I'm so so sorry for the severe lateness. I promise I won't let it get this late again, I promise. And I'm not particularly happy with it but it was the best I could do.

I know I do take a long time with a lot of chapters, but I have a lot of the last half of this story planned. It's just the first half that bugs me and piecing everything together. But I've got my own laptop which means I can go on it and do chapters a lot more, instead of waiting and only being able to write two lines on the family computer before my sister kicks me off.

My timetable for Juno is a bit scattered I know. I don't know how timetables for high school work in USA, but in England we had sciences three times a week and stuff like that. So her timetable is similar to that of UK schooling.

Sorry for the OOCness.

Chapter XI- Fairytale of New Forks Pt 1

[JUNO]

"I wrote to Luna the other day"

Ron glanced up from where his head was resting on Hermione's lap. "You did? What did you say?"

We were in the living room, me in the red armchair, Hermione sitting on the equally red sofa, Ron laying on it, with his head in her lap, his hair actually clashing with the upholstery. Hermione held Dracula in her right hand, leaning against the arm of the sofa nearest to the unlit fireplace, the other hand stroking the hair of Ron's face. She wasn't reading the book, obviously. She glanced to me almost every minute, her gaze sad, confused, and determined all at once. I was too used to the silences or excuses that came from whenever I asked her why she was acting like that, to even bother asking her at all now.

"She just always said to keep in touch about anything. If my nightmares continued or if i ever found at Crumple Horned Snorkack. She said she knew a way of getting rid of Nargles which she said were the cause" - at this Ron snorted and I paused, biting my lip. "I miss them. All of them" I gulped, and Ron moved his head from Hermione's lap, looking familiarly uncomfortable. "We should go home soon" I added, in an undertone, hoping on some level that they couldn't hear me.

"Oh yeah!" Ron exclaimed suddenly, making me and Hermione jump and then scowl at him. "How could I forget? I talked to Mum yesterday night. Well morning, they don't understand the time difference" he rolled his eyes, and I fought down the urge to mention how HE didn't understand it either and had called them at four in the morning at one point. "Anyway, she said that we have no choice and we have to return for the Christmas holidays. Though she might keep us captive and not let us go back there if we go"

"Nothing wrong with that. I don't particularly want to stay in Muggle education for the entire year. Christmas may be the best time to say goodbye to Forks"

"So you wouldn't want to move here, permanently?" Hermione asked, placing her book on the arm of the sofa.

I squirmed, uncomfortable at her scrutiasing gaze. "I don't know. I don't know why I would, apart from salvation from my mental health issues of course"

"But apart from that you would have no reason to stay? None at all?" Hermione asked, almost desperate to know my answer.

Ron looked puzzled at his girlfriend's reactions, but I merely shrugged.

"We'll have to just wait and see, wont we?" I said, settling back down in the chair. The thought of leaving Forks hurt more than I wished it did.

It had nothing to do with a certain boy of course. Not at all.

[HERMIONE]

Dear Remus,

I'm sorry to have to tell you that your goddaughter/niece/adopted daughter is developing a very close relationship with a vampire named Edward Cullen over here in Forks. I don't think he's' going to hurt her at all, but i really want to know what you would do in this situation.

P.S. How's Teddy?That was something she definitely couldn't write to Remus though it would be the basic idea. If she should write to him at all.

How could she tell him that Juno was close to a vampire, a werewolf's worst enemy? He would either come over here with Aurors and kill them or do it on his own, or even drag Juno back to England, even if she was kicking and screaming the whole way. Hermione couldn't let that happen.

She sighed, and turned over. Ron was snoring as loud as ever. Something she had gotten used to like a practical lullaby, but now she definitely couldn't sleep. She gently eased Ron's hand from around her waist, and crawled out of bed. She grabbed her fluffy pink dressing gown from the chair beside her desk in the corner, pulling it on to keep out the cold.

Glancing to Ron to make sure he hadn't stirred, she crept out of their room. The landing was dark, very dark and cold, but it was so bare she was able to get to Juno's room across from the bathroom without tripping over anything. She hesitated for only a second before opening the door.

It was well past three in the morning so as she thought Juno was asleep, wrapped like a caterpillar in her covers, her messy hair just seen at the top of it. Her breathing was soft and even, just as she'd hoped.

