CoS: after the deathday party

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 111374

I've been re-reading CoS and came across something that has bugged me for a
while. After the trio leaves NHN's party in the dungeon and Harry hears the
basilisk's voice, they end up on the 2nd floor. Here they find the writing
on the wall. At the same time as NHN party, the Halloween feast is going on,
and the rest of the school is in the great hall. When the trio finds the
writing (and Mrs. Norris) they hear 'hundreds of feet climbing the stairs'
CoS US ed. PB pg139. At that point Draco makes his comment to the
muggleborns.

We know that Gryffindor and Ravenclaw have their dorms in the towers,
Hufflepuff's are through a door off the entrance hall, and Slytherin's are
in the dungeons. What was Malfoy doing 2 floors from the entrance to his
common room at that time of night? The trio were probably at NHN party for
about an hour or so. 8 isn't exactly late for the students to be around the
castle, but why's Malfoy wandering?


"Steve"