An Arsenal-Manchester City game was on although Aria was only half watching it. She was at the coffee table with several books that Madam Pince had allowed her to check out for the summer under strict instructions to not ruin them. She was pretty sure that the librarian would get her expelled if she ruined the books.

It had not taken Madam Pince long for her to realize that Aria was one some kind of research mission. Aria, at first, had been unwilling to telling the woman what she was up to because she did not know how she would react. However, Aria realized that it was better to have the stern matron on her side than not, so she had reluctantly told her how she was researching lycanthropy and to try and find a cure.

To her alarm, Madam Pince had looked like she would burst into tears. Thankfully the woman had not, but Aria was certain it had been close. Instead, Madam Pince had led her to relevant books in sections Aria had not even thought of looking.

Now she had a stack of books and a list of periodicals and other books that Madam Pince was certain would be helpful in her research.

"I know you children flitter from one obsession to another," Madam Pince had said as she had handed over the knowledge to Aria. "But I believe you, of all people, could make a breakthrough in lycanthropic research."

"Me? Of all people?" Aria had repeated.

"You just keep having surprises up your sleeve," the witch had replied. "Don't give up, no matter how long it takes you."

It was easy to see why Madam Pince would say such a thing. There was a lot of information. Aria had already had to organize the notes she had taken while at school. At the moment she was focusing on the Wolfsbane potion and how it worked. There was a lot of technical talk that she found difficult to understand and kept a couple of potion reference books and a wizarding dictionary on hand so that she could look up ingredients and words.

So far, the only person to know what she was doing outside of Harry, Ron, and Hermione was Madam Pince. She was not sure whether or not she should tell Remus and get his hopes up, and she knew that she would need to eventually tell Professor Snape because he was a Potions Master and would be able to help her.

She also was not sure how to even bring up the subject in conversation Should she just drop it randomly into conversation or wait until it came up naturally? How would it even occur naturally in conversation?

Arsenal scored their second goal just as Harry and Remus arrived home. They had gone shopping in Cokesworth for some items to put in Harry's room. Kenneth had set up the spare guest room for Harry and, even though it had been two weeks since school ended, Remus had only just convinced Harry to let him take him shopping so that Harry could make the room his own. It had taken way more convincing than anyone had anticipated, but apparently when you were used to sleeping in "Dudley's spare room", it took a while to believe that you had a bedroom that was yours.

Aria thought Harry's cousin sounded like a spoiled brat and only half-hoped to ever meet him so that she could give him a piece of her mind.

"Arsenal winning?" Remus asked, setting several bags down to stare at the television. Aria glanced up at the television.

"Yes," she answered. "How was shopping?"

"Good," Harry said, getting down onto the floor with her and peering at one of the books on the table. "There were so many choices!"

"You did very well," Remus assured him. Harry grabbed a bag and began pulling items out, showing them off to Aria as he did so. He had chosen a dark blue sheet set and a light gray duvet cover. He had also chosen a sleek looking bedside lamp and gotten a few Muggle books. All in all, Aria thought he had a good start to creating his own bedroom, although she felt sad at the same time thinking that, except for these new items, everything Harry owned fit in his school trunk.

"Summer homework?" Remus asked, dropping onto the couch and reaching for a book. "What're you looking on?" Aria glanced at Harry, nervous, before turning her attention to Remus who was leafing through the book in confusion. He set the book down and grabbed another one, looking through that before glancing at Aria's open notebook.

"Aria?" he murmured, "what're you doing?"

"I . . ." Aria took a deep breath. She had been wondering whether or not to tell Remus, and if so, then how. Seemed like the moment was now.

"I'm researching," she told him. "I want to find a cure to lycanthropy."

Remus rapidly blinked, glancing away from Aria and Harry, pressing his hand against his eyes. Aria and Harry shifted nervously.

"That's . . . that's really sweet, Aria," Remus muttered, voice catching. He cleared his throat a few times. "Um . . . very kind of you. I don't . . . don't take this the wrong way . . . but your thirteen."

"Almost fourteen!"

Remus chuckled, a few tears escaping his amber eyes.

"Belby took years to develop the Wolfsbane," Remus said, voice trembling. "I don't . . . I don't want you to be too hard on yourself if you can't do anything more than him. Or if it takes you longer."

