juniper's pov:

The first week back to Hogwarts after holidays is always the worst. I have even less motivation to do schoolwork than usual. At least Viv is back. She has been very secretive about why she left in the first place, but she seems okay so Ror, Jade, and I haven't pressed the issue. Thank god she's back too, I don't think I could've survived this week without her. It's been a rough couple of days. What is the source of my pain this week you ask? Well that would be the Daily Prophet article on our families that came out recently.

Not only did they choose the photo where I'm not even looking at the camera, but if you remember correctly I was exceedingly infuriated when the picture was taken. I swear to god I look constipated, which doesn't matter because no one even remembers I'm in the photo at all. Why? Because they're much too busy looking at my brother and my cousins. Or as Rita Skeeter described them "Handsome rogues, what trauma are they hiding under those devil may care grins? Watch out ladies." Wanna know what she said about me? "Eldest daughter, underwhelming." That's it. She didn't even put effort into bashing me. Meanwhile James, Leo, and Charlie get a whole bloody paragraph. Granted, it's mostly about their love lives and a huge invasion of privacy but still.

If I didn't notice all the girls who fancied them before, I certainly do now.

"Merlin as my witness, if one more girl asks me what the boys are like, I will stab someone."

Vivian laughed as we walked to the Gryffindor common room.

"I'm dead serious Viv, I repeated, do you have any idea how annoying it is? Like no I'm not going to tell you what they look like shirtless, no I will not spray your perfume on their pillows so they fall in love with you. That's creepy."

"Wait someone actually asked you that?" Vivian looked at me with astonishment.

"Not just one girl either, there were at least five." I told her. It was true, there were plenty of girls who were using me to shoot their shot. Some were harmless, but others were just plain inappropriate. Their people, not objects, and frankly I wasn't really comfortable with random people sexualizing my family. And I was certainly not comfortable when girls asked me if I'd hooked up with any of them. Those insinuations were definitely the worst.

It genuinely terrified me that girls legitimately thought I was hooking up with my best friends. That's fucking incest Amelia! And they're always whispering behind my back like, "She must've done the dirty with at least two." NO ACTUALLY NO I HAVEN'T. Or even worse, "If my brother looked like that I'd do it." YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE A BROTHER AMELIA! WE SHARED A FUCKING WOMB!

However the one I got most frequently was, "Not even with Charlie?" This one I kind of got..I guess. Technically, we weren't related in terms of blood, but he was my cousin's cousin. Just no. Ew.

I shuddered, trying to clear my mind of those thoughts, "Stupid article."

"Sorry babe." Vivian patted me sympathetically, swinging one the portrait hole, "But J, you're a Potter. There's always going to be some level of publicity."

"Ugh why do they even care?" I groaned, climbing the stair to our dorm, "My parents are so boring. I don't get why people think they're such a big deal."

Vivian just shook her head at me, "Do you even know how much your parents and their friends did? I mean your Dad is the-"

"Chosen One, saved the wizarding world blah blah blah, I waved my hands airily, my dad literally only used one spell. And it was ages ago, yet he's still famous." To be honest, none of us kids really knew that much about when our parents were young. They told us stories sometimes, but even then most of it was public knowledge. I don't think they liked to dwell on it much. Sometimes my friends knew more about my parents' lives at Hogwarts than I did.

"You are going to be in for a world of surprise when we start studying the war next year." Vivian said, obviously bewildered as to why I knew so little about why my parents were so beloved.

I was about to flop down on my bed for a well deserved nap instead of doing my homework. Because priorities right? But I found that my bedspread was overflowing with letters and gifts for, you guessed it, the guys.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." I rolled my eyes, gathering the pile in my arms and marching down to the boys dorm.

I knocked on the door with exasperation, "James? Leo? Teddy? Charlie?"

"What's up Jun- oof!" I shoved my armful of tokens at Teddy, scowling at James, Charlie, and Leo.

"Do the three of you have any idea how much of your fan mail gets left in my dorm?" I crossed my arms. At the moment I was seriously considering placing a shield charm on our dormitory door.

"It's great isn't it?" James chuckled, him and Charlie already scavenging the presents for food, "Every day is like James appreciation day."

I just blinked, "And here I thought it wasn't possible for your ego to get any larger."

