He knew something was wrong when Penny Haywood was not cheery.
“Talbott!”
His gaze darts up to her, the shrill tone of her voice the first indicator that something’s amiss. Sure enough, tears blot her eyes.
“Talbott, I’m so sorry!”
He furrows his brow. “What do you mean?”
Penny shakes her head and starts babbling. “I didn’t know— when Billingsley asked me for help I thought it was for a Potions exam— I should have realized— I’m so sorry!”
“Hold on. You need to calm down.” The evenness of his tone betrays the tightening in his chest.
If Billingsley was involved, could this be about you?
“Penny, what happened?”
She gulps and confirms his fears. “It’s [Y/N]. Billingsley slipped her a love potion.”
Talbot’s heart skips a beat.
“She’s in class right now with Professor Sprout, but—”
He’s shifted into an eagle before she can even finish, zipping through the sky to get to you. Normally he’s more cautious about who sees him in his animagus form. But right now, the churning in his stomach is all he can focus on.
He has your schedule memorized. Fortunately, Billingsley isn’t in your Herbology class. But he’s in History of Magic with you right afterwards.
Talbot reaches the East Floor quickly. He shifts and begins running down the hall as soon as his human feet hit the ground— much to the shock of some First-Years roaming the halls. He makes his way towards the greenhouse, but then freezes in place.
Billingsley is waiting for you, leaned against the stone wall just outside of the Herbology classroom.
Talbott clenches his jaw.
How could he do this to you?
Talbott is normally a private person. He never used to care about what anyone else thought.
Until the holiday ball, when everyone’s eyes were on you in your stunning dress.
Until the spring festival, when everyone stared at the two of you holding hands, and instead of shying away from the glances he felt pride swell in his chest.
Until Flitwick’s play, when the thought that someone else would be the co-star kissing you on stage made his heart palpitate to the point that he scrambled to sign up for an audition.
Him. Talbott Winger. Auditioning.
Even McGonnagal had commented on the oddity of it.
But, how does the phrase go? Love makes you do crazy things?
So now, staring at Billingsley, waiting with a giddy smirk on his face for you to exit the classroom where you must’ve drank his potion— Talbott is surprisingly unsurprised with how his own anger darkens him.
“Billingsley.”
The boy quickly spins around. He grimaces at Talbott.
“Winger?”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?” Talbott’s heart is pounding as he approaches Billingsley.
“I— listen, this is a misunderstanding—“
“There’s nothing to be misunderstood.” Talbott’s voice is hushed in rage.
Billingsley opens his mouth to say something more, when the doors to the Herbology classroom burst open.
“Class dismissed!” Sprout’s voice rings out, and robes flash through the doorway before she can even finish.
It’s you.
Talbott watches you rush up to him and Billingsley. Your eyes dart between the two boys.
Talbott reaches out to you. “[Y/N]? Are you alright?”
You blink. Then burst into a smile.
“Billingsley!!”
Talbott’s gut wrenches.
“Merlin, I can’t believe I’ve never seen it before, but you are so handsome, Billy!!” you exclaim.
Talbott flinches. The expression on your face— that’s the same look he so adores on you, the one that you gave him when he rearranged the library for you, when he decorated the greenhouse on Valentines day, when he surprised you after your one-act play...
“And so smart and refined! Can we please spend the rest of the day together?”
Billingsley glances nervously at Talbott as you continue on. He gulps. “It— it wasn’t supposed to be like this—”
“What do you mean?” You exclaim. “Billy, everything is perfect because you’re here!”
You take a step towards Billingsley.
Talbott steps between you.
“Starlight—“ he begs, placing his hands on your shoulders “—please, this isn’t you—”
But you wrench yourself away from his grasp. “Let go! I want to get to Billingsley!”
Talbott blanches.
“Listen, we need to get you to Madam Pomfrey.”
You shake your head, and suddenly your attention is over his shoulder.
“Billingsley!” You shout, shoving past Talbott.
He turns to see the culprit running down the hall. “Wait!” You cry, dashing after him. “I think we should get married! We’d make such a perfect match!”
Talbott clenches his fist.
He transforms into an eagle and soars past you. He unshifts in the hallway right in front of Billingsley, who skids to a halt.
“Talbott, I’m sorry! I didn’t think it would actually work!”
Talbott scowls at him. He draws his wand.
“Bloody hell,” Billingsley curses, “you wouldn’t actually hurt me, would you?!”
Talbott grits his teeth and points his wand forward.
Billingsley raises his hands to his face and braces himself.
“Immobulus!”
The beam of magic shoots over Billingsley’s shoulder. Behind him, you’ve frozen in your tracks.
Billingsley slacks in relief, but Talbott marches up to him.
Talbott stares daggers into the boy’s eyes. Billingsley’s adam's apple bobs up and down.
“Leave [Y/N] alone,” Talbott says.
Talbott doesn’t turn around, but hears Billingsley trip on his way running back to his dorm.
– - - -
“Mr. Winger. She is ready to see you now.”
Talbott nods and thanks Madam Pomfrey. Thankfully, Professor Sprout witnessed the whole thing. Billingsley was reprimanded, and Talbott praised for his restraint. The professors quickly took you to the hospital wing, but –because Billinglsey had produced the love potion with the careful instruction of Penny, who kept apologizing profusely– you were completely fine.
When he enters the wing, he immediately notices your eyes light up at the sight of him.
It makes his heart leap.
“Tally!” You exclaim.
He rushes to you and wraps you in an embrace.
“Are you feeling better?” He asks, sitting on the edge of your bed.
You blush. “Yes, but I remember everything. I’m so sorry– you know I didn’t mean any of that, right?”
He smiles. “Yes, Starlight. Besides, Billingsley? Being smart and handsome? If it weren’t a love potion, the only other logical conclusion would have been that you were stupefied.”
You giggle, then take his hand in yours. “Still, though. I’m sorry to put you through all this, Talbott.” You squeeze his hand in yours. “I should have known something was off when my drink smelled different.”
Talbott’s heart suddenly lurches. He is almost scared to ask. “What… what did it smell like?” His heart is pounding— what if it smelled like someone else?
But your laugh interrupts his spiraling thoughts. You beam at him.
“Oh, Talbott— it smelled like the Owlery.”