She hummed, taking a step back, eyes wide with shock but the rest of her expression schooled in a neutral expression. “You are a very ambitious girl,” she said finally, saddened by the fact the girl’s mother was probably as crazy and it’s probably now too late to teach Juno better, “I hope you get what you want.”
Juno grinned, “God I hope so,” she walked over, pressing into the girl’s space before hip-bumping the girl with a mischievous smirk curling on her lips. “Now you, you know what I want,” power, glory, anything that would make her know, “what do you want?” she quirked her head to the side. “I mean you’ve already got the beautiful thing down pat.” Juno winked.
“If I could explain anything Gussy did, I’d be a much happier man.” It hurt to know that she was upset with him, but he was sure it wasn’t actually his fault. He couldn’t think of anything that he’d done to warrant her accusations. Juno was right, arguing with her wasn’t going to make their relationship better, but that was a separate matter. “I can live with her hating me if it means she’s safe.” It wasn’t ideal, but he wanted to make sure she lived safely, and he’d pay whatever price he had to. There was nothing Roland wouldn’t do for the people he loved. He never did anything by halves, putting every effort into everything he did. This was no exception “The very fact they’re dangerous is why Gussy shouldn’t be with them. But we can handle them, if it comes to that. We’re not easy pickings either.” Juno was unpredictable in everything but her loyalty, and Roland was skilled at both physical fighting and magical dueling.
“Roland, if any woman in your life would explain their minds to you, then you’d be living much less stressfully. Gussy and my own lovely self included in the bunch,” she gave him a playful eye roll before thinking on it. Those merchants were quite the set, their strut and manner gave Juno the type of smiles that were equally nervous and excited like they were a challenge. Juno never had bad instincts when it came to an adventure at hand. “You’re too good for the lot of us Ro, much too good,” the same couldn’t be said for most people, but Roland was cut in a class of his own in her own beloved opinion of him. The Gryffindor had always found herself in spots of trouble, in problems that Roland seemed to aide in nicking her out of, and she was eternally grateful as well as equally pissed her hide needed saving. But if it was Roland, she couldn’t fault him-- he loved, he was loyal, she would always respect that of him. “Alright, say we can handle them, say we do manage to get her out of their clutches. What then? What if Gussy runs off again into the foul world to find more danger, God knows I do it weekly and we are in a castle,” Juno raised her brow, “she’s here now. You’re here now. We can fight them all day, but that won’t keep Gussy from doing what she wants.” Juno knew the feeling, but even still as much as she supported Roland’s endeavors, for hadn’t always endorsed her own but also aided her, she knew that sometimes danger was to be found because one wanted it. “We are not easy pickings, a dragon didn’t kill me, doubt some ship hands could manage it.”
Lavinia chuckled a little at Juno’s response, which was to apparently state the facts of how not opposed she would be to kissing Lavinia. Of course, she wasn’t opposed to such an idea as well. “But what if I prefer eternal gratefulness?” she teased a little, still letting the girl simply stand there under the mistletoe. “Are you implying that I’m the sort of woman to do anything more than kiss a girl under the mistletoe?” She was. But it the girl had funny responses, and she was a little interested in hearing another of them.
Juno snorted crossing her arms behind her head, “What pray tell would you do with eternal gratefulness, can’t sell it, can’t fuck it, can’t bask it in.” instead Juno cricked her neck as it craned to look at the pesky plant above her head. “Oh, I am not implying, I'm telling you that I think you are exactly that sort of woman. I’m not apologizing if I’m wrong either, because with a face like that I am entirely hoping that you are.” Juno couldn’t help but laugh. “Besides, what fun would a girl under the mistletoe, bound to the ground be to you. Anyone else would’ve already undone the spell, made fun of me, moved on or be positively scandalized that I’d be propositioning you.”
Bri laughed in amazement and delight. “That certainly sounds like an adventure. I’ve never faced a dragon, crocodiles are bad enough, and they don’t fly or breathe fire.” She bobbed into a little courtesy without thinking, it was a habit. “Bri Shacklebolt. Sorry to just walk up to you like that. It’s just… growing up, so many of the other girls didn’t want to get their hands dirty, so my sisters and I had to go on adventures alone or with our brothers. It’s nice to meet someone else who is just as inclined to do something reckless.”
