Chapter 11.

There are certain people you just keep coming back to

She is right in front of you

You begin to wonder could you find a better one

Compared to her now she's in question

All At Once- The Fray

Before I knew it Christmas Vacation was just a day away. In the past many of my teachers had given up on teaching by this point. Most of their students had given up on learning and were more focused on break anyway. Unfortunately this year it seemed like none of my teachers were embracing this attitude.

"Its N.E.W.T. year there's no time for slacking off !" Professor Scotts said after Jamie Rider asked if there was any chance we would be doing something fun in our charms class.

So far I had had three essays due as well as a test in charms and herboligy.

I walked into potions bracing myself for what I would find. It was the last lesson I had before the holidays begin. It was also the only class that I had no idea what to expect to happen in. Professor Lovell, many male students and Rose referred to her just as Love behind her back, was a new teacher and quite young. Because of this it seemed like she made attempts to be liked by the students then the rest of the teachers. At times she might have been to friendly with her students, something that annoyed Rose to no end, but what she lacked in classroom experience she made up for in technique. She was amazing at making potions. She could go from joking around with us to whipping up something so complicated I swear I almost cried when I had to do it. All without breaking a sweat.

Glancing around the classroom I saw that all our seats were cleared away. Instead there were caldrons sitting on every table in the room. All with lids on. I began to walk over to my normal table when Lovell stopped me,

"Riley could you so kindly stand in the back of the classroom? I don't want you to get a sneak peak." She said. I noticed that her black hair was frizzing slightly due to the humidity in the room.

I stared blankly at her. Her brown eyes were sparkling with excitement.

"What are we doing?"

"Were going to have a little educational fun! Something different on the last day of lessons before Christmas. I know all of you won't pay attention to anything I have to say anyways."

I smiled. Finally a break.

"Sounds good Professor." I said and then began making my way to the back of the classroom where a majority of the class had gathered.

I spotted Rose and made my way over to her.

"Do you have any clue what were doing?"

"Hell if I know. I walked in and she demanded that I come back here so I didn't cheat. Like I would need to cheat. She obviously underestimates my ability's."

"Whatever you say love." Scorpius said nodding his head. Clearly he learned early on its better to just leave Rose alone when it came to thoughts like this. It wasn't worth the fight.

Our conversation fell off as the bell rang.

"Good afternoon. I know how stressful this week has been for you. So I thought I would do something a little different."

Suddenly the door swung open.

"Sorry were late Professor. Lost track of time." Claire giggled as she walked into the room Al trailing behind her.

Lovell smiled at her.

"Its alright. Just don't make a habit of it."

"We wont. I promise." Claire responded smiling sweetly.

"Suck up" I heard Rose mumble beside me. I stifled a laugh.

"Anyway. As I was saying were going to be doing something that is both fun and promotes learning. As you can see I have set up some potions around the room. It is up to you to identify them by there charteristics. Now, some of them are potions that are very common, such as a shrinking solution and there are others more complicated. Individually you're going to go from station to station and after five minutes I will ring a timer and you will move to the next caldron. When you have visited them all I will collect your answers and who ever has them most correct will win a prize. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"I don't know what her form of fun is but it sure as fuck isn't mine." Rose whispered. She took the words right out of my mouth.

"So lets get started! Go ahead and pick a station" Lovell clapped her hands enthusiastically as we all began to sort ourselves out, standing awkwardly by a caldron.

After a few moments when the class quieted down, Lovell spoke again.

"Is every one ready?"

"Yes." We chorused back.

"Excellent. Remember use all of your prior knowledge to figure out what these are. Your time starts" she glanced down at her watch "Now" with a wave of her wand all of the lids disappeared.

Taking a deep breath I leaned forward and looked down into the caldron. It was clear like water and I couldn't smell anything. Right away I jotted down Veritaserum on my parchment. This might be easier then I thought.

