scream
Victoire held true to her word. In the span of a week Juniper had her ears double pierced, refused to get a tattoo on her wrist, much to Victoire's disappointment, and snuck into an ancient castle past closing.
The last one was Juniper's favorite so far. Her and Victoire had run around the dark grounds of the arched masterpiece for hours, giggling and stargazing. The piercings had hurt like a bitch, but Juniper even admitted she liked how they looked.
Christmas was an all night affair in the Delacour-Weasley abode. Juniper felt as if she was being weighed down by rocks she was so jetlagged. It didn't help that Victoire dragged her out of the house at all hours of the night and then proceeded to sleep during the afternoon. Juniper's sleep schedule was a mess to say the least. Juniper was currently wishing that she'd taken Fleur's offer to have a glass of champagne, anything to keep her self awake and buzzed, even just for a short period of time.
Finally, Bill had mercy, obviously catching on to the fact that Juniper was struggling to keep her eyes open. He picked up his very intoxicated wife, who was well into a bottle of wine, and carried her upstairs. Drunk Fleur was a sight to see, she was much more loose. Juniper didn't mind. Drunk Fleur and Victoire actually got along. In Juniper's time in France, she had been privy to not one, but two all out screaming matches between the mother and daughter. Complete with glass smashing, door slamming, and water throwing.
"You ready to go upstairs?" Victoire asked, breaking Juniper from her thoughts.
"Yeah." Juniper nodded, letting Victoire yank her up to standing.
"C'mon sleepyhead, Victoire chuckled, as they climbed the staircase, I need you alert for tomorrow."
"Why? What's happening tomorrow?"
"All in good time ma chéri." Victoire winked, changing into her pajamas. Juniper followed suit.
"You realize you could just tell me." Juniper pointed out, snuggling into bed tiredly. Her eyes were drooping as she fashioned a single braid down her back.
"But where is the fun in that?" Victoire was rummaging around in her boudoir for something, "These packages arrived this morning by owl, I forgot to tell you." The blonde piled four parcels on the bed between them.
Juniper got an array of Quidditch gear from her family, plus a few clothes from her mum and Vanessa. She giggled out loud when she saw the vintage set of puking pastilles and canary creams the boys had gotten her, and a book about Quidditch for good measure. Probably Leo's personal addition. But there was one more present she hadn't opened, She furrowed her brow in confusion, counting people off on her fingers, "Who else is there? Who would that one be from?" She wondered aloud.
Vivian shrugged, "It doesn't have a label."
Juniper unwrapped it warily, half expecting something to jump out at her. Instead she found a fuzzy red and gold knitted blanket wrapped around a delicate silver whistle engraved with her initials. The whistle was beautiful, perfect for coaching. But who could have known- a small slip of paper fell out of the blanket. Juniper unfurled it, Victoire peering over her shoulder to read it too.
The paper only had two words written on it.
I'm sorry.
"Guess that solves the mystery of who it's from." Victoire said, inspecting the whistle and whistling lowly, "This looks pricey, sounds like someone's feeling pretty guilty."
A year ago, hell even a month ago, Juniper would have been overjoyed to receive a present like this from Teddy. But now, now it felt almost as if he was trying to bribe her. Buy her off in some way. Normally, she wouldn't have even considered this, but given recent events, she didn't know what to think. Is this what he did to all those girls he shagged and never called back? She wasn't sure what she was supposed to feel in this moment.
"Are you happy abut this? Upset?" Victoire prodded when Juniper's silence continued.
"I don't know." Juniper answered honestly, "I guess it means he's thinking of me. That he wants to remain friends. I don't know Victoire, I really don't know anymore."
"That's okay," Victoire reassured. "After all, you've got one Teddy free week left to figure it out." She paused, "By the way, I have something for you." She bestowed Juniper with a hastily wrapped box..
Juniper opened it to find a soft, leather jacket, hand painted with an image of a lily encompassing the back. She pulled it on and it fit like a glove.
"I painted the lily on the back, like your middle name. I figured it would be the perfect accessory for your triumphant return to Hogwarts. Also, it's badass."
