• I examined the pink glass vial. 'Love Potion.' I brought the small cap to my nose and sucked in the scent of rich milk chocolates and roses and fresh summer rain. I set the bottle down and rolled my eyes. What a useless potion and a waste of time. I threw a glance to my right at a group of girls swooning over the bottles of false love. Sighing, I left the crowded store and headed back to Hogwarts.
    "Estrella Oscurro." I spoke Slytherin's current password to the moving painting on the wall. I strode into the Commonroom and sank down into the leather sofa. I picked up a leather-bound book laying on a small wooden table. The cover had Unicorns And Other Creatures of Light printed in shiny gold lettering with curly ends that reminded me of ancient scrolls. I sighed, annoyed with the poor taste of whoever left the book on the table, and threw it back where it was. It landed with a loud thud and a small plume of dust rolled from its pages.
    At that same moment the door opened and closed again, clacking softly. I threw a curious glance over my shoulder. The lean sturdy frame of Luca Hart filled my vision. I felt my heart spring into my throat. His hard expression softened as he saw me smiling at him from my seat on the couch.
    "Rikku," He said, eyes sparkling with surprise and another emotion I couldn't quite place. "What are you doing here?"
    I tried to laugh nonchalantly, but it came out weak and nervous. "I just returned from a walk, and was about to read a book...at least until I saw my selection..." My eyes landed on the cover of Unicorns And Other Creatures of Light for a small second, but quickly returned to Luca, who was now walking towards me.
    "Mind if I sit down too?" he asked meekly (which was totally out of character.)
    "Of course not, you didn't have to ask." I replied grinning. He looked away, and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear he blushed.
    "I went to the Great Hall and brought back some chocolates. Would you like one?" He looked at me hopefully. How could I possibly say no to that?
    "Sure!" My already huge smile increased in size and happiness filled his eyes. He handed me a small square of milk chocolate. I breathed in the rich aroma of chocolate. But something else as well...roses? And rain. Love Potion! I sat there, stunned. Luca Hart tried to slip me a Love Potion. My heart skipped a beat and I looked up into his waiting eyes. Make that two skipped beats.
    "It smells delicious!" I said a bit too loud. I tried my best to smile normally, but it felt too wide, too plastered onto my face. It convinced Luca at least.
    "Luca!" It was Kahn Spattin, Luca's roommate. "Your owl came just now. This is for you." He handed Luca a tiny piece of folded parchment.
    I used the opportunity to hide the truffle in my pocket. I wasn't going to become falsely obsessed with anyone. However, I was going to use this to my advantage. I was finally going to ask Luca Hart to go out with me.
    Luca tucked the parchment into his pocket and looked back at me. I acted like I was chewing. Swallowing, I pretended to pause. I looked back at Luca. I had to make this convincing.
    "Oh Luca! That was delicious!" I smiled as wide as possible, scooting closer. A smile flickered across his face. It was working so far. "Do you want to go somewhere?" I jumped up and pulled him off the couch. "Let's go somewhere!"
    He blushed and stammered out, "We could go to the west hall..."
    The west hall was almost always deserted, and used by couples who wanted to be alone. "Oh, that's perfect!" I nearly dragged him out of Slytherin's Commonroom.
    When we arrived at the west hall, I spun around. We were both panting from our haste. This was it. I inched closer, looking from his beautiful brown eyes to his perfect lips and back to his eyes. I leaned forward slowly, breathing in the scent of him. He smelled warm and soft, and our lips met. My heart felt as if it would beat itself out of my chest. His lips moved beneath mine, slowly at first, then more and more passionately. My hands moved to his shoulders, pulling him closer. As his arms wrapped around my waist I moved my hands to the back of his head. My fingers wound themselves into his soft blonde hair, I couldn't help it. He gently pressed me against the cold stone wall. Our lips parted for air, and I opened my eyes, surprised to find that I'd closed them.
    Breathing just as quickly as I, Luca sighed. "You smell like mint. You didn't eat the chocolate."
    I frowned. "What?"
    "How did you know? About the potion." He was staring intently into my eyes.
    "I smelled roses...and rain." I didn't know what else to say.
    He frowned and furrowed his brows. "Roses and rain?"
    "Yeah," I answered softly. "A love potion smells like your favorite scents. Mine are chocolate, roses, and rain."
    "Really?" he said. "Mine is also chocolate, but cinnamon and old books, not roses or rain." He chuckled lightly. "It really is an odd combination, mine."
    I laughed too. "Sounds like it."
    "So if you didn't take the potion, then what was this? A trick?" His eyes were sad.
    "No!" The words rushed out of my mouth. "I just really really like you, and I figured this was my chance. My chance to spend time with you."
    "You could have just asked, you know."
    "So could you."
    He frowned and blushed. "Sorry."
    "Why? It all worked out. I think."
    "I'm sorry I tried to trick you. That was horrible and I should have just asked instead of being a coward and a jerk."
    "You are not a coward, or a jerk." I said sharply. "I didn't ask you either."
    He looked into my eyes, and that was it. I leaned in again. Our mouths moved against each other, and my lips tingled happily. My entire body felt as if it would explode with happiness. I smiled. This was perfect, just being there with him. I closed my eyes and leaned into him, into everything I had waited for, and it felt perfect.