Chapter Two: Becoming a Student
The year went by smoothly enough for Renée and soon the end of school came. For the time off she stayed in the kitchen, summoning food when she needed to. She didn't know what she would be doing for next year. She could only hope she would be able to attend the school as a student, not hall patrol.
* * *
One morning Renée awoke, stuffed in the corner, to see many house elves scurrying around, making food. After sneaking a bite of ham she walked around the building. Dumbledore found her later and asked if he could se her in his office. Renée followed him into the office. When he had shut the door Renée cocked her cathead at him. He began talking and then realized that he was still talking to a cat. He motioned for her to be comfortable and she changed back to her normal form.
"I would like to talk to you about sorting." He said.
"Yes?" Renée asked, trying not to get too excited.
"I would like you to be present when sorting happens." He continued.
"Why?" Renée asked, trying not to get too excited.
"I would like you to be present when sorting happens." He continued.
"Why?" Renée asked.
"You have never attended a sorting and I think it would be a good experience. You will see the students before they see or notice you. You may sit next to the professor's table if you like." He answered.
She began to protest, to tell him that she would like to join, but he held up his hand and cut her off, "I have not the authority to change what is, only do what I can about what will come." "Very well." Renée said, changing to her cat form.
Dumbledore opened the door for her and she walked down and out of his office, going to the main hall for sorting.
* * *
Renée had all but dozed off when the students finally arrived. She spotted the Weasley twins and glared at them, and they glared back. She saw many familiar faces and wondered where all the first years were. After a while the doors were opened and Professor McGonagall came in, followed by many scared looking first years.
She spotted a tall red-haired boy with freckles and groaned inwardly. Not another Weasley, she thought.
A stool was placed before them and, as she couldn't see the front of the hat sitting on top, she could only assume that the voice she heard was coming from the hat. After the hat was finished reciting it's poem Professor McGonagall walked up and started to call names. Renée watched in fascination as each child would sit, have the hat placed on their head, and be sorted into a house. She didn't really pay any attention to who was being sorted at the time until the name 'Harry Potter' was called.
Renée scanned the crowd and soon a tall, but thin, boy with raven black hair stepped forward. She could see clearly the scar on his forehead and decided she would have to watch this one closely.
The sorting hat took a while to sort, but finally decided on Griffindoor. The Griffindoor table went wild.
* * *
Renée roamed the halls, patrolling them for stray students, starting her shift a bit earlier than usual as it was the first day of school. She came to a door that was cracked slightly; the little light that did go into the room was a thin streak, barely visible in the darkness. She looked in, pushing the door open with her nose to get a better look. She still could see nothing, even with her cat eyes. Looking to either side of her down the halls she checked for any sign of people. Seeing no people she changed to her human form and pushed the door open to walk in. She didn't see Professor McGonagall and Snape come around the corner as she pushed the door open and walked in.
The two professors looked at each other for a second and followed the girl around the corner and into the room. When they looked in the girl's hand was reaching towards the sorting hat. "Stop where you are!" McGonagall yelled, whipping out her wand.
Renée turned on the instant to face the two teachers. She automatically went into a crouch, one hand out, palm facing outward, as if shielding her, her other poised behind her, as if ready to throw a spell. McGonagall stalled at the girl's strange position. Snape came into the room behind McGonagall and looked closely at the girl. Her coal black eyes seemed determined as her golden hair fell carelessly over her shoulders, hiding part of her face.
When the initial surprise was gone McGonagall waved her wand and chanted something, invoking a sleep spell. A small spark illuminated the end of her wand as it shot towards Renée. Renée's front hand curled slightly and then opened again. The spell McGonagall had cast hit an invisible wall before the girl and Renée shifted her weight to the other foot as she brought her hand down to cancel the wall of shielding she had erected.
McGonagall's mouth thinned in concentration as she prepared for a more advanced spell. She was about to release something a lot more advanced when a simple word from Snape stopped her.
"Wait." Snape said commandingly.
McGonagall turned to him, "What?" she kept one eye on Renée, watching for any sign of her attacking, but she seemed to be permanently in a state of defense.
"She obviously has talent, if she can counter a spell cast by a professor with a simple hand movement, without the aid of a wand." Snape provided.
