[Great Hall] Unawares, Maybe for The Best (open)

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The previous night Dan had not come back from visiting Warren and it amused Dia no end how much she didn't mind. Having the bed all to herself was something new, not having to worry about waking him when she got up and moved around their room was something completely new. She did what she liked the night before, she shared a few bottles of wine with Bree and Hannah and they talked late into the night, until Dia had her class. It had been a fun exercise, renaming the stars as they liked. And then it was rest and relaxation.

An early riser, Dia was one of the first into the Great Hall that chilly December morning, all wrapped up in her brightly-coloured long coat and scarf. She smiled at the few students that were there already, talking a short while with a Slytherin fourth year that had been particularly witty the previous evening, before she made her way up to the staff room. The wine the previous night had left her famished but sleepy too so she hadn't had the opportunity to eat anything. So as she sat down at the Staff Table, Dia's stomach growled approvingly.

Dia chuckled quietly to herself, as she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice and took a sip. The pumpkin juice made Dia think of one of the stories Bree had told the night before, about how her father's stocks of wine had magically turned to pumpkin juice once. The bottles Bree had provided had been no pumpkin juice, that was for sure. Filling her plate with bacon and eggs, toast and a sausage or two, Dia still smiled to herself quite happily. She picked up her knife and fork and paused before she began eating.

Her blue eyes scanned the Great Hall. It was a truly wonderful sight to see the students trickling in, other staff members too. Dia smiled cheerily at them and turned back to her plate. She took one bite and her stomach purred with happiness at finally being satisfied. Dia chewed thoughtfully as she wondered where Bree and Hannah were.

[Professor William Vaid]

So William Vaid hadn't been acting himself recently, but the past couple of days he felt himself returning to normal, at least he was forcing himself to try and act normal anyway. He was still feeling guilty about almost hitting Hannah and he was so consumed in it that he didn't think he could ever forgive himself let alone look her in the face again.

Giving a big sigh, he looked into the mirror, through it and straight through his eyes wondering why he did what he did. They were blank and lifeless and surrounding them, dark circles began to appear and as he stretched his skin with his fingers in an attempt to get rid of them, he gave another gloomy expression before faking a cheesy smile, grabbing the daily prophet and heading out his room towards the great hall for breakfast. He didn't have a class until just before dinner and so he could take his time and hang out in the great hall until then.

Slapping a boisterous Gryffindor named Lucas on the head with his rolled up newspaper as he was roaming the main hall making monkey noises and scaring a gaggle of girls.
"Lucas, behave" he smirked cheekily before walking past him and straight into the great hall. The aroma of fresh hot breakfast wafted up his nose and he inhaled it gratefully. Just the smell was enough to send any man's mouth watering like niagra falls.

Stepping up to his usually spot, he saw Dia tucking in to a full breakfast and seeing out much the petite woman had on her plate made him laugh.
"Alright there Dia? Eating for two are we?" he joked as he pointed to her plate. Sitting down next to her he summoned 2 sausages, 2 fried eggs, some bacon, beans and chopped tomatoes onto his plate before grabbing a slice of toast as it came whizzing by almost knocking a pot of coffee over.

"So how've you been, D? I've not seen you around for a week or so..." he commented before picking up the coffee pot and pouring himself a mug before offering Dia some.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

The breakfast was delicious as ever and her hunger was most definitely being soothed as Dia ate. As ever, Dia was composed and, even though she was famished she took her time, chewing every mouthful doggedly, enjoying every flavour the food had to offer. The fact that there was always so much food ready for them and that it was as delicious as it was was a testament to how hard the house elves worked. Sometimes she felt sorry for them, but at moments like these all she did was thank them.

Scooping more egg onto her fork, Dia heard a voice that made her head snap up and her face to break into a broad grin. "Will!" she said excitedly, "hi, yeah, alright, thanks, wait, what? No!" Dia shook her head emphatically, blond hair bouncing as she did, "no, can't say that I am." Dia couldn't imagine herself being ... she swallowed hard. She looked back down to her plate, "Imagine me! Pregnant! Ha!" Dia shook her head as she took another bite.

