Juniper shimmied her jeans up her thighs. Twisting and turning in front of the mirror, she debated whether to wear her hair up or down. She had to admit, she looked pretty fantastic. Jeans resting snugly on her hips, and the tie back shirt that showed just the tiniest sliver of her torso. Juniper decided to leave her hair down, shrugging her leather jacket on and picking her shoes up in her hands.

Quietly, she tiptoed down the stairs, praying she'd make it to the kitchen exit without incident. See- Juniper hadn't exactly told her parents she was going to a party with Vivian. Or that there was a party at all. It would be different if it was just Harry, but her mum would definitely have something to say about it.

Thankfully, the boys were at Charlie's, so she was safe on that front. She just had to manage not to run into anyone- else.

"And just where are you going?"

Juniper stopped in her tracks, wheeling around to find her sister, leaning smugly against the counter. "Er- to Charlie's?"

"Dressed like that?" Vanessa arched a suspicious eyebrow, eyes flicking up and down over Juniper's outfit.

"Well-"

"Is that also why you're carrying your shoes?"

Juniper winced, hiding the pair of boots behind her back hastily, "Ness-" She pleaded, "I swear I'll do anything- just don't-"

"Relax, Junie." Vanessa giggled, "I'm not telling Mum or Dad, they're over at Aunt Gin and Uncle Matt's anyways. You're in the clear."

"Thank godric." Juniper sighed in relief.

"Frankly, I'm impressed." Vanessa said, "I didn't think you had the balls."

Juniper swatted her sister on the arm, "Ness!"

"You know what I mean!" Vanessa rolled her eyes, "You're badass obviously, you're related to me, duh. But we both know that usually you'd rather spend time holed up with those smelly testosterone socks you call friends." She winked as Juniper stifled a laugh. "You look hot by the way."

"I know, right." Juniper smirked, doing a little twirl.

Vanessa got a sneaky smile on her face, "So hot, in fact, that I think you should ask Viv to pick you up a few houses to the left. You know, so no one will see you at the McGonagall's. This, of course, means you'll have to walk past the Weasley's house. And I know that Charlie's window faces to the street, so maybe- just maybe a certain someone will see you looking fit tonight, and regret his entire existence."

Juniper grinned, shaking her head. She knew Vanessa knew. "Sounds like a fantastic plan."

"Doesn't it?" Vanessa lifted her shoulder nonchalantly, "Just off the top of my head here."

Juniper bit her lip, "I love you, Nessa." She hugged her sister tightly.

"Eeaurggh!" Vanessa struggled against Juniper's embrace, "You had to ruin it."

"It's ok. I know you love me too." Juniper pinched her sister's cheek, patting her head.

"Yuck." Vanessa poked out her tongue, "Now get your arse out of here!"

"Ness-"

Her sister raised a finger to her lips, "Not a word to Mum and Dad, promise. Have fun."

"I'll do my best."

"And Juniper?" Vanessa called out, as Juniper swung the door open.

"Yeah?"

"Snog some boys."

"Yes ma'am." Juniper saluted, waving goodbye to her sister and creeping out the front gate.

She held her head high, walking past the Weasley home, and she noted with pride the light that flicked on in the second floor bedroom. Once she was safely inside Viv's car she zipped up her boots, securing her seatbelt. Viv was a horrible driver.

"Hey!" Juniper exclaimed, kissing Vivi on the cheek as she peeled out of the lane.

"Hi!" Vivian replied, flying down the road so fast Juniper had to clutch the armrest for dear life. Most of the tension had disappeared between them. Which Juniper was immensely grateful for. "I didn't think you'd be coming." They sped across neighborhoods, houses all starting to look the same. Ah, they were in the Muggle towns now.

"Honestly?" Juniper laughed, "Neither did I." Vivian turned down another street, and Juniper could already hear the echoes of music in the distance. "Who's throwing this thing?"

"Oh- er- just this guy. Justin."

"You know him well?" Juniper asked, eager to learn about Vivian's Muggle life. She was always very closed off about the whole situation. Juniper had been friends with her for nearly six years and she still didn't know Vivian's sister's name.

