Sirius, turning red, walked onto the stage with Erny, who insisted on holding hands to bow.

“That's how I learned to bow!” Erny said. “Just take my hand, will you?”

Sirius pulled his hand away from Erny, frowning. “No! We'll just bow seperately, all right?” Sirius kept his hand far away from Erny as he walked to the end of the stage, where several people whistled at him and yelled out. Sirius gave his head a small bow, and then walked off the stage, whereas Erny decided to stay and keep on bowing more times than he should have.

He was glad to finally get rid of that horrible dress and the itchy wig and back into his own nice, comfortable clothing. He walked down the steps to be greeted by a familiar voice.

“Well done, Padfoot!”

Remus looked happier and more amused than he should have, and for that Sirius scowled. Even Harry and Severus looked as if they were trying to hold back smiles.

“That was the worst play ever,” Sirius groaned. “Honestly! How horrible was that? Harry, didn't you just hate it?”

“No,” Harry said with a smile. “I actually enjoyed it very much. You were… interesting.”

“Interesting,” Severus repeated, smirking, “is exactly the word I would use to describe your performance tonight, Black.”

Suddenly, Sirius's eyes widened as a thought struck him. “And just what did it mean when Erny said something about 'Sweet discourses'?” Sirius shuddered.

Severus opened his mouth as if he were about to explain what 'discourse' meant, but then with an almost satisfied look he shut it. He seemed to enjoy letting Sirius think it meant something completely different than it really did.

“Sirius!”

Sirius turned around to find an older-looking lady approaching him, with a bouquet of roses in her arms. She smiled widely.

“These were originally for Sally, but I just wanted to thank you for the best town play in twenty years. You can have these.”

She handed the bouquet to Sirius, who took them awkwardly from her arms. After she walked away, he turned around, flushing, and put them into Severus's arms.

“These are for you,” Sirius said. “Think of them as an 'I'm sorry' for our argument we had yesterday. I would've gotten you a soft little teddy bear and a box of chocolates to go with them, Sweetpea, but this was kind of short notice.”

“How very thoughtful,” Severus said sarcastically.

Sirius, seeing something behind Severus, smiled and gave Remus a knowing look. Severus didn't have to turn around and look to see what Sirius found so funny, for he suddenly felt a presence beside him that was not Harry.

“Hello Severus,” came a shy, flirty voice.

Severus grimaced, turning his head to look at the young girl beside him.

“Hello, Anne,” Severus replied curtly. Sirius snickered.

“I haven't seen you around the town in a while,” she said, making sure to bat her eyelashes wildly. “Nice roses.”

“Mmm.” Severus frowned in concern. “Are you quite all right? Is there something wrong with your eyes?”

Anne blushed. “N—no. Well… hi, Harry… goodnight.” Quickly, she walked away.

“Seems someone has the hots for you, Sevvy,” Sirius teased in a sing-song voice as they walked out of the Hall. “You should know better than that. She's eighteen!”

Severus sounded disgusted.“I'm not doing anything with her, Black, so there's really nothing to worry about.” Severus briefly glanced down at Harry and then looked back up at Sirius, making sure to give the man a dark scowl.

“That must have been the shortest play I've ever been to here,” Remus admitted, shaking his head. “It seemed like you were enjoying that kiss, Padfoot!”

“Oh, stuff it, Moony!” Sirius smacked Remus's arm. “Wanna stay the night at the Manor? Harry can join us and we'll stay up all night and gossip just like girls do.”

Remus grinned. “We-e-ell, Sirius, I don't know…”

Sirius frowned. “Come off it! I'm not gonna try anything! That's wrong, Moony. You have a twisted mind.”

Severus raised an eyebrow. “We have a twelve-year-old present, no matter if you're only kidding, gentlemen.”

“Technically he's thirteen,” Sirius pointed out smartly. “Hey—look! Let's go!”

Harry looked around the darkening streets. “Go where?”

“After town plays Joey's is always open and everyone goes! Come on, Sev, let's go. Please?”

