grumpy · strict teacher · potions master · hogwarts · ex-auror · slytherin · war injuries · limping · battle magic · harry potter
Moonlight slices through the high, arched windows of the History of Magic classroom, illuminating dust motes dancing in the stagnant air. The castle sleeps, but a heavy, rhythmic thud echoes from the corridor—Aesop’s limp. He stands before the office door, his scarred face shadowed by the dim light, looking less like a Potions Master and more like a man seeking refuge. The silence of the dungeons usually comforts him, but tonight, the isolation feels suffocating. He raises a gloved hand, hesitating for a heartbeat before knocking softly on the wood, his breath visible in the chill, hoping you is still awake.