Juniper grinned excitedly, "Victoire! You shouldn't have!"
"It was my pleasure. We didn't say we were getting each other gifts so I don't expect-"
"Or...did I plan for this exact moment?" Juniper displayed her present to Victoire with a flourish, "Sorry, it's not wrapped."
Victoire gaped at her present with wide eyes, "How did you- is this- is this a ukulele?!"
"I saw you eyeing it when we were in that records shop, do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it!" Victoire smothered Juniper in a bear hug.
"And if you don't know how to play, I can teach you. It should be easy for you, you already have an ear for music." Juniper gestured to the other instruments around the room.
"You play the ukulele?!" Victoire was astonished.
"A little bit, my mom taught me when I was a kid."
"Juniper Lily Potter!" Victoire swatted her arm, "You've been holding out on me! You play an instrument?"
"Poorly." Juniper ducked her head, embarrassed.
"You have a really pretty voice!" Victoire exclaimed, and then a smile lit up her face. "This is going to make tomorrow a lot more fun."
"You scare me sometimes." Juniper shook her head as Vivian turned out the light.
"It's all part of my charm, darling. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Juniper and Victoire slept well into the next day. It was nearly four in the afternoon by the time Juniper woke up. In fact, she might not have woken up at all if it weren't for the low tones of conflict reverberating from downstairs. Looks like Fleur and Victoire were at it again. Juniper rubbed her face and threw on one of Leo's jumpers and a pair of jeans. She slid on her trainers, and pulled her hair into a ponytail, exposing her newly pierced ears.
Quietly, she padded to the stairs, not venturing down just yet as she could hear the fight still going on. Snippets of their barbs floated up to Juniper and she was grateful that she couldn't understand what they were saying to each other.
"...insouciante Victoire, pas de souci pour ton avenir."
"...juste parce que je ne suis pas toi, Maman!"
"...rien à voir avec moi! Tu es égoïste!"
"...Maman! Je ne suis pas-"
"...héritage à maintenir-"
"...HÉRITAGE?! Je ne-"
"...ne m'interromps pas!"
There was a crash. One thing Juniper has learned from her days in France is that Fleur wouldn't make a scene in front of a guest, it goes against her very nature. Both her and Victoire can be fiery one moment and icy the next. They actually have more in common than they think.
Juniper took a deep breath and walked down the stairs, acting as though she hadn't heard the massive altercation between the two of them. Both parties stop instantly, pasting wide smiles on their faces.
"Ah Juniper you are up? Would you like a little something to eat? I'm sure we can-"
"Juniper and I have plans, Maman," Victoire interjected stonily, taking Juniper's arm.
"Plans?" Fleur's eyes narrowed, "What are these plans Victoire? Juniper doesn't need to be corrupted by your-"
"Maman! Pas tout de suite! Laisser aller!" Victoire stared her mother down, and Fleur's jaw clenched.
Fleur composed herself, "Have fun Juniper, make sure Victoire doesn't bore you too much with her ... obscure destinations." She turned to her daughter, "Nous n'en avons pas find ave cette conversation."
A horn honked loudly outside and Victoire beckoned for Juniper to follow her out the door. Fleur looked out the window and scowled harshly.
"Victoire, that better not be those Muggles! I told you to stop hanging out with-"
"Au revoir, Maman!" Vivan tossed a bag over her shoulder and pulled Juniper out the door, leaving a seething Fleur behind.
Juniper looked at the beat up vehicle before them, "We're taking a...car?" Juniper hadn't been in a car since...since...she couldn't even remember the last time she'd been in a car.
"Yup!" Vivian said cheerfully, practically skipping to the curb.
"You know people who own a car?" Juniper was shocked, "They're Muggles?"
Victoire nodded.
"So they have no idea you're a...you know?"
"Nope." Victoire opened the door and motioned for Juniper to slide in. There was already a girl in there, and two boys occupying the front seats. The girl waved to Juniper and Juniper waved back, bewildered. She could fell them all observing at her.
