His Rose | James Potter

Chapter 3

The Potions classroom was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of various herbs and the bubbling of cauldrons. Professor Slughorn stood at the front, droning on about the intricacies of different potions. Just then, the door swung open with a dramatic flair, and the Marauders except Remus strolled in, unabashedly late as usual. Remus was the only Marauder who was always on time.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Pettigrew! Care to explain your tardiness?" Slughorn raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but ready to lay down the law.

James stepped forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, you see, Professor, we were testing a new potion to make us faster-"

Sirius interrupted, "-and it backfired! We ended up running in circles for an hour. You'd think a speed potion would actually work!"

Peter chimed in, "And I lost a chocolate frog in the chaos! It's very tragic!"

The class erupted in laughter, even Snape cracked a small smile before quickly hiding it. Slughorn shook his head, unable to suppress a chuckle. "Very well, gentlemen, but I expect you to be on time next class-or you'll be spending more time with me in detention!"

With that, the Marauders took their seats. James plopped down next to Rosalyn, giving her a grin. "Sorry for the delay. I hope you didn't miss me too much."

"Oh, just enough to wonder if you'd gotten lost in the Forbidden Forest again," she teased, rolling her eyes but clearly enjoying his presence.

Sirius, settling next to Marlene, smirked. "You'd think Potter would have enough sense to ask for a map."

"Or a time-turner," Marlene added with a laugh, nudging Sirius playfully.

Meanwhile, Peter took a seat beside Remus, rifling through his bag for more chocolate frogs. "You know, if you keep eating those, you'll turn into one," Remus warned with a smirk.

"Better than turning into Snivellus," Peter replied, glancing over at Snape, who was seated next to Lily. Snape was visibly flustered, red creeping up his neck as he tried to focus on the lecture, shooting glances at Lily, who was completely engrossed in her notes.

Lily, trying to ignore the stares from her friends, couldn't help but steal a few glances at Snape. Every time their eyes met, Snape's blush deepened, and she felt a flutter in her chest.

"Okay, class, pay attention! Today we're going to brew Amortentia. Remember, the key to a successful potion is precision!" Slughorn boomed, sweeping his arm dramatically across the board.

As the lesson progressed, Sirius's eyelids began to droop. The warmth of the classroom was lulling him into a trance, and he fought to keep his head up. Just as he surrendered to the allure of sleep, Professor Slughorn turned his attention to him.

"Mr. Black! Care to share your thoughts on Amortentia?"

Sirius jolted awake, blinking in confusion. "Uh, it smells like... um, love?" he stammered, his brain scrambling for an intelligent answer.

The class erupted in laughter, and even Remus couldn't suppress a snicker. Slughorn, crossing his arms with an amused expression, declared, "Well, it looks like you need to spend some extra time with me in detention, Mr. Black. Perhaps a few extra lessons on staying awake during class?"

Sirius groaned, burying his face in his hands while the laughter continued. "Fantastic. I'll just tell my fans I'm being punished for my good looks," he mumbled, earning a round of chuckles from his friends.

Professor Slughorn paced around, checking on the students' progress. He paused in front of Lily Evans, who was diligently preparing her ingredients. "Miss Evans," he called, a twinkle in his eye. "Can you tell us what Amortentia is?"

Lily looked up, her confidence shining through. "Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in existence, Professor. It's known for its distinct aroma, which varies from person to person, reflecting what each individual finds most attractive."

"Excellent! Ten points to Gryffindor!" Slughorn beamed, earning a mix of cheers and grumbles from the class, especially from Slytherin, who were glaring at Lily with barely concealed disdain.

As the students began brewing their potions, the air filled with a mixture of scents and sounds-bubbling cauldrons, the sizzling of ingredients, and the occasional explosion of a poorly mixed potion. Rosalyn and James, working side by side, were deep in concentration. Their cauldron bubbled furiously, a swirling concoction of colors that made James's heart race.

"Do you think we did it?" Rosalyn asked, biting her lip as she added the final ingredient.

"Let's find out," James replied, excitement thrumming in his veins.

Moments later, their potion shimmered to life, a radiant hue of pink swirling with gold. Professor Slughorn caught sight of their success and clapped his hands together in delight. "Bravo! Mr. Potter, Miss Avery! Ten extra points for Gryffindor!"

The Slytherins groaned audibly, and a few even glared in their direction. Rosalyn laughed, exhilarated by their victory, while James felt a surge of pride wash over him

"Alright, class," Slughorn said, glancing at Rosalyn with interest. "What does Amortentia smell like to you?"

Rosalyn leaned closer to their cauldron, inhaling deeply. As the enchanting aroma filled her senses, she was surprised by the combination: broom polish, cinnamon, fresh spring air, and oranges. But amidst those familiar scents, she caught a hint of something that sent her heart racing-James's cologne. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

She stole a quick glance at him, wondering what Amortentia might smell like to him.

James, catching her gaze, breathed in the potion's aroma, and his eyes closed briefly in bliss. He detected scents of vanilla, lavender, and fresh rosemary- that he recognized instantly: the essence of the girl he had been in love with for as long as he could remember. It was as if the potion had captured her spirit, the breath of fresh air he desperately craved.

A sense of relief washed over him. It was undeniable now; he had to tell her how he felt. But as he glanced back at Rosalyn, her expression was a mix of surprise and confusion.

"James," she started, her voice hesitant.
"What does it smell like to you?"

He hesitated, weighing his words carefully. "Um, well, it's-" He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment. "It smells like... home."

Rosalyn's heart raced at his answer, and she smiled softly, feeling a warmth blossom between them. For a brief moment, the chaos of the classroom faded away, leaving just the two of them lost in their shared understanding.

"Alright, class! Once you've finished your potions, please let me know what you smell," Slughorn instructed, drawing everyone back into focus.

The scent of Amortentia lingered in the air, weaving a spell of possibilities and unspoken feelings, as the Marauders and their friends carried on, blissfully unaware of the love potions brewing both in their cauldrons and in their hearts.