"What are you doing with the window?" Severus asked the next morning, straightening his robes.

"Hedwig wants to hunt." Elizabeth said, trying to open the stubborn latch.

"Not right now," Severus shook his head. "Albus wants to limit owl activity around the square. Maybe you can let her out tonight."

"Sorry, girl," Elizabeth patted Hedwig apologetically. Hedwig hooted disappointedly. "I understand the feeling," Elizabeth grumbled. "When are the Weasleys getting here?"

"They arrived last night. If you get dressed any time in the near future, you may see them at breakfast. If not, then I believe Fred Weasley will find me a witty dining partner."

"How am I supposed to get dressed? I don't have clothes here."

"Don't you?" Severus pointed to the wardrobe. "Then whose clothes are those?"

"You brought my clothes?"

"I told you that we were preparing a fortress. You can't run around in your pajamas all the time. You didn't notice that the sheets on your bed are from home? You didn't wonder how Lunus got here?"

"I didn't really think about it," Elizabeth picked up the stuffed animal. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. However, if you are really want to thank me, you'll get dressed, so we can eat sometime before breakfast becomes lunch."

"I can't get dressed with you in here," Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Oh sure, you're Miss Modesty now," Severus teased. "You used to go around nude all the time."

"Was I a baby?"

"Maybe," Severus smirked. "Fine, I will meet you downstairs, if you swear to come straight to the dining room without touching anything."

"I promise."

"Do I need to have you raise your right hand?" Severus raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure there's a Bible somewhere within summoning distance."

"I promise, Dad."

"Alright," Severus nodded seriously and left the room, closing it tightly behind him.

*S*S*

Elizabeth opened the refrigerator and looked at the contents critically. "Sirius, how have you been living here?"

"Ordering in, perhaps," Fred popped into the air beside her.

"Fred!" Elizabeth jumped, then smacked him in the arm. "You scared me!"

"In a good way?" Fred grinned, picking her up and twirling her around. "You're looking a little pale," he said when he set her back on her feet.

"Gee, thanks."

Fred put his hands lightly behind her neck, his thumbs running along her cheeks. "I just meant that being cooped up doesn't seem to agree with you."

Elizabeth shrugged. "I think I hate the world."

"You know what the cure for that is?" Fred grinned mischievously.

"What?" Elizabeth grinned back, stepping close to him, sure that she knew what kind of 'cure' Fred was offering.

"Breakfast. With my family. And your family." Fred said, laughing. "Your Dad glaring at me. My Mum micromanaging what you eat. Ron pretending like he's not staring at Hermione, My Dad not being able to tell George and I apart, even though he's known us for 17 years. Sound like the recipe for a better mood?" He cupped the back of her head and leaned a little closer. "Unless you had some other ideas?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and kissed him. "I missed you."

"I've missed you too. I wanted to write more, but Mum was insistent that you not know anything that was happening in the outside world."

"Yeah, your Mum and my Dad seemed pretty unanimous about that."

"Then the world really is going to hell," Fred snorted.

"Hey," Remus poked his head into the kitchen. "Both of you had better get out here and eat."

"Yes, sir," Fred grinned down at Elizabeth. "Ready?"

"I suppose I could do with some drama," Elizabeth smiled back. "Can you tell your Mum something horrible? Might move the conversation off Voldemort."

"Sure," Fred left one arm around her shoulders and guided her out of the kitchen. "Maybe that I'm asking to be resorted. I've seen the light. I'm a Slytherin at heart. That would get my mum and your dad both going."

When they reached the dining room, Elizabeth found herself in a chair between Ron and Hermione, while Fred was swept away to sit beside George.

"I didn't know you were coming," Elizabeth looked at Hermione, who was passing the carafe of pumpkin juice.

"Just arrived this morning," Hermione answered. "Dumbledore figured it wasn't safe for me to be by myself with just Muggles after what happened to you." She grinned. "It's brilliant, really, everyone here is an expert in their field. Think of the things I can learn before school even starts. Professor Snape," she turned to Severus who was sitting across the table, toward the other end. "Could you check my summer homework later? I'd really appreciate it."

"You know my policy on checking your work, Miss Granger," Severus said firmly, "You may lay it on my desk, but anything I have to correct will cost you a significant lecture during our next individual session."

Hermione shrugged. "I guess that's the point, isn't it? If I don't know it?"

Severus smirked, but Elizabeth could tell that he was pleased. "If you would like to brew in the lab downstairs, that can be arranged. It wouldn't hurt to get a jump on your OWL study." He cast his gaze around the table. "It wouldn't hurt others, either."

