Hello everyone! This is my first fanfiction post and I must say I am extremely excited! I absolutely adore the Harry Potter universe and you could say this is my nod to the genius J.K. Rowling. I try to keep things as accurate as possible but I do tweak things in the story to give it my own feel.

Characters such as Kristy, Avery, Blake, and Chloe belong to my friend and she has given me permission to write them into this story.

Other characters such as Gina, Ella, Sage, and Celine belong to me (and I do love them dearly).

This story begins in my personal favorite book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, and will continue all the way through the Deathly Hallows. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Enjoy!

Harry finally made it back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after the strange and frightening train ride. He was still a bit shaky as he made his way inside the school with Ron, Hermione, and Gina. They finally managed to push their way through the crowds of chatty students blocking the way to Gryffindor table, each one retelling their own personal tale about their experience on the train ride and what they thought of the matter. Harry was glad to finally be in the warm, familiarity of the castle, though what happened on the train still left an ever present prickling of fear inside him, something he hoped but doubted the warm food would cure.

Suddenly a tall, brown haired boy walked over to the group.

"Hey everyone," he smiled. He was quite charming and handsome. Another boy, this one with dark hair that fell a little in his face, followed him over.

"Heard a dementor tried to snog you, Harry," the dark haired boy grinned as he and the other boy took a seat next to the group.

"Shut up Sage," Harry frowned, but he wasn't mad. Sage never meant any harm in his teasing and Harry had grown quite used to it over the years.

"Have a good summer, Gina?" the brown haired boy smiled, causing the girl sitting next to Hermione to turn a dark shade of pink.

"Y-yes. And you Blake?" she managed to squeak out, even more embarrassed by her lack of proper vocal tone. Hermione watched her from the corner of her eye with an amused look. She knew why Gina became so nervous all of a sudden.

"I've been good. Summer was fun."

"I'm just glad we're back at school," added Sage, whose mood seemed to lower at the mention of his summer vacation.

The two boys, though not brothers in a sense of blood, lived together. The group knew this but to as to why and whose parents they lived with it remained a mystery. It was a bit unusual for the two to be eating the first meal with Harry and his friends. Though they were friends with the group, Blake and Sage mostly ran around with Ron's older brothers Fred and George, since Blake was their age.

They remained quiet as McGonagall herded in the first years. It was strange for Harry to imagine that just a few years ago he was their age, waiting anxiously for his fate. They all looked so small and nervous. Half the nerves he figured were from the not too friendly welcome of the dementors on the train.

As the students were sorted one by one, Harry began to zone out. The voice still rang in his ears, the woman screaming. It wasn't until Ron elbowed him that he snapped back to reality and looked to the front of the hall.

A girl walked up to the front. She was a head taller than the first years and he suspected that she was older. She carried herself confidently to the front, almost a wave of arrogance that seemed to be specifically directed to one person, though Harry wasn't sure who until her name was called.

"And finally we have a student transferring in. She will be entering her third year. Kristy Snape, if you'd have a seat please."

"Snape!" Ron gaped as he and Harry exchanged shocked looks.

Well this was one way to get his mind off the dementors.

"Don't be so rude, Ronald," Hermione hissed, though it was obvious she was curious and a tad bit perplexed as well.

"I didn't even realize Snape could reproduce," sneered Sage, who quickly received an annoyed look from Hermione.

Blake gagged at the thought, "Well thankfully she must've gotten all her mother's genes."

"Well it's obvious where she'll be sorted to, Slytherin for-"

"Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat cried as Ron was cut off, instead of finishing his sentence he left his jaw hanging in shock. Which Harry teasingly popped his chin up, making Ron close his mouth with a loud pop.

Kristy smirked at the result and with a quick glance at the only other Snape in the room, taking in his embarrassed expression; she walked over to Gryffindor table to be met with cheers as well as curious stares. She sat at the end, near the still nervous looking first years who had no clue what her last name connected her to yet sensed an intimidating aura from her so they kept their distance.

After Dumbledore concluded his slightly grimmer than usual welcoming speech and the introduction of two new teachers, one being the man from the train who saved Harry, and the other being none other than Hagrid, taking the position of Care of Magical Creatures professor, the food appeared. As usual, Ron quickly began consuming everything on site, triggering the usual roll of the eyes from Hermione. Harry couldn't help himself as he glanced curiously down the table at the newest Gryffindor. She remained silent as she picked at her food, looking more uncomfortable than anything.