There was a wild flare in Juno’s eyes, this woman was from someplace far-flung, from the dreary lands of England.·“Crocodiles you say, well they may not breathe fire nor fly, but I’ve heard that they are marvelously dangerous beasts,” she couldn’t help the excited edge to her tone, and the curl of her lips,·“Juno Ashworth, it’s not a problem, I prefer boldness to timidity,” before nodding with an air of understanding.·“I get that, I was often set aside for adventures by my brother, but I’m afraid I always found myself in a spot of trouble or some mishap growing up,” partially a reason she was sent off,·“I’m afraid I’m more than happy to get my hands dirty.” The Gryffindor laughed, it was bright, excited and cheery,·“Oh what sort of recklessness do you have in mind, I’m afraid Hogwarts, while moderately interesting, has yet to sate my appetite in this manner.”
[ the 1st feminist discore in Hogwarts circa 993. ]
Vasilisa blushed, flattered by the compliment, but she wouldn’t be distracted from her original point. “You can be gorgeous and have someone slay a dragon for you, this way not one strand of yours gets burned, and your skin remains beautiful and line free! Imagine the stress that goes into killing a dragon,” even the thought is enough to make her frown her eyebrows in a way she knows she shouldn’t, “it’s a waste of your beauty if you would ask me.”
Juno blinked, “That’s not quite the point, if you feel like being pretty is important, then go ahead... be a stunner, because you are and you can be whatever you want, if it makes you happy. But you do know we won’t be pretty forever. We’ll be crones, and then what will people know us for? Our one-time beauty? No,” the dark haired woman threw back her girls and lifted her chin with a haughty grin, “I will not be remembered as some bygone pretty face. I’ll kill a dragon and travel to the desert, people will know my name, my deeds and,” she leaned forward into Vasilisa’s space, a pert catty grin on her lip, “my fine fucking face. It’s a waste of youth and talent to not seek glory, and I have both. In spades.”
Used to her ways, and just as terrible at words, Roland appreciated the way she leaned into him, his arm moving to rest on her shoulders. It had always been easy being friends with her. Her rough edges brought out what he saw as the better part of himself, the part that was willing to take risks. Too often, he got himself so caught up in his head, but she always pulled him back to reality. “Me, mother, everyone but herself is to blame.” While he also blamed their mother, it stung that Gussy could say such things about him. He had thought they were close, but clearly not. “I don’t know.” He admitted, which was a rare thing for him. Roland always had a plan, always knew what he’d do next. The Sorting Hat had considered placing him in Slytherin for that very reason. “First, I think, is to find that damned captain and make sure he knows Gussy is no longer in his employ. By any means necessary.” Which meant he was ready to duel the captain for Gussy’s sake. “I spoke to one of the crew, I have a feeling that if she is around when I confront the captain, I may need backup.”
There was always something immediately comforting about Roland in her space, now matter how far away the pair were from each other for any given amount of time. Hogwarts, for all that she didn’t want to be there, had thrust them together almost daily and it was wonderful. “Well that’s just dumb, I mean, sure our families can be a lot,” his was even more out of step than her own, “but why would she go after you?” Roland tried his best, that much could always be said of him. So she waited for him to gather his thoughts, she’d always go to the ring for him, and she waited. Juno was patient as he gathered his thoughts and carefully went through the plans. “Don’t you think that may... I dunno drive a further wedge between you two? Is she there against her will? Does she want to be with them? You don’t approve, I get that, but forcibly removing her... she might just balk and I doubt it'll be pretty,” Juno didn’t know Gussy well, if she was going to be honest, mostly in passing with Roland, but she knew she was of a fixated mind. She could respect someone like that. “You know I’m always willing to be your back up, and confrontation is what I do best,” her smirk was reckless, “but hose merchants aren’t easy pickings Roland,” she warned him she could tell, by the way, they walked and their eyes. Juno was wary, but if Roland asked for her at his side, she was never going to deny it.
