[Hogshead]In need of a familiar face (Warren/open)

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

It had been weeks since she set foot in a bar. The thought felt odd to her as it played in her mind. Vicky and bars had become synonymous over the past year. Some said it was hard to mention one without the other. Usually, she laughed at that but she had come to see the situation for what it was a problem. Before she explained it away telling herself she needed it to get by, she knew she didn't. Then she told herself it made the pain go away which it did but only temporarily. Then she hooked up with Dan what she wanted more than anything in the world so now all her excuses the ones she used to blame on him had no "real" merit anymore. So she stayed away for her own good, but tonight she would give into temptation. Dan was otherwise engaged with his wife which left Vicky bored and in need of something to occupy her time. Since she hadn't been to Hogsmeade in so long she figured why not.

Dressed to kill in slinky black jeans that hugged her every curve, expensive high heeled boots that fit like a glove and caressed her slender calf, her sweater was just as tight leaving very little to the imagination. Her dark hair hanging loose around her face dark tendrils falling in a sexy looking heap. Her Violet eyes shone brightly as she applied a little mascara to give her lashes some volume. Some ruby red gloss finished the look. She looked like a woman out on the prowl. Of course she really want but Warren might be there and she wanted to look good if she saw him, though she shouldn't even care.

The cool night breeze ruffled her hair as it swept past she shivered in her long trench coat but still continued walking. Her heels clickety clacking on the ground were some of the only sounds she heard. The streets were empty almost abandoned. This didn't truly phase her since she liked to think she was the kind of girl who could handle herself. Just then she flashed back to that night when Daniel was running the bar, she did a piss poor job of it then didn't she.

Her pace quickened until she finally saw the sign calling her into the pub. The place was crowded even at this late hour. People turned to see who entered the room some of the patrons who recognized her said hello, some shouted long time no see. Others stared simply wondering who she was. Paying them no mind she spotted Warren at the bar and made a bee line for him. Taking off her jacket as she went. She heard the cat calls and whistles again she ignored them making her way to only one man in the room. "What's a girl got to do to get a little attention" she said loud enough for him to hear her.

[Warren Hubbles]

Another day, another night, hundreds more drinks to pour and drunks to deal with. Yes this was going to be a normal night for Warren Hubbles and so far since he opened up the pub at midday he had already kicked five students out, three drunken old wizards, confiscated some dodgy looking powder and forced a very touchy feely to move up stairs and pay or their room in advance. However now everything was turning into its normal routine, him and his cousin Bailey manning the bar and bringing in the cash and giving the punters what they want, their precious liquor.

As Warren stood at the bar, pulling a pint for a toothless old man he noticed in the distance the crowd started to part like Moses cutting the red, giving Warren the perfect line of sight for the woman who was strutting her stuff towards him. It had been a long time since he had seen Vicky, although business was doing fine without her he had missed her company as when she sat at the bar chatting to him it made the evenings pass much faster. This is when we need to remember that Warren is a Hubbles and they are not ones to just stand and wait for something to happen, no, he needed to look busy (ignoring the fact that he was) and so quickly hurried off to the opposite side of the bar and started to take orders.

It was then when he heard her voice rising above the loud rabble of everyone else in the pub. A small smile filtered across his face and he slowly turned around to look upon the, rather cheekily dressed, Vicky. “You can wait your turn like everyone else.” He teased as he finished mixing the cocktail for a rather tipsy looking young witch.
Pocketing the gold gallons and whipping his hands on his trousers Warren made his way over to the Charms Professor and as he did ever so often he leaned on the bar counter and grinned over into her violet eyes. “I feared you has given up the booze, I was about to put a ‘for sale’ sign up as I would have gone out of business if you stayed away any longer.” His face stretched into a wide grin. “So what can I get you then Miss Potter?”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky missed seeing Warren, he always had a kind word for her, a drink for her, and he was dead sexy. What was it about the Hubbles men that kept her so entranced. Not that Warren held the same pleasure for her Dan did, but she wouldn't deny if she couldn't have Dan she sure would never mind having Warren. Maybe it was because he was the pub owner...The thought made her smile even though she knew that pub had nothing to do with it. He had that certain something you could never truly put your finger on that made him truly attractive.

