[Library] A Familar Face

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was laying face down into a pillow on the Hufflepuff couch. The yellow fabric was soft against her skin as she attempted to fall asleep. The glow of the fire was soothing as the young woman tried to relax for the first time in what seemed like days. Ellie had been running around doing a million and a half things lately. She hadn’t had much time for herself. It was beginning to show. Ellie was becoming more and more short with people. Her appearance wasn’t up to par, she hadn’t changed out of sweatpants in three days and her hair was permanently up in a messy bun. No amount of makeup could hide the shadows from under her eyes. The girl was stressed, plain and simple.

The stress was do to all the pressure that was put upon the girl’s shoulders. First off, her classes were getting outrageous. Ellie understood that after her OWL year, there was only two more years before she would be taking the NEWT level exams. Apparently her Professors were beginning to understand that a year of that time was gone and the work had been added on double. Ellie wasn’t one to devote all her time to school. She tried her best, and that’s all she could offer. Now, most of all, she didn’t have time to do more then bare minimum.

To add to all the schoolwork she was getting, Ellie had to deal with her prefect duties. Late night rounds, having to constantly keep her eye on her Housemates, and meeting with Professors about problems all took a good chunk of the day away from Ellie. Quidditch was also taking her time. It had always been a top priority, just like everything else Ellie tried to balance, but now, Ellie was more than just a team player. She was the leader of the team. It was her job to keep everyone motivated and that was hard when she struggled to keep herself motivated.

Ellie sighed into the pillow in which she had buried her face. She wasn’t comfortable, but it would take so much effort just to turn to her side. With a deep breathe, Ellie shifted her hips and she was on her side. Ellie exhaled and looked into the fire. It was a bright orange and red, it soothed Ellie, though it made her eyes hurt. The fire took the dampness of spring out of the common room, making it a dry comfortable temperature. Finally, Ellie was relaxed.

Meanwhile, up in the third year boy dormitory, a prank was being pulled. Frank Swinger had fallen asleep early. Unable to restrain his adolescent urges, his bet friend Tony Riccardo decided to draw some unsavory figures on Frank’s face. Frank, waking up to see Tony face to face with him permanent marker in hand, flipped out. Tony being the little scoundrel he is, ran for it, Frank running after him, soon they made it down to the common room. Frank caught up with Tony and tackled him, creating an amazing amount of noise. Ellie jolted up and opened her eyes to view the brawl. As Ellie watched, slightly stunned like the rest of the people in the common room, Tony got away and Frank slammed him into a wall, a framed picture falling to the ground.

This had gone too far. “HEY!” Ellie yelled as she quickly got up and pulled Frank off of Tony. “KNOCK IT OFF!” Ellie said, pointing her wand at Frank and keeping her hand on Tony’s throat. “I understand that he is an asshole, but do not fight in my common room, three points from each of you. Now get to bed, or else.” Ellie said, shoving the boys toward the dormitory door. Ellie sighed and looked around. The common room had cleared after the fight. Better for her, it was easier to clean up when no one was there.

Ellie walked over to the picture that had fallen off the wall. “Damn.” She said. Ellie was in a bad mood, it was customary for her to swear. The glass on the picture was broken. Quickly Ellie made them disappear, finding the spell easier then the spell to put it back together. She would leave a note for the house elves to re hang the picture tomorrow. She would hang onto the print until then.

Ellie reached into the broken, now glassless frame and pulled out the picture. She looked at it. The boy in the picture was her age. He was smiling, holding a Quidditch cup trophy. His red hair and blue eyes made Ellie smile. The boy was very cute. Ellie felt as though she had met the boy, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Ellie shrugged, wondering how old the photo was. She flipped it over and read the cursive handwriting on the back.

“2091 – Hufflepuff Quidditch Champion Captain Daniel Hubbles.”

“WHAT!?” Ellie said to herself, hurriedly flipping over the to view the face of her beloved Professor once again. Now that she looked at it, it was obvious that it was Daniel Hubbles. He looked the same, except his hair was a little longer, he seemed to be in perfect shape, and his face wasn’t worn by the cares of a Charm’s Professor and Headmaster. Ellie smiled at a young Dan, falling into the blue eyes.

