Severus Snape was not fetching milk. Nor was he doing anything particularly dangerous, unless you consider accepting food and drink in a Death Eater's house dangerous.

Maybe it was.

But Snape was doing it anyway, because the alternatives were worse. As much as Albus thought that his adopted son could just stroll back into the ranks of the Dark Lord's supporters, Snape knew better. The fragile trust-like state he'd previously enjoyed (if such a word could be used) with Voldemort would never again return. His only chance was to do to another what Albus had done to him. He had to create a spy.

He swirled the drink in his glass. "Draco did well on his end of term exam."

"He takes after his father," Lucius eyed his former-friend. "It's hardly appropriate for you to be here, Snape."

"Then why did your wards admit me?" Severus asked blithely, casually fingering his wand.

"My wife has a soft heart for blood traitors," Malfoy sneered a bit.

"Technically speaking," Severus smirked, "I am not a blood traitor, since Muggle blood runs through my veins."

"You always were technical," Lucius said the word as if it were a terrible insult. "Of course, if you had technically taken care of the problem resulting from your tryst with the Muggle whore, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Once I was aware of her existence, I merely tried to fulfill my duty as a man," Severus said, forcing his mind and face to remain blank.

"Then perhaps you are a better man than I," Lucius glanced toward the door as if he expected his own child to appear. "You could have left her with the Muggles."

"I don't believe she poses the threat the Dark Lord believes that she does," Severus assumed a thoughtful face.

"You yourself revealed the prophecy," Lucius pointed out.

"And there are hundreds of children born at the end of July and there is no shortage of those who have defied the Dark Lord. Even then, we run into incongruence with my child," he took a sip. "Unless you are insinuating that I have defied him."

"I am sure that our Lord believed that James Potter was her father. That concealment in itself could be considered a defiance."

"It was not my concealment," Severus argued. "Albus Dumbledore feared so much that I would raise my child into a Death Eater, that he constructed an elaborate ruse."

"Some believe you constructed it to protect your concubine."

"They underestimate Dumbledore," Severus tapped his glass with his index finger.

"The Dark Lord will not trust you again, most certainly not when you admit that you fell victim to Dumbledore," Lucius' lip curled.

"I wouldn't ask him to," Severus shook his head. "However, as a father, I'd rather rid the world of temptation. Things that go against how the world should be. She seems rather unable to make these choices for herself."

"Draco mentioned a relationship with one of the Weasley brats?"

Severus nodded, "You see, these are things I wouldn't have to deal with if it were easier to find an acceptable match."

"Come back to the fold," Lucius said, a small smile creeping over his face, "and I'm sure we could find a suitable young man who might overlook her questionable blood status."

"I never left the fold," Severus downed the last swallow in his glass. "Let's call it a vacation."

Lucius snapped his fingers for their glasses to be refilled before raising his own. "To a better future for our children."

Snape raised his glass as well, nodding. That, at least, he could drink to.

*S*S*

Severus Snape,

On this thirty-first day of August, due to testimony by Ministry officials and upstanding community members that shall not be named in the public record, your guardianship of Elizabeth Rose Evans has been restored. The Ministry would like to remind you that this guardianship is conditional on appropriate parenting action, and should it be revoked again by the court, it is not likely to be reinstated. Thank you.

*S*S*

Elizabeth Evans was screaming. At first, as her own screams pulled her from sleep, she thought that they were her mother's. The dream was so strong: Voldemort, poised with his wand aimed at Severus in the Great Hall, Lily looking on, screaming.

Springing from her bed, the scream still on her lips, she was starting toward the door when Sirius' arms closed around her from behind. "Elizabeth, Elizabeth, it's okay."

"Hogwarts!" She shouted, struggling against him. "I have to go. Dad! Mum!"

"It's okay," Sirius repeated, trying to get her back to the bed, but she clawed at his arms. "Elizabeth!"

"Let me go! I have to go! Dad!" She broke free, charging to the door and throwing it open. She hurled herself through it and into the living room, only to run into a wall of black.

"Easy, Hatchling," Severus' voice rumbled down from over her head. "What's this all about?"

