"Dad…" Elizabeth looked at Severus in confusion.

"Remus!" Severus looked toward the door.

"Sev…" Remus came all the way into the room, a look on his face that matched Elizabeth's. "It's Elizabeth."

Severus looked at her again, with no recognition. Then, as he looked, his eyes narrowed. "I know your eyes." He looked at her again. "Lily. You have Lily's eyes."

Elizabeth looked at Remus, who frowned. "Lily's my Mum," Elizabeth said quietly.

Severus shook his head, and scowled. "Don't be ridiculous. Lily's child is a baby. Little Potter-spawn."

Elizabeth looked around helplessly, desperate to wake up if this was a nightmare. Then, an idea came to her. "Severus," she knelt down beside him, speaking as if he were very old and losing his mind. "How old are you?"

Severus snorted. "Twenty-one. Not that it's your business."

Elizabeth looked at Remus, who looked at Minerva, standing in the doorway. "That's why he told me I looked old last night," Remus said aloud.

"Severus, what do you do for a living?" Minerva asked.

"You know Albus hired me on at Hogwarts," Severus said, sounding annoyed. "Not for the job I'm qualified for."

"You're a brilliant Potions Master," Elizabeth broke in.

Severus looked down at her. "Who are you?"

Elizabeth pressed her lips together. "Dad, it's 1996," she said gently. "Mum never married James. You sent us there to hide." She looked at him. "People say I look like you, aside from my eyes. Look at me. Do I look like James Potter?"

Severus frowned, surveying the teenager. His resolve to hate her appeared to be weakening. "So you mean to imply I'm a time traveler?"

Elizabeth looked to Remus for help.

"I think you've had your memory wiped," Remus said, sitting on the bed. "Look in the mirror." He pointed to the large glass over the dresser.

Severus stood, and crossed the room. Everyone in the room watched as he looked at himself, then planted his palms on the top of the dresser and breathed heavily.

"Sev?" Remus said quietly. "Alright?"

There was a long silence, and then Severus, looking into the mirror back at Remus, said, "Well, I certainly turned out better looking than you."

Remus snorted. "Shut up."

"Boys," Minerva looked over her glasses at them. "Be serious."

"I am," Severus said. "Aside from the fact that it looks like someone punched me in the face a few dozen times, I'm exceedingly handsome." He turned to look at Elizabeth. "You don't look like Potter."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I look like you. That's why Remus calls me Sevling."

"What do I call you?" Severus asked uneasily. It was suddenly embarrassing to him that he knew nothing about this girl… his daughter.

Elizabeth smiled a little. "Hatchling. You call me Hatchling."

*S*S*

"It's a lot to throw at you at once," Remus said later. "We could take a break—

"Albus modified my memory so that I wouldn't know that Lily and Elizabeth had gone into hiding… causing me to join Voldemort." Severus repeated the information, as if speaking the words cemented them in his brain. " My memory seems to have received quite a lot of meddling." He looked around. "Where are we?"

"Order Headquarters," Remus said. "Sirius' house in London."

"Black?" Severus sneered. "I suppose Potter is here somewhere."

Elizabeth and Remus exchanged a look. "No," Remus said. "James… James was killed almost fifteen years ago."

Severus looked at Elizabeth. "How old are you?"

"Nearly sixteen," Elizabeth said, knowing exactly where this conversation was going. She picked at the fabric on the arm of the chair she was sitting on.

"Where's Lily?" Severus looked toward the door.

Another look passed between the two other people in the room.

"Mum…" Elizabeth started quietly, then shook her head and tried again, "Voldemort came for me that night," she ignoring the wince from Severus, "James died trying to fight him off, and Mum…" Elizabeth's mouth went dry. Was this what her life had come to? Telling her father that the love of his life was dead? Breaking his heart again?

She looked into his eyes, and in that moment, she knew that he knew. "We have to get your memory back," she said softly. "I can't do… some of this."

Severus, who could not remember ever cuddling someone in his life, felt his arm move to go around the green-eyed girl beside him. "So you don't have siblings?"

Elizabeth shook her head and slid off the arm of the chair and into the space between the armrest and Severus. "I'm sorry, Dad."

Severus closed his eyes, willing the tears back into his eyes. His beloved Lily.

"Good morning, everyone," Fred appeared at the door. "Good morning, Professor," he looked at Severus, then Elizabeth. "What's going on? Professor McGonagall sent a note that George and I should come."

"Sev, this is Fred Weasley, Molly's son. He's dating your daughter." Remus quickly filled in, the blank look on Severus' face painful to look at.

"You have a boyfriend?" Severus looked at Elizabeth. "How do I feel about that?"

