[Lake] the quiet night

[Professor Lucas Hubbles]

The sun set low over the horizon. The sound of the ocean lapping up on the beach, the soft blow of the breeze against his skin. Lucas lay there on the sand, he had just finished his rounds with Alice, the Welsh Green Dragon, one of his favourites. Luke and Isabel had both fed her and gave her water so she should be alright for the night. Isabel had gone off into town for the weekend, leaving Luke in charge of Alice. He didn’t mind… he loved that Dragon. The ocean was a timeless blue, as far as the eye could see. The mountains rose up just behind him and he could hear the distant rumble from the Hungarian Horntail patch, though he didn’t concern himself with them. Laying his head back on the pillow of sand he glanced up into the burnt orange sky… he loved it here, so peaceful -- once you got past the Dragons -- and so beautiful. Australia really was the land of dreams.

--ROARRRR--

That was Alice! He’d recognise that roar anywhere. Was something upsetting her? Quickly Luke jumped up just in time to see a large green Dragon souring over the green tops. Stumbling backwards as it came closer, another roar issuing from its mouth followed by a burst of flame. Heading directly towards him. Luke’s heart was hammering as he watched the flame grow closer, his foot snagged on his sand pillow as he fell backwards and landed with a thump on his back.

THUMP.

”YEOWCH!” Luke yelled as his back collided with the hard floor. Rubbing his back he looked around and realised he was in Hogwarts. It had only been a nightmare. Even though Alice was their smallest Dragon, Luke would certainly not like to be the one that annoyed her. He was wrapped up in his duvet, the sky outside was dark, it felt like it was past midnight but the Professor knew he wouldn’t get back to sleep, not now. Not after that nightmare. Once you had actually been chased by a Dragon, you never find these dreams at all nice. ”Now what…?” He mumbled with a sigh. ”Sign of the Hubbles insanity you know, talking to yourself.” Came a portraits voice, was he destined to be hounded by these things the remainder of his life? ”Oh buzz off already!” Lukes voice rang out through his room, full of annoyance, ”Don’t you have anything better to do than annoy me?”
”Actually… No I don’t.” Came his sarcastic reply, ”I’m a portrait you see… I don’t usually have much to do.”
”Then go annoy someone else.” With that, Luke hurriedly dressed himself and rushed out of his room. What an annoying few days this was turning out to be. He hadn’t even been here a week yet and already he felt like he wanted to run one hundred thousand miles away from this place.

He found himself by the edge of the lake. No portrait could annoy him here, although probably not the safest of places under usual circumstances, he figured things around the castle these days were not exactly usual. He conjured up a rather large jar from and cast a spell to make blue flames appear in it, giving Luke some light. He listened to the sounds of the night, his eyes closed as he relaxed. The breeze ran softly through his hair and he heard the sound of the lake making soft noises against the shore, the sound of leaves rusting, not to mention the beautiful fragrance of the night air. Pure and undisturbed quiet.

Or… maybe not?

[Freya Hawkens]

Teachers seemed to come and go constantly at Hogwarts, and the only people that stayed constant were the students and apprentices. Freya had rather liked working with that Max fellow, and now that he had left for unexplained reasons, she was left to meet yet another new teacher. All Freya had heard was that he was another Hubbles. That didn’t exactly scream sanity—considering how the current Headmaster scared the bejeezus out of her. But, she shouldn’t really judge until she met the fellow. Come on, not all the Hubbles were the same, obviously. Maybe this guy would turn out to be alright. Freya certainly hoped so.

But, Freya wasn’t really worried about meeting the fellow now. Currently, she was trying to actually get some sleep in the wee hours of the night. Apparently that wasn’t going to happen because of a certain Snake girl who was pounding on her door. Freya hissed, pulling her pillow over her head and trying to block out the noise. Surely Jacque would have to give up and go back to sleep right? Wrong. The knocking continued, steadily growing louder as Freya didn’t respond. “ALRIGHT! I’m coming.”

She yanked open the door, obviously angry and looking rather like a bed head. The snake girl muttered something about ingredients for a potion and how Freya owed her for something or another. In other words: Freya better get dressed and out the door before Jacque feeds her some crazy potion to turn her feet blue. Grumbling, the girl threw on her bikini and tossed on some shorts. She slipped her feet into the flipflops near the door and headed out after Jacque. Stupid Snake girl holding favors against her. Damn it all.

