Chapter Text
Nico’s feet hit the stone floor hard and fast as he rushed down the empty hall, frowning at how loudly his footsteps echoed. Out of all the classes he could have been late to, potions wouldn’t have been his first choice.
He paused outside the door to catch his breath, before carefully pushing open the door. Any hopes he’d had of silently sneaking into class were crushed as the heavy wooden door creaked loudly. He grimaced as everyone in the class swiveled back to look at him. Most of the kids looked bored with him and turned right back to their work as Nico rushed over to Jason, his desk partner.
“Well you lucked out,” Jason commented to him. “Professor Asclepius had to step out to yell at some first years that were shooting some sort of toy down the hall.”
Nico let out a breath of relief. “Do you think he’ll notice that I was gone?”
Jason shrugged. “I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
Nico grumbled to himself, pulling his books out of his bag. He had been dreading this class all week. Not only was it potions, his worst subject, but it was with Hufflepuff. And more importantly, Will Solace.
Nico peeked out from behind his mop of hair to glance at Will, only to find Will staring back at him. Nico scowled, embarrassed at having been caught. “What’re you looking at?”
The corners of Will’s mouth quirked up. “Nothing. I just like seeing you show emotion other than your constant distaste with the world. Embarrassment and nerves look quite good on you.”
Nico’s face flushed further at the almost-compliment from Will. “Oh, shut up. At least I don’t bathe myself in cologne every morning in a desperate attempt to get girls.”
Will snorted. “I didn’t realize you had a problem with my cologne, di Angelo.”
“I do when the whole goddamn room reeks of it. For Merlin’s sake, did you spill a bottle of it in here or something?” Nico’s senses were being overwhelmed with the scent of Will and it was driving him insane.
Jason choked behind Nico as Will opened his mouth to retort before freezing as his cheeks colored.
“What?” Nico asked, confused as to why he was getting such strange responses from his friends.
“Nico,” Jason said in an almost consoling tone as he pushed his textbook in Nico’s direction, showing him the page for the potion the class was currently working on.
Nico frowned, glancing down to see what the big deal was.
Amortentia. The most powerful love potion in the world.
“So what?” Nico asked, feeling his stomach sink.
Jason pointed to a passage lower down the page.
It has a different aroma for everyone who smells it, reminding each person of the things that they find most attractive.
Oh.
Oh no.
Nico forced a laugh. “Oh that’s rich. Wow. But I’m afraid that won’t excuse your excessive cologne usage, Solace.” It was a ruse, and a terrible one at that. Nico knew already, the damage had been done.
“Ah, di Angelo. You decided to join us after all,” came the Potions teacher from behind him.
Nico felt as if the oxygen in the room was running out. He was surrounded by his best friend who was laughing at him, his crush who was as red as a tomato and still had his mouth hanging wide open, an angry teacher who he was very much in trouble with, and the smell of WillWillWillWillWill .
Nico bolted right out of the room, leaving his bag next to Jason who was also having trouble breathing due to how hard he was laughing.