For the Easter Egg Hunt on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
It happens slowly, and then all at once.
Justin is a regular visitor to Harper and Alex's flat. He comes around and regales the girls with tales of his failed romances, and Alex pretends not to listen.
Sometimes, he drops by when Alex isn't there. Usually, he'll roll his eyes and leave, asking Harper to let her know that he'd come. Sometimes he comes in and waits. Today, he's decided to wait. The two sit, side-by-side, on the living room couch and make small talk about the weather. Then there's a silence. Harper's breath hitches. She becomes all too aware of his thigh pressed against hers. And before she knows what's happening, Justin's lips are on hers.
"This is a really bad idea," Harper squeaks, pulling backwards. "Like, a really bad idea."
Because she's always liked him more than he's liked her. Because his fingers are toying with the hem of her shirt and it's making her shudder. Because she's never done this before—not with anyone—and she's scared to do it now. Because she doesn't really understand why he's decided that now, of all times, he's interested. Because it would only be a one-time thing. And mostly importantly, because...
"Alex can't know." The words tumble out of her. "If we do this, Alex can't know."
"Uh, okay." Justin takes a moment to detach his mouth from her neck to look at her quizzically. "Fine."
He looks like he's about to say something else. Harper wonders for a brief moment if this is when he'll confess that he's always liked her. Then, more realistically, she thinks that he might suggest they move to her bedroom. What he says instead makes her heart drop.
"Actually, you're right." He removes his hands from her upper thighs and shuffles back onto his side of the couch. The distance between them feels momentous. "It is a bad idea. I didn't—I shouldn't have..." He trails off. "I don't know what came over me."
Harper flushes.
"You know, I forgot." Justin's hand slaps against his forehead as he stands. "I totally forgot. I have to go. I have to be somewhere."
"You have to be somewhere," Harper repeats. "Right now, you have to be somewhere."
"Yeah." He gathers his jacket in his arms. "Right now, I have to be somewhere. Just, uh, let Alex know I dropped by?"
Harper watches silently as he barrels towards the door.
"Okay." But the door has already slammed shut. She traces her lips with her fingers, wondering if it had been a dream. "I'll let her know."