[Hogsmeade] A long awaited meeting

[Sebastian Hubbles]

The door of the Three Broomsticks swung open and Sebastian Hubbles held the door open (as all gentleman should) for Dia Owen. It seemed like only the other day when the two left the pub after their first meeting but now many months had passed they had exchanged pleasantries and the odd kiss here and there but nothing more. They had not seen each other for the whole summer, Sebastian had been sent away to do ’work’ while Dia had spent the summer in France so for Sebastian it felt like he was having to start from square one all over again.

It was a hard enough task as it was, he was having to pretend to be interested in Dia Owen for who she was, when really he was being paid to keep her company in the hope that she would soon be able to get over his younger cousin. It was not like he was having to act too hard when it came to pretending to like Dia, quite the contrary, but the way he liked her…wanted her, was not what his cousin had in mind. The problem was now that Sebastian was getting slightly board of sitting in smoky pubs, acting like such a gentleman and listening to this woman’s life story when all he wanted was to go to bed with her.

So here they stood yet again outside the Three Broomsticks just looking at each other, Sebastian once again torn between asking Dia to accompany him to his room or just telling her the whole truth about himself and the little (rather profitable) deal he had going on with Dan…in short Sebastian Hubbles had had enough. He was a con artist by trade and acted differently around everybody more out of habit then design and he always got what he wanted.

The early October air was still trying to cling onto the warmth of the day but the coldness of the night was rolling in and this was reflected in the bitter northern wind. Running his tongue over his chapped lips Sebastian gave Dia a small smile and raised his eyebrows as he finally came to the conclusion…he was going to get what he wanted.

“So Dia…” Sebastian was radiating confidence seeing as he had done this type of thing more then once. “…I was thinking that it would be a shame to say goodnight so early with so much of the night left. It may not be as grand as your room up at the castle but I have a small room above the Hogshead, it would be a pleasure for you to accompany me…maybe stay the night.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

It had been yet another fun night with Sebastian for the young Astronomy professor but he seemed a little strained. Perhaps this new work he had found that had taken him away from her had tired him out, though Dia very much doubted if anything could tired Seb out. He was indefatigable and Dia admired him for that. She often found she was tired, emotionally drained after a night with him but he was always as he started.

As they stepped out into the cooling night air, Dia inhaled the smoke free air and smiled. Letting out her breath the professor looked up to the school and could think of nothing but her bed. Sebastian had become an out let for her misery and though she knew it was unfair on him, he was the one who always agreed to meet her again. She could never puzzle out why he kept coming back but then again she never did have the nerve to ask.

Her eyes traveled back to Sebastian when he said her name. This was usually where they said goodnight and then she would make her way to the castle slowly thinking over the evening past. She would never admit it but she felt sorry for Seb, having to listen to her jabber on all night about absolutely nothing that had to do with him had to be as draining for him as it was for her.

Dia had a smile on her face but the more that Sebastian said the more it faded till eventually she was simply looking at him, stony faced. Her expression was unreadable for a moment but her forehead soon creased into a frown and she dropped her gaze. She had been waiting for this, debating with herself whether or not she wanted to go that far.

In that instant, standing in the chilled night air, Dia knew that she could not. Looking back up at Sebastian, Dia smiled a very small smile. "I am sorry, Seb," she said softly, "I can't go with you. There's still too much ..." She took a deep breath and broke eye contact with him. "I can't go with you."

[Sebastian Hubbles]

Sebastian watched as the smile slowly faded on Dia’s face and he had also been rejected enough times to know that look. The man clenched his jaw almost as if he had to restrain himself from bursting out into in a rage. This was partly true, out of everything he had been told by his cousin Sebastian would have sworn by now she would have got over him, spending a night with someone else might have also been a way of helping but no…she was clearly still torn between a rock and a hard place…his bloody cousin.

‘Oh Dan has screwed you up’ Sebastian thought to himself as he listened to her slow apology and very polite decline. Breathing in deeply Sebastian gave Dia a small smile only for her to break all eye contact with him. Rather colourful language sprung into mind at this point and he really felt like spinning around and thumping a gapping hole in the wall of the pub, however he knew this would be rather uncharacteristic of the Sebastian he had been portraying to Dia so instead he would just have to go and bead up some poor sod later onto to let all his frustration out…as for now he was going to have to be the gentleman.

