VICTORIA NOTT

The next morning in the Slytherin common room, Daphne and I perched on the emerald-green sofa, barely containing our laughter as they recounted the night's events to Millicent Bullstrode and Abigail Miller.

"You're joking," Millicent said, her dark eyes wide as she leaned forward. "Draco Malfoy actually moaned your name while he was with Pansy?"

"Oh, I swear on Merlin's beard," Daphne said dramatically, smirking at me. "It was loud enough that we both heard it clear as day. Poor Pansy probably didn't even notice."

Abigail nearly choked on her tea, her laughter bubbling out. "I don't know what's more ridiculous—the fact that he's so obsessed with you, or that he couldn't even keep it together in the moment."

I smirked, a glint of mischief in my eyes. "Honestly, it's pathetic. I mean, if he's going to pine after me, the least he could do is not humiliate himself in the process."

"What are you two going to do about it?" Millicent asked, a wicked grin spreading across her face.

"Oh, don't worry," Daphne said, her tone dripping with glee. "We've got something planned. Potions class is going to be... memorable."

I nodded, already imagining the look on Draco's face when they started dropping hints. "Let's just say he won't be able to look any of us in the eye by the end of it."

Millicent looked at me, her expression clouded with concern. "Just be careful, Vic. You know how possessive and violent Malfoy can be. If he thinks you're making fun of him..."

I waved a dismissive hand, a sly smile tugging at my lips. "Oh, please, Milly. Draco wouldn't dare lay a finger on me. I'm his favorite view, remember?"

Daphne snorted, rolling her eyes. "She's not wrong. He'd probably hex himself before risking upsetting his precious obsession."

Millicent still didn't look convinced. "I'm serious, Vic. He's unpredictable when it comes to you."

I leaned back, my confidence unwavering. "Trust me, Millicent, I know exactly how to handle Draco Malfoy. If he thinks he can scare me off, he's delusional" I glance at Daphne, a spark of mischief lighting my eyes. "Besides, I have a feeling the look on his face in Potions today will be worth any tantrum he throws."

***

As we filed into the dungeon classroom, the faint scent of brewed ingredients hung in the air, a heady mix of something earthy and sweet. Professor Slughorn stood at the front, beaming as he gestured to three simmering cauldrons, each emitting distinctively colored vapors.

"Ah, good morning, class!" Slughorn said, his voice rich with enthusiasm. "Today, we'll be discussing three of the most powerful and well-known potions in the wizarding world. Each of these concoctions represents a mastery of brewing skill and serves unique, often controversial, purposes."

He pointed to the first cauldron, the liquid within swirling with a mother-of-pearl sheen. "This is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in existence. Not true love, mind you, but an obsessive infatuation. Fascinatingly, its aroma changes for each individual, reflecting what attracts them most."

Daphne nudged me, a knowing smirk on her lips. "Bet Malfoy would smell something ridiculous—like your shampoo, or your perfume" she whispered.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the faint blush that crept up my neck.

Slughorn moved to the next cauldron, its liquid crystal-clear and faintly shimmering. "Next, we have Veritaserum, the truth-telling serum. A mere three drops of this, and the drinker is compelled to speak the absolute truth."

"Imagine if we slipped that to Malfoy," Daphne whispered again, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"And lastly," Slughorn continued, stopping at the final cauldron, its contents bubbling thick and mud-like, "the infamous Polyjuice Potion. This allows the drinker to take on the physical appearance of someone else—if brewed correctly, of course."

He clapped his hands together, his smile broad. "Now, who can tell me the ethical dilemmas surrounding the use of these potions?"

As a few hands went up, I glanced sideways at Draco, sitting a few rows away. He was leaning back lazily in his chair, twirling his quill between his fingers. But the way his eyes flicked to me every so often didn't go unnoticed. If I had to guess, he'd have a lot to say about Amortentia—though he'd never admit it.

I raised my hand, catching Professor Slughorn's attention. "Ah, Miss Nott, always a pleasure. Go on, enlighten us," he said with a warm smile.

Clearing her throat, I began, my voice clear and confident. "Amortentia, while fascinating, is extremely dangerous. It doesn't create real love, just a powerful, obsessive attraction. Overuse can lead to dependency and even insanity in the victim." My gaze flicked briefly to Draco, whose quill stilled in his fingers as he listened, though he didn't look at her.

"Excellent point!" Slughorn interjected, beaming. "Love potions are notoriously tricky. Obsession is not love, as we all must remember."

I continued, shifting my attention to the next cauldron. "Veritaserum, on the other hand, strips away free will by compelling absolute truth. It's banned from casual use because it's a serious invasion of privacy and could easily be abused."