Severus made a face. “Absolutely not. There is always singing involved.”

“Merlin, no, you don't have to sing! Let's go!”

Without waiting for a response from Severus, Sirius grabbed Harry's hand and quickly pulled him towards the diner that, in bright red neon lights, said JOEY'S. Sirius glanced back to find that Remus was following, and so was Severus, though he looked reluctant.

Harry immediately became blinded by multicolored lights as he was dragged into Joey's diner. When his eyes finally adjusted, he saw Sirius smiling widely. Almost everybody that was at the play that could fit into the diner was there, Harry noticed.

“Oi, Sirius, pucker up!” Harry heard Normy Johnson yell, making kissing noises.

Sirius turned red, though it was hardly noticeable from the lights that were flashing everywhere.

“Wow,” Harry muttered, looking around. There was a counter to his left, which people were crowded around as they tried to order food. Dozens of round tables were scattered around the rest of the room, and a small platform was at the front of the room where a very giggly-looking girl was singing. Very, very, very badly.

“Rock the boat, don't tip the boat over, rock the boat—”

Sirius let go of Harry's arm, and Harry turned around to see Remus and Severus walk into the diner. Severus had a very disgusted look on his face.

“Sirius,” Remus started uncertainly, “are you sure you want to stay here? It's…” Remus trailed off, looking up at the girl singing, who was now too busy giggling to get any of the words out. “…Well.”

“Aw, you guys aren't any fun.” Sirius pouted. “C'mon, Rem, live a little!” Sirius reached out and grabbed Remus's arm now, dragging him over to Normy Johnson and a group of others.

Harry looked up at Severus. “Erm… what do we do now?”

Severus's eyes wandered around the room. “Stay, I suppose. We can't leave Black and Lupin here by themselves, especially since Lupin will hardly have any common sense considering he's in the presence of Black and Normy Johnson.”

“We might as well grab a table before everyone else does,” Harry suggested, already making his way towards one.

“All right, Sev'rus, mate?” A man said from behind the counter.

Severus nodded his head in greeting. “Timmy.”

“Can I getcha anything?” He took a rag and began wiping glasses. “Harry, can I get you anything? Anything atall?”

“Are you hungry?” Severus questioned Harry, who laughed loudly.

“Hungry? I don't think I'll be hungry for another twenty years. But, I am a bit thirsty, if you don't mind.”

“Two pumpkin juices, please,” Severus called over.

Timmy scratched his head, looking confused. “Pumpkin juices, eh? Well… I don't think we sell those. We gots lemonade. Care for two lemonades?”

“Sure.” Severus shook his head, turning back around in his chair and avoiding Sirius's enthusiastic wave. “I forgot that they wouldn't sell pumpkin juice. You like lemonade, I assume, correct?”

“I do,” Harry replied, nodding his head. He winced as a man he had been introduced to at his party now took the stage, and was singing a horrible love song to his girlfriend, or fiancée, or wife—Harry knew it was one of those, but not which one in particular.

“Here ya go, Gents.” Timmy placed two glasses on Harry and Severus's table. “Quite a crowd we got tonight, innit? Well, looks like Sirius's and them are sure enjoying themselves, eh?”

Harry looked over to see “Sirius and them” throw their heads back and down a small glass in one gulp. Remus seemed to be the only one to take his time with his own glass.

Timmy walked away, chuckling.

Severus looked exhausted as Sirius yelled something incoherent to the both of them. “This is going to be the longest night of my entire life.”

--

Harry held his chin in his right hand. Not even the loud, horrible singing coming from some bloke that seemed to be angry at his girlfriend and was taking it out on the song could keep him awake. Harry's eyes almost fluttered shut when there was a sudden bang on the table, causing him to jump and let out a yell.

“Oi!” Sirius bit his lip, and then laughed. “I jus' made you fly like a birdie, Harry-poo!”

Severus looked unamused. “I am hardly surprised that you got yourself drunk, Black. Lupin, as well… I suppose that's what happens when you associate yourself with Black and Johnson.”

