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Chapter 17: Detention and Arguments
Juniper, Kaylynn, and Eileen sat in the Great Hall that evening for dinner. It was bustling with so much noise and activity that they had to speak up when they talked, which was hard for Juniper as she rarely ever raised her voice for anything. Every few minutes, she would turn her head and glance over at the Gryffindor table where James was sitting with his friends. He would sometimes catch her eye and grin. Of course, this would earn him a ribbing from Liam and Jordan.
"You've got it so bad," Kaylynn said playfully.
Juniper turned back around and looked down at her plate, blushing. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"It's pretty obvious," Eileen said as she reached across the table to grab one of the chocolate pudding dishes that was on a silver platter. "You're not very good at hiding it."
The brown haired Hufflepuff winced. "Please tell me I'm not drooling right now."
Kaylynn chuckled. "Not yet, but if you don't stop staring at him, you may start."
Juniper buried her face into her hands. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I mean, part of me doesn't want to like him in that sort of way because I feel we're just better off as friends, but then another part of me..." her voice trailed off as her face turned bright red.
"Another part of you wishes that he'd hurry up and make a move?" Kaylynn asked.
Juniper hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Something like that, but I don't know if it would ever happen. There have been plenty of opportunities, but he's never taken them."
"Maybe he's waiting for the right time," Eileen suggested as she licked the pudding off her spoon. "It could be possible that he's not the kind of guy who would just outright snog a girl out of nowhere, randomly."
"He's not," Juniper said with a sigh. "He's only had two girlfriends in the past and that was last year. Juniper had never said anything, but in her third year, when Juniper had been late going to Hogsmeade, she had been traveling down the deserted fourth floor corridor when she came upon a very interesting sight. James had his arms wrapped around Cynthia Verbas. Juniper couldn't believe that they could kiss for so long. Yet, it looked like Cynthia was having a lot of fun. That set Juniper to wondering what it would be like to be kissed like that.
Juniper had never thought about it, before that. Sure, she would hang around in the dorms, half listening as other girls would share their experiences about their first kisses, but she often stayed out of it as she had nothing to tell. Juniper had never admitted it, but she had never been kissed once by a member of the opposite sex. She knew that kisses from family members didn't count at all and was more than happy to keep it a secret for as long as she could.
Luckily, her thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a Gryffindor third year, who had approached their table.
"Eileen Mariano?" he asked, clutching a piece of parchment in his hand. Eileen nodded and he held out the paper. "Professor Flitwick asked me to give this to you."
Eileen took the parchment and thanked him. Turning back around, she unfolded it and began to read, grimacing with each word.
Kaylynn leaned over. "What does it say?" She tried to read it, but Eileen pressed the paper to her bosom.
"Nosy," she muttered before relenting. "It says I have to clean the owl droppings in the Owlery without magic" She folded the parchment and set it aside. "Anyone want to take my place? It's really not my thing."
Juniper stole another glance towards James. She remembered agreeing to taking a walk with him after dinner, but she also couldn't ignore the cry for help from her friend. "We're not going to take your place," Juniper said as she turned back around. "But we wouldn't mind helping you out."
Kaylynn made a face. "Great, just what I always wanted to do, clean up Owl poop."
Juniper stood up. Er...excuse me." She knew she had to tell James that she wouldn't be able to go on that walk with him, so it was best to do so now. She stopped behind him, Seth, who was sitting across the table saw her.
"James, you have company." The bespectacled Gryffindor turned his head.
"Er...hi," she said nervously toying with the hem of her grey sweater vest, as usual.
"What's up?" James asked. "Muffin?" He offered her a blueberry flavored one, but Juniper shook her head.
"No, thanks. I just wanted to tell you that I can't go for a walk with you after dinner. I sort of promised Eileen that I'd help her out with her detention."
Liam smirked. "You Hufflepuffs are always so loyal, but poor Jamesie-Poo was looking forward to that little stroll."
James glared at the brunette Gryffindor sitting on his right. "Remind me to hurt you later?" he muttered before turning back to Juniper, who wanted nothing more than to sink into the floor with the way Liam was teasing her. "That's too bad, but there's always next time."
She sighed in relief, for it seemed that he wasn't really all that upset about it. "I'm sorry," she said, still feeling rather horrible about it.
He shrugged and opened his mouth to say something, but Jordan spoke up. "Oh, James will live. We'll keep him company." He slung his arm around the unruly haired Gryffindor's shoulder.
Juniper wished that she was as quick-tongued as Kaylynn so that she could say something witty, but she wasn't. Instead, she just nodded and walked back to the Hufflepuff table, leaving James to be teased by his friends.
James stopped by the dorms after dinner to peruse the Marauders Map as he had forgotten to ask Juniper where she would be. Even if he couldn't go on a walk with her, they could still spend a little time together, even if it involved Kaylynn and Eileen. Seth walked in, holding his Transfiguration book and sat down on his four-poster bed as James read the map.
