The next days definitely were not the most pleasant ones, but I could finally say that my life was getting back to normal. Every morning I started classes, spending my breaks in my office or the library to read and check students' essays. There were moments which I spent completely by myself, but sometimes my students came to me, asking about this or that.

However, one thing had not changed: Neville was still avoiding me, every now and then he even resigned from coming to the Great Hall during meal times. Sometimes I could see him through the window of my office – he was taking care of his plants or talking to Hargid. I smiled at those moments but it would be hard to pretend that I did not miss him.

Truth be told, we had not been friends when we had both been at school, but when I had arrived there at the beginning of the school year, we had become quite close, and now, he was my best friend. It was hard to watch him pretend not to know me.

Still, I had lots of work and I had to focus on it, no matter what. The fact, that now I rarely talked to Neville, gave me more free time and freedom. I had caught up on reading and devoted more of my time to the young people.

After that difficult period when I had still seemed to be a new colleague, not much older than them, I had finally begun to get their respect and trust. It added some new flavour to my job, and I had to admit that I felt pride deep in my heart. The satisfaction granted now by my job made it much more pleasant to get up every morning.

I did not feel lonely, even though I was alone much more often. Finally, after all those months, I had finally understood what the job of a teacher was all about.

A trip to Hogsmeade took place last week before Christmas. The castle grounds were now covered with a thick layer of fluffy snow, and so were the roads and paths of the village. It was nice to walk down Hogsmeade's High Street with my hands stuffed into the pockets to protect them from the cold, as the snow crunched pleasantly with my every step.

At some point I felt a hit to my back and a sound of terror. I raised my brows turning back, and noticed a couple of the third-years, an expression of sheer panic frozen upon their faces.

"We... we're sorry, Professor!" muttered one of them. He was still holding a snowball in his hand; one of them had just hit my back, right between the blades. "It was... not intentional..."

I could not help but laugh. I still remembered perfectly well when I had been playing with my friends in exactly the same way. Besides, this weather invited everyone to play like that – no wonder the boys had come up with that idea.

"It's no problem," I replied, "but be more careful so you don't hit Professor McGonagall."

They seemed to be even more horrified than until now, but I could only grin in their direction and leave. Sometimes I missed those years when I had still been allowed to have snowball fights, but now... now, I was required to be more serious. Besides, even if I were allowed to, I would have no-one to fight with.

Therefore I went down the crowded street, dodging Hogwarts students and the villagers. There were some carolers standing on the corner; their voices made the stroll more pleasant.

After some time I decided to visit Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, where I could browse some quills. The man standing at the counter smiled broadly.

"Well, well, well!" he cheered, approaching me. "And whose pretty face is it? I haven't seen you here for ages, Miss Shirley!"

I smiled back. Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop was one of those I had visited quite frequently when I had been to Hogsmeade as a student. I had a tendency to write a lot, which usually resulted in the fact that I needed new quills really often. Besides, I had always loved quills.

"I got a job as a teacher at Hogwarts," I replied, not being able to conceal the pride in my voice. "I'm teaching History of Magic now."

The man burst out laughing.

"The old Binns finally retired, eh?" he joked, then led me towards the counter where he could present the newest quills to me.

I spent some time in there, and when I left, I already carried a bag with a couple of new quills, lots of parchment, which I used in even greater amounts now than when I had still been at school, and some bottles of ink of various colours.

The shop was not far from Zonko's Joke Shop, which was – as always – full of students. I had heard that the owner had signed a contract with the Weasley's store in London, thanks to which his sales were several times as big as they had previously been. No wonder, I though, after all it was a bit of some good magic... and some of the jokes were really hilarious (though, I really preferred when my students were not leaving the classroom, spilling blood all around because of their admiration for Skiving Snackboxes).

I spent the next several minutes walking down the streets, and finally, when I felt cold, I turned to the Three Broomsticks.

The inn was decorated with a couple of Christmas trees, which brushed against the ceiling, as well as with colourful lights and never-melting ice. I smiled softly, then headed to my favourite corner. To my surprise, I realised that it was already taken – usually the customers chose their places closer to the centre of the room.

However, the people sitting there were no strangers. After a moment one of them noticed me and raised his hand to greet me.

"Darcie! Come here!" called Neville. The smile on my face widened and I approached him. Neville stood up and pulled a chair out for me in a really gentleman-like way. Only when I sat down did he take his own seat.

I turned my head and grinned at Hagrid, sitting right next to us and slouching slightly to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling.

"How are ya, Darcie," he greeted me. "Neville and I've been just talkin'..."

I noticed Neville sending a warning look to Hagrid. The latter cleared his throat rather unconvincingly.

"... uh, well..."

"Some of Hagrid's creatures sneak into the greenhouses and eat my plants," said Neville quickly. "I've been thinking since October about who was the one playing such trick on me... and it turned out that it was no student, but the animals!"

I laughed, and Neville stood up.

"I'll go and get you some beer," he suggested, and I nodded, saying thank-you.

When he walked away, I took off my gloves and scarf, and Hagrid looked at me inquisitively. I did not like it when he did that.

"All righ'?" he asked quietly, as though he did not want Neville to hear that. It surprised me quite a bit, because according to the official version, Neville had nothing to do with my accident. After all, no-one wanted any rumours about one of the teachers to spread across the school. And in that case, it would not be just one, but three of us. Because whether I wanted it or not, I had taken part in that duel, too.

"I'm perfectly fine," I reassured him, smiling, but Hagrid did not seem to be convinced. "I've never felt better in my life."

"Fer sure?" he asked, then glanced nervously towards Neville. "I've heard that Snape's bin followin' ye 'round."

