Frederick Gideon Weasley was sure that nowhere on earth, during any time in the past, or any time in the future, had there been, or would there be, a more awkward situation than that in which he found himself on Christmas Day.
Professor Snape, dressed in black dress robes with silver and emerald serpent accents, had offered him a seat when he had arrived at 7:45, a wooden kitchen chair that put him on display for the rest of the living room. Snape sat in one armchair, Lupin and Sirius, dressed black dress robes of their own with ruby and gold clasps, sat on the sofa. Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, he in black robes with golden shooting stars, and she in a tartan-printed crimson and gold gown, sat on conjured arm chairs on the other side of the sofa. Fred felt as if he was in an extremely awkward play and had forgotten his lines.
"Why Mr. Weasley, you certainly clean up well," Minerva said, sipping the tea she'd been holding for the last quarter of an hour.
"Thank you, Professor," Fred said quietly, not really sure where they stood after she'd kicked him out of dance class. They'd had two detentions with Flich, and Severus had threatened to ground Elizabeth from the ball. He'd been given detention by McGonagall dozens of times, but this last one was so close to this… unpleasant situation. It made sitting in Snape's quarters even more uncomfortable.
"Seems to me that a young man could have enough pride in himself to 'clean up' daily," Snape commented. Minerva sent him a glare, which he ignored.
"Yes, sir," Fred said, unsure of what else to say.
"I'm sure he cleans up as much as a guy does for class," Sirius commented. "I certainly wouldn't dress up like this every day, though I'm sure it would have quite an effect on the ladies."
"Sirius," Remus jabbed him in the side with his elbow. "We don't need to discuss scoring techniques with an impressionable child in the room," he hissed.
Fred stared at his shoes. He and George had been lucky enough to borrow dress robes from Charlie and Bill, so they weren't as awful as Ron's. No ruffles at all, and George had charmed their shoes to a shine that would have made their mother proud.
"Do you…" he glanced toward Elizabeth's bedroom door. "Do you think she's alright?"
Albus chuckled. "I think you'll soon learn, my boy, that there is nothing slower in the known world than a witch getting ready."
Minerva glared at her husband. "She's fine, Mr. Weasley. Be patient."
Fred looked back at his shoes. It had taken him all of three minutes to put on his robes and shoes, empty his pockets of all joke merchandise (assuming that he should not take such material into a room full of professors related to his girlfriend) run a comb through his hair, and splash on the cologne that Bill had given him for his 16th birthday. He couldn't imagine what Elizabeth was doing in that room, but he knew that she and Hermione had disappeared at 5 o'clock to get ready. What could occupy her for nearly three hours? The ball was going to start, and while Fred loved a grand entrance, it was probably not good for one of the Champions to be late.
He snuck a look at the family across the room. Sirius seemed the safest. The man liked him, thinking of him as a sort of protégé. Professor Lupin had always been tolerant of his interest in Elizabeth, and had liked him in class, so he was a possibility for conversation. Professor McGonagall thought he was the class clown, and had always made it clear that Elizabeth could do better, so he should steer clear of her. Professor Dumbledore was unpredictable, he might not be worth the risk. Professor Snape… it was just his luck to fall in love with the daughter of the most terrifying person in the world.
Love. Fred stared at his shoes, his ears pinkening as he thought about it. He wasn't sure, but he was about 99%... He'd asked Bill last time he'd stopped by, and after George confirmed that Fred walked around all the time "moony-eyed", Bill had declared it love. Bill, in Fred's experience, was never wrong. So who was he to question the diagnosis?
"What are you doing over there, Severus?" Albus looked over at the Potions Master, who was flipping through a book.
"Counting the number of tasteless, odorless, completely-untraceable poisons that I can brew," Severus said blithely.
Fred wracked his brain for something he could talk to Sirius about that didn't involve something that Professor Snape would disapprove of. He found nothing.
"Would you like my list of hexes that leave no mark on the outside of the body, but cause excruciating internal pain?" Sirius asked.
Nevermind, Fred thought. Sirius is not an ally.
"Yes, please," Severus continued to flip through the book.
