juniper's pov:

The first few weeks back to Hogwarts flew by, between Quidditch practices, O.W.L. preparations, and the staggering amount of course work that was piled on us these days, I barely had time to breathe.

I pored over my playbook, our first game was this weekend against Slytherin, and Ness would never let me live it down if we lost to them. Vanessa was a Seeker too and competitiveness was practically a requirement in the Potter family.

Not to mention, all of our parents would be in the stands, most likely armed with a battalion of embarrassing, over the top banners and signs. They always came for our first games. Uncle Ron would break into song at least twice a game, usually singing a rendition of what he calls "Weasley is our King", I guess it was a cheer from when they went to school? I'm not really sure, but the Slytherin parents always seem to get a kick out of it.

"Hey." I felt a hand on my shoulder, and almost scream from surprise. It's past ten, the common room's been empty for ages, and I've been completely absorbed in Quidditch lineups for the last few hours.

I whipped my wand out, adjusting my glasses so I could see who this potential attacker could be, and I sighed in relief when I see who it is, "Teddy, I lowered my wand, Merlin you scared the fuck out of me!"

He laughed, ducking as I swatted him with the play book, "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Someone's jumpy." He sat down beside me, peeking over my shoulder at my work.

"For all I knew you could've been a serial killer." I replied indignantly, blowing my hair out of my face.

"If I was a serial killer you'd already be dead, love." Teddy grinned, raising an eyebrow mischievously, "Why are you still up anyways?"

"Working on this." I displayed my detailed diagrams, "I have to get it just right if we stand a chance against Slytherin."

He rose, smiling, "You should sleep Junie, you're going full on Oliver Wood right now."

I scowled at him, "Shut up Lupin."

"And you should probably put James there." He tapped a space on the drawing, walking to the portrait hole, and I furrowed my brow.

"Where are you going so late?"

"Maddie just got done with her patrol duties, I'm meeting her in the prefects bathroom...if you catch my drift." He winked, and I rolled my eyes.

"We always catch your drift Teddy." I responded sourly, checking my lineup again, "And my positions are perfectly fine."

"Just check it Potter." He called as he disappeared out the common room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I looked closer at the game setup and groaned. Damn it, he was right, James would be better over there. How had I not seen that?

I closed my notebook softly, rubbing my eyes and yawning. I wondered if Teddy would be coming back tonight, probably not. Teddy was always back in the Gryffindor tower by morning, but lately he's been returning late and later. Though I guess the correct thing to say would be earlier and earlier. Him and Maddie were spending a lot of time together, but I was pretty sure he was still seeing other girls.

I missed him. We all did, though no one as much as James. Usually, it wasn't a problem because he moved through girls like a snowplow, but he had been spending less time with us and more time with Maddie the past few days.

I was trying not to be jealous, I really was. Mostly because Maddie herself was so so nice, like an unreal level of nice, and my baby sister absolutely idolized her.

Silently, I debated waiting up for Teddy to come back, and then thought about how pathetic that might seem. I fell asleep trying to decide.

"J! J! Wake up Junie, we've got class in ten." I felt Vivian shaking me, and I rolled onto my stomach, planting my face into my pillow. Wait, hold up, my pillow? I sat up straight, taking in my surroundings. I was in my bed, but how...?

"How'd I get in here?" I asked, confused, "I thought I fell asleep in the common room last night..."

"I don't know Juniper, Rory shrugged, tossing me my uniform and a bra, you were here when we got up, but we have to go, you know Professor Parkinson hates it when we're late."

Jade shivered at the thought, "That woman is terrifying." She handed me a thermos of coffee and I smiled at her gratefully

"Badass though, Vivian pointed out, and bloody good at Potions, besides what are you three worried about? You're all top in that class. It's me you've got to worry about, she hates me."

I pulled on my socks and shoes, still mulling over my obvious relocation that occurred last night. Had I slept walked? "I swear I fell asleep in the common room." I shook my head in bewilderment, grabbing my book bag and following my friends down the stairs.

"Good morning Wood." My brother flashed a cocky smile at Rory, who steadfastly ignored him. "We're going to Hogsmeade today Wood, do you-"

"No."

"Don't fight it love, you know you want to-"

"No."

"C'mon Wood, give me a-"

"Potter, Rory whipped her head around to face James, if you do not shut up I swear to Godric I will give you detention every weekend for months." And with that, the girl walked away, golden brown locks swinging behind her.

My brother smiled, letting out a small chuckle of delight, "She's so bossy."

"You are obsessed." I patted James on the back.

"James, mate, you know I love you, Teddy joined us, but it's never going to happen."

"Never." Leo reiterated, trying to get the point across.

"Like never ever, in hundred years, ever." Charlie further established.

James didn't listen, he never did, "You'll see, he nodded confidently, one day you'll all see."

"Oh before I forget, Teddy placed my Quidditch playbook in my hands, here."

"Why do you have it?"

"I found it wrapped in your arms when I came back last night, and trust me it was not easy getting it out of your grasp. Even sleeping you protect your Quidditch plays with your life." He smirked, tugging my ponytail gently.

