The Boy Who Fought: OC X Hermione

Amortentia

Carson and Hermione walked to their first period potions hand in hand. They both were nervous for Professor Slughorn's class, but anything was better than Snape. When they arrived, they went over to where Slughorn told them to, and soon later, Harry and Ron came in.

"Harry m'boy! I was beginning to worry! And I see we've brought someone with us..."

"Ron Weasley, sir. But I'm dead awful at Potions, a menace actually, so I probably should just be going..."

"Nonsense, we'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Right then, books out..."

"Um, sorry, sir, but I haven't got my book yet -- nor's Ron. You see..."

"Not to worry. You can get what you need from the cupboard."

Harry and Ron make their way to the cupboard, as Slughorn starts to teach the class. "Now, as I was saying, I've prepared a few concoctions this morning. Any ideas what these might be? Yes, Miss...?"

"Granger, sir. That one there is Veritaserum. And that would be Polyjuice Potion. And that is Amortentia! The most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumored to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them. For example, I smell vanilla, parchment, and cologne..." Hermione states, smiling at Carson. He sent her a smile back, smelling her in the amortentia too.

"Now Amortentia doesn't create actual love, of course. That's impossible. But it does cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room." Slughorn told the group.

"Sir, you haven't told us what's in that one." Katie Bell spoke up, pointing to another vial.

"Ah yes...What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion known as Felix Felicis. But it is more commonly referred to as..."

"Liquid luck." Hermione spoke.

"Yes, Miss Granger. Desperately tricky to make. Disastrous should you get it wrong. But brewed correctly, as this has been, it has remarkable powers. One sip and you will find that all your endeavors succeed... at least until the effects wear off."

"But then why don't people drink it all the time?" Carson asked, confused on why someone wouldn't want to be lucky everyday.

"Because taken in excess it causes giddiness, recklessness and dangerous overconfidence."

"Have you ever taken it, sir?" Blaise Zabini asked.

"Twice. Once when I was twenty-four. Once when I was fiftyseven. Two tablespoons taken at breakfast. Two perfect days..."

"So. This is what I offer each of you today. One tiny vial of liquid luck... to the student who, in the hour that remains, manages to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Death, the recipe for which can be found on page ten of your textbook."

"You should know that in all the years of my previous tenure at Hogwarts, not once did a student brew a potion of sufficient quality to claim this prize. In any event, good luck."

Everyone went to their tables, and Professor Slughorn told them to get started. Carson and Hermione both followed the textbook perfectly, but it didn't seem to be working very well.

Harry seemed to be doing things a bit differently. He wasn't following the exact instructions the textbook stated. As Carson and Hermione struggled to crush up a bean, Harry cut it, getting a much greater result.

"How did you do that?" Hermione asked the boy.

"Crush it. Don't cut it."

"No way Harry. The instructions say to crush it, not cut it."

"No, really Carson..."

"Ssh!"

Hermione grows more and more frustrated as time goes on. Her hair grows even bushier in the steam rising from her cauldron. Once their time was up, Hermione and Carson looked like a mess. Carson's hair was all messy, and his time was loose and his sleeves rolled up. Hermione's hair was bushier than ever, much to her anger.

"Merlin's Beard! But it's perfect. So perfect I daresay one sip would kill us all! Your mother was a dab hand at potions, but this... My, my, what can't you do, m'boy? Perhaps you will save us all in the end..." Slughorn praised Harry, as he smiled proudly.

"Here you are then, as promised. One bottle of Felix Felicis. Use it well." Slughorn told him, the class ending there.