At first, the Fat Lady had assumed that the three children who went wandering every night would at most stroll around the castle and grab a midnight snack.
Since she often went visiting other portraits herself, she turned a blind eye to it.
But today, Vincent, known as one of Gryffindor's outstanding students, had gone out right under her nose with a young girl.
"Merlin's beard, they couldn't be going on a date, could they?"
By the time she realized it, the two figures had already vanished down the Seventh Floor corridor.
"Hopefully that scene won't happen again..."
The Fat Lady muttered to herself for a while before abruptly disappearing from the portrait.
Gryffindor's gatekeeper had gone visiting other portraits again.
Astronomy Tower.
Vincent regretted coming here as the night wind blew around him.
Miss Granger, who was usually so serious and always said they must not break school rules, had somehow grown more and more excited.
This was not a good sign.
He knew all too well what people who constantly suppressed their emotions without an outlet could become once they had a chance to let loose.
That had been him for the eleven years before he came to Hogwarts.
"Don't scream. You'll bring Filch over."
Hermione, standing by the edge of the tower, turned and glared at him. "I wouldn't do something that childish."
Vincent shrugged. "This place is nice, but stay too long and you'll catch a cold."
She smoothed down her windblown, even messier hair. "Next place."
"Oh."
At the entrance to the Ravenclaw dormitory on the Seventh Floor.
"Is a Squib a wizard or a Muggle?"
"A Muggle."
"Wrong."
"Then a wizard."
"Wrong."
After failing twice in a row, Hermione did not look discouraged in the slightest. "Neither!"
"Click—"
The dormitory door opened