"Maybe we should talk to her?" Gina said, receiving raised eyebrows and bemused chuckles.

"I think that's a nice idea," added Hermione, the only one not to give the said response.

"Dare you to talk to her," teased Blake to Sage.

"You dare me huh?" he grinned. He could never turn down a dare, no matter how ridiculous.

"Double dog dare," smirked Blake, enjoying egging Sage on.

"You can't be serious," frowned Hermione. "You shouldn't turn meeting someone into a game."

"I can't believe he'll actually do it," chuckled Ron. "She's Snape's kid after all. I imagine she's quite scary."

Hermione shot him a glare but it was obvious she wasn't expecting the daughter of the cruelest teacher at Hogwarts to be sweet and whimsical.

"Can't refuse a double dog dare," Sage winked as he stood. "See you guys later."

"Your funeral," mumbled Ron, receiving a sharp kick under the table from Hermione.

"Ouch!"

Harry smiled. He was starting to feel better with a stomach full of food and the company of his best friends. Hogwarts had once again brightened his mood. It was his home after all and the one place he felt truly safe.

Sage made his way down the Gryffindor table until he reached the end, sliding down next to Kristy who didn't seem to notice him yet.

"Hey," he smiled, turning to face her as he spoke.

She paused and glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. This was unexpected.

"I'm Sage," he continued, ignoring the obvious get away from me look he was receiving.

She eyed him before she spoke, "Kristy."

"Welcome to Hogwarts Kristy. Glad to be here?"

She shrugged a response.

"Well you got put in the right house. Gryffindors are the best!" he grinned. "In my humble opinion of course," he added with a chuckle.

"Oh I'm glad I'm in Gryffindor," she smirked, "That's exactly where I wanted to be."

"Oh really? So I guess you wanted to break away from the family?" He still wasn't convinced that Snape had the ability to reproduce, especially making a child as attractive as her. He figured most likely she was a relative and a very distant one, he hoped.

Her eyes flashed, "I want nothing to do with my family." Her grip on her fork tightened as she spoke.

"Ah…" he trailed off, not sure what to make of that. In truth he knew exactly how she felt. He had his own issues with his family that he kept hidden away.

He felt sorry for her. She seemed lonely and now they had something in common. So he figured showing some human kindness wouldn't hurt.

"So want to come eat with the group?"

She looked at him surprised.

"What?" he raised an eyebrow.

"You're inviting me to come over and eat with your group?"

"Of course," he smiled.

"What's the catch?" She eyed him as she spoke, trying to figure out what trick he was playing on her.

"The catch?" he was surprised. "There's no catch. You're new here and I thought we could be friends." He decided it would be best to leave out the whole double dog dare story.

She continued to look at him like he was some sort of foreign creature or that he had turnips sprouting out of his head. In all truth she was never shown this type of kindness before. Not one without a price at least.

"You're strange," she spoke bluntly as she stood, waiting to be led to the group.

He chuckled as he stood, "I try."

He led her over to the table and plopped back down in his seat, making room for her to sit next to him, which she did. "Guys this is Kristy."

Everyone introduced themselves and then at once an awkward silence filled the group. Everyone had the same question on their minds. Was she Snape's daughter? Could it really be true?

Hermione finally broke the silence by taking a different route, "So you're a transfer student? Where did you go before?"

"Homeschooled," was her one word response.

Another wave of silence hit and it was obvious what would be asked next.

"So… is Snape your dad?" Ron interjected, receiving yet again another swift kick under the table from Hermione.

"Ouch! Bloody hell!"

Kristy tensed at the question and her eyes flashed as she answered darkly, "He's no father of mine."

"So is that a yes or a no?" questioned Harry. He was too curious to hold back.

Harry received a kick from Hermione as well for the comment.

Kristy paused before answering. "Biologically… yes."

"Ah," replied Ron and he was about to say something else until he saw Hermione giving him a look.

"What?"

"Not. One. Word."

Ron sighed and decided to return to eating, the safest route and hopefully the one least likely to get him kicked again.

