a/n: yet again, thanks to cinnamonstarbarks, DarkGarnetRose, and Guest for reviews! I love you all.

sorry, but this chapter is really just a plot device. trying to move things along here. thanks for reading, and please leave a review!

"Is everything okay?" Daisy asks me later that day as she stirs powdered Gryffin claw into her potion.

After dodging the constant Bludgers that were whacked at me by potential Beaters for what seemed like ages, constantly avoiding Potter's eye the whole time, and finally getting whacked in the shin by Kate O'Flannery's bludger, I can hardly describe myself as okay. Especially after I just told my captain that I hate him. My only condolence is the fact that our two new team members are girls - Kate is our Beater and Lily is our Chaser.

But I just nod, avoiding Daisy's eyes. "Everything's just dandy." I reply, carefully sifting my own powdered claw into my cauldron. "Absolutely fantastic."

"Uh-huh." Daisy says, unconvinced. "And that would explain why you moped through all of Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes?"

"I don't mope." I protest as I peer at the next step of instructions. "Mince the newt spleen? Yuck."

"Stop avoiding the question." Daisy grumbles, slicing the tiny organ on her cutting board with chef-like precision. "Does it have to do with Quidditch trials this morning?"

I frown. "How did you know?"

Daisy smiles in satisfaction. "You have your 'Potter's a twat' face on."

"Don't I always?" I sigh, scraping the minced newt spleen off my cutting board and into my bubbling mixture. The potion's surface instantly develops a pearly sheen, and curls of smoke rise from the cauldron.

"Well done, Miss Wood!"

I jump and turn to see Professor Slughorn standing behind me, a big smile on his face.

"You're the first student to make the potion correctly today. Do you know what it is?"

The rest of the class turns to look at my cauldron in curiosity, and I stare at the mixture in front of me. Pearly sheen, dramatically curling smoke – all this sounds awfully familiar.

Slughorn must see the look of almost-comprehension on my face, because he says, "Take a whiff, Miss Wood."

Confused, I lean over the cauldron and breathe in.

"Amortentia." I breathe as the most wonderful smells in the world overwhelm my senses.

Slughorn looks ridiculously pleased. "Correct!" he praises, turning to look at the class. "What you all are making, and what Miss Wood has already made, is Amortentia – the most powerful love potion in the world. Of course, the term 'love potion' is rather incorrect. 'Infatuation potion' is much more correct, but it doesn't have the same ring to it, now does it?"

He chuckles at his own joke. "Care to tell the class what the potion smells like?"

"Well, I smelled tea, the earth after rain, and Quidditch shops." I say, slightly embarrassed. "But the potion smells different to everyone, based on what they find most attractive."

Slughorn is practically bouncing up and down with glee by now. "Very good! When the potion is consumed, the drinker develops an extreme infatuation or obsession with the first person they lay eyes on. However, the potion must be administered regularly, or else the potion will wear off, as well as the infatuation. Now, everyone finish brewing. Your assignment tonight is to identify and write one page on what the potion smells like to you!"

The rest of the class turns back to their cauldrons, and Slughorn puts a hand on my shoulder. "You're very talented at potions, Miss Wood." he says, giving me a big smile. "I would be most honored if you would be part of the Slug Club, or at least attend to some of my parties. It's a fabulous opportunity, you know, and I can see you as a very accomplished Healer."

I give him a stiff smile. "Thank you, sir, but I'm going to be a Quidditch player. Preferrably for Puddlemere."

Slughorn doesn't seem to be offended at all. "Of course! I forgot – your father is the Puddlemere coach, is he not?"

"And was a Chaser on the team for nine years." I say, not bothering to conceal my pride.

"Even more reason for you to join the Slug Club!" Slughorn says, as if it's final. "I'll see you at the party next weekend."

And with that, he walks back to his desk.

Daisy, who's been in the Slug Club since Fifth Year, smiles at me. "Didn't give you much choice, did he?"

I laugh and shrug my shoulders. "I don't mind. Sounds like fun."

Daisy nods. "Amelia's a member, naturally, her being Head Girl and all. Now all we have to do is get Isabelle to join, and it'll be even more fun!"

Smiling at that happy thought, Daisy finishes her potion and takes a whiff. "Oh," she breathes. "That's lovely."

"What does it smell like?" I ask, curious.

Daisy takes another deep breath. "Mmm. Strawberry pie and sunscreen and ink."

"Lovely." I agree, laughing at the happy expression on her face. "C'mon. Help me clean this up."

"Wha'?" Daisy asks, snapping out of her haze.

"I said," I reply slowly, "Help me clean up the bits of leftover newt spleen."

Daisy laughs. "Yuck."

Amen.

…

"The Slug Club, huh?" a male voice asks me in the hallway after Potions. Sighing, I turn to see James Potter walking next to me.

Daisy, who is walking on my other side, stops. "Er… I think I left something in the classroom. Bye!"

And with that, she's hurrying down the hallway to the dungeons.

Oh, thanks, Daisy. Leaving me alone with James Potter. If that's not a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is.

"What do you want?" I ask Potter, frowning.

"I was just wondering if you were invited to the Slug Club." he replies evenly.

"What business is it of yours, Potter?" I snap, looking straight ahead.

Potter stops walking and puts a hand on my shoulder. I flinch, but he keeps a firm grip. "Listen, Wood." he says softly, turning me to face him. "I don't know what I did to make you hate me, and I don't really want to know. But I don't think it'll do the team any good to have rival teammates. Could we just… I dunno, try to be friends?"

I stare into his green eyes and swallow hard.

"We can try."