"and suddenly all the love songs were about you."

*

"Are you all right?" Eva whispered to Remus as she bruised her peppermint flower's petals with a mortar. "You look pale."

"I'm fine. Just tired is all. Thanks for asking, though." She didn't believe him, not for one second, but he gave her a strained smile and consulted the textbook again. She scooped up the petals and held them over the cauldron before he seized her wrist. "Don't put those in yet, we need to stir it four times counter-clockwise first."

"Oh, sorry. I must've missed that. I'll do it." Thank God Slughorn had assigned Remus as her partner. While Eva had earned a place in the 'Slug Club' and was talented in her own rights, she had no real aptitude for brewing. "Now?"

"Yeah, sprinkle them in. Be careful, though, Amortentia's tricky," he said. "Can you pass me the moonstone? I need to crush it."

She gave him the small white stone and peered around the classroom to see how her friends were faring. Through the hazy air, she could see James and Peter almost spilling their concoction, Sirius and Marlene chatting up a storm, and Lily and Snape glaring in opposite directions. Why did the Gryffindor get stuck with the Slytherins for classes this year? Poor Lily. She'd gotten stuck with the boy who called her a Mudblood the year prior. That was the year when she completely cut ties with Snape and stopped being his friend. It was also the year that Eva conveniently stopped protecting Snape if she caught James messing with him. Eva protected everyone, but she protected her friends first.

No one messed with her friends.

"So, your first match is coming up, huh?"

"Yeah, against Hufflepuff. I think we have a decent chance. We got a few good new people at tryouts."

"You still playing keeper?"

She nodded. "Yeah. McKinnon's had us out every single day after classes practicing. It's like he thinks we're going to lose. It's only Hufflepuff. Last weekend Ravenclaw wiped the floor with them."

"Fifteen minutes left!" Professor Slughorn called as he walked between the tables.

"Anyway, we play Slytherin in a few weeks. That's the big game."

"We'd better win. I can't stand the smug looks on their faces otherwise. Can you throw the rose thorns in? I've got them in that little bowl. Then mix it."

"Sure." When she dumped them in, the potion became a golden color. "That's kind of pretty."

"It's almost done. I just need to put in the Ashwinder Eggs." Remus slowly dropped in seven of the red eggs. Mist rose from the cauldron and the liquid turned a pearly pink. "It's done."

"We did it!" She held up her hand for a high five and after a look of tired amusement, Remus slapped her hand. "Well, mostly you, I guess."

"Nah, we'll call it a group effort."

"You're too nice."

"Help me with Transfiguration and we'll call it even."

Professor Slughorn wove his way through the tables with great effort before stopping in front of theirs. "Mr. Lupin, Miss Taylor, have you finished yet?"

"Yes, sir," they chorused.

"It's the perfect color. In fact, it looks perfect! Congratulations. Remus, what does it smell like to you?"

Remus sniffed the mist rising from the cauldron. "Chocolate, and wood burning, and lemons, and parchment."

"And what about you, Eva?"

She breathed in and immediately closed her eyes. The aroma was delightful. "Freshly brewed coffee, and the rain, and Christmas trees."

"Very good. Full marks for the two of you. You can clean up now. Also, Miss Taylor, I'm hosting a dinner party Friday. First of the year! Can I expect to see you there?"

"As long as McKinnon doesn't have us out on the pitch, you can save me a seat, Professor," she replied, smiling.

He winked, vanished their potion, and hurried away to stop Peter and James from lighting theirs on fire. Not because they were bad, but because they were bored.

Eva smiled as she began to put away the tools. "That potion smelled incredible."

"It really did."

"You're so lucky you got to smell four things! I kept trying, but Sirius must've put too much of his cologne on today and I could only figure out the three."

Remus froze, his hands hovering over the textbook. "What?"

"He wears too much cologne. He reeks of the stuff. I can smell it from all the way over here, can't you?"

"Um, yeah, definitely," he said after a second before changing the subject with lightning speed. "Here's your book."

"Thanks. Hey, can you meet me tonight in the library?" She asked hopefully. "I could use some help with this homework."

Remus shook his head. "Nah, I'm actually... not feeling to well. I reckon I just need some sleep. Sorry."