"Like we don't have enough to worry about without extra homework," Ron muttered, and Elizabeth gave him a look of agreement, carefully hidden from Severus. There was no need to poke an already agitated bear. Her father had calmed significantly since the dementor incident, hardly mentioning the impending hearing since he'd ranted about it for nearly an hour that day.

"Do you know how detrimental to my reputation this is?" His black eyes had blazed at her. "Parents are supposed to trust me with their children, which they barely do at the moment, due to current situation, and now they are supposed to trust me when I can't keep my own child from gallivanting around, performing underage magic?"

"You're blaming me for the Slytherins not trusting you?"

Severus glared. "Stop talking nonsense. You know perfectly well you are not responsible for the climate of our community. You are, however, responsible for disobeying me—

"I should have just let them attack me?"

"You shouldn't have been out there to start with!" Severus roared, slamming his palm onto the desk.

Elizabeth flinched. "I'm going crazy, Dad," she said in a small voice. "I just… haven't you ever just wanted to get out?"

Severus planted both palms on the desktop, leaning forward staring at a spot between his hands. He was quiet for a long time, doing nothing but breathing and staring. Then, very slowly, he straightened, walked to the sofa where she had been listening to his lecture, sat beside her, put his arm around her and said, very quietly, "Yes."

Since then, he hadn't mentioned the incident, except when he was telling Remus and Sirius about the hearing.

"Fred, George!" Molly snapped from the other end of the table. "It is possible to eat without magic!"

"Yeah, mum—

"— but it's not as fun."

"Mum, why can't we all go to Diagon Alley to get our school stuff?"

"Professor Lupin, do you know who will be teaching Defense?"

"Dad, are you sure you and Mum have planned for the future? Gringotts has some great programs…"

"I think, after breakfast would be an excellent time for the children to get settled upstairs," Severus said raising an eyebrow at the din.

"Glad you only have one?" Arthur chuckled.

"A reasonably quiet one at that," Severus smirked. "At least when your son isn't around." He looked at his daughter. "Milk, then juice."

"I hate milk."

"You'll hate brittle bones more," Severus shot back.

"Maybe we should all just have some quiet time," Sirius said. "Play the quiet game."

"What are you babbling about, Black?"

"When my brother and I were being loud as children, our nurse used to have us play the quiet game. Whoever could be quiet the longest got a prize."

Severus rolled his eyes. "She should have just hit you with a good silencio," he said. "It would have lasted longer."

"Perhaps the adults at the table could play the quiet game," Remus finished his coffee. "At least until Dumbledore gets here."

"At which time," Molly looked at her underage children. "All those who still attend Hogwarts are going upstairs."

"You can't send us away, Mum. We're of age," George protested.

"You'll do as I say as long as I'm your mother, young man."

"Molly," Arthur said quietly. "The boys are of age. If they want to fight, they have the right."

"Dad rhymes when he's trying to calm down my mum," Ron whispered.

Elizabeth giggled, but stopped abruptly at Severus' sharp look.

"All those who share my genes, upstairs. You have unpacking to do."

"Can Fred help?" Elizabeth gave Severus her best puppy dog eyes.

"Yes!" Molly shouted, waving toward the stairs. "That's a brilliant idea."

Severus frowned, "I think your young man is joining the Order meeting."

"He's not," Molly said firmly. "Go upstairs with Elizabeth, Fred."

"George can go as well," Severus said quickly, thinking on his feet. "That will be best for all involved."

Elizabeth met Fred's eyes across the table, and after a moment, he nodded. "Yeah, it'll be good. Unpacking. And George can chaperone. Right?"

George looked at his brother in confusion, but shrugged. "Sure."

*S*S*

"Wait," Fred paused at Elizabeth's door and turned to George. "You're not really coming in here, right?"

"Where am I supposed to go?"

"You're supposed to spy on the meeting," Fred said, as if such a thing was obvious. "I'm helping my girl unpack here."

"You better leave this door open," George imitated Molly Weasley. "There will be no babies from babies."

Elizabeth glared. "Go away before I throw my shoe at you."

George put up his hands in mock terror and jogged down the hall to the top of the stairs, preparing to set up for espionage, laughing.

Fred grinned and followed Elizabeth into her room. "So," he said mysteriously, grabbing her hand and spinning her around. "Do you know what really sucked about you being imprisoned all summer?"

"The mind-numbing boredom?" Elizabeth asked, opening the trunk that Severus had apparently sent ahead. "Hey! My Gryffindor socks! I thought I lost them."

"No," Fred said, snatching her socks and holding them high above his head in an attempt to get her to pay attention to him. "The fact that I couldn't give you your birthday present."

