Drowning Cornflakes (2093)

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

(This thread is set in Dan’s 7th year at Hogwarts which would be in 2093! So if your characters are between the age of 20-27 then you were at Hogwarts during this time…so please join in!!!)

Stifling a yawn Dan walked through the doors of the Great Hall looking around with blurry eyes trying to work out which table he was actually meant to be sitting at. He may have been at the school for almost seven years but it still did not stop him getting confused first thing in the morning.

Walking to the left Dan looked around for some faces he recognised only to spot that Hufflepuff table was full of housemates that he would rather die then talk to, so instead he went for the table that had the least amount of students sitting at it, and by guessing by the colour on their robes they were Ravenclaw’s.

Sitting down at the end closest to the staff table (thus the quietest end) Dan threw some cornflakes into a bowl and tipped off a jug of milk on top of it watching quite absentmindedly as it spilled over the edges. After another yawn Dan slowly started to save the cornflakes from drowning by picking them up with his spoon, yet their fate was not any better as they were stuffed into Dan’s mouth.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Toast idly munched upon as she turned the page of Frederick Longhorn's esteemed guide to all things Ministry she scanned the page, easily absorbing the information.

At the age of fourteen Chloe was just beginning to blossom nicely, though she tried in vain to hide her beauty with dark make-up and loose fitting robes that still couldn't hide her slender figure. Three friends sat about her, all girls, for they somewhat scorned men, all four being like-minded their personalities suited; all clever but without need of having their heads fully immersed in the pages of some moth eaten book, they just glanced idly at them, taking it in easily and chattering whillst doing so. All four were Ravenclaws too, but they were rather haughty believing even their fellow Ravenclaws were too bookwormy, but that other houses were generally just not clever enough. They were a secluded bunch of tight knit individuals who were fanatically loyal to each other. With their own house spurning their ideals and attitude they'd drawn together even closer, but more importantly for Chloe had learnt to defend themselves from those who wished to pick on "the freaks". Even the way they dressed with long black robes adorned with chains was seen as different, they weren't even typical Goths but extraordinary, at least they saw themselves in such a light. An air of mystique followed them, and they frequently stood up to their beliefs by challenging any who stood in their path to duels. The talented Chloe usually won over with her constant practising, even now her wand was close at hand, they were near looking for a fight to test their prowess, but only on the older years, they never picked on those below them like others and were fast to stand up for those who couldn't defend themselves. Unlike most teenagers who dreamed of making millions of galleons, these four were destined for places within the Ministry, and high places at that with their family backgrounds supporting their claims.

Now as a young, near handsome, man stepped into the great hall, looking around with rather bleary eyes, Chloe grinned, it was Hubbles, he was always good to tease, as he fought right back. Whispering to her companions she gave him a wicked smile as he sat at their table, which he so often did, seemingly more at home with Ravenclaws than his own house, she couldn't blame him, they were soft Hufflepuffs afterall.

"Hey Hubbles, been up all night or something?" She shouted knowing his reputation, "or are you just going solo at the minute?" A light smile graced her features as her companions shook their heads, Chloe always knew precisely what to say to get under a person's skin. Liandria laughed deciding she wished to needle him too, "woah watch it Hubbles, you've caused a bit of a spillage." As the four fell into heaps of laughter, for only their minds seemed quick enough to understand what they meant, Chloe looked over at Hubbles once more, or Dan as she knew him to be. He wasn't mean or anything, only his reputation preceeded him, but who'd date a ginger anyway, let alone sleep with one?

Well she'd heard rumours about Hubbles and Offley, but she still didn't know whether they were quite true or not, maybe it was time for some digging.
"Fraid Marsh is upstairs snogging Zack you weren't hoping you'd see her anytime soon were you?"
Liandria soon jumped on the bandwagon adding, "it's been known to take a while with him." Now they just had to judge his reaction, burning cheeks hopefully, or even better, maybe he'd draw his wand? Then the fun really could begin. Liandria nodded to Chloe, she knew Chloe had wanted to test a new move for a while now, and Hubbles would be the perfect guinea pig.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan was finding it hard to keep his eyes open, everything kept dropping into darkness as his eyelids blocked out the light and his head dropped slightly as sleep took him. He was quite fortunate though that he was able to catch himself at it before he went headfirst into his breakfast and as a respected seventh year it would not have done him any favours.
But he was given something to distract him when a very sombre looking Ravenclaw girl started to give him some lip.

Dan tried to ignore it at first knowing it was just a younger student trying to look cool in front of her peers but when he bothered to look he saw the group of four girls were sitting away from the rest of the house and getting some funny looks. ‘Great! Ravenclaw outcasts’ he thought to himself as they started to belittle him about his relationship with Offley.
Dropping the spoon into the bowl sending even more milt lapping over the sides Dan slowly began to clap sarcastically and turned to look at the ring leader of the pack with a less then impressed look.

“Can I be the first to offer my congratulations for knowing the name of a seventh year and then having the courage to talk to them….you should have been in Gryffindor.”

His voice dripped with more sarcasm then his look or clap did, he was far to tired to even deal with younger years who were getting too big for their own shoes. With a quick glare at the other laughing girls Dan slowly could not believe he was actually engaging in some form of conversation with such people, they were moody adolescents who seemed to find it ‘cool’ to be the odd balls in the year…in this case Dan was not being a moody teenager, just a very tired young adult.

