AN: All thanks to by Beta Kathrine

"Miss Black, if you have a moment, I would like to speak with you."

Mia looked up surprised and set down her quill. Snape standing in the library just felt so out of place. He needed more stone walls, and more shadows around him.

"Of course," she stood but Snape but didn't seem to feel the need for them to go anywhere other than her table. Gabe set down his book and watched.

"Your methodology and calculations seem to be correct. What is your plan for brewing this potion?"

Mia blinked. He didn't see any fault in it. Was she really on the right path, or did he just want her to fail? "Well, I was hoping to speak with Professor McGonagall and see if I could brew the first half over the Easter holiday. If I completed the first half of the potion during break, then the second half would need very little maintenance. And I was hoping I might be able to work something out with my professors and the schedule."

Snape nodded. "I have discussed this with Professor McGonagall as the most likely option. "You will brew this potion in my private workroom, and I will supervise every step of the process. Do you understand?"

Mia nodded. She had no words.

"You will not administer this potion to any human being without their full and complete consent do you understand me?" Mia nodded again. "If the potion is successful, I will assist you with the patent process. This needs to happen before any public announcement of your potion is made. If your potion is not successful you will not continue experimentation in any way without my knowledge do you understand?"

Mia nodded and Snape turned to leave. "Thanks, Professor!" Mia called.

"Uh, Professor!" Gabe stood up, setting down his new copy of Guide to Advanced Occlumency by Maxwell Barnett. Snape turned and stared at the boy as though he very much wished Gabe would disappear. Instead, Gabe stood confidently. "Professor I have been researching the methodology of Occlumency and was wondering if there was anything I could possibly do that would persuade you to coach me?"

"No." Professor Snape turned and left the library.

"Well, that's that then." Gabe slumped back in his chair and Mia laughed softly.

"We can find another teacher."

Gabe shook his head. "Flitwick said he was the only one on staff other than Dumbledore who had the skill." He sighed. "I will just go back to theoretical application. Maybe I can find a coach this summer. But it's a good sign for you right? He seems on board for your potion."

Mia frowned. "Now I just have to not mess it up."

When the easter holiday arrived, Mia had everything prepared. Her spelled timer was set with each stage of the process, her ingredients were all laid out on a table in Snape's workroom, and the cauldron lay before her. It was Friday night and her last class had just finished. Now all she needed was to start this incredibly complex potion and not make a single mistake. Remus' future depended on it.

"Any day now, Miss Black," Snape said as he leaned against a shelf. Mia nodded and took a deep breath and started adding ingredients.

Gabe came by to keep her company, fun company as opposed to Snape's grumpy company he told her. He sat on a stool in the corner and discussed the Occlumency facts he was learning with her, while Snape listened, not saying a word. Mia suspected he was there more to show Snape his determination than to keep Mia company, but she didn't say anything. Occasionally Snape would ask why she was adding a specific ingredient or following a specific step, and Mia would answer. This potion, much like the animagus potion needed attention at all hours of the day and night. She had special permission to be out of bed overnight, and each time Mia entered the workroom, Snape was waiting for her.

After the short break, classes started up again. When the timer went off, she would excuse herself from class, and make her way to Snape's workroom. If he was in the middle of a class, he would growl at them to work quietly and would join her for the next steps. Hermione and Gabe caught her up on any work missed.

After two weeks, Mia added in her last ingredient, and the potion turned crystal clear like water. She sighed with relief and almost cried. Snape gave her a congratulatory assessment as "Adequate," and she bottled up the potion with absolute care. She took the small bottles up to the owlery, along with the note she had been stressing over for the last two weeks.

Dear Remus,

I miss you, how are you? Enclosed you will find a potion a little different than you're used to. You don't have to take it, I wanted to see if it would work before I told you about it. Please forgive me for keeping it secret from you. If you do decide to take it, Sirius will help. He knows how it works and what it is. Please oh please forgive me for keeping it secret.

Love,

Mia

She folded in the detailed instructions for her potion, including the expectations and outcome, and wished the owl a safe flight.

It was a few days before an owl landed before her, and Mia was nervous as she tore open the paper.

Mia Bell,

It worked.

I don't know what to say except for that. The first potion worked, at least I became a wolf. A true wolf. Why is my animagus form a wolf? That just feels a little unfair to me. I would much prefer for it to be something cooler. Maybe it's because I've spent so much of my time as a wolf already, it's become a part of me.

We tried meditation tonight before taking a second potion. Sirius is terrible at coaching. Please send any tips or recommendations for this process or I may have to strangle him.

Mia, I cannot begin to thank you for all that you have done. For all of the work you have poured into this, for me. Even if this doesn't work, even if it's not successful, knowing you have spent so much time trying to help me is the greatest gift I could ever have. If that means I have to spend a few more full moons without the wolfsbane potion, it's well worth it. Thank you, my Mia Bell.

With all my love,

Remus

The last few weeks of term passed quickly. Alec brewed the potion for Remus the following two months, and it was all Gabe and Mia could do to keep up with their homework and study for finals. Mia wasn't sure how Hermione was doing it, spending every lunch and evening helping Harry study spells for the final task.

Remus sent Mia frequent updates with stories of their failed meditation.

Last night Sirius just transformed back and forth from man to dog and yelled: "It's just that easy."