"Gentlemen," Remus said pointedly. "You know very well you'd never use those things on a young man."
Remus = ally, Fred thought.
"You'd have to lock him in a dungeon until he was of age," Remus finished.
Nevermind again.
Just as he thought one more second of awkwardness was going to kill him, the bedroom door swung open. Six pairs of eyes swung to the door, and Fred felt his heart flutter a bit.
Across the room, Severus was having a different feeling, more of a heart clenching, gut wrenching mix of pride and devastation.
Standing in the doorway was Elizabeth, dark hair piled on her head, curls cascading down around her face. Her green eyes sparkled from under her long, dark lashes. The crimson strapless gown had crystals along the top. The fabric fell gently over her hips to the floor, where jeweled shoes poked out from beneath the hem.
Fred stared. If he was honest, he loved Elizabeth because she was fearless and funny and kind. He'd thought she was cute when he met her, and she had been cute since. But now… he was sure she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen.
Severus had a flashback to Lily on their wedding day that was so strong, he nearly had to close his eyes. The Elizabeth that stood before him… she was not a child. It was a young woman that stood there, looking so much like Lily, except with his hair. She was grown up. She was dressed like that, and there was a boy who was looking at her like she was the only thing in the world… and it was over. Her childhood. He should have gone through with that de-ageing idea in the first place.
"Is everyone okay?" Elizabeth asked, looking at the staring group like they'd lost their minds. "Dad?"
"Hmm?" Severus shook himself out of his thoughts and cleared his throat. "Is that make-up on your face, young lady?"
His daughter just smiled and came toward him. "Grandma said it was okay."
Severus shook his head. "And I'm not sure I like this dress. Too much skin."
"Dad," Elizabeth stopped in front of him, a knowing smile on her face.
Severus sighed. "You look beautiful, Rosie."
"Thank you," Elizabeth stretched up to kiss his cheek. "We need to go."
"Pictures," Minerva said, brandishing the camera. "Elizabeth with Severus first."
Severus grimaced, but put his arm around his daughter and tried to look pleasant as Minerva snapped photos.
"Now Elizabeth and Fred," McGonagall put them through several poses.
"Now Elizabeth and Remus…" And so it went on. Elizabeth gave Fred apologetic looks through the whole thing, but he didn't seem to be concerned. He was perfectly happy to watch her.
"Before you leave, I want to say a few things," Severus said finally. "First, remember that everyone in this room will be there tonight, and we will all be watching you," he pointed at Fred, "young man. Second, this nonsense will end at the stroke of midnight. She will be in this living room without you," he jabbed his finger again, "at quarter past twelve. Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir," Fred nodded.
"Good then. Hurry, you'll be late," he pointed to the door.
Fred didn't need to be told twice, grasping Elizabeth's hand and all but fleeing through the door.
Severus watched them go, Albus and Minerva trailing after. "Remus?"
The werewolf looked at him expectantly.
"I need you to help me with that tonight," Severus nodded toward the door.
"It's going to be alright, Sev."
"I know," Severus nodded. "I need you to… keep me from being…me."
Remus grinned and clapped his friend on the back. "You're a good man, Severus Snape. One father-daughter buffer, at your service."
*S*S*
Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.
The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House takes had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people.
Fred pulled out Elizabeth's chair, and settled in beside her, immediately re-clasping their hands under the table.
"Roast chicken," Elizabeth told her plate, and the requested food appeared.
"Completely unimaginative," Fred shook his head. "That plate will give you anything you want and you chose roast chicken? Watch and learn." He turned his attention to his plate. "Macaroni and cheese with white truffles."
His plate remained empty.
"What?" he turned to a laughing Elizabeth, who pointed at the little menu in front of their plates. "Oh… well… pork chops, then." He grinned at her. "Roast chicken was still the lame choice."
"Honestly, Fred, where are your manners?" Percy scolded from Elizabeth's other side. "You haven't ever acknowledged that I'm here."
"Why are you here?" Fred asked, rolling his eyes at Elizabeth.
"I am now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant," Percy said importantly. "He's not feeling well, I am here in his stead."
