What Secrets They Keep

"Be mindful of what secrets you keep, for they shall always be your downfall."

Ancient Sevlorian Proverb.

Chapter 1

Arrival of the New Professor

The door to the last car on the Hogwarts Express stood open, and Harry headed for it hoping that it meant the car was empty. But when he reached the door he found, to his disappointment, that the car had one occupant already. A woman, perhaps in her early 40's sat in the window seat, on her lap was what Harry recognized to be a notebook computer.

She was a pleasant looking woman, dressed in a full-length dress of silver and white brocade. Her long thick black hair glistened in the sunlight that streamed through the car's windows. It had been pulled loosely back into ponytail, some of which cascaded over one shoulder. She continued typing on the computer seemingly unaware of Harry's presence, her eyes following along on the screen as she typed. There was something oddly familiar about her, but Harry was sure he had never seen, let alone met, this woman before. Hedwig hooted softly and ruffled her feathers, but still the woman paid no notice, but continued with what she was doing.

"Everywhere else is full . . ." Ron was saying as he and Hermione came up to Harry, but he stopped in mid sentence as he realized the car wasn't empty.

It was only then that she looked up. Seeing the three of them clustered in the doorway she smiled, a warm friendly smile, her azure blue eyes meeting Harry's.

"Would you care to join me?" she asked. Her voice was as warm and gracious as her smile. "I would enjoy the company."

"Yes, thank you," Harry replied quickly, slipping into the car before Ron or Hermione could object.

"Schön, make room, we have company," the woman said softly, poking the ball of shadowy gray fur beside her. A sleek cat uncurled itself and stretched luxuriously before it jumped to the floor and disappeared into a wicker carrier under the woman's seat, grumbling softly.

"Is that a computer?" asked Hermione moving into the compartment behind Harry. "You know that won't work at Hogwarts."

The woman closed the notebook shrugging slightly as she slid it into a black leather case on the opposite seat. She then tucked the case away between her and the wall of the car.

"So they tell me," she sighed. "I'm Doctor Avonell, by the way."

"Doctor?" Ron questioned finally stepping in and sliding the door closed behind him.

Avonell chuckled lightly. "I'm sorry that's my mundane title. I'm Professor Malana Avonell."

"Mundane?" Harry asked. "What's that?" He found this woman very intriguing. If she was a Professor, she was certainly unlike any they had met before. Harry could not remember any Witch or Wizard, let alone a teacher, who seemed as comfortable with technology as Professor Avonell apparently was.

Avonell sighed. "There a I go again. I'm not from around here. I believe your word for it is . . . Muggle."

"You're from America, aren't you?" Hermione stated more then asked. "I can tell by your accent."

Avonell raised one eyebrow at the girl. "Now, I was of the opinion the three of you were the ones with the accent," she said with mocked indignity. "But yes, I'm from the United States."

"Are you the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" asked Ron enthusiastically.

Avonell shook her head, "I'm afraid not," she replied gently. "I'm filling in for the Ancient Runes Professor this year."

"Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves," Hermione suddenly remembered. "I'm Hermione Granger." She extended her hand.

"Glad to meet you Ms. Granger," Avonell said in a somewhat formal tone as she shook Hermione's hand.

"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron chimed in reaching out to shake her hand as well.

"And I'm Harry Potter," Harry concluded, extending his hand to Professor Avonell for his own handshake. Her skin was soft and her grip firm, but not overly so.

"Well, I am pleased to meet all of you. Tell me what year are the three of you in?" Avonell replied, her gaze moving from one to the other in turn.

"Sixth," Hermione told her, before ether of the boys could respond.

"Tell me, are the three of you going to stand all the way to Hogwarts?" asked Avonell playfully.

Harry stowed Hedwig's cage in the upper rack before dropping into the seat next to Professor Avonell. He was surprised that the Professor hadn't made a comment about the famous Harry Potter. But then, he supposed, maybe she hadn't heard of him. After all, she was from America.