How wrong I was. After going though almost all the stations I was only sure of four out of the nine stations I had been to. This was worse then anything we had done so far all week. At least in those subjects we had warning. If I had had known we would be doing this I could have at least studied.

DING DING DING

Lovell's bell signaling for us to switch rung startling me. Shit, I didn't have a clue what this potion was. I quickly scribbled down draught of peace. It was turquoise so I figured it was worth a shot.

"Come on, time to move on." Lovell called out. I looked up and saw I wasn't the only one franticly writing something down.

I gathered my things and moved to the last cauldron. Which had steam spiraling out of it.

When I leaned forward I was met with the most wonderful smell I've ever smelled in my life. There was fresh brewed coffee, an ocean breeze, and then something I couldn't place. It smelled clean and fresh but had undertones of something I can only describe as being distinctly boy. I took another deep breath. I could have stood there smelling it all day.

Stepping back I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I knew what this potion was. Amortentia. I've heard about it but never seen it before. I've always wanted to know what smells I was attracted to most.

After writing my answer down. I leaned forward to smell the potion again. I now understood why I had seen so many of my classmates leaning forward with dreamy expressions and lingering at this cauldron. The third scent continued to puzzle me. I didn't know where I had smelled it before but I felt like I should remember. I mean it is something I'm attracted to most. With each new breath different things became more distinct. The clean scent became stronger and it felt familiar but I couldn't place it. It was like the answer was right on the tip of my tongue. As for the unidentified boy smell I decided it was some for of cologne or shampoo, or aftershave maybe? All I knew for sure was that it was the most amazing fragrance. Something kind of warm and rich but not over powering. I hate to say this but it made me feel safe. How could someone's aroma make me feel safe? I didn't even know whom it belonged to for Merlin's sake.

DING DING DING

What? Five minutes had gone by already? I wasn't ready to leave. I took one more deep breath. And was leaning in for another, this potion was addicting, when suddenly the lids appeared back on the caldrons. I felt myself pout. I was willing to give anything to smell that again.

"I hope that you enjoyed figuring those potions out as much as I enjoyed making them." Lovell said cheerfully. "If you could hand in your parchments so I can grade them that would be lovely."

I made my way up to the front of the room and handed her my paper. She smiled widely at me. She was way to into potions.

"Do I have everyone's?"

"Yes." We all once again coursed back.

"Ok. I'll have these ready in a few minutes. Remember these aren't being graded I'm just looking to see who got them most correct. You won't be punished for any wrong answers. You can entertain yourselves quietly while I look over these."

I picked up my things and began walking over to where Rose and Scorpius were standing. However, before I got there Claire stepped in front of me. Her long blond hair was up in a high ponytail and was swinging back in forth even when she wasn't moving.

"So Riley what did you think?" she asked falling into step beside me.

I changed my course and didn't go stand by Rose. I knew that if I brought Claire over to her Rose would say some snarkey comment and then Claire would say something back and both would demand that Al do something about the other. It just wasn't worth it.

I shrugged me shoulders

"It was alright. There were some I guessed on but there are some I'm confident about."

Claire nodded her head in agreement.

"What did you think of the Amortentia? I've never smelled it before."

"Me either."

"Had you ever smelled Amortentia before today?" Claire asked Al who had just joined us.

He shook his head no.

"Well, I smelled peppermint, lavender, and your cologne." Claire said smiling up at Al. "I've always loved your cologne it kind of smells like pine needles"

I felt my face crinkle in confusion. Al never smelled like pine needles to me.

"What did you smell?" She asked Al.

He was quite for a moment as he thought.

"Rain, baking bread, and then something that smells tropical like coconut mixed with vanilla."

"That must be the lotion I sometimes wear in the summer. You know the coconut one." Claire interjected quickly.

Al looked sort of confused.

"You wear coconut lotion?"

"Every summer."

"I didn't know that."

Claire laughed.

