The Eyes of Graphorns (Professor Sharp x mc)

Haegel's Ham I

"We have heard that the Auror is soon departing for Haegel's Ham."

A threatening silence fell upon the room, heavy like a sudden realization that shakes the present.

"First Scarborough, and now Haegel's Ham?"

"Y-yes, ma'am..."

The rustling of parchment, frantic searching. Silence again. Then a sharp intake of breath.

"Show me a picture of her."

Hurried steps on wooden floors. Sudden bustle to delay the inevitable. A leather folder was untied. A picture of Elaine Hopkins slid onto a smoothly polished wooden table.

"You want to tell me that you have been tracking this Auror for years, and no one, absolutely no one thought it necessary to tell me that she looks exactly like our little Obscurial?"

The voice froze the air in the room.

"So the child is coming home, is she? Interesting."

A chair creaked, then slow but determined steps.

"You will leave for Haegel's Ham immediately. If Sharp is with her, aim for his left leg first. We must exploit the weakness we inflicted on him. Then capture her and eliminate him. She has been injured twice already because she wanted to protect her ridiculous partners. Do it quickly, or soon there will be nothing left of her Ancient Magic."

"But, do you really want to... she is your..."

"I know who she is! And it won't change my plans. We need new artefacts. Or do you want to trade with shrunken heads again?"

"Of course not."

"Then you better not fail."

-

Elaine could not forgive herself. She kept telling herself that it had been necessary, that there was no other way, that she couldn't allow anyone else near her to get hurt. But deep down, she knew that she had deprived herself of her only confidant, and it hurt. It tormented her more than the curse, knowing that she would never again feel Aesop Sharp's presence, never again experience his touch, never again hear the gentle sound of his voice when they were alone together.

The scene kept replaying in her head. How she had pushed Sharp away, how she had deliberately exploited his greatest weakness to cause him pain. The horror in Sharp's eyes and his pain-filled scream haunted her sleep. She knew he did not deserve to be treated this way and that she had forever damaged his trust in her.

Elaine spent a lot of time tending to her plants and creatures. She tried to distract herself by observing the behaviours of the creatures and found a bit of solace in the presence of the Graphorns. The Lord of the Shore particularly seemed to seek her presence during this time.

"Do you remember Professor Sharp?" Elaine whispered as she sat with her back leaned against his trunk on the sun-warmed meadow in the Room of Requirement. A Niffler had curled up in her lap and was sleeping peacefully. The Lord of the Shore rumbled as if in response and inclined his head towards Elaine. He looked at her with attentive eyes.

"Of course," Elaine said with a tired smile. The Lord of the Shore inclined his head and began to carefully touch Elaine's face and chest with his tentacles. He nudged her as if encouraging her to do something. Then he gave a deep, almost sad grumble. Elaine felt her face heat up. She swallowed.

"I made a terrible mistake."

Elaine leaned back and let her head sink onto the Graphorn so that she could look at the sky filled with white clouds. She sighed and silently watched the Phoenix, which seemed to split the sky with its reddish shimmer. Its cry filled the room and seemed to pierce directly through Elaine's body.