"Dad?" Elizabeth stopped struggling, looking up at his face before throwing her arms around his waist. "You were in the Great Hall with Him…" she mumbled into his jacket. "And Mum was there, screaming."

"It's just a dream," Severus soothed. "Where's the mutt?"

"Right here," Sirius held up his bleeding forearm. "Recovering from my injuries."

Elizabeth looked abased. "Sorry, Sirius."

"It's alright, beautiful. Wouldn't be my first injury from a woman."

"That seems like enough," Severus broke in. "Pack your things, hatchling. We're going as close to home as we can get right now."

"Really?" Elizabeth hugged him again.

"Do I make a habit of lying to you, Elizabeth Rose?" He kissed the top of her head. "Hurry, I'd rather be far away from Petunia Dursley."

Sirius saw Elizabeth's hesitation to release her father. "You two go, I'll pack and clean up here. Maybe leave the Dursleys with some holes in various objects. Or extra body parts."

Severus smirked at that. "An acceptable plan if I've ever heard one. Here," he picked up his daughter, wrapping one arm around her back and one around her legs as she buried her face in his neck. "Close your eyes." Years of trial and error had led them to this arrangement. It seemed to reduce the chances of nausea. Severus insisted that she would grow out of it, that by the time she came of age, she would be able to apparate without a problem.

With a crack, they appeared outside Headquarters, and Severus put her down. "Let's get you back to bed," he kept his arm around her shoulders, guiding her into the house.

"Dad?"

Severus closed his eyes a moment. He'd missed that word. "Yes?"

"I had dragon pox."

Severus smiled a little. "I know."

"It was awful."

"I'm sure it was," he said sympathetically. "Did you do anything else you weren't supposed to do while I was gone?"

"What do you mean, anything else?"

"I think I've been clear that you aren't allowed to be sick," Severus mock-scolded. "So what other trouble did you manage to fall into?"

"Sirius and I booby-trapped the house," Elizabeth admitted.

"Good." Severus nodded. "Not that you should ever do something like that again."

"Dad?" Elizabeth bit her lip.

"Yes?"

"Everything's alright now? With me and you?"

Severus pulled her to his chest in a one-armed hug, his eyes focused for a moment on the glow from the kitchen even at the late hour as they stood in the entryway. "Everything is alright," he said softly. He was quiet for several moments until, suddenly, "Have you gotten taller?"

Elizabeth looked up at him. "What?"

"Taller. In the past 20 days, have you grown?"

"You're cracked," Elizabeth shook her head.

"I don't believe I am," Severus shook his head. "Your godfather bought new uniforms?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Yes, Dad."

"Hmm," Severus turned her toward the stairs. "It's nearly 3, time for a few more hours of sleep. I'll be up shortly."

"I'm not really tired," she shook her head. "Sirius made me go to bed at 9 because he said I was making him crazy."

"A sentiment I'm not unaccustomed to," Severus smirked. "But if you want to get taller, you need to sleep. Less than six hours is not acceptable," he pointed up the stairs. "Up. We have to be at King's Cross in a few hours."

"You're coming?" Elizabeth stood uncertainly on the stairs.

"So soon that you don't have time to stop at Mr. Weasley's room," Severus narrowed his eyes.

"Dad!"

Smiling to himself, Severus made his way to the kitchen. "Mr. Weasley?"

Bill turned from where he was standing by the sink. "Are you ever going to call me by my first name, Professor?"

"Are you ever going to stop calling me Professor?"

Bill snorted a laugh. "That's different. Everyone calls you that. It's an honorific."

"Are you awake in the middle of the night to debate the semantics of titles?" Severus crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's supposed to be Dad's shift, but he and Mum haven't had a lot of time together," Bill shrugged. "I'm worried about her."

"Your mother is a strong woman," Severus said firmly. "She understands what our world needs right now."

Bill snorted again. "You've been walking around here like a zombie for weeks because you're terrified for your daughter. My mum has seven." He turned back to the window. "It won't be Voldemort that kills her."

Severus was quiet for a moment before turning away. "You may be right."

*S*S*

Severus was half awake when he felt the side of his bed shift. "Dad?" The sound of his daughter's voice drifted into his consciousness. "Are you awake?"