Ron placed Pigwidgeon's cage beside Hedwig's, and seated himself opposite Avonell, as the train lurched into motion. Hermione sat next to Ron, glancing down at the wicker cat carrier under the seat.

"I have a cat too," she said wistfully. "His name is Crookshanks and he's a ginger tabby. But," she paused awkwardly, "he's riding with the luggage this year." She trailed off remembering the commotion the cat had made during the trip last year.

"Well," Avonell said in a rather motherly tone, "Cats can be like that. I'm sure he's a very good cat, most of the time."

The four of them continued to talk until the door to their compartment slid open and the plump witch with the food trolley appeared.

"Anything off the trolley?" she said, then seeing Professor Avonell, she grinned and added cheerfully, "Professor how good it is to see you again."

Avonell returned the smile. "Thank you, it's good to be back."

They each made their purchases, and settled back into their seats. There was a sound, somewhere between a meow and purring from under the Professor. The gray cat slithered out of the carrier and leapt onto the seat between Harry and Professor Avonell. Schön paused a moment, looking up at Harry, his brilliant green eyes studying the boy. Then he placed a paw on Harry's forearm, raised himself up to Harry's face and briefly touched noises.

"Well now, I'm impressed," Professor Avonell, said with a slight chuckle. "Schön doesn't do that to just anyone. He must like you Mr. Potter."

Harry felt the heat rise in his face and knew he had blushed. Avonell broke off a peace of the caldron cake she had bought and gave it to the cat, who took it eagerly.

"Well, he's a . . . very nice cat," Harry stammered, not knowing how to take what she had just said. Avonell glanced back at him and smiled.

Professor Avonell didn't talk much after that, allowing the three youths to run the conversation for themselves. From time to time Harry stole a glance at this new Rune Professor. He liked her; she was friendly, warm and didn't make a fuss over his scar. In fact she didn't seem to have even noticed that he had one.

"So," Harry started slowly after nearly an hour. "You've been at Hogwarts before?"

Avonell, who had been watching out the window, turned he attention to the young man seated beside her. She regarded him for a moment before answering, "Yes, nearly twenty years ago."

"Were you a student then?" Ron followed, thinking she looked too young to have been a teacher that long ago.

Avonell shook her head, "No, I was the Rune teacher then as well."

"Then," asked Harry inquisitively, "did you know my father, James Potter?"

"Ah, I wondered why you looked so familiar," replied Avonell still wearing a smile, although as Harry looked at her, he thought her eyes had grown very sad. "Yes," she replied softly, her tone distant and sorrowful. "Yes, I knew James." She turned to stare out the window again.

There was a long silence in which Harry regretted having asked his question. Avonell drew in a long breath and turned back to the three.

"James was, well he could be a bit of a bully at times, and he broke every rule he could, but . . ." she paused. "Harry, your father was a very gifted wizard, and beneath all his mischievousness, he was a good man. Unfortunately, I . . ." she trailed off. "I was very sad when I was told of his death," she concluded after a moment.

The tension in the car was so thick, that when the door was thrown open, all four of them jumped. In the doorway stood Draco Malfoy, along with the ever present Crabbe and Goyle flanking him.

"Well, there you are Potter," Malfoy drawled in his usual icy tone, "Did the famous Harry Potter have a good summer with his Muggle relatives?" He pronounced the word Muggle with as much distaste as he possible could.

"Well would you look at this," Avonell said coldly, "the very image of Lucius Malfoy at age 16, and just as ill mannered as well."

"You know my Father?" Malfoy asked seeing the Professor for the first time, and giving her a slight sneer.

"Oh yes, indeed I do," Avonell said in a tone of warning. If Professor Avonell had been going to say anything further, they would never know. The train gave a great lurch and began to slow.

"That's not right," Avonell said standing up, and glancing in the direction of the front of the train. She turned back to the three boys in the doorway.

