A/N: This is the sequel to "The Memory Protection Charm." Read it first, or you'll get lost later on. Please REVIEW!

Chapter One:

"LIIIIIIIZ-EEEEEEEEEE!"

He ran through the winding halls, frantically calling her name. Small girlish giggles sounded through the door to the Potions classroom. He froze in the hallway, putting an ear to the door. Muffled squeaks, followed by more giggles. He burst through the door, anger showing on every inch of his pale, lean face. He stood towering above her, his anger filling the room, tension so thick it could be sliced through like butter.

"Elizabeth Ann Snape!"

Four-year-old Elizabeth cowered under her father's gaze. Severus' face softened. He leaned down, and picked up a large ball of orange fur off the desk in front of his daughter. Sighing heavily, he knelt in front of the sniffling four-year-old Snape.

"Love, didn't I tell you not to play magic on mummy's cat?" he asked gently.

"But da-a-ddy!" the little girl whined, sticking out her bottom lip and looking at him through her thick black lashes.

The effect of this simple act on her father was instant. He virtually melted. Snape's face relaxed into a soft smile, he shook his head and winked at his small daughter before standing up to carry the cat to safety.

"Oh, No!" a stern voice called from the doorway.

Snape froze. He slowly turned, facing the twenty-six year old woman standing in the doorway. Her curly, honey colored hair was pulled back, revealing narrowed cinnamon eyes. Snape stared into the face of his wife, Hermione Ann Granger Snape, apologetically grinning.

"You will not let her get away that easy! No fatherly smile and wink this time, Professor!" Hermione seethed, making Snape wince at her addressing him formally, as she only did when very angry.

"But, love, she was only-"

"Only torturing my cat!" Hermione shrieked. "I'm tired of being the 'mean mummy'! It's your turn!" She glared at him, waiting.

Snape sighed, turning to the dark ringlets and deep brown eyes of his daughter. She scrunched up her nose, a smaller version of her mother's (for which Snape thanked Merlin daily), and narrowed her eyes at him, putting her hands on her hips in an uncanny impression of her mother. Snape couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter, causing Hermione to throw her hands up in defeat behind him and stalk out of the hall. Snape knelt down to his daughter's level, and whispered t her.

"Let's not make mummy mad today, she's had a long day at work. And no more playing with Crookshanks! He's getting old."

"Ok, daddy!" Elizabeth smiled. She took her father's hand and he led her out of the Potions classroom, her black curls bouncing as she skipped next to him, chattering about turning Professor McGonagall's hat green at breakfast that morning with her "daddy's magicked wand."

"Severus, can I have a word?"

Severus turned to see Albus Dumbledore heading towards him. He stopped and pulled Elizabeth up in his arms, balancing her on his hip. Albus smiled at the little girl.

"Hello, Lizzie."

"Hello, Pwofessor Dubbledoor."

"Close enough, "Albus chuckled, "Severus, where is your beautiful wife?"

"Most likely fuming in our quarters, throwing various pots around the kitchen." Severus answered guiltily.

"She got a hold of the cat again didn't she?" Albus asked, tilting his head at Elizabeth.

"It was somewhat larger when it finally escaped."

"If you could just figure out how she gets a hold of your wand! Well, I must go find Hermione. Don't wear him out too much, Lizze!" Albus twinkled, walking away from the pair.

"I will Pwofessor Dubbledoor!" Elizabeth giggled.

"What would you like to do, Love? We have an hour left before dinner." Severus said.

"Fly! I wanna fly, daddy!" Elizabeth begged, squirming out of his arms and running down the halls.

"Lizze, No! Don't you dare, you know what happened last time!" Snape called, chasing after her.

"Mr. Hagwid caught me!" she protested.

"More like he broke your fall." Severus muttered, catching his daughter and sweeping her up to his shoulders, he headed for the grounds.

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"The nerve of that man!" Hermione hissed to herself, slamming a kettle onto the stove of the small kitchenette in her quarters. "Honestly, that poor cat!"

"Professor Granger." Albus greeted her, stepping through the door.

"Hello, Albus. Care for some tea?" Hermione muttered distractedly.

"Yes, dear, but we must talk."

"Of course Albus, I know I put those cups somewhere!" Hermione was muttering, digging through cupboards.

"Try the left one."

Hermione pulled out two cups from the left cupboard. She turned, tapped the kettle with her wand. Steam flew from it and it whistled as she filled the cups. Staring at the old man with annoyance, she handed him a cup.

"I will figure out how you do that one day." she muttered, sitting at the table across from him.

"Hermione, Voldemort has been inactive for over a year now." Albus started, staring into his cup.

"Yes, and you're extremely worried because he no longer believes Severus' marriage to me was to gain information from the Order, correct?" Hermione sighed.

"Always a step ahead." Albus beamed at her.

"So what's new?"

"Well, I didn't want to tell Severus yet, as I know how protective he is, I don't think he'll handle it well…" he trailed off.

"Handle what, Albus?" Hermione asked, loosing patience.

"Voldemort has taken an interest to Elizabeth."