"My turn?" Pandora's bright blue eyes sparkled. She tilted her head slightly, and her hair swayed with the motion.
"Yes, yes, of course," Snape stammered, his throat bobbing nervously.
He reached into his small bag and rummaged for a while before carefully pulling out a bangle of clear jade. Its texture was pure, but the carving was rough, and there were several crooked little etchings along the edge. "This... this is for you... though I haven't finished carving it yet..."
"Give it here." Pandora held out her hand without hesitation. Snape gently placed the bracelet in her palm. "Come on, let's head back."
The door of the Three Broomsticks closed behind them once more, shutting out the chill. Outside, the cold wind howled, mixed with tiny grains of snow that crackled as they hit the wooden door. Snape instinctively pulled his cloak tighter, but he couldn't help shivering all the same.
The group trudged along the muddy path, their feet sinking now and then as they made their way back toward Hogwarts. Abbott had already linked arms with little Barty, the two of them walking briskly far ahead.
When they passed a shallow puddle, Snape glanced down and caught his own reflection, his face looked a little haggard, and perhaps even flustered. He sighed inwardly, realizing once again how troublesome drinking could be.
He made a silent decision: From today on, no more alcohol.
Throughout the walk, Pandora seemed wholly absorbed by the bracelet.
She held it up to the light, squinting at it curiously, then tapped it lightly with her finger to make it give off a soft, mellow ring.
By the time the grand wrought-iron gates of Hogwarts loomed before them, the bracelet was already around her slender wrist.
"Does it have any special properties?" she asked, leaning closer to Snape. The cold wind whipped her hair into the air, the ends brushing his shoulder, carrying with them a faint, clean fragrance.
"I carved into it many of those ancient runic symbols we found in that passage near the library, the ones that represent protection," Snape murmured, his face reddening. "I've been trying to combine them with Protego, but for a long time, there wasn't much progress."
They walked up the long sloping path to the castle, climbing the stone steps as their footsteps echoed through the empty entrance hall.
Once they sat down in the Great Hall, Snape reached into his bag again and took out several broken crescent-shaped pieces of opal. The shards were jagged at the edges and had lost their original luster.
"The one you're wearing is the only successful one," he said quietly.
"I've never seen you working on this," Pandora turned to him, her blue eyes full of curiosity.
"I did it in secret," Snape said awkwardly, tugging at his collar. "I wanted to surprise you."
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "If you're ever attacked, by spell or by physical means, it can instantly raise a shield to protect the wearer.
"You know, I can't always be there to watch over you when you're experimenting. Sometimes I have to leave, like next week, for instance, I'll be away from Hogwarts."
"Try casting a spell at me, then-" Pandora said suddenly, bouncing to her feet, her tone filled with excitement.
"No, I can't. I've never tested it on a person before," Snape said quickly, waving his hands in protest. "No one's ever worn it during a test."
"Oh, come on," Pandora said, pulling out her wand. "Just try Expelliarmus on me."
Snape glanced around uncertainly, and saw Mrs. Norris chasing a tiny puffball into the Great Hall.
Filch, with his hands clasped behind his back, actually had a rare smile on his face as he followed behind her, watching her movements with fondness.
Mrs. Norris crouched low, her paws silently pressing against the stone floor. Her hindquarters wiggled from side to side, tail raised high. In the next instant, she kicked off with her hind legs, launching forward like a slingshot, pouncing on the puffball and rolling across the floor with it while making low, rumbling growls.
"Well... all right then. But we'll have to change locations," Snape said helplessly.
They avoided the crowds, heading upstairs, and, with Moaning Myrtle's help, entered the Room of Requirement.
Myrtle had grown quite fond of this place. Nowadays, aside from Snape and Pandora, Abbott and little Barty sometimes came too.
She always floated cheerfully among them, saying she had never before gathered with so many kind people who didn't laugh at her. Despite Snape's protests, Myrtle insisted on calling their group the "League of the Disheartened."
"I'm ready!" Pandora said, standing on a clear patch of floor near the long table.
"All right, on the count of three-" Snape took a deep breath, raised his wand, and said, "One, two, three, Expelliarmus!"
A silver flash shot forward, but just before it reached Pandora, it struck an invisible magical shield, bursting into a shower of brilliant sparks. Her wand remained firmly in her hand.
"That's amazing!" she cried, jumping up with excitement. "Let's try a Stunner next!"
Under Pandora's persistent urging, Snape reluctantly cast a Stupefy at her.
Again, the shield blocked the spell, the red light fading slowly across its surface.
"Next," Pandora said with satisfaction, "try Bombarda."
"This is the last one," Snape said with a frown. "Don't push your luck."
"Okay, last one," Pandora replied breezily.
"Bombarda!" Snape cast the spell, holding back much of his power.
When the explosion hit the shield, it spread outward like an egg cracking against stone, rippling through the barrier. The heat of the spell was so intense that Snape could feel a wave of warmth on his face.
"Are you all right?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm fine," Pandora said, her eyes glittering dangerously. "How about we try a Confringo next?"
"That's enough," Snape said firmly, lowering his wand. "I gave you that bracelet to protect you, not so you could use it for dangerous experiments. If you keep this up, I'll take it back."
"Relax, I won't push it," Pandora said playfully, grinning. "Don't worry, I won't let myself get hurt."
"Really?" Snape asked suspiciously. "You're sure?"
"Of course," Pandora smiled, stepping closer. "I promise."
Then she rose on tiptoe and gently kissed his cheek.
Snape froze on the spot, his mind going completely blank.
"Mistletoe.." Pandora said softly, pointing up at the ceiling.
He raised a hand to his cheek instinctively. He had never noticed before that there was such a large bunch of mistletoe, adorned with white berries, hanging above the laboratory.