juniper's pov:

My name is Juniper Lily Potter, I am fifteen years old, and I do not, I repeat, DO NOT, have a crush on Theodore Remus Lupin.

Did I have a tiny, minuscule, crush on him when I was younger? Maybe...I mean can you blame me? He's older, (yes we're in the same year, but he's practically a full year older than me), tall, ridiculously attractive, honestly it's unfair how hot he is. Additionally he's a total heartthrob, girls throw themselves at him daily, Uncle Padfoot taught him well.

And then there's me, not exactly pretty, but not exactly ugly either. Raven black hair, that could be considered wavy or curly on a good day, but sticks up no matter how many times I brush it. Thanks for that dad, by the way. Green eyes that usually have glasses covering them, sometimes I remember to wear my contacts but it's not often, thanks again dad. I'm not very tall, kind of at the tipping point of being average height.

Because I grew up with my brother and three other boys, my fashion sense is not it. Vivian tries to help me, she really does, but I'm kind of a hopeless case. My hair is usually pulled back off my face, not that that stops it from wisping out every which way. I'm muscular from Quidditch, but still pretty thin, long legs, but any curves are non existent. I seriously don't know why I even wear a bra.

Like I said, very average, I'm in the middle. It's how I feel in most of my every day life, normal. Which is not a bad thing to be, don't get me wrong, I'm happy, I'm healthy, I have good friends, a loving family. I'm grateful, I really am. It's just, sometimes I wish I were more something, you know? It's kind of how I feel in my family.

Technically I'm the oldest, but James is older than me by three minutes. A fact that he reminds me of constantly. That, coupled with being the only boy, makes him special already. My parents love us all very much, but I can tell who their favorites are. Dad doesn't even try to hide the fact that Cali's his favorite, I don't know what he's going to do now that she'll be away at Hogwarts. Mum swears she loves us all equally, but her and Nessa have always shared something that me and mum just don't.

I think it's because Nessa reminds Mum of our grandmother, even though I'm the one named after her. She was so proud when Vanessa got sorted into Slytherin. Or maybe it's because Vanessa's named after mum's best friend who died, I don't know much about him, but he was very important to her.

That leaves me in the middle, and occasionally that bothers me. You would think that mum and I would have more to talk about, maybe do that boy talk mother daughter bonding crap you hear about. But I can't talk to my mother about boys. She wouldn't understand. Dad's been in love with her since the minute he laid eyes on her, plus she's gorgeous, another thing Nessa has in common with her. But me, I had to take after dad. The only woman in my life I do confide to, but it's rare, is my Aunt Mione. She and Uncle Ron went through a few ups and downs before getting married, although it seems like they were always meant to be. Mum just doesn't know what it feels like, and all Aunt Ginny has to do is bat her eyelashes and men fall over.

It's hard to like someone and have them not like you back.

Not that I still like Teddy, at all. He's like my brother. Yup, platonic, platonic, platonic.

I am very much over him. Not that I was ever really liked him that much, silly immature school girl crush. Barely even a-- you know what I'm just going to stop while I'm ahead...

"Junie! Our letters are here!" My brother bellowed from downstairs, which was followed by a loud belch. I could hear Charlie chuckling, and I rolled my eyes.

"You're disgusting James!" I shouted back as I hurried down the steps.

The screen door slammed shut in the kitchen and Leo strolled in.

"Leo!" I exclaimed, hugging him.

"Hey Junie." James and Charlie waved from the table, fumbling with their letters.

"Did you get your letter too?"

"That's why I came over, that and mum, dad, and the twins are out at a Quidditch event of some sort and I was bored."

"We're flattered." Charlie joked, finally tearing open his envelope. "Sweet, no Divination this year, glad I dropped that."

"Hey look!" James pointed excitedly at Leo's letter. "McGonagall's a prefect!"

"Wicked", Charlie echoed, "now we can get away with stuff even more easily."

"I'm not going to abuse my prefect power." Leo scoffed. "Did any of you lot get a badge?" He paused and grinned, "That was a silly question, look who I'm talking to."