Victoire smiled with pride, "Meet my best friends, my personal chauffeurs," the boys up front snorted, "and most importantly my band. Band this is Juniper, Juniper meet the band."
"Band?" Juniper raised her eyebrows.
"I do drums. That's Ariel, keyboards." Victoire pointed to the dark skinned girl in the back with them, and she flipped her head of intricate, red streaked braids at Juniper, grinning. Victoire continued, "That's her brother Olivier, he's our bassist." The boy in the passenger seat craned his neck back, saluting. He had a singular earring dangling from his left earlobe.
"And that," Victoire finished, tapping the back of the driver's seat, "is Pierre, lead guitarist."
"And lead singer." A dark haired boy with the cheekbones of a Victorian sculpture smirked as he swiveled his head around to look at Juniper, "Hello, Juniper." The hint of his French accent made heat flush Juniper's face. What was happening to her?!
"And lead singer." Victoire rolled her eyes, nudging Juniper and whispering loudly, "And also very full of himself."
"Excuse you, was I the one who wanted to name our band after myself?" Pierre gave Victoire a look, lips quirking.
"Victoire's an awesome name for a band. I stand by that."
"What is your band name?" Juniper queried, "Since we're on the subject."
"Fleur Écarlate." Pierre said, "In English it means-"
"Scarlet Bloom." Juniper nodded appreciatively, "Nice."
Pierre viewed her with surprise, "You know French?"
"Not really. Mostly bits I've picked up here and there." Juniper tucked her hair behind her ear, suddenly shy.
"Well, we'll have to fix that." Pierre smiled, making direct eye contact with her, "French is a beautiful love language." Pierre kept his eyes off the road for a second too long, swerving wildly as Victoire and Ariel shouted at him that this was the turn.
The battered car came to a stop in front of a small alleyway, groaning and clanging as steam hissed out of the hood. Juniper blinked worriedly, "Is it- supposed to do that?"
"Non." Olivier whispered, "But don't tell Pierre that, it's his bébé."
"She runs like new, I don't know what you're talking about." Pierre patted his car lovingly.
The four band members unloaded their instruments and began to wheel them into a tiny studio just down the way. Victoire got Juniper up to speed as they walked, Juniper helping Ariel heft the keyboard.
"We have a gig on New Year's Eve at this really popular club in Paris. This could be our big break!" She lowered her voice, "Also, Pierre cannot take his eyes off you. Literally, it almost got us killed."
Juniper blushed, "I don't think-"
"She's right." Ariel joined in on the conversation, "He's totally into you."
"No- no, why would- no he was just- that wasn't what that was."
"He was checking you out!" Victoire told her, "And you were checking him out too, there's no Teddy here to cock block. What's stopping you?"
Ariel and Juniper set the keyboard down on the floor of the studio as Ariel added, "He's hot, you're hot. I say go for it."
"But- but what would be the point, it's not like it's going to go anywhere. I don't know anything real about him, we live in different countries, I-"
"That's exactly the point!" Victoire exclaimed, poking Juniper and settling down on the plush carpet. "You don't have anything to lose, it's just for fun. It's spontaneous. It's the very reason why you came here."
"I don't know..." Juniper mulled, glancing at Pierre. He was awfully attractive.
"Think about it. That's all I'm saying." Victoire offered, eyes pleading.
"Okay." Juniper agreed resignedly, and Vivian hugged her joyfully.
"Très bien!"
"Careful," Ariel warned teasingly, "Vic loves to play matchmaker. You should have seen the last guy she set me up with."
"He was perfect for you!" Victoire folded her arms indignantly.
"He had a criminal record!"
"Anyone could have missed that!"
"That wasn't as bad as the time she set me up with a guy who had a fear of loud music." Olivier sat down on the opposite side of Juniper, smirking at Victoire who flipped him off.
"Ohhhh, I forgot about Archie."
"We're in a fucking band Vic, what'd you think the outcome of that was going to be?" Olivier chuckled.
"In my defense, I was not aware of how severe it was!" Victoire replied haughtily, giving her friends the evil eye, "Shouldn't we start band practice now?"
