Chapter 14

Hours later, Landry and Miles left Madame Malkin's with the magical dress and suit, plus a bunch of new clothes for Miles. Madame Malkin had also taken measurements of their faces so that she could owl them some custom masks for the ball. The two teenagers spent the rest of the evening together, talking and laughing. As they were about to part ways for the night to ascend the stairs to their respective dormitories, Miles, all of a sudden, embraced Landry. She was caught off guard by Miles's hug, and the fluttery feeling that came with it. In fact, the fluttery feeling hadn't really left Landry since she had felt it in Madame Malkin's. She was becoming increasingly confused by it. Was she sick? Landry didn't think so, as the feeling wasn't altogether bad. In fact, if Landry was being honest, it felt kind of wonderful. And familiar…but at the same time, completely new. Landry shook this train of thoughts out of her head as Miles released her moments later.

"Sorry," he said, blushing. "I just wanted to thank you, Landry. I know we've only been friends for a few days, but I've never really had a real friend at all before now. You've been there for me whenever I needed you, and that means a lot to me."

Now it was Landry's turn to blush. "Thank you, Miles. And don't mention it! What are best friends for?" she replied.

Miles grinned, at Landry, and Landry grinned back. With that, the two ascended the stairs and went to sleep.

—

Two weeks later, the school was buzzing with anticipation over the Masquerade ball coming up on the next Saturday. Suddenly, Landry was faced with a new dilemma…everyone was talking about who they were going to ask to the ball. Landry had no idea who she would even want to ask to the ball…obviously Scorpius was taken, and at this point she wasn't really sure she liked him in that way anymore. Plus, she still hadn't spoken to him or Albus since Quidditch tryouts. She decided she would just go without a date unless an opportunity presented itself, which Landry thought was quite unlikely.

It was Friday morning, and Landry and Miles walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. Miles had just spent the entire walk down from Ravenclaw tower making Landry smell his new cologne that had arrived by owl post the past evening. He was very excited about it. As they entered the hall, Landry heard a familiar voice call out to her. "Landry! Over here!"

Both Landry and Miles looked over and saw Genevieve sitting at one of the tables, smiling and waving. "Do you mind?" Landry questioned Miles.

"No, not at all," he said, smiling. "I've been wanting to meet Genevieve, you've told me so much about her!"

The two walked over to Genevieve, who immediately stood up and wrapped Landry in a hug. "Hi, I've missed you," she said. "I realized I've kind of been blowing you off these past few weeks to spend time with my new team. I'm really sorry about that, Landry. I just really want them to like me, but I realized that that isn't as important as being a good friend to you" Genevieve explained.

"Awww, Gen, it's okay! I understand. That means the world to me, though. I love you so much, you're the best," Landry said, smiling.

Miles stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say, not wanting to disrupt the girls' moment.

"Oh, Gen, this is my new friend…"

"Miles," said Miles. "It's nice to meet you, Landry has told me all about you!"

"It's nice to meet you too, Miles," said Genevieve happily. "You look kind of familiar…"

Miles tensed up. He was sure that Genevieve was about to mention his birthname.

"I know! You look like the guy from the Fever Fudge ad in Diagon Alley!" exclaimed Genevieve.

Miles let out a breath of relief, then laughed at what Genevieve had said. "I do?" he laughed.

"You have a similar nose," she said, giggling.

Landry smiled. She was very glad her two best friends were getting along. The three teenagers sat down and started eating their breakfast. Miles and Landry sat across from Genevieve, and after a few minutes of being with them, Genevieve developed an odd look on her face. It was a sort of entertained/suspicious combo. When Landry questioned her, she just smirked and said "Oh, nothing."

After breakfast, Miles headed off in a different direction from the girls, as his class was on the other side of the castle from their classes. Once Miles was out of earshot, Genevieve turned to Landry and said "Wow, you've found a new boy already?"

Landry was confused, and not sure if she had heard Genevieve correctly. "What?" she questioned.

Genevieve just raised her eyebrows and giggled. "Nothing," she said.

Later that day, in Potions class, Genevieve was watching Landry very closely as she added ingredients to their Amortentia potion. It seemed that the closer the two got to finishing the potion, the more closely Genevieve was watching Landry. Landry ignored her friend's odd behavior and continued brewing the potion. Professor Ableman, their Potions teacher, addressed the class as all of the students were completing their potions. "After you're done, make sure to take a whiff of your potion. Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. If you have brewed it correctly, it will smell like what attracts you the most," he explained. Genevieve squealed, and Landry looked over at her with extreme confusion.

"What on earth are you so excited about today, Gen?" she asked quizzically.

"You'll see, Landry. You'll see," Genevieve replied. Landry rolled her eyes as she added the last ingredient to the potion. It began to steam, and Landry gave a satisfied smile, as this was the signal that the potion had been made properly.

"Do you want to smell it first, Gen?" Landry asked. Genevieve shook her head.

"No, no, you go first!" she said. The girl was practically jumping up and down in her seat. Landry bent down to her cauldron and inhaled deeply. "What do you smell?" asked Genevieve.

"I smell…fresh parchment…the allspice candle my dads always burn at home…cinnamon toast…floral perfume…." Landry trailed off. She was confused. She had never really liked cinnamon, and couldn't remember anyone she knew ever having used floral perfume. But as she sniffed once more, the answer came to her. Cologne. Miles's cologne. Miles's cinnamon toast. The floral perfume that she has smelled with Miles in Madame Malkin's. Her eyes grew wide. She drew her head up from the potion, and turned to Genevieve with a look of realization on her face.

"I knew it!" Genevieve exclaimed.

Genevieve's odd behavior suddenly made sense. She had been able to tell that morning at breakfast, even though Landry herself hadn't even realized. Landry also suddenly knew where she had felt the fluttery feeling before. She had felt it every time she was with Scorpius, until recently. But it had never been quite the same. With Scorpius, it had felt like a dream. It had been lovely, but also seemed foggy, and, for lack of a better word, small. Landry suddenly found herself feeling terrified. This time, it seemed crystal clear. This time, it seemed completely and utterly real.

—

Just a few hours before, in the very same room, Miles had been brewing Amortentia himself. Unlike Landry, he knew exactly what he was going to smell. As he closed his eyes and caught a heavy whiff of his potion, Miles's suspicions were confirmed. He smelled the scent of his testosterone potion, freshly mowed grass, baked beans, floral perfume, and freshly baked cookies. Landry loved baked beans. Landry had been with him in Madame Malkin's when they smelled the floral perfume. Landry always smelled of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Miles sighed and set his chin in the palm of his hand. He wondered what Landry smelled in her Amortentia. Little did Miles or Landry know, it was each other.