(Kitchen) That Hit The Spot

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

As Dia stepped closer and took hold of his hand Dan could suppress his smile no longer, his face burst into life. His eyes grew wide, a slightly lopsided smile played across his lips and occasionally he would just laugh either out of enjoyment or nerves he could not decide. These possible nervous only increased as Dia put her hand on his shoulder, giving it a quick glance Dan raised his free hand and placed it gently on her waist and pulling her a little bit closer.

“Shall we begin then my lady.”

Not even waiting for her to answer Dan began to lead them slowly around the table, being careful not to fall of the side or step in anything the house elves had left on the table. Over Dia’s shoulder he could see a few of them quickly picking things out of their way being more worried about the strange professors stepping in something they had worked hard on. With a small laugh Dan’s gaze moved onto the face of Dia Owen and those startling eyes of hers.

“So Dia, do you do this often? Dance around with strange men I mean, I think you may sneak into the kitchen to drink tea quite often.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia had to take a deep breath, to keep her better judgment from forcing her to leave and return to her cold, lonely Tower. She swallowed, smiling meekly at him. For a moment, Dia thought that Dan would push her away when she put her hand on his shoulder but a giggle escaped her lips, a shiver up her back. His touch was warm, even through the thick velvet of her dress.

She grinned a little more confidently and was about to answer his question but her answer was drowned by her oven laughter that shot out when he pulled her into a dance. She giggled and flicked her hair back over her shoulder. It was the most fun she had had in a long time due to various commitments and her own locking way of herself. She wasn't what you would call a people person but this made everything all for nort as she swayed with Dan on the mini-house table in the middle of the kitchen.

Dia noticed three house-elves, hugging trays to their chests, standing near a large fire place, watching the two dance. All the many eyes on them suddenly made Dia nervous and she was about to close her eyes to hide herself when Dan spoke. Her gaze shot to him and a smile, small and understated, graced her lips. "Certainly," she teased, "every other night I'm here with a different man." She giggled lightly and shook her head, "no, this would be my first dancing-in-the-kitchens experience." And it's turning out to be just what I needed to unwind too, she thought, locking eyes on Dan.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan looked at Dia with glazed over eyes, he was lost in his own thoughts. Her laugh was contagious and he could not help but laugh along with her, a broad grin filling his face as he continued to lead the way around the tables. He noticed at one point that Dia looked away and almost seemed like she was going to stop. Dan’s grip tighten a little almost as a reaction to stop her leaving. But then it seemed that confidence seemed to fill her, and she laughed along with Dan’s little joke.

“Oh well I think you should you seem to…” Dan broke off as he stepped over a bowl of custard and to prevent Dia from doing the same thing he shifted his hands and lifted her up into the air, laughing as he noticed that her dress just skimmed over the top of the desert and then he gently placed her back on the table. “You seem to have a talent for this sort of thing.”

With a gentle smile Dan was about to take hold of Dia once more when he noticed that the radio had been turned off. Glancing over he saw a rather unimpressed house-elf glaring at him, with folded arms tapping his foot on the floor. With a small laugh Dan leaned closer to Dia and whispered gently into her ear.

“Should we carry on dancing to the music in our heads or get down to avoid any more evil glances from that house-elf? I know which one I would prefer.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia hadn't smiled this much in the longest time. In fact, she couldn't think of the last time she had and it didn't matter. "With all the practice I get done here," she said teasingly, "I'd hope that it shows." She was naturally teasing him, she had never done anything like this before in her life but she felt comfortable here.

She was with Daniel, who seemed smug and proud, dancing on a table and jumping over crockery. She laughed as Dan lifted her off that table and put her down again but it seemed to put a hold to the dancing.

"Where's the ..." she began but noticed where Dan was looking. An irritated looking house-elf was standing by the radio, glaring at the two of them. He seemed to be older then the rest and more grizzled. Dia grinned at him, then looked at Dan as he put his face close to hers. She did a double take but didn't pull away as she might have otherwise done. She laughed at his question and made a small curtsy. She held out her hand and said, "let's continue."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan's grin never moved off his face as he waited to hear Dia’s response, his arms hung loosely at his side and his eyes fixed on her face. As she curtsied and said that they could continue Dan gave Dia a small wink and with a quick bow in turn he reached out and pulled Dia a lot closer to him they he did last time. With an exited gleam in his eyes Dan began to lead them around them around the table not paying particular attention this time to the cutler they were hitting. He heard the sound of cutlery clinging together and the sound of a goblet rolling onto the floor. But he did not care his full attention was on Dia.

