Elizabeth let her trunk drop just inside the door Severus had pointed her to. Hermione did the same and they looked around, examining their new home.

There was a small common room with a false window. A Gryffindor banner hung to the right of the window. A sofa, two armchairs, and a low table completed the room. There were three doors leading off of the room. Upon closer inspection, they found two small bedrooms with school beds and desks in each. The third door lead to a bathroom, complete with a shower.

"Brilliant," Ron said, following them in, carrying Hermione's trunk of books.

"You could have levitated that," Elizabeth said as Ron put the trunk in one of the bedrooms.

"I lightened it. What do I look like?" Ron rolled his eyes. "We should have lived like this last year," he said, looking around.

"You mean instead of on the run, in tents and different safe houses?" Elizabeth nodded. "Agreed." She moved her own trunk into the other bedroom.

"You should have taken the train," Ron said, sitting down and putting his feet on the table. "We'd have some sweets now."

"Don't you have to go back to work?" Elizabeth smacked him in the head with a pillow.

"Fred's a slave-driver," Ron griped, watching Hermione happily unloading her books. "Damn near manic about the shop, I swear."

"He's coping," Elizabeth said. "It's only been three months."

"He changed the window display three times yesterday," Ron shook his head. "I'm going to take away his wand. Have him committed."

"Be nice," Hermione scolded from the other room. "You could just come back to school with us."

"That didn't really work great for me the first time," Ron said, standing and straightening his robes. "I'll leave the scholastic stuff to you, love." He kissed Hermione and headed toward the door. "The anti-apparation thing is really annoying. Never noticed that before."

"Didn't really matter before," Elizabeth shrugged. "We'll see you Friday night?"

"We'll meet you in Hogsmeade," Ron nodded. "Study hard," he grinned and closed the door behind him.

*S*S*

"It's kind of like showing up to a Quidditch party after you left the team," Elizabeth lamented, leaning against Fred as they walked down the main street of Hogsmeade. "Everyone is looking at you like, 'okay, it's cool that you visited, but you don't really belong here'."

"I'm sure it's not that bad." Fred soothed, running this thumb up and down on her arm.

"Are you?" Elizabeth glared at him. "And how would you know?"

Fred sighed. "I suppose I don't," he said. "Can we just have dinner?"

Elizabeth didn't answer, her chest feeling a bit like someone was lying on it.

"Betsy?" Fred looked at her, startled that she looked suddenly pale. "Hey," he pulled her onto a side street, sitting on a bench. "What's the matter?"

"I'm not doing anything there, Fred."

"It's just a few months—

Elizabeth shook her head. "I wasn't doing anything before, either. I never…" she put her head in her hands. "I never thought I'd need to think of a future. I was supposed to die."

"We're going home," Fred said, standing and putting his arms tight around her.

"We're having dinner…"

"We can have it there," Fred said firmly, turning on the spot, taking her with him into the Apparation universe.

They landed in the back garden of a house Elizabeth had never seen before. The façade was stone, grey and a lighter color that glittered pink in the sun. A terrace ran across the back of the house, curving around the side. French doors led inside, through which Elizabeth could see a large, airy kitchen.

"Where are we?" Elizabeth looked at Fred.

"I told you we were going home," Fred said quietly, keeping his arms around her. "What do you think?"

Elizabeth looked from the house to Fred, and back again. "What did you do?"

Fred laughed. "You really are the worst gift-receiver in the world."

Elizabeth looked up at him again. "It's ours?"

"I was going to show you after dinner," Fred said, leading her toward the door. "But you seem to need to see the future a little more clearly."

"You bought a house?"

Fred opened the back door. "I built a house. On the land Sirius gave us."

Elizabeth nodded silently, letting him steer her inside and through the rooms.

"I thought you'd appreciate a Muggle kitchen." He looked at her. "You're quiet." He started to look nervous. "I mean, I probably should have asked you. But I thought it would be a surprise…"

Elizabeth shook her head and kissed him. "I love it."

*S*S*

"For the love of Merlin, Miss Evans. Pay attention!" Severus' voice snapped from the front of the NEWT Potions class, snapping her out of the deep concentration she was having about… her fingernails.

"I'm sorry," she said automatically, looking at the board where Snape had written several long lines of painstaking directions.

