▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 ━︎━︎ 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜'𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆, Harry was sitting out by the lake while Hermione was looking out in the distance for any sign of Ron. Juniper was putting the tent up, stuffing it into the bag before walking over to Hermione as she wiped away her tears. They walked into the woods and Hermione took off her scarf, tying it onto one of the trees for Ron. Harry joined them and without saying anything he grabbed Juniper's hand and she grabbed Hermione's before they apparated. They landed on a rocky hill top and Hermione tried to hold back her tears. Juniper squeezed her hand before walking away, knowing that she needed a minute.

She sat up the tent with the help of Harry before she stood at the ledge, stuffing her hands in her pockets as she looked at the view before her. The wind danced through her hair lightly and she glanced at Harry as he put up the protective enchantments before looking back at the sea below her. She watched as the sun began to set, turning her head as Hermione walked inside the tent. She took a seat on the rocks, pulling out the journal and looking down at it. She ran her fingers over the leather, pausing when she felt a dip in the leather. She frowned, pulling closer to her face as she tried to see what it was.

     It took her a moment to make it out before realizing it was initials. "A-H-B," Juniper mumbled. She frowned. "A-H-B?" She paused for a moment, letting the letters repeat in her head as she tried to piece together what they stood for and then it clicked and a smile pulled on her face. She stood up, turning to find she was the only one outside. She made her way to the tent, pausing when she heard music playing inside and movement. She carefully lifted the tent flap open, watching the scene before her.

Harry pulled Hermione up from where she had been sitting beside the radio Ron had left behind and began dancing with her. He spun her around and a laugh fell from her lips and Juniper couldn't help but smile at the sound. She hadn't heard Hermione laugh in so long. After a minute, the moment faded and Hermione's smile slowly died before she gently pulled away from Harry and walked back to where she was sitting before.

     Juniper fully entered the tent and they turned to look at her. "This was my mom's, not Dumbledore's." Juniper softly said, holding up the journal.

     "That's great, June." Harry said, walking up to her. "Have you figured out how to open it yet?"

     Juniper shook her head. "No. But now that I know for certain it was hers, I can go from there."

     "I'm going to go to bed." Hermione softly said.

     Juniper handed Harry the journal before walking over to her. Hermione looked up at her from where she was sitting and Juniper kneeled in front of her, grabbing her hand a pressing a kiss to it. "I love you, H. Get some rest." Hermione nodded before the two shared a kiss and Hermione left to go to sleep. Juniper stood and sighed before walking over to Harry.

     "You going to bed?" Harry asked.

     Juniper shook her head. "No. I'm going to try and figure this thing out."

     Harry nodded. "Night, June."

     "Night." She watched him walk away before making her way to the table, sitting down. "Now, how the hell do I open you?" Trust your gut. Her mother's words echoed in her head and Juniper began to think. If Dumbledore had this journal, he probably was given the journal when her mother was in the Order during the first war. Which also meant that everything they had to do had to be a secret. Could it be possible that there was a saying that unlocked this journal? Just like the Marauders Map?

She continued to think. All of the Marauders had been part of the Order, even Peter. Maybe her mother knew that Peter was the rat―︎Juniper chuckled at the thought. If her mother knew that Peter was part of the Death Eaters, then she would want to keep things a secret and out of his or anyone else's reach. Her parents had married right after leaving Hogwarts, it was just a matter of whether or not Juniper was born yet. She tried to think of something her mother said to her all the time, but the only thing she came up with was I love you and trust your gut, and she highly doubted it was either of those things. Maybe it was a play off from the words used on the Marauders map.

     "I solemnly swear. . . " Juniper started before coming to a stop. She scoffed. "I solemnly swear this is the truth? No, that sounds stupid. I solemnly swear. . ." She shook her head. She went over all the facts again before looking down at the journal. "I solemnly swear that I know the truth." Just like that, the journal opened and on the first page two words began to form, words that made tears well in her eyes. 'Hello, sweetheart.'

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 with Hermione, her head on Hermione's shoulder as Hermione flipped through her book with one hand, using the other hand to play with Juniper's fingers. There was a comfortable silence between them as they sat on the rocks. It was quickly interrupted however when Harry started calling Hermione's name.

     "Hermione!" Harry exited the tent, making his way over to the couple. They both turned their heads to look at him. "You were right. Snitches have flesh memories, but I didn't catch the first snitch with my hand. I almost swallowed it." He handed the snitch to her and Hermione handed her book to Juniper who took it, placing it in her lap.

     Hermione examined the snitch for a moment before noticed the words that had appeared on the side. "'I open at the close'."

     "Yeah. What do you think that means?"

     "I don't know." Hermione said, shaking her head. She handed it back to him. "I found something as well." She looked at Juniper who quickly handed her her book. Hermione opened the book, before showing what she found to Harry. "At first, I thought it was an eye, but now I don't think it is. It isn't a rune. And it isn't anywhere in Spellman's Syllabry. Somebody inked it in." The drawing was of a triangle with a circle inside it and a line running down the middle. Juniper herself had never seen it before. "It isn't part of the book. Somebody drew it."