“You are an amazing person Dia. Elegant, able to laugh, have the most charming smile, pleasant to look at and most importantly you are not like anybody else I have met. And trust me I have met a lot of women.”

Dan tried to put on another one of his winning smiles but something in the back of his mind thought that he might have gone to far. He was feeling comfortable around Dia, he felt like he could talk about anything and everything with her but also because of her beauty and Dan’s own personal love of the female species other ideas kept slipping into his mind. Moving his hand up off her waist Dan began to absent mindedly run his hands thought he ends of her hair down her back as he just stared into her eyes.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia's eyes went wide and she let out a tiny cry of surprise when Dan pulled her towards him so quickly, so close. But soon she giggled and laid a hand on his shoulder. They were once again dancing on the table top and Dia couldn't suppress a laugh as she knocked a plate of the table and it clattered to the floor, amazingly without breaking.

She looked back to Dan, who had a strange expression on his face that she had not seen before. Her smile became sedate but didn't go, and she flicked her long blond hair over her shoulder. What does he see, she wondered to herself, when he looks at me? For a brief moment, Dia was worried that she might get carried away and actually have to ask her question but she was saved by Dan answering it instead.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinising his face. What is going on in that head of yours, Mr Hubbles? she wondered. She was visibly taken aback by his last comment. "A lot of women, huh?" she said but amazed and doubtful. "Clearly you haven't met any decent women, then." She wasn't sure what made her say it. Perhaps it was that cup of tea or the wine or the dancing or the Dan that made her feel like she could do or say anything.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan’s attention was soon brought fully back to Dia when he heard her mutter something, but it was more the tone in her voice that shocked him. He was affronted by the fact that she did not believe that he had a good rapport with many women. Frowning Dan tried to defend his corner.

“Yes I know a lot of women, just the other week I was with this one I met in the Three Broomsticks it was….”

Dan broke off biting the end of his tongue from saying anything else. He had ignored what Dia had said in his bluntness to make sure that he was right once again. He could not understand why he did that all the time, why he always had to be the best at everything and prove to everyone he was. With a sigh he lowered his gaze off Dia and shock his head, thinking it best to answer Dia’s question in hope that she may over look his small outburst.

“No. Clearly I have not met a decent women, or at least I think I have not. Maybe in my blindness and lust I over looked it. I do not know. It must be harder for you. Women seem to have an image of men that do not exist, I have heard enough of them saying how they want a man who is sweet, honest, thoughtful, trusting.” Dan rolled his eyes and sharply turned the direction they were dancing in. “Trust me love, he will be hard to find.”

With a deep breath Dan looked at Dia and gave her a forced smile. At least he had been honest with her, he had found out from many of the women he had been with that he was not that man. It was normally followed by a slap or a drink thrown in his face.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dan's sudden outburst at her words made Dia take a small step away from him. She frowned, all mirth gone from her face. Why did it matter how many women he had been with? Why was it so important for some guys to prove that they were experienced? Why had she thought Dan was any different? She didn't pull out of the dance, however, she simply followed at a safer distance (as safe a distance you can get while dancing). Dia continued to study Dan's face, as he looked away, frowning and thoughtful. He seemed unwilling to complete that thought and Dia was certain she didn't want to know.

"Not met a decent woman," Dia repeated slowly, taking control of the dance and starting to lead Dan, standing closer again. This was very unlike Dia behaviour but she enjoyed to control she got by being forceful. She shook her head, still looking at Dan, hoping he would look at her. "You can't be serious," she said, nudging at something she couldn't bring herself to say. It was here she faltered and let Dan take control again. She looked away from him, stared a hole into the opposite wall.

"Is that really what you think a woman is looking for?" she said, frowning at Dan again. "Perfect is impossible but actually finding someone who will love you for you, that's the important thing." She sighed and shook her hair out of her face again, jutting out her chest. "You can't be that self absorbed to believe that every woman you met hopes that you are Mr. Right?" She rolled her eyes and looked everywhere else except at Dan. And yet that is what you are looking for, she told herself. But that's not the point. Remember...

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan knew something was up. He knew he had gone to far and Dia was showing it. She took over the dance by force. She was now the one leading him around the tables, she was the one giving him the dissatisfied look and the harsh tones. But she lost it, she faltered and that was all Dan needed to take the control back. Although Dia still had a strong attitude that made Dan feel uneasy about what he should do, particularly when Dia started to mention the word love. it was his turn to lose his concentration. If they had not been so tense with each other and on the possible verge of an small tiff Dan would have tried to come up with some brash comment, but now was not the time. He was not that stupid.