"Well, you fill a seat better than anyone I know, Perce," Fred smirked.
Percy huffed, and turned to try to engage Krum in conversation.
"Probably about cauldron thickness," Fred stage whispered. "Never mind he's the greatest professional seeker on the planet."
"Do you think I could catch the Snitch before Krum?"
"Unless it was raining," Fred laughed, moving to tap her glasses with one finger— before he realized she wasn't wearing them.
Elizabeth grinned. "Temporary vision charm. One night only. Gets less effective the more you use it."
"Good," Fred said, leaning over to kiss her. "I think the glasses are cute."
"Just what I was going for," Elizabeth made a face.
"Can I be the fiftieth person to tell you how amazing you look tonight?"
"Thank you," Elizabeth looked over at Hermione. "Do her teeth look different to you?"
"I haven't spent a lot of time looking at Granger's teeth," Fred shrugged. "Her hair is way less… crazy than usual though." Fred looked thoughtful. "Ron should have asked her."
"He was afraid," Elizabeth shrugged.
"So was I," Fred made a face. "He should grow some—
"Shh," Elizabeth hushed him. "Dumbledore will hear you."
Fred grinned, "Wouldn't be the worst thing he's heard, I'd expect."
"Have you seen Malfoy?" Hermione said, leaning behind Fred to talk to Elizabeth. "Looks like a vicar."
Elizabeth glanced over and saw Draco, his black velvet, high-collared dress robes did indeed make him look like a clergyman; as much as Pansy Parkinson's frilly, pink robes made her look like a cupcake. "Crabbe and Goyle look dateless tonight," she said, a little too pleased with that development.
*S*S*
Severus, from his place at one of the staff tables, kept an eye on the proceedings. It was not Fred Weasley's hand on his daughters, however, that caught his attention.
"I don't like her near that man," he hissed to Remus.
"Anyway I can convince you to have a drink, peaches?" Remus grinned. "He's a sixteen-year-old boy. We can't have him killed."
"Well," Severus rolled his eyes, "we could. But I was referring to Karkaroff."
*S*S*
The ceiling of the Great Hall showed the thick snow falling from the sky. Elizabeth could almost believe it was really snowing inside, between the ceiling and the sparkle that covered everything.
"So," Fred said mischievously as they faced each other for the first dance, "this is why it would have been important to not get booted out of dance class."
Elizabeth grimaced. "I guess we'll wing it."
"I guess we will."
The music started, and Elizabeth sank into a curtsy while Fred bowed. Then Fred stepped toward her, one hand pulling her to him by her waist, and one clasping her right hand. The music was almost a frantic pace, and Elizabeth was so startled by Fred's firm hold on her that she completely forgot that she could do anything but follow his lead.
Whirling around the dance floor, Elizabeth felt like her feet never hit the ground. It was oddly freeing, to give all her control over to this other person, who was whirling her around the dance floor. She was flying, or so it seemed.
"Where did you learn to do that?" She asked breathlessly when the first song ended and she stood wrapped in his arms.
Fred grinned wolfishly. "Bill. And a couple of really good charms."
"Did you charm me too?" Elizabeth looked at her feet.
Fred laughed. "No," he shook his head. "It turns out that you can follow a lead."
*S*S*
Severus Snape was unable to leave the party until nearly eleven, cornered as he was by faculty members and other present adults, all certain that he needed to hear whatever it was that they were saying. He suspected that Remus was sending a steady stream of people his way in order to distract him from how obviously, deliriously, happy his daughter was in the arms of Fred Weasley.
"I'm never curtsying again, by the way," he heard her say, inspiring Fred to laugh and spin her around.
He was glad she was happy. He wanted her to be happy. That didn't change the fact that he wanted to rip that boy's hands away from the Potion Master's daughter.
So at ten minutes until eleven, he managed to return to the dungeons, where he sat in his armchair and read until the portrait opened promptly at quarter past midnight.
"You're still dressed up," Elizabeth said, closing the door behind her. "Have you been down here long?"
