The cauldrons hung over the truncated flames.
The potions that Snape was pouring into each of them as he moved around the tables had already been brewed, and the heat was there just to stimulate them so that the seventh-years could complete their task.
"These concoctions were confiscated by Mr Filch over the previous few weeks," Snape intoned, "You will discover that they have all been crudely made with shortcuts and mistakes. You have three minutes to discern what potion the brewer was attempting to create and what is wrong or missing from it, and do not be tempted to taste them... now get on with it!"
Lynette stepped forward. It was obvious which one she had been given, the mother-of-pearl sheen a dead giveaway.
"Miss Travers, I assume you know already what it is?" Snape asked coming to stand in front of her cauldron.
"Amortentia, sir...but I know there is something wrong because the steam should spiral and it's coming off in waves instead,"
"Indeed, now try and work out what the issue is."
She watched him as he glided away, pausing to question another of the six students that made up the class, and then leaning over the cauldron she did something extremely foolish... She sniffed. The heady mix instantly filled her nostrils, fudderling her brain and causing her to sway. She sighed softly and blinked heavily at the scent - parchment, leather, musk and something slightly earthy in the lower notes. Involuntarily, she breathed deeper and the classroom all but disappeared. Instead, she was walking through a glade and he was beside her, he was telling her about something, and she was gazing at him in rapture, his words meaningless as she focused on his lips and then he was leaning down towards her, his mouth on hers...
There was a sudden crash and Lynette blinked in confusion as she found herself looking not into the soft brown eyes of Remus Lupin but the obsidian ones of Severus Snape. Looking around in bewilderment she found the rest of her classmates staring at her as well.
The reason for the crash became apparent as she took in the lid that had been applied to her cauldron, one of Snape's hands still resting on the top of it from where he had slammed it down over the Amortentia.
The stunned silence was broken by a snigger from the far side of the group.
"Five points from Gryffindor," snapped Snape without turning around, his fierce gaze still on Lynette.
"But, Professor," Percy Weasley protested, "it was Bletchley that laughed, not me!"
"And that's another five points for being an insufferable sneak!"
Lynette glanced across at Mabel beside her, as Percy grumbled quietly and Snape moved away from her table, "What happened?"
"You were moaning," came the whispered reply.
"What?!"
"Silence!" demanded Snape, "Continue, Fisher."
The Ravenclaw he addressed threw Lynette an affronted look, "As I was saying, this was a poorly brewed vanishing potion where the petals of the lapsus flowers were omitted."
"Wrong, yes it was an attempt at a vanishing potion but the petals were not omitted but were cut instead of crushed...Miss Travers, did you manage to work out what was causing the waves instead of spirals?" Snape asked turning back to her.
"Yes, sir."
"What?"
"The brewer used Mugwort instead of Lemon Balm."
"Indeed...and what is one of the properties of Mugwort?"
Lynette blushed, "When combined with other ingredients such as Damiana which is found in Amortentia it causes intense daydreams."
"Yes...as you discovered for yourself."
There was a snorting cough and Snape turned to glower at Miles Bletchley who was staring very hard at his cauldron.
"I expected you to have the sense to discern what would cause the waves of steam rather than to breath in a potion that smells different to each individual...but you got to the correct answer even so, ten points to Slytherin."
"Thank you, sir," Lynette murmured still flushed with embarrassment.
She'd moaned? She'd actually moaned in lust in the middle of Potions class? "Did I say anything?" She whispered to Mabel as Snape turned his attention to Percy.
"No," Mabel shook her head, "you just started sighing and moaning and then Snape put the lid on the cauldron and you snapped out of it."
That evening, Lynette sat watching the back of Percy Weasley's head as she picked half-heartedly at her dinner.
The boy was bent over a book but she saw him look up as his twin brothers arrived at the table. Biting her lip in trepidation she watched as the two new arrivals jumped onto the bench opposite Percy and began filling their plates, matching grins on their faces as they spoke to him.
Holding her breath Lynette waited, imagining the twins' eyes opening wide, the roar of laughter that would follow and how their mocking gaze would find her across the Great Hall.
This didn't happen...instead Percy got to his feet and walked away from the table, head held high as his younger brothers started eating.
