"Aria!"

Nikola's cry soared over the heads of the other attendees of the Young European Potioneers Conference. Snape sighed, rolling his eyes as Aria bouncing on her feet, waving to the Bulgarian prince before darting through the crowd and throwing her arms around his neck while he spun her around.

"One would think you two had not seen each other in years," he muttered, approaching them. He nodded politely to the Royal Guards following Nikola around. Aria didn't remember seeing them last year, but perhaps the Bulgarians were still on edge from the Second Task. It didn't matter to her, not at the moment, because Nikola was here, and she had so much to share with him!

"Are you going to attend my lecture?" Aria asked as they wandered down around the vendor hall.

"I vouldn't miss it for the vorld," Nikola stated. "There vill be a few Bulgarians from the Royal Academy there and I think I heard that Russia vas sending people too."

"Professor Snape said that a few of the European packs managed to secure invitations to the conference in order to listen," Aria said. "I have to admit, it's a bit nerve wracking, having to get up in front of people and talk about my research. It's one thing to write it up in an essay and submit it to a magazine, it's another thing to have to present it to people. I tried to get Professor Snape to do it for me, since he's a respected Potions Master, but he refused since it is my work. But he did say he'd help me on the Q afterwards. I think he intends to glare people into silence."

"I can see that," Nikola said, stopping at a booth that was selling South American potions ingredients. "Vhat else do you intend to do here? I doubt Professor Snape has you lecturing the whole time."

"He wants me to sit in on a seminar about the process of obtaining a potions mastery," Aria said. "I'm not one hundred percent sure that I want to get a potions mastery, but he thinks I should since it'll only lend credibility to my research."

"Wise that man," Nikola said. "Absolutely terrifying, but wise."

Aria had to admit, that the seminar on the potion's mastery process was fascinating. She sat in a conference hall with at least another seventy students from all over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Every region had different requirements in obtaining a potions mastery, but Europe was still one of the most prestigious places to obtain one. Europe had some of the most rigorous requirements in the world for potions masters, making it the most competitive region for apprenticeships. Aria was glad that she had an in by having Professor Snape as her potion's professor and Head of House and that she had had him as a neighbor prior to Hogwarts. She doubted that being neighbors would have been enough if she had been sorted into another house like Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Maybe Ravenclaw.

According to the regulations, in order to obtain a potion's mastery in Europe, a person had to earn three cauldrons from the Greater Europe Guild of Potioneers: a Bronze Cauldron, a Silver Cauldron, and a Gold Cauldron. A Bronze Cauldron was the first cauldron that apprentices had to achieve. A Silver Cauldron changed a person's designation from apprentice to journeyman or "Peer", then the Gold Cauldron earned them the title Master or Mistress. Usually, it took a wizard or witch 7-10 years to obtain a Gold Cauldron, sometimes longer, once they graduated their school whether it be Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, or another smaller European school. Professor Snape, Aria learned, had obtained his Gold Cauldron in 4 years after gaining an apprenticeship right after Hogwarts, making him the youngest Potion's Master not only in Europe, but the world.

Aria had half a mind to beat him at his own game.

Each cauldron level came with certain requirements that the wizard or witch had to obtain or demonstrate, including a brewing demonstration of some kind if not a potion invention. The lecturer discussed Professor Snape in detail, talking about his modifications of potions to make them more potent or improve their performance is what elevated him quickly to a Silver Cauldron, and that his creation of anti-dotes for poisons previously thought to have none had earned him his Gold Cauldron.

There was a fourth cauldron too, that Aria found intriguing. It was known as the Platinum Cauldron. It was awarded by all the potions guilds in the world as a cauldron for special recognition. Masters and Mistresses had to have contributed to the field of potions in a unique way. The way the lecturer spoke about it, Aria almost thought it was equivalent to the Nobel Prize. Professor Snape, unsurprisingly, had been the most recent recipient of the Platinum Cauldron with his creation of a nerve regenerating potion that was potent enough to reverse the nerve damage obtained under the Cruciatus Curse. As Europe had been ravaged by two Dark Lords within less than 100 years, many people had benefitted from the potion. Before Professor Snape, the last recipient of the Platinum Cauldron was Geraldine Buckler from the United States back in 1910. Not even Damocles Belby, creator of the Wolfsbane Potion, had managed to get the coveted Platinum Cauldron.

One thing that she did not anticipate was the amount of media attention she received while in Berlin. There was always a media presence at the event, usually potions related periodicals but the occasional newspaper wanting to relate any new up and coming potioneers or innovations in the field of potions. Nearly every potion periodical wanted to interview her and Professor Snape. Snape, as her guardian and unofficial master agreed to three interviews, one with European Quarterly which was a magazine that covered all the newest innovations in the various branches of magic in Europe, The International Journal of Potioneering which was based out of Salem, Massachusetts in the United States, and finally The Cauldron Clubhouse which was a popular youth magazine for aspiring potioneers. The last magazine was doing an exposé on the "up and coming" youth in potions. Their last edition has included an exposé on up-and-coming youth in potions from North America. They now wanted to do one for Europe.

