[Courtyard] Solace in the Starlight

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

It was a long dark corridor, enclosed no windows or candle light. Searching in his pockets Dan could not find his wand, he was going to have to walk in the darkness. Putting one foot in front of the other he started to make his way down the corridor but everything looked the same it felt like he was getting no where…

Footsteps…
A high pitched scream…

Dan tried to shout but no sounds escaped his mouth, he ran flat out into the darkness trying to run from the sound of the ever closing in footsteps, a flash of green light lightened the corridor for the briefest of moments before darkness surrounded the man once again. Dan carried on running but he hit something, he fell to the floor hitting it hard but there was no pain. Rolling onto his back Dan tried to feel for what he had ran into, it was a body…

****

Dan’s eyes flashed open and he lay panting in the darkness, he had broken out into a cold sweat his fingers were gripping tightly onto the bed sheets. Trying to compose himself Dan looked around the dark room looking for some form of familiarity and it was then his eyes fell upon the person he was sharing a bed with.

Dia Owen was peacefully asleep next to him, blissfully unaware that Dan was having a minuscule panic attack however just watching her sleep helped calm the man down slightly but every time he tried to close his eyes the same images haunted his dreams, the same cold stony gaze of the lifeless face.

Dan knew he could not sleep anymore tonight, the fear of having to face that dream once again was enough to convince himself that he was no longer tired. Turning back to Dia he lightly stroked the side of her face and gently kissed her before throwing the covers to one side and swinging his legs over the side of the bed bringing himself into a sitting position. He ran his hand through his messed up hair and took a few deep breaths before standing up and searching for some form of clothes that were scattered across the floor from the previous night. Before he left to god knows where Dan Hubbles made sure that his precious Dia was warm and safe by pulling the covers over her and giving her one last kiss.

Carefully and quietly Dan opened the door and slipped out and entered the darkness of the castle corridors. It send a shiver down his spine how much this reminded him of his dream, it had the same atmosphere, it was claustrophobic and no matter how many times Dan Hubbles had walked the many corridors of the castle he still felt lost. Searching his pockets Dan tried to find his wand, but it was not there…as he walked further down the corridor he started to hear footsteps in the distance behind him. Glancing over his shoulder nervously, the palm of his hands tingled in fear, he could hear the fast thumbing of his own heart and before he knew it he was running down the corridors trying to escape his predator. He knew the scream would come soon followed by the green flash, but instead he discovered the main stairwell.

Coming to a dead stop Dan gripped the banister and just stood still, breathing heavily looking at the portraits that lined the walls feeling like a complete idiot. He wanted to cry, he just wanted to slump down onto the floor and break down into a quivering wreck. The image from the dream was too real, her eyes…they did not sparkle they held not life.
Swallowing hard Dan some how found the will to walk forward down the stairs, he did not know where he was going he just needed to keep moving and not let the darkness catch up with him.

Pushing open the oak doors of the entrance hall the cold night air hit him in the face like a slap in the face. It was refreshing, helped him retrieve his thoughts and with the first deep breath of the fresh Scottish air Dan felt the darkness that was haunting him slip away ever so slightly. Glancing up at the sky there was not a cloud to be seen and the stars were bright, the moon was high in the sky and the silver glow lit the courtyard, creating hypnotising patterns in the rippling water of the fountain. Before he knew what he was doing Dan was skimming his finger across the water find relaxation in the most simple of things.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

It seemed like a completely new experience, staying with Dan for nights again. She had gotten so used to being alone but now that she was no longer so she felt odd spending nights with him. Not that she was complaining, it was one of those odd good things that make life better. And it was true, now that Dan was back in her life it was so much better then it had been. She had strong supportive arms to wrap around her at night but this night she did not feel that.

Dia was sleeping peacefully, but she, even in her sleepy state, wanted to feel Dan’s arms around her. She couldn’t understand why he was not holding her tightly as he usually did. It did not hinder her sleep much, however, as she slept still and restful. Sharing a bed meant that one would often wake the other and in this case. A hand gently caressed her cheek and she stirred a little, pulling the covers tighter over her. She relaxed again but now she was already coming out of the sleep that had consumed her so entirely. She always slept better when she was with Dan.