Since returning from the beach, she had immediately begun preparing some Dreamless Sleep Potions for her to save her from her nightmares. Just one before she went to sleep and she would be fine. No dreams at all but Juno had exclaimed that 'it would be better than nothing' and just swallowed it instantly.

Hermione had hope she would be able to do more than that someday and truly help Juno battle her nightmares, but she wasn't relenting and there was nothing Hermione could do if she didn't. She just had to have hope that she would be able to be the way she was all those years ago.

She wasn't going to say anything about Cullen's. Juno wouldn't be able to handle it right now. And Hermione would rather be damn than make her sisters emotional stability even worse.

Hermione sighed, picking up the empty glass on the bedside table. She frowned, noticing the window was wide open. Juno must'nt have closed it when she went to bed. The glass in her right hand, she pulled the window towards herself, shutting it entirely with a snap, flicking the latch down.

"Far too cold to keep open nowadays" she muttered to herself. She checked once more on Juno, before bidding her goodnight and returning to her room. She'd deal with anything else in the morning. Especially the Cullen situation.

She just hoped she would be abel to sleep now.

[JUNO]

"Are...are you ok?"

Edward blinked. "Yes" he muttered, frowning with uncertainty.

"You just seem more...tense today" I shrugged, wishing I hadn't said anything as he continued to frown even deeper than before.

It was finally Monday and as it wasn't as cold as it had been, Edward had asked me to eat outside on one of the benches. I had tried to hide my shivers and eat my lunch, while Edward had sat beside me on the bench, merely holding his own lunch and staring either straight ahead or at his own feet.

The silence from school had been fine at first, just me and Edward outside, not even needing to talk, but after ten minutes of utter silence had made it too uncomfortable for me to continue.

"Are...are you ok?" i glanced up. He had moved closer to me, his topaz eyes still upon my face.

"Yes" I echoed, putting down the rest of my sandwich: I had lost my appetite.

"I'm sorry" he admitted. "I was worried about you" He laughed softly. "I guess even you phoning me when you didn't arrive at school...didn't stop me from worrying about you the past two days" he scratched the edge of the wooden bench with his nails, fraying the wood. "I didn't wish to intrude by phoning you myself, or coming to your house. I thought it best if I...stayed away from you"

"Why would you need to stay away from me?" I whispered, more to myself than to him.

He sighed, deeply, his hand running through his bronze locks. "A lot of people aren't happy about our...relationship if you will. My family aren't really trusted around here. Some people more than others...loathe us" his eyes glowered, as he scraped off a tiny part of the bench.

"Probably because no one knows anything about you" I ventured a guess. I knew many reasons why no one seemed to like the Cullen's. Basically? They were perfect. They were beautiful, putting anyone remotely attractive in the shadows. People were drawn like moths to flame to them, and they treated everyone with an icy indifference, except for a select few (me, Ron and Hermione).

They were all incredibly intelligent, once again putting everyone in the shadow. The fact that nothing was really known about them eluded the mystery even more, making them stand out more. Making the situation much worse for them.

I took a deep breath for what I knew would be a long explanation. "Jessica said that apparently I'm the only person, apart from your teachers, that you have even really talked to. I know things about you that nobody else possibly knows" I looked him directly in the eyes. "Does anyone know you like I do? Apart from your family"

He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, before he placed his hand on my knee. "There are times" he said, breathlessly. "That I think you know me even better than they do, at times"

"I think I can relate, trust me" I grimaced as he raised his eyebrows in question. "Ron is oblivious to a lot of things so he never notices or realises some things. Hermione realises a lot more...but she goes about stuff the wrong way. They mean everything to me but...i can't even tell them everything I wish I could" I bit my lip in worry.

"Juno..." Edward began. He glanced to his knees, before looking back up at me as I answered.

"Yeah?" I prompted, trying to get over the awkwardness my words had left.

"Is it possible that I've only known you seven weeks...but it already feels like eternity?"

I gasped softly. Squeezing my eyes shut, I began to take shallow breaths. It was a simple question but the seriousness, the actual wonder in his voice. It had felt like I had been with him forever, and every moment away from him made me feel funny, almost as if i really was missing something.

He didn't know anything about me. Little things that anyone could know. He didn't know that I was or witch, or how powerful. He didn't know the number of exactly how many people I had actually killed. I hope he never finds out.

