Heaven in Hiding [H.P.] ✓

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With Adrian and Marcus visiting Hogwarts, both proud Slytherins like her and Lachlan respectively, the home still hadn't managed to get quiet as they would often enough get visits from their friends and the younger children and still have enough time for Juniper to work on her fourth book by then. A bestseller like those before.
And during the holidays Sirius, Regulus and not quite so little Harry would come over to celebrate with them.
That was until Harry's first and Adrians third year.

"What's that?" Atlas leans over his wife's shoulder. "Adrian?!", Juniper calls out, her son shooting into the room, dropping his broom on the way. "Mum?" "I've been offered a guest position in your defense against the dark arts by Dumbledore. He's asking me to try out and perhaps after receive the position of guest professor and teach a spell-creation club.", Juniper says calmly, the boys face lighting up. "You're going to visit me in Hogwarts?!" Glancing at her husband who nods slightly Juniper smiles back. "It appears I am, my sweetness." Cheering he hugs her tightly, practically climbing into her lap to do so and Juniper simply laughs, embracing her son back. "I love you more than anything in the world, do you know that?", Juniper asks, having Atlas clear his throat loudly. Mother and son glance at him, breaking into laughter. "I said what I said!" "Don't worry Mum. You're my favourite too. Marcus is outside. We'll practice quidditch!" "Go on then. Have fun!", Juniper tells him, smiling as she watches him run off. "You love him more, Hu?" "You know that I love and adore you, Atlas. But there is nothing like holding our son." "You know.. I never understood how you did it." "What?" "I've seen the way you raised him while I was out.. I've seen the Trust you two have. Something I can't compare to. I remember my parents being absolutely horrible. They raised me the way they were raised. Through a nanny elf and through constantly pushing and belittling me and my hobbies.. my work. Nothing was ever good enough. And when I broke something I'd go hungry for days.." Moving a bit until she can shuffle into her husband's lap Juniper wraps her arms around his neck, gently tracing circles on the back of his neck with her thumb. "I find that... There is a place for reprimanding a child. I can't be afraid to tell him he did wrong. But I can find a better way to let him understand the problem. Find solutions. Help him or show him how to fix it. With the vase in the upper hallway.. he and Marcus broke it. And I could see the fear they both had.. because Natalie raised Marcus the same way you were raised. But I took them to the shed.. I showed them how to repair it.. and I taught them a lesson about how some things, though broken, can be fixed and look beautiful still. Perhaps even more so than before. Things shouldn't be broken with intend but accidents happen. And that is okay. Children aren't perfect. Adults aren't either. And I want him to feel safe enough to tell me if something happened.. because there is always a chance he could have gotten hurt. I even remember Marcus flooing here sobbing after he tripped, fell and broke a glass at home. He had shards in his palms, his chin and his knees. He was howling with pain. But he was too scared to as his own mother for help because she would simply punish him for breaking the glass, not prioritize helping him. I never want him to feel that way." "You are a fantastic mother, do you know that?" She smiles. "Thank you." "Would you like another one?" Juniper sighs loudly, shaking her head. "Hopeless.."

However.. she doesn't hesitate to kiss him. "We'll see."
"That's the first time you didn't just say no." "Do you want me to?" "Most certainly not."
She chuckles. "I miss your long hair, do you know that?" "It is still long.." "It used to be longer." Atlas sighs. "Yes. But only because neither of us liked leaving our toddler out of our eyes. And you still haven't cut your hair in years." "You don't like it?" "I love the way you look. But occasionally I remember that it still does weigh a lot..." Juniper hums. "I'm not going to cut my hair for a while longer. And you didn't let me finish." "Alright..?" "I miss your longer hair because it was so nice to pull on." Quickly understanding Atlas clears his throat, a bit flustered. "I guess I'll grow it out again." Juniper chuckles, pushing up his chin to look at his face. "My love this life is far too short for me to not enjoy that look on your handsome face anytime I get to." She lightly kisses his lips. "What's gotten into you? Not that I am complaining.." "I'm feeling like being clingy today.", Juniper shrugs, melting into him. "Then I'll just enjoy that." He tugs her into a good position in his lap before resting his head atop of hers, leaving them both in comfortable silence together.