Apart from lessons, Lochlan had been absent from the majority of goings on at the school since October. He had been eating meals in his office, and had been passing off his detentions to a prefect or another teacher. As that evening was the Yule Ball, he decided to finally show himself, and made a fair effort for the occasion.

There was something paler about his complexion. His eyes seemed older, and a little sunken. He had been spending most of his nights locked inside of his office, looking over a clipping of the mysterious forest vine that had affected the students on Halloween. Usually he would have made some kind of breakthrough at this point, but it was proving difficult. He hadn't seen anything like this specimen before, and was determined to uncover its truths.

He skirted around the entrance hall, idly watching the students and their partners enter. His arms were crossed, and he looked rather surly: nothing like his usual spark.

Reuben had volunteered to provide treats for the refreshment stand, so he had been making sure that it was working as it should; he had baked enough cookies and other snacks to feed all of Hogsmeade five times. As there were a few things being prepared last minute, he was going to head down to the kitchens to check their progress.

He was shocked seeing how much one of his superiors had aged. "Lochlan, are ya okay?" Reuben asked. "Need me to fetch a pepper-up potion?"

@Lochlan Riddle

Lochlan had briefly separated himself from the present moment. He thought, if he wasn't a teacher, perhaps he would have made more progress. Then, he thought, he was steering away from his objectives as a whole. What he wanted to accomplish here was influencing young minds, to encourage their potential: not to spend hours a day locked inside of his office studying a plant.

A voice entered his mind and he blinked, as though waking up.

"No... yes. I'm fine," He said vaguely.

@Reuben McDonald

"Are ya sure 'bout that? You ain't lookin' like yourself."

Reuben was concerned for Lochlan. "Nobody's seen you 'round."

@Lochlan Riddle