Severus was sitting in his armchair, enjoying his morning coffee, savoring the quiet of the Saturday morning when the portrait opened and Elizabeth, dressed in Quidditch robes.

"Elizabeth? Is practice over already?" Severus put down his copy of The Daily Prophet.

"Yep." She sat down on the sofa.

Severus frowned. "Did something happen?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Oliver on, and then when we got ready to practice, guess who came by?"

"Are you really expecting me to guess?" Severus' frown deepened.

"No," Elizabeth snapped. "I'll tell you. It was the Slytherin team invading our pitch."

"Your pitch?" Severus raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea you owned a pitch."

"Dad! We booked it!"

"Then why didn't you ask them to come back?"

Elizabeth clenched her teeth. "Because they had a note!"

"What note?"

"A note from you! Saying they had permission to practice!"

Severus bit back a smile. "Did the note say when they had permission?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "What does it matter?"

"Because, my mouthy child, if the note merely said that they had permission to practice today, then you could have asked them to return later in the day."

"You wrote the stupid thing," Elizabeth grumbled, "You should know."

"Elizabeth Rose, if you can't speak civilly, you can go to your room until you can manage it." Severus said sternly. "I understand that you are irritated because you had to get up early and you were outmaneuvered by the Slytherins. Perhaps you need a nap. But you need to learn to control your tone when you speak to me."

"Yes, sir." Elizabeth looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry." She dug her toe into the floor. "Did you know Draco joined the team?"

Severus sighed. "Of course. I'm aware of 99 percent of what goes on in my House." He looked at his daughter. "Does that bother you?"

"No," Elizabeth mumbled into her lap.

"Elizabeth." Severus put his coffee down. "Does that bother you?"

Elizabeth shrugged.

"I do not read shrugs."

"He's mean," Elizabeth said quietly. "Quidditch is the one place I don't have to see him."

"We've talked about Draco," Severus said firmly. "I know he can be unpleasant, but you are going to meet lots of people in your life who are unpleasant."

"He called Hermione a mudblood," she whispered.

Severus tensed. "When?"

"At practice." Elizabeth decided to leave out the part where Ron tried to curse Malfoy and ended up puking slugs in Hagrid's hut.

Severus pressed his lips together. "I'll take care of it."

*S*S*

"Mr. Malfoy join me in my office." Severus stood in the Slytherin common room, robes swirling in his personal windstorm.

Draco's face became even more pinched. "Why?"

Severus' face darkened. "Mr. Malfoy, I'm sure you didn't just ask your Head of House why you should follow a direct order."

Draco made a three second attempt at defiance… but his self-preservation instinct finally clicked in. "No, sir." He followed Snape into the office, where the Professor snapped the door shut behind them.

Severus pointed to a chair in front of his desk. "Sit," he ordered. He walked around the desk and stood, hands clasped behind his back, and regarded his student. He'd thought about how best to impart his message to the blond child, knowing it would be a very different conversation from the one he'd had with his daughter. All Severus had needed to say to Elizabeth was that calling someone that name was horrible and would hurt people's feelings.

Draco, however, had been raised by Lucius, who celebrated the ability to hurt those around him. Especially those he thought to be less than him.

"It came to my attention that you were a disgrace to the Slytherin name this morning," he began quietly.

Draco's eyes snapped to his. "I don't know what you're talking about," he hissed in a voice that reminded Severus of Lucius when they were in school.

"Spare me, Mr. Malfoy. I've known you since you were born. Even if I hadn't, I'd still be able to tell when you were lying. You wear your emotions all over your face," leveled his best glare at the boy. He paced slowly behind the desk.

"Do you know why I hate that word?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Sir—

"Don't you dare ask me which word, Draco Lucius Malfoy."

Draco dropped his eyes to the floor.

"I do not repeat myself, young man. Answer the question."

"Using common words shows a lack of vocabulary and therefore a lack of intelligence," Draco recited quietly.

