The end of term came quickly and with little incident. Elizabeth had been spending much of her time with Ron and Hermione down at Hagrid's hut. It was by far the most interesting place to be, especially shortly before the Holidays started.

*S*S*

"What is that?" Ron asked, pointing at the huge egg in the fire.

"Dragon egg. Got it off a guy at the Leaky Cauldron in a poker game." Hagrid handed them all scones hard enough to break their teeth. "It'll hatch soon, maybe after the holidays. Now what brings you three here on this snowy day?"

"We were in the library," Hermione said, dunking her scone in tea to try to soften it. "We were looking for information about Nicolas Flamel."

"What would you want with information about him?" Hagrid looked uneasy.

"We think he has something to do with Fluffy."

"You three aught to stay away from him." He pointed a finger at Elizabeth. "Your grandfather made it very clear that no one was supposed to go down that corridor."

*S*S*

Of course, all Hagrid's discomfort did was confirm that they were close to the truth. They'd gotten the Flamel idea from him anyway, during one of his awkward stumblings to avoid talking about Fluffy.

"Since you'll both be here," Hermione said over breakfast the first morning of the holiday, "You can look in the library for information about Nicholas Flamel."

"We've looked everywhere," Elizabeth protested.

"Not in the restricted section." Hermione finished her breakfast and headed out with the rest of the students to the train.

"Happy Christmas to us," Elizabeth mumbled into her eggs.

"Cheers, Mate." Ron said, drinking the last of his pumpkin juice.

*S*S*

Severus looked at his mother, who was sitting at one end of the sofa, almost jumping out of her skin. "Aren't children supposed to be up early on Christmas?" She asked. "The noise from my common room when I flooed in this morning was deafening."

Albus was eyeing the presents under the tree, then turned to his son with a look of realization. "Is it possible that your child has no idea what happens on Christmas morning? From what you've told me, she probably didn't have a happy Christmas."

Severus could have slapped himself in the head. Of course she didn't wake early on Christmas. But didn't she know that things would be different here? Apparently not.

"I'll be back." Severus went into Elizabeth's room to find his daughter fast asleep. He sat on the bed and shook her shoulder. "Elizabeth, wake up." She groaned and rolled over, but didn't wake. "Come on, lion, it's Christmas."

"Ten minutes."

Severus smirked. "I think you are supposed to ask for five more minutes. At least that's what is on the Muggle programs." He pulled her blankets back and shook her again. "Let's go, sleepy. Your grandfather is going to unwrap all your presents if you don't hurry."

"Not allowed to come out on Christmas." Elizabeth mumbled sleepily. "It's a family day."

Severus really was going to kill the Dursleys, just as soon as he could figure out how to get away with it. "Elizabeth, wake all the way up." He pulled the warm child out of bed and onto his lap. "It is a family day, my girl, which is why you need to wake up and come be with yours." Her face was buried in his the long sleeved T-shirt he'd put on that morning, and so he didn't understand the first mumble he heard.

"What did you say?" He set her away from him slightly.

"Is Professor Dumbledore out there?"

Severus sighed. "Yes. Although how you can put up with a whole dorm of screaming first years but still be afraid of your grandfather, I don't know." He helped her put on her glasses. "Come on, let's see what your grandmother decided fell under the category of 'practical gifts'."

He led her out and sat her on the sofa beside Minerva. "Happy Christmas," McGonagall wrapped her arms around the child. "Sleepy this morning?"

Elizabeth nodded and looked at Albus.

"We were waiting for you. It's present time!"

"Dad?" She looked at Severus who was sitting next to her. "Do we have breakfast on Christmas?"

Severus chuckled. "Let your grandfather play Santa Claus, and I'll order some food."

Soon, Elizabeth was surrounded by muffins, scones, and several bright colored packages. Albus was encouraging her to open one when a knock on the door revealed Remus.

"Elizabeth! I expected to see you covered in ribbons by now!" He settled the packages he was carrying on the coffee table.

"We've had a slow morning," Severus said. "Have a seat, we're staring at a terrified child right now, if you care to join."

"I'm not terrified, I'm overwhelmed."

"Where did you learn words like 'overwhelmed'?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Hermione."

"Open your gifts." Severus pushed one towards her. Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth prepared to unwrap her very first Christmas gift.

