I followed, disturbed as water flooded my shoes and soaked them. I felt like sulking now- I hate it when my socks are wet.
Callie was parading down the hall holding her wand, lit up brighter than an LED light. Pierre was grinning so big, he looked as if his jaw would unhinge. He was peeking around corners, hoping to find the culprit of the water.
I shivered. The air was growing colder and colder, like we were walking into an icebox. We opened the door to the lavatory, and my jaw dropped. It was frozen.
Four boys were sliding around on the ice, and she recognized them immediately. One was Teddy Lupin, who was spinning around the sinks, whooping with joy, then there was Cliff Chamberlin, who had helped her find her classes earlier, and then there was Ace. Ace didn't seem to be able to stay upright, every time he stood up, he fell back down.
The last boy I couldn't quite identify, but I didn't need to, for he shouted "I AM KING JAMES, BOW BEFORE ME!" As he slid over to Cliff, but tripped over Ace on the way. He must be Harry Potter's eldest son, James Sirius.
Pierre's face looked as if it might melt off. He took off as fast as he could, joining in the fun. Callie seemed shocked, she didn't move a centimeter. I took a cautious step forward, grabbing to the wall so I didn't slip.
"What is the meaning of this?" Aislan was now also standing in the doorway, next to Callie who still hadn't moved. Isla was behind them in the hallway.
James skated over. "Hey, it's a party! Everyone's here! Teddy, Cliff, Ace, Pierre, Riley, Callie... And now little miss Aislan and Isla are joining the celebration!" He whooped and slid off, doing a fancy spin, but unfortunately running into a wall and crumpling to the ground.
Teddy rolled his eyes as he slid over smoothly. "Hello, ladies. Nice to see you again. So, we won't have any problem with any of the professors finding out about this?"
I pushed myself carefully away from the wall. "How did you do this, anyway?"
"It was James," Cliff said, grinning. "He turned all the faucets on and then used a freezing charm. It was brilliant, actually."
Ace pushed himself over to the group, still unable to stand up. "It was amazing, if you had seen it. Like something out of a movie."
"Ace? I 'annot believe you would involve yourself in such nonsense as 'his!" Isla said, crossing her arms. "I'm 'eading back to the dormitories, who is joining me?"
Aislan nodded. "Definitely me. Although... This ice looks a bit fun? Maybe we could stay just for a few minutes..."
Isla seemed memorized by the ice suddenly, just as soon as Aislan said that.
Cliff laughed a laugh that sounded like rust rubbing against a glass jar. "I'm going though. I forgot I have to copy Eric's essay for History of Magic while he's asleep." He grabbed his jacket and left.
"I think... I think I'm going to go too. I don't want to get in trouble, and it's also really freezing down here. This," Callie gave me a pointed glare, that somehow held a tiny amused smile. "is definitely not hot chocolate." And with that, Callie left too.
Now, the lavatory held me, wobbling unsteadily on the ice as my feet slipped, Ace, scooting around, Pierre, sliding and having the time of his life, Teddy, swinging himself around one of the support beams, James crumpled on the ground and Isla and Aislan, transfixed by the ice.
After about ten more minutes, Ace decided that his robes were wet and cold enough and decided to haul James back up to the Gryffindor dormitories (or just leave him outside the door) then go back to bed. Pierre was now pulling me around, second in a train line led by Teddy. Isla was now asleep, slumped against a wall, and Aislan was trying to convince Teddy to melt the water.
"Teddy! You're going to get in trouble! You will lose points for Gryffindor! You might even be expelled!"
He laughed. "So? This is great fun! And in the end, it'll only be ten points and detention. Enjoy it!" He grabbed her hands and started sliding before she could protest.
I slipped over to Isla. "Isla? Wake up," I poked her.
She opened her eyes, never asleep in the first place. "What is it?"
"I don't know. You fell asleep on ice. I thought you might need waking up."
She shrugged and pulled herself to a standing position. "I did. I'm turning in now. Night all." She gave a shake of the hand to everyone, and headed out. Teddy, however, didn't like the idea of her going anywhere.
"C'mon, Isla! Have some fun! All you did was sleep!" He grabbed her wrists and turned around, putting them on his shoulders and sliding back to Pierre and Aislan. "Conga line!" He called, laughing.
I leaned against the wall for a moment, then turned. "I'm gonna go though, guys. I have a potions paper due tomorrow. It's time for last minute- late night writing. See ya." I gave a loose salute, and scooted out the door.
The hallway was colder than the lavatory, which was strange. I didn't really mull over it too much, just pulled the sleeves of my robe down tighter and changed my grip on my wand from eggshell cracking to rock disintegrating.
As soon as my foot hit the first step, my first problem at Hogwarts occurred.
A loud, raspy voice rang out. Actually, it sounded more like a crowd, a crowd all yelling the same phrase in hoarse voices. All in the same tone, all the same frightening warning.
"Watch out, young Gryffindor. No one's safe. No one's safe from the monster below."
