01

NEW FRIENDS

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Returning back to Hogwarts after her summer break was tiresome to say the least. The train journey for her first year was the only time she had ever enjoyed travelling from her home; before they had been sorted into their houses. But now they all had labels. Perhaps the strongest one being a Slytherin.

June's house was notorious for being selfish and vindictive, when in reality that was just the stereotype brought upon them by the lowest of their house. Like the rest of her fellow house mates, she was ambitious and cunning, she didn't want to have to be sly and vindictive.

That was why Juniper went most of her time alone to avoid being something she wasn't. That meant she could study, work and more importantly train for Quidditch. Her current highest ambition was to be the captain of the Slytherin team at Hogwarts, and then even going to compete in the World Cup and win. Not a single student or professor doubted that the Hawk girl could make it one day, she was talented. 

But as she sat alone at her house's table in the Great Hall for one of the most grand meals of the school year, she started to become doubtful of her own skill. Sure, her fondest memories were those of her flying through the skies or competing against the other teams. But how far could she get without becoming such a disappointment to her family?

Loud chatter still echoed throughout the hall as each student waited for the arrival of the first years so they could be sorted into their appropriate houses. The thought itself was chilling, if only she had pushed harder when the Sorting Hat sat upon her blonde curls and urged it to let her be in any other than the one she was currently in. At least the disappointment would have started earlier for her family than her fourth year of school where she was forced to fake her plans for the future to please her parents and older siblings.

"I can't do this anymore," a girl confessed and planted herself right beside Juniper to break the girl from her thoughts, "I have watched you for over three years sit at this table and not say a word. Your expression alone is such a mood killer, in a few minutes we are going to be sitting across from a display of food so exquisite that my mouth is already watering. Yet, you look like you would rather be six feet under than here."

June could only think about how upfront the girl was to even think of her name, though the girl already knew she was muggle-born due to all the rumours following the girl through the corridors. But not even the harsh words could stop her from becoming Prefect and one of the top students in multiple classes like Herboligy and Ghoul Studies.

"Uh-" she muttered in complete disbelief at the confrontation.

"You can't deny it, Ms Hawk," Louisa smirked and pushed her dark hair behind her with intent, "You would rather be literally dead than in this room, am I right or am I right?"

"I was rather enjoying my own company-" she started only for the other girl to perk up her brow with suspicion, "Okay, you're right."

The words seemed to light up Louisa's face as she offered her hand out to Juniper, "Louisa O'Lance. I would apologise for my being abrupt but honestly, I have waited four years to say that and I didn't feel like spending my last sorting feast at Hogwarts sat across from such a mood damper."

"No offence taken?" June scoffed and let her own eyebrows rise on her head with question leaving her expression.

"Well, I think we just became best friends."

Loud laughs actually left June's lips, startling not only students around her but even herself, before she covered her mouth out of realisation. "That's what just happened? Because from where I am sitting it sounds like you despise me!"

"Come on, Hawk, you know that we would be the most iconic duo around here. We could even give the Weasley Twins a run for their money if we tried hard enough. A Quidditch Captain-to-be and a Prefect, name a more iconic duo!"

"My odd socks?" Juniper smirked and gained a laugh from Louisa, but even she noticed how June's  eyes drifted off to across the room to the Gryffindor table to see the Weasley twins annoying Oliver Wood, "Look, you said it yourself, I could become the captain this year if I tried hard enough and forming a new friendship isn't right for me. I've ran solo these past years and it's worked well for me."

O'Lance just motioned her head to a few seats down their table where the Slytherin Quidditch team huddles around closely with smiles on their faces as they joked around and even started to plan out game plans for the year - without her. 

"I see your point," June sighed defeatedly and let her head fall to the table with another sigh, "Why aren't you sitting with your friends? You're a Prefect, you must have loads."

The conversation seemed to make Louisa uncomfortable. It was obvious in the way that her shoulders sunk and her hands tensed around the pale wand in her hand; one with no design or real shape to it at all, it appeared to look just like a twig that anyone could find at the foot of a tree. "They all ditched me for our last year here as soon as they found out what I wanted to do in the future."

Juniper didn't feel like pressuring her into confessing what career plan she had picked out for herself. Hell, she didn't even want to confess her own.

"Fine, its only one year so including all our school breaks it will be like ten months until you are out my hair for good anyway," Juniper shrugged before blowing a few blonde curls out of her face and going back to leaning on her palm.

