"I royally fucked up Arithmancy." Juniper told Vivian as they walked out of the stuffy castle. The spring sun beat down on their faces, the promise of summer warmth lingering on their skin. "Professor Sinistra's going to have my head."

"At least your Potions exam went well, Vivian remarked, you'd should've seen the look on Parkinson's face when I showed her my cauldron." She groaned, slumping down on the grassy knoll that overlooked the lake, "Thank god my parents don't know what T means."

Juniper shaded her eyes from the glare reflecting of the pristine surface of the Black Lake, "We did alright in DADA though, only worthwhile subject in my opinion. Plus, we didn't actually study that much..." She trailed off, her and Vivian snickering.

"What's so funny?" Rory and Jade appeared from around a tree, their last exam must've just gotten out as well.

"Our lack of studying." Vivian grinned, elbowing Juniper as Jade bit back a smile. Rory made an attempt to look disapproving but failed, settling down beside Juniper.

Rory shook her head, "I don't know how the three of you can be so calm, I just know I translated one of those runes wrong."

"Stop worrying Ror, Jade slung an arm around her shoulder, results won't come out for ages."

"Besides we've done much more important things this year than those stupid exams." Vivian declared proudly, rifling through her satchel for something.

"That's true we did accomplish a lot this year." Juniper thought back, remembering that September day in Diagon Alley It seemed so long ago. Where had all the time gone?

"Like what?" Rory challenged, still going over notes. Vivian snatched the parchment right out of the brunette's hands, chucking it into the Black Lake.

"Viv!" Vivian only smirked in response, shrugging with satisfaction.

"You were prefect, top of the class again Ror, Jade got into that that fancy Herbology program over the summer, Viv and I won the House Cup for Quidditch, oooh and the snow day prank."

"Really, Rory raised an eyebrow, you included the prank on the list?"

"It was a historical moment Ror of course I did." Juniper laughed. Her friend was so predictable sometimes.

"Not to mention all the personal growth, Vivian gazed at Juniper pointedly, I'm talking to you J."

"Yes I stopped liking Teddy." Juniper preened, tossing her hair, "For real this time I promise."

"The fact that I actually believe you is a sign of character development." Jade encouraged, patting Juniper.

She rolled her eyes, "I wasn't that bad." Then Juniper recalls some of the events from earlier in the year. She winced, "Okay maybe I was, but I solved it. All it took was a trip to Paris."

"And a French boy who played guitar." Vivian quipped cheekily, poking Juniper's cheek, "That's right I talk to Victoire too."

"Shut up." Juniper batted her away, smiling. She'd never used that number Pierre gave her. In fact, she was pretty sure it was still sitting at the bottom of her trunk. For a brief moment she wondered how Pierre was doing back in France. Victoire wrote to her about the band occasionally, but they mostly talked about school and their parents. He was probably charming girls with those cheekbones of his all over the city.

"I still can't believe you did it J." Jade marveled.

"Did what?" Teddy asked, walking over with James, Charlie, and Leo in tow.

"None of your bloody business Lupin." Vivian retorted, sharing a secret smile with the three girls. They started giggling, and the boys looked at them strangely. This of course only made them laugh harder, clutching their stomachs as they rolled around on the grass, gasping for breath.

"It was about us wasn't it?" James said assuredly, winking. He messed with his black hair, loosening his tie. He smirked at Rory, leaning against the trunk of the tree with a cocky air, "You talking about how much you fancy me Wood?"

"Honestly if your head was any larger you'd float away like a balloon." Rory pursed her lips, deliberately turning her cheek away from his.

"You'd miss me if I floated away." James teased, messing with his hair again.

"As if." Rory scoffed, face red and firmly settled in the expression that the girls had fondly nicknamed "The James Scowl".

Juniper sighed as her brother and best friend continued to bicker, James and Rory locked in an intense battle of smug eyebrow raises and snarky quips. To be honest, it looked more like flirting than anything else, and anyone outside of their friend group could see that. After a few too many Woods and Potters, Juniper finally put a stop to the madness.

"Am I getting you all hot and bothered Wood?" James ventured mischievously, in response to Rory fanning herself in the midday heat.

Rory's eyes flashed and her nostrils flared as she opened her mouth to fire back a response.

"James for Merlin's sake will you leave the poor girl alone. She's not going to go out with you, you wanker!" Juniper reprimanded with exasperation.

"Why'd you lot come over here anyhow?" Vivian queried, also fanning herself, "Was it just so James could get turned down again? Because I don't have problem with that." She snickered at James, who frowned sullenly at her, sticking his tongue out.

"Nah." Teddy chuckled, ribbing James. He nodded his head at Juniper, "We came for her."

"Her me?" Juniper secured her frizzy hair up into a ponytail. Humidity was not her friend.

"Yes you Junie." Teddy rolled his eyes, holding out a hand to help her up.

"Oh so you do know my name?" Juniper cocked an eyebrow daringly, words barbed with sarcasm.

"Haha." Teddy replied dryly, taking her hand. Juniper grinned, flipping Teddy to the ground in one swift motion as he tried to help her up. She dusted herself off triumphantly, peering at Teddy who was now lying on the grass. "How's the weather down there?"

Teddy sucked in his cheeks, eyes twinkling, as he rose from the ground. He and Juniper eyes each other for a beat, waiting to see who would make the first move. "Boys?"

"We're on it." They all turned to Juniper, mouths quirking up devilishly. She recognized that look all too well.

