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A few months later (after the gagging potion incident)

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Fall soon faded into winter. The once gold and sunset orange forests and hills of Hogwarts faded into a pure white that covered everything it could. Students double-wrapped their House-colored scarves and made sure to stay warm during the cold months of the semester.

Winter was one of my favorite seasonal times at Hogwarts. Hagrid always putting an over-sized evergreen in the Great Hall and having the teachers decorate it (except Snape of course, the handsome party pooper). Then of course, Dumbledore asking everyone for socks and trading his wizard hat for some of the most insane things (chocolate frogs, exploding crackers, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes (he's actually quite fond of them), and of course, more socks). This year, I was thinking about getting Snape a present. In exchange for getting rid of my gagging for some time. This weekend, I was going to Hogsmeade with some friends to get some presents for each other so that would provide a good, non-suspicious opportunity to get him something.

But the question was, 'what?'.

I like having all my presents special for my friends - not some cheap object you carelessly wrapped and slapped a bow on to give to them. No. It had to come from the heart, to show the person you cared about their friendship. And getting Snape something he would actually enjoy? That was enough of a challenge. Tossing the thought aside, I gathered my things up and headed to my next class, potions.

I noticed I was walking a little to fast and slowed my pace. I finally arrived when everyone was starting to take their seats. I sat down in mine which was now placed in the middle-center of the room. Snape had changed them, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. He always does without failure. I opened my book to the correct page and began to take the tips, instructions, warnings, and ingredient lists down. The classroom was filled with the scratching of quills and occasional grunts from students who had messed up. I soon finished and began to gather the ingredients and tools to make the potion. The ingredient page was open in my notebook so I could see it properly.

1 tablespoon of pearl water

2 pinches of Rose thorn dust

2 ½ teaspoons of Ashwinder eggs (yolks)

1 medium-sized rose petal

3 teaspoons of Phoenix tears

I put the pearl water, thorn dust, Ashwinder yolks, the one rose petal, and the Phoenix tears in my cauldron carefully one at a time. I gave the potion 2 stirs clockwise, 2 stirs counterclockwise, 2 stirs clockwise repeatedly until the potion turned a pinkish - purple. Geez. Amortentia was one finicky potion. One slip up and -

"OH NO! RON WHAT DID YOU JUST D-"

BOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard a large noise from the other side of the room where Ron and Harry sat. Oh no. I looked over at them and saw some black-ish smoke folding out from their cauldron and the both coughing from it. I got up from my seat and muttered a spell to clear it.

"You guys okay?"

"Cough, yeah (y/n), cough cough, thank you, cough."

"No problem. Want some help?" I gave them a twisted smirk.

Both of them sheepishly nodded. I walked over to the table and begun to explain what the directions meant. Then I started to instruct them on how the mixing was a very important aspect to potion making. I began to show Harry how to measure Phoenix tears (which evaporated quickly).

"If you cool them down before you add them, it should make it much easier. You can cool it with-" I was going to continue, but I was cut down by a steely voice.

"(Y/l/n), are you teaching this class? I think not. Go back to your seat." Snape hissed at me. He turned to Harry and Ron. "Now you two - getting a fellow Gryffindor to help you dunderheads? 10 points from Gryffindor."

Snape looked at me again and came over to my table. He did not seem happy.

"Why were you helping Weasley and Potter?"

"I already finished my potion Professor. And they looked like they needed help, so I helped them." I replied simply.

"Fine. Let's see your final product. Hopefully it's better than the last one." He muttered.

He walked over to my potion, grabbed a glass vial from his cloak pocket, poured the potion in, and smelled it. I saw an expression of shock pass over his face but he quickly masked it.

"Professor Snape? Did I do something wrong?"

He shifted his attention back to the cauldron. "No, no, nothing is wrong. It's exceptional. I just found it different....than usual."

His eyes swept over to look at me. "You are dismissed early, (y/l/n). 5 points for completing the potion without help," he made the last word louder as he looked at Ron and Harry who pretended not to hear the remark, "and correctly."

