Harper Blair Halloway

26, Muggleborn, Hufflepuff, History of Magic Professor. 

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

“These arms were made for carrying your books.” Aryan tensed his arm as if to show off his bicep to Harper before a soft laugh left his lips. All he managed was to stutter out a soft noise of semi-protest as Harper took his hand, not having time to speak before he was dragged off. As much as he was enjoying this, he didn’t want any students to see them like this either so he was glad that his office was only a short walk away so he wouldn’t have to reject Harper. “If you come up with any good ideas then MAYBE I will consider helping you mark.”

“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.

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

Everywhere that Aryan went, Harper seemed to be there. Not that it was a bad thing of course but when he still wasn’t fully over his ex and when his insides still tingled with butterflies whenever he saw them, having them pop around every corner didn’t make his life any easier. Aryan almost felt his cheeks go the colour of Harper’s and he suddenly felt very glad that he was inclined to not using a razor. “Funny running into me even though I work here?” His words were dripping with sarcasm but as usual, there was humour behind his eyes as he spoke. “Ask away. I’m perfectly happy to stay here with you and continue avoiding my responsibilities.”

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.

[professor--halloway]

lukastatecfmind:

With a nod, he took another deep inhale and let the smoke linger a moment longer in his lungs before releasing it. He looked to the other, a lazy smile appearing because it was second nature to be this close with them. “Our place in the universe? Shit, I think we’re smoking the wrong thing.” He joked to keep the atmosphere light, even if his mind was anything but. He did worry about his friend though and it may have shown in the way a small frown passed his features. “I can’t find a comfortable way to lay down.” He shrugged as well.

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.

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

Everything about Harper was just SO ENDEARING that Aryan would happily drop everything for his fellow professor. He couldn’t even remember what he was originally doing as all he wanted to do now was spend his afternoon with Harper. “Help you carry them or help you mark them?” he asked with raised eyebrows and a wry smile. “Because I’m only willing to do one of those options.” With a short laugh, he took the bag from Harper and slung it onto his own shoulder.

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.

[professor--halloway]

lukastatecfmind:

“Fuck no.” There was a shake of his head and he wished all the stress he’d been feeling could leave with the puff of smoke he exhaled. He didn’t hesitate to pass the cigarette, even though it wasn’t every day Harper partook in the supposed nasty habit. “Great minds think alike, huh? That’s probably the wrong phrase, but something like that.” He mused while taking a seat, since they were both in the same boat. “What’s keeping you up?”

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?”

[professor--halloway]

lukastatecfmind:

Luka hadn’t been getting much sleep lately, which was no secret with the dark circles around his eyes. He couldn’t lay there when he was restless, so would usually stay up until the early hours of the morning grading assignments and planning lessons in advance. Tonight he had put the work aside in favor of fresh air. Considering he had already smoked half a pack today, one more wouldn’t hurt. He took the cigarette from where it had been tucked behind his ear and continued to light it even after realizing he wasn’t alone. “Do you have a good reason for being out of bed at this time?” 

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?”

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

Aryan slowly breathed out, hoping and praying that Harper didn’t realise that NOTHING had changed since they were both young and fresh out of Hogwarts. At least not on Aryan’s side, anyway. Biting down on his bottom lip, he swayed his head to the side slightly before giving the other a lopsided grin. “Did you want to come back to my office to help me out?”

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.

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

Aryan watched for a moment, somewhat mesmerised as Harper pulled their hair up into a bun before recollecting himself as he realised he was mid conversation and didn’t have time to get distracted by Harper anymore. “That’s NOT actually a bad idea. At least that way I don’t have to spend my evenings deciphering my students’ awful handwriting. Instead, I’ll be deciphering something that probably has penises drawn all over it.”

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.”

[professor--halloway]

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

[professor--halloway]

@profaryandesai

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.”

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

“At least they TRIED to make a good excuse. I feel like the students aren’t even trying when they tell me the Giant Squid ate it.” Aryan sighed and shook his head before he frowned and pulled a face. “With POTIONS? I don’t think so. I don’t trust half of them making potions IN the classroom, let alone OUT.”

“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?”

[suspend]

[toffeely]

t o f f e e l y

[spaacemusings]

                                        it’s hard to forget someone                                    who gave you so much to remember

[professor--halloway]

profaryandesai:

“If the GIANT SQUID ate as much homework as he supposedly does, I’m pretty sure that he’d be so giant he couldn’t actually fit in the bloody lake. Maybe I should start giving points out for the creative excuses as NOT doing essays is a trend that’s going up rapidly.”

“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.”

[professor--halloway]

jamiepottcr:

“PROFESSOR,” James spoke loudly as his teacher sat down next to him, wolf-whistling and winking at them. “Has anyone told you that you look fit as fuck?” He laughed, not caring at all that he was inappropriately flirting with his teachers because it wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence. It wasn’t HIS fault that they were all attractive, including Halloway. “Sounds like your night is going to be pretty shit. Don’t the teachers get to party tonight or is that just Sluggy?”

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.”

[professor--halloway]

lukastatecfmind:

“Holy shit!” His eyes lit up with delight, having to hold his stomach with how hard he was laughing. “FINALLY! Where have you been? Come on! Give me a twirl!” He did the motion with his index finger, clapping when Harper obliged. “You look fucking fantastic. Really, now you’re putting me to shame. I have straw all over the place.” Only because Luka rushed putting his costume on. Clearly Harper had taken their time to make everything perfect.

“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!”

[professor--halloway]

maledicentella:

Marcella knew her skin tight clothes and leather was way off from her usual ripped jeans and plaid, but she felt damn good- and knew she looked it too. The pops of red on her shoes and lips did much with her curls to make her stand out pretty well where she stood against the wall, surveying the crowd before her. She’d spent the evening strolling through the party, talking to everyone whether she knew them or not. As the evening wore on, however, Marcella was grateful for the relief her leaning against the wall brought to her stiletto-clad feet. She was surely used to it from her family’s events, but it didn’t make it suck any less. Marc’s head popped up from adjusting her shoe as she heard the person before her speak, confusing spreading across her face. “I’m sorry? I didn’t quite catch that.”

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?”