Though progressing further into the Hospital Wing was the last thing he wanted to do, Julian took another step inside. Astoria was his friend. He wasn't going to be rude and leave like some cowardly Hufflepuff because his friend was sick. He could handle it. It wasn't like he was at risk to catch it now anyway. And yet the closer Julian got, the more he felt himself holding his breath, not wanting to come into contact with any of her germs. He knew was being foolish, yet he couldn't help it. It was an automatic reaction that he had no control over.
Gingerly, he sat in the chair (albeit at the very edge of it) that had been offered. He willed himself to relax, to school his features, to appear healthy for Merlin's sake. And he struggled to, because the headache was banging merrily along against his skull and his ears had started to buzz. Dear God, was he getting worse?
"I'm fine," he said shortly, still struggling to mask his unease as he scrambled to think of a position. He didn't want to lean back in the chair, and yet he didn't want to lean forward either. But sitting stiffly like this would surely raise suspicion...
After a moment, he settled for shifting to sit at an angle further away from her. Propping his arm on the chair's arm and his head in his hand, he asked, "More importantly, how are you? I came as soon as I heard."