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Double potions with Ravenclaw usually flew by pretty fast, but James had a feeling something was up from the moment they saw Slughorn already standing at the front of the room with a cauldron set up on each of their desks.
"Partners?" Sirius asked, bumping James' shoulder. He nodded absentmindedly,
"Sure."
They sat down in their usual row, Remus and Peter taking the table beside them. Most of the class looked just as apprehensive as James felt. Mind you, James was absolutely rubbish at Potions, so he felt his unease was justified.
When the class had settled, Slughorn cleared his throat, his eyes lighting up mischievously,
"As you all may have noticed, today we will be doing one of my favourite types of lessons. You will be replicating the potion I have prepared in my cauldron. Now, in front of you, there is a plethora of ingredients. But, seeing as you are now sixth years, I thought I would give you a bit of a challenge."
He walked along the rows, passing each desk in turn, "The ingredients each of you has will be more or less than what you need. I want you to be mindful of your neighbour's supplies. Remember, ask, don't steal." He paused, "But I will not know with your final product either way. Be smart, be resourceful, I only ask that your potion be completed and correct by the end of this lesson."
"So we just have to trade for the right ingredients?" Sirius whispered under his breath, "That seems a little too easy. Especially for Slughorn."
James nodded, "There's definitely a catch."
Slughorn held up a hand to silence the class, most of which had begun to mumble similar conversations to their lab partners.
"I know what you're all thinking. It can't be that easy, can it?" He gave another dramatic beat, eyes narrowed as he looked between them all, "I assure you it won't be. Happy mixing everyone, this will not be timed, but I recommend you get started quickly if you wish to complete the assignment."
With that, he walked back to his desk and sat down. James picked up their recipe and skimmed through it,
"Amortentia. That's the love potion, right?"
Sirius nodded, "I have no idea what the catch is, but he seemed to make a point about getting things done fast."
They shared a look.
"I'll trade for the pearl dust, you go for the rose thorns." James told him. Sirius nodded,
"On it."
James grabbed the extra bag of rose petals, looking around at other people's tables to see who had too much pearl dust. When he stopped by Zenophillius Lovegood's desk, he held up the petals,
"Need any of these, mate?"
Zeno cocked his head to the side curiously, "Why, yes. How did you know?" He gasped, leaning in conspiratorially, "Are you psychic too?"
"Uh... no, sorry. I just noticed you haven't got any with your things." James hesitated, the odd look in Zeno's eyes always left him slightly uncomfortable, "Mind if I trade for some pearl dust?"
"Help yourself, fellow Seer." He smiled.
James pursed his lips, "Right." He muttered, setting the rose petals down in place of the bowl of dust, "Thanks, man."
He walked back to his table, shaking off the weird feeling the guy always brought him, and started reading through the instructions again. Sirius had just made it back with the rose thorns when shouting erupted on the other side of the room.
Someone had stolen off of a table, and now they didn't have anything to trade for the ingredients they needed.
"I guess we know why he said to be fast." Sirius muttered, watching Slughorn's unbothered expression as the chaos slowly filled the room.
They were halfway through their list of directions when Sirius had the idea to hide their remaining ingredients in their robe pockets to avoid being stolen from. And they were three quarters of the way done when it was announced by a table in the back that there wasn't enough ingredients for everyone to complete their potions.
"Shit, dude. Guess we got lucky." James laughed, slipping the dust out of his pocket to pour slowly into the mixture.
They were one of the first to complete their potion, Sirius had a proud look on his face as it gleamed with the right coloured shine.
Once everyone who was able to complete their potion did so, Slughorn made his rounds, tutting at those who still had half empty cauldrons.
"I believe it was a part of the instructions to complete your tasks quickly, students." He reminded them.
"But, sir, people were stealing from our table after we'd gotten our ingredients fair and square." A kid in the front pointed out. Slughorn nodded, what James presumed to be mock sympathy on his face,
"Yes, yes. The world can be quite cruel."
He arrived at James' and Sirius' cauldron, leaning over to take a long whiff of the potion,
"Ahh, my favourite. Very nice, you two." He praised.
James frowned after he moved on to the next completed potion, "I completely forgot these were supposed to smell. I can't smell it at all."
Sirius sniffed the air, then turned to look at James, "Really? I can smell it from here. It smells like broom polish, fresh cut grass, but it mostly smells like chocolate." There was a tint to his cheeks as he said it, James knew he was thinking of Remus.
"Nah, mate. I really can't smell anything at all. You've got too much cologne on right now. It's all I'm getting." James protested, trying again to no avail.
Sirius froze. James rose an eyebrow curiously.
It took a while before Sirius managed to speak,
"Prongs... I'm not wearing my cologne right now."
James laughed, "Yeah, good one. Really, it's way too strong, man. You should lay off a bit."
He knew how Sirius always liked to pretend he naturally smelled good. Just like how he would spend an hour on his hair each morning just to tell people he woke up like this.