Sitting in the stool nearest the bar she saw the man to her left give her a good once over. His eyes sliding down her shirt she was curious to ask him if he was enjoying the view, but for some reason thought better of it. IF he wanted to look let him look so long as he didn't touch. Turning her attention back to Warren she waited for him to give her a heads up some acknowledgment. Plus, she was in need of a drink her body needed it, she needed it.

When he turned to her it was to give her a ribbing, telling he she'd have to wait her turn. Her eyes danced and sparkled as she looked over at him. "I've no problems waiting my turn as long as I get what I want in the end." Grinning at him, it had been so long she missed this. He went on and again reminded her that she had allowed alcohol to take over. Jokes like that were made about her tons of times. An hour or so ago it might have bothered her, but right now she didn't really care much.

"Well no need to do that handsome here I am ready for a drink. Let's make it some rum tonight, I'm in the mood for the hard stuff. So how have you been my dear it's been ages since I've seen you. Place looks good as always," she glanced looking around again seeing the man sitting nearest her with his eyes locked down her blouse. Making her self conscious she looked down too, her boobs seemed to be holding up alright. Apparently this man was a boob man and hers were on the menu. Shaking her head she tried to hide a smile.

[Warren Hubbles]

Over the years Warren had discovered that one of the many joys of being a bar man was the playful banter that passed over the counter between himself and the customer. Most of the time the jokes were taken with a light laugh and the playful banter was shot right back at them again, it was very rarely that they were taken wrongly causing the odd drink to be thrown and hex’s fired. Warren, being a true perverted and pigheaded Hubbles, always enjoyed joking with the women more then the men most likely because he knew there was a chance he might be able to get something special at the end of it. It always helped when the women gave some back so as Warren stood there grinning madly at Vicky as she pumped up that Hubbles ego and called him handsome.

“Aye aye Captain!” Warren gave a small salute before marching off down the counter towards the half drunk bottle of rum. Sweeping up the bottle with one hand and an empty glass with another he started to pour the dark liquid into the glass as flamboyantly as ever. “I be alight Miss Potter.” Warren continued with a terrible rendition of a stereotypical pirate accent. “Work is murder but seein my favourite customer always makes it better.” He slammed the glass down onto the counter with a wide grin, finding it hard to keep the laughter out of his voice. “That be five sickles please Miss Potter.”

He would have been quite happy to not bother with anyone else that evening and focus solely on this single, violet eyed and flowing hair brunette. But since Dan had pulled out to spent some ‘quality time with the misses’ he was having to man the busy bar by himself. Even before he could compliment Vicky on how beautiful she looked he was being called over to another raucous crowd of drunks. But even as he pulled the pints and poured their shots his eyes kept wondering over towards Vicky, there was something about her, there was something different. She seemed to have more confidence, she held herself higher and even as the other men in the pub goggled at her she did not seem to care like…like…she knew someone else would be waiting for her back home.

“Marlins Beard!” Warren exclaimed as he walked back towards Vicky, leaning on the bar and towards the stunning woman. “You’ve got a man in your life.”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

The question was often asked of her, why the Hogshead, The place can get pretty rowdy. Vicky was well aware of that hanging out at the Broomsticks would have made more sense. The crowd was a lot better behaved, people kept their hands to themselves, and fights rarely broke out and if they did they were over in no time because the participants were simply too drunk to actually get a hex or punch in. Vicky was well aware she'd do better there but the difference between the Broomsticks and the Hogshead was Warren.

Any given day she could head to the Broomsticks they serve the same drinks have the same rum. No it wasn't the ambiance that drove her there it was the man behind the bar. Granted he wasn't the Hubbles her heart truly desired but there was always just something about him that drew her ever since the first time she ever met him and confessed her crush on his cousin. Most of the time she was in here she watched him work all night. He was personable, attentive, he listened, and he wasn't bad on the eyes either. In a proper world this would be who Vicky would be with at the moment.

Alas the world was not proper and Vicky was having a torrid affair with Warren's very married cousin Daniel Hubble. Headmaster of Hogwarts and her boss. The whole thing was never supposed to happen, her crush was just a crush but then one night boom Vicky had been here in the Hogshead while Dan was holding down the fort for Warren and then it happened. They ended up having the most amazing night together. From what she could gather Warren didn't know about them, this made Vicky very happy though she couldn't explain to herself why.