Will helped himself to food and Dia watched. And who'd been teasing who about eating a lot? the Astronomy professor chortled to herself. "Just rather hungry this morning," she chirped, shrugging her shoulders quickly. Will then nearly knocked the coffee pot over. The laughter that poured out of Dia was light and slightly shrill. Her knife clattered to her plate as her hand zoomed to her mouth. She hadn't meant to laugh out loud. Lowering her hand, Dia's blue eyes oscillated between her plate and Will's face. "Sorry," she said softly.

As Will managed to actually take up the coffee pot, Dia went for her own mug and put it in front of him so he could fill it up for her. Dia's cutlery was on her plate now and she locked her fingers together as she watched Will pour the coffee. "I've been ... " Dia sighed, her eyes not resting on any one thing as she searched for what she was wanting to say. "I'm alright now," she said confidently, smiling at her friend, "but I've been rather out of sorts recently. I got a message from my mother saying that Father's ill so I got Archi to mix something up for him. I heard last night that he's doing much better so ... so am I."

Again, she lifted and dropped her shoulders. It was strange but she hadn't exactly meant to become so illusive. Bree had pointed out the night before ... or had it been Hannah? that Dia had this way of disappearing for a while. She'd never noticed it herself but if she was hearing it from Will too, it had to be true. "I don't mean to disappear like that," she admitted, her expression some what grave, but then she looked properly at William for the first time that morning.

"Oh Will," she said, her shoulders sinking, "you don't look at all well. Is everything ... well, clearly not everything's alright. Is there anything I can help with? Do you ... do you want to talk about it?" The last sentence was one she knew worked on her girl friends but she was unsure of how he'd take it. Still she kept her blue eyes on his tired and weathered face, her keen gaze unrelenting.

[Professor William Vaid]

Will couldn't help but laugh when Dia suddenly became all flustered at what he had just said. The simple things like that always amused him and it was even funnier that it was Dia that it was happening too. She wasn't really the sort to trip over her words like that and Will just sat there smirking as she laughed about her being pregnant.

"Surely you and Dan must of thought about it by now, I mean it's the next logical step isn't it? Having a family once your married. Unless of course I live in a backwards, upside-down, topsy turvy world" he said raising an eyebrow as he poured the coffee into her mug.

Looking at Dia out of the corner of his eye, he saw a look that would only be described as her eyeing him up and thinking he was a hypocrite. Smirking, he set down his knife and fork before leaning back and patting his belly.
"Yup, it's due anyday now. Me and Dan are so thrilled" he said before picking the cutlery up once more and digging into a rather tasty looking piece of bacon.

"I remember one time when you and your parents came round for dinner and you must of had worms or something because you ate pretty much everything off the table, including the table itself" he chuckled to himself as he reminisced about the old days when himself and the new Mrs Hubbles lived right next door to each other in Kensington.

Dropping his cutlery again rather loudly, Will's eyes scanned the hall before looking back at Dia.
"Your father ill? Oh Dia, i'm sorry to hear that. Still, if that wee little man has made up something for him then i'm sure he will be as good as new in no time" Will gave her a reassuring smile along with a small rub on the back of her shoulder.

"You do worry too much" he said with raised eyebrows before cutting into a sausage and popping a piece in his mouth.
"I'm fine, honest. Just been a little...under the weather at the minute, but i'm feeling a little better now". Clearly he was not alright but Will had become good at keeping up appearances recently.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

The smell of a true, calorie fest of a fried English breakfast reached Dan’s nose as he entered the castle after spending the night in a room above the Hogshead. The thought of bacon, sausages and button mushrooms drowning in the tomato sauce from baked beans filled his mind and his legs automatically carried him through the entrance hall and into the Great Hall. Straight away the sounds of the students chatter and laughter broke through his wondering mind and with a small intake of the stuffy air he snapped back into the real world and immediately his cool blue eyes landed on the beautiful, blue eyes, flowing blond haired astronomy professor. With a pert grin Dan started to make his way down the aisle that divided up the house tables, his gaze and mind was fixed upon the staff table in front of him, which is properly why he was caught completely off guard by the sharp tug in his arm causing him to topple sideways, crashing to the bench and almost crushing a stalled first year Hufflepuff.

“Alright Dan yo-“ Girty broke off and wrinkled her nose. “Have you been drinking?”
“I helped Warren out last night, Deb-…”
“Oh yes, I heard! Me and Alex were…”

What Girty had to say next Dan did not know nor did he particularly care. Her voice became just mere background noise to accompany the throbbing of his head from the hangover. While Girty had moved onto what her and Alex had for desert on their date he leaned over and took a slice of toast from her plate and started to munch away, his forever wondering mind had a mini flashback to the night before, the glugging back of wine, the heat and passion…his eyes flicked over towards Dia as the feeling of guilt kicked in once more.

