[Queens Apparel] One Night in Paris

[Jennifer Queens]

Jennifer could not help but laugh so much it began to hurt, and tears formed in her eyes. It was so funny to see Dan freaking out and look like he was about to die in shock, she wished she'd of filmed it then she would of given it to that Muggle tv show that takes in funny clips and gives you money in return. Wiping away her tears of laughter, she bit her bottom lip to control the urge to laugh once again, and didn't stop biting until the urge had passed, which seemed like minutes.

"Your not very observant are you? You would of known by now If I had a kid Dan" she tutted before dismissing it. He then remenisced about her taking his shirt of without losing any buttons and Jennifer couldn't help but give a smug smirk and a wink.
"I was pretty impressed too, I was just as drunk as you were...And i've never seen anyone get so frustrated trying to get a dress off and after a few seconds just ripping it off" she admitted, she couldn't help but give a giggle as she remembered to moment that he ripped it.

Hell, Normally Jen would be totally embarrased by this situation, but she was young, being only 20 years old at the time, she was naive and just wanted some fun, and Dan just happened to be at the same place, wanting the same thing. It was funny how things turned out though, and she couldn't help but think about that night in Paris.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan sipped on his tea some more knowing he needed to relax a bit more, Jennifer was right it had been a life time ago, they were both leading different lives back then and it was not like there was anything between them back then so there was no need to worry. Placing the tea back down on the table Dan managed to summon a small smile as he looked at Jennifer in a new light. He would from time to time think of that night and he could not help but laugh at the antics they got up too, he could remember asking room service for a very random collection of deserts and in the morning finding a half eaten trifle in the shower…he still could not remember how it got there.

“No dress should be so difficult to undo.” Dan said in protest to her comment. “I mean in the moment of passion by the time you got that bloody thing off properly the moment could have passed…luckily it did not faze me.”

He gave her a cheeky smile and he could not help but feel like he was chatting her up at the bar all over again. They sat at the bar for a good few hours just talking and laughing at the other people in the pub, the compliments passed between them and then before he knew it they were making out. Surprising or not the progress was not as such tonight, there was no alcohol and they were standing meters away from each other with not as much longing in their eyes.

Dan was about to say something else but the bell above the shop door rang out and the chatter of a group of female voices filled the shop. Slipping out of sight he took a deep breath trying to stay at of view of their prying eyes. He had no reason to, it was not like him and Jennifer were up to anything dishonourable but Dan hated the thought that a group of gossiping girls could start to spread a rumour about him being alone in a back room with an incredible attractive shop assistant…that was something he would not risk.

[Jennifer Queens]

Jennifer couldn’t quite figure what was going through Dan’s mind, he looked like he was rushing through ten years of memories all at once, but as soon as he smiled, she felt a little better. Laughing when he said the dress was difficult to undo, she shook her head in disagreement.

“It wasn’t, you were just too drunk to take notice!” she smirked. Sighing, she picked up her tea and held it close to her mouth taking in the warmth before taking a small sip. It was still boiling hot, but all the laughing had caused her mouth to become dry. An all familiar tinkle came from the shop floor and Jen looked around the corner noticing the gaggle of girls laughing and joking, and looking rather excited about their dresses, being for the Christmas Yule ball and all. Walking into the shop and behind the counter she smiled, put down her tea and accepted a hug from one of the girls over the counter.

“Are you looking forward to the ball ladies?” she asked as they all expressed their excitement. She laughed and walked into the back one again, giving Dan a small smile in apologies for the disturbance. She pulled off the five dresses on the silver rail and walked past Dan once again with them in her hands. Putting them onto the counter she took the top one and handed it to a girl at the back. After giving them all their specific dresses she handed the replica dress of hers to the girl who hugged her.

“There you go ladies” she smiled, and accepted the money of each of them and put it in the till, giving them a small amount of change.

