"So," Sirius looked around the Dursleys' kitchen appraisingly. "You dictate; I'll do the wand work."

Elizabeth smirked and shook her head. "Not everything has to be done with a wand," she pulled open a cupboard and pulled out a large container of salt. "Sugar bowl, please."

Sirius picked up the bowl from the tea service and looked inside. "She doesn't use lumps?"

"Uncle Vernon went on a trip to the States on time and now they think that loose sugar is trendy," Elizabeth shrugged and took the sugar, dumping it smoothly down the sink. "Now observe," she held up the bowl. "We have an empty sugar bowl, and a container of salt, that looks surprisingly like loose sugar."

Sirius grinned. "Allow me," he poured the salt into the bowl and replaced it on the tea service. "I knew you had the heart of a marauder."

"Exhibit B," Elizabeth made her way to the salt and pepper shakers, loosening the tops of both. "Just enough, you have to be careful."

Sirius laughed. "That'll ruin dinner, I suppose."

"Now, this I need your help," Elizabeth trotted back over to the sink and turned on the water. "Do you see this?" She pulled out the sprayer and pressed the lever, showing him the spray.

"I do," Sirius said seriously.

"Usually, I would use a rubber band," Elizabeth said, "but it would be easier if you could tack it down with magic." She shut the water off and handed him the sprayer so he could stick the level down. "There," she said, positioning the sprayer and turning on the water, sending spray all over Sirius.

"Hey!" he growled, with mock irritation, advancing on her as she shrieked and turned the water off. After tackling her into what turned out to be a bear hug, he released her and looked around. "What's next?"

"Can you make tiny pinholes in every glass?" Elizabeth examined the drinking glasses in one of the cupboards.

"You have a dark mind, Elizabeth Evans," Sirius nodded sagely.

"Again, I could do it without magic, but the cups would have to be plastic. I'm starting to understand why magic is so awesome." She grinned.

"I'm going to get a DNA test to make sure you are a Snape," Sirius grinned back and set to work.

"While you do that, I'm putting this," she held up a handful of confetti from Petunia's gift wrapping drawer, "in the umbrellas in the stand."

"Alright, but once you're done with everything you have planned, I'll show you what real magical damage we can do here," Sirius pierced another glass.

"What I really need is some of those ton-tongue toffees that Fred and George made," Elizabeth said, carefully filling the umbrellas with confetti.

"Fire-call him," Sirius shrugged. "He can't possibly be doing anything, cooped up in my house."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You don't usually call it 'my house'. I don't know if you've ever called it that."

Sirius shrugged. "It's not so bad now that my parents aren't in it. Go call your boyfriend. Let's fill this house with as many freaks as possible, yes?"

Elizabeth grinned and sashayed off toward the living room. "Did you hear Uncle Vernon screaming last night? Trying to figure out a way to cave in the fireplace?"

"I think Australia heard him," Sirius finished with the glasses and put them back in the cupboard.

Elizabeth tossed powder into the floo and stuck her head in.

"Elizabeth?" Remus was sitting in the living room with Tonks.

"Is Fred there?"

"Elizabeth, where's Sirius?"

"In the kitchen. He says it's okay if Fred comes over."

"It's dangerous to shuttle people around like this, Elizabeth. It could draw undue attention to the house."

"Reeeeeeemus," Elizabeth wheedled, her big eyes no less hypnotizing in fire.

Remus sighed. "Fine. I'll find him and send him through in a bit."

"Thank you," Elizabeth grinned and withdrew her head. "Remus thinks you're irresponsible," she shouted into the kitchen.

"So what else is new?" Sirius called back. "Did the warden let Romeo out?"

"He's going to find him," Elizabeth came back into the kitchen. "I bet we have time to sew the sleeves of everyone's coats shut before he gets here, if you do the magic."

"Did you do this stuff when you lived here before?" Sirius followed her out to the coat cupboard.

"Please," Elizabeth shook her head. "They'd never feed me again. But there was a kid in my class, Jacob, who pulled every prank in the book. Sometimes I'd help if I thought I could get away with it. I'm an excellent secret keeper."

"That's a lie," Sirius snorted. "You couldn't hide something if your sewed your mouth shut."

"Not now, maybe," Elizabeth shrugged. "But that's just because Dad made me into a talker. I hardly talked at all when I lived here."

