Amortentia

Chapter 5

Photo: Emmeline

A Few Weeks Later

One night, I met Tom Riddle in a potions lab. I told Emmeline where I was just in case people were looking for me. Tom started to mix the ingredients as I studied Defense Against the Dark Arts. Charlie was helping a lot but I still had trouble wrapping my head around the content. It felt like I was staring at a foreign language when I read it.

"This isn't right. I have to start over!" Tom Riddle threw the failed potion in the trash and grabbed more ingredients with a sigh of frustration.

"How long do you think it will be till we can test it?" I asked cautiously.

"Hopefully it will be done by next week. Unless there is more mess-ups. I don't need your help anymore today. You are excused now, thank you."

"Excused? Are you my father now?"

"I would not want to be that lowlife."

"How dare you talk about my father like that! He is more of a man than you can be. I'm done with this stupid potion. I can find extra credit elsewhere." I slammed my book shut and packed my bag.

"Ella wait, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I need you to help with this." He started towards me as I shook my head.

Tom cornered me into the wall and pressed his hand near my head. His wild eyes dug into mine.

"Please Ella, I need you to help with this."

The door swung open and Charlie walked in. Oliver and Emmeline followed closely behind. I pushed Tom away from me and hurried over to my friends.

"Let's get out of here," I whispered to Emmeline.

"Did he do anything to you? I swear I will kill him if he did." Oliver asked protectively.

"No it wasn't like that."

"Then what was it like?" Charlie questioned, his eyes darker than normal.

"It was nothing. I just got frustrated. Can we leave it be please?"

Charlie turned away and rushed towards the Ravenclaw Common Room without another word. Emmeline went after him to make sure he was okay and that left Oliver and me. We walked together in silence towards the Gryffindor Common Room. When we made it, all the other students were asleep.

"So you know how the Yule Ball is coming up right?" Oliver's cheeks started to redden as he talked.

"Yeah, it's 3 days away. Why?"

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me. As friends or possibly um something else?"

"I- um, can I think about it?" I awkwardly replied.

He sadly nodded his head and went into his dorm room. I sat down on the couch facing the fire and took out my Defense Against the Dark Arts book. I studied for awhile but eventually fell asleep.

-

"Ella wake up!" Oliver shook my shoulders as I opened my eyes to a crowded common room.

"What is everyone doing here?"

"They are all talking about what happened last night with Emmeline and Charlie. It's pretty interesting."

"What happened Oliver?"

"Emmeline was caught in Charlie's bed last night. Everyone is freaking out."

I got off the couch and hurried to the girl's dorm room. I grabbed my suitcase and flipped it opened. I hurried inside and landed on the floor of my house with a thud. I ran to my bathroom feeling sick. Tears streamed down my eyes faster than I expected. I didn't fully understand why at that time. Nausea took over and I decided not to go to classes.

When I felt better, I grabbed my scarf and hurried out of my suitcase and then the dorm. I found Oliver sitting in a chair studying.

"I will go with you to Yule ball." I stated to get his attention.

"Really? What made you decide?"

"Doesn't matter. I was thinking about going into the forbidden forest. Care to join me?"

"Ella are you sure?" I nodded my head.

"Okay, let me get my scarf and I will meet you out in the hall."

I left the common room and stood in the hallway until Oliver came out.

-

Charlie's POV

I hurried to the Ravenclaw common room after the whole Tom and Ella incident. I never trusted him but Ella kept telling me that he was a good person. I couldn't get the terrified expression on Ella's face as Tom cornered her out of my head.

"Charlie!" I turned to see Emmeline chasing me down the hall.

"Hey are you okay? You just stormed off."

"I'm fine."

"No you aren't. You are still mad aren't you? You would only be this mad if- oh my god you like Ella!"

"No I don't!" I starting walking up the stairs to the Ravenclaw common room but Emmeline followed behind.

"How did I not figure this out before! The way you look at her and the way you talk to her. It's so obvious! She has no clue though huh?"

I hesitated at the top of the stairs, "Don't make any noise. You aren't supposed to be in here but we need to finish this conversation in a more private area."

"So I was right?" Her smile grew larger.

"Shut up!" I could feel my cheeks heating up.

-

Later that night, we both started to get tired so I let Emmeline take my bed as long as she woke up before anyone else was awake. She refused and said we could share the bed because there enough space for both of us. After us going back and forth on the topic, She finally let me sleep on the ground. The next morning we woke up to all the Ravenclaw boys staring at us in disbelief.

"You didn't wake up before everyone else," I mumbled.

"Oops," she whispered.