JULIET {remus lupin}

TWENTY FIVE

Juliet hating being at 12 Grimmauld Place just as much as she hated being at the Romilly Manor. It was dark and foreboding, and the witch felt utterly trapped there. Perhaps it was the wall of house elf heads, which Walburga Black made Kreacher clean daily, or her room which was at the very top of the house- presumably so that she could not hear anything being said downstairs.

Usually, she and Regulus would visit Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley in their few days before Christmas, getting last minute presents for their families. And usually, up until Esmeralda Romilly's death, Regulus would stay with Juliet and Nathaniel, however this year her father was only letting people come to their manor on Christmas Day. Even Juliet was not allowed to be there much. 

Regulus had been uncommonly quiet, the entire house had. When Juliet had visited previously, the rooms were either full of laughter from Regulus and Sirius, or screaming between Walburga and Sirius. She supposed that the older brother had taken a lot of the house's energy with him. Now Regulus was sullen, with his head bowed whenever his parents spoke, talking only when he was supposed to. 

Walburga and Orion had always been kind to the witch, however. Always making her feel welcome and congratulating her on whatever triumphs they had heard of. This year it was her excellent quidditch playing, and the fact that Lucius Malfoy held her in high regard. "That'll get you far in life," Orion had said. Truthfully, Juliet did not want to be helped in any way by Lucius Malfoy.

They were only due to be in 12 Grimmauld Place for three days, as they would head to the Rosier's and meet Nathaniel Romilly on Christmas Eve, and for one of those three days, Walburga and Orion had told her that they had an extremely important guest, and that she wasn't to come downstairs at all. Regulus had later reinforced it on her, practically begging her to stay out of sight.

Juliet wasn't stupid, she knew exactly who was in the house and was not keen on meeting him. Usually, if Regulus had told her not to do something, she would have certainly done it. However this time, she did as she was told and stayed in her room, not even trying to listen in on the conversations happening in fear of being heard.

On the 23rd December, as was tradition, Walburga Black got obscenely drunk. Sirius and Orion used to join her in that, but this year it was only she. The witch talked a lot after a few firewhiskeys and after only twenty minutes of her rambling, Regulus and Orion decided to retire to his study to discuss "business". 

"How are you my dear?" The woman asked Juliet kindly as they sat alone around the table.

"Fine, thank you Mrs Black."

"Walburga, please, I'm practically a mother to you!" The woman slurred, waving her hand around.

"Okay."

"Oh! Your mother! I do miss Esme..."

Juliet perked up, thinking that if anyone would have information about her mother, it would certainly be her old best friend. "Do you? So do I, everyday."

"She'd be so proud of you, Juliet! With your quidditch, and your potions, and how polite you are..."

"And my being engaged to Evan Rosier?" She pushed.

Walburga paused and furrowed her brow at the girl in front of her, as if trying to figure something out. "Well, she never agreed with any of our traditions..."

"Oh?"

"She'd want you to..."

"To what?"

"Well, your father hated-"

Orion Black pushed open the doors to the dining room with a smile plastered on his face, Regulus stood behind him, looking anxious.

"That's enough for now, my dear," he said to his wife, taking her hand and leading her out of the room.