"Cheers!" The crisp clinking of glasses echoed in the warm, cozy cabin.
Their glasses lightly touched in the air, and butterbeer foam splashed, speckling the wooden table.
Snape and Abbott tilted their heads back, heartily taking large gulps of the hot butterbeer. Pandora sipped daintily, her eyes crescent-shaped with a smile, a bit of foam clinging to her lips.
But next to them, Barty Jr., after a symbolic clink of his glass, uncomfortably withdrew his hand without bringing the cup to his mouth.
"Abbott, I'm sorry I didn't get you a gift," Barty Jr. said, his face full of embarrassment. "I didn't know today was your birthday."
Abbott laughed heartily, "Oh, what are we being so formal for? I don't need anything anyway!"
He nudged Barty Jr. with his arm, then affectionately draped an arm over his shoulder. "O.W.L.s are coming up soon, and for someone as studious as you to still make time to come, that's more than enough! Back then, I was completely listless, no thoughts for anything, including studying."
"Then I'll make it up to you with a gift later," Barty Jr. said shyly.
"No, no need," Abbott said, even making a motion to push Barty Jr.'s glass away. "Come on, drink! Don't make me feed you!"
"I'll do it myself, I'll do it myself," Barty Jr. quickly broke free from Abbott, picked up his glass, and took a big gulp, choking and coughing.
"I didn't get Abbott a gift either," Pandora said softly, gently setting down her glass. "He specifically told me not to get him one. I had wanted to prepare something nice for him."
"Haha, don't bother," Snape chuckled. "He wants to exempt you from all future gifts too."
"Anyway, Barty, how are your O.W.L. preparations coming along?" Snape turned to Barty Jr. and asked.
"Oh, I'm not quite ready yet," Barty Jr. said, anxiously rubbing his hands, his expression a bit distracted. "There are too many books and spells to memorize."
"All the professors keep stressing the importance of O.W.L.s, and there's so much homework. I really wish they'd stop talking about it..."
"Relax, Barty," Snape gently patted his arm. "Look at everyone at this table; if Abbott can pass his O.W.L.s, you'll definitely be fine."
"Hey—" Abbott protested, tapping his beer glass on the table. "I read books often too, you know!"
"Stop babbling, the books you read don't even have many words in them." Snape scoffed, then turned and looked seriously at Barty Jr. "If there's anyone in your year who can pass all twelve O.W.L.s, Barty, I believe it's definitely you."
"I'm not very confident," Barty Jr. tightened his grip on his glass, whispering without conviction, "I sometimes fall asleep in Professor Binns's class."
"What?" Abbott looked at Barty Jr. in disbelief, spilling a bit of butterbeer from his hand. "Professor Binns, asleep, and occasionally—how do those words go together?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"You'll definitely pass, I guarantee it," Snape said with a smile. "I'll write to you this summer to congratulate you on passing your exams."
"If, during the summer, your father takes you to visit other Ministry of Magic officials," Snape leaned his head close to Barty Jr.'s ear, lowering his voice mysteriously, "for example, the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Cornelius Fudge, when he praises you, you can tell him—"
"'Yes, I'm also very proud of my father. I think he'll be the next Minister for Magic. Would you support him, sir?'"
"Fudge wants to be Minister for Magic too?" Barty Jr. asked confusedly.
"He probably doesn't yet," Snape said meaningfully, "but there's no harm in telling him."
---
After finishing the butterbeer, Abbott stood up and went lightly to the bar to buy more drinks.
He proudly showed Madam Rosmerta the glittering new watch on his wrist, studded with tiny diamonds, and secretly tapped his wand on the counter, signaling for stronger drinks like sherry and rum that only adult wizards could consume.
Holding the higher-proof drinks, their laughter had a hint of intoxication as they clinked glasses.
After a few more rounds, Snape's eyes were a bit blurry, and a faint blush colored his cheeks.
"Oh, right... Barty, I remember you saying you have a house-elf, didn't you?" Snape asked, squinting.
"Yes," Barty Jr. was also a bit drunk, his eyes glazed. "Her name is Winky. Why?"
"It's like this," Snape said, leaning slightly forward. "I heard that house-elves occasionally meet each other. If Winky knows the Black family's house-elf, could you ask Winky to keep an eye on their house-elf's movements?"
"For example, if Winky hasn't seen the Black family's house-elf for a long time, write me a letter."
"Okay..." Barty Jr. mumbled in a daze, his head nodding uncontrollably. "But I don't know if Winky knows him. I'll ask her when I go home for the holidays..."
---
After drinking for a while longer, they swayed to their feet, ready to head back to the castle.
As they reached the door, Snape's steps were unsteady. Under the influence of alcohol, he seemed to suddenly remember something, foolishly stopping by the bar, fumbling a beautifully ribboned gift box from his robes.
"Madam," Snape said solemnly, handing the gift box to Madam Rosmerta, "Thank you for your hospitality. This is a special gift for you."
"It's not my birthday today," Madam Rosmerta asked with a knowing twinkle in her eye and a smile, "What's inside, Severus?"
Snape looked at her blurrily, feeling there was some other meaning in her smile, but his mind was a jumbled mess at the moment, with no capacity to figure it out.
"Moonstone face mask, made in France," he said. "I heard Nicolas Flamel's wife, Perenelle, loves using it. It can calm and soothe anxious moods, and it improves skin elasticity and radiance."
"Thank you, I'll use it well." Madam Rosmerta took the gift, exaggeratedly holding the box to her chest, but cast a meaningful glance at Snape, a cunning glint in her eyes.
"Alright then, see you later—"
Snape waved, stumbling as he turned.
Pandora stood before him, her large, light blue eyes smiling, her head tilted as she watched him, her golden hair gently swaying.
Just then, Abbott pushed open the pub door, and a biting cold wind swept in through the gap.
Snape shivered, startled, and his drunkenness instantly vanished.
---
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