"Return to you own car." She told them sternly. Malfoy opened his mouth to object, but she stopped him with a harsh glare. "Do as you are told," Avonell spoke in a soft authoritative voice, which forbid any argument. Malfoy turned and retreated back up the train, Crabbe and Goyle close behind.

"The three of you stay here. I'm going to find out what's wrong," she said turning to Ron, Hermione and Harry, and then she spoke to the cat. "Schön, stay here." With that she strode from the compartment, sliding the door shut behind her.

The three exchanged nervous looks as the train slowed to a stop.

"You don't think its Dementors again?" Hermione asked sheepishly straining to see out the window.

Ron and Harry didn't answer. Schön leapt into Harry's lap and put his front paws on the window in the car door, his tail swishing sharply. After what seemed like an hour, but was more like five minutes, Professor Avonell returned.

"False alarm," she announced as she pushed open the door. "Just a couple of cows on the track."

"Cows?" Ron repeated incredulously, "why couldn't they just magic them off the tracks?"

"Too many Mund... I mean Muggles," Avonell told them, as she slipped past them and took her seat, then added, "but I'm with you. I don't know that I believe that."

The train started moving again and before long they were speeding through the countryside once again. The sun had set fully by the time they arrived at the Hogsmeade station.

"Oh good," Ron groaned, "I'm starving."

Avonell rose and pulled the carrier out from under the seat. "In you go," she told the cat, who slipped inside. She retrieved the black leather case from the seat and slung it onto her shoulder. Ron and Harry retrieved their respective cages from the overhead racks and they moved out of the compartment. As the emerged into the platform, Harry turned to the Professor.

"Could I carry something for you?" he asked helpfully.

Ron gave him a wide-eyed, you've got to be kidding look.

Avonell hesitated a moment, "you have the cage to worry with," she pointed out.

"I can carry Hedwig," Hermione cut in, reaching out to take the cage from Harry's hand.

Avonell looked at the youth, considering his offer for a moment. She un-slung the briefcase from her shoulder and held it out to him. "Thank you," she said. "If we get separated, just give the bag to Headmaster Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall," the Professor told him. "They'll get it back to me."

Harry slung the case over his own shoulder and followed after her, Ron and Hermione closely behind.

"There's enough room in the carriages for four people," Harry told her. Hermione elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

"Unless you want to ride alone." Hermione added quickly giving Harry a sideways glance.

Professor Avonell stopped and turned to the three of them, laughing lightly. "I don't mind, but I am bit surprised that you don't want some time to yourselves," she returned. Ron and Hermione looked uncomfortable. "Perhaps, I'd better go it alone." Avonell added gently taking in the expressions of Harry's friends. With that she climbed into a carriage, closing the door behind her. The carriage lumbered off, leaving Ron, Hermione and Harry standing there.

"Wait you forgot . . ." Hermione called.

"Too late," Ron said watching the carriage disappear into the darkness. "Guess we'll just have to find Dumbledore or McGonagall."

"Come on," Harry said starting for the next available carriage, "Maybe we can catch up to her at the castle."

Hermione rolled her eyes and followed after him, Ron bringing up the rear.

***

"So I like her," Harry protested, "What's wrong with that?"

Hermione tried to keep her seat as the carriage swayed from side to side as it rolled toward the castle. Ron remained quiet, not wanting to get involved if an argument was about to start.

"It's just a crush," she told him, in that annoying I-know-more-then-you-do tone of hers.

"It's not like that!" Harry retorted, pulling the briefcase closer to his chest. "I just like her. I don't think I'm in love with her."

Harry thought for a moment. It was true he did like Professor Avonell. She had been friendly, kind and hadn't made him feel like some freak in a sideshow. He did feel very drawn to her, like she was someone he should remember, he just couldn't place from where or when. Maybe, he considered, part of it was that she was foreigner, an outsider. There were many times when Harry had felt that way. Could it be he was just feeling some sort of empathy for her?

"She's comfortable, that's all," confessed Harry after a minute or so.

