#sebastelle

Sharp stayed at his desk and waited for his usual group of sixth years to come in, ignoring the scent he picked up from steam billowing from the cauldron nearby.

Imelda was the first to enter, staying punctual as ever, with Cael Ilson and Garreth coming close behind her. All three of them slowed their walking as they curiously sniffed the room.

Imelda wrinkled her nose, and she looked at Garreth. “Did you already experiment today?”

Garreth frowned. “Well, yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“Are you so used to the smell of burnt ingredients that you can’t smell it?”

“First of all, I don’t always burn my experiments,” he said defensively. “And second, I didn’t burn anything! I don’t know what you’re smelling.” He sniffed again as he put his bag on his work station. “I’m smelling some strange mix of fish oil, olives, and apple cider.”

Cael looked at them weirdly as he got himself situated in a work station on the other side of the classroom. “Both of your noses are wrong. It smells like some tree in a field.” His eyebrows furrowed as if he was trying to remember something. “Also…flowers…?”

Imelda scoffed and put her hands on her hips. “Garreth, just fess up and say you made a mess and you clearly covered it up with different smells.”

“Okay, that’s actually a good idea, but I swear I didn’t blow anything up! Nothing caught on fire or exploded!”

“Why can I hear you three all the way from Central Hall?” Ominis grumbled as he walked in. His eyes widened a little, and his nose wrinkled like a rabbit’s. “I…am in the potions classroom, right? I didn’t somehow wander to Beasts Class?”

Now all of them were even more confused, with an overlap of them recounting what they smelled. More and more students walked in, and Garreth pounced on them with the question: “Quick! What do you smell?”

In order, Sebastian, Estelle, Andrew, and Amit answered all different things:

“Lavender?”

“The…coast.”

“Books.”

“Plants!”

Poppy came in next with Duncan and Leander not far behind.

“Oooh, it smells like a tea shop in here,” she mused with a smile as she went to Estelle and Cael’s station.

Leander looked at her like she grew two heads. “It smells like the greenhouse, which we just came from.”

Duncan scoffed. “No, Peculiar Poppy left a stench from that horrid class.”

Ominis, Poppy, and the Ilson twins shot him looks that could kill.

Natty, Artemis, and Amadeo Mancini were the last to join the class, and they walked into a cacophony of puzzled students talking to one and another.

“How can we all be smelling different things?” Sebastian asked. He turned to the last three, lighting up. “Okay, tell us what you smelled when you came in!”

Natty and Artemis carefully sniffed while Amadeo lifted a dark eyebrow.

“Why are we sharing what we smell?” He asked as he went to his spot with Imelda and Violet.

“Because we’re trying to see if there are any scents smelled in common,” Garreth insisted. “So, please, share.”

Amadeo rolled his gray-green eyes. “I smelled lavender, okay?” He shrugged. “It’s used in potions, which is the class we’re taking now.”

Sebastian snapped his fingers. “See? He smelled lavender too!”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Cael said. “You just smell flowers like I do.”

Estelle tilted her head at her brother, gesturing with her hands. “How can you not smell the bloody ocean? It’s an obvious smell that everyone knows and it does not get mistaken for flowers!”

Natty shrugged as she went to her spot by Garreth. “I just smell grassfields from home,” she said with a nostalgic smile.

Artemis blinked twice as she was with Amit and Andrew. “I don’t smell grassfields,” she said to the Ravenclaws. “Just…a pine forest.”

Amit hummed. “Come to think of it, the plants I’m smelling come from the greenhouse, like what Leander said he smelled.”

Andrew’s eyebrows furrowed. “How come I smell the library, then?”

Garreth was hearing all of these conversations around him, and he sighed as he heard Imelda again voice her theory about him using different smells to cover up a mistake.

“For Bloody Baron’s sake!” He yelled at the Slytherin Quidditch player. “I did not do that! I just smell fish oil and olives and apple cider. Which were all, by the way, not used in my concoction!”

Amadeo looked intrigued now, and he wolfishly grinned. “So that’s what you smell? And Imelda here smells one of your failed experiments?”

“Again, it doesn’t make sense how we all smell different things.” Garreth waved to the entire chatty class. “Food, plants, books, flowers, trees, classes, it doesn’t make sense! Not unless it’s—” He stopped suddenly, and his eyes grew wide as saucers. “Ohhhhhh…”

Sharp cleared his throat as he rose to his feet, and the entire class grew quiet. “That’s right, Mr. Weasley. Your suspicions are in fact confirmed.”

He waved his wand, revealing the once-Disillusioned large cauldron. The steam came out in beautiful spirals, and the simmering liquid had a mother-of-pearl sheen. “This is Amortentia.”

Almost the entire class paled as if he said “Acromantula” instead.

“Yes, the scents you kept talking about smelling correlate with whomever you are attracted to.” He raised his voice to be clearly heard to the silent class. “Which was what I said when we went over Amortentia in my lecture last week. If you had paid enough attention instead of staring off into space, or at someone, you would have known that.” He landed his gaze on the furiously blushing Sebastian, who sank lower on his stool, then he focused on the class as a whole. “From now, I expect you all to pay rapt attention in my class. This is to prepare you all for your N.E.W.T.s. I want you all to succeed in the exams, so you don’t have to stay back here for an eighth year.

