Hello everyone! I've finally gotten around to updating. Sorry this chapter isn't super long or full of new developments. The next one should be better. The next one should be the one where the Sword of Wrevil is introduced. Hopefully, it won't take me nearly as long to finish that one... Thanks to everyone who reviewed, including No Name LOL, frizz, MoonGem, Sailor J-chan, discordchick, emmasnape99, and Mademoiselle Morte. Ya'll rock. Yep, definitely next chapter I'll put some good stuff in for you guys!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Snape glanced at his watch before addressing the scattered amount of sixth years who had managed to get into his NEWT class. Potter wasn't there. Neither was Granger. He smirked to himself. So he'd been right about him all along. He'd have a great time with Minerva over this later.

He turned to his six students and instructed them to begin a rather difficult potion he had concocted himself before beginning his normal pacing throughout the class. He made a remark to Draco about the texture of his potion and awarded him ten points for his work, though it was less then perfect. He turned around and took 10 points from Ernie Macmillan for his potion giving off an odor like wet dog, and was about to make a scathing remark to Padma Patil when the door opened suddenly, and Potter and Granger entered the room.

"Well, well, well. Hmm, the two of you are 15 minutes late, so I'd say, oh, how about an even 50 points from Gryffindor." said Snape silkily, though a small voice in his head told him that he had just taken all those points from Koraleigh's house. But he was not prepared for the words that came out of Harry's mouth.

"I'm sorry we were late, sir, but it was Koraleigh. She was attacked by some students, and..."

Snape didn't give him a chance to finish. "Both of you, in my office, now!" he hissed, gesturing to the door on the other side of the room. "Malfoy, you're in charge. Anything...unusual... occurs, and you will find yourself in detention until you graduate."

Without another word, he strode into his office, leaving Potter and Granger to follow. "Now, what happened." he asked urgently as soon as the door closed. "Where's Koraleigh? Is she all right?"

"She's fine, sir." said Hermione. "I'm not sure exactly what happened, but her two friends, Henny and Gretchen said they were attempting to find their way to Transfiguration when a group of students passed by, and that one of them muttered a spell that made Koraleigh fly against the wall, and they all laughed..."

"What house were they from? Who were they?" Snape demanded, pacing back and forth anxiously.

"Henny and Gretchen didn't say." replied Harry. "I don't think they knew."

"And so we came up, and Koraleigh was lying on the ground, and so Harry conjured up a stretcher and we all took her to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey said the situation was under control and told us all to leave." finished Hermione meekly.

"I've got to go to her." muttered Snape, pacing and running his left hand through his hair. He stopped suddenly and turned to the two sixth years, watching him. "Go into the classroom and begin the potion on the board. I'm going to the hospital wing." He began walking toward the door, and then paused and turned to the two. "Sixty points to Gryffindor for helping my daughter." he said quietly, and then quickly left.

His only conscious thought as he hurried to the hospital wing was that Ailey was going to murder him if anything was seriously wrong with Koraleigh. He pushed the doors open so hard they banged against the walls with a loud clatter. He breathed a quick sigh of relief to see his daughter sitting up in bed, Madam Pomfrey bending over her. Both jumped and looked up at the interruption.

"I'm all right, Dad." said Koraleigh quickly, looking at his menacing face.

"Really, Professor, this is a hospital wing." said Madam Pomfrey reproachfully. "Miss Snape is quite fine. She was only hit with Stupefy."

"Who did it?" he demanded out loud.

"I dunno, Dad. Don't worry about it." replied Koraleigh nervously. "I don't want to start anything. I'm fine. Let's just forget it."

"That will only encourage them." said Snape fervently. "I shall talk to the headmaster about this. They will not go unpunished."

Koraleigh groaned. "It's OK! If they have to pick on little first years, let them."

Snape turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Is she all right?" he demanded.

"Yes." replied Madam Pomfrey calmly. "However, she does not need to be attending classes today. She can stay in here for the time being. I will notify the headmaster of the happenings. It's not the first time pranks have been pulled in the corridors resulting in trips to the hospital wing. It is, however, the first time that I have had to deal with anxious parents. I assure you, Severus, she is fine. Now, please, let her get her rest. I believe you do have a class right now?"

Snape glared at the medi-witch, who stood her ground firmly.

"I'm ok, Dad, really." said Koraleigh, her voice softening. "You can go back to your class. Don't worry about me."

Snape quickly decided his continued presence here would be a bit awkward. "All right." he relented. "But the matter is not over with. I wish to speak with you after supper."

"Yes, Father." replied Koraleigh with a sigh.

As Snape walked back to his class, he firmly swore to take care of the ones who had done this to his Koraleigh. And he couldn't help but wonder if maybe it had to do with him.