"Remus, you are her Godfather. I can think of no better guardian."

"Headmaster, I am not the best guardian. You want me to take his child after what he did, after he betrayed them?"

"Remus, she isn't her father. She's just over a year old."

"She should have a proper guardian. I'm not fit to raise a child, what would happen on a full moon."

"We could work something out Remus but if you don't take her, she goes to an orphanage. She has nobody else."

"Headmaster, there has to be somebody better."

"There isn't. It's either you take her or she grows up completely unloved and you know what happens to the children who are brought up like that."

"Tom Riddle?"

"Exactly."

"Fine, I'll take her and I just hope I can keep her safe."

0o0o0

Christine Lupin had a happy childhood. She grew up with her adopted father Remus but she never knew her real parents so she called him Dad. She had a scar running down her cheek but she didn't know where it was from.

Her mother had died when she was born and she never knew much about her. All she knew of her father was that he was a terrible man who went by the name of Sirius Black. She had been told not to ask questions about him. Anything else, she could ask whatever she wanted but her father was a forbidden topic.

For one week every month she had to go away. Where she went varied because nobody seemed to want to keep her for very long. She guessed it was something to do with her birth father but she must not ask questions. Then again it could just be to keep the suspicion away from why she was going away once a month. She wasn't supposed to know why she had to go away but she'd worked it out by the time she was eight.

She'd sat sobbing on her bed when she realised her dad was a werewolf. Remus had come in and tried to hug her, not knowing what was wrong but she'd ran away from him to the other side of her room. He realised what she must know. He didn't try to go near her but he explained it all to her so she understood and she didn't hate him. She had run over to him and hugged him and apologised for what she'd thought of him and he apologised that she hadn't known.

She hated having to go away but despite her protests, Remus still made her go because he couldn't bear the thought of what he could do to her, especially after that time when she'd been a baby and Sirius had brought her round, without realising it was full moon.

It was summer and she was eleven years old. She would be starting Hogwarts but her Dad wouldn't be able to see her off from the platform because it was full moon.

"I love you Dad." She said wrapping her hands round his neck.

"I love you too Chrissy. You're going to have an amazing time at Hogwarts. I'm so proud of you, no matter what."

"I wish you could come see me off." She sighed.

"Me too Chrissy."

"Then come!" She said excitedly.

"You know I can't Chrissy, it's too dangerous." He said apologetically.

"Yes Dad, I know." She said resignedly.

"I'll write to you every week and I want to know everything."

"Yes Dad, I will."

"I'm going to miss you so much Chrissy."

He lent forward and kissed the top of her forehead.

"I'm going to miss you too Dad."

"Now remember to look for Harry."

"Yes I will do Dad."

"And remember to try to keep your temper in check."

"Yes Dad, I'll try not to lose my temper."

"Good, come on we don't want to keep the Weasleys waiting, they've been kind enough to say they'll take you."

"Yes Dad."

He hugged her one last time.

"Bye Chrissy."

"Bye Dad."

She turned and picked up her trunk and owl cage and he watched her go. He hoped Harry hadn't been told about her father or he would hate her before she even got a chance. He wanted them to be friends so he could ensure Harry was okay.

He worried for her wellbeing too. Most of the teachers would already have their minds set up that she was like her father but hopefully she would show them how she wasn't.

The teacher he was most worried about was Snape. He'd hated Sirius worse than the rest of the Marauders because it was his idea to pull the stunt that almost killed him. He hoped he wouldn't take it out too hard on Chrissy but he knew Snape didn't forget old grudges easily.

She could feel her Dad watching her worriedly as she walked to the edge of the drive to meet the Weasleys but she shook it off as parental worry. She wished that her Dad could take her to the station like any normal family but she knew her father's condition wouldn't allow it.

"Hello Christine." Greeted Mrs Weasley.

"Hello Mrs Weasley." She greeted politely.

"I'll take your trunk and how nice, an owl. If you just get in there and we'll go to the station."

She handed her the trunk and owl cage and climbed in next to Ron in the car. Nobody knew of her dad's condition except the adults in the places where she went to stay so the children just thought that her dad was ill.

"Hi Christine." Said Ron, "Is your dad ill again?"

"Yes, he didn't feel up to coming."

"That's a shame."

She shrugged, "It is what it is."

She caught Mr Weasley's eye as he looked in his mirror at her and he shot her an apologetic look. She looked away. She chatted with the older Weasleys about Hogwarts and what it was like. She was really excited by the time they got there. They all got out the car and put their trunks onto trollies.

