Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as those words reached her ears, for that particular phrase only signaled bad news. And considering the lack of a good tongue lashing from the potion's master when she entered less than five minutes ago, she figured she had a reason to have such an overwhelming feeling.

"I believe this would be easier if you had a seat child." Severus stated, pulling Elizabeth from her musings. Gradually the young Slytherin closed the gap between her and the man that raised her, and it wasn't long until she sunk into the soft leather chair that faced the professor.

"S-so what do you want to talk about?" Elizabeth asked after a few moments of silence passed between them.

"I believe it might be best if we discuss my behavior over the past few days." Severus replied, Elizabeth cocking an eyebrow in surprise. It was unusual for the normally private man to be so open about his actions.

"Alright." Elizabeth agreed as she felt some of the dread slowly evaporate from her being.

"First of all there are some things you need to understand, Elizabeth." Severus began as he folded his hands in his lap. "You must understand that this is not easy for me. I cannot simply forget all those years of hatred toward the boy in just a short amount of time. . . . "

"However, you can't take forever to get over it either." Elizabeth interrupted as she thought back to the conversation she had had with Harry in the hallway. "It's not one of those things you can forget about, it won't go away. He'll always be there."

"Elizabeth, you're making this difficult." Severus said, annoyance lacing his tone, apparently he didn't enjoy being interrupted.

"How am I making this difficult father?" Elizabeth questioned as she looked him dead in the eyes. "I am not the one that refuses to move forward, to accept the fact that Harry is a part of this family. That's all you're doing. I understand that the transition may be difficult for you, dad, but you've dealt with much harder things in your life other than being a father to a teenager."

"You are not considering the risks.!" Severus shouted causing Elizabeth to jump several centimeters off her seat.

"The risk of becoming a potential target for the Dark Lord?" Elizabeth questioned as she attempted to regain some control over her heartbeat "Or is there some risk that I am unaware of? Because as far I know there is already a target on both of our backs so I doubt it matters.

Severus couldn't help but stare at Elizabeth as she gazed into the roaring fire that bathed the room with warmth. Silently, Severus mulled over Elizabeth's persistence on the topic that was Harry Potter. It was becoming clear to him that there was something being withheld from him, something that must have been important, especially if Elizabeth was reacting the way she was.

"Elizabeth is there anything you are not telling me?" Severus asked after what felt like a decade of silence.

"W-what do you mean?" Elizabeth stammered as she redirected her gaze toward her father.

"I mean is there anything I should know about?" Severus elaborated impatiently, carefully observing the array of different emotions that crossed his daughter's face.

"Yeah, but you wouldn't believe me if I told you." Elizabeth said solemnly as she finally tore her gaze away from the fire, "I mean, why would you, you're too busy with the war that's going on around and inside you to actually listen to what I have to say? Look at the conversation we just had, I can imagine it's tough Dad, but what if Harry had it much tougher, harder than a battle within one's self or with the Dark Lord?"

"What are you getting at?" Severus asked cautiously, despite the fact that he had a strong feeling of where this was headed.

"The real reason I've been shoving the topic of Harry at you is not because I just want you to shove everything aside, but because he needs help." Elizabeth stated "Dad, Harry's being abused."

Elizabeth's statement was met by silence. Judging by the look on her father's face, that was the last thing he had been expecting her to say. Maybe that will help him make up his mind Elizabeth thought to herself as she sat and watched the numerous emotions flash across her father's ebony eyes.

"You're positive?" Severus asked moments later, his voice soft and full of disbelief.

"Yes." Elizabeth replied "He told me the day we found out he was your son, but I had some suspicion before then."

"Are you the only one that knows this?" Severus inquired.

"As far as I know, I am the only one he has told here at the school." Elizabeth answered, "However there is the possibility that he tried to tell someone before."

"And they did nothing to prevent it?" Severus asked, his tone faltering between uncaring teacher and protective father, but it was unclear which side was winning.

"By the way Harry spoke no one did anything to help him." Elizabeth answered quietly. "And in the conversation we just had he believed that I was avoiding him because I didn't care, but I told him otherwise."

"It's quite evident" Severus said. "Now, if you don't mind I need some time to think Elizabeth."

"Not at all." Elizabeth answered as she slowly rose from the chair; making her way to the door and into the hallway, more than happy to get away from the uncomfortable conversation she had gotten herself into.

"But it's for Harry's benefit." Elizabeth told herself quietly as she made her way to the common room. "Even if he kills me for telling."

XXX

Severus stared transfixed at the door his daughter had departed through; the conversation they had just finished starting to sink in deeper and deeper. Slowly as everything began to settle he allowed the half of him that wanted to care take over, he was going to be the parent the boy needed, he was going to step up and be the one person Harry needed.

'The change is going to be gradual' Severus thought to himself as he finally tore his gaze from the door. 'There would be too much suspicion if I altered my behavior toward Harry too quickly, and that in any case would be disastrous for all of us.'

Author's notes: I am not a huge fan of this chapter, but it was really important to have the fact that Elizabeth actually told her father what was happening in Harry's life considering how conflicted Severus was with the idea that Harry was his son