Draco's POV.

It's still early when I wake up, around 7am, and I decide to take a quick shower as I'm getting ready.

The cool water rushes down my back and, as always, I scrub the skin of my left arm especially hard; it does nothing.

When I hop out, I once again notice the glaringly obvious dark mark, still present on my arm.

I thought after all this time it would have faded. But nothing has changed.

I'm still me.
I'm still a former death eater.
I still have my dark mark.
My father's still rotting away in Azkaban, declaring his allegiance to The Dark Lord until the end.

I'm still me.

The only thing that's different is Harry Potter. When we used to spend hours having fights in the hallways, we now have quiet, pleasant discussions.

With that thought, I decide to talk to Harry for the first time in a while.

Breakfast has just begun in the great hall, and few students are up.

But it seems that luck is on my side today as Harry is sitting at the Gryffindor table like usual, nibbling delicately on a piece of toast.

"Hello, Harry," I greet nervously.

"Draco?" he asks, sounding surprised.

"Indeed."

He gives me a small smile and scoots over slightly to make room for me beside him.

"You not avoiding me anymore, Draco?" he questions.

Avoiding him? Was I.. well it has been a while since we've spoken.

"Never was," I reply lightly.

He looks surprised but just nods, taking a small bite of his eggs.

"Do you.. want to hang out tonight," I propose.

Once again he looks surprised but nods anyway.

"That sounds nice, Draco. Where?"

I hadn't thought about that yet.

"Um.. by the lake. 9:30," I decide.

He smiles slightly again and I take that as my cue to leave.

Who knew that talking to Potter would be so stressful.

                               ~△⃒⃘~

Hermione's POV.

I run my hands down the wall behind Pansy, grabbing her waist easily and guiding her towards me.

"Granger," she warns.

I step closer, pressing my mouth against her soft, rose coloured lips.

I run my hands through her hair.

She lets out a small moan. She places a hand on my side and slides it up and down, making me gasp, allowing her to slip her tongue into my mouth.

My eyes blink open quickly. I start to question why I woke up when I remember my dream.

This isn't the first dream I've had about her since we kissed.

Blushing, I start to get dressed before casting a Tempus charm and learning that I slept through breakfast and would be late to Potions with the Slytherins if I didn't hurry.

Potions. Oh god. Pansy's in that class.

Blushing furiously I comb my fingers through my hair and dash out of the room.

When I arrive, everyone is taking their seats and I opt to sit near the back where Harry is.

"Alight class," the potions professor claps.

"Today we will be brewing Amortentia. I will, of course, be assigning you partners,"

"Mr. Potter, you'll be working with Mr. Zabini. Ms. Granger you'll work with Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Long-bottom with Ms. Parkinson, Mr. Weasley with Mr. Nott," I zone out as she continues down the list.

Suddenly a shadow falls over my desk and I look up to see Malfoy standing above me.

"Ready to work Granger?"

I nod, quickly dismissing my thoughts from before of how awkward it would have been to have to partner with Pansy or Ron.

"Alright, you go gather the supplies which you'll be chopping and so on while I set up the caldron to brew the potion," he drawls.

Not in the mood to argue or present my own plan, and knowing that Malfoy is good enough at Potions to trust, I head to the supply cabinet as told.

When I come back, the fire is lit below our caldron and Malfoy already has his book open to the correct page.

"Since this is not your first time brewing the potion, class," the professor talks over the sound of students hustling to their spots, "I will make sure to grade you on accuracy through all the steps."

Malfoy nods and begins reading aloud from the book.

"First the powdered moonstone and rose thorns, Granger."

I comply and he mixes the concoction slowly, counting the stirs under his breath.

"Peppermint," he says while extending a hand for me to put the peppermint in.

"Now the Ashwinder eggs.." he orders.

After a minute he speaks again.

"Alright and the only thing left is the Pearl Dust," he continues adding the shimmering dust until the pot turns a light blue and then he stirs the liquid 24- times counterclockwise.

The potion's colour turns to the classic mother- of pearl sheen and a spiral of steam is emitted.

Professor Halensour walks over to inspect our work.

"Perfect," she praises, "Ms. Granger, what do you smell?"

I'm taken aback by the question, seeing as I remember what I smelled the last time the question was asked of me.

"Um.. well, I smell freshly- cut grass," she nods approvingly at me to continue, "new parchment, spearmint toothpaste and.." I take a big sniff, waiting for the smell of Ron's hair to envelope me, but nothing.
"And that's all," I finish with a small smile.

"Interesting," she laughs lightly, "and you, Mr. Malfoy, what do you smell?"

"I smell," he pauses to sniff again, seeming lost in thought, "I smell broomstick polish," he sniffs carefully, "something light and fruity, and.." he takes another, more determined sniff, "and uh firewood,"

Professor Halensour nods approvingly, and moves on to the next table where we hear, "No- no, Neville.. you stir the liquid counter clockwise, not clockwise."

"Why'd you lie?" I ask him suddenly.

He looks like he's been taken off guard.

"Lie? I didn't.. I mean- what're you going on about this time, Granger?"

"You obviously smelt something different, not firewood. What was it? Why'd you lie?" I question, more pointedly this time.

"It's none of your concern, Granger. Even if it was a lie."

I shake my head and just decide to leave it be this time.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Harry's POV.

We're brewing Amortentia in Potions today and I'm partnered up with Blaise Zabini.

I really have no problem with him, unlike a few Slytherins that hate me even more after the war.

Almost the second after he's done stirring in the Pearl Dust, Professor Halensour comes by to check over our work.

"That's almost perfect," she tells us, "Just one more counter- clockwise stir. You must have lost count."

He nods and completes the stir which changes the fluid into a light, pearly color.

She smiles in approval and walks away.

"What'do you smell, Potter?" Zabini asks curiously.

I breath in the scent deeply, even though I already know what to expect.
An intoxicating smell fills my nostrils.

"It smells like a broomstick handle, woody and fresh, treacle tart, and something familiar, flowery," I tell him honestly.

He nods and before I can ask, tells me what he smells.

"I smell a candy- something fruity,
Butterbeer, and... disinfectant," he says, sounding confused.

Letting out a small laugh he says,
"Hardly my favourite scents. I wonder if anyone in the world smells of all those things at once."

I only shrug and begin clearing away the area.

                               ~△⃒⃘~

AN: I hope you enjoyed it!
Please vote, comment, and share if you did.
Some real drama to come.

-Chance 👨🏽‍🍳🌲😼