What if...

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Chapter 1

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The streets were crowded as always and Daniel Hubbles knew just as well as anyone that these were not the best conditions to let a six year old run around by themselves, but then that is just want he had done. Dan was trying to push his way through the sea of wizard and witch’s down Diagon Alley finding it hard to work out how a small child could move so quickly through such a dense crowd. However the amount of people slowly thinned and in a lapse of the crowd Dan spotted his son still running down the street laughing as he went, letting out a huge sigh of relief Dan broke out into a run and managed to catch up with a small child rather quickly picking him up off the floor and throwing him into a fireman’s lift finding it hard not to laugh along with the child’s shouts of protest.
“DAD!!!”
“Oh your Mum would kill me if I lost you again.”
“No she would not.” Peter protested. “She cares too much about Tanya.”

The small child stressed his sister’s name just to show his displeasure at the lavish attention that had been shown towards the latest attention to the Hubbles family. This was the reason why Dan had brought Peter to Diagon Alley, he was going to spend some money on his oldest and have some good old fashioned father and son time…surprising or not it had been Offley’s idea.

“Mum loves you both the same, Tanya is only a few months old she can not look after herself.” Dan pulled Peter out of the fireman’s lift and placed him down on the ground, and then he crouched down in front of him so he could look straight into the eyes of his son. “You on the other hand are my little guy, my right hand man remember? I defend you and you defend me, the unstoppable team.”

Peter nodded his head and as Dan stood up again he ruffled the blond hair of his son and took hold of his hand as they walked off down the street together. Dan was always proud about how much Peter looked like him although he had Offley’s eyes (which was not a bad thing) and he defiantly had got her intelligence.

“Owls…Dad can we go and look at them pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease.”

Dan looked down at the ginning face of Peter and although a frown was present on his face at first it soon melted away with the length of the please and he gave a slight nod of his head. Offley always said that he spoilt Peter, Dan said she never had any proof of this but if he turned up with yet another pet then maybe he would start to see her side of the story.

Pushing open the door of the shop the bell above it gave a little tinkle and a few owls hooted at the noise as it disturbed them from their sleep. The look on Peter’s face every time they came into the shop always made Dan grin almost as wide as his son and also like it was tradition Peter would run ahead, pick an owl he thought was the most handsome and then it would be Dan’s job to pick him up so he was level with the bird on its perch and he could pet it. Today it was a snowy owl that had caught his attention but something, or should it be said someone else had caught Dans eye.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

It was Mrs Dia Hargreaves stood with her seven year old daughter inside Eeylops Owl Emporium on a sunny day, the two looking at various owls and such that caught the gentleman's eye. Dia, with her long blond hair loose and curly hanging over her back, crouched down and her daughter with much the same hair as her mouth was pointing to a large black glossy owl before them.

It had been Fitz’s idea that Dia should take Azeal to Diagon alley because the young witch had not properly experienced the magical world for all its glorious treats. Azeal’s blue eyes were wide with excitement and the gorgeous owl before them hooted appreciatively at the attention it was receiving. Dia’s youngest daughter of four had not wanted to get up so she had stayed behind.

“Mummy,” Azeal said.
“Yes, my darling,” Dia said, looking to her beautiful daughter.
“Molly would love this owl.”
Looking back to the glossy owl, Dia nodded, a smile on her face. “She certainly would.”

Molly Hargreaves was a fiery little girl who still couldn’t fall asleep at night so cuddled up with her father, who also liked to sleep late. Dia had tucked the two in, making sure that they were comfortable, before she and Azeal left the house early that morning. Azeal was a lot more like her mother in many aspects, such as not being able to sleep past seven o’clock on most morning. They had both woken very early, which had caused many hushed giggles.

Now, as they stood before a great glossy owl, Dia thought on how lucky she was that she hadn’t gone on her travels and had in fact stayed with Fitz. Quinn had been her maid of honour which every found to be a big laugh as seeing Quinn in those lovely grey dresses was a sight. Aunty Quinn, as the girls so favourably called her, had protested very loudly about the dress but once she was in it, she fell silent. The laughter held up the wedding by five minutes, giving Dia’s mother endless worries.

Now, nearing eight years on and they had the perfect life going. Certainly Fitz and Dia fought, which couple didn’t, but Fitz had said once that it was the making up that was the best part of the fighting. Dia smiled at her first child, as the little girl rambled on about fifty reasons for them to get the owl. Straightening up, Dia smiled down at her daughter and she moved behind her so she could play with her long hair.

Just as Azeal was getting onto how important it was to be able to get in touch with her grandparents the door opened. Dia turned her head slowly, still smiling, to see a man come in after a small boy of no more then six. As the little boy gazed around wide eyed, Dia looked at the man. He looked a little familiar but more importantly he was attractive. Quickly realising her where her thoughts were leading her, Dia looked down to her daughter who had just ended her campaign by saying she had the perfect name.
“And what is it, darling?” Dia asked, most interested.
“Ishaq.”
“Why that?”
“It means laugh and he makes me so happy I want to laugh. Is that silly, Mummy?”
Crouching by her daughter again, Dia tickled the little girl whose loud laughter filled the whole shop, several owls squawking unappreciatively. “Just as silly as being ticklish. Now, why don’t you go find out how much he costs and you and I can haggle for him. How does that sound?”
The small girl’s face light up and she grinned from ear to ear, throwing her arms around her mother’s neck before running off.

