Heaven in Hiding [H.P.] ✓

Doomed from the start

Juniper quietly enters the dressing room that Bellatrix had confined herself in. It laid in shambles. The girl had, in a fit of pent up rage and anger thrown glasses, plates, cutlery.. even furnature, against the walls, shattering all around her, dirt and dust staining the pompous white wedding gown she had been forced into wearing. "Bella..", the younger witch says softly, immediately making the crouching young woman on the ground look up at her. "My princess Wintertime..", Bellatrix croaks, her voice hoarse from screaming her vocal chords raw. Juniper locks the door behind herself and puts up an even stronger muffling spell before hurriedly crossing over the rubble on the ground over to Bellatrix, sinking to the ground before her and taking her hands, covered in small cuts and splinters into her own. "You look beautiful, Juni.", Bellatrix whispers and the younger witch smiles bravely, though her eyes showed nothing but sadness. "You look horrible. Who chose this dress, Bella? I hope they look worse or else.." The witches lips twitch up. She reaches up, cupping Junipers face, guiding it down to hers for a lingering kiss before they rest their foreheads against one anothers. "It should be you waiting for me out there. I don't want to marry Rodolphus. Salazar knows he is a friend to me.. but no husband. I don't love him, Juni.", Bellatrix whispers, tears running down her cheeks, the unsaid last three words, 8 letters, lingering in the air. "With this marriage.. Both of us.. will be chained to the dark lord for life. I'm scared.. And I am so angry." Those grey eyes.. Those grey eyes Juniper adored look up at her. "I wish I could be selfish.." "Me too.", Juniper whispers back, her lip shaking. "Last night.. my mother and father sat me down. They've drawn up a marriage contract for me..", she admits, shuffling close to the Ravenette. "Who?" "Atlas Pucey." "He's no deatheater.. that's good." Juniper shakes her head. "I don't want him, Bella.", she breathes. And the same 8 Letters.. the same 3 unsaid, unspoken words mean the world to the messy haired witch. "When will you wed?" "This year. He's graduated along with you, Rodolphus and Lucius.. and my parents aren't as patient as the Malfoys. They are trying to make sure that I am quickly married to someone without attachment to either side to stop the onslaught of offers from both. The Puceys are also a neutral pureblood family like mine." "What house?" "Ravenclaw." "Did you talk to him already?" "I did. He seems like a nice enough person. He is very sarcastic.. Knows how to make a joke..and how to take one.. My parents insisted he'd be my 'date' to your wedding. He is downstairs with the other guests.", Juniper admits. "That's good. Is he a good wizard?" "He graduated as one of the best of the entire year." "Then he'll be able to protect you in the worst case scenario." Bellatrix releases a breath of relief. "I'm glad." "Bella.." "We were doomed from the start, little Frost... I know that. I want you to try and fall in love with him. Try to be happy. I don't think my sanity could take it.. the thought of you being trapped in a loveless marriage." "Bella.." "In my heart it'll always be wintertime, Juniper Nevaeh Winters." "And in mine it'll always be night.. because that is when you can best see the stars."

They embrace tightly, so tightly that it presses their breath out of their lungs before Juniper wordlessly fixes up the room and Bellatrix's dress, using a few spells to make it look more like something she knew the one year older bride to be would like. To make it look like a dress she would have loved to see her walk towards the altar in.. where she'd wait breathlessly.. to marry her.
Healing her wounds she then places a strong glamour charm on the witch, brushing a black curl from her face.

'You are wonderful Bellatrix Black. Wonderful and strong. And I love you. Forever.', she wishes to say out loud as she exits the room.. but the sound dies out in her throat, forever to remain left unsaid.

Joining Atlas who was speaking to Lucius at that moment, she takes his arm. "Everything alright?", he asks her quietly, giving her hand digging into his underarm a gentle squeeze which has her relax it. "No. But it will be.. I hope.", Juniper answers back just as quietly, giving him a smile he responds to with a genuine one of his own.

They both watch as Bellatrix, dressed in a black wedding gown with a black, lace veil, moves down the isle, holding a bouquet of black hellebores in her hands.

They watch as, under the gaze of Narcissa Black, the maid of honour, and Rabastan Lestrange, the man of honour and older brother of Rodolphus, Bellatrix Black becomes Bellatrix Lestrange and bravely Juniper Nevaeh Winters applauds with the crowd, managing to smile along with the other guests.. though all she truly wanted was to scream from the top of her lungs as well.