Chapter 8





He screwed up his eyes and peered down the hall again. It was gone. He ran the length of the corridor and looked around. There was nothing. Could he've imagined it? He looked around again. Nothing. He scratched his head and started back toward the Great Hall. Should he tell Hermione what he thought he had seen? No, she would only tell him it was his imagination, that he had wanted to se it. But why now?



"You okay Harry?" Hermione asked as he joined her at the staff table.



"Yeah mate, you look as though you've seen a ghost."



"Oi Ron, when did you get in?"



"Last night, Hermy told me you were off having drinks so I didn't bother tracking you down."



"Are you avoiding my question? What's wrong?"



"Er, nothing. I just finished going over the text for my class. I'm not looking forward to going into all the boring stuff. Maybe I should owl Lupin for some pointer to make class more interesting."



"Harry," Hermione started in her superior tirade voice, "I understand you want a fun class, but you must think about teaching the proper material in preparation for the O.W.L.s and the N.E.W.T.s. After all, that will be the real measure of your teaching abilities."



"Yeah, but most of the stuff I on those tests I remembered from Lupin's class. Harry, I think you should owl him."



Hermione rolled her eyes and didn't speak to either of them through the rest of the meal. Harry and Ron proceeded to laugh and talk of Quidditch. Harry excused himself when he was finished and headed back to his tower. He slowed to a stop. He craned his neck and listened hard. The faint sound of a woman wailing echoed softly down the hall. He tiptoed slowly in the direction of the sound. He hesitated at the sound of footsteps coming down the adjacent hall just ahead. Sirius Black ran past the hallway. Harry sprinted to the corridor, but once he reached it, the young man had disappeared. The crying had stopped.



Harry turned and headed for Hermione's quarters. He had to tell them now. When he reached the portrait to the entrance of her room, he pulled the cord to ring the bell. After a short bit, a disshevled Ron answered. Harry choked back a sneer.



"Sorry to interrupt, there's something I've got to tell you."



"What is it Harry?" Hermione walked in while buttoning her shirt back up.



Harry climbed through the portrait hole then walked over and sat on the couch.



"I - I've seen Sirius - here - at Hogwarts - just now."



"That's impossible Harry - he's - he's - dead." Hermione said startled.



"I know - only - he was young - like he was before Azkaban. I know this sound crazy, but I did see him."



He told them of the first sighting, then of the crying and the second sighting.



"That was probably Myrtle throwing a fit," Ron said flatly.



"Yeah? And what about Sirius?" Harry said hotly. "I suppose I just imagined him?"



"Maybe it was a school ghost -"



"He was SOLID Hermione! Why did I even tell you two?" Harry stormed out.



He was careful to keep his senses open as he cursed under his breath. He would find out himself why he had seen his godfather running around Hogwarts. He reached his room and flopped into a chair. He continued to brood and contemplate exactly how he had seen a young Sirius Black walking around. Sirius had died more than two years ago and even then he had been weathered from his years spent in Azkaban. The Sirius he had seen still had the fiery soul burning in his eyes, just like in his parents' wedding photo. It just didn't make sense. Soon he fell asleep with all of those thoughts running through his head.



The next morning he trudged down to the Great Hall for breakfast. When he walked in, he noticed an unfamiliar woman seated to the right of Dumbledore.



"Ah Harry, good morning. Sleep well?" The old wizard's eyes sparkled.



Harry nodded, then took his seat. He sat quietly until Hermione arrived and took her seat next to him.



"Where's Ron?"



"He had to return to the Ministry this morning."



Dumbledore cleared his throat and stood up. "I'd like to take this moment to welcome those who have joined our staff this year. I would like to begin breakfast with some introductions. As Madame Hooch will be solely dedicating herself to flying lessons, we have a new Quidditch coach, Draco Malfoy."



The table clapped. Malfoy sneered at Harry.



"Neville Longbottom is our new Greenhouse keeper and assistant Herbology professor. Assisting the teaching of Divination is Parvati Patil."



As everyone clapped, Parvati refused to look in Draco's direction. Hermione blushed when she noticed.



"Our new assistant Potion's Master is Hermione Granger. Teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, and hopefully breaking our cycle of annual turnover in that department is Harry Potter. And last but certainly not least, Madame Aurora Addison is a healer who will be assisting Madame Pomfrey in keeping out students and staff well."



Harry stared at the tall woman seated to next to Dumbledore. Her dark eyes seemed focused on her empty plate although her chin was up, a curt smile locked on her lips. Her near black shoulder-length hair was highlighted by silver streaks. Premature aging masked her sweet face. Harry could tell she was younger then she appeared. She was too thin for her frame. The skin seemed sunken in around her broad shoulders. Her eyes flicked in his direction and locked on his. A look of astonishment spread across her face. They both quickly looked away from each other. He stopped on Snape who was staring curiously at her.



"... and now, tuck in."



Harry didn't notice Dumbledore was still talking. He took a forkful of eggs and mush and a bite of toast. He glanced up and noticed Madame Addison hardly picking at her plate. She glanced over to him and he looked away. Snape was still staring at her now and again. Something about her was oddly familiar.



Addison leaned over, whispered in Dumbledore's ear, then left the table. Harry watched her out of the corner of his eye. Soon after, Snape followed. Curiosity got the better of him and soon he too excused himself and followed. He had no idea in which direction they had left. Disappointed, he sulked back to his office.



"You haven't changed a bit, you greasy git."



"Nor have you, you snobby, bitter bitch . . . Well, your looks have faded, but that insolent air is still there."



"Severus, I'd love to play this game with you, but I don't have time for this. I must get back . . . "



"He's a nosy little prat, he'll find out you know . . . or is that why you came back?"



" -- No -- I - I didn't plan on him being here. I had no idea he would return to teach. My sources said he was studying to become an auror. Of course I'd have never come if I 'd known him to be here. If he knew - it would be unforgivable."



"Sources? Oh yes. Well, I did notice the shock on your face at breakfast. Didn't Dumbledore warn you?"



"Of course -- it's just - I haven't seen him -- since that day."



Her voice trailed off, Harry could hear her shifting uncomfortably.



"Severus, really, I must go - remember your promise - KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!" Her voice had gone from meek to powerful. "Oh, and don't you find it ironic that he chose Defense Against the Dart Arts? His mother would be so proud." She teased.



They had been talking about him. But why? Why was she avoiding him? Why would she return now that she thought he was gone? She had known Snape before, and by the sounds of it, his parents as well. What was so unforgivable that she hid from him his entire life? This was already starting to shape up to be a crazy year. He had forgotten he walking until he reached his office door. He sat at his desk and stared blankly down at his lessons.



"Harry?"



"Oh, come in Hermione."



"You left breakfast early, what's going on? The Sirius thing?"



"Did you notice anything odd about that Addison woman?"



"Erm, no . . . Not really. Why?"



"I think she went to school with my parents. I overheard her talking to Snape - they knew each other . . . "



He went on to tell her all he heard. She stood there a moment and just looked at him.



"Look, I know this is all crazy, but --"



"No, no, I was just thinking how much I hoped our mystery days were over here at Hogwarts."



Harry smiled.



"Well," she said plainly, "First things first. We need to dig up some info on Aurora Addison."