The Threshold of Adulthood

December's weather turned exceptionally bitter. The biting wind howled, and snowflakes once again danced beyond the windows, battering the frost-laden panes. The surface of the Black Lake had long since frozen solid, gleaming with a cold, iron-blue light.

Christmas was nearly upon them. Hagrid's towering figure was bustling about the Great Hall again, single-handedly hauling in twelve fresh Christmas trees with great huffs and puffs.

The staircase banisters were entwined with lush green holly and shimmering tinsel; everlasting candles flickered inside the helmets of the suits of armor; and every few paces along the corridors, great bunches of mistletoe hung like clusters of tiny bells, swaying gently in the draft.

"Old Sluggy didn't invite you to his Christmas party?" Aber asked, his face full of surprise.

They were crossing a stretch of vegetable patches, treading on earth hardened by the freezing wind, heading toward the greenhouses.

As he walked, Aber turned to look at Snape beside him and teased, "Looks like he's finally seen through your evil nature."

"Indeed," Snape said with serene satisfaction. "So I've decided to spend the whole day with you that day and drag you into an airtight abyss."

"No—" Aber's eyes widened dramatically as he waved his hand vigorously. "You know I've got plans!"

"It's fine. I don't mind," Snape said with a grin. "I'll just keep watching you the whole time."

Aber shot Snape a disdainful glance, gave a soft snort, and quickened his pace ahead.

The gale that had persisted all week finally died down today, but the strange, thick fog had returned. It took them longer than usual to grope their way through the mist and find the greenhouse where their lesson was held.

"I'm serious," Aber said in a low voice. "Are you really planning to spend Christmas alone?"

They were now gathered around the stump of a gnarled Knobbly Vine, preparing to put on protective gloves. The Knobbly Vine was part of their curriculum this term.

As Aber pulled on his gloves, he jerked his chin to the side. Pandora stood nearby, focused on adjusting her anti-sap face shield.

"I'll call her over to keep you two company," Snape said, his voice muffled through his sap guard.

"I swear, I won't let you find me then—ow—" Aber said indignantly, but as he hurriedly put on his protective goggles, he let go too fast, and the goggles snapped back, smacking hard against his eye socket.

"Careful, mate," Snape said with a feigned long sigh. "Madam Pomfrey can't fix a ruined eyeball. If you lose it, you'll have to get a magical eye instead—"

"No more talking in here!" Professor Sprout's voice suddenly cut through, sharp and stern as she strode over briskly, interrupting their conversation. "You're falling behind. The others have already started—Pandora's already got a pod!"

They turned to look. Sure enough, Pandora was sitting there, blood dripping from her lip, several scratch marks raked across half her face—a rather gruesome sight.

Yet she was staring with keen interest at a small, pulsing, revolting object in her hand. The pod, about the size of a grapefruit, writhed and twisted in her grip.

"Alright, Professor, we're on it!"

Once the professor turned away, Aber quickly whispered to Snape, "I take back what I said. If you two spend the whole Christmas together, I'm afraid next time I'll only be able to greet you in pieces, lying quietly in a wooden box."

"Enough, hurry up... we'd better get on with it..." Snape rolled his eyes, looking exasperated. "Don't forget, my defensive magic is already better than Professor Gradelan's."

They took a few deep breaths and then plunged into dealing with the knobby stump in the middle.

The stump immediately reacted like a monster abruptly woken from sleep. Long, thorny vines shot up from its top, lashing through the air with a whistling sound.

One of the vines tangled itself in Aber's hair. Snape quickly batted it back with a pair of pruning shears.

Aber finally managed to grab two of the vines, twisting them together with both hands and tying them into a knot.

Among the tentacle-like branches, a small hole finally appeared. Snape seized the opportunity and thrust his arm inside. The hole instantly clamped down on his elbow like a mousetrap.

Seeing this, Aber yanked and twisted the vines with all his might, forcing the hole to open again. Snape finally pulled his arm out, clutching a pod just like the one Pandora had gotten.

At once, all the thorny vines retracted, and the knobby stump sat there quietly, like a lifeless piece of deadwood.

"Ahem," Aber choked on his own breath, coughing a few times before recovering. "How did she manage that alone? Terrifying."

"Good question," Snape said, eyeing the wriggling, pale-green caterpillar-like pod with distaste. "I've always wondered how her experiments work.

"It makes no sense. She can even make sage more vicious than a Biting Cabbage..."

"Don't be so timid—squeeze the juice out now, while it's fresh for the best quality!" Professor Sprout's voice rang out again. She paced through the greenhouse, constantly urging the students on.

"I've never seen..." Aber continued their interrupted conversation, pressing down on the pod with both hands, squeezing it with all his might to force the juice into a bowl.

"Though it scares me a bit, after visiting her experiment last time, I have to admit I've never seen any wizard or witch do what she does."

"If you've seen more, wouldn't that be even scarier?"

Snape flipped through The Complete Carnivorous Plants, looking for the correct method to extract juice from a Knobbly Vine pod.

"Don't waste your effort. Look at this. We have to pierce them with something sharp."

"Hand me that, Sevy." Aber reached out and took the pruning shears Snape passed him. "By the way, I heard that a few days after the holiday, we'll be able to attend Apparition lessons taught by a Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor. Interested?"

"Of course. I wish time would go faster," Snape said eagerly. "On January ninth next year, I'll turn seventeen."

"I'm in March," Aber set down the pod. "That means we can both take the training."

"How exciting—if we could—" Aber snapped his fingers to represent disappearing, a bright grin spreading across his face. "Once I learn it, when I go to Hogsmeade on weekends, I can go wherever I want..."

"Yeah," Snape said, lost in anticipation. "Then we'll be able to run around everywhere, and the Trace on us will disappear..."

Thanks to 控制车速 and 无风不起Lang for the monthly tickets.

Sorry, it's very likely I won't be able to get another chapter in today. Being on a business trip means endless work...