Ellie heard someone coming down the stairs and quickly folded to photo and placed it in her pocket. She headed up to her own prefect’s quarters, nodding with a smile to the girl who had come down to the common room laden with books. Ellie wasn’t jealous.

Ellie reached her bed and crawled in, taking the picture out of her pocket and putting it on her bedside table. Ellie turned over and closed her eyes, ready and willing to fall asleep.

Fifteen minutes later, Ellie turned back over and opened her eyes to gaze on the folded picture. She blinked at the white background of the photo came into view in the dark room. She sighed, and propped herself up on an elbow, reaching out to grab hold of the photo and unfolding it. She gazed at the young man in the dark. He smiled and waved to someone behind the camera, probably his girlfriend. She was probably pretty. Probably the perfect Hufflepuff, Head Girl and such. Was Ellie really thinking about this? Was Ellie really crushing on a photograph of her favorite Professor and Headmaster to whom she had been incredibly loyal? It was ridiculous.

Ellie had to admit, that as her stress built, Ellie would love to have someone to talk to. Fay and Bray were busy themselves and her attempts to talk to Bray seemed futile. Ellie wished that she had someone to hold her, and just tell her to relax when her own mind couldn’t do it anymore. Ellie sighed and placed the photo back on her nightstand, face down. She sighed and closed her eyes. The blue eyes of the boy in the picture popped into her head. Ellie groaned and reached out, turning over the photo. Watching the boy smile and wave as he won the Quidditch Cup, Ellie fell asleep and dreamed of the boy.

The next morning, Ellie woke up to the same sight she fell asleep to. She smiled and got up, happy for the first time in days. She scooted out of bed, threw on a pair of jeans and a t shirt and sweater, actually brushed her hair and did her makeup, and threw on her robes over everything. The picture sat on the nightstand table, waiting for Ellie to return. Just before she ventured down to breakfast, Ellie folded the picture up, with one last glance, and placed it in her back pocket.

Ellie spent the morning in an unusually good mood. She warmly greeted her Professors, and didn’t join in the moaning when homework was assigned. She never forgot about the picture in her pocket, daydreaming about her perfect man in Divination. Ellie walked to her next class after enjoying a sunny lunch on the lawn. Ellie greeted a passing Professor, and in the midst of the hello, Ellie tripped over herself, her books flying out over the stone floor. “Damn” Ellie said, in her habit of stressed swearing.

Ellie reached for the closest book and slide it to her. She felt a hand on her elbow and looked up, expecting to see Professor Hubbles helping her up. As Ellie raised her eyes from the floor to the face of the good Samaritan, Ellie noticed the black robes of a student, and the yellow scarf of a Hufflepuff. Ellie reached the face and locked onto the extremely blue eyes of the boy who held her elbow. Ellie’s breath was caught in her throat as she gazed into the boys eyes. “You.” Was all she managed to utter in disbelief.

[Daniel Hubbles]

It was the only real thing that Daniel Hubbles could remember, seeing a fellow Hufflepuff trip and fall to the stone floor of the castle, her books tumbling to the ground as quickly as she did and the first action that he did was to slowly bend down and place a gentle hand on the girls elbow to carefully aid her back upon onto her feet. The one thing he did not expect however was her reaction to be one of complete shock, almost like she was seeing a ghost from her past. Straight away Dan’s face crinkled into a smile as he looked over his shoulders and around the empty corridor in jest.

“Yeah, it’s me.” The lopsided smile that in years to come would win its barer awards spread across his face as he finally met the girls aqua gaze once more. “I am the only other person in the corridor with you.” With a small, low chuckle he crouched down and started to pick up the spilt textbooks that littered the floor of the corridor socking in every bit of information he could. The subject that each book covered, the care in which they had been looked after (despite the odd dog eared page) and more importantly the name that had been carefully written on the front page in such an elegant style. “But with that in mind it begs the question, how the hell did you trip up?” Once more he flicked his blue eyed gaze up towards the brown haired girl, his longish hair dancing with the motion of the turn of his head. Then just as gracefully he stood up making it so their faces were only inches apart as he handed over the books making sure that their hands brushed against one another during the transaction. “Or maybe I just don’t realise what affect I have with women. What do you think Ellie?”

