kneel | Tom Riddle

𝟒𝟕

Warning: toxic, but I warned you at the beginning of the book this is not a normal relationship. Read the last part at your own risk.

47| Amortentia

"What's the matter, my boy? You're usually more than willing to brew your perfect potions in this class," Slughorn looked at Tom concerned as Seraphina added more ingredients to their cauldron.

"He's feeling rather ill this morning, sir," Seraphina answered for Tom, who looked nauseous, sitting beside her as she stood there working on the potion alone.

Obviously, Seraphina was lying, for Tom was healthy that morning. The only problem was that at the beginning of the class, when Slughorn announced what the students were supposed to brew that morning, Tom felt like someone stabbed in his chest and didn't feel like working anymore.

Seraphina immediately understood why, since Tom was very sensible with that subject, with a reason of course.

"I see," Slughorn still looked concerned with his top student, "You're free to leave the class anytime you need, my boy. Do you need to go to the infirmary?"

Seraphina looked at her Potions' partner and wondered if he was actually leaving the class.

"There's no need, professor. Thank you," Tom made one of his charming smiles and the witch farrowed her eyebrows, thinking maybe Tom should leave the class, "I believe this potions' smell is quite intense," he lied.

Slughorn clapped his hands together, "That's right, my boy! Amortentia can be very intense, but it depends on the person who is smelling it, really. May I ask you what you smell?"

Seraphina looked at Tom curiously, "But it's not finished yet," she said.

"I can already identify my favorite smells in here, so it's almost ready. And very well done, Miss Vevrain. You never fail to impress me," Slughorn praised the girl and she smiled proudly.

Tom stood next to Seraphina and bent over a little to smell the potion she made, surprised when he could indeed smell something. He couldn't love, so was it possible that he could smell something the things he loved the most? It just didn't make sense.

"I can smell... old parchment, rain and something sweet, like fragrance," Tom's hazel eyes looked suspiciously at the potion, and then he turned to look at Seraphina, who was as confused as he was.

Slughorn, on the other hand, didn't understand what was happening and why the pair were looking at each other confused, "That's right, Tom! Lovely scents."

"Professor?" Seraphina turned to the professor with a curious face.

"Yes, Miss Vevrain?"

"Is it true that people who are born from a love potion can't feel love?" She asked and Tom groaned when he heard her question, hating that topic more than anything. Each time someone spoke about Amortentia he was reminded of his dead parents, both of them killed by their own son.