What if...

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

At first Dan seemed a little disgruntled by her question about his sister … or perhaps he was merely distracted. It mattered little as the answer to her probing question came all the same. The other name he dropped in, Grace Marks, was one that Dia knew, naturally, being an avid quidditch follower, though circumstances had kept her way from it for a number of years now. Dia supposed it was the rush of blood that came when the tension of the game could be cut with a spoon, the action never died.

At the mention of his sister, Dia could see the love this man had for his sister in his eyes. They lit up in such a different way then when he spoke about his wife, or when he looked at his son. Dia supposed she had missed out on that but she couldn’t imagine her mother and father raising another child, she had been enough of a bother … she had always felt. Naturally her parents loved her but sometimes she wondered if they blamed her for Mother not becoming a judge or father becoming the head of his law firm.

The story Dan told was heart warming and giggled along. She had never had many sleepovers as a student, except for that one summer she, Fitz and Quinn had stayed with Mr Locksley. That had been a fun summer but it felt like so many years now that she felt old. She had always said that the day she felt old was the day she would book herself into an old age home. She was going to have to rethink that move, to be sure. It occurred to her that it was only now, sitting with this man, this stranger, at age twenty five that she felt truly alive. She didn’t want to give that up just yet.

Dan’s gaze moved from her and Dia could feel her brow furrowing. Why was he looking away? Looking to where he was Dia’s frowning expression quickly disappeared and was replaced with an embarrassed flush of colour in her cheeks and she looked down at the grown, ashamed. How could she have been so childish? Why was this getting to her? Why was she letting it?

The topic persisted as Dan asked her a question on Quidditch. This was good, she assured herself, he had not seen her embarrassment. She would not have been able to explain it had he asked about that. She felt odd … a sort of guilty about not having taken Azeal to a game. It just wasn’t a priority in her life at the moment and too many things had happened recently to simply go out and Dia understood that was no excuse.

“Azeal has been to a game,” Dia said after a moment, watching the two children with a slightly amused smile on her face, “she just doesn’t remember it.” Dia looked at Dan, still with that same mischievous smile on her face. “The last game I went to was when I was pregnant with Azeal. It was the Ballycastle Bats against Puddlemere United. I’ve never screamed so hard in my life; I was hoarse for a week. That was the game the Bats won four hundred and seventy to three hundred and twenty. What a game that was!” Dia smiled into nowhere at the memory.

But the idea of taking her baby girl to a game like that one both excited and worried Dia Hargreaves. She knew what could happen and taking this leap with Dan was the most adventurous thing she had allowed herself to do in many years. She could tell that Azeal wanted to go more then anything, it was painfully clear. The only question was, could Dia let go just a little bit to actually enjoy herself?

Just then Azeal and Peter came trotting over to them, Azeal carrying two large cones with three large scoops of different coloured ice cream on them. Dia hopped off her stool and quickly took the ice cream from her. “Thank you, dearest,” Dia said smiling. She straightened and added, “And I supposed I need to thank you too.” She lent over and lightly kissed Dan on the cheek. “Thank you.”

Azeal had not seen the kiss on the cheek, she was too busy quizzing Peter on what exactly they had gotten. “And this flavour?” she asked, pointing to the middle of the three scoops.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan knew he needed to keep the conversation moving, he did not trust himself in the long moments of silence. He had become very aware of how much he was looking at Dia, it was hard not, she was a beauty and had a personality to match. He felt like he could have a conversation with Dia unlike Offley when she talked at him not giving him an opportunity to give an opinion. It is where the problems all started and they would never end if they could not communicate.

“I do not think being a foetus counts really.” Dan teased as he looked over at Dia from the other side of the table. The look on her face said it all, the gleam in her eyes, her perfect eyes. Dan had all but zoned out, a lopsided smile on his face just lost in the eyes of Dia Hargreaves. It was only when she continued with her tale about the Quidditch game did Dan realise that he too had been there, it was hard to forget a match like that, all who where there had witness a spectacular game.

“I was at that game with Girty. It was brilliant…you remember when Hewitt smashed that Bludger at Lonsdale and it over shot and went smashing into the stand…that is where me and Girty were standing. We all dived out the way and I just remember laughing so hard with like 3 peoples lying on top of me in this huge heap.”

It was only then did he notice that Peter and Azeal had returned with the ice cream when he noticed Dia stand up and take her cone off her daughter. Dan was about to do the same with Peter when the blond haired woman moved closer to him and kissed him on the cheek. He became tongue tied and he could feel his cheeks burn slightly, half of him wanted to kiss her back but he dared not so instead he just managed to summon a weary smile.

Trying to forget this Dan thought he would make sure that Peter did not drop any of the ice creams on the floor. (One was particularly getting to an angle where it would soon end up on the floor) As he pulled one of the cones away from his son he heard him answer Azeal’s question.

“That flavour is lemon sherbet and that one…” The little boy pointed at the scoop that was turning from a green to a blue, “…is the mystery flavour. Dad says they make it the same way as the jelly beans.”
“Dad does not say…Dad knows.”

Dan gave a soft chuckle as picked Peter up with his free hand and sat back on the stool letting Peter sit on his lap so the boy could reach the table. This of course made it a bit more challenging for Dan to eat his own ice cream but then he would rather have Peter drop the ice cream on the table then down himself which would only lead to questions when they got back home. The six year old that was sitting on his lap was already getting stuck into his ice cream (quite literally) and had tried every flavour give a small squeak of delight as the mystery flavour for him turned out to be apple. Dan on the other hand had barely touched his ice cream; his mind was much more pleasantly engaged with thoughts of Dia.

“Dad…Dad…Dad…” Waking from his dream Dan looked down at the son trying not to laugh at the sight of him as he had managed to get the ice cream all over his face.
“Yes Pete?”
“Nothing.” The small boy giggled and returned back to his ice cream, leaving his Dad frowning slightly in bemusement.
“Oh…well that is good then.”

