Tempus | Harry Potter |

EIGHTEEN

The Flask

Both Professor McGonagall and Snape, heavily breathing, were now behind Harry, having the same worried looks as the rest of whom were inside Dumbledore's office.

How much did he hear?

"Do I dare ask again? What's going on here?" Harry was now demanding more than asking, as he was now stepping closer into the office.

"Harry," Lily gasped, "How did you know we were here?" But it seems James already knew how, as he was now approaching the boy, snatching harshly the piece of parchment he was holding.

"How did you get a hold of this?" James questioned, Harry had now taken a quick glance to his left, where Sirius was silently shaking his head.

"You gave him the map!?" Lily said annoyed, "In my defense, I was only trying to get him a good birthday present, you all remember the cashmere sweater from last year."

Lupin offended by his comment, said, "Hey, you said he would love it!" "And I did!" Harry said, trying to sound sincere.

"What is this map you seem to speak about?" Snape asked with a curious look, as he walked into the office.

"Nothing!" The three men sang together.

Though still worried if Harry had heard any part of their conversation, Raya certainly saw this as her opening to leave.

"Well then, I think It's my time to leave then!" Waving goodbye, she began to leave, only Harry was too quick for her as he now stood in front of her.

"I asked a question, and I'm yet to receive it, why are you all in here, what is going on?"

Raya stared into his eyes, careful not to show any guilt as she spoke, "Nothing, nothing is going on here."

He too stared deeply into her eyes, "Bull," "Bull yourself, Potter."

The clasp of hands made both teenagers turn their heads, Sirius was now pointing his finger at her.

"See, there's that attitude problem we were talking about," Raya raised a brow. "Excuse me?"

"You see," Sirius began as he walked up to them, "The reason we're all gathered here today is because we're discussing Raya's attitude problem."

Raya's jaw dropped, "I-I do not have an attitude problem!" She looked back at the rest other three adults, who seemed to be as confused as she was on hearing this.

"It's okay Raya, admitting you have a problem is the first step into our little plan," Sirius said as he slowly patted her shoulder.

"I-," "I don't understand, if you're so-called here for Raya's behavior, why are you two here," Harry said as he pointed to his parents.

"Because-because we know you two have been coiling with each other for the past couple of years!" Lily said sounding almost as if she guessed the whole thing.

Harry though still visibly showed a confused look. "Then shouldn't I be here too then?"

Lily's eyes widened, but luckily James had stepped in, "We were getting to you boy, we just wanted to talk to her first, you know hear her side."

Raya looked over at Harry, but it didn't seem he was buying it yet. "Then where are her parents then?"

Now it seemed James was stunned, but luckily for him, Lupin was now stepping in, "That's why I'm here, her father couldn't make it, so being as I am her godfather, I was here as a parental figure."

Harry had now turned over to Sirius, "Then why are you here?"

"Well, I'm here for moral support for both parties! Given that I am your godfather and Raya's unofficial uncle!"

Harry had now turned to look at both McGonagall and Snape, "Then why did you two try to stop me from coming in?"

"Well, isn't it obvious boy, it was still Raya's turn, overhearing her conversation wouldn't have been fair to her now, wouldn't it?" McGonagall had said, adding on to Sirius's act.

Raya glanced at Harry, and by the looks of it, he was finally believing their little lie.

Harry grinned as he looked back at her, "Well I hope for your sake, this little intervention helps get the crazy out of you."

"HARRY!" James and Lily sang together, "He gets that from you," Raya heard Sirius mumble as he pointed at James.

Clenching her jaw, Raya spoke out. "So can I leave now, given that he's here?"

"Yes dear, you may leave," McGonagall said, Raya didn't have to hear it twice as she was now making her way to the door. "Wait!" Both Sirius and James said, "We still have a lot to discuss," said Sirius.

"Raya has said enough for one day, and she is yet to eat anything since breakfast, you can discuss whatever you need to in the next meeting," McGonagall said with a stern voice.

"The next meeting?" Harry asked, "Well certainly you don't think your attitude problems will get fixed with one sit down, believe me, I've tried," said Snape.

Looking back, Raya waved goodbye, unsure exactly what she could say now that Harry was in the room.

Stepping down the last step of the spiral staircase, Raya was relieved to see no students were around.

"Wait, Raya!" Lily's faint voice was now clearer, as she too stepped down the last step. "I'm sorry," said Raya, "I would have given you all a proper goodbye if it wasn't for well, Snape, McGonagall, and well, Harry."

Lily's eyes lowered down, "I apologize for his attitude, I've been getting on him for that, James on the other side thinks it's a phase."

Raya shook her head, "It's okay, though Sirius's improve acting back there did save us, he wasn't entirely wrong, I have been getting a little bit of an attitude."

Lily smiled, "Well given your position I don't really blame you," Raya nodded as she stared down at her shoes, "Listen, Raya, I'm sorry we weren't able to be much help today.

When Dumbledore informed us of your situation, we thought he was telling us a joke for the first time."

"Do you think, do you think they believe me, or do they just trust what I'm saying?" Raya asked.

"I think some of them took them a while to fully believe first," Raya instantly thought of James, "But we all trust Dumbledore, and now trust you, so there's no denying that we believe you."

Raya nodded happily, "Thank you, it truly does mean a lot."

"I know the four of us can't be here every day, well certainly Remus will, but I need you to promise me something."

Raya's whole body tensed up, promises in her books were somehow always hard to follow.

"A promise?" "Befriend Harry," "What!?"

"Befriend, Ron and Hermione," Lily added, Raya let out an awkward laugh. "I'm sorry, I'm still stuck on the whole befriend Harry part. I mean were you not just there, the boy hates me."

Lily gave a warm smile, "Harry doesn't hate you, he just think that he has to, that's all. Also, about us not telling Harry about, well you know. I want you to know-."

"-You don't have to explain yourself, though I don't think it was a good move, he's your kid, I can't tell you how to parent." She tried to give her a warm smile, "Just keep an eye out for a flask."

Raya raised a brow, "A flask?" "That's all I can say, just, keep an eye out for it, okay?" Without warning Lily hugged her, leaving her surprised, yet comforting.

As she saw her climb up those steps, she realized how confused she truly was, what the hell does a flask have to do with anything?