The Eyes of Graphorns (Professor Sharp x mc)

Firewhisky and Despair

The school routine had Elaine in its grip completely. Dinah Hecat was always there with advice, yet she spent almost every free minute occupied with preparing lessons, checking homework, correcting written works, and helping her students prepare for their OWLs or their NEWTs. Soon enough, October had passed. For several days, it had been raining incessantly. Elaine had just finished her last class for the day and was on her way to her accommodation in the teachers' tower. She stopped outside the door. She still hadn't gotten used to living in Fig's old quarters, and every time, she hesitated before entering the room. Most of the time, she pondered if she had forgotten something to have an excuse to go back. She turned around, leaned against the wall, and let out a sigh as she sank to the floor.

Elaine glanced at the stairs in the corridor and reached into the pocket of her coat. She pulled out a small vial containing a potion. She turned it in her hands, held it up to the light, and examined the label. Maybe today she would gather enough courage. Maybe today was a good day to...

Suddenly, she heard voices from above. She couldn't understand what was being said, but her senses told her something was wrong. Without further thought, she ascended the stairs - swiftly - but not too hastily, so as not to attract attention in case she was mistaken. Outside Professor Sharp's quarters, Elaine encountered Professor Garlick, nervously knocking on his door. Next to her were Weasley and Ronen.

"Could you please open the door? I have the ingredients you asked for," Garlick said.

No response. This time, Professor Weasley tried her luck.

"Aesop, please, let us in."

"I'm busy!" echoed from behind the closed door.

Elaine remained in the corridor behind her colleagues.

"Is... everything alright?" Elaine asked cautiously. All turned simultaneously. Just as Elaine caught their concerned looks, she heard a sound from Sharp's room that made her shudder. In her years as an Auror, she had heard many things, from the breaking of bones to the rattling breath of Dementors, but none had ever startled her like this. It was a mixture of a cry and a groan.

Garlick shook her head, "We had an appointment, but he won't open the door. He's locked himself in." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Her gaze darted indecisively between Ronen and Weasley, as if hoping one of them had a solution.

"Perhaps we should leave," Professor Weasley began, "in this state, he's... unpredictable." In her gaze, Elaine sensed a mixture of concern and tension. Again, a cry of pain could be heard from the room. Elaine still held the vial tightly clenched and now let it slip into her jacket's pocket. She looked determinedly at the other professors.

"What's this?" Elaine asked, gesturing to the ingredients Garlick held in her hands.

"Oh, this? Just a few Abyssinian shrivelfigs and some watercress," Garlick replied. As she spoke about the plants, Garlick immediately seemed calmer.

"May I?" Elaine began and approached the door cautiously but purposefully. Garlick stepped aside. Elaine knocked.

"I said I'm busy!" echoed from the room. Sharp's voice sounded different than usual, angry, disturbed, and irritated, and Elaine suspected it wasn't just because of the pain.

"It's me, Professor Hopkins," Elaine spoke calmly, "May I come in?"

For a moment, silence filled the room. The other professors had also noticed it and held their breaths eagerly until suddenly the click of an opening padlock was heard. Garlick, Weasley, and Ronen looked at each other in surprise until Elaine said to Garlick, "Quickly, give me the ingredients."