[CR.Staff] Anything Can Happen

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Okay this is going to be the thread where I sort of throw all my mini stories between Dan & Dia instead of them all being separate.
Yes I know I am slightly obsessed with them but oh well hahaha!

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

The Fortnight Saga

“You will never guess who I bumped into today down at the Ministry?”

No ‘Hello love’ or ‘How was you day sweetheart?’ it seemed that after a year of marriage and plenty of moments when Dan walked into the headmasters office to see Dia waiting, the obvious need of pleasantries and greetings were no longer needed. After all it would not have diverted his conversation far off course, but clearly Dan had something he was bursting to say as he carried on without even giving Dia the chance to guess who he had bumped into.

“You never will be able to so I will have to tell you.” He had flung his jacket off and was already by the sideboard poring himself a rather large glass of brandy. “That old Astronomy Professor you used to have that crush on, Lynford Borealis! HA he has a beer belly on him now and long gray hair that I do not think has seen a brush in years.”

Dan continued to chuckle as he wondered over to his desk and started to idly flick through the papers that where waiting for him. Dia could not work out if it was intentional or not that Dan was avoiding eye contact with her, maybe it was a good thing as the look she was giving him and the words that were being mouthed would have caused an argument.

“But he saw me, started to talk about ‘the good old days’ and asked if I was married. So I said…” Dia groaned she knew what was coming. “I said ‘You know that Ravenclaw who was madly in love with you, Dia Owen…blond hair, blue eyes and her eye brows have a mind of her own.’ Oh Dia you should have seen the…look…on…”Dan never got to finish his story as he made the mistake to look up and glance over at his wife.

“Divorce?” Dan asked slightly scared although the faintest hint of joke was still present in his voice. Dia did not need to say anything; she just looked up at Dan and glared at him to cause that trademark lopsided grin to fill his face. Then, proving it was actually possible; Dan Hubbles shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and actually looked shyly over at his wife as she sat on the Egyptian rug by the fire.
“Why Mr Hubbles, are you blushing?”

Dan gave a soft smile before approaching the rug where his wife sat, gently dropping to his knees and looking at her directly in those perfect blue eyes. This was the face that he looked in and saw love, this was the face that he dreamed about at night and he knew that Dia was the woman that he wanted to wake up lying next to every day for the rest of his life. The problem was that Dan had an illogical urge to still spend time with other women. It seemed that the love of one women was not enough for him, it was almost as if he loved knowing that he was loved, he loved to know that their were other women out there who desired him, who wanted to be with him. At the moment he was fulfilling his egotistic side by having an affair with Victoria Potter and although every time he held her in his arms and kissed her luscious lips he knew he was doing wrong. The problem was it felt so dam good that he found it hard to say no and walk away. It was simple, Dan Hubbles was a womaniser, he loved sleeping with women it was his drug. Dan did not smoke he just shagged anything with a pulse. He was addicted and just like people who smoke getting off the bad habit is extremely hard and going cold turkey just was not going to work for Hubbles. He would have to wean himself off one affair at a time or, with this option being the most likely, something happening to knock the man so for six and finally make him see sense.

“For a moment there I-I thought you were going to ask for one.” Dan muttered as he continued to look directly at Dia. It was rare moments like this that Dan showed his vulnerability to the one person he cared about the most, the one person who he could be himself around.
“Ask for a divorce? Heaven forbid!”
“You still love me then?”

She hated him, truly hated him at moments like this. Why did he have to play with her emotions every time and more importantly why was she so weak to them? There had been a time when Dia Owen would stand up to whatever came her way, she would hold her head up high and met the tider wave head on. But it had seemed and felt that on the day in December when Dan left her in the Entrance Hall of the castle, after cheating on her with her old best friend a part of her died that day. The long ten months that they had spent apart had tortured her soul. Dan was all she could ever think about and when they finally made amends she felt whole again, but not in the same way as before. She had been broken and like the antique plate that had been carefully pieced together again with glue she knew one more drop and it would be fatal, there would be no fixing her next time. Now that Dan was back in her life Dia knew what it was like to live without him, the pain and longing that haunted her lonely nights and she knew that she could never go back to living life without him. He was her life, Dan was her sun, her moon her beating heart and as they sat on the floor in the firelight, looking into each others eyes she knew the reason she no longer felt the same. She was Dia Owen no longer, she was Dia Hubbles now. She was his and he was hers. She studied his every movement like she used to map the stars, she was not her fiery independent self anymore as with one look Dan could quell those flames and by taking hold of her hand he would guide her through her troubles.

