When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 39

On Home Turf

Harry didn't visit often enough as far was Charlus was concerned. With how busy he was, it was understandable. Since they had finished school a little over two-years-ago now, it was seldom that all of the former housemates were able to meet up together.

Poppy worked all hours of the day at St Mungo's. Minerva spent all her time at Hogwarts, and Augusta was living her life with Frank. When it came to the boys, Charlus had been learning how to run the Potter family, and now did so for the most part. Tiberius was similarly being taught the ins and outs of his own line, along with how the distillery operated, and Harry…

The less said about what Harry did, the better.

It remained a sore point for all of his friends, but they no longer mentioned it.

It would do no good to.

Still, Charlus was pleased to see Harry, even if there was an odd tension between him and his parents.

Charlus couldn't fathom why. They and Harry had always gotten along well, and though the conversation between them was polite, it was as if something hung over them, something Charlus knew nothing of.

"It will be nice for us all to get together again," he commented. "You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Harry shook his head and offered Charlus an easy smile.

"No, I'm looking forward to it," he declared. "I am surprised that it was Tiberius that arranged it. I haven't heard from him in a while."

"Me either," Charlus replied. "He did say he would be away for a while, something about visiting some fields the Ogden's purchase their crops from for the distillery."

"Ah, he did mention that in his last letter," Harry remembered. "He never asked us to meet before, did he?"

Charlus shook his head.

"No, it's usually Poppy or Minnie who arranges it."

Harry chuckled.

"They did both say they would when we graduated," he reminded Charlus. "How is Poppy doing anyway? It's been months since I've seen her."

"As well as you'd expect," Charlus snorted. "She's loving being at the hospital."

"And what about you? How are you finding the extra studies?"

"Hard," Charlus huffed. "At first, Dumbledore left me to it, but now, he's assessing me regularly."

He didn't mention his own work, the training he was completing alongside his studies.

His father knew, he must. He had commented about the missing books from the Lord's library, but had not chastised Charlus for it, not even the family grimoire.

"You didn't expect it to be easy forever, did you?"

Charlus grinned.

"I thought the git wouldn't be so hard on me. He's starting to push me as much as he does Minnie, and she's always practicing."