The seventeen year old Dan Hubbles that stood proudly in his Hufflepuff robes and ludicrously close to Miss Rook was not the exact resurrection of the current headmaster. He was merely the image from a snapshot in time, the snap shot where the boy’s ego and self confidence was at an all time high, heck he had just won the Quidditch Cup for Merlin’s shake, he was a house hero. He was also, and more importantly the person Ellie wanted him to be, the only reason he was standing in this very corridor right now was because she had whished it so and with an extra bit of spice from the dark magic that seemed to be filling the castle her knight in shinning armour now stood in front of her. The problem was, this knight was not pure of heart in fact his heart was a black as the night…Ellie just did not know it yet.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie couldn't draw herself away from the eyes of the young man that held her elbow. His smile was warm and inviting, Ellie wanted to smile, but when her brain told her mouth to edge up its corners, it remained in the open aghast form. The boys face was clean and clear, like she had known him forever. Ellie couldn't manage to stammer much more as he helped her to a standing position.

Ellie also looked around the corridor. The hallway had been just filled with people running off to class. Ellie was sure of that, she had just scolded a boy for trying to climb that walls. Ellie turned back to the boy. "I...was saying hello to a professor, she was just here...I swear...there were people..." Ellie was very confused, and like her swearing when she was frustrated, Ellie babbled on about nothing when she was confused. It was her mechanism to try and figure things out, my like you sound out a word you read for the first time.

Ellie watched as the boy gathered her things. She would have helped, but was like a ghost picking up physical objects. It wasn't possible, but then again, Ellie had encountered stranger things. Ellie accepted the books, unsure of what was going on. Again she was swimming in those blue eyes , melting until she ws sure she was bound to hit the floor again. Their hands brushed and Ellie felt a spark as they did. She looked down at where his hand had just touched, expecting to see a mark from the shock. Instead she just saw his own had inches from hers.

She looked back up, and just like their hands, their faces were inches apart. Ellie felt as though she couldn't breath. She felt her face become redder and redder as he mentions something about his effect on woman. Ellie was thinking that he better not use her as an example, she blushed for everything, but then again, not everything or anyone made her heart swim.

"What do you think Ellie?"

Ellie's eyes darted up to his. Instantly, the boys face turned into one she had dreamed of, a boy in a lost world where you never grew old, a boy who had asked her the same thing before. However, this new boys eyes were blue, not green, and his hair was long, and his touch more delicate. Ellie shrugged it off, she was being silly. "I can't believe it." Ellie stammered, a smile returning to her lips. "Dan?"

[Daniel Hubbles]

The tension between the apparent two strangers was intense, although the frozen in time Dan Hubbles remained perfectly composed it was clear by the varying colours of her cheeks that the female Hufflepuff was not at all comfortable with the situation. To Dan this was all a game, it was just stage one. He needed to gain Ellie’s trust, he needed her to know that he was there for her and only her to make her believe that he cared as it was that belief that he needed.

Finally a smile filled her beautiful features bringing a sparkle to her aqua eyes causing him to forget all about the slight blushing of her tanned skin. “Who else?” He laughed gently as she questioned who he was. “I mean who else is this good looking?” He could not help it, he knew that his appearance was attractive to certain women so why should he hide the fact that he knew he was good to look at, Ellie seemed to enjoy it anyway and that was all that mattered. They must have looked an odd sight (not that there was anyone around to spot them in the strongly deserted corridor) but here was two people staring into each others eyes, the girl blushing all shades of red while the boy just stood grinning like a Cheshire cat.