Slughorn nodded approvingly. "Very true, Miss Nott. It's why the Ministry tightly controls its production and use."

Finally, I gestured toward the Polyjuice Potion. "And Polyjuice Potion, while a masterpiece of brewing, has ethical implications as well. Impersonating someone else could lead to deception, fraud, or worse. And if brewed incorrectly, the results can be catastrophic."

Daphne smirked, leaning closer. "Like when Granger turned into a cat in second year?"

My lips twitched, suppressing a laugh. "Exactly," I said, giving Daphne a knowing look before focusing back on Slughorn.

"Well done, my dear! Such thoughtful insights," Slughorn said, his eyes crinkling with delight. "Five points to Slytherin!"

As Victoria sat back down, she caught Draco's eye for a fleeting moment. He didn't say anything, but the faint quirk of his lips betrayed his interest. Daphne nudged her again, whispering, "I swear, he's one Amortentia sniff away from losing it entirely." Victoria just shook her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. 

Professor Slughorn waved his hand over the swirling cauldron of Amortentia, releasing a silvery vapor that curled enticingly into the air. "Now, class, as a little exercise, I'd like each of you to approach and tell us what you smell. Remember, it's unique to each individual—an olfactory reflection of what attracts you most."

Daphne nudged me with her elbow, whispering, "This should be interesting." I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress my curiosity.

Draco was one of the first to step forward, his movements casual, though his jaw was set tighter than usual. He leaned slightly over the cauldron, inhaling deeply. For a moment, his expression was unreadable, but then a flicker of something—recognition, perhaps?—crossed his face.

"What do you smell, Mr. Malfoy?" Slughorn asked, his eyes twinkling.

Draco straightened, his voice cool and detached. "Fresh books, vanilla, and... something floral." His gaze darted briefly in my direction, and my stomach twisted. I knew that look, even if he tried to hide it behind his practiced indifference.

I stepped forward next, trying to keep my expression neutral as I inhaled. The scent hit me instantly: cedarwood, leather, and a hint of mint. It was unmistakably Draco. My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to smile casually.

"What about you, Miss Nott?" Slughorn asked, leaning forward eagerly.

"Hmm... roses, vanilla, and... peppermint tea," I lied smoothly, ignoring the way Daphne stifled a snort beside me.

Daphne was next, stepping up with her usual confidence. She sniffed, and a sly smile spread across her face. "Sandalwood, dark chocolate, and... pine," she said, shooting a glance at Blaise, who raised an eyebrow in amusement.

Millicent followed, inhaling deeply before blinking in surprise. "Cloves, fresh rain, and..." She hesitated, her cheeks tinging pink. "Theo's cologne," she muttered under her breath.

Daphne bit back a laugh, whispering, "This just keeps getting better."

I couldn't help but smirk, though my mind was still spinning. The scent of Draco lingered in my nose, undeniable and maddening. And judging by the way his eyes lingered on me as I stepped back to my seat, I wasn't the only one caught off guard.

Pansy strutted up to the cauldron, her usual air of confidence slightly tinted with curiosity. She leaned in, breathing deeply, and for a split second, her expression softened, though she quickly masked it. "cedarwood, dark leather, and... something minty," she said, her eyes darting toward Draco with an almost unnoticeable flicker of possessiveness. Draco's eyes briefly met hers, his expression guarded, but it was clear the connection between them, however brief, didn't escape either of them.

Abigail, always the curious one, followed, her nose twitching as she inhaled the steam. A small smile curved her lips. "Lavender, freshly baked bread, and... Lorenzo's cologne," she said, turning toward the tall, dark-haired boy who was leaning against the wall at the back of the room.

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really?" he said, stepping forward. He took a long, slow breath, his face betraying an unexpected intensity. "Fresh vanilla, sun-warmed earth, and... Abigail." His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it was enough to make her cheeks flush. She looked away, her usual composure slipping for a moment.

I , still processing the lingering scent of Draco, caught sight of the exchange. A small smile crept onto my face, and I leaned toward Daphne, whispering, "Seems like everyone has their little secrets, huh?"

Daphne grinned, her eyes scanning the room with a knowing look. "Who knew Theo's twin would have this much of an effect on Lorenzo?"

But just then, it was my turn again, and I couldn't help but inhale deeply as the last of the steam wafted toward her. It was different this time—stronger, more intoxicating. I could smell the faintest hint of mint, the fresh scent of crisp autumn air, and... Draco. Again. I smelt him again.

I tried to suppress the rush of heat flooding my chest, but my face betrayed nothing as I said, "Cedarwood, fresh rain, and something... wild. Maybe a bit like the Forbidden Forest after a storm or maybe a harsh peppermint?" I glanced at Draco, whose eyes were already on her, narrowing ever so slightly.

