Chapter Text
Aesop watched Phineas walk hurriedly back down the path towards the castle grounds. Hm. Well, that was odd. He has never taken an interest in my teaching before. I do not believe he has ever observed one of my classes in all the years I have been here.
He was interrupted by a loud, “OUCH!”
He rolled his eyes and schooled his expression into one of calm annoyance, “Weasley, am I correct in assuming you need the antidote?”
Sharp turned back and saw Weasley flushing, “Um. Yes, Professor Sharp.”
He wordlessly reached into his jacket and pulled out a vial filled with a deep pink liquid and walked over to the embarrassed student, “Here. Drink this. All of it.”
Garreth opened the vial and hurriedly knocked it back, retching as he did so. He grimaced, “What is IN that?!”
Sharp smiled, “You do not want to know. Now, maybe you will be more careful collecting dangerous ingredients? Points from Gryffindor.”
The rest of the Gryffindors in the class whined and groaned, “Nice going, Garreth!”
Garreth turned back to his housemates, “At least I didn’t blow anything up this time!”
Aesop clapped his hands, “Alright, class. Finishing gathering your ingredients and hand them in. For next class, one foot of parchment on the properties of Winterthorn and which potions it is most effective in.”
The class packed up their belongings and Sharp led them back to the castle, his thoughts turning to Phineas once again, I wonder what he was doing all the way out here. He usually just keeps to himself. I would not mind him visiting my class more often, especially if he is as conciliatory as he was just now.
Aesop shook his head and looked back to make sure the class was following him, He looks…handsome when he is not scowling. Aesop scoffed to himself—it had been years since he had allowed himself to entertain even slightly romantic thoughts about someone, and, of course, the first person he thinks of would be their grumpy headmaster.
Not that I am a bouquet of roses to be around myself, but I swear that man is more miserable than I am. I have heard talk that his wife is downright horrible, but surely there must be another reason why he looks so miserable all the time.
Aesop opened the doors to the castle, ushering the students inside, “Remember! One roll of parchment due next class! I will not accept any excuses for late work!”
He then unconjured his cane and unbuttoned his coat, slowly making his way to the dungeons to prepare for his next class. As he was preparing his demonstration of Wiggenweld potion for a class of first years, gathering Horklump and Dittany Leaves from his office, he once again thought about Phineas’ odd behavior, And just why was he being so kind to me, anyways? He normally looks at me as if I am a mere fleck of dust on the tip of his boot. I do not understand why he deigned to have a civil conversation with me this morning.
He set the ingredients next to the cauldrons the students would be using to brew their potions, If only he was that nice more often. Then maybe I would consider…no. Stop it. I cannot even think such a thing. I cannot get my heart broken again. And by a married man no less! I highly doubt he is interested in men, let alone someone like me: a crippled, gruff ex-Auror with chronic pain, not to mention the nightmares and flashbacks and need to always be in control.
Aesop shook his head and looked up as the first years came in and sat down at their tables, “Alright class. Today we will be learning how to brew the Wiggenweld potion. Now, can anyone tell me what this potion is for?”
A few students raised their hands, which he was impressed by, “Yes, Ms. Arken?”
“The Wiggenweld potion is used to heal injuries.”
Aesop nodded, “Very good. Points to Ravenclaw. Now, it can heal minor injuries, but not serious ones. Keep this in mind for the future. Now, I have provided you each with the needed ingredients for this essential potion. Watch closely as I prepare them.”
The class went quite smoothly, as the group was Ravenclaw-Slytherin and they were quite attentive, no doubt having heard stories of his exacting nature from the older students. As the students finish brewing and hand in their potions for grading, Aesop’s mind wanders to the Headmaster once again, I wonder if he was being serious when he said I could have some of his food tonight. He always takes more than he can finish. I wonder how he would react if I just took some from his plate without asking.
Aesop blushed slightly and hid it with a cough as the last student handed in their potion, “Are you alright, Professor Sharp?”
Sharp waved his hand in dismissal, “Hm. Yes. Must just be from the cold air down here.”
The student nodded and left, leaving Sharp alone with his thoughts once again, I need to stop thinking about the man. It is not as if I even find him attractive in any way! He is incredibly pompous, frustrating, stubborn, and has no regard for anybody but himself. But today…today he was so different. What happened to him to make him so self-absorbed? Maybe it is his looks? There is no denying he is an attractive man, with those clear blue eyes, high cheekbones, and perfect hair I want just to press my face into—like a damn painting.
Sharp sighed and put his face in his hands, Admit it. Despite his obnoxious persona he has most of the time, you are attracted to him.
He stood up from his desk, making his way to his office to try to get some grading done, It will be alright. Even if I outright flirted with him, I doubt he would even realize what I was doing—he is straight as an arrow, I am certain. Not only is he married, he has multiple children! There is no way he is interested in men.