"Who do you think the other prefect is?"

"I dunno, prolly Wood or Jade. They're both top of the class."

"OH MY GOD!" I screamed suddenly, pulling something out of my letter.

"What?" Leo was startled by her abrupt reaction.

"I am motherfucking Quidditch captain!" I shoved the badge in James's face, "You see that Jamesie boy, you see that Charlie? I am going to own your arses this-"

"Are you talking about my arse Junie?" Teddy Lupin ducked in, sporting that flirtatious grin that gets girls to swoon at the drop of the hat. He raked a hand through his hair, looking at me mischievously.

Oh bloody hell, the hair, and the smile, and oh god. NO! NO! BAD JUNIPER! I have to physically will myself to not turn bright red as he continues to make eye contact with me. I'm seriously going to melt into a puddle of mush if this continues.

"I mean I know it's great-"

"As if, you're so full of yourself Lupin." I roll my eyes. "I am, however, going to own your great arse, because I am Quidditch captain!"

"So you do think my arse is great?" Teddy smirked, leaning against the counter, arms folded.

"I didn't- I- you- that's completely-"

Teddy raised his eyebrows as I stuttered.

Fuck, pull it together, Potter!

"The point is I'm Quidditch captain and I will not be going easy on any of you. Get ready boys." I smiled deviously, and they looked genuinely afraid of me.

"You're Quidditch captain!" Vanessa exclaimed, emerging from the staircase, "That's brilliant Junie!" My sister attacked me with one of her uncommon and ferocious bear hugs, Rose close behind as usual.

Sometimes I envy Rose and Vanessa. It's hard not to. They're both so confident in themselves, so independent, clearly shown seeing as they're a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw. They are a formidable duo, plus Vanessa has Ophelia who's awesome in that very particular Luna Lovegood way, and she has all her badass Slytherin friends.

I love my boys though. I don't know what I'd do without them. They're annoying as hell, and insanely overprotective, but they'd do anything for me. Just like I'd do anything for them.

"I got my letter too. Ness and I both tested into Advanced Runes, so I guess we'll see you there Leo." Rose said proudly, slinging an arm around Vanessa's neck. "By the way do you know where Evie and Ethan are?" Rose asked, snatching a piece of toast out of Charlie's hands, who yelped at his sister. She stuck a tongue out at her brother, triumphantly munching on her stolen goods as she and Vanessa high five. The Granger-Weasleys take food very seriously in their household, you could say it's somewhat of a family trait.

"Out with my mum and dad Ro, sorry." Leo replied, downing a glass of orange juice.

"We all live right next to each other I'm sure we'll see them soon." Vanessa shrugged, turning to James and I. "Where are our mum and dad?"

"Took Cali to Diagon Alley." James yawned, him, Charlie and Leo are all still in their pyjamas. "Hey that rhymes!"

"We're supposed to meet them and Aunt Mione and Uncle Ron there in like an hour." I explained, "That is if these boys can get their arses ready in time."

"I think we look good like this." James did a model strut across the kitchen, shaking his hips and tossing his messy black hair.

"You think you look good whatever you're wearing." Leo shared a look with me while Charlie and Teddy wolf whistled.

"Well it's the truth."

"Yeah because all girls want a guy who wears golden snitch pajama pants." I snorted, poking fun at my twin.

"I'm dressed Junie, aren't you proud of me?" Teddy teased, pulling my ponytail.

"Teddy gets a gold star." I said in a mock sweet voice. "The rest of you please get dressed, and for god sakes James brush your hair!"

"Yes mum." Leo poked my cheek as I flipped him off, him, Charlie, and my brother disappearing up the stairs to get dressed. Vanessa and Rose went into the library, probably to look for some obscure book that they won't even need to read until next year. They're already studying for O.W.L's meanwhile I'm the one in fifth year and I haven't even started. Sometimes I just don't get them. However this does leave me alone, yes alone, in the kitchen with Teddy.

"So what have you been up to this summer Junie?" Teddy asked, the corner of his mouth tilting up.

"Seriously Lupin you're here every day, I think you know what I've been up to this summer."

