Juniper Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop

Glaring eyes seemed to follow June every corner she turned. Either it were pairs of eyes scolding her for 'telling lies', or first years who still couldn't believe it was Juniper Potter live and in the flesh. One set of beautiful and charming eyes that seemed to never disappoint were Cedric Diggory's. Immediately after their kiss under the mistletoe, he had asked her to go with him to their next Hogsmeade visit. At the moment he asked, June was still glowing from her first kiss and muttered, "thassoundsgreat," much too fast for anyone to understand. She and Cedric hadn't talked much since then; he was focused on quidditch, and she was focused on her Occlumency lessons. But in the hallways they always stupidly grinned at each other and had googly eyes.
Though it was brittle and windy outside, the snow had begun to melt, and the sun shined brightly that day. June found Cedric right as everyone departed from the castle and the two ambled next to each other all the way to Hogsmeade. June felt strange being alongside such a handsome and popular boy like Cedric, and though he liked him, June worried that he was still thinking about Cho Chang. She and Cedric dated all throughout the Tri Wizard Competition until Cho's death by Lord Voldemort. June had wept for months, for she and Cho had grown rather closer last year, but June knew in the end she had to accept death and let Cho Rest In Peace. Cedric seemed to have trouble with that...he never resisted an opportunity to mention how much Cho liked that or how he always had to mention that Cho wanted a fire bolt for Christmas, and how he planned on getting her one but forgot. June felt bad for changing the subject constantly, but she sometimes wondered if he really liked her or not.
"Would you like to go in here?" Cedric asked as he pointed to Madam Puddifoots Tea Shop. June peeked her head out from the side to get a good look at the building. She couldn't see too well through the front windows, so she mumbled a quick 'yes', and the two of them strolled through the entrance. June's skin crawled once she saw the heavily Valentine decor and the small variety of customers; couples. If it hadn't had been for Pansy Parkinson and her snide comment to Cedric about dating a liar, then maybe June wouldn't have felt so insecure while being with him. He was very handsome and almost a foot taller than her, which made her feel shrunk. She wished she could had just fast forward through the day and be sitting in the big armchair near the fire in Gryffindor Tower as Fred offered her free samples of new products for his joke shop. Instead she sat at a round plush table with circular engravings around the rim, as Cedric came marching  back with two coffees. He set one down for her then one for him.
  "So, it's pretty scary out there isn't it?" Cedric eagerly asked her as his face shifted closer to hers. June peered outside and saw the gleaming sun and said, "it's actually quite nice right now. Clear skies and all." She took a sip of her coffee, but it burnt her tongue. When she glanced up at Cedric with embarrassment he merely grinned at her sweetly. "True, it is a very nice day out today, but I was actually thinking about all the Deatheaters on the loose." June's stomach jolted when he said the word Deatheater. She thought about Bellatrix Lestrange and her thin pale face taunting June on every street corner. She quickly said, "how's  quidditch? I heard you guys have been given certain limitations after Fred, George, and I were all kicked off." At this, Cedric began ranting how house teams were no longer allowed to talk to one another until off the quidditch pitch, or how it seemed Slytherin always had an advantage.
   The hours ticked by until June realized the time. At three she was supposed to meet Hermione at the three broomsticks, and though she had plenty of time she thought it best to head over their early. "Cedric, would you like to come with me to the Three Broomsticks?"
  "Yeah, sure. What for?" He asked as the two of them got up.
  "I'm going to meet Hermione there." June explained. She had no idea what Hermione needed, but knowing her, June had better be there.
   "Okay...as long as I can take you someplace before." Cedric's eyes widened with joy and he grinned with excitement.
  "Okay," June replied thinking that they'd have enough time before three o'clock. The two of them began walking towards the Three Broomsticks when Cedric grabbed June's hands and led her to an abandoned alleyway. He stared down at her, his mouth in a wide grin, his hands holding her tight, and right as he leaned down to kiss her, June caught a glance of the Weasley twins treading by. Quickly she stepped back as she felt embarrassed if Fred had spotted her kissing Cedric Diggory and told Ron, who could barely let go of the first time she and Cedric kissed. 
  "I'm--I'm sorry it's just--" June began, but Cedric had stepped away and held his face in his hands. He wasn't crying, but he looked disappointed. "I thought you liked me," he muttered without meeting her eyes. "I-I do, it's just..." she couldn't think of a way to explain to him the reason for backing away. She couldn't tell him that she found it embarrassing kissing him because that would make him feel even worst. After a few longing seconds of awkward silence Cedric finally muttered, "you know, there's tons of girls who've had crushes on me since our first year at Hogwarts, but I haven't asked them out because I thought I liked you...if you're not ready then I guess I ought to be going." Cedric turned away, his back faced June and though she could have stopped him and kissed him right then and there, she didn't. She let Cedric Diggory walk away without a single protest escape her mouth. It was if a heavy veil had been lifted from on top of her and she could finally breath. Being with Cedric could be fun, but most of the time it seemed like an occupation.
  June decided to run to the Three Broomsticks and get a butterbeer before 3 o'clock when she spotted Hermione sitting next to a woman with tight green leathered robes and a girl with long silver blonde hair. It was Rita Skeeter and Luna Lovegood.