Harper Blair Halloway

“My hero.” Harper laughed, walking with Aryan comfortably. It was like they’d slipped back into their old patterns, holding hands with Aryan like it was second nature. When they arrived in front of Aryan’s office, Harper finally let his hand go before grinning at the comment. “Well, then. After you, professor. I’ve plenty ideas for you.” They gave a wink, playfully bumping their shoulder with Aryan’s arm.

Harper paused, internally smacking their own forehead. “Right.” Harper’s ears burned, and they could feel their cheeks getting just a bit redder. “Right! Well, um.” They paused, trying to search for a question to ask to cover up the fact that they’d been thinking of Aryan practically nonstop since their... trip to his office. “Well it’s my birthday, so I was... wondering if maybe you’d be interested in coming out with me? To celebrate?” Harper fidgeted, sweeping some hair over their shoulder but standing their ground.

Harper laughed, rolling their eyes. “Honestly, Luka, I’m sure we could get some if we just rummaged through the things we’ve confiscated from students over the years.” They said with a grin. Harper sighed, reaching to take another drag from the cigarette they were sharing. Harper knew Luka was lying, but they didn’t want to pry. “Have you tried more pillows?” They suggested instead, passing the cigarette back so Luka could take the last drag.

Harper outright laughed, covering their mouth with their hand as they allowed Aryan to lift the bag away. “I suppose helping me carry them is all I’m going to get. It was worth a shot, though.” Harper shook their head, smiling up at Aryan. “I can’t believe I’m going to help you re-work your curriculum and you won’t even help me mark essays!” They joked, pouting playfully. “C’mon, then, if I’m going to help you I need to see what I’m working with.” Harper took hold of Aryan’s hand without thinking, walking toward his office and tugging Aryan along.

Harper took a drag and passed the cigarette back, nodding at the phrase and grinning while the smoke puffed out of their nose. “Whatever works, right?” Harper said with a shrug. They didn’t hesitate to lean on their best friend’s shoulder pretty much immediately, giving a one shouldered shrug. “Y’know, same old same old. Insomnia. Wondering about our place in the universe. Worrying about family. The usual. You?”

As always, Harper’s insomnia had them wandering the grounds. They weren’t due to be in for another few hours, but whenever they couldn’t sleep, this is where they’d turn up. Harper was sat just outside of the Forbidden Forest, half-meditating, half-thinking to themselves. The smell of cigarette smoke and the sound of a familiar voice made Harper look up with raised brows. “I could ask you the same, Luka!” They said, breaking into a grin at seeing their flatmate and holding out a hand for a cigarette. “Couldn’t sleep either?”

Well that was a reaction. Harper bit down on the inside of their lower lip before eyeing Aryan. The head tilt made Harper raise their brows, grinning back. Harper tilted their head as well, squinting up at Aryan a bit. “Only if you don’t mind helping me, too.” Harper said, gesturing to their messenger bag full of student assignments.

Harper definitely noticed the attentive look on Aryan’s face, but chose to mostly ignore it in favor of their conversation. They did however, sweep a stray lock of hair behind their ear, wondering if Aryan would notice that, too. “I am so sorry I suggested it.” Harper laughed at the thought of Aryan having to grade things that had penises doodled on them. “I’ll help you come up with something aside from essays or actual potions.”

Hi there, have a 19 year old disgruntled Harper (about to meet @profaryandesai for the first time since graduating Hogwarts)

Harper had absolutely no reason to be thinking about their ex as often as they were. It wasn’t like Aryan had been being particularly romantic or anything, but Harper couldn’t help but feel their heart skip up to their throat whenever he was around lately. Of course, as Harper’s thoughts drifted to Aryan again, they rounded a corner and there he was! Embarrassed, Harper could feel the color rising to their cheeks. “Oh! Um, Aryan! Funny running into you… here! I was just thinking about y–” Harper cut themself off before clearing their throat and continuing. “I was just thinking about something I had to ask you.”

“Okay but to be fair, when we were in Hogwarts the ‘Giant Squid Ate My Homework’ excuse was the go to!” Harper laughed again, moving to pull their hair up into a bun to get it out of the way. “I’m not saying they should have to make potions outside of class, but what if you had them do a visual thing? Like instead of essays they could illustrate the processes of a few potions? Something to demonstrate they understand the material without just regurgitating information from the text book?”

“I had someone tell me the Whomping Willow destroyed their textbooks.” Harper said seriously with a shake of their head. They laughed shortly after, though, running a hand through their hair. “Honestly, we should just try to find a better way to give homework, as clearly, essays aren’t working.”

Harper just laughed and brushed off the attempt at flirting, shaking their head. “Thank you, and yes, by people my own age no less.” Harper flipped their hair over their shoulder before giving a shrug. “To be fair, partying with teenagers is a little... weird for someone in their late 20s. I intend on waiting until I’m home in my flat to do any sort of partying tonight.” Harper gave a little laugh, shaking their head. “Slughorn never changes.”

“Do you know how long it takes to paint yourself green?” Harper asked with a laugh. They gave another twirl for good measure, putting their leg out and hiking the skirt of the dress a bit to show off their heels. “Goodness, Luka, you’re a train wreck. This just won’t do. Come on, come with me, I’m fixing your costume.” Harper reached out to grab Luka’s sleeve, turning and pulling him along as they walked to the direction of the kitchen. “We’ll have you looking like a proper Scarecrow in no time!”

Harper had taken to sticking near the walls, only going into the crowd of students and ghosts when absolutely necessary. It was the best way to monitor the goings on and make sure things were as safe as they could be when you let children have alcohol. When they saw Marcella dressed as Sandy their eyes lit up. “You look great!” Harper said enthusiastically, laughing a bit when the girl looked up to ask what they’d said. “I said you look great! Are you having fun?”