REWRITTEN! The Truth Untold

Chapter Twenty-One

Sneaking around Hogwarts was not how Harry thought he would spend the day after his Defense Against Magic NEWT. But here he was. Sneaking around the school his birth family and mates resided in so he didn't run into them. It wasn't that he didn't want to see them, he just didn't want to see them right now. He would see them preferably after an entire 36 hours of studying for his Potions NEWT in Severus' private lab that he secretly got permission to use. He even made sure not to use Hedwig to ask Severus just in case his family recognized his owl.

Entering the private labs there were six work tables, three of them had a potion brewing with a barrier around each table. Two tables were cleared off and organized, but the one in the far corner was stacked high with a few books Harry couldn't read the titles of yet and had three cauldrons stacked on top of each other. That table was obviously for him.

He pulled his school robe off and laid it on an empty table then carried his bag to the workstation pulling out his own study items as he sat on the stool. On top of the stack of books there was a small scroll of parchment with six potions written on it. He was so telling his mates Severus gave him a not so subtle hint about which potions to practice or study when they didn't help him at all.

That will teach them.

****

"Severus have you seen the black- Oh...Harry! I didn't know you were here." Harry glanced up from his own notes to see Lily was closing the door behind her as she looked around the room clearly looking for Severus.

"Severus agreed to let me come here after my Defense NEWT today to study for my Potions NEWT Friday." Harry explained

"Oh..Well that's nice of him." She said walking towards him, "Is he still with his classes then?"

"I would assume so." Harry straightened when it became clear she intended to stay.

"Well...if you're up for it how about you and I go get lunch in Hogsmeade? I just finished my last class of the day."

A rejection was on the tip of his tongue. More than a rejection. Words that would hurt her were right there ready to spill, but then he thought about Charlie and Ariel. How he had promised Charlie he would try. So with a deep breath and a heavy sigh he nodded.

"Sure. I could go for a food break anyway." Harry said, closing his journals.

"Good. I'll leave a note for Severus to let him know where we are going and to expect us back soon in case he comes by." Harry nodded as he straightened his items on the workstation. After a quick note they were leaving the private labs, the walk through the castle was quiet, neither of them wanting to speak yet.

"So....how are Remus and Sirius treating you?" Lily asked as they stepped out of the castle, the dewey May weather greeting them as if a thunderstorm was just behind the mountains heading their way.

"Good. Well...as good as can be expected, but they're working on it."

"That's good." She said, Harry nodded looking around their surroundings, "How are you and James getting along?"

"We've argued a few times."

"Oh? What about?"

"Pick your poison, you'll probably be right." Lily nodded though she looked a little confused at his words.

"How are you and Charlie and Ariel getting along then?"

"Fine." Harry shrugged, "We're getting there."

"Good. That's good." Harry was starting to think that's all she knew how to say as a response.

"Did James invite you to my graduation?"