For the Camping Trip challenge on the Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.


Zeke was the first boy to break Harper's heart, but he wasn't the last. There was Jonathan, who'd won her heart after buying some of her jewellery for his mother. They lasted a whole year. Then there was Sam, who she hadn't liked that much, but was an excellent rebound. George had a swoon-worthy accent but had eventually moved back to Wales. Finally, there was Marcus. Harper had fallen head over heels. And he… well, he'd turned around and told her that she was a nice girl, but Alex was a little more his type.

And so, Alex had thought it would be best to call in Justin to do the necessary comforting. Justin didn't necessarily think it was the best idea—crying girls had never been his forté—but Alex had insisted.

"I just…" Harper hiccupped through her tears. "I just feel like I'm never good enough. Never smart enough. Never funny enough. Never pretty enough. No one's ever gonna want me. Not forever."

"But you are pretty."

The words slipped out before he had the chance to stop them. He expected Harper to begin to cry harder. He expected her to take his admission of her prettiness as confirmation that she wasn't smart or funny. But after taking a moment to wipe her nose with the end of her sleeve, Harper only gave him a small smile.

"You don't have to say that."

"What?" Justin looked aghast. "Do you think I'm lying?"

"No. Well, yes. But I just don't need this." Harper gave him a meaningful gaze. "Not from you of all people."

Justin stared blankly at her.

"You didn't seem to think I was pretty when I was practically throwing myself at you as a teenager," Harper explained, sounding exasperated. "So yeah. I do think you're lying."

"Oh." He flushed red. He stumbled over his next words, "But that's different. It's not that—I didn't think—it's just... You were Alex's friend. It's not that you weren't—not that you aren't—pretty. I just didn't think of you like that."

"I know." Harper's voice softened as she said, "Look, maybe you should go."

"I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine, Justin. Just go."

He left without another word. And as he closed the door behind him, he couldn't shake the feeling that, despite his best intentions, he'd just made Harper's night a little bit worse.