It was night. Riley's bunk was right next to the window in the dormitory, so she could see the night sky carefully dotted with stars.

I sat up. The springs on my bed creaked. I sighed. I couldn't sleep. The clock read 3:34AM. She might as well go down to the common room and have a nice chat with the portraits. Maybe she could smuggle a hot chocolate from the house elves in the kitchens.

Standing up, I realized how cold it was. The air was moist and thick, like how it felt outside after it rained. Callie sat up in her bunk diagonal from mine.

Her hair was frizzy, and poking out in all directions. "Riley? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." I replied in a hushed voice.

"What are you doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep," I replied, keeping it short.

"Ah," Callie nodded, dragging a hand through her hair with a little bit of effort. "If you're going into the common room, mind if I join you? It's much too cold in here."

I wrinkled my nose. "Isn't it? It's weird. Of course, though, I was actually planning on snagging some hot chocolate from the house elves..." I trailed off.

"Mmm, sounds delicious. Can I come?"

"Absolutely! The more, the merrier, right?"

"Awesome!"

Evie stirred in her sleep.

"I reckon we should keep the talking to a minimum until we get out of the dorms..." Callie said, glancing at Posy, who flipped onto her back, and Caroline, who was stiff as a board.

I nodded, and headed for the stairs, before stopping and taking a few steps back, and reaching for my wand which I had stashed under my pillow.

Callie seemed to think it was a good idea, for she reached for hers also; hers was balanced carefully on the baseboard of the floor.

"Please don't tell anyone where I put it... Posy threatened to decorate it in glitter."

"I won't," I grinned. "Though that sight..."

Callie rolled her eyes at me. "Anyway, why do you think it's so cold? It's a bit infuriating... No matter what you do, it's freezing in here. How those four could sleep through it..." She finished shaking her head.

"It's completely mental. Maybe someone messed up a charm? Or the dementors could have gotten into the castle-"

"Thanks for those nightmares."

"Sorry. Just stating the facts." I said, sliding onto the couch in the common room. "Or-"

"No! No more! Nope!"

I laughed at her response. "Well, about that hot chocolate,... Can we go?"

"Ooh! Right! I need some warmth right now... Is it possible its getting colder?"

"I reckon the castle's slowly floating towards Antarctica, that's a reasonable explanation."

"Very. Lumos," Callie whispered, tucking some hair behind her ear. The tip of her wand lit up like a light bulb.

"Brilliant! How'd you do that?"

Callie shrugged. "It's a simple spell, I saw some older students doing it. Just say Lumos."

"Lumos," I said, holding my wand up. The tip glowed. "There's my first spell learned at Hogwarts!" I cheered, throwing my hands up. My wand flew out of my hand, and out the entrance to the common room. I heard the wood bang against the stairs as it fell.

"Smooth," Callie laughed, dragging me out the portrait hole, and down a few steps. "Where'd it go?"

"Well its glowing, so it shouldn't be hard to find."

"Do you see it then?" Callie watchfully moved her wand over each step, taking steps backward but being careful so as she wouldn't fall.

I leaned over the banister, looking down. I sure hoped my wand hadn't taken a fall down there. I heard a gasp.

I turned in time to see Callie's foot slip, and her slip around the corner. I was much higher up on the staircase, so from where Callie had been standing, if she took two steps back I wouldn't be able to see her.

I jumped down the stairs, running to see if she was okay. "Callie?" As I turned the corner, I saw a peculiar sight. It seemed like just when Callie would have fallen, Pierre randomly showed up to catch her.

"Whoa. Pierre? What're you doing?" I asked.

"See, I was in the next hall over, trying to find out where the water was coming from, but then a wand rolls towards me. So, you know, I picked it up, 'cause why not? And then I started walking towards the stairs to see who'd dropped it, and then this girl randomly falls on me! I mean, I know I'm handsome-"

"Oh, so you found Riley's wand?" Callie said, standing up.

"Wait. Hold on- you said something about water?" I said, fidgeting a bit.

"Oh yeah! There's loads of it pouring from the lavatory!" Pierre said, handing me my wand.

"Why?" Callie said, going back to trying to untangle her hair as she had been when she first woke up.

"Well, that's why I was investigating! I felt like Sherlock Holmes!"

"Where's the water then?" Callie said.

"Just around the corner, really. The water is bloody freezing."

"Oh! Do you think that's why it's so cold in the dormitories?"

"I don't know... Maybe. It seems kind off, since heat rises and all."

"Yes, but there's no heat."

"Good point."

"Care to come, then?" Pierre said with a grin.

"I will, it'll be like an adventure!" Callie said grinning.

"What about you, Riley?" Pierre asked.

"Maybe. How much water is there?"

"Not much, maybe three inches."

"I guess I'll come then."

Pierre grinned. "Awesome! We have an investigation team! ...And I get to be the leader!"

Callie laughed and rolled her eyes. "Let's go then!" She turned and slipped down the hall, towards where the water was.