A Sharp Sensation

8

A numbness overtook you. It hadn't occurred to you just how much your new coworkers valued you until they were all fussing over your heroics. Matilda cried, Howin lectured you and even Onai seemed terrified at the thought of you getting hurt. You felt guilty; sure, it was a split second decision and you would do it again to save that girl, but you felt awful for digging into healing wounds.

What hurt the most was Aesop, he was a mess. Insisting on taking you to the hospital wing for a through inspection, demanding Professor Black give you a small leave of absence and overall stressing over the fact that you made a dangerous decision.

"What about smoke inhalation, are her lungs okay?" He asked, biting at this nails nervously.

"Mister Sharp," The nurse, Noreen Blainey, had said, "I can assure you she's in good hands."

Here he was fussing over you but you feared once you were right again he'd only flee once more. It also bugged you about what he had said; you couldn't understand why he wanted to protect you from himself. After precautionary observation, Noreen let you go later that night on strict orders you'd head straight to bed but you had other plans. The Potions classroom was empty, a brewing station still dirty with the remnants of a foul smelling potion. Checking his adjacent office only yielded the same results. You knew it wasn't unreasonable for someone to be in bed at this hour but you really wanted to talk, to apologize...

"(Y/N) (L/N)!" Matilda shouts, causing you to flinch. "What in heavens name are you doing out at this hour!?"

You cock your head curiously. "I'm sorry? It's only eight in the evening."

Matilda only rushes to the window, peering up at the rising moon. "You shouldn't be out here! Please go to your rooms, you'll be safe there!"

"Matilda," you start. "If this is because what I've done earlier in Hogsmeade, I'm truly sorry!"

Matilda only shook her head, growing more pale. "No, no. That is not the problem right now. You're in no state to- you can't defend yourself now!"

"From what?" You ask naively.

An ear piercing howl rang through the halls, it sounded like pure fear and pain.

"Quickly!" Matilda shouts, grabbing your wrist and dragging you along a passage.

The Deputy Headmistress drags you through the corridor up and up the stairs into central hall. Only while you ran past the fountain did you realize how deserted the halls were. No loitering teachers, not even a single busy elf.

"I had the teachers stationed in the Common rooms, I was doing last checks- oh Merlin what if I hadn't found you?" Matilda cries as she drags you through the library. "What was Noreen thinking?"

Matilda hurriedly unlocks the gate to the restricted section and hastily shoves you inside.

"Matilda-" you interject. "What's happening!?"

"No time to explain," she barks. "Go down the stairs and keep going past the gates and you'll reach a door to a storage room, stay in there and have your wand ready just in case!"

Matilda took off towards the library exit without any more explanation, leaving you no time to question her.

"What in Merlins name. Is happening?" You ask the silence around you.

Another howl, you couldn't believe you could hear the wolves of the forbidden forest all the way in here. You began to descend the stairs as instructed only to stop when you hear a crash in what sounded like the central hall. You timidly approach the other end of the gated section, staring at the library entrance.

More crashes and another howl, this one much louder than before. You press your face to the bars, trying to hear more of what was going on outside only to scream in terror when the door bursts open. A menacing shadow raced between the shelves, knocking books about as it went. You back away towards the stairs slowly, but not without craning your neck to get a better look.

What appeared to be a humanoid stood unsteady on two legs, it's leathery skin with rough patches of scraggly fur stretched over its muscles. The beast lifted it's snout to the air, sniffing. Suddenly it turns towards you, growling. It ran at the gated wall, gnashing teeth and trying desperately to scratch at you.

You paused a moment, stuck to the spot in true terror but another howl from the beast stirred you into action, making you run down the stairs as Matilda instructed. You gripped your wand is if it were a lifeline. What was that thing? What was going on? What was The Deputy Headmistress hiding?

The library sounded as if it were being torn apart as you rush through the maze of shelves in the restricted section. Once you find the storage room, you slam the door behind you, baring it with and iron helmet stand. As you raced through the cluttered room, you came across another door only to find it was locked.

"C'mon!" You begged, wrenching at the door when alohamora didn't work. "Please!"

More crashes, more carnage of books and artifacts, and then the sickening sound of splitting wood. You press yourself against the locked door in terror as you heard the beast ragged breaths. Clasping a hand over your mouth to quiet your sobs, you ready your wand and prayed to the Maker that you had the strength.

The beast limped into the octagonal room with the locked door and pinned you against the ground, it's foul breath coming in hot waves on your face. You could feel tears falling as you cried out in terror, the beast sniffing at your clothes. You peer up to face your end, only to startle when you see something familiar.

The beasts eyes. You knew those eyes. You had unknowingly studied those eyes each breakfast for the past month. You dreamt of those eyes, you longed for those eyes to look at you. You knew those eyes.

Aesop's eyes.