"Only a bit," Severus said, pointing at the silver cufflinks on the side table. "It's late. Time to get ready for bed."
"It was beautiful tonight," Elizabeth said happily, dreamily skipping toward her room. "Did you see everyone?"
"I noticed a fair bit of nonsense going on, yes."
Elizabeth laughed. "Did you see me dance?"
"Yes," Severus said softly, gesturing to her bedroom. "Bedtime. I'll be in shortly."
Elizabeth floated into her room, and Severus heard the water running in her sink. Deciding that he had a few minutes, he went into his own room and discarded his dress robes and rolled his white dress shirt up to his elbows. He replaced his shoes with black slippers and placed his robes, cufflinks, and dress shoes back into their places at the back of his wardrobe.
Back in the living room, he poured himself a shallow glass of brandy, nursing it until he heard Elizabeth's bathroom door open. Walking into her room, he found her stowing her clothing much as he had. Wordlessly, he pulled back the covers on her bed, holding them as she slid between the sheets.
He tucked the blankets around her and sat down, brushing her hair away from her face. "You had a good time tonight?"
She nodded, snuggling into the mattress. "It was wonderful," she said dreamily.
"You really are your mother's daughter," he said softly, straightening the covers. "My social butterfly."
Elizabeth shook her head and closed her eyes. "Just with Fred."
Severus grimaced, but smoothed her hair gently. "That's what I'm afraid of," he said quietly.
"Don't be scared," she said sleepily, yawning.
"I will try," Severus said, resigned, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "You were lovely tonight, hatchling."
He received no response from the sleeping girl.
*S*S*
"What do you think?" Severus gestured to the egg on the table in front of them.
"I think it's a plot by You-Know-Who," Remus commented, before shrugging apologetically at the glares of the other two men. "Just a joke."
"Poor taste," Severus said, using the voice he usually reserved for those students in his classroom who are foolish enough to divert their attention from his lesson.
"Where is our belle of the ball?" Sirius asked, changing the subject.
"She's sleeping," Severus poked the egg with his wand.
"Still?" Sirius glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's nearly ten… are you going soft in your old age?"
Severus glared. "The recommended amount of sleep for someone of her age is eleven hours. I have no desire to deal with a cranky, sleep-deprived teenager just because Hogwarts condones parties that run far too late."
"Just as well," Remus looked at the egg. "I'd rather she didn't find out what this means before we do."
"Little chance of that," Severus smirked. "Elizabeth seems to be taking the avoidance route of dealing with it."
"She's fourteen and terrified," Sirius shrugged. "Sounds like how I would have handled it. If I hadn't run away first."
Severus snorted. "Gryffindors."
"What's going on out here?" Elizabeth came out of her room, stretching.
"Looking at your egg," Sirius said, ruffling her hair as she went by.
"Go get dressed," Severus directed, pointing back toward her room. "You know better than to be out here in just pajamas. It's the dead of winter, in the dungeon of a stone castle."
"It's not cold," Elizabeth protested.
Severus scowled, "Clothing. Now. Or perhaps you need to go back to sleep until you can follow directions."
"Alright, you two," Remus shook his head. "Elizabeth, get dressed. We'll have brunch."
"Leave that thing alone," Elizabeth gestured to the egg. "I'll figure it out myself."
"Not with the effort you've put forth," Severus said firmly, "And if I have to repeat myself once more, young lady—
"I'm going!" Elizabeth cried exasperatedly.
"Go easy, Snape," Sirius said, opening the egg, wincing as the screeching sound filled the air, before slamming it closed again.
"Black!" Severus snapped. "What are you—
"I thought maybe it had stopped doing that," Sirius answered sheepishly.
"Do you know what the definition of insanity is, mutt?"
"Yes," Sirius scowled, "because you've used that insult on me before."
"What is the definition of insanity?" Elizabeth, said, rejoining them, dressed in her jeans and Gryffindor t-shirt.
"Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result," Severus said, smirking at her t-shirt. "You never wear your Slytherin t-shirt anymore."