"J! RUN!" Rory, Jade, and Vivian shouted. Juniper was already bolting away, hair flying out of her ponytail behind her. The guys were hot at her heels as she careened down the side of the hill, her adrenaline racing. She laughed with exhilaration. Were they acting like children? Yes. But it was so bloody fun. She skidded to stop behind a large rock, heart pounding. It was the perfect hiding spot to wait out the guys. Juniper wiped the sweat off her brow, ducking into the trees when the boys spotted her again. She was going so fast she nearly tripped over a stray root, arms pinwheeling wildly as she attempted not to fall.

"Whoa!" A large hand gripped her arm, steadying her. "You alright?"

Juniper looked up into the dark eyes of Xavier Zabini, "Fine". She sputtered, trying to catch her breath, "I'm being chased."

Xavier followed her stare to the horde of her friends traipsing the grounds, he laughed, "I should've guessed."

"Childish I know." Juniper blushed, suddenly embarrassed. She must look a right mess, sweaty and flushed, damp hair clinging to her forehead.

"No, Xavier shook his head, childhood gets taken away from a lot of people too soon. You guys have the right idea."

"Thanks." Juniper noticed that his hand was still lingering on her arm. Victoire's words from New Year's Eve echoed in her mind. He likes you. Juniper adjusted her uniform self consciously, ridding her mind of any thoughts of that sort. It would not do her well to dwell on such things, especially when Xavier was in such close proximity to her looking so god damn attractive. The Zabini family had good genes, that's for sure.

He held her gaze, like he was about to say something, and Juniper both did and didn't want to know what it was.

"I-"

"You guys I found her- oh!" Leo paused mid-yell, eyes flicking to Xavier's hand on Juniper's arm. Xavier immediately removed it, stuffing his fists in his pockets like nothing had happened. "Hi Xavier." Leo said with a hint of smugness, smile creeping up his face, "What are you doing here?"

Juniper elbowed him in the shoulder, hard, "Xavier was just passing by when I almost wiped out. You know, because a group of maniacs were hunting me down." She glared at Leo.

"Sounds like a very serious situation." Leo replied with mock concern, voice grave.

"Well I'll let you get back, Xavier waved, have a nice summer McGonagall, you too Potter." He began to walk away, but at the last second turned around, emboldened as he called, "Hey Juniper! I'll write to you." He smiled adorably, seeming to have surprised himself in asking her that.

"Okay." Juniper called back, feeling her cheeks warm. And not from the heat this time. She could practically see Leo's smugness radiating off of him. "Shut up." She muttered lowly, shoving him.

"I didn't say anything." Leo put his hands up defensively.

"You wanted to." Juniper crossed her arms, "Xavier's just a friend." The word felt strange on her lips. Before now they had merely been acquaintances, people who said hi in passing, but never close. Maybe that was going to change.

"I'm sure."

"LEO!"

"Relax Junie, I'm not going to tell Teddy if that's what you're worried about."

"I am not worried about that!" Juniper staunchly protested. Leo knew her too well sometimes. That was one of the downsides of having friends that had literally known you since birth. "Teddy and I talked about that, he's fine with it." There was nothing to fine about in the first place, Juniper scolded herself, she was deluded. Xavier and her were certainly not an item, they were only newly friends. The heat must be addling her brain.

"Mmmhmm, Leo nodded, so I should let him know then?" He taunted, already knowing what Juniper's answer would be. He was such a know it all.

"No." Juniper sulked, shaking her head as Leo smirked. "I hate you."

"Love you too cousin dearest." Leo blew her a kiss, putting an arm around her shoulders. "I wouldn't have told him regardless, he whispered conspiratorially, it'd be a shame to mess up that pretty face with the pounding he would've received."

"He does have a pretty face doesn't he?" Juniper giggled, leaning her head on Leo's shoulder.

"Another reason for Teddy to hate him." Leo pointed out, as they journeyed back to the castle. Juniper desperately needed to pack, the train was coming tomorrow and she'd been putting it off for weeks.

"Because Godric forbid anybody is pretty but him." Juniper groaned. Teddy and James were two of the most vain boys Juniper had ever met, constantly checking themselves out in mirrors. Their rabid base of adoring fans only egged them on

"Juniper!" Juniper whipped her head around, searching for the source of the voice. "Juniper!" Wait a minute...that sounded like- was that-

"Mum?!" Her mother stood before her, beckoning her forward. "What are you doing here?" For some reason, her mum looked out of place at Hogwarts. Logically, Juniper knew her mother had once gone to Hogwarts, but it was jarring to see her here out of the context of a school function or dinner.

"Hi Leo." Miranda smiled kindly at her nephew, hugging him.

"Hey, Aunt Mandy."

"Mum what are you doing here?" Juniper repeated, "The train isn't til tomorrow."

"Yes but we've got a plane to catch," Miranda said animatedly, taking Juniper's arm. "C'mon Junebug your brother, your dad, and your sisters are waiting."

"A plane?" Juniper was bewildered, why was her mother so upbeat right now. "We're wizards mum, why can't we-"

"It's all part of the experience honey."

"Experience? What experience?" Her mum didn't respond and her pace quickened. "Mum?" Juniper questioned again, "Why are we going on a plane."

Miranda stopped, eyes shining with excitement, "We're going to California."

fun fun stuff to come it'll be a good chapter i promise
and we'll get some backstory on grace
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xoxo,
coco