Chapter twenty two: finally home

Renee stood outside the potion's lab, with her muggle clothes and a small wrapped thing on her hand. Today they will be leaving for the Christmas holidays, and Renee was now quite certain about her decision.

I'm not leaving.

Hermione got some sense to her. I can't hide or run away like she said. I still need to figure out how to save my schoolmates to their upcoming deaths. I don't believe in fate like mum usually says, it is us who made our fate.

And besides I can't leave my friends; I can't Hogwarts. I can't leave him.

Not yet.

Renee shivered slightly on the cold dungeons and pulled her coat closer. She knocked softly, hoping he wouldn't be here. When no one answered, she opened the door and found an empty classroom.

She signed in relief and entered the room. The place was clean, like no one had used the room for quite some time. Renee let her fingers lingered the edges of his neat table and placed the wrapped thing and a note. She read the note again, hoping it will provide her sincerity on her simple words on the piece of parchment.

Professor,

I know it was quite too late to say this, but forgive me for everything... I know you don't fancy receiving gifts…you could do anything about the gift, though I was hoping you would like it (since it wasn't like any other color than black).

Happy Christmas sir

Renee didn't dare to write her name on it, I was scared that he will throw it away instantly if he saw my name. She gave a last look on the room, letting her mind wandered on the good memories on the place. Renee smiled at herself, wishing those memories will not be the last good memories with Snape.

I've decided not to give up, not yet. After this vacation, I'll apologize to him personally and ask for extra lessons again. A small smirk appeared on her face, thinking she will be following and persuading him again.

Those will not be easy like the last time, but I'll do my best.

Renee reached Harry and Ron waiting for the carriages.

"You're not with Hermione?" Harry asked and looked around.

"No…I didn't saw her" Renee shook my head and looked around, where did she go?

"Hey Renee…is it true that you're leaving us?" Ron turned to her with a sad expression, he wasn't really close to her like Hermione but he couldn't help but be sad to hear that she would be leaving.

"About that…Oh there she was" Renee said and saw Hermione running at them.

"Bloody hell… 'mione, where did you go?" Ron exclaimed.

"I just asked professor McGonagall about something, did I miss something?" Hermione said as she pants for air, Renee looked at the brunette girl peculiarly but Hermione just avoided her gaze. Now what does this girl do?

"You're just in time, I was just telling them that I'll be going back after the vacation" Renee said casually with a smile.

"Oh!" Hermione finally met her gaze, she shocked for a moment like she never saw that coming, then she engaged Renee into a tight hug "that's great!" she exclaimed.

"Someone told me it was a cowardly thing to run on your problems" Renee choked on her tight hug as she smiled back on the two boys.

Having friends like them instead of coming back to my muggle life?

Yes, it was all worth it.

It's good that we found an empty compartment. I've been thinking about telling them about my secret for weeks now. And I think it was time to tell them about it.

Once they settled down on the compartment she had been feeling jittery all of the sudden. What if they don't like me anymore after I tell them about it? What if they won't accept me for what I am?

"Renee? Earth to Renee" Hermione's hand was waving on her face.

"Oh, sorry…What are you saying again?" Renee asked, snapping back to reality.

"I was just saying I was really glad you change your mind" said Hermione. A genuine smile crossed her face.

"I was just considering Mum's offer the day I've told you about it" she shrugged.

"Why do you have to go in the first place anyway?" asked Ron. Hermione looked at him warningly.

"It's okay Hermione. I was going to tell you guys anyway" Renee said and locked the door, making sure there would be no one could hear them.

I started to tell everything the dreams to visions…from the beginning except from the Hogwarts vision. It was still has a soft spot for me.

"So are you saying, you can see the future?" Harry tried to grasp her story.

"Sort of, But not everything, I still can't control it" Renee said, thinking about the last time she had the vision.

"Wicked" Ron blurted. Renee looked at him on disbelief, if only he knows how disturbing it is.

"So, you guys don't mind?" Renee asked, looking at the trio for any violent reaction. The trio looked at each other for a moment.

"Of course not, you're still our friend. With or without visions" Hermione said and smiled. Somehow, the heavy feeling on her chest was gone. It was like I could breathe again. There are many things I wanted to say, how they made me so happy with those words and accepting me from who I am.

"Thank you" it was the only thing she could say, and it was genuine.

The trio was grinning back at her on return. I didn't know what I did to deserve friends like them.

"It's ironic that you hated divination so much that you could actually have those visions" Harry commented. Renee nodded at him on agreement, oh the irony.

"So you're better than Trelawney?" Ron asked.

Renee grinned at him. "Anyone could be better than her" she could see Hermione rolled her eyes but still laughed with them.

"Here's my phone number. Just call me" Hermione took a small parchment on her hand. We were both on the muggle world so it's not hard for us to communicate.

"We'll just owl you" Harry informed Renee and she nodded on agreement.

"See you guys next year!" she waved goodbye at them as Renee shrink her things and stuff it on her sling bag.

Renee inhaled deeply as she was finally alone; she blended completely on the muggle crowd since her things were on the bag.

Finally I was on the place I am familiar with!

Renee took the taxi and headed home, McGonagall already informed her that Isabel will not be able to see her on the train; which is quite understandable.

My mind drifted on my mother. I know she's busy on the Order; I already half guess what was her role on the organization since the ability to predict was quite handy, if you fully control it. The only thing I'm wondering if she was still keeping her job on the pharmacy while she's doing jobs for Dumbledore. What is this Order of the Phoenix anyway? I wonder is Harry was aware of it too. He was the boy who lived after all.

Finally, she was now on the familiar road. She had that nostalgic feeling as they passed her old school and the public park. I so missed the park…maybe I'll visit it later after I settled at home.

Home! At last she finally reached her house. The house was on warm blue paint, with a small cozy balcony with a wooden chair to sit and relax. She paid the taxi fare and inhaled the cold scent of winter.

I was finally home.

She opened the door and warm smell of food greeted her. The house was not that big but it still has that homey feeling. Warm looking armchairs and cozy couch were on the right side of the house, a television set in front and a fireplace on further right. The kitchen was not quite far from the living room, with a dining table with four chairs on it.

She placed her bag on the chair and smiled widely as their house elf pop in front of her.

"Welcome home young mistress!" Toby exclaimed. She noticed that he was not stammering anymore.

"Thank you Toby" Renee beamed at the small elf as he took her bag and apperate again. She settled on the couch and signed. I really missed this house. The house elf appeared in front of her again.

"Toby settled your things on your room young mistress" he informed her.

"Thanks. I really missed home, where's mum?" Renee asked.

"The mistress said she will be out for a few days young mistress" he said. Renee looked at him and saw him looking on his feet.

"I see…I'll be on my room" she stood up and headed upstairs as he apperated again, I guess he would be on the kitchen.

Renee opened the door of her room and smiled widely. It was really amazing how the room of requirements duplicated my room, though it was cleaner than the original. Her room doesn't have any magical books or sorts; those were all on the basement where they usually had their lessons on the past. She changed her dress to an oversize shirt and pair of denim shorts and lay on her bed, signing contentedly on the smell of lavender of the covers.

Maybe I could spare a few hours away from magical things. She snuggled on the soft pillow drifted on a peaceful nap.