"A present? For me?" Elizabeth feigned surprise.

"Yeah," he grinned, reaching into his robes and extracting a globe the size of a Muggle softball. "Happy Birthday, Betsy."

"What is it?" Elizabeth sat on the bed, staring into the globe. Inside, there were figures floating, waving at her through the glass.

"My newest invention. I'm not sure what we're calling it, but George thinks it's useless. He's more interested in our joke stuff."

"Is that you?" Elizabeth squinted. "It's you! A little you."

"And your dad, and Sirius, and Remus," Fred pointed to the figures. "And Hermione and Ron."

"Why are they glowing?"

"Because they're safe," Fred said quietly, sitting beside her. "As long as they are in the globe and glowing, they are all fine."

Elizabeth looked at him. "You made me peace of mind," she said softly, leaning against him.

"Peace of Mind," Fred nodded. "Not a bad name. Might have some marketing potential with mums."

"Thank you," Elizabeth kissed him gently. "It's the best present ever."

"You're welcome," Fred grinned. "Here," he took it and put it on her night table. "Look at me, helping you unpack."

Elizabeth laughed. "You're incredibly helpful. Do you think George can hear anything?"

"He was going to use the extendable ears," Fred shrugged and stood to put her socks in the top drawer of the bureau. "It's useless, really, mum won't be able to keep us out forever. The Order needs men."

Elizabeth was quiet, pulling out socks and matching them.

"What?" Fred said, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing."

"Worst. Liar. Ever." Fred took her socks and tossed them in the drawer.

"I'm folding those."

"You've never folded socks in your life," Fred shook his head. "What?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "I don't think you should do it."

"Do what?"

"Join the Order."

"Excuse me?" Fred looked incredulous. "There's going to be a war."

"I know that," Elizabeth said quietly. "People are going to die."

"That's what happens in war," Fred shook his head again. "You can't expect me to sit around while everyone else is out there."

"You're not playing Auror, Fred. It isn't a game."

"I know damn well it isn't a game, Elizabeth," Fred's voice was sharp. "This is my world too, you know. My life he's threatening."

"He's going to kill everyone he can!" Elizabeth snapped. "He's going to start with the inexperienced wizards who ran into the fight like they couldn't wait."

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Fred's voice rose.

"You couldn't wait to turn of age!"

"At least I waited until I turned of age! Who was it that threw herself at Voldemort her first year? How is that different?"

"I had to save someone I loved!"

"That's what I'm trying to do now!" Fred growled, crossing his arms. "If you'd get rid of your hero-complex for one bloody minute…" His voice faltered and he closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, looking at her calmly.

"If you're fighting, I'm fighting," his voice was quieter now. "I love you, Elizabeth Rose Evans, and that gives me license to do whatever I want to protect you. And if you have a problem with that, you can just… get over it!"

Elizabeth fought against tears, but a few escaped. "I don't want you to die."

Fred sighed, suddenly looking far older than seventeen. "I'd rather not die either," he pulled her to his chest, wrapping both arms securely around her. "And I can't promise that I won't. But I won't sit by while a madman destroys my family. You have to understand that."

They stood in silence for several minutes, until Fred heard Elizabeth mutter something into his shirtfront.

"What?" he pushed her away a little to look at her face.

"I love you too," Elizabeth smiled weakly.

"I'm glad," Fred laughed and pulled her back to him. "Otherwise, I would feel really stupid right now."

*S*S*

"Hey," Sirius stood in the door of the tapestry room. "You shouldn't be wandering around, beautiful."

"Sorry," Elizabeth looked up at the family tree spreading across one wall. "I was just looking."

Sirius snorted. "There's no one still on this tapestry that I want you anywhere near." He crossed his arms and regarded the wall, his eyes flitting over the names and faces. "It's the ones that are missing that you need to focus on."

He pointed to a burned spot, high up on the wall. "Isia Black, who had the audacity to marry a Muggle. Coincidentally, that's the same thing that my cousin Andromeda did to earn her excommunication. I must remember to tell my mother that my dear cousin's half-blood daughter is in our kitchen right now."

"Really?" Elizabeth looked toward the door.

"Tonks," Sirius jerked his head toward the hallway. "The little one that can change her face. Dromeda married Ted Tonks and they had Nymphadora."

"Wait," Elizabeth inspected the tapestry around Andromeda's singed place. "Wait, Andromeda was Mrs. Malfoy's sister?"

"You knew we were related."

"Yeah… but… ick."

Sirius laughed. "Take heart in the fact that I am not technically on the tree with her," he said, brandishing his wand. "Do you want me to blast her off? I could take the whole Malfoy family off in one fell swoop." He grinned.

