Fever Flight

[Samuel Sykes]

It was quite late in the evening, Sam realised, and it was hotter than he had anticipated. To his fever bright skin it was terribly hot on the Third Floor, and it was even worse in the Hospital Wing. Sometime during the night his fever had spiked, and he had only just made it out the door in desperation to find water. The lake, thought Sam as he clutched the stone banister of the stairs. His sweat-slick skin slipped almost instantly and he fell.

Sam half tumbled and half collapsed down the narrow staircase, and without the strength to stop himself he rolled to the bottom, hospital gown sliding over the marble easily. There were several gasps and mutterings around him, though it could be just his hallucinations, as he lay at the foot of the stairs, blood leaking from a gash under his hair.

"My goodness!" whispered the painting, "Boy, are you alright?"
"He's ill," replied another in alarm. "Didn't you see him leave the Hospital Wing?"
"You there!" cried another. "You shouldn't be out at this time of night!"

Sam made no reply as he gave shallow pants, hands scrabbling on the polished stone to haul himself up. Yet he could not move. In his half unconscious mind, his only objective was to get to the lake; it was the largest body of water that he could think of, and the third corridor wasn't too far up ... was it? Obviously he wasn't thinking straight at two in the morning. If Sephora could see him now ...

"Find a teacher,"
"Whose office is closest?"
"Boy ... boy?"

 

[Jessica Mercer]

Jessica yawned, but knew that going back to the Slytherin Dormitories would be pointless. She was having trouble sleeping and lying in bed wasn't getting her any success. Instead she had walked aimlessly up floor after floor until she forgot how high she had actually gone in the school. Ignoring some protests from paintings yelling that she shouldn't be wandering at this time of night, she continued strutting along the corridor. That was until she heard more paintings voices that weren't directed at her if the 'boy' they were referring to was anything to go by. Narrowing her eyes in the darkness of the corridor that was only lit by a few lamps along it, Jessica stepped closer.

It wasn't long before Jessica reached a boy, who looked completely out of it. Jessica scrunched her nose up at his hospital gown. He was probably crazy and Jessica didn't want to get involved with something like that. She turned on her heel to leave, but only managed a few steps before looking back. The boy looked so helpless and very ill. A little voice told her she couldn't just leave him hear. Letting out a frustrated sigh at the stupid nagging voice, Jessica turned fully around and crouched down next to the boy. "Hey!" She said hoping he wouldn't pass out and placing a hand on his forehead. His temperature was through the roof! "Don't die!" She said in a panicky tone, placing an arm beneath his and hauling him up into a sitting position with quite a bit of effort.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Sam shivered as he was moved against his will. The sudden contact frightened him as he hadn't heard anyone else approach. The voices around him continued to speak in varied tones and degrees of worry, confirming that this wasn't a hallucination. Someone's cool hand was on his forehead, and the brief relief from the heat was wonderful until it was taken away.

"Don't die!"

Sam forced his eyes open to look at the speaker, barely recognising her in the dim light. It was Jessica Mercer. Sam recognised her from his usual travels around the school. Gaining a new set of a friend still hadn't changed his open consciousness of other people, and he knew every first year students by name whether they knew him or not. No ... I'm alright, he thought as though she could hear him. The school nurse had told him that he shouldn't even attempt to talk lest he set off another round of coughing. He lifted a shaking hand to signal water; it was all he could think about as the heat grew to unbearable heights.

He clenched his fist against the stone. Please ... water!

 

[Jessica Mercer]

Jessica mentally cheered as the boy opened his eyes. At least he was still alive! Jessica knew she had seen him in classes, but wouldn't have a clue as to what his name was. Due to this fact Jessica concluded he was probably a Hufflepuff, so of no importance to her. But he was definitely a first year, that was all Jessica could really confirm. But Hufflepuff or no Hufflepuff, she had to help him now. Her conscience wouldn't allow her to walk away.

He made a movement that Jessica couldn't make out. She furrowed her brow further, until she thought she might have an idea. "You want water?" She asked, feeling his heat radiate from where her arm supported him. It was frightening at how bad his fever was. Why the hell had he left the Hospital Wing? The stupid boy. Manoeuvring her classmate, Jessica placed him in a sitting position against the cool stone wall. She chewed on her bottom lip, worry settling into her bones. She hated it, but couldn't force it out of her system. What if he is a Hufflepuff? My reputation will be ruined before it even began.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Sam tried to speak in affirmation but choked instead. What did the nurse say, remember? But then again, the nurse had also told him a lot of other things that had worried him more. Now, nothing mattered at all except that he cooled down. His heart was beating wildly, and the sheen of sweat on his shoulders had begun to run down his arms in rivulets. Panting softly, Sam managed to nod. It was the only reason that he had ventured out of the Hospital Wing so dangerously. He would have died in the hallway in the middle of the night if Jessica hadn't found him.