"Why'd I be hard on myself?" Aria questioned.

Harry laughed and even Remus chuckled.

"You beat yourself up because you missed two questions on the quiz about Grindylows," Harry reminded her. "I think Remus is right to think you might beat yourself up for not coming up with an answer."

Aria stuck her nose in the air.

The front door opened again and Kenneth's voice floated in.

"I picked up someone loitering on the front porch," he said, poking his head into the living room. "Ah, how did the shopping go?"

Professor Snape glared at Kenneth as he followed the man into the living room. Harry gaped at their Head of House, clearly overwhelmed at seeing Snape in Muggle clothing, even if the slacks, shoes, and dress shirt were as black as his usual robes.

"Close your mouth, Mr. Potter, before you catch flies," Snape snipped. Harry closed his mouth with a click.

"You don't have to loiter, Professor Snape," Aria said, "you know you can just knock."

Snape rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't loitering," he muttered. "Kenneth happened to arrive home at the same time that I walked over."

Kenneth leaned over the back of the couch to press a kiss to Remus cheek.

"Why you crying, love?" he asked.

"Your daughter," Remus answered.

"Ah, yes. I too have cried over her too many times. One time she skinned her knee and I thought she was going to die!"

"You're so dramatic!" Aria cried. Her mum had always teased her dad thinking Aria was hurt worse than she actually was. Kenneth grinned at her.

"But she doesn't look hurt," Kenneth continued, "and as far as I know, she hasn't battled any other magical monsters. So . . . what is it?"

"Your daughter has decided she wants to find a cure for lycanthropy," Remus stated.

Kenneth had, according to Remus, taken the announcement that Remus was a werewolf in stride. Like werewolves were people you met every day. When Aria had asked Kenneth about it after coming home, Kenneth had just said that it was like finding out a diagnosis. He knew Remus was sick and now he just knew why. The illness did not change how he felt for Remus.

"You're trying to do what?" Snape demanded. Aria smiled sweetly at her Head of House. He raised an eyebrow.

"You, young lady, only just finished your third year."

"With top marks!"

"You don't know. Class rankings haven't come out yet."

"Do you really think I'd get anything else?"

Snape sighed.

"She's got you there," Kenneth said. "So . . . you going to find a cure for lycanthropy?"

"It's like Muggles finding a cure for cancer," Snape stated.

"So very hard then?"

"Very. Even the best potions masters tend to shy away from lycanthropy. Belby was constantly harangued while he developed the Wolfsbane Potion. Mainly because he did his research here in Britain and the prejudice against werewolves is strong here, but also, because a cure for lycanthropy is seen as an impossibility within the wider wixen community. It's a noble endeavor, to be certain, but as elusive as the Philosopher's Stone."

"But the Philosopher's Stone is real," Harry pointed out. "Nicholas Flamel managed to create it."

"And he is the only one," Snape answered. "He has never shared how to create the stone nor how to brew the Elixir of Life. It's why, when he eventually passes, which it appears may be very soon now, that process will die with him."

"He's not dead yet?" Aria questioned. The man had been ancient when she met him first year!

Snape glared at her.

"Anyway," Snape said, "are you truly intent on working for years for little reward? Or is this just a passing summer obsession to try and get out of doing your summer homework?"

"No! I want to find a cure!" Aria insisted.

"I really appreciate it," Remus said. "But, Aria, why?"

"Because people treated you like shit and they shouldn't've!" she cried.

"Language!" Kenneth cried.

"People treat you like shit," Harry said.

"Language!" Snape and Remus cried.

"I can't do anything about being Muggleborn," Aria retorted. "But I can do something about lycanthropy. You're not born with it, you get it when you're bitten. Therefore, there has to be a cure. Like poisons. There's an antidote for every poison. Some just haven't been discovered yet."

"I'm mildly concerned about that last statement," Kenneth muttered, side-eying Snape. Professor Snape looked torn between being exasperated at Aria or pleased that someone was taking potions so seriously.

"Very well," Snape finally said. "If you'd like, I will write letters of introduction to two potions masters that I know whose work has mostly been dedicated to lycanthropy."

"Belby?" Aria cried.

