The Great Hall was already rumbling with noise; tableware being moved around, loud, stimulating conversations being held and a laugh every now and then coming from one of the four long tables.

"Where on earth have you been?!" Wren said, a sigh of relief escaping her lips when she saw me walk up to her. "I saved you two a seat." She gestured towards the space next to me, and I gave her a grateful nod before sitting down. Draco next to me, though seemingly in a whole different reality mentally. He looked complete detached from what was going on around him.

Wren leaned closer to my ear, her voice a hushed whisper. "Don't tell me you lost your virginity on a train, Y/n?" She gasped, quiet enough for no one to hear her but me.

"Jeez, Wren!" I hissed, hitting the back of her head lightly. "Of course not." I shook my head, though a slight smirk was forming on my lips. Her eyebrows shot up in anticipation as I shoved a piece of treacle fudge in my mouth.

I was starving, but due to my late arrival, the table was already filled up with dessert instead of the actual food. I've been obsessed with the fudge for so long; it was fine by me.

"But?" She followed up, dragging the word out while she was impatiently waiting for me to stop chewing.

"But- I'm just saying I don't know what would have happened if Harry didn't barge in out of nowhere and suddenly stood, like, five feet away," I scowled, and just as his name left my mouth, he walked into the Hall with Luna by his side.

I noticed the two of them walking close by Draco and me on the way back, and while I would have loved to spend some time with Luna, Harry was honestly the last person I wanted to see right now.

I glared at him from across the hall, and once his eyes had found mine in the crowd, he shot me another apologetic look before making his way to his friends in a hurry.

"He- what?" Wren asked, confused, making my attention snap back onto the conversation we were holding. Her eyes were wide. She shook her head. "Please tell me you're joking."

"I wish I was," I groaned, my cheeks taking on a slightly pink colour before our conversation was interrupted by Dumbledore as he began his speech.
"Very best of evenings to you all," He said, and the hall grew quiet at his voice. "First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff; Horace Slughorn!"

The students started clapping obligatory, welcoming the sweet-looking man. He was old, but he seemed nice enough to get me to pass whatever subject he was teaching.

"Professor Slughorn has agreed to resume his old post as potions master. Meanwhile, the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts will be taken by professor Snape."

The Slytherin table erupted into cheers, making me furrow my brows as I shot Wren a confused look. She just huffed, an eyebrow raised as well.

"Well, about time, don't you think?" She asked sarcastically, and I rolled my eyes. I was already waving the acceptable grade I had in Defence Against the Dark Arts goodbye.

I turned my head to look at Draco, knowing he would be thrilled by the news; Snape had always favoured him, so this would surely be a good thing for him.

Though, instead of the cheering, the clapping, and the cocky smirk on his lips I had expected to see, he had his head in his palm, looking at nothing in particular on the table.

His lips were turned upside down into a frown, but not the angry kind. He looked sad; completely and utterly miserable.

I nudged his shoulder with mine slightly, startling him before his attention shifted onto me. "Hey," I said softly; so quiet I wasn't sure if he heard me over the noise our table was making.

But he did, and the slightest attempt of a smile crept onto his lips. He sighed, the hand that was holding up his head now falling under table. "Hi," He whispered back while straightening his posture and grazing my hand with his. "Snape in dark arts, huh?" He then said, the mood he was in just moments ago completely forgotten about. "Fucking finally," He grinned.

I huffed, throwing a quick glance at the professor as our table slowly calmed down. "Well, if you ever need someone to tutor you, I'll sacrifice myself," He joked, a smirk on his face.

"Hm," I pretended to think about it for a moment. "Only the two of us in an abandoned classroom after hours?" I smirked, an eyebrow cocked as I watched his eyes darken at the thought. "How could I say no to that?"

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧

"I don't know how you got me to take potions with you. I'm awful at potions. I shouldn't even be here with the OWL I got," I groaned, taking a seat at the square table next to Wren.

"Well, I talked to professor Slughorn, and he seemed delighted by the idea of a Potter taking his class, so, here you are!" She cheered, ruffling through my hair to annoy me even more.

"You're unbelievable."

Now maybe Draco had to actually tutor me; otherwise, this class would get the best of me after a few weeks already.

By the time the class began, the rest of our table filled with Blaise, Draco, and Parkinson; though I wasn't quite sure why the latter decided to sit here. But, I wasn't going to be a bitch about it. At least not unprovoked.

"Didn't think I'd see you here," Draco mumbled with a smirk, his eyebrows raised.

"No, me neither, to be honest," I laughed lowly, still not fully comprehending why I was here.

"You're welcome," Wren chimed in, leaning forward to look at Draco. I hit her shoulder lightly, and she scoffed; the smirk still on her lips.

"If you'd be so kind as to gather around the front here, please," Professor Slughorn began, gesturing towards the empty space in the front of the classroom.

The students gathered there, forming a semicircle around him as he began speaking.

"Attention to detail in the preparation is the prerequisite of all planning- Ah!" Slughorn turned around at the sound of footsteps entering his classroom, interrupting him in his monologue.
My eyes flickered over to the door, a groan escaping my lips when I saw my brother and Ron walk through the door.

"You've got to be kidding me," I grumbled, crossing my arms in front of my chest as I watched the two explain why exactly they were here.

Draco had about the same reaction as I did, though, I'm sure his hatred for him was rooted much deeper, and probably permanent, too. Meanwhile, I was just trying to avoid him until the whole thing was forgotten about.

"Now, as I was saying. I prepared some concoctions this morning. Any ideas what these might be?" The professor asked, his eyes scanning our faces for any clues on whether we did or didn't know.

Both Hermione and Wren's hands shot up simultaneously. Wren's eyes on the three potions in front of us, while Hermione was looking at Slughorn; her eyes begging him to pick her.

He nodded in her direction. "Yes, Miss...?"
"Granger, Sir," She spoke politely. "That one there is Veritaserum. It's a truth-telling Serum." She explained, stepping forward and finding herself with her back turned, as she explained what the other liquid was. "And this is-"

"-Why don't you let Miss Inkwood do the last one. Thank you, Miss Granger," He interrupted her, gesturing towards Wren, who cleared her throat before taking Hermione's place.

"This is Amortentia," Wren began, giving the professor a quick look before continuing. "The most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumoured to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them." She finished, turning around to stand where the rest of us were.

"Now, Amortentia doesn't create actual love. That would be impossible. But it does cause powerful infatuation or obsession. And for that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room." He closed the cauldron the potion was bubbling in, having a few girls snap out of their trance.

"To demonstrate the effects Miss Inkwood has described, each table has a vail with its own Amortentia. I expect each and every one of you to take a whiff, and compare what you smell. After that, we will get to today's actual task."

Most of the boys moved to their seats with groans and various complaints about the instructions, while the girls excitedly giggled and chatted in anticipation.

"This is ridiculous," Draco sighed, letting himself fall on the seat next to me.

"So, people are really that desperate for love?" Wren asked curiously, holding up the vail and eyeing it suspiciously as she waited for an answer.

"Not everyone is as lucky as you are, Inkwood," Parkinson said, a hint of annoyance in her voice at Wren's statement. The girl snatched the potion out of her hand.

"Why, thank you, Parkinson. That was almost a compliment, wasn't it, Y/n?" Wren smirked with a teasing voice as she raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"I think it was, Wren," I chimed in, resulting in Parkinson rolling her eyes before sending an annoyed glare our way.

"Who's going first?" Blaise asked impatiently, probably just wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"I will," The brunette said confidently. Her eyes scanned the table once before opening the vail and taking a deep breath to smell it.

A/N: What do you think Y/n smells like?