“Your not listening to me, are you Dan?”
“Hmm…oh no, sorry Girt I was else where.” He gave her a small pat on the back, picked up an apple off the table and stood up. Giving a small apology to the first year that he had almost killed Dan made his way towards the Staff table once more, giving a nod of the head or a small wave to those (mainly all Hufflepuff’s) who greeted him.

“Morning my Darling!” Dan said tongue in cheek as he walked behind Will’s chair. “Not long now before our little creation is due into the world. I was actully thinking of names last night. I personally like Dan jr, I think it has a good ring to it.” With a small chuckle Dan took a seat in his, high backed headmaster chair and as he gave a quick glance around the room he took a rather large bite out of his apple he had stolen from Girty. “And a good morning to you too Dia.” Turning the quarter eaten green orb in his hand Dan looked over at his wife, a small smile spreading across his roguish features, but then it always did when he saw her. The love of his life, the woman he called his wife but then last night he put everything on the line just for a bit of fun! He hated himself for it but the thing he hated more then anything was that he would do it all over again.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

It was such a refreshing thing, to be sitting at breakfast with an old friend, just like they used to when they were both at school. Of course, in those days it was customary for them to have their various friends with them and not pay each other any attention but the proximity always seemed to make up for it. Dia had no idea that she would later be married to one of those friends but it seemed to add to the magic of it all.

And the discussion of children … of course the two had spoken about it. If there was one thing that was important above all others to Daniel Hubbles it was family and building his own seemed to be a matter of pride but Dia was the unsure one. After all Dan was headmaster of one of the worlds most prestigious schools and Dia knew him well enough that he wouldn’t be content doing half a job with running the school and half a job raising a child. It was no matter that Dia didn’t feel ready to become a mother … perhaps it was the one or two wise words her own mother had given her on the matter that had struck the fear of God into her. Having a child was a big step and Dia wanted to be sure before anything happened. Slightly controlling, true, but that was Dia for you.

Dia smiled shyly at Will before giggling lightly. “I think you’d live in a backwards, upside-down, topsy turvy world anyway,” she chuckled, cutting her bacon into a small bite size bite, “but you’re right: that is the next step … and we have spoken about it … but … “ Dia was moving egg around her plate absently. This wasn’t a topic she was used to discussing and it was becoming harder and harder for her to say the words “… but I don’t know that I’m ready, Will. And that’s the biggest problem of all …”

Dia sighed heavily before putting her fork down on her plate and picking up her coffee mug. Where was Dan? He always knew what to say in situations like this that would make her feel better. She wanted him near now and for the first time since she’d seen him the previous day did Dia realise how important he was to her. Not that she wasn’t always grateful for him putting up with her but it became obvious to her now that perhaps he was more important to her then the other way around. Dia looked around the Great Hall, an absent look in her blue eyes.

... where is Dan … ? Dia wondered.

The moment past and Dia felt herself coming back to the happy self she had started the morning off as. Picking up her knife and fork again, Dia began eating again with healthy gusto, listening closely to Will’s story about a dinner date that their parents had had. It was strange to think that so many years had past and here they were together again, working in the same place, connected by a man that complete her world. It brought a smile to her face and she laughed. “I didn’t eat all that much, did I?” Dia could scarcely believe that she’d ever eaten so much. Still, the thought amused her no end and she laughed a little, her mind still preoccupied with food.

Will’s worry about her father was touching. “Thank you, Will,” Dia said kindly, “I’ll be certain to give my father your regards when I see him again. And you’re right, Nish has magical fingers for sure.” All that Archi had done was through a few things into a cauldron and then bottled it, simple as that. And it had helped with so much more then Dia could have cared to list.

“Worry too much?” Dia repeated with a squeak, “what a preposterous statement! I never worry too much. I worry just enough.” She couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, smiling at Will as she put another bite of bacon and egg in her mouth. “But I’m glad to hear you’re doing better now.” Dia gave Will a light pat on the arm with her elbow as she looked at him sideways. “You know … it’s usually when I worry that I find that I’ve got cause to … so you’re sure that you’re alright?” So, Dia was slightly pushy but if she felt something was wrong there usually was, she was a little funny that way.

