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Chapter Twenty Two: The Day Before We Could Die

Christina made her way to the Great Hall for lunch. It had hit her soon after leaving Remus' office that the attack was tomorrow. Everyone at the Head Table noticed how quiet and subdued she was. Severus felt dishearted. His daughter, the first to start laughing, and the last to quit, had gone cold and distant. He didn't think he could bear it. Christina ate her lunch in near silence. Severus swore he could see unshed tears sparkling in her eyes. That made up his mind.

He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Albus. Albus' robes were instantly changed into a short muggle skirt and a tank top. Christina took one look at Albus before she let out a loud bray of laughter. This caught the attention of everyone else. Albus looked down, and nearly fainted. Severus indulged himself in a chuckle before his clothes were gone. He was now wearing a fuzzy bunny costume. Christina just laughed harder. Severus then turned his wand on her. Christina's robes were replaced with a horrendous orange sweater with brown puffballs, and puke green slacks.

" Oh hell it's on now!" She shouted pulling out her own wand. The entire hall was held captivated as all hell broke loose at the head table. Christina had been aiming for Severus, but he had ducked at the last moment, and Remus was now wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. Remus' face went from white to red faster than a stop light. He pulled out his own wand, aiming for Christina, he got Minerva instead who was wearing a large diaper and a tee-shirt that said 'Daddy's Girl'. Minerva took one look at her outfit and out came her wand. The battle raged for 35 minutes. By the end of it, none of the teachers had escaped. Remus was still in his underwear, Severus had joined him in only wearing underwear, but he unfortunately wore a bright pink speedo. Albus ended up in a frog suit, and Minerva was wearing a muggle soldier's uniform. Hagrid, who had no way to defend himself was wearing a large pink dress. Christina was standing on the table when she got hit with a tickler hex. She started laughing so hard she fell off the table. Whomever had put it on her took it off imediately. That was when Christina started throwing food.

The students joined in instantly and the air was thick with flying food. Christina was trying to take cover slipped in some mashed potatoes and fell. She crawled under the table, where she found Remus hiding.

" Chicken!" She called out, then got him in the face with some of the previously mentioned mashed potatoes. Remus looked shocked. He gave up on all dignity and grabbed her. He was tickling her unmercifully and she was squirming like a worm on the hook. This went on until they both realized Remus was pinning her on the floor with his body and his face was inches from her own. Christina will never know why she did it, but at that moment it seemed like the right thing to do. She pulled Remus' face towards her own and kissed him. They kissed for a good five minutes before he pushed away, and moved to a sitting position. She copied him no less than five seconds before her dad's face peered under the table. He looked extremely relieved to see her there. Then he threw pudding at them both.

Lunch came to an end with everyone covered in everything. Albus knew the mood the children were in, and cancelled the afternoon's classes. Christina had intended to go back to the flat, take a shower and then get some rest before dinner. She was caught half way there and spun around. The next thing she knew she was kissing Remus again. She pushed him away after a minute and they walked to his office.

" Christina, I guess I should apologize..." Remus started as he sat down.

" Why?" Christina asked, also taking a seat.

" I'm old enough to be your father, hell I'm your father's friend... and you deserve something better than me." He said, looking distressed.

" You may be old enough to be my father, but I've never thought of you as a father figure, as for being my father's friend... well he's my father I'll deal with him. And something better than you? What the hell do you mean by that?"

" Better than a poor werewolf. Better than a man who would kiss someone young enough to be his daughter. Better than a man who would start something like this the day before we could die."

" Remus, I don't care about your money. I don't care you're a werewolf. If things do go beyond today, well then once a month I'll have to be extra careful around you. What does you're age matter? It's just a few more years on this earth than I've had. We may die tomorrow, but I'd rather die knowing I had someone special willing to fight for me, than to die having not. I like you Remus alot... " Christina said, her voice trailing off at the end. Remus was about to reply when he went deathly pale. Christina heard a snarling noise behind her and turned so quick her body thought it was still facing the other way. Standing in the door way of the office was her father, and he was pissed.