Elizabeth was truly, utterly, completely happy. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt that happy. Enormous-patronus happy. Sure, she was writing a History of Magic essay, but she was doing in sitting in the shade of a large beech tree on the edge of the lake, leaning against her boyfriend while Ron pretended to study.
Even Hermione was in a good mood, ignoring the fact that Ron was obviously reading a Quidditch magazine and instead bewitching her knitting needles so that they flashed and clicked in midair, producing the hats and scarves she was luring house-elves with.
Usually, Elizabeth would have the need to comment on how the S.P.E.W. plan was ridiculous. But today, in the last burst of autumn sunshine, Elizabeth could think of nothing but the fact that they were doing something to resist Umbridge and Ministry. She was actively rebelling, and the rebellion gave her a feeling of immense satisfaction.
"Not that I don't love having you here," Fred had said the night before, "but I bet, if you wanted, the girl's dorm might be a bit friendlier now." He pulled her closer to him. "You know— if you wanted to hang out there in the daytime."
But the only daytime place Elizabeth wanted was under the beech tree, and they spent all day there, wandering back up to the castle only as the sun was low in the sky.
When they arrived in the common room, they noticed that there was an addition to the notice board. There was already a small knot of people around the board, so they pushed their way in to see what was so interesting.
By Order Of The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts
All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.
An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.
Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).
No Students Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor.
Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, and Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.
The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.
Signed:
Dolores Jane Umbridge
High Inquisitor
Elizabeth looked at Ron. "This isn't a coincidence," She said tensely. "She knows."
"She can't," Ron shook his head.
"There were people listening in that pub. And let's face it, we don't know how many of the people who turned up we can trust… Any of them could have run off and told Umbridge."
"Let's go upstairs where it's quieter," Elizabeth suggested. "Our room."
"We can't go up there," Fred said.
"Why not?" Elizabeth looked at him.
"Because of the barrier," Fred said, as if such a thing was obvious. "Why do you think I come through the window?"
"The window?" Hermione looked at him in horror.
"But I can get into your room," Elizabeth said, ignoring Hermione.
"It's an old-fashioned rule," Hermione said, glaring at Fred. "It says in Hogwarts, A History that the founders thought boys were less trustworthy than girls. And apparently, they were right." She looked pointedly at Fred.
"Hey, she's the one who snuck into my bed in the middle of the night," Fred said defensively. "Multiple times."
Elizabeth slugged him in the arm. "Shut up!"
"It's true—
"But not for broadcasting," Elizabeth hissed.
"Okay, okay, let's go to the boys'," Ron led the way up the stairs to the fifth year dormitory.
When they'd all settled on floors and chairs and beds, Elizabeth crossed her arms and looked resolutely at nothing in particular. "We're going to do it anyway, of course."
"Of course we are," Hermione answered immediately.
There was silence for a long moment, then Fred spoke. "I guess there wasn't as much to talk about as we thought."
*S*S*
"Well," Umbridge said, "the class seems fairly advanced for their level. Though I could question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus. That's why I didn't start the lesson with a practical brewing of the solution."
"Which is why I am now a day behind," Severus said under his breath, as he turned to his fifth year class. "We were meant to continue with our Strengthening Solutions today. However, since our last class plans were…altered, you will begin the initial brewing immediately. The instructions are on the board. Miss Evans," he directed his attention to his daughter, "you will continue with your Solution, as you completed the base last week. Your instructions are here," he handed her a roll of parchment. "Carry on."
Elizabeth eyed Umbridge as the Professor sat in the corner scribbling notes.
"Pay attention to what you are doing," Snape hissed as Hermione had to save her from adding pomegranate juice to her mixture. "Miss Granger isn't even brewing this level of the potion!"
"Right," Elizabeth said vaguely, putting down the bottle and continuing to watch the corner. Umbridge got to her feet and moved toward Snape, who moved over a row of desks, out of Elizabeth's eye line, so she had to steal glances at a painful neck angle.