"I am now," Severus opened his eyes to see Elizabeth perched beside him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Elizabeth shook her head. "I just wanted to ask you something."

"And this something couldn't wait past…" he looked at the pocket watch on the beside table, "6 o'clock?"

"You're always up early."

"I'm recovering some sleep debt," he sat up against the headboard. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah," Elizabeth shrugged. "I just wondered… do I have to go on the train today?"

Severus frowned. "That's two years in a row, Elizabeth. What's this all about?"

Elizabeth shrugged again. "It's not that big of a thing."

"Elizabeth." Severus arched an eyebrow.

"I just don't want to."

"Hm." Severus swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pointed his wand at himself. In an instant, he was dressed in grey trousers and a black collared shirt.

"I mean, it's not like we have to take the train anyway. It doesn't even make sense. Why would you ride a train for hours when you could be there in an instant?"

Severus looked in the mirror, straightening his collar and considering the point. "The Hogwarts Express was created in an age where home floos were uncommon," he said, glancing back at her in the mirror. "It's a tradition. And anyway, you've always lived in a house where the floo was attached to Hogwarts. For security reasons, not everyone can floo directly to Hogwarts from their home. It would be chaos. As would hundreds of families side-along apparating or using a portkey. We have to maintain some kind of control."

"Okay…" Elizabeth flopped backward on his bed. "So I have to go?"

"You don't have to do anything," Severus frowned. "But I wish you'd tell me what it is that's keeping you from something you used to be so excited about."

Elizabeth pulled herself up from the bed and went to the window before she shrugged, and Severus made an exasperated noise in the back of his throat before pinning her shoulders down with his hands. "If you keep shrugging, you'll get a hunchback," he warned, turning her around to face him. "Talk to me."

Elizabeth dug her toe into the floor before muttering. "Ron and Hermione are going to be in the Prefects' carriage."

"Hmmm," Severus raised an eyebrow. "I'm lucky that Mrs. Weasley was asleep when we came in last night, otherwise I still might be listening to her crowing about that."

"Sorry, Dad."

Severus frowned. "Sorry about what?"

"I didn't make prefect." Elizabeth said uncomfortably.

"And you thought you would?"

Elizabeth grimaced. "I guess I just thought… I mean, after everything I've done… whatever." She shrugged against his hands.

"Oh Elizabeth," Severus shook his head. "I wouldn't expect anything more than House points from your grandfather. He's not known for rewarding those most loyal to him," he put his arm around the back of her shoulders and pulled her against him. "You said you were sorry. Did you think I'd be disappointed that your weren't a prefect?"

Elizabeth nodded against his shirt.

Severus sighed. "Merlin, child. As if you need more responsibility?" He held her quietly for a moment. "You don't relish the thought of having Romeo to yourself in the train, then?"

"Dad!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Fred would be selling the new joke line in the train, but it was probably best that as few adults as possible knew that.

Severus sighed and took a different track. "You know I'll be at school when you get there, right?"

Elizabeth burrowed into his chest. "I'm not afraid."

"Hmm," Severus pushed her head back a little. "If you don't want to take the train, you don't have to." He brushed the hair out of her eyes with one hand. "But I swear to you, my neurotic little clone, that I will never leave you by choice."

"Not neurotic," Elizabeth put her face back against him. "You're mean."

"So I've been told," Severus smoothed her hair. "I missed you too."

*S*S*

"It's that Umbridge woman!" Elizabeth jerked her head toward the head table.

"Who?" Fred looked over her head.

"She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge."

"She works for Fudge?" Hermione was sitting across the table, looking disapprovingly at Ron's plate of sugary treats. "What on earth's she doing here, then?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "Where's Hagrid?" She looked at the head table again.

"Bringing in the first years, I'd expect," Ron said around the biscuit in his mouth.

"Ron, we're not supposed to eat yet," Hermione shook her head.

"Then why did they put out biscuits, huh?" Ron filled his glass. "Appetizers, I say."

Elizabeth blocked out the bickering, focusing on Fred's hand holding hers under the table. The first years came in, and the sorting hat started its song.

"A bit different, isn't it?" Fred leaned over to whisper in her ear.