And then the following month,

Yesterday I managed to transform a single hairless finger. It was really weird. Sirius said it looked like I stuck it in a dehydrator. He is not helping.

When finals hit, they were an all-consuming force. The only bright light was that the final task would come the night after their final exam as a prize. Harry didn't have to do exams at all. Mia guessed that was a good enough reward for having to face a dragon. It almost made Mia wish she had entered.

Mia had her nose buried in her transfiguration book as she left her History of Magic exam and headed into the Great Hall. She slid into an empty seat and grabbed a sandwich without taking her eyes from the book. She kept messing up the theories in her head. Someone cleared their throat next to her. She ignored it and kept reading. She only had an hour till her exam, and she had to get this!

"As impressed as I am by your work ethic, do you think you could bugger off long enough for a hug."

Mia gasped and turned to see Sirius standing there in all his splendor. He wore deep maroon robes complimenting his hair and bringing out a healthy glow to his skin. She jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around him. "Dad!" Gabe had been right; it only took her sending a million letters with the name before it felt natural on her lips.

Her dad laughed and spun her around before he set her down and held her at arm's length to look her over. "More and more beautiful every day."

Mia snorted. "What are you doing here!"

"We came to watch the third task, all the champions get to have their family visit, so we thought it was only right." He gestured behind him and Mia saw–

"Remus!"

He laughed and hugged her tight. "What are you reading over there that had you so distracted?"

"Ugh. My transfiguration exam is after lunch, and right now I don't even care if I fail. How are you?" she asked a little more intently than was probably proper.

He laughed. "I'm well. Sirius is a bloody awful teacher, but I'm well."

Mia smiled and sat next to Remus as Sirius reclaimed his seat next to Harry across the table. It was only right she supposed, it was his task, and he was again putting his life on the line tonight for the school's amusement.

"How's it going Harry?" she asked.

"Never better." He was smiling and looked genuinely happy surrounded by people who loved him. The redheaded woman and man on Harry's other side, it turned out, were Ron's mom and oldest brother Bill. Fleur and who looked like her mom and sister were sitting a few seats down the Gryffindor table. Odd as they usually sat at the Ravenclaw table. Ron was talking with his brother about some curse he had broken in a tomb in Egypt and Fleur was shooting small glances at Bill.

Remus tapped her shoulder and pointed down the hall as Gabe walked in, his nose stuck in his own transfiguration book. He plopped into the seat next to Mia and started eating on autopilot as he read. Sirius got an evil grin on his face and leaned across the table towards Gabe. Mia moved to stop him, but Sirius gestured for her to stay. She sighed and sat back in her chair. They would have it out one way or another. She would interfere if things got bloody. Sirius leaned across the table, and lowered Gabe's book with one finger until Gabe looked up and their eyes connected. The smile on Sirius' face wasn't exactly nice.

Gabe jumped and dropped his book on his sandwich. "Sirius!" Mia picked up the book and started cleaning it off.

Sirius grinned and leaned back in his chair. "So Adewumi, what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?"

Gabe looked at Mia, then back as Sirius. "Do you really want me to answer that?" he asked with a small grin.

"I sure do." Sirius' wand was in his hand and he was twirling it casually. Mia hadn't even seen him pull his wand.

"Ok," Gabe said and straightened up, his arm brushing against Mia's. "My intentions are to slowly convince her she wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with me."

Mia started to giggle, and Sirius looked uncomfortable. Mia turned away from Gabe and Sirius. "So, Remus, had any interesting letters lately?" she asked innocently.

Remus looked confused, then annoyed. "I will tell you what I told your father. Butt out."

"No," Mia said with a grin. "She's my family too, you know. I want what's best for her just as much as I do for you." She spoke quietly hoping no one would overhear among the chatter.

"You've spoken?" he asked, looking shocked.

"Yeah, she was here on business for the second task, and we talked a bit. She was upset because someone was being an idiot, so I comforted her. You aren't still being an idiot, are you?"

He looked angry for a moment like he would tell her off, but then his face fell, and he looked sad. "It's best if things end now before anyone gets hurt."

"But if we're successful then…" Mia trailed off. She didn't want to pretend Remus' relationship hung on the chance of her potion working. It was more than that. Mia didn't have the power to make Remus' life better. It was up to him.

"Even if we are successful, she still deserves... more."

More than me.

He didn't have to say it. Mia heard it anyways.

"Don't be daft," Mia said. Remus looked angry again, but she didn't let it stop her. "People are already being hurt. Both of you. She doesn't even know what we are working on, and she loves you anyways. She told me she loves all of you, regardless of anything. If you keep trying to end things you will still both be hurt. Isn't it better to just let her decide where her own happiness lay, and you do the same? What's the point with trying to avoid pain if it means you never feel anything?"

Remus sighed and was quiet for a moment. Then Ron said something stupid and everyone laughed. Things lightened up as they talked and had fun. Mia couldn't believe the change in Sirius as she watched him talking and laughing with Harry. Gone were the bags under his eyes, gone was the half-starved look. He looked healthy, he looked happy.

She sighed quietly. If only she could get Remus to the same place.

AN: Ok, what do you think? Excited to see how the third task goes? What are you most interested to see in year 5?
Again, just a PSA that years 5, 6 and 7 will not be told in detail, this will not be a 400k fic, so we are VERY close to the end of the story. Hang in there folks!