Chapter 17
DISCLAIMER - None of these delightful characters are mine, all belong to JK Rowling.
The approach of Halloween brought an amber glow to the far away tree tops on the other side of the lake and ruffled its surface with ruffs of white lace as little waves skudded before the wind. Inside the castle, candles twinkled, and Hagrid brought pumpkin lanterns to the great Hall that gave off soft light and it looked to Luna as though the world was gilded.
Everywhere, there was talk of the Halloween feast and the Weasley twins, Ron's brothers, George and Fred talked of it as though it was better than Christmas and summer all rolled into one. They also promised some of the best fireworks to those who ordered with them early and this alone had produced an excited flurry among the other students.
Like everyone else, Luna was looking forward to her first Halloween at Hogwarts and even the snickering jeers of the Slytherins didn't dampen the atmosphere for her. Malfoy and his cronies had taken to whispering things like 'Where should you look for your dad? In the same place you lost your marbles!" whenever they met her but Luna hardly even heard them anymore.
She and Neville had plans to hatch their own frobble flies and Neville even had a luscious pot of the little insects' favourite herb, sage. Luna was really pleased, not many people believed in the pixie like frobble flies but Neville was open to trying and he said even if it didn't work, his gran loved sage and he was all for growing as much of it as might make a nice gift for her.
Also, things had gotten better with her guardian. In the days after the spanking, she had felt embarrassed around him, self conscious but gradually, the feeling passed. For one thing, though Luna half expected that he would treat her with censure, he was not harsh, he was just his normal self.
They ate breakfast each day, he reminded her to do her homework, he fixed her bracelet when it snapped with a swift flick of his wand. There was a fire every evening in the grate and he always knew the answer whenever she asked him the meaning of words she did not recognise in her stories. She often sought him out after the last lesson of the day, when it was just the two of them in his classroom, tidying away potions or stacking equipment.
He told her about the properties of many of the herbs and potions in his store and sometimes, had her fill out orders for supplies he was running short on. She would sit at his desk, meticulously writing down the order he dictated to her on a fresh parchment roll as he crushed herbs or combined ointments to make a potion.
Then one evening, as the candle in the lantern was burning past its halfway mark, he straightened from his bench, pinched the bridge of his nose between finger and thumb, a gesture Luna associated with him being tired. His gaze was pensive as it rested silently upon her as she finished labelling jars.
"If I didn't know better, Luna, I would think someone had enchanted the floor and turned it to eggshells. You've been doing a very good impression of walking on them around me these past few days," he remarked at length.
She looked at him open eyed.
"What have you been expecting me to do? Grow fangs and snarl at you with them?" he was partially amused but also more than a tad frustrated.
She was being meticulously circumspect towards him, making every effort to seem natural. It was completely transparent to him. She was all but turning her self inside out to ensure she had regained his favour.
He had taken the approach after the spanking of least said soonest mended but so far, this did not seem to yielding dividends. So, he decided, it was time for honest exchange of thoughts.
"Not exactly. I don't like when there is bad feeling between us. I want you to know that I mean to do better," she said, still with the same open expression.
Severus felt a strange tightness in his throat. To dispel it, he sighed then gave a little cough.
"You are doing very well as it is, child. Take my word for it," he said earnestly.
"You are eleven years old. It is to be understood that not every choice you make will be a wise one. You did something you shouldn't have and we dealt with it. There will be no further punishment for what happened," he said.
He narrowed his eyes as a realisation dawned.
"And I do not think anything less of you because of your little escapade," the reassurance brought a hopeful glint to the jade eyes.
"I hoped not but I was a little troubled about that. I kept thinking about the way most people here are just about scared out of their wits of you and you aren't known for giving second chances. I want us to be ok," she said.
"What makes you think that we are not?" he watched her carefully.
"You are awfully nice to me but I don't know if beneath it, you are still displeased " she admitted.
"To speak the truth, I am disappointed. It is my nature to nurse cloudy feelings longer than perhaps I should. I know that it is the privilege of young people to be reckless but that does not make me like it any better! But I will get over it."
"It has nothing to do with second chances, Luna, simply because I am not keeping count," he came and leaned against his desk, folding his arms across his chest.
Luna let his words settle around her like the powdery dust that was suspended in the candlelight. They brought a lot of solace.
"That's better than ok," she decided.