For The Cauldron Clubhouse, Aria found herself in a room with Nikola and eight other students or apprentices. Apparently, youth meant anyone under twenty-five. Nikola knew three of them who were Durmstrang alumni, there were one was a Beauxbatons seventh year, another was a Beauxbatons alumni, and there were three others connected to the Russian school of magic, Koldovstoretz. Aria felt out of place being the only British representative in the group, but Nikola was quick to introduce her to the Durmstrang alumni who were not at all like the Durmstrang students she had met over the last school year, and the Beauxbatons alumni and student chatted with her.

The whole conference was surreal in that way. Even the fact that her lecture was standing room only surprised her, though Professor Snape was not at all surprised. Aria had taken one look at the crowd and had nearly thrown up, but Snape had forced an Anti-Nausea Potion into her, and she had managed to make it through her presentation with only a little wobble in her voice at the very beginning.

A small part of her had been terrified that no one would come, or that there would be hecklers because she was a Muggleborn. But everyone who had been there and had asked questions at the end of the presentation had been polite and professional. She had met several werewolves from different packs in Europe who wished to help her in any way they could. Aria took down their names and contact information. Professor Snape was definitely pleased with the fact that they had people waiting to essentially be guinea pigs.

Now, on the day before heading back to England, Aria found herself schmoozing with other YEP participants on a very fancy dinner cruise on the Rhine. She had on one of the latest Gloria Keetering cocktail robes which made her even more popular with various witches were thought it absolutely amazing that she personally knew Gloria Keetering and therefore got exclusive access to new styles before they were released.

"A toast!" Nikola cried to the group they were hanging out with. "To the cure for lycanthropy!" Aria blushed as the others toasted to her and her success before downing their drinks. She sipped at her mocktail.

"Now, are you certain that you vant to return to Hogvarts?" Nikola asked as everyone began to mingle. "Because I know the new headmistress of Durmstrang and she's villing to let you transfer. It may help the transition of Muggleborns into Durmstrang too."

"Oh, is Durmstrang finally allowing Muggleborns in?" Aria asked.

"Yes. I have heard that there will be a few transfers from Koldovstoretz as well as first years," Nikola refilled his firewhiskey glass with butterbeer, "to help spread out of Muggleborns."

"As tempting as it may be, I would like to stay at Hogwarts," Aria said. "I do like Hogwarts. Last year was just awful."

Nikola winced at the remembrance.

"How is Harry?" he asked. "Viktor vas hosting Hermione and her family when I left, and she seemed vell."

"It's . . . been a wild summer so far," Aria admitted. "Harry still hasn't told me everything that happened that night, but he has nightmares, and I can hear him. Sirius and Remus go to him when he has nightmares, which I'm glad for, even though I'd go sleep with him if it meant he didn't have nightmares. And . . . well . . . he thinks Dumbledore may have Obliviated me."

Nikola almost spat out of his drink.

"He thinks your headmaster did vhat?" he cried. Aria flicked her wand, erecting a Privacy Ward around them.

"He said that Dumbledore Obliviated both Professor Snape and I regarding an incident the summer after our first year at Hogwarts," she explained. "It has to do with the Dursleys, his mother's sister and her family. That was who he was living with before he went to live with Sirius and Remus. They . . . I don't think they were very nice. In fact, . . . I'm pretty certain they hurt him. And it's terrifying to think that somehow someone managed to erase my memories of the incident! On top of that, Headmaster Dumbledore's recently lost some big positions, so his power is diminished but he's constantly name-dropping Harry whenever he talks about Voldemort returning and the newspapers are starting to hint that maybe Harry is working with Dumbledore or is being manipulated by Dumbledore . . . it's a mess Nikola. A bloody mess and Harry's just . . . I worry he's going to have a breakdown or something."

"I'd probably have a meltdown too," Nikola muttered. "Vell, you can both come to Durmstrang then! I'm sure I can get the headmistress to accept the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"He would kill you if you used that title," Aria said.

"That he vould. But I vould still use it if it meant he got accepted into another school and away from your headmaster."

"Again, tempting, but Harry is attached to Hogwarts. Just like me."

"Ah, very vell. Vhat about after Hogvarts then? Shall you be Queen of Bulgaria, or must I look elsewhere?"

Aria punched his shoulder.

"Such violence," Professor Snape said, and Aria dropped the Privacy Ward.

"He keeps proposing to me," Aria whined.

"Only you would be upset by this," Snape pointed out. Nikola grinned at him. "But I'm afraid I must take you away from your . . . potential love interest—,"

"Professor!"

"—as there is someone who wishes to meet you." Professor Snape gestured with his chin towards the other side of the deck where Lord Jeremiah Prince stood looking out over the river, a drink in hand, robes fluttering rather intimidatingly in the breeze.

"Lord Prince wants to meet me?" she cried. "Whatever for?"

"Merlin knows," Snape said. "He's only the Head of the Greater Europe Guild of Potioneers and may have possibly sat on your lecture and wishes to talk to the only other British representatives here beside Damocles Belby."

Aria and Nikola shared a look that had them giggling like mad which made Professor Snape even more annoyed. Taking pity on her professor, Aria bid Nikola goodbye and dutifully followed her guardian across the deck to the railing and Lord Prince.