"Eh." Vivian just shrugged, eyes on the road ahead. She pulled to a stop in front of a plain looking house, party goers spilling out of every entrance. Juniper got out of the car and heard a whoop as someone did a flip off one of the hoods of a car. So this was a Muggle party. No Veritaserum or drunk broom flying here, she guessed.

People were definitely drunk though, boozed up to the point of complete stupidity. There was also lots of snogging. Then again, maybe it wasn't so different from a Gryffindor party.

A guy handed a drink to Juniper, but before she could take a sip, Vivian snatched it out of her hand.

"What?" Juniper furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Never take a drink from someone else." Vivian advised in a warning tone, shouting over the loud music, "And never leave your drink unattended either."

"Thanks." Juniper replied, glad Vivian was there to direct her. The party was raucous, wild, and there were people everywhere. And she did mean everywhere. It was undoubtedly a fire hazard.

"Who's the hottie, Vivi?" A booming blonde slung an arm around Vivian, his eyes mentally undressing Juniper. He was sort of attractive though, and drunk, very drunk. Vanessa did say she should snog some guys.

"Ben. Juniper." She gestured between the two of them, "Juniper this is Ben."

"Nice to meet you." Juniper smiled politely, holding out a hand. Ben kissed it gallantly, stumbling as he tried to remain upright.

"Want to get a drink with me?" His words blur together, a jumbled, drunken mess. His inhibitions are low, and maybe Juniper needs to lower hers a little as well. Though not too much. The last time she got batshit pissed she lost a boyfriend and gained a massive headache of the Teddy variety.

Juniper looked to her friend, asking silently if she should go or not, but found Vivian completely distracted. So she let Ben take her hand, and followed him to get a drink. He was flirty, and very complimentary. Juniper craned her neck over the throng of people, searching for Vivian.

Where could she be? The girl had disappeared into thin air. Juniper was slightly tipsy now, barely registering how close Ben had gotten to her. Where the fuck was Vivian? She wouldn't just leave her here alone? Would she?

"Hey-" Juniper murmured, placing a hand on his chest, "Do you know where Vivian is?"

Ben shrugged, pulling her in, "Who knows? Probably with Justin." Juniper thought the name sounded vaguely familiar, but she didn't have much time to remember because before she knew it, Ben's lips were on hers.

At first, Juniper felt triumphant. Take that Teddy! Ben wasn't a bad kisser either, energetic, to say the least. But- Juniper didn't feel better. At all. She was trying to enjoy it, have fun, be casual. All the things Teddy seemed to have no trouble with. But she just couldn't. It wasn't fair. How come she couldn't do it?

Teddy stupid voice wiggled its way into her mind, nagging.

Why are you kissing this wanker?

Get out of my head, Teddy!

You know this isn't what you want

Oh and you know what I want?

I know it's not this.

Maybe it is, you don't know everything about me.

Juniper, you're drunk,

Yeah, so?

See I can read you like a book

I'm having a conversation with a figment of my imagination, that was kind of a given.

Juniper...

After a few more sloppy, wet kisses, Ben's tongue probing her like he was digging for something, Juniper couldn't take it anymore. She broke away from him, "I have to- go." She mumbled, extricating herself from his embrace. Her mouth tasted like stale beer as she weaved through the thick crowd. Where was Vivian?

Juniper thought going this party would be good for her. And now she just felt worse. So so much worse. She fixed herself another drink and downed it, then another. The alcohol coursed through her body, and her head grew dizzy, pounding to the beat of the music. Tequila was her drink of choice tonight. Hard hitting and causing a brief moment where she could just stop thinking about Teddy.

She tapped a curly headed girl, hoping it was Vivian. The girl turned around.

It wasn't.

"Do you need something?"

"Oh- er- no-." Juniper apologized, wobbling a bit with her drink in hand. "I thought you were someone else."

"Sorry." The girl shrugged, "Friend trouble or boy trouble?" She asked, nodding to the tequila, "I'm Anna by the way."

