Telling Lies

Harry plonked himself down in the space between Ron and Ginny and began to fill his plate with food. "Where did you go? Ron asked between mouthfuls of chicken.

"Yeah," George said, "we were worried Ron would eat all the grub before you could get any." Ron pulled a face at his brother's asinine remark.

"Talking to Draco Malfoy," Harry replied as he spooned roast potatoes onto his plate. Ron almost spat out the chicken.

"What the bloody hell did he want?" He said

"I thought I saw Draco," said Hermione, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. She glowered at Ron.

"Yeah," Harry replied, reaching for the gravy boat. "He was on the back row with his mother. Think he was a little embarrassed to be here to be honest."

"So he bloody well should be after everything him and his father did," said Ron pursing his lips. Harry just glanced at his friend but didn't respond. Today wasn't the right day for such a discussion about how Malfoy had changed and Harry did believe that Draco had changed. His former adversary had seemed so much more humble than he ever had at school.

"If there's one thing I miss about this place it's the food," he announced, deftly changing the subject.

Ron took the bait. "Defo," he exclaimed, waving a fork that contained a half-eaten sausage. He glanced across the table. "No offense mum!"

The Weasley matriarch chuckled, "None taken my love, even I couldn't produce a feast like this."

"Let's face it, no-one could," said Harry. "The first day I was here, I remember thinking that I had never seen so much food in my life!" He stole a glance down the table and his eyes widened in surprise when he recognised the man sitting next to the headmistress as Alexander Saven, who he had met in the graveyard at Godric's Hollow almost a year ago. He caught the man's gaze who smiled and raised his glass in salute. Harry did the same, but made a mental note to try to speak to Alexander before he left. In the light, Harry could now make out a slight family resemblance – apart from the man's hair colouring.

He didn't have to wait long. Harry was just finishing his pudding – a sumptuous chocolate gateaux, when there was a light tap on his shoulder. "Hello Harry."

He snapped his head around and his green eyes alighted on the face of his former potions master's cousin. Harry returned the greeting enthusiastically.

"That was a very inspirational speech you gave, Mr Potter. I'm sure your parents would be very proud of you – as would Severus."

Harry gave an embarrassed grin. "Er…thank you I was a little nervous speaking in front of so many people but it wasn't too bad when I got into it."

"Nervous?" Alexander chuckled. "You've faced the most evil wizard of all time and were taught by my surly cousin, how could anything else possibly scare you?"

"Well when you put it like that!" Harry bit his lip. "Do you think he would mind – everything I told, I mean, I know some of it was in the Daily Prophet but… he was a very private person? I accidentally saw a memory of him being bullied by my dad and Sirius once, and he went ballistic – I thought he was going to kill me!

Alexander's eyes appeared to glaze over for a moment. He shrugged. "I don't know Harry. Perhaps if he had survived, you could both have had a better relationship."

Harry's green eyes met the man's hazel ones. "I would like to think so… but I understand why he didn't like me, I reminded him so much of the man who tormented him and then stole the women he loved." He sighed. "I'd like to think that, in that moment before he died, he saw me – Harry, not my mum or my dad."

"I'm sure he did, Harry," Alexander murmured.

Harry's gaze drifted to the table, then he heard a cough and glanced around. His friends were watching the conversation with interest. He took a moment to introduce Alexander to Ron and his family and Hermione.

Alexander nodded politely and smiled. "So you were Harry's partners in crime so to speak?"

The youngest Weasley boy gave him a toothy grin in response. "Yeah, that'd be us."

Harry shifted on the bench to make room for sandy haired man. "So how is life in the muggle world?"

"Not bad," the man informed him. "I have a small store on the South coast which I share with a very mischievous black kitten. In fact I called him Harry after you and your mis-adventures

"I'm flattered," said Harry with a smirk.

"Well he has been a good companion – I was in a strange place and didn't know anyone." He raised an eyebrow. "Although, recently I have been seeing a young lady – a muggle called Sarah."

"That's good," said Harry. "Does she know about – all this?"

Alexander sucked in his cheeks. "No-oo, but her daughter Elizabeth does, she's six years old and caught me levitating a box onto a shelf. Her mother just thinks it's a make belief game I play with her daughter. I will tell her when the time is right, but it's early days in the relationship just yet."

Harry nodded. "I guess…muggles can be – unpredictable in their response towards our world. My aunt and uncle…didn't exactly embrace the idea."

Alexander looked thoughtful. "Lily's sister by any chance?"

"Yeah, my aunt Petunia. I was brought up with them after my parents died. They hated anything to do with magic so I didn't know anything about this world until I was eleven and I received my first Hogwarts letter!"

Alexander steepled his fingers together and rested his chin on the tips. "Hmm!"

Harry glanced across the table and happened to catch the eye of Professor McGonagal who was staring at Alexander with an expression that Harry couldn't quite fathom. He nudged the sandy haired man lightly. "I think the headmistress is trying to catch your attention." As his fingers brushed against the man's coat, he felt a tingle of magic, there was a distinct shimmer – not enough to be noticeable to the untrained eye but to an auror such as himself, it was just there. A glimmer, in his peripheral vision. He frowned, his green eyes met the man's hazel ones. "You are wearing a glamour!" It wasn't a question.

Alexander breathed in deeply then exhaled. "Of course, you are an auror now. I make no apologies, I have a … disfigurement, I use a glamour charm to hide it," he said quietly. "Sorry, but I'm afraid my vanity got the better of me." He stood hastily, "I really must discuss something with the headmistress before I leave. Harry, it was very good to see you again." He shook Harry's hand and left to re-join the headmistress further down the table.

That was weird, Harry thought. He stole a glance in the direction of Mcgonagal who was now deep in conversation with Alexander, but her brows were furrowed. They both glanced over at Harry and it seemed obvious that they were discussing him. He sighed and reached for his drink, wondering.

A short while later, Harry went to sit across the table to speak with Neville and Luna. "I enjoyed your speech, Harry," Luna enthused, "I'm sure Professor Snape did too."

Harry gave a watery smile. "I'm not so sure about that Luna, I think he will be cursing me for telling everyone his secrets – especially what was written in the daily prophet."

"But everyone knows now that he was really good and I liked that story, I'm sure he does too. He was smiling." She said dreamily.

"What you can see him?"

"Of course – I'm surprised you can't Harry.

"Well…being an auror doesn't mean you can see spirits Luna."

"Oh…" The blond girl looked thoughtful for a moment, then gazed at Harry quizzically and said, "Oh he isn't one of the castle ghosts, he's just hiding. I guess you'll see him when he's ready."

Harry and Neville exchanged 'that's a Luna thing' look.