“With that, everyone, open your books to chapter five.”

The sounds of rustling paper all at once was thunderous, and everyone’s noses were deep into their books, most likely trying to hide their red faces.

Estelle peeked over her book at Cael, who seemed to be glaring at his own copy. “What’s got your wand in a knot?” She whispered.

“Artemis said she smelled a pine forest,” he muttered. “And Leander said he smelled the greenhouse.” His eyebrows furrowed. “I remember hearing that he fancied her…”

Estelle looked unamused. “Cael, your cologne smells like pine.”

“It’s a common cologne. I bet Leander has a bottle of it too,” he grumbled.

She sighed and shook her head. She shyly glanced over at Sebastian, who seemed to be invested in the chapter about graphorn horns and unicorn horns. Now she knew why she smelled the coast. And…perhaps she wasn’t crazy to think the lavender he smelled associated with her?

“Estelle,” Poppy whispered.

She inquisitively hummed.

Poppy glanced at Sebastian’s work station too and leaned closer to her first (and best) human friend. “You won’t tell anyone I smelled bergamot tea, right?”

Estelle’s eyes widened as she instantly caught on who that could be. She smiled and replied, “Of course. Your secret is safe with me.” She looked over her shoulder at Ominis sitting near Sebastian with a flushed face before focusing back on Poppy. “If it means anything, I think it’s reciprocated.”

Poppy looked hopeful. “You heard what he smelled?”

Estelle thought it over before saying in defeat, “No, but…I think he’s obvious.”

“I don’t know…”

Estelle didn’t push any more, and they went back to their reading.

Amadeo, however, looked at Imelda with a smirk. “So, Garreth, eh?”

She glared at him with a beet-red face. “Shut it. He’ll hear you.”

“And he just happened to smell your rancid broomstick polish?” He dryly added.

Imelda thought it over before she huffed. “And what about you, smelling lavender like Sebastian did?”

Amadeo’s smirk dropped, and he coughed into his fist. “That’s just a coincidence.” “Right…”

Amit and Andrew were reading intently, and the former whispered to the latter, “Do you know who would be at the library that you’re…?”

“No,” he replied. “What about you?”

Amit shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

Artemis joined in and said, “I don’t know either. My home doesn’t have pine trees.”

Amit and Andrew exchanged glances, and Andrew gave him a knowing look. They instantly had an idea who it was, but it wasn’t their place to say…

Sharp settled in his chair, taking in the wonderful, studious silence.

Of course, it wasn’t long before Garreth turned to him. “Professor…if you don’t mind sharing…what do you smell?”

That got everyone’s attention, and he sighed heavily. “That is none of your business, Mr. Weasley.”

Garreth shrugged. “You heard all of us talk about ours, so—”

“Yes, and you all chose to share and think out loud. I chose not to,” he firmly replied. He lifted an eyebrow at the whole class. “Go back to your reading.”

The students went back to reading in defeat, and that was the last time anything involving Amortentia was mentioned. Sharp went back to grading papers, indulging in the sweet smell of cherries and magnolia tea…

After that day, Sharp expected results of this “experiment” like seeing some of the kids confessing and being together. He wasn’t that cold of a professor where he’d denounce romance, but instead…it was only more shy silence and more of them stealing glances.

Love was patient, dealing with his desperation for answers with grace.

Love was not ignorant, like how his foolish tongue decided to say before he stopped to think.

Love was forgiveness, even when he didn't deserve it. He knows he doesn't deserve it

Love was second chances, and he promised to himself he would never squander it.

Love was kindness, a comfort he'd forgotten after hating himself in his guilt-ridden turmoil.

Love was gentle inspite of callused hands that would hold his to ground him in the present.

Love was smiles full of sunshine that broke through his darkness.

Love was happiness he denied himself for too long.

Love was long, soft, dark brown hair that he always moved aside to see more of her.

Love was loyal for always being there for him, and he would be just as loyal if not more.

Love was steadfast and determined, and a beautiful three-clawed scar proved it.

Love was cheeky banter and quick wits.

Love was sneaking affection between classes.

Love was sharing laughs and sweets.

Love was freshly baked lavender biscuits.

Love was self-conscious, but he'd reassure.

Love had insecurities and self-doubts, but he'd always assuage.

Love would cry and try to hide it, but he'd only wipe away the tears and provide comfort.

Love was strong in carrying more burdens than he could fathom. But he would help carry them if he could.

Love was safe in his arms, and he would never let go.

Love was coy, teasing him and always leaving him wanting more.

Love was warm ivory skin, a small dusting of freckles, and inviting, soft pink lips.

Love was shy but adventurous fingers running through his hair.

Love was comforting by mere presence.

Love was a black and yellow scarf around his neck.

Love was his home.

Love was Estelle Clara Sallow, wearing an amethyst wedding band and a bright smile while teaching their kids how to bake lavender biscuits.

When we met, we shook hands after a duel. Then high-fives after winning as a team. Each moment of contact is nice but cruel. I want to hold your hand, but it's a dream.

As time went on, my hands were stained with red. But you still reached out, giving me a chance. Hands that wield power were gentle instead. Kindness in calluses, and I'm entranced.