Dia straightened and looked to the owl they were thinking of purchasing. But there was a nagging in the back of her head to look at the man who had come in. She did and smiled slowly at him.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Now this must be known, Daniel Hubbles had always been loyal to Offley even though their time at school he only ever had eyes for her which was why his slight breath taken moment by the beauty of this other woman shocked him. Turning away rather sharply to look back at the owl Dan tried to push the thoughts of this woman to the far depths of his mind and focus on his son, after all that was why he was here. But he had a slight problem that although he could hear Peter muttering near his ear about how owls kept their feathers nice and soft all Dan could hear was the voice of the woman and her daughter.

“Dad….Dad…Dad…DAD!”

Dan was snapped awake by the repetition of his name and he turned to look a Peter with a small smile upon his face. The small boy seemed quite happy to be suddenly getting the attention although Dan could see the look in his eyes and the twisted look on his face showing that the small boy was thinking and with his mothers intelligence that was never a good thing. He was only six and Dan was worried about being out thought by his own son. Raising his eyebrows to silently question ’What?’ Peter burst out into a small fit of giggles and pointed downwards towards the floor or to be more precise to his Dad’s shoe.

“You have owl poo on your shoe.” The small child continued to giggle and after a brief examination of the white splodge on his shoe Dan also began to laugh. Offley had told him not to wear his work shoes but he just really wanted to get out of the house in the morning that he could not be bothered to look for his other shoes after all how was he meant to know that an owl would use his shoe as a toilet?

It was clear that this incident had made Peter lose interest in this particular snowy owl and with a sharp kick in his Dad’s rips Dan got the impression that he wanted to be put back down on the floor so he could go and wonder around once more. And as soon as his small feet were on the floor he was off faster then a golden snitch moving from one owl to another, looking at one box of owl treats to another trying to take everything in all at once as if he had no time to spare.
Dan on the other hand did, he had learnt now that Peter just needed to let all this energy out in one big spurt and if Dan was to chase around after him he would not last till lunch time. So instead Dan stayed in the one place smiling every time Peter would laugh or make some sort of gesture to an item on the shelves. But his son was not the only thing on his mind and Dan’s gaze kept wondering over towards the woman in the shop and on around the fifth glace she looked at him and a small smile spread across her beautiful features.

At first Dan did not know what to do, should he look away and pretend he did not see or smile back. The first was out of the question as he feared what the woman might think and there was no harm in a smile, everyone smiles. So Dan returned her smile but without meaning to his tongue ran away with itself before he could think and he had said a very small one worded sentence but it was one of those words that almost was guaranteed to get you an answered back.

“Hey.”

It took Dan a lot not to wince after saying that one word, he realised how stupid it sounded and he kept saying it over and over again his mind thinking why he had said it in the first place and in such a way. He did not even say it in his normal voice; it was a small nervous crock that just fell out of his mouth, with a glace at Peter he wanted the boy to just call him over to save him from this embarrassing situation he had managed to get himself into, put the small boy seemed to be having a staring contest with the owl so Dan had nothing to do but stand where he was, hands shoved in his trouser pockets hoping that maybe the woman did not hear.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

But, unfortunately or not, Dia had heard. She had been waiting for him to say something so that this awkward silence that was passing between them would end. Dia liked to talk and she did it well ... once a conversation was established or begun. The simple phrase 'hey' was enough to get Dia going. Looking over her shoulder for her daughter, Dia took a slow step towards the man before deciding to close the distance properly.

"Hi," Dia said slowly as she turned a little so she could still see Azeal talking to the woman at the back of the store. Turning back to the man, Dia studied him a little closer now that she was too. He was very handsome but there was something about him that Dia couldn't place ... Ignoring it, Dia smiled and said slowly, "is it just the two of you?"

There was a shriek from the back of the store and Dia's hand automatically flew to the man's arm, gripping it tightly. When the shriek was followed by hysterical giggling Dia relaxed but for some reason her hand stayed on the man's arm. Looking at her hand on his arm and then up at the man's face, Dia's expression suggested confusion as though perhaps he had stuck his arm in her grip? Looking back to her hand, Dia suddenly released it and buried her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

Blinking and slowly licking her lips, Dia turned back to the man. "I'm sorry for that," she said, stiffly. She wanted to explain but having only just met the man she didn't know that she should. "It's just that ..." she took a deep breath, slowly looking back to her daughter who was playing with the woman at the counter, "it's never a pleasant sound to hear. A cry like that. It was the same sound my ... my youngest made ... before the car ..." A shaky hand moved to the blond woman's mouth as she blinked furiously.

Looking back to the man whose son was just out of Dia's sight, she laughed, with worry in her blue eyes. "I don't even know why I'm telling you this." She dragged her finger under her eyes, watching her child. "It's ... it's never easy," she began again, swallowing hard, "and I can't ..." Taking a deep breath, Dia shook her head. Strangers didn't need to know every little detail, and even any detail was too much. "There I go again," Dia laughed lightly, "please stop me next time I do it."

I can't believe you just did that, she groaned in her head, he definitely thinks your crazy! Sighing, Dia brushed her hair out of her face and held out her hand. "I'm Dia Hargreaves," she said slowly, hoping the man wouldn't back away slowly before running for his kid and out the door again. Since the accident Dia had been jumpy and Fitz, blaming himself, moody and a little distant. That Molly could weasel her way into his arms at night always amazed Dia.

Dia felt distinctly awkward now, after having shared but not quite shared. Cryptic was always worse then mysterious. She couldn't understand why it bothered her, having this man's approval. He was a complete stranger and she was unlikely to see him again so what did anything he thought of her matter? It shouldn't mean anything but Dia found herself waiting to hear what he would say.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

She was moving towards him, Dan could hear her footsteps on the shop floor and with a deep breath he turned to face the woman as her sweet voice floated over towards him. He managed another small smile unsure why he was feeling so nervous, in his job he would…did have to talk to people everyday why should this be any different. The next time the woman spoke she was asking a question that Dan could not help but laugh softly at as for some reason the first thought that came to his head was very much his normal self.

