don't forget about me •marauders r.j.l•

betrayed by a potion

April, 1977, 6th Year

"Miss Mayselle?" Professor Slughorn's voice implied he had tried to grab my attention before.
I quickly straightened. "Yes? I apologise, sir."
His cheery disposition told me he had dismissed the infraction already. That relaxed me.
"Miss Mayselle, you seem to be on the moon..." He jested. The class giggled, oblivious to the deeper meaning of the sentence. Lily, who was sitting next to me, snorted and Sirius smirked my way. Bloody hell, these fools have no consideration for a poor helpless person getting called out in class. As if getting caught being distracted was not punishment enough, my cheeks were so red they radiated heat.
This, of course, was about Remus. Lily knew I cared for him in a special way... My inopportune cousin was just pulling my wand. He dies if he stops messing with people. It's how he gets his sustenance.
Yes, I was indeed thinking about Remus! With good reason, too. Last night was a particularly bad full moon. The lads were there to help, of course, but somehow Remus managed to break his arm and a couple of ribs. He was currently alone in the infirmary. That's were my mind was... With him, in that cold and lonely place. My body, however, is otherwise engaged in a 6th year Potions Class whose Professor is looking my way with a half annoyed look.
"I had asked you to name a particularity of amortentia." He paused, waiting to see if I was up for the task.
"Once again, I apologise, sir." I cleared my throat, "I would say amortentia is particular due to the fact that its smell changes for each person who smells it."
"Would you care to elaborate?" Professor Slughorn asked. I was glad to, anything to compensate for the embarrassing distraction.
"Of course, sir." I said, "Amortentia's smell changes because it is supposed to have the smell of the person one loves."
Professor Slughorn smiled. "Yes, very well. Five points to Gryffindor."
I smiled, feeling redeemed from moments ago, and also feeling the general happiness of my fellow housemates.
I was going to slack back into my seat and take some notes for Remus when Professor Slughorn called after me again.
"Since you put it so well, would you care to demonstrate for the class, Miss Mayselle?" It felt like a light hearted request and I'm sure if I had declined politely he would've let me off the hook. But I wanted to get as much credit as possible. There was a Slugclub gathering coming up... Remus and I always had so much fun at those.
"Of course, sir." I said, standing up and making my way to the front of the class where a small cauldron with the pink potion stood in clear view for everyone to see its garish colour.
"Tell us what you smell."
I suppressed a laugh while leaning in. Remus would've hated this colour. A memory comes to me: we were spending Christmas at my house. The whole gang was there. I had even managed to persuade Lily to join us. My mum was proud of herself. She had personalised gifts for everyone that she was sure we would love. Sure enough, Remus's time came of unwrapping the present and the ugliest most bright pink sweater stared him in the face. Ever the polite one, he thanked my mother and smiled. Later, over some firewhisky, he confessed all guilty and apologetical that he in fact had hated the colour. The sweater was alright.
"Old books... and chocolate, I think." I said, looking at Professor Slughorn.
"Interesting." He said and gestured to my seat, "You may go back to your seat."
It was only at the moment I sat down, and was free from Professor Slughorn's watchful teaching eye, that I allowed myself to spare a though about what I'd said.
Chocolate and old books. Those just seemed like two things I liked.
I scribbled that down on my notes and forgot about it the next instance. Professor Slughorn had called upon James.
"That's what you get for causing trouble." Lily whispered only for us to hear. We giggled together in mischief.
James walked to the potion and pretended to sneeze after the first whiff. Lily sighed and looked away to write in her notes. Sirius was leaning back, rocking his chair and smirking, clearly waiting to see who that wanker loved most in the world. Does quidditch have any particular distinct smell? I wanted to say, but restrained myself.
"I smell grass..." he said and both me and Sirius, as if on cue, snorted. James took another whiff, still very much unbothered, "Camomile tea..." That seemed to darken his countenance. "And..." suddenly he blushed and stole a glance in my general direction. Confused, I looked to my side and Lily was there, too busy scribbling away to notice what had just happened. Sirius had stopped rocking his chair and was staring, dumbfounded at his mate. Funny enough, it had only been last week that Sirius had been aware that Lily drank camomile tea in the common room before bed. James had spilled some of it while bothering her with his flirtations.
"And?" Professor Slughorn inquired.
James came back to his carefree stance. "That's about it, Professor." He took his seat and, surprisingly Sirius was quiet. They both were, for the remainder of the class. The only thing betraying James's thoughts was how he kept stealing glances at Lily while she was writing.