But as the young Dan Hubbles looked on at Ellie he could not help but think she did not believe it was him. He could feel those moments of doubt pulling on his very soul, her lack of belief weakened him and the ever growing prospect of returning to the confines of the photo dawned and now he had experienced freedom he would never go back! Breathing in deeply Dan dropt his gaze away from the purity of Ellie’s eyes and looked at the stone floor of the corridor, his smile vanished he needed to find a way of getting her believe who he was without giving the game away too much.

“I am sorry.” He mumbled as he finally looked up, his eyes darting from side to side as he studied her face, taking in every inch. “Your just so…beau-…” He broke off to add that dramatic affect and with an attempt of a pathetic smile he looked over at Ellie and shrugged slightly acting as if the truth was too hard for him to admit.

[Ellie Rook]

Who else? hehe, Yeah who else would it be Ellie. Ellie said to herself as the boy answered her question. It was Dan, but not Professor Hubbles, Dan. Ellie managed a smile as he remarked of his own handsomeness. Ellie would have agree if her tongue wasn't conpletely tied. The boy was handsome. He was tall, skinny, fit, his skin was clear, soft, his hair was fashionable, friendly, and his eyes... oh his eyes. Ellie had to admit that those eyes were Dan's she had glanced into them many times before. The blue never faded as he got older, though the face around him may have been worn down. They eyes never lied. It really was Dan.

Ellie felt herself falling, but then he caught herself. Her mind tugged her back to reality. She couldn't be talking to a younger version of the man she knew was probably sitting up in his office sipping his afternoon tea. It was insane. It couldn't happen. Ellie recoiled a bit, and it seemed to deeply hurt the boy, Dan, who stood in front of her. His face went blank and he apologized. His eye darted from side to side. Ellie tried to follow them but couldn't regain the gaze.

"No," Ellie said, stepping back toaward the boy. "I'm sorry." and she was. Shre didn't mean to doubt him, it was just so unreal. Once Ellie got everything she dreamed, she started doubted. She felt selfish, like she was ungrateful. It wasn't true, Ellie really was grateful. He looked up and studied her face. Ellie didn't know what to do. The admiration was too much for Ellie. She couldn't deny him any longer. He shrugged, seemingly embarrassed. Ellie smiled. "Thank you." she said, blushing.

The dark magic had her in his clutches. Her trust was so easy to gain. The trust that she had held onto in her fake Neverland had flown away. The darkness found her one weakness, where she wouldn't give into a complete stranger, Ellie knew this boy. She loved him dearly, even though she might love an older version of him, it was the same in her heart. It was everything she truly wanted, and the darkness was working on giving it to her before ripping it away.

[Daniel Hubbles]

That was it, he had won her trust and to the incarnation of Dan Hubbles from the portrait it felt like a little bit of his soul had finally clicked back into place. This is not to be confused with the feelings that Ellie was feeling, she was falling for this guy, Dan was simply using Ellie to live, not that he would show this of course. Really earning her trust was only the first stepping stone as the hardest thing of all would be keeping it, one wrong move or word could send everything tumbling down and then her trust would be even harder to gain. But this rouge had a game plan and so far it was working a treat.

It was when she thanked him, that was when he knew he had won her over, the blush had returned to her cheeks and Dan could not help but grin at that. It was a nice trait to see and in his opinion the hint of pink added to Ellie’s perfect complexion matched that of her aqua eyes. When he had been younger the eyes were something he always fell for, even the real older Dan Hubbles would be able to tell you that it was Dia’s pure blue eyes that made him fall desperately in love with her. Whether or not this Dan Hubbles had the ability to love was another question, he felt nothing but his own satisfaction and smugness which was laced with hatred, but when it came to matters of the heart he was numb.

The two were still standing close to one another, the warmth of one another’s breaths gently brushing against one another’s skin. The lopsided grin was now a permanent fixture on Dan’s youthful face as the two Hufflepuff’s eyes reminded locked on one another, it truly seemed like the two of them had been frozen in time. Slowly however, acting as if he was almost reluctant to look away Dan stepped away form Ellie and glanced over her shoulder at an on coming tide of students making their way down the corridor. They had lingered here too long and young Dan knew he was not yet strong enough to face other students and deal with their mixed up emotions as well.