"Like a surrogate mother perhaps?" Hermione countered still acting the authority.

"What's a surrogate?" asked Ron, trying to head off the argument he was now sure was about to burst forth.

"A substitute," she informed Ron, then turning back to Harry she added, "Is that it?"

Harry shrugged, "Maybe, but I don't think so. She's more like another student then a teacher."

"Well, you aren't going to have her for one of your classes," Hermione reminded him. "I think it would be better if you remembered she is a teacher."

The carriage jerked to a stop. As they piled out in front of the castle, Harry caught a glimpse of Professor Avonell as she disappeared through the doors into the castle.

"Come on," Harry urged his friends, "she just went inside."

Ron and Hermione followed, resigned to the fact that they were not going to be able to stop him. The three squeezed into the throng of students in the front hall. Harry looked around wildly trying to locate the new Professor, but unable to see her among the students.

"Malana?" a familiar voice called over the drone of voices.

Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to the marble stairs leading up out of the Entrance Hall. Professor McGonagall was hurrying down the stairs with the biggest smile on her face that the three could every remember seeing on the usually reserved Professor. At the foot of the step, Professor Avonell stopped to put down the wicker cat carrier. Harry began working his way through the crowd towards Avonell. McGonagall reached the bottom of the steps and the two women embraced like long lost sisters.

"I was so pleased when Albus told me you were returning," McGonagall was saying as the intrepid trio came within a few feet of the two Professors. Harry stopped not wanting to interrupt the Professors.

"I'm glad to be back," Avonell replied taking McGonagall's hands in hers, "I have really missed Hogwarts."

"Well, if it isn't the infamous Avonell!" the voice was low and cold and with enough venom in the tone to make even McGonagall flinched. "Returned to wreck more havoc in the lives of others?" If a voice alone could have killed, that one should have killed a dozen. Professor Severus Snape, Hogwarts Potions Master, had come up behind Avonell. If Harry had ever thought that Snape had reserved his most hateful looks for him alone, he had been totally wrong. The Potions Master's face reflected such hatred and loathing that Harry feared for the new Professor's life.

Avonell turned to face Snape, regarding him coldly. Nearly a foot taller then the woman, he loomed over her like a malevolent leviathan.

"I've been accused of far worse things." She said dryly, crossing her arms and tilting her head up to meet his glare.

"And been guilty of all of them, I'm sure," Snape sneered back down at her. They were almost toe-to-toe, but Avonell looked as if she was not about to back down.

"Perhaps," she answered smugly, cocking her head slightly, "And I see your social skills haven't improved over the years, Professor Snape."

Snape glared at her for a moment longer before he swept off to the Great Hall. McGonagall and Avonell watched after him.

"Well," Avonell sighed heavily, "I see that boy knows how to nurture a resentment."

"He's not a boy any longer, Malana," McGonagall whispered, so that only she could hear.

Just as Harry thought it would be safe to make his presence known, another familiar voice rang out.

"Professor Avonell, welcome back to Hogwarts." It was Dumbledore this time. He had emerged out of the Great Hall and was wading his way through the students, towards Avonell and McGonagall.

"Headmaster," Avonell replied her voice friendly once more. "Thank you for asking me back."

"Come, I'm sure you'd like to freshen up before the Banquet. I'll show you to your rooms," he said shaking her hand, his eyes sparkling in the torch light of the Hall.

"Professor . . ." Harry started, timidly. Both Dumbledore and Avonell turned in his direction. "You forgot this," Harry took the briefcase off his shoulder and extended it toward her.

"Indeed I did," she said gratefully. "Thank you Mr. Potter." She then turned back to Dumbledore. "Shall we?"

"Professor McGonagall, I believe Hagrid has just arrived with the first years," the Headmaster said as he turned to head up the stairs.

McGonagall nodded to him then turned her attention to the three sixth years standing before her. "Well, go take your seats," she told them sternly, gesturing towards the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron deposited the cages they were carrying before they followed Harry to the Gryffindor House table.