Sweet Juliet

Chapter 13: The First Task

(A/N: Soooooo, I'm back...again. Sorry for the delay, but seriously? I'm sixteen, I'm really not that reliable :P I'm updating today mostly because I've been meaning to, but partly because where I live it's 98 degrees outside, and 109 with the heat index. Since my summer job is outdoors, I'm VERY glad I took the day off. Anyway, here's the next installment of the strange adventures of Juliet Snape.)

"Okay, just don't think about it," Juliet mumbled to herself as she got dressed. "Just force a smile on your face, it'll all be okay..." Positive thinking...so what if her family had completely fallen to pieces, her friends were fighting with no end in sight, she had lost what could have been a relationship with a really great guy, and she was almost totally alone in the world? She could get by with happy thoughts and fake smiles, right?

Yeah, sure. It even sounded stupid and hopeless inside her own mind.

"Juliet?" The voice made the girl jump. She hadn't even noticed Hermione standing at the door. Her brow was furrowed with concern as she gazed at Juliet warily. "Are...are you okay?" She had obviously heard Juliet's mutterings and was apparently worried for her sanity.

Juliet gave her friend a strained smile, and she knew Hermione saw right through it. "I'm fine," she lied. "I'm just...still mad at Ron and Harry I guess."

Hermione nodded. "And that's it? There's nothing else you want to talk about?"

Oh lord, thought Juliet, she knows something's up. "Look, Hermione," she said aloud, "it's not that I don't want to tell you...There's just something I need to get through on my own right now. It's...well, you know, it's my dad. We're having some problems."

Hermione looked sympathetic. "Well you and your father always manage to work things out. I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm going to head down to the Qudditch Pitch, I've got to talk to Harry before the task."

"You're still talking to them?" asked Juliet with a hint of confusion.

"I wasn't going to, but...I don't want Harry to feel completely alone before this task. His life could be in danger, Juliet. I just want to wish him good luck at least." Juliet nodded. "You know, Juliet, it may not seem like it now, but you and your father will fix whatever problem you're having. I know that people don't really understand it, but I see the bond that the two of you have. It's incredible, and I don't think there's a thing in the world that could change that. You'll see, everything will turn out all right." Hermione gave her one last smile and left the dormitory.

Juliet sighed and sat down heavily on her bed, resting her head in her hands. "I wish you were right, Hermione. But there's no way to fix this."

…...

On her way down to the Great Hall, Juliet hoped more than anything that no one would speak to her in the corridors. She really just wanted to be left alone, but Hermione was right about being there for Harry. She couldn't just skip the task when he was in that much danger.

"Juliet!" The voice carried over the noise of the Great Hall, which she could hear from the top of the last flight of the Grand Staircase. It was somewhat obnoxious to her, but then again, she was very irritated. She shouldn't take it out on him.

Then again, what fun would that be?

"Draco, do you always attack your friends' ears with an offensively loud voice first thing in the morning?" Her tone wasn't exactly biting, but it was extremely sarcastic. Draco looked slightly hurt, and he raised his eyebrow in a silent query. Juliet sighed in frustration and ran a hand through her tousled brown hair.

"Everything okay?" asked Draco.

She crossed her arms and scowled in a very unattractive way. "I'm just in a foul mood this morning, don't mind me."

"Well I could have guessed that on my own," said Draco with the tiniest hint of a smirk, throwing his arm comfortably around Juliet's shoulders. They continued down the stairs. "So I'll change the subject. I didn't see you at dinner the night before last, where were you?"

Juliet froze as they stepped off the last stair into the Entrance Hall. "Oh, that? Well I was...you know, around. Studying for...the Transfiguration exam."

"Oh please, Juls," said Draco, rolling his eyes, "you're such a horrible liar when you haven't had time to plan it out. Where were you really the other night?" He stopped abruptly, his eyes hardening. "Were you with Potter?"

"His name is Harry, and no I was not," replied Juliet, placing her hands on her hips. Then she sighed again, looking away from her best friend. "I'm sorry, Draco, but I can't tell you where I was. It's too complicated, and I can't get you or anyone else involved."