And then, low and behold, the one and only Daniel Hubbles waltzed over the where Dia and Will were sitting. “Speak of the devil,” Dia said suggestively nudging Will with her elbow. Dia had never been able to figure out who these two men have ever managed to evade capture, torture and death but somehow they had. This greatly pleased Dia because it gave her the chance to watch the antics that went on between them with a broad smile this morning and a mouth full of food. “Hello darling,” Dia said, cutting up her bacon a little more before putting the mouthful into her mouth.

“Were your ears burning earlier?” Dia asked, glancing at Dan as she focused once again on chopping up her food – she had no idea she was this ravenous – “we were just talking about you.” The thought suddenly came to her that she should pace herself so, setting her knife and fork down, Dia picked up her mug of coffee and clasped it firmly in her hands, warming them. “How is Warren?” Dia asked with a smile. “I trust he didn’t keep you too preoccupied?”

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

“You were talking about me?” He asked trying to pretend to be surprised while he continued to twirl the half eaten apple in his hands, a small cheeky smile spreading across his face as he grinned over at his wife. “I hope it was nothing good.” With a small wink he turned his attention back to the apple only to find that the other items of food available to him were much more appetising. The apple core soon became a missile as it flew threw the air hitting its target, Miss Girty Hubbles, square in the back of the head. The sound of expletives filling the air made Dan grin to himself and with a few rude hand gestures to one another the brother and sister returned back to their own worlds and focus on the people around him.

“If by pre occupied you mean looking after his sodding pub while he waltzed down to Plymouth, then yeah he did!” Dan placed the tea pot down on the table, his gaze passing over the assortment of jams back towards Dia; he had a feeling he might have to explain himself a bit more after that small outburst.

“Heather was worried that Debbie and Alfie had Dragon Pox.” It was clear that Dan was finding it hard to keep a straight face and mask his amusement with concern. “In typical Heather fashion she gets all worried and gets herself into a right old state, Warren had to go back down and pick up the pieces. Although I could tell he was worried about the twins, bless him, he would punch me in the face for saying this but he can be a good father at times.” Picking up a slice of toast, the shine of the golden butter reflecting in the candle light that shone in the Great Hall, he took a rather large bite out of it but carried on talking even with his mouth full of toast.

“Saying that though, I do not think I could ever be away from my kids like he is with his. I would happily give all this up, get some crap little job in the Ministry being an office assistant or something simply so I could pay the bills and spent the evenings and weekends with my family.”

A soft smile had crept across his features, the bags under his eyes did not seem to be so heavy and a content look gleamed in his eyes. Slowly he licked his lips to remove all the traces of bread crumbs and looked into those sparkling blue eyes of Dia. “You know that right?” His voice was a low mutter but every word he spoke was earnest and genuine. “I would give all this up for you. Have a job a hate, have a mortgage that I can’t pay off and have to take up a second job simple so I could give you and our children the best life possible.”

Oh the sentiment and slushiness of it all, but really, in Dan‘s mind he could not imagine having to make that sacrifice for a while. Although he and Dia had talked about having children it was not something they were planning on doing at this very moment in time. They did not even have time to pretend to be a young married couple let alone live that life and if you threw a child into the equation…well that just made things too complicated.

“So how was your evening then my dears?” Dan asked glancing between Dia and to Will as he took another man sized bite out of his toast!

(Whooop whooooop my hyperness has come across in this rather talkative post of mine…and you do not know how much I had to reframe myself from putting ‘grrrr’ at the end for Dan’s man sized bite of toast! *goes macho man pose*)

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia, while putting another bite of bacon in her mouth, smiled at Dan. “You’re basically,” she chuckled, while once again cutting more of her bacon, “the only one Will and I talk about.” Dia gave Will a wink. It wasn’t true of course but Dia knew that it would give Dan a well deserved ego-boost. He worked so hard to keep everything going, Dia knew and respected that. It didn’t mind how little she saw him, she knew he loved her and that was all that mattered really. “And it’s never anything good.”

Dan then proceeded to talk about Warren and Heather and the twins. He was such a motormouth this morning, was there something he wasn’t wanting to tell her? That’s usually when he started jabbering on about whatever came to his mind. But then Dan started talking about having children and Dia started chewing slower on her mouthful. Her blue eyes stuck on Dan as he spoke and she slowly put her knife and fork down on her plate. She turned her body slightly to face Dan better to show how intently she was listening.