"Leo got like ten numbers when we went to Hogsmeade earlier." Teddy remarked, and Leo grinned.

"Eleven actually." He held up multiple slips of paper and winked.

"You have a boyfriend." James poked his head up from the gift pile he'd been sorting through.

"And I told them that." Leo replied.

"And you didn't think to mention you've got an even more attractive cousin?" Charlie grumbled, trying to snatch the numbers out of Leo's grasp.

"Must've slipped my mind." Leo retorted cheekily.

I sighed, exiting the room before they started wrestling with each other or throwing unidentified substances. I'd been caught in the crossfire one too many times.

"Wait up Potter!" Teddy called from behind me, waving a notebook in his hands. "Here, he gave me my Quidditch playbook, I think you dropped this."

"Oh shit thanks Lupin, it must've been mixed in with the stuff I found on my bed." I took it gratefully, "How much you wanna bet when I get back to my dorm they'll be a whole new pile of stuff waiting for me?"

"Is it really that bad?" Teddy raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I rubbed my head tiredly, and normally it wouldn't be a problem, god knows I'm used to it. Just not at this level."

"What do you mean you're used to it?"

"Girls ask me for advice all the time about you guys. Well actually, mostly you before now." I was a little surprised he didn't know this.

"Really?" Teddy's eyes widened, and I nodded. "Bloody hell I'm sorry. I had no idea, I didn't-"

"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault, I shrugged, like I said, I'm used to it."

"You shouldn't have to be used to it though."

"It's fine Teddy. Really. I only help the ones I like anyways." I laughed softly to my self, "Like Madison."

Teddy looked even more taken aback, "Maddie asked you for advice about me?"

"Mmhmm, I responded, not sure why he was making such a big deal about it, how is she by the way? I haven't seen her around much since we got back."

"Oh, Teddy shifts awkwardly in his stance, er- we sort of stopped seeing each other."

"Wow, I didn't know. Sorry. She was a nice girl."

"Yeah she was, just not for me. She wanted me to be a boyfriend and I couldn't do that."

"Because god forbid Teddy Lupin actually commit to someone." I teased, nudging him.

"Hey, he scoffed, smiling, if the right person came around I'm sure they could tame my wild ways."

"Oh really?"

"No." Teddy snickered, ruffling my hair.

I rolled my eyes, "Now there's the Teddy Lupin I know."

"Juniper?" A voice echoed from above.

"I think someone's looking for you." Teddy nodded to the stairwell, and then did a double take when he saw who it was.

"Ugh great, more obsessed girls, I- wait you can help me! Pretend it's an emergency and I can't talk."

"Juniper!!!" The sing song voice called again, more impatiently this time.

"Er- sorry Lettie, Teddy needs me to-"

"Teddy who's Teddy?" Teddy yelled loudly, ducking behind a statue, "Juniper is completely free to talk."

"Teddy!" I hissed, "What are you doing?"

"Lettie and I had a thing that didn't end well, she a little intense." Teddy eyed the staircase warily, as if the girl might come down wielding an axe.

"I know she's intense that's why I need your help!"

"Every man for himself Junie, Teddy whispered, bolting in the opposite direction, good luck."

"Teddy Lupin you asshole! Don't you dare leave me-"

"There you are!" Lettie popped up behind me, and I gasped. I was already thinking up a hundred ways to get Teddy back.

"I was calling for you Juniper." She giggled.

"I must not have heard you, I smiled tightly, now Lettie I really ought to go."

The girl acted like she didn't hear me, "So I've been trying to ask Leo out for ages, but he doesn't seem to be responding."

I stifled a laugh, "Maybe he's in a relationship." Little did she know.

"No, I've checked, he doesn't have a girlfriend." I was about to ask how, but then thought better of it. I probably didn't want to know. Damn this girl was persistent.

"Listen Lettie, you're really not his type." She had no idea just how far from his type she was.

"What and you are?" She suddenly turned scathing, no longer keeping up her sweet facade once she realized I wasn't going to give her what she wanted.

"Excuse me?"

"Don't get so defensive, she sneered, just admit you want him all to yourself."

"He's my cousin!"

