The dungeon was, most unusually, already full of vapors and odd smells. Erin, Hermione, Ron and Harry sniffed interestedly as they passed large, bubbling cauldrons.

"Now then, now then, now then," said Slughorn, whose massive outline was quivering through the many shimmering vapors. "Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making. ..."

"Sir?" said Harry, raising his hand.

"Harry, m'boy?"

"I haven't got a book or scales or anything — nor's Ron — we didn't realize we'd be able to do the N.E.W.T., you see —"

"Ah, yes, Professor McGonagall did mention ... not to worry, my dear boy, not to worry at all. You can use ingredients from the store cupboard today, and I'm sure we can lend you some scales, and we've got a small stock of old books here, they'll do until you can write to Flourish and Blotts. ..."

Slughorn strode over to a corner cupboard and, after a moment's foraging, emerged with two very battered-looking copies of Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage, which he gave to Harry and Ron along with two sets of tarnished scales.

"Now then," said Slughorn, returning to the front of the class and inflating his already bulging chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat threatened to burst off, "I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?"

He indicated the cauldron nearest the Slytherin table. Harry raised himself slightly in his seat and saw what looked like plain water boiling away inside it.

Hermione's well-practiced hand hit the air before anybody else's; Slughorn pointed at her.

"It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth," said Hermione.

"Very good, very good!" said Slughorn happily. "Now," he continued, pointing at the cauldron nearest the Ravenclaw table, "this one here is pretty well known. ... Featured in a few Ministry leaflets lately too ... Who can — ?"

Hermione's hand was fastest once more.

"It's Polyjuice Potion, sir," she said.

"Excellent, excellent! Now, this one here ... yes, my dear?" said Slughorn, now looking slightly bemused, as Hermione's hand punched the air again.

"It's Amortentia!"

"It is indeed. It seems almost foolish to ask," said Slughorn, who was looking mightily impressed, "but I assume you know what it does?"

"It's the most powerful love potion in the world!" said Hermione.

"Quite right! You recognized it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?"

"And the steam rising in characteristic spirals," said Hermione enthusiastically, "and it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell old books, raspberry shampoo and —"

But she turned slightly pink and did not complete the sentence. Beside her, Erin quietly snorted at the sight of her pink face.

"Erin Mckinnon, right?" asked Slughorn and the Slytherin nodded. "Would you like to tell us what you smell?"

Erin's face fell but she got closer to the potion anyway.

"Um, I smell. . . Also old books, vanilla shampoo or perfume, hot chocolate. . ." Just like Hermione, she turned red. Especially when she saw that Slughorn, Ron, Harry and even bloody Theodore Nott smiling at her.

"Amortentia doesn't really create love, of course. It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous and powerful potion in this room — oh yes," he said, nodding gravely at Malfoy and Nott, both of whom were smirking skeptically. "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love. . .

"And now," said Slughorn, "it is time for us to start work."

***

Two weeks later, it was nineteenth of September. Hermione's birthday.

Erin woke up much earlier that day, even though it was Saturday, just so she could spend more time with her girlfriend.

With a smile on her face, she quickly got up and got dressed into dark brown jeans and white long-sleeved t-shirt and her favourite black Doc Martens shoes. She then, quietly as she could, tiptoed out of her dorm

It was around seven in the morning when Erin was making her way to the library, where she was sure her girlfriend would be as she was every morning.

Unsurprisingly, no one was there, not even Madame Pince. But Hermione was. She was sitting further into the library, her back facing Erin.

The Slytherin approached her girlfriend quickly and without a "hello" or "good morning, Erin brought Hermione into a kiss that made the Gryffindor feel the world spin.

Hermione took a hold of Erin's waist while her face was in Erin's hands. The readhead pushed her girlfriend backwards so Hermione's head fell on the bench. Erin's knee was between Hermione's as her other foot was still on the grounds so she wouldn't lose her balance.

Erin's mouth travelled down Hermione's jawline and then neck, biting on the Gryffindor's skin, making Hermione wrap her leg around Erin's hip.

Erin could feel fireworks in her belly when she heard Hermione let out the most beautiful sound in the whole world and she was sure it did some unspeakable things to her.

With a last peck on Hermione's lips, Erin whispered "Happy birthday" before pulling away and standing back up.

Erin took in her girlfriend's appearance after their makeout session. Hermione's lip gloss was smudged, there were light, but visible bites on her neck and somehow, Erin managed to pull Hermione's t-shirt and beige jumper up so a bit of her bra was peaking.

Hermione sat back up and pulled her jumper down, running her hand through her hair.

"You can't do that ever again," she breathed out. "It makes me feel. . . "

"How?" Erin asked even though she knew exactly how. "Come on, say it."

"Oh, stop it!"

Erin shook her head and whispered "No" to Hermione's ear, making her shudder.

"Fine."

"Oh, love, don't be like that!" Erin pulled a little box from the pocket of her jeans and got on one knee. For a moment, Hermione really thought she was going to propose.

"Hermione Jean Granger," said Erin. "Will you make me the happiest girl alive and make me your company for this important day?"

Hermione started to laugh and nodded, taking the box Erin was handing her before opening it, revealing two hand-made bracelets that was, in fact, made by Erin and a cheap ring that had a fake pink diamond on it.

"Look," said Erin, showing her hand with the exact same ring. "We match."

Hermione smiled brightly and slid the ring on her finger.

"I'm sorry that it's only that," smiled sadly Erin. "I really wanted to paint you again but I figured out that you maybe wouldn't want it when you already have one, plus I haven't got a motivation and mood for painting lately and—"

"Erin!" Interrupted her girlfriend Hermione. "It's perfect! You could give me a paper ring and I would still love it and treat it like a diamond."

"Oh, Merlin, I love you."

Hermione's eyes widened and after Erin realized what she just said, hers too got wide.

"What?"

"What?"

"What?" came in a third voice. Both of the girls' heads snapped to the source and saw Madame Pince watching them with wide eyes and mouth opened. When the woman realized she got caught she, without a word, turned around and dissapeared behind one of the bookshelves.

"Oh, no, no, no," Erin panicked.

"Love, please, calm down, it's truly all alright," said Hermione. "I- I love you, too!"

"Thanks, Rowena!" The girls heard Madame Pince call from somewhere they could not see.

Hermione placed her hand on Erin's waist and pulled her closer. Soon, the Slytherin was sitting on the Gryffindor's lap, head leaning against Hermione's.

Erin sighed. "I just wanted it to be romantic."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Well, I thought that if I was the one to say 'I love you' first, I would wanted to be at a romantic dinner or something like that, you know?" she explained.

"I personally think that confessions out of nowhere are the best," Hermione admitted with a smile. "It really shows that you love me."

Erin glanced up at her. "Really?"

"Yeah," the brunette nodded. "But if you want to we can forget about it and do it again tonight at a romantic dinner in the kitchens in front of all Hogwarts elves."

***

Later that day, Hermione walked into the kitchens. She was met by a sight of numerous candles being the only source of light in the room and a delicious smell of whatever was being cooked.

At the sight of Erin, Hermione completely froze, staring at her in disbelief.

She was wearing a suit.

"Good evening, m'lady," Erin greeted her girlfriend before taking her hand in hers, kissing it. She lead Hermione to the table, pulling one of the two chairs away so the brunette could sit down before taking a seat opposite to her.

Then, Dobby appeared, carrying two white plates with lasagne.

"Your favourite, love," said Erin. "By the way, I made it so you don't have to worry that the elves did all the work."

Hermione let out a laugh and said, "I love you."

Erin smiled. "And I love you."