Harry yawned as he made his way down into the dungeon. He was extremely tired, but he doubted Evanuel cared whether he was or not. Detention was detention, and seeing as she was the one serving it…

Since lunch, Harry and Lexus had exchanged so many glares with Draco, it wasn't even believable. Harry still didn't know what was wrong, but he did know that he'd done absolutely nothing wrong, which made the situation even more frustrating.

He kept thinking back to what Ron had said back at lunch about Lexus… Sure, he was acting slightly odd, and the things he kept doing were certainly not like him at all… Like at one point that day when Draco was about to ram into his shoulder, Lexus has grabbed his hand and tugged him into his arms, which, for some reason, made Draco furious… But it wasn't like Harry was going to complain or even mention anything to Lexus. Draco, on the other hand, could be jumping to conclusions, but in the end, it didn't matter much. If Draco wanted to revert to how things had been before, they could do that.

"Right on time, Mr. Potter," Evanuel said as Harry walked through her door. Her eyes seemed a bit softer now, or maybe it was just some sort of odd, after hours trick. "If you will, please close the door behind you. You'll be serving detention in this classroom tonight, and I'm not expecting anybody else to come."

Harry did as he was told, and walked over to her desk, preparing himself for something gruesome. He thought back to Umbridge's quill and shuddered. "So, what are you going to make me do?"

"Nothing actually, but please, do come and sit." As she spoke, a chair wobbled out from the storage room and set itself next to Evanuel. As Harry reluctantly came to sit, she continued. "I must admit that this plan worked better I'd intended. I guess it was a stroke of luck when I found you and Mr. Malfoy in the dungeons, even if Mr. Malfoy did walk off… Either way, I believe I'd played my part well, don't you?"

"Ehm…What are—"

"Oh, do excuse me," Evanuel said, waving her hands politely. "Understand, Mr. Potter, that the sour old hag you see every day in class is not me. It's all an act; Even Dumbledore is well aware. He was the one who advised to be a bit tart towards you all."

Harry looked at her confused, making her smile.

'What is with this woman? Is she suffering from a knock to the head of something??' He thought to himself. 'Maybe this is her way of landing me into another detention. Make me say something I shouldn't and… It wouldn't be much of a surprise if she was lying right now…'

"It is a bit odd advice, isn't it? Dumbledore said that your previous potions teacher was a bit tough on you lot, and he didn't want to see me being pushed around. I'm really not a bad person, and maybe I'm kind of pushing the limit a bit... What do you think?"

"Oh, ehm…" Harry stammered. "You can be a bit…rude at times… But um, if you don't mind me asking, why did you give me detention—?"

"I told you that you wouldn't be having detention," she smiled again. She waved her wand and two cups of tea appeared. She handed him one. "I brought you here to talk."

Harry reluctantly took the cup, quickly glancing at it to see if he could detect anything wrong with it. 'Maybe she's poisoning me… or maybe a bit of a truth serum… That's probably it…' He saw nothing in it and looked back at his Professor. She watched him with interest in her eyes.

"Mr. Potter, I can assure you that there is nothing in that cup but liquid and maybe a bit of tea powder. There isn't even any bit of sugar; I'm afraid that I've run out. If you still do not trust me, or don't like your tea sugarless, then you don't have to drink it. I won't be offended. But if you don't mind me asking, I would like to know a bit about your previous potions teacher."

Harry looked at her, puzzled. "Why? What do you want to know about Professor Snape?"

"Anything you can tell," Evanuel said, her eyes glittering. "Like maybe… if you know where he went? I've asked the faculty and haven't gotten many answers. I was hoping maybe you would know…"

"No," Harry gave her a look. "Why would I? Snape hated me—"

"Is that so?" Evanuel said, sipping some of her tea before setting it onto her desk. "The Headmaster told me he spoke very fondly of you at one point—"

"What!?" Harry choked, jumping a bit and almost spilling his tea. He quickly set it onto her desk. "Dumbledore must have been saying things. Professor Snape hated me from the day I was born. Or he would have."

