▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐍𝐎 clue where any of her friends were. Since she'd woken up, she'd been spending time with Fleur and now Fleur was off with her friends for school and Juniper was hoping to find Harry or Hermione. She made her way towards the court yard, watching a familiar head of red hair shove past Harry. Juniper quickly made her way towards him and sent Harry a small smile as well as a small greeting, her smile immediately faded when she heard Draco's voice.

"Why so tense, Potter?" Draco called from his spot in a tree. Harry barely glanced at him. "My and I have a bet you see. I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament." Draco jumped down, his Slytherin cronies behind him. "He disagrees. He thinks you won't last five."

Harry walked towards him. "I don't give a damn what your father thinks, Malfoy." He shoved the boy back and Juniper stood in her place, arms crossed over her chest. "He's vile and cruel. And you're just pathetic." Juniper snickered at that. Harry turned and walked back over to her.

"Pathetic." Draco mumbled, pulling out his wand.

Juniper quickly snapped her head towards him and grabbed Harry, pushing him behind her only for Mad-Eye to call out, "Oh, no, you don't sonny!" Juniper loosened her grip on her wand, watching as Draco was suddenly turned into a ferret. "I'll teach you to curse someone when their back is turned." Mad-Eye limped towards him, holding out his wand, lifting the ferret up and down. "You stinking, cowardly, scummy—"

McGonagall ran towards them. "Professor Moody!"

"—back-shooting. . ."

"What-what are you doing?" McGonagall asked. Juniper was laughing her ass off, leaning against Harry for support who was laughing with her. Even Draco's friends were laughing.

"Teaching," Moody replied.

McGonagall's eyes widened. "Is that a. . . is that a student?!"

"Technically, it's a ferret." Moody sent the ferret flying down Crabbe's pants, causing the boy to scream. Goyle ran over, going to pull the ferret from his pants only for the ferret to bite him. The ferret crawled from the bottom of Crabbe's pant leg and McGonagall held out her wand, turning the ferret back to Draco.

"Come on, Minnie, that's was pure entertainment." Juniper smiled. McGonagall paused, looking at Juniper with a flash of something Juniper couldn't quite recognize crossing the older woman's face.

Draco stood, his hair all over the place. "My father will hear about this!"

Moody started towards him. "Is that a threat?" He began chasing Draco around the tree, ignoring McGonagall's calls for him. "Is that a threat?" He turned towards Draco who ran away. "I could tell you stories about your father that would curl even your greasy hair boy!"

"Alastor!" McGonagall sternly said.

"It doesn't end here!" Moody shouted at the blonde.

"Alastor." Finally, the man turned to look at her. "We never use transfiguration as punishment! Surely Dumbledore told you that."

Moody paused before saying, "He might've mentioned that."

"Well you will do well to remember it." McGonagall turned around and ushered the other students off.

"You." Moody directed towards Harry as he began to limp away. "Come with me."

Harry glanced at Juniper who had a wide smile on her face. Harry couldn't help but smile at her. "I'll see you later, June." Juniper nodded as Harry walked away. That was the best thing she could have possibly ever witnessed in her entire life. And she's witnessed a lot. Juniper continued through the courtyard, making her way out to the Black Lake and sitting against the tree and opening her book. It wasn't long before footsteps approached her.

She looked up and smiled when she saw Hermione approaching her. "Hermione, you won't believe what I had the glorious chance of witnessing!" Hermione took a seat beside her. "Draco got turned into a ferret by Moody." Juniper let out a laugh. "I'm never going to forget that. That's been the best part of the year so far. Hermione hummed, nodding her head. Juniper frowned. "Hey, are you alright?"

Hermione looked at her, a forced smile pulling on her lips. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm alright."

Juniper sent her a look. "'Mione, you can't lie to me. I know you. What's going on? We tell each other everything."

Hermione Granger was jealous, that's what was wrong with her. She was undeniably jealous. Juniper was spending all of her time with Fleur instead of Hermione, and Hermione absolutely hated it. Juniper was her best friend. They told each other everything. They were the closest. And seeing her hang out with another girl that wasn't her, it made her heart arche. She'd noticed how close Fleur and Juniper had gotten over the past several weeks. She'd noticed how Juniper would smile and laugh at everything Fleur said and Hermione absolutely hated it. Every part of her wished that it was her, in fact, she knew it should've been her that Juniper would smile and laugh at, not Fleur.

"What's going on with you and Fleur?" Hermione finally asked, meeting the girls eyes.

Juniper frowned. "What do you mean?"

Hermione closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the tree. "You know what I mean."

Juniper watched her for a moment, noticing the frown on her face. "Hermione, are you jealous of Fleur?"

Hermione's eyes flew open, cheeks turning red. "What? No!"

Juniper chuckled. "You are!" Hermione narrowed her eyes at her and Juniper smiled, reaching over and grabbing her hand. "You have nothing to worry about, Hermione. She's not replacing you if that's what you think. She's just a close friend."

"Do you like her?" Hermione asked.

Juniper's breath caught in her throat. She swallowed. "I mean—I, um. . . yeah. Yeah, I like her."

Hermione nodded. "Okay."

Juniper interlaced their fingers and reached up, gently grabbing Hermione's chin and turning her head to look at her. Hermione's heart slammed in her chest, her head becoming dizzy at the touch. She swallowed thickly, trying her best not to panic at how close their faces were. They were mere inches apart and Hermione's eyes flickered down to Juniper's lips without her permission before meeting Juniper's eyes once again. "Hey, I'm not going anywhere. I hate to tell you, but you're stuck with me. I will always and forever be yours."

I will always and forever be yours. The words echoed in Hermione's mind, repeating over and over again. She couldn't help but notice how Juniper's hand had yet to leave her chin. She couldn't stand this. Being this close to Juniper and not being able to just. . . to just. . . to just kiss her. Hermione swallowed. "Promise?"