"Because I'm not a Slytherin," Elizabeth looked at the egg. "Maybe you have to cast a spell…" She suddenly wished she was closer to the other Champions. They could work on this together… but after the confrontation with Cedrick's father over the summer, she didn't feel comfortable around the Hufflepuff. She felt guilty for not sharing her knowledge of the dragons with Cedrick before the first challenge, but the Slytherin half of her blood had inspired her to preserve her edge. However, she couldn't depend on any information from him now. There were rumors that he had figured out the egg, and she was still in the dark.
"My guess is that the screeching is understandable somehow," Remus looked at the egg thoughtfully.
"Understandable to dogs," Elizabeth looked at the table. "I thought we were going to eat."
"We were waiting for you, slugabed," Sirius teased, then looked at the egg again. "Perhaps we should try a revealing potion."
Severus raised his eyes skyward. "You do understand that revealing potions are for items or people under a spell, yes? That they reveal their true nature? You can't just pour it on anything and expect it to reveal a secret."
"I do understand that, you big bat," Sirius growled. "But I say it's worth it."
"I doubt anything will come of it," Severus shook his head. "If the Tournament creators want children to be able to complete the challenge, they wouldn't require a fairly advanced potion. However," he sighed, "I suppose we can try after breakfast or lunch, whatever a meal at this time would be called."
And so the four members of the Snape household found themselves down in Severus' lab in the early afternoon.
"What's this for?" Elizabeth stood beside a large caldron, the top of which came up to her nose. She stretched up to look over the rim, yelping when strong hands grabbed her waist from behind and lifted her up, leaning her over the edge.
"To boil teenagers," Sirius said, threatening to throw her in.
"Sirius!" She shrieked and slapped at his hands until he put her down, laughing.
"Children," Severus said, pulling their attention back to the egg, setting it on the counter beside the cauldron. He readied the potion, preparing to pour it on the egg, when Sirius reached out and poked Elizabeth, looking away innocently.
"Stop," Elizabeth rolled her eyes and spun around to smack him in the shoulder, knocking the egg off the counter. The glittering egg arched up and dropped into the cauldron.
Yelping, Elizabeth dove for the egg, pulling herself up on the side.
"No," Severus grabbed her firmly around the waist and set her back on the floor. "You don't have any idea what I have in there."
"It looks like water."
"It is water," Severus looked into the cauldron. "But you didn't know that."
"It's open," Elizabeth scowled over the edge. "The water is probably frying the insides."
"It's not electronic," Severus reminded her.
"It's not shrieking," Remus put in, coming over to look for himself.
"What?" Elizabeth looked at him.
"It's not shrieking," Remus repeated. "It's open, but not making that horrible noise."
Severus reached into the cauldron and pulled out the egg. He immediately dropped it back into the water, as it screamed. "It still works," he commented dryly, shaking his head to get the ringing out of his ears.
"Why does it stop under the water?" Sirius started toward the cauldron, but Elizabeth pushed him away.
"You've caused enough trouble."
"Severus, your daughter is rude," Sirius scowled.
"Only to dogs," Severus said blandly. "As for why it stops under water, I'm not sure. Black!"
Sirius was hanging, torso down, his head in the water.
"What are you doing?" Severus demanded, hauling him out of the cauldron.
"Come here, beautiful!" Sirius shook out his long wet hair and beckoned to Elizabeth.
"What?" Elizabeth looked suspicious.
"You can hear it!" Sirius said impatiently. "Under the water! Put your head in!"
"Are you serious?" Remus stepped toward the cauldron, ready to stick his head in.
"Remus!" Severus rolled his eyes. "I expect stupidity from the mutt, but have you forgotten that you are a wizard?" He pointed his wand at the water and muttered an amplification charm. Suddenly the room was full of a chorus of eerie voices.
"Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground, And while you're searching ponder this: We've taken what you'll sorely miss, An hour long you'll have to look, And to recover what we took, But past an hour— the prospect's black, Too late, it's gone, and it won't come back."
The message sounded again and again until Severus waved his wand again, silencing the voices.
"What was that?" Remus, who had subconsciously stepped behind Elizabeth and put one forearm around her neck, was paler than usual.
