Six
Compared to that day in potions a couple of weeks ago, Henry's headache had intensified. His hair was tied back, and he'd been tending to his beasts(a baby mooncalf was coming, and so soon after the litter of nifflers had been born, Merlin's beard). However, his beasts seemed to sense something was wrong because the puffskeins kept trying to pile up onto him, and the nifflers were scrabbling at his clothes, sniffing him like he had treats(he didn't).
"Pilfer," Henry sighed, lightly pushing the blue creature off his chest as she continually attempted to dig her face into his neck. "That's quite enough out of you, young lady, I've things to do." She squeaked irately, and Henry eyed her as he gently felt the mooncalf mother's belly. She was due soon and felt as healthy as could be if any of the hypothetical questions he'd asked a suspicious Professor Howin was to go by.
Scrunching his face at a particularly heavy wave of throbbing that wrapped tight around his head, Henry let out a long breath and slowly stood so as not to harm any of the creatures near him. He rubbed two fingers against his right temple, closing his eyes against the bright sun and verdant clearing that was lush and bright green.
When he came in, the cool breeze did nothing, as Henry had taken off his robes and rolled his sleeves up, ready to do his magical beast chores for the day. He had also removed his shoes and socks, which had cooled him down slightly. The discarded clothes sat in a neat pile on a conjured stone bench next to the entryway of the vivarium.
Henry barely spared them a glance as he worked his way up to leave, only to be stopped by little paws yanking on his trousers. Peering down, Henry huffed.
"Pilfer, I am on to you about your escape attempts." She only wrapped herself around his ankle and leg as if she were sure Henry wouldn't harm her for doing so. As if he didn't have the nerve to shake her off his leg. It was as if he hadn't any right to push her away and continue despite her unclear demands. Even if her eyes were big and her snuffling nose was making his already weak resolve shatter-. Ah, blast it all; she probably thought Henry would take her with him.
She would be absolutely correct and Henry was mildly annoyed by it.
Pilfer struggled being cooped up in the vivarium, for whatever reason, as the vivarium wasn't quite big for a niffler. Even so, Henry felt it had something to do with being so close to Irondale and being accommodated to the man-made buildings and people. He was sure she couldn't leave the Room of Requirement either, so Henry let out a great big sigh and scooped her up into his arms.
"Alright, but please refrain from stealing my galleons this time. I promise I do have use for them." She did not indicate she'd heard him, only kicking her webbed feet. He blearily scooped up his bag, full of potions(and potions only) to aid his pregnant and sick creatures. The weight was grounding as he exited the vivarium. The nabsack was in his possession as he'd released a new mooncalf into the vivarium.
The Room of Requirement's air washed over him, regrettably leaving the breeze behind and welcoming him to warm stations of potions and candlelight around the space. Henry leaned against the cool glass of the vivarium doorway for a moment, gathering himself. He felt electricity just under his skin, poking and prodding in every vein, and warmth washed over him in waves. The tile under his feet was cool and for that, Henry was grateful. But Pilfer quickly left his arms to scout around the room again.
"I'll be checking your pouch later for any contraband," Henry told her as she scampered off. He was sure she was aware, as he'd done it every time she left the vivarium.
He set his bag on a nearby desk and placed the nabsack onto the ground next to the vivarium he'd just left.
Henry decided to lie in the center of the space, on his back, with his arms spread out. He stared at the glass ceiling, the fake stars blinking at him. He let the coolness of the tile once more seep into his limbs, attempting to chase away the tides of warmth that racked his body. His head pulsed in tandem with his heart, and maybe he'd inspect the possibilities if he weren't as comfortable as he had been all day. Pulling his hair from the clasp behind his head, as it dug into his head when he laid down, Henry let the strands fan out and do whatever they wanted so long as he could see.
Henry blinked, and so did the stars. He breathed and felt his shirt span up and press against his chest. The feeling was oddly uncomfortable, and suddenly, his feet were growing cold, but still, he would sweat. Henry felt utterly and exasperatingly gross . He was freezing at the tips, but fire washed over him the same way he'd expect a spell of Incendio would underneath one's flesh.
Electricity was at his fingers, and he felt restlessly exhausted.
He closed his eyes to block out the light and tried to settle himself despite the hard tile. After getting up, he could conjure a rug in this room, which would soon be once Henry found the will to drag his body off the floor.