Dia felt something, a soft kiss of her forehead but she did not know that that was what it was. Since she had found Dan again she had found that she was intuitively connected with him, whenever he was bothered she was and whenever he was troubled she found that she was too. It was only a matter of time before she woke after he had. The door clicked closed and Dia’s was certain she heard it. Her hand slowly stretched over the sheets for Dan but he was not there. Slowly her eyes opening a moment after she had realised she was alone in the room. She looked ahead of her but there was no one there. Lifting her head and pushing herself up onto her elbow, Dia looked around the room. Dan was not there at all.

Worry. Worry filled the blond woman and so she threw off the covers quickly, pulling her night gown on before deciding that her long coat and slippers would work well too, seeing as it was still so cold. Hurriedly she pulled open the door and walked out. She had no idea where Dan would have gone but she knew that if she wondered around enough she would either come across him or someone who had seen him. They had been back from her parent’s house nearing a week now and Dan had been acting strange and distracted ever since. She could not explain it and she was beginning to worry about him more and more, then he did something like this? What was going on with him?

She walked faster the longer she did not find Dan or anyone else. It was disconcerting that she had come across neither staff member, nor student, nor trouble maker (though for the last she was grateful because in that case she would have been obliged to do some reprimanding about it). The far off sound of large doors creaking echoed down the corridor and Dia knew Dan had gone into the courtyard of the castle. She was not sure how she knew but she did so she quickly took the nearest flight of stairs, nearly running down them, and made her way out of the castle, into the cool near morning air and the courtyard.

Knowing nothing of the internal struggle that was raging within Dan, Dia was utterly confused about what was going on with him. She knew only that he had left her side in the middle of the night and that there had to be no explanation for such an act. She wanted to be there for him, she wanted to be the one he came to for comfort but alas Dan was being so secretive. Dia was uncertain about what to do or what to say but she knew that she had to confront him about it now. This behaviour was so strange and Dia was so worried.

As she looked around the courtyard, Dia spotted him. She let out the breath she had not realised she had been holding and she slowly moved towards him. Hugging her arms close to her and hunching over slightly, Dia pulled her coat closer to her body. Shaking her hair out of her face (she wasn’t sure how it looked, after all she had not stopped to look at herself in the mirror on her way out. For all she knew, she looked like a crazy person with wild hair!?), Dia cleared her throat, not wanting to jump straight into her questioning.

“Dan?” she offered slowly as she got closer. When she was about three feet away, Dia stopped, looking at his back, her worry clear in her eyes. “Dan, I’m here for you,” she began softly, “you know I always will be. And that means that I want to be there to help you with whatever’s bothering you but I can’t if I don’t know what’s wrong.” Taking one step closer, Dia thought about putting a hand on his shoulder but she pulled back her hand and tucked it back into her crossed arms. “Dan?” she said again, more worried, “please tell me what’s bothering you.”

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

The coolness of the January night air did not matter, the fact that he was just standing their in his work shirt and trousers did not matter either. The starlight that had just been so relaxing now reminded him of how alone he was in the courtyard and the one person he loved he had left. The emotions he had been trying to suppress built up inside of him and he was sure he would have broken down had it not been for the voice of Dia Owen.

The footsteps he had heard must have been hers, she had followed him. There was no monster in the darkness trying to kill him just the woman he loved making sure that he alright and that is all she was doing. The note of concern in her voice was heartbreaking and instead of the joy Dan normally felt at the sound of her voice he felt nothing…he could only see the lifeless eyes.

“Nothings wrong.” He said trying to convince himself more then Dia. He slowly turned to look at her a small smile momentarily lightened his features but he knew that his eyes were betraying him, he could feel it and knew that if he dared blink the tears would fall. Looking back towards the fountain Dan took a long deep and shaky breath. He wanted to tell Dia everything but it was only a dream how could he look her in the eyes and tell her that he was being ripped apart by a nightmare, it would make him seem like a small child.

He began to trace circles in the water of the fountain again, the icy water was numbing his finger and making his whole body cold but then he would rather be cold then to have that dream yet again. Slowly Dan lifted his finger from the surface of the water and just watched the ripples slowly peter out and leave the water calm and still, the perfect mirror, although his reflection was not the most awe inspiring one tonight.