*S*S*

Severus smirked at his parents' characteristic overdoing of the holiday. He remembered his first Christmas after the adoption. He'd had presents before, his mother had always found a way, even though they had little money, but he'd never had gifts like Albus and Minerva had given him. Elizabeth seemed particularly taken with the miniature solar system Minerva had chosen, watching it turn in its globe until Remus lost his patience and pushed another gift into her hands. The adults in the room seemed to be the only ones acting like 11 year olds.

She was also distracted by the magical camera Severus had bought, taking pictures of everyone in the room and marveling at the moving photos that were produced. It led to a conversation about the difference between portraits and pictures, and another episode of frustrated Lupin handing her another gift.

"You could open something too," Elizabeth said as she unwrapped a sweater with a big "E" on it from Mrs. Weasley. She held it up for her father, who rolled his eyes before announcing that she would write a thank you note the next day. She put the sweater down and went back into her bedroom, appearing again with four presents in her arms. "Here. Now everyone can stop staring at me."

She should have known that they would not be distracted. They watched as she unwrapped the wizarding chess set from Albus. The pieces were delicate, silver and gold, crystal accents. "That belonged to my mother," Albus said softly.

"Thank you," Elizabeth managed a smile as she fingered the pieces.

From Remus, there was a box of photos of Lily and Severus as children. "Lily left these with me before she died," he said. "Some more I saved from your father's childish burning spree he went on after Lily "married" James." He looked at Severus who was looking over Elizabeth's shoulder. "I'm sorry, mate, I just knew you didn't really want to destroy them." Severus was quiet, but he put his arm around his daughter and watched with a look that could only be reverence as she looked through the photos.

"You were cute, Dad." Elizabeth grinned.

"I have never been 'cute', young lady." Severus found his voice again in the teasing. "And I never want to see you doing that particular stunt on your broom. At least until I'm dead and gone and can't have a heart attack." He pointed at a photo of a young Severus flipping upside-down and then letting go of the broom before grabbing it again at the last second.

"You have one more present," Albus handed her the last gift.

Elizabeth set the box of photos aside carefully, and unwrapped the gift Albus had handed her. As the paper fell away, Severus drew in a sharp breath. "Father!"

Elizabeth pulled what seemed to be a large piece of strange fabric from the package. She looked down at the fabric and dropped it suddenly when she realized that it had vanished her lap. She looked questioningly at Albus, who was carefully avoiding his son's glare. "It's an invisibility cloak. James Potter left it in my possession before he died, and I thought, since he had no children, that you should have it."

"Father! How could you give something like that to a child?"

Elizabeth looked from her father to Albus, eyes wide.

"It's perfectly safe, Severus."

"Perfectly safe until she falls asleep under it and we don't find her! Perfectly safe until she wanders into something she shouldn't! Any place you have to be invisible is a place were there's trouble!"

"Don't worry so, Sev."

"I'll worry however much I please, you crazy old man!"

Remus looked at Elizabeth's frantic expression. "Professors! You aren't alone right now."

Severus turned to his daughter, and seeing her face, put his arms around her. "We didn't mean to shout." He fingered the cloak. "I was just startled. There are very few of these cloaks in the world, and it is hardly a toy."

"I don't have to have it…" she looked up at him. "If you don't want me to."

Severus sighed. "It's not that. But you need to use it responsibly, understand? You may have it, but if you start using it to cause trouble, I'll keep it for you until you're of age."

*S*S*

"Student out of bed!" Filch's voice would have caused Invisible-Elizabeth to run down the corridor if the screaming book hadn't. She almost tripped over Mrs. Norris before almost throwing herself into the first room she found. Closing the door behind her, she cast lumos to look around, hoping not to find a multi-headed anything. It looked like a storage room. Upon closer examination, she discovered a huge mirror.

Stepping in front of the mirror, she whirled around, heart pounding, expecting to see her father standing behind her. Seeing, nothing, she turned back to the mirror, and then back around several times until she finally managed to convince herself that the Severus she saw in the mirror was not actually there with her.

Under closer scrutiny, there was something different about Mirror-Severus. He was… lighter, somehow. Happy. The man in the mirror put his arm around her shoulder, looking at her with pride. She was wearing a head girl badge. The Severus in the mirror was smiling, not smirking, but easily smiling.

She looked for a long time, thinking about going to get Ron. But in the end she decided that this was a Severus she wanted to keep for herself.

*S*S*

The next night she slipped out again and went back, sitting in front of the mirror.

On the third night, she was watching Mirror-Severus and herself when a voice broke her concentration.

