kill me{marauders+regulusblack}

potions

1st november 1974

When Natasha woke up, it was half five in the morning. She'd been dreaming about the colour red, a phone box, a sword, and seven strange items. She chose to ignore it, because after all, it was a dream. She lay for five minutes, wondering whether to get up or get another two hours sleep. She got up, and got dressed and went down to the great hall. She was tired, but restless.

When she entered, she scanned the tables. No one was really awake, just a few 7th years who needed to study. And James. This was perfect for her really, she could talk to him before everyone else gets here.

"James," She began to talk as she sat down opposite him, "I'm sorry for how I reacted last night, I was just shocked-"

"Don't worry about it. You were right, I shouldn't have done it..." He replied, "Sorry."

"Don't apologise, really." She added when he looked at her eyes, "I liked it."

He started to choke on his sausage, "You what?"

"I liked it..."

"No, you didn't. Don't inflate my ego, Nat."

"Your ego does not need inflating"

"True, so why did you react like that?"

"Because you like Lily. And I'm not a play toy."

"I know you ain't. You're my Nat."

She smiled at him, she knew she loved him. But in what way?

He carried on, "You know I'd never hurt you. You are my best mate. Maybe, maybe-"

"Spit it out, Potter."

"I want to go to Hogsmeade with you."

"We always go together?"

"I meant just us, like a- like Mary and Sirius would."

"On a date?" She couldn't believe her ears, did he just say that? No, he wouldn't, after pining over Lily for years. "You do know who I am, right?"

"Yes."

"Sure?" She needed to know, and he nodded, "Yes. I will"

"Glad that's settled."

By this time, people had started to file in, groggy eyed, for their breakfast. Their table started to fill up, and the noise started to escalate. Finally, their friends were there. James smiled at them, and they sighed with relief. They were glad they were friends again.

"So," Remus said, "Hogsmeade this weekend. Same plan as usual?"

James made eye contact with Nat, "Actually, I have plans this month. Not sure I can attend."

"Me too." Nat said, careful not to make it too obvious.

"James James James, don't tell me Evans finally agreed to go on a date."

Lily overheard and leant over the table, "No, she didn't. Who ever he'll be with, it's not me."

Natasha looked over at James and saw a flash of anger in his eyes, she didn't understand why. Surely, it was her who should be angry. But what did she know, she was a girl who was making bad decisions with boys. That's exactly what she thought Marlene would say to her.

...

"You know, you are just a girl making bad decisions with boys. Don't expect it to be perfect." Marlene said as they unlaid their potion ingredients, Slughorn had told them what to get, yet they didn't know what they were making.

Slughorn cleared his throat, "Right ladies and gentlemen, can anyone take a guess at what we're making today based off the ingredients you collected?"

Hands went up yet Lily's voice could be heard, "Amortentia, Sir."

"Correct Evans, five points to Gryffindor. Now can anyone tell me what that is?"

Natasha knew that so she put het hand up, "Yes Sir, I might be wrong but I believe its meant to smell like the person you are attracted to."

"Good, another five points to Gryffindor."

Natasha tried not to look at James, but when she did she saw he was looking right back at her. When he saw her looking, he smiled a big grin, like he always did. He knew deep down, it might not be Lily, but he couldn't help worry about it. Natasha smelt like freshly picked daisies, the sea, marshmallow and old books; Lily smelt like lilies, grass, rose body lotion and nail polish. He didn't know what to expect, one or the other, or both.

Slughorn must have seen his face as, "Mr, Potter, why don't you give it a go? You don't have to share but it might be useful."

James stood up, walked forward and leant over the steaming potion in front of him. He took a deep breath, and smelled it. He could feel eyes on the back of him.

"Um, I'm pretty sure I can smell..." He said, looking at the class, "I can smell the sea, and grass, freshly cut. I can smell something else, but I'm not sure what it is."

Marlene looked at Natasha, watching emotions in her eyes, that she dared not show on her face. She nudged her twin, looking for a sign of reassurance. Natasha nodded at her, and smiled. Marlene went up and sniffed it, she was smart. She knew to get the brew correct, she had to know what it had to smell like. It was strange, she expected it to smell of a more manly scent, but it was a women's perfume. It was like cinnamon, and she only knew one person that would wear a Christmas perfume all year round. She looked at the small group of Slytherins in the corner, as a Ravenclaw, she was quite prejudiced towards them; yet, she always found comfort of which in Dorcas Meadowes. They were friends, as far as she knew. She didn't say anything aloud about what she smelt, not even daring enough to tell her twin.

When it was Natasha's turn, she was hesitant. She didn't need to know surely, just get someone else to smell it. But James' caught her eye, and nodded his head. She became less hesitant, and stepped forward. It was a strange sensation, they could smell a mixture and she tried to pull them apart. It was a mix of vanilla, and chocolate, the smell of leather, the smell of the sea. She suddenly began to question whether it was really an attraction or perhaps, comfort smells. She could feel her sister's eyes, James' eyes, Remus' eyes all staring directly at her, so she turned around and smiled.