For June; walking into the Common Room after the Opening Banquet was not a pleasant sight as she was immediately encountered by the rest of the Quidditch team. The saw the shimmering Captain Badge on her uniform; and squinted as they took some steps forward.
"Oi; how'd you con your way into getting that Woods?" Denver Crabbe immediately questioned as June shrugged. His little gang was behind him. Denver, Cranlin, Nicoli and Tim were the Beaters, Chaser and Seeker of her team respectively. Scorpius was her Keeper and previously Marius Flint was also a Chaser.
"Getting what?" June feigned dumbed as she looked down at her uniform. "Oh the Captain's badge? It was sent to me. I guess your friend Marius thought I could do something for this team." She said before turning to head to her dorms; far too tired to deal with them. Honestly, she'd have rather dealt with James in that instance.
"Or maybe you polished his wand enough that he felt like he owed you." Cranlin piped up as June tensed before turning around. Molly and Albus were already pulling the short girl back as she spat out.
"If you have a problem with me as a Captain, then feel free to leave the team." June hollered before adding. "I earned this fair and square."
The men snorted as they turned away leaving June.
The two younger students pulled her down the stairs as she huffed. "Stupid arses." Molly looked at her with a look of sympathy.
"Hey; Quidditch has some time before it starts- the first match isn't until November. You can either win them over or find replacements." Molly glanced at Albus with a knowing look.
June nodded as Molly waved goodbye to her cousin and dragged her dorm mate to their room; thankful the rest of the girls hadn't arrived yet. There were only two others but both were more reserved purebloods that liked to gossip between themselves. It was a tolerable relationship between the four but far from being a best friendship.
June fell on her bed with Molly in tow. "Those stupid arses." She muttered before covering her eyes. "Stupid stupid arses."
"How poetic of you; no wonder you chose sports." Molly joked as June let out a deep sigh.
"I just want this to go smoothly, but I don't care if I have a team of all second years and Scorpius. I'm not fighting to keep them." June rolled over to lay on her stomach as she felt Molly shift to use June as a pillow. "I'll figure it out later- anyways, tell me more about your summer please?"
On the first day of classes, June felt a bit better compared to what happened the night before as she entered the Potions classroom. Her sign-up poster was on the commons room bulletin board; the breakfast was delicious- as usual at Hogwarts and her last year of classes were finally beginning. The only thing that worried her was her Potions class. If it wasn't for some serious work; sleepless nights and a lot of crying, Juniper knew she wouldn't have gotten a decent enough grade for it.
Looking around; it was a small class. Only 14 in total. There was 5 Slytherins, 2 Hufflepuffs, 4 Ravenclaws and 3 Gryffindors. June was glad it was at least an even class so she couldn't be put in a group of three.
Sitting in the middle of the class, she waited for Slughorn to arrive and start the lesson. She distracted herself by doodling on the parchment in front of her. So much so; she even listened through his opening speech until he called out about partners.
Looking up; June watched as he pulled a top hat from his desk and began drawing names. Zachary Davies was called first and placed with a Casey from Hufflepuff. June faded out a bit; waiting to hear her own name. It took quite a bit of time, almost the last pairing.
"Jennifer Woods." June sighed as she called out to Slughorn.
"Its Juniper!" June yelled as students snickered. For the last six… now seven years Slughorn called her the wrong name. She wasn't one of his favourites after all.
"Yes yes." Slughorn said before pulling out the other paper. "and Fred Weasley!"
June let out a long held sigh, knowing she could at least tolerate Fred. He smiled and walked over to her table as he grinned. "This will be a good year."
"Maybe," June replied as she leaned on one hand. "I barely got into this." She admitted.
Fred chuckled and patted her on the back. "Well then; I guess we'll have to work extra hard together. Soon enough I'll become your favourite Weasley."
"Molly won't be giving that title away willingly."
"I was talking about James, mate."
Snorting, June supressed her laugh before whispering. "You are already loads ahead of James, mate." Jokingly she repeated back to him the same way he spoke to be cheeky.
-
James was sitting at the Gryffindor table, filling his plate with macaroni and cheese and some of the other foods that were provided today. He was waiting for Fred to join him but hunger got the best of him as he began to eat.
Looking to the entrance of the Great Hall, he wasn't expecting Fred to walk in tow with Juniper Woods. He immediately swallowed the macaroni he had shovelled in his mouth- forgetting that he hadn't chewed.
By the time Fred got over there; James was coughing and drinking down Pumpkin Juice.
"So hungry you forgot to chew again?" Fred goaded as he sat down. James shook his head before he took a breath.
"Shocked more like it." James said before leaning to Fred. "What in heck were you doing with June?"
"Besides being match maker?"
"Matchmaker?" James asked with his face flushing every moment.
"C'mon you know that you would snog Juniper Woods in a heartbeat if you could. Why I dare say by the New Year, you'll have gotten a chance at her. With my help of course."
James rolled his eyes. "You sir are a day dreamer," James began as Fred interrupted by poking James on the head.
"Just leave it to me. I'll work my magic as her Potions partner."
James was going to argue but admitted defeat. Fred knew him better than anyone else. "Fine just remember; Quidditch first."
"Quidditch first." Fred mimicked before he relaxed and filled his plate with food.
James returned to eating as he glanced over at the Slytherin table where June was laughing about something with Molly. Who knows maybe it'd be his year.