Delilah had been watching the whole scene from a decent distance, leaning against the wall. Watching was a loose statement though, she would glance every couple seconds to make sure everything was still calm and collected, while doing the same to other parts of the room as well. Within seconds though the apparent innocent situation had changed and Delilah’s wand was in her hand and flicking through the air as she threw herself into the situation. She didn’t have time to throw any kind of physical punch, but apparently the girl had enough grit to do it herself. She gave very little regard for the boy on the ground and looked over at the girl. “Delilah Gathers, you alright?” She asked, raising her eyebrow. Though she highly doubted the answer would be anything other than yes. She shook her hand back politely as she spoke.
Juno puffed as she looked down at the man, still crying, still a bitch. God this was so annoying honestly, if he had just approached nicely then she may have entertained the idea of a kiss. But instead, he got handsy. Now he hand ached, she hadn’t curled her hand right and now she had to go whine to Holden or else Roland will give her that exhausted look. Not that he wouldn't do the same thing. “That’s a pretty name, and a pretty accent, French? I’ve done a turn or two with your people,” the balls that they attended were fancy, and though her father was a muggle knight, her mother’s pureblood pedigree and skill granted them in quite beautiful halls that Juno ruined with liquor and fights. Which in her opinion made it much more fun. “I’m fine, it would take a little more than this little shit to get on my nerves,” she looked her over with a grin, “fast reflexes, you a duelist?”
In her defense, her first reaction would have been to punch. She didn’t expect backup, and she certainly didn’t expect such a pretty face, she blinked when she came barrelling through. Her fist ached lightly, and the overgrown toddler that had taken the pinned up mistletoe as a chance to grab her rump and attempt to kiss her had led to his bloody nose. Her newfound partner was behind her shoulder. She noted that he was crying,‘Pussy’ was her first thought before rounding on the girl, “Juno Ashworth,” she thrust her hand out, the one that could uncurl, “who’re you?” If she sent another person to Holden she knew she was going to get it, but the unnecessary grab from the still crying man-child was cooling her.
Oh, she was a little funny, wasn’t she? All bite one minute, and the next she was asking brazenly for a kiss. Lavinia leaned in ever so slightly, as always wanting to play with her food a little. “A kiss? Is that all?” She was careful to let the heat of her words brush over Juno’s lips. But then she pulled away, leaning on the stone of the wall behind her. “Ah- well- if girls like you don’t need to stand under mistletoe to get kisses, then I supposed I could just undo the hex for you.” Hexes were rather a favorite of Lavinia’s, the funny little biting and twisted things. They often had a mind of their own.
Juno grinned, she loved someone who gave as good as she got, the fight and the chase between two possible lovers was half the fun before the tumble. “What you want more than a kiss darling,” she hummed as she leaned forward, locking her knees so she wouldn’t go flailing forward like a fool. The woman was close, she could close the gap, but she didn’t huff or puff when she stepped back, instead Juno let a smile curl across her fine features. “I’d be eternally grateful, but maybe the mistletoe isn’t just the reason I’d want a kiss. But then again,” Juno flicked her eyes over to her, “I think you’d have a fun time with me. I’m always up for a good time. I’m not above saying that I don’t want one,” Juno didn’t beg anyone, “you’re pretty, I’m pretty, we’d be a great picture in a bed, or against wall.”
“If you are beautiful, and you are, you don’t need to go out on adventures to prove something. Only girls without any beauty need to put themselves in danger.” raising her chin, Vasilisa serenely smiled at Juno, confident that her words were an universal truth. “See! Your mother isn’t pretty and she is good at slaying dragons, because she needed the talent. But you have such beautiful eyes, and your skin is beautiful. Why risk losing that?”