"What?" he asked, his voice just slightly sharper. "Why would you not tell me?"

"I just said the reason, Draco. I can't."

"What, do you not trust me enough?" he snapped. "Is that it?"

"No!" she said frantically. "That's not it at all! I just really think that this is something I need to keep to myself. I'm really, really sorry."

He stepped away from her, glowering. "Oh, you're sorry? That makes it all right that you'd hide something from your best friend, then! I see, I see. Fine, Juliet. Don't tell me, but don't expect me to stick around anymore. Why don't you go confide in your little Gryffindor friends, like Potter!" He turned on his heel, fuming, but Juliet caught his elbow.

"Draco, wait!" He jerked violently away from her grasp, turning to glare hotly at her. She backed away, surprised. She hadn't expected Draco to get this angry over the matter.

"Why should I wait, Juliet?" he asked venomously. "Why, so you can lie to me and hide things from me more? As fantastic as that sounds, I think I'll be going. Have a nice time with your secrets."

Juliet stood in shock, staring after Draco's retreating back. He had just left her, for no other reason than...she was keeping something from him. All right, she admitted, I would be angry if he was keeping something from me, but I would understand! I would at least try to be supportive! What kind of best friend was Draco that he would just walk off and say those awful things to her. At a time like this, no less!

Oh yeah, she thought, he doesn't know what kind of time it is because I wouldn't tell him...Now I've really screwed up.

She hung her head, frustrated beyond belief, and walked into the Great Hall. She forced herself not to even glance over at the Slytherin table, where Draco was sure to be sitting, telling all of his cronies how awful she was, and how they were right about Gryffindors all along.

"Juliet?" The voice was far-off and dreamy, as it always was, but laced with a hint of worry. "Are you all right? You're clenching your fists quite hard, it appears you may start bleeding soon." Juliet couldn't help that the corners of her lips twitched, despite how distraught she was. Leave it to Luna to point out the obvious in a highly amusing way.

She looked up, placing the most miniscule of grins on her face. There was the blonde girl, looking serene, with Neville by her side. He too seemed concerned for Juliet, but said nothing. "I'm fine, Luna," she said. "Just...got a bit of a headache, I suppose. It's starting to pass, though."

"Well that's good," said Luna, seeming satisfied with her explanation. Juliet exhaled in relief.

"Would you like to sit with us at the task, Juls?" asked Neville. "You know, since I'm guessing you're still angry with Ron. Hermione's welcome too."

"I'd love to," said Juliet. "As for Hermione, she went to the Quidditch Pitch earlier and I have no idea where she'll be, but if we see her I'm sure she'd be delighted to sit with us."

"Shall we go then?" asked Luna.

"We shall," said Neville and Juliet together. Juliet gave a genuine smile for the first time in two days. Maybe things weren't all bad in her life.

…...

"Well I'm glad you two idiots finally came to your senses," said Juliet, smacking both boys playfully on the back of the head. Harry merely grinned but Ron stuck his tongue out at her. Juliet returned the gesture, along with a slightly more creative one that Hermione sent her a scowl for. She was just happy that the two had returned to normal. If she couldn't have her father back, she at least wanted her friends to be back together.

"I'm sorry we ruined your date with Fred, Juls," said Harry. "It looked like you two were having a good time."

"Which is still weird, because you're my friend and he's my brother," added Ron.

"Do you like him?" asked Hermione.

Juliet shrugged. "We were having a good time, I suppose. I don't really know what would have happened, thanks to you two," she said, raising her eyebrows at Harry and Ron.

"Hey, hey," said Ron, holding his hands up in surrender. "We were being stupid, and I apologize. Are you and Fred gonna go out again?"

"Maybe," she said noncommittally. "So, Harry, you did a good job in the task today. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been. That dragon, so big, and you, so small. It's hot, fiery breath closing in on you. And those huge, deadly claws...constantly an inch away from killing you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You love tormenting me don't you, Juliet?"

She gave him an evil smirk. "Very much so."

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