Sebastian whistled softly to himself as he strode pointedly through the network of hallways in the executive wing. He exchanged a quick smile with several fellow doctors as they crossed paths, but there was no time to stop for a chat. He felt his phone go off with a message alert in his pocket, but rather than checking it, Sebastian merely sighed and ignored the incessant buzzing. He knew who the text would be from and he honestly was not going to ruin his current good mood by viewing it.

That could be dealt with later.

Reaching the ward which was currently homing one Blaine Anderson, Dr. Smythe felt his face light up with a genuine smile as the sound of playful banter reached his ears.

"… come on, you can't NOT have read any Harry Potter book. That's just about eighteen different types of sacrilege right there! And you say you're a fan just because you've seen two of the movies. Tsk. I'm disappointed in you, Santana. I thought what we had was something special, but obviously I thought wrong. Oh, hi Sebastian!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Anderson, Nurse Lopez. I do hope I'm not interrupting." Sebastian replied with a cheeky smirk on his face.

"Oh no, not at all! I was just telling Santana here about Hogwarts- How is it even humanly possible to not read a single Harry Potter novel?"

"Maybe because some of us spend every minute of our lives working our butts off to pay the rent." Santana pitched in. "Not all of us were born with a fucking diamond spoon in our mouth, Mr. Anderson."

At her comment, Blaine blushed in embarrassment and Sebastian couldn't help but stare at how adorable he looked with his cheeks and ears stained pink. "Oh. I'm sorry, Santana. That was incredibly insensitive of me and I-"

He was cut off mid-apology by the Latina nurse' laughter. "Calm yourself, Hobbit. I was just messing with you. I haven't read the series simply because I'm not a huge fan of reading. But I might get down to reading it sometime just for you." She patted him kindly on the arm. "Besides, you're cute when you're flustered." She winked.

"Gah… you… Langlock!"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh you'd understand what I meant if you actually read the novels." Blaine smiled innocently up at her.

Sebastian cleared his throat loudly. "Sorry, but I was under the impression that I was needed up here."

"Of course! Sorry, man. Nice speaking to you, Lady Slytherin. Kindly slither away to your Chamber of Secrets."

Santana rolled her eyes, but was unable to keep the smile off her face. "Finally, something I somewhat understand! I'll see you around, baby boy. We'll continue this then."

She grinned at Sebastian as she passed him in the doorway, a slight skip in her step as she checked her pager on the way out.

Blaine's optimism really was quite infectious.

"So…" The patient began.

"Don't think I haven't tried to use Langlock to shut her up before. I love that girl, but one day that mouth of hers is going to get her in some real trouble. And I don't mean that in a kinky sense. And do you honestly think that Santana Lopez deserves the credit of being compared to Tom Riddle – the Greatest Slytherin of all time?"

Blaine looked surprised at Sebastian's fluent Potterverse response. "Actually, I was implying that she was the Basilisk. But why do you say that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is great? He's a fucking asshat!"

Sebastian just shrugged. It wasn't the first time he had been called out on for his support of Voldemort. "Say what you want, but you can't deny that the guy was brilliant. And I've always just seen him as more… misunderstood."

"Yeah, that and complete masochistic psycho." Blaine scoffed. "I'm guessing you identify yourself as a Slytherin, then?"

"Actually, a Hufflepuff." Sebastian replied, he voice dripping with amusement and sarcasm.

"What the hell's a Hufflepuff?"

Both Doctor and Patient burst out in a fit of laughter.

"Hey now, I happen to be a great finder."

"Wow, Dr. Smythe, I must say I'm impressed by your knowledge of both Harry Potter and Starkid Productions."

"Of course. Allow me to formally introduce myself – Sebastian L. Smythe, Slytherin House."

"Blaine E. Anderson, Ravenclaw."

"Ravenclaw – really?"

"Yes, really."

Sebastian shook his head. It was so easy getting carried away chatting to Blaine. "Anyway. I have your results here with me. And…"

Blaine's eyes lit up in thinly concealed nervous anticipation. "And?"

"Where's your mother?"

"I managed to convince her to go get herself a cup of coffee. She needed it."

"Ah."

"Go on."

"Now we can't explain why you had the seizure, but in all honesty, it could have been caused by a wide range of ailments. However, your stats were all normal and everything looks fine. Maybe, and hopefully, it was just an anomaly. We'll keep you posted if we get an explanation, but in any case you should be free to go within the next few hours."

Blaine breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God."

"'Thank God'?" Sebastian knew how it was a common expression, but curiosity got the better of him. "Are you religious?" he asked.

"Yes and no. I guess my family's Catholic on my Father's side, but I can't exactly practice a religion that supposedly isn't exactly supportive, of my ah… lifestyle choices."

