The Eyes of Graphorns (Professor Sharp x mc)

Night Thoughts

Elaine lay awake for a long time that night. She and Sharp had checked into a small guesthouse on the edge of town. It was nothing special. The blanket was scratchy, and the pillow pressed uncomfortably against her neck, no matter which position she took, but it would suffice until the 1st of September. Elaine couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. About the attack and how her past had overwhelmed her today, how she had lost her temper with the orphanage management, the state of the children and what would become of them and... the kiss.

Without thinking about what she was doing, she got up, slipped back into her clothes, and left the room. Quietly, she stole away through the main entrance of the guesthouse. As she closed the door behind her, she breathed in the fresh air. The darkness had driven away the heat of the day and now filled her with the clarity of the night.

She wandered aimlessly and restlessly for a while until she realised that something had driven her back to the orphanage. She was a little confused when she suddenly felt as if she was being watched. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a fleeting movement. Elaine drew her wand and followed the noise of rattling breath.

Where the fight had taken place in the morning, she finally found a person curled up on the ground, half hidden by the undergrowth at the side of the road, whimpering. Elaine silently lit her wand. When she saw the man's face, a hard knot formed in her stomach.

"You...," she began sharply, "You are the one who attacked Aesop Sharp."

Her voice had taken on a firm tone. A familiar tension ran through her body, but her breathing remained calm and steady. She was sure she had disarmed him earlier and sent a Summoning Charm towards the spot where the fight had taken place. Indeed, within seconds, a wand came flying towards her. The stranger was therefore unarmed. Elaine turned to him.

"Please, help me," he croaked at her feet.

She looked at him. He was injured and had his arms wrapped around his torso. He must have been lying there for hours. Her fingers tightened around her wand, and she felt a threatening power rise within her. Surely the stranger would have had no problem attacking her or Aesop if their roles had been reversed.

You know the curse, she suddenly heard a whisper that seemed to come from deep within her. You have endured it yourself many times; it is time to use its power yourself.

A strange heat rose within her, flooding her and wrapping around her chest, leaving an excited burning sensation. No one would know if she took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself so readily.

"Please, I'm in a lot of pain." His voice trembled.

When he mentioned the word "pain," a new, tempting realisation swept through Elaine. There was another way. One that was more subtle than the Cruciatus Curse but also... more lasting. She had never learned how to cast the spell, but deep inside she had long felt she could. She just knew it would work. It was like an instinct that had long slumbered within her and was now ready to awaken. She could take away his pain... Elaine pointed her wand at the stranger's chest.

"W-what are you doing?" he asked, now noticeably more agitated than before when he saw the almost manic expression on Elaine's face. He couldn't see what Elaine saw, didn't perceive the pain that was being drawn from him. Elaine felt magic flooding her body, filled with the power and control she now had over one of those who had taken everything from her. She thought about what she could do with him when he lay at her feet in a few seconds, full of gratitude, before finally turning into a soulless shell...

Suddenly she stopped.

"No... I can't..."

She stared at the stranger and shook her head uncertainly. Elaine was shocked by her own cold-bloodedness and finally lowered her wand. She let go of the magic and watched as the pain returned to the man's chest. He groaned. Elaine's wand trembled, and she took a step back as if she wanted to run away from herself. She reached into her coat, pulled out two Wiggenweld Potions, placed them on the ground next to the stranger, turned, and ran into the night.