The 6th years couldn't contain their excitement. Valentine's week was Slughorn's annual lesson on love potions, and every 6th year got to smell Amortentia.
"I wonder if Evans will smell me?" James asked his friends as they headed to potions.
"I doubt it." Sirius non-chalantly replied.
"Aw, c'mon!" James retorted, "We've been talking a lot since this school year started, and she seems to be interested."
"She said you were maturing." Remus stated, "Although I'm not sure that you've reformed enough for her."
James rolled his eyes, "I've cut down on messing with Snivelly, haven't I?"
"Yes." Remus answered, "But if you stopped altogether, then maybe you could get a date?"
James thought about it. Even though Lily ended her friendship with him, she still didn't like the greasy creep getting bullied. He couldn't say he was too surprised, afterall, he did save him last year. But that was a matter of life and death, this was just harmless fun and retaliation.
"That would be challenging." James mused, he did like a challenge.
Sirius rolled his eyes, "Will it be worth it?" He still hated Snape.
"For Lily, anything is worth it!" James boldly declared, "I'll see if I can reduce it to only: self-defense, retaliation, and him getting caught in the cross-hairs."
Sirius had to admit that that was a good challenge, but that's what they were doing already, or so he thought.
Remus meanwhile, thought that retaliation wasn't a good reason to torment. Although he couldn't think of any good reason for tormenting.
Peter, he just went along with what his friends thought. Although, the more time James and Sirius spent bullying Snape, the less time they spent sparing with him. Although, he had to admit he had become a good duelist because of them. They even helped him become an Animagi last year, a feat deemed near impossible for a 15-year-old. Also deemed impossible, was how good the rotund boy had gotten at deceiving and manipulating people. Indeed, the boy was praised not just for his skill in Wizard's chess, but also for his natural talent for evading, maneuvering, and persuasion charms.
The four entered the classroom, and their noses were almost immediately hit with the smell coming from the golden cauldron. The other students who entered smelled it too, each one smelling different things:
Sirius Black smelled a broomstick handle, motorcycle oil, chocolate, wolves, Remus's hair, old and new books, dragon fire, and deer musk. The first two were unsurprising, as he loved brooms and motorcycles. As for the chocolate, wolves, Remus's hair, and the books, he wasn't completely surprised. He had grown rather fond of Remus over the past five years, and he found that his feelings were changing for him. Maybe James was right to ship them. Although speaking of James, why did he smell his musk? The two were just friends.
Lily Evans smelled treacle tart, a broomstick handles, Quidditch polish, glass cleaner, deer musk, and greasy hair. This caught her off-guard, as she was fairly certain that she was not romantically interested in James Potter. He was an arrogant, spoiled, reforming bully who only cared for mischief and those in his inner circle. Sure he had morals, he did save Snape the previous year, but that didn't seem enough at the moment. Also the greasy hair, could it be... no. Sev was no longer her friend, and if he wasn't fit to be her friend, then he wasn't fit to be her boyfriend.
Remus Lupin smelled chocolate, parchment, fresh cut grass, old and new books, motorcycle oil, wet dog, bubblegum, and a smell he would later identify as the favorite perfume of Sirius's then three-year-old cousin, Nymphadora Tonks. Although he knew he was growing feelings for Sirius, he had chalked that up to him getting used to his growing and near constant affection, but maybe he was wrong? Also, the bubblegum and the mystery smell would plague him for years.
Peter Pettigrew smelled tea, candy, greasy hair, and something floral. The tea and candy were easy, as the boy had a known sweet tooth. The greasy hair could be chalked up to his own messy hair. But the floral scent, that caught him completely off-guard, and he wouldn't be able to place it until years later.
James Potter smelled treacle tart, a broomstick handle, Quidditch polish, lilies, deer musk, Lily's favorite perfume, Lily's hair, and motorcycle oil. Almost none of that shocked him, he loved Quidditch and Lily Evans, and her patronus was a doe. However the motorcycle oil, that, that threw him off. Sirius was his best friend and foster brother, he wasn't interested in him, he was solely interested in Lily.
Severus Snape smelled lilies, Lily's hair, Lily's favorite perfume, deer musk, treacle tart, and Lily's favorite candy. He seemed the least surprised with what he smelled, given how obsessed with Lily he was.
As Slughorn began the lesson, there were students who couldn't smell anything from the Amortentia. Slughorn assured them that they were fine, and probably just aromantic.