Secrets and Protection

Chapter 2---- The Arrival

Harry, Ron and Hermione rolled their carts though King's Crossing as they did every year. Well, except for that one year when Ron and Harry had had to fly to Hogwarts thanks to a meddlesome house-elf named Dobby. This was their fifth year attending Hogwarts, but in certain ways, it was already different from the rest. This was the first year that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was back in body and quite possibly at full power. That thought weighed on the minds of the three friends but the excitement of heading back helped to push the fear to the back of their minds.

"You aren't going to rat us out if we break the rules are you?" Ron asked Hermione whilst glancing at her Prefect badge.

Hermione shot a look at Ron what he was quite familiar with. "Have I ever tattled on you two before now? Still, I am under an obligation to enforce the rules." Hermione said in a stiff tone as the three of them crossed the barrier that would lead to Platform 9 3/4.

Ron let out a huff and a sigh but dropped the subject. He knew deep down that Hermione would never tell on them. The three of them loaded their trunks onto the train as they normally did and headed to find a seat. After finding a few cars that were full with their fellow students, they finally found one that seemed empty from the outside.

"This seems like a good one," Harry said as he slid the door open, but stepped back when he saw a person lying across one of the seats.

"Sorry. We thought this car was empty," Ron apologized unable to take his eyes off of what was in front of him.

In front of him laid a witch of 14 years old who had curly, black hair that fell just past her shoulders and piercing ice blue eyes. The girl was wearing a pair of jeans and a green baby tee sweater, Muggle clothing. A pair of sunglasses was perched upon the top of her head and it seemed she had been immersed in a spell book. Robes were tossed on the floor next to her.

"It's quite alright."

The young witch sat up, noticing how Ron was looking at her stunned for a moment. Hermione, however, had a rather annoyed look on her face that seemed to be saying 'Boys.'

"You can stay in here. I don't mind sharing," the girl said.

Picking up her robe, she slid over to the edge of the seat, allowing enough room for the three to sit comfortably in the car. As she finished, she went back to reading the book she had been enjoying before the interruption and slid her sunglasses down over her face.

Harry, Ron and Hermione shuffled there way into the car and got comfortable. "Wonder who they hired as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Ron said.

"As long as they didn't give Snape the job," Harry commented, not noticing the hateful stare the young witch quickly threw his way before she turned back to her book.

Hermione looked at their fourth companion and the book she was reading. "That is a rather advanced book. In fact, we're using that book this year. Are you a transfer then?" Hermione asked.

"Yes." The dark-haired witch said shortly before once again returning to her reading.

"Where did you come from then? What house will you be in? Do you know?" Ron has more than happy to have a reason to look at the young witch.

"I was in Durmstrang but my mum worked something out with Dumbledore to bring me here," she responded, unwilling to give more of her story.

"You were in Durmstrang? Why come to Hogwarts, then?" Hermione was intrigued by this girl.
However, the stare she received made it all too clear that the transfer subject was off limits and Hermione offered an apologetic look. "By the way, I'm Hermione Granger and these two are Ron Weasley and Harry Potter," Hermione said pointing out the two respectively.

"Raven Makowitz," the witch said as she closed her book and put it down on her lap. Then she gave the Harry, Ron and Hermione a quick look over.

"So, what year are you in?" Harry asked Raven, startled by frigidness of her eyes.

"I'm starting my fourth year, but am taking fifth year potions and charms," Raven said in a dull tone.

"We're in our fifth year," Ron added in an awkward voice. "Are you nervous about being sorted? I'd think you'd hate being sorted into Slytherin. Then again, maybe with what you were taught before you might be place there," Ron trailed off, suddenly feeling like a babbling idiot.

"Actually." Raven spoke up. "I'm not to be sorted. My mum tells me that Dumbledore thought given my situation that I'd be best placed in Gryffindor," Raven commented as she watched shock sweep across the others face.

"We're in Gryffindor, too," Harry half-mumbled before he looked away, blushing. He had forgotten all about Cho Chang at this moment.

"So, that means we'll be in a Potions and Charms together," Ron said in a happy tone. "How come you are taking fifth year potions and charms?" Ron asked in curiosity.

