The Arrivals , A slow Burn Romance [ Edited Version 2022 ]

Part 3 : Memory Out of Smoke

Author note : if you are interested, play the music I attached when I alert you the second paragraph.

Enjoy the Chapter!

At the potion class, Professor Slugghorn asked while uncovering the cauldron, "Can anyone give me a brief summary of what is this? "

Hermione raised her hand and started to speak, "This is Amortentia, the most powerful potion in the world, though made to smell differently to each person according to what attracts them." She went closer at the mounting fumes, and inhaled as she continued.

"For example, I smell Tobacco, new parchment and a specific men's cologne."

The ladies chuckled behind her as she went back to her place. When the former professor explained" now students , you must know this potion doesn't make actual love, it only show a temporary state of affection "

The rest of class was interesting as Slugghorn promised the students who succeed with the potion will be rewarded with the liquid luck potion.

"Only one student will win, the other bottle is kept for the next class in the future so you better use it well," said Slugghorn.

The class ended as Harry won the prize, Hermione noticed he wasn't following the instructions of the book. Instead, he was reading a different one completely.

"Harry are you using a different textbook than the rest of us? How could you brew the potion without any accidents? " Hermione asked while heading to the common room

He shook his head and showed her the copy, "It's a used advanced edition- Hermione, is that Sirius's cologne you're wearing? It reminds me of him."

She felt exposed, as she remembered when Ginny sprayed the perfume on her in the morning.

"Oh no.. I mean, I don't know what his perfume is, b-but.. I bought this from muggle store in London."

"Oh really?" a ginger-headed girl appeared behind them. Ginny!

She glanced at her like she knew something. Hermione lowered her head and left to their room. She changed her clothes, closed the curtains behind her bed, and cried breathlessly. Ginny heard her on her way up and knew something was wrong.

The youngest Weasely entered, casted a silencing charm around the place and opened her curtains to find Hermione sobbing and holding a photo of Sirius Black.

Ginny sat nearby her, concerned.

"Speak," she offered.

Hermione sat up and cleared her throat, allowing her mind to wander all that time back.

"It all started during our fourth year at the Tri-wizard Tournament... "

It was a warm summer evening at the dark forest. Harry and Hermione went to a cave deep inside the crowded elder trees to meet Sirius secretly, away from the sight of the Ministry as Dumbeldore didn't finish his work in proving the ex-convict's innocence.

The last time they saw him was before he flew with Bakbeak from Hogwarts. He had been very thin, corpse-like, his eyes filled with anger and fear.

Back at the cave, they waited for him to come. Hermione was curious of how he would look, a full year having gone by since their last interaction.

The sound of an old motorcycle grew closer to the cave and parked. Sirius swung his leg over the bike and stood. His was clean shaven and tall, though his eyes were still filled with sadness. Nevertheless, the sight of his godson put him at ease. Sirius wore a black fur coat showing his naked, tattoo-covered chest which illustrated his years in Azkaban. He was... good! As simple as that, not to mention the little weight he gained that reflected his health well.