*Discontinued* No Longer

Discovery

 Harry Potter**

As was now his custom, Harry was early to his next lesson. Severus was already seated and appeared to be grading papers with a displeased scowl on his face. Quietly, he set his books on his desk, straightening the stack perfectly and sat on the edge of his seat expectantly.

"Harry, a word," his professor said, "Just in my attached office here. I don't want to advertise to the other students that you are having alternate classwork."

"Of course Professor," Harry said steps light and quick to the door Severus held open.

It was quite a small room, and though there were two seats available, his professor made no move to sit in his. Harry remained standing as well.

"You've been informed of your alternate learning plan?" he asked.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Do you know how far you've progressed in your potions work so far?"

"Recently I've been brewing mastery level potions," Harry said, the picture of polite behavior.

He was being honest, that was his current level. He didn't divulge, however, that sometimes, okay, rather frequently, that they blew up in his face. He was getting better though, and would be shielding his cauldron anyway, so didn't think that information really had to be shared.

Severus peered at him, "I don't believe I've ever heard of a child your age with such advanced skills. Did you have anyone to help tutor you?"

Hoping he could improve his mate's view of his alternate self, Harry piped happily, "Mr. White helped me with a lot of the material."

An odd look came over Severus' face, and he asked, "Did he indeed?"

Harry nodded.

"That's strange," Severus muttered, "He told me he didn't know how to properly gauge your intelligence level."

Harry froze and said, "He must have just said it to keep you and Lucius from dragging him into your argument. After all, it's very important to him that all of his mates like him."

Severus's eyes sharpened in an instant and he immediately demanded, "How do you know that?"

"Uh-Um, he told me?" Harry tried to say, but ended up wincing as it came out more like a question.

"Harry," Severus said seriously, "I know you are incredibly intelligent, but you are still eleven years old. There is no way that an adult would confide such intimate details about relationships with you."

He nibbled on his lip. There technically were two avenues his teacher's mind would segway to. Either he would draw the correct conclusion and uncover the secret of his joint identity, or he would conclude that Harry had been reading minds, based off of Harry admitting to knowing when Severus had entered his mind. If Harry were able to detect someone to that level as well as direct them only to very specific memories, it would logically follow that he could also read minds.

It wasn't something he could really pin down as to which would be better, so he just stayed silent.

Cautiously, his professor asked, "Era?"

Harry's eyes immediately flicked to meet his professor's, and he knew he'd been caught by the look in his face. It was the exact response he'd've been providing if the man had said 'Harry' rather than 'Era'.

"Well," Severus said wryly, "I suppose you have some explaining to do young man."

He found himself almost painfully relieved by the tone. There was none of the biting tone that he always used with Era, and Harry was close to tears with happiness. Were the tone the harsh cadence he used with his other self, Harry was certain that he'd've reflexively wiped his mind, but he was too attached to the much gentler tone to do it now.