Louisa O'Lance was a curious witch, it was evident by the way she presented herself and the lack of cares she gave for the words thrown at her every second of her Wizarding education. Being the only witch of her family brought just about as much shame as it did pride. It turned sibling against sibling for Louisa, she often found herself sitting alone for her first few Christmas' after receiving her letter; leaving the girl to make up excuses instead of going home for winter breaks. Of course thats where Samantha had recognised her face from, the almost empty table during the Christmas break - she herself had stayed back last year to avoid her parents and sisters.

"So," Louisa chirped as cheerfully as she did a few second ago, "Quidditch Captain. Thats the goal? Well, being the only female in the Slytherin team for a few years might make this difficult, and of course the hatred from the others from your house... So we have limited options to get you there."

Juniper decided to stay silent and play with the knife and fork that had already been placed neatly in front of her, the chatter now dying down into whispers as first years entered the Great Hall and McGonagall started to read their names off a long list for their sorting. 

"Option one, we hex the members into liking you-" Louisa closed her mouth at the glare she received from the girl, "Okay, that obviously isn't for you. How about a bribe? You have money, start buying them new brooms or uniforms, take them out for butter beer in Hogsmeed. Or you could be nice to them?"

"I am nice!" the Hawk girl practically shouted and earned a glares from those around her.

"That explains the lack of friends," Louisa joked as if completely forgetting that she too had almost no friends, unless she counted her Professors who valued her contributions to their lessons and all the hard work, "Look, all I am suggesting is that you say fuck you to the patriarchy and grab Quidditch by the Quaffles and say 'hey, I'm your Captain and most valued player, deal with it or kiss my ass'."

They both clapped whilst others sat at their table roared with joy when a first year was sorted into Slytherin. All she could think was how with each time the hat roared 'Slytherin', another child was doomed to the title that they all suffered from. But where most of her fellow house mates wore the green robes with pride, Juniper was perhaps one of the few that wished they were anything but green.

"How about this... How about I just prove that I am better than Flint, better than Pucey and Higgs, they will have no other choice to promote me to Captain and then my parents won't see this as a disappointment but an achievement and one that I can make a career out of."

It wasn't long before Dumbledore stood before them all and with a wave of his arms, the four tables were filled with exquisite stretches of foods. Plates were pilled high with meals that students could no way finish and not be seriously ill later on. The two girls scrunched their noses up in disgust in what some people were spooning onto their golden plates.

But nevertheless, they joined in the banquet. As much as Juniper hated the school for the most part, the sorting day feast was one of the best of the school year. But as she ate, she couldn't help but taste the bitterness.

"Hey, Louisa, does this taste weird to you?" she asked, only gaining a shake of the head from the girl as she drank pumpkin juice from her chalice, "I swear, if those Weasleys put something in this meal then I am going to jinx their ginger eyebrows purple for the rest of the year. I can't have a replay of last time."

Of course the two girls were familiar with the consequences of the last pranks played by the two brothers, the whole of the Slytherin common room was chaos with each student blaming the other for being jinxed. It probably wasn't the best idea to eat a batch of cookies that magically appeared by the fire, especially ones they later found to be spelled with a Cheering charm.

"It tastes fine to me," she spoke though her words were muffled by the chicken she had stuffed in her mouth, "If fact, it tastes better than last year. How is that even possible?"

"I think I'm gonna go to the bathroom quickly," Juniper stated with an arm over her stomach and rose from the bench, "I won't be a moment."

June left the Slytherin table and noticed how a few of the students were already calling it a night and returning to their dorms already, most likely to catch up with their friends after the summer or even get some early reading for classes in. However, one sight in particular did catch her eye.

And that was Oliver Wood.

He didn't notice her at first, instead all his attention as focused on the girl that was trapped between his body and the wall of the corridor. Though by the look on the brunette's face, she was enjoying the close proximity of the Quidditch Keeper.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" she laughed upon noticing how the girl's cheeks flushed a dark shade, one she associated with the hair of the Weasley family. 

Oliver Wood turned to face her with equally as rosy cheeks. She had no idea how it was possible for him to look taller than he did the previous year, his arms managed to flex by the way he was leaning against the wall to be closer. Eyes so dark. Hair so neatly combed. Smile so alluring...

How was it possible?

How was it possible that one glance made her heart flutter like a golden snitch within her chest?

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Welcome to Crescent Moon Scars, honestly this is one of my favourite plots for the Tales Beyond the Rubble series behind my Harry Potter idea! Please vote, comment and follow to spread the love!