I got up from my seat, heading out of the classroom. I heard a faint "My father will hear about this!" and groans. I could feel the glares of loathing of students press against my back. I ambled out a little bit faster. When I reached my common room, I remembered that I needed to send an owl to Gringotts to withdraw some money. I clambered out of the portrait hole and headed off towards the Owlery.

I roamed through the endless hallways until a painting of a young woman got my attention. Her long, brown hair hung low over a maroon and gold nightgown. She was quite pretty, actually.

"Hello," she said, "can you do me a favor? It won't take much time at all."

"Sure. What is it?" I replied.

"There is this one painting who I rather fancy. Unfortunately, I am too scared to tell him how I feel....can you pass this note along?" She pressed her hand to the portrait with the note in it and it fluttered to the ground.

"Sure, no problem."

She clasped her hands together. "Thank you so much! His portrait is just down the hall, to the left. If there is anything I can do for you, just ask."

"Okay, I will." I said. "Does he have a name."

"Yes, he does. His name is Captain Anthony. He is quite a gentleman, so he should be nice to you. Go on now!"

"I'm going, I'm going!" I laughed as I ran down the hall, the fragile note in my hand. I finally reached a portrait with a young man sharpening his sword. His curly, brown hair was kept in a ponytail.

"Hello? Are you Sir Anthony?"

"Yes! Yes, I am! Now what can I do for you miss? Slay a dragon, kill an old warlock? I haven't done that in ages you know. There are no dragons - or warlocks for that matter - in this school."

"Actually, I have a note for you to read." I brought my hand up to the portrait complying what the woman did, and the note fluttered inside.

He looked at me suspiciously and bent down to grab the note. He read it quite carefully. His sharp blue eyes suddenly came in contact with my own.

"Who sent this?" He asked quietly.

"A girl down the hall. She really likes you, you know. She didn't say what her name was to me. But I can tell you that she wears a maroon and gold dress and she had long, flowing brown hair. Oh, and she's very nice."

He smiled at me. "Thank you. I have been suspecting her for ages now. Time to slay the witch!"

He suddenly darted out of the painting and ran through many others. I tried to say something, but nothing came out. Just silence. A shriek and scream and the clashing of metal alerted me that he had done something terrible. That I had done something terrible.

"They do that you know. I find it very upsetting. But they should be back to normal sooner or later."

I whipped around to face the mischievous-eyed Professor Dumbledore. He gave me a smile.

"Tried to help her? Yes, I have tried to as well. But I cannot change his or her, mind. Come, walk with me. You were going to the owlery, yes?

"W-what? Sh-she just...what?" I sputtered out.

The Professor motioned a 'come with me' motion so I followed him through the castle. We came across the bare courtyard with its dead flowers and plants. The fountain's water had frozen because of the cold, which left the courtyard bare and plain. Walking silently, the boards of the bridge making a hollow sound as our feet touched them. Finally, we had reached the owlery. I stopped walking and looked at the scenery outside. The sky was an inky gray, lighter in some spots. The world was covered in a film of grey. My eyes finally found the old Professors face.

"Why did you say for me to walk with you?" I asked him.

"I had a feeling that you didn't want to be alone tonight. Was I right?" He said in his calm voice, it was almost a chuckle.

"I-I don't know. Maybe? I just...I have a lot of things on my mind lately." I said uncertainty.

"Don't we all?" He said with a familiar twinkle flashing in his blue eyes.

I scoffed. "Maybe...."

The Professor put his hand up to silence me. "I know. Love...can be quite difficult to understand at points. I've experienced it, you are experiencing it, everyone in this world loves - or loved - something." He glanced up at the sky. "Ah, this is my que to leave. Good day, (y/n)."

And with a sharp snap!, the Professor faded into the snow.

I tried to erase what just happened and climbed up the stony staircase into the owlery. I reached for Dean (who hooted quite happily and nipped my finger affectionately) and tied a small piece of parchment for Gringotts. Dean gave me a look with his pure black eyes. It looked like, you are insane but I still love you. Thanks for the support Dean. I thrusted my arm out sending my owl on its way.

I watched it as far as my eyes could see beyond the newly falling snow. I began to descend the slate grey stairs once again.