“Is that a backwards way of asking if I am married?” Dan looked straight into the eyes of the woman and laughed, and that was a slight bad move as her eyes were hypnotising and for the briefest of moments Dans mind went blank. With a small cough and looking away from her sparkling blue eyes Dan turned to look at his son. “It is only me and Peter in town today…my wife and daughter are at home.”

He risked another glance at her and found that it was not as bad this time, he was improving, he was…she was holding onto his arm. Dan froze, his heart stopped and he looked down at her hand that was gripping onto his sleeve. In the distance he had heard a shriek but he thought nothing of it, it was a playful shout, Peter often made those type of yells and at the same pitch. However for the woman it seem to bring up some sort of pain and it was only when she removed her hand from his arm that Dan almost longed for her touch and as she explained her story, her sparkling blue eyes dimming ever so slightly at the mere memories, Dan was compelled to wrap his arms around her and just hold her tight.

But he did not. Getting hugged by a complete stranger was not the most common thing even outside a pub on Friday night let alone inside Eeylops Owl Emporium in the middle of the day. So Dan remind with his hands in his jacket pockets and could only offer the woman a few sympathetic glances.

“I…I can not imagine what it is like…I…” Dan was about to say that he was sorry and did not blame the woman for acting in such a way, but he had turned to look at his son to see him trying to eat an owl treat.
“Peter!” Dan’s voice was quite jovial as he was finding it hard to believe what his son was doing and it seemed the young boy knew it was also slightly rebellious and at the call of his name the treat was gripped tightly in his hand and he hid it behind his back and gave his Dad that oh so innocent smile. Dan however was not fooled and raised his eyebrows and tried to be harsh with him but as always, always to Offley’s disgust, Dan could never find the will to shout or punish him.
“We are not owl’s son, put it back and when we are done here we can go and get some ice cream.”

The promise of ice cream was enough for the young boy and the treat was placed back upon the shelf and he skipped off to look at the owls once more. Shaking his head and chuckling to himself Dan turned back to the woman briefly forgetting what they had been talking about before and by the look on her face she wanted to move off the topic as quickly as possible also. It was then when she introduced herself and her last name rang a bell, Hargreaves…

“You’re not married to Fitz Hargreaves are you? The journalist.” Dan licked his lips, his heart was pounding in his chest and he was so excited by this mere fact that he did not even wait for an answer. “Could you tell him that Daniel Hubbles says Hi…and thanks for writing the article and congratulations on the award for it as well...but also tell him that it did not work because the animal was killed, the entire species wiped out in fact and so as a result I lost my job. “

Dan was talking so quickly he was not sure if she would have got any of it but it had actually been the first time that he had said anything to anyone. Not even Offley knew he had lost his job and now this woman did and in the process he had condemned her husband. It was then a great relief to Dan that he felt a tug on his arm and Peter was looking up at him pointing to the owl in the far corner as a sign that he wanted to pet it. Bending down Dan picked up Peter and only when Dan looked over at the owl he was pointing to did Dan realise that it was the very owl that Dia’s daughter was planning on buying.

“Well you may have to ask Mrs Hargreaves first.”
“Why do they own the shop?” I small frown spread across the boys features and was only confused even more when his Dad started laughing.
“No Peter, they are thinking of buying it.”

His mouth formed a small ‘o’ shape and he looked over at the lady and then back to his father before giving him a kick in the ribs as a single that he wanted to go down. Almost as soon as his feet where upon the ground he was running towards the counter where the shop assistant and the young girl were standing. Leaning over to try and have a better look he caught a small glimpse of Peter engaging the girl in conversation clearly finding himself more at ease talking to someone his own age.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Her momentary freak-out passed quickly but her heart was still racing. Dia could feel her cheeks were flushed with a rosy colour that accentuated the pale pallet of her skin. She did not like to talk about it, neither did Fitz. Rebecca had been so young, such a new addition to their family but she had left such an impression on their hearts vocalising their fears and worries was as though biting pieces out of one’s own heart. Too painful to recall.

Yet there she was, talking almost openly about it. The man must think she was a terrible person for telling a stranger what she had and a terrible mother for allowing it to happen. Merlin knew Fitz blamed himself and Dia did too. Neither could find comfort in that but they moved on. The hand at Dia’s mouth dropped to her side again and she looked at the little boy called Peter. He looked almost like his father.

She smiled slowly at him as he mentioned his wife and daughter at home. It was good to know that he had a family. All other selfish thoughts were then easily pushed out of her mind. She knew that she loved Fitz and that he loved her and that that should be enough. The next moment he called out his son’s name and went to him. Dia shifted her weight and she watched the two, an enchanted smile on her face, as her blond hair fell across her chest.

The next question that came made Dia laugh lightly. “Now that’s a backwards question if ever I heard one,” she would have said, but wasn’t given the chance. Instead the woman stood in silence listening closely to the message she had to convey. Daniel Hubbles, this must be him. Why did she have to meet, of all the people in Diagon Alley that day, this man? Dia remembered the article with a great deal of clarity and how proud Fitz was the day it was printed. The award had been a pleasant surprise too but as the man continued Dia’s smile faded and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

Dia knew she had to say something. Anything. But what was there to say that wouldn’t sound condescending. “I … erm, I am sorry to hear that,” she said softly. From a lack of doing anything with her hands, Dia tucked her hair behind her ears. Feeling distinctly awkward knowing that even Fitz’s best efforts it hadn’t changed anything and it had lost this man his job. Dia wouldn’t have any difficulty remembering his message for it had touched her heart.