"That is certainly true." Severus nodded once. "However, that merely impugns your vocabulary. My greater concern is your serious lack of judgment in creating an enemy that could be useful in the future." He held up a hand to stay Draco's protest. "Silence. Muggle born or not, Miss Granger is a gifted witch." He put his hands on the desk and leaned forward. "A Slytherin knows how to keep their emotions in check, Draco. Manipulation is only successful if you can stand on bridges you would have liked to burn."

Draco flushed. "Like you attempted to manipulate my father?" His grey eyes looked up on Severus and the older wizard saw something… redeemable in them.

"Draco," he sat in his chair. "Your father and I have a very complicated past. He's made choices that I don't support. We both made mistakes, but I'm attempting to come back from them."

Draco dug his toe into the stone floor. "I can't be nice to her… he won't forgive me."

Severus sighed. "It's time for you to decide what kind of man you will be, Draco." He flexed his hands. "I spent much of the past 12 years trying to distance you from the Dark as much as possible, but you will not be a child for much longer."

"You used to pay attention to me," Draco muttered. "Before you had your own kid."

Severus closed his eyes briefly. "Draco," he pushed his chair away from the desk. "Come here."

Draco shuffled over, and Severus grasped his wrists.

"Draco, your father has such hatred for me that we're lucky he didn't have you transferred to Hufflepuff," Draco shuddered and Severus smirked. "But while I doubt I'll be invited to Malfoy family dinners, I am still your Head of House. If you need me, I'm here. No matter what. Understand?"

Draco nodded. "Mum fancies you, so I think you might be invited back yet." He smiled a little.

Severus snorted. "I have absolutely no comment on your mother." He stood and pulled Draco briefly to his chest. "That word escapes your lips again and you will scrub cauldrons until your fingers fall off, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Now go."

Draco went to the portrait before looking back. "He doesn't know my middle name, you know," he said quietly. "It's his name. My mother named me after him. And he can't remember it."

Severus regarded him quietly. "It's the kind of man he is, Draco," he said finally. "Remember that when you are choosing your path."

Draco nodded and turned again to the portrait.

"Mr. Malfoy," Severus said again. Draco turned back. "Please pass on my pleasure to the Quidditch team for their excellent use of my note," he said. "Both defensive and offensive in the same breath."

Draco smiled almost shyly. "Thank you, Sir. I will."

Severus stood watching the portrait until in closed. Ten years of spying had made him close to the Malfoy family. Ten years of Death Eater meetings had also meant ten years of watching Draco grow up. For those ten years, Severus was sure that the blond boy was the closest thing he would have to a son. He'd done his best to keep Draco from fully succumbing to the Dark. He'd done everything he could to protect the child without exposing himself.

But Lucius' power was strong. Severus knew that better than anyone. He had hoped that when Draco came to Hogwarts, he would have more time to make the child into a follower of the Light, but Elizabeth's arrival had shifted his focus. It didn't occur to Severus that Draco would miss his father figure. The child had always been so strong, hiding any issue under a pompous attitude and hair gel.

Severus sighed. Giving Draco advice on how to be a man, he scolded himself. What kind of man just abandons a child like that?

He's not my child, he reasoned. He has a mother and a father. Of course, his father is a murdering psychopath… but would I want someone going behind my back to raise my child in a way that they saw fit?

Lucius hadn't let the Death Eater meetings die after Voldemort's demise. Severus always suspected that the older man had half-welcomed the Dark Lord's death. It meant that he could rise from servant to master.

When Draco was 5, Lucius had brought him to a meeting and tried to initiate him to the circle by having him strangle a kitten. Draco, for all his bluster, couldn't understand what his father wanted him to do, hugging the kitten and looking at Lucius for affirmation.

Frustrated and embarrassed, Lucius had snapped the pet's neck himself and, when Draco cried, ordered Severus to punish him since he couldn't, as he put it, "dirty his hands" punishing such a weak child.