The air was cool, but not so frigid that the girls would get hypothermia by jumping into the lake. Along the way, Freya and transfigured into her animagus form, finding it easier to use her “cat vision” in the dark rather than lighting her wand and pissing off portraits and she’d also have a reason why she wasn’t responding to Jacque’s rambling. Ingenious of course. She grumbled as they walked, complaining in her cat-like way and every so often glaring up at Jacque.

The lake was there goal, because apparently there was some plant growing there that only bloomed at night that Jacque needed now for some potion. Annoying, I know. And she needed to wake up Freya because this particular plant was in the lake and Jacque needed all of Freya’s magical creature expertise. As they neared though, Freya noticed that they weren’t alone. It was the smell that hit her first, and she narrowed her eyes before changing back into her normal form.

Freya had her wand tucked behind her ear, and now she held it in her hand as her and Jacque trudged forward. The light ahead illuminated the body, showing it was a man just standing near the lake. Blinking, Freya looked over to Jacque and raised an eyebrow with the ‘you know him?’ look. Obviously this man wasn’t a student, unless he was stupid enough to fail for several years. Hopefully not, Freya couldn’t stand people like that.

“I hope you’re not some kind of creeper coming to pray on young girls. Cause then I’d have to bust out my major arse-kicking skills.” She had finally caught up to where the man was standing, and as she turned to face him she let out a low whistle. “Hot damn, I take that back. You can kidnap me.”

[Jacque Brontë]

Alright, it seemed like she had been knocking for about ten minutes straight. She was going to give the girl one minute more before she busted down the door and dragged her out by her hair. "You sleep like you're dead!" Jacque shouted exasperatedly before deciding to knock louder by throwing herself at the door so it shuddered violently. Just one step closer for her pulling out her wand and melting the hinges... or since she was irritated now, splintering the wood into a million pieces.

Luckily, she seemed to get the message of her glare through the door and open it. Jacque was already dressed and had quite an impatient look on her face as obedient little Freya moped around her room, grabbing items. Her lantern was equipped with a waterproof candle and she, not being afraid of any stupid portraits, already had it lit. Who cared what time it was? They were hundreds of years old and lived in an ink world. Clearly, she was more important. But as soon as she left the dorm, the portraits started complaining up a storm and calling for prefects because a 'student was out of bed'. Jacque was apparently looking young today, and complied by turning off her lantern.

"I can't believe Vaid let the stock run low.. not even enough to make a simple potion!"

Of course, she could make him go harvest it himself. But then he would find out about her constantly making and trying potions in the middle of the night without his permission. That didn't sound like a very smart plan. So instead, she was having to go outside and jump into the freezing black lake with all sorts of nasty things in it. And on the way there she was talking to her guard cat. How, fantastic.

As soon as she was outside, Jacque rekindled the lantern. The only problem with such a source of light was that it illuminated the nearest ground well enough that you wouldn't trip and fall off a cliff -- but it made seeing far nearly impossible. So when Freya jumped up as a human and grabbed her wand, she instantly assumed the worst and grabbed her own wand. "What? What!?" She squeaked. The snake was easy to scare and didn't have a middle ground between fine and completely panicking.

Slowing her walk, she let Freya go ahead. If someone was going to be eaten or molested, it was going to be her. Dimming her lantern, she noticed the blue light by the lake, illuminating the shape of a man. "Oh Lord! Freya there's someone there!" Jacque said, pointing out the obvious and taking a few steps back while the other girl charged on. She let cat woman approach him and, naturally, threaten him, before she noticed that her comments seemed pleased. Maybe it wasn't a manifesto of the devil! Maybe it was just a really old looking student... or a professor for a class no one took that lived in the dungeons. Finding it relatively safe, Jacque approached and put the lantern in his face for a quick inspection.

"Who the hell're you?" She said, blunt as always.

[/blockquote]

[Professor Lucas Hubbles]

Luke had planned a nice peaceful night by the lake with hopefully, no interruptions. He listened to the sound of the night air. He remembered doing this as a student all those years ago, whenever he couldnt sleep he'd come down to the lake and just listen. You couldnt do this during the day, the sounds from the castle were too loud and besides, you didnt get the scent of the night air during the day. He found it strange how day smelt differently to night. Luke definatly liked the night better than he liked the day.