As they were walking she noticed a scrawny boy with hair that she recognised from all the photos round the house, it had to be Harry.

"Like this every year, packed with muggles." Said Mrs Weasley.

The boy noticed her and went over to them.

"Excuse me, can you tell me how to get onto the platform?" He asked politely.

"First time at Hogwarts too? It's Ron and Christine's first time too. You just run through the wall between platforms 9 and 10."

"Are you Harry?" Christine asked.

He turned to her, "Yes but how do you know?"

"You look very like your father."

"You know who my father is?"

"Yes, he was good friends with my dad. There's loads of pictures round the house."

"It's Harry Potter!" Squealed Ginny.

"Quiet Ginny, don't bombard him." Reprimanded Mrs Weasley.

"Anyway," Christine put out her hand to him, "I would like it if we could be friends like your father and my Dad were."

"Yes I think our father's would have wanted that." He said taking my hand.

She stiffened slightly. She always made sure to differentiate: Sirius Black was her father, Remus was her Dad.

"Is something wrong?" Asked Harry.

"Oh sorry," She said, "Just I'm adopted and well, I call my birth father, father and my adopted father, Dad."

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise."

"No it's fine. It's a silly thing anyway."

"Do you know who your birth father is?" Asked Harry curiously.

"Well I-."

"Let's get through to the platform, we don't want to be late." Interrupted Mrs Weasley.

Christine looked up at her gratefully.

They all ran through the wall till they were standing on the platform. Harry excused himself to go find a compartment. Christine excused herself for the same reason but followed Harry.

"Do you mind if I join you?" She asked.

"No feel free." He told her.

She went and sat next to him.

"So you don't live with the Weasleys?" Harry asked her.

"No I live with my dad. He was just ill today so they volunteered to bring me. Who do you live with?"

"My aunt, uncle and cousin." He said blandly.

She surveyed how skinny he was and the broken glasses.

"Did they treat you nicely?" She asked cautiously.

"Not always." He said and looked at the floor, clearly embarrassed.

"Dad won't be happy."

"Why does he care?"

"He's worried about you Harry. He was such good friends with your parents and he cares for you too. I'm sure he'd love for you to come and stay for a while in the holidays if it's bad where you live."

"You think so?" He said sounding excited.

"Oh yes, I'm sure." She said.

"Do you mind if I join you, everywhere else is full?" Asked Ron appearing in the doorway.

Harry and Christine exchanged a glance.

"Of course!" They said together.

Ron went and sat with them and they talked until the trolley witch came.

"Anything from the trolley dears?" She asked.

"No thanks, I'm all set." Said Ron, producing a sandwich.

"Same here." Christine said, producing her own sandwich.

"We'll take the lot!" Exclaimed Harry.

He grabbed a bag of galleons out of his bag and gave them to the trolley witch. Ron and Christine stared at the sweets yearningly.

"I'm not going to eat them all by myself, help yourself." Harry said.

Christine grabbed some for her own but not before peeling the letter off her sandwich. Dad always left her one when she had to go away.

My dearest Chrissy,

I hope you made it to the platform okay and are having fun on the Hogwarts express. I'm missing you already and you haven't even left. I am so sorry I couldn't be there to see you off but I know that you'll have been fine. Have the best time at Hogwarts. I am so proud of you, whatever your sorting so don't stress. I love you so much, don't ever forget that.

Dad.

She pocketed the letter, smiling fondly at it.

"What was that?" Asked Ron.

"Just a letter from Dad because he couldn't be there today. He always leaves me them."

"Doesn't he see you every day?" Asked Harry, confused.

"Oh yes, just if he goes away or if I go away, I meant." It wasn't a complete lie. It was every time she went away, that just happened to be every month.

They carried on talking until Ron tried to turn his rat yellow. Then Hermione came in and she fixed Harry's glasses and went off to find Neville's toad. The boys stepped into the corridor while Christine got changed and then they swapped. When they were all ready the train had started pulling to a halt.

They left their trunks and owls and went out to the boats. It was two to a boat but Christine told the boys they should go together. Hermione joined her in her boat and they sailed across to the castle. Christine let out a gasp at the beauty of the castle. Her Dad had told her all about it but she hadn't been prepared for the complete beauty of it.

They reached shore and they all clambered out of the boats and followed Hagrid.

"The first years Professor McGonogall." He said.

"Thank you Hagrid."

She led them all into an entrance hall and surveyed them. Her eyes lingered on Harry and then on Christine.

