Chapter 47 – Amortentia

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A few days passed and they haven't talked about it yet. They were sitting in the great hall at lunchtime and Sirius was planted right next to her. He was playing with her fingers as he went to take a bit from his eggs. But suddenly the eggs and bacon flew in the air and hit a Ravenclaw right in the face. Everyone at the table looked stunned at the Ravenclaw girl as eggs dripped from her hair.

"What the fuck was that!" Sirius gasped and looked to his friends. When his eyes found Izzie, she was smirking a little secretively as she took a bite from a strawberry.

"I would also like to know." Professor McGonagall appeared in front of him. "I can look past your pranks if they amuse people, but this wasn't really it, was it?"

"A prank?" James recovered first. "We did nothing, professor."

"Why was it Mr Black's plate then that went flying."

"I don't know."

"It was me, Professor McGonagall." Izzie said casually as another strawberry was pinned on her fork.

"WHAT?!" The others all chimed shocked. Sirius leaned forward to try and catch her eye, but she was looking at the professor.

"She had it coming." Izzie shrugged.

"She had it -" The professor breathed in deep. "Jealousy isn't a reason to throw a plate full of food in her face."

"Jealousy has nothing to do with it, professor. Or at least not on my part. I don't know if you noticed but since Sirius and I got together, most girls glare or whisper mean things about me." Sirius squeezed her hand. Was it really that bad? He felt horrible for not noticing. "With Valentines coming closer, they still want Sirius to be their date to Hogsmeade and I overheard them talking about slipping him some Amortentia."

"What? Who?" Sirius and Lily gasped. His grip on her became tighter.

"So, you throw the plate at Miss Lore because you heard her talking about Amortentia?" The professor looked unconvinced and ready to give her detention.

"Of course not, I always do things with a reason." Sirius couldn't understand how she could be so calm with the look the professor gave her. "And I didn't do that, not really, she did it herself."

"I highly doubt that she would throw a plate at herself."

"Well you see, professor, after I heard that conversation, I placed a little spell on Sirius. It would repel everything that has a love potion in it. So, when Sirius tried to take a bite, it repelled to the one who slipped it to him. You can check if you want." She said with another shrug and bit into the strawberry that was still on her fork.

McGonagall looked at her for a long moment but then she turned and walked to the Ravenclaw table. They all were silent as their eyes followed the professor. She waved her wand over the plate of food, then she looked surprised over her shoulder to Izzie. Sirius began to play with her fingertips nervously.

"Miss Lore, did you try to give Amortentia to Mr Black?" Her voice was stern, and the girl muttered something in return, but it was too soft for the others to hear. "Well then, I will meet you in my office for your first detention this evening after dinner and your Hogsmeade privileges are revoked." She turned again, her green robes flapping behind her and walked back to the Gryffindor table.

"Miss -" She stopped herself, because she didn't know what to call her. "Isabelle, ten points for Gryffindor for amazing spell work." The others all looked gobsmacked at the professor. "I would like to know how you came up with it."

"I'm happy to explain my process, professor." Izzie smiled kindly. "What about after class tomorrow?"

"I will look forward to it." Sirius saw a small smile appear on the Transfiguration professor's lips before she walked back to the head table. She sat down next to Flitwick and whispered to him. The little professor smiled broadly at the news.

"We should get going before we're late for Potions." She said like nothing happened, already pushing herself up from her seat.

"Iz!"

"What?" She turned to Remus.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I hoped it wouldn't come to that, that they just thought about it. But your faces were priceless, so that's an extra bonus."

"I'm sorry." Sirius called her attention to him, he was frowning at their intertwined hands. "I didn't know they were that crazy."

"It's not your fault, Sirius. I can handle a few crazy girls."

"Hear, hear!" James clapped loudly.

"You are bloody brilliant, love." Sirius's frown had disappeared, and a beaming smile took its place. He leaned forward and captured her lips for a searing kiss. "I won't have any lasting damage from the spell, will I?"

"No." Izzie chuckled, giving him a sweet peck. "It's like a barrier around you, it just protects you."

Sirius couldn't help but pull her into another kiss. "My little charmer." He whispered against her lips, with a goofy smile.

"Come on, love birds. Time to go to potions." Lily interrupted them with a grin.

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For the next three days, several of Sirius's dishes or candies went flying through the room. It seemed like Professor McGonagall informed the other teachers because every girl that suddenly got food in their face got detention, deducted points and/or a ban for Hogsmeade. After Charms the first day after it happened, Professor Flitwick took her to the side the second she walked in, asking her how she did it and that he found it ingenious. On top of his praise, he gave her another ten points for her unique combination of spells.

They were all sitting in Izzie and Regulus private chamber, Sirius was getting frustrated from all the girls. He was sitting on the couch, his girlfriend between his legs on the floor in front of him, working on her homework. He was softly combing his fingers through Izzie's hair as his mind wandered.

"Seeing how many girls are trying to slip you a love potion, Pads, I'm starting to worry how many times it has happened before without you knowing it." James frowned.

