Author's note: Here's the next chapter! Sorry if you will spot grammar mistakes in this chapter and for waiting for this to publish, again…I will never be a perfect writer. –Grins- (yeah and that's what you call reasoning…lol)

Note: 'XXX' means flashback. Okay?

Enjoy reading!

Chapter thirty-eight:

Taking in charge

It has already been a day since Renee got discharge from the infirmary. She and the rest of the Gryffindor rejoice to that, making a small party at the common room the same night with the twins providing the food (which of course from the kitchen elves). Everyone were laughing and having fun at that night; Renee laughed end enjoyed with them too, though there are still nagging on her head that she couldn't even show it from everyone

Her talk with the potions master had lifted some of her heavy feelings and finally cleared up her mind from worries and doubts about herself. She remembered how he shouted her name, how he convince her, how her broad his chest was, how relaxing it was when her hand rubs her shoulder to soothe her and how he told her he will be always be there for her.

She tried to conceal her sudden smile at her cup for some students might think that she had already gone crazy after that attack…and she will never underestimate how rumors circulate through out the campus…

The school had gone normal in her relief and she was greeted with pile of homework from potions (is he really the same Professor Snape I've talked the other day?) that she had to finish in two weeks, a essay to finish in charms and transfigurations and a bunch of reading in history of magic and defense class.

What a life.

Even with those pilled homework that needed to be done; the one she was worried about was how to face her mother. The Professor had finally made her sense that she must talk to Isabel, to let her explain things. She wanted to approach her and talk, but her pride seems to be stopping her.

Her owl Holmes suddenly approached Renee, making her snapped to her trance.

"Hello Holmes, what you got to me?" she asked cheerfully while smoothing his feathers. The owl nudges his beak at her shoulders to let her get a piece of parchment in his beak.

"You know, He and Hedwig started to hang out at the owlery more often" Ron watched the bird flew away as Renee gave her an owl treat before retreating.

"Really?" she smiled while shaking her head as she opens the parchment and then frowned, "Harry?" Harry turned away from Neville and face Renee.

"What is it?"

"What are your plans this afternoon?" she suddenly asked.

"Erm…I've got an occlumency lesson, and I've got to finish my charms homework…" he trailed, "Why?"

"Nothing, just asking…" she smiled and then Harry turned at Neville again, not seeing Renee clutched the parchment into her hands and stuffed it into her pockets.

…

"Someone's been learning a glamour spell from my mother, it seems" Sirius turned and saw Renee with her arms crossed.

"See me in the fifth floor, left wing and then turn the second wall to reveal a door that leads to a secret room…there is something I need to confess to you –Harry" Renee recited the contents of the parchment by heart.

"Disappointed that it wasn't Harry who's here to meet you?" Sirius asked teasingly.

"Firstly, Harry would never trouble himself to talk with me in such close area…he could just talk with me in the common room for all he care" she said as a matter of fact, "Secondly, he didn't even know this hidden room in the first place" she looked around, never thought the place exist in the first place.

Sirius just shrugged, "It wouldn't hurt to try…now," he stretched his arms, "Where's my hug from my goddaughter?"

Renee didn't move from her spot and just stared at him.

"Why?" Renee suddenly asked. She knew the man despise death eaters, especially Voldemort…her biological father.

But how in the world he could react like nothing happened?

"What do you mean 'why'? Don't I have the right to hug you?" Sirius was quite confused at her.

"Why?" Renee repeated her question, "Don't you hate me? Don't you know I'm the –"

"Of course I knew about that. Why should I get angry with you if I know you didn't do anything?" he said as a matter of fact.

Renee couldn't believe what she had heard as one of the things that made her worried got dissolve in an instant. She didn't know what she had done to be accepted so easily by people around her. She slowly smiled and broke into a run to give the man a crushing hug.

"There, there…no need to crush my bones kiddo. How are you?" Sirius tapped her shoulders as Renee buried her head on his shoulders.

"Never better" she responded sarcastically.

"What do think you're doing?" he exclaimed and began to scold the young witch, "You didn't even let your mother explain everything! Do you think you're not the only one who's troubled with it?"

"She deserved it, Mum did hide it from me for fifteen years" said Renee in her indifferent tone.

He shook his head as he heard her stubborn reasoning. "Kiddo, things aren't as you think it is. There are much deeper explanation about everything" Sirius sighed, making Renee frowned at the Sirius 'serious' side of him.

"That's why I'm ready to listen. Let's see how she will try to explain those 'deep explanation' of hers" she finally said, making Sirius' face lightened.