“Make sure them lads treat you right, if not send them my way” she winked at them, as they all thanked her and seemed to tiptoe out of the door. Jennifer followed them and locked the door behind them and pulled down the door blind. Walking back over to the counter she picked up her tea once more.
“Hormones” she grinned at Dan. Bless them.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Holding his breath Dan pressed himself even more against the wall and just kept his eyes closed using the theory that because he can not see them they could not see him. Luckily they seemed more interested in the dresses that Jennifer had made for them then their Charms Professor hiding in the back room. At the sound of the shop door closing sand the silence falling over the shop once more Dan let out a huge sigh of relief and slipped away from the wall running is hand nervously through his hair as Jennifer walked back into the work area.

For some reason as soon as the discovery that they had slept together came out Dan had felt the mood of the room change, the way they acted together…well the way he was acting. It truly felt like he had cheated on Dia even though it happened years ago, he just did not want her to know. However just watching Jennifer drink her tea and move the conversation Dan tried to act more of himself, he needed to push the mixed emotions out of his mind.

“Tell me about it.” He chuckled in response to Jennifer’s comment of Hormones. “I have to work with class full of them every day. I do sometimes fear for my life.”

That was not a lie, when you are in a class full of hormonal girls and testosterone pumped males and you are teaching them relatively dangerous spells Dan could not help but worry about the odd spell being misdirected. He had in fact ended up in the hospital wing on more the one occasion because of it, but he knew when he took on the job he knew it would be dangerous.
Finishing his cup of tea Dan placed it on the counter and thought he might as well get on with the reason he had come to the shop in the first place. Leaning on the counter Dan shot Jennifer his most charming smile.

“Jen, might you be able to make me a suit?” He gave her a bit of puppy dog eyes. “I only trust you to make one that suits me.”

[Jennifer Queens]

Jennifer could still feel the tension and quite frankly distress radiating off Dan since they found out they were both each others one night stand, but he had no reason to feel guilty as it was just information that they didn’t know. Besides he didn’t even know of Dia then, so no ill feelings were sent towards him. Jennifer knew exactly what that night was, and she wasn’t about to start screaming and shouting ‘you never called me’ because, she was there for the same reason he was, just a bit of fun. And that was all it was.

As he said he feared for his life, Jennifer almost choked on her tea and almost had to spit it back into her cup, but managed to regain control and keep the tea down. As soon as she swallowed, she burst out into laughter and leant onto the counter side.

“I’m just glad I didn’t decide to be a teacher then” she sympathised. She thought she had it bad being a nurse, with randy old men trying to force her and other nurses into giving them a bed bath, to the psychotic ones who if they were allowed their wands would surely hex her or at least give her some rather ugly looking boils, but it was part of the job, and she had come to expect it, she was just glad she was lucky enough to get out of it and follow her dream.

Finally her laughter faded out into little huffs and the odd giggle before she looked back at Dan with a straight face and Dan finally had time to ask her to make a suit for him. Nodding, she seemed to pull her measuring tape out from thin air and straighten it out.

“Of course. Any colours in mind?” she asked, pulling at his fingers to straighten his arm vertically and begin to measure his arm length.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

It felt good to be laughing again, it felt normal that some form of normality was restoring to their friendship. The atmosphere felt lighter and the fact that Jennifer was chocking on her tea made it even more hysterical. At her comment about being glad she did not become a teacher Dan could only shrug his shoulders, he would never have guessed he would have become the professor of charms at Hogwarts. I could almost remember making a promise to Will that he would never get a profession let alone one at a school.

Slowly Jennifer made her way over towards him, tape measure in hand and asked a question that Dan knew that she really did not have to ask.

“Jen it is me what colours do you think?” He gave a soft chuckle as he thought about what she had said on the day this very shop opened and an idea struck him. “What if we made the shirt blue…not like a deep blue but a light powdered blue almost. And the suit itself can be a light grey…”

Dan trailed off; he did not really know much about fashion and what colours went with what all that mattered to him was if someone looked nice in a dress and as had already been disgusted he could get it off with ease. Lifting his arms up for Jennifer to start measuring him up Dan could not help but get lost in her beautiful features; they were so close he could almost taste her. Clenching his jaw Dan tried to think of other things, think of Dia he had to stop himself from having this thoughts he loved Dia, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her he could not afford to do anything that could jeopardise that.

