"Miss Evans, stay behind," Severus said the next Wednesday at the end of Potions. The other students filed out, leaving Elizabeth sitting at her worktable.

Severus erased the instructions from the chalkboard and started to write the instructions for his next class before speaking. "Do you have an explanation for coming to class unprepared today?"

Elizabeth squirmed a bit on her stool. "I thought I was, sir."

"Really?" Severus asked dryly. "Then why, when asked for the 5 properties of tube worms, you answered, 'umm… they are tubelike'?" He continued to write.

"I just missed that part," Elizabeth whispered.

"In the chapter devoted to tube worms and their uses that was the entirety of the assignment?" Chalk continued to scrape on the board.

"I skimmed it… There's this History of Magic essay—

"Elizabeth Rose."

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"Hmm," Severus finished writing and turned to her, picking up a second year Potion book from his desk. "Let's review, shall we?" He flipped to chapter 7. "I will read, and you will scrub the tube worms in question off the tables as you listen."

"Dad!"

"Do I need to continue my lecture about being unprepared?"

"No, sir. I'm sorry," Elizabeth picked up the scouring pad Severus indicated.

Severus cleared his throat and began to read. "Tube worms, or tuberpillar, serve as the base for several Potions..."

*S*S*

"I don't believe it, I'm still eight inches short…" Ron let his parchment spring back into a roll and sank back in his library chair.

"Where's Hermione?" Elizabeth threw her bag down and sat across from Ron, inspecting her fingernails for tubeworm residue.

"Somewhere over there," Rob pointed to the shelves. "Looking for another book."

As if on cue, Hermione emerged from the shelves. "All the copies of Hogwarts, A History have been taken out," she said, clearly irritated.

"Why do you want it?" Elizabeth reached into her bag for her Potions book.

"The same reason everyone else wants it," said Hermione, "to read up on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets."

"What's that?"

"That's just it. I can't remember," said Hermione, "And I can't find the story anywhere else—

"Hermione, let me read your composition," said Ron desperately.

"No, I won't," Hermione snapped. "You've had ten days to finish it—

"I only need another two inches, come on—

Hermione pointedly ignored Ron. "Do you think your dad has a copy?"

"Probably," Elizabeth shrugged. "But he's not really in the favor giving mood right now." She held up her Potions book. "If I'm not prepared for class again, I'm grounded until Christmas."

"You should have started the essay earlier," Hermione said haughtily.

"Yeah, I get that, thanks," Elizabeth snapped.

"Come on, Hermione, two inches. That's it. Just two—

The bell rang.

"Just ask him, okay?" Hermione grabbed her books off the table and started toward the door.

"Maybe. I don't know." Elizabeth followed with Ron behind, still begging for essay help. "He's cross."

"He's Snape," Ron said. "Isn't he always cross?"

"Not with me," Elizabeth mumbled.

*S*S*

History of Magic was… interesting. At least the last five minutes were interesting, as they watched Hermione pump Professor Binns for information about the Chamber of Secrets.

"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony," Ron said on the way back to the Tower. "But I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his House if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd have got on the train straight away—

"Ron!" Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and gestured to Elizabeth.

"Oh," Ron looked abased. "Well, I mean, your dad's not like that."

"Look," Hermione pointed at the wall. They were in the same corridor where the attack had happened. This time, an empty chair stood against the wall with the message "The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened," scrawled across the back.

Elizabeth looked around for Filch, but saw no one.

"Come and look at this!" Hermione called from the window. Elizabeth crossed the corridor and squinted up at where Hermione was pointing. A cluster of spiders was fleeing through a small crack.

"Have you ever seen spiders act like that?" Hermione tilted her head to get a better look. "Ron? Ron?"

"I— don't— like— spiders," Ron said tensely.

"I never knew that," Hermione said, turning her attention to Ron. "You've used them in Potions loads of times."

"I don't mind them dead," Ron muttered.

"Hey, what happened to the water?" Elizabeth changed the subject, and Ron sent her a thankful glance.

"Someone must have mopped it up," Ron said, moving back across the corridor. "It was about here, level with this door." He started to open the door, then pulled his hand back. "Can't go in there."

Hermione glanced at the sign that denoted the room as the girl's toilet and rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's Moaning Myrtle's place. There won't be anyone in there. Come on, let's have a look." She pushed the door open.