"Not great," Elizabeth smiled, but her eyes were sad.

"Betsy?" Fred's eyes darted around the room, looking for answers.

"We're not sure what happened exactly," Remus said quietly. "But Minerva and I think it's best if you and George close shop for awhile and move in here. We don't know if Severus was targeted because he is him, or if it is his relationship with Elizabeth. I think it's best if we protect those closest to her until we know for sure."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I'm sitting right here," Severus scowled.

"Sorry, sir." Fred looked at Elizabeth.

"He doesn't remember anything for from the last 15 years," Elizabeth said.

"That's unfortunate," Fred said lamely.

"The understatement of the year, young man," Severus said dryly.

"Wait," Fred looked at Remus. "Doesn't the think he's like… two years older than me?"

Remus laughed. "Maybe three. But Severus was 50 when he was 10."

"You are useless," Severus glared at Remus. "Someone get me a Daily Prophet. That will help me know what is going on better than your jokes."

"I'll get today's," Fred said, eager to get out of the room. When he returned, Severus shook out the parchment and squinted at the writing.

"When did they make the print so small?"

Elizabeth cleared her throat and surprised a smile. "Your glasses are in your robe."

"Glasses?" Severus frowned. "I don't wear glasses."

"You do now," Elizabeth shrugged. "For reading."

"Apparently I passed on poor eyesight," Severus looked at her glasses and put his hand in his robe to find the spectacles. "What all do I keep in here?" He pulled out a wrapped box, and then his glasses. "What is this?"

"Elizabeth's birthday gift," Remus guessed. "That's what you went out for last night."

"You told me you were going to send a message to Neville's grandmother!" Elizabeth smacked him in the arm.

The room froze.

Severus, one eyebrow raised, was the first to speak. "Did you just strike me?"

Elizabeth's eyes were wide. "I'm sorry, Dad."

Severus nodded shortly. "I can't imagine I allow that kind of thing," he looked at her with the glare that he was so famous for.

He must have learned that early in his teaching career, Elizabeth thought. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

Severus nodded again, then held up the box. "When is your birthday?"

"Today," Elizabeth said, reaching for the gift only to have Remus snatch it away.

"Liar," he chided, ruffling her hair. "You have a week, crazy child."

"Let her open it," Severus said, pulling it back. "At least we'll know where I was."

"Somewhere in Muggle London at least," Elizabeth said, accepting the gift. "Unless you didn't tell me the truth."

"You're fifteen, so there's a good chance I didn't," Severus smirked. "Well?" He gestured to the box. "Let's see it then."

Elizabeth carefully untied the ribbon, unwrapping the shiny purple paper. "You must have had them wrap it at the store," she teased.

"I should certainly hope so," Severus snorted.

Opening the box, Elizabeth revealed a heavy Muggle pen, crimson with gold finishings.

"Good lord, you're a Gryffindor," Severus groaned, leaning his head back against the chair. He looked at Remus. "This is your fault. Too much Gryffindor influence as a child."

There was an awkward silence as Elizabeth and Remus looked at each other, a silent conversation in which they decided to let the idea that Remus had been involved in her life as a child rest.

"You weren't angry," Elizabeth bit her lip. "You said it didn't matter."

Severus raised his head and looked at her. "It doesn't matter," he said gently. "Lily… she took great pride in being a lion. Anyway," he shook his head. "I'm not sure I want you anywhere close to the parents of some of the Snakes." He frowned. "Lucius Malfoy had a son, about your age. Is he… Do you know him?"

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. "Draco. He's horrible."

Severus sighed. "He didn't have too much of a chance." He looked at the pen. "Why would I buy you a Muggle pen?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Teaching me to write with a quill was," she adopted a false-Severus voice, "One of the great struggles of my teaching career."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Were you doing 'me' just then?" At Elizabeth's nod, he smirked, and looked at the paper still in his hands. "What's this about… why are you in the paper?" He frowned at her. "Dangerous rumors spread by Elizabeth Evans," he paused. "I assume that's you."

"Yes," Elizabeth nodded.

"Did Lily have some kind of women's liberation moment?"

Elizabeth laughed. "No. It wasn't safe for people to know you were my dad."

"They didn't notice that you lived with me?" Severus raised an eyebrow. "Have the people of the wizarding world completely lost their inference skills?"

"Let's do one thing at a time," Remus broke in. "It appears that you need a brief history of the Girl-Who-Lived."

*S*S*

He'd been very quiet after Remus had finished the Cliffs Notes version of the goings-on. Elizabeth had ended up crushed to his side by the end, a paternal instinct that he couldn't explain making his heart pound in his chest. "I think I'll rest for awhile," he said quietly after Remus and Elizabeth had finished.