"So— This is where you've been disappearing to, my explorer." She spun around to see Severus, sitting on a desk against the wall.

"I— I didn't see you, Dad."

"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you." He slipped off the desk to sit beside her on the floor. "So this is what you call responsible use of your cloak?"

Elizabeth blushed. "I just… I don't know."

Severus sighed. "You have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."

"I didn't know what it was called."

"But I expect you've realized by now that it does?"

"It… it shows…" She trailed off.

"What, Rosie?" Severus put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him.

Elizabeth laid her head against his shoulder. "You and me." She said softly. "You are really happy." She snuck a look at his face.

"What makes you think I'm not happy now?" Severus asked, just as softly.

"You weren't worrying or concerned. You were happy and proud of me…"

He shifted her to see her face. "You, my girl, make me so proud." He pulled her closer and rocked her back and forth. "You have your mother's heart, you know. And your Grandma Evans' mothering instinct."

"Mothering? I'm 11."

"How you always worry that I'm worried? That screams the first Elizabeth Evans." He smoothed her hair with his free hand. "She would have loved to have seen you grow up. She used to tell Lily that she needed to hurry up and give her a grandchild to spoil."

Elizabeth smiled shyly. "Professor Dumbledore says that I got your mind and your temper."

Severus smirked. "I can't take all the credit for your brain, because your mother was an exceedingly bright witch. And I'd love to blame your temper on her, but Albus is probably right. Lily's temper would spark hot and burn itself out quickly, but yours and mine…" he grimaced. "I seem to have passed on the ability to find a person's weak spot, stick your knife in, and twist." He smiled as she tucked her head under his chin. "That trait would have served you well in Slytherin, I have to say." He took a deep breath and pressed his lips together briefly. "However, your stealth wouldn't, since you seem to get caught every time you sneak out."

She ducked her head. "I'm sorry, Dad."

"About what?" Severus asked evenly, quirking an eyebrow.

"I know I'm not supposed to use the cloak to play around, but I had to look up something for Hermione, and then I found the mirror… and then I just really wanted to see it again."

"What could you possibly need to look up for Miss Granger?"

"Just stuff."

"Stuff?" Severus smirked. "Could it have been a thesaurus?" She blushed again. "So you were almost caught in the library, rest assured that we'll deal with the sneaking out later, and you ran across the Mirror."

"Yes, sir."

"Can you think what the mirror of Erised shows us all?" Severus asked, ever the teacher. When she shook her head, he went on. "Let me give you a hint. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror like a normal mirror. He would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?"

"It shows us what we want? Whatever we want?"

"Yes and no," Severus pulled her tighter as if trying to shield her from a cold wind. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never had someone to be proud of you see me feeling that way because you don't quite believe yet that I am proud of you." She opened her mouth to object, but he waved her into silence.

"I don't blame you. It's my fault for being out of your life for so long." He smoothed her hair. "You, my lion, are so attuned to the feelings of others, so you see me the way you wish I was all the time, outwardly happy. But know this," He looked into her eyes, "there is nothing in the world that makes me happier than you. You needn't worry that being your father gives me one moment of sadness."

Elizabeth nodded, tears pricking her eyes. "But it's not the future?"

"The mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible." He stood and helped her to her feet.

"Your grandfather is going to move the Mirror tomorrow, Elizabeth. I don't want you to go looking for it again. It doesn't do to dwell on dreams." Severus picked up the invisibility cloak from where it lay on the floor. "Let's get you back to bed. And in the morning you can explain to me why you were in the library to begin with." He gave her a pointed look and caused her to squirm before leading her back to their quarters.

*S*S*

"Dad?" Elizabeth stood in her doorway, eyeing him sleepily. "Why didn't you wake me up?"

Severus, sitting behind his desk, raised an eyebrow. "Do I, by chance, look like an alarm clock?" He crooked a finger at his child. "I thought I'd let you sleep in," he said when she reached his side. He pushed his chair away from the desk and sat her on his knee. "So. Is there anything you'd like to share with me? Perhaps about wandering the halls at night?"

"I didn't know the books would scream." Elizabeth leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

"What were you looking for?" Severus tightened his arms around her waist as he felt her stiffen. "Just relax." He rubbed her back. "Do I look angry?"

She looked quickly at his face, then shook her head into his chest. His robe was open, his black potions jacket felt warm against her cheek. "We're looking for information about Nicholas Flamel."

Severus was careful to not react with anything but calm. "Interested in Alchemy, are you?"

