Solitude.
Juno was more than acquainted with it.
Not that she minded.
She found that the castle was far too busy. Between the bustling corridors, Peeves the poltergeist, and Harry Potter and his friends fighting dark magic every other week, she could never quite hear herself think. Though she was in the same year as the Golden trio, she hadn't really acquainted herself with them, decidedly staying out of trouble's way, preferring her own company and that of the creatures that wandered the grounds. She had a few acquaintances in her house, but none she particularly associated with outside of the classroom, dorms or occasional meal in the Great Hall. Thus, regardless of weather, she'd made a habit of exploring the castle grounds well until curfew, venturing into the forbidden forest, chatting with Hagrid, hunting for Nifflers and Bowtruckles. Her most favourite place, however, was by the Black Lake. She'd walk all the way to the other side, furthest away from the castle, and perch by the trees, away from her peers and professors, enjoying her own company, always smoking her favourite muggle herb, with a book, or some homework, or sometimes with creatures who she'd gained the trust of. She was a gentle soul, liked by everyone, but close to none; the animals were her friends. Like her younger sister, most deemed her 'loony' - often described as airy, and away with the fairies. Though Luna had found a solid set of friends, Juno was still quite the outcast, mainly due to the fact she genuinely did prefer the company of the animals over the students - they were less complicated and judgemental. She was more aware than her sister, and slightly more mindful of the opinions of her peers - though she didn't care enough to consider changing. She enjoyed the solitude. The fact was she knew that the sole thought that came to the minds of students when they heard of Juno was strange. Maybe isolating herself so much didn't help, but, she didn't mind being seen as strange - she was happy, and nothing else really mattered.
No one ever ventured this far out. So, she was always content relaxing alone, knowing she would be undisturbed, hidden on the far end of the Black Lake. She spent most of her weekends out by the Lake, kept warm in layers of coats and scarfs and enchanted fires during winter, or cool with her toes dipped in the water and uniform hanging off her frame during summer.
This Friday evening had been no different. Students had just returned to Hogwarts the previous week, and, as always, Friday evening rolled around and Juno took herself off to her little safe haven, across the vast expanse of water, settled into a small cove, lined with the trees of the forest. The sun was setting along the skyline, illuminating the ground in a golden light, the sky melting into beautiful red and orange hues, bouncing off the reflection of the water. She sighed contentedly, drinking in the beauty that she swore she'd never tire of. Her tranquility was interrupted however, by the distant sound of furious yells. The mystery person was clearly upset, profanities falling from their lips, the sound of knuckles hitting tree trunks reverberating across the quiet land. Intrigued, she went to explore, always eager to help a person in need, and curious as to who had ventured so far out. Quietly, she followed the sounds, until she stumbled upon a boy she recognised from her classes. When she finally reached him, he had slumped to the floor, back pressed against a tree, head in his hands as his fingers tugged furiously at his hair. She didn't want to disturb him, though she was not familiar with many people in her year she knew this boy was calloused and cold, unresponsive to kindness, painfully arrogant and pretentious. Despite this, she hated to see him so upset. It was extremely out of character for him, and, truthfully, in that moment, all she could see was a boy - a boy who was clearly suffering, a boy who was in pain, in need of comfort and support.
"Draco?" She hummed, her voice hushed, scared to startle him as she emerged from the trees. His head snapped up, a furious sneer taking over his features as he desperately tried to mask any flicker of emotion on his face.
"Fucking Lovegood," He spat. "What are you doing here, freak?" She ignored his frostiness, continuing to edge towards him.
"I could ask you the same thing," She responded, calmly, her voice airy and light.
"Save the formalities, you can run along to the castle and tell everyone what you've seen-"
"Why would I do that?" She asked, exasperatedly. He studied her with intent.
"Why wouldn't you do that, everyone in that castle wants to see my downfall-"
She merely shrugged, taking a seat beside him, he flinched at their proximity.
"Well I don't," she said, matter-of-factly.
Silence encompassed them, and he took the opportunity to study her further. He watched as her eyes danced along the horizon, drinking in the last rays of the setting sun, simultaneously so aware of his presence, but so unbothered by it. He found it strange, usually people feared or hated him - he had never met anyone so impartial towards him. He recognised her vaguely from his classes, she was quiet, oftentimes blending into the background, lost in a world of her own for the most part, but oddly engaged in class at the same time. He appreciated that she didn't pry. Though, he was still uncomfortable with the fact she had seem him in his most emotionally vulnerable state, a part of him was grateful for her quiet company. She hadn't asked any questions, just sat beside him, barely acknowledging his presence in the most comforting way. He was still wary of her, the Malfoy heir knew never to trust quickly and to expect the worst of most, but he couldn't help but assume her intentions were nothing but good, or at least indifferent. So, for once in his life, he didn't push her away, accepting her presence as comfort and letting go, just for the moment. Just this once, he promised himself. He couldn't bear the thought of how disappointed his father would be if he knew someone like Lovegood had seen him so weak. Alas, he embraced the silence and let thoughts seep from his mind as he, too, looked out upon the skyline, breathing in the fresh air and sitting next to the Hufflepuff he hardly knew. Just this once, he chanted in his head, over and over again, a promise to himself, just this once.
After a while of silence, the sun had finally set, the moon casting a dim, white light across the water, stars dancing above them, she began routing through her bag. Again, he silently watched her, her brows furrowed, lip pulled between her teeth as she pulled books, and potions, and quills and ink out her schoolbag. He'd never quite noticed how attractive she was, which was strange, as Draco always paid attention to just how attractive or unattractive the girls in his year were. She was attractive in an unconventional way, the kind of beauty Crabbe or Goyle would miss, but a beauty he could appreciate, like contemporary art, or the hidden messages in old novels. Finally, she retrieved a small metal box. As she unclasped the lid, a sweet smell filled the air - Draco immediately recognised it. He quirked his eyebrow up at her curiously as he watched her roll up a joint.
"Didn't think Hufflepuffs had it in them," he jeered, observing the way her tongue glided along the paper.
"Really? You'd be surprised." she laughed, the glint in her eye holding riddles he could not yet quite solve.
"So you're a stoner, who'd have thought?" She didn't think she'd ever really seen him smile, so the little grin that played on his lips, and the chuckle he emitted as he spoke knocked the breath from her lungs. She rolled her eyes, placing the joint between her lips, lighting it with her wand and breathing in the aromatic smoke.
"You know nothing about me, Draco," She shrugged indifferently, her words lacking any malice or coldness, she was merely speaking a fact.
"Suppose not," He hummed in response, taking the joint from her fingers as she held it towards him, bringing it up to his lips, his face screwing in pleasure as he inhaled. They passed the joint in silence, until it burnt out and both their brains felt foggy and lids felt heavy. Time always felt slow when she got high, the minutes morphing into hours, her limbs heavy but, simultaneously feeling as though electricity pulsed through her veins. They didn't talk much after that, not until they checked the time and realised curfew was drawing near.
"You'll keep this to yourself?" Draco asked, standing to his feet, brushing off the grass that stuck to his perfectly tailored trousers.
"I have no one to tell," She smiled gently, her tone indifferent once again.
She watched as he began walking away, his tall frame casting a shadow on the ground, white hair illuminated by the moon, clearly eager to walk separately from her. She was slightly surprised when he turned around suddenly, opening his mouth to speak again;
"I like it when you call me Draco, no one ever does. Always Malfoy-"
And with that, he was gone.