The bitter way he spat out that last word made realisation dawn on Sebastian. He had witnessed too much of this irrational hate hands on in his own life. But not wanting to assume anything, he attempted to lighten the subject.

"You're not vegan, are you?" he mused, though his voice came out more frigid than he's hoped.

Blaine rolled his eyes good-naturedly regardless. "No. While an aversion to ice cream is a sin in itself, I reckon my father would be able to handle that. What Daddy dearest wouldn't, and doesn't, tolerate so much however, happens to be the fact that I am what he views as, and I quote, 'an embarrassment who needs to get over his disgusting phase of homosexuality'. I laugh because A) It's not in any case a 'phase' and B) It's not like I can or will change who I am just for him."

Blaine sounded off-handed and casual, yet Sebastian detected the tones of resentment and possibly even anger. His golden eyes had hardened, as if to block Sebastian out.

"Look, Blaine, I-"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make this awkward but ungh. I guess I have and-"

"No no, it's fine." Sebastian quickly interjected. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. No one should have to deal with that, especially from your parents. It's just wrong."

"You wouldn't understand. But thank you, Sebastian."

"Oh trust me, I can empathise, probably better than anyone else in this place. And you're always welcome."


Blaine sank back into his hospital bed as he thought back on his conversation with his doctor. The conversation had gotten weird after he had accidentally let slip both his sexuality AND his Daddy issues in one breath.

"Jesus, Blaine. What's the fuck is wrong with you." He muttered to himself.

"What was that?"

Blaine jumped, his eyes flying open. "Mum! Ugh don't do that."

"Don't do what?"

"Sneak up on me! You gave me a fright!"

"Oh calm down, Sweetie. You don't always need to be this dramatic." Mrs. Anderson smiled fondly at her son. "Any news whilst I was gone?"

Blaine rolled his eyes but smiled warmly at his mother nonetheless. "Well, I did go to NYAA for a reason, you know." He noticed how she'd stiffened at the mention of his college, but the smile never left her face. "And Sebastian dropped by."

"Sebastian?"

"Oh um right. Doctor Smythe."

Selina Anderson raised a thin, arched eyebrow but otherwise made no further comment. Instead, she began fussing at the sheets at the foot of Blaine's bed. "What did he say?"

"That I… Mum, I don't know how to tell you this." Blaine chewed his lip, intentionally not meeting his mother's eyes as he bit back a smirk forming from her increasing agitation.

"What is it? Honey? Blaine! What's going on? Are you alright?"

"I… I can be discharged tomorrow." He declared solemnly.

In her panicked state, it took Mrs. Anderson several seconds to process that what she had just heard was good news. Blaine couldn't help but burst out in giggles as the realization and relief washed over his mother's features. His fit of hysterics, however, was short-lived as it was abruptly cut off with a muttered "ow" when she hit the back of his head with her soft leather purse.

"Don't. Don't pull that kind of crap with me." She scolded. "That was NOT funny."

"Come on, Mother," he chuckled, "it was a little funny."

He didn't miss the smile that tugged lightly at the edges of her lips.


Several hours later, Blaine was all set to go home. His things were packed and the hospital bed made in spite of Doctor St. James' insistence that it wasn't necessary since the staff would turn over the room promptly after his discharge anyway. But Blaine had folded the sheets and straightened the pillows anyway. He hated troubling others and always tidied up after himself; left no mess for others to clear. To him, it was simply basic manners.

He tried, much to St. James' horror, to locate Sebastian and Santana before he left. Unfortunately, they were both on shift and while he managed to give Nurse Lopez and hug and quick peck on the cheek, he had to settle for leaving Doctor Smythe a note at the reception.

As he exited the glass sliding doors of Midwestern Medical, his arm slung reassuringly around his mother's narrow shoulders, his mind was racing as it had been since his last conversation with his Sebastian: "Trust me, I can empathise." What was he referring to? Being gay? Having a problematic family background?

Blaine didn't know, but he sure wanted to find out.


Dear Sebastian

I'm sorry I couldn't catch you for a goodbye before I left. You are currently on shift, which is why I am scribbling this on a napkin while Santana is watching me write this with a weird smirk and as she breathes down my neck. It's creepy.

Okay, she's gone now. Anyway I wanted to thank you for being awesome these past few days. You made a hospital stay bearable, so kudos.

I was hoping we could be friends. Us Potterheads (nearly wrote 'Potheads'. Oops. Bahahaha) best stick together, eh? You may be a Slytherin (AND a Dark Lord worshipper), which is far from ideal, but I'm willing to look past that, my friend.

Stay in touch,

Blaine :D

987 654 3210 (just kidding, my real number's on the other side of this. TURN OVER.)


"TANA!" Sebastian bellowed "I KNOW you have the other sheet of the napkin with the number on it. HAND IT OVER. NOW."