Sam's eyelids were fluttering closed. Perhaps if he just ... slept for a while, things would be fine. He was forgetting all thoughts of water. The heat just made him want to fall back and die to escape it. He couldn't think ... he couldn't breathe ...

 

[Jessica Mercer]

Jessica saw his nod. "Right." She said, standing up swiftly and planning on running down to the Kitchens. She took a few steps in the direction of the Kitchens when she remembered the Hospital Wing close by, she could run there, grab him some water and tell the nurses to come get him. She wished she knew some more spells so that she could maybe cast something to make the boy lighter so she could carry him there now. Turning around swiftly and ready to follow out her plan of going to the Hospital Wing she noticed the boy's eyelids fluttering. "No no no!" She said kneeling down next to him again. "Hey, don't you dare pass out on me!" She said sternly, not that it would be his fault if he did, but Jessica didn't care right now. "Oh geez." She mumbled with a roll of her eyes. What on Earth was she going to do? She couldn't leave him here! Placing a cold hand on his cheek she shook his head from side to side lightly, hoping that he wouldn't fall asleep on her. If he did then she really wouldn't know what to do. Jessica was panicking too much to even realise that it wouldn't take long at all to get help.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Sam jumped as she placed her hands on him again. Her hands were cold, and they felt wonderful on his burning skin. Without realising it he placed his hands upon hers, keeping them on his cheeks as a flood of relief washed over him. Soon her hands would warm up, but in the meantime...

"Oh!" said Sam, softly softly in his sore throat that it was barely even heard. He dropped his hands from hers promptly, and if he wasn't already pink he would have blushed. Her actions had shocked him awake, and he was determined not to slip away again. He may not wake a second time. "Sorry," he mouthed to her apologetically, still struggling with his breathing.

"It's alright," he mimed slowly, hoping she could lip read somewhat in the half light. The fever was beginning to turn, rolling towards the shivering cold that he knew was coming. Sam looked up at her from where he was slowly sinking back onto the floor. "I'm sorry," he mouthed again. "Please...find some water...please,"

 

[Jessica Mercer]

Jessica blinked when he placed his hand over hers. She would have yanked her hand away, but she couldn't do it. Not when he was this ill. He finally realised what he had done and Jessica shook her head with a small eye roll. She squinted in the dark light of the hallway and managed to work out that he wanted water. "Okay. Stay there. I'll be right back." She said firmly, trying to mask the panic in her voice. She didn't want anyone to realise that an ill boy was effecting her.

Jumping to her feet, Jessica walked quickly down the hall, picking up the pace to a jog after not being satisfied with the speed of her walk. Her eyes flitted from in front of her to doors in the corridor as she passed them. She knew the Hospital Wing was quite a way down the third floor, but it was the only place she could think of.

After passing a particular door, she backtracked and read the sign on it.
'POTIONS CLASSROOM'
It's worth a try. Jessica thought as she pushed open the door, mentally cheering when it was open. The room had quite obviously not been used in a long time, and her eyes noticed a sink and a box of jugs that looked as though they had never been used. Perfect. Jessica concluded. It would be much quicker to get water here than all the way down the hall. Picking up one of the jugs she filled it with water after rinsing it a few times and quickly bustled out of the unused classroom. Walking quickly down the hall, she didn't jog this time, not wanting to spill the water.

She reached the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder, offering him the water. "Here." She said in a fairly monotone voice.

 

[Karly Brooke]

Karly wandered pointlessly when she discovered somebody nealing next to a boy. The boy looked dehydrated, and Karly - being that sort of person - was worried for him. It looked like the girl had done the right thing, she had offered him some water, but he still looked tired and ill.
'Is there anything I can do to help?' She asked, her Irish accent obvious.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

His eyes were closed again when she returned but they soon opened as she announced her presence with a hand on his shoulder. Not just a cup of water, but an entire jug was being offered to him by Jessica. If he was able to, he would have leaped up and hugged her. He nodded hard to her, smiling to express his gratitude in any way he could as he reached out to accept the water.

Sam was startled as he noticed more footsteps approaching and he almost lost the jug in his hands. It was Karly Brooke - yet another person he was just able to recognise through his fever. He tried to greet her but failed, so instead he lifted the jug to take a long drink before dipping his hand in to cool his face as he placed his hands on his cheeks.