Raven looked at them for a second. It would have been easy to say it was a natural talent, but, of course, it wasn't.  She had been immersed in those two subjects her entire life due to her parents being professors and they taught her well. That hardly seemed like a natural talent. Raven just shrugged. "I guess it has to do with what I was taught at Durmstrang," She covered with the first idea that came to her.

"You'll get used to being at Hogwarts in no time," Hermione said to Raven, "and we'd be willing to give you any help that you need with getting adjusted an all," Hermione said proudly. She took her job of being a prefect very seriously.

Thanks," Raven said with some disinterest in her voice since little did they know that Raven would have both of her parents looking out for her in Hogwarts even if one of them did not know she was coming.

"You know Hermione's really smart and she could give you help in any class that you need. You are going to need it for Potions. Snape hates any one in Gryffindor," Ron said hoping her could get Raven to really like him but both Hermione and Raven shot him rather annoyed looks.  

"I think I will be fine I was top of my class my three years I was at Durmstrang," Raven snorted pleased with herself and started to go back to her book. Ron and Harry had so many questions they wanted to ask Raven, they simply wanted her attention and hoped she would pay some back to them.

"Have they found anyone to replace Karkaroff yet?" Harry asked interested in that topic since Karkaroff had run off the grounds of Hogwarts last school term and has not been heard from since.

"Well yes and no....They were going to use our Charms professor but something came up and she had to leave so I reckon they are still searching someone to replace her now," Raven said with a shrug as she flipped though her book. "If you excuse me I must change in to the proper clothing before we arrive," Raven said as she tried to slide past Ron and Harry and she let out an annoyed huff as she caught Ron staring at her.

Hermione looked Ron. "Could you have been any more obvious? I think she needs a few friends more than boys ogling at her," Hermione said in a tone Ron and Harry had more often they would like from her. Just as Hermione finished speaking, Raven had returned dressed in school uniform. Ron was obviously happy that Raven had returned. As Raven sat back down she rolled her eyes at Ron and Harry and then went back to reading her spell book making it obvious that she did not want to be bother for the until they got to Hogwarts. Harry and Ron got the message clear and went on chattering among them selves about what they were to expect this year.

Before they knew it, the train was pulling up to the Hogsmeade station. "We take these carriages over to the castle. First years take boats across the lake," Ron explained to Raven as they lead her over to there the horseless carriages waited for the students.

"On certain weekends we are allowed to come here to Hogsmeade as long as you have a permission slip signed by a guardian," Harry said as he sped up to catch up with Raven. "Do you have yours?" Harry asked.

"No. I did not. But I'm sure I would have no problem getting one," Raven said with a small shrug. As she climbed into the carriage with Harry, Hermione and Ron climbed in behind her.

"So Raven where are you from?" Hermione asked trying to pull Raven into conversation.

"I really don't have a place to call home. When I am not at school I am usually traveling with my dad," Raven said not really wanting to get into much about her who her parents were and what they did. "Why don't you all tell me some things about you. You all seemed to be asking the questions," Raven said doing anything to get the questions away from her. "I mean there is no reason for Harry to say anything. His life is an open book," Raven said with a matter of fact tone in her voice.

Before Ron or Hermione had a chance to reply the carriages came to a stop. "Now is the opening feast to open up the school year?" Raven asked.

"Yeah. The feast is huge. We get to eat all sorts of food," Ron said excitedly as they all piled out of the carriage and headed up toward the castle.

"Did you have anything to open the school year at Durmstrang?" Harry asked as he slid in next to Raven.

"We had a feast. We usually had it outside as long it was not too cold but I am sure it was not big as it would be here. Our Castle is a quite a bit smaller but our grounds are very vast," Raven said not giving up any information up on her old school.

"We will show you to the Gryffindor table," Hermione said as they entered the Great Hall where the tables were starting to fill up with students except for first years.

As they sat down Fred and George showed up and stood next to Ron, "What a fine year this will. Our last year at Hogwarts. We will sure to make this a memorable one," Fred was saying with a gleam in his eye.

"So who is your new friend Ron. I'm sure we would have her before," George said looking at Raven.

Raven shot a rather disgusted look at the twins knowing right away they were the trouble making type. "My name is Raven," She said in a smug tone. "I'm a fourth year transfer student from Durmstrang," She said turning away from the twins as she took a seat.