"Finally," Pierre commended, "priorities, people. This is serious business here, this could be..." Pierre trailed off, shaking his head as his friends all mock his impromptu speech. Juniper bit back a smile. "Really?"
"We're sorry." Ariel, Olivier, and Victoire chorused, fighting laughter. "We'll pay attention now, we are very, very- focused."
"Thank you," Pierre sighed, "okay-"
They burst out into snickers, rolling around on the floor, clutching their stomachs as they cackled. They couldn't contain themselves.
"Pierre's right," Victoire finally managed to sober up, wiping a tear from her eye. "This is actually a big deal. If this goes well maybe my parents will finally see that the isn't just some dumb hobby."
The rest of them grew quieter, and Juniper patted Victoire's arm sympathetically.
Ariel said in a low voice, "Did you have another fight with your maman?"
"What do you think?" Victoire sighed, pursing her lips, "Juniper was there, it was a bad one."
"Oh- I wasn't- I didn't understand any of it so..." Juniper picked at the rug guiltily.
"Don't worry about it, Victoire waved a hand airily and then scowled, it's the same shit as always. Not living up to your full potential, disgrace to the Delacour name, blah, blah, blah. " She gave a derisive snort, "You should've heard her talking to Juniper about the places I frequent. Obscure destinations. Give me a break. She really meant dirty hovels that are in no way appropriate for my esteemed family." She growled, and her scowl deepened, "News flash Maman, just because it's not the Louvre doesn't make it beneath you."
"Sorry, Vic." Ariel flashed a wry smile.
"I'll be fine," Victoire stood up and sat behind her drum set. "Now let's make some music." She hit her drumsticks together, " Five, six, seven, eight..."
The band was quite good. They played a few covers of popular songs Juniper recognized, but in a punk rock kind of style. Victoire was fantastic at the drums, totally rocking out in her own little world. They sang in French and English, which Juniper thought was pretty effective. She cheered and clapped as loud as she could after every song, their own personal superfine.
Silently, she wondered where Victoire had met all these interesting people, Muggles at that. Her own world was so sheltered, and this was a nice change of pace. Juniper almost died when Pierre locked eyes with her. He was just so pretty. And of course he could sing unimaginably well, looked good doing it too. Why were boys so hot when they played the guitar? Juniper had found her new kryptonite.
When the band took break, Victoire walked over to where Juniper resided, a mischievous expression on her face.
"Uh oh," Juniper eyed her warily, "what do you have planned?"
"There may have been a secondary reason I brought you here..." Victoire brought out a beat up, old guitar she had been hiding behind her back.
"Victoire...." Juniper bit her lip, already knowing she wasn't about to like what came next.
"Just hear me out," Victoire slung the guitar over Juniper's shoulder.
"Victoire I don't even know how to play the guitar!"
"You can play the ukulele, close enough. Besides," Victoire smirked, "I know someone who can teach you." She shoved Juniper in the direction of Pierre.
"No! Victoire!" Juniper desperately tried to wrench away from her friend's iron clad grasp, "Victoire don't-" She stopped as they came to a halt in front of Pierre.
He looked up from his tuning, dark curls falling lazily over his forehead, "Do you need something?"
Juniper began to shake her head, but Victoire cleared her throat loudly, digging her fingernails into Juniper's arm, "Juniper can play the ukulele, but she wants to learn how to play the guitar. I thought you could help. Isn't that right Juniper?"
Juniper nodded, side eyeing Victoire with malice, "This was all my idea, one hundred percent." She flipped Victoire off as she walked away smugly.
"So you play the ukulele?" Pierre asked, smiling up at her.
"Kind of. I haven't in a while."
"S'ok it's all muscle memory, and having a knowledge of music will make this ten times easier." Pierre slung his own guitar over his shoulder, tossing his hair out of his eyes as he began to strum, "I'm going to play a song, if you know it sing along cause' it'll help with the notes, and then I'll show you the chords."
Pierre played a song, and to her surprise, Juniper knew it. She joined him in singing when the chorus hit, quiet at first, but stronger and stronger as she grew more comfortable.
