But Father I Love Him (Harry Potter)

11. Rumors

Amortentia isn't just some random potion that is just there in the wizarding world. It's the strongest love potion to ever exist. 

Potter had no right to enter my mind uninvited. He was distracting me- so much that I couldn't even dare to spy on him. I could still call back the memory where he touched my hand- brushed my hand, and how that one point of contact had sent me into a hurricane of uncertainty.

Maybe he knew of my job. Maybe it was on purpose, trying to make me winded up. I had told the Dark Lord that I was no coward. I wanted to live up to that title.

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"Lia, you have some explaining to do." Daphne isn't smiling. "That isn't just any smell you smelled back there. It's Potter's. Is that why you've been so distant? I know we haven't said anything, but you constantly have your head stuck in the clouds, you've been stuck in an endless daze of some sort! It's like you're a lost Lovegood child- can you just explain to me? We're all worried, and then something like this comes up! Do you not understand just how serious this is? You could get killed- The Dark Lord could kill you! And all your family! This can't just happen out of nowhere! Doing nothing won't cause something! And the Dark Lord-"

"Daphne." I don't yell back- I understand every word she says, and I understand her worry.

"So? Can you explain? I promise I'm not mad it's just-"

"I can explain. I'm not attracted to Potter, okay? He's our nemesis. I wouldn't do that to you. Any of you. Those scents are common- found all over the wizarding world. Just because he's the chosen one of some sort doesn't mean he has a distinct smell. I just enjoy those scents."

She seems to be a little more at ease with the statement. "Thank you for telling me. We were worried." Her voice comes out quieter than before, calmer. And I quietly thank Merlin for that.

"As for being more distant... I just have a lot on my mind. The whole Dark Lord thing hasn't been easy on me as well as trying to study for classes. I promise it's none of you, and none of the Gryffindors. Okay?"

"Yeah. Thanks for telling me, and not yelling back at me. I understand where you're coming from... just let us know if you're going through something, okay? You know we can help." She assures me. She rests her hand on my arm. "But again, thanks for opening up about it."

I feel bad for lying to her, but I know she wouldn't understand anything at the mere mention of Potter's name. It was too much of a sensitive topic.

"It's no problem." 

I give her a small smile, which she returns. She always puts so much trust in me, and the guilt hangs above me for not doing the same for her. I try to ignore the feeling, and mask it with the routinely smile that makes my cheeks hurt.

"I'm gonna head off to the Great Hall for break... I'll see you later?" She says while walking towards the large doors, and looking back at me, expecting an answer.

"I'm heading to our common room to catch up on some work and study. I'll meet you later though. Tell the others I said hi."

She nods. "Okay, I'll see you later then." 

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The Slytherin common room is usually cold, and dimly lit by green candle light that illuminate the sleek black furniture. There are books that pile over counters, with paper crumpled near quills and ink bottles.

Not to mention the sleeping couples, or the extremely hungover students. In addition to being the coldest, evilest house, we partied the hardest and drank the most alcohol. A perk of being a Slytherin is being able to count on having fun.

"Hey Lia! Is it true you smelled Potter in the amortentia? You know your parents wouldn't be happy about that...my parents sure wouldn't." Some fifth year girl giggles. "He's not bad in the face. Pretty attractive... but going for a Gryffindor? You're down bad." She curls her curly dark hair in between her fingers.

"I didn't smell him. And you have no right to assume that." I reply drily.

"Sure you didn't. It's okay Lia, we all have our bad days. We all have our guilty pleasures, and the Gryffindors aren't all that bad looking... or bad feeling, I'm guessing you might know that?" She giggles again.

I fight the urge to hex her, which comes out to be disturbingly difficult.

"No, I wouldn't know that. Please leave me alone." I say through gritted teeth.

"It's okay Lia, you can tell me all about it. I won't tell a single. Soul. You can count on me... I don't blame you."

I rip my wand out and cast the most gentle hex I could think of- just a hex to make her whole body freeze and momentarily rip out her ability to speak for the next week or so.

I huff, and make my way over to an empty couch. The silence welcomes me, but I feel my papers slip out of my hands.

The day had been so tiring, and it wasn't close to over yet. What could they do if I slept through herbology? It was a Hufflepuff class anyway. Nobody really tried in that class. Not me, at least. All we did was fix up some new plant roots every single day.

I can feel my eyelids flutter. They seem heavier and heavier, harder and harder to keep open. I rub my fingers over them to open them again. It only seems to help for a split second, and I feel myself as my head falls back to meet with the cold pillow.

I can feel as my tense body begins to relax, as the dim lights of the Slytherin common room begin to look further and further away. I feel a light sensation, and I feel at ease for the time being.

My eyes catch one last glimpse of the room before finally slamming shut.