XXXXXLucas let out a groan as he slowly pushed himself up and out of the chair he’d been using as a bed for the past several months. A never ending workload and a fondness for booze are two of the main reasons why he rarely made it to his own bed nowadays. As uncomfortable as it usually proved to be the following morning it was rather convenient for any students that needed him. Though on this particular morning it wasn’t a student waking him up, it was Dumbledore. The knock at the door that initially woke him up was met with groans and grumbles. Which is not what his visitor wanted to hear based on the second series of knocks which were much more forceful. “Fiiiiiiine, just give me a minute!” Lucas growled, “No one lets a man sleep in peace around here.” A few grunts later Lucas’ very wobbly bowlegs were trying their damnedest to carry him towards the cabinet to the left of his desk where all his extra clothes were stored. “Lucas if you would pleas-“ was all the headmaster could get out before he was cut off, “Headmaster....not to be rude but unless you want to see me in my pjs could you please wait!” Safe to say this was not a conversation he ever thought he’d be having with Dumbledore. But it was either that or they’d be chatting while Lucas was in a pair of ragged sweat pants, slippers, and a robe. Not very dashing or appropriate for this sort of meeting, thankfully he managed to get changed without busting his face on the stone floor.
XXXXXWith a huff Lucas scurried back over to his desk to straighten it up a bit. “Come in” he blurted out while flicking his wrist towards the door to undo the locks. Another flick and the door opened slowly. “I know you don’t want what I’m drinking so how about some tea?” Dumbledore merely shook his head ‘no’ while strolling in. “Very well. So to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you this morning instead of getting to admire the insides of my eyelids for another hour or so?” The headmaster wasn’t amused, figures. “I told you the other day to stop by my office and you have yet to do so, so I decided to come to you instead. You have been spending a great deal of time in here after all so I knew where you’d be.” Lucas frowned, Minerva had no doubt ratted him out again, honestly, she was like a nosy big sister sometimes. “I must have forgotten, sorry. Won’t happen again.” Dumbledore chuckled, “That’s what you said last time. No matter, I’m sure you are aware this isn’t a social visit. Have you thought any more about what we discussed last time?”
The much younger professor snorted, “Is that not apparent by the empty bottles in the corner and the resignation letter you’ve no doubt spotted on my desk?” His tone practically dripped with sarcasm, “Of course I have, it’s all I can think about. I say no and all previous sacrifices were for nothing. Every death up to this point was for nothing. On the other hand, if I agree I’m sending them out once again like lambs to the slaughter. And before you list off all your damned points again I know them all by heart so don’t waste the energy. I should have never agreed to this s**t in the first place, not that you gave me much of a choice then either. But if I resign then I can be out there doing the missions you would have given them. They can be here learning.... safe, if only for a little while longer.” The headmaster shook his head saying nothing for the moment as he strolled over to the window, but he wasn’t looking outside. He was in fact looking at the picture of Lucas’ father and brother that was hanging beside the window.
XXXXXHe pointed to the pair while turning his head to look back over at Lucas, “What do you think they would do in your position? Do you think they would let innocent people die when allowing these students to help might mean saving them? Your father didn’t hide you and your brother from the world no matter the dangers...” The last of the Broussard line scowled while knocking back the rest of his drink from the night before. “Yes and look where that got them.” He slammed down the glass, forcing himself to let go of it before it could break in his hand from the death grip he’d had on it, “If they were alive we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I’d be out there fighting which is where I should be now instead of here with you debating over the lives of children!” Dumbledore let out a sigh, “You know very well they’re safer with you here, I picked you for this for a reason Lucas. No one would protect them and care as much as you have. Admittedly I never expected the guilt to eat at you quiet this much but emotionally you did take after your mother more than your father. But that’s neither here nor there. Lucas, we have not sent them out there blindly. You have trained them well and they made the decision to join knowing the risks. Just like you and your brother did. So how is it fair for you to take that decision away from them now? I wish we didn’t need them but we do and that is something you cannot deny. You....WE can’t do this alone, not anymore. Not again. If we ever want this war to end we need help, we need people willing to fight along side us and who better than people we teach and trust.” Lucas knew Dumbledore was right which only made the bitter taste in his mouth much worse. The DADA professor said nothing for several minutes instead he just stared down at his desk in silence. Every option was s**t at this point, which was not likely to change no matter how much longer he put it off but that didn’t mean he was willing to give in just yet. For a moment he thought if he just stayed silent Dumbledore would leave but after ten minutes the man hadn’t even flinched so clearly that wasn’t going to work so finally he broke the silence. “I will give you a decision by Monday, deal? If I don’t then you can over rule me and send them out there yourself. But I will say this, there will be absolutely no more solo missions should I agree. Not after what happened with Miles and then the kidnappings. If a mission seems too dangerous I get to go with them personally not just some aurora we send that doesn’t know them. I will have other requirements but those are the two main things for now. Deal?” The headmaster shook his head, slightly amused with how much Lucas suddenly reminded him of his father. “Very well, till Monday. Good day Lucas....” Without another word the headmaster departed and Lucas collapsed into his chair with a sigh of relief that he had a few more days to decide...