And who said having kids would be dull? They are the perfect excuse to met beautiful strangers as well as act like a five year old all over again.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia could not believe herself. There she was, standing with her eldest daughter flirting out right with a man who had his own sun with him. It was unheard of, it wasn’t fair on Fitz. Dia knew he was having a hard time with everything that had been happening … she knew too that those exact same hardships had been happening to her too. Fitz had always been one for the dramatics. It had made him exciting when they had been younger, now all it did was drive him and her crazy.

Peter explained the flavours to Azeal and Dia concentrated, trying to register what the flavours where. She wasn’t paying attention. She was concentrating on Dan who was being so attentive to his child. Dia thought it was the most enduring thing she had seen all day, the way he put Pete on his lap, despite the discomfort it caused him. Dia smiled happily to herself as she turned back to Azeal.

“Darling,” she said, gently, “do you want a chair or –“
“Yes,” the small girl demanded.

For some time Azeal had been opting rather for the more independent route whenever they went out. Dia indulged her, thinking that independence was one thing that she wish she had when she was a child. It had occurred to her that she would not appreciate it as much but that was a chance she seemed willing enough to take. Fitz was unhelpful in this department so she didn’t even try any more.

The ice cream Dia was handed was very nice: the flavours were rich, the ice cream took ages to melt, and the presentation just shouted ’eat me! eat me!’. Dia was more then happy to oblige with that. As she pulled a chair closer for Azeal, she licked her ice cream, looking past it to Dan. He was a very attractive man, there was no getting past that, and there was something pleasant about the way his mouth moved as he spoke and smiled at his son.

Azeal jumped onto the chair next to her mother and laid a napkin on her lap that had been wrapped around the cone of her ice cream. Dia beamed at her daughter. She had no idea where that came from. She looked at Dan, then back to the napkin, then back to Dan where she smiled broadly and shrugged. It was clear that any getting to know each other would not happen when the children were around though under the circumstances Dia thought that could be a good thing.

Both of the children were not tucking into their ice creams, and Dia began to carefully eat her own. She was careful to make sure that there weren’t any places where it could drip off and onto her. That was the last thing she wanted, to be remembered by Dan as the silly woman who messed ice cream on herself. Dia would be mortified if that happened so she was extra careful.

Azeal made a funny coughing noise and Dia turned to her in concern, turning her knees and whole body towards her daughter. Dia took her ice cream in her other hand and lightly tapped Azeal on the back, a harsh pinch in her forehead. “Azeal,” Dia said softly, leaning closer to her daughter, “is it your throat again? Is it the ice cream?”

Azeal coughed a little harder, her small hand moving to cover her mouth as she coughed. The other hand drifted slight, unconsciously, with the ice cream cone becoming more and more horizontal as the seconds ticked away. Neither Azeal nor Dia noticed this as they were both too busy worrying about Azeal’s cough.

“Here,” Dia said, holding her ice cream out to Dan, “could you hold this for me?”

Scarcely waiting for a reply, Dia began digging in her hand back for the drops that Azeal needed. Azeal coughed harder this time, and her ice cream flopped lazily onto Dia’s knee. Dia froze as the coldness shot through her trouser leg onto her skin. Azeal’s coughing brought her back and the small vial out of her handbag. The drill was well carried out, from practice clearly: Azeal put her head back and opened her mouth wide, sticking her tongue out, while Dia dropped four drops into her mouth. Azeal dropped her head and from the expression on the small girl’s face it was clear that the drops were nasty.

Dia put the stopper back into the vial and dropped it into her handbag as she rubbed Azeal’s back. “Better?” she asked and the small girl nodded. “Good.” She smiled up at Dan and took back her ice cream. “Thank you,” she said and began licking her ice cream again. Azeal scooped her ice cream messily back onto the top of her cone and stared at it for a moment.

Dia stopped licking her ice cream and looked at her daughter. “Do you not want it any more, dearest?” Azeal looked at the ice cream on her cone, then at her mother’s ice cream covered knee then up at her mother. Dia held out her own ice cream. “Swap?” And Azeal beamed and took the ice cream greedily. Dia raised an eye brow at her daughter just before she got to lick it and she sighed. “Thank you, Mummy,” Azeal droned. Dia nodded and smiled in reply.

Dia had the mushy ice cream in her hand and knowing that she did not pay for it made it harder to decide what to do with it. She absently began pulling fluff from it and cleaning it generally. She wanted ice cream but she wasn’t certain she wanted this one. Frowning again, Dia stared at the ice cream, absently picking at it, licking her fingers off every now and then.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

So here they were, two people who had never met before today, sitting eating ice cream but both being preoccupied by two things. The first was their own children and the second was one another. It would be clear to anyone that Dan and Dia were more interested in each other then eating the cold dairy product on a cone that tasted a lot like cardboard. In fact one old lady seemed perfectly reassured that they were a family that she wondered over to congratulate them both on having such beautiful children. Dan was not surprised to find she smelt strongly of alcohol although he could not help but think a little longer on the idea of him and Dia being together possibly even…there was coughing.

Looking up Dan saw Azeal was having a small coughing fit and Dia suddenly became very animated and almost throwing her ice cream at Dan started to rummage around in her bag while Azeal continued to cough away. He felt hopeless that there was nothing he could do, he could not move around to help as Peter (who was oblivious to the whole the thing) was sitting on his lap and now he had two ice creams in his hand. He tried to warn Dia about the ice creaming that was becoming so dangerously vertical but before he could find the words it had fallen onto her trouser.

Peter was giggerling hysterically to himself as he watched the whole thing go on, them try and put the ice cream back together again but it looking rather sorry for itself. Dan however looked at the fluff covered ice cream that Dia was now staring, slowly picking at it not knowing what to do with it. With a small glance at his own almost untouched ice cream Dan reached out over Peter, plucking the mashed up ice cream out of Dia’s hands before she could complain.

“Swap?” Dan grinned at her as he trusted his own ice cream into her hand, there was no point in wasting two ice creams as Dan’s would have surely melted before he would get around to finishing it, considering he was spending most of the time laughing at the ice cream covered Peter or just staring at Dia. Navigating his arms carefully so the melting ice cream did not land on his sons head Dan started to gingerly lick the ice cream, he could occasionally get the odd bit of fluff but then that was nothing really, it was not really going to kill him.

