Author's note: Yay for posting another update! Boo for not having my laptop with me! –signs- Note: in the next chapters I've jumbled some scenes from the book. (Now don't sue me for that! Lol) I have to do it so it will fit with my story.

Some of the lines were from the book that is obviously not mine so…

Please bear with my upcoming typos and wrong grammars. Secretly typing a story on my sister's computer was hard you know? (One of my lame excuses I know)

Enjoy reading!

Chapter twenty nine:

The arrival of high Inquisitor

Today's Christmas day was quite different for the two Mattes. The very first was another companion for the Christmas feast. The two were quite happy about it (even Toby was in high spirits about it) even though their guest wasn't the type of freely expressing his emotions. Somehow Renee knew Snape was also enjoying himself on the feast though there is no way that he would let them glimpse on it.

Another thing was the presents. It was Renee's first time to receive too much presents from people and she was more than glad about it. Even Isabel received a lot too, mostly from the members of the order and the headmaster. There was also some gifts Snape received with a grimace, also came from his colleagues and the headmaster.

Renee excitedly opened the gifts one by one. She did mostly receive books (not really surprised about it). She did quite surprise that she did received a book from 'Moony', which she knew she didn't encountered someone with that kind of name before. Isabel told her that it was one of the members of the Order and Renee wondered why he would give him something (let alone that the book was about potions, how did he know that I longed to have this copy?) to someone who didn't even met her.

Some people did give her other things besides books. The twins gave her tongue lengthening gummies and extendable ears. Isabel gave her a beautiful necklace with a teardrop like pendant. Hermione (I really thought she would give me a book!) gave her a journal that never runs out of leaves. Neville got her a puffapod plant (which made Mum tease me for the whole morning). Molly Weasley (a much unexpected one) gave her a knitted cardigan with a note saying she would love to meet her in person; And Sirius who gave her a simple (a very expensive one for sure!) studded earrings.

Isabel was also pleased on the gift she did receive though she wasn't really showing those. After all she has been hiding from the people she did love for almost fifteen years already, she deserved to be enjoying this day, Renee thought. She also received socks from the headmaster, (the headmaster never seems to cease to amuse me), a nice knitted shawl from Molly, a book from Moony and a simple robes from McGonagall. She laughed heartedly as she watched her mother cursed Sirius's gift (almost burn the gift if I didn't stopped her), a muggle book about anger management (how did he find a way to buy that book anyway?) to tease the woman.

Though I really think she needed to read those.

Renee was surprised to see another package with green and silver packaging; even though it wasn't labeled she already knew who gave it. Snape wasn't looking at her as she was opening it, though she swore he was looking back on the corner of his eyes. It was a book of healing charms and mediwizardly (the same one that I was eying the last time we went on the bookstore) and a book about defense in dark arts.

"Those will be helpful for you on the long run" he simply said.

"Thank you!" she beamed at the man, clutching the books close to her heart.

…

Snape wasn't kidding about those difficult lessons

That was the first thing Renee learned on the first day of their lessons. It was after lunch when they started the lessons (today was still Christmas for Merlin's sake!). They held it on the basement, which Renee greatly remembered those old times when she was still having extra lessons with the man. Though the only difference was all things on the room were all moved on the walls, giving the place more room. We're also facing each other's wands…not cauldrons, she thought worriedly.

"I heard from professor McGonagall that you managed to do a non-verbal spell, yes? Good. Now we will brush those skills. Non verbal spells were great advantage on dueling"

Renee gulped as it was her first time to see him teaching besides potions, let alone about DADA! She did hear about rumors about him and the DADA post, though she didn't believe those. Renee just stared on the professor as he pulled his wand from his robes.

"Wand at the ready, you're going to counter my spells with non-verbal spells. Do you have any questions?" Renee shook her head and raised her wand.

"Ready? One two…" red sparks lunched towards her and clumsily countered those.

Thus, their lessons officially started. For the next hour, Renee countered some of the spells clumsily or sometimes blurted out the spells on her mouth. She finally realized the non verbal spell she did before was just pure luck.

