Chapter Text
Potions, Ominis thinks miserably. It was time for Potions.
Potions, with its array of strange ingredients that have the irritating tendency to feel the same and smell the same. Of course, he doesn't really hate the subject: Ominis enjoys the challenge of the it. He enjoys the precision it requires.
But he doesn't enjoy having to touch all sorts of different leaves and body parts and slimy, squiggle-shaped organs just to get by in the subject.
"Do try not to look so miserable, Ominis," Sebastian teases, hand clamped around his arm as they stomp down the path to the warm, humid Potions classroom. Ominis' cauldron and books thump against his hip as they walk. "I heard some rumors that we're going to do something new today. Maybe a new recipe."
Ominis scowls. Sebastian snickers. "Wrong thing to say?" he asks.
Somewhere beside Sebastian, Anne lets out a long-suffering sigh. "Leave him alone, Sebastian," she scolds.
"I don't understand how you have this much energy this early," Ominis grumbles. With a push of a door, they are inside the Potions classroom. Ominis allows Sebastian to lead them to the last few free seats. Anne, bidding them a goodbye, goes to join Imelda Reyes and Nerida Roberts. Garreth Weasley's out-of-tune humming is ringing out a table. Sebastian leads them there.
"Morning! What do you think, Sebastian?" Garreth's cheerful voice chirps. Ominis hears Sebastian shuffle in front of him, feels him lean over the table.
"Looks explosive," Sebastian says apprehensively.
"Really?" Garreth gasps. "Thank you!"
A new voice rings out from somewhere across from Garreth, a voice that is bell-like and musical. "I don't think that was a compliment," it says teasingly.
"It is to me, Allegra," Garreth says, unfazed. "It is to me."
Allegra. Allegra Chant. That new fifth-year, the one that had come surrounded by rumors of coming from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, or being secretly homeschooled by Dark Wizards, because who in Merlin's name would come to Hogwarts this late?
Ominis had had all of two seconds of interaction with her. In yesterday's Defense Class, Professor Hecat had been rearranging the seats. He'd been leaning on a desk that was promptly levitated away. Before he stumbled and fell, a soft, warm hand closed around his arm and helped him steady himself.
"Oops," the girl had said. "Watch out." She'd slipped away before he could say his thanks, leaving a cloud of sweet-smelling air behind her.
That was the extent of Ominis' connection with the new fifth-year. Of course, she'd proceeded to whip Sebastian's backside in the duel after that, and anyone who could tame his best friend's (sizeable) ego was worthy of respect in Ominis' book.
"Anyway, seats are free," Garreth says. "I still don't understand why people don't like to sit next to me in Potions."
"It certainly isn't because of your explosive personality," Ominis drawls. He feels Sebastian move away from him to sit beside the Weasley boy, leaving him to awkwardly step up to the other free seat.
"Oh, sorry," Allegra says, moving to pick something up from the stool. "There, it's free." He sinks into the seat beside her.
"I remember you," Sebastian greets. "You're that girl from Defense. So it's Allegra, is it? I'm Sebastian, although you knew that already."
"I remember you, too," she says with an amused chuckle. "Good fight."
Ominis can practically see Sebastian's grin. "Excellent fight." There is a pause. Ominis suppresses his groan. He can feel the gears in Sebastian's head turning. "I can't help but wonder what you can do outside of the classroom, though."
"Sebastian," Ominis warns, "don't."
"Do you know Lucan Brattleby?" Sebastian goes on, dropping his voice to a whisper and completely ignoring Ominis as usual, "he's in Gryffindor, too."
"Little prick," Garreth sighs, voice carrying something between fondness and genuine irritation.
There is a shuffle and clattering of stools as Sebastian leans closer, prompting the girl beside him to do the same. "He runs a little dueling club in the Clock Tower. Crossed Wands. It's completely unsanctioned, of course."
"Sounds interesting," Allegra says. "What about it?"