Peter squirmed in his Dad’s lap and turned around to look up at Dan, the boy’s face was a picture and a wide grin spread across the man’s face as he wondered why Peter managed to get ice cream on his forehead. Pulling a tissue from out of his jacket pocket Dan started to clean up Peter, getting the worst of the ice cream off his face, although his son still had bit of the thing left on the cone so it would turn out to be a pointless task. Peter however quite happily waited for his dad to clean him up before asking his question.

“Dad?” The boy’s voice was almost a whisper. “When are we going home?” Dan gave a small nervous chuckle and glanced over at Dia and then back at his son. He would do what ever his son wanted him to do but for once a selfish side of Dan was trying to creep in, the thought of leaving Dia…he wanted to stay and talk with her until the stars filled the sky, but when you had a six year old son that always made things hard.

“Soon mate, you finish your ice cream first.”
“I do not want it.”
“Well why did you get such a big one then?”

The little boy just shrugged and turned to look disgruntled at the ice cream that was melting all over his hand. With a small sigh Dan almost copied exactly what his son had done, the shrug and the look at the ice cream that too had lost its appeal.

“Ok then Champ can you take them over to the bin for us then?” Peter nodded enthusiastically, took the ice-cream off his Dad before slipping off his lap and disappearing into the crowd. Cleaning the melted ice cream off his hands with the tissue Dan looked over at Dia and grinned at her and Azeal.

“I need to take Peter home, he is starting to get a bit cranky and if we get back too late Offley will blame his bad mood on me.” It was the sad truth that no matter what Dan did Offley would always find something to nit pick at him even when situations where beyond his control. Today for example, how was Dan meant to know he would meet up with one of the most beautiful women in the world; it is just something you do not write into your schedule. “But I am guessing we are all still on for tomorrow then?” He asked hopefully, the nerves slowly building up yet again “For Quidditch I mean.” He shot Dia a hopeful smile, not knowing what else to say.

There was a small groan next to him and as Dan looked down he saw Peter looking in pain, ice cream all around his mouth and cone crumbs all down his t-shirt. So much for not wanting anymore of his ice cream, the child had only gone and scoffed both ice creams but now was suffering the consequence of brain freeze. With a soft chuckle Dan got down off his stool and picked his son up letting Peter burry his face into his Dan’s shoulder as he continued to groan about his headache.

“Come on mate time for us to head home.” Dan fondly stroked the back of his son’s head to offer some form of reassurance that everything will be ok. Turning his attention back to the women (particularly Dia) Dan offered them a slightly less enthusiastic smile. “I will see you guys tomorrow then.”

And with that Dan and his son made their way through the crowds of the ice-cream parlour and out of the door into busy street on the way home. It was a very quiet journey home, Peter fell asleep within seconds of resting on his Dad’s shoulder which was fine with Dan as it gave him time to think on other things and let his thoughts linger on the beautiful eyes of Dia Hargreaves.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Chapter 3

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It had been an oddly sun-shiny day when Dia and her eldest daughter, Azeal, had left London but when they arrived in Yorkshire it was pouring with rain. Absolutely bucketing down. This didn’t bother either of the Hargreaves girls as they always came to these sorts of events prepared, and it helped tremendously that they didn’t mind getting wet. The two made their way, in their wellington boots and their ponchos, with other groups of people down a large hill towards the lovely Ilkley Stadium for the day’s Quidditch match:

Chudley Canons vs Holyhead Harpies

Dia could tell that her seven year old daughter was going to grow up to be a die-hard Holyhead Harpies fan because the young girl had dressed up (without any intervention from her mother or persuasion from her father) in the traditional colours of the team. Dia had chuckled so hard behind her hand when she had first seen how green and gold her daughter was. Now, even through the poncho that was already drenched from the torrential down pour the golden talon could be seen. Dia decided to be a little more inconspicuous by simply wearing jeans and a t-shirt that said: “Who Needs Love When Quidditch Is In The Air”. Azeal had picked it especially for her mother. Not that you could see the shirt, as she was wear a jumper over that and over that was her poncho.

Azeal had Dia’s hand firm in her own and was practically dragging Dia along. The reached the stadium soon enough and they waited outside it for Dan and Pete. Dia picked a spot that was under the ticket booth shelter where the two blonds could hide from the rain and dry off. As they waited, Azeal pulled off her poncho and shook it off, water flying everywhere. Dia shrieked from sheer surprise and so began a five minute battle between the two to see who could get the other more wet, gigging the whole way. After Azeal had grown bored of that – which happened soon enough – the small girl took out a large foam baton with the Harpies’ colours and emblem on it. She waved it madly at all the orange Canon supporters that went past but they all smiled at Dia, probably thinking they were glad they didn’t have to put up with her for the game.

Dia was beginning to worry that Dan wasn’t going to come, that he had had her and Azzie on about this whole thing. Azeal didn’t seem to be worried at all but when she looked up at her mother after a particularly large crowd of Canons passed by Azeal grinned up at her mother. “They should be here soon, Mummy.”

The girl’s confidence and delight was infectious and so Dia could not disagree with her. The tall woman looked at her daughter with a fond smile before nodding her head and crossing her arms, looking out to the people who were coming. “You’re right,” she said with a small sigh, “any minute now.” [/color]

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

When Dan pulled open the curtains in Peter’s bedroom he was greeted with not only the moans of his son but a very gloomy looking day. The dark clouds were moving in and by the time he had managed to force Pete to eat Breakfast (it was not the fact he was not hungry, just the fact that the toasts looked more like charcoal then bread) the heavens had already opened and the father and son duo had to trudge in the rain to the portkey. The usual suspects were out in force, the bright orange of the Chudley Canons kit was almost blinding and already they were chanting away and jeering at the fans of the rival team.

Pete was clinging onto his dads hand for dear life, although he was fully kitted out in official Canons gear he still found the other orange supports rather daunting, many who despite the rain were determined to go shirtless. After a few nervous glances at his watch the last of the stragglers turned up it was the fight to get a hand on the portkey, as always Dan was more concerned of keeping hold of Peter then the fear of one of the big, brutish, already drunken supporters throwing up on him. (Which surprising or not had happened before!)