"Now… how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" she asked, her quill poised over her clipboard.
"Fourteen years," Severus replied, his expression unfathomable. Her eyes on her father, Elizabeth added a few drops of the pomegranate juice to her mixture; it hissed menacingly and turned from turquoise to orange.
"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Umbridge asked Snape.
"Yes," Severus said quietly.
"But you were unsuccessful?"
Elizabeth could have told Umbridge what the answer would be to that, and couldn't help smiling when she heard her father's deadpan voice mirroring the one in her head. "Obviously."
"And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"
"Yes," Snape said quietly, barely moving his lips. He had the same expression as he had when he'd discovered she'd snuck out to Hogsmeade. Except then he hadn't been trying so hard to control his temper then.
"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?"
"I suggest you ask him," Severus said. Elizabeth smirked again. If she used that tone to an adult, she'd been in lecture-worthy trouble.
"Oh I shall."
"I suppose this is relevant?" Severus asked, his eyes narrowed.
"Oh yes," said Umbridge. "Yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers'… backgrounds…" She consulted her clipboard. "It is true that Dumbledore became your adoptive father when you were—
"If you wish to discuss personal matters, madam, you will have to do it outside class time." Severus looked around at Elizabeth and their eyes met for a moment. Elizabeth hastily dropped her gaze to her potion, which was now congealing foully and giving off a strong smell of burned rubber.
"No marks, then, Miss Evans," Severus said firmly, emptying her cauldron with a wave of his wand. "You will write an essay on the correct composition of this potion, indicating how and why you went wrong. You will serve detention with me this evening at 7 pm to rebrew the base of the Solution so that you can try again during the next lesson. Do you understand?"
"I have Quidditch—
"Detentions are not open to rescheduling, Miss Evans," Severus shook his head.
Elizabeth felt her stomach drop. Umbridge, a look of satisfaction on her face, moved over to Pansy Parkinson and began questioning her about the lessons.
"Perhaps you'll remember to control your eavesdropping next time," Severus said; low enough for only her to hear, before sweeping off to vanish Neville's cauldron-contents.
*S*S*
"No Quidditch practice anyway," Angelina said in hollow tones after dinner.
"But I kept my temper! I didn't say anything to the woman all day!" Elizabeth defended, horrified.
"I know, I know," Angelina looked miserable. "She just said she needed a bit of time to consider."
"Consider what?" said Ron angrily. "She's given the Slytherin's permission, why not us?"
"Because she's a git," Elizabeth snapped and snatched her bag off the floor again. "Got to go," she muttered. "Can't be late for detention."
She stomped out the door and down to the dungeons. Knocking at Severus' office door, she went in, barely giving him time to answer.
"Eavesdropper," he commented by way of greeting.
"Can we just do this?"
"Certainly," Severus raised an eyebrow. "Go into the living room and get started on the essay. I'll be there in a little while."
"Fine," she slammed the portrait as hard as she could and avoid a reaction from the Potion Master.
Severus rubbed his temple and tried to remember the serenity prayer. Or perhaps a modified serenity prayer. God grant me the serenity to accept the teenage angst; the courage to stick to my parenting plan; and the wisdom to know when I'm beat.
Severus Snape was not beat. However, he could only pretend to score papers for so long before he had to go into the living room and deal with his daughter. Nevermind that he'd had a full day of Umbridge, which he thought he'd avoid by giving up his class for a day, and that Albus was being painfully unhelpful with the whole situation. Severus wanted to hex the serene look off the old man's face, but he held his temper.
When he made it into the living room, Elizabeth was sitting on the sofa, Potions book on her lap, feet on the table.
The last thing Severus wanted to do was harp about where she put her feet, but if nothing else, he prided himself on his consistency. Especially with his daughter. "Feet off the table," he said wearily, sitting in his armchair.
"Whatever," Elizabeth dropped her feet to the floor with a clunk.
"Would you like to share whatever it is that has you in such a charming mood?"
"You gave me detention," Elizabeth grumbled.
