James and Sirius come bounding into the potions classroom, grinning mischievously as they make their way to their seats.
“Sorry we're late, professor,” James pants.
“Detention, both of you,” Slughorn sighs exasperatedly as if this is a daily occurrence, before returning to the lesson. “We are in the final stages of brewing your amortentia today, boys.” Slughorn continues explaining how they will finish brewing the potion they started weeks ago correctly.
“What did you two do?” Peter whispers eagerly.
“You should've seen it,” Sirius grins. “It'll be total chaos after class.”
“We transfigured the stairs into slides,” James explains.
“You did what?” Remus hisses. “You do realise we're in the dungeons, right? How are we supposed to get to the common room?”
“Oh, ye of little faith, Moony,” Sirius says. “There's a simple counter jinx. You can easily get to the common room, if you don't want to watch the chaos ensue.”
“The fun part is knowing that it's an easy fix, but people will over-complicate things and make the slides even more insane.”
“That's fucking brilliant,” Peter gushes.
“Thank you, Wormy.” The pair of them beam.
The four boys get to work on completing their potions once Slughorn finally stops talking – Remus and Peter working as a pair, and James and Sirius.
“Go on, mate,” Sirius urges. “Smell it.”
James leans over the cauldron, inhaling deeply. “I smell…broom polish, Mum’s freshly baked muffins and…lavender.”
“I wonder what that could mean,” Peter rolls his eyes.
“Oi, Evans!” James shouts across the classroom. “Are you finished with your potion yet? What do you smell?”
“I can tell you one thing, Potter,” Lily replies, bored. “I won’t be smelling you.”
Mary and Marlene share a knowing glance.
“I smell your perfume,” James smiles.
Lily rolls her eyes and returns to her work, ignoring the other boy.
“I don’t get why you keep trying, Prongs. She obviously doesn’t like you back, why keep doing this to yourself?”
“Because I love her, Sirius,” James sighs wistfully. “But I’m trying to take Moony’s advice and make up for years of being a prat. Hopefully, she’ll realise it’s not a prank and gives me a chance.”
“I’ve got to admire your dedication,” Remus says. “She hasn’t exactly made it easy for you to still like her.”
“A few jinxes aren’t going to get in the way of true love.”
“I believe in you, Prongs,” Peter smiles warmly. “Pads, you going to smell it now?”
“Yes, please,” James mutters. “Maybe you’ll finally get your shit together.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing, just smell it.”
Sirius leans over the cauldron. “I smell cigarette smoke, leather, rain and…” He takes a step back, his eyebrows knitting together. He turns to James, whispering, “I- I think I smell Moony. What do you think that means?”
“That you love him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
“So, which one of your many conquests did you smell?” Remus asks bitterly.
“A gentleman never tells.” Remus would be able to tell that the smile plastered on Sirius’ face was fake if he wasn’t so absorbed in his work. He puts the stirrer down, “Pete, want to test it?”
“I smell jelly beans, chamomile tea and freshly baked bread.” Peter steps back, smirking slightly as Sirius comes round the table, throwing an arm around Remus’ shoulder, using his bravado to convince everyone his feelings for Remus are purely platonic.
“Your turn, Moony,” Sirius murmurs.
Remus inhales, “Padfoot, do you really have to stand so close? I can’t smell anything but your stupid cologne.”
“Jokes on you,” he says without thinking, “James dragged me out the dorm before I had a chance to put some on this morning.”
The two boys lock eyes as soon as they realise what that means. Sirius steps away from Remus, “What did we do wrong? The potions aren’t working.”
“Oh, I think they are working just fine,” James counters.
“Then why do I smell- and he smells-”
“Why do you think, Sirius?”
“We messed up the potions. That’s the only explanation.”
“Yeah,” Remus nods dejectedly. “That’s the only explanation.”
“Why are you so dead set against admitting that you fancy Remus?” Peter questions. “It’s obvious to literally everyone that you are both completely gone for each other. Even James ‘Oblivious’ Potter can see it. Why don’t you two just snog already and stop subjecting your mates to all this unresolved sexual tension?”
“Pete, if you don’t shut up, you will end up swimming with the giant squid,” Remus threatens.
“This is why I prefer working with the girls.”
“He has a point though,” James says.
Sirius swallows, “Remus is my best mate. I almost ruined that once, I’m not going to risk it again.”
“Wait, does that mean they’re right? You fancy me?”
“What? No. Of course I don’t. I don’t fancy you.”
“The fact that your voice suddenly got so high suggests otherwise.”
Sirius looks away, avoiding eye contact with all his friends.
James adds, “Not every relationship has to end in disaster, you know.”
“But what if it does and I lose my best friend?” Sirius confesses, his voice barely above a whisper.
“But what if it doesn’t and your happy?” Peter responds. “I mean, Remus been pretty miserable pretending he don’t love you for years.”
Remus exclaims, “Peter!” at the same time Sirius yells, “Years? I only figured this out a few months ago.”
“Wait, this isn’t an in the presence of a love potion sort of thing? You’ve known for a while?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
They stare at each other, a small smile tugging at Sirius’ lips.
“Now kiss,” Peter whispers.
Remus scoffs. He begins, "Everything about relationships scares me," recalling the numerous conversations he's had with Lily regarding his anxieties of letting people close and Mary, who emphasised the idea that life is too short to not pursue your passions. He grabs Sirius’ hands, “But I don’t want to miss out on something that could be great because of my fear.”
“You really want to be with me? I have so many issues, and it wouldn’t be fair-”
“I have a lot of issues too, Sirius. But I have been reminded recently that life’s too short to sabotage your happiness.”
Sirius takes a deep breath, before blurting out, “Do you want to go to Hogsmede with me this weekend?”
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Okay.”
“Okay you’ll go on a date with me?” Sirius asks, surprised but also not wanting to get his hopes up.
“I’ll go on a date with you,” Remus clarifies.
“About fucking time,” James cheers.
“I’ve got to tell the girls,” Peter says. “Mary’s going to be thrilled you quoted her, Moony.”
“You quoted my ex when convincing me to let go of my fears about relationships?”
“No, I quoted my friend, who just so happens to be your ex. Anyways, it doesn’t matter. It worked, didn’t it? I just can’t believe that it took a love potion for us to get our act together.”
“Never underestimate the power of a love potion, Moony.”
“Never again,” he smiles, planting a gentle kiss to Sirius’ knuckles.