Chapter 6: Confusion and Tears

After she opened her eyes, before long Juniper was well enough to leave the hospital wing and say goodbye to her parents going back home. While Galanthia McRiver left after kissing and bidding her daughter to be careful, Lawrence McRiver couldn't hold his tears and warned Juniper about all the unimaginable dangers awaiting in the forest. He begged her not to go back there but not being able to get a promise from his daughter, he had to be dragged to the school gate by his wife. After those weeks at the hospital wing, Juniper missed her friends and even the school work. So, at first, it was indeed really nice to be back. She spent her time telling her story to everyone who asked (often got interrupted by Morgan who couldn't restrain his emotions), being admired for her courage (the Weasley twins came specially to meet her and brought a mug of hot chocolate they said they had stolen from the kitchen) and playing games with Miranda and Morgan. But then, soon enough, in the midst of a particularly exciting game of exploding snap, Professor McGonnagall arrived and after asking about her health and lecturing her for the fifth time, she handled her a paper on which was written all the homework she needed to do before the end of that week.

''Of course, you should be grateful that we haven't expelled you two for your irresponsible acts. At least, not yet. As Professor Dumbledore considered the situation you were in as a heavy enough price to pay for your act, you haven't even been punished. But you had better be sure you show your gratitude by fulfilling your responsibilities as a Hogwarts student." Then she left, making it impossible for Juniper to continue her until then joyful day. So, among angry whinings of Morgan, she grabbed her bag full of books from her dorm room and headed towards the library. It was almost empty except for some of the regulars. Juniper went and sat at an empty table near a window, checked the piece of paper Professor McGonnagall had given her.

"Wow, did they really learn this much in just three weeks? Madam Pince could as well hire me as security guard from now on, as apparently I'm not leaving this place any time soon," she murmured to herself in desperation. She didn't even know where to start: Should it be the hardest-looking (Transfiguration), the longest (Potions), the most boring (History of Magic) or one of the others?

"Hello Juniper, good to see you around. I hope you feel better."

Juniper raised her head from her school bag. It was Hermione Granger. She smiled and sighed:

"Hey Hermione. I felt really good half an hour ago but now I'm starting to wish that I had kept my eyes closed till the end of the term. I have to cover the classes of the last three weeks and do the pile of homework untill weekend. Can you believe it? Professor McGonnagall said that I wouldn't be punished but I guess there is a hint of punishment in expecting me to finish all this work in five days."

"Oh, don't be silly, you're lucky that you woke up again, I heard that it was a very serious injury. Also we began a new subject just at the beginning of the last week, previous two weeks had passed rather by revising what we already knew. With a good schedule, you should have no problem catching up," she said and sat onto the chair next to her.

"You see, it's all about how you use your time," she continued while drawing a timetable on a piece of parchment she took from her bag, "and I'll help you."

Juniper looked at her gratefully:

"Really? Are you sure? You really don't have to…"

"Oh, come on, you know you can't finish it in time without my help. Also, I like organizing others' schoolwork as much as I like organizing mine. I have been trying to do the same for Harry and Ron too but it seems like they like doing all of it on the last day while crying."

Juniper chuckled silently. She loved Hermione.

"You may be the greatest person ever. Thanks a lot. But if you change your mind just say it, ok? I wouldn't mind, really."

"Hush and find a piece of parchment," she said smilingly.

With Hermione's much-appreciated help, Juniper was able to finish all the school work she had to do untill the weekend. As Morgan and Miranda were also busy with their own pile, unlike Hermione who had an amazing speed at finishing homework, their help was rather of a motivational kind. Still, there was something relaxing about listening to Morgan's light snoring and watching Miranda's effort to stay awake in the hours before the classes started. So, with her two best friends in the morning and Hermione after the classes, she had spent so many hours in the library that she was desperately in need of fresh air on friday afternoon.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, leaving the library. "Thank you all very very much. Without your help I couldn't have left that place alive. Don't get me wrong, I usually love libraries but I dont't think I'll step in there again till my graduation."