"Just ignore them," Ron said sitting down next to Raven.

"They usually speak before they think," Harry said sitting on Raven's other free side.

"Do you pay this much attention to all new students," Raven said looking back and forth between Ron and Harry.

"Sure we do," Hermione said taking a seat across from them. "You just looked like you needed someone to talk to on the train," Hermione said as her glance turned toward the teachers' table. "Looks like who ever the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is not here," Hermione said noticing the empty seat that was next to Snape.

"Maybe they haven't hired one and the other professors will fill in," Ron added in.

"That's Snape. The one with the nasty expression on his face. Watch out for him," Harry said pointing him out to Raven who gave him a quick shrug and was about to say something when the first years began to come in.

After the sorting ceremony was over and the new students were situated in their new houses, Dumbledore stood up to make his beginning of year announcements. "The list of forbidden items remains the same as last year. And for anyone wanting to review the list can see Mr. Filch in his office. The forbidden forest as usual is off limits to all students. And we are also pleased to have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore said looking to the empty seat. "But she seems not to be here right now," But then the door that was behind the teachers table opened up and out came some one who sat down in the empty seat next to Snape. "Ah here she is students our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Makowitz who is joining us from the Durmstrang Institute," Dumbledore finished off as Kylean stood up for a second as the students clapped in an unsure manner for her.

Harry, Hermione and Ron looked over a Raven who looked exactly like a younger version of the woman with the expectation of Raven's black hair. "What?" Raven asked with a shrug. "Yes, she is my mum," Raven said with a sigh, feeling slightly relieved that one of her secrets was out.

Ron then looked back over at the teachers' table where he saw a look on Snape's face that he never saw before. It was a level of hate that Snape had given Harry before, but worse then he had seen Snape give any of the professors before. Only maybe his loathing for Lupin was a close second. There was also a sense of confusion on Snape's face as Ron could see Snape reach for the new teacher's arm and he seemed to be muttering something. "Look at Snape. I've never seen that look on him before," Ron said turning back to the table. "What is that all about?" Ron shot out as a general question.

"I have no idea. She seems to be ignoring him though. She seems more interested in talking to Flitwick," Harry comments and then turned his attention to Raven. "You know what that is about?" Harry asked Raven.

"Well my mum was Charms teacher at Durmstrang," Raven said hoping that would be enough to fulfill their curiosity.

"Well Professor Flitwick is our Charms teacher and Snape always wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts position maybe he is just upset it went to a woman this time," Hermione said like what she was saying was fact. Raven just shrugged not wanting to draw anymore attention on her and just looked away from the teachers table were Snape was still trying to get Kylean's attention. She would hate if her other secret were to come out. Raven thought she would have no friends for sure.

Once the feast was over all the students began to file out of the Great Hall and began to head to their dormitories. After the students were gone, all the professors began to leave. Kylean began to make her way out but before she could leave a hand grabbed a tight hold of her arm and turned her around and Kylean found her Snape staring her coldly in the face. "Kylean, when did you plan on informing me that you were taking a position here?" Snape said in a more cold than normal tone.

"Severus, I did not think it was any of your business what I did with my life," Kylean said diverting her eyes from his.

"It is my business if it concerns Raven. How could you leave her alone in that school at a time like this? She needs one of her parents to be looking out for her at a time like this and that is not possible with both of us here," Snape said as he began to loosen her grip on Kylean's arm.

"What do you take me for?" Kylean said as her eyes began to narrow. "I gave up being head mistress of Durmstrang to help Raven get adjusted to life here. Yes Dumbledore and I thought it would be best if Raven was at Hogwarts until things became safer," Kylean said with a smirk as she saw the dumbfounded face Severus had. 

"Raven is here. How come I did not see her being sorted? Why she is not in Slytherin were she should be," Snape retorted in an increasingly angry tone.

"Dumbledore thought it would be best considering some of your former associates have children in that house that she be placed in Gryffindor. Now if you don't mind I am tired and need to rest," Kylean said as she lightly tapped Snape's face not wanted to get into a conversation about themselves and walked away leaving Snape standing speechless.