Elizabeth had never been inside this particular girl's toilet, as she had obeyed the OUT OF ORDER sign. When she walked in, she had a strong urge to walk back out. It was the gloomiest, most depressing bathroom she'd ever seen. Under a large, cracked, and spotted mirror was a row of chipped sinks. The floor was damp and reflected the dull light given off by the stubs of a few candles, burning low in their holders; the wooden doors to the stalls were flaking and scratched and one of them was dangling off its hinges.

Hermione crept down the row of stalls to the end. "Hello, Myrtle, how are you?"

Elizabeth and Ron followed. Moaning Myrtle was floating above the rank of the toilet, picking a spot on her chin.

"This is the girls' bathroom," she said looking at Ron with contempt. "He's not a girl. Is she," Myrtle looked at Elizabeth, "a Ravenclaw at heart like you?" she asked Hermione.

"Gryffindor," Elizabeth said, then blushed, realizing that she'd just admitted to not being bright. "Not that… I um…"

"I just wanted to show them how nice it is in here," Hermione said quickly. "We wanted to ask if you've seen anything funny lately. A cat was attacked right outside your front door on Halloween."

"Did you see anyone near here that night?" Elizabeth asked.

"I wasn't paying attention," Myrtle said dramatically. "Peeves upset me so much I came in here and tried to kill myself. That, of course, didn't work—

"Let's go," Elizabeth said. "She doesn't know anything."

Chased by a long wail from Myrtle, they quickly left the room. Elizabeth had barely closed the door when—

"RON!"

Percy Weasley had stopped dead at the head of the stairs, prefect badge glinting, an expression of shock on his face.

"That's a girls' bathroom!" he blustered. "What were you—?"

"Just having a look around," Ron shrugged.

Percy swelled in a manner that reminded Elizabeth of Mrs. Weasley. Elizabeth giggled to herself, thinking that adults had funny ways of showing anger. Mrs. Weasley swelled up; Minerva's face kind of shriveled. Severus got taller and his robes billowed more, unless he was disappointed, and then he got… naked somehow. Not literally, obviously, but he was kind of… deflated.

Ron and Percy were still arguing.

"Five points from Gryffindor!" Percy was proclaiming. "And I hope it teaches you a lesson! No more detective work, or I'll write to Mum!"

*S*S*

"Dad?" Elizabeth called when she was inside their quarters.

"Elizabeth?" Severus came out of his bedroom, wearing only his potions jacket and slacks. "I thought I told you not to walk the halls alone."

"Sorry," Elizabeth shifted on her feet. "I just… Hermione needed a copy of Hogwarts, A History, and they're out in the library. Can we borrow yours?"

Severus nodded. "It's on the shelf. Project?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "She wants to know about the Chamber of Secrets."

Severus scowled. "You shouldn't worry about that, Elizabeth Rose. You need to focus on your school work."

"I know… it's just Hermione." She pulled the book off the shelf.

"Maybe you should stay here tonight," Severus said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No! Dad! Really, she's just reading. We're not doing anything."

"Hm," Severus narrowed his eyes. "Put that down and come here a moment."

"Dad!"

"Elizabeth." Severus leaned against his desk. "Come here."

Elizabeth dropped the book on the coffee table and went over to him.

"There's no need to throw books," Severus chided, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Elizabeth, you understand that this is nothing you can fix, correct?"

"Dad, I told you—

"You're just reading, I know," Severus looked down at her. "Reading only, understand? The Chamber of Secrets is very likely a myth and a scare tactic devised by whoever is behind this. While the faculty determines the origin of this madness, you will do as I've told you and stay safe. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," she nodded.

"Good," Severus tilted his head to see her face better. "What else is going on?"

"I didn't mean to make you angry earlier…" she mumbled.

"Oh, hatchling," Severus pulled her to his chest. "I wasn't angry. A bit irritated, perhaps."

"I'm sorry," she muttered into his potions jacket.

Severus rubbed her back. "You have to remember that academics are your first priority."

"I know."

"Do I need to require you to spend your after class time in my office studying?"

"No, sir. I'll do better, I promise."

"See that you do," Severus smoothed her hair. "You need a haircut, my little monster."

"I like it long," she pulled away and gave as much of a Snape glare as she could muster.

"You look like a fortune teller," he said, gathering her hair into a ponytail. "I can just—

"No!" Elizabeth sprung back. "I'll have Hermione do it, I swear!"

