So, I realize that I've been MIA for a wicked long time and have been a severe disappointment in that regard.

I also realize that most of my followers (I love you guys!) like me because they're interested in the Harry Potter universe that I write for... So I know this new story might disappoint those of you who expected a new Harry story. But I want to make it clear that I'm going to continue my writings concerning our (truly) favorite wizards. It's just going to take me some time.

I'm excited to be back and can't wait to start writing about Potter and Weasley.

Untilt hen though, I've started this Wizards drabble and I hope that it keeps you content if only to prove I haven't pulled a Dumbledore and died on you.

And now that I've wasted thirty years of your time... Here it is:

Harper's Life Plan

In the past sixteen years of my life, I had given quite a lot of thought to the way my future was going to unfold.

In my mind I planned to graduate high school, go off to college (majoring in fashion design obviously), marry Justin (Harper Russo has a ring to it, doesn't it?), have two children - a girl and a boy, open my own Paint-A-Plate shop, and experience the overall splendor of my life. A life that I had spent years dreaming of.

But when Juliet Van Husen came into the picture, that all changed.

Justin fell for her almost instantly. With her long, beautiful, curly blonde hair and her bubbly attitude, she had all but wrapped him around her little finger in the first week of their 'whirlwind love affair.' Even the small hiccup of her being a vampire didn't stop their love for one another. They stood up to their parents and, once they were given permission to see one another, became attached at the hip.

Where Juliet went, Justin went following after. It was akin to the sickeningly sweet story of Mary with her lamb. Except this Mary had fangs and would probably not hesitate to eat a plate of her lamb's chops if given the opportunity...

Everyday Alex and I were forced to stomach the nose kisses and the starry-eyed glances. And as I saw their relationship continuing to blossom, it only fed my teenage despair.

Hadn't I clearly loved Justin first? Didn't we have plenty of things in common? What was so wrong with me that he didn't want me?

I spent quite a bit of time thinking about this and came up with two answers. The first was that I make sweaters for him out of my own hair and the second was that Juliet doesn't.

Really, it's as simple as that. I'm the younger sister's best friend with the slightly more awkward that average crush and Juliet is the pretty new girl who everyone loves.

But as much as I try I can't force myself to hate her. After all, she makes Justin light up when she walks into the room. He smiles for her like I've only ever seen him smile for his action figures.

Plus, she has lovely manners.

So after I had come to this conclusion that I really truly had no chance, I knew there was only one thing I could do (both for Justin and for myself.) I let him go.

It wasn't as painful as I anticpated it would've been. Sure, my life's plan lay in shatters at Juliet's adorable ballet flats... But atleast Justin was happy. That was what I kept reminding myself of.

And it was this thought that ran through my head as I sat in the Russo's sub shop.

Alex had scooted off to plan the perfect anti-Prom, Max was busy bussing tables, Theresa and Jerry were somewhere in the kitchen, and Justin was - as usual - off with Juliet.

I fought the urge to scowl as I imagined their picnic lunch in the park. Because I was a mature, well rounded young woman and their relationship no longer bothered me.

As I sat at the bar, poking around at my salad, Zeke came up and sat beside me. He was Justin's best friend and one of the smartest guys at our high school.

"Is Justin off with Juliet?" he asked, not looking at me as he spoke. Instead, he was intently focused on the napkin holder in front of him.

My first instinct was to nod, but just before I began to do so I remembered he wasn't looking at me. "Yes," I replied. "They left half an hour ago."

He nodded in understanding. We both knew that the couple would be gone for as long as their breaks allowed.

A moment of silence fell upon us as we both sat at the bar staring off into space. Then, Zeke seemed to notice something.

"Why aren't you with Alex?" The tone of his voice when he asked wasn't rude or condescending. There was not a smidge of the usual 'You shouldn't be here, Harper' that many people spoke to her with. He merely seemed curious.

It pleased me a bit to know that Zeke was nice enough to start up a casual conversation even if he had better things to do.

"She's off planning the perfect anti-Prom," I informed him as I reached a hand up to tuck a stray strand of red hair behind my ear. Earlier, she had cornered me in the subshop and proceeded to trick me into being excited about the actual prom instead of her anti-Prom. It was just like her to do something like that. Not that I minded terribly. After all, we were best friends. Confusions were allowed... occasionally.

I turned my head to look at him, seeing if he was reacting at all to my response. But he was still focused on the metal napkin container. From the way he was watching it, I can only assume he half-expected it to grow a pair of legs and start walking.

This idea made me smile because it wasn't entirely unlikely that it could have - or probably had happened atleast once in the Russo's house before. Especially with Max's record with spells.

As I began to think of the crazy things I had seen and heard of the wizards doing, I became lost in thought. Soon, I was so caught up with thinking about it that I didn't notice that Zeke had turned himself around to look at me. Our bodies were facing, but my eyes were focused elsewhere as I remained in my daze.

"Will you tell Justin I stopped by?" he asked after a moment, snapping me out of it.

I jumped a bit before looking at him. "Hmm?" My cheeks flushed a light pink. Now Zeke probably thought I was rude, not paying attention to him. That wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to be friendly, independent Harper with the cutest clothes on Waverly Place.

He smiled a bit at me and I felt a rush of unfamiliar guilt seep through me. "Tell Justin I stopped by?" he repeated.

"Oh yeah," I replied, nodding my head in what I can only assume to be the most spastic manner possible. "I'll tell him when he gets back."

Zeke's smile widened a bit as he scooted off the stool. "Thanks, Harper."

"No problem," I replied, watching him as he left the sub station.

Once more, I felt a tug of emotion in my gut. What had I done to feel so guilty? Was it because I had been rude to Zeke? Probably. I couldn't see anything else I could've done.

Shrugging, I slid down from the stool and set off in search of Alex. Maybe if I could find her, I could focus my energy on something other than the inexplicable emotion I felt.

More to come?