"Are you sure about that, Harry?" Evanuel asked a twinkle still in her eyes. She leaned forward a bit. "I've heard some pretty odd things about yours and Severus Snape's—" her eyes flared happily "—relationship."

Harry felt his face go red. 'Maybe she did get hit on the head…' "What are you talking about?"

Evanuel sighed, but a smile spread across her face. "Don't worry about it Mr. Potter. I guess it must be me believing everything I hear…"

"Who has been telling you this!?" Harry asked, his brow furrowed. "Dumbledore said that Snape had always been looking out for me, so I guess that might have been what you meant a little while ago, but anything else… It's not true, none of it! I don't know why you would believe—"

"Don't get angry now," Evanuel shrugged. "I'm only repeating what I've heard… But I suppose I went way off of subject. So you honestly have no idea what has happened to Severus?"

"No," Harry replied shortly as he leaned onto a clenched fist. Evanuel noticed before focusing onto his face and looking straight into his eyes. Harry looked away.

"You really do have your mother's eyes," she said, catching his attention.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Yeah, you're right," Harry rolled his eyes. He hated when people played games like this…

"I remember being in my fifth year when she was in her seventh," Evanuel continued on, still looking directly into his eyes, but still able to see that he was agitated. "Looked up to her, I did. She helped me pass potions and tutored me in the other classes. She was a very nice girl Harry."

Harry was a bit shocked for a moment. "You knew my mum?"

"Mmmhmm…" Evanuel nodded and sighed. "Lily was—"

"Did you know my dad too then?" Harry asked, getting a bit interested. He didn't mind that the subject had suddenly changed to something as random as this. He'd rather it be this than about Snape anyway.

Evanuel smiled. "Yes, I did. I was one of Sirius' friends' back in the day. Sirius was a great laugh. Introduced me to James, he did. I was the one who came up with the idea they should make a map of the castle because of their little runs around school. I never knew if they did or not though, do you?"

Harry hid a grin and shrugged. He was careful to retain his emotions and facial expressions. He still didn't believe Evanuel's act, and he doubted he would for a while. Plus, she was still a teacher, and there was no way that he was letting her get a hold of that kind of information.

"Well, anyhow, Sirius and I were real close at one point. Lupin and I never got along as well as I would have liked. You can ask him all about me later if you want, just in case you don't believe me about a word I'm saying."

"Any idea why you and Lupin never got along?" Harry asked curiously.

Evanuel smiled and relaxed a bit into her chair, glad that Harry was finally getting into the conversation. "I'm not really sure. It could be because I tagged along with Sirius most chances I got, and I would tug him away at Hogsmeade some trips. I guess Lupin was just a bit jealous." She laughed as Harry grinned.

"Wow… I really can't believe this," Harry murmured excitedly. 'I still don't honestly, but at least I have a reason to talk to Sirius besides his trial…And even a reason to go and see Lupin.'

"We were good friends, you see. Not that great of friends, mind you, but good friends nonetheless. I'd sometimes sneak around the castle with them, which Lily greatly disapproved of. Your mum always tried to keep me out of trouble. She was a very great woman Harry. I'd admired her and trailed after her, which I knew had to annoy her, but she never said anything rude. I'd help her when I could too. Like… 

Sometimes, I even looked out while she'd disappear here and there with Severus—" Her eyes widened and a hand quickly covered her mouth.

Harry's eyes widened as well. "What was that?"

"I'm sorry!" Evanuel said, quickly jumping to her feet and waving away everything. She tugged Harry up and his chair wobbled off to sit itself back into the storage room.

"No, wait, what!?"

"I must admit Mr. Potter that this was a very nice conversation," she said as she pushed him towards the door, "but I believe that it must come to an end; for tonight anyway—"

"No, wait!" Harry repeated, turning around on her. "What do you mean my mum and Snape—"

Evanuel opened the door and directed for him to go. When he wouldn't budge, she sighed. "Another time, maybe, Mr. Potter."

"I'm not going until you tell me," Harry said stubbornly, but that meant pretty much nothing when they both heard footsteps coming towards them in the hall.