Warren popped up in her line of vision again and Vicky's head snapped up she hadn't meant to think of Dan right now, the guilty look on her face might have given her away but she wiped it off just a quick as it appeared. She even manged to smile convincingly "Yeah I know when I'm not here your nights are lonely" ending with a bit of banter all her own. Vicky did enjoy flirting with Warren thought he might even enjoy flirting with her too. But before they could get too chummy another customer needed his attention.

Vicky took the time to sip some rum and sit up like she was queen of the world. Sometimes she was surprised at her new found confidence, she never liked to think of herself as a vixen but her recent circumstances changed her somewhat. The change in attitude didn't go unnoticed because out of no where Warren returned asking if she had a man in her life. Vicky wanted to get all giddy like most girls would and begin gabbing animatedly about her new beau, but or course reality came to town and while it was visiting it reminded her that she was only borrowing what belonged to someone else. Her smile faltered, her shoulders slumped, and the vixen was simply woman once more. "No, you've got it all wrong, don't know what you mean" she muttered now chugging the rum finishing it faster than any man ever could. "Now look at that tis all gone, I think I need another matey" she grinned but it was a half hearted grin since it didn't meet her eyes.

[Warren Hubbles]

The roar of the other attendees in the pub seem to fade away into the background, their drunken chats and cheap chat up lines blurred in with the laughter and aggressive taunts to form a fuzzy background noise. This did not happen because Warren was deaf; although if you ask Heather h was very selective hearing, it was because as the Land Lord leaned on the sticky bar counter his eyes were fixed upon the violet gems that were Vicky’s eyes. His eyes however started to wonder south down her face, following the contours of her nose until they found their destination. Warren watched as Vicky’s lips flowed from one shape to another as the sweet sound of her voice provided him with an answer that a part of him had been secretly praying for. She was not admitting anything, meaning there was still a small gleam of hope, not that he wanted anything like that…

“Oh?” He questioned, his eye brow cocking as his eyes snapped into focus so that he could take in the full beauty of her face. “I have been in this business a while Vic and I know the look of a satisfied woman.” The trademark Hubbles grin spread across Warrens face, unlike his cousin Dan who’s grin was slightly lopsided Warren’s was a full toothy beam that crinkled his tanned features with laughter lines. Although Warren had been joking about it Warren had been in this business a long time and had made it a personal target of his to study the interaction between people and how their moods affected their habits. It always surprised him how humans acted the same wherever you were in the world and as he watched Vicky down her drink and attempt to laugh it off the landlords scrutinising eyes looked from the beauty to the empty glass.

“Hmm.” Warren mused loudly as he scooped up the empty glass and went to pour her another glass of rum. Thankfully the tide of customers was ebbing and his ever charming, if not crazy cousin Bailey had appeared from outback to give him a hand. Although it meant paying out more money for her wages it would be worth the money just to be able to spend the time with Vicky. But even know as Warren stood in front of her with a full glass of rum he had that look on his face of plain determination, he was not going to give this up as he knew that something was up and he had a dam good feeling he knew a person who might be behind this all. “So who is he?”

His voice was low as he was finding it hard to keep the bitterness out of his voice, maybe he could try and pass it off as concern but then he was not such a good actor as his older cousin and so as he stood with a frown creasing his brow Warren had come to the conclusion that he was not going to give Vicky her drink till he gave her a straight answer.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky had left the castle in order to get away, and when she said away she meant somewhere Dan Hubbles was not. So she figured her old haunt the Hogs Head would be as good a place as any. Of course the proprietor was Dan's cousin but it wasn't like Warren made it his life's mission to sit there and talk about Dan. No that was one of the reasons she chose the place, Vicky enjoyed talking to him about a myriad of other topics. Plus, he was sexy, she noticed that the first day she ever met him but he never showed much interest so she moved on like a dunce to Dan which was turning out to be something of a mistake. So instead of sitting in her room dwelling on her bad choices she opted to get away and stop thinking about it. Then here she was sitting across from Warren who seemed overly interested in her love life.

