Disclaimer: Those wacky Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling. I own Christina
A/N: This story is now being co-written by me and ma best bud Manda. Enjoy
Chapter Ten: Problems in Potions.
Severus woke Christina by gently shaking her the next morning. As usual, she got up, got showered, and got dressed. Severus was already gone by the time she was finished. Dobby, however, was waiting to show her the way to the Great Hall.
Christina sat at the teacher's table again that morning. She ate her breakfast slowly, stalling for when Harry, Draco, and their friends would show up. She was rewarded for her patience. The group arrived about halfway through breakfast. Christina immediately sent them a note asking what the schedules were like for the day.
Draco replied that they had History of Magic, and Potions during the morning, and then Care of Magical creatures, Transfiguration, and Defence Against the Dark Arts in the afternoon. Christina wrote back that Hermione should put the same charm on 4 more pieces of parchment. Hermione replied in the affirmative. Then Christina told them that Draco, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, should each keep a copy. That way they could communicate with each other in class, and Christina who would be in her room studying. Hermione replied that she didn't think that was a very good idea, but apparently Ron told her to stuff it. They all agreed to wipe the parchments clear after each note.
Christina was in her bedroom working on Charms again when she noticed the parchment was swelling with conversation. She picked it up and read about three lines before she burst out laughing. It seemed that Harry and Ron were having a conversation about Hermione. Apparently Hermione was too busy taking notes to see. Harry and Ron had apparently forgot Christina could see what they were writing. So taking a quill out she jotted a note to them.
Ron and Harry, you two are so stupid sometimes. Anyways, Ron, if you like Hermione so much just talk to her. I'd like to take this moment to advise you, girls aren't mind readers they need to be told when a boy likes them. Also Draco I found your teddy in the living room this morning, you want me to post it to you? She then went back to studying, keeping an eye on the parchment, after several minutes, Harry's handwriting came back barely legible, saying that Hermione had taken a moment to read what was going on, and Ron, in an act of sheer desperation, had used a skiving snack-box, and Draco had to take him to Madam Pomfry. Christina laughed so hard she fell off her chair, and stayed there for quite some time. When she got back into her chair, Draco had come back. He said that Ron was fine now, but that Christina shouldn't leave her quarters cos when Ron found her he was gonna kill her. Christina replied that she had two brothers and an 'evil git of a father' to protect her. Harry told her that they had to go to potions, and they'd talk to her later. Christina smiled when a discrete note from Hermione appeared thanking her for giving Ron the what for. Christina laughed again and then went back to her work, thinking none of her friends would be stupid enough to pass notes in her father's class.
Christina was sitting in her room working on third year Herbology notes, when a Brown Speckled owl came soaring through her bedroom window. She pet him and she took the letter off his leg. She was incredibly shocked to see that the letter was from her best friend in America, Manda. The letter was an even bigger surprise.
Chi!!,
Well, this is my owl Maven. I'm so glad that you wrote me a letter, and now that you're living with wizards, I can finally tell you my deepest secret. I am a witch. I had to hide it from you because as you know, our world has to be hidden from muggles. And I believed you were a muggle at the time. I've heard of Hogwarts, but as I am not British, and over the age to go there, I couldn't hope to attend. Possibly we can set up a visit, I miss you tons and bunches, and I can't wait to see you again.
Dearest Affections and what not,
Manda
Christina's face was stuck in shock. She made a note to herself to talk to her dad about bringing Manda over to stay with her. She was so lonely while everyone was in class. She was pretty sure she could convince him to let her come, all she had to do was make puppy eyes at him. Christina went back to her studies, a few minutes later she was distracted by notes from Ron and Draco. They said that Severus was being an evil bastard in class. She laughed and said she hoped they didn't get caught talking like that. They replied, they could get away with it, if she could.
She sent the following note: Whomever is reading, I don't think it's the best idea to call your professor an evil bastard, I know Professor Snape, and he has a sweet, kind, loving disposition. On more than one occasion I've seen him talk to a teddy bear. Kindly keep these thoughts in mind.
Ten minutes later, Hermione wrote a note to her, saying that indeed Professor Snape had caught Harry writing a note. He then procedded to read the note outloud to the class, to embarass Harry in front of the class. Professor Snape had not stopped to read the note before he read it aloud, and had gotten as far as the teddy bear before he realized what he was saying. Hermione then said, that she had never seen that color purple on a human being before. Christina drained of color, because Hermione's words had stopped halfway through a sentence, and there was a long jagged line going across the paper. Christina immediately started writing frantically, trying to get a reply out of anyone, when none came she became frenzied in her panic, and called Dobby to her.
"Dobby! Take me to Professor Snape's classroom immediately! "She fairly yelled him. He grabbed her hand and they took off for the dungeons. Arriving there a few minutes later, she was out of breath. She was about to open the door to the room, when her father came out, supporting Neville. He was yelling back over his shoulder instructions for the class. He turned around and came up short when he saw Christina standing in front of him, gasping and grasping at a stitch in her side.
"Wha.. What h-happened?" She asked panting with the effort to regain her breath.
"Mr. Longbottom here blew up a cauldron, again. Honestly I do not comprehend how he managed to get an 'O' on his Potions OWL. "He sneered, motioning with his hand for her to look behind him. She shook her head as to affirm that there was no one listening behind him. He immediately stopped sneering and gave Neville a quick hug. Neville stopped crying and tried to smile.
"If you'd prefer Professor Snape, I can escort Mr. Longbottom to Hospital." She said, taking up supporting Neville. She turned once, and caught a knowing smile on her father's face. She didn't quite like the fact that he knew her that well. As they made their way to the hospital wing, Christina and Neville indulged in light conversation. It was only when Neville had asked her to explain what she meant when she said her parent's last names were Neville, she explained about the car wreck, and how her mother had been killed. She felt horrible lying to him and saying her father was dead as well. Neville, showing rare openess, told Christina about how his own parents had been tortured to insanity. Christina felt even worse for lying to Neville about her father after he told her this, but made a silent vow, she'd tell him the truth in time.