"We will stop from here. Your reflexes were still slow but we could work it out on the next few days" he finally declared after an hour of exchanging spells.

Renee nodded as she wiped the sweat on her forehead. Yes it was hard and quite advance from what Moody was teaching (my weird DADA professor that seems to be suffering on paranoid personality disorder). But to her, the lessons with Snape was a challenge and a treat for her (especially it was really him who teaches me!), Renee giggled within herself.

"I didn't know it was that hard" she slumped on the sofa as they waited for the house elf to serve their snacks.

They settled themselves on the couch after the lessons, keeping each other company. Isabel was no where to be found again, as Renee find it a normal occurrence.

"Non-verbal spells are advance lessons, not everyone could do it" Snape replied.

"Figured that out already" she grumpily replied as she could feel the soreness of her body. Some of the spells actually hit her on her dismay, leaving her a battered body.

Snape's lips curled slightly upwards at the grumpy young witch. He might not admit it aloud, but she was really a fast learner.

Renee rolled her eyes on the professor on disbelief on the satisfying look on his face. Oh I forgot how he loves torturing his students.

Their relationship did become close because of those lessons as days goes by. It was either they would read on the living room, eat snacks, play chess (why do I always lose every time I would play that bloody game?), or just talk. Sometimes the two were just silent, deep on their thoughts but still keeping each others company, like they were savoring each other's remaining days before the class starts.

Renee was dreadfully waits for the class to start. Classes to her means less interaction with the man and the professor's persona will be up again on her depression.

…

Renee groaned aloud on the noise below. It's still eight on the morning for Merlin's sake! Her departure for Hogwarts was already planned, as Snape will apperate with her before lunch. She tossed and turned, as she put the pillow on her head and tried to get her last peaceful slumber on her own bed.

But the noise below intensified.

What in the world?

Renee resigned on getting back to sleep and grumpily headed on the bathroom. Today was the day she needs to get back on the castle and her things were already packed. It was hard to convinced Isabel for approving about her decision on getting back (why would she let me choose if she will oppose on the first place?). Her mother really thought she would choose the latter, but Renee did win on the argument with Snape backing her up (a very surprising fact if you ask me).

Another clatter was heard downstairs as Renee exited the bathroom. She was finally sure her mother was on the kitchen. She stepped out of her room and headed straight on the source of chaos. Renee wasn't really expected what she saw on the kitchen. Her mother was on the stove, muttering something and Toby was no where to be found (I really hope she wasn't jinxing the breakfast). Snape was calmly sitting on the table, with the newspaper…

Hey, why is the paper half burned?

Renee was about to say something when someone blocked her eyes and bring her into a tight hug while twirling her around.

"Put me down Sirius!" she scolded though she was grinning from ear to ear.

Sirius kissed the top of her head before putting her down. Renee gave her a disapproving look on the sudden gesture but he just ignored the sour look her face.

"Coffee?" he offered her a mug but not really releasing her.

"Thanks" she took the cup and sipped her favorite beverage and glanced at the potions master. He didn't even raise his head on the burned newspaper in her disappointment.

"Good morning sir" she greeted.

Snape finally looked up, but then he quickly looked back on his reading without giving any response. Renee signed, today was the last day they would be able to share the same table for breakfast, and he was already giving her a cold shoulder. She looked up at Sirius and saw the mischievous look on his face.

But then again, he might be on the bad mood because of Sirius.

"Why aren't wearing my gift?" Sirius asked with mock of scolding her as he saw her wearing a new necklace around her neck.

"You expect me to wear true diamonds on school?" Renee exclaimed as she pushed herself away from him and rolled her eyes.

Sirius just shrugged on response as he didn't really care on the expensiveness of the jewelry.

"Already packed for school?" he asked and Renee nodded in response.

The three were startled as flames burst out on the pan, totally burning all the stuff Isabel was trying to cook. Renee saw how hard her hand was gripping the handle.

"Where's Toby?" Renee nervously whispered as she can't find the house elf. There is no way we could eat those burned food.

"He's hiding on his room after Isabel almost gave him clothes for not giving the pan on her" Sirius whispered back.