Severus chuckled. "I'm that bad?"

"I'll have Hermione do it," she held her hair protectively in one hand.

"Alright, but I want to see it cut by Monday or it's the Snape Scissors for you," Severus ruffled her hair. "Get your book, and you can floo back to the common room."

"Students aren't supposed to use the floo," Elizabeth dutifully picked up Hogwarts, a History.

"I have it set so that you can floo from here to your common room and back. You can't go elsewhere unless I'm here to say the incantation."

"You could have told me that! Then I wouldn't have had to walk alone down here."

"You could have obeyed and gone through your grandmother," Severus said gently pushing her toward the fireplace.

"Goodnight," Elizabeth stretched up to kiss his cheek. Severus let her struggle for a moment before bending down.

"Goodnight, hatchling."

*S*S*

"Who can it be, though?" Hermione said, slamming shut the Hogwarts book. "There's nothing new in here, but it's pretty clear that the heir of Slytherin is needed to open the Chamber."

"Let's think," said Ron with mock puzzlement. "Who do we know who thinks Muggle-borns are scum?"

"If you're talking about Malfoy—

"Of course I am!" said Ron. "You heard him on the pitch."

"Malfoy, the Heir of Slytherin?"

"He is always boasting about how his whole family's been in Slytherin." Elizabeth said, "And his father is definitely evil enough. But my dad talked to him after Halloween, and Malfoy says that his dad is happy about the Chamber, but he didn't have anything to do with it."

"Of course he said that! Doesn't want to get expelled, now, does he?" Ron shook his head. "They could have had the key to the Chamber for centuries. Handing it down, father to son…"

"Well, I suppose it's possible…" Hermione looked at Elizabeth. "Do you think Draco would risk making your dad that angry?"

"He risks it all the time," Elizabeth shrugged. "He's in trouble constantly. Besides, if he's the Heir, then he doesn't really need to be afraid of my dad, does he?"

"There might be a way," said Hermione slowly, glancing around the common room. "To prove it, I mean. It would be difficult, and dangerous. And breaking about 50 school rules—

"What?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Go into the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without his realizing it's us."

"That's impossible," Elizabeth said as Ron laughed. "I've only been in their common room once, and Dad watched me like a hawk the whole time. It's not like we'll just be invited in."

"It's not impossible," Hermione said impatiently. "All we'd need would be some Polyjuice Potion."

"What's that?" Ron was digging in his bag for chocolate frogs.

"Snape mentioned it in class a few weeks ago—

"I have better things to do than listen to Snape," Ron mumbled.

"You should listen," Elizabeth said ruefully. "Otherwise, you might end up scrubbing tubeworms off desks for half an hour."

"Is that why he kept you after?" Ron asked. "To scrub worms?"

"Worm scrubbing while listening to him read the chapter I didn't read," Elizabeth grumbled.

"Was he still mad when you went down to get the book?"

"He says he wasn't mad, he was 'irritated'," Elizabeth shrugged.

"Whatever, my mum always says she's 'irritated' too, but it just means she's brassed off." Ron unwrapped a frog.

"Could you two focus for a minute?" Hermione asked impatiently. "Polyjuice Potion turns you into somebody else. Think about it! We could change into three of the Slytherins. No one would know it was us; Malfoy would probably tell us anything. He's probably boasting about it in the Slytherin common room right now, if only we could hear him."

"What if we get stuck looking like that?" Ron frowned.

"It wears off after awhile," Elizabeth said, "I think I remember something about it. Dad said it was an advanced potion, not something you learn at Hogwarts."

"It's in a book called Moste Potente Potions," Hermione said. "I imagine it would be in the Restricted Section."

"We'd need a signed note from a teacher," Ron said around the chocolate frog in his mouth. "Do you…" he looked at Elizabeth.

"No way. Not a chance." Elizabeth waved a hand like she was stopping a car. "He believes in the Restriction Section so much that he has one at home."

"I think," said Hermione, "that if we made it sound as though we were just interested in the theory, we might stand a chance…"

"Oh, come on, no teacher's going to fall for that," said Ron. "They'd have to be really thick…"

*S*S*

"I don't believe it," Elizabeth said as the three of them hurried out of Defense class the next day. "He didn't even look at the book we wanted."

"That's because he's a brainless git," said Ron. "But who cares, we've got what we needed—

"He's not a brainless git," Hermione defended.