Hermione laughed.

"Well, that can't be true, as our end-of-term exams are really approaching."

Morgan looked confused.

"But Hermione, we're barely in March, we have months to get prepared."

Hermione gave him a look of disapproval.

"I already have Ron, Morgan, so I'm not going to argue this with you too. By the way, he's waiting for me at the quidditch pitch, we're going to watch Harry's practice so I'm heading to there. Maybe you'd come too. Anyway, we should do this again, Juniper, it was fun. See you around, Morgan, Miranda." She waved and left.

"I like her," said Miranda.

"Yes, me too, she's great," nodded Juniper.

"It's a shame that she's already taken, we could use her in our little gang. Maybe we can talk Harry and Ron into trading her for Morgan."

"Ha ha, very funny. You heard her concept of fun, you want to spend the rest of your life studying?" said Morgan, kidding.

"Well, it's not like they'd ever accept such a poor bargain, so I guess we'll never know."

"Hah, what do you mean by 'poor bargain'? I'm a wonderful friend, right June?"

Juniper laughed and took their arms, passing into the middle.

"I missed this. Let me hand the homework in to Professor McGonnagall, leave our bags to the Common Room and then meet you two outside, ok? We need some fresh air after all that dust we have swallowed for days."

"Then let's go watch the quidditch practice. Gryffindor – Hufflepuff match is next weekend."

"Oh yes!" said Miranda with enthusiasm, which was rare in her case.

"It's nice to see that you two agree on a point. Quidditch really brings people together, doesn't it? Ok, I'll meet you there in a few minutes."

So they got seperated: Morgan and Miranda went towards the chilly spring afternoon and Juniper to McGonnagall's office. She didn't stay there much. After hearing a few words of appreciation for her will to fulfill her responsibilities and some warnings on not upsetting the parents that loved us and following the school rules "which were there for a reason, even though some students thought otherwise", she left there and headed to the Common Room with three bags in her hands.

Professor McGonnagall made her think about her mom and dad as she slowly climbed the stairs. It hadn't been that much since their last meeting, but Juniper already missed them. She wished that she could see them soon. Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt that the ground beneath her feet trembled. Holding tight to the railings, she waited for the staircase to reach wherever it wanted to lead and stabilize again. Juniper loved this '' infamous '' habit of the Hogwarts staircases; this way, Morgan and she had explored many parts of the castle just by chance. She also wondered their motivation. Why would they change their destination and why at that particular moment? Was it completely coincidental?

Once it was safe to go, Juniper climbed the stairs and arrived at a corridor with many classrooms on both sides. She knew this one; the first grade Gryffindors took their Charms class in one of these classrooms. So, knowing well where to head, she continued her way and turned right into a long, silent corridor. As it was a surprisingly sunny friday afternoon, there seemed to be nobody anywhere near. But soon enough, this first impression proved itself to be wrong as the fervent whispers of two persons could barely be heard in the deep silence of the place. It appeared that they were arguing over something. At first, Juniper didn't get curious at all. It must be some professors, she thought naturally. But, while she was passing by a classroom towards the middle of the hall, she heard her own name. One of the speakers couldn't help raising his voice, saying : ''I have, we have, never thought of Juniper as someone else's daughter. She's Galanthia's and my beloved girl. Genetics can't change this!".

Juniper stopped, stayed still. What?! What had she just heard?! Wasn't this her father's voice? Surely it was him. But why was he there? And what was he talking about?

She was trying hard to understand what her own name was doing next to ''someone else's daughter'' and ''Genetics can't change this.''. But she really couldn't get it and felt no guilt placing her ear against the wooden door.

''Why don't you lower your voice McRiver? We wouldn't like Peeves to hear it all and tell the story to the whole world, including the muggles'. ''.

