You never know when a lunatic will come along & give you a sadistic choice to make -- Early Winter 1997

I was so relived that Jetty hadn't seen anything, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. I looked over when someone came into the room, "Draco." I smiled over at him. Something was wrong though, he was frozen, his face pale.  He seemed like he didn't want to see Professor Dumbledore, and would rather be anywhere else. When the Professor had left, and he still hadn't moved, I called to him again, "Draco, are those flowers for me?" I wasn't actually vain enough to think he had brought the flowers for me, although that would've been super sweet, but I had to get his attention away from Professor Dumbledore. I had a feeling I knew why he was acting this way and I wanted to confirm it soon.

I blinked in surprise, having momentarily forgotten where I was.  I had just flashes of two separate outcomes come before my eyes and it had me lost in an entirely different moment than this.  I smiled and tried to recover as I walked over to Juniper's bedside.  "Of course," I said.  "I thought you'd like them..."  I knew it was lame, but hardly anyone did anything like this for Juniper... if anyone.  I had to focus to prevent myself from shaking.  I had done so well avoiding the Headmaster... and of course he would just pop up like this catching me off guard.  I looked at her.  "How are you feeling?" I asked.

I smiled, "Thank you, no one has really done anything like that for me before." I got a chance to really look at the flowers, each one was different, "Their unique, just like we are. I love them. Thank you." I figured now was as good a time as any to ask. I looked around to make sure no one was really close. Ignoring his question if how I was feeling, I looked him right in the eyes, "It's him isn't it?" I asked in a whisper, "It's Professor Dumbledore, your task, right?"

I felt the color drain from my face again and it felt like someone dumped ice on me.  I looked away from Juniper and back towards the doors that the headmaster had left through.  I did not want to see her expression when I told her the answer she already knew.  "Yes," I said, barely audible.  But how could I do it?  He really was a great wizard -- but that was why the Dark Lord wanted him gone.  How could a sixteen year old succeed, though?  There was no way...

I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath, keeping my emotions in check. I knew what must be going through his mind and I didn't want him to have to worry about my reaction. I opened my eyes and sighed, "I knew," I told him, not sure if he had suspected but I hoped it would make him feel better, "If it makes you feel any better." I knew we had made some progress with everything but we still had a long way to go.

I gave her a short, hollow laugh.  "Make me feel better?" I questioned rhetorically, looking back at her.  "Nothing will ever make me feel better about this.  And now look at you... you can't pretend you don't know who did this."  I, obviously, had no clue who specifically did this to my sister, but I was nearly positive that it was a Death Eater if not a group of them.  They had probably wanted to spur me on by threatening her... and it had worked.  I have been working on the cabinet for every waking hour I was not by Juniper's side.

"I'm sorry." I said, really looking at my brother for the first time. He look awful, as if he hadn't really slept in days. I made a mental note to make him more of the dreamless sleep potion as soon as I could. I sighed, " Draco, I don't remember who did this." I said, liking this story more and more every time I said it. "And since a Jetty....." I began as I looked down. That's when I saw it, the Dark Mark on my left forearm. My eyes widened but I blinked them back as quick as I could, hoping Draco hadn't seen. Had he seen this when he was visiting me while I was out? Had Professor Dumbledore? Jetty even when he was carrying me? Was it real? I quickly pulled the long sleeves of my gown over it and pulled the blankets over top of them. I looked over at my brother. "And umm..." I said, trying to figure out where I had left off."umm....since Jetty didn't see anyone I guess we'll never know for sure."

I followed her gaze when she widened her eyes but she was covering up her arm.  No... I looked back at Juniper.  "Show me your arm," I said quietly to her, my voice sounding as if it were made of steel.  If the branded her one of them... I swear to God I was going to kill whoever did that to her.  I was not going to let this slide.

<< Hehe... I can't wait.  Linc is just waiting to pop his head in lol >>

I forced a laugh placing my other hand on top of my left forearm, "It's just itchy." I lied, "I don't want to scratch the skin off." I attempted a joke, although that was exactly what I wanted. Maybe it would make the Mark disappear. "Don't worry about it." I didn't think Draco would believe me, I just hoped he would drop the subject. "What have you been up to?" I attempted my famous distraction technique, hoping Draco would go with it.

<<oh I can't wait!! >>

It was her left arm.  She needed to show it to me.  I knew she would not, and the fact that she tried to change the subject told me everything I needed to know.  I grabbed her arm -- gently -- and pulled it away from her, just far enough so I could lift the sleeve.  My hand was on her bare skin and there it sat... it felt like someone just stabbed me with a knife in my stomach.  I looked at her.  "You cannot say that we don't know who did this!" I said, letting her arm fall back to her side.  "This happened to you because of me!"  I stood up and started pacing, running a hand through my hair.  I practically did this to her.  I was taking too long and this was just the Death Eaters reminding me what was at stake -- as if I could forget.

I took a shaky breath and closed my eyes when he took my arm, I didn't want to see his reaction. I knew it was useless to try to prevent him form seeing it. Once he had seen it, he dropped my arm and I started scratching it as I opened my eyes. "I don't know who did this." I insisted, "I don't remember. What I do know is that you didn't do this to me. It wasn't you." I said this slowly, making sure he heard every word. I knew exactly what he was thinking, and although the attack may have been a message to him, I would still deny it. "You had nothing to do with this."

I sat back down and lowered my voice.  I did not need anyone to hear what I was saying besides Juniper.  "We know it was them.  We just don't know who specifically," I told her.  "And I had everything to do with this, June.  They used you - again - to show me what I stand to lose if I don't do this.  I need to show initiative... and I have.  I-I've completed the cabinet."  I would protect Juniper to the best of my ability.  There was no other way to do that other than following orders as of right now.  Perhaps I could get protection for her from Dumbledore if I did not go through with the entire task... but I was not entirely sure how to go about that with Snape looming ove rmy shoulder watching my every move.

My eyes widened, "You finished it?" I ignored what he had been saying up to that point for now. I sighed, not believing what he said. "Did you ever figure out what was wrong or was it just luck?" I had to know, I had poured over the pages of the books he had and I couldn't fine anything. I had felt like I let him down. I knew he was probably trying to find a way to protect me from all this but I was in too deep now. "You really can't think you had anything to do with this. I don't care if I have the Mark or not, you had noting to do with this." I yelled whispered so we wouldn't be over heard.

"Bullshit, June, bullshit.  You know it and i know it," I said, shaking my head.  How could I have stalled for so long when I knew something like this would end up happening?  I sighed.  "I think it was all pure luck."  I had no idea how I got the cabinet to start working but I was glad I figured it out.  I had to keep Juniper as far away from all of this as I was able to manage.  She was involved, there was no doubt about that, but I needed to keep her as distant from it as possible.

The rumors had flown around the castle the moment Jetty brought Juniper back into the castle a few days ago.  I had gone in to check on her a couple of times a day if her brother was not wiht her.  He did not like me and that was okay with me, too.  The feeling was mutual.  I walked into the hospital wing and nearly walked out because Draco was there with her, but I could tell they were arguing.  Perhaps an intervention would be what Juniper needed because she sure as hell did not need any more stress.  "Everything alright?" I asked, approaching the side of the bed opposite to Draco.