Snape wasn't sure how it was that just a few words from him could make her happy, could take the terrors that frightened her and turn them to dust. It was a strange power, one he had never sensed within himself and one that he did not think he could draw on with anyone but this child. He had cursed Dumbledore for foisting this burden upon him, he had never suspected it would call from within him strengths whose worth he had never before understood.
The air was certainly cleared for Luna, who even walked as though her steps were lighter. The skies were bright during the day, the crystalline clarity that promised a host of stars come night and round moons that glowed purest white. There was something cosy about the evenings that fell as softly as the first russet leaves from the old trees on the grounds. The Great Hall buzzed with talk and laughter each night and after the feast on just such an evening Neville caught up with Luna as she made her way through the large double doors.
"Have you heard about the All Hallows revel in the Gryffindor tower, Luna?" he asked eagerly.
A shake of her head had him explaining about a fun party that took place the evening before Halloween and seemed to have everything. There would be mouth watering sweets, exciting games, with Fred and George promising a little something extra.
"Sounds amazing," Luna smiled.
Neville's enthusiasm was infectious.
"It will be! And it's open to students from other houses. Well not Slytherins. But I thought that maybe, well, maybe you'd like to come," Neville finished the last on a breathless rush and a scalding colour rose in his rounded cheeks.
Luna looked at him, her smile widening but then it faded as her thoughts caught up with her excitement.
"It would be great but I don't know if Professor Snape will allow it," she said regretfully.
"I thought he'd pretty much cooled down," Neville said.
Although Luna had not told him the details of what had happened after he had discovered her in the library with Harry, Ron and Hermione, it didn't need to be said that he had exacted a penalty.
"He has but I don't know if he'd give the green light to a party with Gryffindors," she said doubtfully.
"No harm in asking, though," Neville said but he didn't hold out much hope either as he thought of the severe Potions Master.
"Maybe not. I can try. The party sounds worth it!" Luna was smiling again to even think of going to such a fun event.
She was back before the Professor that evening and when he came in, he was quickly lost in a pile of parchments, homework submitted by his OWL students.
"You have probably seen more Halloween feasts here than you can remember," Luna said speculatively, looking up above the rim of her book.
"Hmmm?" he didn't rise his eyes from the script in front of him.
"Halloween. You probably know all about the feast and the parties," Luna said again.
"More nuisance than anything. An excuse for students to act like imbeciles," he murmured.
"So people do make an effort then. Professor Bins said the Cornish pixies once put on an air display on the grounds. He said people were talking about it for fifty years after."
"Which is how long it took to rebuild the outbuildings they destroyed," came the reply.
"All very immature," Luna said injecting what she thought was an impressive amount of disapproval into her tone.
It might just as well have been Madame Pince talking.
She returned to her reading. The fire crackled. A shower of sparks chased each other up the blackened funnel of the chimney.
"Probably a lot of noise and mess," she added, lowering the book once more.
Silence.
"Very distracting to study too," she nodded to herself.
She turned a page, followed the words with here eyes, saw none.
"Not your thing at all, Luna," he observed dryly, his quill moving rapidly across the bottom of the latest parchment.
Every word was in red ink. The nib even sounded scolding against the page.
"Oh no," she kept her eyes on her book.
Seconds ticked by.
"Though it might be fun," the wistful admission was soft.
"Maybe even exciting. I've never been to a party before," she looked at the flames, imagining they were elves dancing to music only they could hear.
"Which of the parties have you been invited to?" he paused in his corrections for her answer.
"Gryffindor's. Neville asked if I'd like to go."
Again, silence.
"I wasn't really expecting to."
"If you are asking my permission, then you may go."
"I figured you wouldn't approve of it," she flicked a page of her book against her fingers.
"It is fine."
"Yes, I understand and I'm not disappointed, not at all… What?"
She swivelled on the couch to look at him, this time, giving him her attention.
Black eyes twinkled at her.
"You may go," he said again.
She let out a strange little whoop, more of a squeal and suddenly, he had an armful of squirming, happy child as she hugged his neck, scattering the pile of parchments as she landed on his lap.
Taken aback, he went still and then patted her back awkwardly.
"Luna!" he said, trying to sound stern but his breath puffed out in a small laugh.
"Thank you, Severus," her face was flushed with excitement as she got to her feet.