She must be very furious right now, better now to cross her today.

She sat across Snape and gazed on the burned newspaper that looks like being rescued from getting totally burned (I bet Mum also burned that one). It was a long time since she last saw a wizarding newspaper.A picture caught her attention. It was the same person she saw on her predictions, though it was clearer than her attempted visions. Even though the photo was not colored, she could see how horrible her face was; she has a wide mouth, and bulging pouchy eyes and mousy hair with Renee swore she resemble a toad.

"…Pink" she unconsciously blurt, making the three stopped from what they were doing. She's wearing ridiculous pink clothes on my vision.

Isabel stopped from her cooking and slowly turned on her daughter. Renee stiffened on her seat as she remembered how she warned her about meddling about the adult's affairs…especially about the Order of the Phoenix issues.

"What did you just said?" Isabel quietly asked.

Crap, stupid mouth!

"…pink shirt, did you see my pink shirt? I can't seem to find…them" she finished her sentence before her mother would suspect something. Isabel looked at her daughter carefully, trying to find something different on her.

"Ask Toby" Isabel finally said and turned her attention on the pan again.

Renee concealed her relief by drinking her coffee, forgetting Snape and Sirius looking at her consciously. She stared on the newspaper, which were finally lying on the table and read the accompanied headline that accompanied the photo. And did notice the burned part was another photo of the pink clothed woman.

Ministry seeks educational reform

Dolores Umbridge appointed first-ever "High Inquisitor"

High Inquisitor? Renee glanced at the professor as if she was looking for answers. However, Snape didn't respond and just merely shrugged on her. She tried not to roll her eyes on the professor and instead focus on reading the news item. She began to frown as she finished the article.

"This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed. They say Hogwarts has low education standards? This is the most stupid article I've ever seen!

"Can't argue about that one, the ministry is getting insane every single day" Sirius spoke as he sat next to her.

"Why would the ministry interfering Hogwarts anyway? It's just a—"

"…Wizarding school filled with hormonal teenagers" Isabel finished her sentence and sat next to Snape. Her face was unreadable yet Renee could clearly see as the day that the woman was really pissed off.

"The bloody Ministry was still refusing the fact that the dark lord had already risen. And their one way minds still thinking that Albus is forming an army against them" she said though she was more saying it to herself than to Renee.

"That's outrageous. What did the headmaster said about that?" Renee asked.

Isabel stood up; leaving the burned food on the table and leave the kitchen and ignoring the young witch's question. The answer to her question was completely clear.

Albus Dumbledore doesn't have a say about the high Inquisitor.

"Finish your packing. And I don't want any letter of complains about you" Isabel said and Renee smug at the ridiculous statement.

"Where are you going?" Sirius asked as Isabel was heading on the basement.

"I need to plan how to kill a toad" she darkly said as she darted downstairs. In some way, Renee thought the woman's anger wasn't really all from the Ministry, but also on the Ministry's representative.

Must be a personal grudge, she thought as she called Toby to redo the breakfast.

…

Renee was about to shrink her trunk when Isabel entered her room. She was somewhat cooled down though Renee wasn't really quite sure about that.

"Already finished packing?" She asked as she sat on the edge of her bed. Renee nodded and smiled.

"The offer still stands you know" Isabel hinted at her daughter again. She had been bribing her for the young witch to stay on the house with her. The bribes were very tempting to her that she wanted to rethink about her decision.

How ironic. She thought. It was just a few months ago when she was the one who refused to enter Hogwarts. Now the world seems to be upside down. Renee looked at her with her eyes telling the woman that she was never going to change her mind.

"I'm serious about not getting trouble this time" Isabel told her.

"With Umbridge on the castle, Hogwarts will never be the same again like last year. I don't want you to cross her line, do you understand me?" Renee nodded at her mother as she saw how serious her face was.

"Good. Now go downstairs, Severus is already waiting" Isabel stood up, hugged her daughter and exited the room.

…

I will never going to like any wizard's way of transportation.