Severus had snatched up the child and taken him to Hogwarts, where he barricaded the floo and sat for a long time with the sobbing boy on his lap.

At the time, Severus had owned an old black cat named Prince. After Draco had stopped crying, Severus cleaned him up and set the child in his armchair and placed the cat in his lap. Prince was at an age that he didn't care what was going on around him, and so he let Draco hug him.

Severus sat on the ottoman and talked softly to the young wizard. "Prince likes children who are very careful," he stroked Prince's fur, and Draco copied him with his smaller hand.

"Can we take the kitten to the doctor?" Draco asked after a while.

Severus shook his head. "Your father wasn't gentle, Draco." He'd never forget the crestfallen look in the child's eyes.

"Soft," Draco whispered, almost to himself.

It was 3 days before Lucius asked Severus for his son. When Severus brought him home, it was almost painful to watch the child throw himself at his father and be rebuffed. "Decorum, Draco."

*S*S*

"Miss Evans, I need to speak with you," Lockhart's voice made her stomach turn, but she stopped.

"Yes, Sir?"

Her professor was flashing his winning smile. "I've decided, Miss Evans, that you need guidance." He ran his hand through his hair as if he were at a photo shoot. "I'm not about to let you fall through the cracks."

"Sir?" Elizabeth looked around, but there was no one to save her.

"You could really be something, you know. Make something of yourself." He smiled again. "But that last test score was a disappointment." He contorted his face into what he thought was a stern expression. "So I've decided that a bit of detention might modify your attitude about studying. You might not think this subject is important, but there is evil in the world whether you know it or not."

Elizabeth felt like vomiting. I don't know that there is evil in the world? She fumed.

"Eight o'clock sharp," Lockhart said, patting Elizabeth on the arm. "That's a good girl." He turned and was gone down the corridor before she could say anything.

Elizabeth sighed. She had detention already, from the car incident, and while Severus hadn't been making her cut potions ingredients or scrub cauldrons, she still needed to be in their living space after dinner. She was going to have to tell him about Lockahrt.

Severus was sitting at his desk in his office when she came in, staring at the parchment on his desk.

"Dad?" She shut the portrait, but received no response. "Dad?"

Severus' head snapped up. "Elizabeth! You startled me."

"I called you twice," she said, looking at him like he'd lost his mind.

"I was working," he stood up and wrapped his arms around her.

"Dad?" Elizabeth looked up at him. "Are you okay?"

"Did the Dursleys have pets?"

"Yeah," Elizabeth answered slowly, not sure where this was coming from. "A cat named Kitty." She laughed. "Aunt Petunia wasn't very creative."

"Were you nice to that cat?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Dudley used to pull her tail, but sometimes she got locked in the cupboard with me."

Severus pulled her tighter.

"Dad? What's going on?"

"Nothing," Severus willed himself to release her, but couldn't seem to do it. "Just a long day."

"It's Saturday."

"I know," Severus smiled ruefully.

Elizabeth bit her lip. Even if she didn't expect him to get her out of the Lockhart nightmare, she had to tell him about the detention.

"Elizabeth?" He looked at her. "Did you come down for a reason?"

"I can't come down?" She asked, feigning hurt.

Severus rolled his eyes. "You know that's not what I meant. You don't usually come into the office if you don't need something."

She swallowed. "Dad, you have to get me out of detention."

"Detention?" Severus raised his eyebrows. "What did you do to get detention?"

She pulled away from him so she could pout more effectively. "Lockhart says—

"Professor Lockhart," Severus corrected.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Professor Lockhart says that since I failed that test I have detention tonight at 8."

"He's going to give you study help?" Severus opened the portrait to their quarters and motioned for her to go through.

"I dunno. I guess. He says I need to make something of myself."

Severus frowned, but didn't comment.

"You have to get me out of this!"