"Oh. I'm sorry, I'll help," she took note of the disordered pile of scrolls.
She bent to retrieve them, dropping them almost as soon as her fingers closed on them.
He chuckled.
"You are welcome. Leave that but listen to me now. There are conditions," his face grew serious.
He accioed the parchments and in the blink of an eye, they were once again an orderly pile before him.
"You may go to the party…," again, she beamed.
"But," he continued warningly.
"But, Mr. Longbottom picks you up and accompanies you to the Gryffindor Tower. You may stay out until ten and I myself will take you back here," he said.
The happy grin wavered a little.
"Severus, um. The Gryffindors are a bit protective of their tower. They might not like a teacher turning up," she said.
They definitely would not like this particular teacher turning up, she knew but refrained from saying so.
"I am more than a bit protective of you and there is no way that you are wondering around this castle alone at night. Those are the conditions, take them or leave them," he said, looking into her eyes.
Luna knew there was no talking him out of it.
"However, I suppose that having the Head of Slytherin turn up for you amid a roomful of Gryffindors might not be an image improver," he conceded.
"So I will meet you on the corridor outside the portrait at ten. If you are late by the twitch of the second hand and I will come looking for you," he said.
Luna nodded.
"Ok," the smile was back.
She was getting to go to the party, that was the important thing. She could hardly wait to tell Neville.
"Or I could have Mr. Filch meet you instead," he rose an eyebrow at her and laughed outright as she grimaced.
"No. I'll meet you on the stroke of ten," she agreed.
He nodded at her.
"Good girl. Now go on, off with you before I change my mind," he was still chuckling.
Luna could hardly believe it, that had been far easier than she could have imagined! She went to her room and got out her Transfiguration homework but her mind was filled with dreams of popping fireworks and foaming jugs of butterbeer. She didn't really know what to expect from the party, having nothing to compare it to but she imagined lots of laughter and happiness and herself in midst of it all. When she fell asleep, even her dreams sparkled with winking candlelight and the joy on the faces of friends.
Two days before Halloween, the Three Broomsticks pub was quiet. Inside the interior, the fading daylight filtered through the windows to create a soupy kind of haze that looked almost three dimensional. An aged wizard hunched beneath a ragged shawl at the counter. Close to the open grate two witches sat at a table, each with a glass of sparkling blackberry wine in a goblet before them.
The hem of perfectly pressed ebony robes just swept against the floor as Severus Snape walked from the door to the bar. Dust rose in tiny tendrils beneath his feet but strangely, did not seem to dull the gleam on his black leather shoes. Madame Rosmerta looked up from her spot behind the bar, surprise registering on her pretty features.
It was many years since the Professor had patronised her pub. There was a time when he was to be found here often in the week, nursing his own company and glass of fire whiskey long into the night. Those were dark days indeed, uncertainty everywhere, distrust and suspicion making the air sizzle, undercurrents of fear making it weigh like a dampened cloak against one's skin.
Those days were long gone, Professor Snape was a highly regarded educator, an esteemed position in a world class wizarding school giving him an air of respectability that he wore with a polish and grace that few could match. Quickly suppressing her shock at seeing him, Rosmerta reached for the bottle of fire whiskey on the shelf beneath the counter and fixed a smile on her glossy red lips. He gave a quick shake of his head.
"Not today, Rosmerta, thank you."
Interested, she gave him a puzzled look.
He leaned over the bar and intrigued she bent towards him.
"Though I would like your help with a small favour," he said quietly.
"Anything, Professor," the hostess said earnestly.
What he described had her smile widening as she listened. Finally, she looked up at him and placed her hands on her hips, the very essence of confidence.
"New clothes? Well! This I can do!" she grinned.
"The little girl will love it. I give you my word! If I know anything, I know style!" she asserted.
Slightly alarmed at her exuberance and taking in the plunging neckline of the close fitting blouse she was wearing, Severus pursed his lips.
"Just remember, little girl she is but she is accompanying a young man to this party and I would hate for him to love it too much. It could prove very bad for his health," he muttered.
"Leave it with me, Professor. I know just the thing," Rosmerta's eyes glinted cheerfully at him.
The following afternoon, Luna bolted in the door and flung her bag into the cupboard. The last class of the day had ended at long last and she was free to look forward to the party. It was all she could do to may of maintain the pretence of interest in History of Magic. Her head was too full of thoughts of fireworks and laughing with her friends.