“Me? Nooooo.” Sirius shook his head wildly. “No, no, no. D'you… d'you know… that your eyes are black? Like your hair?” Sirius hiccuped. “My name—my name's Black!”

“How fascinating,” came the sarcastic reply. “Why don't we leave now? Harry's about to fall asleep.”

“No!” Sirius suddenly yelled loudly. He stumbled over to Remus. He was saying something to Normy Johnson, and suddenly, before Harry knew it, a group of people were tripping up onto the stage where everybody had been singing all night. But not just any group of people…

“Everyone I'm Sirius,” Sirius said, pressing his mouth up against the microphone and making odd noises. He blew a raspberry and it echoed through the speakers. “That's Sirius, 'cause that's wha' I am.”

“D'you hear that? Sirius!” Normy added. He was drunk too, off course, as well as the rest of the people on stage with them. Severus sighed beside Harry.

“I'm Sirius,” Sirius said again. He put his arm around Remus's shoulder and brought the man up next to the microphone with him. “This is my bestest friend, Remus. He's my brother. My wolf brother.”

Remus nodded enthusiastically. “I'mma wolf brother, you know!”

Harry frowned. “Wolf brother? What do they mean?”

Severus looked momentarily startled, but then in a calm, very low voice, he said, “Everyone else probably thinks they just sound like two men who had too much to drink up there… but Harry, I think you should know that Lupin is, well… a werewolf.”

Severus spoke so low that only Harry could hear him. Harry stared at Severus in shocked silence, and then his gaze slowly drifted over to Remus, who was stumbling around with Sirius, trying to steady himself.

“This isn't the best place to discuss it,” Severus suddenly continued. “Perhaps tomorrow.”

Harry didn't pay much attention. “So… every full moon? Is—isn't there something you can give him to stop transforming?”

Severus sighed. “There is Wolfsbane Potion, but that does not stop him from transforming. It merely relieves some of the effects of lycanthropy. For instance, during the full moon when he transforms, he can retain control over his actions, but there i—”

“An'—an' this is Norm…Normy an' Erny and two other persons who's name I can't remember but it's funny. Severus! Hi, Snapey, Snapey-doo!”

“That didn't make any sense at all,” Harry said to Severus quietly. He didn't seem to notice that Sirius had cut Severus off. Severus snorted in agreement.

Suddenly music came from the speakers, and with their arms wrapped around each others' shoulders, Sirius and the rest began to sway to the music. Every one of them started to drunkenly sing to the song, except for Sirius and Remus.

“I dunno this song!” Sirius yelled over the music. Nobody paid attention to him, so he stumbled over his words, trying his best to get the words right.

“Ooh—Ooh… yeah… you're my best friend, my best—I mean… Ooh, la la… love—is it love?” Sirius yelled again, hoping for someone to answer him.

They chose to ignore him and keep on singing.

So, Sirius did what any person would do: he fell off the stage.

Harry's eyes widened in alarm. Both he and Severus went over to Sirius's side as Normy and his three chums laughed hysterically at Sirius. Remus squatted and peered down over the edge of the stage at Sirius, a goofy grin appearing on his face.

“You 'kay, Paddy?”

Sirius made an unattractive noise as Severus and Harry helped him up. He swayed, holding the side of his head. He looked about ready to pass out.

“All right, we're going home,” Severus said firmly. “Lupin, come along.”

Harry helped Remus down off the stage. All four of them walked out of Joey's. The cool night breeze welcomed Harry, for it became too hot in the diner. The air was still around them, and the only sound that Harry heard were of them walking down the street, and a person or two seldomly passing them.

The sky was very dark now, so the stars stood out brightly against their background. Remus coughed beside Harry, tripping over his feet a few times, but Harry was right there beside him to catch him if he was about to fall. Sirius seemed to be just as clumsy, and practically had to grasp onto Severus's emerald robes to keep himself from falling down.