My heart jumped up to my throat. I had almost forgotten my conversation with Snape, but as soon as Hagrid mentioned that name again, the whole situation stood right in front of my eyes.

"Uh... yeah, he's been helping me," I answered, maybe a bit too quickly.

Hagrid cast one more inquisitive look at me, then straightened up a little, nodding.

"Yeah... yeah," he mumbled, then slapped the table with his enormous hand. The table creaked loudly. "I'll be goin' then. Need teh take care of the Bowtruckles, ye know. Feelin' cold lately. Tell Neville... or I'll tell 'im."

He waved me goodbye, then approached Neville, standing at the counter at that moment, then bowed down to whisper something to him. I frowned slightly, then closed my eyes to calm down. No. I will not let myself get back into that paranoia. Christmas was near... there were so many pleasant thoughts I could be focused on right now.

After a while Neville came back, putting a mug of hot butterbeer on the table in front of me. I smiled thankfully, then wrapped my hands around the mug. Its pleasant warmth immediately spread all over my body.

"We haven't had a chance for a proper talk for a while," I noticed hesitantly, not sure how Neville would react to my words.

"I had loads of work," he replied quickly, nervously turning his face away.

"I know, I know. The windows in my office overlook the greenhouses," I laughed, but I could see that my words had startled him a bit.

"Oh yeah? Really?" he asked, sounding as though he was quite terrified by that. "I must've forgotten. I'll try to remember it from now on. You know... just so I can look in that direction every now and then to greet you if I see you."

I took a sip of my beer, knowing that my words had immediately made that conversation embarrassing. For a moment I really wished to tell Neville about everything that had happened between me and Snape, but I resigned. I was not sure whether Neville wanted to hear that... besides, I did not want to think of it again.

"You had your responsibilities. It's good you pay so much attention to them," I smiled softly. "Your students love you... and that's what it's all about, right?"

Neville did not look satisfied having heard my answer, but at the same time a gentle tint of blush appeared upon his cheeks. It was obvious that he felt some kind of pleasure... but again, which teacher would not be proud, hearing that he was liked by his students?

We spent almost an hour like that, chattering casually about trivial matters. I felt much better and I could swear that Neville felt some kind of relief as well. The longer we talked, the more of that weird embarrassment between us vanished.

Finally, he stood up.

"I'm sorry, Darcie, but... there are some things I need to take care of," he said, putting on his coat and gloves. "I'll see you at school, yeah?"

"Sure," I answered, then started getting dressed, too.

We said our goodbyes and Neville headed one way, and I took the other path. I bought some gifts for my friends and family, strolled along the streets of the village, then decided to get back to the castle. Usually the students spent many long hours in Hogsmeade, especially when it was so little time left till Christmas, so when I walked down the path covered in snow, I met no-one who would be heading back to the castle, like me.

After half an hour I had already got to Hogwarts and brushed off my coat as it had started snowing when I was halfway back to the castle; I did not want Flich to roar at me for leaving tracks of mud everywhere.

Hardly ever was the castle so deserted – but to be honest, I really liked when it was so. It got even more mysterious than ever, yet at the same time so much closer to my heart. That was why I did not choose the shortest of ways back to my office; instead, I chose to hang around a bit, just like I had always used to back in the good, old days.

"Shirley!" Suddenly I heard a voice and it made me freeze.

"I think I am allowed to walk around the castle?" I asked dryly. "From what I know, I am a teacher. And I am not taking any forbidden shortcuts."

I turned back and faced Snape himself.

"You shouldn't have gone out at all," he drawled, then stuck some phial into my hand. "Pomfrey told me that you weren't so stupid as to dare leave the castle in your current state, but she must have overestimated your intelligence."

I opened my mouth to say something really unpleasant, but resigned, knowing that in spite of our argument, he was still doing his best to help me.

"I'm in a great condition," I assured him.

"You will say this to the Healers at St Mungo, when we send you there in pieces," he growled, then turned on his heel to leave.

Truth be told, I felt like doing exactly the same. And I had no idea why my body acted against my will, holding me there in place. My eyes were fixed upon the Potions Master's back as he marched briskly towards the stairs that led to the dungeons.

"Professor!"

I should not have called him, but I felt really bad knowing that I kept treating him so coldly while he actually cared for me. He did not stop, but his steps slowed down a little. After a moment of hesitation I approached him.

"I told you, Shirley, that I did not want to see your face again," he hissed, not even looking in my direction.

"Then close your eyes, sir," I answered before I bit my tongue. "I just wanted to apologise."

An awkward silence hung between us. I was not sure if I should be regretting my words, but I had a feeling that I had just said something right, something I should have said at least a couple of days before.

"You're the most insolent, arrogant and egocentric person I've had the displeasure to meet," I heard the answer. "And at the same so dumb that I've never known that a human being could be so far from being intelligent."

I blushed. Probably I had deserved all those invectives, but it did not change the fact that it was not that pleasant to listen to them.

"And yet, you're still helping me."

He did not answer, but he did not leave, either, even though it was the best moment for that. Somewhere over our heads Peeves kept knocking over some wardrobes, as judging from the noises coming from upstairs.

"Did anyone say that I was doing that for you?" asked Snape so quietly that I could hardly hear his words. I blushed even more.

"No..."

"Then how come you're so sure that I've been helping you, not doing a favour to someone else who cares about you and your life?"

I did not have any answer to his question.

"If you decided to use your brain for once, I wouldn't have to give it to you straight up," he added, then turned back, and soon I could hear his steps. To my surprise, though, I realised that he came to a halt after just a couple of seconds. "Come, Shirley. Unless you want to be found like this by Filch."