With a soft smile still upon his face Sebastian raised his right hand and gently touched the side of Dia’s face. Her cheek was soft yet surprisingly cold and with a soft voice Sebastian swallowed his anger and his pride to continue on with the act he was being paid for.

“That is fine Dia, I understand.” He lowered his hand slowly and dropt it to his side while refusing to look away and break any form of eye contact. “I guessed you would not have…I mean you still…I just hoped that…you would have got over him.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia felt as though she was letting Sebastian down. She didn’t like the look she knew she was getting. She didn’t even have to look at Sebastian to know that look. It was the impetuous and petulant glare of a man being shot down. Dia wanted to explain that it wasn’t because of him but because she was still not comfortable being as naked as that in front of another. Sebastian jumped the gun a bit and over shot the mark.

Dia quickly looked up to Sebastian, hurt burning her cheeks pink and shining in her eyes. She glared at him, her offence clear on her face. Where did he get off saying something like that to her? Dia crossed her arms across her chest in an attempt to close herself off from the emotion she was feelling, the hot, angry thoughts that were clouding her judgement. She knew that if she gave into those feelings she would be stalking off into the night with this man and do something she knew she shouldn’t and didn’t want to.

“It’s not about him,” she said slowly, her eyes still narrowed, “It’s about me. I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to regret doing something on a stupid whim that I will regret later. I know I will regret it later if I do go with you. That is the only reason. Not because of that man. You should know that I am over him. I’ve moved on.” With her last words she waved her hand, waving him away.

She was saying these things more in an attempt to reassure herself that she was indeed over Dan. But the more she spoke the more she realised that the reason she didn’t want to be with Sebastian tonight was because he wasn’t Dan. She missed Dan, and the security he offered, and the love. She missed him and above all else she wanted to see him but she couldn’t say such a thing, not after the months that had past and all the conversations she and Seb had had about moving on.

There was nothing in her tone to suggest she wasn’t through with the other man. Not a hint. She could feel the anger building up in her and she wasn’t entirely she where it was coming from. Dia felt like screaming, crying, having a tantrum because of all the muddled thoughts in her head but she kept her composure. She could feel her cheeks were still hot, contrasting sharply with her cold nose and fingers.

[Sebastian Hubbles]

She was so not over him, just like Dan was not over her and vain attempts to hide the fact was almost laughable. Dia may talk the talk but her beautiful eyes betrayed her with every blink, but Sebastian was getting slightly too wound up to pay all that much attention to her eyes…he had had enough.

“It is always about you Dia everything we ever talk about or do it is all centred around you. I could reel off your whole life’s history and I bet you could not even tell me my last name.”

It was a very dangerous game he was playing now, as this is what it was, all of it, a game and he was just a pawn in the chess game between Dan and Dia. Neither of them were willing to make the first move and they were using the others as cannon fodder just to block the way to protect themselves. But Sebastian was going to take no more, not for all the money in all the vaults of Gringotts, he was the one piece in between them both, preventing them from shouting out check mate and the game to be over.

His brow was creased with frustration and as the two of them looked at each other with heated glares Sebastian could not help but laugh. He was not sure why he just did; it was his act breaking down right in front of his main audience. Of course he was still angry, after all he had been rejected (and he never took that well) however the simple thought that he was not going to play along anymore seemed to have done the trick. Standing up straight the man simply shrugged his shoulders and managed to subdue his laughter so that it was only a smile spread across his weathered features.

“There is no point us both standing here in the cold and seeing that you have made it clear that nothing else is going to happen this evening I shall bid you goodnight.”

Sebastian dropt into a low bow like a performer at the end of a play accepting his applause and grinned wildly at her. She had been much more profitable then any of the regular muggle fairs he used to do and he had learnt how easy it was to milk money out of his cousin.

“It has been a pleasure getting to know you Miss Owen…It was fun.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia felt her cheeks flush with hot, angry colour. Sebastian had heard much of her over the past months but he really didn't know her at all. This thought made Dia angrier then before and she could feel her angry and frustration welling up in her blue blue eyes.

