"Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. It is recognizable by its distinctive luminescent sheen and by the fact that its steam rises in characteristic spirals. Amortentia smells differently to each person according to what attracts them. Though it is called the "love potion" it does not, in fact, really cause the person who drinks it to fall in love but instead develop a powerful infatuation or obsession with the target." — Advanced Potion Making

It was not a good day for Lily Evans.

Firstly, she woke up late and missed breakfast, and a hungry Lily is not a happy Lily. Then she discovered, according to her new times table, that she had double Potions that morning, which she ironically disliked even though she was very good at it. And finally, when she arrived to Slughorn's class room (late, may I add, losing five house points) she was paired with none other than James Potter.

Slughorn had got it into his mind that Lily, his Potions prodigy, would be sure to help out James, who was only taking the class because it was required to be an Auror.

Once they were broken off into pairs, Slughorn said jovially, "Today, you will be brewing Amortentia. Can anyone tell me it's significance?"

Lily's hand shot up. Why, she may not enjoy the subject, but she does her homework. She thought she saw Potter rolling his eyes skyward out of the corner of her own. She had to resist the urge to "accidentally" knock a copy of Advanced Potion Making on to his foot.

At Slughorn's nod, she promptly answered: "It's the most powerful love potion in the world, sir."

"Right you are, Miss Evans," he complimented with a wink. "I am also assuming you know it's properties?"

"Steam rises from the potion in spirals, and it has a distinct mother-of-pearl sheen."

Before Slughorn could give her yet another praise, or possibly return her lost points, a girl often spotted giggling at unsuspecting boys asked, "Doesn't it also smell accordingly to what attracts someone?"

"Correct, Miss Pascal."

Lily thought she distinctly remembered the girl's last name being Pershal.

"Well then, now that you all have been enlightened, get brewing!" he said cheerfully.

James was practically insufferable for the entire lesson, though she couldn't help but notice that he had changed since sixth year; he hadn't asked her out once since they came back from summer break so far. And not only had he gained better manners, but he also looked distinctly more handsome. She tried not to think about that too much. But, his change in character wasn't enough to stop him from being infuriatingly annoying. He provided plenty of sarcastic and obnoxious comments.

"Potter, that's dragon's blood, not beetle juice. Honestly, learn your basic ingredients!"

"Well, I'm sorry Miss Know-It-All. They happen to be similar in color."

"If you knew how to read, it says clearly on the label what they are. Besides, if being a know-it-all means I preform nothing like you in my classes, I'll accept that title any day."

"At least I know how to have fun."

"Sure, if your idea of fun is setting a new record for number of detentions earned or losing so many points that it's assured Gryffindor never wins the House Cup."

"Look who's talking! Didn't you just lose five points yourself? Besides, I take pride in my record detention numbers."

He grabbed the daisies they had been delicately charring and prepared to dump them into the cauldron.

"Potter! The daisy petals don't go in yet!"

He had almost completely spoiled their potion by putting in an ingredient at the wrong time, and was only saved from this by Lily grabbing his hand at the last second.

Her sharp, condescending scolding fell mute on her lips when their eyes awkwardly met, hands still clutched, and they both blushed and looked away. Though unnoticed by them, Slughorn could be seen at his desk smirking behind his large mustache.

After much more arguing and many accusations, eventually, James and Lily were leaning over a finished cauldron of Amortentia together.

James had seemed visibly curious as to what the love potion would smell like to him, but looked to be disappointed.

"I can't smell anything!" he complained.

"Impossible! I'm certain I got this right!" she said back, equally frustrated.

Currently the only thing occupying her senses was his stupidly good-smelling shampoo. Honestly, did he use an entire tub of it?

She stared the cauldron down, as if she could intimidate it into emitting a smell. It made no sense! There where spirals of steam coming from it, and it was shining perfectly. She had made the potion correctly, she knew it.

"Well, obviously not."

"With you as my partner, I wouldn't be surprised," she bit back at him, turning to meet his eyes and brushing a piece of her dark red hair behind her ear harshly.

"Oh, please, Evans. Who was the one who realized the goblin oil was rancid and suggested gnome oils as a substitute?" He crossed his arms across his chest angrily, and she mimicked his gesture.

"You did no such thing! I came to that conclusion!" she accused.

He scoffed. "Yes I did! Maybe if you weren't complaining so much you would have heard me!"

"Well, perhaps I could actually smell something if you didn't use buckets of shampoo this morning."

"I wouldn't be one to talk, the amount of perfume you're wearing is giving me an asthma attack."

They glared at each other fiercely until both James and Lily abruptly realized that she ran out of her perfume weeks ago and that he hadn't showered that morning because Sirius was hogging the bathroom.