“This is the first time in many years that Black has gotten himself drunk,” Severus said to Harry, sounding irritated. “There was always a strict rule that he was never to get drunk if he was to be around us. You, especially. I didn't want you growing up in a household where one of your role model's was drunk. I was all too familiar with that when I was younger.”

“So why tonight?” Harry asked softly.

“Well, seeing as there would've been no way of really stopping him,” Severus started, hauling Sirius up off the ground, “and the fact that you're old enough to realize that drinking can almost often lead to deplorable consequences. Also, for the rest of tonight and especially tomorrow, I can definitely say that when you see the state Black and Lupin will be in, you will think twice before taking a drink of alcohol.”

Harry made a disgusted face. “Oh.”

--

It was lucky that the manor held two bathrooms the next morning, considering the fact that both Sirius and Remus spent the entire morning there.

Severus and Harry sat together eating breakfast in the dining room, where just down the hall, Sirius could be heard groaning and knocking things over as he tried to make his way to the table.

“Remus beat me to the upstairs bathroom,” he mumbled, looking horrible. “I'm so glad this house has two bathrooms. I think I'll marry it.”

Severus made a face. “Attractive children. The only reason we bought a house with two bathrooms was because you take forever with your hair. If I didn't know better I'd mistake you for a girl.”

Sirius scowled, but he couldn't seem to find the energy to retort. Severus, with a sigh, stood and walked over to Sirius, handing the man a glass of water, which he thankfully accepted.

“Getting water for me 'n' everything,” Sirius muttered, taking a huge gulp. “Euughh—thanks. This has got to be the worst hangover ever. Where's Rem?”

“Still upstairs,” Severus answered. “Just keep drinking the water, Black, it'll help.”

Sirius closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Sorry for getting drunk yesterday in front of Harry, Snape. I know we agreed none of that…”

“It's fine,” Severus answered shortly.

Suddenly Remus appeared, looking almost as bad as Sirius did.

“Ugh, this has got to be the worst hangover ever,” Remus said, taking the glass of water from Severus greatfully and taking a drink. “I feel horrible. Never, ever, ever again.”

“Here, here,” Sirius agreed, emptying his glass. “We think alike, Rem. Sorry for getting you drunk.”

Remus made a disgusted face. “No, I did it myself. Ugh… I have such a bad headache.”

“I'm surprised you even did,” Sirius said, his voice low and agonized. “A bit out of character, Rem, but hey, everyone needs to lighten up once in a while.” He gave Severus a look. “Well, not everyone, I s'pose.”

Severus scowled. “He has a hangover and yet he still insists on talking. How joyous.”

Sirius suddenly groaned. “Who turned on the damn light?”

“Language, Black,” Severus chided. “That's sunlight. Now, when you say, “everyone needs to 'lighten' up”… if, when you say 'lighten up', you mean getting drunk…” Severus trailed off and shook his head disapprovingly.

“I didn't mean it like that,” Sirius snapped. “Just stop talking please, okay? Your voice is too loud and it's killing my head.”

“Here, here,” Remus said unenthusiastically, putting his head in his hands with a groan. “Worse than the Cruciatus, I'd imagine.”

Sirius suddenly let out a loud moan and practically ran from the room. Faintly, Harry heard a bang, and realized that Sirius once again was occupying the downstairs bathroom. Remus suddenly paled, muttering something about Sirius taking the downstairs bathroom as he fled from the room and was heard stumbling up the stairs.

“I hope Lupin doesn't miss the bathroom,” Severus said said, looking unpleased at the thought. “I do not want to be cleaning anything up.”

--

“Severus, I expect you'll be here a while with Sirius and Remus, right?” Harry questioned a little later curiously. Remus and Sirius were upstairs laying on their beds, whereas Harry and Severus had remained in the dining room, making conversation.

“That's probable,” Severus agreed. “Why?”

Harry, though, had already stood up and was searching for his shoes.

“Well, I was thinking I'd go out for a little bit,” he explained hesitantly, looking up to see Severus's reaction as he was about to put on his second shoe.

