chapter five : halloween
☆ ☆ ☆
October came rolling in which meant only one thing for Juniper; Quidditch season had begun. She had been a Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team ever since her second year at Hogwarts and she loved it very much. On Tuesday evening, Oliver called a meeting to discuss tactics for the new season.
Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and finial year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation as he addressed the seven of them in the chilly changing rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch pitch.
"This is our last chance — my last chance — to win the Quidditch Cup," he told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it. Gryffindor haven't won for seven years now. OK, so we've had the worst luck in the world — injuries — then the tournament getting called off last year . . ." Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. "But we also know we've got the best — ruddy — team — in — the — school," he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye.
"We've got four superb Chasers." Wood pointed at Angelina, Alicia, Juniper and Katie. The latter had been serving as a reserve player whenever one of them couldn't play.
"We've got two unbeatable Beaters."
"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," Fred and George said together, pretending to blush.
"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me," he added, as an afterthought.
"We think you're very good, too, Oliver," George said and June nodded in agreement.
"Cracking Keeper," Fred added.
"The point is," Wood went on, resuming his pacing, "the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought the thing was in our bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing . . ." Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic.
"Oliver, this year's our year," Fred said.
"We'll do it, Oliver," Angelina added.
"Definitely," Harry finished.
Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind or rain could tarnish June's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge silver Quidditch Cup.
"Nothing feels better than a good training," Juniper told Angelina, Alicia and Katie when they were showering in the changing rooms.
"A shower after one is not bad either," Angelina said, washing her head.
"Agreed," Katie said, grinning.
"Wouldn't it be awesome if this would be our year?" June said, taking a towel. "That we win the Cup? The actual Cup?"
"It would be a dream come true," Alicia sighed.
"I don't think Gryffindor won the Cup ever since Charlie Weasley left," Angelina said.
"I remember having a huge crush on him," June laughed.
"He was quite a man to look at," Katie agreed.
"Haven't seen him since he left from Hogwarts, though," June added, frowning. "I hope he's doing all right."
"He's working with dragons in Romania, his dream job, I'm sure he's all right," Angelina laughed as the four of them set off for the castle. "Speaking about jobs, June, are you planning on playing Quidditch on a professional level?"
Juniper shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe . . . we'll have to see how things go."
"Charlie had the chance to play professional, too," Katie pointed out.
"Yeah . . ." June said, grinning sheepishly as she felt her cheeks redden. Talking about Charlie took her back to first and second year.
When they got back to the common room, they were met with buzzing excitement.
"What's happened?" June asked Ron and Hermione as Harry past her to sit next to his friends.
"First Hogsmeade weekend," Ron said, pointing at a notice that has appeared on the battered old notice board. "End of October. Hallowe'en."
"Excellent," Fred spoke up, who had followed Harry, Juniper, Angelina and Katie through the portrait hole. "I need to visit Zonko's, I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."
Harry threw himself on the couch beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing away. Hermione seemed to read his mind.
"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," she said. "They're bound to catch Black soon, he's been sighted once already."
"Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade," Ron said. "Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry, the next one might not be for ages . . ."
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "Harry is supposed to stay in school . . ."
"They can't be the only third-years left behind," Ron argued back. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry . . ."
"Yeah, I think I will," Harry said.
June leaned forward and squeezed his shoulder gently. "If only I could sign your slip, Harry."
He smiled up at her. "Thank you, June, I appreciate it."
"Anytime, cousin," June said, giving him a warm smile before following Angelina up to their dormitory.
"So what are we going to do for your birthday?" Alicia asked, laying on her bed.
"We can celebrate it at Hogsmeade," Angelina suggested, falling down onto her bed. "I think it's pretty cool your birtday is on Halloween."
"It's kind of a bummer that it's the day my aunt and uncle died," Juniper muttered.
"But it's also the day You-Know-Who was defeated," Alicia noticed.
"Always staying positive, don't you?" Angelina said, rolling her eyes. "Well, with the Dementors around, we certainly need it."
☆ ☆ ☆
"Happy birthday!"
When Juniper opened her eyes on the morning of October 31st, she was met by two pair of eyes. Both Angelina and Alicia were bowing over her.
June closed her eyes, smiling.
"Thanks, guys."
"Now get up and let's go to Hogsmeade!"
They practically dragged her out of bed.
"Guys, Hogsmeade won't run away," June said, as she exchanged her pajamas for jeans and a sweater. "I'm pretty sure about that," she added, taking her boots and putting them on.
"I don't care," Angelina said, "let's go!"
The three of them descended the stairs to the common room only to meet the twins halfway — at least, the twins tried to meet them halfway. Both Fred and George groaned as the stairway turned into a slide and they were knocked to the ground again.
"Hello, guys," June said, offering her hand to help them up. "Are you all right?"
"Happy birthday!" The both of them exclaimed, pulled her into a hug.
Juniper smiled into Fred's shoulder as she hugged the twins back. And not for the first time, she thanked Merlin for giving her such great friends.
"Ready to have the best day of your life?" George asked, once they had let go of her.
Juniper grinned. "Bring it on."
☆ ☆ ☆
When the five of them entered the Three Broomsticks, they were met by cosy chatter and the smell of freshly baked cookies. They sat down at a table in a corner before taking off their jackets.
"The smell of cookies always makes me happy," Angelina said, closing her eyes and sniffing the air.
Juniper rolled her eyes before standing up. "Five Butterbeers and a plate of cookies?"
"Oh, no, you're the birthday girl," Fred said, as he and George stood up on either side of her and gently pushed her back into her chair. "We'll get it."
"But —"
"No buts," George said, shaking his head. "It's your day, you should enjoy it."
"I am —"
"June!"
Juniper threw her arms in the air. "Fine!"
Soon enough the boys were back and the five of them enjoyed their day with Butterbeer, lots of cookies and laughter, and when Juniper strolled back to the castle with the others, she decided it had been a good day.
"There is something I need to do," Juniper said, as soon as they set foot in the castle. "I'll see you at dinner."
Before either of them could reply, June turned around and made her way over towards Professor Lupin's office. The black haired wanted to know how he dealt with this day.
"Professor Lupin?" Juniper pushed the door towards his office open and stuck her head in.
He sat in his chair behind his desk, a goblet in his hand while staring at the fire. His eyes snapped up when Juniper entered.
"Good afternoon, Juniper," he said, drinking the last bit of his drink before putting the goblet back onto his desk. "To what do I own the pleasure?"
Juniper walked towards the fireplace and watched the single photo that stood on top of it. It contained six people; two women and four men. Juniper recognized her mother instantly and shortly after that, James and Lily, too. After a couple of moments, June noticed that Remus was on the picture, too, much younger than he was now. The fifth and sixth people were Sirius Black, June's uncle and the one who escaped Azkaban, and Peter Pettigrew, the one her uncle killed.
"I came here to see how you were doing," June spoke up, turning around to look at him. "How are you?"
Remus eyed her carefully before his eyes flashed over towards the photograph.
"I still miss them everyday."
Juniper nodded but didn't say anything. Instead, she let her hand go over the spines of the books that stood on his bookshelves.
"Happy birthday, by the way," Remus said, making June turn around.
"Thank you."
She looked at him and he shuffled uncomfortable onto his chair.
"You've got your mother's eyes."
"Does it bother you?"
"No," Remus shook his head. "It just brings back many memories."
"Good ones or bad ones?"
"Both."
Juniper looked down as she heard Remus approach her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"But neither your mother, nor your uncle define you, Juniper, you are your own person."
☆ ☆ ☆
Published 04.09.2020
I hope you enjoyed it & tell me what you think of it!