[Jennifer Queens]

As Dan began laughing again, Jen knew the stressful feelings of his that were causing a certain vein in his head to look like it was about to pop were now leaving. She smiled to herself, happy that he seemed to be returning to him normal self once again. Merlin knows what was running through his head. She could see the dull light brighten in his eyes once again which made her feel better.

As he was asked about the colours, she should of known he was going to say what he did, but somehow an approving smile still made it’s way onto her face. Shrugging, she looked at his arm to remember the measurement before looking back at him.
“I should of known really...but yes Light grey and blue will go. I have a nice powder blue material in the back that would be perfect” she replied.

“You seem to be learning about Fashion Dan, well done. You must be hanging out in here too often” she joked. She didn’t mind that he came to see her every now and again, in fact she welcomed his presence. He was a nice guy and they got on well, and he always seemed to come at the right time to rescue her when she was in need of a break.

With Dan’s arms still up, she moved closer, almost in a hug, and put the tape measure around his chest. Adjusting it so it would be around him correctly, there was not even a centimetre space between the two bodies as she tightened the tape around him. Looking back up into his eyes, that certain night in Paris flashed before her own before she the visions faded into nothing and all she could see was Dan’s eyes once again. She felt like she was stuck in time, frozen. She couldn’t keep her eyes off Dan’s, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to either.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

They just stood there staring at each other memories of the night in Paris came flooding back, every time he dared to blink he just saw Jen in that dress. The smells and tastes from that night came back, the kick of adrenaline that had taken hold of him when he first kissed Jennifer back in Paris. Before Dan knew what he was doing his arms were slowly wrapping themselves around Jennifer.

So there they were standing in each others arms, eyes locked upon each other the same thoughts of the passion filled night filling both of their minds, and the big question was whether Dan Hubbles would give into one last moment of weakness?

Yes…

He was transported back to Paris six years ago, adrenaline pumped through his veins, his heart was pounding in his chest and all he wanted to do was taste Jennifer’s lips once again. Pulling her closer and lowering his head Dan leaned in, their lips met, the lust was clear in the kiss and being caught in such a moment the old Dan Hubbles kicked in. Lifting Jennifer up he placed her upon the work counter behind them and moved in once more…but it was this small break from the lusting and desire gave Dan time to think.

Their lips had only just met once more when his eyes flashed open and he realised what he was doing. Pulling himself away and stumbling backwards Dan could not bring himself to look at Jennifer, he felt like he was going to be sick. What had he done?

[Jennifer Queens]

As they stood, eyes gazing into each others, both pairs were re-playing the night they met in Paris, all the drinks they had knocked back and all the laughs they had, not to mention the sexual tension between them. It seemed that both were thinking exactly the same thing and both Dan and Jen just couldn’t resist each other.

Before Jen knew it, she had her arms locked around Dan’s neck and they were kissing,, her hands joined behind his head as he lifted her onto the counter. Her heart beat so hard against her chest that she believed it was trying to escape her body as both her heart and her head were telling her this was wrong. Just moments before, Dan had been declaring his love for Dia, and Jen had been thinking about when she was going to see Russ again. It must of been the same thoughts for Dan as he opened his eyes and stumbled backwards.

Jennifer just sat on the counter, with one hand in her lap and the other at her mouth with her fingers pressed against her lips, either savouring the taste of Dan’s lips or wiping them, she wasn’t quite sure. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Dan right now, she just sat, like a lifeless doll on the counter top, looking down to the textured dark purple carpet to try and clear her mind of what had just happened. Biting her bottom lip for a moment, she released her hand from her mouth and tried to speak, but no words, or sounds came out, it was simply mouthed words that were unrecognisable.