Daphne shot me a sly look. "Wild and peppermint, huh? That's an interesting choice of words."

I  just smiled, the heat of Draco's gaze still burning into me even as I sat back down. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker there—a hunger, or perhaps something deeper—that I knew all too well, the amount of times he looked at me like that was too much to count. I was far from immune to it, no matter how much I pretended.

***

The last bell of the day rang, signaling the end of Potions. The chatter in the hallway grew louder as students rushed out of the classroom, but I couldn't shake the feeling of Draco's eyes on me the entire class. Twice. I had smelled him—his scent, lingering like a forbidden thought—and I knew he noticed. The way he'd looked at me, his gaze almost predatory as I gave my answer, it was impossible to ignore.

I shook my head as I stuffed my books into my bag. "No," I muttered to myself. "I don't care."

But as I started to walk out of the room, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Victoria."

I froze. The sound of my name coming from Draco's mouth was far too smooth, far too calculated. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Reluctantly, I spun on my heel, finding him standing just behind me, leaning against the doorframe. His face was unreadable, but the flicker of amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. "You didn't answer the question," he said, his voice low and teasing, like he was in on some private joke that I wasn't allowed to share.

I crossed my arms over my chest, forcing a nonchalant expression. "What question?" I asked, feigning confusion.

"Amortentia," he replied, his smirk widening as he pushed off the doorframe and stepped closer. "You didn't say what you smelled. Care to elaborate?"

I narrowed my eyes, my heart beating a little faster in my chest. He couldn't be serious. He already knew what I'd smelled—him. And now, he wanted to torture me with it.

"I smelled what I smelled, Malfoy," I said, my voice cool, though the edge of nervousness was hard to mask. "It's none of your business."

His smirk didn't fade; if anything, it grew more predatory. "Oh, I think it is," he said, his eyes flicking over me with a glint of something that made my stomach tighten. "You're not as good at hiding things as you think, Victoria."

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself not to react to the way he made my skin feel like it was burning under his gaze. "I don't have feelings for you, Draco," I said quickly, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Draco's expression softened just a fraction, his eyes lingering on me as if he was savoring the moment. "Funny," he said quietly, stepping even closer. "I didn't think you did."

There was a beat of silence between us, and I could feel the air thickening. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look him in the eye. "Then why are you so interested?"

He didn't answer right away, his lips curving into a small, almost imperceptible smile. "You're a lot more interesting than you think you are, Victoria." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I'll be watching."

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared into the crowd of students, leaving me standing there, breathless and unsettled.

I couldn't help but wonder, as I stared after him, whether I had just made a mistake by trying to pretend I wasn't affected.

As I made my way down the corridor, trying to push the unsettling conversation with Draco out of my mind, I barely registered the girls gathering around me. Daphne, Millicent, Abigail, and even Pansy were waiting by the entrance to the Great Hall, their eyes fixed on me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Well?" Daphne asked, her voice laced with teasing. She arched an eyebrow, clearly eager for the details. "What did he want?"

I rolled my eyes, trying to act casual, but there was no hiding the heat creeping up my neck. "Nothing," I muttered, avoiding their gazes. "He just wanted to be obnoxious. You know how he is."

Pansy smirked, crossing her arms. "Don't lie, Victoria. You're practically glowing." She stepped closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. "Did Malfoy say something... interesting?"

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "It was nothing. Just typical Malfoy nonsense."

Millicent was watching me closely, her brow furrowed in concern. "Are you sure? He didn't—" she trailed off, her voice softening. "He didn't do anything strange, did he?"

I met her eyes for a moment, then quickly looked away, not wanting to admit how badly Draco's presence had unsettled me. "He's just being Malfoy, Millicent. Nothing more."

Abigail didn't look convinced. "You sure? 'Cause you look like something's bothering you," she said, her sharp eyes scanning my face for any sign of weakness.

I swallowed, forcing myself to keep a neutral expression. "I'm fine," I said, a little too quickly. "Really."

Daphne, ever the mischievous one, wasn't buying it. "Oh, come on, Vic. Something happened." She leaned in, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "I saw the way he was looking at you. You sure you're not hiding something?"

Before I could respond, Pansy cut in, her tone playful but sharp. "Does Draco know you can't stand him? Or are you just pretending for the rest of us?"

I froze, the question hanging in the air. I didn't have a response. Instead, I just shrugged and muttered, "I don't care about Draco Malfoy."

But even I could hear the lie in my own voice, and judging by the knowing glances exchanged between the girls, they heard it too.

"You're not fooling anyone, Vic," Daphne said with a laugh, though there was an edge to her tone. "The whole Slytherin common room knows you two have some kind of unspoken tension."

"I'm not—" I started, but Millicent cut me off.