“Go out?” Severus echoed, almost sounding confused. “By yourself? Is there a reason?”

Harry shrugged, straightening up. “I dunno, aren't I allowed?”

“Well of course,” Severus answered immediately. “You are hardly being held prisoner here… I'm just, admittedly, a little startled.”

“Startled? Why?”

“I can't really explain it,” said Severus, frowning. “I think… there's a good chance… that I might feel a bit nervous about you going out by yourself, too. What are you going to do?”

Harry smiled warmly. “You don't need to be nervous, I'll be fine. I just want to get to know the town a little better than I have with the times you and Sirius have gone out with me. I am going to be living here now, after all.”

Severus nodded slowly. “If you see anyone you do not know, and they speak to you, try to form a sentence that does not require their name, unless somehow it is given to you.”

Harry laughed. “I'll try my best, and I won't be out too long.”

Harry left the dining room and made his way to the doors. Harry stepped out onto the threshold, closing the door behind him carefully. He let out a sigh as he gazed at everything in front of him.

Now, where would the library be…?

--

It didn't take Harry long to find the library. Naturally, it was a big building with the sign on the front in huge letters reading, 'MAHON HOLLOW LIBRARY'. Not many people that he passed on the street greeted him in anyway, and the ones that did, he merely waved and said brightly, “Good morning.”

The librarian at the library seemed awfully happy to see Harry walk into her library. Apparently, the other Harry tried to stay away from libraries as much as he could. Harry wasn't very fond of them either, but it was necessary this time.

Harry began to browse through the rows of books and was about to pull one out to investigate it when a cheerful voice behind him made him jump.

“Hi, Harry.”

Harry turned around. A young boy, probably around twelve, stood behind him. He had brown hair and brown eyes and was wearing a friendly smile.

“Er—hi.”

“It's been a long time since I last saw you,” the boy continued. “How's your school going?”

Harry hoped desperately that he would not need to know this boy's name.

“It's… fine.”

The boy nodded. “That's great. Whatcha lookin' for?”

Harry faltered. The boy looked over the books on the shelf in front of them, narrowing his eyes as he tried to read each title.

“I forgot my glasses at home,” the boy said, explaining his need to squint. “Why're you looking at books on animals?” He eyed the book Harry held in his hands. He grinned. “Werewolves? Blimey, Harry, are you turning into a werewolf?”

“N—no,” Harry answered nervously. “Just… curious.”

“Well.” The boy puffed out his chest, trying to look intelligent. “It just so happens I love reading about werewolves. They're my favorite creature.”

Harry put the book back, raising his eyebrows in interest.

“So you know a lot about werewolves?”

The boy nodded. “Of course I do. What do you need to know?”

“How do you cure one?” Harry asked quickly. “Is there any way to actually cure a werewolf? Or… or somehow make it so they don't have to transform every full moon?”

The boy laughed loudly, causing every single person in the library to jump and look over at the two in alarm and annoyance. Harry turned a bright red, looking away as the librarian yelled to them, “Benjamin! Quiet or I'll have to kick you out!”

Benjamin, Harry thought happily. His name was Benjamin.

Ben quickly quieted, turning red himself. “Sorry,” he muttered. “It's just… you know werewolves aren't real?”

“Of course,” said Harry immediately. “I'm just… writing.”

“Writing?” Ben repeated, looking interested. “A book?”

“Something like that,” Harry lied. “I just wanted to research on werewolves and how to cure them…”

“Well.” Ben looked thoughtful, leading Harry over to an empty table where they sat down. “Do you have paper and something to write with? It'd be better than having to remember everything.”

“Er… I don't,” Harry admitted, but Ben seemed to already know the answer in advance, and was making his way over to the librarians desk, where he was most likely asking for paper and a pen.

“All right,” Ben said as he sat back down and placed the two items in front of Harry. “Well, the most easiest thing is that werewolves are vulnerable to silver bullets.”

Harry shook his head. “You see, I don't want to kill him. It. In my book.”