To her great relief, Peter trotted over and got his father’s attention. As he picked up his son, Dia looked towards the back where her daughter was still talking to the woman behind the counter. Azeal had the amazing talent of being able to have long conversations with many people, younger or much older then herself. She was very confident, like her father, and decisive about what she wanted to say and know. Questions came so easily to the seven year old because she wanted to know everything about everything. Dia smiled as she watched her daughter, the twinkle returning to her blue eyes, but when she heard her name, Dia turned back to Daniel and Peter.

When Peter looked at Dia she smiled kindly, gently and nodded. She knew that the little boy wouldn’t want to ask her so wasn’t surprised when he ran towards Azeal. The little blond girl held up a finger to the boy to stop him from talking as she continued to speak to the woman. Dia laughed loudly and put her hand to her mouth again to hide that she was. That action was such a Dia thing to do and it was so funny to watch the little girl do the same thing. Soon, Azeal dropped her hand and looked at the little boy with a broad smile that made her look so like her father. The two began to speak and Dia turned back to Dan.

“How old is Peter?” she asked. It seemed the natural thing to ask, as at this point in their lives it was all about the children. “Azeal there is seven. She’ll happily tell you herself if you asked her.” This information wasn’t vital but it was what tumbled out of her mouth. “Molly is five and she is so much like her father.” That reminded the woman of an earlier comment the man had made. Daniel. An earlier comment Daniel had made.

“How did your wife take the news of your job?” Dia asked, much concerned.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan was not sure why type of reaction he wanted to get out of the woman after saying such a thing. He had condemned her husband almost with the blame for the loss of his job which only in the purest of rages did Dan Hubbles blame the reporter (even burnt the article) for mentioning the location and its venoms uses in potion making. However Dan did take some reassurance from what she had said, his work mates had remind silent in the office when the owl had arrived and only offered him nervous glances as he packed his desk. They knew as well as he did that it could have been any of their necks on the line and it was Dan’s time this time around.

Following Dia’s gaze back to the children he found himself laughing along with her at how Azeal had held her finger up to Peter to demand silence. The small boy seemed to be totally confused and he turned round to look at his Dad almost asking for reassurance only to see hummer in the face of his father. Shrugging the six year old turned back to look at the blond hair girl and waited for her to finish her question following his Dad’s advice of never rushing a female.

“Peter is six but acts like he is still four and I am ashamed it is much to my encouragement.” Dan gave a soft laugh and managed to tare his gaze away from his son and back to Dia. “Tanya is only 5 months old so it is still sleepless nights and with that hyperactive thing in the house you can never sleep in past 6 even on a Sunday.”

The Hubbles house hold was not what one would call perfect, like many families there were varying problems and hurdles to leap and so far they had managed to get over them all with only a few stumbles. The though one thing Dan always noticed was that in some shape or form there was always a strain on their relationship. At the start Dan would have the days when he would tell Offley straight off that he had wished he had gone on his travels and never got a bloody job, sometimes Offley would comment that they got married to early, had children far to early which Dan found hard to believe as he was past 30 and they had only just had their second.

Offley always wanted them both to have successful careers in the Ministry and they did achieve this, well paid jobs and respective power in their departments but it meant added pressure. Dan would spend months away from home studying the magical creatures in their habitats and then when he returned he would have to write up long reports on what he had found before he got shipped off to another country. He had missed a lot of Peter’s early stages in life because he was tracking red necked horned toads through the Amazon for months on end. With this in mind Dan was almost thankful he had lost his job as it meant he would not miss these precious moments with his daughter.

“Offley…does not know yet. I was scheduled to have some holiday time anyway so she just thinks I am on holiday. She does not know they told me not to come back and I have no idea how I am going to tell her.”

Dan lowered his head almost in shame that he had ended up telling this complete stranger and could not even tell his wife. Shuffling his feet along the wooden shop floor Dan swallowed hard and raised his head looking over at the beautiful features of Dia his mind wondering for the briefest of moments as his eyes ran over the curves of her body. It took a screech on an owl in the shop to wake him out of the slight fantasy and with a slight jerk Dan tore his eyes away and looked over towards Peter and Azeal seeing them both smiling and laughing Peter had clearly forgotten all about the owl and was much more amused in making friends with the girl.

“They seem to be getting on well.” Observed Dan simply in the want of saying something else. “It is nice seeing Peter talk to someone else other then his imaginary Puffskein Philippe.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Unsurity set into Dia’s mind as she laughed with the man who’s son was now making friends with her daughter. In the span of mere minutes she had gone from feeling allured to feeling awkward to feeling comfortable and relaxed in his presence. It was a little unsettling and at the same time it was intriguing as to why she would feel such things so strongly for a man she had only just met. She looked at him as they laughed together and couldn’t help but feel as though this was right. She knew that all the thoughts rushing through her mind were far from right for they were talking of their spouses so openly.

Dan began to speak about his children and as he did, Dia took the opportunity to remind herself that she was happy with Fitz. She loved him deeply and he loved her. She assured herself that that was enough to sustain her for the rest of their lives and that he would always be there for her. She didn’t need anyone else; she didn’t want this man. But as she tried to convince herself of this the more she began to wonder …

Shaking herself hard, Dia smiled at Dan as he spoke. She did enjoy hearing things about people’s children and when they spoke with such love and such adoration she could not help but smile. Her blue eyes met Daniel’s as he spoke and she could feel the power of his emotional attachment in his words. It was fantastic to know that there were still father’s out there that were willing to show their love for their children. Fitz scarcely shared his feelings with Dia, let alone telling the girls how much he loved them. Dia knew she was being overly sensitive about it but couldn’t help telling them every chance she got to make up for Fitz.