"Percy!" Lynette called as she caught up with him by the staircase.
The young man turned with a frown, "What is it, Travers?"
"I... I wanted to thank you for not telling your brothers about what happened earlier in Potions."
Percy continued to frown, his eyes blinking owl-like behind his glasses, "Why would I? It must have been very embarrassing for you."
"It was."
"Well, it wasn't me who laughed, as I told Professor Snape, it was Bletchley, and anyway I'm not the sort of person to gossip, I'm Head Boy," replied Percy, as if his position in the school explained everything, "however, I have heard the rumour...are my brothers bothering you?"
Lynette looked away, "It's alright, I just didn't want them to have further ammunition against me."
"I'll speak to them."
"No, honestly, don't, it's fine."
"Well, you don't have to worry. Penelope, Fisher and I spoke about it afterwards, and we thought it was most unfair of Professor Snape to put you in that position."
"He was right though," Lynette sighed, "I should have known better than to inhale it, the scent wouldn't tell me anything."
"Even so..." Percy began but then he trailed off as he scrutinized her face, "I've always wondered why he didn't make you a prefect? Your behaviour has always been exemplary as is your Potion's work."
"Thank you, Professor Weasley," Lynette replied lightly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it unkindly," she added as his eyes narrowed, "I don't know why I wasn't picked, probably because I didn't want it and while yes, I may have a talent for potions the rest of my schoolwork isn't so exemplary, you've surely seen my poor wand work...?" it was her turn to trail off, suddenly anxious to move the conversation away from her short-comings, "what are you going to do after you graduate?"
Percy puffed out his chest slightly, "I'm going to go and work for the Ministry, I'm aiming for a role in the Department of International Magical Cooperation."
"Well...good luck."
"And you, where do you want to work?"
"Oh," Lynette sighed, "I won't be having a career."
"Why ever not?" frowned Percy.
"It isn't expected of me, or encouraged."
"Well it's a waste of talent, if you change your mind you can come and see me at The Ministry," offered Percy, "I'm sure we can find you a job using potions somewhere."
Lynette hid an amused smile, the boy was ridiculous with his pompous nature, as if he had the power to hand out employment at the Ministry, but he was being kind and she appreciated it, "thank you."
Percy nodded at her, "well, good night, Travers, unless you're heading to the library too?"
"No. Good night, Weasley," she replied with a smile and turned to make her way down to the dungeons.
As Lynette stepped through the wall into the Slytherin common room a few minutes later she found herself looking at what could only be described as a tableau.
On the floor was Miles Bletchley, his hands covering his nose which was streaming blood. Adrian's foot was hovering over his face as if it was about to crash down and cause further injury while standing on the other side was Marcus, his face contorted in fury and his fist clenched. A little way back sat Draco, holding his bandaged arm away from the group as if to protect it, a look of blood lust on his pale pointed face. Above them all, towered Snape, glaring down at the former mentioned three young men.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, "I thought you were Slytherins, not unruly Gryffindors!"
"He was talking about..." but Marcus came to an abrupt halt as he caught sight of Lynette standing by the wall.
"What was he talking about?" demanded Snape, his tone now glacial and then he turned and saw her too. His face twitched slightly and his mouth formed into a thin line, "Get to my office now, Bletchley. Flint go and get your fist looked at by Madam Pomfrey, and Draco stop being so dramatic, your arm is fine. Pucey accompany Flint."
Lynette stepped to one side as Bletchley walked past her through the wall, still clutching his nose, his eyes trained on the floor guiltily. Marcus and Adrian left after, both glaring furiously at the back of Miles' head, and then finally Snape swept after them, he paused slightly and looked at the girl and for a moment she thought he was going to say something but he seemed to change his mind and continued after the three boys.
"What happened?" asked Lynette, turning to Draco.
"I don't know, I only just got back from the hospital wing. From what I could gather Miles was just telling them about something that happened in Potions class earlier and Marcus and Adrian took offence to what he said."
Lynette flushed scarlet, "But you didn't hear what it was?"
"No."
"Good," she replied, walking off towards her dorm room.
"What happened?" Draco called to her retreating back but she ignored him and entered the room shutting the door firmly behind her.
