Thomas has always believed that is was his potion making that would put him in history of magic text books. He's far above his grade level and he had no problems reproducing even the hardest of potions, he can generally even improve on the already existing recipes. This is, in fact, his problem. He was board. He comes into class everyday already perfectly aware of what they are doing and how to do it. He feels like Merlin in a year one transmutation class. He wants to make new potions, better potions! But here he is again in his N.E.W.T potions class identifying forbidden potions, not even making them, just looking at them.
Thomas taps his quill impatiently as professor Adams rambles on about the dangers of amortentia, how it doesn't produce real love, how it was the reason for the wizarding wars (thank god Hamilton isn't in this class, he would start a rant about how the treatment of muggles and pureblood supremacy was the real cause of the war). None of this is interesting to Thomas, he knows it already, he wanted to know more.
"Could amortentia be improved?" he asks, Adams sputters to a stop.
"I don't see what you mean, amortentia is the strongest love potion we have, and frankly it's stronger than we need." Adams answers.
"But love is just a bunch of chemicals in the brain, right? So, I don't see why we can't just make a potion that makes real love." Thomas knows from the look on Adams face that he asked the wrong question.
"Love potions are very dangerous, there is no reason for you to try to make anything stronger."
"And he totally shot me down Jemmy!" Thomas complains, "He's just so frustrating, like, when he was our age he was selling shitty love potions and knock off Weasley's jokes and homemade butterbeer and firewhisky but when I suggest doing something that would actually further the study of potions he's all like 'noo, it's too dangerous'" he pitches up his voice to mock Adams, "It's hypocritical bullshit."
James hums softly and glances up from his homework "Thomas, what would you even do with an improved love potion?"
"I don't know, prove a point? Find a cure? Make sure that we know an antidote before someone else tries to make one and uses it to destroy the world? Are you really taking Adam's side in this?"
"It was just a question Thomas." James says, going back to his homework. Thomas huffs softly and flopped back in his seat.
"Maybe I'll make one right now." he says
"a love potion?" James asks
"yeah, one that's even better than amortentia." James just blinks at him, then,
"if you get caught, I didn't know anything about this." he says. Thomas scoffs, he isn't going to get caught.
In hindsight, Alexander Hamilton might not have been the best person to test his love potion out on.
It was much easier to make a love potion than Thomas had thought it would be, a few trips to the restricted section of the library, a few potion ingredients ordered by owl, a few stolen from Adams, and a long month sneaking into Myrtle's bathroom to brew it, and voila, a love potion. Not the best he could do, but a start, better than amortentia he's sure.
His plain had been simple, (and also likely affected by the fact that Hamilton had started a prank war a week prior). He would spike Hamilton's morning coffee and Hamilton would fall head over heels for one of his friends, he would be too distracted by his crush to continue the war, Thomas would be able to keep an eye on the effects of the potion, and Hamilton would be super embarrassed when the potion wore off, hopefully enough so to change schools and leave Thomas alone. Unfortunately, things never go as planned for Thomas.
So here he is, in the infirmary, with headmaster Washington glaring down at him while Hamilton chants 'I hate you, I hate you I hate you' under his breath while contradictorily clinging to Thomas for dear life.
"What on earth made you think that it would be ok for you to even brew a new kind of love potion? Let alone test it on another student?" Thomas just shrugs,
"I was just trying to discover something, sir." He agrees that testing his potion on an unwilling student was not the best move, especially with Hamilton practically crushing him.
"Discover something? Son, you just tested an experimental forbidden potion on an unaware student! This kind of behavior could not only get you kicked out of the school, but also sent to Azkaban. Is that what you want Thomas? To get sent to Azkaban because of a poor decision in 6th year?" Thomas is only just now realizing how badly he fucked up. This isn't just about Hamilton being practically attached to him for the next month or so while they wait for this to wear off, this is about his whole future, his legacy, maybe even his entire family's legacy. He might have just ruined everything in his life in one fell swoop.
He is brought out of his spiral of anxiety by a high-pitched whine and Hamilton apparently attempting to completely merge his body with Thomas's, considering how he's trying to bury his face in Thomas's chest. Washington stops his lecture for a moment to take stock of Hamilton's health.
And that's the worst part isn't it. His potion didn't even work right. Hamilton is no more in love with him than before he was drugged, he just has a terrible drive to touch him. So here they are, with Hamilton trying as hard as he can to get as much contact with Thomas a possible and with Thomas holding his arms over his head to try to avoid as much contact as possible. Now he's producing a concerning whining sound that honestly makes Thomas's ears hurt.
"Alex?" Washington calls softly "I know that this is hard for you, would you rather stay out here with Mrs. Washington while I talk to Jefferson in her office?" So, Thomas has been downgrades to last name basis, that hurt. But on the bright side Hamilton nodded, so Thomas could at least get some time without Hamilton holding him like a child holds a teddy bear. Hamilton actually looks pained as he pulls away from Thomas, but Thomas is sure from Washington's face that he's the one who's really going to suffer here.