She opened her bedroom door and lying on top of the duvet was a small, square package. She blinked and slowly walked to the edge of the bed and looked down, smiling as she saw the bright star bursts of enchanted fireworks crackling against the inky backround of the wrapping. Little crescent moons, silver and glowing sailed across the parcel and the magical sight delighted Luna so much that at first, she didn't even think to open it.
Then, she extended a hand, lifted the parcel and it felt light. She turned it over and over, relishing the mystery of what was contained within. She lowered herself onto the bed and laid the parcel in her lap. Then slowly, she lifted apart the wrapping and gasped as a light garment poured from inside, as though made of fluid.
Luna picked it up, held it from her, realised that it was dress, a lovely burnt orange colour, with a scalloped neck and tiny pleats at the waist that made the knee length skirt look full. It was sophisticated and grown up and just her size. She ran her hand over the fabric, it felt soft and rustled deliciously, like it was whispering something secret and feminine to her.
When she heard the outer door open and close she knew the Professor was home. She stood and walked to the living room door, carrying the dress as though it was likely to disintegrate in her hands at any second.
"From you?" she asked and he turned around, frowning a little.
His face cleared when he saw what she was holding.
"Ah. Yes. You aren't wearing it. Don't you like it? I won't be offended, you know if it is not to your taste," he said.
"I love it! It's beautiful. But Severus, you.. I don't… I didn't expect this and you have been so good to me," she looked up at him, dazzled.
"Luna, it is a gift. Enjoy it. That is all," he sighed at her.
He was relieved that he had made the right choice in looking to Rosmerta. He had considered seeking Minerva's assistance but thought that as an older witch, she might not be as in tune with youthful fashions as he was hoping. Luna had her own peculiar sense of style but this would be the first time she had gone to a party with young people her own age. He wanted for her to fit in.
Luna's eyes sparkled at him and her cheeks were flushed pink. Once again, he found himself marvelling at how little it took to make her happy.
"So what are you waiting for? Go put it on and get ready. I can't imagine Mr. Longbottom will wish to dally here, especially if I am entertaining him as he waits," deep, dark eyes glinted, amused.
She turned to obey him, took two steps and was back before he had seated himself in his chair.
"I think you are simply marvellous," she said in a rush.
Colour flooded to his own cheeks now.
"It's a dress, silly child. Not the elixir of life!" he murmured, uncomfortable.
"Severus. Would you mind if I asked you something?" she edged beyond the threshold, looking sudden nervous.
"Something else, I think you mean."
Then, he saw the intent look on her face and his eyes grew serious.
"Of course, Luna. You may ask me anything you wish," he said earnestly.
His face was neutral, his eyes calm but in truth, he felt his blood quicken curiously. He had no idea what had occasioned this sombre approach of hers. He could think of nothing he would dread more than questions seeking any kind of romantic advice and his mind was whirring with lightening speed as to how to deflect them.
She was looking as flustered as he was feeling and this did little to reassure him. Merlin's beard he would stun Longbottom on the spot if this was leading to some kind of confidence about anything pertaining to the word boyfriend.
"If dad comes back, I mean when we find him and if I get to go back to live with him, can you and I still be friends? You are the first friend I ever had. The best friend I've ever had," she said.
Relief flooded through him so powerfully that he was prepared to agree to the transfer of a vital organ in simple gratitude. With his heart able to beat at a normal rhythm now that the threat of traversing an emotional minefield was removed, Snape actually looked at the girl.
Once again, she had completely blind sided him and once again, she was looking at him with open sincerity and his eyes warmed to see such raw honesty.
"Luna, I think that may be the nicest compliment I've been paid. As I understand it, friendship is not defined by where those involved in it live. You have a home with me as long as you need it and my friendship for very much longer," he said.
She looked more pleased than she had over the dress. He would never fathom the way she processed the world, especially a world in which he had been cast as a friend of note.
Luna looked at his gaunt features, his unsmiling eyes. He had sounded just as chivalrous as a knight from ancient lands and his answer had quietened a concern that had long started to niggle. He was important to her and Luna could not now imagine her life without him in it. Knowing that no matter what her uncertain fate delivered, it would not include losing the solid support of him, well, that was an anchor in turbulent waters. It brought her world to rights.
