The construction of the High Tower did not attract much attention. After all, it was still only a low stone building where the Black Lake met the Forest.
Only a handful of people noticed it, including Harry, Neville, and their friends.
In fact, after the Quidditch match, Hermione was the first to visit Will to discuss their studies and learn his study methods.
Then Ron actually followed Hermione over so he could copy her homework.
Harry sneaked over to escape Colin's pestering, and Neville came along with him.
As for Sylvia, she had known about the place from the start, but rarely visited. It was a little too far from Hogwarts Castle.
With more people coming, the High Tower was soon expanded to three stories.
The High Tower seemed to bear out Will's words: it would get taller eventually.
As December arrived, the weather turned bitterly cold. The mountains surrounding the school were gray and shrouded in ice and snow, while the lake's surface was as cold and hard as quenched steel. Frost covered the ground every morning, and shards of ice occasionally hung from the beech trees around the High Tower.
So they built several fireplaces inside the High Tower. Will even put together a simple kitchen and occasionally cooked himself.
"Impervius!" Hermione cast the spell on the wooden door on the High Tower's ground floor.
"Blimey, Fred and George's floor is much warmer than ours." Shivering, Ron stoked the fire a little higher.
"Hot air rises. That's basic common knowledge." Hermione rubbed her eyes, the dark circles beneath them painfully obvious. "Besides, they got here an hour ago. Of course it's warm when they're brewing potions."
As they spoke, the High Tower's door suddenly opened. No one was outside, and cold air came rushing in.
"Harry, shut the