After a moment of silence, she produced the courage to look up to Dan, but not into his eyes, anything but those eyes. Her voice came out as a whisper.

“I-....erm” is all she could manage to say. Her mind was so clogged with thoughts and emotions that she couldn’t even manage to separate them all. Dan was a good looking bloke of course, but she didn’t have any feelings for him like that anymore.

Suddenly thoughts of what Dan and her had just done, and what Dia would think were swamped away and the face of Russ replaced them all. Guilt washed over her, but she didn’t know why. Russ wasn’t her boyfriend, but thoughts of the dream she had the day before when she was laying in Russ’s bed with him after helping him decorate his shop swept through her mind. The dream where she was kissing Daniel Hubbles, and Russ was there, but he wouldn’t even look at her. His face was stern and full of distrust, and the happiness she usually saw in Russ's eyes had vanished to now be left with vacant pools of blue. The emotions she felt in that dream were of guilt and betrayal, and she felt them wash over her yet again.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan was not even sure if he was breathing; his whole body seemed to have shut down due to shock of what he had just done. He finally answered his screaming lungs and took a long breath although he dared not look at Jen out of sheer embarrassment and disappointment in himself. Even when she tried to stutter something out he dared not look at her, not that he feared what he would do, he knew that that kiss was a one off…a moment of weakness that would never happen again.

Clenching his jaw Dan slowly raised his head and looked at Jennifer, there was no force driving to him to kiss her again, there was not even the thought in the back of his mind about Paris. All he could think about was how he had betrayed Dia’s trust yet again and the guilt consumed him.

“Jen we…we can not tell anyone about that.” He looked at her almost begging her to agree. “I mean we both have more to lose then gain by it being let out I…” He broke off to try and compose himself seeing as he had been talking so quickly. “I love Dia to much…to…to lose her again.”

`You love her so much to kiss someone else.’ The inside battle was raging within him and he wanted to just shout until he was blue in the face. He hated himself for what he did to Dia all those months ago and he had almost done the same thing again, what was wrong with him?

Running his hand through his hair Dan took a deep breath and looked over at Jennifer once again. They needed to sort this all out here and now, Dan knew he would not tell Dia it was only a kiss after all just like he gave Jen back in Paris six years ago…it was nothing.

[Jennifer Queens]

By the time Dan had managed to speak, Jen had given up looking back at him and seeing nothing come from him. Hearing nothing was making the situation worse, and maybe if they both just made light of the situation things would be alright again, but somehow Jen just knew that it wasn’t enough this time. Turning her head to the side, she looked down at the counter and grabbed hard on to it. She felt stupid for what had just happened, and she felt it creep up from her stomach and begin to restrict her lungs, making it feel like they were being compressed. It felt like her head was going to explode. Everything on her face ached with pressure and that pressure created heat. She was sure she was going to either have a panic attack or faint. It had been years since she had felt like this, and it felt like her body was giving up on her, despite it’s age.

Straightening her back, she huffed out a loud and long breath of air, trying to calm herself, and bring cold air to her face. Drumming her fingers on her lap, she brought the other hand off the counter and began mirroring her other fingers. She didn’t know what to say or how to say it, but just as she was opening her mouth to speak Dan had begun for her. Inside herself, she sighed, inwardly thanking Dan that he had started speaking before she did.

“I know Dan, It’s not going to leave this room” She said in a rather awkward manner. She waited a moment for the flush to leave her a little before she looked up at him and attempted to give a small smile.