"And Novak Babic. I know both on a professional level. We have lectured together as symposiums over the summer, and we are certain to critique each other's articles in periodicals. Babic is from Croatia and is Eastern Europe's current potions genius. He managed to figure out how to mass produce the Wolfsbane, so he and Belby have worked closely with each other. Both he and Belby will be able to point you in the direction you should go, but don't be surprised if they too point out your current disadvantages. Mainly your age—,"

Aria squealed in delight, jumping to her feet and throwing her arms around Snape's waist.

"Yes, yes," Snape muttered, patting Aria's head. She held onto him. He patted her back.

"Kenneth, get your offspring off of me!" Snape snapped. Aria giggled but released her Head of House, grinning wildly up at him. He tried to appear stern, but it was too late. She had seen the pleased smirk.

"Anyway, is there a reason why you came over in the first place?" Kenneth asked. "Or were you just hoping to not cook dinner?"

"I've better things to do than hang about," Snape muttered. "No, I came to inform Miss Bourne and Mr. Potter that they may need to play host to my godson."

"Godson?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, my godson is coming to stay several weeks this summer."

Aria narrowed her eyes. Information tickled at the back of her brain, like she knew who his godson was but could not bring up the name.

"Your godson?" Kenneth cried. "How delightful! What's his name? How old is he?"

"Delightful is certainly . . . a description. Draco turned fourteen just after Hogwarts let out."

Remus burst out laughing.

"Does Draco know you live in a Muggle neighborhood?" Aria questioned.

"Yes," Snape answered. "He's been here before, just overnight. And never outside the house."

"To think we could've grown up together," Aria joked, trying to imagine a toddling Draco. She wondered if he would've had chubby cheeks like many little kids or if his cheekbones had always been so sharp.

"What's more important, is that Lord Abraxas Malfoy doesn't know where I live," Snape told them. "He'll be here for a few weeks. And I was hoping . . . that Miss Bourne and Mr. Potter might keep him occupied while he is here. I cannot keep him locked up in the house."

"I mean . . . you could."

"Aria!" Kenneth gave her A Look.

"So basically, you want Aria and I to show Draco around the Muggle world?" Harry questioned.

"I need you to keep him entertained."

"We can be very entertaining," Aria agreed with a grin to Harry. He grinned back. "Leave it to us! We'll have a whole itinerary ready for him! He could probably pass Muggle Studies NEWTS after spending time with us."

Snape rolled his eyes.

"Good. Thank you. That is all I needed."

"Will you stay for dinner?" Kenneth asked. Snape glanced at Remus who waved at him.

"I won't be insulted if you say no," Remus said. "You had to put up with me for months at Hogwarts." Snape gave a stiff nod and swept out of the house. Kenneth gave Remus a confused look.

"Snape tolerates Remus," Harry said. "It was very noticeable. Though I thought you two were getting along."

"Common enemy," Remus answered. "Severus and your father never got along. In fact, our entire friend group made life difficult for him during his school years. Especially because he was friends with Lily. We were . . . well . . . dumb bullies when we were kids."

"You were a bully?" Aria cried.

"By omission," Remus answered. "I was a werewolf hiding out at Hogwarts. I kept my head down. Or tried to. Plus . . . well . . . Severus discovered I was a werewolf in fifth year in the worst possible way. So, it's safe to say that I am not his favorite person."

"He seems to like Harry just fine," Aria said.

"Everyone likes Harry," Remus pointed out. "And that just goes to show that Severus Snape is a decent man. But don't tell him I said that. He'll probably growl and take points and try and bring back his fearsome reputation."

After dinner, Aria and Harry sat at the kitchen table writing down ideas for when Draco came. Aria insisted that they take him to see a movie and day trip somewhere. Harry suggested roping in other classmates. Aria suggested Dean since he was over in Liverpool and Justin Finch-Fletchley because she had overheard Justin and Dean making plans for Justin to come up and visit Liverpool in late June. She also suggested that they could day trip into various national parks. The Peaks District, the Lakes, and the Yorkshire Dales were all a train ride away and she had always wanted to see them, so why not kill two birds with one stone while showing Draco Malfoy the glories of the Muggle world?

It was looking to be a great summer!