Why, why had she shared so much? Why had she trusted a man she scarcely knew? She had thought she had known him but as the words came out of his mouth Dia knew that the man she was looking at was not the man she had come to respect and admire. He was a stranger to her and she felt hot anger fall wet onto her cheek.

"I thought..." she stammered but no more words came to her. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears spilling as Sebastian dismissed her like some cheep one night stand that complained about everything and wasn't worth the effort. Dia hugged her arms around herself, trying to give herself the comfort she needed but to no avail.

She wanted Sebastian to hold her ... no, she wanted Dan to hold her, tell her everything would be alright. As she stood in the chilly night she realised for the first time in a long time that it was Dan that she wanted. She wanted Dan.

At Sebastian's final words, Dia whirled around and glared at him, the fight back in her cheeks. "How dare you!" she cursed under her breath. "You don't know anything about who I am. You know incidences in my past, inquired after them even but you do not know who I am. Go ahead! Leave, I - I don't care." And with that Dia turned on her heal and walked away. She wished she had had more strength to stand up to him but she couldn't even look at him.

She walked as fast as she could, her heals clapping against the cobbled road. She was still hugging herself and her head was bowed. She didn't like the hopeless feeling that was washing over her, like rain. Dia's long blond hair hung around her face, hiding it from the light that poured out of the windows of the buildings around her. Suddenly a warm, bright light washed over her as a door opened. Dia froze where she stood and jerked her head up, letting the light pour over her tear strewn face.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

If you were to ask anyone what they thought about fate you would get a range of answers. Many people think that certain things are destined to be and it was fate that brought them together, if you were to ask Daniel Hubbles what he thought about the whole concept of fate his answer would be in fact rather dull ‘No such thing as fate or luck…they are just results of decisions we take.’

So it was Dan’s decision to go down to Hogsmeade that night; it was his decision to go and visit Jennifer; it was his judgment to glance down at his watch when he did; his choice to go back and do some marking; he came to the conclusion that another cup of tea would do no harm as the papers were not going anywhere; his decision that he should really leave and pull open the shop door when he did; and it was his decision to be looking at Jennifer who was laughing at his untucked shirt instead of the outside world...sense the pattern??

With a small laugh Dan started to tuck his shirt thinking it best to follow the orders of Jennifer as he had learnt the hard way what happened to those who did not. It was when he was making sure that his hair was slightly more presentable and his jacket was not too creased did Dan turn around and look out at the street. At first he saw nothing and he looked back at Jennifer with a wide grin.

“I will drop you an owl for the next time I come around so you have warning this time. It will not be tomorrow though as I have some marking to do.”

There was a slight murmur from near the back of the store and it was clearly amusing as Dan started to laugh once more and this time when he looked out onto the street he saw her. The laughter died away and the smile slowly faded and Dan just stood in the door way of the shop staring at Dia Owen. All emotion seemed to escape him, Dan thought he would at least feel something but he was numb and the temptation to run back into the shop and slam the door behind him was too great but it was only when his gaze passed over her face did he notice the glistening tears.

His stomach lurched and his throat closed up and all he wanted to do was run over to her and hold in such a tight embrace but his feet seemed glued to the cobble stoned road. Looking away back to the entrance of the door Dan slowly turned and wondered over towards it, taking hold of the door handle and after a moments hesitation he pulled it shut blocking all the light and slowly the street where they stood fell darker. His decision was to stay and not to run, his decision was to be mature about this and talk to Dia.

The problem was Dan could not think of anything to say, after all the months they had been apart there surly would have been something he could have said to Dia but his feelings of guilt and love for this woman was enough to make his mind go blank. Running his tongue over his dry lips Dan took a small step towards Dia while trying to control his breathing. The look in her eyes was heartbreaking and he could not look at it, it reminded him too much of that December morning when it all went wrong.