"You may not have noticed but you sure like how it smells."

I stood there feeling awkward as I just nodded my head. I had nothing to say. If you asked me Claire seemed way to focused on pointing out how they smelled one another. We all know that they're perfect together. Well it depends on whom you talk to. If you ask Rose she would tell you Al is much better off without her.

"What did you smell Riley?" Al asked.

"Um fresh brewed coffee, the ocean, and something that I didn't know."

"Ohh what did it smell like?" Claire asked. "Maybe we could help you identify it."

"I don't really know how to describe it. It smells like something fresh and clean. Kind of like our clothes smell when they come out of the laundry. But then it has hints of something that I can only describe as boy."

Claire started laughing.

"Something you can only describe as boy. Boys have lots of smells. Some good and some bad."

I narrowed my eyes. Did she just tell me that I'm wrong in what I smell? How the hell are you supposed to describe something when you don't know what it is?

"It's a good boy smell. Something rich, and warm, and it just smell's like boy. It could be cologne I don't know. I have no idea where I've even smelled it before." I said my voice harder then I meant it to be.

I saw in Claire's eyes the she picked up on my tone and knew I was annoyed with her.

"What are you doing for the holidays?" she asked changing the subject.

"I'm going to visit my Mum's family in North Carolina for Christmas. And then I'm going to stay with Rose and Al for New Years."

I saw Claire's eyes flash as she rounded on Al.

Opps maybe I shouldn't have told her that.

"She's staying with you for the holidays?" She asked so sweetly that I knew she must have been super pissed.

Al just shrugged his shoulders.

"She's friends with Rose. She invited her. I can't help it if my family is going to be there as well." Al looked at me over the top of Claire's head. His green eyes looked pleading. Like was I going to tell Claire that he was the one who invited me? Psh fat chance of that happening. And he did tell the half-truth. Rose did invite me… after he did but that's technicalities and Rose didn't know that he told me I should come.

Claire then turned to face me. Her blue eyes had taken on that frosty color I used to see so often.

"Well that sounds like such fun." Her voice sounded strained as if she was holding back what she really wanted to say to me.

I just smiled brightly pretending I didn't notice that anything was wrong.

"I'm looking forward to spending time with Rose."

"The results are in" Lovell called above the noise of class. Thank Merlin, I don't know how much longer I could have lasted in that conversation. "The winner of this little game with 10 out of 10 is Rose Weasley!"

"Surprise surprise" I heard Claire whispered to herself.

Al ignored her.

I looked over at Rose as she walked up to the front of the room.

"Here you go dear." Lovell said as she handed her, her prize. Which turned out to be a bottle of butter beer. I saw Rose look down at the glass in her hand and then back up at Lovell.

"Is this it?"

"It is indeed. You earned it!"

Rose then stalked off back to Scorpius muttering under her breath. Probably something about how Lovell was useless. And all that work for a glass of butter beer.

The bell then rang signaling the end of the lesson and the beginning of vacation.

"Have a safe and fun Holiday everyone." Lovell yelled out attempting to be heard above the noise.

After a class like that I was more then ready for break to start. It seemed like I wasn't the only one seeing as Rose was dancing around the hall screaming "I'm free!" at the top of her lungs.

I smiled and went over to her.

"I'm thirsty do you mind if I drink your prize?" I asked picking up the glass bottle off the ground where she had set it along with the rest of her things before she began her dance.

Rose's attitude completely changed and she began gathering her belongings off the floor.

"What a useless prize. All that work for a fucking butter beer. She could have at least given me something good. You know if her precious Claire won I'm sure she would have given her a get out of an assignment free card or something."

I nodded my head in agreement. Claire did seem to get away with more in that class.

"Anyway what were the three of you talking so animatedly about while Love was looking over our work? Rose asked after she gave Scorpius a quick good bye and we set off down the hallway.