"I am not here every day!"

I give Teddy a look, arching an eyebrow.

"Fine, I was just trying to make conversation Potter."

"Mmmm."

"Whatever, you lot wouldn't last a second without me, you need me."

"Maybe James needs you, the two of you honestly have no boundaries, ridiculously co-dependent." It was true. My brother and Teddy were a different type of best friends, I mean, I was pretty close with Viv, Jade, and Rory, but nothing compared to Teddy Lupin and James Potter. When we were little, they used to cry when playdates were over and refuse to leave.

"C'mon Junie, you'd miss me if I wasn't here all the time, admit it. I know you love me." Teddy nudged me jokingly, and I shook my head.

He had no idea...STOP! DANGER! DO NOT GET SUCKED IN JUNIPER! Damn it, why'd he have to smile at me like that? This not liking Teddy thing was gonna be a whole lot harder than I thought.

"Hey are the girls coming to Diagon Alley?" Teddy's voice wrenches me from my thoughts.

"Yeah, I think so, as long as Viv is back from France."

"So who all's going to be there?"

"The usual, Jade, Rory and Vivian, and probably Ophelia and that group."

"Do you think Ellie Vance is going to be there?"

"I'm not sure, I don't know her all that well. Why?" My stomach twisted, I had an inkling of where this was going and I did not like it.

"Oh we had a bit of a...thing over the summer, ended rather nastily mind you. She got super clingy, girls am I right?"

I sighed, then again, maybe it wouldn't be that hard. I shouldn't have expected anything different. Teddy shags anything that moves, except for me of course. No, I just get to hear about it. How does he want me to react here? It's not as if I'm going to pound him on the back or high five him like James would've done, does he just completely forget that I'm a girl too? He's talking to me like I'm a bloke he met at the pub and we're swapping details of our escapades. I suppose I should be happy I'm finally "one of the boys", when I was younger that was all I wanted. I just wish he would see me like a, well, like a girl. It doesn't even have to be in a romantic way, just, not whatever this is. Because I really do not want to hear about this. Thankfully, Vanessa and Rose saved me, re-entering the kitchen before I had to respond.

"Ready?" Vanessa lifted her chin at me questioningly, "Where's that darling brother of ours?"

"Still upstairs," I rolled my eyes, "probably messing with his hair for the hundredth time."

"I HAVE BETTER HAIR THAN ALL OF YOU TOSSERS!" James boomed loudly, "YOU CAN'T RUSH PERFECTION!"

"Stop trying to impress Rory!" I shouted back, "It's never going to happen! No matter how good your hair looks."

I heard the pattering of footfalls, my brother clunking down the stairs noisily as he races to the bottom. He skidded on the rug, one sock on and no shoes, out of breath, "You- You never said Wood was going to be there!" He pointed a finger at me accusingly.

"Oh really?" I faked confusion, smirking, "Must've forgotten to mention it."

"You, he panted, trying to catch his breath, are mean." James clutched his stomach as he bends over, still breathing heavily.

"And you, are out of shape." I ruffled his hair and he swatted my hand.

"TEDDY! JUNIPER MESSED UP MY HAIR!" James called for his best friend, growling at me, "YOU NEED TO COME IN HERE AND BACK ME UP!"

Teddy laughs, "Coming mate!" He winks at me, "Told you he needs me."

"Awww poor baby Jamesie" I pouted, ruffling his hair again.

"Do you hear this Teddy?" James crossed his arms petulantly, "Evil I tell you, I don't know why we put up with her."

"I know right, Teddy grinned, surprised the hat didn't put you in Slytherin Junie."

"Hey! I am definitely not Slytherin!" I retorted, punching him in the shoulder.

"I will not tolerate any Slytherin slander." Vanessa shook a finger at us warningly, and then tossed her blond hair over her shoulder arrogantly, "Besides, you all know Slytherin's the coolest house. I'll take green and silver over Ronald McDonald's fever dream any day." Her and Rose laugh, while Charlie and Leo come downstairs, Charlie chucking a quill at his sister's head for that comment.