Juno flipped hair over her shoulder, a smary grin on her face, “Oh I know I’m one very pretty face. But the point isn’t because I’m pretty, it’s because I want to prove I’m just as good as anyone else. Besides, I think you are much prettier than me,” her smile was reckless but there is a tone of sweetness in her voice. She had always been a pretty girl, it was a point of pride but it took no particular skill to have a cut figure and fine features. “My Mother has so much talent, she is so amazing,” there was a warble in her voice, “being pretty doesn’t hold a candle to what she can do. If I can be gorgeous and slay a dragon...” she shifted uncomfortably, then maybe she’d be less of a disappointment. “Why not risk it, what is life without going full tilt at it? If I could slay a Dragon, ride a Griffin, then my pretty eyes and nice skin is just a bonus.”
Cass was endlessly curious, one of the few completely honest facts about herself that she shared with others. So when she saw a young woman standing at the base of the Bell Tower, she’d decided to find out what she was saying to herself. Amused once she realised, she offered a simple opinion. “I didn’t find Horned Serpents to be that difficult.” There was something of a dare in her voice, not flinching as the woman reached for her wand. There were a few other people on the grounds, if someone attacked her while there were witnesses, she’d be able to use that. “I’ve certainly faced worse.”
Juno turned around to find the woman close to her shoulder and quirked a brow. “Oh, did you not find it difficult?” the Gryffindor grinned, a pull of her lips. So she had seen them, not be outdone she knew immediately that she had to see it too. “What exactly have you faced, everyone says they’ve seen something worse. But most people are liars,” Juno slipped her hands into the pockets of her dress and quirked an eyebrow. “I just want to swipe some scales and look at it, not kill it, where did you meet a Horned Serpent?”
Lavinia’s own eyebrow quirked in response at Juno’s mention of a hex. But she wasn’t entirely surprised. She knew there were quite a few miscreants running around the halls, herself rather included. Though she personally thought she was above miscreant level. Either way, she followed the girl’s thumb upwards, spotting the mistletoe with a little smirk. “Ahhh, well that explains things, doesn’t it?” She took a daring step towards the girl. “So you need someone to kiss you?” she taunted a little.
Juno couldn’t help the hapless blush on her cheeks, undone by a simple fucking hex, no wonder her parents sent her off. She growled and twisted again in her boots that were much too tight. She couldn’t take a step back from the other woman’s advance, so instead, she jutted her chin up, “ I need to get unstuck, it seems that this counter-curse is one I don’t know.” the taunt made her words bite a little, she always hated being backed into a corner. “Besides, girls like me don’t need to stand under mistletoe begging,” her grin was mischievous as she leaned forward, “but if you know how to unstuck me I’d happily give you,” Juno’s blue eyes gave Lavinia a once-over, “a kiss. I am rather partial to women.”
The Juno girl wasn’t one Lavinia had particularly spoken with before, but she seemed something of the very definition of a loose cannon. Though to be fair, many of the Gryffindors were. Lavinia hadn’t noticed the mistletoe overhead just yet as she placed herself near the girl, wondering what exactly is was she was speaking so enthusiastically about. “I think the entire castle can hear you.”
Juno quirked an eyebrow, at the admittedly stunning girl, she was mostly annoyed because someone cast a jinx at the stone she was passing over, leaving her stuck beneath the Mistletoe. Thus far only one person had braved giving her a kiss, it was on the cheek and she hexed his arse. But she was still stuck. “Good, maybe then whatever idiot did this can undo the hex,” she tried to jostle her boots but no luck, still stuck, “ridiculous fucking, stupid, of all the idiotic...” she huffed and looked over before jabbing her thumb up at the mistletoe as an explainer.
Merry Christmas. It is a pleasure to have you in my house. I am proud to call you one of my students and so I have given you a ring to represent our house. As well you can find a kit to make your own wax seal. It is important for any person to have a personalized wax seal.
Godric Gryffindor.
Juno grinned Hogwarts wasn’t the worst maybe, maybe…. she gave it a solid maybe. She put the little ring on, she had no idea what to do with the seal but she liked it anyway. It was a nice gift, and she grinned as the ring caught the light.
You have no idea how grateful I am that you will always have my back, even if only so you can have the honour of taking me down yourself.
Love, Roland
Juno smiled as she took the necklace from the little box it came, it was a dragon and in her favorite color. She couldn’t help but tear up before putting it on, she wasn’t going to take it, she already loved it.