"And?" McGonagall asked, wanting to know where this was going.
"Well, shouldn't we at least give her the chance to prove herself able to use magic for, shall we say. the greater good?" He said, a slight smirk crawling over his face, his mind working it over in his head.
McGonagall looked over at the girl for a moment while rolling the prospect of what Snape was saying over in her mind. The girl looked harmless enough, if not threatened by someone. She turned back to Snape and looked at him pointedly. "How do you propose we do that?" She asked.
"Simple. we'll make her an honorary member of Slytherin, she can't earn or loose points for the house. She will be there only to learn how to focus her powers." He said, providing a solution.
"It's not for us to decide." McGonagall said back, "You must present this to Dumbledore." She said emphasizing the 'you.'
Snape nodded and walked out of the room, heading for the Headmaster's office. McGonagall turned back to Renée who was still crouched and ready for battle. McGonagall put away her wand in front of the girl so that she could see that she meant no harm. Renée looked at her for a while before loosening up and standing strait, her head lifted.
"What's you're name?" McGonagall said, trying to sound as soothing as possible.
Renée looked at her, her eyes reduced to slits as if testing her. Her eyes eventually opened up and she replied, "My name is Renée."
"Welcome, Renée." McGonagall said, "I am head of Griffindoor, also the Transfiguration teacher. How did you get into the school?"
"That is my business." Renée said strongly, her head lifting a bit higher, daring McGonagall to press her further.
"Very well," McGonagall said reluctantly, "would you come with me?"
"Where?" Renée asked cautiously.
"To see the Headmaster." McGonagall answered, gesturing Renée out the door.
Renée nodded her head and walked out the door, McGonagall behind her.
* * * Snape walked slowly towards Dumbledore's office, planning out what he was going to say to convince him to let her stay. He rounded the corner just as Dumbledore walked out from behind the gargoyle. Catching sight of Snape, Dumbledore stopped and waited for the professor to catch up.
When Snape reached Dumbledore's side he began talking at once, "I found this girl, not a student mind you, in the school. She seems to possess extraordinary powers in the magic department. I believe it would be a good idea to teach her how to focus her powers before releasing her on the world." Snape said, trying to be as sensible as possible.
"So you propose we place her in the school as a student, do you?" Dumbledore asked, turning to look at Snape.
"Well, not exactly." He looked at Dumbledore before continuing, "I was thinking more along the lines of making her an honorary student, say in Slytherin house, that can't gain or loose points for the house. She would just be there to learn to focus and develop her power."
Dumbledore nodded in thought and then spoke, "I think we should try it, but if she makes trouble, she's out. I will watch her progress myself and make sure she understands the rules of the school." He looked at Snape again, "Where is she?"
Snape turned to look behind him and then faced Dumbledore again, "McGonagall should be bringing her any time now."
Dumbledore nodded his approval and turned back towards his office, "Send her up when she arrives so that I may explain to her what will be happening."
Snape nodded as Dumbledore disappeared behind the gargoyle once again. Turning back to look down the hallway they would be coming down he planned to wait for McGonagall and the girl.
When Renée and McGonagall appeared in the hallway they were talking quietly, or at least the girl was. As they approached Snape they fell silent. Snape looked down at the girl, ignoring McGonagall almost altogether, "The Headmaster would like to see you in his office to organize what you'll be doing this year."
Renée nodded to Snape, her eyes telling him she was ready now. Snape turned and walked towards the gargoyle, Renée in tow. He whispered something and the gargoyle moved out of the way. He turned to Renée, "Up the stairs and through the door. He'll get you set up." "Thank you." Renée said and stepped onto the moving staircase.
The gargoyle slid back into place behind her as she was carried upward. When she reached the door to Dumbledore's office she knocked and was admitted in. When she entered Dumbledore motioned for her to sit. She did so, after exchanging greetings with Fawks. When she was seated, Dumbledore proceeded.
"So, you found a way to be admitted into the school without my help." He said, sounding pretty informal.
She shrugged, "I was just my curiosity, Snape and McGonagall did the rest for me." She said offhandedly.
