Author's note: so sorry for not updating so long! Just got escaped from my sister's clutches and got home safely. Thanks for letting my story on your favorite stories and story alert! And special thanks to A.K. riddle and company. - Wink wink-

You might feel that this chapter was just filler, but this chapter actually will give you hints what will happen on the next update.

(if you would see some typos and grammatical errors i will apologize on advance -grins sheepishly-)

Enjoy reading!

Chapter twenty eight:

The calm before the storm

After what had happened the other day on the park, Renee noticed the change on their guest. Sure he was still locking himself on the basement like he always does, but there were times that she would find him in the couch, reading a book or just sipping his favorite tea. He was still not saying anything (I really don't think he would transform like the talkative Sirius after the talk on the park after all) but he was already engaging with some small talks with her occasionally. She was more than glad for it, as he was beginning to open up even for a little (though I must admit, his snide remarks will never leave his mouth).

Isabel also noticed the change of atmosphere on meal times. It wasn't so tense like before. She didn't speak anything about it, but she could see her companions were now having casual conversation on her surprise that a question rang on her head.

What in the name of Merlin happened when I'm gone?

…

Renee closed her eyes once again as she felt her power coming out again. She had been trying to predict something she can't see right now. Not to mention a thousand miles from here too, she added to herself.

She knew her last prediction on Hogwarts was just plain luck, but it doesn't hurt to try.

If I wanted to help them on avoiding deaths, might as well start from what I could do.

But the thing was…it was really hard. What she was trying was to predict a very broad subject. Renee was already been practicing more than she had done a few days ago, but sill no such luck.

Focus! She reminded herself as she shut her eyes tightly.

Renee must admit, what she was trying to do was really hard to accomplish. And one thing that makes it harder was her vulnerability in distraction. In fact, she was easily distracted these days. As she and the certain guest were already on good terms now, she couldn't help her 'silly school girl' side to dominate her and fantasize the man.

One good example of that was every morning. Renee would wake up early (a very hard task for me if you ask me) and be on the kitchen before he would be up, so she could see him on full frame (not just sitting on that bloody chair). Then she will steal glances on his back when he's standing on the counter to prepare his tea (thank goodness he had insisted to do that by himself every morning). Then she could have the privilege to first greet him good morning and have small talks before her mother would show up.

Her mind drifted on what she had read last night on the new potions book she had read. Apparently she stumbled on the page where the de-aging potion has, and got curious on one particular ingredient, the jobbleknoll feather. She knew that it was also a key ingredient on truth serums, but she didn't know if it really affects the drinkers mind. The books on the house were very limited about the said ingredient and even the potion itself. Even the book Snape had let her borrowed before has limited information about it.

Does that mean we were under some kind of truth spell while we were on the park…I mean I almost blew my cover on the bookstore…does Snape knew about this?

Researching about jobbleknoll feather got included on her long 'to-do' list she was about to do when she return on Hogwarts.

Renee shook her head as she was getting side tracked again. Focus! She shouted on her head as she clutched the hem of her skirt.

She tried to focus again, determined to have some improvement today. It did take her a long time before she could finally felt the familiar feeling she had been felt the day she saw the vision of the Burrow. Images were beginning to form and Renee focused more, as it was the most crucial part for trying to get a vision. She found herself gazing on the noisy corridors of Hogwarts; maybe this is the majority's free time, she thought and looked around. Nothing's peculiar here… it was then she looked at her back and saw someone walking towards her and very unfamiliar to her. In fact she had never seen someone who could wore more pink than this person.

I wonder if she will be a new professor…She thought as she distastefully looked at the person's outfit. Now I do appreciate professor Snape's lack of color fashion, she snorted to herself. The person's face was a blur, though she could see the sardonic smile on her face. In a wave of her wand, she magically tucked the inner shirts of the students in front of her and pushed the neckties on proper alignment on students who passed her by.

I wonder what subject she's going to teach.

She was about to see another image she heard a knock on the door and the images disappeared in the thin air.

"Young mistress, Kreacher the house elf had arrived to deliver master Sirius's letter" Toby squeaked at the other side of the door.

"Okay, I'll be going upstairs" she grumbled at the interruption.

Renee warily stood up and exited the room, which she found out that the basement was deserted. Snape had been out since morning, which he began to do after their excursion. Snape and Isabel were having alternating turns on leaving the house or sometimes the two would both be out, leaving her all alone with Toby; even though she rarely read the daily prophet (actually not have not seen any wizard newspaper ever since I got here), She knew there is something going on and having a bad feeling about it.

