Chapter three: First day of class…and first trouble?

After the welcoming feast, she and the rest of the Gryffindors went at the Tower. It was spacious and many armchairs were resting there, quite warm and comfortable as Renee thought. Hermione leaded her to the girl's dormitory, where her luggage and bed are already waiting for her. Renee was glad she was with the same room with Ginny and Hermione, one of the persons she thought were nice and accommodating her well. They were really hospitable at the new student, explaining the house rules and giving her advices about the professors.

"Well I think you'll not be having any problems, since you top the previous OWLS" Hermione said.

"I've been wondering, what is this OWL you're talking about?" Renee finally asked, making Hermione stopped browsing the thick book on her hands and looked at her.

"You don't know about OWLS?" she asked disapprovingly. Even Ginny stopped preparing her bed and glanced at the new Gryffindor.

"Yes…" Renee's voice trailed as she answered Hermione's question. Why would I ask if I already knew about it anyway?

"OWL stands for ordinary wizarding level. It determines whether you could continue taking the subject in subsequent years" Hermione explained.

"I see" That was all she could say as many things were jumbling inside her head.

What did I get myself into? So that bloody exam was actually OWLS. Mum planned this all along!

"How come you didn't know?" asked Ginny.

"Well…it's complicated" Renee sighed.

Well it is really complicated…

After asking more questions about the school, they decided to retire and get some sleep. Renee was nervous about the big day ahead of her. After a few turns and turns, she fell asleep.

…

Surprisingly for Renee, she enjoyed her first day of class. It was the first time she had to learn magic-related with open windows since she was having home schooling at their basement. She had history of magic on first period, and she finally decided it was the most boring subject she had ever had.

Why would they have a ghost as a professor anyways?

Renee tried her best to be invincible in class as much as possible. She already had enough of those attentions she had at the welcoming feast yesterday that students keep staring at her when she's around. She was determined not to get anymore attention until the term finished and she will convince Isabel not to going back the next school year. It was the only plan she could as of now.

The plan broke when she had her first potions class. She sat next to Hermione and was glad that she had her company for today's class. Professor McGonagall had told her that she still needs to attend the fifth year's classes even though she passed the OWLS since it was only used for her admission test. Not that she really mind those, Renee was glad that she could have classes with Hermione.

Hermione already warned her about the potions class. She said that a few words could make the professor deduct house points and always favoring the Slytherins. A man with black robes entered the room hurriedly and slammed the book at the table in front. He started the class by taking attendance and glared at Harry when he called his name.

"Renee Ann Matte" He paused and glared at the new student. She gazed at him with her eyes not blinking.

Is that how he welcomes new students on his class? How sweet of him.

"What do we have here…another…celebrity" He raised his eyebrows at the new student and glared at Harry.

"Topping the OWLS might be given you a chance to be in this school, but that doesn't mean I will give you special considerations like the other professors…Miss Matte" He clings at every word he had said. Renee shivered. He has those black eyes that seem to express nothing. And a deep dark voice that could any person stop from doing something.

"What are the ingredients of the Draught of the living death?" Renee jumped surprise as the professor snapped at her. She looked at him with her green eyes and could feel that she was drowning to his glare.

"Err…" Renee stammered. She knew the answer of course, but his deathly glare stops her from answering. If looks could kill, I'm already murdered in front them… drastically. Hermione raised her hand with anticipation, but professor Snape didn't even looked at her.

"Well…I guess fame isn't everything…again" Renee could swear that he glared at Harry before turning his back at them.

Guess he didn't like Harry, I could see him glaring at him. Well I guess it's mutual.

Renee finally could breathe again as the professor cut the glare. She stared to think about the ingredients. She used to connect some lessons from the Muggle School to her lessons in magic so she could remember it well.

Draught of living death…the potion used in Romeo and Juliet, she was thinking so hard for the answer. Her face suddenly lit up.

"Its wormwood… asphodel, valerian roots, sloth brain and a juice of a …sopophorus bean" Renee tried to think of the ingredients and careful not to make her voice choke as he picked his book of advanced potions. The whole class became quiet and professor Snape turned and raised his eyebrow at her.

"Well, you finally found your tongue. Ten points from Gryffindor" The Slytherins laughed, making her face read in embarrassment.

Renee swallowed hard. Potions will be my hated subject, she declared on her mind.