His hair was a mess, his face was drained of colour and this just heightened the redness of his tear stained bloodshot eyes. It was as clear as day that something was up with the man and the worst of it was that he had lied to Dia, he acted as if she would take his lie over the fact that he was standing here looking like he should be at a funeral.
Hitting the water with his hand his reflection became distorted and Dan turned around to look upon Dia. He just stood looking at her in silence; he ran his tongue of his dry chapped lips before slowly shaking his head. That was all he could manage, no words of `No I am not’ or `It will pass’ he just stood in silence and shook his head.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

”Nothing’s wrong.”

The words that came from Dan sliced through Dia’s heart like a paper cut, long and superficial but painful all the same. Those words always meant something was wrong and what hurt was that he would not let her in. They had been through so much together and he still did not trust her enough to share what was clearly bothering him. That hurt more then anything … more then watching him bleed on a hospital bed, more then watching him leave …

He turned and looked at her and she could see that there was little in him, little strength left to fight, little will to argue. Dia didn’t want this to turn into an argument and he clearly didn’t either … though she wondered if he wanted anything at this point. He seemed so changed from the man she had fallen asleep next to, so very different that she almost didn’t recognise him. What could have shaken him so?

There the two stood for a moment, what seemed to be an eternity, simply looking at each other. Dia knew that something was up and she wanted to know so she could help but she also didn’t want to push him into doing something he didn’t want to do. That was not her way yet it seemed the right thing to do in this situation. Or was it? She couldn’t tell any more. It was too early and too cold for her to think such things.

Slowing, she began to walk towards Dan. He was hurting, that much was clear, and comforting that, simply being there for him would do for now. She put her hand on his shoulder, looking up into his strained eyes. The hand ran over his back, the other following, till she was hugging him gently. She wanted to say something profound but no words came to her of that sort. The only thing that came to her she said softly into Dan’s ear as though if she spoke them aloud they would disappear in a puff of smoke and be lost forever.

“I love you, Dan,” she whispered, “and I’m here for you, no matter what.”

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Just having Dia close by helped, she was there to help him, she cared for him…loved him and as she whispered the words of her love Dan tried to say them back. The problem was that nothing came…he did not even know where to start. There was so much that he wanted to say to her, confess his love for the Ravenclaw head of house all over again and ask her the one thing that had been pressing on his mind and heart for so long.

“I know.” Dan mumbled as Dia reassured him that she was there for him, he wanted to say more then that, at least to sound like he cared for her as well but his voice remind docile…emotionless. He felt numb, dead inside at the mere thought of his nightmare.

Dan hated how it had affected him so much but most of all how it meant that he could not longer look at the woman he loved and tell her everything that was weighing heavy on his heart. In comparison to some of the things that he kept locked up inside the nightmare seemed petite and worthless but yet the thought of those cold eyes broke his heart every time. Breathing in deeply Dan pulled himself out of Dia’s comforting embrace and convinced himself to look into her eyes.

At first they were just like the dream, but after he convinced himself that it was just his imagination the man soon to noticed the glint in her eye that he was first hypnotised by while the danced on the kitchen tables. The starlight where reflecting in them and he found that strangely reassuring, that there was life in Dia…it was only a dream.

Raising a shaky hand Dan brushed a lock of her hair away from her perfect eyes so he could see into them properly. Those were the eyes he wanted to see for the rest of his life, wake up every morning to see them shine in the same way, see the joy fill them as they started a new life together…a family…

But for now Dan knew there was the slight problem that the eyes were shrouded with concern and he was the cause of that. Dropping his head slightly Dan took and another deep breath and pulled Dia closer to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her, Dan felt her coat gather under his fingers as he clung onto her tightly.

“It was only a dream…I’ll get over it.” Dan tried to give a small chuckle but it died on the way out as he could not help but doubt that it would take more then saying he will be ok to actually erase the image from his mind. He loved Dia too much to lose her; he would not be able to go on…she was his life.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia was still uncertain how it would be best to handle the situation. It was clear that Dan had been shaken by whatever had happened. Perhaps it was nothing, perhaps it was something he would get over, but she was rigidly unconvinced that that would do the trick. Dan was meant to be happy, he was meant to be happy with her and if he could scarcely look at her straight she was certain that more then time was needed.