Harry sniggered as he watched Ron. Ron and Hermione bickering at one another really meant another year of Hogwarts had begun.

"Well welcome to Hogwarts Kristy," Blake smiled, trying to be friendly and also change to topic.

"Thanks."

"If you'd like, I can show you around. This place is pretty big," Sage added.

She watched him, waiting for the catch again.

Sage held up his hands in a mock defeat, "I'm just trying to help you adjust is all. I mean no harm. "

"Alright then," she shrugged.

He grinned, "Great." At least she was accepting help. She really was a strange girl.

"There sure are a lot of students here," she added after a moment.

"Yeah, Hogwarts is pretty big. But it's better once you get to the common room."

"Common room?"

"Yeah. Ours is up in Gryffindor Tower. Each house has a living area that only they can get into. You'll get a password soon."

Their chat was interrupted by a voice from the Slytherin table.

"Hey scarhead!"

Harry frowned. Malfoy was the last person he wanted to deal with right now.

Hermione frowned then looked at Harry as he glanced back at Malfoy, "Just ignore him Harry."

"I heard you fainted on the train," Malfoy continued as he over dramatically pretended to faint, causing the other slytherin students around him to sneer.

"Did you cry Potter? Like a little baby?" he sneered.

"Shove off Malfoy," Ron glared as he turned Harry back to facing forward.

Harry's grip tightened around his fork.

"Who's that guy?" Kristy asked.

"Malfoy. A complete git. Likes to consider himself the ringleader of Slytherin," Sage explained.

"I see. Want me to get him?"

Sage raised an eyebrow at her comment. "How so?"

"Just a special gift I've got," she smirked with a little twinkle in her eyes.

"Well let's see then."

Kristy looked over at Draco and the sleeve of his robe caught on fire.

Everyone stared in shock and Malfoy quickly jumped to his feet, flopping his arm around like a deformed chicken, trying to get it out. The other Slytherins gathered around and ended up soaking him with their cups of pumpkin juice, sending the Gryffindor table roaring with laughter.

"How did you do that!" Harry turned to Kristy, quite impressed and shocked.

"It's a gift."

"That's bloody brilliant!" Ron grinned, any negativity towards her now completely gone.

Kristy smiled brightly, not used to receiving such a positive remark about her gift. "Really?"

"Of course! That was awesome!"

"Brilliant," added Blake.

"Malfoy's been asking for it for a while. Thank god you're here," Sage grinned.

Harry nodded in agreement.

Kristy blushed and mumbled, "Thanks." She was finally starting to relax. Maybe going here wouldn't be so terrible after all.

After dinner the group began their trek upstairs. The size of the school became even more apparent to Kristy as she climbed higher and higher up the seemingly endless stairs.

"It's good to be back," Ron grinned, "Especially back to bed."

"That's all you ever think about, food and sleep," huffed Hermione as the group stopped in front of the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

Harry approached the portrait of the fat lady, remembering the password Percy had told him previously at dinner.

"Fortuna Major."

The Fat Lady's interests seemed to be elsewhere.

"Does she do this often?" questioned Kristy.

"Most of the time," Harry sighed as he repeated the password once more.

"Maybe if I set her on fire she'll open faster," Kristy mused aloud.

Whether the password or Kristy's comment inspired the Fat Lady to open Harry wasn't sure, but he figured the later. The group hurried inside, feeling even more at ease in the comfort of the cozy common room.

"Bedtime," Ron yawned. "Big day tomorrow."

Hermione turned to Gina, "Ready to head up?"

Gina nodded and smiled to Kristy, "We'll show you where you'll be staying."

"See you girls tomorrow," Blake smiled, causing Gina's cheeks to flush a tinge of pink again. Kristy decided she would question her about it later in the privacy of the girl's dormitory.

After the girls left, Harry turned to Ron, "Let's head up to bed." He was feeling quite exhausted from all the events of the day. He had missed his bed and very much looked forward to a quiet and hopefully dreamless night.

"Yeah prepare yourself, we've got potions tomorrow," Sage groaned as the boys made their way upstairs.

"I wonder how he'll act with Kristy in there," Ron mused aloud.

"Who knows. I personally hope she sets him on fire," Sage chuckled.

The others laughed. That would be an interesting start to the year.