"First we talked about what we smelled in the Amortentia"

"Summer breeze, Grand Mum's cooking, and Scorpius's hair." Rose interrupted. She then looked pointedly at me.

"Fresh coffee, the ocean, and something fresh and clean mixed with a good boy smell."

Rose raised her eyebrow at me.

"Don't ask. I don't know what it is and don't know how to describe it better then what I just told you."

Rose just nodded her head in understanding.

"Claire also found out that I would be joining you and the Potters in Virginia for New Years. She wasn't to happy about that."

"Of course she wouldn't be. She's threatened by you."

"What! Why?"

"You really don't know?"

I shook my head no. I didn't have a clue why someone like me would be able to threaten Claire.

"Riley, your smart, kind, and funny. In some ways you're everything she's not and vice versa. Now Claire is very smart, she has a quick sense of humor and she can be kind but the two of you are different. You have different values and interests. It's where your differences are that really matter. It doesn't hurt that you're pretty and blond as well. We both know that for some reason my dear cousin has a thing for blonds."

"But nothing's going on between us" I insisted feeling my cheeks heat up a little bit.

Rose gave me a hard look. Causing me to think about the tension filled silence and the lingering kiss I placed on his cheek the night we went flying a few nights ago. But nothing had happened. The past few days had been completely normal. We never even talked about it. But Rose couldn't know about that night, I hadn't told her.

"I'm not saying that something is going on." She continued after I stayed silent "I'm just saying that I wouldn't want my boyfriend spending time with someone like you when I wasn't around to keep an eye on the two of you."

"But isn't that what trust is about?"

"That's the thing. She doesn't trust him."

I didn't respond. I was thinking over what she said. Claire didn't trust him. He made this evident to me that day in the library when they got in a fight after she accused him of keeping secrets. And in some ways he was. He didn't tell her that I was spending time with them over break. Probably to avoid a fight. But if they couldn't be open and honest about something as simple as that how were they ever going to last?

Before I knew it Rose and I were standing in front of the portrait of the fat lady. Rose gave her the password, Vis Vires, And it was then that I realized something else she said.

"What did you mean by you wouldn't want your boyfriend spending time with someone like me when you weren't around? Do you not trust me?"

Rose smiled at me.

"I was wondering when you were going to ask about that bit. I do trust you. Just not girls like you."

"What does that mean?" I asked as we trudged up the stairs to our dorm.

"Girls like you don't know the effect that they have on people. You're just so nice and funny that boys fall at your feet. But the thing is you don't even realize you do that to them. You just go around thinking your friends. You don't mean to but its girls like you that ruin long standing relationships."

"But I'm not."

"I know your not trying to ruin Al and Claire's relationship." She interrupted. I looked away from her blue eyes and instead watched the snow fall out the window. If only she knew about the promise I made Morgan at the beginning of term. "But there are some girls like you who are. Claire is a very jealous person and sees someone like you as a threat and I don't blame her."

I opened my mouth to interject.

"Even though you won't admit it Riley there's something about you that Al likes more then he should since he's in a relationship. Even one I think should have ended a long time a go. Just don't go getting involved in something you shouldn't. At least not until its over."

"Thanks for those useful words of advice. I'll be sure to follow them the next time I plan on stealing Al away from Claire." I said as I sat down on my bed.

Rose smirked

"What are friends for? I'm going to shower do you need anything out of the bathroom?"

I shook my head no and just stared at the red hangings around me. Rose thought that Al had taken an interest in me even though he's in a relationship with Claire. But were just friends. There's nothing going on between us. Again I thought about the night on the broom. There was something different about that night. Damn Rose and her observational skills. Pointing things out to me making me think something means more then it should.

I rubbed my face. This vacation was going to be very interesting. I just hoped I was ready for it.

Hello readers,

I'm back! I survived finals week and managed to write this while putting off a project. Let me know your thoughts. What do you think Riley smells? Reviews make my day :) The song at the top is All At Once by The Fray