(A little orange kitten is left on her bed in a small basket with some scraps the cat can eat)
Dear Juno,
You seem really cool! Thanks for taking care of me this semester!
Moira.
Juno didn’t care, she frowned at the little beast who mewed at her and clawed at her bare ankle. But then her grin fell and came way to a genuine little smile, before reaching down for the little kitten that was pounding on the hem of her dress. “Well shit,” she lifted it up to eye level, “you’re little spitfire aren’t you? That’s your name, isn’t it? Spitfire.” she grinned and tucked the thing against her chest. Moira was sweet, and her chest swelled a little.
//sow the seed
//grant the powers that be
//feel that great need
6.
“Clear your mind, you need to calm down sweetheart,” Juno shook as fingers gently pushed curls from her red face, “just settle yourself.”
“He was hitting her,” her voice was high and reedy, childish in the way that all six-year-olds were, “he shouldn’t be hitting her. We’ve gotta stop her Mama!” her voice pitched as she watched the path the man had dragged the teenager.
“Honey,” Katherine kneeled down, she was not a beautiful woman, she was handsome, with a high arched nose and a deep earthen eyes with these odd gold flakes in them, “go home, go find your father he ought to be back from the castle by now,” the sun was dipping low over the horizon, Juno knew that there were simply a quick walk from the sea, where she often went to watch the sun rise and set when she could get up early enough and drag her father out before arms training.
“But Mama--”
“Go home Juno, and practice your light spells sweetheart, I have to do something really quick,” so Juno turned and set off down the path, before hiding behind a tree. She peeked and watched her mother gather her loose brown and blue skirts, revealing her wand that was strapped often to her calf. It was a handsome silvery color, with the heartstring of a chimera in it, Juno had held it once. Before she turned, and within a blink of an eye flash-stepped through the thicket, small pops of magic following the trail the man led the girl down. With his bloody fist and her oddly twisted arm.
Juno was going to be exactly like her Mama one day.
8.
“Focus Juno.”
“I’m trying!”
“Not hard enough, come on--”
Juno let out a long huff, and smashed her hand on the table, “I can’t.”
Her mother clapped her hands on her shoulder, “You are Juno Ashworth, and you can do anything you set your mind to understand?” Juno jutted her chin out, “You are boundless Juno, now, do it.”
Juno blinked and pointed her fingers at the candle, “Ignis.” it lit, and Juno stared.
“Good girl.”
10.
“You can’t even lift a sword, how do you expect to beat me,” her brother, younger by less than a year, jeered from where he sat on the fenceline, Juno’s face was dirty as she once more tried to lift the heavy tourney sword that her brother used. Already Tiber was growing taller than her, strapping and could ride a horse with ease. Like herself, he had more than a touch of magic, but chose not to study it beyond, instead of following their father towards knighthood. “Don’t answer with ‘magic’ smartass.”
He was pushed off the fence with a bright gust of wind, falling into the dirt with an off while Juno rushed and stood over him, an elfin grin on her face. “Magic beat you just now didn’t it,” she laughed as he jumped to try and grab her. “C’mon Juno you know you won’t be as good as me, I’m gonna be a knight and you’ll be a witch, witches aren’t as good as knights.” he chased her around the tree, she hopped the sword she left on the ground, sliding in the dust she barely missed his hands.
Grabbing the fence she hauled herself up, crowing loudly, “Mama is just as good as Papa!”
“Yeah, cause Mama is special,” he leaned forward and grabbed sides, pushing her over the fence where she laid, wheezing on the ground, “and you’re not.”
Tiber’s laugh was jarring as she hissed before pushing him away with a loud bang and he half-flipped across the training yard before hitting the ground with a parting screech. She was so angry, and he was so mean. But then as he crumpled on the dirt, his arm, it was bent, Juno gasped as blood came, he was yowling. Her little brother was screaming as her mother rushed from stables, she had been tending to her stallion when she caught sight of Juno, hands spread out and her son bleeding his bone exiting his arm.