“I still love you.” She whispered back, acting almost that if the words had been spoken any louder they would have lost their meaning. “More then I should.”
“So you think there is a limit on how much you should love me?” Dan teased back, his jest being made that more tender by the fact his hand gently grazed Dia’s soft cheek. His mere touch sent an electric shock running through her body, the tingling sensation it left in her skin marked the way in which he had been. Slowly Dia tried to compose herself, breathing in deeply before she answered his question.
“I think there is a limit as to how much common sense should allow someone to love another.”
“So you’re saying you love me more then is truly sensible?”
“Daniel. When it comes to you, nothing is sensible.”

A low chuckle rumbled from Dan’s throat as he leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on Dia’s forehead. It was this small intimate gesture that seemed to bind the two of them together, what was is a long lustful kiss when a simple gesture such as that could say more then any other form of lip contact could? As the headmaster knelt down so he was face to face with his wife once more he could not hide that crooked smile that so often graced his features.

“Do you have much work to do?” His gaze passed over to the small pile of parchments that were sitting patiently on the rug next to Dia.
“A bit, bu-“
“Can they wait?”
“Depends what you had in mind Mr Hubbles?” Dia’s left eyebrow cocked inquisitively as the two of them shared a small inside joke.
“Well…” Dan’s hand gently stroked Dia’s soft blond hair. “I was thinking maybe we hop through the fire place and get a bite to eat at a swanky restaurant.”
“Covered in soot?”
Dan leaned in closer towards Dia, his other hand was placed under her chin as he every so slightly tipped her head up so that their lips were in line. “Always covered in soot Mrs Hubbles.” Then their lips met, it was so familiar but completely unique as every kiss that their shared was. A feeling of warmth spread throughout them, Dia’s arms instinctively wrapped themselves around Dan’s neck while his hand dropt from bellow her chin to her thigh.
“You know I am not really hungry.” Dia quickly stated as their lips briefly parted.
“Good!”

It was a swift movement Dan was now standing and cradled in his arms was his heart-stopping wife who was giggling like a school girl. When she signed up for this deal by falling in love with Dan she knew that life would never be the same again. His spontaneous moments and his one way thinking still managed to bring a smile to her face and a red tint to her pale cheeks after four years. Even as Dan kicked open the door to their bed chamber she could not help but think how reminiscent this was of their first few weeks together in Egypt and as the door slammed shut behind her she got an even bigger reminder.

***

The early morning sun shone through the window into the headmaster’s bedchamber causing everything in the room to gain an almost golden glow. Normally the thick dark blue satin curtains would have blocked out any traces of the natural light allowing the headmaster and his wife to sleep on in peace, but last night their entrance into the bed chamber was worthy of a muggle film and something as simple as closing the curtains was lost to the heat of the moment. Even though Dia was awake she refused to open her eyes as at this present moment in time she was perfectly comfortable. Her firm pillow, which was otherwise known as Dan’s chest, rose and fell gently with every breath that he took and she was convinced that this hypnotic motion would soon help her drift off to sleep...or at least it would have done if her pillow was not squirming.

“Stay still.” She groaned the dryness of her own voice surprising her but thankfully it did not mask the happiness and satisfaction that she felt inside.
“I would sweetheart but I can not feel my left arm.” An equally tired voice of her husband reached her ears and almost to prove his point he gave his arm a slight tug and Dia could feel something move underneath her. With a groan she opened her eyes and although blinded by the light for a moment she lifted her self up a few inches to give Dan enough room to slid his arm out from underneath her.
“Stupid place to put your arm anyway.” Dia muttered back playfully as she made her self comfortable and feeling the warmth of Dan on her cheek once more.
“Oh I would have moved it but you feel asleep so quickly…”

A light slap on his chest shut the man up and his low chuckle vibrated throughout him, echoing in Dia’s ear. For a moment that is how they remained, the silence that filled the room was not that of nervous tension but of pure harmony. Nothing needed to be said among the couple, nothing needed to be explained they were perfectly happy lying in each others arms. But ever since that message arrived on their honeymoon perfect moments such as this had a habit of being ruined by either the knock on the office door or the light tapping on the window pane as the owls arrived with the post. And it was this light tapping that made them both slowly open their eyes and glare over at couple of tawny owls that were desperately pecking at the window.

“Dan open the window.” Dia lifted her head off his chest and pulled one of the cold pillows towards her giving her husband the chance to get up and move while she could continue to lazily lounge in bed. Dan however grudgingly stood up, slipped on some underwear before wondering over towards the window, sliding it open and letting seven owls flutter in and drop their letters on the dressing table. They seemed to be the normal load but there was one that caught his eye, the bright red envelope that already was smouldering slightly at the side.

