Renesmee Cullen and the Volturi's Protection

Chapter 6: Another Fallen Angel Returns

The fight between Renesmee and Angelus was fierce. Angelus used many of the moves he learned since he became a vampire and Renesmee used some of the moves the other vampire covens demonstrated when teaching her mother how to control her shield powers. She dodged, blocked and countered every attack he threw at her and hit him with everything she had.

"You're getting good, kid," Angelus taunted, "but you really don't know what you're getting yourself into. I'm the Scourge of Europe, for crying out loud!"

"You're just a lot of talk," Renesmee snapped, "and..." Angelus's eyes widened as she ran up a tree, kicked off the trunk and landed a roundhouse kick into his face. "...you just got beat by a vampire-human hybrid!" This caused a bit of laughter from the specators and Renesmee just grinned as Angelus regained his balance, his mouth bleeding freely. "Willow, is there a way you can find Liam and get him back here? I'm going to tie up Angelus and find out exactly how he got out." Willow nodded and ran back to the castle. After she was gone, Renesmee pointed her wand at the defeated Angelus and muttered, "Incarcerous!" Shining black ropes wrapped themselves tightly around Angelus from head to toe and she threw him against a tree.

Angelus struggled against the ropes tied around his body and finally gave up. "Okay, kid, you got me. What d'you want to know?"

"You were there when you got out. How did it happen?" Renesmee asked him.

"This guy came into Angel's room and cast a spell...I think the incantation was Geminio or something like that." he said grinning. "Does that ring a bell to anyone?"

"The Duplication Spell," Giles said quietly. "It's usually a protective charm used commonly on treasure at Gringotts Wizard Bank in Diagon Alley. Only the vaults with very high security have that spell cast on them."

"That's the one," Angelus said nodding at him. "I was inside Angel sleeping like he was when this guy came in, cast the spell, and...BAM! I'm standing at his side." Renesmee looked to Giles and asked what the counter was, but Giles couldn't think of anything. "I'm no expert at magic but maybe the spell Reducio might work?" At this point, Willow came back with Liam. Renesmee used the Binding Spell on Liam and placed him next to Angelus. "Okay, I've had my fun. Put me back in his body, then."

Renesmee pointed her wand at the two of them and said, Reducio Maxima!" Angelus and Liam were engulfed in a bright light, their screams echoing through the Forbidden Forest and the Hogwarts grounds as their bodies became one. The light faded and Angel was sitting propped up against the tree Renesmee threw Angelus against and he was staring at everyone as if he didn't know what happened. "Angel...are you okay?"

"Yeah," he grunted trying to free himself, "but can't you get me out of here?"

"Sorry," she said and muttered, "Diffindo!" and the ropes fell away from his body. "Do you remember everything?" He nodded. "Well, not for long. She pointed her wand between his eyes. "I saw one of the Aurors use this spell on someone last week and it's a Memory Charm. Trust me, you don't want to remember all of this, Angel. I don't want you to get upset because of what happened." Angel nodded and prepared himself for the worst. "Obliviate!" Angel's eyes became unfocused and dreamy and his mouth became slack; Renesmee had successfully erased the memory of what happened tonight out of his mind. "Angel?"

"Hey, Nessie," said Angel frowning. He glanced around him, taking in his surroundings and said, "Why am I outside? What's going on?" Renesmee shrugged, took him back to the castle and into his dungeon room and locked the door behind her.

She, Rose and Albus went back to the common room and talked about the whole thing. "I bet you anything it was a Moloch that duplicated him," Albus said grimly. "I'm almost sure of it!"

"But the Volturi and the Aurors are protecting Hogwarts," Rose argued. "Nobody can get in or out of the grounds without getting searched or killed." Albus shook his head with a sigh and went up to bed. "Nessie, I'm beginning to agree with Al on this one. This might've been another Moloch attack!" Renesmee had to agree with her there and the girls went up to their dormitory for the night, talking about the whole situation.

The first match of the Quidditch season was today and Renesmee was really nervous. Instead of eating normal food, she gulped down three packets of blood from Spike and was ready within minutes. Annabelle Weasley gave them a small pep talk before the match. "All right, everyone, we've practiced very hard for this match and it should pay off. Let's get out there and win the match, all right?" she said. The rest of the team muttered in response, grabbed their broomsticks and headed out to the pitch where Madam Hooch stood in the center with a chest beside her.

"I want a nice, clean game from all of you," said Madam Hooch firmly. "Captains, shake hands!" Annabelle and the Slytherin captain shook hands and both teams headed for the air. Madam Hooch gave a long blast on her whistle and the game started.

