Disclaimer:  The setting of this story, and most of the characters are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling, I lay no claim to them.  However the characters of Malana Avonell and Schön are of my own creation and to these two, I do claim rights.

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Professor Severus Snape erupted into the Great Hall in a cloud of bellowing black robes.  His stride was sharp, his fists clinched and his face was a study in anger.  Students scattered in his wake, not wanting to be the brunt of his obvious rage.  It wasn't until he reached the staff table that anyone attempted to approach him.

Professor Sibyll Trelawney, the school's Divination teacher, glided towards him.  Her many beads and bangles making soft rattling noises with each step.

"Professor Snape," she spoke in her usual misty voice, "I must warn you, someone from your past, someone who caused you great pain is returning."

Snape rounded on her, his eyes a blaze with anger.

"Stupid woman, she already here." He growled, causing Trelawney to shy back a step.

"Yes," Trelawney continued, determined not to let him intimidate her.  "But you know what secretes they keep.  Beware, the end has not yet come to past."

Snape turned away form the Divination teacher.

***

"Are you sure your doing the right thing, Albus?"  Avonell asked as she and Dumbledore reached the top step.

"How do you mean?" He returned gently.

Avonell sighed.  "I sense that the boy, Harry, still hasn't been told the entire truth." She told him.

"Ah, yes.  Malana it is in his best interest this way."

"I don't know." She said shaking her head, "It's not always easy to tell what's in someone else's best interest."

"Harry knows enough," Dumbledore assured her.  "The truth is not always the easiest thing to handle, especially when it's a truth you'd rather not know."

Avonell sped up a few steps then turned back to the Headmaster, forcing him to come to a stop.

"Albus, the longer you withhold this from the boy, the more he will resent you when he does learn the truth." She warned.

"You under estimate Harry." Dumbledore's pale blue eyes met hers, "He is an extraordinary young Wizard."  He moved past her, "I believe you will be quite pleased with where we've put your rooms."

Avonell followed after him.

"Harry has been through a great deal in the last 5 years.  He can benefit a great deal from your help." The Headmaster continued.

"I'm not disputing that." she replied, "Form what you have told me, it's surprising he's as well off as he is.  But you limit my usefulness by restricting what I'm permitted to tell him."

"I am confident that you will success, even with the limitations you believe have been placed on you."

"You do understand that to befriend Potter, I will need to befriend Weasley and Granger as well?"

"I think you will find Ms Granger very bright student.  Mr. Weasley has a great deal of potential, if he would only apply himself." Dumbledore commented casually.

Schön yowled from inside his carrier.

"I know, I know." Avonell sighed under her breath.

They walked in silence for a while.

"I am glad you have come back."  Dumbledore said at last, breaking the silence.  "You have been gone far too long."

Avonell gave him a sincere smile.  "You know I could never refuse you, Albus.  I only hope I can live up to your expectations."

Dumbledore stopped before a door.  "Your office." He said opening the door.  "Your classroom is next door.  I think you will be pleased."  He gave her a sly wink.

Avonell stepped inside.  It was her old office, complete with the massive desk, floor to ceiling bookcases, and large stone fireplace. She turned back to him.

"Now if you will excuse me, I must be getting back to the Banquet Hall before the sorting begins."  He turned to leave.  After a few steps, however, he turned back.

"I have faith in you, Malana." He told her.

"I will do my best Headmaster." She replied inclining her head slightly.

"That's all I ask."

Avonell closed the door and surveyed the office. She set the carrier down and opened it.  Schön leapt gracefully out and strutted around the room.

"Now how did they get my office down here?" she wondered aloud.

"Meo-o-o-w," Schön crooned.

"Hmm…Do you think so?"

She un-slung her briefcase from her shoulder and placed it on the desk.  She moved to the center section of the bookcase on the back wall and ran her finger along the row of books at eye level.  She smiled as she stopped on an old leather bound volume of Broca's Brain by Carl Sagan.  She tipped the book out and the section of shelves dropped back a short distance then slid aside.

The room beyond was a large and well-appointed living chamber.  For Avonell, it was stepping back twenty years.

"Schön, would you look at this."  She breathed.

A glint of light caught her eye and she turned toward its source.  There in the far corner stood a huge ornately frame mirror.

"By the grace of … I don't believe it." She said, "It's still here."

She moved to stand before the mirror.  It was as tall as a door and just a little wider, with a wide dark gray frame.  Gently she ran her fingers over the motifs in relief on the frame.  Then suddenly she frowned.

"I don't believe they let Dumbledore keep this after my departure." She told the cat.  "What if they had learned how it works?"

"Purr-ow," the cat answered.

Standing on tiptoe Avonell reached up to the central design above the mirror and digging her nails into its sides, managed to wrench a small disk out of the frame.

"Well, at least it safe now."

***

Hermione's first Rune class of the year was that Friday.  She sat at a front row desk waiting for Professor Avonell's arrival.  At the front of the classroom stood a large blackboard on which where several carefully drawn sets of symbols, which she studied intently. 

The students fell into silence as the door of the classroom opened.  Professor Avonell entered, closing the door behind her.  She moved between the rows of desks with an almost feline grace.  Once at the front of the class she turned and regarded them, meeting each student's eyes for a brief moment.