“And Offley is not with some other guy; we did an all nighter in the library as she is still finishing off. Our finals are coming up soon as surprising enough we want to pass them so we can do something with our lives….I bet you guys want to be some form of depressed rock band.”

That may have been rather stereotypical of him but the way they were dressed and acted they just seemed they type to do such a thing and as a side thought he thought they we the types to dislike him because they all had a crush on Offley and she was his….after all she was the most beautiful Ravenclaw or in that matter student in the entire school in Dan’s rather bias eyes.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Chloe raised an eyebrow larconically, sharing an amused look with her friends, who each had looks of incredulity at his comment. If they didn't dare speak to an older year then they'd never stand a chance at succeeding in their careers. The four made a point of being able to converse with anyone, no matter how old and wise, or young and naive. They knew perfectly well that people skills were a necessity in their prefered careers.

Watching with amusement as Hubbles began clapping sarcastically Chloe had to admit that he handled the situation rather well, perhaps unlike most men, his testosterone didn't do all the talking. Maybe there was a gnawing undeniable fact in the back of his mind, that Chloe had the unnerving steely gaze of one who knew their own limitations, and therefore knew they could and would take someone down. Chloe and Liandria in particular had a whispered reputation, people didn't want to admit it but they were the top of their defence classes and knew exactly how to handle a wand, few had defeated them with ease, even though older years should know more spells the girls did extensive reading and practising of their skills, frequently challenging others to test their mettle. It was necessary to obtain a place in the esteemed Magical Law Enforcement Squad, particularly when one had the driving ambition to be a Hit Witch.

"Do you class this as courage?" Scoffed Liandria with a dry laugh, that Chloe echoed.
"I'd rather be congratulated on the sharpness of my tongue if that be the case," commented Chloe rolling her eyes obviously at Dan, though she begrudgingly admitted she admired the way he stood up to them, he did deserve their respect, even if it was begrudingly given.
"An all nighter in the library eh Hubbles? Nice one." Laughed Chloe with a smile that lightened her features instantly.
"Gave Marsh a good going over did you? She's been needing it." Liandria commented harshly, Chloe knew the root cause of that comment for Liandria was secretly jealous of the way all the guys looked at Marsh, well any with taste did. Liandria herself craved a little attention from guys once in a while, but for who she was not dressing up like a tart or acting flirtatiously. Chloe grinned at the insult but gave Liandria a swift kick under the table, "ouch," said Chloe to disguise Liandria's intake of breath and gritted teeth.

Knowing Liandria would soon forgive her Chloe turned back to Hubbles looking down the table at him with a faint smile, "fraid you're wrong there Hubbles, we've far greater ambition than that. You'll see one day, I promise you that." Her friends nodded taking that as having settled the matter, they returned to chattering amongst themselves, but Chloe kept one eye on Hubbles, she doubted he'd take such talk lying down, he seemed like one to fight back vigorously.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking we're stupid just because we're different Hubbles, I expected more from you." Shaking her head she let the last comment float turning back to her companions with a grin. Such a condescending tone would surely ruffle his feathers, and besides it was the truth and he should do well to mark it.

[Offley Marsh]

It had been a very long night but having Dan with her for company made the night pass much faster then Offley had expect. There time at Hogwarts was slowly coming to a close and she knew she had to enjoy the time spent with Dan when they had not cares in the world as soon as they left and entered the real world and both got jobs there would be responsibilities that she sometimes wondered if Dan would be able to handle.
The stress of the finals had been getting to him and the silly sod had become even more of a scatter brain then normal and as Offley was packing up her own books she noticed that Dan had left his glasses on the desk in his hurry to get some breakfast.

Slowly Offley made her way from the library, holding onto a stack of books and Dan’s glasses carefully placed in her pocket. The corridors were still quite but as she entered the Great Hall the volumes of people surmised her as did the fact she could not see Dan at the Hufflepuff table. Frowning slightly Offley was about to turn and leave when her gaze past over the Ravenclaw table and lo and behold there was Daniel sitting at the far end clearly not enjoying the conversation he seemed to be sharing with some of the lower year Ravenclaw’s.

Walking over with a broad grin on her face she walked up behind Daniel and dropt her books on the table causing a few students to give her angry looks. With an apologetic grin at them Offley tapped Dan on the shoulder so he turned to look at her.

“Sweetheart you left your glasses in the library, no wonder you can not see what you are doing.”

She was referring to the fact that the table around him seemed to be flooded with milk that was overflowing from his bowl of cornflakes. With a soft smile Offley pulled the glasses out her pocket and carefully slipped them onto her handsome boyfriend before giving him a quick kiss however it was only then did she become aware that they were being watched by Greenwich and her friends.
Turning around to face them Offley tucked a strand of her wild red hair behind her ear and with a less then impressed look at the group of girls who were considered as the Ravenclaw freaks. No one really talked to them and were content to let them get on with what ever it was they talked about however from time to time words would have to be spoken and today, sadly seemed to be one of those days.

“Enjoying the show ladies? But wait…if the rumours are true you would enjoy it more if I was kissing one of you?”