Sirius watched a change go over her face, and pulled her against him. "Hey," he said softly smoothing her hair. "It's alright. It's going to be fine. Everything."

"Not sure," Elizabeth blinked back the sudden tears. Teenage mood swings, she lectured herself in Severus' voice.

"Hey, anyone home?" Fred's voice came from the living room.

"In the kitchen," Sirius called, as Elizabeth pulled away and wiped the few tears that had escaped.

"What's new?" Fred made his way into the kitchen and immediately sensed he'd walked in on something. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too," Fred smiled and looped his arm around her waist. "So, what are we doing?"

"Booby trapping the house," Elizabeth looked up at him. "We were thinking that you could be of… professional assistance."

Fred grinned. "At your service," he looked around.

"Nothing untested," Sirius cautioned. "We don't need to wind up in Azkaban."

"Don't worry," Fred waved his wand and a large bag appeared on the kitchen table. "Since we came of age, we've been able to get much more work done during the summer." He rummaged in the bag. "Screaming doorknob caps?" He held up clear disks. "Pop them on any doorknob and they scream when touched… sometimes." He smiled. "The random thing was George's idea. It's brilliant. The doorknob screams, the person touches it again… and nothing. Maybe nothing two or three more times before it screams again."

"Every knob in the house, except ours," Sirius ordered, as if he were releasing troops on an enemy. "I'm putting a similar hex on the living room furniture."

"Screaming furniture?" Elizabeth asked, looking in the bag.

"Please," Sirius scoffed. "I'm more creative than that. Biting furniture."

*S*S*

"Best day ever," Elizabeth flopped onto the sofa in their "living room", hands above her head.

"Not a bad day's work, I'll give you that," Sirius agreed, sitting beside her. "Remus fire-called while you were in the shower. He says he loves you and will see you tomorrow."

Elizabeth stretched herself all the way out and closed her eyes. "Mmm, k."

"You should go to bed," Sirius patted her leg.

"Mmm," Elizabeth said, noncommittally.

"Come on, princess," Sirius poked at her foot. "Don't make me carry you."

"Mean," Elizabeth muttered, eyes still closed, but sat up and headed for her "bedroom".

"All the time," Sirius laughed, following her so he could tuck the blankets securely around her. "Goodnight, beautiful."

"Mm, night," Elizabeth settled into the blankets and dozed off almost immediately.

She woke up a few hours later, her whole body covered in a rash. Or at least she assumed it was a rash, from the amazing amount of itching all over. Scratching her arm with one hand, she got up and went into the bathroom, wondering if Fred had put itching powder in the wrong bed.

"SIRIUS!" She looked in the mirror and screamed for her godfather, who almost broke his leg as it got tangled in the sheets when he leapt out of bed.

"Elizabeth?" He ran into the bathroom, wand drawn. "What's the matter?"

"Look at me!" Elizabeth pointed to the mirror. Her skin was green with itchy bumps.

"Uh, oh," Sirius knelt down and looked at her feet, where a purple rash was spreading out from between her toes. "Have you ever had Dragon pox?"

"Dad asked me that a couple years ago," Elizabeth said, scratching at one leg. "I think I would remember being green."

"Come on," Sirius guided her back into her bedroom. "We need to get you back in bed."

"Dad said he didn't get it until he was 15," Elizabeth said, scratching furiously.

"I remember that," Sirius said, holding back the blankets. "James teased him something awful about being green. Said he really looked like a Slytherin when he was that color. Don't scratch," he ordered, tucking her in with her arms outside the covers. "I should take you to St. Mungo's. Floor 2, if I remember correctly from when I was a kid. But obviously that's not possible. Death Eaters will be on us in a minute." He pushed the hair off her face. "Stay here, don't move. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked, scratching through the blankets.

"To get the next best thing aside from a hospital."

"Madam Pomfrey?"

"Mrs. Weasley."

*S*S*

"Move," Molly demanded, pushing Sirius out of the way when he tried to show her Elizabeth's skin. "It's always worse when they get it in their teens," she said, pulling back the blankets. "Charlie about scared me to death when he was sixteen. Almost of age, and he had a rash ten times as bad as when Bill had it. That's why I made sure that the twins got it when Percy did, just to ensure that they would have it young."

"I hurt everywhere," Elizabeth grimaced.