It was like there is something that was bound to happen…

She found the grumpy house elf on the living room, with his arms crossed and looking suspiciously around. Renee wasn't really surprise by the house elf's behavior; Sirius told in his letter that their house elf had been always like that, even when he was just a kid.

What a very paranoid house elf, she noted.

"Good afternoon Kreacher. I assume your master let you deliver something for me?" she asked politely and gave him a smile.

The house elf just nodded and gave her two packages and one letter.

"Thank you Kreacker, is there anything else?" she asked and saw the house elf fidget as she thank him and became uncomfortable. I really thought he was going to cry…

Renee opened the parchment and tapped the letter with her wand. The polite smile was turned to be a grimace.

"Could you wait for my reply? It will not take too long" she said and called Toby to entertain the house elf.

Renee went to her room on full speed and grabbed her writing materials and started to write. She began to write her response on the hidden message Sirius gave her. After a long and comprehensive letter, she tapped the letter that made her reply hidden on plain view and began to write a cover up message.

S,

I miss you too, but can't go there. We'll see each other some other time.

Happy Christmas!

R

Writing letters to each other were even dangerous these days. But Renee couldn't help to reply to him, he became one of her few friends…one of the things she cherish more than things. They had been careful on writing names on letters, she didn't know when will someone intercept their exchanging letters and the last thing she wanted was Sirius got himself trouble because of some bloody letter.

She tucked the parchment on the envelope, grabbed her gift to Sirius and headed downstairs to give the packages to the house elf. Renee let herself slumped on the couch as the house elf exited the house and glanced at the crumpled parchment on her hand. Sirius was her only way to know what was happening on around, since she can't just casually asked her mother and Snape about it. Yes it was dangerous, but Renee wasn't really the type of obeying rules if she wasn't being oriented on it.

Renee tapped the parchment again with her wand to reveal the true contents of the letter and read it, slower than the first time as she tried to grasp every little details Sirius gave her.

So Mum already introduced herself on the whole order…she thought as she finished rereading the letter. Apparently, the headmaster had Isabel reintroduced on the whole order. It was quite uproar, especially for the old members of the order (since they knew that she was already dead). It was also said on the letter that Isabel had been actively helping on the Order's mission and backfiring death eater's raids.

Now that Mum was already exposed on the both sides, it will be surely more difficult for her; Renee couldn't help but be worried to the woman upstairs. Isabel has always the tendency on overworking herself.

She signed; Renee really wanted to help them and even asked her mother what she could do for the order. Isabel declined her offer of help (not really surprised on that) saying that all she have to do was to focus on her training and studies.

That was one of the main reasons why I do want to have that bloody vision of Hogwarts.

She turned on the television and tried to distract herself as she felt that she mustn't get to work up on something she can't do anything about it. Renee just stared on the screen as she idly flicked the channels until she reached an animal show.

Her eyes fixed on the screen as she saw the featured animals on the show. It's just a normal animal show, she tried to remind herself. But the unusual hissing of the snakes distracts her on thinking those. It made her reminded that she could understand snake language, a fact that she had learned when she was young. Renee tried her very best not to expose herself on the presence on any snake after that incident, since talking to an animal (let alone a dangerous snake) freaks her out.

It was just later on one of her excursions on the library when she found out that parseltongue was a very rare dark magic. And the only ones that are famous on it was the founder of the Slytherin house and Voldemort himself. She also did overheard on some gossiping girls on the bathroom (one of Harry's fans club members…that he himself wasn't even aware that he has one) that Harry could also understand the said language.

An additional freakiness to me, she signed.

I wonder how Harry is taking all of this chaos happening? Her mind drifted on the particular friend. The issue between them had been long forgotten, but she still has a nagging feeling about it. It was like they were missing something important, a missing piece on the puzzle. Renee hated how things were getting out of hand and thinking that the answer was surely on their noses already and can't still figure it out.

Another addition on to the 'to-do' list, she noted mentally.

The door sprang open that made her jumped on surprise and jumbled on the remote to change the channel. She looked on the door and saw the sour face of the potion's master. He was surely not on the mood for any talk right now; she noted as she saw how gloomy his face was.

"Good afternoon professor" she greeted consciously while staring on the darkness of his face was sporting.