"When you came back last night?" I murmur questioningly, taking a sip of my coffee, "What are you-"

"When I stepped into the common room at like one in the morning you were fast asleep on the couch over there, so I carried you up to your dorm."

I spit out my coffee, coughing violently. Leo pounded me on the back, "Whoa Junie! you okay?"

"You- you- WHAT?" I sputtered, eyes watering.

"Carried you to your bed, I didn't think you wanted to spend the night on the common room couch, Teddy explained, why what's the matter? It wasn't hard Junie, you're a pretty tiny person."

"Aren't boys not supposed to be able to get up to the girls' dorm?." Vivian's eyes narrowed.

"Guess I'm just special Knox." Teddy winked, and Vivian flipped him off, giving me more time to collect myself.

"Yeah, that and we all figured out the trick third year." Charlie holds a finger up to his lips, "It's a secret we'll never tell."

Rory circled back to rejoin our group, grabbing me and Leo by the arm, and gesturing for the rest of them, "Move your arses, we are not going to be late again! I'm looking at you Potter!"

"And you, she continued, pointing an accusing finger at Leo, you are a prefect too, you could help me!"

"Ah Ror, if only I could, Leo said wistfully, unfortunately I've been hanging around these lot much too long."

"We've corrupted his innocent soul." Charlie snickered through his full mouth of food.

"How are you always eating?" Jade marveled in amazement.

"It's a gift."

The day passed quickly, McGonagall had given me and the team special permission to leave classes early for practice, she wanted to win almost as much as I did. You'd be surprised, Aunt Minnie is a cutthroat player, on our annual holiday games she is always out for blood.

I tied my hair back into a ponytail and summoned my broom, blowing my whistle so the rest of the team would join me on the field.

"Let's hustle people, we've only got the field for a couple hours and then Slytherin has it booked." I shouted, James and Charlie were still goofing off. "Oi! Laps! Both of you!"

They looked at me reproachfully, "Junieee!"

"Do you want me to double it?" I threatened, tapping my foot impatiently as they dutifully began running, "And where the fuck is Lupin?"

"Uh Juniper, Evelyn touched my shoulder lightly, I think he's over there." The red head gestured to the stands.

"Thank you Evie, I sighed, start these guys on passing and shooting drills, Viv do some broom skills with the cones while you wait"

I stalked over to where he was leaning against the railings, hands on my hips, "Theodore Remus Lupin, you better get your arse over to practice before I count to three or you'll be running laps with- oh!" I stopped, finally realizing why he was all the way over here, "Hi Madison."

She waved, "Hey Juniper, sorry I didn't mean to keep him from you." Madison put her hand back down over Teddy's.

"Oh, no, it's- it's alright- just- what are you doing here? Don't you have class?"

"I had a free and Teddy invited me to watch you guys practice, she smiled, blushing slightly, then caught sight of my stony expression, is that- not ok? I apologize, I should've checked with you first. I don't want to-"

"It's completely fine Maddie, Teddy reassured, squeezing her hand, right Juniper?" He gave me a look.

"Yeah, I replied through gritted teeth, it's fine." I spun on my heel and didn't wait for Teddy to catch up with me. I mounted my broom angrily, and sped into the sky with determination, joining Vivian in practicing broom skills.

Teddy flew nearer to me, I tried to dodge away, but he was too fast. He stopped me midair, "I'm sorry Junie, I know how seriously you take Quidditch. I should have ran it by you."

"Yeah, well what's done is done."

"June...please?" He waited a beat, gauging my reaction, "I'm sorry."

"I know you stupid idiot, I shoved him lightly, just go hit some Bludgers with Viv." He smiled and zoomed away, and I shook my head. He could always do that, make me forget I was mad at him.

I needed to clear my head, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. When I was younger I was terrified of the dark, and mum taught me to do that whenever I had to calm myself. She called it blowing out the butterflies. I tried to focus on my broom, and only my broom.

In through the nose, out through the mouth

In through the nose, out through the mouth.

In through the nose, out through the-

Madison's lilting, lighthearted giggle broke my concentration. My eyes snapped open. Teddy was doing tricks on his broom, showing off as he dipped and dived.

Ugh.

I hate boys.

I swallowed hard, attempting to ignore the situation as I soldiered on through the rest of practice. It was maybe the worst I've flown in a practice ever. A Bludger nearly hit me in the head twice, I got in the way of a shot to the goal, and I almost fell off my broom. I haven't fallen off my broom since I was 3!!!

Finally, the mess of practice is over and the Slytherins take to the field, Xavier Zabini instructing his team with the precision of a military commander.

"Good luck tomorrow Potter." He called from the sky.

"You're gonna need it!" My sister teased cheekily, high fiving Axel.

Nessa is always right after all, I put my head in my hands, praying tomorrow would go well, despite the atrocity of today.

kinda short chapter :( idk i felt like this chapter was really shitty and i'm sorry i was having major writer's block

but never fear, i have another chapter in the works and it may publish tonight!! hopefully it'll be better than this one

love you all!!

please vote and comment

-coco

p.s. lmk if you caught the gossip girl reference :))