"Which you deserved," Severus said simply. "But you're not throwing a toddler's tantrum over a detention."
Elizabeth glared. "I wasn't eavesdropping. I was waiting for you to put her in her place."
Severus snorted. "You were eavesdropping, regardless of the reason. If you are going to listen in on conversations that do not concern you, you should at least learn to do so while paying attention to what you are doing."
Elizabeth dug her toe into the floor. "I hate her."
"Any particular reason other than the fact that she has a poor fashion sense?"
"Stupid woman won't let groups meet," Elizabeth grumbled. "That means we're not allowed to have Quiddich teams—
"or secret Defense Against the Dark Arts groups?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
Elizabeth froze. "How did you know about that?" she demanded.
"In addition to modifying your eavesdropping technique, you should choose your meeting places more carefully," Severus said steadily. "Honestly, Elizabeth. The Hog's Head?"
"Well, it was better than the Three Broomsticks!" Elizabeth said defensively. "That's always packed with people—
"Which means you'd have been harder to overhear," Severus said, shaking his head. "If you're going to take on dangerous things like this, you have to learn how to do it properly."
"Who overheard us?"
"Mundungus, of course," Severus almost laughed. "He was the witch under the veil."
"That was Mundungus?" Elizabeth said, stunned. "What was he doing in the Hog's Head?"
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Use your head, Elizabeth. What do you think he was doing?"
"I'm still being followed?" Elizabeth asked angrily.
"Yes," Severus said unapologetically, "and just as well, if the first activity you choose on a weekend off is organize an illegal defense group."
"Hey," Sirius' head appeared in the fireplace. "Remus and I want to come through."
"Since when do you ask?" Elizabeth looked over, glad to be out of the conversation for a moment, since she couldn't read her father's face.
"Since my goddaughter became a snarky brat," Sirius' face disappeared and the floo roared as he stepped through, followed by Remus.
Remus crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "The Hog's Head, Elizabeth? Have you learned nothing about subtlety?"
"We've been over that," Severus said, rubbing his temple.
Elizabeth eyed the three men in the room. Severus was unreadable, which was strange, because he usually wasn't as guarded around her. She searched his face and found nothing except weariness. Remus looked worried and irritated, like he couldn't decide whether or not to throttle her.
But Sirius looked neither worried, nor angry. In fact, he was looking at her with distinct pride. When he spoke, he almost sounded amused. "Mrs. Weasley would like me to tell you that on no account whatsoever should you take part in an illegal secret Defense Against the Dark Arts group. She says you're too young to worry about that now, and if Snape was any kind of father, he would shut this down immediately." He grinned. "However, I think it's brilliant."
"Sirius!" Lupin looked at his friend, who flashed his movie-star smile.
"Do you think James and Lily would have lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?" Sirius shook his head. "There is someone who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend herself properly is a very good idea!" He looked at Elizabeth. "You're going to be careful, right beautiful?"
Elizabeth looked at Severus, not ready to side with Sirius, even if she thought he was right, until she could figure out what the man was thinking.
"Severus!" Remus looked at the professor.
Wordlessly, Severus rose, walked to the bookcase at the side of the room, and extracted a volume. Still silent, amidst Remus' insistence that he say something and Sirius' crowing about his marauder goddaughter, he sat on the table in front of his Elizabeth.
"This," he said calmly, "is the text that you would use for Defense if I was the instructor."
"Severus—
Snape silenced Remus with a look and continued. "Your Defense education, with the exception of third year, is spotty. Therefore, your peers will have a similar background. You will need to begin with the basics." He flipped the book open three quarters of the way through. "You know how to perform spells up to this point. This is your limit." He conjured a green bookmark and placed it in the book before closing it. "I will tutor you on the rest. You will not teach any spell until I have declared that you are sufficiently proficient." He reached into his robes and extracted a long chain with a pendent, which he looped around her neck. "If someone gets hurt, you will hold onto them and activate the portkey. It will bring you here."