Severus raised an eyebrow before raising his wand, banishing the contents of her cauldron. "Sorry doesn't save the mess you've created there. You'll do it again during your free period. Until then, you may wait in my office."

Elizabeth felt her face flush. It had been years since Severus had trashed a potion she'd brewed in front of an entire class.

"How could you do that?" she hissed when Severus entered the office at the end of the period, closing the door behind him.

"Do what? Expect you to pay attention in class?" Severus frowned at her. "I continue teaching the NEWT level because I generally enjoy classes of students who can pay attention and strive for some level of competence. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect your attention for two hours."

"I was distracted," Elizabeth argued. "But that base was fine. You didn't need to get rid of it."

"The base had simmered too long and had lost potency," Severus said firmly. "Potions is as exacting as Muggle Chemistry. What's more, you know that. So instead of standing there trying to explain to me why you weren't wrong, why don't you tell me what was so distracting?"

Elizabeth sighed and sat on the sofa. "What's the point of this, Dad?"

"The point is that you are not above the rules of this class—

"Not that," Elizabeth interrupted. "What's the point of me being in school? What great future am I working toward?"

Severus frowned. "Finishing school—

"Is going to do what? Give me a place to live for a few months?"

"Elizabeth," Severus leaned against his desk. "You'll always have a place to live."

"Fred built us a house," Elizabeth said softly. "He built us a house with the money he's made with the business he also built…" She shook her head. "And I'm doing what? I'm 18 and still at Hogwarts?"

"Hatchling, you were… busy…" Severus said, a bit ironically.

"I could live another 100 years," Elizabeth said despondently. "And what am I going to do? I did what I was meant to do. It's over. I very literally peaked at 17."

Severus' frown deepened. "Finishing school will give you time. And options. Plenty of Seventh Years don't know what they want to do."

"Name one," Elizabeth shook her head. "I've been training my whole life to stay alive long enough to kill Voldemort. I didn't have time to develop other interests. Except Quidditch, and I feel… I don't know… too old for that."

"I've never supported the Quidditch nonsense," Severus said, despite the fact he'd bought her a broom and attended every game. "Finish school. Maybe you could go to Muggle University. Oxford is a decent school."

"More school to do nothing?"

"More school to figure out what you want to do," Severus corrected. "If not University, then Auror training. They won't take you if you don't graduate from Hogwarts."

"I thought you were hell-bent against me becoming an Auror."

Severus shrugged, the gesture looking unnatural on his well-postured frame. "I imagine the danger is… less significant now. And you've certainly proved you can take care of yourself." He sighed. "I just want you to be happy, hatchling."

"Then let me stop wandering around this place I don't belong."

Severus shook his head. "You'll lose all your options if you leave. If it really makes you uncomfortable, we can complete your classes as an independent study. Elizabeth," he sat beside her on the sofa, "it's important to me. It was important to your mother."

"Yeah, like you talked about the possibility that I'd defeat a Dark wizard and miss a year of school in the process."

"You'd be surprised what you talk about when you have a child," Severus assured her. "And while we did not discuss it to the level that your smart-aleck comment implies, we did discuss what our priorities were for you, what we wanted to happen even if something happened to us. You forget that you were born in a time of war."

Elizabeth groaned and looked at the ceiling. "Independent study?"

"You'd have to actually do what the name implies," Severus smirked. "Study."

*S*S*

Severus was sitting at his desk, returning correspondence, when he heard laughing from the magical door that connected his office to his quarters.

"Mr. Weasley," the Headmaster opened the door and scowled into the living room, "you are supposed to be supporting, not distracting."

"Sorry, Professor," Fred smiled sheepishly.

"We're just having some fun, Dad," Elizabeth grinned, holding up the Transfiguration book that she had in her lap. "I'm turning body parts into other things."

Fred held up the sword that had once been his arm.

"What possible use could that have?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

"You lose your wand, and you have to fight off a group of crazy people?" Fred offered helpfully.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Change it back," he said. "And you," he looked at Fred, "once you've had your limbs restored, it's time for you to leave."

"Yes, sir," Fred said, holding his arm out for Elizabeth to reverse the spell.