Evanuel looked momentarily relieved, before her face turned into a nasty snarl. "Mr. Potter, remove yourself from my presence before I assign you another detention, this time in the Forbidden Forest, fetching me potions ingredients from the spiders!! The next time I find you wandering in the dungeons, you'll be scrubbing the cauldrons for so long that your arms will fall off!! Now go before I dock 50 points from your house!!"

The footsteps had stopped the moment she'd started yelling, and Harry could hear the Slytherin girls laughing. His face held a shocked look after he looked from the corridor back to her, whilst her expression just remained furious. Her eyes told a different story though, which only Harry could really read. Either way, he was mad, and stormed from the room, Evanuel slamming the door behind him.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Blimey Harry, you look steamed," Ron said as Harry dropped down huffily into a common room chair. "I'm guessing detention was horrid?"

Harry's mind snapped back into focus, and all his anger seemed to disappear, but that didn't change the small flare of bitterness in him. He still wanted to know what Evanuel meant about his mum…

He didn't care much about the fact that Ginny was in the common room still with Neville. She was busy putting on an act, so she wouldn't pay much attention to this conversation. Hermione, Ron, and Lexus, however, were giving him their full attention.

"You alright, Potter?" Severus asked, thinking it an appropriate question. Harry's behavior slightly interested him, especially his little mood swing.

Harry sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

"So what happened, Harry?" Hermione asked, putting down her quill. "You came in here so angry… Detention had to of been terrible!!"

"What'd she make you do mate?" Ron asked.

"Actually, Hermione, it wasn't that bad… And she made me do, well, nothing," Harry replied slowly, relaxing back into the recliner. "Nothing at all. She just made me talk to her. And she was actually…nice."

Ron blinked. "What?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "A bit hard to believe—"

"What'd she want, Potter?" Severus cut in, raising an eyebrow.

Harry blinked as Ron shot a small glare at Lexus. "Oh, ehm, she asked about Snape."

Severus' eyes widened a bit. "What would she want with him?"

"Yes, honestly Harry, what?" Hermione said, confusion in her voice. "Professor Snape can't be of any importance to her, except when he comes back. She'll be out of a job then…"

"I'm not exactly sure," Harry said. "She's said she wanted to know anything I could tell her, but then she asked if I knew where he went. When I'd told her I had no idea, she started implying that me and Snape were good friends."

Severus choked, but luckily, Ron's laughter covered it up. 'This woman must either be a fool or terrible at making assumptions…What would she want to know about me for anyway? I don't even know her… And who is she? I remember her not one bit…'

"Blimey, this woman must me dense," Ron chuckled. "You can still hear half the school talking about the arguments they've heard that you and Snape have had."

"I wonder what she wanted with Professor Snape though," Hermione thought aloud. "Did she ever mention why, Harry?"

Harry shook his head. "No, but she did talk a bit about Sirius and Lupin… and my mum and dad."

A small silence was shared at the table.

"What'd she say…Harry…?" Snape asked gently. This time, he didn't have to fake his pity. He really did feel bad about the boy's loss, even though he despised James… Lily, on the other hand, had once been a big part of his life, so Snape could share Harry's pain with her… Though, he'd never admit to the boy how much he sympathized him. The time for "confessions" would be never, especially any to Potter.

Harry smiled, relieving the tension. "Not enough, that's for sure."

"So what'd she have to say Harry?" Hermione smiled. "Obviously good things, I can see."

"Odd enough, Evanuel used to be friends with Sirius, Lupin, my mum, and dad," Harry said. "I'm guessing it started when she was in her… fifth year, she said, while everyone else was in their seventh. She was supposedly good friends with Sirius at one point, and she used to look up to my mum."

Snape hid a confused look. 'She knew Lily, James, and the mutts... She asked about me…why is it that I still don't know who she is? I'd say she was a liar, but Lupin is right down the hall. It wouldn't be too hard to figure out the truth…'

"I don't believe it," Ron mumbled, as if reading Snape's mind.

"Honestly, neither do I," Harry frowned. "I'm probably going to ask Sirius and Lupin the first chance I get."