"Severus…
Severus ignored the other man. "Establish safety rules. Do not allow students to overwork themselves. Watch the first years, they don't know their limitations. Watch the second years because they want to impress older students. And watch the third years, because they think that their magic is invincible." He handed her the book. "Be subtle, be careful, and do not get caught. I don't want to know where you meet. I don't want to know when you meet. As far as I'm concerned, I am tutoring you in Defense." Severus' black eyes looked hard into her green ones. "You understand the risk you're taking?"
"Yes, sir," Elizabeth nodded.
"Alright then," Severus' nodded, and Elizabeth was finally able to read his face; a mixture of satisfaction and resolve. He turned to Remus. "You were saying?"
Remus made a frustrated growling noise. "I can't believe—
"You can't?" Severus looked at his, his eyebrow raised. "You don't remember twenty years ago? A group of too-young, obnoxious idiots followed a powerful wizard in forming an underground society against evil? You don't remember signing on for that?"
Remus scowled. "We were not children."
"We were children," Severus shot back. "We were children, and we did what we had to do."
Sirius sat next to Elizabeth to watch the show. "He's like a pod-person," he whispered to Elizabeth. "Hermione helped me put in one of those Muggle televisions in my bedroom, and I must say that there are some terribly interesting programs. Have you seen the Science Fiction network? There are always pod-people."
Elizabeth laughed. "Do you think he's under some kind of curse?"
Severus looked over sharply. "Go downstairs and rebrew the base of your Strengthening Solution."
Elizabeth, certain that now was not the time to press her luck, stood quickly, still holding the Defense book, and went downstairs to the lab.
Sirius stayed on the sofa. "Boys, let's just all sit down."
"He's gone round the bend!" Remus snapped, pointing at Severus.
Severus glanced at the door to the lab, then back at Remus, dropping his voice low. "It will keep her away from the Order."
"What?" Remus almost squeaked, still half enraged.
"It will keep her away from the Order," Severus repeated, just as quietly. "It will give her something that she can do that does not involve throwing herself into Albus' plan for her life." He sat heavily in his armchair. "I will watch her. Closely. Don't worry about that. But she's fifteen, and we can't keep her locked in this castle forever. If nothing else, she'll be well-versed in Defense by the time she needs it."
"What if they get caught?" Remus frowned, crossing his arms, not fully convinced.
"We'll deal with the problems as they come," Severus said flexing his hand, his eyes focused on his palm as if it were incredibly important.
*S*S*
Luckily for Elizabeth, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was reformed by a bit of begging on the part of Angelina to Professor McGonagall. Angelina suspected that Minerva had gone to Dumbledore, but regardless of the chain of command, they had permission to practice.
And practice they did. Angelina kept them at it for nearly an hour before conceding defeat. She led her sodden and disgruntled team back into the changing rooms, insisting that the practice had not been a waste of time, though without any real conviction in her voice.
Elizabeth could hear Fred and George complaining from behind the changing screen as she toweled her hair dry. She tried to block out the voices, not at all certain that she wanted to know exactly what part of her boyfriend's anatomy was throbbing.
"Ouch!" Elizabeth winced powerfully, pressing the towel to her face, her eyes screwed tight with pain. The scar on her forehead searing more painfully than it had in months.
"Betsy?" Fred's head appeared over the screen.
"Nothing," Elizabeth muttered, trying to push the pain down. "I poked myself in the eye, that's all."
Fred met her eyes, but disappeared behind the screen again, emerging moments later, wrapped in his own cloak.
"What's happening?" He said, the moment that everyone had disappeared through the door, putting his arm securely around her as they walked out into the rain. "Was it your scar?"
Elizabeth nodded, and Fred looked out across the field as if he expected to see Death Eaters descending upon them. "He can't be near us now, can he?"
"No," Elizabeth rubbed her forehead. "He's probably miles away. It hurt because… he's… angry."
She wasn't sure why she said it. She just knew somehow that Voldemort, wherever he was, whatever was happening, was in a terrible temper.
