AN: Rose wants to spend a week in London with her boyfriend without any adult supervision. Severus and Hermione have different ideas. Can Severus survive his daughter's adolescence without every hair of his head turning gray?

Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!

Severus could never understand how he could go from his daughter's best friend to the person destroying her life simply by uttering the word, "no."

"You're so unfair!" Rose shouted, her face red, her snarl reminiscent of her father's when he was dealing with a dunderhead blowing up his cauldrons. When she was a child the expression had been cute. Now, it betrayed something more sinister, something Severus had hoped to ignore in himself.

"I am being extremely fair," Severus answered as he stood in the doorway to her room. "You are not going to spend a week in London with Brian without parental supervision. Your mother has already told you no, and I am in full support of her decision."

"You doń't have to always agree with her," Rose sat on her bed, glowering at him.

"Your mother and I are a team. I am not going to undermine her, especially when I fully agree with her decision."

"Can't you talk her out of this?"

"Why would I do that when I believe she's doing the right thing?"

"Then you're both unfair!"

"Rose, we are not continuing this discussion. You are not going to London to see Brian, not without us present and monitoring you both."

"But he's my boyfriend," she argued. "We're supposed to spend time together without parents looming over us."

His voice lowered. "The fact that he's your boyfriend is the exact reason we are not allowing you to spend a week alone together."

"You just don't want me to grow up!"

"Believe me, I am fine with you growing up.," he stepped closer to her. "Still, part of growing up is recognizing unsafe situations. I don't want you to find yourself in a situation you cannot handle alone. That's why I need to prevent such a situation from occurring."

"What, do you think I'm going to be like Grandma Eileen and get pregnant?" She scowled.

"I will admit that is one of my fears, though that is far from the only one."

"I'm not stupid! I can handle myself."

"Nobody said you were stupid, but there are situations no young woman should be in, situations you may find yourself in if I do not step in and prevent them from occurring."

"What situations?"

"Situations where you are pressured into doing something you do not feel ready for."

"Brian won't hurt me."

"You're right, he won't hurt you because I'm not going to allow him to get in a position where he can do so."

She let out a loud groan.

"My answer to you spending a week alone with him is no, and I will not change my mind," Severus argued.

"You're so unfair," tears fell from her eyes. "You treat me like a little girl even when I'm not."

"I'm not treating you like a little girl," Severus' voice softened. "I'm treating you like a person I was given charge of, a person I will always act in the best interest of, a person I promised to protect from the day I first saw her."

"Maybe I don't want your protection."

"That is fine. So long as you are a minor, you will receive it anyway."

She scowled. "Just because Grandma and Grandpa didn't let Mum see Viktor when she was fifteen doesn't mean you have to be like them. You are your own person after all."

"I am my own person, which means I emulate the people I respect, especially your grandparents," Severus answered. "They were wise not to let their fifteen year old daughter go to Bulgaria unsupervised, and I am not allowing my fifteen year old daughter to go to London unsupervised."

She clenched her fists.

"Now, if our conversation has concluded you may join me in my potions lab. I am making some Polyjuice potion tonight and would appreciate your help, assuming you are willing to do so."

"I'm not," she grumbled.

"Very well then," he turned around. "I will allow you to sit and stew. Still if you want to speak or brew with me I am available."

"If you don't let me go to London I'll never speak to you again."

"Then I will miss the sound of your voice. Still, I'm sure we can still communicate via parchment and quill if necessary."

Her frown was identical to his when he was cross with a dunderheaded customer.

"Now, if our conversation has concluded," his voice softened. "I love you, Rose. At the moment that may seem hard to believe, but I do love you."

"I love you too," she muttered.

He nodded, noting she hadn't even gone a full minute before breaking her self-imposed vow of silence.

"How did things go with Rose?" Hermione glanced up from the arithmancy journal she'd been reading.

"It went slightly better than when you told her no," He slumped onto the sofa beside her. "Emphasis on the word slightly."

"I'm sorry," Hermione put a hand over Severus' hand. "I know how much you hate fighting with the children."