Juniper smiled and nodded before softly whispering, "I promise." She dropped her hand and leaned her head on Hermione's shoulder. "Harry's first trial is tomorrow."

Hermione nodded. "I know." She hesitated before saying, "I'm scared for him, Jay."

Juniper nodded. "Yeah. Me too."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

DESPITE THE RULES, JUNIPER HAD DRAGGED HERMIONE WITH HER TO THE TENT WHERE THE VICTORS WERE WAITING. It didn't take anything to convince Hermione to come with her. Hermione hissed through the flap of the tent, hoping to get Harry's attention Juniper smiled when the girl successfully did so. The tent flap opened slightly.

"Harry, is that you?" Hermione whispered.

"Yeah," Harry whispered back.

"How are you feeling?" Juniper asked. "Okay?"

"The key is to concentrated. After that you just have to—"

"Battle a dragon." Harry cut Hermione off. Hermione couldn't stand it, she pushed open the flap and launched herself into Harry's arms.

Juniper walked into the tent. "So much for subtlety." She winced when a flash appeared, turning her head and groaning when she saw Rita Skeeter.

"Young love," the journalist smiled. "How. . ." she pointed to her quill and paper as it began writing, ". . . stirring. If everything goes unfortunately today you two may even take the front page."

"Oh, piss off, Skeeter." Juniper said, rolling her eyes. Rita gasped at her.

"You have no business here." Krum told the journalist. "This tent is for champions and friends."

Juniper pointed at him. "Thank you, at least someone's on my side." She walked over to Fleur. "How are you feeling?"

Fleur offered her a nervous smile. "A little nervous if I'm being honest."

Juniper placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you got this." She gave her a small smile before walking back towards Harry and Hermione. "Rita, leave, before I have no choice but to make you."

Rita frowned at her. "That is no way to talk to adults." Juniper took a daring step forwards.

"I wouldn't mess with that one if I were you," Harry warned. "She makes good on her threats."

Rita looked at her before turning and walking away. Juniper turned towards Harry and smiled, pulling him into a hug. "You've got this, Harry."

Harry hugged her back. "Thanks, June."

The tent opened again and Dumbledore and a few others walked in. "Good day, champions. Gather around, please. Now, you've waited, you've wondered, and at last, the moment has arrived. A moment only four of you can appreciate." He did a double take when he noticed Juniper and Hermione. "What are you doing here Miss Granger, Miss Black?"

"Just checking on our friend, Dumbledore. Surely you haven't a problem with that." Juniper answered with a smile. "We were just leaving before you graced us with your presence." She grabbed Hermione's hand and walked out of the tent. "Godric, I hate that woman."

"Who? Rita?"

"Well, who else would I be talking about, Hermione?" Juniper scoffed.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Have you ate today? You're cranky."

"No." Juniper said with a firm nod. "I was too anxious to digest food."

The two of them made it to the stands and immediately the trial began. Krum, Diggory, and Fleur had all easily succeeded at getting the golden egg that the dragons were all protecting. That meant that Harry was the last one left. Juniper squeezed Hermione's hand in anticipation. Juniper smiled as the crowd chanted Harry's name, a soft gasp falling from her lips when she spotted him down below. There was a silence as Harry stood there before he started towards the golden egg only for the dragon to swing its tail at him.

"A Hungarian Horntail," Juniper whispered. "Oh, this isn't good. Those things are foul."

They watched as the creature breathed fire at harry and Harry ran, quickly dodging the flames. It swung its tail again, knocking Harry down from where he was trying to climb up the rocks. It swung its tail, successfully knocking Harry away. More fire was shot towards Harry who jumped out of the way.

"Your wand, Harry!" Hermione yelled. "Your wand!"

Harry held up his wand. "Accio Firebolt!" He hid behind a rock as the dragon spewed more fire, his broom flying towards him in the distance. He leaned his head around the rock and got up, quickly running and jumping on his broom as it flew by, narrowly missing another blast of fire. Juniper and Hermione cheered loudly, exchanging smiles with each other. He swooped for the egg but missed it due to more fire being sent his way. Harry flew up and the dragon followed, breaking the chain that was keeping it in the ring and flying after Harry.

"Oh Godric." Juniper cried out. She buried her face into Hermione's shoulder. "I can't watch this."

Harry flew past the tent that covered all of the teachers and the dragon followed, shredding the tent in the process. When the noise grew distant, Juniper looked up, turning her head to see the dragon nor Harry nowhere in sight. She couldn't see them, but she could hear the dragon from a not too far distance, telling her they were over by the castle. She closed her eyes, muttering a silent prayer. And then a silence fell, one that shook her to her core. Juniper lifted her head, sharing a look with Hermione. The silence lasted far too long before she spotted him. In the distance, Harry was flying towards the arena, no dragon in sight.

"YES!" Juniper screamed, cheering loudly for him along with everyone else. She smiled widely as he flew in the arena, quickly snatching the golden egg. Juniper cheered, sharing a hug with Hermione. "Oh Godric," Juniper breathed as everyone slowly began leaving. "He did it." Tears began pooling in her eyes.

Hermione noticed and quickly pulled her into a hug. "Hey, it's alright. He's alright."

Juniper nodded. "I know. I know." She sniffed, wiping away her tears. "For a second there. . ."

"I know," Hermione softly said. "But he's okay."

Juniper scoffed. "I don't even know why I'm crying."

Hermione squeezed her hand. "He's your god-brother. He's your family. I think the worry just took control for a minute."

Juniper nodded. "Yeah."

Hermione nodded her head towards the exit. "Come on." She wrapped an arm around Juniper's shoulders and they began their trek towards the castle.