"Well I've lost my friend. But I probably should've expected that." Juniper confided bitterly, "That seems to be the theme for me recently."

"So it is boy trouble, then?" Anna smiled knowingly, "The tequila tipped me off."

"Boys suck." Juniper grumbled.

Anna closed her eyes, raising her own glass, who also contained- you guessed it- tequila. "Yup." There was a beat, then Anna thrust a cell phone into Juniper's hands, "Here. Two more shots and I'll call him. And I really shouldn't call him."

"But-" Juniper began to protest, but Anna was already gone. And just like that, Juniper was alone again. Her stomach churned, and the room tilted sideways. She felt sick, like the ground was about give way beneath her feet. This was a bad idea. Such a bad idea. Juniper could barely walk in a straight line, seeing spots each way she swiveled her head. Drunkenly, she took Anna's phone and dialed her home number.

She stumbled outside, bracing herself against a hedge on the sidewalk, phone ringing.

"Ness- it's me-" She slurred, incoherent. "I'm just- can you get James- or take the car Aunt Mione never uses down here. I don't know where I am- and I just need to go- I've had a lot of tequila, I think. Like a lot. I don't feel- good. And if you get James- don't involve all of them- I don't want- well you know. Oh! And do not tell Mum!" Juniper clicked the hang up button, discarding the phone on the grass. Hopefully Anna would find it. She slumped to the floor, clutching her head. The stars above her were out of focus, pinpoints of light rippling together.

"Juniper."

A call reached her ears, and Juniper raised her head, wondering if she was hallucinating.

"Juniper. Over here. Now." A firm, impatient voice. Someone grabbed her arm, yanking her upright.

Juniper's jaw dropped, "Mum-" And with pop, they disapparated, Juniper's stomach lurching in protest.

And just like that Juniper was home, but she was far from safe. Juniper cringed, holding the banister of the stairs in the entryway for support. "Mum I can explain-" Bile rose in the back of her throat, and Juniper clapped a hand to her mouth, "Oh no- I really don't feel *gag* good. Mum I think I'm going to-"

"Let's get you upstairs." Her mom led her to her room hastily, just barely making it to the bathroom before Juniper hunched over the toilet.

"Shhh." Her mum rubbed her back comfortingly, Juniper hurling convulsively into the toilet.

Juniper was fighting consciousness, her thoughts mixed together and unable to from a full sentence. She was really regretting the tequila. Juniper had never felt so horrible in her life. Viv had left her, and Teddy kept leaving her. It was all just too much.

She collapsed to the floor, head in her mother's lap. "Why doesn't he like me? Why doesn't he talk to me? What did I do? What did I do wrong?" Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto the tiled floor. "What did I do wrong?" She whispered.

Miranda continued rubbing her back, stroking the top of her head. "Shh, sh. It's okay, honey."

"He-" Juniper voice quivered, eyes drifting shut.

"It's okay. Sh. You're okay." Miranda repeated over and over, softly.

The next morning...

Juniper woke up slowly, painfully, blinking in the bright morning light. Her face was pressed into the tile, a red imprint on her left cheek. She touched a hand to the mark, hissing in hurt when she stood. Her head ached.

The events of the previous night are drifting back to her, bits and pieces trying to click together. Gingerly, she made her way down the stairs.

"Good morning!" Her mother said cheerily, from the parlor. "How are you feeling, Junebug?"

Juniper rubbed her eyes sleepily, her body sore from her position on the bathroom floor. "Loud." She mumbled.

"Tequila?" Miranda raised an eyebrow.

Juniper nodded regretfully, "Coffee."

"In the kitchen." Miranda said.

Juniper was having a very hard time remembering where exactly the kitchen was at that moment. She stood, unmoving at the bottom of the stairs, baffled.

"Juniper?"

"Huh?"

"Coffee." Her mother reminded her, "In the kitchen."

"The kitchen?" Juniper blinked.

Her mother sighed, grabbing Juniper by the shoulders and pointing her towards it. "That way."