Vicky did her best play it off but he was scrutinizing her. Vicky sensed his stares. Why couldn't he be staring at her for other reasons. Damn, if Warren could just say I want you, Vicky could be with him right instead of the mess she was in now. Hearing him mention she had the look of a satisfied woman Vicky wanted to blurt out, "Yeah sexually satisfied but not emotionally. I'm just someone's side piece." This is what she wanted to say but instead she said "Oh yeah, I don't think so my dear Warren I haven't been satisfied in quite some time" then she gave him a wink and a smile.

Trying to play nonchalant was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. When Vicky started her affair with Dan she thought, that she would be able to handle being the other woman. She thought that having what she wanted even in a borrowed sense would satiate her, but all too soon it came to light that this was not to be the case. As she looked up at Warren it was to find him looking at her. Vicky found herself unable to look away but had to force herself to do so. Men were causing enough trouble in her life.

As he walked away to get her the drink she asked for, Vicky took the time to take some deep breaths. Why was Warren making her pulse race like this. Yeah she thought him hot, but they were friends. So why was he getting to her tonight? Maybe it was the effects of the alcohol, yes that had to be it. When he returned Vicky fully intended to keep thinks light hearted and fun, but Warren had other ideas. Again he asked her who she was seeing. Vicky's head went back, and she rolled it across her shoulders before picking it back up. Warren didn't seem to want to let this go, even though she was so ready to let it go already. Her mission when coming here was not thinking about Dan.

Vicky didn't have any intention of telling Warren a thing, but he played the meanest trick ever by holding back her drink it seemed that she wasn't going to get it back until she told him something. Vicky took a deep breath and then let it out in a sigh. "There's someone but it's not a relationship it's just a thing. It won't ever go anywhere, can't ever go anywhere. So that's what's going on. I need to get out of the situation."

That last part she hadn't meant it to come out, but there you had it. Vicky needed to get out of it.

[Warren Hubbles]

“Vicky.” Warren could not help but groan her name as she basically told him that she was having an affair with a mystery man. Warren always thought she had more intelligence then this, a bit of common sense not to act like a fool and fall for the wrong man. He knew that she had once had a thing for his cousin Dan, but then saying that it seemed that a fair few people up at the castle did, but he could not be this mysterious man. He loved Dia and swore he would never do anything to hurt her and sleeping with her co-worker would be a dam good way of breaking that promise. But the problem was as Warren stood looking at Vicky he knew deep down inside that he would not put it past either of them.

With a reluctant sigh he placed the small glass of rum down on the counter in front of Vicky but he did not unwrap his hands from around its fragile exterior. Leaning further across the counter so his face was as close to Vicky as possible his voice dropt into an intimate whisper, acting almost as if it was only them in the pub instead of sharing it with loads of alcohol and sick smelling wizards and witches.

“Vicky, you need someone to treat you like a queen. To hold your hand and when you wake up in the morning to kiss you gently and tell you how beautiful you are even with panda eyes.” He found it hard not to smirk at this image he had in his head, the problem was he did not know why in this mini movie that was playing in his head he was the one saying she was beautiful as they lay there in his bed. “Stop selling yourself short with this low life that probably cares nothing for you. You know you need to get out of it, so get out of it. Next time he asks say no, walk away and take the higher ground!”

There most likely would have been more to that speech, maybe how if he had the chance to woo her he would take such care in the matter, how he would love her and cherish her…okay so it sounded a lot like marriage vows but Vicky would get the picture that she deserved something long term. His only hope was however that she was not going to look for it in him as seemingly on cue the one person who would prevent anything such as that happening entered the pub. A rather short, blond haired, big breasted rather plastic looking woman entered the building and she immediately trotted over to the bar in her stupidly high heeled shoes, lifting up the counter and stood behind the land lord.

“Warren!” Her voice was that annoying high pitch squeak that with every sentence was followed by a girlish giggle. “Guess who?” It was clear from the fact that all the colour had drained from the man’s rosy cheeks that he knew just who was standing behind him and as he slowly turned around from Vicky the pained expression was replaced with a rather fake smile.
“Hey Heather. Whatcha doing here”
“Come to see you silly!” With another high pitched giggle she leaned forward and planted a kiss square on his lips, it was clear the passion was coming all from Heathers side as she wrapped her arms around his neck totally oblivious to her partner’s total lack of commitment.
“Of course, silly me.” Warren tried to wiggle free of her tight hold but Heather seemed to have a knack for this. “Er…are the kids with you?”
“Oh no, they are with my parents, I thought this weekend could just be me and you.”

