Author's Notes: A lot of the text in this chapter, especially concerning the potions - specifically the parts about Felix Felicis – was taken directly from Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince, which I don't own and obviously belongs to the amazing J.K Rowling. All credit goes to her for allowing me to play with her wonderful creations.
Thanks go to Peggy (Medieval Mystic: USER ID: 796384) for doing such a wonderful job beta'ing.
Chapter Four: Lucky Love.
The following morning, classes continued as usual and - despite the odd dream I'd had the night before - my strange feelings from the previous evening seemed to have disappeared.
As always, Michelle, Stephanie, Heather and I had breakfast together before heading off to the first lesson of the day. This morning that happened to be Charms.
Together, we made our way to the third floor classroom, where Professor Flitwick was waiting for the sixth-year students from his own house.
"Good morning, girls," he greeted my friends and I cheerily, as he allowed us to step into the classroom.
"Good morning, Professor," Michelle, Stephanie, Heather and I replied in unison, as we took seats at the front of the class.
Once again, we were learning non-verbal spells. As my friends and I had pretty much mastered them in Defence the previous day, we had no trouble in Charms.
In utter silence, Michelle, Heather, Stephanie and I stood in a rounded square, firing various unknown incantations at each other, as well as trying to parry the effects. For the most part, the jets of coloured light simply bounced off of each other's shield charms. However, once or twice, one of us would be hit by a stray spell, and would start giggling, growing fur or something equally as silly.
By the end of the class, we were all completely worn out from the effort and concentration casting non-verbal spells required. So it was with slight languor that we made our way to the fifth floor for Transfiguration, knowing more of the same would be expected of us.
True to our suspicions, Professor McGonagall requested that we preform all incantations in her class non-verbally. Therefore, Stephanie, Heather, Michelle and I tried our best to change the colour of our eyebrows without speaking a single syllable of the spell needed.
By the time the bell rang for lunch, I was totally exhausted from the effort required in sixth year classes, but I knew it would be worth all the hard work if it enabled me to attain good N.E.W.T grades the following year.
As we sat down at the Ravenclaw table and began tucking into my favourite meal of chicken pie, Michelle turned to me and asked, "So, did you and Remus do everything you needed to in the library last night?"
"Well," I began, my fork hovering below my mouth. "We completed the research, but we're meeting again tonight to begin writing the actual essay."
"Wow, Jenn, you really don't do anything by halves, do you?" commented Michelle with a raised eyebrow.
"I've got to put in the effort if I want to earn a good grade," I returned, before adding cheekily. "Besides, how else are we supposed to beat you and Lily?"
My friends all started laughing, knowing full well how competitive I could be at times.
Then Stephanie said, "I suppose it doesn't hurt that your partner is so cute."
Again, Michelle and Heather giggled, although I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks.
Thankfully, I countered it by facetiously saying, "But I thought you only had eyes for Sirius Black?"
"Oh, I do," insisted Stephanie in all seriousness. "But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate other good looking guys. Besides, it's pretty much impossible not to notice how cute Remus is."
"I haven't really paid that much attention, actually," I half-lied. In the past twenty-four hours, Remus had suddenly become much more attractive to me.
"Well, that's because you always have your nose in a book," teased Heather, and once more we all started laughing.
During the remainder of our lunch break, I completed the Defence homework I hadn't had time to do the previous evening.
As my friends and I were about to leave the Great Hall, Remus and the other Marauders came over to us, which set Stephanie off into a renewed fit of giggles.
"Do you want to walk to class together?" Remus offered, causing Michelle and Heather to smirk slightly. Stephanie wasn't paying any attention now, as her focus was solely devoted to Sirius.
"Sure," I replied, a faint blush creeping over my cheeks.
Heather and Michelle exchanged a knowing look, and the began chatting to Lily and Amy, as we all made our way down to the dungeons.
Just like always, Professor Slughorn was waiting outside the class room to welcome us in, and as per usual, he invited my friends and I to his next 'Slug Club' meeting, which would be held that coming Friday evening.
Despite what others thought of the gatherings, I actually quite enjoyed going to the 'Slug Club', as it was a chance for a change of scenery and allowed us to mingle with students from other houses.
After letting Professor Slughorn know we'd be attending, my three friends and I sat down at the bench in front of a cauldron containing a potion that had a distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen, steam rising from it in characteristic spirals. I instantly knew it was the love potion, Amortentia.
Inhaling deeply, I smelt new books, the material of a wizard chess set and Honeydukes chocolate.
I looked across at my friends, who all had glazed, dreamy looks on their faces, and knew they too were smelling the scents of things they were deeply attracted to.
Startling me from my almost drunken haze was the sound of loud and cheery chattering. I looked up in time to see the Marauders taking their seats.
Remus caught my eye and I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, not knowing if it was the ongoing effects of the Amortentia or something else altogether.
Once everyone had settled in their places, Professor Slughorn stood in front of the class and explained that he'd already prepared a few potions for us all to take a look at, as examples of the type of thing we'd be able to make after completing our N.E.W.T.s.