Get up, Henry. You have work to do, you git. People could be dying, and you're lying here.
He slowly opened his eyes, mouth twisted into a frown and sat up. His head dipped slightly at his neck, like a textbook had replaced it and weighed him down. His back ached, and his head deemed it fit to punish him for whatever he'd done wrong this time.
He imagined Mum on her sick bed, coughing as though her very lungs were attempting to claw their way up. And yet here Henry DeWitt was, lying upon the floor with a headache and bemoaning it to be punishment. Thin cheeks, threadbare breaths, pallid skin.
Even still, her fingers through his hair were a wisp of a memory, and his lip trembled slightly at the grief that overtook him. Her voice hummed in his ear; it was a rarity to hear her sing anymore. Her hands were rough, as Henry's parents had always split the work between them in the house and outside. My birthday will be without her. The thought dug into his throat and prickled his cheeks.
He missed a Christmas which was joyous and not awkward. He missed bouncing around and dancing with his brothers and sister to a song they played while his father tucked Mum against him, and they danced slowly. He missed his sister's joke that she would be the strongest because she only had one other lady in the family against four boys. She never spoke about it anymore. He missed getting a kiss on the forehead before going to school. He missed a playful swat on the back when Henry slumped his shoulders too much. He missed the chocolate brownies mum made on his birthday.
"... I do a lot of missing ," his voice cracked as he spoke to nobody, eyes dragging around the patterns on the floor, "for someone who should be lucky to be alive. I-. I want her voice to wake me up, singing Happy Birthday once more." He could hear the voice of an apparition in the thrum around him. Her voice might demand Henry return for his birthday even if he would be a 'big-shot wizard.' He can see a cheeky, soft smile in the stars, ready to poke fun at him for sleeping in on his big day. Hands in his hair. Golden Birthday, turning 16 on January 16th.
He caught himself as soon as his eyes got warm, digging his nails into his palms and scoffing roughly.
"Get you're shit together, you-" Henry pushed himself to his feet out of spite. Even still, he felt weak. How had he become so weak in the short time he'd lain down? He didn't even have the energy to continue bullying himself into work. Despite the ache it caused, he shook his head and staggered towards the small, blue couch he'd conjured on the ground floor.
He couldn't deny himself the breath of relief that was punched out of his lungs when he fell upon the couch. Grasping the one pillow that sat on the side, more out of decor than use, he curled himself around it. Just one nap—one quick nap. Maybe he'd see Mum in his dreams.
Besides, he couldn't very well take on the next trial in this state; that would be disappointing.
Henry had just closed his eyes when a warm, furry form dug under his arm, the one loosely holding the pillow, and burrowed in. He smiled slightly, peeking down at the blue fur that brushed against his neck, and the softest squeak Henry ever heard came from the blue puddle. Henry hummed, cradling the niffler, "Wake me soon, okay, Pilfer?" A snuffling noise, followed by a small sigh of release. "Thank you."
❈✢❈
Boy is sleeping, must move now.
Soft paws pushed away from the wrong warmth that pervaded her Boy, and Pilfer(she'd grown to like the name) flopped off the high ledge she was on. Her butt fell onto the floor, and she 'iffed' a small huff before raising her nose into the air. She froze when Boy shifted slightly on the tall and comfy ledge, eyes staring him down and daring him to wake up after she'd just gotten him to sleep.
Boy did not wake up, but he smelled wrong and mucky in his sharp magiks. She could smell his sadness and sickness, which raised the fur on her back in concern. Still Boy did not awake.
But Boy still shivered? Boy was cold? But he smelled so mucky and warm?
Shuffling her way across the long way towards her forest pen, Pilfer shuffled at the big brown bag that Boy had carried them all in when he invited them into his den. It was not like the cages the bigger magiks attempted to crush her kind and others into. It was cozy and warm. It smelled like Boy and giant flying, creatures.
Pilfer scrambled to the top of the bag and messed with the shiny metal things on the top. Scrubbing her paws at it, she 'iffed' in annoyance at it's lack of cooperation. She couldn't remember how Boy did it. Annoying Boy, she would have made this easier if he took her out more. Even still, Pilfer cared about Boy. She was the last of her kind in her den, as the rest of her family had been snatched up by the acid-smelling magiks. So she had surrounded herself with their shinies and jewelry and nest objects. Until Boy came and offered her a home, even with her shinies , and didn't take any of them.