Ben frowned, tapping his finger lightly on the table. “Well, there's always power of exhaustion.” At Harry's blank look, he elaborated. “Oh, y'know! Whoever the werewolf was, the Ancient Greeks and Romans would sorta… make them do physical activity a really long time, hoping that they'd rid it of the condition.”

Harry bit his lip, shaking his head. “I don't think that would work.”

“What about the other one I read about a while ago?” Ben suggested. “They uhm… did something medically, surgically or they did an exorcism.”

Harry stared. “I—I don't think so. Couldn't there, I dunno, be some type of potion to cure it or something?”

“A potion? Like the one witches brew?” Ben laughed quietly. “Well, if it's in your story, I guess we could research some ingredients that could be used.”

“Maybe mixed with the Wolfsbane Potion,” Harry murmured, more to himself than to Ben, but Ben heard him.

“Wolfbone Lotion? What's that?” Ben made a face. “Sounds like a lotion Mum would use. It's got Wolf in the name and everything… you know she's not the prettiest lady, and she's got an awful temper if you remember last time you came around… but even so,” Ben continued, “I still love her.”

“It's nothing,” Harry said. “Where do you think we could find books on that stuff?”

“Already ahead of you,” Ben said cheerfully, and in the next second he was up and gone. Harry waited, craning his neck to see if he could spot Ben somewhere between the rows of stands of books. It was a couple minutes later when Ben finally returned with a medium-sized book in his hands. He set it on the table, and before Harry even had time to read the cover, Ben opened the book and began browsing through it.

“Hm… there's nothing so far… you might want to get your pen ready though so you're able to write it all down if I find stuff,” Ben said. He paused, flipping the page. “There's the, uh, arrowleaf clover. The white one. It says it can be used for personal purification… getting rid of evil influences… I s'pose a werewolf could be evil.”

Harry considered it, then scribbled what Ben said down. “Arrowleaf clover?”

“Right. And then, right here, the name is Astragalus. For healing, protection, hex breaking, purification… I'd be more concerned with the purification. You know, purifying this person of the werewolf they transform into?”

“Right,” Harry muttered as he wrote that down, too. He peered over the book to see how it was written. “Anything else that could be useful?”

“Not so far. Things that could be used for love… healing a broken heart. Luck and wealth. Oh, what about Burdock? Strength of character, purification. We could use a lot of purification, couldn't we?”

“Absolutely,” Harry agreed.

“Echinecea? E… however you pronounce that. Healing and protection. Don't you think your person would need healing, especially the werewolf inside of it? And protection, well, protection against the werewolf inside of it.”

“How do you spell that?” Harry asked, frowning. Ben slid the book over, and Harry quickly copied it.

“You're even putting what each of them do?” Ben asked, watching as Harry wrote. “Do you need more or d'you think this would be good enough?”

“We might as well go through the whole book,” Harry suggested as he finished writing. “Just in case.”

“All right. You want a go? I can write.”

Harry agreed, sliding the paper and pen over to Ben as he pulled the book closer to him.

“What about Eucalyptus?” Harry asked after he read the paragraph over. “Personal cleansing after contact with evil.”

“The werewolf could be evil,” Ben finished in agreement. “If I don't get the spelling right you'll still know what I meant. Personal cleansing after meeting with evil or something like that, right?”

“Sure,” Harry said, turning the page of the book as he skimmed through the words.

“Toadflax,” Ben suddenly said as he, too, started to skim through the pages with his eyes after pushing his chair closer to the book. “Protection and hex breaking.”

“But it wasn't exactly a hex that made him a werewolf,” Harry said distractedly.

“Good point,” Ben concurred. Harry flipped through a few more pages. “Wolfsbane,” Ben said, pointing to it in the book. “That's perfect, mainly all you need! See? It says, 'Aconite is used to cure werewolves of their affliction.' But… isn't that the description for Wolfsbane, though?”

“I think it might be just another name for it,” Harry said distractedly, pointing that out in the book to Ben. “It seems it's not quite as easy as that though…”

Ben looked momentarily confused, and then disappointed as Harry reached the last page.