"What do you say you and I head there after Potions if you haven't got any other classes?" Sebastian whispers, the mischief in his voice barely restrained. "Have a little rematch?"
"Rematch?" Allegra purrs. Ominis hears the flipping of a page. "Does it count if it was hardly a fight in the first place?"
And despite himself, Ominis lets out a short, startled laugh. That was true—Sebastian, caught completely off guard by her first Levioso, hadn't had much chance to fight back.
The Gryffindor girl beside him giggles. It is a new, unfamiliar sound.
Ominis kind of likes it.
"The little lion's got teeth," Sebastian remarks, sounding a little pleased himself. "So what do you say?"
"Really, Sebastian," Ominis says witheringly, "must you rope the new student into your schemes this early into term?"
"Oh, why not? I'll give it a try," Allegra says. Moments later, Ominis feels her tug on his sleeve. "I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name."
Just as she speaks, the door to the Potions classroom opens. The sound of squeaking wheels fills the air.
"Out of the way, please!" Professor Sharp says. "Find your places!" Chaos ensues as students make their way back to their seats, erupting in a chorus of voices, footsteps, and swishing robes.
"I'm Ominis," he whispers, feeling her lean closer to hear him better. A strand of hair tickles his neck. He inhales, just for a moment, the sweet scent of something fruity, something citrus-like. "Ominis Gaunt." He holds out his hand. A moment later, a small, warm grip closes around his.
"Chant," she says. "Allegra. It's a pleasure to meet you."
He gives her hand a squeeze before letting go. "Pleasure's all mine."
Professor Sharp bids them gather around the cauldron he's wheeled into the room. Sebastian and Anne bicker and shove each other beside Ominis. Allegra goes to stand in front of Garreth, who, because of his height, is forced to stand in the back.
"So, judging by its appearance," Professor Sharp begins, "Can anyone tell me what this is?"
Almost immediately, Ominis hears Amit Thakkar say, "Sir!" After a pause, he goes on. "Based on its mother-of-pearl sheen and spiraling steam, Professor, that potion is Amortentia."
Professor Sharp hums. "Indeed. Two points to Ravenclaw, Mister Thakkar. Yes, this is Amortentia: a potent love potion, identifiable by its sheen and the shape of its steam. But there is one thing this potion cannot be easily identified by. Does anyone know what that is?" He ignores Amit's excited squeak, his footsteps ringing out on the floor of the room. "Yes, Miss Sallow?"
"Its scent, sir," Anne replies. "It differs from one person to another."
"Yes, well done. Two points to Slytherin. Indeed, Amortentia smells different to every person who inhales its steam, changing to the scents that attract us the most."
A teasing voice pipes up from the back. "What do you smell, Professor?" Adelaide Oakes' question sends several girls giggling. Professor Sharp lets out a fond huff.
"Dreadful gossips," their Professor says, making the class chuckle. "Let's see. I smell a multitude of herbs, a mixture of flowers, and…" he promptly stops himself. Giggling is bubbling from the class. "I'm not going to tell you anymore, lest I sentence myself to bullying from my own students. This will be your project for the next two weeks. You shall work on your Amortentia potion in groups of four—within this classroom only, please."
Sebastian moves behind Ominis to whisper to Allegra, asking her, "Want to group up? Us three, plus Garreth?"
As he does, Ominis is forced to move forward, closer to the still-warm cauldron of Amortentia. He reaches behind him to hit Sebastian for nearly burning his face off.
But then—
Just for a second—
He is met with scents of a warm, summer wind. There is a smell of fresh pine rosin. And there, just underneath it all, is the strong scent of something sweet and citrusy. Clementines.
It's familiar.
Why is it familiar?
Professor Sharp lists off more instructions. He gives them a sample of the Amortentia and sends them off to their tables, handing a representative a list of ingredients to gather from the classroom's stores. Garreth eagerly volunteers. Sharp promptly turns him down, handing the list to Sebastian instead.
"Have you ever made any love potions before?" Allegra asks from beside him. Her voice is accompanied by the sound of flipping pages.