The professor just grunted on response and went straight on his room, with his robes billowing behind him. Renee let out a sign again as she stared on the spot were the potion's master had left. Whoever passed him earlier surely doesn't have a good day too, she thought as she stared on the empty hallway.

…

"No can do young mistress! This is Toby's job"

"Come on Toby, I just want to help you out"

"No, no no! Toby will not allow it!"

"Damn it Toby, do you want some clothes?" she sneered at the house elf as she grabbed the knife on the elf's hand. Renee was already bored, and one thing she wanted to do was to help cooking dinner.

"Language Miss Matte" a silky voice made the two looked back. Snape was behind them, with his arms crossed on his chest. His eyes wandered on the young witch and elf at the kitchen. Renee was already sporting an apron her outfit, ready to give a hand at Toby in cooking dinner.

"Professor Snape" she greeted with a small smile plastered on her face as she noticed the less gloominess on his face. Renee noticed the changed on the potions master's clothes, wearing his everyday clothes.

I wonder how many calming draught he drained today.

"Doing dinner?" he asked as he sat on the nearest chair on him. Renee just nodded as she started to work on some tea and looked back and saw the man's eyebrows arched up.

"I'm better than Mum, promise" she smirked as if she could read the man's thoughts. Snape had been unfortunate to witness one of Isabel's habits on doing meals when she was upset; which all of her emotions were all channeled on the food that Renee asked secretly the house elf to cook another dish when the woman left the table.

Renee finished brewing tea and gave a cup on the man at the table. Snape just mumbled on gratitude and she plastered a bright smile on him that made him scowled.

She left the man and focus on pestering the house elf on the kitchen threatening him on giving her whole wardrobe on him. It was quite an entertaining scene, a stubborn elf like him bickering on the more stubborn young witch. Toby was still persistent on doing dinner but then he grumpily agreed to let her peel the potatoes.

"Professor?" she called as she settled on the chair across him with the knife and potatoes on hand. There was no answer, but she could feel the man looked on her direction.

"Are you going to spend Christmas here?" she asked but didn't look on his face. Renee deeply wished that he would answer yes. Surely, she had taken all the holidays on the man but Renee couldn't help but wished he would with them on the occasion.

It was quite a long silence for her as she waits for his answer. She still has the hopeful face as she lifted her face and saw him gazing at her.

"I believe I really don't have a choice about that matter Miss Matte" he responded quietly and quickly headed on the living room.

Her face lit up for a second before ducking her head on the task on hand, secretly hiding the smile on her face and words repeatedly ringing on her mind.

He'll stay…He will stay!

Renee finished peeling the potatoes and started to nag the elf for another task. It was just when the elf was already on the verge of pleading to his young mistress when the phone rang.

"You better gave me something to do or you'll find yourself having clothes as a Christmas gift" she warned before heading on the living room were the phone was placed.

"Hello?" she lifted the receiver as she momentarily glanced on the potion's master on the couch with a book on his hand.

"Is Snape really living on your house right now?" a very familiar voice shouted on the other line, with some murmurs be heard on the background. Renee stiffened momentarily; making Snape shifted his attention to her.

"Happy Christmas to you too" she replied as she went to her bedroom with the cordless phone on hand.

How did they found out about it? She thought as she was working her way on the stairs.

Sirius, it was definitely him.

"How's your vacation?" she asked as she finally closed the door behind her.

"Its fine, my family had been skiing…but that's beside the point now. Tell meis he really on your house?"

"Err…Yes" she could hear some grumbling on the other line, must be the boys.

"How long?" even she couldn't see Hermione's face, she could feel the amusement on her face as if she was teasing her.

"Only a few days ago, something came up on the house so…anyways, how did you found out about it?" Renee sat on the edge of her bed and could feel her face warmed up.

"Snape went here on Grimmauld place earlier to talk to me about something…and well…he and Sirius fought and Sirius slipped out about that" Harry spoke, making Renee thought that Hermione already put the phone on loud speaker.

So that's why he was so gloomy earlier

"It was quite a scene as a matter of fact, if we didn't entered the kitchen there must be already blood spilling here" Ron spoke.

"Oh" she always thought there would be a moment that the two wizards hands with each other's necks…literally.

"Is your dad okay now?" she asked.

"He just got out of the hospital. He just need some rest and he will be good as new" Ron replied.