Sitting down on her bed she rested for a few minutes, before slipping her hand under the pillow and touching the book that was still hidden there. She was about to draw it out when the dorm door opened and Mabel entered.
"I've just seen Miles come out of Snape's office looking like he'd seen a banshee...What?" she asked as Lynette tried to bite back a satisfied smile.
"I think he was telling Adrian and Marcus about what happened in Potions earlier, and they attacked him."
"Defending your honour?"
"I suppose," shrugged Lynette, "but Professor Snape must have heard the commotion and came in to break it up, and then he took Miles off with him."
"Oh, well, Snape must have promised him evisceration if he repeated the story, judging by Miles' face...how are you feeling now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you must have been so embarrassed finding out you orgasmed in Potions class."
"What?!" cried Lynette jumping to her feet, blood draining from her face, "You just said I moaned...I didn't...I didn't do that?!"
Mabel grinned slyly, "alright, no you didn't but it was funny to make you think you did, you're such a prude...I doubt you ever have, have you?"
"So I didn't moan?" Lynette asked ignoring Mabel's indecent question.
"Oh yes you did, and it sounded a little bit naughty but not that bad."
Lynette sat back down on the bed with a sigh. For almost seven years she'd been perfect, never stepped a toe out of line, never once had detention, a model of female Pureblood virtue, everything calculated to try and make her parents proud.
Now in the space of a few weeks, she'd lost house points, sworn at another girl and had a wanton daydream in potions class, which if it got out would add further fuel to the rumour she was in love with her Head of House.
Her fingers trailed back under the pillow to the book and she thought glumly that it was the hopeless crush that had started all this.
She had to get over it, she had to suppress her feelings, no not just suppress them, kill them, before they got her in any more trouble.
"Aren't you coming?" Mabel asked a few weeks later, already dressed in cloak and hat for the walk to Hogsmeade.
Lynette looked over from her pillow "No, I have a headache, I already told Marcus."
"I thought you were going with him to Madam Puddifoot's."
"I was, but as I said, I have a headache."
Mabel sat down on the corner of the bed and gazed at her friend, "Why are you so resistant to Marcus?
"I'm not...I just...I have a headache."
"Is it because you like someone else?"
"If you are going to ask me if I'm waiting for Draco I will vomit on you," Lynette groaned closing her eyes again.
"Not very ladylike of you, Miss Travers! And I've never thought that, plus I'd disown you if you end up with Lucius Malfoy as a father-in-law, remember when we gave the governors that tour back in fifth year?"
Lynette did remember, she and Mabel had been chosen to show them around the school, and the strange way that Malfoy Snr had watched her, his expression so odd, not lustful but just as unsettling as if it had been, had stuck with her.
"I doubt my father would be best pleased either," murmured Lynette.
"Why not?"
"Because my brother went to Azkaban and Lucius Malfoy didn't."
"What about your cousins?"
"The Carrows?" Lynette shrugged, "I guess he finds it easier to forgive close family, though fortunately we barely see them. My mother likes the Malfoys, my father is just the unforgiving type when it comes to anything to do with Gaheris, even if it doesn't really make much sense."
"So why not Marcus?" enquired Mabel playing with a loose thread on the bed sheet.
Lynette sighed, "My mother is best friends with Marigold Flint and my grandmother was his Godmother."
"Perfect, it would have made your grandmother so happy for you to marry her Godson."
"Why are you pushing this?" Lynette asked opening her eyes and feeling irritation growing, she hadn't been lying, she did have a headache, of course, she could have easily brewed a remedy but she was in the mood to be left alone.
"No reason, but it would be better for you to get settled, and be happy as soon as possible. I want you to be happy, Lynette, I feel like you haven't been for...well it's hard to tell, but since the start of term you've been different."
"Just worrying about the future," explained Lynette, her tone softening, "what life will be like after Hogwarts."
"Exactly! So get engaged now to Marcus, it's not like you can have a career so you might as well get married and get on with being a society wife."
"Thanks..."
"Well it's true, just be happy, Lynette."
"Oh, yes, it is that easy, isn't it?"
Mabel sighed and got to her feet, "I hope your headache passes soon."
The grounds were delightfully empty, and Hogwarts was kissed by Autumn colours as Lynette meandered on her aimless journey an hour later, and then as she rounded the bend of the lake she saw him, hands in his pockets, examining the water.
