Scarlet Roses
Scarlett and Abraxas made it back to Hogwarts by nightfall via the Knight Bus. The following day when Scarlett had entered the Potions classroom, Slughorn lit up as he caught sight of her. “Ah, Miss Rosewood, impeccable timing! I was just inviting Tom to attend one of my dinners tomorrow. I expect to see you there as well, Miss Rosewood.”
“Of course, I would be there, sir. Thank you for the invite. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She smoothly said with an easygoing smile, having not the slightest idea of what she just walked into, but at least Tom was going to be there as well.
The Potions professor beamed at her. “Excellent,” Slughorn said, smiling before going back to his desk.
Scarlett took her seat beside Tom at the front, who was already looking at her. “Is this normal?” She asked, wondering if Slughorn hosted parties now and then where only the students he deemed talented or had influential families were invited.
“Unfortunately.” Tom sighed. “At least you’re going to be there this time,” he said, looking at her with a slight smile that had her heart doing backflips.
Before she could formulate a response, Slughorn got the class's attention. “Does anyone know what this potion does?” he asked, gesturing to the cauldron filled to the brim with a distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen with the steam rising in spirals.
Scarlett’s hand shot into the air, recognizing the potion’s properties. “It’s Amortentia, sir, the most powerful love potion in the world. It causes an infatuation or obsession in the drinker. The smell of Amortentia is different for everyone according to what attracts them.” she recited.
“Excellent explanation, Miss Rosewood,” Slughorn said before a mischievous look overtook his expression as he glanced toward Tom. Scarlett turned as well, blinking in confusion as Tom clenched his jaw and his shoulders tensed. “Now, tell me Miss Rosewood, what do you smell?” Slughorn’s question had her whipping her head back towards him, eyes wide.
Scarlett shuffled her feet, looking uncertain. “Sir?” She asked, looking at Tom for help who avoided her eyes. Now she was concerned. Nowadays, she was the one who avoided his eyes whenever he flirted with her and now he wouldn’t look her in the eye.
“Come up here now, Miss Rosewood and tell us what you smell,” Slughorn said, accompanied by a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
Giving one last glance at Tom who still wouldn’t meet her eyes, Scarlett made her way to the front of the class, catching Abraxas’ eye on the way who gave her a thumbs up. The potions professor gestured to the cauldron and she leaned forward to take a sniff. The smell of ink and the air of Hogwarts hit her nose right away, making her scrunch her nose as she tried to distinguish the last smell. Tom’s hair . She avoided looking over to where Tom sat as her thoughts raced. Scarlett knew Tom was attractive, but the love potion just confirmed she was attracted to him.
“Miss Rosewood?” Slughorn prompted, making her freeze. From her peripheral vision, she could see Tom straighten up, looking at her, interested in the lesson at last.
Scarlett fumbled on what to say. “Oh… um… The smell of Hogwarts air… and ink.” she nodded with confidence she didn’t feel, omitting the last smell. She could feel Tom’s burning gaze on her as she continued to avoid looking in his direction.
Slughorn looked disappointed at her response. “Is that all, Miss Rosewood?” he asked.
Scarlett nodded, eager to get back to her seat.
The potions professor had lost the mischievous glint in his eyes and didn’t look convinced with her response, but let it go as he turned his attention to Tom. “Tom, m’boy! Come up here and tell us what you smell.” Slughorn said as Scarlett returned to her seat.
Scarlett could see the skeptical expression on Tom’s face as he made his way to the front. His eyes flickered briefly to where she was sitting before he took a sniff of the love potion as Scarlett watched with anticipation.
“What do you smell?” The potions professor asked, looking eager for the charming boy’s response.
Tom’s eyes found Scarlett again and didn’t leave hers as he responded. “The smell of paper, the library air, and…” he paused, watching for her reaction.
“And…?” Slughorn prompted as Scarlett held her breath. The rest of the class looked just as curious about what the model student had to say.
“The smell of scarlet roses.” Tom finished with a charming smile, his gaze never leaving her as he watched for how she might react.
Scarlett averted his gaze as she processed this new information. Was that clever wordplay on his part or a coincidence? He could have just said red roses. Why scarlet? She ignored the voice in her head that told her Tom never did anything without a purpose.
“Interesting, very interesting,” Slughorn said, prompting Tom to return to his seat beside her. The potions professor watched the pair with a knowing look in his eyes, seeing right through Tom’s clever wordplay. “Amortentia. This is something you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s…”
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Potions ended with Scarlett and Tom making their way to the Slytherin common room in silence. As she took a seat on the dark green leather sofa, Tom following suit and sitting beside her, she decided to break the silence with a question that had been eating at her mind. “At the beginning of the lesson, why were you so tensed when Slughorn asked about Amortentia?” Scarlett asked, chewing on her bottom lip as she waited for his response. Her face burned as Tom’s attention drifted to her mouth, causing her to freeze before turning away. What did that mean?
“I was conceived while my father was under the effects of Amortentia. When the potion eventually wore off, he abandoned his pregnant wife, who died within an hour of giving birth to me.” Tom’s soft but anguish voice had her turning back towards him. His past had always been a mystery to her, just as her past had been a mystery to him.
Scarlett reached for his hand, squeezing it to offer comfort. Her gaze held no pity, but understanding and grateful that he chose to open up to her about his past. The two sat in comfortable silence as they watched the flames dance in the crackling fireplace, Scarlett snuggling into his side, finding solace in the warmth.
Feeling a subtle movement in her robes, Scarlett glanced down to see Crainer burying itself deeper into her coat pocket, an instinctive response to the soft sound of the rustling flames.
The silence was shattered by Lestrange’s abrupt entrance, who paused when he noticed the pair on the sofa. Scarlett noticed a dark glint in Lestrange’s eyes, flickering to fear at Tom’s deadly glare. It was gone as quick as it came, but she had noticed the malicious gleam in Lestrange’s eyes when he looked at her. Lestrange scurried to leave, all while Scarlett felt uneasy. Something was unsettling about the black-haired boy. She unconsciously snuggled closer to Tom, feeling safe as his arm enveloped her.
Once Lestrange was out of earshot, Tom looked down at the girl in his arms with a soft look. “How was the meeting with your parents?”
Scarlett’s heart warmed at the reminder of the meeting with her parents from the day before. She had a family. “It went well. I hadn’t expected it to go so well,” she confessed, her eyes shining with happiness. “My parents offered to have my last name changed to ‘Malfoy’ and I agreed,” she continued as Tom listened with an attentive look.
His expression held no bitterness as he looked genuinely happy that she had found her family. “I’m happy for you,” he said, squeezing her hand.
Scarlett smiled before remembering she wanted to invite him to spend Christmas with her and her newfound family. Her smile fell and Tom frowned, wondering if he had said something wrong. She looked nervous as she contemplated how to say it. “My parents are hosting a ball for Yule where they would announce me as their daughter. I want to invite you to spend Christmas with us,” she said, looking unsure and hesitant. She didn’t know if inviting Tom over to meet her family was overstepping his boundaries.
At Tom’s unreadable expression, she was about to retract the invitation when he smiled, looking down at her as his eyes shined with happiness. “I would love to spend the Christmas with you and your family,”
With that, the two lapsed into a peaceful silence, with only the sound of the fire crackling keeping them company.