"That's the fever," Molly put her hand on the girl's forehead. "Itches something fierce too, I know. You," she looked at Sirius and Remus, who had followed her through the floor, "get out."

Sirius looked at the woman like she'd lost her mind. "Why?"

Molly shook her head and waved her wand, slamming wheeled curtains like they have in hospitals between the bed and the men. "Because I said so," she muttered. "Honestly, I don't know how you're still alive," she said, pulling off Elizabeth's nightshirt. "Here," she handed the younger witch a pot of salve. "Rub this everywhere you can reach, and then I'll get your back." She pulled two vials out of her bag. "One fever reducer now, and one when you wake up in the morning," she placed one on the table and handed the other to Elizabeth, taking the salve and working on her back.

"I though there was a cure," Remus said from beyond the curtain.

"There is, but we don't keep it lying around," Molly shook her head. "And it seems like a bad idea to let everyone in the world know that she's ill by getting a prescription at St. Mungo's." She recapped the pot. "I'll have Severus brew the medication and I'll bring it over when he's finished tomorrow." She helped Elizabeth replace her nightshirt.

"That should stop the itching for tonight. I'll leave the salve in case we missed a spot," Mrs. Weasley put her hand back on the teen's forehead. "Another dose of the fever reducer in the morning," she repeated, waving her wand and vanishing the curtains. "Back to sleep now," she instructed. "I'll bring the potion when it's finished. Remus, are you staying here?"

"I'll go back with you and wake Severus," Remus said to Molly, then bent to tuck the blankets securely around his goddaughter. "And then I'll be back, alright?"

"I feel sick," Elizabeth said lamely.

"No kidding," Sirius laughed. "You're green, sweetheart."

"Dad takes care of me when I'm sick," Elizabeth bit her lip. He had. Ever since he'd found her at the Dursley's, Elizabeth could count on Severus confining her to her bed and pouring potions down her throat every time she was sick. She'd resisted, like any self-respecting teenager, but now, facing the fever and itching and general ickiness without him didn't seem right.

"I know," Remus smoothed her hair. "But we have to tag team this one."

*S*S*

"Sev," Remus shook his friend's shoulder. "Wake up."

"Remus?" Severus looked at the clock. "It's three o'clock."

"I need you to get up and brew a Dragon Pox potion."

Severus sat up and stretched. "I thought all the Weasley brats had already had Dragon Pox."

"They have. Your daughter hasn't," Remus crossed his arms. "She's green from head to toe."

"Damn it," Severus pushed his feet into slippers and stood. "This is why we need a vaccine. Is she okay?"

"Itchy and feverish, but she's okay. Molly gave her itch salve and a fever reducer."

"You've already been there and back with Molly? And no one woke me?"

"I didn't know anything. Sirius came to get Molly, saying she was sick, and I went back with them. You couldn't have gone, you know that."

Severus answer was a growl as he stomped out of the room and down the two sets of stairs to the lab. Remus followed, wearing the expression of someone attempting to placate an angry toddler. "Severus."

"Shut up."

Remus smirked. "Are we first years?" He seated himself on one of the lab stools.

"I had half as many problems as a first year," Severus grumbled, snatching ingredients out of the cupboard.

"Completely untrue," Remus challenged. "You had a drunken father, an absentee mother, a homicidal wizard on the rise, a crush on your best friend, and harassing classmates."

"And now I have a meddling adoptive-father, the same homicidal wizard on the rise, a dead love of my life, parental-rights issues, a sick child, and I've had to depend on one of those harassing classmates to keep my daughter safe. So how exactly is life better?"

"You are now a snappy dresser," Remus said blithely.

"Go away."

"Can't do that," Remus shook his head. "You don't leave friends alone when they are depressed and around the means to brew several poisons." He rested his elbows on the lab table. "Now. Elizabeth told me just before I left that her dad always takes care of her when she's sick. So get to it."

"What do you think I'm doing?" Severus snapped, lighting a fire under the nearest cauldron.

"Other than beating up perfectly good ingredients?" Remus asked calmly. "It's going to be okay, Sev."

Severus just glared at him, and Remus held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Sitting here. Quietly."

*S*S*

"Don't scratch, you'll scar your skin," Sirius pointed his wand and charmed mittens onto her hands. "Can't have you looking frightful for Mr. Weasley."

"Shut up."

"Temper," Sirius grinned. "Just hang on. The potion should be ready soon."

"Remus!"