I didn't know what to say, so I did what I always did. I twisted the truth.

"I doubt we could spend eternity together. We would probably get bored and annoyed. I have several annoying habits that you have yet to learn" I opened my eyes.

"I could never tire of you, Juno" he said, before standing directly in front of me. His eyes shined with amusement and kindness. "You are my own personal enigma. I believe nothing will ever be dull for us"

You have no idea.

He held his hand out to me, as the bell for our next lesson trilled through the open doors to the cafeteria that were just behind us. I hesitated for only a second, staring at it and then grasping it tightly. He was freezing cold, colder than ice and the touch gave me the sensation of electricity shooting up my arm, almost painfully so.

But somehow, it still seemed perfect.

[~#~]

"Juno, there's a Halloween costume party this Saturday. It would be really cool, if you and your siblings can come"

I frowned, and took the offered poster from Angela. I winced at the large pink writing, but tried to absorb what it said anyway, and what Angela was saying to me as well. "It's supposed to be a Halloween one. And it's a costume party, so if you guys can come, it would be really good" I looked up into her hopeful face, her smile obviously pleading me to come.

I smiled. "Yeah, sure. A party actually sounds good" Angela beamed at me.

"That's wonderful. Are you free after school? You and your sister can come shopping with me and Jessica to pick an outfit? There's this really nice store in Port Angeles. Its next to the Magic Box" (1)

"Yeah, I know it. Hermione works at the Box. That dress shop? Yeah, guess I can go. We haven't hung out that much, apart from when we went up to the beach. And I did mostly spend all that time with Ron running around" I explained, pushing the door open and allowing Angela to go ahead of me. "And we're going back to England for Christmas, so we won't be able to hang out over the holidays"

"Where are you going in England?" Angela asked as we went on our way to the lockers.

"Just where we used to live. A tiny town in the country. You probably wouldn't know its name, it's so remote" I added with a giggle. "We are just going to spend some of our time with distant family"

"Ok, so what happened with you and Edward?" she asked, suddenly, stopping next to her locker.

I blinked. "Huh?" I asked, baffled.

"You went outside to eat with him, which I think is crazy by the way, its freezing outside. Anyway" she continued, spinning the dial and opening her locker. "You came back to Biology with this little goofy grin on your face and you couldn't stop smiling all lesson. You're practically glowing with happiness". She pushed in a few of her textbooks before pulling out only one and then closing the locker, while I gaped at her my cheeks bright red.

"I didn't?!" I practically screamed. "N-huh?!"

Angela nodded, giggling. "I'm happy for you. You guys do make a very nice couple. No matter what kind of relationship you have" she added, as I opened my mouth to protest as I had done frequently that me and Edward weren't dating.

And then I was struck with a very very awkward question for me.

"So are you going to go with him to the dance? Because then we definitely have to find you something that he would like to see you in and..."

[~#~]

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, frowning in confusion from behind the till.

"There wasn't anything we liked in the shop next door, and we saw you had costumes here. So we thought we'd come take a gander here at the Magic Box" I explained, while Angela and Jessica looked around from just behind me.

"Wow. This is...nice" Jessica muttered, her face contradicting her words. I rolled my eyes.

"It's brilliant!" I whispered to Hermione behind the till, who smiled at me thankfully.

The magic box had been utterly altered for Halloween. The shelves covered with magic paraphernalia; Wicca spell books, potions ingredients and vials, herbs and roots with names I couldn't even pronounce (and probably had no magical purpose whatsoever), had been draped with cobwebs, plastic bats stuck on the edges. Cartoon witches and ghosts hung from the ceiling and on the walls, grinning manically. To finally set the scene of the classic Halloween shop, were the kids running from the massive display of costumes Hermione's boss had laid out on mannequins on the floor.

"I'm not happy about this though" Hermione stated, ripping a cartoon witch of the wall and waving it in my face. "This is a false image. We don't have warts on our nose, or or...spiders in our hair and falling out of our noses, or crooked noses for that matter" she opened and closed her mouth, trying to find more words, staring criticising at the picture. "Or that colour hair" she added half-heartedly.

"Tonks had purple hair half the time" I retorted. Jessica and Angela had long gone to look at Halloween outfits on the slightly lowered floor so there was no chance anything incriminating for us could be overheard.

