviosa." The sound of explosion made the class jump and quickly turn to look at the boy. The feather and the magic had exploded in the boys face, his face now covered with ash and his hair now going every which way.

Harry stared at the feather with wide eyes. "I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor."

When the class was over, Juniper was the first to get up and leave. Of course Hermione would get more recognition than her. Everyone believed that Juniper was a murderer's daughter, no one would give her the recognition she earned simply because they were too scared that if she didn't like what they said, she was going to snap on them. How was she ever going to make it to the top spot if Hermione Granger would steal all of her recognition just because her parents didn't have a past?

Harry ran up to catch up with Juniper, Ron quickly following after him. Harry slowed down once her came to walk beside of the girl. "If it makes any difference, I saw you do it first, and I think you're brilliant."

Juniper glanced at Harry with a small smile. "Thank you, Harry."

"It's leviosa, not leviosa." Ron mocked Hermione, shaking his head. "She's a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she hasn't gotten any friends. Even Juniper thinks she's mental."

Juniper glanced towards Ron, "Don't put words in my mouth, Ron." Juniper paused. "But. . . she could take it down a notch." The other boys agreed with her and just then Hermione shoved past them, books tightly in her hands as she practically ran away from them.

"I think she heard you," Harry said, looking between Ron and Juniper.

"Great," Juniper muttered. "I should probably go find her."

"We'll see you at dinner." Harry nodded. "Save you a seat."

Juniper looked at Harry for a moment and her heart swelled. "Thank you, Harry." As she walked away, she couldn't help the small smile on her face. Maybe Harry was actually going to be her friend. He seemed to be the only one that didn't look at her like she was a danger to society. She wasn't quite sure about Ron, she was positive that he and Harry were quickly becoming a package deal so wherever Harry was, Ron wouldn't be that far behind.

The first thing Juniper did was make it up to her and Hermione's shared room. She pushed the door open, putting her books on the bed and then making her way over to their bathroom. She pushed the door open, frowning when it was empty. She glanced up when the sound of thunder could be heard and she sighed. Of course it was going to thunderstorm. Juniper searched the entirety of the Gryffindor tower, even going so far as to knocking on the other girls' dorms to see if for some reason Hermione had went in there. She came up with nothing.

"How can one small witch be so difficult to find?" Juniper groaned, throwing herself down onto the couch in the common room and sighing. She'd searched for hours and still hadn't found the girl.

"Juniper?" Parvati Patil stood there, looking at her.

Juniper sat up. "Yes?"

"I heard you were looking for Hermione?"

Juniper stood up. "Yes. Have you found her?"

"She's been downstairs, hiding out in the girls bathroom. I tried to convince her to leave but she won't. She's crying."

Juniper sighed before sending a half smile towards the Patil girl. "Thank you." Parvati nodded before heading out. It was dinner time. She was missing dinner for someone that was supposed to be her competition. Juniper headed down the many flights of stairs, the trip down taking what felt like years. When she made it to the bathroom, she pushed the heavy door open, slowly coming to a stop in her tracks when she heard soft sobs coming from one of the stalls.

"Hermione?"

"Go away!"

Juniper softly sighed. "Hermione, please."

Hermione opened the stall door, looking at Juniper with a hurt expression. "Is this not toned down enough for you?"

"Hermione, come on, you know I didn't mean it like that." Juniper defended.

"Then how did you mean it, Juniper?" Hermione asked.

"I was angry."

Hermione scoffed. "Why? What did I do?" She shook her head. "All you care about is being the top of the class, Juniper. You'll hurt anyone to get what you want."

"That's not true."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Our situation right now says other wise."

"I just think you're being a bit dramatic, that's all."

"A bit dramatic?" Hermione laughed. "You didn't come here to apologize, did you?"

"Apologize for what? Being honest." Juniper crossed her arms over her chest. "Hermione, you're literally in the bathroom crying over a boy that mocked you."

"No, that's not why I'm in here." Hermione clenched her jaw. "I'm in here because I thought the people that were my friends just claimed I didn't have any!"

"I thought the whole being on top rivalry gave you that clue." Juniper muttered.

"You. . ." Hermione pointed a finger at her.

"I'm what?" Juniper dared, but Hermione's words faded from her tongue as she slowly looked up at something behind of Juniper. Juniper furrowed her eyebrows, turning slowly on her heel, looking up when she saw a giant troll standing there. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly agape. She cleared her throat. "Is that. . . are we both seeing the same thing?"

"Mhm," Hermione nodded. The two girls slowly backed up as the troll stalked closer to him. A giant wooden club was held tightly in his right hand. He was at least ten feet tall, if not taller. He skin was completely grey, his head was way too small for his very large body and the growl that escaped from his lips told the two girls that he was not very friendly.

Without hesitating, Hermione quickly grabbed Junipers hand, pulling her inside a stall and throwing her to the ground as the troll swung the wooden club, completely destroying the stall. Wood went flying everywhere and Juniper couldn't help the pain cry that escape her lips when she felt the wood stab roughly into her arms and a piece in her leg. Both the girls let out another scream as more of the stalls were destroyed. The sound of the door flying open and footsteps entering made the two girls turn their head, both of them surprised to see Ron and Harry standing there. They both looked at them like they were insane.