"I still can't believe you haven't told her about that thing," he said as he flipped open the book.
"It just keeps slipping my mind," James said non-chalantly as he wiped the map clean with his wand and stuffed it into the back pocket of his trousers.
"Or maybe you don't want to tell her because you're afraid she'll know that you practically stalk her with that thing."
"I don't stalk her!" James said indignantly. "This map helps me see where all the secret passages are and keep tabs on the professors and prefects at night when I want to sneak down to the kitchens for a midnight snack."
Seth merely raised an eyebrow. "Yet, you almost always end up turning up where she is. Sorry, mate, but that's called stalking."
James glared at rather infuriating best friend. "I like hanging out with her, that's all," he insisted. "Is that so wrong?"
"No, but one of these days she is going to catch on. She might appreciate it more if you actually told her about the map."
James rolled his eyes. "Oh, sure, and then what? 'Hey, Juniper, I have this map that allows me to see where you are at all times'. That'll go over so well with her."
"You don't know how she'll react. It's best she find it out from you than someone else."
The bespectacled Gryffindor grimaced, knowing full well that Seth was right. Besides, why was he even hiding the map from her? He had no problem telling his three male friends about it. Why couldn't he do the same with her? He pondered his question as he left the Gryffindor common room and traversed the many moving staircases until he came to the Entrance Hall and went outside where the map said Juniper and her friends would be. He found them in the Owlery just like the map said they would be. The three of them were each were each holding a scrub brush and were on their hands and knees, right in the middle of the owl droppings, vigorously scrubbing. The strong soap, which they were used mingled with the droppings and caused James to wrinkle his nose briefly before he grinned. "What are you ladies up to?"
"What does it look like we're doing?" Kaylynn snapped. "We're helping Eileen with her detention."
James scratched his head. "Er...detention? What did you do?"
Eileen glanced at the droppings with disdain, looking a little green around the gills. "I hexed that Avery girl," she admitted while scrubbing very hard on a certain spot.
James chuckled and knelt down near the tub. "So, this is your punishment? What did she say to get you all riled up?"
The dark haired Hufflepuff narowed her eyes at James. "I'd rather not say it out loud."
"She called me a mudblood, pretty much," Kaylynn said as she dipped her brush into the soapy liquid
"I really don't like that word," Eileen muttered, clenching her fists.
"Sorry," Kaylynn amended as she sat up and wiped the sweat off her brow. "You know what? Screw this." She drew her wand from her pocket and began using Scourgify.
"You can't do that!" Juniper hissed. "Flitwick said no magic!"
"He meant it only for Eileen. There was nothing in that note about us not using magic."
"Still, it's not fair to Eileen if she can't use magic as well."
Kaylynn scowled and put her wand away. "But this is so gross! You can't tell me that you clean up your parents' owl's droppings by hand."
"My parents usually take care of Ferdy, themselves," Juniper said as she tucked a wayward strand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her right ear.
Kaylynn waved her hand. "Whatever, anyway, Potter, how did you know where we would be?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
James rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Juniper told me that she was going to help one of her friends with something."
Juniper stopped scrubbing and looked up. "But I didn't tell you exactly where I would be," she said frowning slightly. "So, it would be impossible for you to know."
James silently cursed Seth, despite the fact that his best friend couldn't have any idea that this would happen so soon. Part of him wanted to just laugh it off and say it was a lucky guess, but it wouldn't work.
Stop putting it off and just show her, demanded that impatient voice in his head.
"Damn," he cursed as he pulled the map from his pocket. "I found you using this."
Juniper looked at, what appeared to be, a blank piece of parchment. "I don't get it. How does that help you?"
James tapped the map with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Juniper's eyes widened as the map slowly formed before her. She leaned in closer to get a better look at it, forcing James to get a good wiff of her shampoo, which smelled of rosemary and mint. If it was any other time, he would actually allow himself to enjoy the scent, but right now he was sweating bullets.
"What...it's a map of the school? But...how..." She took the map and examined it closely. "I can see everyone on here and everything. But wait, I don't see the Room of Requirement."
James was only mildly surprised that she noticed it right away. "Er...it's the only place that doesn't show up on the map. I never really found out why."
Juniper looked up from the floor "How long have you had this?" she asked, lifting her eyes upwards to meet with his.
James nervously tugged at the collar of his shirt, feeling uncomfortably hot all of a sudden, despite the fact that it was quite cool in the classroom. "For awhile," he said trying to remain casual about it.
"How long is awhile?" Juniper's tone may have indicated curiosity, but the look she was giving him certainly didn't.
He bit down on his lower lip. "I might have had it since since a little before I started my fourth year."
"I see, and you use this to see where everyone is, including me?"
"More or less." James was beginning to wish that he had lied, for Juniper's tone was now making him feel like he was being frozen in a block of ice.
Juniper didn't say anything for the longest time, making James wonder if she was just going to drop the subject. He slowly began to relax, but as soon as he stopped sweating, she spoke again.
"Who else knows about this?"