“Anything interesting darling?”
“Er…”Dan did not now what to say, his heart was pounding in his chest as his eyes focused completely on the red. “T-there is a howler.” All the colour had been drained from Dan’s face and his prolonged silence had worried Dia and she sat up in bed to look over at Dan.
“You had best open it sweetheart.” She reassured him, sliding over the edge of the bed ready to wrap her arms around Dan if it was needed. Slowly Dan wondered over towards Dia, sitting down next to her and with trembling hands he opened the letter. Immediately the magical envelope burst into life, and the sound of a shrill voice filled the air.

“To the so called headmaster Daniel Hubbles! My daughter was attacked by a suit of armour in your school! I send my children there in the faith that they will be safe and properly looked after. This inadequacy on your side begs to ask the question about you suitability to be headmaster of such a prestigious school! Be aware the board of governors have been notified and your suspension will be imminent!”

As the burning remains of the letter fell smouldering to the floor the couple remained deadly silent, the sound of the shrill displeased voice of the howler still echoing in their ears. Dia’s wide eyes darted from side to side as she studied every inch of her husbands face, never before had she seen him so pale. Dan’s skin was as if the cold hand of death had taken him, it was like looking up a corpse and it made her heart stop.

“Dan?” Her voice was barley a whisper and she reached out with a trembling hand and gently laid it upon her husbands arm. His skin was cold to the touch and she noticed his cool blue eyes were fixed on the small heap of ash on the floor. “Dan, everything will be okay. We shall make it through sweetheart.”

Dan merely nodded his head, he wanted to believe Dia, he longed too but when reality was staring in his face, the evidence were burning embers on the stone floor. His time in the castle was running out. Every second that ticked by brought the moment that he got kicked out ever so closer. Suddenly Dan shot up off the bed and hastily started to get dressed buttoning up a creased shirt not even attempting to put on a tie.

“Dan where are you going?”
“I-I need to see Newton.”
“Dan!” Dia stood up and walked over towards Dan. “It is six in the morning.”
“I will wait in his office!”
“Daniel!” Dia’s voice became serious and she reached up placing a hand on either side of his face so that he had to look directly at her. “Dan, breath, relax and think about what you are about to do.”

He opened his mouth to protest but Dia’s right hand smoothly slipped down tracing the outline of Dan’s jaw and placing a finger on his lips to beg for silence. “Shh.” Dan did not try to resist and it was visible to see him relax with a simple sigh. His tense muscles loosened and the colour started to flood back into his face and then slowly, ever so slightly that lopsided grin started to creep onto his face.

“Where would I be without you?” Dan mumbled as he pulled Dia into a tight embrace.
“Half way to London I think.” Dia gave a small chuckle as she happily nestled herself into his chest.
“Dead on the stairwell?”
“In bed with a floozy?”
“Yeah that is the most likely.” Dan chuckled away and kissed Dia lightly on the head. “Back to bed?”
“Hmmm breakfast in a swanky restaurant?”
“Covered in soot Mrs Hubbles?”
“Always covered in soot Mr Hubbles.”

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Warning: This thread uses a swear word. I apologise to anyone this may cause offence too.

Any Wonder

Darkness had fallen over the castle of Hogwarts, the clear sky allowed the dark navy blue sky to be highlighted by the beautiful constellations of shinning stars. These were the stars that Dia had made her life, the patterns they formed, the times of year they appeared in the Scottish night sky and how each and every star had its own tale to tell. But tonight Dia was not looking up at the beautiful, infinite expanse of the night sky, no tonight she was lying awake in her bed breathing steady and just listening to the rhythmic and almost hypnotic sound of Dan’s light snoring.

Her pure blue eyes strained to make out shapes in the darkness, her familiarity with their bedroom made it possible to distinguish the trunk from the desk and the pile of Dan’s clothes to the pile of her books. However she had been staring into the blackness for almost an hour now, her mind swarming not daring to sleep. For Dia did not sleep so that she never dreamed of leaving her husband, she would just lie there in silence listening.

Slowly moving her left arm Dia placed the palm of her hand against her forehead, feeling the warmth against her cool hand, she then slowly started to massage her temple closing her eyes as she did so. A wave of relaxation passed over the woman and for the briefest moment in time she felt at peace with the world and everything around her. But it did not last; a loud rumble escaped Dan and with a silent sigh her eyes flashed open and her hand fell limply over the edge of the bed.

