𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐑━︎━︎H. Granger

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲-𝐎𝐧𝐞

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE:
❝︎An Initiation❞︎

THE ENTIRE SUMMER, JUNIPER SAT IN HER ROOM, LEAVING THREE TIMES A DAY BEFORE HIDING ONCE MORE. She left twice to eat, and a third time to take Shadow walking. Sirius and Remus were worried about her, no matter how many times they had tried to talk to her she either wouldn't respond or would give them both one word responses. Even Nymphadora had tried to talk to her, but Juniper would say nothing. Juniper had completely shut down.

She had received multiple letters from her friends, even Ron had sent a few letters and he didn't like writing letters. They were all worried about her, and grew even more worried when she didn't respond to them. Juniper laid down in her bed, Shadow sitting at her side. He pawed at her, a whimper leaving his mouth.

Juniper sighed. "Shadow, I just took you out." The dog whimpered again and Juniper sighed, throwing the blankets off of her. Shadow let out a happy bark before jumping off the bed, pawing at the door until it opened and bolted down the stairs. Juniper pulled her shoes on, managing to get a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked rough. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun, her clothes were wrinkled, dark purple bags were under her eyes from the lack of sleep she got. She couldn't close her eyes without seeing her mother's body, most of the time she stayed up until her body gave out from exhaustion and sent her into a dreamless sleep.

A frown seemed to be permanently marked on her face, she couldn't remember the last time she had smiled or laughed. She made her way down the stairs, grabbing the dog leash and hooking it onto Shadow's collar. She pulled open the door, walking outside. Shadow used the bathroom before forcing Juniper to walk a few miles. When he was a ready to go back in he turned around and started back towards the house. Juniper entered the house, unhooking Shadow's leash. Shadow went running into the kitchen as Juniper hung up the leash. She turned her head when she felt a presence. Her father stood there with his hands in his pockets, an unsure look on his face.

"Are you hungry?" Sirius asked. Juniper shook her head and Sirius nodded. "Another letter came for you." He pulled the letter from his pocket, walking forwards and handing it to her. "Molly's invited you over, she said Hermione would be there. I could take you."

Juniper shook her head. "No. I'll stay here."

Sirius softly sighed. "June, I'm worried about you. Your friends are worried about you."

Juniper shrugged. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." Sirius shook his head. "You're not fine. You just lost your mother, no one expects you to be fine."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. I'm fine." Juniper mumbled before turning to go back up the stairs.

"I'll let Molly know you'll be coming."