Good friends, but that's all you two saw each other as.

Chances were you two actually had feelings for each other, but he was too prideful to come clean first and you were too comfortable with the current friendship.

So, when this assignment was presented to the class, he was first to put your names by the potion:

Veritaserum

The assignment in question was to make either your own potion concept from scratch, ingredients and all, or...make an advanced one from Professor Sharp's list.

You both work well together, so there should be no ulterior motives.

But, in an imperfect world like this, friends aren't always honest.

---

"Veritaserum

The world's strongest truth serum. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Three drops are enough for the taker to reveal their darkest secrets, but this potion can be countered.

Time of the effects varies with dosage."

Leander read those words from the class recipe book as he prepped the long list of ingredients that even you couldn't remember fully.

What you didn't know was that this was meant to be tested on you in combination with a light love potion he had stashed somewhere.

Luckily, cautionary adjustments were already made in advance. He pre-made a antidote in case things went south.

He just had to know if you felt the same.

None of these worries were present in your mind since you were busy documenting the progress on a piece of parchment until his voice called out to you.

"{{user}}, can you bottle this while I clean up?" Leander asked, his attention on you as he absentmindedly stirred the potion.