That afternoon, when James arrived at the Gryffindor table for lunch, he felt a twinge of guilt when he saw Marigold already sitting with the others, having an animated conversation with them.

“You alright, Goldie?” he asked, sitting next to her as usual.

 The smile on Marigold’s face disappeared as she nodded at him curtly before turning to Scorpius.

 “I’ll be at the library,” Marigold said, getting up from the table. “I’ll wait for you there.”

 “I can go with you right now,” Scorpius caught on and followed her.

 As James watched Marigold and Scorpius walk away, he felt something unpleasant in the bottom of his stomach; he immediately lost his appetite.

 “Maybe I should’ve just said yes,” he sighed.

 “Wait, you didn’t?” Albus asked.

 “Say yes to what?” Rose asked. “What are you two talking about?”

 “Never mind,” Andrew replied. “It’s not important.”

 Rose, Lily and Hugo looked at them, confused.

 “I wish I had a Time-Turner like Aunt Hermione had,” James said, sighing again.

* * *

 “Can anyone tell me what this is?” Professor Slughorn asked the fifth-years.

 “It’s Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world,” Perseus replied.

 “That’s right, Mr Greengrass. Five points for Slytherin.” Slughorn said. “And what does Amortentia smell like?”

 “There isn’t one distinct smell,” Molly replied. “Amortentia smells different to each person depending on what attracts them.”

 “That’s correct, Miss Weasley. Five points for Gryffindor.” Slughorn said. “Now, who would like to come up here and tell me what they can smell?”

 The students, including James, all backed away. Perseus pushed him forward.

 “Mr Potter?” Slughorn asked. “Why don’t you come up here and tell me what you can smell?”

 James glared at Perseus, who stuck his tongue out in response, before going up to the front of the class to smell the Amortentia; he felt the potion’s spiralling steam on his face.

 “I smell… grass,” James took another sniff. “And… marigolds,”

 The other students began throwing glances at each other, and some started giggling. James shot a glare in their direction, his face flushing, even more, when the potion turned into a familiar flaxen colour.

 “Thank you, Mr Potter.” Slughorn gave a knowing look towards James, who scurried back, his face bright red.

 When Potions ended, James left the classroom feeling more conflicted than before.

 “James!” Perseus called from behind, running towards his friend.

 “What?” James asked, a little annoyed.

 “You like Lupin-Black, don’t you?”

 James rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to slap the smirk off of Perseus’s face.

 “It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Patrick chimed in. “You smelled marigolds. The grass is from the Quidditch field. And the potion turned into the same colour as her hair.”

 “Both of you, get off my case, will you?” James shot back, his face flushing. “I’m not in love with her.”

 “Why are you denying it?” Perseus asked, grinning mischievously.

 “I’m. Not. In. Love. With. Marigold.” James said through gritted teeth. “Even if I were, I’m not going out with her and making the same dumb mistake I did before.”

 James stormed away, shaking his thoughts off, leaving his confused friends behind.