He had not forgotten, that, at least, was something. A small something but a something none the less. She hugged him tighter at his words, though they sounded strangled and difficult to say. Dia could only imagine what was going through Dan’s mind. She did not want to pry and so would not, but she wanted to know. It was not that she was nosy, by no means, but knowing gave her something to work with, some way to help. Right now she felt helpless, hopeless and a little sick.

Dan pulled away and Dia did not move her eyes from his, even when he wouldn’t look at her. She could tell that it took some great force of will to look at her. In his eyes, in Dan’s blue grey eyes Dia saw a mixture of torment and fear. Dan was to her fearless, something truly dreadful must have happened. She did not speak her worries though. She had to be strong, for him and for them.

Dan’s light touch on her face was scintillating, leaving Dia’s skin where his fingers had been tingling for a long moment afterwards. That was something she looked forwards to having at her disposal for many years to come. She knew that she would always be crazy about him, and that he would always be that for her. Why now were things different?

He embraced her again and Dia obligingly wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tight. She didn’t want to lose what they had, not again, not after all they had been through together and apart. Mother had finally come to see what she did in Dan, there was no other that could have been more popular with her parents. She had always promised herself that the man who could make her mother laugh and her father smile (because Mr Owen didn’t laugh at anything) she would have to keep forever and she would be happy to do that with Dan. She would be forever and all time happy.

A dream? Had it been possible that a mere dream had shaken him like this. Dan felt as though he was shaking slightly, but whether it was because of the cold or because of this dream … this nightmare she could not tell. At those words Dia retracted her arms from around Dan’s neck and pulled her coat open trying to wrap it around him as much as possible. It didn’t reach much farther then his sides but Dia tried anyway.

She had to say something, anything to break the silence that had fallen. Dia swallowed the lump that was in her throat and coughed lightly to clear her throat. “I … I don’t know what could have been so horrible,” Dia said, resting her cheek on Dan’s shoulder, “but I do know that it was only a dream. Dreams are meant to be forgotten upon waking, especially nightmares and dreams about horrible things.” Dia looked up at Dan, “You need to let it go, Dan, but I know it’s easier said then done.”

Dia didn’t know if she was being helpful in any way so stopped herself saying any more. She simply rested her head on Dan’s shoulder again, breathing in his smell. It was one she had always loved and that she always would.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

The ever caring Dia was at her best tonight, she was doing just what Dan needed to keep him composed by simply being there for him. Even when she unwrapped her arms from around him Dan continued to hold her not wanting to let go, but as she tried to wrap her coat around him he could not help but smile. She was trying to keep him warm and it was the small gesture like this that made it even harder for Dan.

As her voice broke through the silence that was consuming the night around them Dan listened to her wise words and as their eyes met he felt his throat go dry and he wanted to look away, run away, but his feet stayed firmly on the ground and the words just seemed to tumble out of his mouth.

“I…I can not lose you, if anything happened to you I do not know what I would do. That dream was my worst fear…I mean you were…” He tried to calm his breathing but he could hear his heart rate increasing, every breath he took was a strained and it was most likely phantom pains but the scar on his chest hurt, he had no energy left in him. “…you’re right though, dreams are meant to be forgotten.”

So why could he not forget it? Dia was standing right here in front of him, he could feel the warmth of her breath, the beating of her heart as he held her closer, there had been no flash of green light, no scream, no lifeless eyes, no death.
This realisation hit Dan almost as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over him. It was a shock to the system, slight confusion on what had been happening. He knew that he would never forget that dream; it would appear every now and again, one of those reoccurring dreams that remind you that you are human, but that is all they ever will be, nothing but a dream as he swore to the stars that were shining above him that he would never let anything like that happen to his Dia.

Planting a gentle kiss on top of Dia’s head Dan loosened his embrace ever so slightly, he was now no longer afraid that she was just going to slip away, they were going to be together forever. When they said they loved each other they meant it that their love would last forever, the feelings Dan felt for Dia was something he never thought he would feel. As corny as it sounded whenever her name was mentioned he could not stop the smile from appearing on his face, when ever he saw her he was sure his heart would burst out of his chest, when ever he heard her voice his heart melted and at her touch it was like an electric shock running through him. He loved her so much.

