George watched Juniper from Gryffindor table, studying the way she stared around at the place as if she hadn't been here for the past six years. He'd assumed she'd do the same in potions class tomorrow, taking her trusted seat across from him and ask if he'd seen her crystals. She did it every year, ask him if he'd seen them but have them gripped tightly in her hand. She was a odd one, that Juniper, but he didn't hate her like many others did.

"That Diggory boy is to good for you, June, you're gonna freak him out." Draco spoke to Juniper knowingly after taking a long sip of his drink. Blaise gave him a eye roll, like he often times did.

"It was sweet." the darker boy said to the youngest Malfoy.

"It was human decency." Pansy corrected, siding with Draco which wasn't a shock. They were the same in many ways, only ever putting on some form of a act infront of others. Pansy was actually a sweet girl, the same girl that would cuddle up with Juniper when she'd be too scared to go to sleep. Draco was the same, he'd put on a tough guy act but she knew her cousin had a bit of good somewhere inside of him. They were the same, just as Theo and Blaise were. Juniper wondered if anyone was the same as she was, wondering if she had a twin flame like her friend group did.

"Would all of you shut your mouths." Juniper spoke annoyed as she twirled the sharpest knife in her hand, not taking her eyes off the end of it, "Why would you assume that a friendly jester means we're all of a sudden walking down the aisle?"

"You are not getting married." Theo shook his head in disapproval, "Never are you gonna get married."

"Thats what i'm trying to say!" Juniper explained with a crazy look, popping Pansy's fingers from next to her as she girl flinched and pulled away, "No one is listening to me though, non of you."

"I'm listening." Blaise said knowingly as Theo elbowed him, "All of you are overreacting, he was being nice and saving her from the bees, that d-"

"I didn't need to be saved, I can handle myself." Juniper said as she pressed the end of the knife into the table, wanting it to bend.

"Exactly." Theo explained with a nod of his head, "Still was kinda sweet though."

"Never say sweet again, Nott." Draco cringed at his words before swallowing his food, "It wasn't sweet, it was disgusting. He's clearly trying to swoon her."

"Draco, don't say swoon, Merlin." Theo cringed at the word as he washed away the look of disgusting with a swallow of his drink.

"Juniper wouldn't date a Hufflepuff." Pansy said knowingly.

"I would date anyone that lets me set the house on fire." Juniper spoke as they all turned to her with a odd look as silence fell over them, "Wouldn't be the first time."

"Remember our little conversation about keeping... relatively psychotic memories to ourself?" Draco asked as he leaned over to look as his cousin knowingly.

"I remember, it was okay though, a little magic restored it. Good as new, better even, perfect even, splendid even, better then-" Juniper began, her words getting louder by each time she listed something. Blaise put a hand on hers from across the table when a few Gryffindors eyed her oddly. Juniper shut up quickly, just in time for Dumbledore to stand before the great hall.

"Now that we're all settled in and sorted, i'd like to make a announcement." the older man announced as he smiled to each of the houses, Juniper looked over her shoulder toward Hufflepuff table to see Cedric looking at Dumbledore curiously, merlin did she think he was absolutely beautiful, "This castle will not only be your home this year but home to some very special guest as well. You see, Hogwarts has been chosen-"

Juniper giggled when Filch began running through the Great Hall in a odd manor, hurrying toward Dumbledore as Juniper tried to hide her laugh in her sleeve of the Slythrin uniform. She was beautiful as well, in a odd and chaotic way that made you get chills but never wanting to take your eyes off her. Filch sprinted off in the same fashion as he came in, having Juniper laugh again as Pansy shhed her while attempting to hold back her own smile.

"So, Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Tri-Wizard Tournament. Now for those of you that do not know, the tri-wizard tournament brings together three schools for a series of magical contest." Dumbledore went on as the students either beamed in joy or shivered in fear, "From each school a single contestant is selected to compete. Now let me be clear, if chosen you stand alone. And trust me when I say these contests are not for the faint hearted, but more of that later."

