𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 | b. black

✧.*┊xxi. opposite sides

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
opposite sides

.·:*¨༺ ☾ ༻¨*:·.

𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 for just how hard her and Bellatrix being on opposite sides was going to be the second time around. Attacks, deaths, and disappearances were being reported daily. Just knowing that the person she used to know was behind some of these hurt her more than waking up to that note twenty-six years ago.

What hurt more was having to face Bellatrix one-on-one in combat. Not because Bellatrix was trying to kill her, but because it always ended with Juniper pinned to a surface of some sort while the dark witch had her way with her.

And after so many years apart, Juniper just let it happen. She longed for the older woman's touch and wanted so desperately to be loved by her, even if she went home more heartbroken than when she left.

Juniper threw her bag aside the moment she stepped inside. "This has to stop!" She kicked the door with a frustrated grunt.

Something small ran past her feet, nearly knocking her over. It was a pig. A small, squealing pig wearing a red service animal vest.

"What the hell?" she muttered. "Andy!" Juniper walked into the kitchen, where Andromeda was preparing dinner. "Are you aware that there's a, uh . . . service pig running around?"

Andromeda just smiled. "So you've met Porcus?"

"Porcus?" Juniper raised a brow. "How much did I miss while I was gone today?"

"Dorothea insisted on getting a pig when I brought up the idea of a pet. Ted took her to get one. And speaking of pets . . . " Andromeda raised a brow as she observed Juniper's messy hair, wrinkled clothes, and flushed face, "you can't keep letting this happen. You're not a toy for her to do whatever she pleases with."

"It . . . It isn't like that," Juniper mumbled, wrapping her arms around herself. She looked down at the wood floor to avoid her best friend's judgemental gaze. She knew that she was right, but she was too stubborn to admit it.

"You need to be careful, Juniper," Andromeda warned. "This isn't like before. She's so much more powerful, more dangerous. And I know you're thinking about the prophecy, but right now she's killing people. I'm worried that you're not completely safe from that."

"If she was going to kill me, she would've done so already." Juniper took a butterbeer out of the fridge and tapped the cap with her wand, popping it off. "Better yet, she would've killed me that night at the Ministry instead of . . . "

She trailed off, pain falling across her features as flashbacks of Sirius falling through the veil in the Department of Mysteries played in her mind.

Juniper took a swig of her butterbeer. "Nevermind," she mumbled. She ran a hand through her hair and leaned back against the counter, her hand fidgeting with the pendant of the opal necklace Bellatrix had given her for her 16th birthday all those years ago.

She never took it off, only when she showered or needed to get it cleaned. It normally remained tucked under her shirt, but now that Bellatrix was in her life again, she had it on display for her to see whenever she knew she'd be running into her. It was a physical reminder of the past they had with each other and the connection they shared.

"Have you told her yet?" Andromeda asked as she ladled soup into bowls. She looked over at Juniper and raised a teasing brow. "Or has she been too busy shoving her tongue down your throat for you to have a proper conversation?"

"We talk . . . sometimes." Juniper shrugged. She took another sip of butterbeer. "Not about anything related to the war. She asked about you."

Andromeda froze for a moment at this information. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out. Finally, she asked, "What did she say?"

"Just how you were doing. Then she asked if I was still third wheeling."

Andromeda chuckled as she started to set the table for dinner, Juniper lending a hand. "That sounds like Bellatrix." She put her hand on top of Juniper's when the shorter woman put the last of the silverware down on the table. "Don't let Mad-Eye find out you're sneaking around with her. He won't be as understanding and might think you're feeding her information."

Juniper shook her head. "I would never do that. My loyalty has always been to the good of the world, not the evil."

"I know." Andromeda sighed. She looked down at her and Juniper's entwined hands. "You're my best friend, Juni. It's my job to worry about you . . . And I do worry about you. A lot. Especially since the breakout."

"I'll be careful," Juniper reassured. "I can handle Bellatrix. And I know how prophecies work. They have to come true no matter what, so . . . whatever happens . . . I know we'll be alright in the end. I can feel it."

Andromeda smiled softly. "I've always admired your optimism, Juniper."

"Even if it's what ends up being what hurts me most of the time?" Juniper chuckled. She sniffled and let out a breath. "I'll, uh . . . go let the girls know dinner is ready."

"Make sure you tell Thea that Porcus cannot sit at the table," Andromeda said as Juniper walked out of the kitchen. "We already argued about it at lunch, which was really her glaring at me since she's still not speaking. She listens to you more than me."

"Cause you're her mum." Juniper giggled, walking backwards towards the stairs. "No one ever listens to their mum. You of all people should know that."

Andromeda scoffed and rolled her eyes playfully. "Because my mum was blinded by pureblood customs. Everything I ask of Thea is completely reasonable!"

"Don't worry, you're a much better mum than Druella was. You're doing amazing, sweetie!"

Andromeda couldn't help but laugh.