Silence filled the room once more, even Dan seemed to fall silent and although she would little mention it to him in the morning she missed the noise now it was gone. It was strange how she always did miss the silly little things whenever Dan was not around. The sound of his snoring at night, his slightly distracted ‘yeeeah’ when you talked to him and he was not paying full attention…even the pile of dirty washing that sat proudly on the stone floor of their room. She had lived with him for so long now she had almost forgotten what her life was like before they had danced on the kitchen tables, before he became the star of her dreams at night and that small ray of light that made even the gloomiest of Scottish days that little bit more bearable. The only problem was she had fallen in love with the wrong man, Dan Hubbles was no good, everyone knew that but he had done her the kind injustice and had fallen in love with her too. There was no way she could have got out of it, even after he had cheated on her she was still putty in his hands and Dan would use advantage of the fact that she loved him beyond reason.

Rolling over to look at her husband Dia felt the cold of the unused pillow against her cheek but this did not bother her, all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around Dan and just hold him close as if to remind herself that he was still there…he was still hers. Swallowing a yawn Dia just lay there and watched the gentle rise and fall of Dan’s chest as the sun broke over the horizon, shards of perfect golden sunlight flooded over the Scottish mountain side and straight through the open window in the headmaster’s tower. She had lost track of time, she always did at movements like this, the times when she was sure she was awake but it was also possible it could all be a dream. She had closed her eyes after all…

There was another loud snort from Dan and lines spread over his brow, creasing his once perfect and at peace features. Dia’s eyes slowly moved up from Dan’s bare chest, over the mini forest that was his hairy chest, over the crevasses of his neck finally letting them settle on his handsome face. The frown was still present and it made Dia wonder what was haunting his dreams so make him look so concerned and she just wished she could fight away his demons and make everything alright in his own little world.

Still the realm of sleep evaded her and before she knew what her right arm was doing her figures were gently running themselves through Dan’s hair. The small blond and dark brown strands appeared and then disappeared in a wave as they popped up and down in-between the gaps in the fingers. Putting all her grumbling to one side she knew how lucky she was to find someone like Dan, well not just like Dan…but someone who she could love and would love her. Chance had brought them together that night and fate had reunited them after their time apart and just thinking that helped sooth Dia. She had found another who meant the same and she knew that despite her husbands bad habits and possible cheating (she was not stupid, the long nights working at the Ministry and then returning home smelling of wine and perfume…) Dia was convinced that deep down Dan did love her, just possibly not as much as she loved him.

This was dangerous territory to be treading and with a small huff Dia removed her fingers that were entwined in Dan’s hair and rolled back onto her back, her eyes fixed upon her spot on the ceiling. But it was too late, her mind was kicking into over drive and was dredging up memories that she had tried to forget…like the last time they had kissed, they had both kept their eyes open. Okay, that was just being silly there would be a reason for it, a logical and simplistic reason that she was merely overlooking at this present moment in time. Or at least that is what she would keep telling herself for now. That was when there was a tug on the light summer bed sheet that was on their bed and then a small grumble and groan from the man lying next to her, coming to save her from her own toxic thoughts.

“What time is it?” There was a husky mumble as the man still refused to open his eyes fully and be blinded by the summer sun. It bemused Dia how he somehow knew she was awake.
“It is still early my love.” Her voice was quiet and peaceful and the sound that Dan loved to hear every morning. “Try and get back to sleep, you need your rest.”
“But you’re awake.” He protest as he rubbed his face trying to wake himself up some more and bring himself to open his eyes so he could look upon his wife.
“I am always awake.” She chuckled lightly as she looked sideways, her pure blue eyes meeting that of Dan’s cool grey. His weathered features were creased once more but this time they formed the obvious lines of laughter as her favourite lopsided smile passed over his sleepy face.
“What’s up?” He questioned through the smile, he may have been semi awake but he still knew when something was bothering Dia, he simply guessed years of marriage would do that to a couple.
“Nothing.” Dia had to look away before she could say this; she hated looking Dan in the eye and lying to him, which was the biggest difference between them, he was the expert of lying trough his teeth. He could also act his way out of a situation and that was certainly something Dia could not do.
“Oh.” Dan raised an eyebrow to signal he was not convinced but it was far to early in the day to get into a small bicker about something stupid such as leaving his underwear in plain view again. “Fair enough.” With the best attempt of a shrug the man could do while lying down on a mattress he simply rolled over, pulled the blankets up and pretended as if he was going to go back to sleep. As soon as his eyelids shut he started to count slowly in his head.