Luckily this time the journey was uneventful although late. The two Hubbles men had to run across the field to the stadium and as they did this Dan could feel the water seeping into his trainers, they were not as waterproof as they once had been and without a job he did not really have the money to buy a new pair. Jeans too were not the most sensible of clothing to be wearing but Dan had been so concerned about making sure Peter would be dry and warm that he completely forgot about himself. The stadium grew closer and as they approached the ticket booths so did the sight of Dia Hargreaves and her daughter.

“Sorry!” Dan shouted as him and Peter ran through the crowds towards Dia and Azeal. Luckily they seemed to have found some cover and Dan was more then eager to pull his hood down from his hoodie so he could get a better look at Dia. “Sorry we are late, some of the lads had started the party early and got a little disorientated.”

With a wide grin Dan looked down at Azeal and had to a doubly take when he saw the team that Azeal was wearing. Peter too had noticed this and was already staring blankly at Azeal clearly trying to get over the fact that she was standing their in green and gold, not Orange and Black. Turning away from his son Dan looked at Dia and offered her a small hello before deciding that it would be best to find their seats.

“There should be four tickets under the name of Hubbles, reserved by Grace Marks.” Dan asked hopefully at the ticket booth. The witch behind the started to slowly and half heartily flick though a box that was placed on the desk by her and eventually pulled out a small envelope and handed it over to Dan.

“East stands, right in the middle.” Dan said cheerfully as he looked at the writing on the tickets before giving the signal for the kids to lead the way while he took his place standing next to Dia.

[Jac Shaw]

Even though it was a miserable day and the rain was coming down hard in Ilkley. It wasn’t at all surprising though; it always seemed to rain when Lon was playing. So despite the heavy rain, Jac was in high spirits as she walked into the Thorn and Plunger pub to meet her sister for a spot of breakfast before the game. Allona was fashionably late, as ever, and she complained about simply everything: the presence of dust, the squeak in her chair, the old man that was supposedly leering at her from the corner. Jac ate quietly as Lon nattered away about this and that and the other, thinking that she was glad that this breakfast wouldn’t last long.

In next to no time, Lon jumped to her feet, kissed her sister dismissively on the cheek as a goodbye and ran out, not giving any money for the food she had had. This wasn’t a shock to the young Auror in training as it was so typical of Lon Biggerstall, beater for the Holyhead Harpies, to be so dismissive and tight on her pocket. It was lucky for Jac that she had brought enough coins with her, otherwise she wasn’t sure what she would have done. Jac finished her meal in piece, the rain thumping heavily on the window of the small pub. Jac was reaching across the small table she was seated at to swap her plate with Lon’s (as she had hardly eaten anything) when the door opened and a familiar face pocked around.

It was Girty Hubbles and Jac waved at her when she dropped Lon’s plate in front of herself. The two sat there for a while, talking and catching up, giggling about all the silly things that had been happening to them in recent weeks. Since Jac had received the two free tickets from her sister (which had been such a shock), Jac had wanted to take Girty as they had not seen much of each other since they graduated but Girty told her that she and Alex would be going with Dan. Jac didn’t mind because it would still mean she would get to see her friend. Jac had roped Lex, her younger brother, into going with her instead and the last thing he wanted to do was go watch a Quidditch match, that was for sure, so both he and Jac were elated to hear that Dan had said that he was bringing someone else and Alex had cancelled on Girty so she couldn’t go. Lex had all too happily given up his ticket for her.

After Jac had cleared Lon’s plate and paid, the two old friends left the pub and headed out of the town and onto the moors where the game was being held. Jac had been thinking about wearing jeans but thought better of it with the way the rain was pouring down, so Jac had on a different pair of trousers with a red t-shirt on and her old Gryffindor jumper on over that, to keep her warm but to keep her dry though Jac was wearing a black mackintosh with the Chudley Canon’s logo of the flying bludger on the back. Even though her own sister was playing, Jac was supporting the Canons as she knew they would win. There was no doubt that Grace, another mate from school, would save ever attempt to score.

Soon, Jac was running down the grassy slop towards the stadium. She was so excited that she couldn’t stand to walk. It was all too likely that she would slip. “Come on, Girt,” she called over her shoulder, “don’t be slow now!” Amazingly, Jac didn’t slip, but she did bump into some one at the pick-up counter, her wet hood falling off her head. “Sorry,” she said, not recognising who it was. She turned instantly to the witch in the ticket booth and got her and Girty’s tickets. She looked back to look for Girty but suddenly realised who she had run into.

“Dan?” she asked, frowning, her curly Canon-coloured hair turning a brighter shade of its many colours. “DAN!” Jac cried, and threw her arms around the man’s neck. He had been as much of a brother as his own had been. Taking a step back, Jac thumped him lightly on the arm, smiling from ear to ear, “it is you. You ol’ devil. How are you?” Jac had realised that he would be here but she had not thought that they would bump into each other. Looking down for her two favourite little people, she only saw Peter, but that was enough, Jac though. “Hey there little man,” she said crouching by him. “Are you excited about the game? You certainly look ready.”

Jac shot a quick look over her shoulder for Girty again and called to her. “Girty!” Jac waved her arm, “over here.”

[Girty Hubbles]

It seemed to be a common trait in the Hubbles family that organisation was something that no one possessed. The perfect example of this was with the whole fiasco behind the Quidditch tickets. The original plan was for Dan, Peter, Girt and Alex to go altogether, but then Alex was unable to go due to work and as a result Girty was indecisive whether to go or not. She finally made up her mind to go along with her brother and sent him an owl only to find out that he was taking somebody else (although he would not tell her who). It was then rather fortunate for Girty that the Canon’s were playing the Harpies as this meant she could just go along with Jac instead seeing as she too would have some free tickets.
A few more last minute owls were sent out and the arrangement was made for the old friends to met at the pub close to the Quidditch Stadium. When Girty entered the small muggle joint she saw Jac was moving onto her second breakfast and as always it surprised her how much Jac could eat and still remain that skinny. This was but one of the many topics that the two jabbered about over the course of their gathering, but of course the main topic was the Quidditch game they were about to see and of course in the true British way the weather!