"Welcome to the the first Quidditch match featuring Gryffindor and Slytherin!" said a familiar female voice. Renesmee looked down at the commentator's bench and saw Willow talking into the megaphone. "The Quaffle has been released and it's James Potter with the Quaffle, then to Hannah Paisley who passes to Anita McDougal and...GRYFFINDOR SCORES!" Renesmee grinned as James hugged Hannah Paisley and then took the Quaffle from one of the Slytherin Chasers. "Potter has the Quaffle once more...he flies past the Slytherin Chasers, darts through the Beaters and...the Slytherin Keeper saves the goal. He passes to Eugene Warrington and..OUCH! He's hit by a Bludger sent by Reginald Salvadore of Gryffindor!"

The game went on and by the time Renesmee actually found the Snitch, Gryffindor had sixty points and Slytherin only had twenty. She spotted the walnut-sized ball fluttering by the Slytherin goal posts and shot toward it, Scorpius Malfoy was right behind her. "You have to be really thick to try and outrun this baby, Scorpius!" she taunted and zoomed past him. Scorpius increased his speed and was right behind her within seconds. Renesmee was very close to the Snitch now; she stretched out her hand and...WHAM! Scorpius sideswiped her and she fell almost hundred feet out of the air and onto the ground.

"That was a hit from the Slytherin Seeker Scorpius Malfoy!" Willow said excitedly, then frowned. "Hey...where's the Snitch?" Renesmee stood up and glanced at her right hand. The Snitch was there. "GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH!" cried Willow into the megaphone and the points counter rang up the score. "The score is now two-hundred and ten points to twenty! I hope Slytherin isn't too upset about this one."

Renesmee ran out of the changing rooms and was greeted with a hug from Rose and another from Albus and James. "Good going, Nessie! cried Albus. "Two-hundred and ten to twenty! Dad was actually shooting fireworks into the air with his wand! He wants to celebrate Gryffindor's victory in the common room in an hour!" Renesmee's eyes sought Scorpius who was standing nearby. He didn't look upset about losing at all. "See you in the common room in an hour, then, Nessie. Great job."

"Thanks," Renesmee said and walked up to Scorpius. "Good game, Scorpius."

"You too," he said and shook her hand. "Er-" His pale cheeks flushed pink and he stared at the ground. "Would you like to come with me to the Astronomy tower tonight? I go up there to think a lot and...well, maybe we could just talk or something."

"Sure," said Renesmee. She was also blushing a little. "What time do you usually go up there?"

"Around nine," said Scorpius. "We've got an hour, so let's just take a walk, shall we?" Renesmee nodded and the two of them walked around the grounds. "Like I said, I go up to the Astronomy Tower a lot to think and, well, you're always on my mind." His pale eyes stared into her brown ones, Renesmee did not speak. "Renesmee, ever since I first met you last year, I've always thought about you as a friend, but...I was hoping we could be more than that."

Renesmee got the hint and looked away from him. "Are you asking me out, Scorpius?" she asked and he nodded. "Is there another reason why you wanted me to come to the Astronomy Tower tonight? I mean, I'm okay with it, really, it's just...this is really sudden. What took you so long to ask me?"

Scorpius's cheeks turned scarlet as he said, "I was nervous and I didn't know if you liked me that way." Renesmee stared at him with disbelief. "I know, it's stupid, right? I told my dad how I felt about you and he encouraged me to say something, but I wanted to find the right time."

"So you chose right after our first Quidditch match?" she said stunned. "Scorpius, I don't know what made you think I didn't like you that way. When Rose and I were talking in our dormitory last year, she asked me if I liked anyone and I said you were on my list besides Spike and Angel."

"But...you're a..." Scorpius said, "and I'm just...do you think this could ever happen between us?"

"My mother thought the same thing when she first met my dad," said Renesmee. "At first, he kept his distance, but he found out that he couldn't keep away from her. He even went to Italy and nearly gave himself to the Volturi because he thought my mom killed herself; she was human at the time and did the weirdest things to get her mind off him after he broke up with her. She tried motorcycling and cliff diving. The cliff diving thing went badly and she almost drowned." Scorpius looked at her as if asking her to get to the point. "What I'm trying to say is that my parents stayed together and they never had much problem romance-wise. Mom loves Dad and that's all that matters to them. As long as they have each other, nothing can ever get between them."

"I want that for us, too," Scorpius said seriously. "I want us to have a relationship like that. So...will you give 'us' a shot?"