"You will?" he asked cheerfully then tried to conceal it with his serious tone, "I mean you must. It's about time you realize it"

She just rolled her eyes then finally smiled at him and then Sirius hung his arm around her shoulders. "Now, let's go shall we?"

"Where are we going?" she asked, her eyebrow rose in suspicion.

"To your mother of course, she's dreadfully waiting for you to forgive her" he exclaimed as he lead the girl into walking.

"I'm not forgiving her!" she exclaimed, "I just want to hear her explanations—"

"Yeah right" Sirius rolled his eyes and led her to a secret passageway towards the headmaster's office.

"Wait…you sure you're not mad at me?" Renee asked again.

Sirius stopped walking and gave her a solemn look before answering, "One fact about this world, kiddo. Children would never get a chance to choose their own parents"

…

Snape and Isabel turned their faces at the newly arrived visitors with surprised looks. Isabel rose to her seat and gazed at Renee longingly. She was surprised that Renee was there in front of her, since the girl had been avoiding her since she woke up.

"Talking behind my back again?" Renee spoke as she eyed the two in suspicion. Sirius coughed intentionally to got the girl's attention.

"Renee—"Isabel cautiously spoke. The two men seemed to be hanging at the mother and daughter's conversation.

"I'm just reminding you. I still don't forgive you about everything" Renee interjected.

"I'm not telling you to forgive me, nor forget those dear" Isabel responded.

"And I'm not letting you go decide without my consent. This is my life, not yours"

"Of course dear, I'll never do that again" Isabel stepped a little towards her.

"And no more secrets, I want to hear everything"

"I'll tell you everything" she promised.

Renee's face started to lift up at her, in Isabel's relief and delight. "And I want a complete works of Jane Austen and Doyle in my room this summer…a higher allowan—"she didn't finished hers when Isabel suddenly caught her into a hug.

"You can have that right away dear!" Isabel was half crying and laughing at her while Renee rubbed her back to soothe her. She glanced at Snape and gave her a small smile.

"Books as bribery?" Sirius exclaimed, "You have to think more than that! She could afford anything—"

"Shut up black" Isabel snapped at him but then gave Renee a cheerful smile seconds later.

"And all this time you're giving me small allowance?" Renee exclaimed; Isabel just shrugged but then laughed quietly.

Isabel's laughter finally dissolved all heavy feeling on her chest; like she has been able to breathe freely…like there was another light at her dark path. All of the things that were bothering her were starting to melt away, like an ice on a hot surface.

Renee was surprised how the heavy atmosphere between them disappeared like a bubble. Sirius was animatedly talking with them that Isabel would snap at him here and there that Renee couldn't help but chuckle. Snape was contented to watch them in a distance, though there were times Snape would say his usual snide remarks that the other man couldn't contain himself and retort at that. The young Gryffindor watched them with a smile and couldn't help but compare it to her last Christmas vacation, when she has no linage worrying about.

They were in that situation when the headmaster came from his fireplace with his usual bright robes. Renee wanted to roll her eyes at the headmaster, thinking if the man had his eyes color blind. And when she glanced at Snape, she could clearly see the man was thinking the same with his same frown at the headmaster.

"Miss Matte, thank goodness you came" the headmaster greeted her with a smile "Good to see you both reconcile" he stride at his chair and rested his chin on his hands.

Renee just nodded to the headmaster. One thing she learned from what happened was never got fooled by the headmaster's kind smile again.

"Sirius brought her here" Isabel spoke with her smiles all over.

Dumbledore nodded in response and gave the man a look before speaking again, "Lemon drops?"

After no one except Sirius accept his offer, Snape spoke up. "I think it's time to discuss things headmaster"

"Yes…yes, we have still many things to discuss" Dumbledore agreed and then flicker his eyes at the youngest witch. Isabel led her to sit at the armchair next to Dumbledore's desk and her sitting in front of the young Gryffindor.

"Miss Matte" Renee looked up at the headmaster and saw his serious expression, one of the unusual expressions that he would wear.

"Yes headmaster?"

"I want to first deeply apologize not from what happened last week…but also for being struck in between to this kind of situation" the twinkle on his eyes disappeared for a moment.

"I—"Renee was hesitant at first to speak, "It was inevitable. I'm sorry if I speak so badly the last time. It was rude of me" she said in almost a whisper voice, but then the quiet room made it feel like a shout.

"There is no need to apologize Miss Matte. I fully understand you" he said in his well mannered tone.

Do you? Renee thought sarcastically. She couldn't help but have foul feelings for the headmaster. After all, she couldn't now fully trust the man.