But Sirius wasn't laughing.
Actually, he looked a little like he was going to cry. Or throw up. Or perhaps both.
"James, I'm not kidding. I'm really not wearing any cologne."
James could only shake his head again, confused, "You have to be. I'm smelling it right now."
"You're smelling me in the amortentia?" Sirius said it like a question, but his expression told James it wasn't a matter of doubt at all.
James opened his mouth and shut it a few times. None of the words in his admittedly compact vocabulary would come.
So they stood there, Sirius staring like he'd seen a ghost, James gaping like a fish out of water.
Neither of them knew what to say. There wasn't anything they could say.
Though, they both seemed to have the realisation at the same time.
"Shit-" Sirius whipped around to face Remus' table, the room had fallen far too silent for their discussion to have not been heard. James leaned around him to look as well.
Remus was staring at the front of the room, hands balled into fists. Peter was whispering something to him, looking panicked.
"Do you think he..." James started. Sirius shrugged,
"I have no idea."
"Do you think we should..."
Sirius shook his head furiously, "We are definitely not telling him." He turned to face James again, "You know I love you, but this will ruin all of our friendships if it gets out."
James nodded slowly. Nothing was making sense to him. There was just no way he'd smelled Sirius in the love potion. It didn't add up. James wasn't in love with Sirius. He never had been.
But somehow, all he could smell was the cologne Sirius saved for special occasions, it filled James' lungs like a drug.
This was wrong. This was all so wrong.
"Should we..." Sirius started.
James nodded, "Yeah I think we should probably go."
The bells chimed for dinner and they were the first pair out of the classroom. James' heart was pounding out of his chest. Sirius looked as though he was about to faint. Maybe he was. James couldn't exactly blame him.
"What do you think he'll say when he finds out?" James whispered. Sirius' eyes nearly shot out of his head, he yanked James to a stop, pulling him out of the way of the corridor,
"Are you kidding me? Moony can not find out about this. Nobody can. Do you know what that will do to the group?" He hissed.
James swallowed hard, "So we'll just... Keep this between us?" He asked.
Sirius' eyes softened slightly, there was a touch of pity in them now, James hated that pity almost as much as he hated the image of Remus ripping him to shreds,
"Look, I- I'm sorry, Prongs. I don't want to dismiss your... feelings." He said quietly.
James cringed, everything about this unsettled him far more than his brief interaction with Lovegood. He didn't like the way Sirius was looking at him like a wounded puppy. Or the way that Sirius seemed entirely convinced that James was in love with him.
Because he wasn't. James didn't know what happened with the potion, but he really wasn't in love with Sirius.
"Are you two coming to dinner or not?" Remus' harsh voice came from behind them. They jumped apart. Sirius whipped around, face paler than ever,
"Yes! Yes, sorry, we're right behind you." He shot James a look that clearly told him to shove a sock in it and followed Remus and Peter the rest of the way to the Great Hall.
They sat in their usual seats, and that was starting to feel like an even greater mistake.
Sirius and Remus always liked to sit across from each other at the table. James never asked why, he assumed it was so they could stare into each other's eyes or play footsie under the table or something, but that left Sirius to sit next to... James.
Every time Sirius' elbow bumped his or their shoulders brushed together James could feel the guilt consuming him in waves.
Worst of all, Remus was staring at them with his werewolf eyes. Like they were two small animals he was looking forward to tearing limb from limb with nothing but his teeth.
As the silence stretched, James hadn't bothered to even pretend to be interested in food, his stomach so full of knots he was sure he'd hurl the moment something solid touched his tongue.
And then...
"We heard what happened!" Peter blurted out, "I'm sorry. I just can't hold it in any longer. We heard you guys talking about what James smelled in the potion." He explained, his words coming out in a rushed whoosh of air.
James didn't dare look to Sirius. He could feel all three pairs of eyes burning into his skull. He stared at his empty plate. Yep, definitely gonna hurl.
"You can say it Wormtail." Remus spat, James could hear the fury in his voice, "Who he smelled in the potion."
James felt Sirius' shaking before he saw it,
"Remus-" He started, desperation in his voice.
Remus shook his head, cutting him off with a cold look,
"How long?" He demanded, "You want to defend him to me? You want to look me in the eyes and tell me it would have been best if I never found out? How long has this been going on between you two?"
James started to speak, Sirius' cry drowned out his words,
"Re, please. I swear nothing ever happened between us!"
"Sirius?" A voice came from behind them.
Oh shit. Not now. Please not now.
James felt every cell in his body burst into flames. He'd never felt so many emotions all at once. Fear for Remus and Sirius. Worry about the group's friendships. Guilt for whatever it was that happened in the classroom. Now this...
"Sirius, what's going on?" Regulus asked again.
Sirius turned, tears streaming down his face,
"Nothing, it's-" He froze again, the same way he had at their potions desk.