....several hours of grading his students’ latest essays later.....
XXXXXLucas dropped his pen onto his desk and let out a wail like an injured animal. Too many essays, there’s just so much a man can take! Grading work, especially essays, is one of the thousand reasons he hadn’t become a teacher in the first place. Defeated by the never-ending pile of parchment Lucas rested his head on his desk, “How the hell does Minerva do this all the time? She really is nuts...I suppose this is one of those moments where I should say I admire her but no way in hell will I ever risk her hearing me say that aloud.” The pair really were friends but terrorizing her was much more fun that praising and stroking that ego of hers. Besides at this point if he started praising her for something she’d think he was up to something. He turned his head to the other side, the parchment tickling his nose. “Nope....this angle doesn’t make that pile look any less daunting. I think I’ll go to lunch. Food will give me energy!” Complete lie, he’d pork out and then want to take a nap which wouldn’t happen because he had a class that afternoon. But hell even a ten-minute nap sounded better than more paper grading. So another groan Lucas straightened up in his seat, taking a moment to pop his back before standing up. “S’pose I should make sure I’m presentable...”, another sigh as he shuffled over to the mirror to make sure he hadn’t forgotten to put on something. Pants? Check. Undershirt and sweater? Check check! Hair? Well....it’s not horrible? A few minutes of debating led to the decision to run a brush through it, “Suppose I’ll have to get it cut at some point, the students are going to think I’m turning into some wild hairy lunatic at this rate. Too bad it wasn’t this long at Halloween..” Lucas chuckled as he slipped into his shoes while grabbing his messenger bag and wand. Once again semi appropriate to be among the public Lucas abandoned his office headed for the Great Hall. ( IF YOU NOTICE THAT LINK.....yes, he currently has Ichabod Crane hair lol )
XXXXXThe walk to lunch was fairly uneventful minus a few of the younger students ogling his hair. Sadly the same can’t be said for once he finally got there. He’d just started to settle into his seat and decide what to eat when Bones appeared. You’ve got to be kidding me!!! He’d just started to pull an apple to his lips but stopped, his gaze going back and forth between the fruit and his distraught student. A few choice words came to mind but Lucas held his tongue as he reluctantly got up to quickly stroll over to the young Hufflepuff. “Bones...what is a Mr. Ducky? Where are your clothes?” The young boy jumped up and down speechless for a moment before grabbing Lucas wrist to start pulling him along. “NO TIME PROFESSOR! HASTE!!! WE MUST MOVE QUICKLY!!!” The DADA professor looked back at the other professors pleadingly but no one moved to help me. Traitors...
“Alright well if we’re running you have to remember I’m old. And you need to explain what exactly happened Bones so I’m not blindly rescuing ducks?” Bones nodded to show he understood and for the next five minutes recalled his latest adventure. Lucas had to repeatedly fight back a chuckle. The kid was hilarious but he was clearly upset so laughing would be far from appropriate and he didn’t want to upset the boy anymore. He liked Bones really; he was just not expecting to have to get wet this early in the morning for the sake of an inflatable duck.
XXXXXOnce they reached the edge of the lake it took a minute or two to figure out where Bones came out of the water. “Right...okay, so I’m going to go investigate. You need to stay right here Bones, okay? If I don’t come up in the next ten minutes or you see red sparks above the water I want you to run as fast as you can back to the castle to get Minerva alright? Do not come in after me and for that matter don’t let anyone else go in, other than a professor. Promise me?” Bones saluted the professor, “Ay captain!” Lucas chuckled, “Good. Now watch this stuff for me while you’re at it. And put this on so you don’t get sick.” Lucas removed his sweater and handed it to Bones who quickly put it on, it was too big for him but it would have to do. Lucas put his undershirt in bag and slipped off his shoes. Obviously the pants had to stay on but at least his shirt would be dry. Bones gave the older male a puzzled look, “Captain did something bite you?” Lucas gave him a confused look before realizing what the boy was talking about. He had a series of claw mark like scars on his ribs and left hip; there was also a set on his right leg but they were hidden. As well as a set of deep huge bite mark scars on his right shoulder and collarbone area. “Oh, uh....that’s a story for another day. But yes, I once had a tussle with a young dragon that thought I looked tasty. Now, back to the matter at hand. Don’t forget what I told you to do. I’ll be back soon.” Without another word Lucas slowly walked into the water, once he was at about chest deep he cast a bubble-head charm so he could breathe. He gave Bones a thumbs up before sinking down into the deep dark freakin cold water. Now if I were a duck where would I be hiding....
Boy oh boy today sure as hell wasn’t turning out how he expected...here’s hoping nothing tries to eat him while he’s down there.
Location: the lake | With: Bones, fish, a monster, and the leftovers of mr. ducky
( ooc: right well I'mma have to edit that monstrosity after work, cause I have to be up in four hours x__X )
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