I don't love casually. When I love, it's fierce. It's my soul ripped wide open and raw. It's my whole heart on display. It's all I have and everything I know, handed over to you like a gift. And I hope you unwrap it gently.

- Stephanie Bennett-Henry

"How is Draco doing? I've barely seen him around", Tracey asked on our way to our first Potions lesson. Our schedule had become a lot lighter this year. I had only seven courses left, since we had to elect a few for our N.E.W.T.-years, leaving more free time. Most of that free time however, would be spent in the library as most teachers had given the impression that they would not hold back on homework.

"I'm not quite sure, I've barely seen him myself", I mumbled. I worried about him. Not only had he only elected four N.E.W.T. classes, Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms, he seemed like a ghost. I only saw him at lunch and supper, if he decided to show up. He was always either off somewhere or in his dorm, never in the common room.

I knew he was worried about the task Lord Voldemort had given him, but I was worried about him too.

"They're all staring at you, Lea", Daphne frowned as we passed a group of second-years who gave us a wide berth.

"They're wondering whether I've turned into a Death Eater or not", I shrugged, which was the truth. Ever since the news of my father got out, people started treating me differently, even at school. They had always known I was from a darker family, but it usually resulted in respect. Now it resulted in fear, as if they thought I was evil.

"Don't be ridiculous, you're sixteen", Tracey huffed. I forced out a smile. Yeah, how terrible it would be to turn a sixteen-year old into a Death Eater.

We entered the Potions classroom, which suddenly seemed a whole lot more uplifting without the presence of professor Snape. At the front of the classroom was Horace Slughorn, beaming next to three cauldrons.

I had heard about the man before, as he was a former Slytherin and part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. He was not on our side, though, and didn't have close relations with any people in our social circle either. I wasn't quite sure what his opinion on Lord Voldemort's side was. He seemed to be somewhere in between the Selwyn and Weasley family.

"Come together, take your book, come on", he said awkwardly, scanning over the faces of his students. I noticed Draco in the far back, but he avoided my gaze.

We were going to have a firm talk about this after class. He promised me that it'd only be one and a half months.

Professor Slughorn was about to start his lesson when Potter and his redheaded sidekick walked in. I hated people who weren't punctual.

The girl next to me was staring at the redhead with heart eyes. I frowned as I watched him trying to get out of attending the class. He really wasn't my type.

"Nonsense, every friend of Harry is a friend of mine", Slughorn said. I tried my hardest not to roll my eyes. So he was one of those, a Harry Potter fanboy.

The two went to grab a book in the cabinet in the back. I tried to focus on the cauldrons in front of me, but was constantly interrupted by the sighs of the Gryffindor girl next to me. She was bloody annoying.

"I prepared some concoctions this morning. Any idea as to what they might be?" Slughorn said, finally continuing his lesson. I leaned forward to look at what was in them, but the Granger girl already had her hand in the air.

Slughorn elected her to come forward, like all teachers did. She leaned forward and inspected the potions, starting her monologue. She sounded like a walking dictionary.

"That one is Veritaserum", she said. "It's a truth-telling serum. And that one is Polyjuice Potion, a potion that allows the drinker to assume the form of someone else. It's terribly tricky to make. This is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumoured to smell differently to each person, according to what attracts them."

I rolled my eyes. Were we really going to spend our N.E.W.T. years on two potions we had read all about in second year and a bloody love potion?

"What do you smell, miss Granger?" Slughorn asked. Granger leaned a little closer, taking in the scent.

"Freshly mown grass and new parchment and spearmint toothpaste", she said, almost dreamily.

"Good, good", Slughorn said, pushing her back slightly. "Miss Vane, your turn. What do you smell?" He asked Romilda Vane, a Gryffindor, but not an annoying one. She just spent most of her time in the library. The girl walked forward and smelled the concoction.

"I smell musk, treacle tart and pumpkin juice", she said, her cheeks turning red.

"Good, Miss Selwyn perhaps?" I looked up surprised, not expected to be called to the front. My acting skills would yet again be tested.

I walked to the front, quite sure what I would smell. Sure enough as I approached the cauldron, hints of mint, green apples and expensive cologne entered my nostrils, making me light headed for just a second.

"I smell mahogany, vanilla and the smell of books, professor", I said confidently, taking a step back again.

"Liar", Tracey whispered in my ear. I stumped her in the ribs as Daphne tried to conceal a chuckle.

"Now," Slughorn continued, "Amortentia doesn't create actual love. That would be impossible. But it does cause powerful infatuation or obsession. For that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room."

He looked at us mysteriously as if he was giving us the most interesting information.

"Okay, pair up and study the chapter on Amortentia. There's a tiny sample on your desk for research purposes only. Hurry up, I want to move on to the next part, I have a fun little competition planned." He clapped his hands like a child.

