I Can See You
Samantha’s glossy black head slipped in and out of Odelia’s view as she shuffled on the bench, trying to keep the Ravenclaw in view across the dining hall. She had made Sebastian swap places with her and now he and Ominis sat opposite, perplexed at this sudden change in behaviour.
Sebastian waved his hand over the table. “Hello?”
“Hmm…” she replied, nodding absent-mindedly. Samantha had turned to whisper in the ear of the girl she was sat beside.
What is she saying? Is it about me?
“Hello, hellooo?”
What if she tells people what happened in Potions?
“Odelia.” Ominis’ voice was steady, calm. Odelia turned to face him.
“Yes?”
“Odelia, is anything the matter?”
“Nothing at all. Why would you ask?”
Though Ominis’ eyes were clouded as ever, Odelia felt that he was able to see her quite clearly. Yet he did not reply.
“Hello!”
“What, Sebastian!”
“Finally,” he grinned at her. “I had a question to ask, only you were too busy staring over Ominis’ left ear to notice!”
Ominis shifted in his seat. Odelia raised her chin - “Go on then, ask away.”
Leaning forward, he placed his forearms on the table. Just then, Samantha and her companion stood and left the hall arm-in-arm, heads bent together furtively.
She’s going to tell everyone. Word of this will get back to my family, I won’t see the Professor again.
“Come to Hogsmeade with me this weekend.”
Or perhaps not? Seeing as he was at my family home, my grandmother must hold him in high regard.
“Come on, it’ll be fun.”
If I can find out why he was there that night, I can get him to come back.
“Odelia!”
“Yes Sebastian!”
“Yes, you’ll go with me?”
Go where?
“Yes, of course.” Odelia looked up from her plate at the two boys. There were too many thoughts buzzing around her head. She stood in one swift movement, brushing down her skirt. “Excuse me, I’m going to bed.”
-----------------------
It was already light when Odelia woke the next morning. Strange, she thought, for it to be so light when we are getting closer to winter.
She headed to breakfast, and sat down at her usual seat on the Slytherin table. Sebastian was not there, but that had happened many times in the past. Ominis was not there either which was more strange. Oh well. Shrugging it off, she continued to pour sugar onto some crepes. Her favourite! They never served this at Hogwarts, so it was a treat indeed. One to be savoured.
The clock chimed nine times, Odelia stood up to go to her class. Potions! What a perfect way to start a day.
The rest of the class was lined up in the corridor outside, and when she approached they all filed in neatly. How nice of them to wait for me! Everyone was there: Imelda, and Sebastian, and Ominis - though his features were slightly blurred, to the point where Odelia could not quite meet his eyes. He probably just isn’t sleeping well at the moment.
She took her usual seat, purposefully turning away from the door at the back of the classroom, and sat with as much poise as she could muster. And now we wait.
By and by, the sound of steady footfalls echoed through the hallway. Odelia took a deep inhale - they seemed to fall in time with the beat of her heart. The general hubbub of the other students subsided as the door swung open, but she maintained her position facing forwards, shoulders back.
“Good morning, class.” His baritone voice resonated powerfully within the stone walls.
Odelia’s eyes fluttered closed. Everyone around her replied in unison - “Good morning Professor Sharp!” She sensed, rather than saw, him approach down the centre aisle, passing right behind her. The overwhelming urge to turn and jump in his way crashed down like a wave, muffling her hearing and shortening her breath.
Oh, if only he knew!
“Sir?”
The sound escaped her lips as little more than a sigh, yet the Professor paused as he passed the table, his eyes immediately locking onto hers.
Looking down, Odelia found that she had reached out and grasped the sleeve of his robes, and was now clutching it lightly. He, however, continued to watch her with a relentless gaze.
“Good morning, sir.”
Professor Sharp slowly moved away, in such a manner that her hand trailed down his arm. Just as it was about to fall, he caught it with his own and raised their now interlaced fingers in a courtly gesture.
“Good morning to you too, Miss Black.”
Then just as quickly as it had happened, he dropped their clasp and strode to the front of the room.
Oh, I think he does.
-----------------------
Odelia traced her quill in idle designs on a spare piece of parchment, the cauldron in front of her sitting unused. The chatter of those around her formed a vague buzz in her ears and a violet haze filled the classroom. Professor Sharp paced the area behind her, but she didn’t turn, not once.
An air of expectancy hung low, pressing down on her shoulders. Odelia felt that if she moved too suddenly it might shatter. For now she was content to just be patient.
Time passes slowly when each tick of the clock echoes in your ears.
But there was not much waiting to be done. A gruff “ahem” sounded from behind her. Odelia did not turn - she wasn’t entirely sure what might happen if she did.
Instead, the Professor stepped forward. Finally, she looked up at him. “Miss Black,” he said, his voice formal and restrained. “How are you getting on with your work?”
“Actually, Professor, I’m finding it rather difficult today.”
“How unlike you.”
“Indeed.” She paused. “I’m having a hard time concentrating.”
His face betrayed no sign of emotion.
Lowering her lashes, Odelia continued. “Perhaps this is something we can discuss in your office.”
He stepped back and inclined his head, gesturing towards the office door. It swung slowly open as if of its own accord. She slipped off the high stool and made her way through the chamber, carefully picking her way around various classmates. None of them looked up. The Professor followed close behind.
The office was as immaculate as the last time that Odelia had been in it. She made her way slowly over to the desk in the centre of the room, watching out of the corner of her eye as he carefully pushed the door shut.
There was a very suggestive pause - neither of them made a move.
Odelia cracked first. She took a step back and perched herself on the edge of the desk. All at once Professor Sharp strode forward, closing the distance between them. He placed his hand on the small of her back to keep her from falling as she tilted her head upwards. Then he leaned in on one side, his mouth almost touching her ear.
“Sir?” she whispered.
“Miss Black,” came the stern reply. “You ought to wake up now.”
-----------------------
She blinked, and sat up in bed, the sheets tangled around her. The window in the ceiling let in a faint glow, confirming her growing suspicion that it was early morning in the Slytherin girls dorm.
What. Was. That.