"It is necessary in situation such as this." He sighed. "Hard as it is to endure their wrath and hear how all I've done is ruin their lives, it must be done."

"You know you haven't ruined her life by refusing to allow her to see her boyfriend without any adults present."

"I know, but after hearing it from so many students, then hearing it from your own children," he shook his head and sighed.

"Rose didn't mean it, and you know it," Hermione answered.

"Even if she did mean it, she's safe. As long as she is safe, I am performing my parental duties."

"If it makes you feel better," she squeezed his hand. "I forgave my parents when they refused to allow me to see Victor."

He looked at her. "How long did it take?"

"A couple of weeks."

"Great, we get to endure Rose's sour attitude for the foreseeable future," he groaned.

"Unfortunately."

"And I thought dealing with my pissy attitude was trouble enough for the family."

Hermione hummed before rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb.

He exhaled. "When I became a parent, I feared my children would yell at me because I was the dungeon bat who struggled to show them affection, or they could not bear the idea of a Death Eater being their father. Never did I suspect they would yell at me for giving them logical, well-reasoned arguments for sound parenting decisions."

"Welcome to the world of teenagers."

"When I quit teaching, I thought I would never deal with another defiant adolescent again," he sighed. "Then I had three children."

"Unfortunately our children take after us. Both of us are too headstrong and stubborn for our own good, traits they inherited."

"Indeed."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"I wouldn't trade my children for anything, I love them more than I thought it was possible to love anyone who I was put in charge of protecting," Severus continued, "But if they could be a little less headstrong and hormonal my life would be much easier. I'd have fewer headaches anyway."

"They aren't always a headache."

"No, they aren't," he admitted. "They are quite sweet most of the time, Overall, they are good children, even if they have their occasional moods. Rose is the child most prone to them at the moment though."

"Rose is like you in that regard."

"I know, which is why I fear for her the most," he swallowed. "I know the horrendous mistakes I made as a youth. The only reason I am content with life is because you and the children stepped into it. That does not change the fact that my greatest fear is Rose making a mistake which will destroy her life the way my mistakes did mine, that she will do something I cannot undo. There will be situations I cannot protect her from, and it terrifies me."

"I understand the fear," Hermione swallowed. "I think of how many mistakes I made, or how many times things almost went wrong. It terrifies me that my children could get in a situation I can't help them out of."

"That is my fear too."

"That being said, there is one key difference between your childhood and the one we've created for a children, one I will never allow you to ignore."

"What would that be?"

"They have their parents' love."

"Indeed they do." Severus relaxed. "No matter what happens, I will always love my children. Regardless of the circumstances, you love them with a ferocity which awes me."

"In the end, that's what will get them through whatever occurs."

"Do you think our love all it will take?"

"No, it will take some luck for them to emerge from life unscathed," Hermione admitted. "But knowing we'll be there every step of the way will be enough for them to navigate most situations, or at least know that if things become too much, they have two people who will always love and support them."

"In that regard, you are correct." He brushed his lips against those of his wife.

"Dad is so unfair," Rose muttered. "He thinks I'm his little baby doll that he has to coddle. No matter what I say or do he won't let me be an adult."

"What's wrong?"

Rose looked up. Her eight year old sister stood in the doorway, her presence an unwelcome intrusion. She frowned, wondering what new annoyances were in store for her today.

"I heard you yelling at Dad," Violet approached her with a gleam in her eyes Rose knew not to trust. "Whatever happened must have been bad."

"Violet, go away," Rose growled.

"Oh c'mon, don't you want to talk about it?" Violet sat on the bed beside her sister.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said no. Now get off my bed."

"But I wanna talk to you. It sounds important, and I think I can help."

"Why? You don't know anything about this."

"I know what it's like to be treated like a baby, and I know you think you're being treated like a baby," Violet answered. "So I know something about this."

"No, you wouldn't understand any of this because you're too young to be in love."

"Ooh, who's your boyfriend?" Violet leaned in closer.

"It isn't Brian, is it?"

Rose turned to the doorway, where her brother now stood.

"It is," Rose answered.

