Chapter 2: Potions

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Maeve:

That evening I am exhausted. I am not yet used to waking up early and being so busy during the day. The summer was sweet and relaxing and the begging of term came as a tidal wave.

I sit on the couch near the fire and tilt my head back to rest on the leather couch. I sit alone for a few minutes before.

"I'm tired of this already".

Aria comes from behind me and slides herself on the couch resting her head on my lap as I laugh at her complaining.

"Just think there's still an entire term in front of us before an other break" I smirk down at her.

She groans and pulls herself up. I turn around, looking for the others, only to find Draco reading a book on the armchair to our right. I look at him and realise he changed over the summer, he grew a lot and his features sharpened. His eyes raise, to find me staring. I gulp as he raises his eyebrows at me, catching me staring.

-

The week passes slowly, NEWT classes are more complex and even Isy could be spotted focusing and taking notes. This year is important. Friday lunchtime is one step closer to the weekend. I join the great hall to find Aria sitting between Blaise and Isy, talking. I sit next to Blaise and Nott sits next to me keeping some distance, giving me enough room between Blaise and him. Draco is sitting with Goyle in the bench in front of us, a few seats to the right, talking lazily to some other seventh years.

"So what's the plan for tonight?" Isy speaks.

Blaise and I look up at her

"I guess we'll just meet in the common room and see where we can chill later?" I propose.

Everyone gives me a casual nod. Nott turns towards Malfoy and calls

"Hey Malfoy! Are you joining later?" Draco turns around swiftly and looks Nott in the eyes.

He falters for a moment, before resting his eyes on me.

"Yeah maybe".

-

"Alright now, settle down, settle down" Slughorn calls as he enters the class.

His squat figure and clumsy way make their way to his desk. He fixes his glasses and stares at the class mumbling something more to himself than to us. I sit on one of the round tables at the back of the room, together with Aria, Nott and Draco, who sat down at our table as all the rest were full.

"I am professor Slughhorn, the new potion teacher this year. I believe you are the last group I am meeting this week." he pauses.

"To end the first week with some excitement, and start a new year together.." He chuckles and coughs awkwardly -

" I thought we could do something interesting". He walks to the board.

The entire class is taken by Slughorn's writing on the black board: 'Amortentia'.

We all look around excitedly, whispering to each other. This potion is famous and the one everyone is most interested in studying. Only 6th years can begin studying Amortentia, as it is considered dangerous if mishandled. 6th years are considered older and mature enough to handle more complex and even higher-risk potions.

Amortentia isn't dangerous, really. It's a powerful love potion, that's all. The idea of a love potion is the attracting feature.

"I am guessing, from your excitement, you know what this potion is and what it does"

He chuckles and continues

"For lack of better words, this is a love potion. Put simply, the most powerful one created yet"

He pauses and goes back to the board.

"Amortentia, from the Latin words, 'Amor' meaning love and 'Tentia' meaning held."

He notes these four words on the board, his voice following the static rhythm of his writing.

"Amortentia, as you probably already know, smells differently to all of us. But remember, the person under the effect of the potion will only hold an obsession for the person who administered it. This is, excuse the bluntness, artificial love."

His voice keeps filling the room as the noise of quills scratching parchment follow his voice as a choir.

"Since you are already divided into tables of 4, these will be today's groups. For each group, someone come and collect your vial of Amortentia. You will use this as a reference as you will attempt to brew your own. Directions will be found on page 134!"

I tug at Aria as she tries to beat me to it. But I win and get up and speed to the front of the class to collect our vial. I hesitate before taking the vial from the desk, but I grab it and carefully bring it back to the table. As I walk back the potion seems still and shining.

A soft whip of air blows over the potion, causing its smell to fill my nose with absolute delight and mix of desire. I can't really make up what it smells like but it reminds me of snow and winter. It's a fresh smell, almost musky. It's sort of overwhelming.

Once back at the table, I position the potion in the middle of it. Aria bends over to reach it, unconcerned about the rest of the class, and takes a deep sniff. She blushes and giggles turning to me.

"Stop it, act your age" I laugh.

-

An hour passes and my potion has a slight mother-of-pearl sheen to it but the steam rising does not have distinct spirals the potion should have, only faint strokes of smoke.

As I am trying to fix it up, I feel an intense glare towering over me. I can feel him staring at me, my eyes not daring to find his, instead remain fixed on the spirals of smoke coming from his caldron.

I raise my eyes for just a moment, to find him smiling, then he bends slightly. A strand of hair falls to the front of my cheek as he slowly takes his eye down at his potion, closing them and inhaling the smoke gently. 




-

Note:

Sorry if these two chapters seem slow but I didn't want to jump straight in the story without some background intro. Next chapters will enter in the story fully and there'll soon be a first taster of spice, so, enjoy your reading! :)

C.B. x

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