"Well then, it's true, Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." Drawled a blonde wizard.

"And who are you?" Asked Harry.

"Draco Malfoy."

Ron sniggered.

"Think my names funny do you? No need to ask for yours, red hair and hand me down robes: you must be a Weasley," he turned back to Harry, "You will soon learn that some wizarding families are better than others. I can help you there."

He extended a hand but Harry didn't take it.

"I think I can find out the right sort for myself, thank you." Said Harry.

Christine sniggered beside him.

"What are you laughing at?" Asked Malfoy rounding on her, "From the state of your robes, you're clearly no better than Weasley here."

Her eyes flashed. Her Dad had tried his best to get her decent robes but he had no steady job due to his condition so he couldn't afford much.

"That's enough bickering." Said Professor McGonogall quickly, "In a minute you will be sorted into your houses. These will be like your family while you are at Hogwarts. Good deeds will earn you points, any rulebreaking will lose you points. Now if you will follow me."

She opened the doors into the main hall and the first years followed her. Christine looked up at the ceiling in amazement.

"It's not really the night sky, it's bewitched. I read about it in Hogwarts a History." Hermione told her.

They walked in a group until Professor McGonogall stopped.

"One by one you will all come up here and put on the sorting hat. This is will tell you what house you will be in."

"Abbott Hannah."

Christine ignored the sorting and looked to the teachers. Her Dad had been purposely vague but he'd told her that Snape the potions master, probably wouldn't like her very much. What she hadn't been prepared for was the sheer hatred in the look he was giving her. All of the teachers seemed a bit wary of her but Snape, he hated her.

"Lupin Christine." Called Professor McGonogall.

The girl came back into reality and went to put the sorting hat on.

"Hmm. A Gryffindor heritage, a father who was beyond brave to go to Azkaban when he's innocent and a Dad who is brave every day with that condition but where do I put you?

My father was an awful man, that's why he went to Azkaban.

Sure he did.

What do you know about my father?

It's not my purpose to tell you that, it's my duty to sort you. Determination there is and a thirst to prove you can handle yourself. Gryffindor or Slytherin? Hmm. Which one shall I put you in?

Gryffindor.

Gryffindor you say. Well then I suppose that's where you go.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted.

Christine smiled and joined the Gryffindor table to their cheers. She was happy, as much as her Dad had said he didn't mind, she knew he'd wanted her to be in Gryffindor. Snape was still glaring at her with furious hatred and it was unnerving her as was the sorting hat saying that her father had gone to Azkaban eventhough he was innocent. That couldn't be true, she knew he was a murderer and was in Azkaban for the murder of lots of muggles and one of his previous friends, Peter Pettigrew. She wasn't even supposed to know that much but she'd overheard parts of conversations while she was staying at different people's houses at full moon.

Harry and Ron also joined the Gryffindor table. Harry came and sat next to her and Ron sat opposite him. They listened to Dumbledore and then dug into the feast. Ron grabbed as much food as he could. Christine also tried as much as was possible but she noticed that Harry didn't seem to be eating as much. She guessed he hadn't been fully fed at home but didn't bring it up, she didn't want to embarrass him about it. She decided that she would include it in her letter to Dad when she wrote to him.

When both the main course and the dessert were finished, Dumbledore stood up. He gave the start of term notices and then it was time to head to bed. Christine couldn't sleep so she wrote a letter to her Dad. She looked out the window, the moon was full. She'd have to wait until the next day to send the letter unless she wanted her owl to be killed. She sat crossed legged on her bed and begun to write.

Dear Dad,

I'm at Hogwarts and it's everything you told me. I got sorted into Gryffindor!

I found Harry and we're friends but I don't think the Dursleys have always treated him nicely. He's skinnier than usual and his glasses were broken when he arrived at the platform. He didn't eat as much as everyone else so I feel like he could have been denied food at some points. I told him that he might be able to come and stay for part of the summer because I know you won't want him always with the muggles if you can help it.

Professor Snape hates me, completely. I haven't even spoken to him yet but he wouldn't stop glaring at me through the feast.

The sorting hat said something really strange to me. It told me my father was brave for going to Azkaban when he was innocent but I don't understand. It also told me you were brave for living with you know what every day.

Chrissy.

She folded the letter up but didn't give it to her owl: Midnight, just yet. She'd told her Dad she didn't need a pet but he'd insisted, telling her it was a birthday present. Writing the letter had helped calm her mind a bit but she still lay tossing and turning for a while until she finally fell asleep.