"I don't have to do anything of the kind," Severus said firmly. "I don't reverse other teachers' decisions. You didn't read carefully, and regardless of how you feel about a teaching style, it doesn't excuse your lack of study." He straightened his robes. "If Professor Lockhart assigns detentions for failing grades, then you have earned a detention."

"Dad!"

Severus held up a hand against her protests. "You will respect the rules and procedures of all the teachers at this institution or you will find yourself in detention more often than you'd like." He opened the door, shooing her into the corridor. "Come back here when Professor Lockhart releases you," he said following her before closing the door. "You'll stay the night, and we'll have breakfast in the morning."

*S*S*

"You can address the envelopes!" Lockhart said, pointing to a chair next to his desk.

"I thought I you were going to help me study—

Lockhart clicked his tongue. "Study? I have a far more valuable lesson to impart to you tonight, young attention-seeker." He flourished his name on a photo of himself from the stack on the desk. "I'm here to show you just a taste of fame. Something that you will never have for yourself if you don't study."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and started addressing envelopes, barely listening as Lockhart's voice washed over her. On and on the lecture went about fame and celebrity. The time crept by, endless, miserable time.

And then she heard something. A cold voice. Almost a hiss.

"Come… come to me… let me rip you… let me tear you… let me kill you…"

"What was that?" She asked sharply, interrupting Lockhart's drone.

"Sorry?" Lockhart looked puzzled. "What?"

"That— that voice," she looked around. "Didn't you hear it?"

"What?" Lockhart said again, looking at the clock. "Goodness! Look at the time! It's almost midnight! You must be a bit drowsy."

He ushered her out of the room and shut the door after her, leaving the girl alone in the corridor.

She paused, but didn't hear anything else. Shaking her head as if she was trying to get something out of her ears, she trotted down to the dungeons and through the portrait to her quarters.

The living room was empty, but Elizabeth knew that Severus wouldn't have gone to sleep without making sure she'd come home.

"Dad?" She knocked on his bedroom door.

"Come in, hatchling." Severus was sitting on his bed, reading an old looking book. He glanced at the beside clock. "It's late. I trust you got some studying done?"

Elizabeth made a face. "He made me help with his fan mail for 4 hours."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "That seems less like a punishment than I'd like."

"Oh don't worry," she huffed at the floor. "It sucked."

"You know I don't like that word," Severus scolded mildly. "Come here." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and waited until she was in front of him. "Breakfast will be served at 9, and I've invited a guest."

"Who?"

"Draco."

Elizabeth stepped back. "Dad!"

Severus set his jaw. "I know you two have not been friendly in the past, but I would like that to change."

"He's an ass!"

Severus scowled. "This is your last warning about the language, young lady. I know that Draco is often difficult, but he needs some positive interaction in his life."

Elizabeth crossed her arms and shook her head. "He's a jerk. I don't want to be around him. You can have breakfast by yourself."

"It isn't negotiable, Elizabeth," Severus said quietly.

"Sucks," Elizabeth grumbled, then "Ick!" as soap taste filled her mouth.

"Stop talking like a street urchin," he scolded. "It's late. Go to bed. I want you dressed and polite by 9."

"Whatever," she left the room, changing quickly and throwing herself on top of the bedspread. Breakfast with Malfoy… great. Wasn't there some other teacher who could take Malfoy under his wing? Dumbledore, maybe. Or Lockhart. Elizabeth smirked at the thought.

"For goodness' sake, at least get under the blankets," Severus strode into the room.

"I'm fine," she mumbled.

"I changed my mind. I need you dressed by 9 tomorrow, but I need you civil right now," Severus pointed to the bathroom. "Brush your teeth."

"I bet Malfoy didn't brush his teeth," she muttered, stomping her feet as much as she dared.

"Draco does what he's told," Severus answered sharply, pulling the blankets back.

"I don't need you to tuck me in," Elizabeth's irritated face was ruined by the toothbrush sticking out of her mouth.