Hermione frowned. "Well, that was Tonks who had the ability to do such a thing. On majority, we don't, do we?"

I shrugged, glancing over to the costumes. "Are there any good ones for the dance?" I asked Hermione. But it wasn't her who answered.

"There is a good witch costume or two which I'm sure will be very comfortable. Maybe a princess? Or even a fey or nymph? We have one with a great likeness to an actual nymph"

I turned to see a man standing behind me, hands crossed behind his back, smiling pleasantly, but his eyes showed something entirely different. Almost...anticipation. Almost as if he was waiting for me to do something.

He was in his early forties with brown hair with streaks of grey. He was face was only slightly lined with his age and he was wearing the same clothes as any other adult in the room. Only by the small nametag pinned to his left breast pocket saying 'ETHAN ROWE. Owner' with a Wiccan symbol told me any different.

"Did you want me to do anything, Mr Rowe?" Hermione inquired, standing entirely straight: rapt and attentive.

Mr Rowe shook his head with a smile, still keeping his gaze on me. "Hello, Miss Potter"

I froze instantly. Hermione quickly leaned across the counter and grabbed my arm. "Mr Rowe is a European wizard, Juno!" she hissed in my ear, as I still didn't relax and continued to size him up. "He's my boss, he's not going to hurt us. He can tell who you are because you pulled your hair back and your scar is on show"

I pulled my arm harshly from her grip, and glared at her, turning back to the wizard. He watched me coolly.

"Should I have called you Miss Dumbledore?" he pressed my 'surname' insistently. "I've heard all about you" I glanced to Hermione, my eyes wide. "No. Your sister has been...particularly quiet when it comes to you. She's very protective of you"

"I'm protective of her, as well" I muttered, my teeth clenched as I sized him down. He was broad, square shouldered. But he was older than me, a lot older than Remus. And I was faster. I could draw my wand from my belt and Stun him before he could even reach for his own.

Mr Rowe rolled his eyes, sighing exasperatedly. "Now Miss Potter, if I wanted to hex you, I would have done so already" he explained, scolding me as if I was a petulant child.

"Maybe you're just waiting for the perfect opportunity" I interjected, my hand fingering the polished wood of the Elder Wand that poked out of my back pocket and under my shirt so it was unnoticeable. "When my back's turned and we're out of view of the public. Or even here. Just a few spells here, Memory charms there. No one would be any the wiser that it had even occurred"

"Juno, please-"

"What's a European wizard doing here anyway?" I questioned, ignoring Hermione, who glanced fearfully between me and Rowe, not knowing what to do about the situation. I glanced around the shop. Jessica and Angela were messing around with open of the mannequins depicting a classic 'witch' outfit, laughing and cackling manically. "In an un-magical country where there is only that Wicca stuff, exploiting your very own culture to Muggles" I glared at him. "Why aren't you celebrating All Hallows Eve they way you are supposed to?"

Rowe raised his brows. "So I should sit and pray for the dead? Those who were taken from me? I should lift the veil and let them venture to our side? No. I'm far too much of a coward to fast my past, Miss Potter". He placed a bag I hadn't noticed onto the counter, and Hermione immediately placed it into the cupboards underneath it, standing to attention like a military soldier when the task was completed. "Anyhow" he continued, a soft smirk playing upon his lips. "Why, Miss Potter, are you, the world's hero, the great vanquisher of the darkest wizard of the Age, hiding out in good old Forks, Washington? In an un-magical country where there is only Wicca 'stuff'? Why aren't you celebrating All Hallows Eve the way you are supposed to?" His smirk grew, as my jaw clenched along with my fists, my cheeks red with embarrassment as he repeated my own words to me.

"I'm on vacation" I spat, before I turned on my heel and marched straight over to Jessica and Angela who actually looked shocked and almost scared as I practically shook with anger.

I plastered a big fake smile on my face, which made them slightly recoil. "Now...who's trying stuff on first?"

[HERMIONE]

"So your friends were able to get the outfits they wanted?" Hermione nodded, frowning, wanting to finish her task.