“Juno!” She flinched as her Mother settled next to Tiber who was crying, and holding onto his bone, struck from his arm. Her mother’s eyes were blown with gold, like when she got angry with Father, and when she got angry with the two of them. “What did you do.” her voice rang between them.
Juno approached, quickly, while she watched as her Mother ran her hands down Tiber’s arm, his bone returning, almost seamlessly leaving an open wound that she quickly wrapped, “Go to the House,” he was still covered in blood, glaring at Juno, “and you,” the smack on her face was quick, and Juno lifted her hand to her cheek, already a cooling charm playing on her fingers, “you are stronger than your brother, why in the world would you find him?”
“I didn’t mean to!”
“You are 10!” she flinched at the screech in her voice, “you were supposed to get a wand soon, but I see that was foolish, go to your room, no magic for the rest of the day and apologize to your brother.” Katherine stalked away, the wind catching her heels as she picked up the tourney sword and cleaned the ground of blood.
10.30
“I’m getting a wand!”
“Yes.”
“What sorta wand?”
“Whatever the wandmaker gives you that fits well.”
“How long will that take?”
“Will you stop asking silly questions?”They rode in silence, Juno’s mare whinnied until they reached the cottage by the lake, where an older woman sat, smoking from a long pipe and a sparkle in her eyes that Juno noted were cloudly like before a storm.
“Good morrow Mistress Kane,” Katherine hopped off her own stallion and smiled as she greeted the elderly wandmaker, “I’m here for a new wand for--”
“Your daughter, she is pretty, dark hair and quite stunning blue eyes much like your Robert, she has quite the temper don’t you girl?” the woman stood, she was tall, much taller than the two Ashworth witches, her hair must’ve been amazing in her youth for it was coiled in a tight long braid, a small creature coiled around her ankles, it looked like a weasel but not.
“I ... how did you know.” the woman approached her and tapped her cheek.
“I can See, I always know. I can See you quite clearly girl,” the woman smiled, it was toothy and bright, and Juno didn’t quite feel at ease. “You have quite the potential, good instinct, but those emotions need to be reigned in. But a good heart.”
“Mother...?”“Listen to the wandmaker my girl, she See’s everything,” her smile was fond and Juno looked at the woman who gripped her wrist and pulled her around the small cottage towards the back, there was a trough and a few low seating benches, an open fire. “Sit, I’ll be back.” Juno sat while her Mother wandered towards the lake, hands brushing over the reeds and her hands were already glowing green, some plant magic no doubt. Her mother was skillful, a powerful witch with a knack for the difficult, though she was best known for her warding spells and battle magic, coincidentally the battlefield was where she found her husband when he was a squire and she a young witch, Juno had never seen anyone like her. Who understood magic in a way no-one else did. She wanted that, that instinctual understanding of magic, though she studied so very often.
“Here,” a wood was pushed into her palm, it was a handsome red and she blinked before dropping it to the ground, it was burning her, “not that then...” the elderly blind woman held out another wand, gnarled wood with no discernable handle, just as it came to her fingertips the woman jerked it back, “no that won’t do at all.”
Another, it stung, a fifth that felt warm, a sixth that left a trail of pretty purple and blue sparkles. The sevenths and eighth felt much better. It kept going until she had reached fifteen.
“Mistress Kane,” the woman hummed as she ran her fingers through the metal box where the wands were held, “do you think I’ll be a better witch than my Mom?”
“No.” The next wand was shoved in her palm, it warmed against her fingers before it began to spit spark wildly, it was a handsome dark near black wood. The old woman didn’t go to grab it, as Juno gripped it, with a line of determination on her mouth before she let out a long steady breath.
The wand stopped spitting and she turned, “Defodio!” the spell was cast like lightning, dark purple and struck the ground, creating a few foot crack. She turned to the old woman, “You’re wrong.” Juno watched as her Mom rushed towards her, a smile on her face. “I’ll be sure to make her proud.”
“Are you sure?”
11.
“Look at her go,” her mother smiled widely as Juno began a set of fancy footwork, setting off hexes and curses in time with the arrows her brother was firing at her, within a blink of an eye two of the arrows were turned into bright yellow birds. “Isn’t she spectacular?”