''Sorry Professor Snape, whispered Lawrence McRiver, I couldn't help it. But you're being cruel, you must admit. Of course, we are aware of that fact, that she's not related to us by blood. And we don't care. She's our daughter, she couldn't have been more 'our daughter'''.

There was a halt. Juniper, now almost a part of the door, could hear well the unusually sad-angry voice of her father; nevertheless, she felt like her brain was refusing to coorporate with her ears. She could hear but she couldn't understand.

Mr. McRiver continued with an even sadder tone :

''I used to think that it was a shame that Lily and James Potter didn't have the chance of spending time with her, watching this wonderful kid grow up. I felt, and still feel, very sorry for them. I deeply regret their murder and the fate of their both kids. Still, I'm repeating it again, even though we know that they were Juniper's biological parents, we have never thought of her as someone else's daughter. The day Dumbledore brought her to us, we swore to protect her as much as we could. She wasn't even one year old when we took her in our arms… We have accepted and loved June as our child from the first second we met her. With time, we, ourselves, started to believe that the Potters had only one orphaned kid, Harry Potter, forgetting that it was his twin sister who was making our each day more beautiful.''.

Now only Lawrence McRiver's soft sniffs could be heard. Juniper herself became wood, like the door. She couldn't feel, couldn't move, couldn't understand. She didn't know anything. She just wanted to throw up; it was too much. There was too much to feel and understand, too little energy and will.

Lawrence continued crying silently for a time. Snape let him, then he started talking with a pitiless voice:

''Then, I guess we can say that you are one of those who were affected in a rather fortunate way by the Potters' death. If they had lived, the girl wouldn't have been with you tol iven up your days in the country''.

Again silence.

''Never, said Lawrence calmly and certain of himself, Neither Galanthia nor I can feel like that. We didn't meet them but we know that Lily and James had courageous, noble, loving hearts. I feel extremely grateful to them for having such a beautiful child.''.

''Of course… The good, 'noble' hearts would never feel happy or even contented about somebody's death. The good wouldn't even let themselves expect the death of their worst ennemy, right? I forgot. Certainly, you would have given the girl to James Potter voluntarily if he had come to your door. And the only reason you are not telling the truth to Miss McRiver is to protect her from the Dark Lord, I'm sure. Even though this discretion costs her some precious childhood memories with her clueless brother, this big secret is worth it.'' said Snape, full off bitterness and irony.

''I really don't get you Professor, I don't get the reason of these words on 'the good', of your being this harsh and disapproving of what we did. But… Do you think that we don't suffer for seperating two siblings? They're twins for God's sake! They came to this world together! And I met Harry Potter last time I was here, during that awful incident in the Forest. Such a good boy. One can feel his grief, his loneliness before Hogwarts, his desire to belong to somewhere just by looking into his eyes, in those eyes that remind so much of June's. I'd love them to meet each other as sister and brother, even if it meant disappointing June by telling her that we've been lying to her about herself for the last 11 years. But no! Especially not now! You-know-who isn't gone for ever, you know… He'd fall after Juniper too! No! We'd never put our daughter in such horrible danger. Even if we told the truth only to her, persuaded her to keep it as a secret, it'd be a risk. Also, I don't think June could stand not reuniting with her brother, I don't want to put her under such a weight in her first school year. You must have been told what our motivations ara too, as you know this much of the story. I really don't understand. Why did Dumbledore tell you about this? He, who is the most protective of the secret… ''

''Well, obviously, Professor Dumbledore has his reasons of which he might choose not to tell you every detail. ''

A brief pause, then Snape continued:

''Also, he must be back by now. We should go to his office.''

Juniper "defrosted" immediately, ran as fast as she could. Though she was almost out of her mind and she couldn't see well because of the tears filling her eyes, she managed to move silently. She didn't stop until she climbed into the portrait hole, passed the Common Room and threw herself on her bed. Luckily, there was none to hear her sobs and tears.