Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Severus stared incredulous at the paper in front of him. It was no secret the Ministry was uncooperative, he learned that lesson when he fought for a premature Elizabeth after her mother had died, but this was ridiculous. For the fifth time that morning, the Potions' master re-read the letter, as if he wanted to make sure it was real.

Mr. Snape

I am sorry to inform you that your request for the adoption and legal parentage forms pertaining to one Harry Potter has been denied based on the recommendation of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Your request may be fulfilled at a later dated pending the evaluation we will receive from your employer in the next few weeks.

Wishing you the best of luck, the Department of Wizarding Child Services.

Severus threw the letter down with complete hatred. He would have never guessed that the headmaster would do something like that to him of all people. He had been the most loyal to the old man over the years, he had never questioned the choices Albus had made, he hadn't argued when it came to spying on his previous master; he had given up almost everything he had to please the man only to be repaid like this.

With an annoyed huff, Severus laid his head upon his folded arms. The only sound the head of Slytherin could hear was the rushing of blood in his ears as his heart pumped furiously as he attempted to get his temper under control.

"Dad?" Elizabeth's voice rang out several moments later causing the usually alert man to startle. Her normally composed and somewhat gleeful face was down cast and disappointed as she held the letter he had dropped in her hand. The letter was now crumpled and appeared torn where her nails had dug right through the thick parchment.

"This can't be for real, can it?" Elizabeth asked as she waved the letter in the air. "What does that man want from you? He seemed perfectly fine with the fact Harry was yours weeks ago!" Elizabeth was practically shouting at the end of the sentence, but Severus couldn't blame her, he was upset too. They had taken one step forward on the road to having Harry with them, just to be shoved back three.

"I'm afraid it is." Severus replied quietly as he leaned back against his office chair.

"But why?" Elizabeth asked as she slumped somewhat defeated into the hard backed chair in front of his desk.

"Honey, there are many things you don't know about the Wizarding world. When Harry's 'parents' died Albus became his Ministry approved guardian. If I were to fill out the legal parentage and adoption papers, and they were processed, then he would no longer be in control of Harry." Severus's voice was even and controlled, just like when he taught his lessons.

"So he doesn't really care about what happens to Harry then." Elizabeth stated as she locked eyes with her father. "And as long as Harry is still physically capable of defeating Voldemort, that's all that really matters?"

"Essentially, yes." Severus answered.

"What do I tell Harry then?" Elizabeth's voice had dropped so low the Severus had to struggle to hear it.

"At the moment, nothing. And until I get this mess with Albus straightened out don't tell him anything. I don't want him worrying like he is prone to do."

HP

Despite the sun shining through the glass and the roaring fire in the hearth, Harry was still cold as he sat upon the window seat. He was still thinking over what Elizabeth had told him. To him it just seemed so surreal; he had never really known someone who had loved him for simply being himself. Sure there were a few people who took time to get to know the real him, but that didn't mean they liked what they saw. All that matter was that he was the Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry sighed as he leaned his forehead against the cold glass making him shiver. He had no idea what to do. In all honesty he wanted to believe Elizabeth. In the span of three months, she accomplished more than anyone else that had aided him in the ten years he had been in school. However, there was that part of him that still trusted no one.

He had been let down so many times it seemed hopeless, but there was just something about this time that was different: he had somewhere to go, and someone who wanted him. He would actually get the love he had so desperately craved all those years, he wouldn't be hurt, or bullied, or be forced to do things that were impossible to accomplish with just one person. He would actually have the parent he had needed, wanted, and wished for since he began school.

He was so close to leaving the Dursleys', he could almost taste it. But there was something at the back of his mind that kept him from celebrating. There had to be a catch somewhere, nothing was ever that simple for him, never.

EB

Elizabeth's mind was racing as she stared at the wall across from her seat on the common room's black leather couch. It was beginning to seem that saving Harry was becoming more and more impossible. At every turn there seemed to be another obstacle that was more challenging than the next. This time was no different, well almost; this time they had their father on their side. And she knew Severus would be damned if he let the headmaster stand in his way this time.

After all, Harry wasn't some potion that her dad could cook up at home because it was illegal to make inside the school. No, Harry was a real person, a person made of bone, flesh, and blood, and when it came to people, the Potions' Master usually tended to over step his ground.

After what seemed like hours of contemplating, Elizabeth pulled herself together and headed out of the common room. She didn't know where she was going but hoped that a nice walk could help clear her head.

Elizabeth allowed her feet to take her along the numerous corridors she had come to memorize after all the years she had spent there. It seemed as though hours had passed without any type of human interaction for her, though she didn't quite care or even realize it until she ran into someone, literally.

With a rather hard thud Elizabeth fell to the ground, pain shooting through her palms and up her arms as she tried to soften her landing.

