The Keeper's Snake // Sebastian Sallow

Great Expectations

Fiona awoke the following day at 3 in the morning. She hadn't slept well, and she couldn't fall back asleep either. Every time she closed her eyes, she pictured the poacher who attempted to assault her. She still had 4 hours until breakfast started in the Great Hall. She got dressed in her uniform, put on a Ravenclaw scarf, and wrote a message on her enchanted parchment.

Can't sleep. I'll be in the underground harbor until breakfast.

She wanted to let somebody know where she was sneaking off to in case danger awaited her. It was unlikely but still possible. Fiona snuck out of Ravenclaw and to the Viaduct Courtyard, finding the elevator down to the underground harbor. She hadn't realized how cold it would be at 3:30. She was shivering as she exited the elevator. For the first five minutes she was there, she was uncomfortable in the cold. She slowly started enjoying it when her fingers and toes were beginning to feel numb. She relished that she could barely feel her own touch on her neck. She could finally free her mind of thoughts about the previous night, if only for a few hours. She sat on the ground in silence, staring into the water.

It was still dark outside when she heard someone else enter the harbor. She didn't even bother to look.

"Fiona!" Sebastian exclaimed while rushing to her side, "it's freezing down here. You aren't dressed nearly warm enough!" Sebastian took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. He caught a glimpse of her hands. Her fingers looked blue.

Fiona didn't acknowledge his presence. She continued staring into the water.

"Fi, what's wrong. You must be freezing. We need to bring you inside." Sebastian's voice was laced with worry. "Fi, come on, stop this nonsense."

Fiona continued staring at the water, which only served to further Sebastian's growing panic. He only hoped she would forgive him for what he was about to do.

"I'm sorry Fiona." Sebastian apologized as he picked up Fiona, cradling her in his arms. She was absolutely frigid. Her whole body tensed up when he touched her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, but her face was emotionless. Sebastian brought her back to the Viaduct Courtyard and then took the nearest Floo point to the Hospital Wing.

Nurse Blainey was just starting her shift. Sebastian ran in with Fiona in his arms.

"Nurse Blainey, please help. She's cold as ice. Her fingers are blue!" Sebastian yelled out.

"On the bed, now." Nurse Blainey ordered. She stuck a thermometer under Fiona's tongue. "For Merlin's sake. Her internal temperature is 32 C! She's hypothermic."

"What do we do?" Sebastian asked in a panic. Nurse Blainey was already placing blankets over Fiona. She cast the hot air charm to heat them up a bit.

"Try to keep her warm. I need to grab a potion from my office." Nurse Blainey ran off. Sebastian was spiraling. He imagined her dying, he imagined Anne dying, he pictured his parents dying. But he pulled himself together because his Fiona needed him. He didn't know how long Nurse Blainey would need to fetch the potion. He knew only one way to rapidly raise her body temperature.

Sebastian kicked off his shoes and jumped into bed with Fiona. He slid underneath the multitude of blankets covering her and wrapped his body around her, holding her tight, willing his body heat to transfer to her.

"I'm sorry Fiona," he whispered into her ear. He stayed with her for five minutes until Nurse Blainey returned.

"Get out Mister Sallow, you might get burned." Blainey warned him. Sebastian removed himself from the bed. Nurse Blainey them forced a potion down Fiona's throat. Steam immediately arose from the blankets around Fiona. Beads of sweat rolled down her face, combining with her tears. After ten minutes, the steam dissipated. Nurse Blainey took Fiona's temperature again.