Disclaimer: I do not own D. Grey-Man or any of its affiliates. Anything that you recognise is property of its respective owners. Any relations to persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

Base/s: D. Grey-Man

Title: Mercurial

Summary: Kanda does not like people. He likes children even less. Regrettably for the irritable swordsman, his fellow Exorcists are indisposed and the duty of researching a magic school falls to him. How unfortunate. Rated Teen for language because Kanda.

A/N: A little bit of silliness on my part. I love Kanda, probably because he's just a Jerk with a heart of Jerk. (TVTropes, look it up)

Also, an important note about timeframes. This fic is set in Hogwarts time. This means it's set during the 1990's. The reason for this is because A. Messing with time-travel to get things to fit crossover wise is awkward and often doesn't work. B. It's easier for me. And C. The D. Grey-Man is set in the 1800's, but they have modern showers and robots. What? Therefore, I'm keeping everything the same, but just bumping the Black Order into modern times. They're just old fashioned is all.

Music used for inspiration: Save Rock and Roll (album) – Fall Out Boy

Yuu Kanda was Not Pleased.

In his mind, the capitalisation was compulsory and entirely necessary, because words alone did not even come close to adequately describing the loathing he felt at that very moment.

He didn't shout, he didn't whine, he didn't even get up and walk away.

Instead, his mouth thinned into a grim, barely noticeable line and his eyes were imperceptibly narrowed.

Komui began to wither in front of him.

Maybe, if he was lucky, the Supervisor would continue to wither under the force of his utter disgust that he would actually waste away and disperse, never to bother anyone ever again.

It didn't seem to be happening however, no matter how hard he tried.

The Supervisor wrung his hands and his eyes darted to and fro, apparently looking for escape routes.

Kanda would have given a grim, satisfied smile had he not been focussed on other things, such as attempting to vaporise the man in front of him through sheer force of will.

Escape?

Not today sunshine.

Komui swallowed uncomfortably and opened his mouth to speak. He didn't get the chance.

"No."

The flat refusal left the Supervisor somewhat unbalanced. He had been expecting some sort of violent outburst, shouting and threats. This deadpan rejection was odd to say the least.

Komui cleared his throat uncomfortably and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Lord, this was painful. He was perfectly well equipped (mostly) to deal with all the other oddballs (not that he could talk) that came through his door on a regular basis, but this one always gave him problems.

"Maybe you would consider, er- giving a different answer?" He offered weakly, a watery smile attempting to lighten the mood. Foolish, he reprimanded himself, one did not simply 'lighten the mood' when in contact with Yuu Kanda.

"Fuck no."

Komui grimaced. He should have expected that. Internally, he lamented his fate. Why, why did this unenviable task fall to him? Actually, he could answer that one easily. This was his job. What he should have been asking, however, was why –oh why- did it end up being Kanda who was the only one available?

A born and bred misanthrope that one was, Komui bemoaned. He sighed and risked a look at the man in front of him. Arms folded over his chest, an expression like steel and eyes that were daring him to say something.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Listen Kanda," He started, and then paused before forging on when it became apparent that he wasn't about to be interrupted this time. "If there was anyone else I could send, believe me, I would be sending them."

The swordsman raised an eyebrow, a silent prompt to continue.

"Allen and Lenalee are both too young to take a teaching position, and I will not have their assignment be hindered by their status as students." He explained, secretly rather pleased his sister would not be leaving in the foreseeable future. "Krory is in the Ukraine and obviously is not going to be abandoning his own mission for this one. Personally, I would much prefer to be sending Lavi, since he would make a far better teacher than you- no offence." Komui held up his hands, showing he meant no disrespect. Kanda merely shrugged, conceding the point. Komui breathed a sigh of relief that the swordsman had not been insulted.

The Supervisor continued. "But he's in the medical ward at the moment with a broken ankle. So that leaves you. Trust me; I want to inflict you on children about as much as you want to be inflicted upon them."

Kanda was silent for a moment before he narrowed his eyes. "And Lotto? She meets requirements, does she not?" He challenged.

Komui snorted.

"Kanda, do you really think Miranda could handle teaching kids? Magical kids, at that?"

Kanda saw Komui's point there. Grudgingly. He sighed.

"Isn't there anyone else? Can't a Finder go? Hell, why can't you go?"

Komui frowned.

"I have responsibilities Kanda."

The swordsman snorted and an unimpressed look settled itself on his face. Responsibilities. Right.

Komui looked flustered. "I do!" he defended, before straightening his glasses and changing the subject.

"I thought about sending a Finder or two, but we don't know all that much about what we will be facing there. Hopefully nothing but a few bratty children, but…" he trailed off, looking unusually serious. "Hope for the best, but plan for the worst." He suddenly smiled. "Besides, only someone with Innocence can go."