Though she wasn't ready to gift Boy one of her shinies in her nest, she would soon.
Now, though, Pilfer had finally snapped one of the metal clamps loose. Moving to the other, the bag tipped over and opened.
She watched as three more of her kind exited. The ones Boy called Baer, Resper, and Neep. Baer shifted next to her, and Pilfer rubbed her nose over his neck in greeting before watching as two of the large, round-eyed creatures pulled themselves out of the bag. Pilfer did not know their kind, as Boy only called them Johnny and Johnessa. Very odd, Boy was.
A round and puffy creature rolled out of the bag; Boy called it Roon.
The large bag shook and stretched. Pilfer quickly called the other creatures to back away as the flying creature Pilfer had smelt earlier on the bag exited, shaking her features. Pilfer squeaked to the flying highness, bowing her head. The highness bowed her head, too, and Pilfer hissed to the rest to get their attention.
Quiet! Boy drifts, smells wrong. Baer 'iffed' in worry.
Hurt? Pilfer shook her head, drawing her intended near Boy as she jumped back up onto the high ledge.
Not on his pelt, is ill, must keep warm.
He smells too warm.
He shivers. Finally, Baer relented to Pilfer's demands, and the other three of her kind pilled onto Boy. Pilfer and Baer tucked under Boy's arms where Pilfer once lay to coo Boy to sleep. Resper and Neep curled into his stomach. The two mooncalves nestled under his head, a makeshift pillow. Pilfer nearly nipped at them for the risky move as they almost awoke Boy. Roon pressed against the backs of Boy's knees, Pilfer approved. The flying highness knelt down next to him with proud quiet. She pressed against the edge of the couch and rested a wing over them all.
Boy smelt wrong, but they would warm him until this illness went away.
Pilfer pressed her face into Boy's neck and snuffled reassuringly when Boy twitched slightly. He still smelled of ill muck, warm and sick. But under that, Pilfer could still smell the plants and odd white magiks of her Boy. The flying highness cooed quietly to Boy, and he settled. Pilfer was glad to have brought the flying highness.
The creatures lay there, curled around Boy, until they heard a creaking echo throughout the room.
❈✢❈
"Henry?" Sebastian called into Fig's classroom, pausing for a response before continuing his hunt. The next stop was the library, where he shouted, "Henry!" He left just after Scribner had just about had a heart attack and before he could get detention. Slippery devil he was. Next was the Gryffindor common room, so he sent the little first-year Henry often got along with to get Natsai.
She reappeared about five minutes later, "Sebastian Sallow?"
"At your service, madam, however, I was hoping you'd seen a friend of mine? Tall, neck-length brown hair? Looks like he's sweet but probably has trouble on his heel-."
"You are looking for Henry?"
"Ah, that'd be the lad. Is he in there by any chance?"
"He is not. I have not seen him since yesterday. Is something the matter?" Her eyes dared Sebastian to lie to her, so he bobbed his head side-to-side.
"Can't say, I haven't seen him all day, and Ominis says he wasn't in potions. He also wasn't at breakfast, nor lunch, nor dinner. I checked Fig's class and the library. I also asked Poppy if she'd seen him, and she said she hadn't, but she'd help look. We were supposed to meet after school, and he never misses out on that, even if he's skipping classes. Did he mention going on one of his… escapades recently?" Natsai nodded along to everything he was saying, and it was only after he stopped explaining that Sebastian realized the same little girl as before was standing by the doorway of the Gryffindor common room. She was peering out and clearly eavesdropping on the conversation.
"I cannot say we've done anything recently," Natsai spoke evenly, a serious expression on her face, "but this is concerning."
"Henry didn't come back into the common room last night," the small girl spoke up, and Natsai turned to face her.
"How do you know, Louisa?"
"I…" Lousia paused, "I sleep on the couch sometimes, and I would've heard him come in."
"I'm not so sure," Sebastian mused, "my charge can be pretty quiet." Louisa shook her head.
"If he comes in late and I'm sleeping on the couch, he'll always ask me if I've eaten dinner because I forget sometimes," the first-year looked sheepish at the admission. Still, it cleared her reasoning as to her claim. So Henry hadn't returned to the common room last night, which means he was-. Sebastian smacked a hand over his forehead.