“Where were you heading off to then Ellie?” Dan questioned, a playful tone was present as he stood beside the girl. “And more importantly can I escort you there in style?”

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie had a foreboding feeling just seconds before, but as Daniel looked into her eyes, the thought disappeared into the back of her head. Eyes were the most important thing to Ellie. She believed if you look hard enough you can see straight into someone's soul. Ellie tried hard to find what was hiding behind the brilliant blue eyes that loomed before her, but something was indeed missing. However, in another second, Ellie could swear she could catch a glimpse of something that was not just there. It put Ellie's fears to rest and she was locked in the position. Again, pushing all her doubts to the back of her mind, and letting in the soul she thought she could see.

Ellie's concentration on the amazing figure before her was broken as she heard the laughs of the students coming into the hall. Ellie had spent too much time staring at what should be space and time. She saw Daniel notice the oncoming students also, but she was tongue tied, just like she once got when Bray would hold her hand or lay it gently on her back. She did miss him, and she did miss them, but now she had Dan here. She wasn't expecting anything, but how could she walk away from such a figure.

Ellie's mind had completely lost track of time, and she realized that she was running late for Charms of all things. The new Professor was no where as good as Hubbles had been, but Ellie couldn't break her love of the subject. It just proved to her that she actually did enjoy charms and it was not just Ellie enjoying Hubbles teaching charms.

"I'm going to Charms...actually." Ellie's face was in a constant pink tone. She was over the beet red stage, and would stay out of it until something out of this world happened. However, all the blood did not completely disappear from her cheeks. The pink stayed, giving everyone a hint that she was overjoyed and slightly embarrassed by it.

Ellie looked over her shoulder at the oncoming groups of people. She nodded. "I would love it if you could walk me." She said, thinking it would be nice to have someone to talk to, nice that that person happened to be a young Daniel Hubbles, her dream come true, and she wanted to figure out what was going on. It seemed impossible, but obviously the impossible is bound to happen.

[Daniel Hubbles]

It struck Dan how over the thirteen years the Hogwarts castle had some how remained the same. As he breathed in deeply the same smells of calk and sweaty teenagers made his nose tingle, the sound of students stomping down the stone corridors still echoed in the same way as before and the cool breeze that blew in through the ancient windows still made the hairs on his arms stand on end. There was no mistaking the castle and he would defy anyone who had attended the school to find anywhere else that was able to fill you with so many emotions so quickly. It was home and he would do anything to stay in this place.

“Here, let me.” Dan offered Ellie a small lopsided smile as he reached out and gently removed her textbooks from her grasp. “Just in case you drop them again.” This last remark was laced in a jovial tone and the wink that accompanied it just oozed confidence. Carefully the seventeen year old Dan arranged the books in his arms and as the hordes of students rushed down the corridor Dan readied himself to be swept away with the tide of bumbling students.

“I always enjoyed charms.” He commented as they slowly made their way down the long corridors of the castle. “I like to think I am pretty nifty at it anyway. I imagine you are wonderful at it Ellie.” For the briefest of moments Dan looked away from the corridor ahead and just stared at the beautiful specimen of a Hufflepuff he had next to him, the person that had brought him out of his 2D prison.

The question that was now rattling around his head was what will happen if he no longer stood by Ellie’s side. It was clear other people could see him considering people were darting out of his way as they dawdled down the corridor, but if Ellie was to go to class would he just vanish? Would he return to his photo or would he remain in a solid form able to feel, smell and live? That was not a risk he was willing to take and as a result he would have to come up with a plan, something to stop Ellie from walking through that classroom door.

(It is crap, I am sorry!)

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie hadn't notice, but she was holding on her books or dear life. Her palms had become hot and sweaty in the struggle. Ellie couldn't imagine how her dreams had come true. The girl was nervous, excited, surprise, and most of all confused, but for some reason she was completely willing to accept all of this for the company of this amazing man standing next to her.