"Alright, alright, we have to go people. Hurry up!" James clapped, pushing all of us towards the fireplace.

"What's up with him?" Charlie whispered to me, jabbing a thumb at James's frantic state.

"I told him Rory was going to be there." I whispered back, giggling.

"Ah, I see," Charlie rubbed his hands together devilishly, "this should be fun."

"Wish I had some popcorn." Leo added, "And we haven't even arrived yet, think how good it will get when he see her."

"Poor Rory." I chuckled to myself, slipping my wand into my jeans pocket. I won't need it, but it's become a habit.

"Poor Rory? Poor James!" Charlie exclaimed, "Sappy bloke can't take a hint."

"Oh he can," Leo replied, "he just doesn't want to."

"I'm gonna ask her out mates." James nodded with fervor, running a hand through his hair yet again.

"Hate to break it to you , but you ask her out every time you see her James, we kind of figured." Teddy patted him on the back.

"Yes but this time will be different because she's going to say yes."

"Whatever you say mate."

"I'd feel sorry for him if it wasn't so funny." Leo mulled, grabbing a handful Floo powder.

Each of us took our turn at the fireplace, making sure to enunciate clearly. I felt the green flames envelop me and braced myself for the ashy landing that awaited me, stupid Floo network. You would think wizards would come up with some way to get around that didn't involve fireplaces. I tumbled out and stood up, brushing what I could off of me. Good thing I wore my bad pair of jeans today. They already had so many holes it didn't really matter what happened to them at this point.

The rest of them joined me, also covered in debris. Of course Teddy looked hot, even smudged with ash. I hate that. Quickly, I redid my ponytail, already my stupid crazy hair had started to frizz. Oh well, nothing could be done about that now, although Viv was going to give me shit for it when she saw me.

"J!" A pair of warm brown arms smothered me, and I hugged my best friend back excitedly.

"Viv!" I took a step back and looked at her, "Oh my god your hair!" Vivian changed her hair quite frequently. Sometimes it was in her natural, kinky curls, sometimes straight. Last year she had dyed it a lighter brown that receded into blond, and right now she was rocking some pinkish red highlights.

"Awesome right?" She spun for me, "Snuck off during our France trip with this girl named Victoire and got it done, you'd like her, she dyed her whole head violet. It was wicked. Mum was livid of course, but they don't know any magic to change it back. Perks of being muggleborn."

"Victoire? Like Victoire Weasley?"

"Didn't get her last name."

"Tall, willowy, blond- well I guess not anymore, stunning?"

"That's her!"

"She's Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's oldest, I've only met her a few times."

"But she doesn't go to Hogwarts?"

"No, they live in France, she goes to Beauxbatons."

"What's Beauxbatons?"

"Like Hogwarts, but for high class French girls." A voice said from behind us.

"Jade!" Vivian and I exclaim at the same time, hugging her.

"Hey I want in!" Rory Wood smiled, completing our small group.

"Rory!" Vivian's jaw drops, "Look at you, you got boobs! Damn, you were fine before Ror, but this is a whole new levell."

Rory rolls her eyes, blushing, "Stop it Viv!"

Perfect, now I'm the only one. Why'd I have to pick such gorgeous best friends? Jade with her big brown doe eyes, literally everything about Vivian, from her curves to her full lips, her hair, her style, her flawless skin, not to mention her confidence, and now Rory and her new additions, plus her honey brown hair and sweet smile. I can see why James likes her so much. Oh god, James.

"Great, James is going to be completely insufferable now, you realize that?" I leaned my head on my friend's shoulder dramatically.

Rory groaned, slapping a palm to her forehead, "Ugh can't you make him stop?"

"Aw sweetie, if only I could." I gave her a wry smile as I hear my brother, "Speak of the devil."

"Hide me, I do not have the energy for this today." Rory tried to duck down before James could see her, but alas she was too slow.

"Hey Wood." My brother grinned suavely, and I cringed internally. We all knew how this was going to go.

"Potter." Rory flared her nostrils, looking up at the sky.

"Heard you were made prefect."

"Did you now?"