The ex-Hufflepuff was thankful that it was raining; it gave her an excuse to have her hood up so she could hide the many scars that were so prominent on her face. Those closest to her had grown used to them by now but she just hated the way strangers looked at with such judgmental gazes, many would scoff at her thus making her feel more of an outsider the she originally was. Over the years things had improved much more of werewolves but it was still hard for them to have a normal life. Girty had only been out of school for 2 years and she had already been through seven jobs and Merlin knows how many failed interviews. As a result money was tight and with potion ingredients being so expensive there had been many a month when Girty had to go without her potion…thank the heavens she had Alex and Dan.

Walking out of the pub with their hoods up to protect them from the falling rain Girty and Jac were on typical form laughing madly about such simple things as they crossed the moors and approached the Quidditch stadium. Brooms shoot over the top of them, wizards and witch’s appeared in flashes of light, others fell from the sky from poor Portkey exits and many others, just like them, were rambling across the grassy, slightly boggy plains. In true Jac fashion she could not contain her excitement and was running down the hills towards the stadium and for once acting the mature one Girty steadily walked down the hill making sure she did not fall over and end up covered in mud.

For a moment or two Girty lost Jac in the crowds and it was only when the call from the Gryffindor sounded out above all the other hustle and bustle of the other Quidditch fans did Girty know where she was meant to be heading. However after she had pushed her way threw the crowds it was not just Jac she saw, but Dan and Peter. A wide smile filled the witch’s face and she ran forwards and wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“Bet you did not expect to see us here.” Girty teased as she pulled down the hood of her raincoat so she could get a better look at her brother. It would have been so easy for Girty to go all sister like on Dan by making sure he was feeling ok now that he had lost his job, but this was neither the time nor the place…they had a Quidditch match to go to. Giving the blond woman who Dan was standing next to a small glance Girty ran over to stand near Jac and her little nephew.

“Well excited Aunty Jac and it will be ten billion trillion times better now you and Aunty Girty are here!” It looked like the little boy was going to explode with happiness as he answered the previous question; either that or he needed to use the toilet. Peter seemed unable to stand still as his wide eyes moved from Jac to Girty, who beside from his Dad was his heroes. The Metamorphmagus Auror and the werewolf Hufflepuff, he wanted to be just like them when he grew up! Reaching out the small boy took hold of both the ladies hands and led them over to Azeal.

“Aunty Girty, Aunty Jac this is Azeal.” Peter grinned at all three of them as if he was showing them a new toy. Girty offered a small hello before glancing back at Dan and the other women guessing that this must have been her daughter…so these were the people that Dan had put before family. The Hufflepuff raised her eyebrows as she thought on this matter for a second longer before turning her attention back to her nephew and his friend.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia Hargreaves could not lie to herself, for a moment she had doubted that the charming man she had met the day before and his son were actually coming. The blond woman stood, wringing her fingers with the other hand, and biting her bottom lip irritably. Had it all been a horrible joke? A trick to poke fun at her? Azeal, practically a miniature version of her mother, clearly didn’t share any of her mother’s doubt as she was singing along softly with the crowds’ song that was bellowing from inside the stadium and doing a funny little dance, completely unaware of the looks she was getting from people entering the stadium past them.

Dia was just about to take to deciding whether or not to actually join the queue and buy tickets for them – because she knew that she wouldn’t be able to live it down if she brought Azeal all this way and not take her to the game so going home was not an option – but luckily she was saved from making that choice by the sight of Mr Daniel Hubbles clambering through the crowd after his son. His apology was answered by a heavy sigh of relief and she gave him a big smile. She didn’t want to let on that she had lost faith in him and hoped he hadn’t noticed how intently she had been frowning.

“It’s quite alright,” Dia breathed, dropping her hands to her sides to hide how red they were, “we haven’t been here very long, have we darling?” Dia looked back to where Azeal was still dancing, who quickly noticed she was being talked to and stopped, choosing rather to quickly walk to here her mother was standing.
“Oh, I don’t know,” the small girl said thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her lower lip. “It’s been at least three songs already, Mummy, and that was only after I started listening.”
Dia glared at her daughter, giving her a very pointed don’t say that look but she quickly looked up at Dan and smiled, her pale cheeks flooding with colour. But Dan was already moving towards the ticket booth and getting their tickets.

Just as he had promised there were four tickets, one for each of them. This certainly did promise to be an interesting day. When Dan came back to them, Dia wondered what he was doing with four tickets. Had he been planning on bringing his wife? No, surely not, hadn’t he said that she didn’t enjoy Quidditch? Maybe she had just hoped that but it still didn’t explain why he had four tickets. She wasn’t about to ask though, she didn’t want to seem ungrateful or anything. She was very grateful to get out of the house and to see her oldest this excited was always a treat.

The next moment a girl with orange and black hair bumped into Dan. Dia glared at the back of her colourful head but one thing redeemer her and that was that she did say sorry. Dia smiled up at Dan again when the woman was back and talking to Dan. Suddenly she was hugging him actually hugging him! As though she knew him or something. Then another girl showed up, one that looked like she could almost be related to Dan but that would be far too much of a coincidence for that to be so. She did look rather sickly though, too pale to be called healthy coloured. Nevertheless, as the two new comers talked with Dan, Dia took a small step backwards, trying not to get in their way. It was clear that Dan knew this girls and Dia couldn’t be the one to break that up. And after the glance the dark hair girl gave her, Dia was afraid to even breath.

Azeal, however, gain was taking a completely different approach to this whole situation. She was enthralled with the new people that had shown up and she was standing exactly where she had been before they arrived, her arms at her side, staring open-mouthed at the girl with the multi-coloured hair and the taller girl with her. It wasn’t every day that Azeal got to meet new adults and she was loving it.

Dia watched the two girls taking with Peter, who called them aunty Jac and aunty Girty. So these were Dan’s sisters, alright, she could go with that. Now, not only did she had to worry about slipping up in front of her own daughter or his son but now his sisters too. Well, Dia thought, taking a step forwards and pushing Azeal towards Peter and the others when he took their hands and dragged them towards her daughter. Azeal looked as though she were about to burst, she was smiling so widely and standing almost awkwardly on her toes that Dia feared she might fall over.