Ellie had always figured that if she had been born much earlier, or if Hubbles had been born much later, the two of them would hit it off. Now Ellie's insane dreams were coming true. It was completely sureal. It was hard to admit that this person was in fact Daniel Hubbles, when Ellie knew the real Dan Hubbles could round any corner at any minute. Ellie just pushed it to the back of her mind and decided that this boy was none other than just the perfect man she had dreamed of, and if his name happened to be Daniel Hubbles, it was just a coincidence that made all her dreams a reality.

Ellie grimaced, and she felt the books slide from her hands. Twice, she was going to drop them twice and seem like a complete spaz. However, Ellie realized in the next second that her books were not going to hit the ground, but Dan was sliding them from her hands to carry them. She smiled and thanked him. "Good idea..." Ellie said, unsure of what else to add on.

Obviously, Dan Hubbles had been great at charms from a young age. Ellie had figured so considering he was a whiz at it now. Ellie blushed. "I'm not horrible, I suppose." She said, as they started to walk away from the mass of student coming toward them. Luckily they were walking in the right direction, for Ellie was so taken away that she would have never noticed until they were on the opposite side of the castle. "I guess I had a really great teacher." She added on, continuing the charms conversation.

They continued to walk and the noise that filled the corridor ended as they turned a corner. Ellie looked forward, hoping that nothing was going to tear her apart from her new found Hubbles. Ellie was sure that once they hit the Charms classroom, they would have to part, but until then, she wanted to keep him close. However, the shy girl wasn't about to hold his hand, she didn't know how to initiate anything substantial, and so she was content to continue to walk on, glancing to her side to catch a glimpse of the red heair that she loved every so often.

[Daniel Hubbles]

He was born again, walking out of his time and into a new world. Things would take some getting used to others were just like they had been yesterday…well 13 years ago in his case. The tick was to act like nothing strange had happened, to not act like he had no idea who the American President was or how the British Pound was doing against the American Dollar. He had to pretend that this was just another day, that he and Ellie were just two strangers who happened to bump into each other, like fate had played its hand and pushed them together.

“Don’t be so modest.” Dan teased as he shot a winning smile over at the Hufflepuff. “It takes a certain kind of person to be good at charms. You need to have that confidence and self belief that your spells will work; also more importantly people who are good at charms tend good looking too. That was the biggest give away with you.”

By the looks of it he did not really need to try and win her over anymore, the blush that brightened her beautiful features was the biggest give away but also he could feel her belief in him growing. His senses were on fire as they took in every sight, sound and smell of the ancient castle. The distant smell of cooking wafted up from the kitchens mixing in with the calk from the blackboards creating a cocktail of smells that made his nose tickle with every breath. The noises of the castle were incredible, although fading as they moved away from the main hustle and bustle of the corridor Dan could still hear the echoes of conversations. Girls gossiping about the hottie they sit next to in History of Magic, boys’ fighting about who is the better Quidditch team and a wayward comment about how that boy with the Hufflepuff looked like Headmaster Hubbles.

That comment forced the smile to fade slightly from the youthful boys face as he strained his newly found hearing to listen into their conversation.
“Reckon its hiz long lost son or sumfin?”
“I don’t know…poss.” Replied the other girl.
“Bet hiz wife don’t know!” The two Slytherin girl’s sniggers as they turned to look at each other and in chorus sung “Dirty Little Secret!”

The rest of their conversation was lost when they vanished through one of the many doors that lined the walls of the castle corridors. At least he had worked a few things out form this simple conversation, his mind was slowly filling in the blanks of the 13 years he had lost being trapped in a picture. His older self was married and headmaster of the school, well sounds right really when the young Dan came to think about it, he was brilliant in every single way, in all honestly he was disappoint his older self was not minster of magic yet!

The two Hufflepuff’s continued to walk down the corridor, the comfortable silence that surrounded them was still continuing as Dan tried to get his mind in focus and concentrate on Ellie. “So when you get to charms…” Dan started, his voice breaking off slightly as he tried to act out all innocent and slightly coy about the next question. “Will your boyfriend be waiting for you inside?”

