Kiri slid down the wall, breathing heavily. The water was dripping out of her clothes steadily, forming a little pool around her. The professor's stuff lay on the ground, a little way away, her wand next to it. She sat there for a few seconds, just to get her breath back, then crawled over and picked up her wand. She struggled upright. Her wand arm felt as if it was made of lead - it was going to be sore in the morning, she knew it. With gentle movements, she began drying herself off.

As she was Vanishing the water on the floor, there were noises and movements at the low end of the staircase. Professor Lawson and the girl, both gasping, emerged from the water and stumbled up the stairs towards her. The professor was cradling his guitar like a baby, and he didn't seem to be paying any attention to his bleeding nose. The girl just stood there, hands on her knees, breathing hard.

They didn't spend much time talking. Kiri nodded. She would definitely go back to the common room. Her clothes were still sort of clammy, and she was cold. She indicated the mass of papers and books and boxes on the floor. "That's, er, most of your things, I think, Professor," Kiri said. "They should be dry. More or less, anyway," she amended. "I'll, er, be off to the common room now." She smiled at him weakly - even though he only seemed to have eyes for his guitar - and gave both of them a little wave, then walked away slowly. Her wet shoes squelched with every step.