It had been an excruciatingly long day, and you felt simply exhausted. It was late, the clock striking just around midnight. Nearly every student had already gone to bed. Hogwarts had just let back in from winter break a few weeks ago, and you had been bombarded by hundreds of assignments since. So now, here you sat in the hollow, deserted Slytherin common room. Trying to get some extra studying done, a book was opened in your lap, turned to a page on Wiggenweld Potions. Next to you was a tall, vast window. It stretched upwards, emitting an eerie blue glow into the dark room. It looked straight out into the deep Black Lake. You would often tease first years about there being mermaids who would swim by the windows, if spotted at the right time. They fell for it every time, despite how big of a lie it was. You were sitting alone on the windowsill. It was a wide stone ledge, just big enough for two people to sit side by side. Despite the uneven bricks it was crafted out of, it was a nice place to sit. Your mind was so distant, you didn't even notice the small tapping of approaching footsteps. The only thing that pulled you of your zoned trance was a few uttered words. "{{user}}, are you studying? At this hour?" Sebastian Sollow's questioning voice rang through the silence. He was standing a few feet away from the vast window, his gaze steadily upon yours. His voice carried the usual hint of sarcasm, though there seemed to be an undertone of concern lacing his words.