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie was flattered by the kind comments Dan had made. She would have been flattered with any comment he made really, but this one was close to home. Ellie had thought she was good at charms, but the only other person to ever tell her so was the older version of this Hubbles. The hear it from him again, minus thirteen years, was incredible and Ellie loved the feeling.

Ellie was completely aware that people were starring at the two walking down the halls. She could see the whispers of the gossip girls, starting something already. Ellie didn't mind, she was happy to be walking with him. She still wondered what they were saying, if they realized that he looked just like the Headmaster, or if they just thought he was a new student. Either way, Ellie was shy to the words, and yet she could care less.

The word boyfriend stung Ellie a little. She looked to her left and right, see in Bray was in view. Ellie's last boyfriend hadn't really worked out. He had lied, put no faith in Ellie, and now, Ellie was pretty sure he was insane limping around the school saying there is an open wound on his leg, when sure enough his leg has nothing more than a scratch. Ellie hasn't liked the word boyfriend much since then.

"Uh, no, not likely." Ellie said, thinking her choice of words was rather odd. "I don't really like this class much anymore since Professor Hub.." Ellie looked at Dan. "uhh, Hubert... left." Ellie got a little shifty eyed. She smiled. "But no, no boyfriend waiting." Ellie smiled, thinking she was getting herself into the babbling stage. Ellie's babbling stage consisted of her saying absolutely everything that cam e to her mind, and then her trying to dance her way out of sounding stupid. Classy.

[Daniel Hubbles]

At the first statement of not likely Dan could not help but feel a little down heartened, if she did have a boyfriend in there then that would be another factor he would have to counter into the equation, someone he would have to take out. But then the beautiful Hufflepuff continued to talk but hesitation crept into her words and the look she gave him made Dan slightly dubious of what she was saying. “That professor Hubert sounds like a top class guy then, defiantly if he was the only reason you went to a class.” Dan gave a small chuckle and grinned over at Ellie. “He must have been good looking then too.”

The two of them had slowly been making there way down the long corridors of the Hogwarts castle and with every step getting closer to the dreaded destination of the charms room. Still Dan continued to listen to what Ellie had to say, soaking in every thing she said and as she finally denied having a boyfriend the wide toothy grain spread across his face. That was good news, it was very very good news simply as it meant he did not have anyone to get in his way to claim Ellie as his own.

“Well then. If there is no boyfriend waiting and this new Professor is no Hubert why not spend some time with me?” His cool, slick voice made the whole prospect of skipping class sound of innocent. “We can throw your stuff back into the commonroom and then hit the town; I haven’t been to Hogsmeade in decades.”

His free arm gently reached around Ellie, slowly steering her away from the large oak door of the Charms class room. This would be the start of that slippery slop but she would not know it, all Ellie will know is that this young Dan is her dream and giving her what she wants. Oh the cruel irony.

[Ellie Rook]

Ellie couldn't help but smile. Hubert, Hubble, either way, Dan was right. Hubbles was the only reason she had showed up to charms class once her and Bray were onthe outs. Once he left, the class because epically boring, and Ellie didn't have the same spark. Not to mention, Hubbles was indeed a fox!

Ellie could now see the door to the charms classroom, and she was saddened bu the sight. She frowned and tried not to look to defeated. This is where her and her dream would part, and Ellie would probably wake up and see that she was right back in the common room, Cinderella story to tell everyone.

However, Dan looked at her with a wide grin and suggested that she skipped class. "I...I don't know." Ellie hesitated. She wanted to go with all her heart, but something was telling her she should go to class. Ellie bit her lip and looked at Dan. His voice made it sound like so much fun. "Well..." she hadn't been to Hogsmeade in a while either, thoguh she was sure if hadn't been as long as Dan. "I guess so..." Ellie said, feeling his hand guide her away from the door. She smiled and laughed. "Ok ok ok, We'll go. You talked me into it."