"The reason why I ask you to be here is to know what really happened that time. I would like you to tell us what really happened before Isabel came to rescue you"

Renee bowed her head at the sudden feeling of their eyes fixed at her as they waits for her to answer. She knew she could never avert the issue forever, and keeping it would not help her.

"I was at the forbidden forest that time" she started, "When Esclair found me and tried to kill me"

"Had he told you anything? Anything that could help us" Dumbledore asked, making Renee lifted her head to glance at him.

She stopped and tried to think of the dead man's babbling. It was hard to remember things she had been trying to suppress…especially if it's from the time you almost got killed.

Something important…something…

"He is really insane…but I think he did mention about something" she finally recalled from the last week's events, "Something about Lucious Malfoy and his dream about getting higher ranks within the circle…" Renee glanced at the ceiling and tried to be interested in it.

"Lucious Malfoy" Isabel repeated, "I knew there is something wrong with that man. But I never thought he would resort to something like this"

"He has been anxious about his spot within the circle ever since you've returned" Snape interjected.

"We should do something to Lucious. You can't possibly let him go away with this!" Sirius exclaimed.

Isabel just smirked in everyone's puzzlement, "Don't worry about that. We don't have to stain our hands to that man. Someone will be doing the revenge for us" she spoke confidently.

"Did you see it already?" Renee asked the smirking woman.

Isabel nodded, "Don't worry, you'll see it in few days time" she said, making the others think about it.

"Now that the other matter had been taken care of…" Dumbledore cleared his throat, making Renee glance at him. "Please do continue Miss Matte"

Renee gulped as her story progresses. It was really the reason why she didn't want to tell the tale. It was unbearable for her to relive everything again; it was like she could hear his voice again…his cold and heavy voice that made her body controlled and killed Esclair. A hand touched hers and Renee found herself getting holding hands with Isabel.

"We should do something to avoid it on repeating" Isabel nodded in agreement at the headmaster's statement.

"We couldn't just relay on your natural occlumency, do we?" Isabel said in Renee's wonder.

"Natural occlumency?" she asked.

"You don't want to be comatose every time your mind's getting invaded, don't you?" Renee shook her head vigorously, "Good…because that's a very dangerous thing to do. What if you won't get up anymore?"

"Then what are we going to do?" Renee asked them.

"Someone's needs to teach you advance occlumency lessons" Isabel declared.

It made Renee startled. Not just because she just have to learn the occlumency all over again but also to the fact that Isabel had mentioned about someone teaching her instead of her.

"I think Snape would be the perfect candidate for teaching…shut up Black, don't even think about it. We have more pressing issue to discuss than your whining. And besides, I couldn't go at the castle as much as I want because there is some toad lurking around the castle" Isabel finished explaining then glanced at the potions master for affirmation.

"I will do my best to teach her" he finally said after all eyes were at him.

"Good! Then please take care of her!" Isabel beamed and patted Renee's shoulders.

The rest of the meeting was a blur for her. It wasn't just because they were talking about political agendas but also to the fact that the idea of Snape teaching her occlumency bothers her to the extreme.

What if he saw through me? I don't know what face I give to him after that…but then I couldn't just reject the plan; it would be more troublesome for us…especially to times like this.

…

"Renee"

It wasn't even a surprise to her when Isabel called her after the meeting. Snape had already excused himself, as he has still have some preparation to do. Renee consciously followed the older woman towards the other door, leaving Sirius and Dumbledore behind.

The room was still as extravagant as the office. There was a large bed in the middle, and the red and gold colors of the room remind her of the warm comfortable feeling of the Gryffindor common room. Isabel sat at the edge of the bed and then finally faced her. She haven't saw her as tired as today like she haven't slept for a week. Her bloodshot eyes flicker at her and gesture her to sit at the chair in front of her.

The younger witch sat quietly and looked around, "Is this the headmaster's bedroom?" she asked.

Isabel shook her head, "It's his guest room. This is where I use to stay in the past. His room is more extravagant than this"

Renee just nodded and then thought of the headmaster's bedroom, more extravagant? More bright colors if you let me guess.

"You said you wanted to know everything, right?" Renee nodded and saw her serious expression. Her weary smile made her nervous all of the sudden.

Isabel unconsciously touched her snowflake pendant before beginning her tale, "I…I really don't know where to start" she admitted finally.

"What about at the very beginning?" Renee offered.

Isabel gazed at the ceiling, "The beginning you say…"

XXX

"Five more minutes" a younger version of Emily groaned against the pillow.