“I am sorry.” He muttered as they continued to stand in the starlight. “I…I didn’t mean to disturb you when I got up…you looked so peaceful.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia shifted her weight from foot to foot, moving inches closer to Dan. His body was cold, she could feet it even through her night gown. She was trying to get more of her coat around him but it seemed a futile mission. He didn’t seem to be feeling the cold. Dia certainly did. Her toes, fingers, cheeks and nose all tingled with the odd sensation of warm blood below the skin and the coldness on the skin. She could not have explained it if she had been asked about it, but this is often how strange sensations worked.

Dia made sure that her gaze was keen and strong. One of them had to be … for the other. She kept her blue eyes on Dan as he spoke and she could feel the pain that echoed through his words. So something had happened to her in his dream … his nightmare. That would explain a great many things but why he would not share more then that was puzzling. Dia didn’t push it though, she had come to realise that this was an extremely delicate matter and that pushing would in fact do more harm then good.

Dia pulled her arms between them and she laid her cold hands gently on Dan’s cheeks. “You are not going to lose me, Dan,” Dia said with renewed fervour and conviction. She did not need to say it for her own benefit as she already knew it was true. She knew that there would be circumstances that would drive them apart but she also knew that their love that they shared would always bring them back together and always twice as strong as before. This had been proven.

Dia’s hands dropped down as Dan kissed her on the forehead; Dia closed her eye for that instant. It was so intimate, so personal, it said more then a million words ever could. She wrapped her arms around Dan’s waist again, drawing warmth from him. It was the small things, like standing in the cold wrapped in each other, that made getting up at any hour of the day worth while.

Dan apologised and Dia looked up at him, frowning. “What do you have to be so…rry…” she stopped talking as Dan continued. The sentiment was dear and Dia’s frown vanished as quickly as it had come, to be replaced with a radiant smile. Her head tilted to the side and her hand cupped his cheek again. “Don’t be silly,” she said gently, “I sleep peacefully when you do and you clearly weren’t so neither was I.” She chuckled lightly, “but then again I suppose that’s just how I look when I sleep.”

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

“You are not going to lose me, Dan,”

He knew that, of course he did, after everything they had been through their relationship had grown so much, their love for each other doubled and for Dan Dia was not just the love of his life, she was also his best friend. They had grown to know so much about each other over the years and they had had so many laughs along the way that he knew they were meant to be and for a man who did not believe in fate that had to be something.

“I will have to remember that for future reference then my dear.” Dan joked as Dia mentioned that she would not be able to sleep without him there and he was just the same. He did not realise how much it had effected him during those months they were apart, he guessed it was the guilt of what he had done causing the restless nights, but now he understood, it was Dia that he missed, he missed having his guardian angel lying next to him protecting him from the demons in his sleep.

Reaching up Dan took hold of her hand that was upon his cheek, they were cold and that surprised him slightly as she had been the one to keep him warm. He had told himself that night in Hogsmeade when they sorted out their differences that he would never let Dia be in any form of discomfort and he counted being cold as being one of them. If he had a jacket he would have wrapped that around her shoulders but he did not, in fact she was the one doing that for him considering he had no jacket.

If it had been anyone else who offered to share their coat to keep him warm he would have turned them down, he would have seen it at as stab at his masculinity, but seeing as it was Dia it did not matter to Dan. He knew that she would never do anything purposely like that; when they had been in Egypt she often teased him about certain habits (his constant use of his chapstick due to his paranoia that his lips were chapped being one of them) however he knew then that was playful jest.

He loved Dia and could not imagine life without her; they had wasted so much time being apart for ten months that he did not want to waste another moment with her. If he was to take away one thing from his dream it would be that life was indeed too short to waste any of it as you never know what could be lurking around the next corner. Suddenly the idea he had been toying with now seemed to fit, here in the starlight, huddled together like penguins for warmth with just one coat between them was strangely enough in his mind the perfect moment to ask.

But how was he going to say it? But before he could even think straight the words were just coming out of his mouth.

“Girty always said she would not need a piece of paper saying she had permission to love someone, if she loved someone she would not marry them just to show it.” Dan looked down at the floor trying to compose himself unable to believe he was jabbering on about Girty at this point in time. With a small cough Dan cleared his throat and his mind trying to focus once more. “But I always thought that if I loved someone enough I would take that step.”