Renee thought as they apperated near the castle but pretty much enjoyed the Snape's arm around her shoulders as they apperated. She tried to hide her disappointment when Snape dropped his arm as she finally settled on the ground. No one spoke as Snape pulled out his wand and muttered the incantations for the gates. She noticed no one was lurking on the grounds, though she was glad for it, that way she could extend her time with the said professor.

It was a short walk for Renee, as she wished the apparition point was much farther like the ones they had on their house. She wondered if their grown friendship will still continue even if they were back as a professor and student.

"I guess I'll just see you later professor" she said as they set their foot on the castle and needed to part ways. She needed to head on the Gryffindor tower and him on his quarters before heading on the headmaster's office to report.

"Miss Matte?" the cold voice called as she was walking towards the tower.

She twisted her head to glance at the professor and her eyes met his.

"Expect a note indicating our next lessons" he continued as he bore his eyes on her. Renee nodded eagerly on the man and grinned. His lips curled upwards (the most close on regular smile to my surprise) in response and move his way on the dungeons, with his robes billowing behind him.

Renee wanted to squeal. No...I'll do those when I reach the tower, she decided and run towards the dormitory with the image almost smiling Snape on her mind.

…

"I've told you Hermione, I'm fine really…you don't have to apologize on those" Renee said as she finally reached her bed and starting to put her things on the closet.

Hermione sat on the edge of her bed and chew her bottom lip. She knew what she had done had made her friend into some trouble. Renee glanced at her and rolled her eyes, she's really worried about those.

"Look Hermione. You don't have to get worry about those. I'll see to it that I will ask him not to pick on you when the class starts, promise" she said and gave her a bright smile.

If I could dare to ask him about it

"Oh, I wasn't really worried about me getting in trouble…I was really expecting it. You sure you didn't get in trouble because of it?" Hermione asked and Renee gave her a knowingly smile.

"I didn't get in trouble… maybe I should thank you about what you did, really" she giggled and continued her task.

"Tell me, what happened? Oh come on Renee, spill it out!" Hermione shook her slightly and Renee giggled more.

"Nothing happened, really. We just became close…"

"You got to tell me everything!" Hermione squealed and Renee looked at her with narrowed eyes, not quite sure if it was the same Hermione she met before. She just squealed…

"You're really sounded like Pavarti"

"Renee!" Hermione put her hands on her waist as if she was insulted.

She began her tale and relieved to have a girl to girl talk to someone that has the same age as her. It made her feel normal. She told her everything (with my commentaries and her bombarding me questions) but did skip the topic they had on the park.

Those were not my secrets anyways; I don't have the right to tell them about it.

"Wow…just wow" Hermione commented as Renee finished her tale.

"Yeah, wow. Now, what happened on the Grimmauld place?" she asked as their conversations were getting deeper.

"Maybe we should talk those with the boys. I wasn't on the place for the whole vacation" Hermione finally rose from her bed and motioned her to go downstairs with her.

They found the two boys on the common room, deeply discussing something. Must be Quidditch, she thought.

"What's up?" Renee asked as she sat on the armchair next to Ron.

"Someone has a date on valentine's day" Ron declared and Harry darted him a dark look.

"Is that true Harry? Oh I'm happy for you, how did you ask Cho?" Renee asked enthusiastically.

"How did you find out that it's Cho? Err…she was hinting about the Hogsmeade day on valentines and I-" Harry was obviously rambling and has a dreamy smile on his face. The three snickered on his composition.

The three were non stop teasing him about it that Harry resorted to change the topic into something that Renee was eager to listen.

"Is padfoot returned on your house today?" Ron asked in hush voice.

"Yeah, he appeared there so early on the morning. Anyways…what do you know about this 'high Inquisitor'?" Renee asked as she quoted the word with her hands.

"We didn't really know everything about those. But apparently the ministry was getting suspicious on Dumbledore—"

"About secretly having an army against them?" she interjected.

"Exactly, they don't even acknowledging Harry's confession about the 'you-know-who's resurrection. They also blame the headmaster about the weird things happening on Hogwarts like those unexplainable Dementor attacks and the dead fugitive on the forest…"

"But it wasn't really his fault!"