However when Dia moved onto the personal comments about him he could take no more. He dropt his hold on her and jumped off the table. He wore a scowl upon his face, nostrils flared and eyes wide. He was trying to clam himself down making sure he did not fly off the wall.

“Do not….do not classify me as an arrogant toss pot. I know I am not everyone’s ‘Mr Right’ but I do what I do because I enjoy it. You look at the stars I flirt with women. You have star charts and I have notches in my bed post. I do not understand why I do it. I sometimes hate myself for it. I have turned myself into this….this person to stop myself from getting involved in a relationship. Been there done that got my heart ripped out. Never again. I will break the hearts.”

Dan looked at Dia his hands were shaking, he had never told anyone this before. He could not believe he was shouting out his reasons in the middle of the kitchen and at Dia. How did they get to this, from a nice dance to Dan shouting at her about his favourite past time. Lowering his head Dan turned around back to were there wine bottle sat, ignoring the goblet he went straight for the bottle and took a rather large mouthful.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia gaped at Daniel as he dropped the dance and jumped off the table. She glared at him, a glare fitting of a Slytherin about to strike a helpless first year. She stayed on the table and watched him closely. She barked a sarcastic laugh and threw back her head, her hair. "So that's it then," she said, gathering her skirt and carefully getting off the table, "that's what we are to you. A hobby. To be done with as you will till you've had your fill." It was despicable.

His next comment threw Dia off her train of thought though. She closed her slightly open mouth, her brow smoothened and her features softened. One thing was for certain, the things they threw their hearts into were for the same reasons. She dropped her gaze and stood silent for a moment, absently playing with a lock of hair. But ... she thought and decided Daniel needed to know as well. "But we're not toys, Daniel," she said angrily, "we hurt too. And don't for a second put yourself on a pedestal for being so. You're not special for it, you're human. So why don't you act like it? Show some back bone and grow up. Get over it, it's not that hard."

It's worse, she thought with a little sigh. She looked up at Dan, her face hot. "Using and abusing is not an attractive characteristic on anyone and particularly on you. Let me guess," she crossed her arms and smirked, "your relationships last as long as you can hide ... who you are. Which I take it isn't very long. You lasted, what? Half an hour with me? Dear me, what a sad life you do lead. Quickies left and right because you're afraid of commitment." Dia could have laughed, if the moment allowed for it, because she was actually talking about herself.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan stood gob smacked. He was breathing heavily and not knowing why, the words that Dia had shot straight back at him were almost painful. The realisation that he truly was going to others what had been done to him. Her words echoed around his head, his selfish acts and boyish characteristics were really not the most amazing aspect of him, but then it is all he has known for so many years. It was this Dan Hubbles that had been around for so many years that began to step into action again, ready to take control of the situation.

A small laugh escaped from the mans mouth as his bemused gaze remained on Dia. Something that she had said really tickled him, the idea that his ‘act’ had failed and thus their relationship had. With his hands on his hips Dan looked at Dia.

“Hang on, if you call this a relationship then I think you are the one with problems. A quick smile and a dance and you count that as a relationship. I would say more of a affiliation.”

He took another swig of wine out of the bottle and walked closer to Dia. His face was close to hers, he could feel the warmth of her breath on his face. With a small smile Dan raised his hand and gently put his hand on the side of her face and then before Dia could do anything he had moved in. His lips touched hers and tenderly he kissed her, savouring the sweet taste of her lips from her tea and wine. As he pulled away he looked deeply into her eyes. He could only hope that she realised that he would never have a harmless fling with her, she made him feel different. Dia’s fighting sprit only added to it, he loved a women who had the courage to stand up to him and fight their corner and like Dia win their argument.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Daniel looked shocked for a moment. Dia thought that he more then likely had never had someone of the opposite sex tell him off like she had just done. Honestly, Dia had only done that to one other man and it hurt her more then it hurt him. Dia was attracted to arrogant, commanding men and paid for it dearly. She stood a little taller because of it and smirked, something she had done very often this evening.

An affliction? she frowned at the man, uncomprehendingly and almost dumbstruck. "I'm the affliction yet you're the one ... who ... asked ... me ... to ..." Dia was taken aback by Dan's sudden striding towards her, so much so she stopped talking. She furrowed her brow in confusion as he put a warm hand on her cheek. She nestled her cheek into it and could have kicked herself for it. They were arguing, why was his touch so calming?