“I…” The sentence got lost, he was tongue tied and pretty sure that he would be sick if he actually tried to say anything else. Taking another deep breath Dan managed to look back at Dia in hope that this time he would find some words, even if they were not the ones he truly wanted to say.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia should have remembered that the stars were a cold and cruel mistress. They gave little comfort, no contact, only looking down on her and shining brighter then she could ever hope to. It was almost as if they were laugh at her sometimes and at those times it seemed as though Dia was alright to laugh with them. But as she stood in the middle of the dark street, the warm light from the open doorway lighting her wet cheeks, she knew they were enjoying the spectacle they saw. Especially since it was Daniel Hubbles standing in the door way.

Dia's heart skipped a beat. She blinked up at the shadowy figure but as soon as she heard his voice her throat went dry, her fingers began to tingle and her heaving chest continued to heave. She swallowed hard, trying to make some sort of sense of the situation. Dan closed the door and moved towards her. Dia's heart began to race even faster. It had been too long since she had seen Dan, she knew that, but she was still not prepared for it.

Shifting slightly where she stood, Dia turned her body so that she was facing more towards Dan then to the exit and the road that lead back to the castle. Her eyes moved over the street fleetingly but she knew there was no running now. She looked at Dan, wanting him to say something, anything. Dan was the one who always knew exactly what to say or do to make her feel better and top of the world. She wanted him to say something that would comfort her, make her feel not so used. But Dan stammered and Dia's hope fell.

Her head dropped and her arms fell to her side. Hopelessness washed over her. Was there never to be a kind or loving word past between the to? She wondered and the tears began to come back to her. Dia slowly lifted her head and closed the gap between them. So close she stood now that she could feel his breath but they were still so far apart and that realisation broke her heart. Dia dropped her head again, laying her forehead on Dan's chest, and cried, her body shaking.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Before Dia’s forehead had even touched his chest Dan was wrapping his arms around her, breaching that small distance and pulling her close to him. His right arm was tightly around her waist and with his left he gently positioned his hand on the back of her head. His heart was pounding but with every jagged breath he took he focused on trying to compose himself and stop the tears that so badly wanted to fall.
It was not that Dan was trying to be all manly in front of Dia or even protect his pride, he just knew that in the hope of them having a future together one of them would have to stand firm and seeing as Dia was already in tears it would have to be his job.

With another deep breath Dan knew he had to say something, anything, some words of comfort that would tell Dia it would all be ok, that he was here for her, that he loved her…but just like before words escaped him. As the silence grew louder around them all Dan could do was hold Dia which was something he had been longing to do for so long. To be able to feel her warmth, the smell of her perfume, the silkiness of her hair between his fingers and to be able to look into those eyes and not see hurt.

Sadly the later was not an option at the moment and Dan wished he knew what he could say to make it all better. Tightening his embrace in hope that it would say enough Dan lightly placed his head on top of Dia’s trying to ignore the flash backs to a beautiful sunset in Egypt when they stood just like this. Those were happier days when his feelings for Dia were simple but now…now it would be easier to define with just the word ‘love’ but the way she made him feel...her love meant everything to him and there was no possible way he would ever stop loving her. The only problem was how was he going to tell her that after everything he had done to her.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The hopeless and helpless feeling that had gripped Dia's heart and throat slow began to loosen its grip as Dia felt Dan's arms wrap around her. Her heart beat faster, harder as Dan held her closer, tighter. This was what her heart had been longing for, this simple gesture of the man's eternal devotion. Dia could forgive his folly if only to have Dan embrace her as he was doing now.

As Dia sobbed onto Dan's chest, tears falling from her soft skin onto Dan's shirt, Dia realised how much she had lost out on by not simply going to Dan and sorting out their issues. She loved him, that was clear, and he obviously still cared her so everything would have worked out if she had gotten over herself and gone to speak to him. Running her hands up his back and hugging Dan tightly, Dia cried harder for the stupidity and pride she had put between her and Dan. How stupid!

As Dan gently put his head on hers, Dia knew that although Dan had been the one who hurt her she had been the one who hurt them both by refusing to see him. She had needed this, needed this closeness over the past months that neither Bree nor her parents nor Sebastian could give her. She had needed Dan so much it had sometimes but she had put those feelings aside, ignored them for silly girlish longing. She felt awful for doing such a thing to them both.