“Well, that's it. Blimey, you have quite a list, Harry! How's this going to work in your story?”

“I dunno yet,” Harry said, wanting to avoid the conversation about his 'story'. “I'll manage, though.”

Ben stood up with Harry, closing the book gently. “Is it a boy werewolf or a girl werewolf?”

“A boy,” Harry answered uncertainly. “Look, thanks a lot for your help with this, Ben, I appreciate it. I actually need to go now, or Severus will get worried. You know. So…”

Ben frowned, staring at Harry in blatant confusion.

“Severus? Since when have you started calling your dad Severus?”

Harry swallowed, gathering up the paper and carefully folding it to put in his jeans pocket. “Well… recently, actually. S—Sirius wagered that I wouldn't be able to go a—a month calling Severus…Severus without slipping and calling him Da—the 'D' word.”

Would Ben believe that? Harry waited unpatiently, nervously, as it seemed that Ben took hours to finally answer.

“That sounds like something he would do,” Ben said, nodding his head and smiling. “Will I see you around before you go back to your boarding school?”

“M—maybe,” Harry said, returning Ben's smile. “Look, I really have to go. I'll see you!”

Harry was in such a rush to get back to the manor, he barely even heard the librarian get after him on his way by for running.

--

Harry must've ran all the way back to the house, but he wasn't paying attention to that. He was too focused on what he had achieved at the library.

The door slammed shut behind him, letting everyone in the house know that he was home. Harry took the paper out of his pocket, unfolding it and wandering around curiously, wondering where everyone was. It was likely that Sirius and Remus were still upstairs, but would Severus be up there, too?

Harry didn't have to look much farther, for Severus appeared in the foyer, probably coming out of the lounge. He eyed the paper in Harry's hand curiously.

“I've been thinking,” Harry started off, his voice loud in the quiet house even though he didn't speak loudly. “Ever since you told me that Remus was a werewolf. What if—well, what if you mixed something else with the Wolfsbane Potion?” Harry held up the paper. “That's why I went to the library. To do some research, and—and look at these ingredients. If we make a potion out of this, and then add it to the Wolfsbane Potion, then surely it could do… something.”

Severus looked over the things written on the paper.

“It would certainly do something,” said Severus. “That something would, without a doubt, be killing him. You wouldn't go mixing these ingredients with the Wolfsbane Potion; you don't know what it could do to the drinker. Besides, Harry—”

“But there's a good chance it could work!” Harry insisted. “I don't want to kill Remus, but I want to try!” At Severus's strange look, Harry realized what he said. “No, no, I mean I want to try to see if it could help cure him!”

Severus shook his head. “It's too dangerous… and Harry—”

Harry sighed loudly. “Can't we just try though, Sev? Why not? If there was only something we could test it on first… But look at this, Severus, look at these ingredients! Most are for purification, which is good, because it could purify Remus of the werewolf he turns into.”

“Can't you understand, Harry, that it is something that is risky to make? Especially for Remus to take, that is equally risky,” Severus said. “Now, if you'll just let me—”

“But you won't even try!” Harry yelled, feeling angry and hurt that after all he had done to try and help, Severus wouldn't even consider it. Of course, he knew that Severus was right… he just didn't want to admit it. He wanted to stay hopeful.

“Because. Of. The. Risks.” Severus said each word deliberately slowly.

Harry threw the paper on the ground before Severus could say anything more, and walked passed Severus and up the staircase, making sure he stomped on each stair loudly.

“I can't believe you won't even try!”

A few more loud, angry steps and then… a pause… and a loud slam. Severus winced as Harry slammed the door to his room shut.

Then, it was quiet again.

Severus forgot how much fun it was to be a parent at that moment. He sighed, slowly walking over to where the paper lay on the ground. He picked it up and inspected it again.

Harry didn't even let him say that there was already a series of potions that werewolves took that cured lycanthropy. It had been created almost three years ago…

Severus sighed once more.