"Page twenty, Do it. Now" Snape sneered at them, not even acknowledging her answer. At that moment, they started to get work and brewed antidotes. He even said that he might poison one student in their class to see if the antidote works. Everyone seems to believe it since they were all serious on working after he had said it.

We won't do it, is he?

…

"He's usually like that Renee, that greasy git" Said Ron as he stuffed some food on his mouth.

"He even asked you a question that we will learn on finals! He just wants to humiliate you" Said Hermione as she hissed Ron how rude he was, speaking while eating.

Finals…but how come she already knows about it then?

"I guess he didn't like me" Renee said plainly.

"The thing was. He never liked anyone but his own house. Talk about being biased" Harry said. She could sense a great hatred between the two.

So far the lessons were bearable, Even the one Hagrid teaches. , I thought that I would die in those creatures that he called him pets. How could you call them pets if those dangerous creatures that could kill you in seconds'?

Suddenly, a large number of owls were flying towards the great hall. Every owl has something on their beak, parchments, newspaper and even packages larger than them. It was a fascinating sight for Renee; she doesn't saw many owls at the same time before.

Maybe I could buy an owl on holidays, she mentally noted.

"Listen here!" Hermione exclaimed. Renee glanced at Hermione while the fellow Gryffindor was trying to get the attention of the two boys who were discussing Quidditch.

"Two prisoners from Azkaban have been escaped!" she stated as she still reading the article. The three leaned at the newspaper Hermione was reading to. Renee had been avoiding touching Harry ever since that electricity feeling when they shook hands.

True enough; the moving article says it all. The ministry of magic confirmed that two of their prisoners escaped from the high security of Azkaban. These two, Esclair Hadwin and kaydeem Paddington were being captured as being guilty of being death eaters.

"So that's why the Dementors are here again" Harry said, disapprovingly. Renee heard from Hermione that the last time the Dementors became to be Hogwarts guests became a mess.

"Hope they will find them sooner. I hate seeing them" Harry said grumpily. They couldn't agree more.

Renee glanced at the moving photo again. They looked so dangerous that they could kill anyone in their way. Should stay away from them, she thought.

…

Flying was definitely my worst subject.

Renee declared it to herself and she cursed her mother for not teaching her about flying. Though she can't blame her for it, they were living in a muggle village after all.

"Up! Up!" she shouted at the broom. It has been thirty minutes since she's been calling for the broom, but still won't budge.

"Say it I a firm way. UP!" said Harry and the broom went straight to his hand. Renee was glad that Harry agreed to tutor her in flying. He's been a member of the Gryffindor's Quidditch team since first year and natural in flying.

"UP!" she tried to mimic her tutor. Her broom went up, but not on her hand.

"Ouch!" She shouted in pain as the broom apparently hit her nose. Renee touched it and could feel warm liquid flowing on it.

"Are you okay?" Harry rushed to her side and tried to look at the damage. They both felt the same electricity as they first had at the opening ceremony. It was Harry to flinched back this time.

"I think I'm okay. But I think I broke my nose. Stupid broom" Renee muttered at the lying broom on the ground. She picked up her handkerchief in her pocket and sweeps the blood from her face.

"I think we should go to the hospital wing. We need to get that fix" Said Harry and lead the fellow Gryffindor through the corridors, careful not to touch her.

Neither of them spoke as the two went to the hospital wing. Renee was still holding her handkerchief on her dripping nose and Harry holding their brooms. I wonder why we are like this, and more in Harry not talking about it with me. I know he has one theory that he could share it with me.

Renee was treated by Madam Poppy, the matron in charge at Hogwarts. She also has those looks that you need to behave in front of her. Nevertheless, she treated Renee's nose (though it hurts when she use a spell to mend her nose back) like any other students that she treated here.

"That was interesting" Renee exclaimed as they went to outside to bring back the brooms.

"About your nose being broken?" Harry asked her wonderingly.

"Of course not about that, it's how she treats the students! Those medicines, she could even grow a bone! Do you think she could teach me those?" Renee asked him. He shuddered in response.

Renee suddenly thought about being one like her. Surely, it wasn't like my dream being a nurse, but aside from those instant medicines and spells that could even grow a bone it was alike.

She asked Hermione about mediwizardly. Surely, she is a living tale about being the brightest wizard of their age and told her what she knows about it. They don't have mediwizard as a subject, and if you want to learn about it, you have to be an apprentice at St. Mungos.