Dia put her hand onto Dan’s and took hold of it, smiling warmly. “I know, Dan,” Dia said softly, “I’d do the same but I’m sure my parents wouldn’t let us live in poverty while raising their grandchildren.” She laughed to show that she was only teasing, but she knew that her parents would be so interfering because that’s just the sort of people they were. “But we’d find a way to get by,” Dia added more solemnly, “we’d have each other and, really, Dan, I’m sure you’d have no problem finding work after having been the Headmaster at one of the best schools in the world.”

Dia gave Dan’s hand another gentle squeeze before she too turned back to her food. Dan’s question came as no surprise and she smiled as she once again thought of the previous night. “Bree, Hannah and I,” Dia said, raising her eyebrows, knowing Dan’s reaction, “had a wonderful night. Bree had a few bottles of her father’s wine, you know the crate of wines we got for our wedding from Bree, that wine. Anyway, we did have a very good evening.” She smiled teasingly, knowing that the men would probably want to know more but she wasn’t going to discuss it any more.

Dia scooped the last of her eggs onto her plate before gently putting it in her mouth. She’d nearly cleared her plate and she was feeling much less hungry, which was quite something concidering how hungry she had been when she’d started. Looking out over the students, Dia smiled at the Hufflepuff who was looking her way. What a dear fifth year he was. The Hall was certainly filling up now.

[Professor William Vaid]

Will gave a mock laugh before giving an actual snort at Will’s ego.
“Down boy, I happen to reminisce with Dia about the good old days, before you came along. Hell knows what you two think I talk about” he said with a cheeky grin. It was then he simply listened to Dan give a rather over the top story on Warren, Heather and the kids. The Hubbles clan really were a messed up bunch, Will had never known a family quite like them, but if they weren’t messed up they wouldn’t be the Hubbles’.

Will studied Dan’s face for a moment, giving a small frown as he continued to speak. There was something behind his words that was untruthful, but Will couldn’t decipher it and after a moment of hard thinking he just assumed that he was just exaggerating the excessiveness of the story slightly.
It was then Dia spoke and Will flicked his head to the side to look at her. He blinked his eyes at her watching her speak, happiness clear in her voice. He had forgotten before that Dia was there as he was lost in Dan’s words, or rather stuck in his web of lies.

Will then nudged Dia with his elbow at the mention of kids and gave an odd “huh huh” noise, an annoying sound that was meant to be so.
“It’s alright Dia, you guys can have my kid. I’ve saved you the 9 months of hell” he said patting his stomach.
“You mean Bree actually can have a good time? Well, there’s a first for everything I guess. Next time i’ll have to gatecrash the party to see that little miracle”

With all this talk of Dragon pox and children, Will soon stopped feeling the bite of hunger on his stomach. Chewing the last bite he was going to eat that morning, he didn’t even wait to finish swallowing before he got up and was excusing himself from the table.

“Sorry folks but super Will has to be off. I’ve had my morning’s fill and quite frankly seeing you two being all goggle-eyed and lovey-dovey has put me off my sausage” he smirked, more so to Dia than anything. Giving the couple a salute, he placed his chair underneath the table and hopped the small step to the lower level of the floor briskly walking out of the great hall.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Here he was talking about having children and discussing a possible future with his wife when only half an hour ago Dan had another woman in his arms. That had to be an all time low for the man! The thing that most likely made it even worse was the fact he was willing to play the innocent and smile, laugh and flirt with those around him acting as if nothing was up. Even after spouting out his little speech about giving everything up for Dia, no matter how truthful and honest it was, still did not even make him feel the tiniest bit guilt so much so that even as Dia took hold of his hand and said those reassuring words back he was having a mini flashback to the previous nights events.

However Dia filling him in about what she had done the previous night helped Dan gain focus back on reality, the breakfast that was in front of him and of course his nearest and dearest either side of him. He found it reassuring that Dia had not just sat around pinning for him in his absence (as clearly that is what everyone did right??) and spent some time with her friends, it might actually get Bree off Dan’s back for a while and get her off this Riddikulus idea that he married Dia just so that he could steal her away and make sure she never saw Bree ever again.