“Hu-hu-hello,” Azeal stammered, scarcely able to close her mouth she was smiling so much. Azeal looked down at Peter, giving him a reproachful look – if ever a seven year old could look reproachful – before looked back to the older people gaining her courage again and finding her voice. “I’m Azeal Hargreaves and I’m seven years old. I’m older then Peter.” The girl stuck her tongue out at her new friend before giggling a very high-pitched giggle. “We met in Eeylops Owl Emporium yesterday and we’re already best friends, aren’t we Pete?” Azeal grabbed Peter’s sleeve and pulled him close to her. In all honesty, the tall people around scared her slightly.

Dia, meanwhile, went and stood next to Dan and smiled at him fleetingly before looking back to her daughter. “Your sisters seem lovely,” Dia said with a smile. “Shall we go in then?” she asked him, happy to ignore the existence and remain anonymous to the two girls.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Now they were becoming a true party, it was always great to see Jac and Girty no matter the circumstance but today he was more then happy for them to be there. Peter adored his aunties and they would provide a great distraction leaving Dan some time to get to know Dia that little bit better. However it seemed that Girty had possible noted that (maybe it was her animal instincts) and the look she gave Dia was chilling, Dia though had clearly not seen it and Girty’s attention was soon passed back towards her nephew and his friend.

“It is very nice to met you Azeal.” The ex Hufflepuff stated as she listened to the young girl rattle off a brief life history and how she and Peter had met, now that part interested Girty greatly. Surprising or not being only six Peter did not notice his aunts curiosity and instead grinned over at Azeal. “Yeah. Best friends and I don’t normally have friends who are girls!”

At this statement Girty could not help but laugh at the young Hubbles, it was something she should have expected him to say after all Peter did seem a miniature version of Dan and Dan did not have friends who were girls. So with this in mind you could see how it was strange for Miss Hubbles to see her brother standing next to a blond haired woman acting rather curiously indeed.

“Yeah they are great.” Dan sighed as he looked towards Jac and Girty before the realisation hit him what Dia had said. “Oh no…they…Jac isn’t…” It was one of those awkward situations where Dan did not know whether to play along and over see the fact that Dia thought they were both his sisters or correct her before anymore mistakes could be made. Looking down nervously at his mud covered shoes Dan took a deep breath to compose himself before looking back up at the beautiful witch. “Jac is not my sister, her and Girty are just best mates. We are a very close bunch, spent many a summer together.”

With a small sigh Dan looked over at Jac and Girty as they talked to the young children, giving them the devoted attention that they craved. It was only at the sound of Dia’s question did Dan turn away from his children and focus back to the matter at hand…the Quidditch game. “Come on guys!” Dan called above the crowds as he tried to round everyone up. “Lets get a move on otherwise we shall miss the start of the game!” With a wide grin Dan ushered everyone away giving Girty a playful shove in the back while his other hand lingered, possibly a little too close, to Mrs Hargreaves backside as they started to make their way to the stands.

The crowds were slowly thinning out as the fans got to their seats, the higher they climbed the louder the chants grew and the atmosphere grew thicker. As always Grace had got them the best seats in the house. Peter led Girty and Jac on towards their seats, slap bang in the middle of the pitch and on perfect level with the goal posts and surrounded by a mixture of fans. The orange of the Chudley Canons contrasted with the green of the Holyhead Harpies but yet they stood side by side in the pouring rain laughing and joking waiting for the start of the game. So there they stood, Jac and Girty on the end, Dan standing next to his sister with his rather excited son to his other side. Next to the Hubbles men stood the Hargreaves women, Azeal next to Peter and her mother standing proudly at the end, the woman that even now with thousands of other witches around them Dan could not take his eyes off.

A fanfare soon started and suddenly the players were flying onto the pitch, blurs of orange and green flew around to the cheers of the crowd before lining up to start the game. With a tug on his Dad’s arm Peter was soon off his feet and placed onto his Dad’s shoulders to get a better view of the start of the game. With an excited scream Peter gave a round of applause and started to shout for every player on the Chudley Canons team and soon started to join in with the cheers not knowing the true meaning of many.

“Oi!” Dan gave his son a small jolt as Peter started to sing along to a rather rude comment about the female players on the Harpies team. “You shush and go and stand with you aunties!” With a small chuckle Dan put Peter back down on the wooden floor boarding of the stand was watching him bothering his aunty when the first goal was scored and thankful it was for the Canons! A Mexican wave passed through the crowds and Dan could not help but join in, the atmosphere was so addictive. “What do you think of the game so far?!” Dan yelled over the crowds towards Dia.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

“Well I’m not in the habit of being friends with booys but you’re quite nice so I’m happy to call you my friend!” Scrunching her nose, Azeal giggled and covered her mouth with both her hands. The little girl’s blond hair bounced and swung about as she turned her head to look at the two older people and smiled at them, her father’s blue eyes twinkling in her head.

Meanwhile, Dan and Dia were still watching, and Dan told her that the multi-colour-haired girl was in fact not his sister. “Oh!” Dia chimed in a high pitched squeak. But they didn’t linger on the topic as soon they were on their way to their seats. Dia was not surprised by the size of the crowd that had gathered, everywhere green and orange, but Azeal seemed to be very much in awe. She was looking every which way and she didn’t even wait for Dia; the small girl just ran ahead of them, her wide blue eyes darting this way and that, trying to take in everything there was to see. Dia didn’t mind, it meant that Azeal would get to experience everything that came with going to a Quidditch match.

They had very good seats, thanks to Dan’s friend, and from where Dia was sitting it would only get better. Suddenly the players dashed onto the pitch to immense shouts from the crowd, her own daughter’s voice at a fever pitch. It was infection. Dia was soon on her feet, jumping up and down, cheering for Merlin-knows who, as the rain pelted down and the game got under way. Azeal had grinned widely at Peter when he joined her and the two older girls before shooting her mother a gigantic grin and turning back to the game. Dia sighed. She couldn’t remember the last time she was this happy. This thought made her a little sad, so she sat back down, missing the Mexican wave that came.

