Disclaimer: Hers is hers, mine is mine.

A/N: Because the story is practically writing itself, I can write many chapters in one day, in fact the first seven chapters were written in one day, and I hope I can keep that rate up.

Chapter Seven: The Welcoming Feast

Severus had rejoined Christina a couple of hours later, mumbling about that ' dotty old badger'. Christina smiled, she like Albus a great deal already, because he reminded her of her step grandfather.

"You need to wear robes any time you're out in the castle, so go get changed, we have to attend the Start of Term feast." Severus said, and returned to his own bedroom to change. Christina went to her bedroom to look at the robes her father had bought for her. He had tried to get her a bunch of black robes, but she wouldn't have it. So she looked at the assorted colors and chose a dark blue set that had moons and stars on them. She donned them and checked her reflection in the mirror. I could get used to this look. She took her hair out of it's customary pony tail, and brushed it out so that it fell in soft waves down her shoulders to the middle of her back. Deciding she rather liked the effect, she went to the living room to wait for her dad. When he came swooping into the room, black robes billowing behind him, she was reminded of an over grown bat. She giggled, and he turned to see what she was wearing. His eyebrow arched, and he nodded in approval. Together they made their way down to the Great Hall. Severus pushed her in a head of himself, whispering that it would be a bad idea for them to enter together. She shyly walked to the head table, where Albus offered her a seat next to him. Next to her was an empty seat, and in the chair next to that there was a stern looking woman. The lady gave her a smile and engaged her in conversation.

"Welcome to Hogwarts miss Snape, what is your impression so far?" She asked.

"It's huge, I know I'm going to get lost." Christina replied, gazing out at the vast room. There were four long tables in the room, with banners over each. Harry and Draco had explained the different houses to her. The doors opened, and in swooped her father. She hid a smile as he took the seat next to hers.

"Albus, why am I seated here?" Severus said, sneering.

"I thought you might like to sit next to your daughter, and because I want you to be able to keep an eye on your house, in case of trouble." Albus replied.

"Very well headmaster." Severus said. When the doors opened to admit the upper years, his face took on a disgusted look.

" You look like you've just ate something foul." Christina said carefully.

" Habit and reputation my dear." Albus said, answering for Severus because he was busy giving a group of third years a death glare. Christina sat back and observed the arrivals. She saw Harry and Draco enter with a tall redheaded boy, who Christina knew was Ron Weasley, and a pretty girl with fluffy brown hair, who Christina remembered was Hermione Granger. There was another boy with them, she assumed he was a friend of Harry's. He sparked her interest immediately. She reminded herself to ask Harry who he was later. Soon the hall was almost filled. The lady that Christina had been talking to earlier, had disappeared while she had been observing Harry and Draco, now entered with a group of forty or so children. Christina knew that the sorting was about to take place. She listened to the hat's song amusedly, mostly because it made her father sneer more than he already was. Then the sorting began, and she politely clapped for every new student. When it was over Albus stood up to make an announcement.

"Just a few start of term announcements, before we are too full of the wonderful food to listen. First years will note that the dark forest is off limits. A few of our older students would be wise to remember as well." Christina noticed he was looking straight at Harry's group of friends, who all laughed." Mr. Filtch has asked me to remind you that Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes have been added to the list of confiscateable items. The list is available for viewing at his office. And finally, I'd like the school to welcome Christina Hathaway, my great grand niece, who is visiting from America, to learn about British wizards." There was a large amount of applause, which made Christina blush a deep red color. When the clapping subsided, Albus said. " Let the feast begin." The plate in front of her filled with all kinds of good things to eat. She demolished her meal, trying to be lady like. Halfway through the meal, a piece of paper suddenly flashed into her lap. She picked it up and refrained from laughing when she read it.

"Looking good up there sis, wanna have some fun? Engage dad in a conversation about something like "fuzzy bunnies" watch in amusement as the Amazing Color Changing Snape, turns from pasty white, to pissed off red. Love Harry Draco Hermione and Ron. Ps. write back." Christina wrote a reply, but didn't know how to get it back to them. Severus, without taking his eyes of his students, slid his hand over and tapped the parchment with his wand. When she heard Harry and Draco laughing she knew he had sent it back for her. A few minutes later the paper returned.

"Don't want to die eh? What's the good in living, if you don't annoy your father." Christina snorted, trying not to laugh. Then she replied.

"There'd be no point in living if I annoyed my father, he'd prolly put the grandaddy of all hexes on me, if I embaressed him." She sat with the note on her lap, until Severus reached over and tapped the paper again. Christina hoped he wasn't reading what they were writing. Her musings were interupted when she heard Severus swear.

"Damn it all, don't they know when enough is enough." Christina looked out in the great hall, and was startled to see several people grouped around Harry and Draco, and by the look on their faces it meant trouble. Christina had barely had time to think the thought before curses were being thrown. Severus and the lady from earlier fairly flew down to the tables to break up the fight. They weren't having much success, because before Christina could think to take cover, a stray spell hit her in the chest. Everything went black, but not before she had time to think she was going to die.

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Severus had severly punished all the students in his house, as had Minerva, before returning to the head table, what he saw made his heart stop. Where his daughter had been sitting there was an overturned chair, and Albus and Poppy were kneeling next to her body, checking her out. Severus tried to contain the fear that had enveloped his chest, but it wasn't working. Poppy conjured a stretcher and had levitated it after Christina had been placed on it. Severus followed her out, and for some reason so did Minerva. When they reached the Hospital Ward, Severus was relieved to see Christina sitting up. He turned to Minerva.

"Is there a particular reason you followed me Minerva?" He said nastily, his nerves fried.

"It would look quite odd if only you left, if I came as well, it could be said that we, as the heads of the houses involved, were merely doing our duty and seeing that the young girl injured because of our students were taken care of, honestly Severus use you head boy." She said and pushed past him to check on Christina. Remind me to buy that woman the largest package of catnip available Severus thought, before joining the group around Christina.