"Good afternoon.  I am Professor Avonell, and I will be your Rune teacher this year." She spoke with a gentle authority.  "This year will be studying a few additional languages." She indicated the blackboard.  "The first is, of course, the Rune dialect of the Old Norse.  The second is Egyptian Hieroglyphs, the third is, Hieratic also from Egypt." she paused and stared at something at the back of the room.  The class turned in their seats to see what had caught her attention.

Schön slunk up the aisle and leapt gracefully on to the Professor's desk, leaving a trail of mud in his wake.

"And these," Avonell said putting her hands on her hips, "are muddy paw prints all over my papers."  She scolded.

She scooped the animal up off the desk and holding him out in front of her, she swept to the back of the classroom to a second door, muttering as she went.

"Think you'd know better then this, young man.  Mr. Filch is going to be furious."  

She pushed the door open and deposited the cat inside.

"And don't you dare go anywhere near my desk." She told him then closed the door.

She started back to the front.

"You know," she said playfully, "laughter is permitted."

This had the desired effect of relaxing the students as a ripple of laughter swept through the room.

Avonell waved her hand and the muddy paw prints winked out of existence.

"Now, where was I?" she sighed, and Hermione's hand shot into the air.

The rest of the class went quickly.

As the other students filed out of the classroom, Hermione lagged behind.

"Is there something I can help you with Ms Granger?" Avonell asked kindly.

"Well," the girl started, moving toward the Professor.  "Could I ask you a question?"

Avonell leaned against the desk and regarded her.

"I don't see why not." She replied.

"You said your title was Doctor," Hermione voice was barely above a whisper.  "I just wanted to know."  She moved closer.  "A Doctor of what?"

"You're Muggle born aren't you?" The Professor asked.

"Yes."

Someone at the back of the classroom cleared their throat.

"May I help you Professor?" Avonell asked in an annoyed tone. 

Hermione glanced over her shoulder, to find Professor Snape standing near the door.

"Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to see you." He said silkily.

Avonell turned her attention back to her student.

"Truth be known, it has no relevance here." She whispered as she reached out and brushed the girls bangs out of her eyes, her fingers tips momentarily pausing over the student's temple.  Hermione smiled.

"Now if you will excuse me, I've been summonsed."  She gave Hermione a quick wink before standing up.

Hermione watched as Avonell walked to the back of the room and left with Snape at her heals.

***

"I know where Dumbledore's office is," Avonell said tersely, "you don't need to escort me."

"I'm not escorting you," Snape snarled, "I was told to bring you to the Headmaster's office, and that's exactly what I will do."

A crowed of students moved down the corroder toward the two Professors, curtailing any further comment.  Avonell managed to keep pace with Snape in spite of the difference in their height.  At last the arrived at the stone gargoyle that marked the entrance to the Headmaster's chambers.

"String Mints" Snape muttered.

"He always had a sweet tooth," Avonell giggled.

Snape gave her a disapproving glance.  They stepped onto the moving spiral staircase and road to the top in silence.  At the top the huge doors stood open.

"Ah, Professors, thank you for coming." Dumbledore said as he descended the stairs at the back of his office.

"You wanted to see me?" Avonell asked as she crossed the room.

"I wanted to see both of you." He returned calmly.

Dumbledore walked to a large cupboard and removed a rolled piece of parchment.

"I would like the two of you to take a look at this," he said handing the scroll to Avonell.

Slowly she untied the ribbon closing the scroll and unfurled it.  The parchment was covered with writing of some strange style.  Snape peered over her shoulder.

"What is it?" she asked, looking up at Dumbledore.

"I'm hoping you will be able to tell us." He replied.

"Ok," she continued.  "Where did it come from?"  She handed the scroll to Snape.

"A messenger delivered it to the Hogwarts Express the day the students arrived." Dumbledore explained.

"So it wasn't just cows." She mussed.

"Cows?" Snape echoed.

Avonell shook her head.  "That's how it got here, now where did it come from?"

"We are not sure.  It is known that it was on its way to Voldemort, when our emissary intercepted it." The Headmaster continued.

Avonell glanced over her shoulder at Snape who was still studying the scroll.

"There doesn't seem to be any magic about it, so we where hoping the two you might be able to translate it."  Dumbledore concluded.

"That's understandable, but why include Severus?" she queried dryly.

"As I remember it, Severus here was one of your best students."

"Headmaster," Snape began.

"No arguments," Dumbledore interrupted him.  "Now the two of you will work on this scroll and give us your best effort in translating it."  He sounded as if he were talking to disobedient students.

Avonell moved closer.  "In case you haven't noticed, Headmaster, Severus and I don't seem to be on the best terms at the moment." She whispered.

Dumbledore nodded.  "Then I suggest you settle your differences and work together." His voice calm and even.  "We need to know what's in that scroll."

Snape re-rolled the parchment and handed it back to Avonell abruptly.

"That will be all." Dumbledore said dismissively.

Avonell turned to Snape and shrugged.  "I guess we can go." She sighed, then in a whisper only Snape could hear she added "End of discussion."