“Look, I know you love Dia, and I really like Russ. It was just a mistake. Nothing more” she said raising her eyebrows at the bridge of her nose. Pulling at a few strands of hair that were clumped together, she looked at the tape that had been dropped in the moment that was now ravelled around Dan’s shoe a little before looking away again and down at her hair. She twisted the hair with both hands for a moment before giving another big sigh, and pushing herself off the counter.
She knew Dan had more to lose than herself, and she didn’t want to be the one to ruin it for him. The thing that bothered her most however was she didn’t want to ruin things for herself either. She still held onto a piece of hope that Russ would want her, and maybe even be the one, but at the minute, all the future was holding was bleakness. The sooner this moment was over with the better. The taste of Dan's lips had faded, and nothing remained but an empty feeling sat deep in Jen's stomach.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

He was caught in the memories of yester year, that is what it would have been; his longing for the past and the life he used to have. But he still could not work out why out of everything he could have done he still kissed Jen, he was happy with Dia, he did not, could not imagine being with anyone else and yet here they were. Running his tongue over his lower lip Dan could no longer taste Jen, he did not want to, he just wanted to hold Dia in his arms and reassure himself that she was the one he wanted to be with.

As Jen spoke Dan nodded his head in agreement, nothing was to be said to anyone else, not even Girty was going to know this and for Dan to keep something from his sister meant it was serious. The kiss could just be grouped into the many that he and Jen shared that night in Paris and they would never have to think about it again, it was a mistake and they both knew it.

As Jen jumped off the counter Dan diverted his gaze to the floor where he saw the tape measure wrapped around his foot. When he headed down to the village have the suit measured up he never would have guessed that he would end up doing what he did, all concepts of making the suit thrown out of the window and lust was allowed to reign over. Slowly bending down Dan picked up the tape measure and slowly began to roll it up as he dared glance over at Jen once more.

“I…I think I had better go.”

Dan managed to summon a small smile as held out his hand with the tape measure placed centre on his palm. It was not that he did not trust Jen, or even himself to control themselves and stop any more lusting from happening, Dan just felt that he needed to get away and collect his thoughts.

[Jennifer Queens]

In the pit of Jen’s stomach, it felt tight yet empty. What a strange feeling it was, and could not really be placed into any such category. It was in a context all of it’s own, and somehow it pained her to have that feeling implanted in her. Why should it matter to her? Why was it affecting her so much? Maybe because the guilt for Dia was bad enough, but Jen was being selfish, and the guilt in her for Russ had overwritten any other twinges of guilt for anyone else. Yet, she wasn’t with Russell, but at the rate she was going, she never would be either.

Images of that dream she had kept replaying over and over in her head. It was Russ’s face that made her heart feel like it had being trampled on by an elephant’s heavy hoof. Like it was being grasped so hard it was sure to explode. She felt like she was exposing herself all over again, and her organs were laid out infront of her and people were taking their pick of what they wanted to destroy first. It was a weird feeling and she was sure at that moment in time, nobody else had the exact same feelings as she did. She worried too much.

She could see movement coming from Dan, although unsure of what exactly he was doing, she didn’t dare look back at him once again. The wave of sadness washed over her and she bit down on her lip to stop the silent tears from falling to the floor. However, all throughout these feelings that were fighting to burst out of her chest, she didn’t feel truly guilty for kissing him. When they first met in Hogsmeade, she knew she wanted to kiss him, and she had done it, even if it was just a momentary feeling of lust. She had let the starting feelings for him go once Ashton had let slip he was deeply in love with another woman. She had been setting herself up for another heartbreak yet again, but she had nobody to blame but herself.

As he held his hand out with the tape entwined together, she looked at his palm for a moment before gradually taking the tape from him, making sure not to touch his skin, or all the hard work of keeping her feelings inside would just come flooding out with her tears. It wasn’t his fault, it was hers. She seemed to make a habit of messing things up for herself, and the thoughts she had that day when they were dancing in the shop of her growing old and lonely began to dominate her mind once again. Doubt rushed through her head about Russ, and she began to think that the same thing would happen with him...

“Alright”. That was all she could manage to say. After all that had just happened, all the thoughts she had just thought, and all she felt, that was all she could say. She was about to watch yet another man walk out of her life. Even if he was just a friend, it still hurt her that they may not even be friends anymore. How could she of been so naive?