Offley. She ran name through her head and thought she might have recognised it, perhaps from school but she wasn’t sure. Dia’s eye brows raised when she heard that Dan had yet to let his wife but he had told her. That has to mean something … she whispered in her mind as though thinking it loudly might chase it away. Dia thought for a moment before planting her hands in her pockets to keep them from fidgeting. “The best way it to just come out and say it,” Dia advised. “There is no right time so just saying it straight is the best way to do it. Well, that’s just what I think.”

After her little speech, Dia’s cheeks flushed with colour again. She wasn’t used to being so outspoken but feeling as at ease as she did with this man encouraged her some. So her rosy colour faded quickly and she smiled at the man. She felt honoured that he would confide in her so. The blond woman was unsure why she felt so, only having been with the man for a few minutes but already felt a deepening connection with him. Perhaps it was wrong, perhaps it was moving too fast, but Dia felt it and wondered if he felt it too. She looked at him with inquiring eyes but couldn’t find the words to vocalise what was going through her mind.

Their children became the centre of their conversation once again and Dia had to force herself to look away from Dan. The two children were laughing and it brought a smile to Dia’s face to see them so care free. It was clear that both children’s parents present were bogged down with worries. Looking back to Dan, Dia smiled at him again. “Shall we go join them?” she asked and without waiting for a reply walked towards her daughter and the young Peter.

“So,” Dia said, crouching down next to Azeal, “what have we decided?”
Azeal smiled at her mother and laughed. “What are you talking about, Mum?” the small girl said, “we were talking about flying, weren’t we, Pete?” Azeal smiled at the little boy as though telling him to keep their little secret.
Dia narrowed her eyes at Azeal and began to tickle the girl. She burst into laughter. Dia picked her up and swung her around. “Is that so?” she chuckled. “Is that so?”
Azeal laughed and tried to get out of her mother’s firm grip. “Yes, yes,” Azeal giggled. “It is.”

Dia put Azeal down on the ground again and hugged her tightly. “I believe you.” Releasing her daughter, Dia smiled at the two children.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Everything was right about Dia Hargreaves and even with his limited experience with women (LOL) Dan Hubbles knew that Fitz was an extremely luckily man to have such a woman as his wife. Just the smallest look made Dan’s heart palpitate it was her eyes, it was all in the eyes. They sparkled like the stars at night and it reminded Dan of the nights he spent out in the wild just looking up at the night sky thinking of those he loved back home, his family.

What was he doing? He had a wife, children, his son was standing only meters away from him and yet here he was gawking at the blond haired woman that just happened to be the same shop. Maybe gawking is not the right word to describe the way Dan was feeling, he wanted to carry on looking he wanted to touch the flame but his common sense told him not to, the love for his family told him not to but there was something about Dia that made these thoughts momentarily pass. He could not help but wonder that if situations had been different, had they met when they were not married then maybe...but these thoughts would be fruitless as here they were married and with families, tied down, out of bounds.

Dan quickly looked away as this final thought filled his head, he did not care what he was looking at (it was in fact a bottle of medicine to give to you owl on the occasion it had worms) he just needed to have a moment to recollect his thoughts. Had he just dared to think about having an affair, wanting something he can not have, something different?

It was during this thought that Dan heard Dia mention about saying things straight when no time would seem appropriate. It was very good advice but for some reason his imagination kicked in for the briefest of moments and he imagined himself seizing the opportunity and taking hold of Dia and kissing her here and now in the middle of the shop. In reality however Dan Hubbles merely turned around slowly and looked at the woman trying not to look directly into her heart stopping eyes. However when the briefest flush of colour filled her fair face the man dared to look up and met her gaze and he could not help but sense something there, maybe he was only seeing what he wanted to see, if that is really what he wanted to see.

Luckily for Dan, possibly even both of them Dia made the decision to move in the direction of the children and Dan was more then thankful for the distraction. With every step he took to Peter he felt more at ease, like it was the norm restoring itself, his little piece of Offley that he could cling to and help batter away the thoughts of Dia. The problem was that with every smile she sent over towards him Dan would grin back with enthusiasm and when he watched her interaction with her daughter Dan saw a true mother. Glancing down at Peter Dan saw his son smiling at the sight of his new found friend having fun and he gave a glance up at his father almost begging him to do something of the same magnitude, instead Dan was more concerned about finding his tongue becoming strangely aware that he had been silent since he told Dia that he had not told Offley about the lose of his job.

“Flying?” Dan questioned crouching down next to Peter and giving the odd glance over towards Azeal and Dia, but at Dia’s announcement of believing the children Dan gave Peter an inquisitive glance. “Well if Mrs Hargreaves believes you… and thinking about flying…we have Quidditch tomorrow mate Aunty Girty got hold of some tickets for us.”

The look on Peters face was priceless, his mouth dropt open and his eyes grew wide and before Dan knew what was going on the small boy had wrapped his arms around his Dads neck and was talking to quickly that even after years of practise Dan could not pick up all the words. As the small boy let go Dan pushed himself up and looked over at Dia, an idea hitting him faster then lightening.

“Would you guys like to come along?” Dan asked keeping his gaze fixed upon Dia. “My sister is best mates with the Chudley Canon keeper and so she gets tickets to all the home games and on the days she can not come we get the tickets. Offley can not really come so we have two left over and it would be a same to waste them as they are such good seats.”