She sure has reading books aside from our prescribe ones, Renee thought as Hermione explained those.

"Being a mediwizard sure is very interesting. You could help a lot of wizards with that knowledge. I could go with you in the library if you like, there are a lot of books about mediwizardly there" she suggested and Renee happily accepted it. It's like hitting two birds in one stone, since Renee also liked being at the library (she almost live there, Ron joked, though I don't think he wasn't joking about it.).

Renee found a library buddy in the form of Hermione. They usually spent most of their free time reading at the library while helping Harry and Ron at their assignments. And she scanned through mediwizard books, Renee began to grow more interests in potions, since most things that are needed to treat patients were in the form of potions.

Secretly she would look about that strange connection whenever she touches Harry, but still nothing to find. Harry didn't seem to bother about it all, or he's trying to ignore it since it doesn't give them problems.

Renee began to feel that she trying hard to get Professor Snape acknowledge her in his class. She don't have a very good impression with him in their first meeting, but it started to melt as Renee found out how great he is in his field. The new student could see he was very dedicated in brewing potions, the way he looked his cauldron and his way of chopping the ingredients (though he has a sharp tongue that could slice anyone with his words). There would be times that he would pop up questions to her, and the girl would try to answer it without stammering.

She sat next to Hermione for their potions class and started to talk about she had read in advanced potions. Hermione could be annoying sometimes, but her wide range of knowledge is very admirable. Renee also began to get used to the classes, though she really thought that she would never got used to her new surroundings.

They were talking about the potion Renee read in the library once when they suddenly heard some strange noises outside. There are shouting and swearing that could be heard, so the two girls went outside to see who were fighting.

"What's happening here?" they both saw Harry and Ron pointing their wands to Malfoy and his gang and vice versa.

This isn't a good situation.

"Stop it both you! Put down your wands!" Hermione went at the middle of the two parties.

Very brave, if you would asked me.

"Well, well, what can you do?" Malfoy glared at her, not even lowering his wand. Instead he pointed it to her.

"Don't lower your levels to these…Slytherins!" Hermione tried to drag her two friends away from them making the word Slytherin more of an insult.

"You're lower than us, Mudblood" Malfoy retorted. Hermione was frozen to her spot from what she had heard. Even the gathered audience was shocked from what Malfoy had said.

Renee stepped out of the room and faced Malfoy red in anger. She knew that mudblood is not a very nice word to call to a wizard.

And he doesn't have the right to call my friend, or anyone like that.

"Stop being such a brat Malfoy" Renee looked at him very angrily; she could feel her ears were already hot from anger. He was the least person Renee wants to associate with; he was the one who always bully Neville. She tried her very best to ignore how he treated Neville as he insisted that they'll just ignored it.

But he really crossed the line this time.

"What can you do Matte? Defending that mudblood" he used that word again and Renee could see Hermione stiffened again.

"Being friends with her is much nice than befriending a bully and a brat like you Malfoy" She turned around to follow Hermione, clutching her wand in her pocket; she was really itching to throw some good spell at him

"Befriending a lower level like that makes you one, Matte. But I guess living with muggles already made you one. Bet your parents were like that too"

That made her patience cut off. Renee swayed her wand at him and in just a matter of seconds; Malfoy was already on the ground. He tried to sit up while groaning in pain and then everyone saw the change at the Slytherin. His ears were already changed to a pair of fluffy pink ears like a rabbit.

"Next time you insult my parents, you'll get more than that, you stupid insolent brat. At least I'm not hiding under the cloaks of my father like you always did, coward" Renee emphasized the word 'coward' to him, still pointing her wand at him.

"You'll never get away from this, Matte!" He shouted and run with his gang.

"You okay Renee?" Ron peeked at her face as the girl still not speaking up. The crowd was still looking at her attentively when they finally heard a quiet chuckle at her direction.

Renee couldn't really help but chuckle, and then followed some loads of laughter. That bunny ears will never get away from my head forever. The crowd (especially my fellow Gryffindor) started too laughed as well, not expecting she would snap like that to Malfoy.

"Nice one Renee!" Fred exclaimed one of the spectators and high five at her.

"I wished we had a picture of it!" Renee tried to speak between laughs. She grinned at Hermione, which she mouthed 'thank you' at her.

"Sweet revenge" She blew her wand like a gun and laughed again.