Dumbledore nodded, "So I heard something about you being put in Slytherin as an honorary student. Would you like to go ahead with that plan?" He said, pulling out a piece of parchment.
"If I must, though I would prefer not to be in Slytherin." She said with a bit of a sour face.
"Snape seemed pretty persistent that you be put in Slytherin where he could watch you progress in your studies." Dumbledore said, forcing her to state her preference.
"He would." she commented dryly, "personally, I would prefer Griffindoor, McGonagall seems to understand me much more than Snape ever will. However, I really don't care which house I go into considering it really doesn't matter what I want."
"You learn quickly." Dumbledore said approvingly, "We'll start you out in Slytherin, just to make Snape happy." He cut off her response by going on, "If you find it absolutely unbearable, I'll see what I can work out, alright?"
"Alright." Renée agreed.
He scribbled a bit more on the parchment and handed it and a quill to her, "Sign at the bottom. Don't bother reading it, it's the rules of the school, and you should know those from the sorting and last year."
Renée nodded and signed the bottom of the paper, "Anything else I should know about?" "The third floor corridor is out of bounds, the same as the other students, except when you make you're nightly round. just make sure no one's there and move on." He emphasized.
"Alright. will do." Renée said taking the schedule he held out. She began walking back towards the door and then turned back to him. "Instead of sleeping in the Slytherin dormitory, may I just continue sleeping where I have been?"
"Which would be?" Dumbledore asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There's a room on the second level that I've taken as my own, could I just set up there?" She asked.
"Very well, but be sure to be on time to classes." Dumbledore said getting up and walking towards the door as well. "And as for school supplies, don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."
For the first time since she could remember a smile touched Renée's lips before dimming into her usual serious self-image. She walked out of the office and down the stairs, Dumbledore behind her. When they were out she thanked him and changed into Miss Norris, retuning to her nighttime watch.
(End of chapter two. hope you enjoyed it, sorry it took me so long. To answer the question about her being the Miss Norris talked about in the book and seen in the movie, yes that's what I was getting at. It puts a little twist to her life and the story. if you have more questions, e-mail me at WyteFireLady@earthlink.net, thanks for dropping by!)
The year went by smoothly enough for Renée and soon the end of school came. For the time off she stayed in the kitchen, summoning food when she needed to. She didn't know what she would be doing for next year. She could only hope she would be able to attend the school as a student, not hall patrol.
* * *
One morning Renée awoke, stuffed in the corner, to see many house elves scurrying around, making food. After sneaking a bite of ham she walked around the building. Dumbledore found her later and asked if he could se her in his office. Renée followed him into the office. When he had shut the door Renée cocked her cathead at him. He began talking and then realized that he was still talking to a cat. He motioned for her to be comfortable and she changed back to her normal form.
"I would like to talk to you about sorting." He said.
"Yes?" Renée asked, trying not to get too excited.
"I would like you to be present when sorting happens." He continued.
"Why?" Renée asked, trying not to get too excited.
"I would like you to be present when sorting happens." He continued.
"Why?" Renée asked.
"You have never attended a sorting and I think it would be a good experience. You will see the students before they see or notice you. You may sit next to the professor's table if you like." He answered.
She began to protest, to tell him that she would like to join, but he held up his hand and cut her off, "I have not the authority to change what is, only do what I can about what will come." "Very well." Renée said, changing to her cat form.
Dumbledore opened the door for her and she walked down and out of his office, going to the main hall for sorting.
* * *
Renée had all but dozed off when the students finally arrived. She spotted the Weasley twins and glared at them, and they glared back. She saw many familiar faces and wondered where all the first years were. After a while the doors were opened and Professor McGonagall came in, followed by many scared looking first years.
She spotted a tall red-haired boy with freckles and groaned inwardly. Not another Weasley, she thought.
A stool was placed before them and, as she couldn't see the front of the hat sitting on top, she could only assume that the voice she heard was coming from the hat. After the hat was finished reciting it's poem Professor McGonagall walked up and started to call names. Renée watched in fascination as each child would sit, have the hat placed on their head, and be sorted into a house. She didn't really pay any attention to who was being sorted at the time until the name 'Harry Potter' was called.