In the end there wasn't much he could do with the water except pour it over himself, which would have looked ridiculous and so Sam refrained from doing so. To Karly, he touched his throat as an indication of is inability to speak, then mimed "Yes; thank you" to her. What he needed was to get back to the Hospital Wing, even though the urge to attempt the stairs again to reach the lake crept up again.

 

[Jessica Mercer]

Jessica watched as the boy took the water and she didn't even notice that a smile had reached her face. The boy was cute now that Jessica looked at him. It lead her to question why, exactly, hadn't she noticed him before? As the boy smiled up at her, she realised the state of her own facial features and quickly got rid of the smile, standing up abruptly. It was then that footsteps could be heard coming nearer and Jessica narrowed her eyes to make out a girl. Ravenclaw, Jessica concluded, remembering her face vaguely from classes. Her presence changed Jessica's mood dramatically. Sure, Jess could help the boy when he was in hazy state of illness (there was even the possibility that he wouldn't remember this tomorrow he appeared so out of it), but now that this other girl was here, it would say a lot about Jessica's reputation being seen helping the boy. She had a name to make for herself and she didn't want this event as a starting point. As the boy looked up at the new girl, Jessica slipped away down the hall. Hoping they didn't notice her leave. She walked swiftly, not looking back. Reaching a corner, she ducked around it, resting her back against the wall. Jess' conscience made her peep back once just to check if everything was okay, before she headed for the Slytherin Common Room. Even though she tried not to think about him, Jess couldn't help but worry about the boy the entire way there.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Sam certainly did notice her departure. A moment before that he wanted to celebrate, having finally gotten her to smile. Sam was ill, but he wasn't completely out of his head. Seeing somebody lighten up, if even a little bit, still made his day. But as soon as Karly entered he noticed the change and his own face fell. Of course he tried to be polite to Karly and, with difficulty, explain his current circumstance without a voice, but before he knew it Jessica was gone.

I'll be sure to send her something for Christmas, said Sam firmly to himself. With a jolt, he realised that poor Karly now had to figure out what on earth was going on with a sick boy who couldn't put two words together whilst having to help him to the Hospital Wing. That was a two person job - Sam, although quiet and shy, was a very tall boy. He wanted to call out to Jessica, but it was too late; she was gone.

He gave Karly an apologetic look and tried to raise himself to his feet, limbs shaking with effort.

 

[Karly Brooke]

Karly was shocked that the girl had just left him, and she wasn't too good with medical things.
He glanced at her apologetically and Karly felt a sudden rush of sorrow. As he tried to stand, Karly supported his elbow. Not sure of what to do, it seemed like the best idea.

'It's Ok.' She said softly, helping him to stand. He was shaking slightly. but she encouraged him to stand, and wondered what to do next.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

"I-" tried Sam before abandoning the idea of speech altogether. Of all the things to contract, why a lung infection? He pointed silently down the hallway towards the Hospital Wing and used the other hand to support himself against the wall as he began to walk. Every step was an effort, yet he tried his utmost not to lean heavily on Karly whom he felt dreadfully sorry for. How difficult a situation it must have been to walk in on, thought Sam sadly. In the middle of the night as well, no less!

Something wet was trickling down the back of his neck as he walked slowly. Thinking it was probably just a drop of sweat form his fever, Sam didn't bother with it. Unnoticed by him, the back of his head was bleeding from his fall down the stairs. The line of blood ran down past the hospital-like pajamas and down his spine, eventually growing cold.

In a soft and almost incomprehensible voice, he managed to speak. "Thank you." he said to her.

 

[Karly Brooke]

Karly smiled as the boy managed to thank her - but she soon stopped smiling. Blood was trickling down the back of his head, and he hadn't seemed to notice.
She tried to get him to lean on her, but he persisted in using the wall. She headed for the hospital wing, slightly quicker than before. Her pulse was racing. She wondered how he must have felt.
'Come on.' She whispered, looking him in the eye. She felt sorry for him, he didn't deserve this. And now to make it worse, he might lose too much blood if she didn't get to the hospital wing fast. She knew he didn't have much energy by the way he was walking, and was starting to think about getting help. She shook her head, knowing she couldn't leave him on his own in this state, and urged him forwards carefully.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Together they managed to reach the door of the Hospital Wing and Sam, forgetting his current position, made to open it for her. He stumbled with sudden weakness and collapsed against the door instead, falling through backwards and hitting the cold stone. "I'm sorry!" he mouthed shock as he tried to rise again, just in case she had fallen through with him. Sam winced as his already injured head hit the floor again as he couldn't keep it up any longer.