"So, can anyone tell me what this one is?" he inquired, pointing to the cauldron right at the very back of the class room.
I craned my neck a little to see what looked like just plain water boiling and my hand instantly shot into the air; along with Heather's, Sirius' and - my fellow prefect - Jason Medley's.
"Yes, Miss Knightly?" he asked me, a smile curling his lips.
"It's Veritaserum, Sir," I answered. "A colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth."
"Excellent. Ten points to Ravenclaw," Professor Slughorn boomed, then turned to point at the cauldron on the table just behind me.
" Now, how about this one? It's a little more well-known, so you should be able to take a guess."
I turned around to look at the potion that was bubbling slowly, directly in front of the Marauders, and noticed it's mud-like consistency.
Once again, my arm was in the air, along with Michelle's and Remus'. Our eyes met briefly and Remus winked at me, causing the room to suddenly grow stiflingly hot.
"Okay, let's give someone else a chance," said Professor Slughorn, waking me from my momentary trance. "Mister Lupin, can you tell us what it is, please?"
"Yes, Sir. It's Polyjuice Potion, which allows the drinker to assume the appearance of another person. The effect lasts for an hour, but repeat doses can be taken indefinitely. In addition to the standard ingredients - Fluxweed, Horn of bicorn, Knotgrass, Lacewing flies, Leeches and Skin of boomslang - the potion also requires a part of the person you want to assume the appearance of. Additionally, the fluxweed has to be picked at full moon." Remus shuddered slightly when he said this part, but then continued. "And the lacewing flies stewed for 21 days before the potion is made."
"Excellent, excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor for a very detailed answer," announced Professor Slughorn with a broad smile, before turning his attention to the potion brewing before my friends and I. "Who can tell me what this one is?"
Again, I raised my hand, as did Stephanie, Sirius and fellow Ravenclaw Matthew Stokes.
"Yes, Miss Monroe?" he asked Stephanie.
"It's Amortentia, Sir," she replied, with a grin and a glint in her eyes. "It's the most powerful love potion in the world, and can be recognized by it's distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen and steam rising in characteristic spirals. Supposedly, it smells differently to each of us, according to what attracts us. I can smell the Quidditch pitch, fresh ink and something musky."
At this point, Stephanie actually turned around and winked at Sirius, casing them both to blush slightly. I didn't know if she was lying about what she could smell in the Amortentia or not, but her comments were still greatly amusing, as was the dumbfounded look on Sirius' face.
"Very good description, my dear. Another ten points to Ravenclaw," Professor Slughorn said genially. "Now, Amortentia doesn't really create love, of course. It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. It's probably the most dangerous and powerful potion in this room. When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love, it can be a very perilous thing."
At this point, the class looked at one another. Some were sceptical while others were in awe. All of us wondering about the supposed dangers of the potion that was sitting in front of Stephanie, Heather, Michelle and I.
When the curious murmuring had died down, Professor Slughorn took command once again, and continued speaking.
"And now, it is time for us to start work," he said.
"But, Sir, you haven't told us what's in this one," interjected Jason Medley, pointing at the small black cauldron standing on Professor Slughorn's desk. The potion within was splashing about merrily; it was the colour of molten gold, and large drops were leaping like goldfish above the surface, though not a particle had spilled.
"Oho," Professor Slughorn began, and I was sure he'd not forgotten the potion at all, but had waited to be asked for dramatic effect. "Yes. That. Well, that one, ladies and gentlemen, is a most curious little potion called Felix Felicis. It's desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. However, if brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed ... at least until the effects wear off."
"Why don't people drink it all the time, Sir?" asked Peter Pettigrew eagerly.
"Because, my boy, if taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness and dangerous overconfidence," Professor Slughorn replied. "Too much of a good thing, you know ... highly toxic in large quantities. But taken very sparingly, and very occasionally..."
"Have you ever taken it, Sir?" asked Jason Medley with great interest.
"Twice in my life," revealed Professor Slughorn. "Once when I was twenty-four, once when I was fifty-seven. Two tablespoonfuls taken with breakfast. Two perfect days."
At this point, he gazed off into the distance, and I wasn't sure if he was play-acting or not, but the effect was very impressive none the less.
"And that," said Professor Slughorn, apparently coming back to earth, "is what I shall be offering as a prize in this lesson."
There was a silence in which every bubble and gurgle of the surrounding potions seemed to be magnified tenfold.
"One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis," Professor Slughorn continued, taking a minuscule glass bottle with a cork in it out of his pocket and showing it to the class. "Enough for twelve hours' luck. From dawn till dusk, you will be lucky in everything you attempt. But, how are you to win my fabulous prize, you ask? Well, by turning to page ten of Advanced Potion-Marking. We have a little over an hour left to us, which should be time enough for you to make a decent attempt at the Draught of Living Death. I know it is more complex than anything you have attempted before and I do not expect a perfect potion from anybody. The person who does best, however, will win little Felix here. Off you go!"
TBC ...