"Better get ready, then." she said serenely.
Snape reached for his book and blew out a steadying breath. He had barely picked up the thread of the words he was reading when a knock interrupted him. At least, it might have been a knock. It might also have been an insect glancing off the door, so low was the sound.
Snape rose and crossed the room, pulling the door open with an impatient swing. On the other side, a round face boy stood, his head lifting as he rose his eyes to his host's face. With one eyebrow arching, Snape stood in the doorway, silent, formidable as a fortress wall.
Neville Longbottom swallowed loudly, his normally ruddy features drained so that his eyes seemed even more vivid against the pale skin of his face. Snape crossed his arms over his chest, a slow movement and the boy flinched, clearly imagining that he was seconds away from being turned into something miserable.
Then he cleared his throat, took a deep breath and in a voice that was rather more high pitched than normal he spoke.
"I'm here… to meet Luna, Sir, Professor Snape, Sir."
Snape did not react, gave no visible sign he had heard. It was a studied stillness that he presented and invariably, it made his companions squirm. It was particularly potent against this young man, he saw and this gave him a vicious kind of enjoyment. He could have kept it up indefinitely. However, he was surprised to see that Longbottom settled on his feet, as though planting them against a flight. The boy was steeling himself, he was afraid but he was not going to back away. Snape was mildly impressed to see his resolve. Not that he would ever betray the slightest clue of that thought to Longbottom.
"You had better come in then," he said instead, moving aside just enough to let Neville enter.
Barely crossing the threshold, Neville stood, looking anywhere but at the Potions Master. Silence descended again like a choking fog and the seconds seem to tick by with painful, enhanced slowness. Again, Snape was pleased to note the lad did not fidget or shuffle. He was pretending to be very interested in the shelves behind his teacher's back and though he looked like he wanted nothing more than to escape this room and the older man, he was trying hard to present a confidant exterior.
Finally, Luna stepped into the room, the sunlight to dispel the vapours of ill ease. Her guardian's brows rose as he took in the transformation she had effected in the few moments of her absence. She was wearing the new dress and her hair tumbled in blonde waves down her back. She had accessorised the outfit with a necklace of interconnected silver rings, suspiciously resembling shower curtain rings and she had draped a shimmery string shawl over her shoulders. The overall finish was perhaps a little more grown up than he was ready for but still very Luna.
"It was mum's," she said, holding out the ends of the wrap, seeing Snape's gaze.
"You look great!" Neville piped in, making the Professor look at him swiftly, eyes black as dead pools.
The boy fell into a subdued quiet but Luna smiled sweetly.
"Thanks, Neville. Better be off, don't you think?" she made towards the door.
"Enjoy yourself, Luna. Remember, ten o'clock," Severus' expression mellowed as it found his ward.
"Ten," she nodded.
"Bye, Professor." A wave and she was gone.
Luna and Neville practically raced along the corridors, taking the stairs two at a time in their haste to reach the Gryffindor tower. For no reason, other than that they were happy, they laughed giddily, though they hardly said anything at all. Finally, they stood before the portrait of the Fat Lady, who, at that very moment was laughing coquettishly as a little knight, sitting on a stout pony regaled her with a tale of a deathly duel for the heart of a fair lady. She looked at the two arrivals, faintly irritated at the interruption.
"Come on, get on with it!" she hissed.
Her friend had just gotten to the part where he was looking straight into the malicious red eyes of his rival and knew death was imminent.
"I knew no fear, only a determination to gain the day for love's sake!" he proclaimed, brandishing a silver sword.
"Oooh, not you, Sir Cadogan," she simpered and shot the students a warning look.
"Password or off you go!"
Neville looked perplexed for a few seconds, then shouted "Pumpkin Seeds!" triumphantly and the portrait swung open.
"Remembering them is a bit tricky," he admitted to Luna as they stepped into a wall of colour and sound.
It was a night that Luna would always remember. It was everything she had imagined it would be only better. There was laughter and merry making, treats and sweets aplenty and the Weasley twins kept letting loose amazing streamers that looked exactly like dragons, swirling, emitting fabulously vibrant smoke in shades of crimson and gold. They would circle and swoop, fast and dazzlingly bright, then disappear in a puff of magenta steam.
