[center][h3]Azkaban, two weeks ago[/h3][/center]
Thunder crackled over the prison, the atmosphere as ominous and hazy as ever as Dumbledore walked closer. It'd been a while since he'd been to the magical prison, but the sight of the towering walls and skeletal dementors always pushed a frown onto his face.

"Your mad, Albus. Heck even madder than be," spoke Mad-Eye Moody, leading Dumbledore further into the prison. Their special division, where the most dangerous beings were kept - one spot especially reserved for Voldemort.

Dumbledore's eyes skimmed over the hunched figures inside their cells, frames gaunt and eyes unintelligible in the dark. 

As they reached their intended cell - it was notably absent of Dementors. And strangely, a sweet melody was sounding from inside the place. It felt like a sweet maiden' singing, yet knowing whom was inside - it was almost like the catalyst from something bad.

"Are you sure. Bloody heck, even the Dementors fear her."

"No," Dumbledore admitted, "but there's not much to be sure of in these dark times. We need to--what is it Muggles say again? Ah yes--fight fire with fire."

The pair arrived in front of the cell - Moody initiated the unlock and with seven locks and spells dispelled they opened the cell. To find a young woman, pale in her complexion yet still beautiful - gently humming and combing her hair.

"Oh? Visitors? I haven't had visitors here in over ten years," she chirped, which almost sounded unnerving.

"Good evening, Melissa," Dumbledore said, addressing the witch in the cell. She was as he remembered--vivid, beautiful, and deadly. Although those traits had been slightly dulled by her time in the prison, they were still clearly distinguishable.

"Hello Moody. Still angry about the eye?" she asked.

"Its how I earned my nickname now. And where are the Dementors?" he asked, his wand pointed at her.

"Oh. They left. I guess they didn't like my 'happy' memories," she chuckled. "And as the saying goes, you can't rape the willing. Or you can and get the tables turned and find something worse than what you expected."

"I'm here to offer you a proposition, Melissa," Dumbledore said, ignoring the exchange that just took place. "Freedom from your cell in exchange for the protection of Hogwarts."

"Oh? I assume this is the work of Voldemort? No?" asked Melissa, surprising Moody with that knowledge. "Oh please. Voldy visited me already. This place is more like a 'hospital visit' than an actual prison for me."

"Would you prefer to stay here then?" Dumbledore asked, turning to leave. "There are other options, Melissa, but I thought I'd extend this offer to you on basis that you were once a Hogwarts student."

"I do remember. You still chewing on your lemon drops?" she asked, looking them both over. "What I would be required to do? I can't act as a bodyguard, too obvious and the Ministry would haul me back post-haste. Or they could try."

"Not a bodyguard," Dumbledore said, raising the key to Melissa's cell, "the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. What do you say, Miss Fairborn?"

"Ohhh? Is that spot still open?" she teased, looking at Moody and Dumbledore. "You do realize, you could do with a quick cleansing spell and all? Voldemort's little unlucky hex has still remained there. Fair enough - might as well do something useful - before Voldy decides to visit me again. And try to Avada Kebab me away. Or try."

"The curse is but a rumor, Melissa. And since when were you ever afraid of Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked, speaking the name as Moody checked his pockets for the key, shooting the bearded old wizard a amused glare when he realized it was no longer in his cloak. Dumbledore winked at him before looking back to the witch in the prison. "I will require you to swear by an Unbreakable Vow, Miss Fairborn, that you will not harm any of the staff or students of Hogwarts, and that you will carry on as the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher until the next year."

"Oh?" asked Melissa, shaking her head. "In that lies a weakness, of yours Dumbledore. What if Voldemort has an agent in the staff? Or recruits a student to his cause? You know it to be true. As such, I would be left unable to help - since such a bind would end in my death. I got a better Vow - if you're willing to listen."

"Believing in the goodness of others is not a weakness, Miss Fairborn," Dumbledore said, frowning. "And, in that case, I ask you to subdue them. I have asked you not to [i]harm[/i] any of the Hogwarts residents, but there are many spells in your arsenal that do other things, are there not?" 

"That sort of talk, worked really well on Voldemort? Didn't it? Or was he Tom Riddle first? The irony is, the Dark Lord and Pureblood is all a lie. He is a stinky muggle as any," she laughed. "I meant your Vow has flaw, beyond its duties. What if Voldemort unleashes his war, the next year? And I am not bound? Who is to say, I won't join the fun."

"No, let me give you a better Vow. I, the glamorous, Miss Fairborn - agree to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Until such a point, that my services are no longer required. I promise, not to harm any innocent in my way. And I promise to assist, in stopping Voldemort - without resorting to harmful acts against the innocent."

"Now? Doesn't that sound better?" she asked. Moody' eye merely twitched at that, looking at her.

"Your one manipulative shrewd," he simply spoke of her.

"Why thank you Moody," she replied, smiling. Dumbledore spared a small smile.

"That would work as well, Miss Fairborn. Alastor," Dumbledore said as he unlocked the door to the cell, "would you be so kind as to be our witness?"

"I'll need a mindwipe after this," he sighed, but agreed - pulling out his wand as the youthful witch grasped a hold of the aged Headmaster' arm.