Dan’s voice broke through to her and with a distracted look, Dia turned to Dan and quickly smiled. “O, yeah, it’s great,” she said with a smile. “I do so love my quidditch.” Looking back at the game, a beater clubbed a bludger right at a chaser that was flying above their heads and the bludger whooshed right over their heads. Ducking, the crowd around them gasped and then cheered. Dia sat up again, laughing and smiling, looking at Dan. “And what about you? Did you ever play?”

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Not even the rain could dampen Dan’s spirit today, he was having such a good time the Quidditch game was turning out to be a classic, the two teams were so well matched that although the scores where staying low some of the broomsmanship on display was amazing. But it was not just the game that was bringing a smile to Dan’s face, it was the company he had too. Seeing Jac and Girty was always a plus but then the see Pete actually talking and laughing with someone his own age made Dan happier then anything in the world could. However after a rather close call with a Bludger Dan found once again looking into the dazzling eyes of Dia Hargreeves and the Quidditch game and crowds became simple background noise.

“Me?” Dan’s voice went a little high pitched almost as if he could not believe that the question had been asked. “I never played it properly. I tried out for the house team in my second year and I was rejected and never recovered from it.” He gave a small laugh as remembered his failed try out where he actually ended up falling off his broomstick. “Now I just play with the family when we all met up in the summer at my Grandfathers estate.” There was a loud cheer from the Harpies fan’s as they won back the quaffle and this momentarily distracted Dan as he looked through the rain to the Quidditch game he was supposed to be watching. “Girty did though;” He continued, “she was dam good at it to. Hufflepuff’s best chaser in years and I am sure she would have gone professional had it not been for her…her condition.”

When it came to telling anyone about his sister and her fluffy ways under a full moon Dan always took great care, especially with strangers. Although Dia and himself had talked a lot about different things in their lives he still did not know where this woman stood on topics such as werewolves. She did seem the werewolf hater type, in fact everything seemed to agree with this woman, and Dan liked that about her, he liked almost everything about her. She was not even that pretty, at least not compared to Offley, who had long legs, lustres hair and perfect breasts. Dia was short, boyish and eyebrows that Dan thought thicker then necessary but even so she walked into his arms that day, as if she was fulfilling a secret wish that he could not remember making.

“What about you?” He asked, trying to carry on their conversation despite the slight delay. He hoped he could have passed off his far of look as merely watching the game, but it was only then he noticed that the Cannons had scored again, and he had somehow missed it. “You ever make the house team?”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

What was running through Dia’s mind was not the game, and at moments not even the odd man who she’d only met the day before. No, what was going through her mind was the first game she had got to with Fitz. It had been a very exciting match, just like this one. The two teams, the Ballycastle Bats and Puddlemere United were not exactly evenly matched, in point of fact it had been a little one sided right from the start but still Dia had screamed and shouted for Puddlemere. It was her cousin’s husband’s team and whenever they had gotten together they would always swap stories about the quidditch they’d seen. That game raced through her mind but Dan’s voice cut in over the picture of Fitz grinning broudly at her as the Bats scored again.

“Hmm…” she mumbled, looking distractedly at him. Dan didn’t seem to notice her far away look but rather carried on talking about his personal quidditch playing experience. Dia smiled vaguely at him and brushed wet fringe out of her face. The cheer from the crowd drowned out the last of his words and Dia’s eyes snapped back to the game as she continued to try and listen to what he was saying. He was clearly speaking about his sister again, he got that look in his eyes whenever he did.

Then came the question she knew would come. Dia shook her head vehemently as she clapped along with the cheering crowd as the Canon’s scored. “I was never any good on a broom,” she admitted as the quaffle went back into play, “and my ball skills are non-existant.” She giggled on the last word because it continuously surprised her how bad she was at catching anything. It had become something of a party trick with her, whenever she’d go out with her friends they’d inevitably throw something at her just so she’d fumble and miss. It only became funny for her though when she’d had some to drink too.

“My cousin made it though so that was at least something,” Dia said, as though having an Owen who played would make up for her lacking. The crowds went wild again, the shrill sound of her own daughter’s cheering echoed in her eyes as one of the Harpies managed to hit a Canon chaser with a bludger. “She was very good too.” The thought came to Dia that it was human nature to want to relate everything to one’s own life. Dan spoke about his sister and Dia’s equivalent was her cousin. It was nothing to feel awkward about so she let to comment lie and looked back to the game.

All the balls were flying over head very quickly and Dia found it hard to follow sometimes, getting lost in looking at Dan. Crossing one long leg over the other, Dia clasped her hands together and squeezed them between her thighs to keep them warm. They were soaked through, having been walking in the wet for Merlin knows how long. Dia wasn’t sure what was expected of her next. There was clearly something between herself and this man but neither of them were free to do anything about it. Perhaps if they’d met before, maybe things would have been different. There was no way of knowing for sure.

But that still begged the question, what next?

[Dax Simmons]

Dax Simmons was running late! Today of all days and he was running late. The morning had started off rather well; he got up early, ate breakfast with Gracie and was just about to leave with her to go to the Quidditch stadium when an owl arrived. A brief trip to London and the ministry later Dax was finally walking down the grass embankment towards the Quidditch stadium where the game was already underway. However this time Dax was not going to walk up to the Ministry box, nor the stand where all the 'loved ones’ of the players sat, no today Dax was off to mingle with the commoners. Earlier this morning Grace had told him that Hubbles clan and a couple of their friends were going to be attending and the ex-Hufflepuff would never turn down the chance of seeing Dan and Girty, also he dared not defy his Grace. What Gracie wanted Gracie got!

Bounding up the steps in the stand Dax slowly started to squeeze past people in the rows till he heard the very distinctive cries from Jac and Girty who were engrossed in the game, Dan although seemed to be paying more attention to the blond haired woman who was next to him. With a small cough Dax put on his authoritative voice and held himself high and proud.

“Excuse me sir, but I do believe you are in my seat.”