The headache had long since passed, a quick sip of the required potion dispensing it, and she had taken the opportunity to get some fresh air, free from the likelihood of bumping into anyone she knew.
She hesitated, wondering if she should turn and walk away. She'd been managing so well, keeping her eyes on her textbook during class, resisting the urge to ask or answer questions and yet here he was in her path.
"Good afternoon, professor."
He turned, holding a palm up to shield his eyes against the glare of the late October sun, and his face broke out into a welcoming smile.
In response, her heart fluttered madly in her chest and she found that all her progress in trying to suppress her feelings for him had been undone in an instant.
"Lynette, why haven't you joined your classmates in Hogsmeade?" Remus asked as she made her way over to stand beside him.
She gave him a wry smile, "It would be the same people I've spoken to every day for the past seven years, in the village I've known for the past four years. It's so rare to be alone here that I prefer the solitude."
"Oh, then I mustn't interrupt your walk."
"I didn't mean you, sir" she replied quickly, "I'm sorry that sounded so rude of me, I-"
"It's alright, I was teasing," he smiled, "I appreciate the absence of others too sometimes."
"Should I leave, sir?"
He hesitated, "...No, I don't think I mean you either."
She beamed back at him and if she was not mistaken there was a slight flush to his cheeks.
"What are you doing here, sir?"
"Ah, trying to see if any mermaid scales have washed up for our next class, it's considered terribly offensive to ask them for them but sometimes one can find them at the lake edge, they can be extremely useful when facing an irate pack of Grindylows."
"May I help you look If you're sure I'm not interrupting?"
"Of course," he replied, "we can be alone together...I mean...sorry that didn't sound quite right."
"I know what you mean, sir," she said with a reassuring smile.
From the window of the third-floor stairwell, he watched them, his expression grim.
He could make out her face even from that distance and what he saw he disliked.
He'd only seen her face so open, her smile so wide, when bent over a cauldron and he wasn't happy that the same enjoyment she got in his classroom was apparently being caused by her conversation with Lupin.
There were few students he took an interest in, and most of them he actively disliked, but her father had asked him to keep an eye on her and for old times' sake and a lingering fondness for the man he had agreed.
Up until this point It had been a far easier task than the other student he was charged to look out for. It helped that she wasn't a doppelganger for one of his school days' nemesis for a start, but also over the last seven years she had been such a model student - hardworking, outstanding at potions, modest and self-contained, qualities he admired.
Never once had she given him cause to rebuke her or come to him complaining about another student's treatment of her. Even now, and he was aware of mad rumours circulating that she was enamoured of him, she seemed able to ignore the teasing and rise above it all, ever swan-like in her journey through life, though he reminded himself that beneath the surface of the water, the aforementioned bird paddled furiously to keep afloat...he liked her, perhaps he was on some level even fond of her. What he did know was that it was a travesty that she had nothing to look forward to than a semi-arranged marriage, not when he'd seen her eyes light up in wonder in his classroom as she laboured over her work - a natural talent.
The times she seemed most alive to him were when she was focused on brewing, less guarded, free of the constraints her society was so keen to put her under, and that he was sure she was secretly chafing against.
That was what this ridiculous attraction was about he believed. Remus Lupin had nothing else to recommend him but his utter unsuitability, not that the girl was aware of just how unsuitable he was...Snape winced with annoyance, bound by his promise not to reveal the man's secret...and yet what he was covertly observing from the window was concerning him.
He thought with irritation that there was no point going to the Headmaster with his concerns, no doubt Dumbledore would put it down to Snape inventing another excuse to get rid of the man, and he wouldn't put it past the Headmaster to even encourage it, hadn't Lupin always been something of a pet of his? "The girl is of age, graduating in a term or two, let young love flourish, Severus". Minerva, of course, would be horrified but the more people who were aware the more embarrassment would potentially be caused to the girl if it was to become common knowledge...being linked to Lupin would ruin her.
