Be Prepared.

Disclaimer. The usual

A.N.

Justin and Sue.

X

Justin liked to think he was prepared. He had started Eaton House Prep school at seven. He had been a cub getting ready to become a scout, they were always prepared. Then he had found there was more to the world than he was prepared for. Magic. It was real and he was a wizard. He found a doorway to another universe and it was one he was unprepared for. He was whisked away by steam train and sorted into Hufflepuff.

There was something else he was unprepared for, girls. Five girls had been sorted into the house as well. Megan, Sophie, Sally-Anne, Hannah and Sue. He wasn't used to girls. He was pretty sure his mother was one and was definite his nanny had been too, although he could barely remember her. Apart from that his life had been short on female interactions. Eaton House had a school nurse who was sympathetic in an antiseptic and matronly way. Hogwarts castle was teaming with them. From the stern McGonagall to the Motherly Sprout. Then there was Sinistra, every boy's first crush who showed that robes weren't just sexless sacks but could be filled in all sorts of interesting ways.

It had to be said that it took him a few years to take to take an interest in his fellow year mates in the same way that he had Sinistra. Not counting the best part of a year he'd spent petrified. Sally-Anne had left by then. His focus was centred around Sue Bones. He looked himself over in the mirror. Preparing himself for the task both inwardly and outwardly.

"You're only asking her to Hogsmeade. It's not like you've never been before." Wayne told him.

"Only in a group. Besides you weren't so calm the first time you asked Megan. It was foregone conclusion she'd say yes."

"Well Sue won't say no either. She's too nice."

"I don't want a pity date." Justin groaned a new thing to worry about. Even if she said yes it might just be out of pity a way to spare his feelings. Thank you Wayne bloody Hopkins. He kept his face and voice as neutral as possible and went back to picking at lint from his robe.

Ernie's head appeared in the doorway. She's in the common room. It's practically empty."

Justin resisted the urge to scream. Briefly glaring at Wayne. How many people had he told? Still it was time to put preparation into practice.

The Hufflepuff common room reminded Justin of the illustrations he'd seen of a hobbit hole. Low and homely, an indoor garden designed for comfort. Sue was sunk in a two seater sofa, Hannah was in an armchair to her left. As she saw Justin approach Hannah got to her feet leaving Sue sitting alone.

Sue's smile directed at him almost made him stop in his tracks. "Are you going to join me?" Sue patted the seat next to him.

A suspicion dawned in his head. She knew, somehow she knew.

His mouth was suddenly dry, his tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth. No matter how much he swallowed.

Sue leaned in close and in a voice barely louder than a whisper said. "Yes."

"W what?"

"Yes."

He blinked in the hope his brain would catch up

"Yes." She repeated. "As in yes I will go to Hogsmeade with you."

"You knew."

Her smile defused any hurt he might feel.

"Of course I know. Do you think your friends would have let you make a fool of yourself? No one was so crass as to say my friend fancies your friend but it was obvious Megan was finding out what I thought of you." She leaned close to him and he caught a scent of jasmine as her hair brushed his face. "I like you." She whispered

Justin swallowed in an attempt to get some moisture into his mouth.

"So then it was just a matter of time waiting for you to ask. You were going to weren't you?"

"Yes, it was why I came down here."

"Did you have something special prepared?"

"I sort of did but Wayne suggested an honest question would be better." Justin was trying to keep up but felt swept away on a rushing tide. This conversation was like nothing he had planned or prepared for although it was going better than he could imagine. He was just staying afloat.

"He seems a good friend. Did he advise against taking me for a walk around the lake?"

"Um what no."

"Shall was then?"

Justin was uncertain how he found himself walking arm in arm with Sue Bones around the lake. It was nothing he expected or had prepared for but he loved every second of it.

A.N.

Not the best I've ever written. To be frank I'm dissatisfied with it but can't work out what's actually wrong to fix it.