Chapter 6
“Today, we will be dealing with a very familiar potion from your 6th year.” Slughorn proudly says as he sets the potion-filled cauldron in on his desk. The familiar pearly sheen wafting from the wretched thing torments Lucius’ thoughts to no end.
“Amortentia.” He says aloud.
“Yes, Mr. Malfoy. Excellent guess! 5 points to Slytherin.” Slughorn claps his hands excitedly. “We will be experimenting with modification of the Love Potion and its effects. Now, the recipe is on the board, and I’d rather you start brewing the base quickly.”
Lucius was internally panicking. Severus was usually his partner, but since he was still recovering he might have to do this alone and he had no idea how to start.
“Mr. Weasley! Mr. Malfoy!” Slughorn suddenly called. Both of them shared a look with each other before approaching the Professor’s desk. “Mr. Snape and Ms. Bones are absent for today’s class, so I assume there will be no problem if you two should partner for today.”
What.
Was this happening?
Weasley gulped. “Of course, professor. We’ll try our best.”
“It’s ‘do’ your best, Mr. Weasley. Nothing great happens out of just merely trying. Now, off you two go!” He gestured for them to the table on the right.
Lucius was frozen, and he was not proud of how Weasley had to yank him to their designated table. His father would be furious if he knew about this temporary arrangement for sure, and it did not help matters that Weasley was taking this in his stride.
He had a deep hatred for the Weasley family in his first few years at Hogwarts, and he tormented the red head furiously up until 3rd year. Aside from their ancient rivalry due to an unfortunate elopement by Weasley’s great-great-great-great grandmother, the redheaded family was very supportive of muggleborns and halfbloods all while miraculously maintaining their pureblood status. Lucius had hated how contradictory the family’s stance was, and he called them blood traitors more than once. Having met Severus had changed his perception of course, but he still had no idea how to broach this to his current Potions partner.
“Look, I know you aren’t happy about this. I’m not happy about this either, but it’s hopefully just for today alright? So, just- just suck up your hatefulness and let’s get this over with. You gather ingredients from the cabinet, and I’ll brew.” Weasley crossed his arms in what should have been an intimidating gesture. Lucius thinks he looks more like an actual weasel when he does that, but he keeps his thoughts to himself. He just got ordered around by a Weasley and he did not complain.
He makes his way to the Potions cabinet and starts gathering ingredients absentmindedly. Amortentia was a potion Severus loved brewing last year. More than just the beautiful scent it emanated in the air, Lucius loved how Severus looked brewing it - the slight smile he had while adding in the necessary ingredients and how his eyebrows were relaxed for once.
Lucius smiles to himself as he makes his way back to his and Weasley’s table, where the redhead has already set a chopping board down and is currently sharpening a knife.
They begin to brew the potion silently, Lucius handing ingredients to Weasley while he does all the chopping, stirring, temperature adjusting, and all the other finnicky bits. He did not expect them to get along so well, let alone make a successful potion, but so far they’re doing good.
By the time Weasley is done stirring, the potion shifts to a shimmering pink. Lucius smells the musk of old books, the freshness of the crisp air out on the Black lake, and the old Potions classroom where he and Severus properly got to know each other.
“Huh, guess it’s accurate then.” Weasley mutters. “Who’s got you smiling like Cupid struck you?”
Lucius has no idea who this Cupid is, but he just smiles. “Someone special.” Weasley looks surprised by the sudden confession.
“Well, I’ll be. The great Slytherin prince has been struck down by love. I suppose even you can find it somehow.”
Lucius doesn’t let the slight insult get to him. Instead, he asks, “What do you smell?”
Weasley stares at him like he had grown a second head. Lucius surely could just have done so right there, being civil with a Weasley was a definite no in Abraxas Malfoy’s long list of Malfoy etiquette.
“Nothing. I doubt I’ve found my love yet, and it’s not like I really want to.” Weasley answers instead.
It’s Lucius’ turn to look surprised. The Weasleys were known to be an incredibly affectionate family, and he was pretty sure that there were hearts on their family crest to symbolize love and affection.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Weasley sighs. “It might be better that way, honestly.”
“Why would you not want to find someone? Isn’t that the whole point of your family?”
Weasley fidgets with his hands, as if almost nervous to answer his question. “My brother, Arthur, is getting married this summer. I’m sure you remember him, you used to throw snowballs in his face before he and Molly got to snog each other in Hogsmeade. Anyway, you know how rundown we are and I can’t help but feel sorry for them. They won’t have a proper wedding because we can’t even seem to muster enough gold for a stupid minister. Love has a price, and it’s just- I don’t think it’s worth it. Besides, I’m happier alone anyway.”
“I don’t think love has a price.” Lucius blurts out. “Arthur and Molly truly loved each other when they were here in Hogwarts, and they were proud of the love they shared – even brave enough to pursue it despite knowing that they won’t get the best life has to offer. I find that commendable now, no matter how much I did torment them in Hogsmeade. What I’m trying to say is, the love a person gives is free to those who wish to accept it. I know I’m a horrible prick, but love found me somehow didn’t it? I’m sure you’ll find someone soon.”
Weasley’s jaw drops to the floor. “Who the hell are you and what have you done to Lucius Malfoy?”
He chuckles lightly. “I assure you, I am quite as surprised as you are that I am even speaking to you right now. All this time I’ve been calling you Weasley in my head and it just dawned on me that I don’t even remember your first name.”