Warren was lost for words as she poked him in the chest as she made reference to the two of them spending some intimate time together. It took everything in his power not to let the horror of the situation show in his face but the fact that he was stunned to silence might have given some of the game away. “Lucky me.” His voice wavered as a slight frown pinched his brow. “Why don’t you go upstairs and freshen up. I bet you’re tired from your journey.”
“Aaawah ain’t he thoughtful.” Heather pointed out as she looked over at the violet eyes woman that Warren had been previously talking too. “I shall see you upstairs later then lover.”

With that Heather trotted towards the stairs, slowly climbing the steps only to turn around and blow a kiss in the direction of Warren. Automatically he pretended to catch the invisible kiss and with a cheesy smile he turned his back on the blond bimbo and smashed his clasped hand down on the counter almost as if he wanted to smash the invisible kiss into millions of pieces. He then quickly reached out and picked up Vicky’s drink and threw it back feeling the warmth roll down his throat and already his body slowly starting to relax. Letting out an exasperated sigh Warren placed the empty glass back on the counter and tried at vain to smile over at Vicky.

“Can I come and stay with you tonight?”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

The last thing she wanted was to see him make that face at her, and the last thing she wanted was to end up feeling guilty. She did that everyday all on her own. It was hard not to do what she was doing without feeling horrible. Dia didn't deserve this, Vicky didn't deserve this either. She got herself into this precarious position but she couldn't seem to find her way out. There was this pull Dan had on her that caused her to loose all sense of reason. The only other man she felt any kind of pull toward, well he didn't seem all too interested. He kept looking at her and the more he looked the worse she felt, how would he think of her when he found out the truth? Then she wondered why it even mattered what he thought. Deep down for some unknown reason it did.

He finally set her drink down in front of her, and at this point she was desperate for it. Only problem happened to be that he still had his hands wrapped tightly around the glass. Vicky looked at him her violet eyes pleading with him, but Warren seemed to have something he needed to say. He moved closer to her their faces inches from each other, Vicky started to panic a little wondering if he had figured out. She couldn't see how he could she didn't say much but then Warren knew Dan just as well as everyone else and he knew of her feelings for his cousin. She wasn't prepared to discuss this...Her breathing increased as she waited for him to say what was on his mind.

His words surprised her, she didn't get a loud noisy tirade like she thought he would. Instead he tried to drill it into her head that she needed to be with a man who would treat her the way she deserved, someone who would love her and cherish her. Vicky wanted that always had, only problem was most men only desired her. To them she was something to attain, to own, to show off. Men didn't want to love her men wanted to bed her. Often she would realize that much too late and in the end she would almost always get hurt. It got to the point where she began to believe true love was something she would never find, which was why the idea of an affair seemed like a good one at the time.

Warren went on calling Vicky's lover a low life, little did he know he was speaking of his own flesh and blood. Vicky of course said nothing just listened as he went on saying next time he asked to be with her she should say no. "If only it were that easy" she said out loud to him. Maybe had another man appeared and wooed her she could let go, but seeing as that wasn't happening....

Before anything more could be said though a woman walked into the pub and made a beeline for Warren. She lifted the bar and walked around to him as if this were the most natural thing to do. Vicky watched the exchange between the two. They seemed to know each other very well though Vicky could never remember seeing her here before. For some reason this bothered Vicky, an odd feeling came over her one she knew well because she felt it so often when it came to Dan. She was actually jealous of the big breasted blonde who seemed to know Warren intimately. Try as she might to fight these feelings they wouldn't go. Vicky looked away even as the woman addressed her before heading upstairs.

Now she really needed that drink. Vicky had just done the second most stupid thing in life - falling for Dan's cousin. Before she could reach for her drink Warren grabbed it and drank it down. Vicky looked crest fallen as she watched her liquid magic go down his throat. She started to pout hoping he planned on replacing that fast as possible.


