October at Hogwarts was always swept by howling winds and torrential rain. A damp chill rode in with the storm, permeating the entire castle.
Colds suddenly became fashionable among the staff and students. In particular, several students in Defense Against the Dark Arts came down with severe fevers every day, and their numbers showed signs of rapidly increasing.
Umbridge suspected someone was up to something and ordered head nurse Madam Pomfrey to find a way to cure the students' strange fevers. However, there was little effect, because the symptoms seemed impossible to pin down. Even after being cured, they could relapse.
As a result, Fred and George's Fever Fudge sold like hotcakes, earning them a huge pile of Galleons. They were cheerful every day, as though celebrating a holiday. They had clearly begun to enjoy the pleasures of making money and getting rich.
In such damp weather, the spots beside the Common Room fireplace became highly sought after. They were also the most crowded areas, with many students liking to sit by the fire, warm themselves, chat, and do their homework.
Albert had once liked sitting there to warm up as well, but now he was more casual about it.
At that moment, he sat by a window in the Common Room. Though the heavy curtains blocked out the dampness from outside, this spot was still beyond the fireplace's reach. Few students came over, but Albert did not mind. He had brought a small heater himself, which spared him the cold and damp of the corner and kept him as warm as if he were by the fireplace, without anyone bothering him.
Tom lay sprawled on a cushion, watching Albert write something with his Quill. After opening his mouth in a yawn, he flopped back down and continued resting.
Hearing