A/N; This will be told in both Kassandra, Remus', and James' POV. So sorry again for the inevitable love triangle, but yeah!
FIFTEEN • AMORTENTIA
SMELLS OF DIFFERENT FRAGRANCES, wafted through Kassandra's nostrils as she walked inside Professor Slughorn's classroom. He was the potions Professor, and in all honesty, Kassandra found him a bit odd and peculiar. It wasn't that she didn't like the man, he was just odd and liked to collect students for his slug club. So in all honesty, she didn't really take him very seriously, or his lessons.
To make the breakup seem more realistic, Kassandra chose to take her seat beside of Peter, instead of James. Her eyes were still puffy from crying the previous night, and all in all, she looked like a giant mess. The Potion nearest her and Peter smelled an awful lot like Peppermints, James' shampoo, and broomstick cleaner. It confused her, but she didn't really think anything of it, to be honest. She was slightly used to the smell, from being around James all the time, but it was never usually this strong.
Her eyes traveled along the Gryffindor students, along with the Slytherin students. Because they indeed shared most of their classes with Slytherins, it was quite horrible, if you'd ask her. James was seated beside of Remus, and poor Sirius was left to sit next to Lily Evans, though he had tried getting James to switch with him, and to Kassandra's surprise, James told him no.
"Today we will be brewing Amortentia!" Professor Slughorn bellowed, as he walked into the classroom, a cheery expression on his face as usual. "Can anybody tell me what that is?"
Realization dawned on Kassandra, as she raised her hand. She wasn't the only one who raised her hand, though, Lily Evans did as well. It was an awkward contest, but Kassandra was determined to win.
"O-ho! Yes, miss. Black?" Slughorn Said excitedly, because Kassandra normally did not raise her hand in his classroom.
"It's the most powerful love potion, sir," Kassandra said. "But it does not create real love, only a deep infatuation and obsession. It smells differently to everyone by what attracts them."
"That is correct, Ten points for Gryffindor!" Exclaimed Slughorn. "Care to give an example, dear?"
Kassandra sighed, she knew this was coming.
"For example, I smell peppermints, broomstick cleaner—"
Kassandra did not finish her sentence, because she knew it would be a dead give away if she would have. She shared a knowing look with Remus, before class resumed without further questioning from Slughorn, besides the fact he had invited her to his Slug club Christmas party.
• • •
JAMES POTTER WAS DEEPLY CONFUSED, normally he'd have no doubt that perhaps his amortentia would vaguely smell of Lily's shampoo, but he knew the smells that filtered through his nostrils was nothing to do with Lily Evans.
"Remus, is it just me or does it smell like cherries? What does that mean?" James asked.
If he wouldn't have been oblivious he would have seen the look of disbelief on Remus' face. But James Potter was terribly oblivious to everything.
"Think about it, Prongs. Who do we know that smells of cherries?" Remus asked.
Realization dawned on James, then. He glanced over his shoulder at Kassandra, before hastily looking away.
James Potter has fallen in love with Kassandra Black.
This can't be happening.
It was only fake, right?
Questions swirling inside of his mind, he sighed. He believes he truly has messed up, because he had only used her to get to Lily, and now he was questioning where his feelings truly lied. He couldn't help but wonder if Kassandra felt anything towards him in the same way he feels towards her. By the puffiness around her beautiful steely grey eyes, it should have been an Indicator that she indeed did feel something for him.
But alas, James Potter is completely clueless, and he's never found himself lacking in confidence as much as he does now.
"I messed up, didn't I, Moony?" James whispered to one of his best mates.
He saw Remus' eyes flicker over to Kassandra for a moment, before he met James' gaze.
"If you love her, Prongs, you should tell her. But if you don't, or if you're not sure, don't go messing with her emotions."
James knew Remus was right, so he definitely has a lot of thinking to do on his part, before he admits anything.
• • •
INHALING DEEPLY, Remus smiled as the scent of Cherries, Roses, and the new broom smell filtered through his nose. He instantly knew it was Kassandra, and it made his chest tighten at the realization that he'll never have her. He couldn't. She's in love with someone else, his best mate, James Potter. Who wouldn't like James? Sure, he was arrogant, but he did not have the curse that Remus has, and for that, Remus believes himself to be unlovable, and that James had it all.
"Remus, is it just me, or does it smell like cherries? What does that mean?" James had asked frantically.
Remus' eyes widened in disbelief for a moment, because he had believed that James was still too infatuated with Lily Evans to reciprocate Kassandra's feelings. For a moment, he just wanted to be selfish, and lie to James, but he knew that would be the wrong thing to do. Who was he to try and jeopardize Kassandra's happiness? Exactly, he couldn't do it because her happiness is all Remus truly wants. If she's happy, and if that happiness is James, then Remus would not stand in the way because of unrequited love.
"Think about it, Prongs, who do we know that smells of cherries?"
There, Remus had thrown the rhetorical question out there. If James did not understand that, then he'd be on his own. It took everything in him to even speak those words, so he couldn't say anything more, but he knew. He knew because he smelled it, too, he knew because he was in love with her, too.
Stop it.
Think of something else, anything else.
She doesn't love you.
His mind kept throwing things at him, in an angry protest that he knew was true in the vastness of his mind. He had to try to move on, because he doubts she'd ever fall for him the way he had her. If one day she decides she does care for him in that way, he'll be there. But now, he had to give her up.
"I messed up, didn't I, Moony?" Whispered James, interrupting Remus' turmoil of thoughts.
Remus sighed, his chocolate brown eyes flickered over to Kassandra for a moment, seeing the puffy red eyes that once shown magnificent steely grey eyes. He saw the way her eyes stayed downcast, as Peter tried speaking to her excitedly, and that's when Remus knew. He'd do anything for a smile to grace her features once more, for her grey eyes to light up with happiness again. His eyes then met James' gaze.
"If you love her, Prongs, you should tell her. But if you don't, or if you're not sure, don't go messing with her emotions."
And Remus meant every word. Because he was officially trying to let Kassandra Black go, and try to think of her as only a best friend from now on.
Word count; 1227
A/N; sorry if this chapter completely sucked, but yeah here it is! Sorry for the late update, I got my tooth pulled yesterday so yeah haha.
Finished editing : June 29th, 2020
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