AMORTENTIA!

OCTOBER 1976

6th Year

• • • •

The Great Hall was abuzz with chatter, the Slytherin table was on the far left as students enter, where most were discussing their upcoming potions class, the Ravenclaw table was next to it and most of the students sat at that table were either reading or talking, then the Gryffindor table, where a group of four boys waited, excited for what was about to ensue, and the Hufflepuff table was placed on the far right, where Margaret Sullivan, among others were chatting excitedly about the upcoming Halloween ball.

That morning, Holland joined Regulus and Severus at the Slytherin table, sitting in the middle of the pair, eyeing her best friend as he took a sip of pumpkin juice from his water goblet.

"What?" The boy asked, noticing her stare.

Holland shrugged, "Nothing." She said, buttering a piece of toast as Maxine and Bronwyn sat across the table from the best friends, pouring themselves some pumpkin juice as well.

"Do you want some, Holland?" Maxine asked, holding the jug out to her friend.

"I'm good thanks," The girl shook her head, opting for coffee instead, "Didn't sleep much last night." She said, her eyes wondering over to the Gryffindor table, sharing a small smile with boy, unnoticed by everyone.

It was then that the owls flew in, dropping mail to everyone who had been sent it.

"Oh look," Bronwyn said to Maxine, pointing at the letter she had been sent, "Father's been promoted at work."

Holland looked up at her with a smile, before looking down at the letter that had been sent to her by her own father.

"Well mine is taking my mother on holiday in December as a surprise anniversary present," Holland told them, "So I guess I'll be staying here for Christmas."

As second or two after she said that, there was a loud sound resembling a poof, and everyone on the Slytherin table who had drunk pumpkin juice that morning - who were all but Holland and a few other students -  were surrounded by a cloud of purple smoke, before it suddenly disappeared, leaving small, snorting pigs where they sat.

The Great Hall then erupted into laughter, as the pigs squealed in protest. Even some of the teachers were chuckling, whilst Professor Dumbledore watched them with a twinkle in his eyes, amused.

Holland chuckled, looking down at where pig Regulus was sat on her right and then pig Severus on her left, before looking over at the Gryffindor table, sharing an entertained look with Remus, which went unnoticed by his friends, as they were too busy laughing and high-fiving each other in triumph.

The laughter soon died down, as Professor McGonagall walked down the Slytherin table, tapping each pig in turn on the head, successfully transfiguring them back into heavily annoyed and embarrasses students.

"I hate my brother." Regulus spat, glaring across the hall at the boy - who sent him a sarcastic wave in return.

"Well I think you made for a rather cute farm animal." Holland told him, laughing, making Regulus' glare change from his brother to his best friend.

"That was so embarrassing." Maxine muttered, putting her head in her hands.

"Did you know that would happen?" Bronwyn asked the Irish girl, "Is that why you didn't drink any?"

"How would I know?" Holland questioned, "It's like I said, I didn't sleep much last night." She added, her dark eyes wandering over to Remus for the third time that morning, only to find that he was looking at her, too.

***

Holland laughed with Bronwyn, as the pair made their way to Potions, which was one of the only classes they took without Maxine as she didn't get the required grade in her O.W.L.s to do the class at N.E.W.T. level, considering the redhead was god-awful at potions, even saying so herself.

The two girls entered the classroom, sitting in their usual seats at the same table at Severus, waiting for Professor Slughorn to begin his lesson.

"Black is glaring at you." Bronwyn whispered to Holland, who turned her head slightly, seeing that this was true.

"Just ignore him," The girl told her quietly, turning her attention back to the front of the class, "He's only upset because I got him, Potter and Pettigrew a detention and took five points from each of them last night."

"Could've been worse," Bronwyn said, "I heard McGonagall takes away fifty."

All chatter ceased as Professor Slughorn entered, starting the class.

"Alright class, settle down, settle down," The man said, standing in front of the class, "Now today, we will be brewing Amortentia potion," He told the sixth years - who whispered excitedly to each other, "Now who can tell me what Amortentia is?" Slughorn asked, looking around the class for answer as students their hand up, his eyes settling on one of his favourite students, "Yes, uh, Miss Lux?"

Holland smiled, "Amortentia is the most powerful love potions in existence. It causes a powerful infatuation or obsession from the drinker. It has a different aroma for everyone who smells it, reminding each person of the things that they find most attractive, even if the person doesn't acknowledge or is unaware of their fondness for the object of their affection themselves." The girl recited what she had memorized from her Potions book.

"Which means it's one of the most dangerous potions you will brew in this room," Slughorn nodded, "Very good, Miss Lux, ten points to Slytherin," He awarded, gaining a nudge and smile from Bronwyn, "Now, please turn to page ninety-four and begin." The Potions Master instructed with a grin.

"I've always wanted to make this." Bronwyn said, as she and Holland brought the needed ingredients back to their work station.

"Why?" The Irish girl asked, smirking, "Is there someone you want to make fall in love with you?"

"Shut up." Bronwyn muttered, shaking her head and blushing slightly.

***

After about an hour, the students had finished brewing their potions and Slughorn was encouraging the students to smell them.

Holland let a little smile form on her face as she saw Lily smell her potion, her head turning in James direction, before quickly looking away, her eyes locking on the Slytherin, who gave her a teasing smirk, eyebrow raised. Lily flushed red, before turning to Margaret, who was sat next to her. The blonde girl smiled as she smelt her potion, looking at Sirius.

James grinned, as he smelt his potion, noting it smelt a lot like the perfume that his 'Lilyflower', not that it surprised anyone.

"Do you think her potion smells like me?" The Potter boy asked his friends, looking at the redhead, who kept her back to him.

"I don't think you realise how creepy that sounds." Remus chuckled.

"Well what does yours smell like then, Moony?" James questioned, making his friend sigh, before taking a deep sniff of the brew he had concocted.

"Smells like... old parchment... sage, and-" Remus stopped talking after smelling the third scent in his potion.

"And what, Moony?" Peter asked.

"...Vanilla." The boy whispered, his eyes discreetly wondering over to a certain dark-haired Slytherin.

Meanwhile, Holland waited, as Bronwyn smelt her potion.

"I smell Jasmine... leather, like the smell of a Quaffle, and... citrus." She noted.

Holland stared at her, "Isn't that-?"

"The Max's perfume." Bronwyn nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat, not being able to look at her friend.

"Okay," She said, giving her friend a smile, deciding not to press her on the matter and leaning forwards to smell her own potion, "Um, there's the smell of old books.. lavender, and..."

"And what?" Bronwyn questioned, as Holland's eyes travelled over to Remus, who was looking back at her.

"Chocolate."