Will too seemed surprised by name of Dia’s drinking buddy and as he made his rather childish remarks about Bree being able to have fun Dan could not help but snigger into his mug of tea. “You and me both mate.” He agreed before shooting his wife an apologetic look, he knew that for some mysterious reason Dia liked Bree so he felt slightly guilty for teasing one of her friends. ’Huh…you feel guilty for that! You need to have your morals checked out mate.’

He would not have to feel guilty much longer though for Will’s joke as it was clear that the Head of Hufflepuff house had somewhere better to be and with a cheeky joke about being put off his food by all the love Dan could not help but call after him as he made his sweet way down between the house tables. “Fell the love William!” He called. “Feel the love!” Surprising or not this got a few heads turned in his direction as they gawped up at the Headmaster for this small outburst. Much to his displeasure though a certain Gryffindor stood up and walked out of the Great Hall after Professor Vaid.

“Would you look at that?” Dan muttered, leaning towards Dia. “That spotty Gryffindor making a quick exit used to be my biggest fan. Every Birthday and Christmas I would get a card and a present, now Sandra does not even look twice at me.” Dan gave a small sigh and placed his mug back on the table. “She is no longer a ‘Hubbles Bubble’ but a ‘Vaid Vixen’” With a cheeky grin over at Dia to show he was only playing the man’s cool blue eyes could not help but pass over towards the Hufflepuff table. “Seems like ‘Dia’s dudes’ are still going strong though No one has changed sides for you cause you got married.”

(blarrrrrr)

[Prof. Hannah Edgecombe]

She had been standing out in the hallway with a student, the girl droned on and on but Hannah was only half listening. That's because she saw him in a vision. He was just about to come out. The doors flew open and there he was Will Hannah acted childish and looked away once more pretending to be absorbed in what the girl was saying. He hadn't spotted her, not that she thought he would care if he did.

Once he was gone Hannah could stop pretending to care. "Yes yes miss Fawcett. You know what I predict you're going to hush up and get inside. All the cute boys will be wondering where you are." The comment seemed to stun the girl but it was a happy stunned. Skipping off away from Hannah she walked into the Great Hall with a new confidence. Too bad she wasn't all that cute and Hannah had just lied her arse off. Not that it phased her, she needed to get the girl away and she did.

Now she entered the Great Hall herself. The staff table held the usual suspects, no big shock there. As she passed Miss Fawcett's table she saw the poor simp smiling and making goo goo eyes at a boy who Hannah could only describe looked repulsed. Hannah felt a twinge of guilt but it didn't last long, her guilt trips never did.

As she approached the staff she saw the happy couple Dia and Dan there. Automatically her stomach turned and churned. The two were just disgusting with all their I love you, you love me non sense. Hannah wasn't happy so why should anyone else be. Will was still being a horse's backside and she was starting to loose patience with him. Now she had to seat near the lovey dovey duo. Hannah couldn't catch a break could she.

As she seated her self next to Dan Hannah gave a dazzling smile. She might not like the fact that she was seated near them but they sure would never know it. "Hello Dan, Dia lovely day isn't it?" she asked her voice oh so sweet. Sometimes she wondered why she went into teaching she was an excellent actress. At least she knew she had something to fall back on if this didn't work out.

Grabbing a dish and a plate she stared to pile some food, fruits like orange slices, strawberry slices, pineapple chunks, along with some scrambled egg, and some toast. Pouring a mug of coffee she was set to have her meal. As she took a sip of the caffeinated beverage she looked over at Dan. That's when it happened, her eyes locked on his and suddenly she was seeing something she surely should not be seeing. Him with another woman, and that woman was not his wife as a matter of fact it was a member of the staff and one that everyone knew fancied him. Hannah's eyes widened with shock as she kept staring at Dan. So much for the loving husband he pretends to be.

Now she felt a bit better. She wasn't the only one who was having problems. There was someone else who could be miserable and if she had her way would be miserable. "So Dan how was your night last night?" Still staring pointedly at him she took another sip of coffee her eyes never leaving his.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

“I have no idea what you mean.” Dia was not sure why her husband had some deluded idea what half the school was in love with her. It was true that most of the female student body of the school had some sort of crush on Dan or Will but never did she believe him that that they were attracted to her. She loved Dan and he loved her, which was all that she needed to know. Gently placing her knife and fork side by side on the plate Dia picked up her cup of tea and wrapped her hands around it gently almost as if too much pressure would make the fragile ceramics crumble into dust. “I am sure,” She began in a philosophical way though it was hard to hide the hint of amusement in her voice. “that with a bit of hard work you can win back your devoted fans.” With a small soft smile Dia reached out and gently touched Dan’s hands to show her support.