"Sure," Elizabeth said. She looked at Remus. "Do you think… if we put him somewhere… unrecognizable… Mum?"

Remus seemed to understand immediately. "Of course. Here," He cast a black backdrop behind the chair, and turned the chair a matching color. "Okay," he looked at Elizabeth. "But keep her covered until you get here."

Elizabeth nodded, then went to the wardrobe to fetch Lily's portrait. "Now you can't freak out," she said, carrying the bundle to Severus. "You didn't take it so well the first time, but it might make you feel better…" She careful unwrapped the portrait and turned it so all Lily could see was the black material and her family. "Mum?"

"Elizabeth!" Lily started, hopping out of her chair. "Is everything alright? It's dangerous—

"It's okay, Mum," Elizabeth cut her off. "But something's happened to Dad. Someone took his memory."

Lily looked past her daughter. "Sev?"

"Lily," Severus took the portrait from Elizabeth. "Why didn't you tell me you made a portrait?"

"Oh no," Lily shook her head firmly. "I am not having this fight with you again, Severus Snape. You just take your ego and put it somewhere else."

Severus tilted his head, a smile spreading across his face. "I love you, Lily."

"I love you too, egomaniac." Lily smiled back. "Now you need to get this problem worked out, because our baby cannot have a portrait and a head-case for parents."

"Who are you calling a head-case?" Severus growled. "I could put you back in the wardrobe, woman."

"That's nice dear," Lily said serenely, sitting in her chair.

"We'll leave you two alone," Remus laughed, putting his arm around Elizabeth and leading her out, closing the door behind them.

*S*S*

"There's no question that it was Voldemort," Sirius said, pacing the study later, Remus and Elizabeth having left Severus to rest and come to terms with the reality of his life over the last 15 years.

"The question is," Remus picked up, "how did they know where he was?"

"Massive Marauder's Map?" Fred shrugged.

"Do you think we have a leak?" Molly asked seriously, looking around, doing a headcount of her children.

"Only Elizabeth and I knew he was going out last night," Remus said, "and neither of us knew exactly where he was going, just into Muggle London, which isn't exactly a specific location."

"You didn't know what he was getting me?" Elizabeth looked at Remus.

"He didn't know what he was getting you when he left." Remus frowned. "I have to assume he didn't tell anyone else where he was going."

"He doesn't have a wide circle of friends," Sirius agreed. "And now we have no one on the inside."

"Draco," Fred said suddenly.

"Fred, no," Elizabeth shook her head.

"He's not my favorite person," Fred continued. "But he's close to Snape, right? You said he's closer to Snape than his father?"

"Well, yeah—

"So don't you think he'd want to help?"

"It can't come from a known Order member," Remus said thoughtfully.

"Remus! His father is a Death Eater!"

Remus looked at her. "Exactly the point, I think."

"Polyjuice Potion," Hermione said, sitting up straighter in her chair. "Can Professor McGonagall get into the Slytherin common room? We don't need Draco, we just need his hair."

"I'm sure the house elves have cleaned," Sirius started.

"No," Ron shook his head. "Umbridge kept her little brigade behind for evil-hall monitor camp."

The door opened and Severus appeared, looking tired. "I assume you are all determining what to do?"

"It's perfect," Hermione said, her eyes shining. "But the potion takes time to brew, so we need Malfoy's hair as quickly as possible." She looked at Mrs. Weasley. "Do you think you could get word to Professor McGonagall?"

Molly looked at Remus, who paused before nodding. "Get the hair. I'll do it."

"You can't," Sirius shook his head. "You have to be… well…" he looked around.

"Human?" Remus supplied. "I'd forgotten about that."

"For what?" Severus asked as Molly hurried out of the room.

"Polyjuice Potion."

"That's an incredibly difficult brew," Severus said. "None of you are qualified—

"We brewed it in the girl's bathroom second year," Elizabeth assured.

Severus' eyes narrowed. "You brewed a dangerous potion in a lavatory? At 12? Where the hell was I?"

"An excellent question," Sirius grinned. "Wasn't the first time your daughter pulled one over on you, Snape."

Severus glared at Sirius. "I'm told that I tolerate your presence, Black. However, let this be fair warning that my current mental state leaves little room for understanding."

"Then we've got to repair your brain," Sirius smiled again, undeterred by Severus' tone. "I'll do it. Brew the damn potion. Technically, I own the Malfoy house. I shouldn't have a problem with the wards."

"I'll get started," Hermione stood. "You two could refrain from 'helping' this time, if you don't mind."