"I haven't particularly needed to," Ominis says. "What are you looking up?"
"Professor Sharp said there would be a section for Amortentia in the book. Oh, here." She shuffles closer to him and slides the book closer. Allegra begins to read, completely unprompted and in a gesture that's just a little bit flattering. "Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. It is distinctive for its mother-of-pearl sheen…"
Three seconds in, Ominis has stopped hearing her.
Because she's leaned a little closer to him, her knee bumping his, and he is suddenly met with a faint scent of sweet, citrusy clementine. It's hidden under the clean smell of soap and shampoo, but it's there.
On her.
That was why the scent was familiar.
His heart starts to pound. His head starts spinning a little.
Because if the Amortentia potion had simulated the smell of her infuriatingly nice-smelling perfume, then what in Merlin's name was that supposed to mean?
"…what about you, Ominis?" It was Garreth's voice cutting through his thoughts.
Ominis blinks. "What?"
"When are you free to work on the potion?" Garreth asks.
"Oh." He clears his throat and tugs at his tie, suddenly feeling hot. "We’ve got half the day off on Fridays," Ominis says.
"I've got a catch-up class for an hour after lunch on that day," Allegra chirps, "but I'll join you as soon as that's done."
Somebody taps the table. "That's settled, then," Sebastian says. "Let's get to work."
They settle into their task of mixing ingredients and reading out recipes. Garreth is startlingly proficient at potion-making when he isn't busy making bombs, leading their attempt by asking for ingredients or asking them to re-read a section of the recipe.
Ominis helps where he can. But mostly, he spends his time in today's Potions class trying not to be distracted by the girl beside him. The girl who smells sweet and warm and who laughs like it's the easiest thing in the world. She asks questions and answers them with snappy wit and humor, making their table laugh on more than one occasion. He sometimes wishes he has some of Sebastian's extroversion or a little bit of Gryffindor bravery; maybe then he wouldn't be so awkward and silent.
By the time class ends, they've made good progress. Garreth tries to sneak the sample of the Amortentia potion away. He receives a smack on the back of the head from Professor Sharp for his attempt.
Ominis pushes out of the room with Sebastian and Allegra. He feels Anne's familiar presence walk up to him, her arm slipping into his. "How was class, Ominis?" she asks. "Oh, were you sitting with that new girl?"
"I was," he says. "She's…nice. She and Sebastian seemed to get along. He's invited her to Crossed Wands."
Anne lets out an enraged gasp. "Sebastian!" she calls angrily, letting go of Ominis' arm and stomping forward. "Tell me you didn't!"
"Ouch, Anne! Didn't what!" Sebastian cries. He sounds a little pained: Anne is probably pinching him hard on the arm. Ominis smirks.
"You don't have to go with him," Anne says, addressing Allegra. "Trust me: you don't have to listen to a word that comes out of this idiot's mouth. He'll only get you in trouble."
Allegra laughs. "It's no trouble, really. I only wanted to go and see," she says.
"I'm Anne Sallow," Anne says. Ominis catches up to them. He walks a ways behind the twins, cauldron and books in hand. "He's my brother, unfortunately. You are?"
"Allegra Chant," she replies. "Nice to meet you."
"You simply must tell me all about you," Anne says. "You're the latest school mystery! Ominis, are you coming with us to the Clock Tower?"
"I've got to hand in my Herbology essay," Ominis says. "I'll see you all later." As he passes them, leaving for the Herbology classroom, Allegra's hand brushes his shoulder. He pauses for a moment.
"Bye, Ominis," Allegra says. "I'll see you Friday."
"I'll see you Friday, Allegra," he replies, giving her a wave.
Ominis finds his way to the Herbology classroom, where he finds Professor Garlick and her multitude of herbs and a mixture of flowers. He hands in his essay. He walks back to Slytherin, swiping an apple from the Great Hall along the way.
And he tries—very, very hard—to ignore the burning feeling her touch left on his skin.