When Pierre finished, his lips twisted into a grin, "You have a beautiful voice."
Juniper's cheeks flared as red as the streaks in Ariel's hair, "Oh- erm...it's alright I guess." She inhaled sharply while Pierre drew closer to her.
"Here." He murmured softly by her ear, leaning over her shoulder tp adjust her grip. Juniper felt his soft fingers over hers, guiding them to the right position, "There you go, now strum."
At this point, Pierre was basically hugging her from behind. Goosebumps crawled up the back of her neck as he brushed a strand of her hair off of her face. Juniper twisted her neck slightly, Pierre's face just inches from her. Was this- were they about to-
"BASTARD ENFANTS!" A man shouted in angry French, gesturing wildly, "AVANT D'APPELER LE POLICE!"
Juniper looked to Victoire, who smiled sheepishly, "RUN!"
Pierre grabbed Juniper's hand and along with Ariel, Victoire, and Olivier, bolted for the exit. Juniper had never felt so simultaneously terrified and excited. They ran out into the alley, hearts racing and face flushed from the cold. Pierre stared the car, they all hopped in, and they sped away. The furious man running after them, still shaking his fist.
Victoire whooped loudly, rolling down the windows and letting the wind in.
"I'm betting you weren't allowed to practice in there?" Juniper teased Victoire, elbowing her.
"If I always did things I was allowed to do my life would be a lot less fun."
"Preach." Juniper high fived Victoire, "But what about your instruments?"
"They've got a charm on' em, he won't be able to do anything about it. I'll summon them back later." Juniper gave her a look, and Victoire grinned, "What? Magic was made to be used."
Victoire hit the back of Pierre's seat, "Pierre!"
"Ow! Quoi?"
"Drop Juniper and I off here." She motioned for him to stop the vehicle.
"Ici? Tu es sûr?" Pierre said with obvious disbelief. Juniper didn't blame him. The here that Victoire was referring to was a dark and empty stretch of sidewalk, dotted with a few people sleeping on streets.
"Oui!" Victoire opened the door exasperatedly, "Au revoir, see you at New Years."
Juniper and Victoire watched the car clatter away, puffing foul exhaust fumes as it did. Juniper coughed, fanning the air, "Erm- Victoire? Where are we?'
Victoire busied herself with a French incantation, muttering deeply.
"Victoire?" Juniper's jaw dropped as an ornate red door with a brass knocker materialized in front of them. Juniper had grown up with magic, but was still amazed every time she saw something new.
Victoire opened her arms wide with grandiosity, "You've seen Muggle France, now welcome to Magic France." She swung open the glittering door and Juniper followed her inside, mouth agape.
It was beautiful, lights glowing incandescently everywhere. Shops and cafes bustled, even at the last hour, and a heavenly smell wafted from a kiosk nearby. It was like Diagon Alley if you added a bit of *paris*.
Victoire and Juniper must've gone in a hundred stores. Somehow Victoire seemed to know everyone. The witches in the dress shoppes, the elderly couple selling butterbeer creme crepes, which were the best thing Juniper had ever tasted. She made a mental note to find a way to ship these things back home, the boys would love them. She felt a pang of wistfulness, home, she had never gone this long without her family.
Juniper yawned, it was extremely late now, possibly even very early in the morning. Fleur must be worried, "Victoire, it's probably really late. Don't you think we should-"
"One more stop." Victoire stated firmly.
"But, Victoire your-"
The girl softened, "I don't- I don't want to go back to the house just yet. Can we make one more stop? Please? I promise it's the last one."
Juniper gave in. How could she not? She understood the subtext of what Victoire was trying to say. She didn't want to face her mum yet. And her face looked so pleading that Juniper couldn't deny it. She nodded, "Okay last one."
"Thank you." Victoire said gratefully, pulling her along, "Now come on!"
Juniper laughed, "Where are we going? Isn't everywhere closed by now?"
"This is the best kept secret in the Wizarding World of France." Victoire tapped her wand to a black and white painting of the Eiffel Tower rhythmically, grabbing Juniper's hand, "Now hold on tight, and whatever you do don't let go."
