What Dumbledore knows

Renee thanked him, and was about to leave when he spoke. She hesitated with one hand on the door handle

"You are not like him Renee," he said softly. "You may share the same blood, but you will not share his fate."

"You... you know about him?"

Dumbledore smiled again.

"I believe your young friends will be waiting for you, Miss Landon"

She thanked him again, and left his office in a daze.

Renee had finally been deemed fit to leave the Hospital Wing, and she was incredibly relieved. Though she would not deny she had been grateful for Madam Pomfrey's refusal to allow the Daily Prophet to interview her, she had never been one to enjoy sitting still for too long. She was currently sitting in Dumbledore's office, waiting for his verdict.

"Miss Malfoy..." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as she shuddered at the name. He pretended, however, that he had not noticed. "Your father expresses his wishes that you remain at Hogwarts. Now that the Daily Prophet has released your identity."

Renee merely nodded, taking the uniform from his hands. She was happy that she would be at Hogwarts, but at the same time, did she really want to be that close to her father, and to... him? No, she did not.

"Your belongings have already been sent for, and your father has asked for you to be sorted as soon as possible."

Again, the only reply he received was a nod. He pretended once more, that he had not seen her flinch at the mention of her father. Without a word, he took the Sorting Hat down from its place on the shelf, and carried it over to her, placing it carefully on her head. The brim fell over her eyes, covering them.

Interesting... said the hat into her mind. Renee rolled her eyes.

What's interesting? She replied.

You are not what I expected to say the least. With an ancestry like yours...

Renee scowled. And spoke quite forcefully, and out loud.

"I cannot choose my ancestry," she said angrily. "But I will choose my own fate!"

Well spoken, Renee Elizabeth, and very true.

"Gryffindor" announced the hat proudly.

Renee smiled as the hat was pulled from her head.

"Gryffindor huh?" she said with a laugh. "Bet daddies gonna love that!"

Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk, and watched her carefully, through those half-moon glasses.

"What?" asked Renee finally, uncomfortable. Professor Dumbledore smiled.

"Nothing, nothing at all," he said quite cheerfully.

"Well... are you gonna tell me what happened at Merlin's?" she asked finally.

"Ah yes," announced Dumbledore grandly. "You'll be happy to know, that no one was killed. Upon our arrival, the Death Eaters fled,"

Renee sat thoughtfully for a moment.

"And the others? Are they going to be staying at Hogwarts too?"

Dumbledore smiled.

"Indeed they are. Their parents decided Hogwarts would be the safest place for them now, you may go see them if you wish. They'll be in the Great Hall."

"Does... has Fudge accepted the Dark Lord's return, Professor?" she asked quietly. She could almost hear the smile leave his face as he replied sadly.

"Unfortunately, no; he has told the Daily Prophet that these were rogue Death Eaters, inspired by our claim of Voldemort's return."

Renee thanked him, and was about to leave when he spoke. She hesitated with one hand on the door handle

"You are not like him Renee," he said softly. "You may share the same blood, but you will not share his fate."

"You... you know about him?

Dumbledore smiled again.

"I believe your young friends will be waiting for you, Miss Landon"

She thanked him again, and left his office in a daze.

Dumbledore sat thoughtfully in his chair for several minutes. Casually, he picked up the Sorting Hat, and turned it to face him. Renee's words pounding in his ears.

"I will choose my own fate!"

"You already have my dear," he said quietly. "And you will help others choose theirs."