‘Here goes…’

Reaching out Dan took hold of Dia’s other hand, squeezing them tightly as he looked her straight in the eyes. His heart was racing so fast, his stomach was tied in a million knots and now the time had come he was unsure if he would be able to get the words out without his tongue stumbling over them and it turning into incompressible babble.

“Dia Isobel Owen…” Dan took a deep breath “Would you take that step with me?” Dan swallowed hard trying to get rid of the lump that had appeared. “Would you marry me?”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

At Dan’s words about remembering, Dia smiled gently. She couldn’t help but smile; it was being with Dan that made her happy, even with the simple gestures. She wanted to express fully just how happy Dan made her but that would require leaving him where he was to go shouting through the castle. That was not her style and she didn’t want to leave him. So her simple smile said it all. She knew that Dan would understand, he always did. He had come to know her so well over the past years, better then Brianna even.

His touch on her hand warmed it almost instantly. She smiled wider. This was the simple type of gesture that Dia had been thinking about. Dan held her hand tight and it grew warmer at his touch. Perhaps it was that fact that his hands were usually warm or perhaps it was the fact that it was Daniel Hubbles holding her hand that made her heart race and so warm her hand. The explanation didn’t matter to her, the fact was that after everything Dan still wanted to keep her warm, keep her safe and happy.

Dia did love him so.

When Dan began to speak it was of his sister. Dia was constantly unsure about where she stood with Girty but the relationship she knew that Dan and Girty shared was beautiful. A smile came to her face, wide and open, as her heart was to Dan, even though the words were slightly cryptic. Dia had no mind for riddles so kept perfectly still, her hand still in Dan’s and looking up at him. For some or other reason, Dia’s heart began to race. A flush of colour, pink and delicate, came to the woman’s cheeks, throwing sharp contrast to her pale skin.

Dan took her other hand and for a moment she was still confused as to what he was going on about. Papers and next steps? Where was all this leading. She watched his hand go down to hers and bring them both together. Dan used her whole name, her whole name and Dia knew to pay attention when he did, looking once again to his blue eyes. For a split second before Dan spoke again, Dia realised where all this was going. Her eyes went wide when the words came out of his mouth and at first she was speechless.

Her heart was beating in her throat, her mind was racing from thought to thought about the life they would spend together so fast it all became a blur but she quickly stopped thinking about that because it was leaving her a little light headed. Her mind quickly rushed back to her, standing in the courtyard of Hogwarts Castle, her hands in the hands of the man she loved with all her heart and that she wanted to be with for the rest of her life.

Slowly curling her hands around so she could see Dan’s, Dia lightly planted a kiss on each. Then she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed Dan. Coming down, eyes on Dan’s, bright with hope, Dia smiled and said gently, “Yes.” It was only after she said it that the true extent of what she was agreeing to came to her. Her heart began to race once more. “Yes, Dan, I will marry you.” Throwing her inhibitions to the wind, Dia for the third time that night wrapped her arms around Dan’s neck. She pulled herself into him and kissed him, long, passionately, lovingly.

After a long moment, Dia quickly pulled away from Dan, but didn’t let go of his neck. “But Dan …” she said with a frown on her face, “what about my parents? Call me old fashioned but we’ll need their permission, I want their permission.”

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

A few years ago if you had seen Dan Hubbles sitting down in the Three Broomsticks his arm around some random witch consuming vast amounts of alcohol the chances were that you would never have guessed that he would be standing in the middle of the night unable to breath as he waited for the woman he loved to agree to be his wife. But here he was, looking into the eyes of Dia Owen waiting for her to give him an answer.

The silence was killing him, every second that passed felt like a minute; the whole world was in slow motion and as Dia slowly moved her hands he dared snatch a breath only for it to be lost as she kissed his hands gently. She was going to give the answer he longed for, he could not believe he had even doubted it but as the word was eventually spoken Dan was sure he was going to explode with happiness.

Dan moved to kiss her but Dia got there first, their lips met and that was one of those kisses that Dan knew he would never forget, no matter how many memory charms that were cast upon him he would never forget that kiss…he would never forget this moment. Even as Dia pulled away all Dan could do was smile although as soon as the next words came out her mouth it faded ever so slightly.