What an idiot he was!
"I must be off, gonna keep looking," Sebastian whirled around, only for Natsai Onai to grasp his elbow and halt his footsteps. Her expression was startling and stern.
"If you know where our friend is, I would ask that you take me with you." Sebastian paused. He wasn't so sure Henry would appreciate more people knowing about his special spot. While it wasn't said to be a secret, Sebastian had learned that Henry liked his privacy. Ever since that incident in Hogsmeade, Henry had acted oddly and spent every day with Sebastian. And he never scuffed out on going to an Undercroft meeting at night, or he would've said as much.
Sebastian was at a crossroads. For once, he wasn't sure he could just give up Henry's trust, but he felt that Natsai wouldn't give this up. He opened his mouth.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I'll let you know if I see him, okay?" Natsai inspected him, assessing as she glanced back at Louisa in the doorway of the common room. Sebastian was antsy about being off as curfew would be around the corner. He was far from the Slytherin common room to be making any excuses if he got caught.
"I will come with you," Natsai told him. Flickers of irritation made his fingers twitch, but he agreed nonetheless, eager to get on his way.
"Fine, but I'm going to say you took me hostage when we get there." Natsai raised her eyebrows, amused but unrelenting. Sebastian couldn't help but smirk in response, keeping his eyes on the end of the hall as she turned to speak to Louisa. "I may not be back tonight, so you may sleep in my bed, yes?" While the young girl replied, Sebastian strained his ears for any oncoming prefects or teachers, eyes tracking the hall.
Eventually, Natsai reappeared at Sebastian's side, and they continued forward. There was a chime of the clocktower about five minutes into their walk that had Natsai casting a Disillusionment charm. Sebastian was mildly impressed at how quickly she appeared accustomed to sneaking about and resolved to ask about it later as he cast his own cloak.
As they crept down the halls, Sebastian led the way up to the Astronomy tower the very same way Henry had led him when he had worn himself out a bit at the studying. He kept away from any suits of armor that could sense their magic and give them away. He kept aware of any sounds nearby, a soft sound of music playing from one of the many portraits that nearly drove him mad from how many times he'd heard it. Nevertheless, Sebastian kept close to himself, glancing back at Natsai every so now and again. He briefly considered 'accidentally' getting separated from her so he didn't have to sell Henry's special place. However, the thought was washed away. Not because of any morality but because he wasn't so sure he could pull it off and focus on not getting caught - it was too important to find Henry by then.
Why has he disappeared this time? Henry had been busy with this whole Ranrok business recently. Perhaps he'd gotten behind on his assignments. Exams were at the end of the year, and Henry could be a bit of a workhorse when it came to studying. There was a possibility that Henry was just out of the castle, but that didn't make Sebastian feel any better. He'd have to prepare for the possibility that Henry was out doing something dangerous, bloody Gryffindor. Not an ounce of self-preservation, that one.
Was he in detention? He hadn't been acting out in any of Sebastian's classes. In fact, Henry typically kept to himself when he was in class, only breaking out of his focus after class or if someone had addressed him. Sebastian could respect the academic drive for certain. There were many things he could respect about Henry, actually. His potion work was astounding, for one-.
A muffle of memories rose in Sebastian's mind.
"Sorry, I've a headache."
"Tired, is all, not to worry."
"Yes, Sebastian, I promise to go to sleep shortly."
"Just busy is all."
"I don't have time for naps, maybe later?"
"Oh, I've just been missing someone, couldn't sleep."
"Leave me be, my head's throbbin'."
Maybe these last weeks had been a downward hill for his friend, and Sebastian had been too wrapped up in other things to notice. The guilt hit hard, but he forced it away instead of uncloaking himself in front of the Room of Requirement wall.
Pacing in front of it a few times, his thoughts pointed to Henry.
Take me to Henry, I require Henry- brown hair, blue eyes, small smiles, witty words- show me that barmy workhorse I need- the door surprisingly opened after a few more rounds of this. Probably the fastest Sebastian had ever coaxed them open. Henry always said his thoughts were too erratic for the room to lock onto them most of the time. Ominis, however, had other thoughts on the matter.
