I think that she could be the better half of me -- Late Summer/Fall 1998

I glared at Lincoln.  "No, I believe that she deserves much more than she thinks," I countered angrily. "But I won't go against her wishes if she doesn't want me to.  I know what she wants... even if it's not what I want for her."

I was surprised to see Draco get that snippy with me.  But it proved that he did truly care about his sister, something I had sometimes doubted even though I would never say that to Juniper.  "Draco... after everything, can you really doubt that I love her?  or that I wouldn't do anything to protect her?" I asked.

He had a point.  "I don't doubt that for a second," I assured him.  "But she does.  And that's all that matters here is Juniper."

I sighed.  "But Draco... doesn't June deserve to be happy?  Doesn't she deserve to get everything?" I questioned, seeing that I was wearing him down.  "I want to give her that.  And I really think that I could.  She never thinks she's good enough or doesn't deserve to be happy, but I'm willing to prove her wrong about that every single day for the rest of our lives."  I hated sounding like I was pleading with Draco to marry his sister, but there was nothing else that I could do than to try to convince him like this.

"I've always wanted her to have her happy ending," I said, admitting that to lincoln.  He had a point.  She did deserve everything.  I looked at him, hating that I was ready to give in to him when Juniper would not want me to do that.  For his sake.  For getting involved with our family.  I could tell, though, that it was too late.  He was involved and he would never go away.  Because he loved her.

I was surprised that Draco started to succumb to my request.  "So is that you giving permission?" I asked, a smile beginning to cross my face.  I knew that this would be a difficult road ahead, but I did not care.  I watned to be with Juniper.  She deserved the best -- and I had to admit that I was not the best -- but if she would have me, I would love to be hers.

He was really pushing his luck, but I smiled at him slightly.  "Yes, this is me giving you permission," I said to him.  "But you are going to have to convince June... which won't be as easy."

I smirked slgihtly, knowing that it would be a difficult task ahead of me.  "I know," I said to him, nodding.  "And I am up for the challenge, I assure you."

I chuckled and shook my head.  "That surprises me not," I said to Matthews.  "You have a tough road ahead of you..."  I looked at him.  "Do you think that your family will be okay with you getting involved this seriously with a Malfoy?"  I was worried about the Lupins.

I shrugged.  "They've alwasy been good," I said to them.  "And there's no way that they'd judge her because of anything.  Not with what they are..."

I sighed.  "I suppose they'd have to be," I said to Lincoln.  "But if they end up saying anything about my sister, you know that I will have to step in."  I was always protective of Juniper.

I looked at draco and nodded.  "I would expect nothing less," I assured him.  "But I doubt you'll need to; not with them."  I knew that it was hard for him or for Juniper to understand that aspect.

I was not sure what to think of Lincoln speaking so highly of hte Lupins.  However, Juniper told me different things Lupin did to try to help her when he saw our boggarts back in third year... I had left class and not even waited to see my marks when that happened.  I sighed.  "It takes a lot for me to say this, but I'll trust you on this," I said to Lincoln slowly.

I was rather surprised that Draco conceded and said that.  I just stared at him feeling like a complete moron.  "I am thoroughly surprised that you said that," I admitted, "but you won't regret it.  That I am sure of."

I looked at Lincoln and smiled slightly.  "I am aware of when to concede, Matthews," I said to him simply.  "And I know that my sister must be important if you are talking to me about her like this."