Dan bite his lip as he waited for an answer, apart of him wanted to say that she could bring Fitz if she liked as it would be interesting to met the man again but the selfish part of Dan wanted to have Dia all to himself. The thought of being able to spend more time with Dia was at this present moment in time what he pictured heaven would be like and if she brought Azeal along with her, or even her other daughter then it would give Peter someone his own age to talk to and give the adults a little more time to get to know each other.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The blue eyed Azeal blinked down at the blue eyes Dia and she back at her daughter. The two smiled and laughed. They both knew that the two children hadn’t really been talking about flying but it was a good story. Azeal was just like her father like that; stories came so easily to the little girl. Molly had more of a love for knowledge then the story, just like her mum. Dia so often noticed the similarities between her children, herself and her husband, the man she loved very much. She kept running that thought through her head as she and Azeal turned back to Daniel and Peter.

At the mention of Quidditch Azeal’s face lit up. The young girl began to bounce on the balls of her feet, her eyes wide with excitement, and a smile stretching from ear to ear. Dia noted that Peter had much the same expression before he wrapped himself around his father. Seeing a father be so loving, so openly loving with his son (and Dia was sure that he was as openly loving with his daughter too) made Dia smile. It constantly broke her hear t to see Fitz becoming so distant since the accident. She hadn’t felt comfortable talking to him about it because of his withdrawal from her, and their other children. What kind of peace could either of them find when such a thing was hanging over their heads?

”Would you guys like to come along?”

Dia came back to the shop that she was standing in with her daughter at her side and an attractive man and his son before her. He’s married, Dia, remember that, she told herself. She couldn’t let her mind drift to the places it was now wanting to go. She shouldn’t. She shouldn’t give herself more reason to be unhappy in her marriage. Not that she was unhappy, of course, she wasn’t one to complain. But she couldn’t help but wonder …

Focusing on Dan, her blue eyes meeting his, Dia smile slowly came to her face as Azeal started tugging on her hand.
“Mummy, Mummy, Mummy,” Azeal nagged, “please can we? Please, please, please!”
Dia had to force herself to look away from Dan and to her daughter, her smile still on her face.
“Please Mummy,” Azeal carried on, “I’ve never gone before and I’ve always wanted to. Please can we go.”
The small girl smiled up at her mother sweetly, trying her luck with her charm.
Unable to say anything but what the girl wanted to hear to such a face, Dia nodded. Turning back to Dan, Dia said, “We would love to join you.”
Azeal began to jump up and down, clapping her hands, her long blond hair bouncing with her.

Dia laughed and looked back at Daniel. The keenness of his gaze made her take a breath but she recovered quickly and cleared her throat, looking back to Azeal. Rolling her eyes as the girl was still jumping up and down, Dia looked back to Dan and Peter. “There was mention of ice cream,” she said pointedly, “would you mind terribly if we joined you?”

At the mention of ice cream, Azeal stopped jumping and looked enquiringly from Peter’s father to Peter. “I love ice cream,” the young girl said with no pretence. She was the one person in her family that had such a sweet tooth that she put everyone else to shame and she loved cold yummy ice cream too and always pushed to get some when she had the chance. She didn’t always get it and she was fine with that but today she was going to get it, whether her mother liked it or not.

Dia did in fact like the idea of getting ice cream. Not only did it mean that her daughter was distracted from the owl that she wanted but she would get a chance to stay with Dan a little longer. She knew that she shouldn’t. She shouldn’t put herself in a situation like this where the temptation was so great but she didn’t care. Dia had made up her mind, she wanted to get to know Dan a little better, even if that was all she would get from the relationship. It would be enough for her.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

It was the longest half a minute in Dan Hubbles life, his heart was racing, the palms of his hands were tingling with sweat and he quickly rubbed them on his trouser legs thinking that it would hide the fact he was this nervous. Dan could not think of a time when he had been so tense waiting for an answer, he would have liked to say that he felt like this waiting for Offley to accept his hand in marriage…but in truth it was not the most romantic of proposals in fact it was Offley who suggested that they got married...so in reality she proposed to him.

His agony for an answer was only prolonged by Azeal begging her mother; to Dan it seemed that this poor girl really had not been brought too often into the wizarding world. Dan and Offley brought Peter into it almost straight away; it was his world why should he not be allowed to experience its wonders from a young age?

When the answer finally came it was the one that Dan had been hoping for in fact it was more. Maybe he was reading far to much into it but she said that she would ‘love to come’ with them, ‘love’…maybe he was reading to much into it, whatever there was to read into it. They were married, they had children and yet here was Dan acting like a second year who had the biggest crush on the most beautiful girl in the school.

“Ice cream?” Dan questioned back feeling slightly lost, still on a miniature high that Dia had said yes.
“DAD! You said we could go for ice cream!” Peter jumped in protesting that his Father was going back on his word.
“Oh Ice cream!” Dan suddenly realised what was going on around him. “Oh yeah there is a shop just near the bottom of the ally that sells the best ice cream in the world and….I…should…what is it Peter?”

Dan’s son was pulling at his jacket again trying to get his Dad’s attention as and as normal it worked. “Dad can we have the Triple choc with multi-colour changing vanilla with extra sprinkles, cream and an extra wafer!”

Dan had joined in with his sons order knowing it all too well. The bowl it came in was bigger then his head and every time it was placed on the table in front of him Dan could not help but wonder how the hell Peter would eat it all, but alas the small child always seemed to, as well as getting half of it all over his face in the process. Dan would try and clean Peter up as much as he could but he would always miss a spot and so when they were at home eagle eyed Offley would know just what they had been eating on their trip and once the kids were in bed she would lecture Dan about how too much ice cream is bad and blah blah blah…it was when this lecture started Dan normally switched off and just nodded his head to make it seem like he was listening.

