Written for Hogwarts' Around the World Event: Argentina - (potion) Amortentia.
Word count: 335
Amortentia
It was funny, really, how Lily hadn't thought to expect this.
On the table before her, her Potion bubbled happily inside her cauldron, and Lily inhaled the soft, sweet scent that drifted up, letting her eyes fall shut as she allowed herself a moment to savor how perfect it was.
She smelled the forest—the earthy scent that lingered in her nostrils for days whenever she ventured under the cover of trees, a scent full of mysteries and things unknown—and Honeydukes, with a metallic undercurrent that tickled at the back of her throat like an explosion waiting to happen.
"Well, then, since yours clearly works, tell me what does it smell like for you!" Marlene, the only other Gryffindor girl to have gotten into NEWTs level Potions, asked her, jabbing a bony elbow into Lily's side mercilessly.
Eyes drifting to James, whose Potions had now started letting out threatening dark, noxious clouds, Lily smiled fondly as she took her time to answer. "It smells like love," she finally said, her smile widening into a grin when James looked up and shot her a flirty wink.
Marlene snorted. "Well, obviously—it's Amortentia, dummy. It's supposed to smell like love. I'm asking what love smells like for you."
Turning to face her friend, Lily rolled her eyes. "Something tells me that you already know what I'd say."
Marlene laughed loudly, stifling it almost instantly and flashing Professor Slughorn a wide apologetic smile until he went back to his papers. "Well, Lily, you have to admit that you haven't exactly been discreet about your feelings."
Lily tried to scowl but failed, her lips twitching up helplessly. "Wasn't trying to be," she quipped, willing herself not to blush.
Despite herself, her eyes drifted toward James again, who shamelessly blew her a kiss.
"I knew it! You're totally in love with him!" Marlene cried out excitedly.
"Like I said," Lily repeated, not bothering with trying to shush her friend and instead, she breathes in the Amortentia again, "I'm not hiding anything."