That was the breaking point for Dan as soon as Dia touched his hands he could not hold his laughter in any longer and laughter lines spread across his weather worn face and the husky sound of a tired out laugh sounded out around the staff table. Much to his relief Dia too had joined in and the two of them sat laughing over nothing in particular, their own private joke in their own little world. The Staff Table would have reminded their own little world had it not been for the arrival of another Professor, Hannah Edgecomb who was someone that Dan was not all to fond of but she was Dia’s friend and he would always be civil to friends of his wife…well unless your name was Bree O’Donnell, she was the one exception to this rule.

“Morning Hannah” Dia leaned forward so she could get a better look of her friend without the view being blocked by the still laughing Dan. However for some reason the sound of her voice simply set Dan laughing off even more, slightly bemused by this Dia turned to glare at Dan before giving him a playful tap on the arm. “Oh shush.”
“What?” His voice still wavered with amusement.
“Stop laughing,” And that just seemed to start him off again. “I said stop it.” Dia was now laughing once more; they were acting more like they belonged on the house tables not the staff table. “Now be a good boy and say hello to Hannah.”
“Yes mother.” Dan teased back, leaning forwards and planted a light kiss on Dia’s cheek before turning to look the opposite way and towards Hannah and that was when it happened.

As Dan’s cool blue eyes met Hannah’s there seemed to automatically be a tension between them and the Headmasters smile faded quickly and was replaced with his serious face. ‘oh Merlin she knows’ Then came her question and he felt a slight moment of panic set over him, she could ruin everything. Glancing over his shoulder towards Dia he saw that his wife was quite happily sipping on her tea looking out over the Great Hall, the small smile still present on her fair face. He was going to have to act his socks off to make sure that that smile did not fade.

So with a wide grin Dan turned back to Hannah and he made sure that the laughter was back in his voice so that Dia would not notice any difference in the mood at the house table. “You missed my absence too did you then Han.” Playing the ego card would have to be the way to go. “Well I am sorry I could not join you ladies last night but I was helping my cousin out in the pub. To a Hubbles family comes first and Warren needed me to cover his shift. So sadly I was working last night.” Was it possible that Dan was digging himself a deeper hole by mentioning family? “How was your evening Hannah? I hope you ladies did not get too drunk.”

[Prof. Hannah Edgecombe]

The headmaster and her were never going to be the best of friends. For the most part Hannah didn't much like the man. He was over rated. The way some women went on about his was simply irritating, the way some of the ickle school girls stared at him was annoying. Dia on the other hand seemed to find something in him, some redeeming quality Hannah had yet to see. Of all the women staff here Dia had become a friend to her, one she liked very much and the last thing she wanted to see was her friend hurt in anyway. Dan was the man to do just that and if Dia had seen what Hannah just had then she would be hurt very much.

As Dan looked at her she knew the moment he realized that she knew the truth. She could be evil and blow things for him right here right now, but she was a curious person by nature and this is what saved him at least for now. She wondered how he was going to talk his way out of it. Surely, he knew she was a seer and her visions didn't lie so how would he explain away what she had just seen.

Not very well it seemed, as he went on and on about working for his cousin Warren. Hannah couldn't help smile at the name, she knew Warren very well but that was a long time ago, right now her focus was on Dan. He was being honest, but he was omitting what he had been doing after the bar closed and he was left alone with one dark haired violet eyed professor. "Oh really working at the Hogs Head, what a nice cousin you are." She eyed him more seriously now, "So nothing interesting happened after you closed no visitors to make the lonely night less lonely."