Renée scanned the crowd and soon a tall, but thin, boy with raven black hair stepped forward. She could see clearly the scar on his forehead and decided she would have to watch this one closely.
The sorting hat took a while to sort, but finally decided on Griffindoor. The Griffindoor table went wild.
* * *
Renée roamed the halls, patrolling them for stray students, starting her shift a bit earlier than usual as it was the first day of school. She came to a door that was cracked slightly; the little light that did go into the room was a thin streak, barely visible in the darkness. She looked in, pushing the door open with her nose to get a better look. She still could see nothing, even with her cat eyes. Looking to either side of her down the halls she checked for any sign of people. Seeing no people she changed to her human form and pushed the door open to walk in. She didn't see Professor McGonagall and Snape come around the corner as she pushed the door open and walked in.
The two professors looked at each other for a second and followed the girl around the corner and into the room. When they looked in the girl's hand was reaching towards the sorting hat. "Stop where you are!" McGonagall yelled, whipping out her wand.
Renée turned on the instant to face the two teachers. She automatically went into a crouch, one hand out, palm facing outward, as if shielding her, her other poised behind her, as if ready to throw a spell. McGonagall stalled at the girl's strange position. Snape came into the room behind McGonagall and looked closely at the girl. Her coal black eyes seemed determined as her golden hair fell carelessly over her shoulders, hiding part of her face.
When the initial surprise was gone McGonagall waved her wand and chanted something, invoking a sleep spell. A small spark illuminated the end of her wand as it shot towards Renée. Renée's front hand curled slightly and then opened again. The spell McGonagall had cast hit an invisible wall before the girl and Renée shifted her weight to the other foot as she brought her hand down to cancel the wall of shielding she had erected.
McGonagall's mouth thinned in concentration as she prepared for a more advanced spell. She was about to release something a lot more advanced when a simple word from Snape stopped her.
"Wait." Snape said commandingly.
McGonagall turned to him, "What?" she kept one eye on Renée, watching for any sign of her attacking, but she seemed to be permanently in a state of defense.
"She obviously has talent, if she can counter a spell cast by a professor with a simple hand movement, without the aid of a wand." Snape provided.
"And?" McGonagall asked, wanting to know where this was going.
"Well, shouldn't we at least give her the chance to prove herself able to use magic for, shall we say. the greater good?" He said, a slight smirk crawling over his face, his mind working it over in his head.
McGonagall looked over at the girl for a moment while rolling the prospect of what Snape was saying over in her mind. The girl looked harmless enough, if not threatened by someone. She turned back to Snape and looked at him pointedly. "How do you propose we do that?" She asked.
"Simple. we'll make her an honorary member of Slytherin, she can't earn or loose points for the house. She will be there only to learn how to focus her powers." He said, providing a solution.
"It's not for us to decide." McGonagall said back, "You must present this to Dumbledore." She said emphasizing the 'you.'
Snape nodded and walked out of the room, heading for the Headmaster's office. McGonagall turned back to Renée who was still crouched and ready for battle. McGonagall put away her wand in front of the girl so that she could see that she meant no harm. Renée looked at her for a while before loosening up and standing strait, her head lifted.
"What's you're name?" McGonagall said, trying to sound as soothing as possible.
Renée looked at her, her eyes reduced to slits as if testing her. Her eyes eventually opened up and she replied, "My name is Renée."
"Welcome, Renée." McGonagall said, "I am head of Griffindoor, also the Transfiguration teacher. How did you get into the school?"
"That is my business." Renée said strongly, her head lifting a bit higher, daring McGonagall to press her further.
"Very well," McGonagall said reluctantly, "would you come with me?"
"Where?" Renée asked cautiously.
"To see the Headmaster." McGonagall answered, gesturing Renée out the door.
Renée nodded her head and walked out the door, McGonagall behind her.
* * * Snape walked slowly towards Dumbledore's office, planning out what he was going to say to convince him to let her stay. He rounded the corner just as Dumbledore walked out from behind the gargoyle. Catching sight of Snape, Dumbledore stopped and waited for the professor to catch up.
When Snape reached Dumbledore's side he began talking at once, "I found this girl, not a student mind you, in the school. She seems to possess extraordinary powers in the magic department. I believe it would be a good idea to teach her how to focus her powers before releasing her on the world." Snape said, trying to be as sensible as possible.