"Yes" she muttered, not entirely paying much attention. "Juno didn't know, so they had to choose for her. And Juno chose one for me so I know it won't be utterly ghastly"

"You know the Cullen's are vampires"

Slightly shocked at the very random question, Hermione looked up from where she was Vanishing dust from the floor (She had argued against it, but Mr Rowe demanded she must: he for one, wanted to get home and he never wished to do anything the Muggle way when not in the public eye). He stood behind the cashier from where he had been counting their intake from the costume sale. His task was now abandoned and he was watching the witch, trying to gauge her reaction.

Hermione nodded, feeling her cheeks flush at his penetrating stare. Rowe was an easy man to please and even an impressive wizard to be around. But there was times when Hermione felt way younger than her seventeen years: when he was scolding her. When he did that, she couldn't help but feel back at Hogwarts in a Potions lesson with Professor Snape. But then again, she always had Juno and Ron to look out for her.

But, she knew from the beginning of the conversation, she would have to stand up for herself.

"Yes, I do" she stated, placing her wand into the pocket of her jacket. "I'm not ignorant like some people in this town. I am able to figure out from the obvious clues they leave behind"

"And from what your two very loud friends have said, Miss Potter has a very close...relationship with one of them". Again, it wasn't posed as a question.

"Yes. Edward Cullen, the youngest in image I believe. He tutors her, helping her with some of her subjects, and he is a close school friend"

"I never would have thought of you as immature, Hermione" he explained with a sigh, shuffling papers. "But now, I can't help but think that you are a very stupid little girl. You have no idea what kinds of creatures you are dealing with"

Hermione felt her cheeks grow hot in anger, but she was determined to state her ground. "Edward makes Juno happy. She deserves happiness more than anyone else that's for sure, and she can take perfect care of her-"

"The Cullen's are vampires" Ethan said, calmly, almost patronising her. "I myself make clear of anywhere they could possibly go. Granted they don't go anywhere with is good. Your sister is playing a very dangerous game by becoming so close to them"

"Juno isn't a coward like you" Hermione snapped. "She doesn't hide from anything"

He almost blinked at her aggression towards him, and stepped out from behind the counter and closer to her. Despite herself, she took a step back.

"From what I gathered, Miss Potter is definitely scared and she is most definitely hiding"

"She-"

"She is a girl" he stated boldly. "Only just reached adulthood and has had to endure...far more than anyone twice, thrice her age" Ethan shook his head. "I myself ran here to the States over twenty years ago with my parents to escape Voldemort when it was clearly obvious no one was going to do anything about him. Many people fled. Ones who knew...that he definitely wasn't going to go away" he stood straighter. "Miss Potter, however, has had to suffer through everything that many ran from. It doesn't matter how much she tries to hide it. She is most definitely affected"

"Exactly" Hermione cut in. "So now she should be able to do what she wants"

"At the risk of her safety and the others around her?" Ethan raised his eyebrows.

Hermione paused. "If that's the case. She should be able to do what she wants...June..." she tried to find the words to explain. "Juno's entire life has so far been planned out. Since before she even took her first breath, there was a prophecy damning her entire existence. Gave her her very own motto: Kill or be killed". Ethan's eyes widened ever so slightly at the mention of a prophecy, but Hermione carried on, not caring anymore. "She has the chance to go against the rules. Not marry some rich high up pure blood like everyone expects her to, and...and" she stuttered. "Become an Auror or a Quidditch player and have all these children. She's choosing! And she's never been able to before..."

She hiccupped, finally noticing the tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. "I know so much could go wrong because of Edward, and when she finds out she'll be devastated" she sobbed. "But...everything can go right as well. I might get my best friend back, my little sister. She's been practically dead since the war...he's brought her back to me. We're just like we were, before all this stupid shit happened...you can't ask me to take him away from her when he's shown her nothing but affection..."

"Hermione-" Ethan said, softly, stepping towards her.

"Vampires don't just pretend to be in love with you" she stated, pointing an accusing finger at him as he continued to try and convince her. "And trust me...Edward Cullen...I think he loves my sister. And I can bet on Dumbledore's grave...she cares for him desperately too" Her hands fisted and wiped at her eyes. "And you can't ask me to make her go back to the way she was before he came. You can't ask me to destroy her again. I love her too much to make her suffer everything again"

Silence swept through the shop after that, only Hermione's diminishing hiccups. Ethan was lost in thought, looking off to the corner of the shop.