"Glad to hear about it. I'm sorry if I can't join you guys there…it's really complicated…"

"That's okay. So how are things with a bat on the house?" Ron asked and later made a noise when Hermione hit him.

"He doesn't go out on his room much, but he's a nice guest" she replied with a small smile on her face.

"He might transfigured the bed into a coffin for all you know" Harry suggested, making Ron snickered and Hermione grunted.

"Well…I haven't gotten a chance on looking at the guest room when he started to sleep there…so I really don't know" she said and snickered too.

The conversation almost last for an hour which mostly from the trio's holiday's experience (and the twin's pranks). It was on the conversation where she gained more information how the reintroduction of Isabel went, thanks to their extendable ears that they sneaked out on the sitting room. And she was correct on her assumption that something was really going on outside; death eater's raids were getting frequently as before that without Isabel and Snape information, they would never get countered those raids.

"Is Snape told you something?" the question Hermione asked made her startled. Well, he did tell me that Harry's mother was his childhood friend and…wait; do they even know about it?

"Nothing on particular, is there something wrong? Hermione…? Hello?"

Then she heard a soft click, and the background became more silent.

"Err…Renee maybe I should you tell something…" Hermione spoke on a very quiet voice, which made Renee nervous all of the sudden.

…

Renee hung up the phone and tiredly rest down on the bed. She had no longer had the enthusiasm to help on the kitchen, Toby could handle those easily.

The confession Hermione told her lingered on her mind, as words can't seem to sink into her. She really couldn't blame her friend, Hermione was just being concern on her (that even made her to rushed on Snape's office and rattled on the professor, which a very Gryffindor courage if you ask me).

Now that she knew that the professor knew about her dilemma at returning on school (which reminds me that I had already made a decision on that), several questions popped on her head.

Is that the reason why the professor seems to be kind on me, telling his story because he knew that I won't be returning and have lesser chance on revealing those on Harry?

Or does he feel guilty about it that he decided to repent on those?

No, he knew that if I really wanted to tell those on Harry, I would surely have other methods to render, she thought warily and dismissing her first speculation on the man's behavior.

So does it mean he felt guilty about it?

Does it really matter that he knew about it? I already decided to return after all.

Renee let out a groan, she really don't know what to think about it. And what will she do if the man was just feeling guilty about it? It was one of the questions that were also nagging at the back of her head. Yet, she wished it wasn't the issue, she doesn't want that kind of emotion to become the reason of all she thought the man's opening up on her.

No, she really doesn't like it at all.

…

It was almost midnight, but Renee couldn't sleep at all. Dinner was awfully silent. Well at least for me, she thought as she reminded how timid she was on the table not even minding the two adult's conversation. She couldn't even dared to let met the man's eyes, as she was sure her eyes would betray her façade.

She resigned to trying to sleep and silently went downstairs. Maybe a cup of hot chocolate will help me sleep, she thought as she went her way to the kitchens to fetch some hot drink.

Her feet lead her on the living room with the mug on her hand. The room was dark, with only the fireplace as the only light source. Her eyes adjusted on the dark for a moment, and then finally realized that she wasn't alone on the room.

Snape looked at her with his infamous neutral expression while she was mild surprised on the man's presence.

Great, just like I needed the most, she thought sarcastically. Renee politely smiled on the professor and sat next to him with wide distance between them. She noticed a glass on the table, with a bottle of brandy on its side.

"Can't sleep professor?" she asked as she was still eyeing on the bottle.

"Yes, you?" he inquired.

Renee nodded and sipped on her mug, letting the hot chocolate to be her distraction on the man. No, she couldn't meet his eyes…what if there is only pity I could see in his eyes?

Pity… Why would he pity me on the first place?

No, I don't need these kinds of distractions; she thought about her being indulged on some worries that only she could see. I don't even know what he thought about it!

"I'm sorry professor, Are you saying something?" Renee asked as she missed half of the professor's questions and silently scolding herself on it.

"Your homework, did you finish them all?"

"Oh, I think…I finished them all" she stated slowly and wondered why he would question her about those.

"I will check them to see if those were acceptable Miss Matte; yes don't give me that look. Topping fifth year's exams doesn't mean you can slack off. You have stronger grasp on the theoretical aspects, but still lack on the actual. So starting tomorrow, you'll be practicing spells and charms with…"

"Why?" she interjected as she looked peculiarly on the man, this wasn't any making sense at all.