"Right." Juniper said, running a hand through her hair. She pulled it up, doing her best not to gag when the smell of coffee overpowered her. She poured a cup, holding her breath, "Mum," She called, "coffee is making me nauseous."

"That would be the copious amount of tequila you consumed, Junebug." Miranda entered the kitchen, grabbing her own cup of coffee, "Drink it. I promise it will help. The mac n cheese is almost done."

"Mac n cheese?" It was morning. At least, Juniper was pretty sure. She didn't know where the rest of her family was, though.

"Best hangover food." Her mother advised, putting an arm around Juniper. "Trust me."

Juniper took a sip of the coffee, "Oh no. Mum I'm gonna throw up-" She paused, "Oh wait- no I'm good."

"Why don't we go upstairs just in case?" Miranda viewed Juniper warily, "I got enough vomit on me last night."

"If you say the word vomit again, I'm going to vomit." Juniper made disgusted face, groaning. "Mum?" Juniper ventured, once they were inside her bedroom. "I'm so sorry."

"I know Junebug. I'm not mad."

Juniper was shocked. She'd expected her mother to be furious. She was all prepared for an argument and everything. She sank down on her bed, the nausea starting to subside.

"Believe me, " Juniper said, shaking her head, "It'll never happen again." Juniper was seriously considering giving up alcohol altogether.

Her mother laughed lightly, patting Juniper's hand. "I feel like I should've warned you better against the dangers of tequila. One time your Aunt Gin and I were so drunk on it we decided it would be a good idea to dye my hair blue." She winked at Juniper.

"Really?" Juniper giggled, she'd never heard that story before.

"Yup." Her mother sighed, reminiscing. "Your dad called me blueberry for weeks."

"Please tell me there are pictures."

Miranda put a finger to her chin, eyes brightening, "Wait one second." She hurried out of the bedroom and returned moments later, carrying a shoebox. Miranda settled down on the bed beside Juniper, beginning to take yellowed photographs out of the box.

Juniper peered into the box, intrigued. Besides photographs there were a few knickknacks. A pretty necklace with a blue green stone, a Gryffindor jumper, newspaper clippings, a hair bow, a silvery bracelet, a seashell. And was that a lock of hair she saw? Her mum had kept so much.

"There." Miranda said, finally, tapping a picture. A girl stood, giving the camera the middle finger, hood over her head. Juniper saw the blue hair peeking out at the ends.

"That's you?" Juniper asked in disbelief. Her mum looked so young, so different. So not who Juniper had pictured.

"Wish it was more flattering." Miranda rolled her eyes, "Unfortunately Matt took the picture and I know you know what brothers are like."

Juniper's gaze landed on another photograph, "Wait- oh my- is that Dad?" She gestured to a skinny boy, sopping wet.

Her mother laughed, "I'd nearly forgotten that. Fourth year, Draco and him were fighting during Care of Magical Creatures., and fell in the Black Lake Hagrid had to go fish them out."

"Draco?" Juniper's ears perked up in recognition. "Like who Vanessa is named after?"

"Yes."

"Why were him and Dad fighting? I thought he was your best friend."

"He was. My best friend. Your father's biggest enemy."

"How-"

"Draco was troubled. He didn't always do the right thing. How he grew up- with his father- it was bad. I knew him when we were kids. He loved me, your father loved me, I-"

"Wait- he loved you- like dad loves you?" Juniper couldn't believe it. "Holy shit you were in love triangle!" There was a beat of silence. "I wish you would tell me more stories like that, Mum."

"Really?" Miranda was surprised.

"Honest." Juniper nodded her head fervently, momentarily forgetting her hangover. "Can we- maybe go through the box?"

"Yeah." A slow smile spread across her mothers's face, "If you'd like. Of course. Let's see." Miranda fumbled around in the box. She procured a picture of two girls holding a spider above a boy's head. "This was in fifth year, when Fred and George offered me and Gin five galleons to put a spider on Ron's head. He screamed like a girl that day. Your dad actually had to go outside he was laughing so hard and Hermione took the picture." Miranda continued explaining what all the pictures were abut, what stories the mementos represented.

