That Baker Girl

Preface

June 12,1981

Dear Baker,

I know there's nothing I can say that will change your mind about me. I was horribly arrogant to think that you were the type of person who would put up with my crap. I took you for granted, and I have only myself to blame for the end of our relationship.

I have a thick head, and never acknowledged that what happened was my fault. So this is me saying sorry. I know this apology is a bit late. Better late than never, as you always said. You're probably wondering why I chose to get back in touch with you now. Listen, the war is getting serious (no pun intended), and I am a bit surprised that you haven't been involved with the war efforts. I'm not criticizing you, and it's just as well considering you're muggleborn. All those pure blooded supremest can sod off. You have no idea how relieved I am when I see death reports and you're not mentioned, and I want to ensure it stays that way. I can't go into details, but I am in contact with a very powerful wizard who we both know. That's how my owl found your location. This wizard will be in contact with you soon, and will relocate you to a safe house.

I apologize for interrupting your life like this, and you might not believe me when I say this, but I really do care about you. Once this war is under control, maybe we can go out for a drink. Do feel free to tell me to fuck off. I even miss our arguments, to tell you the truth. It's probably safe to say that we both need closure, anyhow. Stay safe.

-S. Black

Chapter 1: And So It Begins... (September 1st, 1977)

"Looking up at the stars I know quite well

That, for all they care I can go to hell

But on earth indifference is the least

We have to dread from man or beast."

-The More Loving One, W.H. Auden

Juliet looked around the train station, trying to spot the familiar head of light brown hair.

"Where is he?" she muttered to herself.

Then suddenly, someone behind her put their rather masculine hands in front of her eyes and asked "Guess who?"

Smiling, she responded with "Professor Slughorn?"

As soon as she responded, the person removed their hands from her eyes, grabbed her hand, and twirled her around.

"I knew you had a fancied on Slughorn." exclaimed Scott, Juliet's boyfriend.

Juliet linked her arms around Scott's neck and responded with "What can I tell you, I fancy em' short and with a spider fetish."

Smiling, Scott leaned down and kissed Juliet soundly on the lips.

"I'll be right back after the Prefect meeting is over, you'll never believe who Dumbledore paired to be head boy and head girl this year." said Scott, giving Juliet one final peck on the lips and left before she could ask him who Dumbledore chose.

She was now all alone in her train compartment, her friends had left earlier to give her and Scott a chance to catch up. Closing her eyes, Juliet let out a sigh and let her head relax back. She couldn't believe her and Scott made it this far.

Juliet met Scott during her first year at Hogwarts, on her second day of school, during Charms class to be precise. Juliet was placed into Gryffindor, and Scott was sorted into Ravenclaw. She hadn't gotten the hang of the spell they had just been taught and he offered to help her out. They then bonded over the fact that they were both muggleborn, and the muggle references that not all their new wizard friends understood.

Finding time to spend with each other was a bit hard since they were in different houses, but they managed. Scott was shorter than her when they were eleven, but by the time they both hit thirteen, it was easy to predict that he would be one of the tallest guys in their grade. Scott asked her out on her first official date during their trip to Hogsmead their third year. He was her first kiss, her first boyfriend, her first love.

When they were sixteen, it a running joke among the students in their year that her and Scott were practically already married. Her and Scott's relationship was a bit of an outlier since most students at Hogwarts were in a different relationship every couple of months. At the time, Juliet couldn't think of a better person to spend her life with, until an unfortunate Wednesday morning that took place during her sixth year.

"Juliet, sit over here." Called Nora from the dining hall table. Nora was Juliets' friend and a fellow seventh year Gryffindor.

Juliet and Scott rode the same carriage on their way to Hogwarts, but had to separate again since they were in different houses.

"So, how was the reunion with Scott. I would have thought that you both would have spent the whole summer together since you both got your apparition license."questioned Nora.

"Well, my parents made me work at their Bakery all summer. They wanted me to humble down." responded Juliet, not wanting to clue Nora in on the reason why she had been distancing herself from Scott quite yet.

"Humble down?" asked Nora.

"They're trying to show me that I have more options for a career than working for the department of.."

Juliet trailed off since the sorting was beginning.