"Young lady, I may have lost my recent memory, but I still hold the memories from my Potions Mastery. I hardly think a child—

"Dad," Elizabeth put her hand on his arm. "This is one of those things that you're just going to have to trust us on."

Hermione smiled. "Professor Snape, you've been tutoring me privately for three years. I can brew a Polyjuice Potion in my sleep. But your expertise is always appreciated."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Ravenclaw?"

Hermione laughed. "Gryffindor."

"Of course," Severus snorted. "I'm in a forest of lions." He sighed and opened the study door. "Let's get started then, shall we?"

*S*S*

"Hey Betsy," Fred whispered, slipping in her bedroom door. "Are you asleep?"

"No," Elizabeth whispered back, moving toward the wall so he could lay down beside her. "I haven't slept in weeks."

"The potion will be finished soon," Fred said quietly, running his hand over the hair that spilled onto her pillow.

"But what if Lucius doesn't know anything?" Elizabeth stared at the ceiling. "Then we've wasted this time when we could have been doing something."

The door swung open, banging against the wall, making both of them jump. "You can waste time in separate beds," Severus growled.

"Dad!"

Fred jumped up, sliding carefully past the older man and out into the hall without a word.

Severus looked at his daughter. "Apparently, I set a minding charm on your bedroom. Handy, isn't it?"

"You don't care if Fred is in here," Elizabeth attempted.

"I am missing my memories, not my common sense," Severus rolled his eyes. "And what you fail to understand is that a man needs only to hear the word 'daughter' to develop a dislike for boys in beds. It doesn't take parenting experience. It takes having once been a teenage boy."

Elizabeth grimaced. Severus crossed the room and sat on the bed. "I know you think that we don't have a relationship because I don't remember the last few years. But again, you have to understand that my instincts have not abandoned me. I needed only to learn that you were mine, and I felt it. Even if I never get my memories back, we will be alright. We started from nothing five years ago, according to Lily."

Elizabeth bit her lip and looked at the blanket with interest. "It's harder this time."

"I know," Severus pulled the covers down a bit. "Lie down," he ordered. "And sleep."

"I should be doing something—

"From what I'm told, you've done quite enough," Severus raised an eyebrow. "In fact, I'm not looking forward to getting some of those memories back, because I might suffer heart failure. Is that your goal? Have me in the hospital so you can run off with the Weasley boy?" A smile played across his lips as he pulled the blankets over her. "Your little plot has been uncovered. Go to sleep." He patted the blankets and started to stand.

"Dad?"

Severus sat down again. "Yes?"

"It doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't, hatchling?"

Elizabeth winced a little. That word. Hatchling. He was saying it because he knew he should… but there was no history. "Voldemort kills anyone who steps in his path. You've done it… a lot. There has to be more to this story. It doesn't make sense that he takes your memory and lets you live."

Severus nodded. "I know. But I also know that there is some Death Eater connection, and we'll know more about it once the potion is finished. Now," he brushed the hair off her forehead, "let's rest that Slytherin mind." He stood and went to the door. "And keep the boys out of your bedroom."

*S*S*

Dear Severus,

Remus wrote about your unfortunate accident. I believe he thought that I would have some idea as to what to do, however I'm grieved to say that I do not. Memories are a tricky business, I assure you.

However, I will say that memory charms of this magnitude cannot be preformed without containing the memories somewhere. This, in addition to the fact that it would be insanity for Voldemort to destroy such a body of knowledge that exists in your head, makes me believe that your memories exist somewhere.

In the meantime, I wouldn't spend much time dwelling on the past. Memories are just that. The past.

Your Father

*S*S*

"Ready?" Hermione looked at Sirius.

"I suppose. I'll drink this, then I'd thank you all to stop staring at me during my wardrobe change," he gestured to the pile of Slytherin robes next to him.

"Where did you get that stuff?" Rob wrinkled his nose.

"It was Reg's," Sirius said. "He was about Draco's size when he was in school."

"Doesn't matter," Molly said assuredly. "I'm nothing if not good at altering clothing. Ron doesn't have on a stitch that didn't fit Fred and George first."

"Thanks for that, Mum," Ron rolled his eyes.

"There's no shame in second-hand clothing," Severus said from the corner of the room where he was leaning against the windowsill. "No one in this room but Black has had new clothes all their life."

"Can you just drink the stuff already?" Ron said irritably.

Sirius looked at the vial in Hermione's hand. "I could use a stiff drink about now."

Remus gestured to the vial. "Drink up."

Sirius looked at Elizabeth, who was standing quietly next to Fred. "Ready?"

She nodded. "Time to get out of this house."

Sirius nodded as well, took the vial, and tipped the contents into his mouth.