"Did you see him?" Fred stopped and looked down at her.
Elizabeth paused, looking at her feet, letting her mind wander…
"He wants something done, and it's not happening fast enough," she said quietly, again, not sure how she knew that.
"Has it been happening a lot?" Fred asked, dipping his head to look into her eyes.
Elizabeth shrugged. "A couple times."
"Did you tell your dad?" Fred's forehead furrowed, an expression rarely seen on his happy-go-lucky face.
"It's not a big deal."
Fred frowned. "Elizabeth. You're reading You-Know-Who's mind."
"No," Elizabeth shook her head. "It's more like… his mood, I suppose. I'm just getting flashes of what mood he's in. It used to be just when he was feeling hatred, but now I'm feeling it when he's pleased too…"
"Let's go," Fred was suddenly striding toward the castle again, his arm still firmly around her shoulders.
"Fred—
"You've got to tell someone," he said, pulling his hood lower with his free hand.
"I can't—
"Stop," he shook his head as they stumbled up the muddy lawn to the door. "I'm trying not to be pissed that you didn't say anything before, so just be quiet."
Elizabeth made a frustrated sound, but allowed him to usher her in the door and down the stairs to the dungeon in record time.
"Elizabeth? Mr. Weasley?" Severus looked up from his desk as they entered his office. "You're soaked."
"Quidditch practice, sir," Fred explained. "But Elizabeth's been having some trouble she needs to tell you about."
"Merlin, Elizabeth, please don't tell me—
"My scar—
Severus blew all the air out of his lungs in relief. "Oh. Your scar."
Elizabeth looked at him strangely but continued. "My scar has been hurting again."
"How long?" Severus stood and walked around the desk, beckoning her over to him to inspect her forehead.
"A few weeks," Elizabeth muttered, glaring at Fred, who looked unfazed.
"Tell him the rest," he ordered, crossing his arms.
"You aren't the boss of me," Elizabeth said lamely.
"The rest?" Severus put his hands on her shoulders.
"I can… feel his mood." Elizabeth prayed that he wouldn't ask how she knew, and felt relief when Severus seemed to take her at her word. Emboldened, she pressed on. "At first it was just when he was feeling hatred, but now I can feel anger and pleasure as well."
"Hmm," Severus looked at her scar again, as if it would give him answers. "And you pushed her down here to tell me?" He looked at Fred, eyebrow raised.
"Yes, sir." Fred said, an unsettling feeling in his stomach at the unreadable face of the Potions Master.
"Good." Severus nodded briskly, looking back at his daughter with a less than favorable expression. "Go sit on the sofa," he pointed to the portrait that connected to their quarters. "I'll be in shortly to give you something for the pain," he nudged her forward with his other hand, "and a piece of my mind as well, I should think."
"Everybody's pushing me around," Elizabeth grumbled, glaring at both men before going through the door.
Severus watched her go and turned back to the younger wizard. "Have you spoken to your mother lately?"
Fred was surprised at the question, but shrugged. "She sent a letter last week."
"I asked if you had spoken to her," Severus repeated, not unkindly. It reminded Fred of his grandfather, a man who always talked to Fred as if he were important enough to focus on. In a family of several children, the attention was welcome. And with Arthur, who could buckle down when necessary but was usually flighty in nature, Septimus had taught his grandsons much of what they knew about being a man.
"No, sir."
"Fire-call her," Severus said simply. "Whether or not she approves of your choices is not a reason to ostracize your mother."
"I don't want to talk to her about it," Fred said quietly.
"Then don't," Severus nodded. "But call her. If only to tell her that you're still alive."
"Yes, sir."
"Good," Severus gestured to the door. "Now go away so I can shout at my daughter in private."
Fred went to the door, "She's scared, sir. I'm mad at her too, but she's scared."
Severus paused, then nodded. "Good night, Mr. Weasley." He watched the younger man close the door, then leaned against his desk. "She's not the only one who's afraid," he mused aloud.