"I'm going to bed," Elizabeth said, waving her wand to give Fred his arm back. "Goodnight, Dad."

"Goodnight, hatchling," Severus pulled her into a hug. "Fred goes out the door," he said, his arms still wrapped around her. "He doesn't set one toe into your room."

"Dad," Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "We've pretty much lived together for a year."

"Those were extenuating circumstances," Severus said firmly, "of which I am not happy about. I'll walk you out," he said to Fred as he released his daughter.

The two wizards walked toward the front door in silence. Their footsteps echoed in the empty corridors.

"How is she?" Severus said finally, breaking the silence.

Fred looked at him, considering the question. "She's okay. She's frustrated. And the nightmares aren't helping her mood during the day."

"Nightmares?" Severus looked alarmed.

"Regular ones," Fred assured him. "Not any weird brain-connection thing. Hermione told Ron who told me… I guess she woke Hermione up a couple of times screaming before she started silencing her door."

Severus frowned. "Do you have any idea what she's dreaming about?"

Fred sighed. "Cedric, George, Sirius, Tonks… her mother, whatever she saw when she drank the potion, that snake, Voldemort's eyes—

"Alright, alright," Severus waved a hand.

"There are plenty of options, is my point," Fred said. "But you know her. You have to back her into a corner to get her to talk about anything."

Severus nodded. "I appreciate the information at least… she tells me you built a house. Congratulations."

"Thank you," Fred smiled. "I was going to ask you about that actually. With all the notoriety that's been following her for… well, forever… I want to make sure there are heavy wards around the property. My mum and dad will help, but if you and Remus could come over next weekend and help as well, I'd appreciate it."

"Of course," Severus said. "That's an excellent idea."

"That may be the first time you've ever said that to me," Fred grinned, walking out the door and toward the edge of the anti-Apparation wards.

"Future father of my grandchildren," Severus muttered, shaking his head and turning back into the castle.

*S*S*

"Hey," Ron said, the next Friday night, sitting down at the table in the Three Broomsticks. "No Fred?"

"There's a joke shop in Scotland," Elizabeth said. "He went to swap ideas with the owner. He'll be back tomorrow."

"In the meantime," Hermione said, handing out pints she'd brought from the bar, "we're celebrating."

"Celebrating what?" Ron asked, taking a beer.

"Since when do you need a reason?" Elizabeth asked, taking a long gulp.

"We're celebrating life," Hermione said, taking her own drink. "And the fact that Severus Snape has officially taken me on as his protégé. You are looking at the next Potions Mistress."

"Congratulations," Ron said, stretching out his legs. "More time with Snape. Excellent."

"At least it's official," Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Like he hasn't been stalking you for years."

"I am exceedingly bright, if you haven't heard," Hermione grinned.

"I have heard," Elizabeth said, draining the rest of her glass. "Next round's on me."

And it was. As was the next. And… the next.

"Why do they call it the Three Broomsticks?" Elizabeth asked, looking wildly around the bar. "There are lots of broomsticks in here."

"There's a new broom," Ron said flipping one of his empty cups over and over. "It's seventy billion Galleons."

"Seventy billion?" Hermione asked, giggling uncontrollably.

"Seventy trillion," Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically. "And I could buy it. You know, with the stuff in the thing."

"You should buy it," Ron agreed. "You should buy two. One for each foot."

"I will," Elizabeth said, waving her hand for another round. "Two brooms, and then I'll just ride around forever." She stood, spreading her legs like they were on two different brooms and attempted to demonstrate what riding would look like. Until she fell down.

"You've gotta stay on the broom," Hermione said, still laughing. "Where is the broom? The broom is gone!"

"Brooms!" Ron called, as if the mythical brooms had escaped and were hiding. "Brooms!"

"I think maybe you lot have had enough," Madam Rosmerta said, gathering their empty glasses.

"Nuh, uh," Elizabeth childishly, trying to drink from an empty rum glass.

Suddenly, there was a large figure blocking the door to the street. "Alright there, Elizabeth?" Hagrid stooped to come in the door. "Thought I heard your voice."

"I'm de…dehyramated…" Elizabeth said, grinning at him. "She won't help." She pointed inaccurately at Madam Rosmerta.