1…2…3…4…

“Dan?” That must have been a new record, he had not even got to five and she had already said his name as if it were a question.
“Yeah?”
“D-Do you…” Dia was never this inarticulate normally; her mind would carefully plan out everything it would state before the first words rolled off her tongue. The only problem was that although she had the words she did not have the confidence to say it straight to Dan’s face. But then it was not just that which was bothering her, she was trying to wok out what good it would do to find out the truth. Would accusing Dan of cheating help her sleep any better. She could just imagine how the whole scenario would play out…

“So what, you don’t love me anymore?” Dan stood in the middle of the bed chamber, his eyes were fixed upon Dia who was pacing from one part of the room to another however as soon as he said this she stopped and slowly she turned to face him her face full of astonishment.
“Of course I still love you!” She shouted back, her arms flying up into the air as if to show her true exasperation on the matter. “I love you more then common sense should let me.”
“What is that meant to mean?”
“Oh you know Daniel!” She was getting more wound up now, that fire was burning inside, the fire that he fell in love with and the fire she had been trying to suppress all these months. “I am just like any other woman who has ever loved you and ever will love you but I have it worse off. I have to put up with all this…this…this CRAP that you do day in day out and no matter how mad I get you just need to strut in through that door and switch on that charm and I am putty in your hands.”
“Don’t be like this Dia.”

Dan took a few small steps forward towards his wife; his heart was in his mouth and he was doing everything in his power to stop his hand from trembling too much. He had never seen Dia like this before, he liked the fire in her when it was playful but this, this was reminiscent of their first ever fight but this time she had more ammunition in her gun and a hell of a lot more bitterness.

“I mean why should I be punished?” She continued. “Why should I be the one who has to put up with your rubbish just because you had the decency to fall in love with me? Why can I just not be that quick shag in the Hogshead huh? Why can I not be that one night stand you reverie about?” Dan really had no idea where she was going with this but the wild look in her tear stained eyes made it clear she had not finished yet. “This is my reality!” She said pointing around the room her voice now cracking with emotion. “I am your last resort, the bottom of the food chain. How does it go Daniel? Pub, work then me? Or is it pub, work, your whore then me?”

The tears rolled freely down Dia’s face now, her heart was breaking in two. Here she stood face to face with her husband and once again he had cheated on her. Was she so easy to cheat on? Or had her mother always been right…was Dan a low life that was not even worth her time.

“Is she a better f uck then me?”

The breath that Dan had been holding had been knocked straight out of him there and then as these words were spoken out loud. It was not simply the matter she had put it so bluntly but the fact she had sworn…Dia never swore. Flabbergasted he had no idea what so say, there was no answer to such a question and as they stood there in silence it said more then any spoken words ever could.

“Fine then.” Dia muttered as her shaking hand desperately tried to tuck a lose bit of hair behind her ear. Then with a deep breath to compose herself Dia elegantly walked past Dan and towards the main door. “I shall be sleeping in my old room for a bit. Means you can use the big bed for your whores. Impress them.”
“Dia your…”
“I am what?”
“You have it all wrong!”
“No Daniel. For once I realise that in all honesty I do not care who you’re with, just don’t come near me.”

With a deep shaky breath Dia turned to look at Dan once more, she had made up her mind on how to complete her sentence.

“Did you have a bad dream sweetheart?” She had chosen the safer route, some would say she chickened out; others would say she took the wiser choice. But in her mind she did not want to know if Dan was cheating on her, ignorance was bliss in a case like this and that is why she was head of Ravenclaw and not head of Gryffindor. The scenario that had played out in her head was enough pain for her to suffer and far too realistic at that.
“Is that all you wanted to ask?” Dan gave a hearty chuckle as he leaned over and kissed Dia tenderly. “You fool, for a moment I thought it was serious.”
“You looked in pain.” Dia tried to sound concerned but Dan’s power over her was captivating and she could not help but smile along with his laughter.
“You would be too if you were being eaten by a giant flobberworm!”
“A giant flob…have you been talking to Girty again?”
“Maybe?” Dan gave playful shifty eyes as the two of them continued to laugh and once again Dan leaned in and kissed Dia, gently brushing the strands of her slightly curled blond hair out of her eyes. “Are you sure that is it sweetheart?”
“As sure as today is Tuesday!”
“I thought it was Wednesday!”

Another chorus of laughter echoed around the room as their arms wrapped themselves around each other, Dia extremely thankful for Dan’s over sight and Dan…well he was just thankful to be getting some in his marital bed!