Forbidden Desires (Ominis x Sharp x MC)

Chapter 9 - A Sharp Conversation

TW - reference to murder, death and blood, also smoking.
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I arrived early to Potions class with Ominis and felt in a much lighter mood after off-loading to him about the first trial. Professor Sharp was in his usual spot at his desk, working on papers which had piled high above him. As I took my seat at the front of the class, away from Ominis, I realised Professor Sharp was glaring at me. He looked furious.

"I'm not late this time Professor!" I called out cheerfully, trying to lighten his mood.

"Hmm" he grumbled, shaking the anger from his eyes as the other students started piling into the classroom.

Throughout the entire class, Sharp circled me like I was his prey. His eyes were glued to me, watching over my every move; commenting on every little thing I did. I became more paranoid the longer I spent in his vicinity. Had I done something to offend him? Or was this just how he treated his students? Maybe it was payback for being late to his last lesson...

After a painful ten minutes of brewing under his watchful eye, he finally eased off me. He'd been towering over me all lesson, breathing down my neck, making sure every single thing I did was correct. I was exhausted.

As he made his way around the classroom, I watched him curiously. He was nowhere near as thorough with the other students as he was with me. Maybe it was a good thing that he was watching over me so closely?

Yeah right...

I was more than relieved when the bell rang, signalling the end of class. Professor Sharp dismissed us and I started packing away frantically. I wanted to run out of the classroom and never return, but as I flung my bag over my shoulder and started to walk out the room, I heard a clink from my bag and remembered I had extra assignments to hand in to him. I'd brewed the potions he asked for in my Room of Requirement, when avoiding Ominis and Sebastian after the party and knew I'd receive a lengthy detention if they weren't handed in today.

I let out a deep sigh, peeling my eyes from the floor to look over at Sharps desk. He was stood leaning against it, staring straight towards me. I walked over to him, removing the potions from my bag and placing them on the desk next to him. "Focus, Maxima and Edurus potions" I announced hesitantly, noticing how clammy my hands were becoming in his presence. "My... um, extra assignments" I continued, as he stared blankly at me.

"Hmm. Do you have anymore classes today Miss Price?" He asked softly.

"Not today Sir, no" I replied.

"Good. I'd like your help". Sharp leant off the desk and I followed him over to the sink in the corner of the room. There was a mountain of dirty cauldrons piled high next to it. "Magic doesn't clean them thoroughly enough and I simply just don't have the time" he continued.

"Oh... so you want me to clean them?" Sharp nodded and I paused for a moment staring at the cauldrons. "Am I being punished?" Sharp let out a faint chuckle before handing me an apron and moving back over to his desk, without answering my question.

An hour must have passed as I scrubbed cauldron after cauldron, ensuring every one of them was sparkling clean. It felt strangely therapeutic working on something so mundane and I admittedly got lost in it. Everything has been so chaotic recently, so it felt nice to just exist and do boring chores. Sharp was sat at his desk making the occasional grunt and chuckle as he made his way through the pile of essays in front of him. I'd occasionally look over at him to find him already staring back at me. I couldn't figure out why I was here or what I had done to result in this punishment, but I felt strangely comforted in his presence.