There were games of find the ghost, when ordinary objects were enchanted to look like tiny spooks, each one dashing off to a hiding place, waiting capture. Luna found all of hers, even a bewitched salt cellar that hid itself in the twigs of Lee Jordan's broom.
Luna could not remember when she had so much fun and all too soon, she checked the time, amazed to find it was ten minutes off ten o'clock. Fred Weasley was firing up to tell a scary story, featuring his mother's garden gnomes and an eccentric old ghoul when she took her leave. Luna did feel regret at having to go but a great deal of pleasure to hear the cheery calls from her friends, bidding her farewell and telling her that they would see her at the feast tomorrow.
Stepping out of the portrait, she found the Gryffindor corridor lit with flickering candles. It was empty, except for a tall, darkly clad figure standing with his back to her. The Professor turned in a graceful arc, his eyebrows rising as he sighted her.
"Right on time," he said approvingly.
"I gave you my word," she smiled.
"Severus, that was amazing! Did you know that chocolate mice actually have whiskers that actually twitch? Galahad would love to see them! And are there really such things as vampire guinea pigs? Seamus Finnegan said he was almost victim of a really vicious one last Hallowe'en in Ireland. I don't know though, guinea pigs seem a bit tame for that sort of thing. Don't you think?" she drew in a breath and looked up at him, eyes sparkling.
Snape chuckled.
"Child, I might think better if you weren't firing questions at me!"
He found her rushing narrative as entertaining as it was refreshing. She could hardly make the words come fast enough to say everything she wanted to and it was heartening to see so much happiness on her face. He might have found her streaming chat irritating once but now, he was gratified to walk beside her in silence, letting the flow of her words wash over him, giving him a sense of well being to share her joy.
As they reached a silent second floor corridor, a streak of grey brought their steps up short. Snape's fingers closed on his wand but Luna was hunkering down and cooing delightedly.
"Galahad! Now that is just wonderful! I was just talking about you. I bet you heard."
Her guardian swallowed the relieved sigh that rose in his throat at the sight of the cat. He resumed walking, Luna skipping beside him, picking up her observation that marshmallows tasted much better when suspended magically to roast over the fire than when held on long metal skewwers muggle fashion. They tuned a corner just above the main staircase and suddenly, Galahad stopped cold, back arching and a fierce hissing sound coming from his open mouth.
The entrance hall stretched below them, in front, the corridor seemed deserted. Still, the little cat stared rigidly at a tapestry, his fangs exposed, his body stiff and ears pricked sharply. Snape's fingers circled around his wand once more and he too stopped, standing still as the Hogwarts statuary.
Luna looked up at him, alert now and he pressed a shapely finger against his lips.
Then, as if materialising from the stone of the outer walls, the be-turbaned figure of Professor Quirrell stepped into the faint candle light.
Snape rose an eyebrow, his only greeting. Realising he had company, the shorter, thinner man clasped his hands and fixed a smile that looked more like a grimace on his pale lips.
"P-p-p-p-rofessor Snape! Out s-s-so late!" Quirrell attempted a sorry sort of half bow.
"As am I of c-c-course. Just checking to m-m-m-make sure all is secure," he continued, answering a question that was not asked.
"You will be p-p-p-pleased to know the castle is p-p-p-perfectly s-s-s-safe," he continued, the stammer worsening as he gabbled.
Was he nervous? Luna certainly thought he looked it but also something else, uneasy too but why would that be, given his specialty at identifying dark magic?
"Pleased. Yes." Snape's eyes were fixed and hard.
He did not look pleased and he did not sound it either. He glanced down at Luna.
"You may go on. Galahad will accompany you. I am going to have a quick word with Professor Quirrell," he said mildly but the other man paled visibly and Luna thought he was actually starting to tremble.
Luna only nodded and set off once more, Galahad reluctantly taking his furious eyes off the Dark Arts teacher. As they descended the stairway, she looked briefly backwards over her shoulder at the two men. Her guardian leaned closer to the now cowering Quirrell and she heard his voice as nothing more than a noxious growl.
"…We will talk again… Choose which side," she heard the words but made no sense of them.
By the time she reached the halfway point on the stairs to their dungeon quarters, the Professor had caught up with her.
"Severus. Just now, did Professor Quirrell step out from behind a tapestry?" she asked.
"Yes, Luna. I believe he did," he replied, flicking his wand so the door of their quarters opened to admit them.
.
.