He wasnt aware of two people making their way towards the lake. He sat down and took off his boots, rolled up his pants and dipped his feet into the cold lake. It made him shiver for a moment and gave him goosebumps on his arms but after a moment he got used to the feel of the cold water. Placing his hands behind him he stared up at the cloudless sky, the stars as clear as anything tonight. This was a rare treat as most nights the night sky was so covered in clouds you couldnt see a thing, let alone the stars.

He turned his head when he heard a panicked voice cry 'what? what?' but he couldnt see anybody near him. The night seemed to carry sounds and for all he knew whoever had said that could have been up at the castle. He had no reason to think that they were near him. His peaceful night wasnt about to be ruined, at least he hoped it wouldnt be. Tomorrow, he had a lot to do sorting out his new lesson plan, but for tonight he didnt even want to think about it. Afterall, he was still unsure of what he was going to bring to his lesson. Maybe something small? Yet, nothing boring. He couldnt abide boring he pretty much hated it. What would be the point in teaching an interesting lesson if all you're going to bring is boring things like flobberworms? What did flobberworms do for anybody really apart from bore you.

Seeing as how he was locked in his own little world, Luke hadnt realised that anybody was stood around him until a female voice rang through his ears, pulling his feet out of the water, Luke stood up and turned around so quick he almost lost his balance. He looked at the two females with a questioning look on his face, not quite sure how to answer her question, or her threat of being beaten up. There was no doubt in his mind she could beat him up, afterall Luke never raised a hand, nor wand, to a girl.

"No, I'm not here to pray on young girls!" He answered quickly, wafting his hands infront of his face in a rather panick stricken way. The way she was looking at him suggested one wrong move and she'd have him for her breakfast. "Y-you... want me to kidnap you?" Now there was a line he had never heard before. Smiling, he put down his arms and raised an eyebrow, "If I did that, I dont think I'd get very far. Besides, I'd have an eyewitness and I couldnt allow that." Though he laughed in a way that suggested he meant no harm by it at all.

"Me?" Pointing to himself as he looked at the other girl, "Luke Hubbles... Care of the Magical Creatures Professor... and you two are?" Her bluntness had caught him a little by surprise, though again, like earlier that morning, the bluntness was refreshing to him. Instead of dancing around a subject, getting straight to the point. He liked it.

[Freya Hawkens]

Sometimes it was rather annoying when you had a friend who jumped at the slightest thing. As Jacque squeaked and whined, Freya looked back at her with a glare, hoping to silence her babbling. Great, now there went their cover! If it was someone dangerous, they’d probably be shot at now. Grimacing at the thought, she turned her full attention forward. Her eyes shifted to adjust to the dark as she allowed her wand light to snuff out. Now bearing feline eyes, it was easier to see the man.

He didn’t seem hostile; he actually seemed quite startled by their approach. She eased back to her normal vision, blinking to further adjust her eyes to the dark. Freya would’ve much preferred her enhanced vision, but the sight of cat eyes on a girl usually scared people. Jacque, once again, stated the obvious in a worried tone. Honestly, it was like the girl didn’t know how to protect herself. Lucky she had the crazy cat girl with then, right?

Freya’s gaze lingered on his face, her mouth curling into a small smirk as the man waved his hands in front of his face. Wasn’t it funny to find a grown man worried about her? Her smirk grew at the thought. Though she fought the urge to study him further—circling the man would probably freak him out—she did permit herself to lean closer, for mere curiosity of course. Freya chuckled at his confusion and tapped his cheek lightly with her hand. “Don’t sweat it sweet. You can take her too.” She winked as she spoke, keeping her eyes on his face to gauge his expression.

Ah finally, the snake girl had joined the party. Freya leaned on Jacque’s shoulder as she spouted out the question that had been troubling the two girls’ minds. His response had her perking up though. She shot Jacque a smirk. Care of Magical Creatures Professor eh? This year was going to be fun. “A Hubbles? That puts a damper on my plans.” She muttered with a pout. “I’ll have to make do I guess.”

Freya leaned forward and stuck out her hand. “Freya Hawkens, Care of Magical Creatures apprentice. Nice to meet cha, chief.”