Crap. He ran his fingers through his dark hair. "Jordan, Seth, and Liam know, as well as my brother and sister, along with Hugo, Rose, and a few of my other cousins."
"I see, and is there any reason why you waited until now to tell me?"
"It's pretty complicated." He looked to Kaylynn and Eileen for help, but they said nothing. It was as if they were watching to see how this scene played out, but Kaylynn was giving him rather dirty looks.
"That's all you can say?" Juniper dropped the scrub brush in disdain before standing up and brushing herself off. With a glare in his direction, she turned and walked out of the Owlery
"Good job, Potter," Kaylynn sneered. "I definitely get not telling everyone about that thing, but why keep it from her?"
James sighed, allowing his palm to slide down his face in frustration. "Maybe I felt it would be better if she didn't know that I watch her through the map from time to time and now she's bloody pissed at me."
"It'd probably be best if you talk to her," Eileen said. "You should try and make it right."
James' shoulders slumped. Make it right? Sure, he had just admitted to keeping her in the dark about something for years while his other best friends and most of his family members knew about it almost right away. How hard could that be? Still, he had to try and explain himself. The Gryffindor stood up and descended the spiral staircase. He didn't have to go too far to find Juniper. She was sitting on a bench in the corridor, twirling her wand in between her fingers.
"Juniper?" James stepped closer to her and she stopped playing with her wand. It slipped in between her fingers and dropped to the floor. He bent down to pick it up and offered it to her.
"So, why didn't you tell me about the map? I swear if you say 'it's complicated' again, I'm going to..." her voice trailed off leaving him to imagine what she would do if he repeated those same words he had uttered just a few minutes ago.
James sighed and sat down next to her. "I don't know, maybe I was afraid of how you would react if you found out that I pretty much watch you through this thing. I didn't want you to think I was some stalker."
Juniper turned her head to look at him. "Yet, you could tell your other friends about it with no problem?" She narrowed her eyes. "I was under the impression that I was grouped with your best friends as well."
"You are, Junie. It's really not that big of a deal. You know now, so why are you acting this way?"
Juniper jumped up all of sudden and spun on her heels to face him. "Not a big deal? You said that you'd never keep anything from me, but apparently I'm not worthy enough to know about an enchanted map that you have!"
"Junie, you're being silly," James said attempting to disarm her with his charming smile, but she only glared at him.
"Don't you dare call me Junie! How would you feel if I kept something from you, but told my other friends? You wouldn't like it very much!"
"Maybe not, but I certainly wouldn't be making a big deal out of it like you are. Look, I'm sorry, but you're not the only one in the school who didn't know about it. It's not like I told every single person and left you in the dark."
"Th-That's not the point! The point is you pretty much left me out!"
James stood and began to take a step towards her, but stopped when she pointed her wand at him. "Juniper, you're overreacting." He could feel himself growing angry. "So I didn't tell you. That's no reason for you to threaten me!" He eyed the wand, which began to give off angry red sparks.
Juniper said nothing, instead she lowered her wand and turned away. "Just...leave me alone," she muttered as she began to walk away from him.
James ran his fingers through his hair and started to follow her. "Come on, Juniper. Don't be like that."
She turned around and pointed her wand. "Flipendo Duo!" James was blasted back forcefully and landed on the floor, sliding a few feet. Unfortunately, Professor Longbottom chose that moment to come down the corridor.
"Miss Clayton! You know better than to attack a student in the middle of a corridor! I hate to do this, seeing as you belong to my House, but there will be ten points taken from Hufflepuff and you will be serving detention with me on Saturday morning. Be thankful that I'm not revoking your Hogsmeade privileges as well."
"Professor," James said standing up and clutching his shoulder, attempting to quickly come to Juniper's defense. "It's my fault, I upset her and-" But Professor Longbottom held up a hand to silence him.
"Whether you upset her or not, she still broke a rule and must suffer the consequences like any other students. While I do like Miss Clayton, I do not play favorites like Professor Slughorn does. She will serve detention with me this Saturday."
James sighed. "Yes, professor." He watched as Professor Longbottom walked away before directing his gaze at the girl who was standing a few feet away from him. He opened his mouth to try and apologize again, but she turned and started walking away once more. There was nothing he could do about it, other than wait for her to, hopefully, cool off. He had no idea why she was making such a big deal out of it.
You don't know? Wow, you really are thick-headed aren't you? She's obviously upset because you kept her in the dark about the map while your other best friends knew about it. How else did you expect her to react?
With understanding? I figured she'd be all right with it, maybe a little miffed at first, but not enough to actually hex me.
Either way, you should try and make it right if you don't want her to lose your chances with her.
I'm not losing anything. James sighed. Perfect, now he was having conversations with himself. They might as well admit him to St. Mungo's for insanity. Groaning in frustration, he decided to head outside in order to cool his head, ignoring the irritating pain in his shoulder. As he was able to move it, it wasn't broken and probably wouldn't require a trip to the Infirmary.