Washington has him sit the moment they're in the office, but stays standing himself. Thomas hates when people do this, having to look up at people makes him feel like a child. He supposes that's the point but it's a cheap tactic.
Neither of them say anything for a moment, making Thomas more jittery than when Washington was just yelling at him. He's about to say something in his own defense but Washington takes a deep breath and sighs.
"You have a lot of potential, Jefferson," he pauses, "That's what makes this situation so important. If you were just an average student who stole some love potion for a prank, or even because you were hung up on some unrequited love, this wouldn't be so bad, but Jefferson, you are not an average student. If you can't stop to think about the consequences of your actions then you could be dangerous to allow to use magic"
"Sir, please, this was a lapse in judgment, I realize that now." Really does, but Washington can't be serious, they can't kick him out of Hogwarts, he's from one of the most prestigious pureblood families in America, they moved to the UK just to send him to Hogwarts, they can't do that to his family. More importantly, he doesn't even know how to survive without magic, he can barely make sense of the ridiculous clothing the muggle borns wear on the weekends, let alone survive on his own in the muggle world.
"If this is what you call a lapse in judgment-" Washington is unable to finish his sentence as the office door is flung open and Thomas is bowled into with enough force to make his chair rock back and nearly fall. And there's Hamilton curling himself up in Thomas's lap, clinging to Thomas's robes while Thomas attempts to avoid touching him, or at least minimize the amount of touching he has to do.
"I'm sorry, sir," he says looking at Washington, "It just really hurt being away from Thomas."
"It's alright, son, you can't help it." Washington says kindly, Hamilton interestingly enough, doesn't snap at Washington about being called son, he just buries his face in Thomas's chest again. All the kindness disappears from his features when he looks up at Thomas,
"There's not much we can do in terms of discipline right now, seeing as Alexander appently needs to maintain contact with you. For now, we'll need your notes on how you made this potion to attempt to make an antidote, and you'll need to accompany him wherever he goes, make sure he's comfortable and keep an eye out for anything that could be an effect of your potion." there is nothing Thomas wants less then to spend an indefinite amount of time within an arm's length of Hamilton, and judging by the disapproving sound Hamilton makes, he feels the same way.
"What if you can't find an antidote?" Hamilton asks, turning away from Thomas
"It's supposed to wear off." Thomas supplies
"Oh ya, well I really trust your potion making skills right now, it's not like your inability to know the effects of your potion is what got us here in the first place." Hamilton shoots back,
"That's not true." Thomas snaps
"Be quiet both of you. We'll find an antidote Alex. And Thomas, we'll be keeping a close eye on your behaver while we try to clean up this mess, what you do could make a big difference in how this turns out for you. I want to believe that this was really just a lapse in judgment that happened because you're young, and dreaming of glory, but you need to convince me though actions." He gives Thomas a long calculating look and sighs,
"You're dismissed." He says, leaving them, presumably to talk to his wife about Hamilton storming into the office or go find Adams.
"So," Thomas says softly. Alexander is still curled up in his lap and he thinks the weight is starting to cut off circulation to his feet, but Alexander doesn't seem like he's planning on moving any time soon and Thomas doesn't want to do anything that might piss Hamilton off when he might be the key to avoiding expulsion. Hamilton says nothing.
"Don't you have work to do?" He asks, Hamilton huffs softly and returns his face to its previous position against Thomas's chest. This is unusual. Hamilton is normally on top of every assignment given out, and the reminder of work to be done would get him moving faster than anything else, but here he is ignoring the prospect of work to cuddle with Thomas. He tries something else, but he doubts it's going to work.
"I think your friends are still waiting outside, they're probably worried." He offers, Hamilton lets out a long suffering grown and starts to uncurl himself.
"You're explaining how this is all your fault," He says as he stands and grabs Thomas's hand.
The group gathered outside is just as Thomas expected, the Schyler sisters (a Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor respectively), John Laurens (Hufflepuff, strange considering his family's long line of Slytherin on either side), Hercules Mulligan (Hufflepuff unsurprisingly for a muggle born), and Lafayette (Gryffindor, and a transfer from Beauxbatons). They all crowd around the two the moment they're out of the infirmary, shouting things like 'oh thank merlin,' and 'you're ok', and 'we were worried' and 'why are you holding jeffeshit's hand?' and 'be nice John'.
That last one was from Laf, who was probably the only mutual friend Thomas had with Hamilton. Thomas jumps in quickly to explain
"I was trying to make a better love potion, and I figured I could test it out on Hamilton and he would fall for one of you guys and it would be a prank but it backfired so now I'm stuck with Hamilton until Adams can make an antidote or it wears off" He glances over at Hamilton to see if that explanation is adequate, but he doesn't seem to be paying attention.