"Hermione, Juniper, move!" Harry yelled. The girls quickly did so only to stop once again and covered their heads as he swung the wooden club again, destroying the rest of the stalls. Hermione yelled for help whilst Juniper winced at the wood piercing her leg. That was going to hurt when she got it pulled out later. . . if she was still alive that was. Ron and Harry started throwing pieces of the wood at the troll, trying their best to distract him from the two girls so that they could get to a safe place.

"Hey, pea brain!" Ron yelled, throwing another piece that hit the troll in the eye. The troll shook his head slightly before turning to the two boys.

"Come on," Hermione whispered, quickly pulling herself free from underneath the rubbles of the stall and turning towards Juniper. Juniper looked at her as Hermione held out her hand and Juniper grabbed, allowing Hermione to pull her free. The two girls moved under the sink and Juniper took a moment to look down at the giant piece of wood that was stabbing her in the leg. Hermione looked at her with wide eyes. "June, your leg."

Juniper looked at her. "Did you just call me a nickname?" Hermione opened her mouth to answer but Juniper stopped her, quickly grabbing the girl and throwing her out the way as the troll turned back towards them and slammed the club on the sink Hermione had been underneath, completely shattering it and sending water flying everywhere. Juniper winced as a piece of the sink sliced into her hand. "Merlin! Why am I the only one being stabbed by everything this stupid troll destroys?" Her eyes widened when the troll was about to throw club down once more. Without thinking she covered Hermione with her body, bracing for the impact.

Harry on the other hand grabbed the club and when the troll swung it, Harry went flying, landing on the trolls head. The club slammed down on the ground, narrowly missing the two girls. The troll tried desperately to shake Harry off, but Harry held on tightly. Quickly, Harry stuck his wand up the trolls nose. The troll sneezed before he began throwing himself around, trying desperately to shake Harry off. Harry let out yells as he tried desperately to hold onto him. The troll grabbed Harry by his leg, pulling him off and dangling the boy in the air.

"Do something!" Harry yelled. The troll let out a growl before swinging his club at Harry, the boy quickly lifting up to dodge it.

Ron looked around. "What?"

"Anything!" Harry said as he dodged another hit. "Hurry up!" Ron pulled out his wand, glancing at the two girls.

"Ron, Flitwick's class!" Juniper called.

"Swish and flick!" Hermione said as she demonstrated with her hand.

"Wingardium leviosa." Ron chanted, doing the right wrist movements. They watched as the troll swung again, only for the club to no longer be in his hand. They all looked up to see the weapon levitating in the air. Juniper laughed, proud of the boy. The troll slowly looked up at his club before it came slamming down on his head, causing the troll to release Harry before falling to the ground, unconscious. Harry moved out of the way before the troll could land on him.

Hermione carefully crawled out from under the sink once she knew the troll was down. She turned to look at Juniper, frowning when she saw the girl holding her bleeding hand and hissing in pain. Hermione reached down, grabbing the hand that wasn't bleeding and pulling her up, letting Juniper lean on her seeing as the wood still in her leg was making it slightly hard to walk.

"It is. . .dead?" Hermione asked.

"I don't think so." Harry answered, looking down at it. "Just knocked out." He then reached down and grabbed hold of his wand that was still stuck in the trolls nose, pulling it out and wiping the snot off of it. The sound of approaching footsteps made the four turn to look at the door.

"Oh!" Professor McGonagall came to a sudden stop, Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell following behind her. "Oh my goodness!" She placed a hand over her chest, putting her other hand against the wall. "Explain yourselves! Both of you!" She pointed towards the two boys.

"Well―︎" Ron started.

"What it is―︎" Harry tried, but Hermione interrupted them both.

"It's my fault, Professor McGonagall."

"What? Miss Granger?"

"I went looking for the troll. I read about them and thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. If Harry, and Ron hadn't come and found me. . . I'd probably be dead." Hermione explained, adjusting her grip on Juniper.

"And for you, Miss Black?" McGonagall asked, staring at the girl.

Juniper looked at her, glancing at Hermione before sighing. "I followed Hermione. I guess Ron and Harry saw me go after her and followed me."

"Be that as it may, it was an extremely foolish thing to do. I would have expected more rational behavior on your part and I am very disappointed in you Miss Granger.." McGonagall looked at Hermione as she said this before looking at Juniper. "You as well Miss Black. Five points from Gryffindor, each. For your serious lack of judgement." She looked towards Ron and Harry. "As for you two gentlemen. Well, I just hope that you realize how fortunate you are. Not many first year students could take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale. Five points will be awarded to each of you for sheer dumb luck."

"This is great and all," Juniper spoke making everyone look at her causing her to point towards the cut in her hand and then to the wood in her leg, "but I think I need to go to the hospital ward."

"Merlin―︎" McGonagall cut herself off. She motioned for Juniper to come to her and Juniper did so. "All of you, back to your rooms. It is way past your bed time." With that McGonagall left with Juniper at her side.