With an undignified jerk, Dia lifted her head and looked at Dan, blue eyes watery and cheeks covered in tears. "I'm sorry, Dan," she sobbed, "I'm so sorry." Again she put her face against Dan's chest and hugged him to her as if he may disappear, only for her to find that she was in fact dreaming and that she had made it back to the castle. "I don't want to be without you."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dia continued to cry and Dan could feel the coolness of the salty tears seep through his shirt but he did not care, not even the cool October wind that was starting to blow would make him flinch. Out of everything that had happened, the months of silence and the almost impossible task of avoiding each other was made redundant by this simple meeting which within seconds had them in each others arms. Dia’s arms began to creep up his back and her sobbing seemed to grow louder and Dan took a deep breath to compose himself as an all to familiar sting sensation started in his eyes.

With the jerk of her head Dan quickly pulled up and looked into her eyes, the eyes that he dreamed about every night but the eyes that were now fixed upon him were tainted. The sparkle had been washed away by the tears yet he liked to think he could see a small glimmer, the way Dia used to look at him.
It also seemed that she was to be the first one to be able to form a sentence and although it was a joy to hear her harmonies voice he could not help but disagree with what she was saying. None of this had been her fault, he was the one who cheated on her, he was the one who was not man enough to talk to he, he was the one who did not put up a fight when she said goodbye.

"I don't want to be without you."

His heart stopped and a breathless laugh escaped his lips for the slightest of moments. It was the happiest he had ever felt, his stomach was tied in a million knots, his heart went from not beating to pounding so quickly it was all he could hear and the tears he had been trying to suppress broke free. Lowering his head Dan kissed the top of Dia’s head and if it was possible he held her tighter knowing that he would never let her go again.

“You won’t have to; I promise I will never leave your side again…” Dan swallowed hard to try and keep his voice as calm as possible “…I love you Dia.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia could hear Dan's heart beating under her ear. She was pressing is so hard to him to make sure she wasn't dreaming. He held her tighter yet and Dia knew, she knew that it wasn't a dream. This was really happening and her tears stopped falling, her body stopped convulsing from the crying and all became still. Her lips were dry, her cheeks soaked, her eyes felt puffy and red from the crying but she didn't care that she looked like rubbish. Why should she; she was in Dan's arms, what more could there be?

It hardly needs saying however, Dia's heart was beating so fast and so hard she was certain Dan would be able to feel it, even through her thick coat. She had imagined many possible scenarios when and if she would ever bump into Dan again. She had imagined she would scream at him, he at her and things would often be left worse off then they were. On top of her pride she did not want to open herself to that hurt so had used more energy avoiding him. Later she would laugh about how silly they had acted by now she merely looked up at the man whose arms were around her.

She studied her fact for a brief moment noticing that little had changed. But even as she looked upon the man she loved, she could feel her body growing more and more tired. Such a roller coaster of emotions was likely to drain one. Dia kept her composure though, she kept her eyes on Dan her arms around him. Even though her legs were beginning to feel like lead Dia didn't want to let go of Dan, not so soon after having gotten him back.

Dan's words made Dia's wet cheeks stretch into a small smile. "I'll hold you to it, Mr Hubbles," Dia said softly. Her cheeks were beginning to turn a light pink colour as she thought about how she had been acting. Her shameful crying and sobbing would have given her mother a heart attack. She would only realise this was the reason later. For now she simply locked her fingers together behind Dan's back, her hair falling behind her as she smiled wider at Dan.

"I love you too."

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

So here they were, standing face to face arms wrapped around one another and he was looking at a smiling Dia. During the past ten months in the brief moments he had caught sight of her Dia had never worn her beautiful smile, not once, even when he watched her talk to Bree across a crowded corridor…so to see it now meant the world to him.

Brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes Dan listened to her comment about holding him to his word and all he could do was chuckle to himself. There was so much he wanted to say to Dia however apologising for what he did was surprising enough not on the list. He apologised at the time and he was not sorry for telling Dia the truth as to live a lie would have been worse then the months they spent apart, he had served his punishment for what he has done but his biggest regret was that Dia had to be punished at the same time. The thing he really wanted to tell her was that he was ready to spend the rest of his life with her, he wanted this love of theirs to last forever and he would do anything to ensure her happiness.

