Oh, Juliet (s.black)

A little bit of hope

Juliet Moon sat on the wide windowsill in Gryffindor Tower, her knees pulled to her chest, gazing up at the night sky. The moon hung low, a bright crescent casting a gentle glow over the castle grounds. Stars twinkled like a thousand tiny hopes scattered across the velvet sky. She smiled softly, feeling the familiar warmth they always brought her. There was something about the stars that made her believe in magic beyond spells, in possibilities beyond what she could see. 

She pressed her palm against the cool glass, feeling connected to something much bigger tham herself. Juliet believed in love, in hope, in the idea that the world was full of endless wonder- like the stars themselves. She felt it in the way her friends made her laugh, in the crackling fire of the common room, and in the quiet moments like this... when everything seemed perfect and still.

"Stargazing again?" a familiar voice asked from behind her.

Juliet turned to see Remus Lupin leaning against the wall, his lips curled into a small smile. His light brown hair was tousled, and his eyes looked tired, as they often did, but there was a warmth in them that made Juliet's heart lift.

"Always," she said, patting the space beside her. "Come sit. You can never appreciate the stars from down there."

He chuckled softly and joined her on the windowsill, his shoulder brushing hers as they both looked out at the sky. The quiet between them was comfortable, and Juliet found herself smiling

"You know," she said after a moment, "I think the stars hold all the answers. Everything we need to know is out there. Somewhere."

"Is that so?" Remus asked, his voice teasing but soft.

"Mhm," she nodded, "If you ever feel lost, you can just look up. They'll remind you that everything is possible. We're all part of something bigger."

He looked at her then, studying her face. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"I do," Juliet said, turning to meet his gaze. "I believe that anything can happen if you have a little bit of hope."

Remus smiled at her, a quiet kind of smile that made Juliets chest fill with warmth. "You're always so sure of things, Juliet."

"Someone has to be," she said with a grin. "Otherwise, who would remind you lot not to give up?"

As if on cue, a loud crash echoes from the stairwell, followed my Sirius Black's voice booming through the tower.

"Remus! Juliet! You've got to come see thing!"

Juliet laughed, her eyes sparkling. "What do you reckon they've done now?"

Remus sighed dramatically, but the smile never left his face. "I don't even want to guess."

They climbed down from the windowsill and made their way to the stairwell and into the main area of the common room, where James Potter and Sirius were standing proudly next to a towering, floating pyramid of chairs, tables, and cushions that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Peter Pettigrew was looking on with wide eyes, clearly impressed by their handiwork.

"Look at it!" Sirius said, beaming like a child on Christmas morning. "Isn't it a masterpiece?"

James crossed him arms, clearly pleased with himself. "Took us all of twenty minutes"

Juliets mouth fell open, both in awe and disbelief. "How is that even standing?"

Sirius winked. "A bit of magic, a bit of charm, and a whole lot of talent."

"I think you mean recklessness," Remus muttered, though he couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips. 

Juliet shook her head but couldn't help laughing. This was them, her boys- the Marauders. They were chaotic and brilliant, always up to something, always pulling her into their madness. And she wouldn't have it any other way. 

They were her family, and she loved them dearly.

"Just wait until McGonagall sees this," Remus said, trying to sound serious but failing miserably. 

Sirius threw an arm around Juliet's shoulders, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "That's why we need Juliet. She's the only one who can talk us out of detention>"

Juliet grinned up at him. "Only if you promise not to drop me into any more ridiculous schemes."

"No promises," James chimed in, flipping his wand in his hand. 

Juliet sighed dramatically but couldn't suppress her laughter. They were impossible- truly impossible- but they made her feel alive, like anything was possible when they were together. 

as the evening wore on, they eventually collapsed into the cushions by the fire, laughing until their sides hurt. It was moments like these that made Juliet believe in magic far beyond what could be learned from books or wands. It was the magic of friendship, of being surrounded by people who loved you as much as you loved them.

Later, as the common room quieted and the others drifted off to bed, Juliet lingered by the window, looking out at the stars once more. Her heart felt light, filled with the warmth of the night. She still believed, with every fiber of her being, that love was the most powerful force in the universe. That no matter what happened, as long as there was hope, the stars would guide her.

Because love-like the stars- was endless. And as long as she believed anything was possible. 

A/N: Hey all! not the longest chapter out there, but still felt pretty good about this one. I hope this gave a good representation of what Juliet is like! Please leave a comment or vote for these chapters

9/27/24

Rest peacefully to the Dame Maggie Smith. You were an amazing person, and you will be truly missed. </3. My heart hurts dearly for her fans and especially her family. 

-Yours, Laney.