He was not sure why but now he was here and thinking about everything in his life the marriage that he had not doubt once in its entire span now seemed to flawed and imperfect. Dan thought he was the one to have broken the Hubbles curse that at some point they would do something to stuff up a relationship, he had never cheated on Offley, he had never even looked at another woman until Dia and now, now he was having thoughts, ideas that for a man who was meant to love his wife and family should not have.
Looking at the two children that seemed overjoyed by the prospect of getting something as simple as ice cream Dan could not help but laugh and with a small sigh Dan looked back over at Dia and grinned at her, pushing all thoughts of Offley out of his mind…today was his and Peter’s day and meting Dia was just a bonus.

“I think that would be a yes to you accompanying us however I have one condition…” Dan gave Dia a very cheeky grin while trying to catch Peter who was now running around his legs laughing happily at the prospect of ice cream. “…you let me pay.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Chapter 2

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Naturally, if a man wanted to splurge on her, Dia would not refuse. She had agreed, although begrudgingly, to allow Dan to pay for their ice creams. It was rather chivalrous of him, in Dia’s opinion. He didn’t need to make such an offer, he didn’t need to be nice to them but yet he was. A decent man by Dia’s gauge of his character, and that was what Dia was finding she liked about Dan, he was an open book just waiting for her to read.

Together the four had made their way to the ice cream shop, Dia and Azeal following Dan and Peter. The streets had been very crowded and the noise near deafening, but who needed words when you could not vocalise the deep and dark desires of your heart? She made a promise to herself as Dan held the door for the two females and they entered that she would not allow herself to get too attached to this man, this man who actually looked at her as though he was interested in who she was.

The shop too was busy, but it didn’t mind. Dia smiled at Azeal who had let go of her hand and fallen into the queue. Dia loved how independent Azeal was and how hard headed and grown up she could be. Dia moved to where Azeal was in the queue and leant down keeping her legs straight.

“Azzie,” she said gently, softly, “you going to be alright in the queue by yourself?”
The confident blond girl gave her mother such a look of indignation but caught herself, then smiled and nodded.
“Of course I will, Mummy,” the small girl said, “as long as you give me the money I’ll be fine.”
Dia laughed.
“That’s my girl,” she chuckled and put her cheek against Azeal’s so she could whisper, “but Mr Hubbles is paying for us so go wild.” Dia pecked her daughter on the cheek before turning back to Daniel.

Dia looked around and saw to high bar stool-like chairs open by the counter by the large window that looked out over the street. “Azeal said she would stand in line,” she informed him, smiling. “Peter can stand with her, tell her what’s best to order as neither of us has been here before. Would you do that Peter?” She asked gently, smiling at him too.

Moving to the window, Dia sat down on the stool and crossed her legs, looking at her daughter already making the tall man in front of her laugh. Dia admired that about her daughter, among other things. A sadness filled her mind, her eyes, but she hadn’t realised it. Her mind had wondered to the accident again unwittingly. When a comforting voice came to her she thought for the slightest moment that it was Fitz but when she looked up it was Dan.

“Hello stranger,” she said half dreamily. “Fancy meeting you here.” [/font][/color]

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Making sure that he did not lose Peter again like he had done earlier that day Dan and his son walked hand in hand down the street, weaving their way in between the crowds leading the others too the Ice cream shop near the bottom of the street.
They were entering the last few weeks of August and Dan knew that the streets were full of students getting their belongs together before heading back to Hogwarts for the new school year and so when Dan held open the door of the ice cream parlour he was not surprised to find the place bursting at the seams.

By the time Dan had held the door open for a few more people coming in and out him and Peter had to fight their way through the crowds to find Dia and Azeal who were already standing in the queue. Dan just stood and watched Dia, ignoring everything that was going on around him, the relationship she had with her daughter was heart warming and he could not help but wish that Offley had half of that relationship with their kids. She was a good mother, this fact must not be ignored, it was just that Dan knew Offley wanted to do more then sit around and play mummy.

Only when he heard Dia’s voice did Dan wake up from his thoughts but he was not the one she was talking too. At her request Peter nodded his head happily and quickly waddled off to stand next to Azeal in the queue, clearly overlooking the fact they would have to pay for the ice cream. Reaching into his jacket pocket Dan pulled out his little bag of coins and wondered over towards Peter lightly dropping it into the boy’s hands and shot his son a small wink. That was their code, they had it every time they went out as a family, the wink to tell Peter to do whatever he wanted and the young boy always relished those situations.

Following Dia to the table, Dan slipped onto one of the stools and rested his elbows on the table and looked just looked at Dia. Even in her dream like state Dan could not tear his eyes from her, he felt like a young teenager again, staring at the hottest girl across the classroom knowing that she would never think the same things about him, but that is when imagination came into play…and Dan’s was working over time.

“Hello stranger to you too.” Dan said with a small smile but it soon faded “That is all we are really…total strangers, I have known you for less then an hour.” He ran his hand over the stubble on his chin and glanced over at the kids who were slowly moving along in the queue, they had a bit more time. “We have a minute to tell each other as much as we can about ourselves so we can class each other as acquaintances rather then strangers.” He gave a small nod of his head so signal that the rules had been set. “I shall start then…

“Daniel Alex Hubbles, I am 30, been married for 9 years, two kids Peter and Tanya. One younger sister called Girty who I can not imagine life without…my mum is a muggle, Dad is a wizard and he gave up the magical life style to be with her… I come from a long line of Hufflepuff’s and fear I will disgrace the family name when my first born gets put in Ravenclaw as he has far to much of his mother in him…Recently lost my job…dearly wished I went travelling when I had the chance….Strangely talented at Charms but yet I can not remember what wood my wand is made of let alone the core…favourite colour is yellow…wish I could just stay at home and be with my kids and…and….” he glanced down at his watch and saw the second hand tick by giving him less then five seconds…”…and I think you are insanely beautiful.”

