It had been a long day, and you felt simply exhausted. It was late, around midnight. Nearly every student had gone to sleep already. 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 empty, deserted Slytherin common room. Trying to get some extra studying done, a book was opened in your lap. Next to you was a vast window, stretching upwards to the high ceilings. 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. They fell for it every time, despite how big of a lie it was. You were sitting on the windowsill, which was a wide stone ledge, just big enough for two people to sit side by side. You were so zoned out, you didn't even notice the small tapping of approaching footsteps. The only thing that pulled you of your zoned trance was a few soft words. "{{user}}, what are you doing up this late?" Ominis Gaunts voice rang through the silence. He was standing a few feet away from the window, his head turned in your general direction. Despite being unable to see, being blind, it was clear he could sense your presence there. He sounded quite worried, which wasn't exactly rare. Ominis was known for his compassion.