"It doesn't matter," Severus said swiftly, fishing the egg out of the cauldron and slammed it shut. "We've agreed that she's not participating in the next challenge."
"I'm right here," Elizabeth gripped Remus' arm.
"I'm aware of that," Severus raised an eyebrow at his daughter.
"Then don't talk about me like I'm not here." Elizabeth glared back.
"Watch your tone, or you won't be here at all," Severus said, his voice dipping into the low, dangerous zone.
"Why don't we all go upstairs?" Sirius broke in, making shooing motions with his hands. "We can talk over tea."
"There's nothing to discuss," Severus said firmly, leading the way up the stairs. "You," he looked pointedly at Elizabeth, "will not be participating in whatever nonsense the next challenge brings. I made that determination the very moment I saw the dragon in the last challenge, and since you are a child, you will do as I say, and forfeit immediately when the challenge begins."
"Dad, it's not going to be dragons—
"I don't care if it's a bunny-petting contest!" Severus roared, slamming the egg onto the coffee table as they arrived in the living room, causing it to pop open and start screeching again. "You will not be involved!" He smacked the top of the egg to close it. In the sudden silence, his voice was quiet again. "Do you understand?"
"Dad." Elizabeth said softly, looking to Remus for support.
"Do you understand?" Severus asked again, his tone unyielding.
"I understand you don't want me to get hurt," Elizabeth answered, feeling as if she were edging out onto the thin ice in the middle of a lake. "But I was okay in the last one," she looked up at the Potions Master.
"You were not 'okay'!" Severus snapped, crossing his arms.
"I can't be known as the weak one!" Elizabeth snapped back, losing any sense of diplomacy that she'd had.
Remus looked warily at Severus, wondering if this was the day his best mate's head would explode.
Severus' eyes narrowed. "What in the world are you talking about?"
Elizabeth, losing her nerve, shrugged. "I dunno."
"Elizabeth."
She knew better than to ignore that tone. "If he thinks I'm weak… he's going to come sooner."
"Who?" Severus asked, but the realization hit him a moment later. "Elizabeth…"
"He is! If he's watching, and he probably is… or one of his people… Do you think Draco's dad isn't watching, ready to report?"
Severus sank into his armchair, his fingers going to his temple, as they so often did since the year had started. "You are, by far, the most confusing child I've ever encountered," he said softly. "Lily's damn Gryffindor heart…"
"That's a lie, you know."
Severus' eyes snapped to his daughter's. "What?"
"It's not Mum's heart. It's yours."
"I have never run headlong into danger, damning the consequences, with no gain of my own."
"Oh really?" Elizabeth questioned, emboldened by Severus' seated position. "What did you get out of being a spy, huh? You could have died, but you did it for the Light. Don't you think you're being a hypocrite?"
The room was silent for a moment, before Severus rose, slowly and deliberately, and his voice, low and dangerous again, cut across the room. "Come here."
Elizabeth, however, liked the space that was between where she stood and her father, and didn't move.
"Elizabeth," his voice dropped further if possible. "Come. Here."
A firm prod from Remus propelled her forward. She was soon standing before the Potions Master, not sure if she was about to be lectured or slapped. Not that he'd ever slapped her, but she had poked a sleeping dragon.
Severus was quiet for another minute, then took a deep breath. "I made a decision, long ago, to sacrifice my life for a cause I believed in. However, when I did so, I was of age. You are 14 years old. You are not acting out of loyalty to a cause, you are acting out of teenage misplaced pride. You say you're worried that the Dark Lord will see you as weak, but you should have said that he would know you are weak. You're as weak as any child would be in this situation, and he already knows that. You will forfeit this challenge. You will allow Rita Skeeter to write whatever she wants about it. You will put that pride I'm sure I gave you aside and stay alive until you are no longer a child." He reached out and gripped her shoulders. "I have no doubt that you will be a very powerful adult witch, my girl, but right now, you will recognize your own limitations and do as I say. Do I make myself clear?"
Elizabeth was quiet. He made himself clear. It didn't mean he was right.