"You know, I think there's someone who would really like you to ask them, and I know she hasn't been asked by anyone else yet", Andromeda returned thoughtfully, tapping her chin with a finger.
Harry frowned in confusion, completely missing the hint.
"My sister", Andromeda sighed.
Harry scoffed internally.
"I don't think your sister has much interest in events like that". Andromeda shook her head sadly.
"That's where you're wrong", she almost whispered.
Harry frowned again and Andromeda tutted impatiently.
"When we were little Bella was the one that got excited about going to balls, she would even get dressed hours before we had to be there", she explained and smiled at the memories of her younger sister.
Harry raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I'm being serious", she reiterated. "It only changed when she came here and that's only because scum bags like Rudolphus kept trying it on with her".
Harry dragged his hand through his hair once more, not quite believing he was considering it.
"Just think about it", Andromeda requested softly. "You might not have any interest in going but you could at least show someone who does a good time and it will get the rest of them off your back", she added.
"I wouldn't want to take her just to keep them off my back", Harry unintentionally mused aloud, though it was spoken quietly.
"What?", Andromeda asked, clearly not having heard his response.
"Nothing", Harry replied dismissively as he realised he hadn't only thought that. "I'll think about it", he promised.
Andromeda smiled and turned away, leaving a very thoughtful Harry Potter to go to his potions class, a class he was now late for.
"I'm sorry I'm late sir", he apologised as he entered the dungeon room.
"Pay no mind Mr. Potter, we are just beginning", Slughorn replied in his usual jovial manner. Harry took his place next to Peter and waited for the mans instructions.
"Today we will be brewing the antidote for the Amortentia potion, an antidote you should hope you never need", he explained with a little humour in his voice. "Now be warned", he continued firmly. "Each vial of the potion will be measured exactly and if I find even a drop missing you will be punished severely", he concluded gravely. "Now, the instructions are on the board, away you go".
Harry approached the man to retrieve some of the potion as Peter gathered the supplies they would need to brew the antidote.
His eyes widened in surprise as he caught scent of the fumes wafting from the cauldron as a now very familiar aroma reached him and he swallowed deeply at the implications. "Something wrong Mr. Potter?", Slughorn asked worriedly, noting the apprehension on the teens face.
Harry shook his head dumbly, took the offered vial and made his way back to his seat lost in his thoughts.
'It smells like Bellatrix', he admitted to himself, feeling a little panicked by what was happening. 'It smells the same as it did the first time but it is definitely her'.
"What's wrong Harry?", Peter asked, the concern on his face evident.
"Nothing", Harry answered a little quickly.
Peter shot the boy another worried glance but continued with cutting up the ingredients, leaving Harry to his thoughts, though throughout the lesson he had to stop the boy making a few basic errors, mistakes that he would never normally make. Harry was grateful that he had partnered with Peter in this subject as it was his talent in the class that saved him from potentially blowing up the cauldron in his confused state several times.
He was finally pulled from his musings by the sound of Slughorn's voice announcing they had reached the end of the class.
He watched as Peter cleaned up and handed a full vial of antidote to the man and had a sudden thought. It was not something he would usually do but he felt a little desperate and needed some reassurance from the rotund man.
"I'll meet you at the room", he mouthed to the others as he approached the man nervously.
"Something still bothering you Mr. Potter?", Slughorn asked amusedly.
"Kind of", Harry admitted sheepishly, checking that the class was now indeed empty. "What is it my boy, it's not like you to become flustered?".
"Does it mean you're in love with the person the potion smells like?", he asked nervously, his voice only just discernible to the man.
Slughorn chuckled then laughed in complete amusement.
"No", he managed to stammer out after a moment. "It merely smells of that we find most attractive, nothing more", he assured the teen.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and scolded himself for sounding so foolish.
"Thank you sir", he said gratefully.
"You seem to find the idea of falling in love rather vexing and not at all pleasurable", Slughorn observed.
Harry swallowed deeply and nodded slightly. "Or is it the girl that this reminds you of?" the large man inquired.
"Both, I think", Harry answered uncertainly.
Slughorn shook his head.
"Take it from a man that has been in love Harry, it really is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you, scary?, Yes, and very challenging, but worth every second of the good and the bad", he finished genuinely.
Harry looked at the man and could see the melancholic expression forming on his face.
"What happened to her sir?", he asked.
Slughorn smiled sadly.
"We got married when we were young and she passed away, I have been on my own since", he shrugged.
"I'm sorry", Harry replied frantically.
.
.
.
👓☕️Consider supporting me and enhance your reading experience with the ready-to-read PDFs I have on my Ko-fi.☕️👓
🎯https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling🎯