While the sorting was taking place, Juliet decided to use the time study the Great Hall. Despite the fact that she was in her seventh year at Hogwarts, the hall was as breathtaking as ever. She remembered being enchanted by the castle that was her home eight months out of the year, when she was a first year and to this very day. Despite the time that's gone by, most of her memories were still vivid. Being surrounded by magic has that effect, she supposed.

"Can you believe Dumbldore chose James Potter and Lilly Evans to be the head students." commented Nora as she unpacked her clothes. After they finished dinner, and Dumbledore bid everyone goodnight, Juliet and Nora wasted no time going up to the seventh years dorms and picking out their beds.

"Eh, maybe our headmaster is tossing James a bone. You know, being the ultimate wing man and try to bring him and Lilly dearest closer." said Juliet.

Nora snorted, but before she could respond, Alice Smith and Olivia Owens walked in the room. Alice and Olivia were Lilly's closest friends. Olivia made a face at Juliet's spot by the window, which was where she usually slept. Nora rolled her eyed at them, and gestured that she was going to read her magazine, Witch Daily. Juliet pulled out her notebook, and began drawing. While she did so, she couldn't help but think about the past.

Once upon a time, Juliet Baker and Lilly Evans were quite close, which many people forgot due to their current hostility towards each other. During their first two years at Hogwarts, when Lilly wasn't spending time with Snape, she was with Juliet. When they were twelve, James infatuation with Lilly escalated into him dying her different colors, and charming her shoe laces to tie themselves together. This was probably his version of pulling her hair. Lilly would complain about James to Juliet, and Juliet would listen and occasionally laugh at James antics.

Then their third year came around, and Lilly developed a crush on Scott. Lilly confided in Juliet about her crush, asking Juliet to talk Scott. To question Scott about who he fancied. Juliet agreed to help Lilly, but in the inside, her preteen heart was crushed. She didn't think it was right that Lilly had a crush on her then best friend, Scott. Juliet hadn't thought of Scott as 'cute' until Lilly brought it up. After that conversation, Juliet began to notice a whole lot of things about Scott that hadn't came to her attention before. She noticed their new found height difference, the freckles on his face, how she really wanted to kiss him..

At the time however, Juliet didn't think she stood a chance against Lilly, once Scott found out that Lilly liked him. Lilly was as tall as Scott, had long red hair, and almond shaped green eyes. Almost all the boys in their grade began to fancy Lilly, and with her looks, she was hard not to notice. At that stage in her life, Juliet hadn't lost all her baby fat yet, she kept her brown hair in a braid, and she had grown to her permanent height of five feet. Of course, it's possible that Juliet was underestimating herself, considering the way things turned out.

"Dumbledore is completely off his rocker for choosing Potter to be head boy! And if he had to choose someone from Potter's crew, why couldn't it have been Remus? He's clearly the most sensible one out of the lot." exclaimed Lilly as she stomped in the dorm and plopped herself on Alice's bed.

"Well, you have to admit, James has matured a bit since last year," said Alice, but discontinued her thought when Lilly shot her a withering glare.

"Be that as it may, I could think of a dozen candidates who would do a better job then Potter." said Lilly.

"Lilly, it's only the first day. Cut the guy some slack, I'd bet money he'd surprise you." commented Juliet. Juliet was on friendly terms with James. She first struck up a friendship with him during fourth year to piss Lilly off, and such was the reason why she was commenting now. Despite her superficial reason for starting their friendship, she learned he really was a great guy,and he had some surprisingly good insight on her relationship troubles with Scott.

"I don't remember addressing you, Baker." said Lilly, who had taken to calling Juliet by her last name.

"My bad, I thought you were speaking to the whole tower. You were certainly talking loud enough." said Juliet. She then mouthed good night to Nora and pulled down her bed curtains before Lilly could retaliate.

Juliet could overhear Lilly still talking to Alice and Olivia in a more hushed, if slightly snotty, tone. Juliet glanced down at her notepad, where she had a doodled a forlorn looking Scott.

A/N: Hiya!So this is my first story. I just want to apologize for any grammar mistakes I didn't catch. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: So this goes without saying, but I do not own Harry Potter.