"Exactly, it seems that Dumbledore had been trying to block the infiltration on Ministry ever since the term started. But when the escaped man from Azkaban were actually found on the forbidden forest, the situation was getting out of control and the Ministry had permeated the school"

"What will happen on Hogwarts?" she worriedly asked. This high Inquisitor really means business.

"She had the privilege to inspect the teacher's performance and she did bloody gotten the DADA position" Harry exclaimed. Renee was shocked on the disclosure. They were actually sacking Moody?

"Let's just hope she teaches well" Renee tried to get the brighter side of the situation. But even she wasn't convinced about it.

Mum was accurate about it. Hogwarts was never being the same like the last year.

…

"Thank you headmaster for those kind words of welcome"

Her voice was very high pitched, Renee noted as she personally saw the woman. The woman was still wearing her pink clothes and pick cardigan, and she swore she saw the sour look on Snape's face as his spot was next to woman's; it fact, no one among the faculty look so happy on the woman's sudden appearance on school.

Well except from Dumbledore…but those smiles were permanent on his face…

"Well, it is lovely to be back on Hogwarts, I must say…and to see such happy faces looking back at me!"

Happy little faces? Renee wanted to snort as she looked around. No one seems to be happy at all. She exchange glances with Harry, who seems to be also looking around if someone was really happy.

Is this woman really daft or just plain blind?

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

Is she really serious? Renee thought as she noticed Pavarti whispered something to Lavender and both giggled. She glanced again on the teacher's table and saw the potions master glancing on their table. Renee gave her a polite smile and Snape just nodded on acknowledgement. She wanted to squeal, as it was the first time that he acknowledged her smiles on the great hall.

"Did you just saw it? The git just nodded on me!" Ron whispered in disgust. Renee wanted to roll her eyes on her friend but Hermione nudge her secretly and gave her a teasing smile.

"Shut it Hermione" Renee countered on the young witch which just roll her eyes on her.

"…Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering…."

Renee tried to sink everything the woman was trying to say, but her attention was beginning to fade. In fact, almost half of the student body was not listening at her at all. Though the teachers table were quite opposite on it, as she could saw the attentiveness of the professors. She also saw how hard professor McGonagall face was, making her sure that the transfiguration professor doesn't like the new professor's presence at all.

"…because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be persevered, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."

She finally sat down, to everyone's relief. Dumbledore started to clap, which the students and professor followed his lead. I really feel bad about this, she thought as she forced herself to clap too. Somehow, she did wanted to Moody to come back and teach (he could shout his constant vigilance half of his class time for all I care) and don't leave them for someone like her.

The dinner was still noisy, though she could feel the slight silence of the place. The Umbridge woman was talking to Snape with her very high pitched voice. Even though Snape was politely having casual conversation with the witch, Renee could see the distasteful look on his eyes like his eyes were going to burn because of those bright pink clothes the witch was wearing.

"So you're having lessons with Snape today?" Ron asked and Harry nodded miserably.

Renee straightened up as she gazed on Harry as it was the first time to hear about this.

"Yeah, today at five" he grumpily said and Renee felt very envious on him. If you're that unwilling I will gladly take your place.

"Is he going to teach potions?" she asked. Harry leaned on the table to whisper at her.

"No, he said he's going to teach me occlu…occlud—"

"Occlumency" she corrected him and he nodded on agreement.

"Yeah, that's what he said when he visited Grimmauld place. He's going to teach me those because of what happened last year…" he said and leaned back.

Renee looked at Snape with a disapproving look on her face. He hasn't told me about those!

"Well maybe it could really help you to get rid of those dreams. I've enough listening to those last year" Renee teased the young wizard.

"I didn't really doubt about those on helping about the dreams. I'm dreading about him teaching me! It wasn't really a secret how much he loathed me" he smugly said.

"Or maybe it's not really you who he hates" Renee quietly muttered and cursed herself for saying something like that and gave the potions master and the high inquisitor one last look.

well? I will update again as soon as I can..(it really sucks not to have my laptop with me. -sign-)

review?