Kanda blinked.

"Why?" He managed, confused.

Komui adopted a scholarly look.

"Since it's a magical school, it's hidden from non-magical eyes. Otherwise they'd have all sorts of people poking around in their business, not to mention wanting solutions to all their problems. So it's hidden. People with magic can see it, but those without can't. Ingenious, yes?"

The Supervisor looked tickled pink at the prospect of such a fascinating thing being at his fingertips.

Kanda was less pleased.

"And what does this have to do with me?" He questioned roughly. "I'm not magical."

Komui raised an eyebrow.

"No, you're not. You do, however, have Innocence. Its presence gives you certain improvements, as you already know; speed, endurance, strength etcetera." He pushed his glasses further up his nose with a finger. "Due to its appearance, you have some measure of preternatural sense, as you already know. They have word for people who are born into magical families, but who cannot cast it themselves. Squib. You are not naturally magical, but with the manifestation of Innocence, you have just enough to see through these kinds of things. You –and all Innocence Accommodators- are technically 'unnatural Squibs'."

Kanda's lips twitched in amusement. "I've been called worse."

Komui grinned. "I'm sure. You can't cast magic, nor will you register as being magical, but you will function as a Squib would." He shrugged. "We were planning on using that as your cover, actually."

Kanda frowned. It seemed he really didn't have much of a choice. At least Komui had actually explained why he was going, as opposed to simply chivvying him along without telling him what was going on save for the bare essentials like he usually did.

He sighed (he idly noticed he was doing that a lot in the Supervisors presence), and unconsciously pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Alright, fine." He agreed resentfully, feeling like he was signing his own death warrant.

Komui's face lit up and Kanda almost felt nauseated. The Supervisor clapped his hands together happily. Kanda felt compelled to nip this cheerfulness in the bud before –god forbid- it spread.

Grabbing the Supervisor by the front of his coat, the swordsman pulled him closer. Komui squeaked.

"If I ever find out someone else could have done this fucking job, I will cut you balls to brain and string you up in your office by your own intestines." He snarled, "Are we clear?"

Komui nodded mutely. Kanda released his vice grip on the other man's coat, and watched with no little satisfaction when the Supervisor wobbled and put a hand out to steady himself.

Kanda felt a small, maliciously satisfied smirk work its way onto his face as he turned to leave and prepare.

"Good."

As it turned out, this job was going to be even worse than he had initially thought. As it was, he had been expecting to be thrown into the middle of this –whatever- with only a goal and his sword.

Oh no. That would have been far too simple.

There was research.

He had to know enough about this world so that he fit almost seamlessly within it. Komui had provided books and a time frame. Three weeks.

Kanda was not impressed.

He was in a bad mood. This in itself wasn't at all unusual; in fact it was rare when he wasn't at least somewhat pissed off at something –or someone.

What made this particular bad mood noteworthy was the sheer depth of ire that the long haired swordsman was carrying around with him.

The cloud of barely repressed wrath that surrounded the Exorcist warned people away, even before they got close enough to lay eyes on this thunderous visage, equipped with a glare that could have melted steel.

He sat on his own in the mess hall, a half-eaten bowl of Soba in front of him along with several books spread out in a corona around where he was sitting. There was a pair of chopsticks in one hand, and the other was turning pages every so often. His customary scowl was set firmly on his face, made more potent by the bags under his eyes and sickly pale pallor of his skin.

He'd snapped at Allen with such venom when the boy had taken it upon himself to find out what Kanda was doing (and poke fun at the temperamental man), the white haired Exorcist had let his jaw drop and decided to make his exit, rather than stay and argue as he usually would have done.

Unbeknownst to Kanda, there was a quiet argument going on just outside of the mess hall. Lenalee, who had set eyes on the swordsman and had been struck by how tired and worn he was looking, had made to go over and engage her comrade in conversation. She had been intercepted by Allen and Miranda (who had somehow been swept along by the young Exorcist, and wasn't entirely sure what she was doing there), and was on her way to being persuaded that she should really leave then swordsman alone, and not suffer emotional damage from his acid tongue.

After a solid quarter an hour of listening to wheedling, coaxing and the politest arguing she had ever heard, Miranda sighed.

She dared to chance a look through the doors to the mess hall, and almost immediately felt her eyes being drawn to a particularly sparse area. Other exorcists and residents of the Headquarters were wisely avoiding the space around the Japanese exorcist, who appeared to either not notice or not care.

She bit her lip. He looked ill. Tired and worn and drained.

She felt a twinge of sympathy.

Kanda Yuu was a terrifying prospect of an exorcist, and she was loathe to approach him at the best of times, let alone when he was radiating such active hostility.

Not that he was particularly amiable anyway, she reasoned. Kanda Yuu was the very definition of hostile.