"Whatever," Elizabeth said. "Can you guys get the book on your own? Madam Pince is bound to mention a Restricted Potions book to my dad."

"Yeah, we'll meet you in Myrtle's bathroom in a little while."

Elizabeth trotted off, arriving in Snape's office in record time.

"Come in," came the tired reply to her knock.

"Hi, Dad."

"Hello, hatchling." Severus' voice sounded a little less weary. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Is it okay? Are you busy?"

"It's always okay. And I am decidedly not 'busy'. You've interrupted nothing but a pile of essays written by dunderheads." He put down his quill.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course." Severus pushed his chair back. "I think it's tea time anyway." He motioned her through the portrait into their quarters.

When they'd settled with tea, Severus looked at his daughter. "Is this a conversation that I need something stronger than tea for?"

Elizabeth shook her head, then shrugged. "The… The Heir of Slytherin…"

"I shouldn't have given you that book," Severus shook his head.

"Professor Binns said—

"You've been speaking about this in classes?"

"Just the one…" Elizabeth felt the conversation slipping away from her. "It doesn't matter. I just… you don't think… it… you don't think it could be… Malfoy, do you?"

"I really wish you two could be on first name terms," Severus said, stirring his tea. "And no. I don't think so. Whoever or whatever is doing these things is far more skilled with the Dark Arts than a second year."

"People have been thinking it's me," she whispered.

Severus laughed. Loudly. And longer than she'd ever heard him laugh.

"Dad!"

Severus put his teacup down and wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry, Rosie." He opened his arms and she grudgingly leaned against him. "It's just so ridiculous that you would ever be something this evil." He squeezed her shoulder. "You just give anyone who says such a thing that glare of yours."

*S*S*

"Excuse me?" said Ron sharply. "What do you mean, a bit of whoever we're changing into? I'm drinking nothing with Crabbe's toenails in it—

"We don't have to worry about that yet," Hermione said, still looking at the book. "We add those bits last."

"I just don't know if we should do this," Elizabeth said. "Dad says that it can't possibly be a second year."

"But it could be a second year's father," Hermione said pointedly. "And Malfoy's just the type to brag about his dad."

Elizabeth wasn't sure that this was true, but she decided to let it go. She had other concerns. "Do you realize how much we're going to have to steal, Hermione? Shredded skin of a boomslang, that's definitely not in the students' cupboard. What're we going to do, break into Dad's private stores? I don't think that's a good idea… at all…"

Hermione shut the book with a snap. "Well, if you are going to chicken out, fine," she said. "I don't want to break the rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion. But if you don't want to find out if it's Malfoy, I'll go straight to Madam Pince now and hand the book back in—

"No, no, we'll do it," Ron said hurriedly before dropping his voice for Elizabeth's ears. "It'll be a lot less hassle if you can just knock Malfoy off his broom tomorrow."

"Not if it's his father," Elizabeth mumbled.

*S*S*

Breakfast before the game was tense. Elizabeth went down early and sat beside Fred, who didn't speak, but started a mini food fight with the tops of his strawberries, pitching them onto her plate. She tossed them back when he wasn't looking, and they repeated the process until the rest of the school started filtering in.

Close to eleven, everyone wandered down to the Quidditch stadium. The team was dressed and sitting in the locker room when Wood started his usual pre-match pep talk. "Slytherin has better brooms than us," he began. "No point denying it. But we've got better people on our brooms. We've trained harder than they have, we've been flying in all weather…"

They certainly had. Elizabeth was just grateful that Severus had caught her coming back into their quarters soaking a few weekends ago so he could scold inside and not on the pitch in front of the team. She blushed just thinking of her father's tirade about pneumonia and how he was going to give Wood a piece of his mind. Luckily she had talked him out of that.

"We're going to make them rue the day they let that little bit of slime, Malfoy, buy his way onto their team." Wood turned to Elizabeth. "It'll be down to you, Evans, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy or die trying, Elizabeth, because we've got to win today, we've got to."

"Don't die," Fred whispered, poking her in the side with his elbow like it was a joke, but something in his eyes was serious.

"Don't worry," she whispered back.

*S*S*

"All right there, Scarhead?" yelled Malfoy, shooting around the pitch. He paused a moment, hovering beside her. "Daddy's not up here to make us be nice."

Elizabeth was about to snap something about how Malfoy was never nice, when a heavy black Bludger flew so close to her head that it hit her ponytail.