Elizabeth nodded. "It's never given warnings before, has it?" She listened to the extraordinarily long song. For our Hogwarts is in danger; From external, deadly foes…

"Not that I can remember," Fred looked at George. "Maybe it's a celebration of our last year, wouldn't you imagine, George?"

"Most definitely, Fred," George grinned.

Elizabeth grimaced. "I don't want to think about that."

"About what?"

"It's your last beginning of the year feast," Elizabeth made a sad face.

"True," Fred held up a biscuit. "And this is my last first bite of my last beginning of the year feast," he took a bite of the treat. "And this is my last second bite of my last beginning of the year feast."

"Okay, okay," Elizabeth held up her hands. "I get it, you're not sentimental."

"Not at this moment, no," Fred watched as the first years were sorted. "New first years," he grinned at George. "New customers."

"We have two changes in staffing this year," Dumbledore said, as the last first year skipped off to the Hufflepuff table. "We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Elizabeth made a face. "Brilliant," she muttered. "Starting off the year on the right foot there." She tried to catch Severus' eye, but he was deep in conversation with Minerva.

Elizabeth thought the woman looked a bit like a pink bird, all feathered up in a pink sweater. How did she manage to wear it over her robes?

"Hey," Fred pulled her out of her mental critique of the woman by shaking the hand she was holding. "Are you trying to break my fingers?"

Startled, she looked down at her hand and realized it was clenching his. "Sorry," she said quickly, relaxing her grip. Up at the head table, Umbridge had forced the spotlight onto herself. "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

"Little faces?" Fred whispered.

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan," Parvati whispered, causing Lavander and Elizabeth to dissolve into silent laughter.

As Umbridge cleared her throat again, Minerva leaned over to Severus. "What is your daughter doing?"

Severus glanced at his daughter, who was doing a terrible job covering her laughter. "Being a 15 year old girl, I'd expect."

"She needs to be careful." Minerva looked at Umbridge with some distaste.

Severus nodded slightly. He'd thought the same thing the moment Albus had introduced the new DADA professor. His plan had been to pull Elizabeth out of Defense class if he had the slightest thought that the new teacher was… unstable. The problem he faced with Umbridge is that he knew the woman was unstable, and yet he couldn't pull Elizabeth from her class without causing a problem. Problems with the Ministry and, if he was correct about what was happening, a problem with the Dark Lord.

Waving his wand, he sent a green envelope to the Gryffindor table.

When the envelope hit the table beside her plate, Elizabeth shot a look at Severus before she opened it. Umbridge droned on, and she tried to focus on the parchment to drown out the patronizing tone.

Meet me in our quarters directly after the feast.

Elizabeth scowled and grabbed the quill Hermione always carried around to scribble back.

I didn't do anything.

Severus fired back his response almost instantly.

Keep arguing, and the next one will be a howler.

Elizabeth made a face, but didn't respond.

"What's going on?" Fred joined the half-hearted clapping as Umbridge's speech ended.

"Dad wants to see me."

"Why?"

"How should I know?" Elizabeth shrugged. "Probably not pleased with me not paying attention."

"You're a pretty lousy audience member," Fred agreed, piling his plate as the food appeared.

*S*S*

"Dad?" The living room was empty, as was the alcove with Severus' home-desk. Her bedroom was clear, and Severus had obviously not been there, because there was a trail of shoes from the wardrobe to the bed from earlier. "Dad?" His bedroom door was open, but that room was devoid of human presence as well.

Sticking her head through the connecting door to his office was fruitless, and so she ended up back at the open bedroom door. "Mum?"

"Hello, Sweetheart," Lily chirped from her portrait. "How was the feast?"

"Fine," Elizabeth came in and sat on the bed. "Dad wanted me to come down, but he's not here."

"I'm sure he'll be here soon," Lily said, shifting into a more comfortable position on her chair. "Anything interesting at the feast?"

"Dumbledore said that Grubbly-Plank is teaching Care of Magical Creatures again this year," Elizabeth flopped back on the bed. "You don't think something's happened to Hagrid?"

"I'm sure he's fine," Lily soothed.

"I'd imagine he's tired of teenagers and has taken a sabbatical of some kind," Severus said from the doorway. "When did I say you could lay on my bed like that?"