An old woman in her sixties put her arms on her hips, "Get up dear, you can't possibly sleep the whole Christmas!" she exclaimed.

A twenty five year old Emily groaned once again. She had already filed at St. Mungos for a vacation and went home to celebrate the occasion with her family. Emily faced the fuming mother beside her bed. Her mother, Gabrielle Renee Briston had her hair tied up neatly with her apron on; she was already in her sixties…yet the age doesn't seem to reach her. Her chocolate brown eyes, her bright kind smile and her fair complexion were the evidence that the woman was popular in her youth.

"I want to sleep more…" Emily hugged the nearest pillow for comfort. Her yesterday's duty was very toxic with her nagging head nurse made all of her energy got drained.

"Don't you say you have other plans with Timothy for today? Get up…now." her mother called before going downstairs.

Emily gets up lazily with her hair sticking all over her face. She looked exactly her mother in her youth, except to her green eyes that she had inherited with her father. She sighed but then finally gave up sleeping to freshen up herself.

The kitchen was very busy as she went downstairs. Their house elf Toby had been helping her mother prepare everything on the table, while her father and older brother talking quietly with coffee besides them.

Their family was a famous pure blood family, yet their higher ranks in the society doesn't make them rude like the Blacks or the Malfoy's. In fact, they were complete opposite of them; they supported half bloods and muggle born wizards, one of the reasons why they had a bad reputation with the famous families.

But one of the things that made them popular was their linage of high end seers. One great example of that was their late grandfather that became the highest official at the ministry of mysteries and then followed now by her father and older brother. The only seer that didn't follow her grand father's footsteps was her, as she was now working at St. Mungos as a mediwizard; nobody within the family didn't complain about that though…like they had been anticipating it all along.

"Happy Christmas!" the woman greeted them with a smile.

Her father, Gregory Thomas Briston smiled warmly at her. "It's about time you wake up little princess" Emily rolled her eyes at her old nickname.

"I'm already an adult now Dad, you can't just call me like that" she groaned as she took the coffee that Toby offered.

"But you like that nickname!" he groaned.

"I did, when I was eleven years old! I'm bloody twenty five years old now!" Emily frowned.

"A twenty year old woman that couldn't get up on her own" her older brother, Nigel Colin Briston interjected beside her.

She gave him a dark look, "Shut up Nigel"

"You make me"

Emily smiled mysteriously then turned at her smiling mother, "Mum, Is Min already flooed? She told me she'll be flooing today" as expected, Nigel blushed at her best friend's name.

"I'm not sure…Did she already flooed Nigel?" Gabrielle asked her oldest son.

Nigel shook his head vigorously while Emily snickered quietly. It wasn't really a secret that Nigel had been fancying Minerva; ever since her best friend works at the ministry, Nigel had been non-stop asking questions her about the woman.

All of them laughed at her brother's blushing face. It was a normal and happy breakfast for them, but little did they know what future waits for them.

XXX

Emily touched the necklace again on her neck. A sparkling snowflake pendant hang around her neck, the gift Timothy gave her for Christmas. They were going out ever since he nervously confessed to her at their graduation, and they were inseparable since then. A lovely smile graced her lips while she walks towards her home while remembering their intimate date earlier. She had always believe that he was meant for her; she didn't care even if the other pure blood families were disgust with her relationship with a muggle born wizard. All Emily cared was their love for each other, and nobody could go and break their relationship.

"I'm home" she called as she opened the door of their house.

It was awfully quiet. The usual battering of her mother and Toby in the kitchen couldn't be heard, or even her father's reasoning to them. It was piercingly quiet for her…that she could feel something was wrong…

Emily slowly looked around. She could really feel something was wrong…something's not right…something was…

A piercing shriek was heard upstairs that Emily broke into run with her wand on hand. Her heart beat as fast as it possibly did while walking slowly at the origin of the sound and then burst the door open.

Emily sank on the floor at the sight.

Three corpses were inside the room. Her father was on top of her mother, like he had protected her until his last breathe. Nigel was not far from them, as it faces the floor and being surrounded with his own blood. In was then she saw someone towering her dead brother's body. She couldn't see its face as it was covered with black robes.

Red eyes

It was only thing she could remember from the man before red lights launched unexpectedly at her and made her unconscious.

XXX

For years she had been looking for revenge. Emily resigned at St. Mungos and apply at the ministry of Mysteries, which had accepted her with open arms. She trained her seer abilities, looked for any clues in finding the mystery killer. The pain on her heart became her strength to move forward; her dead family's faces made her heart into stone and gave her one only purpose…to find that person with red eyes and have her sweet revenge.