The wizard laughed, nodding, “She is very much your daughter Kat, an excellent witch.”
“Her footing when it comes to dueling, and her transfiguration work is fantastic, already so amazing.”
“You must be proud.”Katherine watched as her daughter turned her small flock of birds on her brother who struggled to shoot them down before running from the swooping transfiguration feathered beings. Juno was laughing, tossing her raucous curls and fingering her wand.
“You have no idea.”
11.5
“Is that a dog?” Juno blinked at her brother who was poking at the puppy, it had been a rather large sandy stone.
“Yes.”
“How?” he poked it and it barked, but it sounded wrong and he jumped back, hand going to his sword.
“Found some spells in Mother’s study, thought I’d try them out.” the study where she wasn’t allowed, with books she wasn’t allowed to see.
“Well, I guess even you do something right every once in a while,” Tiber grinned, before poking the not-quite-right-dog, “but it’s still not that good you know.”
12.
Juno began to sweat, she was shaking, as her mother began to raise up barrier after barrier, the village was under attack-- again. Her brother was riding with the scouts. She raised her wand, her fingers were shaking, she was sweating, why couldn’t she just raise a barrier. She’d done it before, she did it often.
“Juno?” her mother looked at her, and her daughter began to feel the world closing around her, “Snap out of it.” everything was too close, this hall was too small, she shivered lightly. “Juno!”
The young witch looked at her Mother who pursed her lips. “Go inside, hide.”
“What no I can do--”
“Go inside. You aren’t ready for this. Obviously I don’t know why I brought you out here.”
12.
“Juno!” Her brother held her arm, pulling her back as she went to take a swing, it was another party and another noble prat of a squire was making rude gestures.
“Will you stop trying to--”
“Didn’t you hear him?”
“Yes!”
“Then why can’t you let me take a swing at him? I can fight him, with magic, his little sword won’t stand against my spellwork.”
“I’ve seen you practice, half the time it blows up in your face.” Tiber twisted her wirst and pulled her away, “You’re only going to do a shit job anyway, just stop.”
Juno wrenched her arm away, glaring, before stalking back over wand raised, as spark came from it, and she found herself in the dust, while Tiber stared at her with a snarl disspaointed look in his face before he stepped up to fight the squire.
“Never,” Juno stood back up before flinging herself back into the fight.
13.
Her hand cracked across the elder girl’s cheek, with a snarl before someone grabbed her holding her back. She kicked out her feet before catching the girl again in the stomach, the girl before to cry, “Juno no!”
“Get the fuck off me!” she threw herself from her best-friends arm, he looked on hopelessly as she leapt upon the elder girl, the one who whispered about her brother and his ugly scar.
14.
Katherine found her, curled up, books surronded her, wand held loosley in her grasp and looking exhausted. There were remnants of magic in the air, several items half turned and little scortch marks left everywhere. She sighed, her daugher was struggling much more recently with her magic, it often happened with young girls as they moved into womanhood. Juno was an excellent witch, she would be fine.
It look only a spell to deposit her daughter into bed, who curled around her pillow, still soundly asleep. She began to gather the books before finding one, and she frowned. Full body transfiguration was dangerous, and difficult. Why would Juno be looking into something that could harm her so deeply? She set it aside and tucked another blanket around her shoulders and setting the book on the top shelf.
Her daughter wasn’t ready for that sort of magic.Why was she looking at it?
Juno slept on even as Katherine frowned, this type of magic was difficult. Too hard for her hectic daughter, who couldn’t seem to reign in her magic properly.
16.
“It’s a simple spell Juno,” there was an air of exhasperation, “You’ve known this spell, now do it.”
Juno let out a long shaky breath, “Salvio Hexia,” there was a light shimmer as a barrier fell. Her mother looked at her with narrowed eyes before holding up her own wand, “Bombarda!”