[Daniel Hubbles]

For the briefest of moments Dan was actually worried that Ellie would be a good little Hufflepuff and actually attended class. Her stutter and hesitation on the decision caused his heart rate to drop and to not take another breath. His cool grey eyes were fixed upon Ellie as he waited silently and patiently for her answer, despite that fact he was already gently guiding her away. The small lopsided grin remained on the boy’s face as her continued to gently push Ellie away from the classroom and then, eventually, she managed to articulate her thoughts and spit out the answer that he wanted.

“I am glad I can be so persuasive.” Dan joked as he shot Ellie his full toothy grin. He was rather smug Ellie could so easily be swayed. It would be a good sign for things to come anyway he liked a rebellious streak in a girl, it simply made the Hufflepuff appeal to him some more. The thing now would be to find a way to get that hesitation out of her mind, he needed to stop that little do gooder voice in her head and defiantly make sure she did not slip away and run back to the Charms classroom.

Carefully rearranging the books in his arms to make sure that non of Ellie’s textbooks tumbled to the ground Dan gently removed his hand from Ellie’s back, letting it gently glide across the cloth of her top before is found its way down to her hand. Flexing his figures slightly in preparation (and to act like he was trying to find the nerve) the seventeen year old version of Dan Hubbles took hold of Ellie’s hand, interlocking his figures with hers. If they were technically going on what could only be classified as a date Dan was going to have to act like it to help convince Ellie that that is indeed what it was. Now his task would be to get enough info about Ellie out of the Hufflepuff.

“So…” Dan began, giving Ellie’s soft hand a small squeeze as reassurance. “I shall give you till the end of the corridor to tell me everything about yourself. By my calculations and the speed we are dawdling at you have a minute.” He shot her a cheeky wink as a light chuckle vibrated from his throat.

[Ellie Rook]

So, Ellie had been talked into skipping class. Ellie wasn't the goodie girl that everyone probably thought she was. It wasn't the first time she had missed class, but she had always had a reason, like she was tired, or she didn't feel well. She had never just skipped class just for the hell of it. Dan had made her take that next step of rebellion. The sixth year felt like it was something daring, something exciting, and it would have made her heart beat fast if it wasn't already pumping away in the presence of Dan.

Ellie was being led away from the door, and she wasn't sad about it. She laughed and the smile on her face was genuine. She wasn't sure where they were heading, but she trusted that Dan probably had a plan. She trusted him; something so easy for her to do.

Ellie trusted Dan so much because of her trust of the older Daniel Hubbles. Even though their age difference did make contact strange, Ellie had been through a lot with Prof. Hubbles. His life had been in her hands, and her life had been in his hands. He had been able to break the darkness coming over her once before, and now she knew that he would never let anything happen to her. This Dan, though Ellie wasn't sure if he knew the attachment she had to his older self, seemed to feel the same way. Ellie knew that she could trust him, even though the circumstances of his appearance were rather strange.

Ellie was thinking about this when she felt her hand being grasped. Her fingers became intertwined with Dan's, and she could feel the warmth of his skin. The warmth solidified the idea that Dan was a real person, whole with life and soul. Ellie smiled and red returned to her cheeks. She held on, not to tightly so that Dan wouldn't know that she never wanted him to let go, that she was ready to stay with him for the rest of her life, but tight enoguh for him to know that she wanted him there.

Ellie didn't really know where to start. She was sure that she hadn't even told Bray much about her in the time that they were dating. They just knew that they enjoyed each others company, the past was the past, and that was what got their relationship into trouble. Ellie was happy that Dan cared enough to know about her. But her whole life in a minute. She laughed. "I don't really know where to start. Well, I was born in Tazmania, and have lived on every continent at least twice. I'm 100% Irish...half blood...uhhh...I'm a prefect and quidditch captian? I don't know what to say, I just thats just stuff I do, not really anything about myself." Ellie sighed, she was probably completely losing his interest. She didn't know what to tell him. "Maybe it would be easier if you asked question if you really want to know about me." Ellie said with a gentle smile, as they got to the end of the corridor. Where were they going after all...

Ellie wasn't sure if she should question Dan about himself. Elie wasn't sure if Dan has a past, because well he was the past. What a confusing concept.