XXX

Emily sat at her armchair as if she had been waiting for someone. Her sharp eyes opened and gazed at the fireplace once again. Years of revenge had been past through her; the revelation of her family's killer had also opened a new event for the wizarding world, a kind of event that no one anticipated.

Voldemort's invasion…the start of wizard world's Dark Age.

Her hands lingered at her pendant hanging on her neck. Timothy was already dead, her family was long gone…there was nothing to lose, nothing was left to her.

Her fireplace roared and revealed the person she had been waiting a while ago. She stared at the wizard's bright robes and got overwhelmed by the wizard's presence.

"Professor Dumbledore" she greeted the wizard.

"Are you ready?" he asked her.

Emily lingered her hand at her necklace before glancing back at him. She knew there was no turning back now…

"Yes professor, I'm ready"

…

Renee watched the gargoyle closed with a heavy heart. It was almost dinner but instead going straight at the great hall, her feet lead her elsewhere. She doesn't have any place in mind nor care where her feet would lead her. Her mind was occupied by her mother's revelation about her past, something she never thought her mother would have. She never thought her mother carries those heavy feeling in her shoulders for many years…and never got notice them behind those smiles and vile attitude.

She leaned at the windowpane and then sighed as she remembered how struck she was after her mother's tale ended.

XXX

Renee gazed at her with a guilty look, never knowing that there is something as heavy as that behind her calm demeanor.

"I'm sorry" it was the only thing she could think and then bowed her head in shame. Isabel just smiled at her and then took her hands.

"Don't be. I deserve your anger actually. I would do the same if I were in your position" said Isabel.

Renee still gazed at her guiltily. If she could just let her mother explain everything before, they wouldn't be much problem as now. Now she knew her existence proves her mother's angst against him, against to the person who took everything from her.

"Always remember" Isabel spoke, as if she had read her daughter's mind. "I had been living because of revenge for many years now. Revenge keeps me alive…never knowing that will ruin my life" she spoke as she gazed at Renee's green eyes.

"I never hated you. In fact, you made me realize my mistake when you came along, dear. Life shouldn't be waste like that. Life isn't just for revenge. You made me change for the better" Isabel brush her hair with her hands, a gesture she would always do to her in the past.

"You made me realize something important, something I haven't realize for two decades" she smiled warmly at her before continuing, "Life's better by spending your life protecting someone precious to you, someone you love"

Renee hugged her tightly while murmuring words of forgiveness while Isabel rubs her back. They were in that position for a few minutes until Renee had finally calmed herself.

"I'm so sorry" Renee sniffed as she broke the hug. Isabel wipe her tears away and then smiled so motherly at her.

"Don't be" Renee smiled back at her.

Renee was trying to recompose herself when Isabel spoke once again. "Dear, what do you want to do next?"

She stopped and then gazed at her. "What do you mean?"

"Now that you know everything, you have the freedom to choose on your own. Do you want to help us? Or you don't want to get involve on it?"

"I—" Renee was lost in words, "I don't have any choice do I?"

"Of course you have dear, though you have very limited one. Think about it very carefully, this could affect your life permanently. I just don't want you have a life like mine, full of misery and angst and regretting all of the things that were in the past. You can choose to help the order, and together we will fight"

Again, Renee was lost in words.

"You can choose otherwise. Then all you have to do was to protect your mind from him, and be safe. I know you can do that…and I'll be always here for you. If we need to flee in other country just to protect you, we will"

"What about the order? What about-"

"You're my number one priority now, not the order…not me being a spy or not even my revenge. We're not asking anything from you. You're just placed in a difficult position. And in my opinion, a child like you shouldn't get involved in this war" Isabel shook her head, "Please think very carefully"

…

Renee sighed loudly as things were getting serious now. Several students passing on the corridors glanced at her direction and noticed the gloomy aura she was producing.

What shall I do? It's not that I've got any other choice but to choose between the two, and I've already had an answer in my mind…but…

She ducked her head in her arms and groaned loudly. She wasn't really asking too much, all she wanted was to have a normal and peaceful life…

Why can't be granted to me? Was it too much to ask?

Instead of a normal and peaceful life, she was granted to being a seer, a mother with a very dark past and the most evil wizard as a father. And now she have to choose if she would help the order to defeat her father or be blind for whatever will happen between the two sides. Renee peeked at the setting sun and then sighed once again.

So much for a normal life

"My life's too complicated…"

A/N: what do you guys think? Come on I need to hear your comments about the story so far! XD reviews keep me going!

I'll be waiting for your reply. –winks-

Renesnee