"I don't think you're dehydrated," Hagrid said, looking at Ron and Hermione. "How drunk are the two of you?"

"Not drunk," Ron said, trying to look serious. "We're going swimming."

"Put these two in a room upstairs," Hagrid said to Madam Rosmerta. "Put it on her tab," he indicated Elizabeth, who was now staring at her hand like it held the answers to the universe.

"Stay upstairs, and dry out," Hagrid ordered Ron and Hermione, pointing up the stairs and watched while Madam Rosmerta ushered them upstairs. "You," he said to Elizabeth, "are coming with me." He easily picked up the dark-haired witch.

"Let's go swimming," Elizabeth said, moving her arms in a windmill.

"Maybe tomorrow," Hagrid said, heading back toward. "Merlin, kid, what did you drink?"

Elizabeth dropped her voice to a drunk not-a-whisper. "Not butterbeer."

"I guess not," Hagrid said, chuckling. "You are going to be sick tomorrow."

"Not sick," Elizabeth disagreed, shaking her head several seconds longer than necessary. "Going flying."

"I'm sure you are," Hagrid said, pushing the front doors of the castle open with his foot.

"Wherer we goin?" Elizabeth slurred, suddenly feeling a little dizzy from shaking her head.

"Does your father still have a bed for you down with him?" Hagrid asked, heading down the stairs.

"Ssssshhhh," Elizabeth said, turning her face into his massive shoulder.

Hagrid chuckled again, shifting Elizabeth into one arm so he could knock on the portrait to Severus' quarters.

There was a long delay before Severus, a black robe thrown over his pajamas and open in the front, opened the door. "Hagrid? Do you know what time— Elizabeth?"

"Found her at the Three Broomsticks, sir" Hagrid said. "Looked like she'd had a bit too much."

"A bit?" Severus said, incredulously.

"Hi, Dad!" Elizabeth said, waving one arm at him. "Wanna go swimming?"

Severus sighed. "Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take her from here." He held out his arms and Hagrid transferred the Headmaster's daughter over to her father.

"Goodnight, Professor," Hagrid said, turning and heading back up the stairs.

"You're a fine mess," Severus said, closing the door with his foot. "We've talked about this nonsense, Elizabeth Rose."

"Thirsty," Elizabeth said, throwing her arms out to the side, nearly causing Severus to lose his hold.

"Damn it, Elizabeth," Severus swore, finally dropping her onto her bed. "I've had it with this nonsense. You have got to figure out what the hell you're doing."

"Watch your language," Elizabeth mumbled into the pillow. "You're gonna be in trouble."

"You are in trouble, young lady," Severus growled, transfiguring her clothes into pajamas. "Here," he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into a sitting position. "Not that you deserve it, but take these," he handed her Muggle aspirin. "And drink this," he held up a glass of water.

"Gross," Elizabeth said, making a face.

"Precisely what I was thinking," Severus frowned, all but forcing the pills into her mouth. "Drink," he ordered, handing her the water.

"Not supposed to," Elizabeth said, shaking her finger at him. With that, she leaned over the side of the bed and vomited on the floor.

"Elizabeth Rose Snape," Severus glared. "Drink this water or I swear you'll never see the outside world again."

"Snape," Elizabeth muttered, letting him pour the water down her throat. "That's my dad's name."

"Merlin help the man," Severus sighed, setting the glass on the bedside table, cleaning up the floor, and laying her on her side. "Go to sleep."

"Dad's going to be pissed," Elizabeth said, closing her eyes.

"Correct," Severus said, smoothing her hair. "Just wait until you're coherent again, young lady. You're going to get a piece of my mind, I can tell you that much."

*S*S*

Elizabeth Evans woke up in pain. Her head was throbbing, and she had a large bruise on her hip.

"Good morning," Severus said loudly, lighting all the lamps in the room and opening the fake window to let the 'sunlight' stream in. "Time for breakfast."

At the mention of food, Elizabeth's stomach lurched. "Not really hungry."

"I don't remember asking if you were hungry," Severus said, pulling the blankets off her. "Get dressed. I want you at the breakfast table in five minutes."

"I don't feel… good," Elizabeth said, sitting up.

"I imagine you don't," Severus said, crossing his arms and glaring. "But that is hardly anyone's fault but your own. Get dressed. We have company."