Instead he asked her if he could come stay with her. Vicky unable to control her mouth said "you are more than welcomed to come home with me and stay the night any time you want to" after she said it she slapped a hand to her mouth her eyes bulged. Again she turned her head away from him, Vicky was just making a mess of her life in every way.

[Warren Hubbles]

If the words ‘Kill me now’ could have been shown in a facial expression then there is no doubt that it would have been plastered all over Warrens face right at this very moment in time. The woman who he ran away from to come up here and own a pub in Scotland was now, most likely, unpacking her stuff and putting it in his draws ready for a romantic weekend and then all of this played out in front of someone who Warren was starting to begrudgingly admit that he liked. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath in an attempt to compose himself Warren dared look over at Vicky and he could see that look in her eyes as it lay on the empty glass.

“Oh yeah, sorry” His voice was distant and slightly absentminded as he scooped up the empty glass and went to pour another one for Vicky and this time one for himself as well. The noise of the pub was still distant background noise and the two sounds that filled his ears was the overly fast beatings of his heart and the sound of Vicky’s voice filling the area around him and what she had to say this time did not fail to bring a smile back to his face. As he turned around with two glasses of rum in his hands he found it hard not to drop them with the site of Vicky’s face. The words that she had said had not really sunk in as Warren’s eyes were just stuck to the look on her face and a booming laugh escaped him as he stumbled over towards the counter and rather haphazardly put the glasses down.

“Oh Vicky I love you.” He joked not really thinking about what he was saying. The mixed emotions that he was feeling deep down may have influenced his choice of words but he was not in in love with her, he just liked her more then other people he knew, more then the woman who was up in his bedroom. Absentmindedly he picked up the glass of rum and sipped on it slowly as he propped his head up with his hand as his elbows rested on the counter opposite Vicky. “Honestly Vic can I kip on your sofa or something, I will not be able to stand being left alone with Heather. I bet she is here to plan the wedding.” He let out a loud groan as he now held his head in his hands as the realisation hit him. “Save me.” He muttered.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Miss Victoria Potter was batting a thousand lately when it came to men. She had no idea what was going on with her, because she thought that being in the situation she was in with Dan was enough trouble for her. No, now she decides that she's interested in Dan's cousin too. Of course she had been attracted to Warren when they met, but it never amounted to a hill of beans so she accepted a friendship from him. He always kept her company when she entered his pub, always there to talk to if she wanted a word. For all intents and purposes he was a friend. Then tonight, for some reason friend didn't seem to fit anymore. Somehow she saw the in bed, not being intimate just laying there together satisfied in each others company. She saw them laughing and teasing as a couple in love might do. The words in love made her shake her head violently. What the hell was going on in her mind, it must be on the fritz or something because love just wasn't a word that went well with the name Victoria.

Good thing for her he realized that she needed a re-fill. Vicky looked at him over her shoulder wondering why she was suddenly feeling this way about him. He turned to bring her the drink he poured her, he even had one for himself this time, but he caught sight of her face and she suddenly felt even more embarrassed than before. Hoping she wasn't blushing she tried to brush it off and smile back at him, trying to ignore the insecurity she felt as she had laughed at her.

After that things got stranger and stranger. As he told her "Oh Vicky I love you" it took her a moment to register the words, when she did her heart leaped a little before it came crashing back down. He was just talking, his words didn't mean anything and for her to read anything into them she was being a bigger twit. Trying to brush that off too. Taking a sip of her drink, letting the liquid make its way down her now parched throat Vicky figured maybe she should just leave. Being the the castle alone in her room was a lot safer.

Warren seemed to think so too, since he had just asked if he could take a kip on her couch. She was about to say yes (heck if she was going to hell anyway). The thought of him in her room seemed to please her, but the pleasure was short lived as she heard him say that the woman who showed up was probably there to plan their wedding. In all the times she had seen Warren he never mentioned anything about being engaged. Vicky sure could pick em couldn't she. Her eyes looked up to his and she said, in a voice she hoped sounded normal, but with all the noise in the pub he might not notice, "Oh a wedding, how lovely, when is the big date."

[Warren Hubbles]

Why did Vicky have to be here, why did she have to see that and her. Warren was still haunted by the memories from months back when Vicky witnessed his rather shameless flirting and mucking about with Trish. Now she has to witness the appearance of Heather, someone who she would have shared the Gryffindor commonroom with once upon a time. It was just turning into his idea of hell and when V icky asked about the wedding he found it hard not to let out a small scream.