"Yes, I will," Renesmee said and hugged him. "I'll see you at the Astronomy Tower at nine, but I have to get to the common room and celebrate with my House. See you!" She ran into the castle, up the staircase, said the password to the Fat Lady and bolted inside. Once she got into the common room, she noticed a lot of changes. Harry wasn't the only adult there anymore. Ron and Hermione Weasley were talking with Rose, Albus and James and a lot of the other Gryffindors and there were three or four house-elves, little creatures who worked in the kitchens, serving food and drinks to everyone.

"Renesmee!" Harry called from a table near the window and she sat down across from him. "Congratulations on winning your first Quidditch match. I was watching." She blushed. "You were spectacular up there today, really. I even sent a letter to Viktor Krum, the Seeker for Bulgaria International Quidditch Team, and he sends his congratulations as well."

"Thanks, Harry," Renesmee said and hugged him. "Oh, and I love the Pensieve. It's been really useful lately." Harry nodded and a really old elf with a golden locket hanging around his neck and holding a silver tray laden with cakes and goblets of pumpkin juice walked up to her. "Thank you," she said graciously and took a few cakes and a goblet. "Good service."

"That's Kreacher, the family elf," Harry explained. "I inherited him when I was sixteen after my godfather died at the Ministry of Magic. At first, Kreacher hated me, but after I gave him that locket, he became friendly. He's over a hundred now, but he's still got a lot of energy in him." Harry whistled and Kreacher came back over. "Kreacher, I need a bottle of Madam Rosmerta's finest oak-matured mead right away and two goblets."

"Of course, Master," Kreacher said in a deep voce that sounded like a bullfrog. The elf turned his gaze to Renesmee and said, "Kreacher wishes to congratulate Miss Cullen on a wonderful performance during her match today. Kreacher is very proud." He asked her to bend down, which she did, and he wrapped his thin arms around her neck in a hug. "Master Harry wishes to tell you and your family that he and the Potter family and Kreacher will be staying for Christmas this year. Kreacher has sent a letter to the Cullen family informing them."

"That's nice of you, Kreacher," Renesmee whispered. "You've changed since the locket, haven't you?" Kreacher nodded and vanished into thin air. "He's really nice once you get to know him." Harry grinned and grabbed the bottle of mead Kreacher brought seconds later and poured a generous amount into each goblet.

"A toast!" he shouted and everyone in the room got quiet. "A toast to Renesmee Cullen, the best Gryffindor Seeker since myself and Ginny!" Everyone repeated raised their goblets and repeated her name then drank.

The party finished at eight o'clock and Renesmee was going through her trunk trying to find something that would impress Scorpius when they met at the Astronomy Tower that night. She chose a black dress embroidered with gold sequins on the collar and cuffs. Renesmee took almost a half hour with her hair trying to smooth it back into a ponytail and even put on a pair of lion-shaped earrings to show her pride for Gryffindor.

It took her nearly ten minutes just to make her way to the Astronomy Tower without alerting Filch or Peeves the Poltergeist and finally made it to the top to meet Scorpius who was waiting by the ledge. "Hey," she said as she leaned on the edge and stared at the quarter moon whose light made Scorpius look even paler and his white-blonde hair shine. He wore emerald an emerald green cloak with silver fastenings. "You look great."

"Not as great as you," he commented. "I never saw you look this...gorgeous before." He blushed as he said these words but Renesmee knew he meant every single one with all of his heart. "Where did you get the dress?"

"My aunt Alice bought it over the summer," said Renesmee shrugging. "She's got a really good fashion sense for a Divination teacher, doesn't she?" Scorpius nodded, trying not to stare at her beauty. "Something wrong?"

"No, it's just I never noticed how pale you are during the night," he said with a small smile. "I mean, you're so pale. I guess that comes with being a vampire-human hybrid, eh?"

Renesmee sighed; she knew he would mention this sometime during their little outing, but she was really hoping it would be later on. It took all of her self-control to not scream or snap at him. "There are other things that come with the package," she said calmly. "I can show you if you like." Scorpius nodded and she decided to show him her abilities. "My father can read the thoughts of other people, but I can project my own thoughts to other people and my mother can project a shield around whoever she's around and I can break mental shields. That's sorta how I defeated the Moloch last year."

"Oh. Show me, then." Scorpius said smiling and Renesmee obliged. She lightly touched his cheek with her hand and his eyes widened slightly as he saw what she saw. "Bloody hell!" he gasped when she lowered her hand. "That's really interesting. What's the next ability?"

"Are you able to put up mental shields?" asked Renesmee curiously and, when he nodded, she said, "Then do it." Scorpius closed his eyes and she felt his mental shield go up. "Okay, this might scare you a bit." She closed her own eyes and started to push on his shield with her mind. Scorpius tightened his shut eyes as she broke through the shield. "That's what I can do."