By now his head was spinning and his eyes were fluttering closed. His bed was down the end of the room, and Sam hoped heartily that no-one else in the Hospital Wing had been disturbed in their sleep. Quidditch had put a few unlucky students in there today who might have been trying to rest, so he did not cry out in pain even if he could have.

As he lay on the floor, Sam looked up at Karly and tried to tell her that he was alright now ... he was in the Hospital Wing and would be able to make his way back to the bed eventually, and that she should probably go to bed and get some rest herself. Hand motions and mouthed words were difficult since he was losing consciousness, but he made a valiant effort.

 

[Karly Brooke]

As the boy collapsed under his wait, Karly swiftly darted out of the way in an attempt to stay standing. It worked, but caused him to crash to the stone floor. Her eyes opened widely, afraid of him being injured. His fluttering eyelids made her sense he felt faint. He made a gesture towards his bed, but she ignored it.

She knew he was losing consciousness, and fast, but not wanting to disturb anybody in the hospital wing, she started to panic. She began to feel faint too - she was not used to this sort of responsibility, and was prone to feeling faint in times like this. It wasn't unusual for her, so she knelt down and tried to get him standing.

The sudden change of balance made her own head spin, but she kept herself together.
it's him that needs to get to his bed, she thought reassuringly. Using all her effort, she pulled at the boy, trying to lift him to his feet. She was afraid of hurting him or herself, or even fainting and not being able to look after him. She took deep breaths, shutting her eyes to stay conscious. She didn't want to be the centre of attention, and kept struggling to keep the boy up.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Oh no ... poor Karly was still trying help him to his feet. Sam wanted to beg her to go back to bed, to spare the trouble. Through his barely-open eyes he could see her getting more nervous and ill herself by the second. I must stay awake for her sake! he begged himself, though firmly. Sam lifted a comforting hand into her shoulder but managed to push himself to his feet with her help.

Eventually he managed to stay upright but fell against the door frame, body still swaying with effort. "G-" he managed to rasp out. "Go and find a g-glass of water if you can ... I'll ... find my way to a bed". Sam had to take the strain off of her somehow. He let her go as he had been holding her for support, and managed to make it to an empty bed before falling back onto it involuntarily. Sam was half off and half on the bed with his legs still on the floor, but he could not find the strength to move anymore.

"Thank you..." he mouthed to Karly. "Thank you, thank you..."

 

[Karly Brooke]

Karly was relieved when he managed to make it to his bed. But now she didn't have the strength to find water. She stumbled to a vacant bed next to him and sat there. Her head spun and she gasped for air. She knew she'd be alright in a minute - she always was, but for now she had to rest.

Hoping nobody would come along, she managed to get her breath back. She stood up, ready to find a drink, but unnexpectedly her legs gave way, and she was left on the floor. She wasn't sure why this always happened, but whenever she was put under pressure her body shut down.
Just stay here, and you'll be ok She said to herself, propping her back up against the bed. She was sure that something bad was going to happen, as she felt the urge to sleep.

No she thought. I can't sleep, I have to get water.
She struggled desperately to stand, and shifted over to a sink. She leaned against it for support, wishing she had stayed where she was.
After a few seconds, she had recovered, and filled her hands with fresh water, gulping it down like there was no tomorrow.

She immediately felt better, and thanked the boy for telling her to get water. It wouldn't have been what she'd thought to do.
'Are you sure y..you're Ok?' Her voice trembled only slightly. The boy still looked weak, and Karly had no intention of leaving him until somebody came.

 

[Samuel Sykes]

Sam's heart was thumping like a jack rabbit in his chest as his fever spiked again, sending his body into flames. There was a gasping in his head, and a soft thump somewhere in his imagination. Karly? thought Sam in sudden and inexplicable terror. He was blind to the outside world, his vision pitch back and he tried desperately to see - but Sam was just barely conscious and his eyes were closed. Please be alright, please!

There was clinking and a muffled question, but Sam didn't hear her words. Even if he did, there was no way he could have replied to them in any way.

He used to watch TV as a kid, and liked to watch all sorts of medical shows and documentaries to see how each medicine worked its magic. There was nothing like that in the wizarding world, but for now he recalled a particular show that had a patient with a high fever being put into a bath full of ice. Gosh that sounded good right now. Sam was dreaming calmly, unaware that his physical body was shaking, crying, sweating and clutching the sheets as though it was his last hold on life. He didn't hear himself say Karly's name or hit his head on the metals bars flanking the bed, nor did he see the blossoming stain of blood spreading onto white pillow.

Sam was so tired. "Get ... help ..." he gasped but did not register him saying so.