2 September 1996 — Amortentia
Professor Slughorn gestured to the cauldron on the table before his sixth-year students. Before he could finish asking them what the contents were, Hermione's hand shot into the air.
"It's Amortentia!"
"It is indeed. It seems almost foolish to ask," said Slughorn, who was looking mightily impressed, "but I assume you know what it does?"
"It's the most powerful love potion in the world!" said Hermione.
"Quite right! You recognized, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?"
"And the steam rising in characteristic spirals," said Hermione enthusiastically, "and it's supposed to smell different to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment, and—"
But she turned slightly pink and did not complete the sentence. Professor Slughorn asked Hermione her name, and sounded very impressed when he learned that she was Muggleborn. Ron, however, wasn't listening. He was staring at the cauldron full of Amortentia. He had wondered where the scent of cinnamon that seemed so familiar was coming from, and now he knew.
Ron's mouth hung open slightly as the Amortentia's smell wafted over him. A daydream more powerful than anything Fred and George stocked at the joke shop suddenly filled his brain. He was standing with Hermione on the banks of the lake in the fading autumn light, his fingers entwined in her hair as they kissed.
She was so warm; Ron could never imagine not holding her in his arms and smelling that wonderful, sharp cinnamon in her hair. Dream-Hermione looked up at him, brown eyes smiling, and as he leaned in for another kiss, he heard Real-Hermione's voice.
"Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year? Oh, Harry!" she said excitedly, squeezing Harry's arm.
Ron frowned as he was jarred back to reality. He was inexplicably annoyed, and his cheeks and neck felt suddenly hot. "Well, what's so impressive about that? You are the best in the year—I'd've told him so if he'd asked me." He continued to frown to himself as Hermione shushed him. The cinnamon scent wafting from the cauldron had taken on a metallic quality; it burned his nose and throat now. He looked away as Slughorn blathered on about something he didn't really care to hear about.
Well hey there! I was so happy at all the reviews I woke up to this morning, I wanted to post the next chapter. And hey, McAbbyGirl4Life , look! HBP! I didn't know it was coming up this fast. Hope you all enjoy!
Love, Lucy