"Nah," Elizabeth waved his wand away. "Dad kind of likes Draco."

"There's a complicated relationship," Sirius commented, waving his wand. A large heavy curtain appeared, covering the tapestry. "To hell with the lot of them."

"Your whole house is going to be covered in curtains soon," Elizabeth smirked.

"My therapist says that covering up childhood trauma with velvet is healthy," Sirius joked, draping his arm around her shoulders. "Anyway, Molly says it's almost lunch time, and since we clearly don't feed you in the summer, you need to come eat while you have the chance."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Honestly, does she think that I can't find my own food? The Dursleys never fed me, and I didn't die."

"I'd rather not think about that," Sirius pulled her tighter to his side. "Maybe you do need to eat. Multiple helpings if possible."

"Sirius," Elizabeth looped her arm around his waist. "You're silly."

"I've been told."

*S*S*

The morning of the hearing came quickly. Waiting for Severus to finish getting ready, she stood in the hallway, looking at the heads of the house elves.

"What was your mother thinking?" She asked Sirius when he appeared from the kitchen.

"I think she thought she was honoring them," Sirius shrugged. "Either that, or she was making a point to the next generation that they would never leave the house, even in death."

"Gross."

"Indeed." Sirius looked her over. "What are you wearing?"

Elizabeth looked down at her skirt and blouse. "I'm trying to look nice."

"Where are your robes?"

"It's not school," Elizabeth made a face. "They get in the way."

"Believe me," Sirius said emphatically, "this is not a time when you want to look like a Muggle." He pointed to her room. "Robes."

Severus emerged from the room, dressed in the clothing he'd worn to Wormtail's trial. "What are you wearing?"

"I told her to put on robes," Sirius said smugly.

"Dad—

"Put them on," Severus ordered. "This is not the time to look like a Muggle."

"That's what I said," Sirius pushed her gently toward the door. "Hurry, you'll be late."

"Why aren't you wearing robes?" Remus appeared at the top of the stairs. "This is no day to look like a Muggle."

"That's what I said," Severus and Sirius chorused, then looked at each other with horror.

"Let's pretend that never happened," Sirius said uncomfortably.

"Certainly not a problem," Severus' lip curled a bit. "Elizabeth! Hurry up!"

"I'm coming!" The bedroom door opened and they saw Elizabeth, straightening her robes.

"Come here," Severus held out both hands gesturing impatiently. He deftly smoothed her hair. "We should have given you a hair cut," he said, pressing his lips together. "But I suppose there's not time for that now."

*S*S*

"Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August," said Fudge in a ringing voice, "into offenses committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and International Statute of Secrecy by Elizabeth Rose Evans, dependent of Potions Master Severus Tobias Snape.

"Interrogators: Cornelius Oswald Fudge, Minister of Magic; Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister; Josephine Knight-Ramos, Head of the Department of Magical Children and Families; Percy Ignatius Weasley—

"Witness of the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," Elizabeth heard the quiet voice from behind where she sat, still in the interrogation circle but in a smaller chair, off to the side. Severus sat in the chair in the middle, the magical chains slack on the arms, not binding him.

"Yes," Fudge looked uncomfortable. Well, then. So. The charges. Yes." He fumbled with the parchment before him. "The charges against the accused are as follows: That he failed to adequately supervise a minor and therefore contributed to the delinquency of said minor, who produced a Patronus Charm in a Muggle-inhabited area, on August the second, which constitutes an offense under paragraph C of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Uderage Sorcery, 1875, under section thirteen of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, and also under section 3A of the Statute for Protection of Wizarding Children."

"You are Potions Master Severus Tobias Snape, Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?" Fudge said, glaring at Severus over the top of his parchment.

"Yes," Severus said, using the voice that sent first-years scrambling.

Elizabeth looked at her father, sitting tall in the chair meant for criminals. She decided she'd never been more ashamed of anything in her whole life. How could she have put him in this position? Her proud, resolute, self-sacrificing father was being treated like a criminal because of her.

"Where were you the evening your daughter cast the Patronus charm, Professor Snape?"

"Hogwarts," Severus said simply. "I'd been called away for a few hours."

"And you left your daughter alone?"

"I left her in the care of Remus Lupin."

"Who was, if I'm to understand your previous statement, recovering from an illness."

"Yes, however—

"Yet you left her with him," Fudge said disapprovingly. "Professor Snape, do you allow your daughter to perform underage magic in your home?"

"I do not," Severus said firmly.

"Is this the first time your daughter has performed underage magic without your consent?"

