The Eyes of Graphorns (Professor Sharp x mc)

Dancing With Your Darkness

There were days when the pain was bearable. And there were the dark days. Those days when she didn't even know the date and didn't care. Those days when she didn't leave the bed and didn't know if it was the curse or resignation that held her there. Those days when she saw the shadows of those she had lost. On these days, Scarborough wasn't on a far-off coast but creeping into her room to fulfill every inch with its prophecy, seeping through the windows, walls, and doors to slowly drown her. Again and again, she encountered her father's face, which she should have forgotten but had now found its way back to her. And again and again, the flames embraced him after he turned to her one last time. He had smiled as if he knew that this would be the image of him that would remain with her.

Months had passed, and she knew she wasn't here to hope for a healing process but to learn to cope with the pain. She knew it would stay, and it was up to her to welcome it into her life. Or to give up.

-

The summer months were the only time when Aesop Sharp was more often seen outside the castle. The warmth relaxed the muscles in his leg, allowing him greater and longer mobility. He enjoyed wandering through the Hogwarts gardens, which Mirabel had designed so lovingly. However, he mainly came here when he needed time and peace to think. Sharp walked down to the castle's battlements in front of the Hufflepuff common room windows and leaned on them with his hands. He kept replaying the scenes from Scarborough in his mind. Who was the woman who looked so much like Elaine, and what did her words mean? Had Elaine really lived in Scarborough, or had she just been there by chance? Was she involved in the attack? And what about the kidnapping? No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find an answer to these questions that didn't lie in Scarborough, and he would be damned if he went back there. Of course, there was still the Ministry...

'Damn,' he shouted, louder than he intended.

'So, which student ruined your mood this time?'

Sharp looked sullenly to the side to find the source of the familiar voice.

'Dinah...'

Professor Hecat had approached unnoticed from behind and stood next to the Potions Master.

'I thought you might need some company. Ever since Professor Hopkins left us, we hardly see you anymore. We don't even know what exactly happened when you two were away.'

Sharp looked into the distance. In front of them, the afternoon sky reflected blue and peaceful in the Black Lake. For a moment, it was silent. Only the wind was heard, creating small waves over the water and doubts in Sharp's mind.

'What do you know about prophecies, Dinah?'

'You know I can't talk about that. Why don't you ask Mudiwa?'

That was the answer Sharp had hoped for. Of course, Hecat wouldn't break her confidentiality, but her answer was a hint that the Department of Mysteries was indeed connected to prophecies and it wasn't just rumours. Otherwise, she could have simply said she didn't know anything about it.

'Never mind, that's all.'

Dinah Hecat looked at him sceptically, and her expression darkened.

'Listen to me. Don't even think about it. That place is dangerous. You have no idea how dangerous, especially for the uninformed. I don't know what you two were up to the day Hopkins was injured, I only know that you were drenched in blood when you returned. In her blood. So if she really means something to you, I'd advise you to stay alive and ensure she does too.'

'Well, there's the problem, isn't it? No one can tell me what I can do to keep her alive. I've already lost Helen. I can't just sit by and watch as I lose another woman I...'