An hour went by and so did most of the food Scorpius brought up with him. They sat by the ledge in silence with the moon shining down on them until Scorpius broke the silence. "I was just thinking about something, that's all. I overheard you talking to Albus Potter not long ago and he said that he and the rest of his family are coming to your place for Christmas. Is there a chance that my family can join the festivities?"

"I don't see why not," Renesmee said with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Just tell Harry that you're coming and ask your dad. I wouldn't mind the Malfoys being at our little get-together for Christmas." Scorpius grinned and intertwined his fingers in hers. "Hey, I just remembered something!" She took out the silver necklace Lucius Malfoy told Scorpius to give her for her birthday. "Would you like to put it on me?" Scorpius took the necklace gently in his hands and went behind her. Renesmee lifted her ponytail up and he fastened the necklace around her neck. "Does it have any special powers or anything?"

"Not that I know of," said Scorpius shaking his head. "I asked Grandfather when he brought it and he said that he didn't get it from 'his usual shop' which is Borgin and Burke's in Knockturn Alley. He actually bought it from a Muggle jewelry shop in London this time."

"It's still beautiful," Renesme whispered and kissed him on the cheek causing his pale face to turn pink. "Would you mind walking me to the Gryffindor common room entrance?" Scorpius nodded and the two walked hand-in-hand until they reached the Fat Lady. "Goodnight, Scorpius. See you tomorrow for class." Scorpius nodded and headed down the stairs. Once he was out of sight, she said the password and crept into the common room. Albus was sitting in one of the comfortable armchairs with Harry beside him, they were talking to someone in the fireplace..."Mom!"

"Hi, Little Nudger!" Bella said grinning at Renesmee's embarrassment. "Harry was just telling me about your fantastic performance during your first Quidditch match. Your dad and I are very proud."

"Mom," said Renesmee through gritted teeth, "don't call me 'Little Nudger' when my friends are around!" Bella laughed and asked how school was going. "It's going great, Mom. I'm learning so much from the new teachers and we had a small problem, but it's all right now. You heard the story of Angelus, right?" Bella nodded, her amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Well, a Moloch came in a few days ago, cast the Duplication Charm on Angel and brought Angelus out leaving Angel's human side behind. Angelus killed a few of Harry's Aurors and helped the Molochs for a short period of time, but he actually let me use the counter-charm to bring Angel back."

"Wow!" Bella said, her amber eyes shining even through the fire. "I'm glad you're okay. Harry also told your dad and I about your brilliant battle against the boggart during last night's Dueling Club. I didn't know you were that afraid of Jane." Renesmee grinned. "Also, I didn't know you thought of Jane falling in a puddle of mud amusing. I'll have to remember that."

"Yeah, she was excellent!" Harry said happily. "I never got a chance to take on a boggart during our first D.A.D.A. lesson in my third year because my biggest fear is a dementor, one of the guards of Azkaban. So, what else is new, Mrs. Cullen?"

Bella's eyes stared at the cavernous fireplace and finally said, "Lucius Malfoy dropped by earlier today to tell me that he, Draco and Scorpius will be joining us for Christmas along with your family and the Weasleys. Thank goodness we have enough room for you all." Harry didn't look too pleased with this information. "Is there a problem?"

"Not at all, Bella," Harry said trying to sound happy about Lucius coming over for the holidays. "Lucius was a Death Eater and tried to kill me at the end of my second year. At first, I didn't know what hew as about to do but his house-elf Dobby saved my life that day by sending him flying down the corridor. Not long after that, during the battle in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry, Lucius's sister-in-law Bellatrix Lestrange killed my godfather. She's dead now thanks to my mother-in-law."

Albus stared at his father in awe. "How exactly did Grandma Molly kill that woman?"

"Bellatrix sent a Killing Curse at your mother, Al," Harry said, "and your grandmother actually said 'not my daughter, you bitch' then blasted Bellatrix with her own curse, thus turning the wretched woman into a billion pieces." Albus grinned at Renesmee who laughed. "You can laugh now, but just wait until Molly gets really hacked." He looked at Renesmee and said, "I'm going to take a sweep of the grounds with Ron and some of the Volturi in a few minutes, so why don't you two go to bed? You've got to be up tomorrow morning." Renesmee and Albus suddenly realized just how exhausted they were from the day's events and headed straight to bed. Renesmee glanced at the fireplace and her mother's head was gone. Grinning, she dressed in her pajamas, shut the red curtains on her four-poster bed and fell asleep.