Severus closed his eyes briefly. "No."

"And yet, you allowed her a wand?"

"I allow her to keep it for protection."

"Protection from what, Professor?"

"From instances such as earlier this month, when she was attacked by dementors down the street from our home."

"Dementors?" Madam Bones raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean, Professor?"

"I mean, Madam, that dementors attacked my daughter at the park near our house."

"Ah," Fudge smirked unpleasantly. "Yes. Yes, I thought we'd be hearing something like this."

"Dementors in Spinner's End?" Bones said in tones of great surprise. "I don't understand—

"Don't you, Amerlia," Fudge was still smirking. "Let me explain. Professor Snape, is utilizing his well-established skill of lying in court to create a very nice little cover story to keep his daughter and himself out of trouble. Since only he and his daughter were at the park, it is highly convenient. It's just his word, and no witnesses…"

"He's not lying!" Elizabeth said loudly. "There were two of them, coming from opposite sides—

"Enough, enough!" Fudge broke in. "It's really no wonder that you cannot keep your daughter from breaking the law, Professor. You can't even prevent her from acting out in a courtroom." He sneered at Elizabeth. "Your daughter is making quite the reputation for herself as a liar, and if you cannot control that kind of behavior, even if it is detrimental to our world, perhaps you are not fit to be a parent of a wizarding child."

"My son and my granddaughter are more than willing to submit to Veritaserum," Dumbledore spoke up. "We can bring this to an end right now."

Fudge snorted. "Veritaserum undoubtedly brewed by Professor Snape. And," he shook his head, "there are credible rumors that the Professor is able to circumvent Veritaserum. In addition, the use of truth serum on minors is not a practice of this court."

"Minister, we are missing the point here," Dumbledore said lightly. "There were dementors in the park on August second, and they were not there by accident."

"I think we might have a record of it if someone had ordered a pair of dementors into a Muggle neighborhood," Fudge snapped.

"Not if the dementors are taking orders from someone other than the Ministry," Dumbledore said calmly. "I have already given you my views on this matter, Cornelius."

"Your views are unreasonable, Albus," Fudge said, irritation showing through. "And I would remind you that we are here to examine whether or not Professor Snape is fit to retain guardianship over Elizabeth Evans, and whether or not Miss Evans should remain a student at Hogwarts."

"Of course we are," Dumbledore said courteously. "However, the second item can be solved right now with the realization that Elizabeth Evans acted under clause seven of the Decree that states that magic can be used by an underage witch or wizard in situations that threaten his or her life."

"I am familiar with the clause," Fudge snarled.

"Of course you are. Then we are in agreement."

"If there were dementors, which I doubt—

"You have a witness in Severus Snape, whose word, whether or not you choose to admit it, is above reproach."

Fudge's face contorted. "Well," he sputtered. "That doesn't change the fact that he failed to adequately supervise his daughter." He looked at Elizabeth. "The child has been spreading lies of all kinds for months—

"Watch what you say, Minister," Severus said quietly.

"Are you threatening me, Professor?" Fudge growled. "If I were you—

"Cornelius," Dolores Umbridge spoke up, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Perhaps there isn't enough evidence to expel the girl, but I'm sure Josephine has an opinion on guardianship."

"Further investigation would be needed," Madam Knight-Ramos said. "However, it is the opinion of the Department of Magical Children and Families that, for the child's protection, she should be removed from Professor Snape's care until such an investigation can be completed."

"Pardon me?" Severus said dangerously.

"Elizabeth Evans will be placed with an alternate guardian for the time-being," Fudge said gleefully. "Perhaps her Muggle relatives—

"Over my dead body," Severus growled.

"That is unadvisable," Albus said firmly. "The child has two godfathers."

"One of which is Remus Lupin, who allowed this to happen in the first place."

"Sirius Black could maintain guardianship," Albus crossed his arms.

"There is some belief that Black is not as innocent as this court found him," Fudge raised his eyebrows.

"You've become quite the cynic, Cornelius," Albus said tightly. "Now, shall we make the arrangements so Madam Knight-Ramos can begin her investigation and restore my family to its previous state?"

"I don't know that Black is the best choice," Umbridge put in, her face almost oozing fake compassion. "For the safety of the child, of course. To be among those who appear to be creating a… safety concern for our world."

"The Dursleys, I believe," Fudge said, picking up from his earlier thought. "You have little say in the matter, Professor Snape, as your guardianship rights are being questioned. And you are not a blood relative, Albus," he looked at the headmaster. "The Dursleys," Fudge repeated, with a finality that could not be ignored. "I'm sure that the child will be pleased with the safety of family."