Juniper listened with rapt attention. She was learning more about her mother than ever before. How had she not known all these things? Why hadn't her mother told her? Why hadn't she asked? She discovered the seashell was from a beach in California, near where Miranda used to live. The necklace was the first thing her dad gave to her mum. She saw her mother, laughing and dancing, perched on her father's shoulders after a Quidditch match.

"...and this was in the common room." Miranda pointed at the final picture, "Ron accidentally made it snow, it's why we all look like we have horrible dandruff. Your aunt insisted we take it because-" Her mum stopped, quieting.

"Because...?" Juniper tilted her head, wondering why her mother had gone so silent. "What is it Mum?"

"Uh-" Miranda exhaled, swallowing hard. "It was- um- it was the end of sixth year. Things were- well they were pretty bad. We all wanted to fight. We didn't know what would happen next year, when we would all be together- happy." Juniper saw a tear forming in the corner of her mother's eye. Miranda cleared her throat, busying herself with tidying up the photographs, "Silly. It was ages ago, really."

"You never really talk much about it." Juniper said, looking up at her mother. "The war, I mean."

"No use dredging up the past." Her mum tried to be cheery. Miranda's lips pressed into a thin line, taking deep breaths. "We went through- a lot. Those were dark times. Your father and I- we never wanted to expose you to any of that. We fought to survive so you wouldn't have to."

"I don't mind." Juniper said, very quietly. "I want to know You can tell me. It must be hard, keeping all that inside."

"Of course it's hard Junie." Miranda massaged her temples, "Nothing about this life has been easy. That war was the hardest thing any of us have- your father and I- our relationship barely made it."

"You and dad broke up?!" Juniper gasped. Well that was news to her. She'd always thought her parents were this perfect, fairytale couple.

"I broke up with him, actually." Miranda visibly flinched at the memory. "No- I don't want to put this burden on your shoulders."

Juniper took her mum's hand, "I can handle it. Promise, I've been reading books about it at school. I'm prepared."

Miranda smiled sadly, "Books only tell half the story, Junebug."

"I know. That's why I want to hear it from you." Juniper pleaded earnestly, eyes begging.

So Miranda told her. The whole story. How she'd been cursed by Voldemort when she was a baby. Learning about her powers. Juniper's grandmother's tragic love story, her death at the Ministry of Magic. How her mother found out about Mateo. When Miranda left Harry to keep him safe. How she had worked for the Order, fighting against the Death Eaters. Juniper did not utter a word the entire time. She was dumbstruck. Her mother had been through more then she'd could have ever imagined. It was a miracle the woman was still breathing, smiling, living. It was a miracle Juniper even existed.

"I had no idea." Juniper breathed, "The books- they don't say any of that."

"I know."

"They're really- mostly about Dad." Juniper explained, deep in thought.

"Well- he is the Chosen One." Her mother laughed slightly, sharing a look with her daughter.

Juniper smiled, then frowned "You're hardly mentioned. And usually they refer to you as his wife or his girlfriend. Doesn't that bother you?"

"Not anymore." Miranda said, shaking her head. "That's just how it is, being married to the Harry Potter. You grow used to being referred to in the context of him."

Juniper grimaced. She'd hate that. She was slightly upset. Her mum had done so many important things. She deserved recognition. "That sounds- awful."

"Maybe it would be, if I didn't love him so much." Miranda lifted a shoulder carelessly.

Juniper let out a little sigh of relief, shoulders relaxing. Miranda turned to her, confused, "What's that about?"

"I just- you still love Dad. That's all." Juniper twisted her hands together on the sheets. A weight had been lifted from her.

"I'll always love your father!" Her mum exclaimed, "Why ever would I stop?"

"You guys have been fighting lately." Juniper bit the inside of her cheek. "I was worried."