“It’s William. William Weasley. The only Weasley you will come across who might not find love at all.” He says, holding his hand out to shake.
“Pleased to meet you, William.” Lucius shakes his hand. “I am Lucius Malfoy, the only Malfoy who has been civil to a Weasley after four generations.”
“This is so weird.” Weasley, or William, says. “Anyway, you’re wrong though, I don’t think I want to love someone at all. Is there something wrong with me?”
Lucius laughed at that. “Maybe love isn’t for everyone, anyway.”
Slughorn’s modifications cause the Amortentia to swell with familial love and platonic love, and William is thrilled to have finally wafted a hint of his family home in one of the modified brews. He smells Narcissa’s expensive perfume in one of the brews, and he isn’t sure if it was platonic or familial, but he’s glad to know that his feelings for her remain.
“These modifications should all be considered as volatile as the original potion itself.” Slughorn says, as he clears the cauldron from his table. “While the original potion made only an individual obsessively infatuated, the effects of these modifications affect large groups of people. Some pureblood families have fallen due to forced consumption of the Amortentia Familiara, the familial love modification, to strengthen their ties only to have them broken because of horrible codependency which resulted to their family magic breaking, and even friendship groups that take Amortentia Platonicus, the platonic love modification, can render a toxic loyalty among friends.”
Lucius ponders on Slughorn’s words. The ritual that the Death Eaters did every summer involved drinking a potion that sounded exactly like the modified Amortentia brews. He had only been involved in that ritual that summer, but he knew his parents and most of Voldemort’s followers have been under his command a few years after Grindelwald’s defeat. Could that be why their parents couldn’t really shake off their loyalty to the Dark Lord?
That bit about Pureblood families also perplexed him. He knew the Prince family were exceptional potioneers. Could they have also taken these modified brews to strengthen themselves, only to have it horribly backfire on Severus? If the potion ensured codependency, how had Severus’ mother broken free of its effects? Was it because she truly did love that horrid muggle, or was it because the potion was rendering itself ineffective somehow?
“Well, our time is up for today. Bottle and label all of your potions and leave them by the door on your way out.”
-
He all but runs to the Hospital Wing after his class ended, excited to tell Severus about Potions and William Weasley. Madame Pomfrey isn’t by the door when he enters, and so he decides to let himself in.
When he reaches Severus’ bed, he finds him asleep. He still looks unwell, and the peaceful look on his face from this morning was replaced by a furrow in his brow and the downward turn of his lips.
“Lucius, dear! I didn’t hear you come in!” Madame Pomfrey exclaims. “Severus woke up in pain about an hour ago. Poor lad, just when I thought he’d be up to leaving this afternoon. You can lie with him if you wish.”
Lucius wastes no time in discarding his heavy school robe, taking off his shoes, and climbing into the creaky hospital bed. It’s a tight fit, but it’s worth it to see the furrow in Severus’ brows ease slightly when he cradles him to his chest.
“I’ll give you two some privacy.” Madame Pomfrey smiles fondly at them and closes the curtain.
“Is she gone?” Severus whispers.
“Yes.” Lucius presses a soft kiss to his forehead. “What’s this about you waking up in pain? Weren’t you feeling better yesterday?”
Severus sighs tiredly. “I was. I don’t know what’s happening. It’s never been like this after an episode before.”
“We’ll figure it out, love. I promise. It very well may be the aftereffects of the spell you’d endured.” Severus nods against his chest.
“Potions was not the same without you, and I may have embarrassed myself.” Lucius says, quick to change the subject.
Severus’ lips quirk upward slightly. “Don’t tell me you’ve exploded something in my absence.”
Lucius looked at him with mock offense. “No, nothing of that sort. Honestly love, have you know faith in me?”
“Not after third year, you absolute dunderhead. Remember when you stirred that nutrient potion twice the wrong way and I had to scramble to counteract it? I never had faith in you after that” Severus snorts.
Lucius shuddered at the memory. That was not his proudest moment. “Well, I can tell you that I brewed an exceptional potion today with my new partner.”
Severus’ brow lifts in intrigue. “Oh? Do tell of this mysterious replacement of mine.”
“It was Weasley. William Weasley.”
Severus dissolves in a fit of laughter after that. “Are you serious? Of all people, the sworn archenemy of your family? How did nothing explode?”
“Weasley is… decent company. Though, I was thoroughly distracted by you the entire lesson.”
Severus rolled his eyes. “Narcissa was right, you’re a lovestruck idiot.” He muttered.
“As much as I am enamored by you love, we were quite literally brewing the most potent love potion known to man so I do believe being distracted by you is immensely justified.”
Severus blushed at that. Lucius knew how easily surprised he was when he complimented or said something sweet to him, as Severus didn’t have those kinds of words of affirmation growing up.
“You brewed Amortentia? Why? We brewed that last year!”
“Slughorn had us experiment on modifications of the recipe. One was to strengthen familial love and the other platonic love.”
Severus perked up at that, his love for potions could not quell itself any longer. “Are the modifications as potent as the original base? What were the modifications? More pearl dust perhaps? Or-“
“As much as I love you rambling about potions love, I honestly couldn’t care less about the modifications. What interested me were the effects. Apparently, prolonged usage of the familial love potion can foster codependency so great that it breaks Pureblood family magic.”
“Is that why I’m like this?” Severus asks in a whisper.
“I’m not sure, but we’ll figure it out love. We always do.”