"Elizabeth," Severus sighed, fighting exasperation.

"What?" Elizabeth spit out the toothpaste and borderline stomped back into the room.

Severus waited until she got in bed before he pulled the covers up and sat on the edge of the mattress. "Elizabeth, I don't have to explain to you what growing up with a Death Eater father has done to Draco."

"I have a Death Eater father," Elizabeth mumbled, rolling over to look at the wall.

"A real Death Eater," Severus amended. "Lucius and I were as close as possible over the past decade or so. I've spent that time trying to save Draco from going down that path, but this is a crucial time in his life. He needs consistent attention from the Light if he is going to avoid becoming a Death Eater himself."

"There are other people."

Severus sighed. "Is that what this is about? Elizabeth, you are my daughter. Nothing is going to change that. Certainly not me spending some time with a young man who needs my help."

"Whatever."

"I'm going to assume the attitude is due to the fact that it is very late," Severus said sternly. "But I'd better see an adjustment before tomorrow, or perhaps a few hours scrubbing cauldrons would adjust it for you." He leaned over and kissed the side of her forehead. "I'll wake you at half past eight."

He left the door open and went back to his own room, falling into bed without high hopes for the next day's activities.

*S*S*

"Draco, pass the eggs please," Severus broke the silence the next morning. It was been a very tense meal so far. Neither child had said a word; Severus was starting to think that this was his worst idea yet.

He'd considered giving Draco his attention separate from Elizabeth, but he didn't want his daughter to feel left out. Apparently, that was a risk that he should have taken.

"May I be excused?" Elizabeth stood up.

"You haven't finished eating," Severus gestured to her plate.

"I'm not hungry. I'm supposed to study with Hermione this morning."

Draco snorted.

"What, Malfoy?" Elizabeth glared at the other student.

"Nothing. Just not sure that someone like that could help you study."

"Like what?" Elizabeth wore a fierce look.

"You know like what," Draco shot back.

"Silence!" Severus snapped. "Elizabeth, sit down and eat. Draco, what did I tell you about Miss Granger?"

Draco shrugged. "I shouldn't burn bridges," he muttered. "But I don't have to like her."

Severus sighed. "What did Miss Granger do to you?"

"She was smarter than him," Elizabeth answered, poking at her eggs.

"At least I'm smarter than you," Draco growled. "I bet you cheat—

"I do not!"

"Silence, both of you!" Severus thundered. "Elizabeth, go to your room."

"I didn't do anything!"

"Elizabeth Rose!"

"Fine," Elizabeth huffed off, shutting the door as firmly as she could risk.

"Draco, this pure-blood nonsense has got to stop, do you understand me?"

Malfoy shrugged. "It's not like I called her anything."

"It's not just the word that is the problem, young man. It's the sentiment."

"My father says—

"Mr. Malfoy, I care very little about your father's elitist propaganda. I expect more thought from you, and I do not like to be disappointed." Severus frowned at the blonde-haired boy. "At the very least, I know your mother raised you to be polite when you are a guest in someone's home. Your behavior this morning has been lacking, which I'm sure you know, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you know that I expect a quick change in that behavior?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good." Severus stood. "Stay. I'll return in a moment."

Draco obeyed, and Severus went into his daughter's bedroom where she was sitting on her bed, looking murderous.

"I told you he was a jerk, Dad."

Severus didn't reply, just crossed his arms and looked at her.

"He's a jerk, and I don't know why you even bother talking to him."

More staring.

"I mean, sure, he's in your House or whatever. And you knew him when he was little, but he's a jerk now."

More staring.

"He might have been cute and nice as a little kid, but he isn't any more. He's mean. You wouldn't let me get away with being like that."

More staring.

"He needs somebody to…" She trailed off mid rant.

"Are you quite finished?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." She said, staring at her shoes.