"Why are you helping me?" she continued and finally looked into his eyes. It was still dark, and couldn't much see the man's expression.

"Because Isabel and the headmaster think you needed some help" he said after long pause and drank another shot of alcohol.

Oh, another task for the babysitter, is that it?

"You didn't have to do it if you don't like it. I mean like how you're trapped in here to babysit me, you don't…" she trailed as she nursed the drink on her hands. Renee doesn't like any of those attentions they were giving. Guarding her was one of the examples of it, sure they had given her the reasons behind those actions…but she knew there is more behind it, like they were trying to conceal something.

And now they wanted him to give me private lessons? What for?

I swear to Merlin I'm going to find those out.

"I'm not just doing it because of those imbeciles…" he snapped, interjecting her rumbling. Renee looked up on him once again and he took a deep breath as if trying to calm himself.

"I'm only saying these once so listen very carefully, Matte. I also don't like these guarding arrangements; no do not interrupt me witch. But I think these were necessarily for your safety.

"Things outside were getting worse as the Mutt would say on those letters. Yes I do know how you two communicate and how you were trying to juice out some information on him.

"But these 'guarding thing' will be only temporary. You never know when someone will attack you; thus need you to learn how to protect yourself, at least lessen the worry on people around you.

"Do not give me that look again Matte, I'm warning you. I know your mother had been teaching you defense spells but it wasn't strong enough to protect you from your enemies, Matte."

She gazed on the professor until the very end of his speech. It was the longest he ever said, she thought amusedly at the professor. Somehow, the heavy feelings on her chest lessen a little for she knew it wasn't about him pitying her.

Is he one of the people who worry about me?

"Are you sure I could meet your standards? I—"

"I only agree on giving private lessons on people that are capable on learning" he mumbled and looked away as if he regretted everything he just said.

Renee's grimace slowly evaporated and changed into a smile. It was an unexpected compliment from him, she thought amusedly, and all of her worries were disappeared on the thin air.

"How long will these lessons be?" she asked, as her usual exhilaration on learning were beginning to come into view.

"As long as you need it…I will continue to train you even we get to the castle, if you're going back, that is" he replied grimly as he took another shot of his liquor.

"Oh, I'm going back" she replied instantly. Somehow, Snape was quite surprised on her reply, but he was good enough to hide it all.

The two became silent, both were drowned in each other's thoughts that they didn't mind about the quite room with only the wall clock tickling.

"It's snowing" Renee suddenly exclaimed as she leaned on the windowpane with her amused look on her eyes.

"It's just snow" Snape respond, though he also gazed on the window.

"I know" she looked at him and smiled. He just scowled in response and glanced back again on the snowflakes falling down the sky.

"Hey, it's already Christmas" she noticed as she looked on the clock. It was already half past twelve.

"So you're actually waiting for St. Nicholas?"

She looked at him and rolled her eyes on the professor for saying something silly. She never believed on those tales, Isabel was not the type of parent that lets her daughter believe something not realistic and the first one she pointed out was about those red clothed man with reindeers.

"So you're waiting for him too? You're the first one who's here after all" she countered back. Snape grimaced and she smirked, imitating his expression.

"It's getting late, we should get to bed" he declared and Renee agreed as she motioned an involuntary yawn.

The two placed the cups on the sink and headed upstairs.

"Professor?" she called before Snape would enter to his room.

He stopped midway but didn't look back.

"Happy Christmas, thanks for the gift" she said with her smile plastered on her face.

"I didn't give anything to you witch"

"You just did, Happy Christmas again" she interjected and entered her room fast before he would look back at her and saw her flushed face.

Snape stared of the young witch's closed door long enough for the young woman lay on her bed. He would sometimes wonder if she's a legillimens, like how she know every hidden meaning he was saying was beyond his comprehension. Renee doesn't have to know that he doesn't really consult the two adults about the said lessons. His lips curled upwards, the very closest for him to smile.

"Happy Christmas to you too Renee"

A/n: just have some dilemma. I just decided to bring my laptop on the repair shop on the weekend to get rid of these horrible lines on my screen. If I don't update next Monday, that means I already brought my laptop there. But don't worry! I'll try to update once a week (try to sneak on my sister's computer to type) and I will not abandon this story.

Btw, has everyone got trouble on submitting reviews? I haven't gotten ANY reviews for so long (I really hope those were just because of having technical problems).

I would love to read reviews! –Hint hint-

Till next time!

Renesnee