As he stepped forward, he spotted two more students rounding the corner to the Astronomy tower. Sebastian felt some stress bleed from his shoulders when he spotted Ominis pacing towards where they were standing. He paused momentarily beside Natsai, mouth open and brows furrowed, but Sebastian spoke up quickly.
"I see you had similar thoughts, Ominis?" His friend swiveled towards him.
"Is he in there?"
"I haven't gone inside yet."
"Then let's get on with it before we get spotted with all your yapping." Sebastian gasped in fake offense as he followed his swift-footed friend into the long hall that led to the Room of Requirement. Ominis ignored him and continued forward as Sebastian spotted the other girl, Poppy Sweeting.
"Hello, Miss Sweeting. Have you also found yourself drawn to our adventurous Gryffindor?" She smiled quietly at Sebastian and nodded.
"He does find himself in a lot of trouble, I've found."
"You'd be right," Sebastian nodded with a grin before following Ominis, who'd called for them. As soon as the other two filed in behind him, their eyes widened. Mouths gaping at the illustrious and well-organized clutter of Henry's special space. Despite seeing it a few times over, Sebastian himself could never get enough of it.
Henry once said the space felt like walking into an old gardener's home. Ominis said it smelled like a scholar lived here, with the wall-to-wall shelves of books, potion stations, and planting pots. Yes, Sebastian could indeed consider his charge to be an academic of many studies.
His eyes roved around the candle-lit space, adjusting to the dim corners when Poppy gasped beside him, moving forward towards a scampering shape on the floor. Sebastian's mouth dropped.
Henry never let his creatures out of their vivariums unless there was a very good reason. However, there was a large Hippogriff, a cluster of Nifflers, a couple of Mooncalves, and Puffskein huddled in one corner of the room. One of the Nifflers scrambled at Ominis' slacks, a light blue one with an attitude problem, it seemed, as it squeaked at Ominis until he lowered his wand and scooped it up.
"Pilfer?" Ominis asked, oh yes, Sebastian had met this one before. Stole a couple of galleons off of him and gave Henry a good laugh as he chased after her. One of his better memories, in secret.
"Highwing!" Poppy stepped forward, eyes wide and a grin on her face. "Henry said he'd taken care of you, and now I see where you've been!" The Hippogriff huffed at Poppy, lightly nudging her chest with her beak in greeting. Clearly, they knew each other. Not that it was surprising in any way. Sebastian shook his head, turning to his old friend as Ominis watched the scrabbling Niffler in confusion. It was odd for her to act this way, Sebastian knew that much.
Sebastian scanned the room again, eyebrows furrowed as he tried to pinpoint Henry anywhere. He was sure Henry didn't just let his creatures run free in here, especially with how many potion stations were set up. He had to be here somewhere. The thought was comforting that they'd been on the right track with the Room of Requirement. Poppy's voice drew his attention away again.
"Is Henry here, Highwing? We haven't seen him yet, and we're worried." Everyone watched as the Hippogriff cooed quietly and lifted her wing to further reveal the many creatures that were nested under. And under them was a sleeping Gryffindor. Henry.
Sebastian's shoulders slouched a little. He knew his friend was safe, but seeing it with his own eyes brought him ease—an ease that was quickly erased when one of the Nifflers hissed at Poppy when she stepped closer to Henry.
A blue blur wriggled out of Ominis' arms and scampered over to the creature puddle, sniffling at Henry and rubbing her nose under his chin until he groaned slightly and tilted his head away from her. Poppy inhaled quietly.
Henry looked terrible. Sweat was across his brow, and long hair stuck to his forehead in thin strands. He visibly shivered, and his face was pinched as Poppy was finally allowed to rest a hand on his cheek and face. She shook her head. "He's sick, I'd say. They probably know it, too." Sebastian stepped forward as she nodded to the rest of the creatures, only to be snapped at by the Hippogriff. Right, yeah, Hippogriff.
"Bow, Sebastian," Ominis murmured in his ear.
Sebastian bowed low to the creature, waiting with bated breath until it tilted its head downward and allowed him to pass. He quickly stood next to Poppy, hearing someone mess with one of the potion stations in the corner of the room—most likely Natsai. Stupid Gryffindor probably doesn't have any medicine for himself that goes beyond healing flesh wounds.
