Chapter 18
"And you... you ought to give me wedding rings" - Peter Gabriel
The bad feeling followed Hermione into the next day, through breakfast, Transfiguration, and as she descended the stairs that led to the dungeons the feeling intensified. She pushed the classroom door open and she and Neville made their way to their table. Hermione pulled her chair out and glanced around the room and the other Gryffindors took their seats and set up their stuff on their tables. The large doors opened again and the Slytherins filed in, Blaise and Daphene joined Hermione and Neville at the table and Hermione didn't miss the quick glance and smile that the two boys shared, the brunette witch looked to Daphene, who just smirked at her in response. With all the Slytherins seated the class just had to wait for Professor Snape, and not a moment after Hermione thought that the dark haired wizard stepped into the room from his office. He was carrying a box filled with flasks, he walked around the room, stopping at each table to empty a flask into the cauldron that sat at the center. After he passed her table Hermione's heart stopped, the shimmery, deep purple potion was easily recognizable. Amortentia. She glanced up at the table and noted that Blaise looked confused, he turned to her "Is that?" Hermione just nodded before he could finish his question. Professor Snape made his was back to the front of the classroom and started writing on the the chalkboard. "The potion in front of you is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion known to us." He started before turning back the class, "Now does Amortentia generate actual love?" He asked them. Several hands were raised but Hermione just sat there starring at the simmering cauldron in front of her, even though she was relatively far from it she could still smell the silver wisps of smoke coming off of it, the smell was intoxicating and all too familiar to her. "No sir, Amortentia only generates obsession, not love." Faye answered. "5 points to Gryffindor." Snape responded, "Now Amortentia smells different to everybody, to some people it will smell like a specific person and to others it will smell like stuff that the person is passionate about, meaning that person will be attracted to someone who they attribute with those scents." He explained, "Who wants to be the first person to describe what they smell?" Their Professor asked them. Hermione was surprised when Draco raised his hand, "Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape said, the blonde leaned over his cauldron and inhaled deeply. "I smell... Vanilla and fresh cookies... fresh parchment... and blueberries" Draco's face had gone red and he diverted his eyes from the rest of the room. "Mr. Malfoy's example is one of him smelling something associated with a specific person, you can tell this by the fact that it differs from itself. Ten points to Slytherin." Professor Snape said before moving on, He made his way around the room having each person describe what the potion smelled like to them, Hermione was unsurprised to find that Harry's was all related to quidditch and Ron's were mostly food related scents. When their Professor finally made his way to her table Hermione was terrified of smelling the potion, she didn't want to face the truth. Neville and Blaise both gave their answers while avoiding eye contact with each other, and Daphne gave hers with little shame, not caring if people figured out if she liked someone. Hermione kept her eye's on the desk when Snape approached her, she could feel his eyes on the back of her head. "Ms. Granger, what does your Amortentia smell like?" He asked her. "Um... I'm not really..." She trailed off, not knowing why she was even trying to get out of it, everyone else had to. "Tell us what you smell or fail the classwork for the day." Hermione grimaced and leaned over the cauldron, inhaling deeply. She was promptly thrown back to Halloween night when she helped Severus to the infirmary, working around the over whelming scent of blood she was wrapped in his scent, "Something earthy, sage maybe... but also acidic... and a musty smell... almost like old books... then something sweet but also acrid and burning...and... its woodsy and crisp and almost... intoxi-" Hermione snapped out of it and cleared her throat, her eyes going back to the table. She could almost feel her Professor's smirk. He turned and made his way back to the front of the classroom and started his lecture of the potion, the curly haired witch let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding.
A half hour later the clock tower chimed signaling the end of class. All the students collected their stuff and slowly left the classroom, as Hermione made her way up the stair someone grabbed her shirt sleeve. She turned to find Blaise there, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked "Of course, what's up?" She responded turning to him fully. "Well Neville invited me to join you guys to Hogsmede this weekend and I'd like to go but I know how your friends tend to be about Slytherins, especially Weasly, and I just wanted to make sure someone else was on my side before I say yes." He explained. Something clicked in Hermione's head and she understood why Neville and Blaise were acting weird that morning. She smiled, "Of course you should come with us, Daphne too. I'll make sure the boys behave." She told him. His face lit up and he gave her a quick hug, "I'm going to go find Neville and let him know. Thanks Mione." He was gone before she could tell him not to call her that. Hermione made her way to the library to end her day somewhat better than it had become.
Alright well this isn't what I wanted this chapter to be but I couldn't work it out. So I'm settling and posting it because I feel bad for keeping you guys waiting. I'm sorry for how long it took but I'm hoping it should go smoothly for at least the next couple chapters. I'm also working on a couple other stories and I'm going to post their first chapters now that this is up. They'll take a back seat to this one but I just wanted to let you guys know in case you were interested in seeing some of my other works. I love you guys! Hearts!