“I don’t know.” The look of horror had filled Warren’s face again; his eyes were wide and as his hands slowly slipped down his face he pulled his skin down with them, flattening his wrinkles and maybe revelling a bit too much of his eye sockets. His hands limply fell way from his face and smashed down onto the table. “I didn’t even propose. The ring on her finger is one she picked out and put on herself.” You could hear the slight hint of hysterics creeping into Warren’s voice as he carried on blabbing out the story to Vicky. “If she was not so annoying I would marry her for the kid’s sake, but I lived with her for six years and could not take it.”

With a deep breath Warren picked up his drink and downed half of it, his face twisted into a face of disgust as the strong bitter taste over road his senses and brought a tear to his eyes as it stung on the way down. With a gasp Warren placed the drink back down and looked over at Vicky with a look of complete defeat as he knew in his heart of hearts that opposite sat a woman he would not mind spending his days with but upstairs was the every growing presence of the woman that he might end up living with once again.

“Honestly Vicky, you’re in an affair you need to get out of and I am in one that I just can’t get out of.” With a nervous laugh he ran his hand through his hair nervously making it stick out at all angles. “Oh well, these trials in life makes us stronger.” With another sigh Warren downed the rest of his drink and wondered away from Vicky and towards a customer who was waiting painterly at the end of the bar. As he stood there pulling the pints for the round of drinks that the wizard had ordered Warren was not all there listening to his drunken banter, his mind was spinning with thoughts and feelings that where beyond anything that he had ever felt before. The problem was with Vicky sitting there near him he could not think straight, his eyes would wonder over towards her and the things that he thought seemed so simple was thrown completely out of the window.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky ran a hand through her long thick mane of hair, a sure sign that she was feeling stressed. All she wanted was an evening problem free and instead she walked into a whole new world of problems. Why did she have to be at the bar just then and witness that woman walk in. The bombshell blonde with a body to die for making goo goo eyes at Warren. Then watch as that same hottie walked upstairs to where Vicky knew Warren's room was. Why did any of this even matter to her at all. That was the real issue here. Why did this woman's presence here upset her so. Warren was supposed to be her friend just her friend. When did that start to change? Or did it? Was she just being silly. Then she remembered another time not so long ago when Warren flirted with someone else in front of her, Vicky hadn't like that then either. Crap! This couldn't be happening dammit not another Hubbles no more Hubbles.

Again she ran a shaking hand through her hair while eying her drink. She needed it now more that ever so she grabbed it up, and tossed it back. There weren't many women around who could drink like she could. Not that this was something to be proud of or anything but it made for interesting times. Then Warren answered about the "wedding" and it shocked Vicky to hear that he didn't seem to want to tie himself to this woman. She bought her own ring and slapped it on her own finger. What woman did that? Vicky wondered seeing the blonde beauty in a whole different light now. Vicky also realized that she felt a bit happier seeing Warren's discomfort maybe the two weren't right for each other, maybe he was meant to be with someone else. Then again a picture of Vicky and he holding hands in the park flashed in her mind. Another stupid image that would never be.

Again Warren downed most of another drink. As he slammed down the glass they both looked at each other. The look couldn't be explained and Vicky didn't bother trying to. For a moment she couldn't look away but she had to. He was taken whether he wanted to be or not. A woman was upstairs waiting for him and he was going to go when the night was over. At this thought Vicky felt a pain in her heart a pain that she knew had to be ignored. Perhaps the night was over for her.

As if reminding her that he was off limits he said something about him being in a relationship he couldn't get out of. Another pang as she forced a smile "yes that seems to be just our luck friend" she said the last word as a reminder to herself. After that he moved away from her to serve another customer. Without those piercing blue eyes staring back at her she had time to think and that's when she decided exiting this night time drama would be best. So pushing her glass from her Vicky grabbed her things and started to rise from the stool in front of the bar. Not wanting to look back she didn't turn to say goodbye as she headed for the door.