‘I love you too.’

That was all Dan needed to hear and with the slightest hint of a cheesy smile Dan slowly lowered his head and moved closer to Dia, their noses brushed past each other and Dan breathed her in deeply, but then he hesitated for the briefest of moments as he doubted his actions, but when would it be more suitable to kiss the woman you loved? This argument won over in his mind and his lips met Dia’s; he had ten months worth of love locked up in him and although he would have loved to show it all in this one kiss they were in a public place and he was sure people were watching them through the windows. So instead it was just a small and tender kiss simply so he could taste her lips once again.

Slowly Dan moved away and rested his forehead against Dia’s and took yet another deep breath. If he knew an hour ago that he would be soon standing with Dia once again then he would have had another cup of tea or even something stronger to steady his nerves.

“I think we need to celebrate.” The old cheeky smile was spreading across Dan’s face. “I say we crack open some Darjeeling and have a very strong cuppa.”

It may not have been the most romantic suggestion in the world, no candles, no Champaign but a good old fashioned cup of tea…after all that is what brought the two together in the first place.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia could feel her heart slowly, returning to normal. Everything was returning to normal. She knew that she would have a bit to answer for for this but she didn’t care, once she explained it everything would be clear and no one would question that they were meant to be together. She knew that this was where she belonged, in Dan’s arms. There was no place that she was happier, not in Egypt, not with her best friends, no where. Why should she be denied happiness for mistakes of the past?

At Dan’s touch, Dia felt a shiver go up her spine. That was a feeling she had not felt in a long time. She had missed his touch, the specific Dan smell that was always on him and sometimes on her too, the taste of him. Dan leaned forwards to kiss her but hesitated. Dia began to doubt herself but then she pushed herself up onto her toes to help him along a little. Gentle. It was a gentle kiss that spoke more then either of them could have managed to say in that brief time.

Dia’s eyes remained closed as Dan put his forehead to hers. The breeze that blew was extra cold against her cold cheeks so when Dan lifted his head again Dia sniffed and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She didn’t want to know what she looked like, she was certain she looked dreadful. What she needed was a good strong cup of tea. Dan read her mind and she smiled.

“You read my mind,” Dia said and slipped her cold hand into Dan’s. It was a form of supporting herself. Holding his hand gave her the strength she lacked. So she began to walk, keeping close to Dan of course, and sniffed again. “I can’t believe I cried on you like that,” she said, a small laugh in her voice. She smiled up at Dan as they walked, brushing her hair out of her face again.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dia’s hand was cold and as Dan took hold of it he squeezed it tightly almost in hope that come the warmth from his would spread to her. It was a silly thing to worry about but he hated to think that Dia would be in any form of discomfort even if it meant that her hands were a little colder then normal. Dia took the first step forward and Dan happily followed as he was convinced that people were peering at them out of their windows, he knew that soon the rumours would be spreading around the school and he certainly would not be the one to deny them.

“I can not believe you almost made me cry, no really I would have blubbed like a baby had it not been for my manly pride.” Dan grinned down at Dia just happy to hear that slight hint of a laugh in her voice, he had missed it, he had missed her and the company she provided and now he had her back he did not plan on letting her go ever again.

Slowly they made their way up the high street hand in hand, like they had done almost a year ago. So much had happened since then, so much had changed. Dan could not help but think that had the cruel parting of them never taken place that maybe he would not have loved Dia as much as he did now, absence makes the heart grow fonder and it certainly did in Dan’s case. Not being with Dia made him realises what much he was missing, how much he really did care for her and that it was not just sexual attraction (although that always helped), he really did love her.

As another blast of late night October wind blew at them Dan could not help but think that cup of tea could not come soon enough, but where were they going to go for it. Dan did not dare declare ‘back to mine then’ just in fear that Dia would think he was rushing, after all they had only just…anyway they could not…Girty would be there, she did sleep on the office floor after all. Clearing his throat in hope that it helped clear his thoughts Dan gave Dia a small sideways glace to just make she still was there.