"Now of you better dare to enter." Juniper spoke seriously toward her group of friends, "I'll kill you myself before the first task even begins."

"Wasn't planing on it." Blaise said as he put his hands up, Theo mimicked his motion when Juniper flicked her eyes onto him. She looked to Pansy now.

"Are you kidding? Never." she spoke with a knowing nod. Juniper eyed Draco, though she knew he wouldn't enter no matter what the causes was. He wasn't strong enough for that, he wasn't brave enough at all.

"I have enough money and glory, as do you." Draco spoke knowingly as Juniper nodded in satisfaction at their words.

"For now please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbaton Academy of magic and their headmistress Madam Maxine." Dumbledore finished his speech loudly as the Great Hall doors swung open. A large group of girl dressed in blue danced in, blue birds flying as they all smile and curtsied at each of the tables. Juniper jumped up and grabbed hold of one of the birds.

Blaise panicked as his eyes widened, thinking back to Dracos words about Juniper killed a bird which she blamed on the house elf. The group all watched worried as she held the bird in her hand, smiling as she patted its small head, "Hello there... what's your name?"

She stared at the bird, humming alongside it as she continued to pet its head, "Mines Juniper, kinda like Jupiter."

Another moment went by as she opened her hand, the bird lingered for a moment with a small tweet before flying off. The four all sighed in relief. A large woman walked in, standing double Hagrid's size. Junipers jaw dropped as she looked up at her with a look of amazement.

"And now our friends from the north, please greet the proud sons of Durmstrang and the high master Igor Karkaroff." Dumbledore added in after the girls got settled, the Great Hall doors swung open more forcefully. A series of boys walked in with straight and angry faces, holding bo staffs and twisting them around greatly before stabbing them into the ground, causing a spark effect at the end.

"Is that Viktor Krum?" Pansy gasped as she set her eyes on the older boy.

"Blimey, I wanna carve my name into him." Juniper said with a wink toward the boy who caught her eye for just a moment. Draco slapped her upside the head slightly at her words as she hit him back three times harder. Dumbledore greeting the high master with a hug and bright smile. Juniper took a moment to look around at the table infront of her, meeting eyes with George Weasley who had longer hair this year. Juniper raised her eyebrows his way in a way of trying to intimidate, only getting a half grin before he focused onto Dumbledore again.

The end of the assemble ended up being a disaster. Students became angry when Dumbledore announced only ones seventeen and older where allowed to enter. The Weasley Twins who both wanted to put their names in yelled out in anger. Mad Eye Moody showed up and gave everyone a slightly worried look when he stopped lightening from striking the school, a moment Juniper found joy in and forced herself to stop from dancing around.

She'd remembered Harry's words and wrote a quick letter to Sirius, heading down to the Owlery to use her owl to fly to London. Before she could make her way in a figure was exiting.

Cedric Diggory.

"Oh, hello." he said with a blink, staring back at her eyes that resembled a owl in head lights, "Sending a letter?"

"Clearly." Juniper said as she held up the cashmere colored letter in her hand, "I'm assuming you just enjoy the smell of owls."

"No." Cedric said with a laugh, not sure if she was serious or not, "Letting my father know about the tournament.... you're old enough to put your name in, aren't you?"

"No, I don't turn seventeen until May 24th." Juniper said with a nod, "Even if I was, I wouldn't, though I could probably win it."

"What makes you say that?" Cedric asked with a half smile, he found the way she spoke and her sense of words entertaining and worth while.

"Well, my mind is a beautiful yet odd place." Junior quoted his words from early as she walked past him before turning back, "Or so someone said."

Cedric grinned as he watched her shut the door, disappearing into the owlery before digging into his pocket and holding the bright crystal she'd gifted him in the tree with one though in mind.

Perhaps he wouldn't have such a simple life if she was around more.

•

kylie speaks

we're getting
juniper and
george interaction
next chapter
finally!