"Hermione..." she looked up at the mention of her name. "Don't bother coming in to work tomorrow"

Her heart sank, but she gave a nod. "And if anything happens, Miss Granger, with Mr. Cullen...I hope you know what needs to be done if vampires attack you. I'll...help if it is too painful for you"

Her eyes shut and she nodded once more.

[JUNO]

The next few days proved to be very interesting. It provided enough time for us to really comprehend the Muggle views on 'dances'. I'd only really attended one, Bill and Fleur's wedding, which didn't technically count, as we were attacked halfway through the reception leading to nine months separation from all of our friends. I'd boycotted all parties after the war, except the one my Defence group, Dumbledore's Army dubbed so after our mentor, decided to throw. It was practically a night of drinking, old records of Weird Sisters blared out of radios and even gambling, with Ron's roommate, Seamus Finnegan groping half the girls, puking on the rug and ending up unconscious two hours into the party.

Jessica, Lauren and even Angela spent lunches and during lessons talking about the dance. Party fever had spread throughout the school, and as it was apparently girls choice for the dance, boys spent every waking hour trying to chat up the girls to get invitations.

Frighteningly, it had happened to me.

"Hey, J.D!" Mike cried, walking up to me outside Biology on the Friday before the dance. I smiled, and I could feel Edward tense behind me, obviously annoyed at the fact our conversation had been interrupted.

Mike looked to him once, his annoyance shown clearly, before he looked back to me. "Do you want to go to the dance with me tomorrow?"

I had prepared myself for whenever someone asked me to the dance to say no and say I'm sorry that I couldn't go with them. It wasn't like I wanted...a particular person to ask me. It was embarrassing me to even go to the dance, especially in the outfit I'm wearing, and as I can't even dance, that I couldn't put that embarrassment on someone else.

"I-I would love to Mike, but...maybe you should ask Jessica. She really wants to go with you. And I probably won't even be there that long" I added, frantically, as he looked like he wanted to convince me otherwise. "So, it may ruin the night for you. So...I'm sorry. Maybe some other time?" I winced at that polite slip, as that obviously did give him hope for another time to ask me.

"Ok then" he smiled, though obviously still embarrassed and entered the classroom behind a giggling Angela, who was trying to hide it behind her hand. Edward had reverted to his usual stoic self after Mike's proposition and remained remotely quiet the entire lesson. When he did beginning to act normal again, I was so wrapped up in taking notes, I jumped when he began to talk.

"Juno...I was wondering if you would accompany me to the dance"

"As a date?!" I blurted out, my eyes widening. I mentally winced at the shock in my voice and I blushed, harder than I ever possibly had.

Edward smiled, looking slightly embarrassed but also a bit hurt at my reaction. "I believe that is what it is called these days. But if you don't want to..." he trailed off, looking crestfallen.

"No, no, no" I said frantically, putting my hands out to stop him from turning back round in his chair. He paused, expectantly. "I do. Want to go with you, I mean. It's just a shock, you know? You never showed that you would want to go at all, least of all with me" I babbled, and his smile became true with amusement. I sighed. "Yes, Edward. I would love to go to the dance with you" I stated, clearly this time. "But I might leave early. And I can't dance, I'll tell you that right now" I added, pointing at him.

He gave his usual musical laugh, before taking the hand I was currently pointing at him in his own pale, long fingered one. My breath hitched as he placed his lips in a soft kiss right on my wrist above my pounding pulse.

"Thank you for accepting, Juno" he muttered, his voice husky.

"Y-You're welcome" I stuttered. My hand continued to tingle long after he had released it, and I couldn't help drift my fingers across it, feeling stupid as I was jealous at the fact that it was my hand that was kissed by Edward.

[HERMIONE]

DEATH EATER SIGHTINGS SHOCK SMALL TOWN

Rita Skeeter

It is this reporters grave job to tell you that You-Know-Who's supporters are still at large and terrorizing.

Just last night Bellatrix Lestrange, confirmed to have murdered many Muggles, Muggle Borns and wizards during her time as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named supporter and was sentenced to life in Azkaban for the kidnap and torture of Alice and Frank Longbottom. As if she wasn't feared enough, she was able to flee after You-Know-Who was defeated on Hogwarts School Grounds by Juno Potter four months ago, and seems to be continuing her leaders work.

A family of four were found murdered in the early hours by their Muggle neighbour, who explained how she had heard screaming and breaking glass, and made her husband and eldest son go and see what was occurring.