"Vic, just be careful," she said, her voice serious now. "You don't want to get caught up in Draco's game. He's not someone you want to mess with."

I looked at her, then at the rest of the girls, realizing they were all watching me with a mix of concern and curiosity. "I know," I muttered, though a part of me wasn't entirely sure if I did.

As they continued to tease me, I couldn't shake the lingering feeling of Draco's presence, his words echoing in my mind. "I'll be watching."

As we all gathered around a corner of the hallway, the conversation turned to Draco, and I could feel the weight of their stares on me. Daphne, Millicent, Abigail, and Pansy were all watching me intently, clearly waiting for me to crack.

"You sure it was nothing?" Daphne asked, her voice light but her eyes sharp with curiosity. "You were acting a little... distracted after class. What did he want, exactly?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "I told you, it was just Malfoy being Malfoy. He tried to make it sound like I'd done something wrong, but I didn't entertain him."

Millicent raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "He was looking at you... differently, though. Like he knew something."

I shifted uncomfortably. "He's just trying to get under my skin. Don't make a bigger deal of it than it is, alright?"

Abigail smirked, crossing her arms. "Don't pretend like you weren't affected. You looked like you were about to melt when he was staring at you." She raised her chin teasingly. "Or maybe that's just me imagining things."

I shot her a glare, not liking how she'd caught on so easily. "I wasn't 'melting,' Abigail," I said through gritted teeth.

But before anyone could say anything else, Pansy's voice cut through the tension, sharp and almost bitter. "So, Malfoy smelled you, huh?" Her words were quiet, but the edge of jealousy in her tone was impossible to miss.

I froze for a moment, glancing at her. She was standing with her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed, and a strange look on her face that I couldn't quite place—until I realized she was upset.

"Yeah," I said, trying to keep my voice even, though her attitude was starting to get under my skin. "He was curious. What about it?"

Pansy scoffed, pushing her hair back over her shoulder. "It's just interesting, that's all. Malfoy's usually so... discreet when it comes to things like that." Her voice had a bite to it, and I could see the way her eyes flicked toward me, as if she was measuring my every reaction.

Daphne raised an eyebrow, glancing between Pansy and me, a grin tugging at her lips. "You're really going to act like you're not jealous, Pans?" she said, her voice laced with amusement.

Pansy's eyes flared, her gaze hardening as she shot Daphne a look. "I'm not jealous," she snapped. "Why would I be?"

But it was clear from the way she was clenching her jaw and the way her eyes were darting between me and Draco's name in the air, that she absolutely was jealous.

Millicent caught the shift in the conversation and sighed, looking at me with a more serious expression. "Victoria, you need to be careful. You know how Draco gets when someone starts playing his game. And Pansy—" She trailed off, but the warning was loud and clear.

Abigail shrugged, still amused. "Sounds like Draco's enjoying this little game of cat and mouse you two have going on."

I looked back at Pansy, who was doing her best to hide her annoyance, but it was no use. The jealousy was written all over her face. I could feel the unspoken tension in the air, and I knew she wasn't going to let this go anytime soon.

"I'm not interested in Draco, Pansy," I said firmly, meeting her gaze. "You don't need to worry."

But Pansy didn't respond right away. Instead, she just gave me one last look, her lips tightening into a thin line, before she turned on her heel and started walking away.

The girls exchanged knowing looks, and Daphne leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She's definitely not over him. This is going to be interesting."

I just sighed, rubbing my temples. "I don't need this drama."

Abigail chuckled. "Oh, you're going to get it whether you want it or not. Draco Malfoy and Pansy—both of them—aren't exactly easy to avoid."

Later that night, as the laughter and music from the boys' dormitory echoed through the castle, I lay in my bed, the book in my lap forgotten. I tried to focus on the words in front of me, but all I could think about was Draco—his gaze, the way he'd smelled me, how he'd stood so close, as if he could sense something I was desperately trying to ignore.

The girls were probably in the boys' room now, having their fun, while I stayed here in the quiet of the common room, pretending that I didn't feel the pull whenever Draco was near. The thought of him had a strange, magnetic effect on me, and despite myself, I could feel my heart race just thinking about his whisper in the hallway.

He knows, I thought. He knows something, and he's playing with me.

But did I mind?

I turned the page absentmindedly, my mind still tangled in thoughts of Draco—his words, his scent, the way everything about him unsettled me. I couldn't help but wonder if he was really as indifferent as he seemed, or if, maybe, he was just as captivated by me as I was by him. The idea was both unsettling and thrilling, and I hated how much I couldn't stop thinking about it.

My gaze drifted to the ceiling, and I exhaled slowly, trying to push the thoughts away. What am I getting myself into?