The man stared down his nose at Aria. He was rather tall, even at his age, though Aria was not sure how old the man actually was. Wixen, she knew, lived longer lives than Muggles and at a certain point their looks did not always indicate their age. His eyes were dark like Professor Snape's and he had similar sharp features in his cheeks and Roman nose.

"Ah, Master Snape," Lord Prince greeted, "this must be your apprentice."

"Unofficially, at the moment," Snape said. "She has yet to take her OWLs."

"And you'll sit for them this year then?" Lord Prince asked Aria.

"Yes, sir," she answered.

"What OWLs will you sit for?"

"Potions, Defense, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, History of Magic, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Astronomy, and Divination."

"Divination? Bit of a soft subject in among those other courses."

"I've . . . shown promise," Aria said, glancing at Snape, unsure how exactly to articulate her abilities with the tarot cards and seeing Shadows. Or if she should even share that information with this man.

"Miss Bourne has shown some indication that she had a natural talent of Divination," Snape said.

"Really? Such talent rarely appears in Muggleborns. That's a family gift, passed down through the blood. Tell me, Miss Bourne, you're really a Muggleborn?"

"Yes, sir. Dad's as Muggle as they come and so was Mum."

"Interesting." Lord Prince sipped at his drink. "I listened on your presentation, Miss Bourne. I must say I was rather impressed with your original and innovated thinking. The combination of Muggle information and knowledge and applying it to potions was . . . fascinating to say the least. I had not known Muggles had accomplished quite as much as you said they had."

"Muggles are quite accomplished," Aria said. "Just in different ways than from us magicals. Muggles have put a man on the moon!"

They all looked at the rising half-moon.

"Muggles have . . . traveled to the moon?" Lord Prince questioned, looking at Snape as if he didn't believe Aria. Snape nodded.

"They have indeed, Lord Prince," Snape said. "They have also made certain advancements in medicine and science that may prove beneficial for us wixen. Miss Bourne's ideas are showing that that school of thought has some merit."

"Interesting. I will have to do my own research. It's quite . . . fascinating, Miss Bourne, that you're so eager to throw yourself into the inner workings of a complex field when so many of your fellow Muggleborns are quite content to just fade away back into the Muggle world or take on menial jobs. I recall several Muggleborns from my years at school who retreated quickly back into the Muggle world after graduation from Hogwarts, or others who could not become anything better than a shopkeeper. It seems you break the mold of under ambitious Muggleborns. Of course, you were sorted into Slytherin. That was my old house."

There must be something about Slytherins and potions, Aria thought, though her thoughts quickly turned back to some of Lord Prince's comments.

"It doesn't surprise me that you know many Muggleborns who didn't want to stay in the wixen world," she said. "Why should Muggleborns want to stay in a world where a fair chunk of it wants to see them dead? Especially given the political climate the last few decades. I don't know what was happening when you were in school, Lord Prince, as I don't know when you were last in school, but there was a war not too long ago. Many people who still hold to purist views are at Hogwarts today and I live with a good chunk of them. Professor Snape's been really good about making sure no one bothers me in Slytherin as the first Muggleborn, but it doesn't surprise me that Muggleborns have left in order to just be treated fairly and kindly."

Professor Snape placed a hand on her shoulder. Aria took a deep breath, only now becoming aware that her entire tirade had been given in one long wind. Lord Prince blinked surprisedly at her. She found herself wincing internally. Lord Prince, as his position as head of the guild, sat on Cauldron Exams to determine what level a person was at: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

The man stared hard at Aria, as if offended by her words. Aria felt how tense her professor was, as if he were preparing to have to leap in front of Aria if necessary. She hoped it wouldn't be and that Lord Prince would at least be . . . less of an idiot than Lord Malfoy.

"You've got a tongue on you," Lord Prince finally said. "I see The Daily Prophet was right. I thought Rita Skeeter had done her normal exaggerations when she reported that horrible conversation between you and Lord Malfoy. Abraxas' mind is certainly nothing like it used to be. But he did always think of the here-and-now and never of the future. At least, not enough of the future." The man glanced across the deck towards Nikola who was now surrounded by several witches closer to his age. He was smiling and playing a good, charming prince, but even Aria could see that he would rather not be in the midst of a bunch of witches.

"Teach her some manners, Master Snape," Lord Prince said, "I'd so hate it if she were popped off by someone because she couldn't hold her tongue. Britain is bereft of good potions masters. I'd hate to see one killed before her prime, even if she is a Muggleborn."

Aria rolled her eyes, unable to help herself.

"I'm more likely to be killed for just existing, Lord Prince," she retorted, even as Snape's hand on her shoulder tightened. "I could be as polite as a pumpernickel and still people would want to kill me because I have Muggles for parents. Several people already tried a few weeks ago, or did you not see that in The Daily Prophet?"

For a moment she was certain Lord Prince was going to hex her. Or maybe hex Snape if he couldn't hex her. Instead, after a minute, he chuckled.

"I think your little apprentice will do just fine," the man murmured, knocking back his drink. "Yes . . . yes I think she'll do just fine."