     "Luna's dad was wearing it at Bill and Fleur's wedding." Harry told them.

     "Why would someone draw it in a children's book?" Hermione frowned.

     Harry didn't answer. "Look, I've been thinking. I want to go to Godric's Hollow. You know, it's where I was born. It's where my parents died."

     Juniper frowned. "Although I understand where you're coming from, that's exactly where they will expect you to go, Harry. It means something to you."

     Hermione stood and Juniper followed suit. Harry started protesting. "Yeah, but, i-it means something to him too. You-know-who almost died there. I mean, isn't that exactly the type of place he'd be likely to hide a horcrux."

     Hermione sighed. "That's―︎it's dangerous Harry." She paused, beginning her trek towards the tent. "But even I have to admit, recently I've been thinking we'll have to go there. I think it's possible something else is hidden there."

     "What?" Harry asked.

     Hermione turned her head to look at him. "The sword. If Dumbledore wanted you to find it but didn't want it falling into the Ministry's hands, where better to hide it than the birthplace of the founder of Gryffindor?"

     Harry hesitated. "H-Hermione. . ."

     Hermione gave him a small smile, moving the hair from his face. "Don't ever let me give you a haircut again."

    When they gathered there things, they apparated to Godric's Hallow. Snow littered the ground, the wind was soft and not too harsh. The streets were completely empty, the only noise was a dog barking somewhere in the distance. "I still think we should've used Polyjuice Potion." Hermione said.

     "No," Harry denied. "This is where I was born. I'm not returning as someone else."

     "How poetic," Juniper mumbled. A bell tolled somewhere in the small town and the group began walking. Behind them, a man called out to someone else, telling them goodnight. They walked by a church, the faint sounds of choir singing inside grabbing their attention.

     "I think it's Christmas Eve," Hermione breathed. "Listen."

     Harry stared at the church before focusing on the graveyard. "Do you think they'd be in there, Hermione? My mum and dad?"

     "Yeah, I think they would."

     "Well, if they are, my mother's right beside them." Juniper whispered, her throat clogging with tears. They entered the graveyard, Harry and Hermione looking at all the headstones while Juniper stayed stuck at the entrance. If her mother's grave was there, she didn't know if she would be ready to see it yet. The wound was still fresh. She watched the two of them, Harry was farther in the back and Hermione was focused on a flat headstone, reading the words on it. She called out to Harry, only stopping when she realized he was frozen in his place.

Hermione turned her head to look at Juniper from where she stood before holding out a hand. Juniper hesitated before walking towards her, grabbing her hand and letting Hermione bring her over to Harry. Sure enough, he was standing in front of his parents graves. Hermione kneeled down, pulling out her wand and doing a circle motion before a wreath appeared in front of the headstone, white flowers decorating it. Juniper turned her head and looked at the headstone right beside of theirs, tears springing to her eyes. Remus had done as she requested.

     Juniper walked over to the headstone, placing her hand on top of it and wiping away the snow. She kneeled down in front of it, reading the words silently to herself. "Anastasia Black. 1960 - 1995. Loving mother, wife, daughter."

     Harry sniffled. "Merry Christmas, Hermione. Merry Christmas, June."

     Hermione looked at him. "Merry Christmas, Harry."

     Juniper swallowed her tears as she whispered, "Merry Christmas, Harry." She took a step back from the headstone, a choked sob falling from her lips. She turned her head away from the headstone, away from her brother and girlfriend. She tightly closed her eyes as the tears fell down her cheeks. Harry reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. Juniper turned her head to look at him and Harry pulled her closer until he wrapped his arms around her. Juniper hugged him back, burying her face into the crook of his neck. She pulled away, wiping her tears and taking a deep breath. Harry didn't let go of her hand.

     Hermione looked at Juniper, watching as she tried her best not to fall apart. Her heart shatter in her chest for her girlfriend. Suddenly, Hermione had the feeling of someone watching them. She turned her head, spotting the culprit before casually turning her attention back to the headstone. "Harry, there's someone watching us, by the church."

     Harry turned his head to look at her, using his eyes to look past her and spot the person. "I think I know who that is." He gently tugged Junipers hand and the group started following the woman.

     "I don't like this," Hermione whispered.

     "Hermione, she knew Dumbledore. She might have the sword." Harry whispered back. Suddenly, Harry came to a stop. Seeing as he was still holding Juniper's hand, she stopped as well. She turned her head, looking at what he was staring at. It was a home that had been completely destroy, barely any foundation remaining.  "This is where they died. This is where he murdered them."

     Quickly, the three turned their heads to see the woman they had been following standing in front of them. She said nothing, just stared at them. Juniper let go of Harry's hand as he stepped forwards, subtly grabbing onto Hermione and holding her slightly behind her. "You're Bathilda, aren't you?" The woman's silence was confirmation enough and then before they knew it, they were following the woman into her home.