“Protego!” the sheild smashed against the small explosian, while Katherine shook her head. Juno yelped, throwing up her arms as the blast caught her off her feet, sending her sprawling back onto the ground. She slammed her fist on the ground in frustration but refused to get up, even as her she could see her mothing tensing and flexing her fingers and neck to ready for another attack that never came.
“Get up.”Juno let out a long sigh, leaning up on her elbows, her mother was hovering above her, a knot in her brow in concern. Finally, she sighed, shoulders creaking forward, “Go home,” she hovered above her daughter, currently soaking up wet leaves from her now aching arse,“you aren’t focusing, obviously, go home and clear your head.”Her mother disappeared witch a crack like lightning, and Juno stood, flinging out her wand and setting a few bushes on fire.
Why couldn’t she just do it. She was powerful, she could change stones to dogs and back, cast fire spells and hexes, but any moment that her Mother asked her to do something, when she came under fire, when things got hard. Juno would freeze, her magic would fail, and her brother would laugh and there would be such disappointment in her eyes. Those dark eyes with the gold flecks would stare at her feeble attempts and there would be this wilted line in her shoulders and Juno knew, she knew she failed again.
Over and over again.
She hated herself for causing that.
Juno sat up in the leaves, “Bombarda,” the explosion rocked the little area they called a training ground, and she sighed.
Only when no-one was watching.
Juno wanted everyone watching.
17.
Juno passed between the arms of two men, flitting between them, her skirt was too short and the mead was warm and flowing between her lips and skirting across her tongue. The music came to a stop as she twirled into a knight’s arms, he was strong, strapping with a gap between his teeth so she didn’t look at his mouth. They danced together, her skirts flared out, her wand was strapped to her thigh, and the young knight grinned as he pulled her up and into a lift.As he set her down she flitted away, into a squires arm.
Then again spinning into a noble.
Into a far too tall warrior with a scar on his cheek.
Mead was pressed into her palm, and she laughed as she greedily drunk it down. She spun again, falling against the cold wall with a hapless giggle as several girls crowded around her, giddy and drunk on the late party. This castle was half a hundred leagues away her home, and she drank down more wine, it spilled across her cheek and onto the white lace of her flowing dress.
“Oh Miss, your dress,” the wine soaked into the white lace, the man was two, but one, perhaps twins as she dabbed at the lace, “it’s ruined is it not.”
“No, it’s not,” she lifted her fingers and whispered, “Scourgify,” it swept away, leaving the lace pristine as he stared.She laughed and surged forward to capture his lips, “Dance with me Ser.”
“Witch,” his voice dropped into a hiss, her hands on her shoulders, pushing her down, “you’re a witch.”
She laughed, and giggled and her attendants or friends she could never tell, laughed and giggled. “Dance with me Ser,” Juno ran her fingers across his weak jawline, he’d do, he wasn’t the finest, but he’d do, “you know you want to. Come on, what’s a little magic.”
18.
Juno stared as the barrier fell, she had been doing well again. Her Mother took her again on a trip to a local castle, now under siege, and she watched as the barrier fell again and the knights smashed towards the low wooden walls. She could hear her Mother shrieking behind her, and her brother was roaring from near the walls, his sword gleaming as he ran a charge towards the knights who broke the gates.
“No!” Juno threw open her arms, and stood on the wall, and twisted her wand, “No!”
Juno watched as her brother got closer and closer, no. She could see it in her mind’s eyes, her brother dying and Juno failing. Not today.
“Fianto Duri! Protego Maxima!” the knights from their side found their steeds haulting at the spark of magic, while the opposing army passed through her curse, her barrier, this spell.
The first knights fell apart, their skin dissolving as they screamed and the opposing army tried to turn around. They couldn’t.
They rammed into her first curse and fell apart, the howls rang through the air.
Juno breathed in and turned, her Mother was staring at her, wand at the ready, leaning over the wall.
Juno breathed in and her brother was looking up at her.
Juno breathed in-- power.
Oh she liked the taste of that. Success. Glory. She really loved that taste.
She needed more. She looked to her Mother who stared back, and there was a whisper.
“More.” her mind whispered, she needed to prove that she could do this, she looked at her Mother. She was going to be better.