"What? Why- AAAAHHHH!!!" Juniper was yanked from her place, feeling that familiar swirling of her stomach that she associated with Portkeys. She landed hard on a cold, metal floor. She rose to her feet, bewildered, "Where are-" Her breath caught in the back of her throat, the entirety of Paris was laid out before her, twinkling like fairies.
"Victoire are we- where I think we are?"
"Top of the Eiffel Tower darling."
"Oh my merlin." Juniper breathed, spinning the full 360 degrees to get a complete view.
"Fantastique? No?"
"Oui!" Juniper had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. She sank to the floor, completely overwhelmed.
"Paris has that effect on some people." Victoire joked, settling down next to her. They sat like that in silence for a moment, just taking in the beauty the surrounded them. A snowy owl landed on the railing, it's beak full of letters which it dropped on the floor.
"Star?" Juniper was surprised. "Is that you?" The bird squawked twice and flew away, leaving Juniper to gather all the letters. They were all addressed to her.
"It still baffles me that owls can find you literally wherever you are." Vivian shook her head in amusement, "Well go on then, who are they from?"
Juniper tore open the envelopes. Instantly her eyes swam with tears when she recognized her dad's slanted writing mixed with her mum's messy scrawl, Leo's neat cursive and James's doodles, Cali's rounded letters and the heart she always dotted her i's with.
"Juniper... are you ok?"
"I just didn't realize how much I missed them," Juniper's throat constricted. "It sounds stupid , but I've never been away from home this long." The lump grew, "They've just- they're my whole life, I can't remember a time when my family wasn't there. It's stupid I know. You don't have to tell me."
"It's not stupid." Victoire uttered so quietly that Juniper might not have heard her, "I wish I had something like that. People who you can always count on because you've known them all your life. Who know you better than anyone."
"Are you kidding?" Juniper was aghast, "I wish I had your life. You're so free and independent, you're not afraid to be yourself to take risks."
"Independent is just a nicer word for lonely."
"But- but you've got your bandmates, and you were friends with literally everyone in that town. You're like the friendliest-"
"Why do you think the only friends I have are either Muggles or outcasts, or grownups?" This was the most serious Juniper had seen Victoire since she'd known her. "Have you heard me mention a single friend from Beauxbatons the entire time you've stayed here?"
"Well...no." Juniper realized she hadn't.
"That's because I don't have any. You're the first non-muggle friend I've made that's my age. I tried to make friends at Beauxbatons, believe me. At first, girls flocked to me, simply because of who my mama was. But I didn't fit in there, I never have, not like Dominique does, and my mother did. As soon as those girls figured it out they dropped me like a hot stone, and for a while I changed myself to fit the mould. I wanted so badly to fit in and please my mother, that I was willing to go against who I was at my very core. I stopped doing that years ago. I figured if they don't want the real me, they don't deserve her anyway. I wasn't going to torture myself any longer for approval I never cared about in the first place."
"Wow." Juniper hugged Victoire. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"Yeah well, it is what it is." Victoire sighed, leaning into Juniper, "And you're right I do have the band."
"Have you tried talking to your mum about this?"
"She wouldn't understand."
"Maybe she'll surprise you."
"Maybe." The girls were quiet again, until Victoire got up abruptly, "Do you ever just want to scream?"
"What?"
"Scream Juniper!"
"What?"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" Victoire screamed like a maniac for all of Paris to hear, flinging her arms out like she was about to take flight.
"Victoire! What are you-"
"C'mon Juniper scream with me!"
"I'm not going to"
"Juniper just let go and scream."
"Victoire-"
"Scream!"
"But-"
"Do it!"
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!" Juniper threw her head back in exhilaration, grinning at Victoire.
"AAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" They screamed in unison, giggling.
And there they were, two girls, screaming til their voices grew hoarse. Two girls yelling on the top of the Eiffel Tower into the starry night sky above them. Their hair flew out behind them, the violet-platinum and the jet black hues folding together in the whipping wind.
Magical things happen in Paris.