"Try to relax," Lupin looked over his copy of the Daily Prophet. "Take deep breaths."

"I hate both of you."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Handles stress exactly like him," he shook his head. "Calm down, or I'll hit you with a silencing charm."

"I'm out of itch stuff."

"Just a little while," Sirius cajoled. "Are you hungry?"

"No, I'm itchy."

"Elizabeth," Remus frowned. "If you can't be nice, go back to sleep."

"You go to sleep," Elizabeth muttered.

"You are a delightful patient," Remus rolled his eyes, returning to his paper.

"Let's think about school," Sirius said, desperate to distract her. "Quidditch is going to be back this year, right? No Tournament means Quidditch."

"Yeah," Elizabeth nodded. "Not sure what we're going to do without Oliver. We never really replaced him as Captain or found a new Keeper, since the season was cancelled."

"I could play Keeper," Sirius grinned. "I'll de-age myself."

"Surely they can do better than a middle-aged man reliving his glory days," Remus commented dryly.

The others in the room looked at him, eyebrows raised at the out of character comment.

"Sev's gone," Remus shrugged. "Had to fill the void."

"Sounds weird," Elizabeth made a face.

"I'll work on it."

There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Weasley's voice. "Remus?"

Remus put his paper aside went into the living room to open the door. "Good morning, Molly."

"Good morning, dear. How is she this morning?"

"Itchy and cranky," Remus smiled, looking past her. "I see you brought an assistant."

Fred waved a little. "Hello, sir."

"No!" Elizabeth's yell came from the bedroom. "You can't come in here!"

Mrs. Weasley smiled knowingly at Remus and bustled through the door. "Potion, dear." She held up the bottle. "Your father says you are to do whatever I say," she smiled as Elizabeth threw the blankets over her head.

"He can't see me!"

"Come on, Betsy," Fred said from the door. "I won't laugh."

"Close your eyes."

"Betsy…" Fred looked at Remus who shrugged.

"Close your eyes."

Fred sighed. "Fine. They're closed."

"Remus?"

Remus looked around. "What?"

"Did he really close them?"

"Enough nonsense," Remus said, clearly at the end of his patience. "Come out and take your potion before I vanish your blankets."

"Really, Betsy, they're closed."

Elizabeth carefully peered out from beneath the covers, assuring that the red-haired wizard had indeed closed his eyes. "Okay."

"Sit up, dear," Mrs. Weasley motioned to Elizabeth and then handed her the bottle. "Drink all of it, and you'll be right as rain in a few days."

"Days?" Elizabeth looked distastefully at her green arm and gulped the contents of the bottle.

"Even magic takes time," Molly smiled. "You need a few days of rest, so we'll get out of your way." She steered her closed-eyed son out of the room.

"Bye, Betsy!" Fred called as they disappeared into the other room.

"Bye," Elizabeth called miserably, laying back against the pillows and examining the backs of her hands.

"Okay, drama queen," Sirius ruffled her hair. "I think you look a little less green already."

"Funny."

*S*S*

Remus Lupin sat silently on the edge of Elizabeth's bed in the middle of the night, and smoothed her hair over the pillows.

"Moony?" Sirius said softly, standing in the doorway, having woken to the sound of the other man walking around the apartment. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Remus shook his head. "I just… She's not much younger than we were. Twenty-one… Lily… James…" His voice broke. "Molly's having nightmares. And she's not the only one."

"Hey," Sirius crossed the little bedroom. "It's not going to be like the last time." He sat on Elizabeth's bed. "First off, I have thinner hair."

Remus smiled weakly. "I told Molly that… but I just don't know for sure, Padfoot."

"Mmmphhff?" Elizabeth stirred and opened her eyes. "Wha' you doin'?" she muttered sleepily.

"Go back to sleep," Sirius kissed her forehead. "Moony's just having a mental breakdown."

"M'kay," Elizabeth snuggled down into the blankets and closed her eyes again.

Remus smiled a little. "All Voldemort would have to do is come late at night or early in the morning," he brushed her hair back again.

"Let's get you a drink," Sirius clapped his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Come on." He led the way into the living room and poured two shallow glasses of brandy. "Have you heard from Severus?"

"Not in the past few days," Remus nursed the drink. "Albus says that he sent him on an errand, whatever that means."

"Probably not a run to the store for milk," Sirius grimaced.