"So? You're selfish Juniper, there are four of them you know, it's called sharing"

"Oh my- this conversation is over." I hurried back to my dorm as fast as I could, shutting the door tightly. I collapsed onto my bed, screaming inot my pillow. Jade, Rory, and Vivian approached me tentatively.

"You good babe?" Viv ventured, peering at me.

"Oh yeah I'm fine, I retorted sarcastically, I was just accused of incest but I'm fine, just wishing my ears were cut off, but hey that's normal right? I'm extremely fine." I grind my teeth angrily, a bad habit I have when I'm agitated.

"The audacity of some girls." Jade squeezed my hand sympathetically, "This is so unfair to you J, they shouldn't be blaming their rejection on you."

"A lot of people will fault someone else, rather than accept that it could be their own." Rory sank down on the bed beside me, "You're an obvious target."

I thought about that for a moment. There's a reason Rory was top of every class. I hoped all those girls would realize how their actions were affecting me. I didn't particularly like the feeling that a bunch of people out there considered me their enemy. I guess that was a them problem though, but that didn't stop me from worrying. The rumors were what really got me. Yes I knew they weren't true, but it didn't seem like anyone else did. It was like they were trying to bully me out of being friends with them. That way all those girls who fancied them would have clear path to do as they please. They saw me as an obstacle, when really I couldn't care less about who the guys shagged or dated. I mean as long as the person wasn't a serial killer or something like that. These revelations all ran through my head as I fell asleep, tomorrow was a new day, maybe it would be better.

The birds chirped far too early for my liking the next morning. I complained, pulling the covers up over my face as Rory tried to (unsuccessfully) yank me from my curled up position.

"Mmmph, I swatted her away, too early."

"It's waffle day Juniper, Vivian joined the struggle, get up before all the good toppings are gone."

"I hate you guys." I growled, blinking my eyes in the bright morning light.

"Here." Jade threw my uniform at me.

"I don't even like waffles that much." I mumbled, patting down the wrinkles in my skirt.

"Blasphemy." Vivian clutched her heart dramatically, dragging me out the door.

I slogged down to the Great Hall, which was already full of students. Everybody loved waffle bar day. Uncle Neville had implemented it a few years back, I suspected Aunt Luna had something to do with it. I tied my hair into a quick bun as we took our usual seats at the Gryffindor table.

"Are you getting-" But my question was interrupted as a great commotion came from the entrance. All eyes turned toward it.

"JAMES GIVE IT HERE!"

"Catch Charlie!"

"CHARLIE! TEDDY!"

"I WILL TELL EVERYONE YOU STILL HAVE FOOTIE PAJAMAS!"

"YOU DO TOO!"

"BUT YOU STILL WEAR THEM!"

"HOW IS THAT BETTER?"

"YOU WANKE-"

The boys stop abruptly when they realize everyone is staring at them. I put my face in my hands, those idiots. It was too early for this. To make matters worse, all of them were in a state of undress. James had the red and gold uniform tie around his neck and pajama pants, no shirt. Charlie was in boxers, and his tie hung loosely around his neck too, but his dress shirt was on, unbuttoned, but on. Teddy had no part of his uniform on and was still in the grey sweatpants he'd most likely slept in. Leo was the most dressed out of the lot, his shirt halfway buttoned, tie over his shoulder, and regular pants on.

Every girl in the vicinity was practically drooling over their plates, I even heard someone wolf whistle. The boys grinned broadly, obviously soaking up all the attention as they bowed theatrically. They proudly strutted for their adoring fans, chests puffed out. Godric, they were so full of it. I groaned, rising from my seat, and pushing them back, "Get back upstairs you tossers, and for merlin's sakes put on some clothes."

Teddy winked at me, "And deprive the good people of this view?" His eyes flicked to my hands on his bare chest and I immediately removed them.

"Shut up." I shooed them upstairs, while the other girls looked at me with murderous glances. Bollocks. Oh well. "Show's over people." I muttered sourly under my breath, sliding into my seat beside Vivian.

"Look on the bright side J, at least you won't have any more questions about what the guys look like shirtless." Vivian bit back a laugh, and I glared at her.

"I do love me a good silver lining." I snipped, sarcasm dripping off of my words.

FILLER CHAPTERRRR

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-colleen