"Oh Merlin." Victor rolled his eyes.

"Why do you always look at me like that when I talk about him?" Rose demanded.

"Because he's a Ravenclaw who isn't worth your time and attention."

"Wait," Violet gasped, "You'd date someone who isn't a Slytherin?"

"No," she argued. "I mean, not if he was a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff."

"Brian isn't much removed from a Hufflepuff," Victor walked into the room.

"What would you know about him?"

"I know his breath stinks," Violet cut in.

"How would you know that?" Rose raised an eyebrow.

"Victor told me once. He said Brian didn't believe in dental hygiene, at least not as much as Grandma and Grandpa do."

"Admittedly his toothbrushing skills leave something to be desired, and he needs to learn how to use floss."

"Sounds gross."

"He, he just doesn't know any better." Rose shook her head. "Those flaws can be overcome."

"No, but the fact he won't pay attention in potions class isn't something I thought you would tolerate," Victor replied.

"He does pay attention in potions, but it's a difficult subject for him."

"Rose, I've talk to people in his year," Victor sat beside her. "Your tutoring is the only reason he didn't fail potions. Without you, he never would've passed his N.E.W.T.S."

"I know. It shows that I'm a brilliant teacher."

"It does," Victor admitted. "But it also shows he's a dunderhead."

"A what?" Rose snapped.

"Yeah, he's a Quidditch playing dunderhead," Violet cut in.

Rose huffed. "Just because he's the fourth best player on the Ravenclaw squad doesn't mean he only cares about Quidditch."

"Well he doesn't care much about grades or potions," Victor noted.

"Yeah, why would you want to date someone like that?" Violet asked.

"To start with, he doesn't say, 'yeah,'" Rose grumbled.

"Violet has a point. Why would you want to date someone who is only using you to get better grades?"

"He isn't using me!" Rose argued. "He loves me."

"Oh wake up and smell the cauldrons. You two have little in common, don't have the same values, and he isn't half as intelligent as you are. What do you see in him?"

"He needs me."

"Need you for what, good grades?" Violet asked.

"He just needs me and," she exhaled. "I want to be needed."

Victor hummed.

"I know his dental hygiene is poor, he talks too much about Quidditch, and he wouldn't know a rat's tail from a sprig of parsley. Still," a tear came to her eyes, "he wants to be around me. I know I have friends, some of them good ones like Scorpius."

"Scorpius hates him too. He told me that the last time we saw each other."

"I know he does. He's made his displeasure known on several occasions."

"So why don't you just hang out with Scorpius?" Violet asked. "At least everyone likes him."

"Because he doesn't call me beautiful, or need my help."

"At least he's an actual friend though," Victor replied.

"I know, but," Rose sighed. "I just want to be needed every once in awhile."

"I know," Victor put an arm on her shoulder. "But there are better people than Brian."

"I know, and knowing him, he won't want to do anything in London I want to do. All he'll do is watch Quidditch while I ask to go to the Museum of the Great Potions Masters. Really, I'd rather go there with Dad anyway. It would be fun to hear some of the stories of the ones he's met and how valuable their contributions are. Perhaps I could even convince him to let me see the exhibit on him, even though he's always felt odd about people complimenting him."

"He'd go for you," Violet answered.

"I know. I'm being such a dunderhead," Rose took a shaky breath. "And now I have to go back and tell Dad I'm speaking to him again."

"At least he won't throw it in your face that he was right," Victor answered.

"No, he won't," she cracked a small smile. "He's a wonderful Dad in that regard."

"He is."

"You know, you apologizing won't take all night," that mischievous smile returned.

"It won't," Rose drawled.

"When you're done, you could play a little Monopoly with me."

"Why, so you can cheat again?"

"I don't cheat, I just do creative accounting, just like Lucius taught me."

"Yes, there's a reason Mum and Dad don't play board games with him anymore," Rose furrowed her eyebrows.

"It might be fun to play Monopoly when you feel ready," Victor answered. "It can get your mind off Brian."

"True," Rose answered. "But only if I'm the banker."

