Disclaimer: The characters of the Harry Potter books are not mine they belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Eight

"I must say, I'm very disappointed in you Miss Henderson," Professor sprout told her gravely as she stared at Renee form across her desk. "I would have expected better of you then to get yourself involved in this kind of activity. However, as serious as this offense may be, it is your first, so you will only receive a months worth of detention and 100 points will be deducted from Hufflepuff house. Understand however, that if you continue to participate in such activities further and more serious action will have to be taken,. Should something similar occur I would no longer be willing to offer a letter of recommendation to which ever wizard teaching collage you choose to attend. I will also be sending a letter home to your father, informing him of this."

The sick feeling in Renee's stomach grew as Professor Sprout lectured, but she nodded her understanding. She wasn't going to be expelled, but that was the only good thing. She was going to need that letter of recommendation if she wanted to go any place decent for her further education. She had okay grades, but they were nothing spectacular. She couldn't screw up again if she wanted to keep it.

Even worse then that however, was the letter home to her father. She could only imagine how disappointed he was going to be with her, and her aunt as well. Her father had always taken pride in their family's impeccable record. Even her brothers, who liked to tease her and act immature sometimes, had never had a black mark placed on their records at Hogworts. They had always been loyal, hard working, and well behaved students. Her father always told them that the way one behaved at school set the pattern for behavior as an adult.

What's he going to think of me, she moaned mentally to herself. How am I ever going to face him?

When the lecture was over, Renee shuffled out of the Hufflepuff Head's office. She made her way through the halls to the Hufflepuff common room. Fortunately for her it was mostly empty this time of day. With the weather so nice most students would rather go outside to study, then be cooped up in the common room. She trudged up the steps to the fifth year girl's dorms and collapsed on her bed. All the tears that she had been holding back in Professor Sprout's office began to pour out of her eyes in torrents. Hermes squeaked sympathetically, but it didn't help much.

George didn't know anything was wrong with Renee until the next morning, when he and Fred walked into the Great Hall and spied her poking at her breakfast with a sullen air. Her face was pale and her eyes looked red and tired. She had spent the rest of the after noon crying until she had finally fallen asleep. She had also refused to speak to anyone about what was wrong, though it was obvious to all her house mates that something was the matter. He exchanged a significant glance with Fred, who had noticed Renee as well and resolved to figure out what the matter was by any means necessary

George did not have to wait long, however, before he began to get some idea of what was going on. The rumor mill had already begun to buzz. As he and Fred took a seat next to Lee Jordan he was talking with another Griffindor about rumors concerning Renee's visit to Professor Sprout's office. Apparently, only the fact that it was supposed to have had something to do with the pictures of Snape circulating around the school made the rumor worth repeating. As George eavesdropped shamelessly on the conversation he grew more and more worried. He knew how much her reputation meant to her. She would not be taking this well at all.

Renee sat at the Hufflepuff table staring at her food. She tried to ignore the looks and the whispers, but she still couldn't manage to make herself focus on her breakfast. Mail would be coming soon and, for once in her whole time at Hogworts, she was not looking forward to it. It seemed to her like she waited for hours for the inevitable to occur. She dreaded it, but knowing she couldn't avoid it, she wished she could just get it over with. When she saw the first owl fly over head her heart dropped. Hermes was nowhere to be seen, but she soon saw Apollo flying overhead. He had a white envelope attached to his leg. It clearly wasn't a howler, but that didn't make her dread opening it any less.

When Apollo landed Renee took the letter from his leg with trembling fingers. The family owl only stayed long enough to be sure she got the letter. Once Renee had it in her hand Apollo took off with a flutter of his wings. She ripped the envelop open hastily. She read the letter over once, then folded it back up a placed it back in the envelope. The envelop, she slipped into the pocket of her robes. Then she stood up quickly and hurried out of the Great Hall.

Renee stopped walking a little ways down the hall and leaned against the wall to try and compose herself. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths to try and calm herself. Her father had merely written that he was disappointed in her and that he did not approve of what she had done. In other words, the letter had said pretty much exactly what Renee had expected it would. That didn't lessen it's impact, however. It just make the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach grow.

"Um, Renee?"

The sound of a voice right next to her ear made Renee jump. Her eyes snapped open and she saw Fred and George standing near her. She hadn't heard them coming at all.

"Renee, we heard about what happened," George began.

"And we just wanted to say that we're sorry." Fred finished.

"After all you wouldn't have gotten in trouble if it hadn't been for us." George said

Renee sighed deeply. "It's not all your guys' fault. It was my choice to get involved. I didn't have to help, but I wanted to"

The twins nodded their heads silently.Neither of them could think of anything more to say. George felt like her ought to say something more, but for once in his life no words would come. It was a very unnerving feeling. They didn't stand there waiting for long though. Soon it was time for class. As Renee rushed off to herbology, George felt the awkward feeling go away. Once she was out of sight Fred turned to his brother. "Why did you say anything?" he asked as they started down the hall towards their next class.

"Hey, you didn't say anything either, besides I couldn't think of anything, so sue me," George defended himself.

"Hah, if she has you tongue tied, then you must really fancy her," Fred laughed.

George scowled at him. "Well what about the way you start acting like an idiotic show off every time you get anywhere near Angelina."

"I do not!" Fred protested

"You do too," George shout back. The two of them argued like that, the rest of the way to class