Then he was kissing her. Dia frowned, furious and pushed him away. She quickly slapped him, her face turning bright red at the force of and the fact that she had just slapped him. She didn't show any remorse though. She couldn't stop herself from doing what she did next. She cupped her hands on his cheeks, felt the hotter one where she had slapped him, and pulled him into another kiss.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

The sound of Dias hand hitting the side of Dan’s face echoed around the kitchen. The force of the slap sent Dan’s head flying sideways and he stumbled backwards to keep his balance. His skin stung unlike anything he had ever felt before, he had be slapped on many occasions but nothing like that. Panting heavily he looked up to face Dia only to be pulled into another kiss. His shock seeped away quickly and the burning passion he had been feeling crept over. Placing his hand behind Dia’s head to give it support Dan channelled all his pain, anger and lust into that one kiss.

Pulling away from the kiss Dan did not step away, he kept his head close to that of Dia’s unsure of what to do. He wanted to stare into her beautiful eyes, but he also wanted to push her away and scream at her for what she did. His stinging cheek reminding him all the time of his past down fall. Moving away more Dan looked to the floor and then back to Dia.

“Why…what…Please do not tell me you have been wanting to do that all night. I kissed you to prove my point….and if you…if you actually.” Dan broke off for once he was lost for words. He did not know what to say, how to explain to Dia. “Don’t you see. Everything you have said about me is true, don’t put me in the position where is could hurt you.”

He took a small step forwards and reached out almost to stroke the side of her face once again but he pulled his hand away again. He could not understand what was happening, his confidence had gone his want to win the argument had gone. He was just worried that for once he would hurt someone he cared about. Dan Hubbles was slowly learning.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

All Dia's pent up frustration and confusion were channelled into this heated and lust-driven kiss. On both sides, there were unsaid things that left a hole that hurt every time, all the time. Dia could tell that Dan wanted it as much as she did, by him holding her closer, but he pulled away.

Dia licked her lips and began to bit the corner of her lip as she thought about what had just happened. She couldn't put her finger on exactly why she had done it. She hadn't thought about it at all and all Dia could do now was stare at the bottle of wine in Dan's hand. Dia watched him with a coy smile on her face as she took a step towards him. "Don't worry, Dan," she said grinning at him as she pried his hand from the bottle. She stood back and drank straight from the bottle, one long sip. She dropped the bottle to her side. "That's as much lusting as you'll get from me."

Dia frowned at Dan as he explained. "I can handle my own," she said softly, "but I appreciate the gesture." She put the bottle on the table with a little chink as it touched the wood. She looked at Dan with a smile on her pale face. "I-" she stumbled, looked back at the bottle. "I won't put you in that position as long as you don't do the same to me." She took a deep breath, another long sip of wine, and smiled at Dan again. How strange, she thought, that we are so different yet so alike.

She noticed he reached for her but resisted and she couldn't do anything about it. She wanted his touch, some sort of confirmation that she was beautiful and still desirable. Men undressing you with their eyes was one thing but the physicality was another and she craved that right then. She would have to find another outlet for that when she could think straight.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan could do nothing, he could think of nothing to do , no actions that would possibly make any sense and he even found it hard to look at Dia. She was doing every movement he had done only minutes before hand and this made it even harder for Dan, she was acting so perfect she had beaten him down, crushed his sprit and dulled his mind. A flobberworm would have been able to come up with something more useful then Dan at this point in time, but all he could do was stare on, listening to Dia feeling a small aching pain in his chest.

“Fine.” A dull voice managed to find its way out of his mouth, it held no emotion his eyes had lost all its potency and his body was no longer held high, but slumped like a defeated man. “I should really go back I have papers to mark. And I am going out tomorrow night anyway, should really get some sleep.”

Dan slowly shuffled his way forward. He knew that eh would not be able to do any marking, he would not be able to sleep or even have the energy to go out the next night, it was only a witch he had met in the pub, she seemed to know him so he had mostly likely been out with her before but not remembered. As he became level with Dia he looked at her closely and deeply into her eyes. They were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and they sparkled with confidence, victory and the look that Dan had seen in many others, passion.
‘Who would not think that, just look at me. I can get any girl I want.’

His own self belief seemed to ignite something slightly inside of him, the Dan Hubbles that travelled the world by himself did not give up that easily. A small smile crept across his lips and his shoulders rose slightly creating a stronger posture. Turning around to Dia he raised his eyebrow and gave her his best smile he could manage. With a deep breath Dan moved closer to the table where Dia had placed the bottle of wine, but instead of reaching around her he decided to go as close as possible. His arm passed gently over hers and as he pulled the bottle closer Dan moved his head closer to Dia letting his breath pass over her neck. Then he slowly took sips of the wine form the bottle ever so occasionally shooting her glances. He would not let her beat him at his own game.