After All These Years

Chapter 16

My eyes carefully opened as I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes.     All I could see was the sun dimly shining through the sheet I remained under throughout the night.   I sighed as I debated whether or not I should show up for class. I was feeling better, but I enjoyed the idea of sleeping better.           

In the end, I picked school.    It took me a while to adjust to the light but when I did, there in the corner of my room, I saw Tom in a chair by the desk, sleeping.

I watched him, not trusting myself to move with making a noise.    He looked so peaceful for once- though, it's odd why he's here.        I sat for a minute longer before carefully and quietly crawling out of bed and  retreating to my washroom. 

Tom was awake when I returned, his hand was up, holding his head up from the desk. His eyes were closed,but as he heard me enter, he slowly opened them. Our memory from the other day flooded back in my mind. 

Feeling myself go red, I turn away, trying to busy myself with something else.        "I um, I didn't know you were gonna sleep over."     -I said, strongly disliking the awkward silence that fell between us as he laid his head back down on the desk.

He responded a bit later,  it was hushed and mumbled, making it hard to understand anything coming out of his mouth.   "What was that?"  - I ask, turning back to face him as I gathered my things for class.

He took a deep breath before lifting his head back up, rubbing his face once again as he looked my way.    "It wasn't my intention to fall asleep here."  -His voice a bit raspy but louder.             "Hmm. Well I'm getting ready for class, I suggest you do the same." 

"You're sick." -He responded                    "I'm not, I feel better. Madame Pomfrey really knows what she's doing." -I joke.                            He look as if he doesn't believe me, but given I'm already out of bed and ready for class, he can't prove me wrong. 

"God."   -  I heard him mutter from under his breath.             "What's wrong with you?"           "I'm tired."    -He responds in a dull voice.    This isn't like him. 

Connecting a few dots together, I realize what's wrong. He's caught my flu.             "Tom, you're sick."              "No I'm not, I'm just tired."              "No, you're sick Tom. I know you are. We can visit Madame Pomfrey if you don't believe me."                  "No." 

I sighed, staring back at him as he glared at me.  He glared at me annoyedly, clenching his jaw.      Sighing once more, I spoke again.  "Well if you don't want to visit Madame Pomfrey,  just take the medicine she gave me and don't go to class today. You'll make everyone sick."

He continued to glare at me until he finally answered, saying-       "Fine, but I'm not staying in my dorm, I don't want to be near those two twats, I'm staying here."              I assumed by "twats" he meant his roomates.          "Alright ok well um, you can lay down over there while I'm gone."   I pointed over at my bed as I pulled on my robe.

"What? Where are you going?" -He asked, sounding a bit disappointed.               "um...I'm going to The Great Hall....for breakfast."       "Oh."        -He said as he slowly stood up from the chair.       "I'll get you something."

I made my way towards the door as he watched me leave.   "Bye."  -I said to him before closing the door, leaving him alone in the room.

As I was walking back, not paying much attention to my surroundings until I bumped into someone.   When I looked up to see who it was, I saw Henry.    I didn't know how to react, I just stared.   "Hey um-."   - He begun. "I have to go."    -I interrupted. 

Once there, I found Tom laying in my bed with the blankets all in a mess on the bed. I thought it was quite ironic that he's such an uptight person yet he sleeps like a child.     And so I quietly walked over to the other side of the bed to carefully place his food on a night stand.  As I walked over, I watched as his eyes flew open, staring right at me, causing me to flinch a little but not too much since I'm well used to it now.

"God you scared me, I thought you were asleep."      "Nmmm."      -He managed to say as he closed his eyes again.  I placed his food down before staring back at him.

He didn't open his eyes again but instead said-        "Go to my professors and get my work."     I stared at him oddly.         "What no, you're sick, you can barely talk. Just take a nap, I'll be back at lunch."                         "No, I want to do work, you can't just leave me here alone all day with nothing to do."             -He grumbled, sounding much like a child.

"No, stay. I'll be back later."                     "At least stay with me."   -He argued.             "I can't, I've missed too much class already, just eat your food, I'll come back soon. Sleep tight."         -I responded, unhappy that I had to leave him here alone. I patted his head before grabbing my books and leaving the room.