"Junebug, your dad and I will never- you never have to worry about that." Miranda reassured firmly, "We've been through too much together. I'm not going to lie to you, it's hard. Both your father and I, well, we went through too much. And we're still working through it. It's been hard for us. Both of us. And in the beginning it was easier, to forget. Pretend it never happened. I mean, we got married, we had you and James, and then Nessa. We were far too busy to let our past sink in. Then you started growing up, and we had Cali. And after Cali, we had...another- ahem- amorous method of avoidance."

Juniper plugged her ears, wrinkling her nose in horror, she cried, "Mum! Please!"

Miranda rolled her eyes, "Yes Juniper your father and I have sex."

"MUM!"

"How do you think you got here?"

Juniper clamped a pillow over her head, voice muffled, "I'd rather not think about it."

"For Chrissakes!" Miranda wrenched the pillow off of Juniper, "Anyways, after Cali went off to Hogwarts, we finally had to deal with it. And I absorbed myself in my job, and then your father did the same. He- we've had disagreements about my Auror employment. He worries- for my safety. He has a really bad hero complex, your dad. But that job is- I need that job."

Juniper and her mother sat in silence for a few minutes. There was a lot settling in the air. It was heavy. Everything her mother had just shared with her was heavy. But Juniper wasn't sorry she'd asked. She needed to hear it. She needed to know.

"I really am sorry, Mum." Juniper apologized, "About last night."

"I know honey." Her mother squeezed her shoulder sympathetically, "I just don't like seeing you that way."

"That makes two of us." Juniper felt sick to her stomach just thinking about it. She'd definitely gotten very friendly with her toilet. She leaned on Miranda's shoulder, and Miranda kissed the top of her head.

"So, Teddy, huh?"

Juniper sat straight up, eyes the size of saucers. "Wha- er- I- erm- you see—"

"Relax Junebug." Miranda chuckled, putting an arm around her. "You've had a crush on that boy since you were five years old."

"You knew?!" Juniper gaped, cheeks flaring. "I mean- wha-a-at? I don't like Teddy. Teddy? Teddy who? Yuck."

"A mother always knows." Miranda tapped the side of her head sagely, "I kept waiting for you to talk to me about him. And although the drunken confession was nice, a little less vomit might have been preferable. Mother daughter bonding can happen outside the bathroom. You know, unless we're doing facials."

Juniper was in a constant state of disbelief. How much more would she discover today? "We've just- we don't talk about boy stuff. Or— "

"Any stuff." Miranda finished for her, mouth downturned. "I wish you would."

"Really?" Juniper's brow furrowed, "I always thought- you and Nessa are so close. She's like your little mini me. You guys can talk about clothes and makeup and- well not boys- but you're just both so confident and perfect. I don't know. I always felt like I didn't fit in there."

"Nessa may look like me, but I always thought you had more of me in you." Miranda said, "I was in Gryffindor too, remember? And I don't care if you like clothes or makeup, I always want you to talk to me." Miranda hugged Juniper tightly,

"Things aren't going so well with Teddy, are they?" Miranda asked, "Tequila makes you honest."

"Not so hot, no." Juniper's lip quivered, headache returning.

"Oh Junebug."

Juniper let her mother hold her, just like she used to do when Juniper was little. It was nice. Safe. "I don't know what to do, Mum." Juniper confessed in anguish, a tear rolling down her cheek, "It just hurts so bad. I want it to stop. How do I make it stop?"

"I can't tell you what to do here, Junie." Miranda wiped the tear off her face, "But I think you know."

And Juniper did know.

what does juniper know?
hm hm hm
little bit of a cliffhanger for ya
sweet chapter tho right?

i thought we needed to patch up their relationship

also if you can name what any of the unmentioned items in miranda's shoebox symbolize you win my undying love and respect <33

back to hogwarts next, i wonder what's in store for our dear dear characters?

please excuse any typos and the rambling.
i am slightly delirious from lack
of sleep but do not fret, i'm making coffee as we speak because like junie i'm addicted to caffeine

love you all,

colleen

oh wait! don't forget to vote and comment :)

ranting————————>
(just for you inschamberofsecrets ) ;)