"Where's mine?" Pandora's bright blue eyes sparkled. She tilted her head, her hair swaying with the movement.
"T-there is one," Snape stammered, his throat bobbing.
He reached into his small bag, rummaging for a while before carefully taking out a clear yet roughly carved jade bangle. There were also some crooked little nicks along its edge. "This... this is for you... but I haven't finished carving it yet..."
"Give it to me." Pandora boldly held out her hand, and Snape gently placed the bangle in her palm. "Let's go, let's head back."
The Three Broomsticks' door closed again, shutting out the cold. Outside, the wind howled, mixed with sleet that rattled against the wooden door. Snape instinctively pulled his robes tighter but couldn't help but shiver.
The group trudged along the slightly muddy path towards Hogwarts. Abbott had already pulled Barty Jr. ahead, walking quickly far in front.
Passing a small puddle, Snape inadvertently glanced at his reflection in the water, seeing his somewhat tired and flustered face. He couldn't help but lament the ill effects of drinking.
He secretly made a resolution: from today onwards, no more alcohol!
All the way, Pandora seemed completely absorbed by the jade bangle.
One moment she would hold the bangle up to the sunlight, squinting to examine it carefully, and the next she would gently tap it with her finger, making the bangle emit a soft, mellow sound.
By the time the grand, wrought-iron gates of Hogwarts appeared before them, the jade bangle was already on Pandora's slender wrist.
"Is there anything special about this?" She moved closer to Snape. The cold wind howled, blowing her hair around, and its ends brushed his shoulder, carrying a faint, clean scent.
"I carved many of those ancient runic symbols of protection that we saw in the secret passage near the library into the bangle," Snape whispered, blushing. "I tried to combine it with the Shield Charm, but for a long time, I didn't make much progress."
They walked up the long, uphill path leading to the castle, stepped onto the stone stairs, and their footsteps echoed in the empty Entrance Hall.
As soon as they sat down in the Great Hall, Snape reached into his small bag again, rummaging and pulling out several broken, curved pieces of opal. These fragments had jagged edges and had lost their original luster.
"The one on your wrist is the only successful one," he whispered.
"How come I never saw you making this?" Pandora turned sideways, her blue eyes full of curiosity.
"I did it secretly," Snape said, uncomfortably tugging at his collar, feeling embarrassed. "I wanted to give you a surprise."
He paused, then continued, "If it's hit by a spell or a physical attack, it can instantly raise a shield to protect the wearer."
"You know, I can't always be there watching you when you're experimenting. Sometimes I have to go out, like next week, I have some business and will need to leave Hogwarts."
"Cast a spell on me and try it out." Before the words fully left her mouth, Pandora suddenly stood up, eagerly saying.
"No, I haven't tried it on a person yet," Snape quickly waved his hands, shaking his head to refuse her. "No one has worn this bangle to test it."
"What are you afraid of? Come on." Pandora pulled out her wand. "Just cast a Disarming Charm on me and see."
Snape hesitated, looking around, and saw Mrs. Norris chasing a small furball into the Great Hall.
Filch walked behind Mrs. Norris with his hands behind his back, a rare smile on his face, gleefully watching her movements with affectionate eyes.
Mrs. Norris crouched low, her paw pads silently building up power on the flagstones, her rear swaying from side to side, and her tail held high. The next second, she suddenly pushed off with her hind legs, pouncing on the furball like a slingshot, then purring and rolling around on the ground, biting the furball.
"Hmm... alright, but we need to change locations," Snape said helplessly.
The two avoided the crowds, headed upstairs, and with Moaning Myrtle's help, entered the Room of Requirement.
Myrtle had grown increasingly fond of this place. Now, besides Snape and Pandora, Abbott and Barty Jr. would occasionally come as well.
She always happily floated among everyone. In her words, she had never gathered with so many friendly people who didn't mock her. Although Snape expressed his disagreement, Myrtle insisted on calling them the "Alliance of the Disgruntled."
"I'm ready," Pandora said to Snape, standing in an empty space beside a long table.
"Alright—on the count of three—" Snape took a deep breath, raising his wand. "One, two, three—Expelliarmus!"
A silver spell "whooshed" out, but as soon as it reached Pandora, it collided with a transparent magical shield, scattering a beautiful burst of sparks. Her wand remained firmly in her hand.
"That's great!" she jumped up excitedly. "Next, let's try a Stunning Spell."
Under Pandora's persistent persuasion, Snape had no choice but to cast a Stunning Spell on her again.
The shield once again blocked the attack, and the light of the Stunning Spell slowly dissipated outside the shield.
"Keep going," Pandora said, satisfied. "Try a Blasting Charm."
"This is the last one," Snape said, frowning displeasedly. "Don't push it too far."
"Okay, last one." Pandora replied carelessly.
"Explosive Charm!" Snape cast the spell, controlling its force.
When the spell hit the shield, it was like an egg smashing against a rock, spreading out along the shield, and the heat from the spell even made Snape feel a burning sensation.
"Are you okay?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm fine," Pandora's eyes glinted mischievously. "How about we try a more powerful blasting curse next?"
"Stop right there," Snape put away his wand, saying sternly, "I gave you the bangle not for you to conduct more dangerous experiments on yourself. If you keep doing this, I'll take it back."
"Don't worry, I won't try that then," Pandora said with a playful smile, cheerfully. "I won't let myself get hurt."
"Really?" Snape asked suspiciously. "Are you sure?"
"Of course," Pandora said, smiling, as she moved closer. "I promise."
With that, she stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
Snape froze instantly, his mind a blank.
"Mistletoe," Pandora said, pointing to the ceiling above his head.
He unconsciously touched his cheek. He had never noticed before that there was such a large clump of mistletoe with white berries hanging above the laboratory.