"Draco does indeed need someone, Elizabeth. Unfortunately for him, there are not many who have the ability to go up against his father. So," he sat beside her on the bed. "I would like to take a more active role in his life. But I need you to be a good influence. Or at least not be a bad one."

She shrugged. "I guess."

Severus shook his head. "Not good enough, hatchling. You are my first priority. You always will be. So you have to tell me whether you are willing to be the bigger person here."

She laid her head on his shoulder. "I can do it if you want me to."

He smoothed her hair. "I do. Thank you."

"I'm not sure what you think you'll do for him though. It's not like his father is just going to say 'Hey, Sev, go ahead and corrupt my kid.'"

Severus chuckled. "You let me worry about that. And Lucius doesn't call me 'Sev'."

"I imagine he calls you words I'm not allowed to say," Elizabeth smirked.

"Lately, probably." Severus nodded. He stood. "You should go study. You wouldn't want to keep Miss Granger waiting."

"You're going to lecture some more, aren't you? I mean lecture him?"

"That's none of your business." Severus said sternly.

"Alright, alright," Elizabeth stood up. "I guess… I mean… everybody deserves a dad, right?"

Severus kissed her head and hugged her to his robes. "I love you," he said softly.

When she was gone, Severus settled back at the table with Draco.

"Do you remember the cat?' He asked gently.

Draco bit his lip. "Yeah."

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, yes, sir."

"Do you remember how you felt that day?" Severus asked.

"I was a kid."

"I know. It was before you'd made yourself immune to the pain of others." He looked carefully at the boy. "It's dangerous to not feel, Draco. It's the first thing your father looks for in new Death Eaters. Sociopathic tendencies. He touts that it's strength, but it's not. Strength is doing what is right regardless of how it makes you feel, just like courage is pushing on despite fear. When you feel nothing, you have no need to be strong."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Severus' eyes burned into his. "Because a Slytherin is strong, Mr. Malfoy. You control your emotions, you don't just push them down and away. You channel them. As you've gotten older, I've seen that you are either completely cold or exploding."

Draco dropped his eyes to the floor. "What do you care?"

"Pardon me?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

Draco glared at him. "What do you care, sir?"

"I care, Mr. Malfoy, because I see a potential for good in you. I promised you long ago that I'd protect you. Part of protecting you is protecting your soul. You are dangerously close to giving your soul to a dead wizard who didn't deserve it when he was alive. I want you to avoid that." His face softened a bit. "If you're still worried about who's side to be on in this, Draco, remember who used to hold you on his lap and clean your wounds after a session with your father."

Draco blushed. "I'm too old to sit on your lap."

Severus smirked. "Perhaps."

"I just…" Draco put his forehead hands. "He'll never forgive me. He wants me to take the mark when I turn 13. He never asked if I wanted to… he just said I would."

"Have you tried telling him no?" Severus asked, already knowing the answer.

"And have my brains spattered on the concrete?" Draco snorted. "I've had the shit beat out of me enough, thank you."

"Language, Draco," Severus scolded mildly. "And if you've made up your mind, I can help you. We can keep you away from everything Dark until you are of age and no longer need your father to survive."

"I don't know if I've made up my mind," Draco said quietly. "Maybe I'm just Dark."

"Draco—

"No." Draco said, even softer. "What makes you think that I have any Light in me anymore? I'm not a child."

"You are a child. And there is Light in everyone." Severus put his hand on Draco's shoulder. "Just the fact that we're having this conversation tells me that there is enough Light in you."

"People don't come back from the Dark," Draco whispered. "Look at Sirius Black—

"Don't speak his name in my presence," Severus said shortly. "Never compare yourself to that man, unless you want me to wash your mouth out."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry." Draco fidgeted.

Severus sighed. "That's enough heavy conversation for right now. I'm sure you have studying to do." He stood and walked the younger wizard to the door.

"Yeah…" Draco smiled ruefully. "My Potions professor is a slave driver…"

Severus cuffed him lightly across the back of the head. "Get out of here, brat."