"Don't worry I'll be good for you, although I do enjoy it when you boss me around." James winks, "And you know what?"

"What Potter?"

"I think you like it too."

"Idiot."

"So Wood do you-"

"No."

"But you didn't even let me-"

"No."

"I think that if-"

"No."

"Oh Merlin," I finally stepped in, they'd go on forever if I didn't, "give it up James, we have shopping to do. We will meet you at Flourish and Blotts in an hour, that's where mum and dad said they'd be."

"We could shop together-"

"No."

"Goodbye, James!" I pushed my brother in the opposite direction and gave Leo strict instructions to not let him try and find us. Then I linked arms with Vivian, and the four of us went on our way.

"Madam Malkin's first? I heard she just got some new robes in." Jade mentioned, and we all agreed to head there.

"Do you think you'll ever say yes, Ror?" Jade asked.

"Are you joking? That idiot? Never." Rory scoffed, sticking her tongue out in disgust.

"Oh c'mon, Rory," I nudged her lightly. "He's not that bad, and he's certainly not going to stop asking."

"Persistence, exactly what I look for in a man." Rory shook her head, "I have just as much persistence as he does, and I am not going to stop saying no."

"I don't know how you do it," Vivian mused with wonder. "If James Potter looked at me the way he looked at you I don't think I could say no."

"Viv!" I exclaimed incredulously, "James is not-"

"Your brother is hot as fuck Junie," Vivian cut me off. "Those are just facts. Any girl, scratch that, anybody at Hogwarts would be willing to back me up on that one."

"Not me!" Rory stated defiantly.

"Except for her. But she is quite literally the only exception."

I made a face, looking at Jade pleadingly, "Even you Jade?"

"Sorry babe," Jade threw her hands up guiltily. "I hate to break it to you, but James is undeniably fanciable."

"Hell, they all are." Vivian continued, "It doesn't stop at James, all those boys are fit, Charlie, Leo, Teddy, especially Teddy." She gave me a knowing look, and I blushed down to the tip of my toes.

"Charlie?! Leo?!" My eyes are the size of saucers, my brain can't even process this information.

"Totally, I don't usually go for gingers, but Charlie's got that goofy jock vibe, and that jawline..." She trailed off, biting her lip.

"Leo has that curly hair, he's hot and adorable." Now Rory has chimed in as well.

"And smart, and have you seen his eyes?" Jade smiled dreamily.

"Forget his eyes have you seen his abs?" Vivian fanned herself.

"NO NO NO!" I plugged my ears and gagged. "VIV! JADE! RORY! EW! EW EW EW EW!" Except for Teddy, I cannot think of any of them this way. First of all, it's my brother and my cousin they're talking about, and Charlie might as well be my brother. This cannot be happening, those stupid boys who I've grown up with my entire life are- no, no, I won't accept this, I refuse to accept this. One thing's for sure, they can never know. They've got big enough heads already.

"Calm down, J." Vivian laughs, "We're not saying we fancy them, just that they are objectively attractive."

"But you're saying other girls fancy them? That go to Hogwarts?"

"Oh Merlin yes, so many." Rory's obvious distaste dripped off her words, I'm assuming she can't possibly imagine why any girl would want to date James.

"And it's not just the girls that fancy them." Jade added pointedly.

"Why am I just finding out about this now?" I questioned. Am I really that blind? I mean, I knew lots of people fancied Teddy, but I didn't think...

"Mostly because all the girls who fancy them absolutely hate you." Jade winced.

"Hate me? Why-" I am shocked. People hate me? People who I've never talked to hate me?

"Honey those boys would die for you, you know that. They're all just jealous of you."

"They realize that I'm related by blood to half of them right?" This seems very preposterous, I half expect one of them to yell "Gotcha!" Because why would anyone be jealous of me? I am aware how self-deprecating that sounds, but I can't help it.

"That doesn't matter to them, all they see is a girl standing in their way, you're literally living their dream." Rory pointed out.

"Nah," Vivian put an arm around me, "those boys are the ones living the dream."

"Thanks Viv."

"Anytime darling."