He turned to the stack of parchment on his desk—essays from his other group of fifth years on the Erdurus potion. He began reading and marking, but not even the essays could keep his attention for long, So, if he is not interested in men, there is no risk in me flirting with him tonight at dinner. Since he will not know that is what I am doing, it is safe to do so.
Another voice inside his head whispered back to him, But you will know that you are flirting. Do not allow yourself to get attached to romantic thoughts of this man. Nothing good will come from it.
The other voice, the voice that was winning, responded, Perhaps it will get Black to loosen up and be more like how he was while visiting your class. That is the man you are attracted to and want to get to know. Flirting, in a subtle way of course, might help draw that man out.
Sharp rubbed his chin, the facial hair scraping against his hand, and went back to grading. Before he knew it, the feeble light that had been trickling through his office windows had grown darker. His stomach grumbled, as he had, once again, forgotten to stop for lunch.
He stood up and stretched, his left leg stiff from sitting for so long. He stretched his a few times, slowly getting up from his desk and walking out of his office. After making sure to lock it, he made his way upstairs and to the Great Hall. Students had already started to file in, and many of the faculty were already at the end table, including Phineas.
Sharp’s heart beat a little faster as he saw Phineas pull out a chair and sit at the table; there was an open seat next to him and Sharp limped over.
Once at the table, Sharp quirked an eyebrow at Phineas, “Is this seat taken?”
Phineas shook his head, “Take a seat, Sharp.”
Aesop leaned closer and spoke lowly, “What did I say about calling me Aesop?”
Sharp finished getting into the chair as Phineas nodded, “Right. Aesop. How was the rest of your day?”
Aesop poured himself a goblet of ice-cold water and had to bite his tongue, as all he could think of saying was, Thinking of you. Instead, he took a gulp of water, “It was largely uneventful. Weasley did need an antidote, however,”
Phineas could not help but smirk as the tables began to be filled with plates and bowls of steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, winter squash, roast pork, stewed cabbage, and freshly baked rolls of bread.
Sharp filled his plate with steak, potatoes, cabbage, green beans, and two rolls with butter, ravenous after his class outside and failing to eat lunch. Phineas got his food, opting for pork, potatoes, and green beans.
Sharp took a couple of bites and had to hold back a moan at how good everything tasted, “Well, he, as per usual, failed to listen to my instructions and pricked himself with one of the Winterthorn’s poisonous prickers. I had to hold in my laughter as he drank the antidote—it tastes vile.”
Phineas laughed and took a drink of pumpkin juice, “What is in it?”
Aesop dug into his food once more, swallowing before continuing, “You do not want to know, especially at the dinner table.”
Phineas nodded, “Very well. How…how was the rest of your day?”
Aesop glanced at Phineas, He looks almost nervous and at a loss for words. I have never seen him like this before. It is rather…adorable.
“Oh, not too eventful. I taught a class how to brew Wiggenweld, and there were no melted cauldrons for once. Perhaps the younger generations are arriving here better prepared than their older peers.”
Phineas cut into his pork, “Well that is very good to hear. I was beginning to hope that it was hopeless to think that there could possibly be any talent in this school.”
Aesop studied Phineas, whose cheeks were flushed in annoyance now, “Oh, there is talent in every year of students, just lately, there have been more incidents than usual. And it is rather taxing.”
Aesop continued to eat, surreptitiously glancing at the food that was still on Phineas’ plate, hoping he would leave some pork, since he failed to take some in the presence of the succulent steak.
Phineas nodded, “I cannot imagine. Well, I can, hence why I do not teach. I do not know how you do it.”
Aesop scraped his own plate clean, “Well, after working as an Auror, teaching students is generally less hectic.”
Sharp saw Phineas slowing down with his meal, and noticed there was still pork on his plate. He slowly reached over and stabbed a piece with his fork, quickly bringing it to his mouth and eating it.
“Aesop! Where are your table manners?”
Aesop swallowed and chuckled, “This afternoon, did you not say I could have whatever you did not finish?”
Phineas flushed, “I said it was a possibility, not that you could.”
Aesop leaned closer and their arms brushed together as Aesop took another piece of pork from Phineas’ plate, “I do not see you stopping me.”
Phineas looked into Aesop’s eyes, which were a deep chocolate brown, almost black despite the bright lights of the Great Hall, “I do not see a reason to stop you.”
Aesop finished taking the food and chewed it thoughtfully, Oh, if only we were alone right now. I wonder if he would stop me if I kissed him? How would his mouth feel beneath mine? Would he reciprocate?
Phineas grumbled, “Stop leaning over and into my plate. Here!” He held a fork out with the last piece of pork, and Aesop leaned forward and ate it, pulling off the fork with a slight smile.
“If this is the service I get sitting next to you at dinner, Phineas, perhaps I need to sit next to you more often?” What was I thinking?! Someone must have seen that! But I could not help it. If he did not want me to eat it from his fork, he would have just put it on his plate.
