Chapter Text
Theon stared down into the depths of his cauldron and knew he had fucked up.
He was in his sixth year at Hogwarts and had gotten a high enough score on his OWLS to warrant him continuing Potions when he probably didn’t need too (he wasn’t even sure what he wanted to do once he graduated Hogwarts and hadn’t put much thought into it like someone). It didn’t mean he was a potions master, but he was never horrible. Yet, somehow he had royally fucked up this one.
Potions Master Luwin thought it would be a wonderful idea to have a group of sixteen to seventeen year olds to try their hand at the highly dangerous love potion Amortentia. It was supposed to come out a pearl color but Theon’s was tar black. Rather than seductive and entrancing smells coming from the spiraling steam (like the description had said), Theon was getting clouds of thick black smoke that mostly smelt of rotten fruit. It didn’t take a genius to know that Theon was going to get a Troll on this one.
Beside him, his best mate was making a textbook perfect Amortentia. Robb’s potion was a picture replica of the one in their shared textbook. The color was a brilliant Mother-of-Pearl with little steam spirals flowing over the edge of the cauldron. Theon emptied his cauldron; just giving up because there was no way in hell his potion was getting anywhere close to Robb’s.
“Better luck next time,” Robb beamed, inhaling his potion and smiling softly at the intoxicating smell.
Theon rolled his eyes. Now that the smoke from his own cauldron had dissipated, he leaned over to catch a whiff of Robb’s potion. Amortentia was supposed to have a different smell to each person; mimicking the scents of the things that user was most attracted to.
Theon’s smells were a mixture of fresh, cold pine air, leather, ocean breeze and the unique spicy scent of Robb’s cologne. Yeah, Theon already knew about his deep-seated affections for Robb and that the Amortentia would mimic the scents he associated with Robb, so he wasn’t all too surprised. ‘Didn’t mean it didn’t bring warmth to his cheeks or caused his heart to beat a little faster.
“Does it smell good?” Robb grinned proudly, already knowing the answer.
“Yeah,” Theon shrugged off, resting his elbows on their shared table. “Bet yours is going to get passed around again.” While Theon’s strengths were more in transfiguration and charms, Robb excelled in potions and defense. They balanced each other in that way.
“Oh gods, I hope not,” Robb flushed embarrassed, although after six years of this he should have been used to it.
“Why, nervous you are going to be asked what you smell?” Theon teased despite the fact he actually did want to know what Robb smelt.
As if on cue, Professor Luwin came over and inhaled deeply, a soft smiling coming to his face. “Well done, Mr. Stark!” Luwin looked over to see Theon’s cauldron empty. “And what happened here?”
“I made tar soup,” Theon grumbled. “I know, I’m getting a Troll so I dumped it. Spare us both the pain, right?”
Luwin didn’t seem particularly pleased with Theon’s proactive move but said nothing as he turned back to Robb’s. After one more deep inhale, Luwin called attention to the class. Theon nudged Robb pointedly to prove he had once again been correct in his assessment.
“Class, I want you to gather around here. Mr. Stark has given us a near perfect example of Amortentia,” Luwin praised. Theon kicked Robb smirking. “Mr. Stark, what do you smell?
Theon leaned close, ready to hear what Robb had to say. Robb flushed but answered promptly for the professor. “Well, to me, it smells like fresh snow, wood, fur,” Robb blushed as he said the last word and Theon knew what it was going to be before he said it, “and sea salt.” Coco-wait, what? Theon blinked in surprised, jerking up.
That was not was he thought Robb would say. After all, Robb was dating Jeyne Westerling and she slathered that coconut lotion all over herself so Theon had thought that would have been the scent. But sea salt? Theon was nearly 98% sure Robb had never been to the ocean.
“Very good,” Luwin cheered, pouring a vial of the potion to pass around. Theon didn’t listen to his classmates as they voiced what they smelled, his eyes on Robb and wondering where the hell sea salt came from?
Robb never had experienced sea salt air before. The closest thing Robb had ever come to a body of water was the little river that bordered Winterfell and the Great Lake on the Hogwarts grounds. If Theon were to contemplate it, the closest Robb got to sea salt through association would be Theo-Oh.
Theon swallowed as he came to startling realization, his eyes on Robb, who was leaning over his cauldron to inhale the fumes of his potion again. A small smile came to Robb’s face and his eyes fluttered shut. Theon’s stomach squirmed from the sight. Theon couldn’t help the twitch his own lips gave. Well, that was very good to know.