just for me ⚘ a Fred Weasley Fanfiction

101. i think i am finally clean

Despite telling Juniper to 'take as long as she needed', Fleur decided that Juniper had spent enough time sulking and wallowing, and forced her out of her room after three days.
She started off by sitting at the top of the steps, slowly descending over a few days until she was able to sit on the couch in the lounge room, her legs pulled tightly to her chest. It took time, but she eventually got there, first enduring the sound of Ron's voice from across the room, to sharing nods of acknowledgment while sitting next to each other. The entire household had banded together to rehabilitate her, despite their own ongoing stressors. Bill handed her dinner without a word, Dean causally chatted to her about his previous relationship with Ginny, Fleur reminisced about her wedding night, all while Juniper sat there with no reaction. It felt like the air in the house lifted a fraction every time she took a step forward, but the glazed over, haunted look in her eyes lingered,  a constant reminder of the torment and trauma she was plagued with, no matter how well things were going.

Within a two weeks, Juniper was sitting around the crowded table for dinner, occasionally adding in a shy comment while everyone chatted loudly. The hum of conversation, the clinking of cutlery on the plates, it all felt refreshingly normal, until there was a loud and sudden knock at the door. The reactions were immediate, half the table ducking for cover, the others standing with their wands drawn, aiming at the door. Torn between the two responses, Juniper sat still, unflinching. She immediately detached from the situation, bracing for the worst but still eating her dinner like nothing had happened. Harry glanced over at her while his wand was trained on the door, uneasy at the sight of her, someone who had been pushed so far beyond fear, she was completely desensitised to the idea of a Deatheater ambush.

"Lupin!" Bill opened the door once Remus had answered his security questions, entering the house in a long robe. Everyone slowly sat back down, inviting him in.

"It's a boy! I'm a dad!" Remus announced, looking happier than Juniper had ever seen him. His grin stretched across his face, even reaching his eyes. "We named him Teddy Tonks, after Dora's father."

Everyone at the table erupted into congratulations and cheering, all filling up their goblets with wine to celebrate. Juniper wanted to join in and congratulate Harry for being chosen to be a Godfather, but she felt too out of place, not even knowing that Nymphadora was pregnant. Juniper glanced down at her water, but the new addition of Remus caused her eyes to glaze over, disassociating as the talking got louder. The longer she stared down at her water, the more her thoughts reeled, fear and the anticipation of pain swarming her.

"You! You're back!" Remus cheered, looking across the table to Juniper, his joy overtaking all of his rational thought. "How are you? I know Fred is itching to see you."

"Yeah, it's a bit complicated. I'd like- wait!" Juniper's heart thundered in her chest, looking to Hermione and Fleur proudly. She hadn't flinched or recoiled at the name, and she hadn't even noticed until they had gasped. "Say his name again?"

"Fred?" Remus looked to Bill in confusion.

"Oh my god!" Juniper looked between Ron and Bill now, her eyes wide with surprise. There was a slight stab in her side, but it was nothing compared to the pain that usually followed the sound of his name. "Did you just... cure me?"

"Uh... I don't think it works like that." Bill raised an eyebrow, taking a sip from his goblet. "I'd say it's the hard work, exposure, and time you put into getting better. You fixed yourself."

"Wow, now you're making me feel sick." Ron groaned loudly, dropping his forkful back onto his plate, shooting Bill a disgusted look. "When did you get all mushy? What is this, a therapy session?"

"Maybe he's got baby fever." Harry muttered into his drink, just loud enough for everyone to hear. Fleur choked on her wine, nearly spitting it out as she wiped her mouth with a napkin, eyes growing wide.