Dan was truly lost in the beauty of Dia, the way her lips moved as she talked, her posture and her eyes, wow don’t get him started on her eyes. In fact Dan was sure that had it not been for someone else talking to him he would have done something very rash and very regrettable. Snapping out of his dream world Dan looked through the rain towards the man, the look of confusion fading from his face in an instant as Dan finally saw how the voice belonged too.

“Dax!” Dan jumped to his feet and held out his hand which Dax took with a wide grin shaking it warmly.
"Alright Dan. How are things?”
"Yeah, th-things are good thanks. What about you?”
"Yeah, work is crazy! Did you know someone has released a card game in the muggle world called Quidditch! Marty the muggle lover keeps saying it is our departments business. But I mean what has Department of Magical Games and Sports got to do with it.”

Dan laughed along nervously, work was not really the best topic for Dax to be talking about right now, and the he seemed to have picked that up. The rain continued to hammer down around them, the cheering of the Quidditch game was just background noise and the Hufflepuff in Dax kicked in.
“Look Dan if there is anything I can do, I can have a word with the head…”
“No honestly Dax I am fine.”
“hmm well at least come to ours for tea tonight.” For the first time since he arrived Dax turned to look at Dia and gave her a wide grin. “Your friends too! Grace loves playing host she would love to see you all again.”

There was a sudden cry of “DAX” from Girty as she came bounding over towards her old housemate embracing him in a tight hug. Then without another word to the other members of the party Girty stole Dax for herself and Jac (and Peter and Azeal of course) leaving Dan and Dia alone to watch the game.

“So…”Dan grinned as he looked over at Dia. “Fancy having tea tonight as the house of one of Britain’s best Quidditch players?” And then almost to prove a point Grace Marks pulled off an amazing save that made the whole stadium erupt into applause.

[Jac Shaw]

[[ joint post with Jac Biggerstall and Dia Hubbles ]]

---

The rain poured down with a vengeance but it didn’t deter the spirit of the players, that seemed to be rather evenly matched, or of the supporters that seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of energy to give. The crowds cheered even louder – if it was at all possible – when once again the Chudley Canons scored again, moments after Grace’s elegant and superb save. It hadn’t taken long for the canons to bounce back from their previous falter with the quaffle.

Pete and Girty jumped and cheered wildly with the rest of the crowds, while Jac was in stitched from laughing so hard at little Azeal’s tantrum. She stomped her foot and banged her foam finger on the railing, her green and gold face creased into an intent and disappointed frown. Jac had never seen such a display from a seven year old. It was by far the most hilarious thing she was sure she’d ever seen.

The next thing Girty was shrieking and ran behind Jac, who had fallen to her bottom with laughter, it becoming instantly soaked with the water that was on the ground. Azeal and Peter both seemed to stop focusing on the game and looked towards Girty and what she was doing but it took a moment longer for Jac to regain her composure. When she did, she took hold of Girty’s hand and pulled herself up, jumping into a hug, arms wrapped tightly around Dax’s neck. When she let go she grinned broadly at the young man she’d seen so much since her own graduation.

“How are you, Daxxie?” Jac inquired, with a friendly pat on the arm with her fist. Since Grace’s father’s death, she’d become something of a sister to Jac, not that she needed another sister but that was entirely beside the point. Grace had then spent much time with Dax and so, by association Jac had seen plenty of Dax too. That was always great and seeing Grace as happy as she was was even batter.

Meanwhile, Dia watched the interaction with much interest. How people related to one another was always a fascination to her but then Dan’s voice wafted to her ears and she was lost to the world. At first, when the young man that joined them that Dia surmised was called Dax offered for them to have tea with them later Dia wasn’t all that keen. She knew that Fitz would be expecting them after the game but when Dan said ‘one of Britain’s best Quidditch players’ Dia knew that she’d have some explaining to do and that it would all be worth it.

Dia nodded her head vehemently, smiling coyly at Dan. “I’d love to,” she said gently, “and I’m sure that Azeal would love to spend more time with all the new friends she’s made.” Dia said this while looking at her daughter. The small girl, hood of her poncho fallen down during all her jumping around and her blond hair flying everywhere, was busy showing Dax the amazing move that he’d missed the magnificent Grace Marks make only a few moments before he had arrived. She was trying to and it had Jac rolling on the floor again she was laughing so much.

Dia laughed at the sight and then smiled at Dan. “You’re a very lucky man,” she said, putting her hand on his arm and leaning closer to him, “you’ve got such wonderful family and friends …” There was more that Dia wanted to add to that sentence but she couldn’t quite pick out the words. It didn’t matter though because just as she did another bludger came flying towards a chaser that was flying just over their heads. The crazed ball came flying towards the stand and Dia instinctively hid her face in the shoulder that was closest to her, Dan’s, with a slight shriek.

Sitting up again, Dia looked red-faced at Dan, her blue eyes bright with possibility. “I … eh …” she couldn’t quite find the words to completely that sentence and it stayed where it was. Azeal had round over to her and jumped onto her lap.
“Mum, Mum, Mum,” the girl shrieked excitedly.
“What is it darling?” Dia asked, hitching her daughter higher up her lap.
“Dax said we were going to have tea with Grace Marks. Grace Marks, Mummy, Grace Marks!!”
Dia looked askance at Dan, her smile bright as the rain continued to hammer down on them, “now I definitely can’t say no, can I?”
The blond woman chuckled heartily as she hugged her daughter who hugged her back. “Of course we are, darling,” Dia said, stroking her daughter’s blond hair tenderly, “of course we are.”

Jac watched the two new blonds that had been introduced into their midst. It was a tender sight and the auror in training couldn’t help but grin broadly at it. She poked Girty in the side and faked a swooning faint playfully as though the sight was too much for her to handle. “It was weird enough just having our brother’s with kids,” she jested, “now we’ve got to deal with another one! Phwaf! It’s almost too much!” Jac and Girty had always teased about how many children they knew and about how they couldn’t ever imagine having any … and here they were, surrounded by them again. It made Jac laugh to no end.

She punched Dax lightly on the arm again, giving him a wink. “So, when you gonna have one or three?” she teased, adding a playful wink.