James was just about to wonder why when he felt himself freeze too.
Regulus was wearing the same cologne.
Regulus and Sirius wear the same cologne.
James wanted to collapse with relief.
James hadn't been smelling Sirius in the potions room after all.
He'd smelled Regulus.
Sirius was staring at James like he'd never seen him before. A month ago, knowing Sirius was having this revelation would have made his heart explode in fear. But now? James was just so relieved he hadn't accidentally fallen in love with his best friend that he couldn't bring himself to care.
Remus, however, wasn't sharing in their moment of understanding. His eyes had grown darker, his jaw ticked in his tell-tale sign that he was truly pissed off.
Remus slammed his fist onto the table, bringing all of their attention back to him,
"Is somebody going to tell me what the fuck is going on here?" He shouted, "You should at least have the decency to look ashamed of yourselves. If one of you doesn't start talking soon, I'm pulling out my wand and I'll make you wish you had."
Peter squeaked, jumping backwards in fear.
Sirius turned to look at James again. This time, James was staring at Regulus.
"I'm in love with you." He whispered. Regulus' eyes went wide,
"James-"
James shook his head, raising his voice so the others could hear, "I'm in love with Regulus!" He let out a laugh he was sure sounded a little manic. He didn't care about that either. Something warm and light floated through him, he smiled, "Regulus, it was your cologne in the potion. I'm in love with you."
Remus' anger hadn't completely died out, but it was rapidly becoming replaced with confusion. Peter stared between them all, his eyebrows furrowed deep enough James wondered if they blocked his vision.
Sirius was looking again like he'd seen a ghost, his eyes were a little glossy, the tears had since dried to his cheeks, leaving streak marks across his face.
Regulus drew in a long breath, glancing around at the other tables surrounding them that had heard James' sudden outburst.
"Well..." He cleared his throat, "I would hope so, Potter. We've been dating for a few months now." He kept his voice fairly low, but James knew the other's had heard him.
Remus leaned away from them, his eyes had lost their anger, no longer making him look so murderous. Peter let out a surprised laugh, shifting his focus between James and Sirius.
Sirius...
Suddenly all of James' nerves returned at full force. He and Regulus had kept their relationship a secret for months, trying their hardest to ensure Sirius wouldn't find out about them. He'd been the person they were most anxious to tell.
"You're together?" Sirius whispered, "You... love him?"
James nodded, "Yes." He took in a steadying breath, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
Regulus slowly stepped forward, placing a hand on James' shoulder, "It was my fault. I asked him to hide it from you. If you're going to be upset... be angry with me."
James started to object but Sirius raised a finger, effectively silencing them both. James waited with a pounding heart for his response.
"I love you both." He said finally, "I can't think of anyone more perfect for each other."
Remus leaned forward again, "Just so we're all on the same page here. You're not sleeping with my boyfriend?" He clarified. Regulus' eyebrows shot upwards and he looked down at James.
James laughed, "I promise you, Moons. I would never."
Sirius scoffed, pretending to look offended, "Oh, so you won't go for me, but you're interested in my little brother?"
"I would appreciate being left out of this-" Regulus started, glancing worriedly at Remus. He was probably still terrified of the way Remus' threats had boomed out of him less than two minutes prior.
"No, no, Reggie. You brought yourself into this the moment you started shagging my best mate." Sirius retorted.
Peter groaned and put his head onto the table, "Can everyone please stop talking about shagging each other? The visuals are making me want to vomit."
"I'm really happy for you two." Sirius told them, softening his tone again, "I'm not upset at you for hiding it, I just wished you hadn't almost let my very scary boyfriend kill us both." He nodded his head towards Remus.
"What even happened that caused all of this?" Regulus asked.
"James smelled your cologne in the amortentia potion." Sirius explained, when Regulus still looked confused he added, "We wear the same cologne, apparently."
"You still have the one mother bought for us?" Regulus asked incredulously, "I would have thought you'd have thrown that out by now."
Sirius scoffed, "And waste a perfectly good expensive bottle? Absolutely not. She was a wretch, but she did have good taste."
"So... Does this mean I'm officially a fifth wheel?" Peter asked.
The others laughed, Remus put an arm around his shoulders,
"Don't worry Wormtail, I would happily choose you over those messes for men any day."
"Hey!" Sirius and James called at the same time. Remus waved them off, flinging a carrot at James.
"Would you like to sit with us?" Sirius asked, looking back to his brother, "You're a nice buffer in case Remus goes all terrifying on us again."
"Oh, I'm just the meat shield, is that it?" Regulus laughed, taking a seat between Sirius and James. Sirius snorted,
"Keep saying things like meat shield and I'll throw you to the wolves myself."
James couldn't help the joy that flooded through him as they all laughed together. He was grateful his secret was finally out in the open, hiding it from his friends had nearly killed him.
He thought back to the look of rage on Remus' face.
Yeah, definitely almost killed him.