"Close one, Evans!" called George, flying in with his bat and whacked the Bludger off toward a Slytherin, but it changed direction in midair and came hurtling back toward Elizabeth. She dropped quickly to avoid it, and George hit it again. But it came back, like it was magnetized to Elizabeth's head.

She put on speed and zoomed down the pitch, the Bludger following her. Fred was waiting at the other end, knocking the Bludger off course, but not for long, as it kept coming.

Severus and Remus were sitting in the stands as it started to rain.

"What the hell is that Bludger doing?" Remus hissed as Severus stood to get a better look.

"I don't know, but this rain isn't going to help," Severus pressed his lips together. "I should have charmed her glasses… for safety, of course, not because I have any interest in Gryffindor winning."

"Slytherin lead, sixty points to zero—

"Doesn't seem like there's much danger of a Gryffindor win," Remus said, still eyeing the Bludger.

Fred and George had teamed up to fly on either side of Elizabeth, keeping her safe, but not giving her a chance to look for the Snitch.

"Someone's tampered with this Bludger," Fred grunted, swinging his bat.

"We need a time out," George tried to signal Wood and deflect a Bludger at the same time.

On the ground, Fred was angrier than Elizabeth had ever seen him. "Someone's fixed it— it won't leave her alone. The Slytherins must have done something to it."

"But the Bludgers have been locked in Madam Hooch's office since our last practice, and there was nothing wrong with them then…" Wood looked at Madam Hooch who was walking in their direction.

"Listen," Elizabeth said, "with you two flying around me all the time, I can't see the Snitch. Go back to the rest of the team and let me deal with the rogue one."

"Don't be thick," Fred snapped. "It'll take your head off." He turned to Wood. "You can't let her deal with that thing on her own."

"Let's ask for an inquiry," Alicia put in.

"If we stop now, we'll forfeit the match!" Elizabeth said. "And we're not losing to Slytherin just because of a crazy Bludger! Come on, Oliver, tell them to leave me alone!"

"This is all your fault," Fred scowled at Wood. "'Get the Snitch or die trying,' what a stupid thing to tell her—

Madam Hooch was at their side.

"Ready to resume play?" she asked Wood.

Wood looked at Elizabeth. "All right," he said. "Fred, George, you heard Elizabeth— leave her alone and let her deal with the Bludger on her own."

"Not a chance in hell," Fred growled.

Elizabeth turned and pushed him away from the rest of the group. "Fred Weasley, knock it off. I will be fine, but if you keep smothering me, I won't get the Snitch."

"You're going to get killed—

Elizabeth glared at him. "If a Bludger hits me, what's going to happen? I fall off my broom? Not like that hasn't happened before!"

Fred shook his head. "You're an idiot."

"I know," Elizabeth smirked.

"Alright," Fred held her by her upper arms, his elbows bent so far that they were nearly nose to nose. "But if I see you're in trouble, I'm coming back, and you better not say a thing about it."

"I suppose if that's the best I'm going to get," Elizabeth's chest caught at him being so close, and she fought to stay nonchalant.

"Okay," Fred looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead released her and stalked back to the group.

In the stands, Severus watched the proceedings. Faster than I thought, he thought to himself.

About 2 seconds after she kicked off, Elizabeth wished she had let the twins stay with her. Back and forth, upside-down, twirling around to avoid the Bludger, she flew and dodged.

"Training for the ballet, Evans?" yelled Malfoy. As Elizabeth looked toward his voice, she saw the Snitch, hovering inches above Draco's ear.

For an agonizing moment, she hung in midair, not daring to speed toward Malfoy in case he looked up and saw the Snitch.

WHAM.

She had stayed still a second too long. The Bludger had hit her at last, smashed into her elbow, and she felt her arm break. Dimly, dazed by the searing pain in her arm, she slid sideways, hanging on to her broom with one knee, dodging another Bludger attack.

Through a haze of rain and pain she reached for the Snitch. Malfoy dodged, thinking he was being attacked.

She took her good hand off the broom and made a wild snatch, feeling her fingers close on the Snitch as she fell.

With a splattering thud, she hit the mud and rolled off her broom. Her arm was hanging at a very strange angle; riddled with pain. "We've won," she muttered to no one in particular, and fainted.