Dia wasn't truly paying them much mind so Hannah didn't think she heard the questions being asked of her "husband." hopefully she didn't but Vicky was wondering if it might be best for her to see the man for what he truly was. She glared at him, but she wasn't really seeing him anymore the face that flashed there belonged to Will. He was treating her as if she were vermin when she had done nothing to him. Perhaps what she was doing to Dan had more to do with who he was friends with then who she was friends with. Whatever the reason Dan was cheating on his wife and she was trying to figure out how to handle it.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

That was it; Hannah was toeing the line and with a nervous glance over at Dia Dan gave a nervous laugh before turning to glare daggers at Hannah. There was no point in telling the truth as he knew just as well that she knew the truth and was merely saying such things just to get him into trouble with his wife. “Nope, I took camp in Warren’s room.” Dan shot Hannah a small smile. “I hear you know the room rather well Professor Edgecomb.” Dan’s voice was dripping with bitterness as his eyebrows rose almost to say ‘ha ha right back at ya!’

“You and Warren?” Dia questioned, turning herself slightly in her chair so that she could get a better look at her friend. “Now that is something you did not mention last night.” She gave a small childish giggle as she gently stroked Dan’s arm, those Hubbles men did have their way with the women.
“I know. The scandal of it all, I wonder what Will would say if he knew that Hannah had also slept with one of his best mates.”
“No.” Dia said firmly give Dan a small glare. “You will not be saying anything to Will. Promise me that Dan.”
Puffing out his cheeks and letting out an elongated sigh Dan looked hopelessly at Dia as he knew there was no way he was going to be able to fight against her. “Alright, I promise.”
“Good.” And with that Dia placed her now empty tea cup back on the table and stood up. “I need to be going to the library. I have a tutoring session to attend.” She leaned over and kissed Dan lightly. “Will you be around for lunch today?”
“Yep, but I will be eating it in my office. Want me to get them to send something up for you as well?”
“Of course.”

With one last kiss Dia left the staff table and Dan watched as she made her way elegantly down the aisles of the house tables. A broad grin reminded fixed on the man’s face until his wife had vanished from the room and along with that his grin vanished too. This attention was now on the other woman who had been sitting beside him, but this woman did not make his heart skip a beat, nor did her dream about her, in fact the woman who was sitting right next to him now was someone he disliked almost as much as Bree O’Donnell.

“If you ever say anything to Dia I will come down on you like a ton of bricks.” Dan was getting straight down to business; his voice was a mere stern whisper that could just be heard over the noise of the students. He knew there would be no point beating around the bush with this topic, he would just state his terms and make sure Hannah kept her mouth shut. “’cause if you do say anything I will fire you so quickly that not even you and your third eye will see it coming. I love my wife and I do not want to see her hurt and I am sure as a friend you don’t want that either.”

Where in the Sorting Hat song did it say that Hufflepuff’s were nice?

[Prof. Hannah Edgecombe]

Perhaps he thought she was Victoria Potter, or one of these other harlots he had wrapped around his finger here at Hogwarts. Whatever it was Hannah had to chuckle at him thinking she cared if he let slip she slept with Warren. His threat to tell Will was laughable since Will didn't give a crap if Hannah lived or died right now. Hannah never batted an eye at him as he ran his mouth. Lucky for her Dia was there and she had him wrapped around her little finger. Just a word and he was promising not to tell Will a thing. Hannah couldn't help but smirk when Dan quickly went into sycophant mode.

Dia knew just what to do when it came to him, well almost what to do. She couldn't seem to find a way to make him keep it in his pants. Surely Vicky was glad for that, she was pathetically dim-witted when it came to Hubble's, Half the teachers at the school found the whole thing rather amusing most thought she would never get anywhere. They, it seemed were wrong she must have done something right to get him to bed her. Hannah should probably have a talk with her make her come to her senses.

Hannah hadn't said much while Dia was still there Dan had already said enough, but when she left the smiles and cheery demeanor he had put on before vanished. With the mask gone it was time for the claws to come out. He turned on her so fast had she cared she might have gotten whip lash. Again he went with the threats as if that scared her. Rolling her eyes she stared him down. "Dan please don't embarrass yourself by trying to bully me. I lost the one thing that mattered to me so firing me wouldn't really matter much. What's the saying again beware of those who have nothing left to loose. Guess what my dear that someone is me. So remember that next time you open that fat trap of yours and start threatening me. Dia doesn't deserve what you've done which is why I didn't say what I know out loud but if you ever come at me like that again I'll make sure you know the pain I feel ten times worse."

Again she thought of Will and how he suddenly stopped caring for her like a light switch turned off in his brain or something. Getting annoyed sitting next to a cheating good for nothing Hannah got up from her seat, gave the jerk a scathing look and marched herself out of the Great Hall.