Violet's eyes grew, "But I want to be…."

"Deal," Victor cut in.

Both older siblings looked at Violet, who looked just like her father when forced to clean the dishes.

She crossed her arms over her chest, "Deal."

It broke Severus' heart to set up his ingredients without without Rose asking him questions. Summer was their time to brew together, when he could explain more complex theories with her, show her ways to shorten the brewing times of basic potions, and cherish the chance to strengthen their bond. Still, he wasn't going to force himself on her. The brewing needed to be done by the end of the week. Thus, he had no choice but to begin setting out his ingredients and prepare…

"Dad?"

Severus glanced up at Rose, who stood at the bottom of the stairs.

"Rose," he began. "Did you come to brew with me?"

"I did," she swallowed, "If you still want me to."

"You know I'm always ready to brew with you," he gave her a small grin.

"Thank you," she returned the expression.

"I was about to begin the process of brewing Polyjuice when…"

"That's it?"

He paused.

"You're just going to pretend nothing happened?" She bit her lower lip.

"Only if you want me to," he answered.

"Oh."

"You're a young woman who can resolve her own issues," he continued. "If you aren't ready to talk to me about your emotions, but you want to brew, I will respect that decision."

"In other words, you're treating me like an adult."

"Yes."

"Then I want to be an adult and apologize," she stood up straighter. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was cruel and said things I knew weren't true. You aren't treating me like a child, and you aren't wrong about Brian. In fact, I don't even like him."

"You don't?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No," her voice was stronger, "and I'm breaking up with him. I am going to write him announcing that I'm breaking up with him tonight."

"You are?"

"Yes, I was only dating him because I thought he needed me," she shook her head. "He was just using me."

"I am sorry to hear that."

"Thanks," a tear formed in her eyes. "When Victor and Violet made me realize that, I felt like a dunderhead."

"You aren't a dunderhead."

"But I was so stupid, being interested in someone who only liked what I could do for them instead of who I was."

"Do you not think I have done the same thing?"

She looked at him.

"One of the biggest reasons I joined the Death Eaters is because I wanted to belong to a group, that I wanted to be needed by people." he answered. "I knew some of them were using me for my skills in potions and the dark arts. Many of them didn't like me, and I felt the same way towards them. Yet, they were the first people who accepted me. Yes, I knew what they were saying was wrong, but I was so desperate to belong to a group I was going to do anything they told me to. When I realized I had trusted the wrong people, it was too late to undo the damage."

"Is that what you were protecting me from?"

"Amongst other things."

She hummed.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "I know you're growing up, and you need to be allowed to make your own mistakes. Still, there are certain situations someone your age should not be put in. Until you are a fully grown adult, there are going to be times where I need to step in to protect you. It may not seem fair, but I promise you, it's in your best interest."

"What if you're ever wrong about what's in my best interest?"

"Then we will discuss it when we are calmer. If you can give me a well-reasoned argument as to why I'm wrong, I am willing to hear you out."

"Unless I want to go to London with a boy?"

"If it was a day trip with Scorpius, I would not be opposed to it. With anyone else, we would need to talk."

"What about if I want to go with a man?" There was a gleam in her eyes.

"That is a definite no under almost any circumstance," his voice was low.

"But you don't even know who I want to go with yet."

"You've already met a man you want to go to London with?" Severus' heart constricted. What kind of parent didn't know his daughter was interested in a man? Was he a neglectful parent and did not even realize it? Where else was he doing wrong?

"I want to see the Museum of the Great Potions Masters with you," she continued.

"You do?" Relief washed over him.

She nodded.

"When would you like to go?"

"Would you like to go this Saturday?"

"I suppose we can aim for that date," he replied. "Although these potions may not be done in time."

"If you had someone helping you, they would be," she smiled.

"That is indeed true."

She stepped closer to him. "I love you Dad."

"I love you too," he embraced her, believing for the first time that there was a chance everyone could get through his children's adolescences in one piece.

Even if he couldn't protect his children from every harm the world threw at them, they knew he loved them. In that, they were lucky children indeed.