Ernie exhaled in relief when Theodore drank, thankful his friend wasn't resisting, in fact looked almost desperate for a few hours of blissful nothingness. He shifted to sit instead of kneeling and waited for the potion to take effect.
There was nothing he could say to comfort, nothing that could chase away the nightmarish visions inside Theodore's mind. He remained at his side, and when Theodore slumped toward him, Ernie caught him and kept him from falling.
"I've got you," he muttered, shifting Theodore in his arms, his friend's head falling onto his shoulder. "I'll protect you." He wrapped his arms around him, cradling him as if he could keep away the nightmares with the power of his own will. His cheek pressed against the top of Theodore's head and Ernie sighed, hoping that sleep would bring his friend some degree of peace.