Elizabeth shrugged.

"Elizabeth, I'm perfectly willing to sit here and play twenty questions with you, but if it's going to be a very long game, I'm going to need tea."

"We think it has something to do with what Fluffy is hiding," Elizabeth said softly. She was tired of keeping the whole story a secret. At least whatever punishment he gave her would be over soon, and he was unlikely to kill her like Fluffy might.

"Fluffy?"

"Hagrid's dog," Elizabeth mumbled into her lap. "The one with three heads."

"I'm going to need some tea," Severus sighed. And maybe some firewhiskey. "Let's move this to the sofa. You need to eat some breakfast, and I need to have something in my hands other than your neck when you tell me how you know that monster's name…and anything else associated with… Fluffy."

*S*S*

"Let me make sure I have this perfectly clear," Severus said tightly, gripping his teacup. "You accepted a duel, with a child who has been around magic his whole life, who is the son of a man who uses Dark magic a dozen times before breakfast. However, you did not actually participate in this duel, but instead ended up in the only section of this castle expressly forbidden by your Grandfather and myself. Which, I suppose, explains your lack of surprise when you found me there on Halloween, or how you knew to look there to begin with."

He scowled. "Then, you and your dunderheaded friends decided it was your business to find out why an incredibly dangerous creature you'd found in this forbidden area was in the castle. In pursuit of this, you ended up sneaking out, into the restricted section of the library, were almost caught, and found yet another dangerous object which you continue to seek out for two more nights, using the cloak I expressly forbid you to use for trouble. Did I leave anything out?"

Hagrid has a dragon egg, Elizabeth thought, but she didn't want to get the half-giant in trouble. "No, sir."

Severus rubbed a hand over his face. "Look very hard at my hair, Elizabeth. Is it gray yet?"

Elizabeth took the toast he handed her and took a bite, assuming that the question was rhetorical.

Severus sat back on the sofa and pondered his daughter's adventures.

"Dad?" Elizabeth had eaten her toast and was looking at him. He silently opened his arms and she climbed into them.

"You, my child, are going to be the death of me. I can't imagine living to age 40, with you taking 10 years off my life every few days."

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth grimaced.

"You should be. Taking my life like that." Severus sighed. He'd done that more since he'd met his daughter than ever before.

"Do you know what the dog is hiding?"

Severus smirked. "Of course I do. But I think I'll let you work that out on your own." He smirked at her groan. "I'll give you a hint, however. The book you need is not in the Restricted Section. So stay out. Clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"And next time you're out after curfew, cloak or no, it's going to be mine until you turn of age."

"Yes, sir."

"And the item hidden in this castle is not something you should try to retrieve. It is very well protected, and it will stay that way."

"Yes, sir."

"Now go get dressed while I try to determine how long you are going to be grounded." He set her on her feet. "I'm going to have to look up the formula for restriction. I believe there is a variable for how many years removed from your father's life."

"Yes, sir." Elizabeth hurried back to her room and shower and dress. She wasn't at all fazed by her father's threat. She knew that she might very well end up grounded for awhile over this, but she also knew how much her father valued truth. It was just as likely that he would let her off with only a few more hours of scolding.

When she returned in jeans and her Gryffindor sweater, found him sitting at his desk. "What are you doing?" She asked, standing at his side.

"I'm calculating," Severus teased, looping his arm around her waist. "I think you owe me six years of restriction. If you play your cards right," he smirked, "you'll be out by graduation."

"Dad…"

"Fine, have it your way." Severus tossed his quill onto the desk. "Three Saturdays chopping ingredients and cleaning the lab. We'll call it even."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"I should hope so," Severus kissed her forehead. "Are you planning on entertaining Mr. Weasley today?"

"We were going to go visit Hagrid."

"Stay out of trouble, please. I can only spare about 20 more years." Severus released her and patted her on the hip. "And wear a cloak. A regular one."

"Yes, sir." She kissed his cheek. "It isn't fair that you made me trade a fake grounding for detention, you know."

"What makes you think that it was a fake grounding?"

"You wouldn't ground me for 6 years."

"I would if I thought it would help keep you and me from an early death." He gestured to the door. "Now go away. I have work to do."

Grinning at him, the dark haired child sprinted through the door, cloak in hand.

Severus drummed his fingers on the table. So Trouble knows about the Stone… or at least sort of about the Stone. Of course, if I had to choose between Quirrell or Elizabeth stealing it…