"So you propose we place her in the school as a student, do you?" Dumbledore asked, turning to look at Snape.
"Well, not exactly." He looked at Dumbledore before continuing, "I was thinking more along the lines of making her an honorary student, say in Slytherin house, that can't gain or loose points for the house. She would just be there to learn to focus and develop her power."
Dumbledore nodded in thought and then spoke, "I think we should try it, but if she makes trouble, she's out. I will watch her progress myself and make sure she understands the rules of the school." He looked at Snape again, "Where is she?"
Snape turned to look behind him and then faced Dumbledore again, "McGonagall should be bringing her any time now."
Dumbledore nodded his approval and turned back towards his office, "Send her up when she arrives so that I may explain to her what will be happening."
Snape nodded as Dumbledore disappeared behind the gargoyle once again. Turning back to look down the hallway they would be coming down he planned to wait for McGonagall and the girl.
When Renée and McGonagall appeared in the hallway they were talking quietly, or at least the girl was. As they approached Snape they fell silent. Snape looked down at the girl, ignoring McGonagall almost altogether, "The Headmaster would like to see you in his office to organize what you'll be doing this year."
Renée nodded to Snape, her eyes telling him she was ready now. Snape turned and walked towards the gargoyle, Renée in tow. He whispered something and the gargoyle moved out of the way. He turned to Renée, "Up the stairs and through the door. He'll get you set up." "Thank you." Renée said and stepped onto the moving staircase.
The gargoyle slid back into place behind her as she was carried upward. When she reached the door to Dumbledore's office she knocked and was admitted in. When she entered Dumbledore motioned for her to sit. She did so, after exchanging greetings with Fawks. When she was seated, Dumbledore proceeded.
"So, you found a way to be admitted into the school without my help." He said, sounding pretty informal.
She shrugged, "I was just my curiosity, Snape and McGonagall did the rest for me." She said offhandedly.
Dumbledore nodded, "So I heard something about you being put in Slytherin as an honorary student. Would you like to go ahead with that plan?" He said, pulling out a piece of parchment.
"If I must, though I would prefer not to be in Slytherin." She said with a bit of a sour face.
"Snape seemed pretty persistent that you be put in Slytherin where he could watch you progress in your studies." Dumbledore said, forcing her to state her preference.
"He would." she commented dryly, "personally, I would prefer Griffindoor, McGonagall seems to understand me much more than Snape ever will. However, I really don't care which house I go into considering it really doesn't matter what I want."
"You learn quickly." Dumbledore said approvingly, "We'll start you out in Slytherin, just to make Snape happy." He cut off her response by going on, "If you find it absolutely unbearable, I'll see what I can work out, alright?"
"Alright." Renée agreed.
He scribbled a bit more on the parchment and handed it and a quill to her, "Sign at the bottom. Don't bother reading it, it's the rules of the school, and you should know those from the sorting and last year."
Renée nodded and signed the bottom of the paper, "Anything else I should know about?" "The third floor corridor is out of bounds, the same as the other students, except when you make you're nightly round. just make sure no one's there and move on." He emphasized.
"Alright. will do." Renée said taking the schedule he held out. She began walking back towards the door and then turned back to him. "Instead of sleeping in the Slytherin dormitory, may I just continue sleeping where I have been?"
"Which would be?" Dumbledore asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There's a room on the second level that I've taken as my own, could I just set up there?" She asked.
"Very well, but be sure to be on time to classes." Dumbledore said getting up and walking towards the door as well. "And as for school supplies, don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."
For the first time since she could remember a smile touched Renée's lips before dimming into her usual serious self-image. She walked out of the office and down the stairs, Dumbledore behind her. When they were out she thanked him and changed into Miss Norris, retuning to her nighttime watch.
(End of chapter two. hope you enjoyed it, sorry it took me so long. To answer the question about her being the Miss Norris talked about in the book and seen in the movie, yes that's what I was getting at. It puts a little twist to her life and the story. if you have more questions, e-mail me at WyteFireLady@earthlink.net, thanks for dropping by!)