When she came around, there was a crowd around her. Fred was kneeling at her side, grumbling something about how falling off her broom was not the worst thing that could happen, and if she ever convinced him to do something so stupid again he was tying her to her broom, and maybe his broom.

"Move aside, everyone," Lockhart appeared above her. "Not to worry, Elizabeth, I'm about to fix your arm."

"No!" she shouted. "I'll keep it like this, thanks…"

"Lie back, sweetheart," Lockhart said soothingly. Elizabeth's stomach lurched.

"Fred, my dad…" She clenched her teeth against the pain.

"He's coming, I saw him leave the stands," Fred said quietly. "We should get you to the hospital wing."

"Great capture, Evans," Wood said from her left. "Really spectacular, your best yet, I'd say—

"Stand back," Lockhart said, rolling up the sleeves of his rob.

"No— don't—

A strange and unpleasant sensation started at her shoulder and spread all the way down to her fingertips. The pain was gone… Elizabeth glanced down at her arm. It appeared that the bones were gone as well.

"What did you do?" Elizabeth heard Severus' voice cutting through her shock at being deboned.

"Ah," Lockhart said uneasily. "Yes. Well, that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. Perhaps she could just—

Severus pushed the other wizard aside and stooped to pick up his daughter.

"I can walk, Dad. It's just my arm—

"Quiet." Severus snapped. Elizabeth laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. There was no point in fighting him at his moment. Plus, her arm felt strange and she was tired from playing.

*S*S*

"You should have come straight to me!" Madam Pomfrey raged. "I can mend bones in a second— but growing them back—

"You will be able to, won't you?" Elizabeth asked from Severus' lap in the hospital wing.

"Of course she will," Severus soothed.

"You'll have to stay the night," Madam Pomfrey said. "Unless you want to take her with you, Professor?"

Snape looked down at his daughter. "Do you want to sleep here or downstairs?"

"Downstairs," Elizabeth said quickly. No way did she want to stay in the hospital wing if she could help it.

"You're in for a rough night," Madam Pomfrey said, pouring a steaming beakerful of Skele-Gro. "Regrowing bones is a nasty business."

Elizabeth choked the mixture down, coughing and sputtering as it burned her throat.

"Brilliant, Evans!" The door of the hospital wing burst open to reveal the Quidditch team. George was grinning, his chin sporting a bruise from trying to wrestle the Bludger back into its box. "I've just seen Marcus Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy." They were all carrying sweets and pumpkin juice.

"We thought we'd have a bit of a celebration," Oliver said, holding up his bottle.

"Absolutely not," Severus intoned, putting Elizabeth on her feet. "She needs to rest."

"She's got thirty-three bones to regrow!" Pompfrey agreed, shooing everyone out.

"Come," Severus guided Elizabeth into the floo to avoid the party in the corridor. "Let's get you in bed and your bones regrown."

"Did you see me make that grab?" Elizabeth asked as he opened her bedroom door with one hand and spelled her into pajamas with the other.

"I certainly saw you risking your neck over a stupid golden ball," Severus said wasting no time settling her in bed. "This is going to take time," he said softly, tucking her in. "You should get as much sleep as you can right now, because it's going to hurt later." He laid her rubbery arm on top of the bedspread. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I didn't ask Lockhart to disappear my bones," Elizabeth protested.

"Professor Lockhart." Severus frowned. "You are correct. However, if your arm hadn't been broken by your unnecessary risk-taking, we wouldn't be here. In addition to the reckless leap I you took, I got an idea from the scene I saw during the time out that you called off your Weasley protection."

Elizabeth shrugged. "I couldn't see the Snitch with them around me."

"The uglier Weasley seemed to need some convincing," Severus drummed his fingers on the coverlet.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Fred thought the Bludger was after me, he didn't think I could stay away from it on my own. And he's insane."

"He was right about your inability to stay away from the Bludger," Severus nodded, smoothing the hair out of her eyes. "And wanting to keep you from harm does not necessarily make someone insane." He straightened the covers again and kissed her forehead. "Sleep now. I'll have plenty of time to scold when you have an arm again."

"I didn't mean to get hurt, Dad."

"You never do," Severus rolled his eyes. "I'll wake you in a few hours and you can eat something."

"I was brilliant," she said drowsily, sinking into the pillow. "Best catch ever."

Severus shook his head and chuckled softly. "Maybe I'll be able to think about it again in 20 years."

"Twenty years," she mumbled and fell into sleep.