"Should we take him to the hospital wing?" Poppy asked uncertainly as Sebastian grimaced from the warmth radiating over his friend. He wasn't prepared for Henry to be sick.
"No," a soft voice croaked beneath them, and Sebastian's eyes snapped down to see dull blue ones. "No hospital."
"Henry, you are sick," Sebastian pressed, unamused. "I sincerely doubt you'll be able to continue doing anything at this rate, mate." Henry shifted blearily before pushing himself up with Poppy grasping his arm to steady him. He blinked down at the creatures in his lap, clearly confused by the shift of his frown. His eyes traced around the room before landing somewhere near one of his forest pens.
"They got out."
"I think they could tell you weren't feeling well," Poppy informed him, but Henry's eyes pinned the blue niffler down. The one standing in his lap, pressing her front paws against his chest.
"I know this is your fault," Henry stated plainly. The niffler snuffled in response. “No, I know it was, Pilfer. You're grounded." Pilfer exhaled a weird coo, lightly smacking her paws against his chest. "Don't act fussy now, I'm taking you right-." His voice cut off, and his expression twisted as he heaved over his lap, coughing harshly. When he nearly tipped himself over the side of the couch, Sebastian took Poppy's place, letting Henry weakly rest his weight on the Slytherin.
Sebastian had been amused by Henry's conversation with a niffler , but now he was snapped back to the situation. He was about to scold Henry when Ominis beat him to it. Which was the least surprising thing this evening.
"Henry DeWitt, you will let us take you down to the hospital wing tomorrow morning. For now, we'll help you as best as we can because the staff would get suspicious if we were all up and out this late, but as soon as breakfast time comes, we're taking you straight to Madam Blainey." Henry stared at Ominis before huffing and nodding.
"Yeah, understood. See you in the morning then." Sebastian scoffed.
"No, you'll be seeing us right up until you're in the hospital wing. Let's get you to that bed upstairs, yeah?"
"I'll get your creatures back into your vivariums," Poppy volunteered, already gently scooping up the puffskein. " Come along, everyone, give your caretaker some space." The Hippogriff followed Poppy easily, as did most of the other creatures. The only one to stubbornly stay was Pilfer, whom Poppy shrugged off. "Niffler bites can get a little nasty, Sebastian. I'd leave her with him."
So Pilfer stayed, even as Henry held her against his heaving chest when he coughed some more. Sebastian winced at the wet coughs, but it was winter, so perhaps that had aided in this illness. Footsteps came up from one of the two lower levels of the space, and Sebastian assumed their fourth had returned.
"I have found some yarrow to mix into a tea. That will help. Are there any beds here?" Sebastian nodded, twisting his head to see Natsai set down the plants with a mug at one of the potion stations.
"There's one upstairs," turning back to his friend, Sebastian nudged him slightly. "Come on, Henry, let's get you upstairs. Do I need to carry you?" Henry snorted quietly.
"That'd be a miracle," he commented roughly before swinging his legs over the side of the couch. When he swayed, Sebastian rested his hands over Henry's shoulders, steadying him as he finally pushed himself up. He rested against Sebastian, his forehead pressed against Sebastian's shoulder. He grasped his elbow while his other hand held Pilfer close to his chest. Even ill, the idiot is careful with his creatures, Sebastian mused fondly.
The thought suddenly struck a cord in him, and an image of Anne flashed through his mind, leaning against him weakly as aftershocks of pain wracked through her. Henry's hair stuck to his forehead, and warmth leaked from his body in waves. He shivered in wracking forms despite it. He coughed to expel some sort of sickness and told no one until he was found. What if this was a side effect of his ancient magic? What if this was permanent?
Sebastian gripped his friend tighter, sealing his lips tightly as Henry took a few deep breaths and raised his head, eyes weary.
"Alright, upstairs it is then, I suppose." A tight smile wrung itself from Sebastian as he nodded. He hoped Henry was too tired to ask but also that Henry would ask if only so Sebastian could tell him what he thought so Henry could assuage those worries. This was why Sebastian chose to say nothing, leading Henry up the stairs with an arm wrapped around his waist. He pulled Henry close to his side, forcing his friend to put some weight onto Sebastian at the least.