Aesop studied Phineas’ face, which was bright red. He assumed his face did not look much better.
Phineas cleared his throat, “I would not say no to the company.”
Aesop smirked, “Well then. I would be more than happy to share more meals with you.”
Phineas joked, “I thought I was the one who did the sharing?”
Aesop smirked, “As long as you do not try to feed me any sweets.”
His eyes lit up, “Oh. I wonder what desert will be? Are you sure you do not like sweets? They are the perfect ending to any meal.”
“I am perfectly sure. The sweetest treat I partake in is a hot chocolate.”
The tables were cleared and deserts appeared: pumpkin pasties, small chocolate cookies, and little slices of pumpkin pie, as well as hot chocolate and hot apple cider.
Aesop took a mug of hot chocolate and blew on it to cool it down as Phineas took a slice of pumpkin pie and a pumpkin pastie.
He sipped his hot chocolate slowly, careful not to burn his tongue, “But how was your day?”
Phineas finished his bite of pie, “Truth be told, it was rather dull. After visiting your class, I just walked. I have been…restless as of late?”
Aesop looked at Phineas and noticed he looked rather tired, “You do look a bit tired. Do you need anything to help you sleep?” I hope he is alright. But it is not like he would tell me anyways.
Phineas shook his head, “It is…just something I must deal with. And thank you for the offer, but I think I will sleep better tonight.”
“Well, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.”
Sharp flushed as his thoughts took a particular turn they had not yet taken. He had only thus far thought about kissing Black, but his thoughts turned to undressing him, pushing him down onto the bed, and thoroughly tiring him out. Get yourself together, Sharp. You cannot be entertaining these thoughts while he is sitting next to you.
Aesop finished his hot chocolate as his thoughts drifted away from him once again, Phineas laid back on the bed, panting, cock hard and leaking, bite marks covering his chest and neck. Bite marks I put there.
He shook his head to clear it and put his cup down, praying that his little foray into fantasy was not obvious, “Excuse me, Phineas. But I must finish some grading. I hope to see you tomorrow at breakfast.”
Phineas smiled lightly, “You too, Aesop.”
Aesop stood up, pushed back his chair, and made his way up the many flights of stairs to his rooms. Once there, he locked the door and sighed. How absurd to let my thoughts run away like that while sitting next to him. Just because he is not interested in men does not mean I can go overboard in how I treat him or how I think about him.
His own cock stirred in his pants as the vision of Phineas begging for his touch claimed his mind. He pressed a palm over his pants, knowing he would need to take care of it before even attempting to do any more work that evening.
He went to the fireplace and lit it with a quick Incendio before taking off his boots and sitting down. He unbuckled his belt, and undid his pants, reaching inside his underwear to pull out his half hard cock.
He closed his eyes and leaned back, Since there is no point in resisting these thoughts, I might as well enjoy them.
Sharp grasped his cock, stroking up and down until he was completely erect. He sighed as he thought of Phineas standing in front of the mirror, admiring his beautiful, soft skin, sparsely haired chest; Phineas running a hand down that chest and grasping his cock in hand, stroking it and moaning Aesop’s name.
Aesop used his left hand to wrap around his shaft and used his right hand to tease the head, hissing with how sensitive it was. It had been a while since he had taken time to pleasure himself, and his nerves were on fire with sensation.
He ran his fingers across the head and used the precum to create a smooth glide, reaching his left hand down to his balls, rolling them in his palm while he used his right hand to slick his cock further.
His thoughts took a different turn, He pushed Phineas into a dark corner of the castle where he knew no students would disturb them. Phineas gasped as he leaned down and fiercely kissed the slightly shorter man, wrapping his arms around him as he did so.
Sharp ran his hand up and down his cock faster, imagining how it would feel to finally kiss Phineas, to feel their tongues slide together, to have Phineas gripping his neck to keep him close.
Sharp groaned and thrust into his hand, wishing it was Phineas’ hand on him. Or his mouth. With all that talking he does he must be talented in other areas. Fuck, I want him kneeling in front of me, right here near this very fireplace, his mouth stretching over me.
Grabbing his hair and moving him up and down my cock. He would be so perfect.
Sharp moaned as he felt himself get closer, his imagination running wild with images of Phineas sucking his cock so magnificently, moaning around him, letting him finish in his mouth and swallowing it like it was a desert.
Sharp thrust up into his hand, jerking his cock quickly, “Oh, fuck. Phineas. Yes!” In his mind, all he could see was Phineas looking up at him as he swallowed, licking his lips and climbing into this lap to kiss him deeply.
Imagining the taste of himself on the other man’s tongue brought Sharp to completion and he slowly eased his hand off his cock, reaching into his left pocket with his unsoiled hand for his wand and quickly cleaning himself.
As soon as he was clean, he shook his head. Sharp, what are you going to do now?