[Warren Hubbles]

He did not want to walk back over there as from now on he had nothing left to say, well nothing that he wanted to say. These mixed up emotions he was feeling was simply a bit premature to start even saying anything vocally, heck he would not even be writing it in his diary. But as he pulled another pint he found himself looking over towards Vicky once again but this time she had an empty glass in front of her and she was getting up off the bar stool.

“Vicky!” Warren gave a small shout as he left the pint of lager he was pouring and ducked under the bar counter and danced his way through the crowds, his eyes fixed on the back of the beautiful brunette. With an outstretched arm he placed it on her arm gently tugging her to a stop and pulling her carefully around so that they were face to face. Straight away as his light gray eyes met her violet ones his throat closed up slightly and the words that had been on the tip of his tongue seemed to melt away like an ice cube. Running his tongue nervously over his dry lips all Warren could do was stare at Vicky in the vain hope words would just appear.

“Y-You can’t go, I…I er…” He broke off and nervously looked over his shoulder back towards the bar and the impatient looking customer who was still waiting for Warren to pour him his drink. Looking back at Vicky he tried to smile as still his mind drew to a blank. “You have not paid.” As soon as the last word escaped him he could not help but wince and his hand that was still resting on Vicky’s arm dropt down to his side, his gaze also dropping in sheer embarrassment. “Ah forget it. You go back to your secret lover and carry on your rampant affair.”

It was safe to say that Warren sounded bitter, heck he knew he was bitter but for the life of him he could not work out why. He did not care who Vicky slept with, just like he knew she did not care who he spent the night with. They were friends, that was it, nothing more, nothing less. His concerns for her well being and safety were merely that of a friend and the want of not seeing her get hurt. But even as he tried to convince himself of this as he turned his back on Vicky and started to walk away all Warren could hear was his cousin’s voice playing over on his head. ‘Men and Women can not just be fiends.’ But then, wasn’t Dan and Vicky just friends? What about Will and Dia? Yeah, Dan’s saying was wrong him and Vicky could just be friends…they were just friends.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky was trying to make it out of the pub unnoticed. Warren was busy serving another customer so Vicky seized her opportunity. She had made her way through hordes of people and could see the refuge of the door just in her eye sight. Before she could reach it though she was blocked by this big hulking brute who took up the entire door frame just by himself. He was closely followed in by a tiny witch that looked as if she could be knocked over by a feather. Vicky annoyed wanted to tell him to move so she could leave before Warren noticed didn't have the heart to as she saw how the man was trying to be a gentleman. After the two entered Vicky's way was now clear too bad she wasn't going to get far.

As soon as she took one more step toward the door she heard her name. She could run for it but that would just be childish. Didn't matter anyway because before she could even take a step forward or backward a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around so that she was now face to face with Warren. The two stood there people walking around them in droves. Her violet eyes locked onto his gray ones but neither one saying a single word to the other. What did her even come after her for. She was almost out of there but no he held her back then had nothing to say. Vicky tried to think of her own words, anything that might make an awkward moment less awkward but nothing came to mind.

Then finally her spoke, or rather stuttered. Vicky's heart soared as he told her he wanted her to stay. Could he really mean it? As if in answer to that his next words had her heart plummeting down to her stomach. She hadn't paid for her drink, that was the only reason he was there now. How stupid she was putting too much stock into things yet again. Prepared to pull the money out from her purse Vicky got a nasty little surprise as Warren spoke again. He told her to forget it and go back to her affair. They were only words but to Vick they felt like a slap in the face. She told him about her affair as a friend hell at his prompting and he threw it back in her face like that. Vicky's eyes began glistening as tears started to form. Tears that would not fall because she would not let them. Enough of those had been shed already. After his comment he proceeded to walk away back to his spot behind the bar where a customer was waiting.

Vicky's primary response to what he had said had been shock but that soon gave way to anger as she soon followed him back to the bar. Taking a couple of galleons out of her bag she walked over to him holding them tight in her hand. "I wouldn't want you to think I don't pay my debts. Hell only knows I've spent more in this place than most spend in a year." Then with that she threw both galleons at him making sure they hit him in the head. "Now I'll just be off whoring myself as usual, don't expect you'll be seeing me again." After that she really did need to get out of there so she pirouetted gracefully, dark mane of hair whirling behind her and again made her way toward the exit happy to try and put as much distance as she could between her ans Warren.