"Love potions are hard to make." Lily said not looking up from her parchment from her place at the small table. "We only learn it in sixth year, and if someone managed to make it before then, it wouldn't be before fifth. I haven't met anyone who could make it in fourth year."

Izzie knew how Sirius was feeling, how frustrating and angry he was getting. With her free hand, she started rubbing circles on his calf.

"But would girls really be that desperate?" Remus asked. He was sitting across from Lily but looked up from his Transfiguration essay when he answered.

"You've seen first-hand how many girls are doing it now, just over a few days." James grunted; he was angry too.

"It wouldn't be too farfetched." Regulus said from his place next to Izzie. He tilted his head to his brother. "I've heard Slytherin girls talking about it two years ago. Don't worry, they were too dumb to make it." He said with a simple shrug before turning back to his homework.

James was eyeing his best friend, who has been quiet since he brought the subject up. He was still combing his fingers through Izzie's hair, but his jaw was twitching. He turned his gaze to Izzie.

"Is there a way to know?"

She nibbled on her quill, frowning. "There is... but I don't know it's worth getting to know the truth." Sirius stopped his movements in her hair, and she tilted her head to look at him. "Sirius?"

"I think I just want to know if any of the girls I've - If I was under the influence."

Izzie crawled on the couch next to him, taking his hands in hers. "And what will you do with the information if you were or... if you weren't?"

Sirius felt the eyes of everyone on him, but he kept his eyes on his girlfriend. "I don't know. I just -" He groaned, taking his hands out of hers to rub his face in frustration.

"I know you hate your past." She grabbed his hands away from his face and cupped his cheek. He leaned into her hand, breathing out softly. "And all the gi-" She stopped when his eyes dropped. "But you know I don't care about that." She caressed his cheek softly. "But if you really want, I can find out, magic always leaves a trace.

His eyes sparkled a little, he swallowed before nodding his head. Izzie sighed before she starting to cast spells over him. Everyone was looking at them in dead silence. They saw a glow coming off of him. He was afraid of the answer, but he needed to know. He never felt love from his parents. Reggie loved him but after he got sorted into Gryffindor, it all faded until there was nothing left. Until now. The first love he felt was from his best friends. He didn't find himself love worthy, why would anyone love him? He was brought out of his thoughts when Izzie sat back, exhausted and Sirius wiped the sweat from her head. He wanted to pull her close, but she leaned back. A flicker of hurt crossed his eyes.

"What is it?" He asked softly.

"You've been under the influence before."

"How many times?"

She looked down and played with her fingers. "More than once."

"How many?" Sirius voice shook with anger.

"I don't know what good it will do -" Sirius shot her a look that made her heart break. He looked angry and hurt. But what broke her a little was that he looked angry at her for not telling him, like she was deliberately hiding things from him. "S-seven."

"Seven." He breathed, he closed his eyes firmly shut. He was angry, no he was fuming. Which girls... Then he uttered a single sentence that would he regret instantly, he said it before his head and heart could trump his anger. He didn't even know how that thought crossed his mind but still he said.

"Did you use it on me?" He felt her fly off the couch and his eyes opened in terror of what he just asked. Izzie was backing away from him, her eyes filled with tears, her face red in anger. The others all looked shocked at Sirius for even just thinking something like that.

"I can't believe you just asked me that." Her voice was trembling.

"Izzie!" Sirius jumped up and approached her. "I didn't-"

"Stay away from me." She backed away and when Sirius followed, she waved her hand. Sirius toppled backwards over the couch. It gave her enough time to flee from the room. She heard the others all shouting at Sirius, but she just needed to get away, she needed to be alone. She ran out of the castle and kept going until she breached the castle wards. Then she apparated away.

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Remus had jumped from his seat in anger, walked over to Sirius, who was clambering up from where Izzie made him fall. He stumbled back to the ground when Remus fist collided with his cheek.

"How dare you!" Remus gritted through his teeth. "After everything she has done to protect you!"

Sirius's eyes stung with tears, but it wasn't from the blow Remus afflicted on him. It was because of the hurt and betrayal in Izzie's eyes. How could he be so stupid?! He was looking at Remus with tears in his eyes. But Remus just turned and walked out of the room. His eyes found his younger brother, he just looked utterly disappointed in him, which made it even worse than the blow. Then he followed his boyfriend out of the room.

"I'm going to go look for her." Lily said, giving James a kiss on the cheek. She didn't look at him at all as she walked past him and out of the room.

"James, I-" Sirius's voice trembled as he looked to his best friend.

"Don't, Sirius." He held up his hand. "I can't talk to you right now or I'll say something I'll regret." Just like you did. Hung in the air between them. Sirius lowered his head and the last of his friends walked out, leaving him alone in the room. He sunk to the floor and pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face in his knees.

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Don't hate me! 🙈

Sirius is more insecure than you may have thought. He never felt loved growing up and still has a hard time believing his friends and Izzie loves him ... for him.