"I don't want to be accused of nepotism," Severus explained calmly. "Which I will be if she is in my potions class. Nor do I really want her there. Not that I want her to know this, but… my classes are stressful enough without my daughter criticizing my every move. Calling me Daddy Sevvy. Opposing anything I might say or do. Being angry at me later for taking points. Albus, there has to be another way."

Albus sighed. "Most professors don't have children, so we don't often run into this problem. I suppose, Harry, you have the same complaint."

Harry nodded. "Severus and I have discussed Nora entering Hogwarts, and this has come up. I'm about as thrilled to have her in class with me as Severus is. I adore her, but…"

"No, no, I understand. Not to mention, you would be accused of nepotism, even if everything was above-board."

"Which, naturally, it would be," Harry and Severus answered as one.

"Not to mention, of course, that Nora sees us at our worst, too. She's full of potentially embarrassing stories about us. Which is fine, she's our daughter, but it's not something I necessarily want her to spread… during class. It's inevitable she'll tell them, but… oh, you know what I mean, Albus," Severus continued.

"I do," Albus affirmed. "Unfortunately, the question now becomes, from whom will she learn DADA and Potions? Severus, Harry, you two are the best in both disciplines here. Usually, if for some reason, one of you couldn't teach a student, I'd ask the other, but this…"

"Minerva is also excellent in DADA," Harry offered. "Or Nora can receive outside instruction from Remus. I'm sure he'd be delighted to."

"He could be accused of nepotism, too," Severus sighed. "Remus is her godfather."

"Oh, right. Hermione's good, too, but she's Nora's aunt. Bill's good at DADA, but he's Nora's uncle. Damnit, everyone's close to the family. Except Minerva."

"And we still need someone for Potions," Severus reminded. "I know someone. Not at all connected to our rather oddly extended family. I'll owl him and ask, if that is alright."

Albus nodded. "I'll talk to Minerva, then."

Harry sighed. "I feel bad. She already has so much to do as Head of House…"

"Unless you know someone else…"

Harry turned to Severus. "What about Draco? He's not part of our family. Not really."

"Not enough that he'd be accused of nepotism," Severus agreed. "And he certainly is very knowledgeable."

"Although we should probably ask him not to teach Nora all the dark spells he knows… yet, anyway."

"Agreed," Severus said with a shudder. "I'll write Draco, if you agree, Albus."

Albus nodded.

"And we'll tell Nora," Severus and Harry chorused resignedly.

That night:

"I'm so excited you're going to be my teachers!" Nora said at dinner.

Harry looked at Severus, who nodded. "Um, Nora, we won't be. We're finding someone else."

"Why not?" Nora demanded crossly.

"Well," Harry said finally, "we don't want to be accused of nepotism."

Nepotism – noun. Favoritism shown to members of one's family, as in business; bestowal of patronage in consideration of relationship, rather than of merit or of legal claim. Word of the Day, April 8, 2001)