Perhaps, he thought, he was overreacting. Pucey and Flint seemed to be rivals for her attention, perhaps there was nothing there on her side but respect, however unwarranted, for her professor, and perhaps Lupin was just flattered by having a girl of such a distinguished family pay him any attention at all. What was he really seeing? A professor and his student chatting on a late Autumn day...perhaps Dumbledore was right and his hatred for the man was causing him to imagine feelings and emotions that weren't really there...but on the other hand, he wondered, what scents had risen from the Amortentia for her when she had so foolishly breathed it in?
That evening Lynette sat between Mabel and Marcus, listening idly to the chatter of her friends, a contented smile on her face as the Halloween Feast continued around her.
"How's the headache?" asked Marcus turning to her.
"Oh, fine now thank you."
"What did you do all afternoon?"
"Just went for a walk," Lynette replied her eyes flickering up again to the top table. It had been wonderful to talk to him, to just be able to listen and watch him. He was kind, so polite, and so knowledgeable...
Up at the table, he turned from his conversation with Professor Flitwick and his eyes met hers. She couldn't help but smile and much to her delight he smiled back. She broke eye contact, afraid she would blush, and then she found that he wasn't the only one looking at her.
Along the table Snape sat, his eyes cold, and Lynette looked down at her plate fearful of his disapproval and wondering what she had done to cause him to look at her with such distaste. Unseen by her he turned his head to glare at Lupin, distaste giving way to disgust.
Hours later she lay awake on the floor of The Great Hall, Mabel snoring softly beside her.
The sleeping bag that Dumbledore had provided was remarkably comfortable and despite the excitement that had been caused by the announcement that Sirius Black had broken into Hogwarts, most of the school seemed to have surrendered to sleep.
Lynette knew why she couldn't join them in slumber and for once it had nothing to do with Remus Lupin.
It was Sirius Black. The thought of him being close by, the thought that he had managed to escape Azkaban, the secret hope that if he could do it then so could Gaheris. If she could only speak to Black, find out how Gaheris was...Black the great muggle hater was hardly likely to attack a Travers. It was a ridiculous plan born of childish longing but it was stopping her from sleeping.
She was a good girl, and good girls didn't do such mad things...and yet...
With a sigh, she got up, she needed to get out of there, not to find Black, but to walk and try to tire herself out.
Creeping along the side of the hall she passed the other sleeping Slytherins.
"What are you doing, Travers?" came a sharp whisper and a blinding light.
"Put your wand down, Weasley," she hissed her eyes screwed up in pain.
"What are you doing?" Percy repeated, reluctantly lowering his wand.
"I need to use the lavatory."
"Well wait here, and I'll get a Prefect to accompany you."
"Don't be ridiculous, I'm as old as you are, I can manage on my own!"
"Very well, but come straight back and keep your wand out," Percy instructed, reluctantly stepping aside.
She hurried past him and out into the corridor, the castle was deathly quiet. She could, she thought, go to the toilets and then go back to bed, or perhaps...
"Miss Travers, what do you think you are doing!?"
She turned, her heart pounding, to find herself face to face with not just a furious-looking McGonagall, but also Snape.
"I-I needed the lavatory," Lynette stuttered unconvincingly.
"Really?" Professor McGonagall asked her tone tinged with disbelief, "Then you better go," she added indicating the way, "I will wait here for your return."
Lynette raced down the corridor and into the bathroom.
Splashing water on her face, she admonished herself for her moment of madness, she could have lost house points, or been accidentally mistaken for Black. What was she thinking?
Drying her hands, she turned and made her way back to the entrance hall finding it miraculously empty.
Pausing, she turned towards the grand staircase and peered upwards through the semi-darkness to the landings above.
"The Great Hall is to your right, Lynette," Snape intoned as he stepped out of the shadows.
"Oh yes, of course," she replied startled by his sudden appearance, "sorry, sir, I got confused."
"Really? I see... Did someone ask you to come out of the hall?"
"No," she replied now actually confused, why would someone have asked her to do that, especially with Sirius Black on the loose?
"Because if someone did," continued Snape drawing nearer to her, "if someone is asking you to help them, manipulating you, you must say!"
"Nobody asked me, sir, I just needed the loo."
"Very well, back to your sleeping bag, and if you are planning to make any more night-time journeys, I'll be waiting right here to accompany you," Snape replied coolly.
"Thank you, sir, how kind," she muttered with only a hint of sarcasm, before walking past him and back into the Great Hall.