Mr Michael Schmidt was found dead along with his wife and two sons. Lestrange was spotted less than twenty minutes in the surrounding area and Aurors were called to the scene. Why Lestrange attacked these particular wizards is unknown, but with Fenrir Greyback still attacking children in Asia and vampire attacks increasing in England and the east coast of America, we just need to ask, where is the Chosen One made to protect us?

Hermione had never felt so angry. Well, sure, of course she had. Ron had annoyed her many times. Draco Malfoy as well. But Rita Skeeter always seemed to get under her skin with all the articles she wrote about Juno. Even a couple of years ago when Hermione had discovered she was an Unregistered Animagus and was posing as a beetle to get all the stories, and had blackmailed her, saying that if she ever wrote such a hurtful story about Juno again, she could expect a nice, cosy cell in Azkaban Prison.

Obvious the threat hadn't stuck when they left England for the US.

So now it was Juno's fault that the Ministry hadn't rounded up the last of the Death Eaters? Just because she defeated Voldemort, she should stay behind and clean up the mess they themselves created when they let Death Eaters free and imprisoned innocents?

She screwed up the paper tightly into a ball, throwing it into the wastepaper basket, just as the kitchen door opened.

She flushed and spun round, as if she had been caught doing something mistrustful instead throwing out the waste.

Juno grinned, holding out a duffle bag. "I'm driving" she waved the trucks keys in her direction. Hermione blinked owlishly. "You know...Jessica...Angela...we're going to Jessica's to get ready for the dance" she explained slowly, looking at Hermione in concern.

"Oh!" the curly haired witch cried, her hands flying to her mouth. She burned red. "Oh, I forgot! Coming!"

She grabbed the duffle bag from Juno's hand, seeing Juno's backpack in her other hand. Guessing she had her own clothes, she led the younger witch out of the front door, where Ron was already sitting in the truck, going to be dropped off on the way to get ready at Mike's.

Juno shut the door locking it, her thoughts elsewhere. Hermione had acted extremely odd then back in the kitchen. Almost as if she had been caught doing something with the 'deer in the headlights' look she had given her.

"Hermione?"

Hermione blinked up at Juno who remained on the doorstep, her scarf tucked under her chin, her hair loose and her eyes questioning. "Are you ok?" she asked.

Hermione opened her mouth, before closing it with a sigh. "I'll tell you tomorrow, ok? We need to have fun tonight. YOU need to have fun tonight"

Juno lingered at the door still uncertain. She jerked as Ron pressed the car horn, and she scowled in his direction, muttering about 'impatient bugger'.

Hermione held out her hand towards her. "You coming or what?"

Sorry about the article. I can't write them to save my life.

My target for each chapter is over 7,000 words. This is over 6,000. I'll hopefully reach my target next time.

Hermione obviously isn't going to say anything about Edward unless it is necessary. She wants to protect Juno's happiness as much as possible.

So a new character or two and a dance for the road. Worth the wait? Next chapter will definitely have more Edward/Juno interaction I promise. Romance is on the horizon. There were a few fluffy bits here, hand holding there. A few kisses on the hand. What girl doesn't love that?

Any idea what the boys (Edward, Jasper, Emmet, Ron etc.) What their Halloween outfits should be? I can't dress boys on Halloween! And they have to look good.

Whole next chapter will mostly be the dance, so will take a while. Sorry. The outfits they all were will be posted on my profile when the next chapter is up, so no spoilers, sorry.

...

Ok, a little one.

Next Time

Edward stroked the lone curl that fell into her eyes back behind her ear. She stared almost transfixed as he trailed a finger down her cheek, feeling the blood rise to the surface beneath it. His long pale fingers travelled from her jaw, and down her pulse point, making her shiver and goose bumps to appear upon her pale skin.

Her breath hitched, as he placed his hand above her heart. They had moved closer together, her body pressed close against his chest, protected by him.

Her hand moved from her own thigh to clutch his face again, her fingers in his hair.

He suppressed a groan. What was she doing to him?

So? Do you guys love me or hate me? XD review and let me know.

(1) Magic Box is the name of the magic shop that Rupert Giles on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer owns. It just seemed like the right idea to give a Magic Shop. You wouldn't expect a real magic shop to be called that, would you?