When they reached the bed, Ominis was right behind them with a sweater in one hand and a wand in the other. Sebastian took the sweater from Ominis and held it up to Henry when his friend sat on the edge of the bed, resting his head in his hands while Pilfer tucked into his lap.
"Want to get out of that school uniform?" Henry looked up at him and blinked before looking down at himself, expression uncertain. Sebastian waited for his brain to catch up before Henry slowly nodded, undoing his loose tie and unbuttoning his white school shirt. Sebastian swallowed and looked away as the sweater was taken from his hand and pulled over Henry's head.
"Thank you," Henry murmured, running his fingers gently over Pilfer, who only 'eep'ed in response.
After that, Natsai emerged from the top of the stairs, handing Henry a mug. He flushed and thanked her, taking a sip before looking up at his three friends.
"You guys… don't have to stay here, you know. I promise I'll go to the hospital wing tomorrow." Natsai noded.
"Yes but we want to, let us help, my friend." Sebastian and Ominis nodded in agreement, and Henry looked away.
"Well, then find something to do other than stand over me and watch me pitifully be sick." Natsai wished him well and told him she would be downstairs, helping Poppy with his creatures. As she left, Ominis sat down on the window bench that Henry had when Sebastian was dragged here to sleep. Sebastian smirked, taking a seat next to Henry and wrapping an arm around his slumped shoulders.
"Aw, are you embarrassed at the attention, my darling charge?" Henry huffed, nudging Sebastian with his elbow.
"No- well, maybe, but not really. It's just odd." Another memory struck Sebastian.
"Be careful, people might think you care."
He frowned.
"It shouldn't be," Sebastian stated plainly. "We're your friends, and we care about you. I'd not have gotten this far and kept sane if not for you and Ominis this year, so let us take care of you, you idiot." Henry only hummed in response, which confirmed the certainty that he was unwell even more.
It was quiet, except for the sounds of Ominis drawing his wand over open pages in a book, squinting in concentration. Sebastian wasn't sure how he did it, but he was glad his friend could find some way to enjoy books if that's what he was doing. Slowly, Henry began to lean against his side more, eyes drooping and sipping the tea Natsai had made for him.
He coughed occasionally, wincing to himself every time he did, which Sebastian felt, but they didn't comment on it.
"Do you want to lie down?"
Henry shook his head, "No, I'm alright like this if that's okay." Sebastian nodded.
"It is."
They sat there on the bed with Henry leaning against Sebastian and Sebastian holding him against his side. Poppy and Natsai were most likely wandering around to get a view of the entire space. Pilfer was drifting off in Henry's lap.
When Henry finally drifted off, Sebastian took his cup from his hands and handed it to Ominis, who worked back down the stairs. Sebastian couldn't take care of his sister right now, but Henry was here and needed care while he was sick, so Sebastian would do his absolute best to take care of him. He'd never failed at anything he wanted to do, and that wouldn't start now.
So, as he slowly leaned Henry back against the pillows, letting the niffler rearrange herself against his stomach as he curled onto his side, Sebastian wouldn't dare leave with the hand gripping his sleeve. When Ominis came up the stairs, Sebastian waved him over with a quiet call. Ominis took off his shoes and robes, much more polite than Sebastian had been since his shoes were definitely on top of the sheets as he leaned against the headboard. But, with nonverbal communication, the two Slytherins rested against the bed's headboard, pressing close with Henry in the middle.
"I'll stay with him until he's better," Sebastian murmured quietly to his counterpart.
Ominis turned his seeing and unseeing eyes towards him, but Sebastian continued to watch Henry's flushed cheeks and pale face. He didn't resist running fingers through sweaty hair and swallowing down bad memories. He jumped when Ominis reached across Henry and rested a hand on Sebastian's arm.
"Do you think of Anne?" Sebastian grunted, and Ominis understood. "It's just a cold, Sebastian; you know that, right?"
"...yes." He spoke quietly, reserved.
Ominis hummed, releasing Sebastian's arm, and that was that.
❈✢❈
A sharp pain and the loss of air had Henry's eyes open. When he noticed two bodies sitting on either side of him, he could sense just who it was by magic aura. His ears were warm at the thought.
He'd grumbled something about them getting sick when he coughed himself awake, but the two hushed him, and he went back to sleep with someone's hand running through his hair, pushing it away from his face, and a small creature rumbling against his stomach.