(bleeehh at this post)

[Jacque Brontë]

So maybe Jacque was being just a little unreasonable and paranoid, but all for good reason. She heard stories of things that only loons would say, and people were actually walking around believing the stories like they weren't completely fabricated. Jacque was one of these students, and was paranoid that something would happen to her. Like her potion would get up and walk out of her cauldron and try to kill her! So when she was sneaking out to the lake in her swim suit, sue her for freaking out that someone was there almost like they were waiting and expecting her. Hiding behind Freya, she was bouncing from foot to foot with an expression that clearly said she wanted to run. But she was so stubbornly determined that the first place she would run to would be the lake itself. She only had so much time before she needed that moss, and she wasn't just going to forget the potion because there was some creeper by the lake! Well.. maybe.. she might.

Freya kept up a conversation with the guy like they were buddies and Jacque frowned and whispered, "Don't talk to it!" His introduction she instantly put away as false. Another Hubbles? She was sure that the castle was already filled to max capacity of them, unless they had the ability to reproduce like bunnies. Freya seemed to just accept it though, and that was why she was a crazy Gryffindor.

"Come on, you really think you would have such an awkward first meeting with the Care of Magical creatures professor?"

She scoffed suspiciously, holding the lamp higher so she was able to see better. Freya looked quite content with his identity, but she was probably so floored by his appearance that she would believe he was jesus if he told her that. No one was taking anyone anywhere, that was that. Making eye contact with the catwoman, she just rolled her eyes at her before sighing.

"Fine, I'm Jacquelyn Bronte. Potions apprentice, and a damn good one so watch out."

She only let her eyes drift from him to check the lake and then check her watch. They really needed to get a move on if they wanted to reach the center of the lake and back by dawn. Collecting the moss itself was going to be a challenge, because she read that it had a few surprises up it's non-existent sleeve.

[meh. just getting the plot moving xD]

[Professor Lucas Hubbles]

Finally, once Luke saw the slight look of amusement on one of the girls faces, the other one kept their distance, he let his hands drop. Honestly, he found situations like these a little awkward. If he was Dan he'd probably be taking full advantage of the situation, but he wasnt Dan. He was the complete opposite of his cousin, complete opposite of his brother Warren too but hey, what can you do? Maybe Luke was the runt of the Hubbles family. "I think she's a little young for me." Luke smiled, looking at the girl. He had no intention of taking either one of them but a bit of friendly banter never went amiss. Though, saying that, he had no idea how old either of them were, for all he knew they could be sixteen... and that would not be good.

"It?" Luke questioned looking at the other girl who finally spoke, just enough to insult him mind. "I'm not an it I'm a man, male whatever you want to call me." He had been called many things during his life but he could honestly say he had never been called an it before. His eyes kept flicking back and forth between the two of them as their banter kept hitting like a game of ping pong. After he had introduced himself, the other girl spoke, girl one and girl two but he kept forgetting which one was girl one and which one was girl two and by now, had managed to confuse himself. "Your plans?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in question, not sure he wanted the answer but was curious anyway, "What plans are these then?"

"You know, I have awkward first meetings with many people." He answered coyly, not sure he liked what she was implying, "Sorry, I left my ID in my office, how silly of me. I should have brought it out." Turning to look at the other girl who had her hand outstretched, he took it and gave it a small squeeze. "Nice to meet you too, Freya." Looks like the two of them would be working in close quarters. He had of course known he had an apprentice, but had of course, been told absolutely nothing about her, for all he knew it could have been a him. "Looks like we'll be working together, then."

The light from the lamp the girl was holding flooded over Luke's face, he turned to look at the other girl, who he could know see. "Nice to meet you too Jacquelyn." He answered, not keeping his gaze on the girl for too long, something about her made him slightly uncomfortable. He didnt know what she meant by telling him to watch out, but he didnt like it. "Remind me why I came here to teach kids instead of staying in Australia working with dragons? Which might I add, is probably a whole lot easier."

He turned his back on both of them and walked to the edge of the lake, wondering whether it was too late for him to go back to Aus. Though, after a couple of seconds, deciding he did not like his back turned to Jacque, he turned back around, his arms folded and a set determined expression on his face. "You two here for any particular reason?" He asked, his head cocked to the side, "I could leave you to get on with it if you prefer."