"Oh, it's okay!" She picked up her bag and smiled brightly at him. "Don't apologize for being tired. I completely understand. I'll ask Marlene, she's a whiz at Potions. I'll see you later?" He nodded, and she went to join Marlene and Lily. The three witches exited together, leaving Remus to wonder about many things. One month in and this year was already  shaping up to be more complicated (and frankly, more dramatic) than the last.

Remus yawned as he slipped his textbook into his bag. His fingers brushed against something cellophane, and he fished it out. A chocolate bar, one that hadn't been there before Potions began. He smiled and returned it back to his bag.

He never understood how he had managed to be so blessed with his friends. Growing up, he was positive he'd never be able to attend Hogwarts, let alone meet people who made his life worth living. He couldn't comprehend why the boys had stuck with him even after learning of his lycanthropy. And then they'd illegally become Animagi just to help him.

No matter how many times people told him he was a good friend, that he was worth it, he never believed it.

"Moony, you coming?" Sirius clapped him on the back with an easygoing grin on his face. Remus considered telling his friend about Eva and the Amortentia, but decided against it. He knew how much she meant to him, but he also knew how much he meant to her. If it was meant to be, then it would happen without him meddling.

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

*

"James, we've been over it enough times! Evans did not say the stupid potion smelled like you!"

"But she said it smells like tea, and sometimes I drink that!"

Sirius kept himself out of Peter and James' argument and absentmindedly braided blades of grass. In truth, his mind also focused on the Potions lesson of the day, but he'd never admit it.

What he wouldn't give to be her partner. Marlene was fun to talk to, but he always found himself glancing over at Eva and Remus' table wishing he could switch places. The laughs they shared, the playful nudges... it wasn't like Sirius to be jealous, but it did happen.

"Mr. Black."

Eva smiled at something Remus said and tucked a frizzy curl behind her ear. He grabbed her hand right before she dumped the wrong ingredient in and the two dissolved into peals of laughter all over again.

"Sirius." Marlene nudged him hard in the ribs and Sirius snapped his attention to Professor Slughorn, who was hovering over their cauldron.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"What does it smell like to you?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Like... clean laundry. And something flowery, almost like sunshine... it's very muted, but it's nice." He blushed bright red as he recognized a perfume he'd gifted Eva with last Christmas.

"Very good, very good."

Sirius didn't need a potion to tell him he was in love. He knew it damn fine all by himself.

"Padfoot, you're awfully quiet," James remarked. He began playing with a Snitch.

Sirius only shrugged. "Don't have much to say. Talk to Moony if you're bored."

They all turned to Remus and found him snoring against the tree.

James glanced worriedly at Sirius. "How close are we to the full moon?"

"Two days, I think."

"Blimey, no wonder he's been out of it." James messed up his hair as he thought. "We're gonna have to sneak out again."

"You've still got the cloak?" Peter asked.

"As if I'd get rid of it." The two began bickering again about this and that.

Sirius reached into his bag and pulled out the Marauders Map. It was their crowning glory, a project that had taken most of their fifth year. He eyed the faded parchment fondly before whispering, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Ink slowly appeared on the parchment, bringing a smile to his face. After a minute or two of searching, he found the little black dot labeled Eva Taylor in the Owlery.

"Mischief managed." He stood and quickly threw his things into his bag. "I've got to head in. I've got... homework. See you lot later."

"Homework?" James asked incredulously. "We've got days on that essay!"

"Well, it's good to get ahead. Don't want to fall behind."

"You sound like McGonagall!"

"Just go find her already," Remus mumbled, his eyes still closed. James sat up from his longing position.

"That's what this is about?" He asked sharply. Sirius nodded. "Eva?" Another nod. "What are you waiting for, mate? Go!"

"Really?"

"Bet he kisses Eva before you kiss Evans," Peter joked.

"Technically, she has kissed me."

"Her kissing you as the dog doesn't count!" James insisted. "Give me a little credit, will ya? Evans'll come around."

"James, making undying declarations of your unwavering affections for her every breakfast is not the way to win her over," Remus pointed out. "She thinks you're a pompous idiot."

"And how do you plan on swaying little Miss Taylor?" James started playing with the snitch again. The little golden ball zoomed up into the air and Sirius snatched it before it got away. For someone who didn't play any Quidditch, he had excellent reflexes.

"I'll make it up as I go."

Sirius grinned at his brothers before he headed back to the castle.