"Watch where you're going snake." Snapped a voice she had come to hate over the summer.

"Why don't you do the same Weasel." Elizabeth hissed as she pushed herself to her feet, rubbing her palms on her jeans as an attempt to soothe away the pain.

"This is Gryffindor territory." Ron spat, his ears turning a brilliant maroon.

"And that justifies you being a jerk?" Elizabeth questioned as she stared at the boy who towered a good six inches above her. "Oh, wait; you're always one of those."

"Watch it." Ron gritted through his teeth, making Elizabeth smile. The door to the common room was open now, and a good portion of the Gryffindor house was there, including Harry.

"Or What? What are you going to do to me?" Elizabeth asked innocently as she stared at her less than favorite Gryffindor. "Make me watch you attempt to make a potion, because I agree that is a torturous sight to see."

"You're just a pathetic little girl who gets in the way."

A pang ran through Elizabeth's chest. Now that one hurt, but she wasn't going to admit it. Instead she smiled and looked towards Harry who stood in the doorway, his emerald eyes wide.

"At least I don't forget my best friend." Ron's face deflated as he stared at her with disbelief. Everyone that stood in the doorway gasped. For a moment Elizabeth locked eyes with Harry, before she turned and walked away. Slowly she made her way downstairs to the safety of the dungeons; at least there she wouldn't have to worry if anyone saw her wasn't really paying attention to anything that was going on. Instead he remained perched on the window seat, reading 'Quidditch Through The Ages'. Ron and Hermione had tried to engage him in several conversations, but he didn't feel like talking. After what seemed like days, Ron had finally abandoned him, much to his relief.

Of course he enjoyed his friends, but ever since he had learned he had slipped there mind, he just wanted his space until he could figure everything out. For a moment, Harry peaked over the top of his book and watched his 'best' friend leave. However, before he could return to mindlessly gazing at the pages, Ron's voice rang out from the corridor.

What little chatter that was going on in the common room ceased and moved closer to hear what was being said. Harry refused to join let alone look at them, that was until he heard Elizabeth. Quickly the seeker jumped from his place and tossed the book down. By the time he reached the portrait hole, it was already open and the scene rapidly unfolding before the eyes of the onlooker.

Everyone could see that Ron was taller than Elizabeth, but she wasn't going to back down, a fact that made Harry proud.

"You're just a pathetic little girl who gets in the way." Ron yelled. Harry felt a pang run through his chest as his friend did so.

'If he could think that about Elizabeth, what does he think about me?' Harry thought as he watched the argument before him. For a brief second, he noticed a flash of pain in his sister's eyes, but all she did was smile and retort "At least I don't forget my best friend."

Ron's anger deflated, and he looked defeated, but the damage was already done. Quickly Elizabeth took off down the stairs, and Harry waited just long enough for Ron to see her leave, before he shoved his way through the crowd.

"How can you call yourself a Gryffindor if you don't take the time to act like one?" Harry asked, his voice evenly coated with anger and disappointment. Ron was dumbfounded, but Harry didn't care. Ron should have known better, after all this was not the first time they had had that particular conversation. With one final glare, Harry took off after Elizabeth, leaving a group of his housemates staring after him.

EB

Elizabeth took two stairs at a time as she hurriedly made her way back to the safety of the dungeons. The tears that had formed in her eyes began to flow, but luckily everyone was enjoying the pleasant fall weather so there was no danger of being spotted.

Weasley would never really know just how much his comment had affected her. It was the way Dumbledore had put it when Severus confronted him after she had ran after Harry. Even though her father had assured her that her birth had nothing to do with Harry's livening situation, she still felt somewhat responsible.

As Elizabeth descended the stairs to the Entrance Hall she stopped. There was no way she was going to confront her dad like this. He had too much on his plate as it was, and having her burst into his office while in tears wouldn't do either one of them a bit of good.

Instead, she planted herself on the second to last step of the staircase. Her wonderful idea to clear her head had backfired. In the last few hours she had not accomplished anything. Elizabeth paid no real attention to anything as she traced the pattern of the stone that was under her.

"He can be a real jerk sometimes." Harry said softly.

"I kind of figured that out." Elizabeth sighed as she wiped her eyes on the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry." Harry whispered as he took the spot next to her. Quietly, Elizabeth moved closer and leaned against him, her head resting upon his shoulder. Harry tensed for a few moments, he was unfamiliar with the idea and the sensation that something, someone, wanted him to offer comfort. But as time passed, Harry relaxed and wrapped his arm around his little sister's shoulders.

For that brief period of time, all of the bad feelings, ideas, and memories seemed non-existent. All that mattered to him was Elizabeth. A small smile crept onto Harry's face as Elizabeth's arms slowly wound themselves around his middle. Harry had to admit that being a big brother was one of the best feelings in the world.