First of all, I write poetry and love thinking about things in poetic ways, and this tone is just incredible, full of the right details and the most interesting ways of describing things. For instance, the entire part describing her scent is executed wonderfully.
I love the fact you chose probably the two women most unalike at Hogwarts (although, I suppose Minerva and Sybil would have been unalike too). Their contrast is so wonderful, with Sprout's natural ability to nurture anything, including a relationship, and Irma's typical aversion to nurturing.
You can really tell their way of speaking, of thinking, of processing information, is different, and to me that is spectacular. Dorky psych major over here, loving to see bits and pieces of how characters tick just like this.
Irma speaks so directly, like a woman who deals in direct punishment, who is a vulture, who is angular and usually has no need for "nonsense" like paying a lot of care to softening her words, but will for Pomona. Whereas Sprout speaks in flowing thoughts, ideas, more unattached language, and is very kind sounding, and encourages plants to grow and understands hard work, loyalty, and acceptance.
I love how sexy the little moments are, like the gasp, the embrace that contrasts their bodies, the way the robes cling to Sprout's lovely large backside,
I really appreciate how you captured Pomona's ability to gracefully accept that while it's nice to have something with Irma, she knows what type of woman Irma is, how she responds to things, what she believes in, and knows the risk is worth it. I am so in love with the fact she doesn't even turn around when the door opens. So trusting and wonderful.
And this bit about Irma really got to me, in a good way, "as the air, dry as the books and parchments that she holds so dear". How utterly true and lovely. I love that she checked to see if Pomona was awake. She's so on-her-toes, so intellectual, logical yet not. Passionate without expressiveness. I love her little realization here. Touching, simple. Relationships have all these little hurdles of figuring things out, and they're all massive but simple. Wonderfully captured here.
I really, really love this length. I love how much you told in so few words, how the fact you have left things to be implied creates the world, makes me create the world for myself. It's all so warm and wonderful.
Thank you, truly, deeply. You put so much thought and feeling into so few words, and that is something I love about well-written shorter fiction. Perfect length for this.