Dan did not know where that last statement had come from; it just seemed to slip out his mouth, just like a high school kid would do. Looking down at the table Dan swallowed hard and tried to compose himself before raising his eyes and once again letting them admire the sight of Dia Hargreaves. For a moment he forgot he was in a room full of hundreds others, he forgot that his own son was meters away, he forgot he was married, he could only think about Dia.

The background noise of the room filled his ears again and drowned out the thoughts that were spread through his mind and with a small, nervous smile Dan looked at Dia and tried to find his voice even if it was weak and still slightly shaken from his outburst.

“Go on it is your turn.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

It was good to have someone to share with, Dia realised as she smiled up at Dan when he joined her. He returned her joke and she smiled a little wider, though her mind was still distracted. She supposed it was a little unfair on him that she be elsewhere when they were sitting together, even trying to get to know one another. Dia knew she wanted to get to know Dan and by the look in his eyes she was certain he wanted to get to know her too.

Dan began to speak and Dia pulled herself towards herself and paid attention to what he said. At his proclamation that they should tell each other as much of themselves as possible in one minute Dia laughed. She didn’t know why she did so and Dan was off. She ate up his words, somehow making sure she remembered every detail of what he said. She wanted to know as much about this man as possible. As his final words tumbled out of his mouth, Dia blushed deep fuchsia and smiled shyly.

He pushed for her to go and Dia was happy to, anything to get her mind off what Dan had just said.

“I was born Dia Isobel Owen to muggle parents. They are both lawyers so a little anally retentive; I only got to like my mother after I had Azeal. I don’t have any siblings but my four cousins were like my sisters and brother while I was younger. My mother fainted when I got my letter from Hogwarts. I’ll never forget that.” Dia thought about the day it had happened and laughed before realising she was loosing precious seconds. “Oh, erm, I take your comment about Peter being in Ravenclaw to heart as I was in Ravenclaw and there’s nothing wrong with that! I had a knack for Astronomy … more of a deep interest caused by my insane crush on the professor.” Again Dia laughed, she could not help but wonder what spell Dan had put on her that she was admitting to such things. “He crushed me beyond any reason but lucky for me Quinn and Fitz were there to support me through it … but that’s a story for another day. I married Fitz nearly straight out of school, going on eight years now and we have Azeal and Molly and I’ve mentioned about Rebecca.

“My favourite colour is silver; I adore getting caught in the rain without an umbrella.” The last was true but said purely to lighten the mood. It seemed all she had to talk about was upsetting and sad. She didn’t like that thought as she always thought she was rather good company. Perhaps is was simply not her day? Maybe?

She smiled at Dan, unsure where to go from there. At this point all she wanted to do was lean over and kiss him but with their children right there and their having spouses it just did not seem right. But even knowing this did not stop the desire to do such a thing. Another topic, that was what they needed. Quidditch! She smiled and leant back in her chair. “You mentioned your sister knows someone who plays quidditch?” she prodded.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan could still feel his cheeks burning red and by the looks of it Dia had given the same reaction to his response and he half feared that she would just stand up, take hold of Azeal’s hand and walk out of the shop…out of Dan life. But instead she smiled at him and played along with his game and she started to list off the things about her.

He was on the edge of his seat as she talked, he did not breath or blink for that whole minute scared that he was going to miss something. At the mention of her mother fainting Dan could not help but laugh along however when she mentioned the part about Ravenclaw the ex-Hufflepuff could not help but role his eyes, he only ever seemed to fall for the Ravenclaw’s.
Admittedly the end of Dia’s story was a little more sombre then most, but then life has a way of throwing us in the way of misfortune, it just seemed Dia had had her fair share of them already in life.

A silence soon fell over them, Dan could see that Dia was thinking and he too was lost in his own world of thought and intrigue and so at her question about Quidditch (and more importantly his sister) Dan was more then happy to answer, even though he was a little distracted at first.

“Hum…” That was all the words Dan could manage at first, his mind was still racing thinking through all the information he had been handed in that minute. “…Grace Marks her and Girty were best mates back at Hogwarts.” Dan stopped and gave a small laugh as he fondly remembered the antics of a few summers ago. “Grace and Girty came to stay with me and Offley a few summers ago, but Girty being Girty could not just bring one person, I think at one point we had seven guests in the house.”

Dan could not help but smile as he remembered the look on Offley’s face when a gang of Hogwarts students came through the front door. Peter was still very young and he loved the attention everyone had given him, Dan just loved being able to play host to all Girty’s mates. The Quidditch games in the farm fields just out of the town, the spur of the moment shopping trips and the endless laughs that seemed to echo around the house were some of the greatest memories he had.

Letting his gaze longer on Dia Hargreaves for a while longer Dan slowly turned his head to one side to look at how the kids were progressing in the queue. Peter had clearly found his voice and he was vigorously prodding the list of ice creams by the counter showing Azeal what was the best concoctions of ice cream were. However by the look on the by face his fellow queue mate had suggested an ice cream he did not like and he was not being quiet about letting his disgust be known.

Shaking his head Dan turned back to Dia trying to remember what had been said before he had been distracted by the children. That was going to be the problem with this meeting, no matter how much he wanted to get to know Dia he knew that with their children with them there were certain things that could not be spoken, but then some of the thoughts rushing through his mind every time he looked deeply into those heart stopping eyes of Dia should never be spoken allowed…he was married after all.

“So Azeal has never been to a Quidditch game then?” Dan asked trying to get the conversation going and where better to start then with the topic of their children. “I think I took Peter to his first game when he was one, although when he was much younger at one of our Hubbles gathering he tried to eat the snitch.”