"This all seems a bit odd Harry," Hermione said, her brow furrowed. "Why would she tell you all of this? What was the point?"

"Does it really matter, Hermione?" Ron asked. "Harry got some more information about his mum and dad."

"Yes, but he could also just go to Sirius or Lupin to hear stories," Hermione pointed out. She then turned to Harry. "I don't like this very much Harry. I just want you to be careful if you talk to her again. I don't trust that woman one bit. I mean, think about it, she's horrid!"

"Speaking of horrid," Lexus cut in again, "you said she was nice, Potter. Care to explain?"

"She was just…nice," Harry shrugged. "She said that Dumbledore had told her to toughen up a bit because Snape had been our teacher and he was always hard on us. I really don't understand." He sighed.

"Which is exactly why I advise you to be careful," Hermione said, standing up. "And maybe have a word with everyone before you say something you shouldn't. As for now, I'm going to bed. You two—" Harry and Ron looked at her "—finish your homework. I'm pretty sure we'll be having a quiz sometime soon." She leaned over to kiss Ron on the cheek and Harry looked away. Snape noticed and curiosity slowly creeped inside him. "And Lexus, thank you for your help. I don't know what I could have done without you."

"Good night you three," Hermione said before leaving the table and heading up the stairs to her dormitory.

"I think I'll be heading to bed too, then," Ron yawned. "I'm too tired to be doing homework. You two coming?"

"Later," both Harry and Snape replied in unison. They looked at each other before turning their sights back to Ron.

Ron looked from Harry to Lexus. "Well, ehm… Goodnight then?" he said before taking his books and heading to their dorm.

Severus looked back to Harry as soon as Ron was gone. "So, Potter—"

"Harry—"

"Whatever," Snape sighed, leaning forward. "So what all did she have to say to you about your mum?"

Harry sighed too. "Just… I don't know. A bunch, but not really much at all. She just told me what everyone else does. That I have my mother's eyes, how great she was…"

Harry slowly grew quiet, and Snape decided it'd be best to wait for the boy to speak again. He watched Harry's eyes travel to the floor, and just listened to the crackling of the fire behind him. Severus had to admit that the Gryffindor common room was better than the Slytherin one. Sure, they had a fire, but there was always an icy chill there. Snape would allow excess potions ingredients to just be set out on tables, but there could be no telling what it looked like now. The point was that it wasn't very inviting at all to be in a Slytherin common room. It was more like being in a sewer that didn't smell that bad…

"She told me something a bit odd though," Harry spoke at last, making Severus' head jerk up. He looked at Harry expectantly. "She said my mum would disappear with Snape sometimes."

Severus almost fell out of his chair. "What? Well, I certainly hope she explained a bit more in depth with that."

Severus wouldn't deny that he and Lily would sneak off sometimes, but the way Evanuel had said it… He and Lily would only head to a deserted classroom for lunch or talk without the Marauders interrupting or trying to hex him.

"No, but I really wish I knew," Harry mumbled.

"There's a probably a good explanation for it," Snape muttered.

"Well… I have a question, if you don't mind answering," Harry said.

"Depends," Snape said, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Well, I just wanna know a bit about your mum," Harry said. "It seems like everyone knows mine or knows of her, so there really isn't much to say. And since I've never really asked about your family and you never tell me much about them…"

Snape paused and thought it over for a bit. 'I really have to write Lucius a letter…' He then looked up at Harry and made eye contact. He didn't look away and neither did Harry. 'I don't know Lucius' relatives well enough to… It appears I'll have to tell a somewhat truth…'

"My mother…" Snape paused again. 'Wait… What the bloody hell am I doing?' He then got up and grabbed his things.

"Wait, where are you going—?"

"Bed."

"You aren't even going to tell me—?"

"Nope," Severus said, climbing up the stairs and leaving Harry in the common room.

Harry stared after for a bit before just rolling his eyes. Lexus was a pain is the backside, he had to admit, and he had no idea why he liked him, but he was an interesting friend so…

Harry then got up and started for the dorm room as well. He might as well talk to Sirius now. After all, he wasn't tired.