Barnaby always wore three rings on his hand. They looked like some teenager's bizarre fashion statement, but considering the Dark magic items scattered all over his home, those three rings...
"What are you looking at?"
Pomona looked at Severus Snape, who was glaring at her.
"Where's your friend?" Pomona asked.
He seemed too angry for words and turned back to continue drinking his black coffee.
Pomona looked at Severus's "new friend," Carter, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He had just arrived and was chatting with Hagrid at the doorway.
Hagrid looked delighted, his eyes sparkling.
"Do you think Barnaby's rings are made of Goblin enchanted iron?" Pomona asked Snape.
He gave her a sidelong glance, then turned his gaze toward the Ravenclaw table as well.
Because of Carter's special relationship with the Goblins, Dumbledore and Snape believed he might know something about how Goblin items were made. The students therefore saw the Slytherin Head of House, who excelled at potions, constantly appearing together with the former Gryffindor Quidditch captain.
The first time people saw it, it was quite shocking. Once they got used to it, they "accepted" it. Pomona could swear that she had not put any heart-controlling plums in the jam she spread on her bread.
"No," Snape said. "They look more like human-made items."
"What do you think they do?" Pomona asked.
"How would I know?" he said coldly.
Pomona dropped the subject.
Just then, Hagrid came over to Pomona with steps that were both heavy and light.
"Good morning, Head of House," Hagrid said excitedly.
"Good morning, Hagrid," Pomona said, looking up. She had assumed Hagrid would find somewhere to sit.
"Is there something you need?" she asked, looking up at him again.
"Please wait," Hagrid said, then walked over to Dumbledore.
No one knew