He has a big sweet smile on his face and a look of absolute adoration as he surveys his friends. Honestly this was more the reaction he expected from someone who had taken a love potion.
"Are you alright?" John asks,
"Yeah," Hamilton practically sings, "'m just thinking, you guys are the best friends ever. Like, you all came to the infirmary and waited here, even though I know that you have other stuff to do." He leans back against Thomas and closes his eyes, it's like a switch has been flipped, he's emotional, and affectionate, and kina acting like an idiot.
"Hey, John, you know, you're just the best, you always just know what's right ya'know and then you fight for it, it's just so amazing, and Eliza you're so sweet, and you love your family so much and you consider me family even though I don't deserve it, and Angelica, you're so smart! Like the whole world is gonna listen to you some day, I know it, you're just too amazing for them not to, and Peggy- "
"Are you ok?" John interrupts, blushing fiercely "Is this the potion?"
"Shush, John he was about to do me," Peggy hisses "Go on."
"Oh Peggy, you don't even need me to tell you you're amazing, you already know it, you're so bold and you just don't give a shit about what anybody thinks, I wish I had the courage to do shit like wear sundresses and pink leggings to class, and you're such a great bludger really I don't know where your team would be without you." Hamilton attempts to shift his weight but ends up nearly toppling over, the only thing saving him from hitting the floor is Thomas and John catching him,
"Wow," Mulligan says, "It's like he's drunk, but past his angry drunk phase and into his affectionate sentimental drunk phase." Thomas would have made a comment on the underage drinking (even if it was hypocritical) but he reminded himself to stay in line, he was going to have to deal with these people for a while. Hamilton meanwhile has been distracted by someone else,
"Hey, James, I didn't see you over there in the corner." Thomas picks Hamilton up bridal style and notes that James is indeed standing off to the side, watching them apparently, he's been waiting for Thomas.
"Hello, Hamilton." He says awkwardly, apparently not eager to be at the receiving end of one Hamilton's complent bombs.
"Heeey," Hamilton says again, playing with Thomas's Slytherin patch "do you remember when you used to call me Alex? I do, I miss that ya'know, like, we were friends and I could bounce my ideas off you, and you were like, always super cool and stuff, and like we didn't always agree but you made good arguments. I miss that. We should do that again sometime, like get butterbeer and talk, even if we don't talk about anything important, I just miss talking to you."
"That's very nice, I'll see what I can do." James says in his 'I really don't want to do that but I'm trying to be nice' voice
"I should take him back in so Mrs. Washington can look at him." Thomas says nodding towards the infirmary door.
"Oh, but he hasn't complimented me yet." Laf complains. Thomas elects to ignore that and stalks back into the infirmary, Laurens right on his heels.
"Mrs. Washington? You guys wanted me to tell you if more symptoms start to show up, right? Well he was fine until he saw his friends, then he started acting all affectionate and he just fell over, like he's drunk."
"Hey, hey Thomas," Hamilton tries and fails to whisper, Thomas looks down at him and finds that that absolutely adoring look is now focused on him "Hey, have I told you that you're just fucking beautiful. Just, like, how am I supposed to prove how wrong you are when I have to look at that stupid pretty face while I do it?" John laughs loudly,
"Wow, even a love potion can't get Alex to accutaly give you a compliment!" he mocks
"Has he been affectionate with everyone or just you?" Mrs. Washington asks, swatting John as she walks by on her way to examine Alex,
"Everyone," Thomas answers as Hamilton lazily shifts his attention to her.
"Hey, Mrs. W" he says "You know I don't think I tell you this enough, but you're just so amazing, you've done so much for me and I honestly am so grateful for everything, you have no idea. Like, you guys didn't need to let me into Hogwarts and get me all my supplies and let me stay with you after the hurricane. It's just, I just love you so much, and Mr. Washington too, I don't say it enough but really I love you." He says as she takes his face and examines his eyes, her breath seems to catch for a moment when he tells her he loves her, but she recovers so quickly Thomas thinks he might have imagined it.
"Thank you, Alex, we love you too." She says, then she looks at Jefferson "do you see the pink-purple haze over his eyes?" He would have called it magenta but yes he sees it, she releases Hamilton and takes a step back "That wasn't there before, it might be related. If this is going to keep getting progressively worse we might need to think up a new plan."
"So, what we just keep Alex here while he moons over everyone he sees?" John asks. Meanwhile Thomas notes that the magenta is starting to fade from Hamilton's eyes and his adoring expression is starting to turn to confusion,
"Hey, I think he's snapping out of it." He calls. John and Mrs. Washington are quick to gather closer to get a look for themselves as Hamilton blinks rapidly and shakes his head like he's trying to clear his head. Then.
"What the hell Jefferson?" he shouts
