Heaven in Hiding [H.P.] ✓

Set the scene

Sirius had managed to tell his two friends everything the blonde Slytherin had let him know. And since then they had been hyper-aware of her presence. Of her, hidden by her friends, sending a knockout hex to a boy that had pulled his wand on them from behind.. Of her moving past them in a way that kept them out of view from certain people. Of the watchful eye she'd keep on them wherever she could. Of her erasing their traces after a prank so that they wouldn't be punished, even as she had gotten caught in the crossfire and her blonde curls had been turned into a gold and red lions mane.
They had never noticed before and now they were beginning to understand just how much protection they had been given all that time which had been the only reason they hadn't gotten into as much trouble as they otherwise would have.
Currently she was standing beside Lucius Malfoy and Rodolphus Lestrange, Malfoys arm wrapped around her shoulders as she is calmly leaning against his side, both of her own arms wrapped around his middle as she is talking to Lestrange, making him laugh and Malfoy chuckle lightly before he leans down, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Why wouldn't they marry her to Malfoy? Isn't that more logical?" Peters voice rips them all out of their thoughts. "He's been engaged to my cousin since shortly after her birth. Winters is, as widely known, regarded as his younger sister, really.", Sirius shrugs. "Which one?" "Narcissa." "Not Bellatrix?" "She's been arranged to marry Lestrange as far as I know."

With that they move on and yet he feels her gaze rest on him for a moment.

He needed to get a moment to talk to her alone. He his head a bit to let her see him tap his cheek before covering it up as brushing his fingers through his hair, joining into his friends conversation.

That night, with them asleep, he simply snatches up the marauders map, practically begging for her to have noticed and understood. And when he notices her name mere steps away from the Gryffindor common room he hurries outside, quietly joining her. She gestures for him to be quiet as she offers him her hand which he takes. They rush through the corridors and hallways until she begins pacing in front of a portrait and a door appears. Quickly she grabs his arm, dragging him inside before letting out a breath. "What.." "Welcome to the room of requirements. I discovered it in my first year, actually.", she hums, dropping herself down on the cozy emerald coloured velvet sofa. An example he follows. "How?" "I lost my way and needed the bathroom.", she admits, laughing softly and he too cracks a small smile. "Now. You needed to talk to me?" He nods. "Peter is..." "He isn't marked yet. But he has been at the deatheater meetings with his mother. But he's scared enough to join to save his own skin." "Are you Sure of that?" "I knew you would doubt it. So I asked Bella and Lucius for their memories..", Juniper says, pulling out two little vials. Sirius gulps but follows her to the pensive in the room. She pours the first one in. "Go ahead." And he does. Emerging moments later he coughs, taking deep breaths. "And now the second memory from Lucius.." He forces himself to look. And again there was no doubt in what he saw.
Pulling back from the pensive he looks at her. "Why was.. why was Malfoy shirt stained like that?" "I told you that those who don't obey experience violence. He was struck with a spell that causes huge wounds that don't close well and hurt for a long time on his back.. When he got away he stumbled into my room and asked me for help. I think what he lost in blood I cried that night.", Juniper whispers. "What.. what did he refuse?" "To torture a Muggle." Sirius felt sick. "Is it always like that? I mean.." "Lucius tried for a very long time to not let me see him hurt in any way. He was always my tough older brother who kept me safe, who taught me to survive the world of Pureblood families. He never wanted for me to have to learn that he too was not untouchable. I caught him with terrible bruises all over his body one night. And I begged him to never again refuse asking for help just to seem strong in front of me. Since then it has become a common occurrence during the holidays.. when he's home for him to come to me for me to treat his wounds. My father took the trace off my wand to allow me to help him without people having to know about underage magic and all. Times aren't great. For anyone... On neither 'side'." Sirius settles on the couch again, gesturing for her to join him. She does. "What about you?" "My family has sworn to neutrality. Both sides know that. My grandfather died to assure that position for us. I am incredibly fortunate in that regard. And yet when I have to watch the people I care for suffer, I find myself wishing that I could take action. Even if that meant to out myself into his vicinity to get hurt instead of them. But through that I would do more harm than good, putting my family and them again in return into the limelight... Into a place where they'd get hurt." Sirius nods, understanding what she means. Juniper rests her head against the backrest of the couch, closing her eyes for a moment. And he takes the moment to observe her.
He had always seen and heard of her as an arrogant, narcissistic, cold person without much compassion or affection to her name, only icy, perfect marble exterior. But now he was looking at her in a very different light. With her dressed in a long silk nightdress, a knitted cardigan and fuzzy slippers, her hair messy, her face without makeup or a glamour charm. She was even more beautiful and truly perfect this way. He gently brushes his fingers over her cheek, making her perk up. "What is it?" "Nothing.." She rolls her eyes. "And now the truth?" "Can I have a hug?" He awkward glances away, however, Juniper shuffles closer, halfway into his lap to be able to hug him, wrapping her arms around him and dropping her head onto his shoulder. She was warm in his arms as he hugs her back. Warm and soft, the scent of some sort of wood and moss sticking to her. She smelled like a forest in the summer after the rain. "We'll manage something.. just stay safe with your true friends.", she breathes. He hugs her a bit tighter. "Okay."