"I don't remember," Elizabeth grinned, not moving a muscle.

"Impudent brat," Severus shook his head and sat next to her. "Sit up, I need to talk to you."

"I really didn't do anything!"

"Did I say that you did?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"No," Elizabeth sat up.

"Well then, Miss Guilty Conscience," Severus stood. "Come, we'll have tea." He ushered her out into the living room and pointed to the sofa.

"What's wrong?" Elizabeth looked apprehensive.

Severus looked at her, his chin tilted down and slightly to the side. "Use your Slytherin blood," he said, carrying the tea service to the table. "You were in the same meal I was just in."

"Umbridge." Elizabeth nodded, accepting the tea he offered her.

"Professor Umbridge," Severus corrected, moving the sugar bowl to limit the spoonfuls she could shovel into her drink. "You understand why it is important for you to be careful around her, correct? What her presence here means?"

"The Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts," Elizabeth said simply. "You think she was sent here to watch me?"

"To silence you," Severus pressed his lips together briefly. "Which is why you must be careful. No sneaking around, nothing that looks suspicious." He grimaced. "Let her see you as pure-blooded as possible."

"What does that mean?" Elizabeth looked like she'd sucked on a lemon. "Hang out with Draco?"

"It couldn't hurt," Severus took a long drink. "Don't put yourself in her head with the Weasleys or Miss Granger."

"Dad!"

"Elizabeth, you know what's going on in the Ministry now."

"I thought you said truth was important."

Severus sighed. "I'm not asking you to lie. I'm asking you not to scream the truth in Umbridge's face. She hardly needs an excuse to expel you and send you back to the Dursleys."

Elizabeth sat back against the sofa cushions. "Do I have to take Defense?"

"Unfortunately, it would be a slap in the face to the Ministry to remove you," Severus looked into his tea as if it held answers. "We can ill afford to make more enemies there."

"You really think Voldemort has infiltrated the Ministry?"

Severus paused. "Lucius says so."

"Lucius Malfoy?" Elizabeth's lip curled at the name. "Why would you talk to him?"

"It was advantageous for me to have him on my side during our custody problem this summer," Severus said carefully.

"So what," Elizabeth put her tea down and looked directly at him. "You're spying again?"

"Not that it is any of your business," Severus said quietly, "but no. I have an arrangement, however. You would do well to be seen with Draco."

"I hate Malfoy."

"You need to make an effort," Severus said firmly. "Getting along with him could be very useful for you in the future."

"He doesn't want to get along with me," Elizabeth crossed her arms and propped her feet on the table.

"Sit up straight," Severus ordered. "I will take care of Draco. Now," he stood, "I need check on the Snakes."

"Are you going to give your scary speech?" Elizabeth smirked.

"That is already completed," Severus straightened his robes. "Immediately after dinner. Now I need to assure that the first years are on their way to bed."

"You're babysitting?"

Severus scowled. "I maintain a tighter reign over my students than your grandmother does, clearly. In the future, the prefects will take care of this kind of enforcement, but I need to assure that all is well tonight. We generally have at least one homesick child around this time."

Elizabeth giggled. "Do you cuddle them? Maybe sing a lullaby?"

"Perhaps a demonstration of my fatherly abilities would put them at ease," Severus threatened. "Maybe in class tomorrow I could call you 'honey' and hold your hand."

Elizabeth looked horrified. "You're joking."

"Perhaps," Severus bent to kiss her on the head. "Or perhaps not. Will you be here when I return, or are you going to the Tower?"

"I'm going to the Tower," Elizabeth levered herself off the sofa. "I promised Hermione that I would help her color-coordinate her Herbology notes from summer reading."

"Perhaps you should take a look at those notes," Severus smirked. "I will see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, double Potions," Elizabeth said sassily rolling her eyes, starting toward the door.

Severus reached out and snatched the back of her robes, pulling her into a backward hug. "Come prepared, brat."

"Yeah, yeah," Elizabeth turned so she could hug him goodbye, then broke away, opening the portrait. "I'm always prepared."

Severus watched her close the portrait behind her and sighed, heading toward his office to connect to the common room. "I hope so, my child."