Elizabeth groaned, and rolled out of bed, examining her hip in the mirror after Severus closed the door. She couldn't exactly remember where the bruise came from, but it seemed like a poor souvenir for a night out. She pulled on jeans and a t-shirt, running a comb through her hair before pulling it back in a loose ponytail. Her head felt disconnected from her neck, and heavy, like someone had packed it with rocks.

When she opened the door, she was hit with the smell of spicy sausage, eggs, hash browns, bacon, and coffee. Her stomach rebelled, and she flew toward the bathroom, vomiting into the toilet. As the liquid contents of her stomach spewed out, she was oddly glad that she'd tied her hair back.

Groaning, she rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth before venturing back out into the kitchen.

Sitting at the table, filling their plates, were Severus, Remus, and Fred.

"Good morning," Fred said, his voice more than a little disapproving.

"Mr. Weasley came this morning to surprise you, since he missed your night out last night," Severus said.

"Looks like he missed more than a little fun," Remus said, putting bacon on his plate. "Come eat."

Elizabeth rubbed her hand over her face. "Dad…"

"Not before breakfast, Elizabeth," Severus said, pointing at her chair.

Elizabeth sat, looking at the revolting pile of breakfast fare in the middle of the table until Severus sighed. "You're terrible at this, you know that? You're a terrible drunk." He placed two pieces of toast on her plate, followed by scrambled eggs. "Drink that. All of it," he ordered, pointing at the glass of water in front of her. "And take those." He pointed at the aspirin that had appeared next to the glass. "I assume you are in better control of your facilities than you were last night, and therefore I will not have to shove them down your throat."

Elizabeth didn't answer. There wasn't really a good way to respond, and her head was pounding too much to figure it out.

Severus and Remus discussed the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend, bickering over whether or not Headmasters needed to take a turn at chaperoning.

"Albus never did," Severus said, pouring himself another cup of coffee before placing half of one next to Elizabeth's plate.

"Albus was five hundred years old," Remus challenged. "You are young and vibrant. You should be visible."

"First, he was not a day over one hundred and fifteen," Severus said, tapping Elizabeth's coffee cup with his index finger. "Second, I am neither young, nor vibrant. In fact, I believe the argument can be made that I was never vibrant, even in my youth. Lastly, I believe that I am visible enough."

"DEEEEEEEEE!" Elizabeth's headache was pierced by a screech. Looking over, she saw Teddy, lying on his back on a blanket, stuffing one hand in his mouth and playing with his toes with the other.

"You're right, buddy," Remus said, grinning at his son. "Uncle Severus is full of—

"My mum sent a box of things for Ginny," Fred interrupted. "If you'll excuse me," he nodded toward Severus. "Thank you for breakfast, Professor. I'll be around later," he said to Elizabeth, kissing the top of her head before he went out the door.

"Good self-preservation instinct," Severus said dryly. "Unlike you," he looked at Elizabeth. "Did we not sit at this very table years ago and discuss this very thing?"

Elizabeth stared at her toast. "It was just one night."

"One night is where it starts," Severus pressed his lips into a grim line. "And don't pretend that you didn't think it was a problem, because you chose an evening that Mr. Weasley wasn't with you. You essentially were drinking in secret, which is a dangerous road to travel."

"I'm sorry, alright? It won't happen again."

"No," Severus shook his head. "It certainly will not."

Elizabeth sat still, staring at her plate.

Remus cleared his throat. "You know, what's interesting about this is that Albus once commented that my role was to the understanding one in this situation. Of course, you were ten at the time, so it seemed a little farfetched."

Severus glared at both of them. "I have no interest in pouring you into bed again, Elizabeth Rose. I did that enough with my father." He stood, tossing his napkin onto the table. "I have work to do."

"That's it?" Elizabeth looked from her father to Remus.

Severus sighed. "What do you want me to do, Elizabeth?"

The dark-haired woman bit her lip. "Don't you usually… I mean…You're upset with me…"

Severus pressed his lips together and went to the portrait connecting to his office. "You're 18 years old, Elizabeth. I can't very well take away your broom, can I?" With that, he disappeared through the opening, letting the portrait shut behind him.