"Have fun you two, I'm going to pair up with Blaise for this one", Tracey winked, spotting her victim in the corner. Daphne and I chose a spot in the far back, both not very intrigued with the chapter of today.

"So, what did you actually smell?" Daphne asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

"I've already announced that to the entire class, I'm pretty sure it is your turn now", I said, moving the vial to her side. She shrugged, taking the pink liquid.

"Hmm, It's quite difficult to distinguish a smell to be honest. Some kind of flower, but I can't put my finger on it. I frowned, that was nowhere near Draco's scent.

"You sure?" I asked. She looked my way, raising an eyebrow.

"I know that you're curious to know whether I smell Draco, but you can rest assured, I don't."

"Really?" I questioned genuinely. I had always thought she'd take that crush into her grave, whatever happened.

"Really. I realised that he is quite the arsehole, so I have my arrows in a different direction now."

"Which is?"

"My mother is trying to set me up with the Rosier son, Felix. He's homeschooled, so he doesn't attend Hogwarts, but he's quite the snack. I'm still keeping up the hard-to-get game, but it's only a matter of time", she shrugged casually.

"And you waited to tell me for four days because?" I sputtered. The Rosier family was held into high account in the pure-blood society. They were quite well-known amongst Lord Voldemort's supporters in the last Wizarding War, but had disappeared from the scene since. Most of them went back to France where their heritage lies, but a few had stayed in England, amongst them the youngest Rosier son apparently.

"I'll give you more details tonight", she smirked, scanning the chapter on the love potion.

"I have patrol tonight", I sighed. First patrol of the year.

"Then before that, we'll make it work. I'm curious though, what does your Amortentia really smell like? I never paid much attention to it. I mean he always wears that same cologne, but there's something else, I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Green apples and peppermint", I said, an irresistible combo.

"Hmm, I suppose. Felix is a lot different than Draco, he's partly French, you know, but I guess that's a good thing."

I had seen the name "Rosier" before, in Draco's family tree. They were distantly related. As the thought crossed my mind, I could feel his eyes burn on me. I looked up, his silver eyes scanning me from across the room. The vial of potion was in his right hand, gently swaying back and forth.

I wondered what he smelled.

I was quite sure that my scent was somewhere in there, I was sure of it. The few days that we had spent in the summer had been too memorable to not leave an impact. But I wondered what version of me he smelled.

Was it Eleanor Selwyn, roses and fresh mint and hints of Mahogany, or was it just me, Ellie, a dominant scent of winter berries.

Did he desire me, or who I was supposed to be?

And then he winked, and the next moment he looked away. I realised that we had shared a look for a suspicious amount of time, so I quickly scanned the room if anyone had noticed, but even Pansy Parkinson seemed too engulfed in today's assignment.

Soon, Slughorn called us together again to introduce the next potion, a far more interesting one: Draught of Living Death. We were challenged to brew one perfectly, a vial of Felix Felicis on the line. I was happy with that assignment, as it would distract me from the depressing thoughts at hand.

"How are you girls getting along?" Slughorn asked as he passed Daphne and I. The potion was trickier than any other one I had ever attempted to brew and to be honest, it wasn't turning out great. The recipe seemed off.

"Hanging in there", I said, stirring the potion counter-clockwise.

"Professor Snape speaks very highly of the two of you, so I only expect greatness. Greengrass, is it? Your mother was one of my finest students, I knew her well."

Daphne engaged in some small-talk with Slughorn as I tried to finish the potion, but I was quite certain that it was not up to Felix Felicis standards.

The lesson went by fairly quickly and although we didn't manage to perfect the potion - obviously it was Potter who did - I did enjoy myself. But as soon as Slughorn dismissed us, I had another goal: getting Draco alone.

I quickly grabbed my bag and followed him out.

"Miss Greengrass, Miss Slewyn, can you two stay back for a little while?" I heard and I cursed internally. Draco looked back briefly before continuing, getting lost in the mass of students.

"Yes professor?" I asked, trying my hardest not to seem as annoyed as I felt.

"I have an offer of some sorts", he smiled awkwardly. "Back in the day, I used to throw together the occasional supper party for a select group of pupils. I'd like to invite the both of you, if you're interested."

"It'd be an honor, sir", Daphne chimed. He smiled at her and then looked in my direction.

"I'd be delighted", I smiled. It would probably be most dreadful, but I was taught never to decline such invitations, especially not if it came from someone from a Sacred Twenty-Eight family.

"Good, good, I'll send you the specifics soon", he beamed.

I grunted as I pulled Daphne with me. And now my chance to speak to Draco had gone out of the window. Merlin knows where he was off to again. I'd see him tonight at patrol, though.