‘But Dan…’

That was never a good start to a sentence and Dan could not help but worry ever so slightly that Dia had changed her mind. He knew that she would not, the smile that had been upon her face said it all and all Dan had to do was to carry on listening to what she had to say and ignore the slight frown that was creasing her beautiful features. (Although in Dan’s eyes she looked just as beautiful frowning as she did when smiling)

“You want their permission?” Dan teased trying to act serious but the sheer joy that was running through him at this present moment in time made it almost impossible. “I had a feeling you were going to say that, all those ideas of romance those bloody books give you.” Dan was of course referring to Persuasions, a book that Dia constantly seemed to be reading. “So I made the decision to ask your father over Christmas. It did not take that much persuading…I kinda think he got the impression that no matter what he said we would have got married anyway…but in the end I got a yes and a smile.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

There was a moment where Dia thought that the look on Dan’s face suggested doubt or worry. It was at her but so it was understandable that he would be doubtful. His initial response with a question to her question made Dia roll her eyes and smile. “Approval, Dan,” Dia said quickly, “They are as much a part of my life as my…” Dan continued to speak and Dia trailed off.

His words felt Dia speechless and shocked for a moment. It showed on her face, the look of sheer delight at knowing for certain that Dan knew her so well, as a broad smile spread across her face, illuminated in the moonlight. In those few seconds of silence after Dan spoke Dia knew that this was the man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with. It sounded clichéd to say it but Dan was the one.

Those brief seconds passed so slowly, it all seemed so perfect: under the stars that showed her all and the moonlight, the cool night gently whispering around them. Dia could not have thought of a better nor more intimate time for such a proposal to occur. With her arms still around his neck, Dia smiled a little gentler but still maintaining the closeness she had when breaking away from the kiss.

“You know me so well, my Mr Hubbles,” Dia said and slowly kissed him again. She did not want to break the beauty that the moment held but as an icy wind began to dance around her exposed ankles a shiver ran up her spine. She shivered and broke the kiss all in one twitching motion. She began to laugh and smiled up at Dan. “Cold shiver,” she explained, “It’s freezing out tonight. Can’t understand why we are still here.” She said the last with a light giggle.

Sliding her hands down Dan’s chest, Dia took one of his in hers, much warmed by being with him. Giving him an impish sideways smile, Dia shook her hair out of her face and blinked at Dan. “Shall we return to bed now?” she asked with a playful tone, knowing that Dan would understand her meaning full well.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

It was cold and for some reason Dan had forgotten about it, his body had been through so many emotions in such a short space of time. From one extreme to the other, from despair to an ultimate high, the cold did not seem to matter anymore, only Dia did and to see her smile in the way she was fought away any reoccurrence from the demons in his dream.
As her hands lazily trailed down his chest Dan watched them closely remembering this tactic from one of the first nights in Egypt and when she took hold of his hand Dan raised his eyebrows and listened to her proposition. It was a very appealing one at that, Dan knew he would not be able to sleep after that dream but by that mischievous glint in Dia’s eyes he knew far to well that sleeping was the last thing on her mind as well.

“Professor Owen, if I did not know you better I would say you were insinuating something.”

With his free hand Dan tucked some of Dia’s hair behind her ear and he could not help but chuckle softly as he thought about what she had said. He did not know why he was finding that statement so amusing, it was not like it would be the first time they…well you know….but here they were, just agreed to get married, in the middle of the night, in the courtyard of Hogwarts when four months ago they were not even talking to each other. It suddenly hit Dan how much of a big deal this was…he was getting married.

One year, seven months ago their adventure started in the kitchens, the night that they were both trying to avoid doing work and found very a pleasant diversion. The discussions about tea, the vast amounts of wine they drank, dancing on the tables, their first kiss…the slap, the arguments and the very mixed up emotions. Who would have guessed that night that the two professors would be here today like this, Dan certainly did not.

Dropping his hand down from the side of Dia’s face to her waist he carefully wrapped his arm around his future wife and looked her dead in the eyes. The cheeky smile filled his face and it was accompanied with a playful glint in his eye, he knew what was coming his way. Not really wanting to waste anytime Dan placed one of Dia’s arms around his neck and quickly swept her off her feet.

“Shall we then my love?”

Still grinning as he Dan gently kissed Dia one more time before striding off towards the castle, the love of his life in his arms and the prospect of the rest of the night being rather fun. Thank God he did not have any lessons tomorrow!