Still, she felt bad for him.

It was fine, she reassured herself, he wasn't going to hurt her.

… He probably wasn't going to hurt her.

She gave herself a small shake and wondered when she'd entered the mess hall and begun walking towards his table. She heard Lenalee make an exclamation from behind her, and Allen beseech her to stay put. Not wanting to insult anyone by ignoring them, she half turned and put on a brave smile so they didn't worry, and mouthed a generic reassurance that she would be fine.

She really hoped she would be fine.

Her hands were shaking. She clenched them into fists by her side, and calmed her breathing.

'Think of this like a challenge.' She told herself, biting her lip. 'He won't run you through; the worst he can hit you with is words. Words are fine. I can handle words.'

As she approached the area in which he was sitting, the amount of people thinned out and eventually stopped altogether.

It was only as she got close enough to pick out words on the books he was pouring over did he seem to acknowledge her presence.

He suddenly flicked his eyes up from underneath his fringe, and speared her with a sharp look.

She wanted very much to run right now.

"What the fuck do you want?" He snarled at her, his fingers clenching around the chopsticks in his hand. She had the sudden, involuntary thought that he could easily stab her with them.

Her breath caught in her chest, and she panicked for a moment.

"I-" she started, before digging her nails into her palms and steeling her nerves. "I was w-wondering if you were a-alright."

She internally cursed herself for her stammer, how pathetic was she?

He narrowed his eyes.

"And how is that any of your damn business?" He questioned roughly.

She wrung her hands.

"I-t's just…" He trailed off, not entirely sure how to continue. "You look ill."

Inside her mind, she balked. 'Mein Gott, did I really just say that? This is beyond rude!'

She immediately set about apologising, eyes wide and face horrified.

"I-I'm so sorry! It's just that you've b-been working so hard recently, and I can s-see it's making you ill and I felt bad for you and you s-should really rest before you get hurt and I c-can help if you would like and-" she had to stop for breath, and realised she was babbling. "I'm sorry!"

"Stop apologising!" He snapped, before laying the chopsticks down and pushing his food away. He regarded her with a blank, unreadable stare. She fidgeted and prepared herself for a verbal beating.

She kept her eyes on the floor, unable to look up.

She heard a sigh. She chanced a glance upwards. He was rubbing the bridge of his nose, apparently to ward off head pain.

"What business of yours is it how I look?" He asked irritably, eyes resting on hers and holding her fast.

Maybe she wasn't out of the danger zone just yet.

She fidgeted.

"I-I-" Now she was stuttering again. "I just don't want you hurting yourself." She whispered.

"And why do you give a shit?" He asked, derisive and hostile. He leaned forward in his chair and she felt claustrophobic despite the fact she was standing and he was sitting.

"Y-You're my comrade." She murmured. "I'm sorry I disturbed y-you, but you're burning yourself o-out. I'm sorry for b-being so presumptuous!"

He relaxed his posture, to her surprise.

"I don't need your help." He stated flatly, pulling his books towards him.

She nodded shakily and opened her mouth to speak when she was cut off.

"Don't you dare apologise again." He warned sharply, deftly stacking the multitude of books. She flushed. He snorted. "Right. Stop doing that so much, it's annoying and it makes you look weak."

She bowed her head. So words hurt a little more than she'd told herself, she knew that.

Swiftly standing and tucking the books under his arm, he stood in front of her.

Thinking he wanted her to move, she quickly stepped to the side meekly, feeling foolish.

When he didn't move, she looked up nervously.

He was staring straight at her. She felt her cheeks heat up and cursed her skin.

"If you don't like how much I'm working, blame Komui. It's his fault I have to do this shit." He remarked snidely, and made to pass her. She gathered what remained of her tattered courage.

"I-If you like," she started quietly, not wanting to announce what she was saying to the world. "I can t-try to help. I won't tell anyone, I p-promise. You don't h-have to if you d-don't want to."

He stilled and for a second, she thought he might take her up on her offer and he wasn't quite as bad as he liked to portray.

It was when he turned to face her, however, that she realised she'd been wrong.

His mouth was pulled into an ugly snarl and the effect was heightened by the dark rings under his eyes and pallid, drawn skin.

She gasped and stepped back, her form shaking.

"Don't pity me." He growled. "I told you, I don't need your fucking help." He drew back, throwing a wrathful glare at her. "Now leave me the hell alone."

Without anything further, he turned and stalked out of the mess hall, radiating anger and leaving the brown haired exorcist standing on her own, fighting back panic.

She felt sick.

She was dimly aware that Allen and Lenalee had reached her and were concernedly asking if she was alright. The white haired exorcist was interspersing his comforting with small rants about the swordsman.

Despite her shakiness, and her regret of even thinking of approaching the closed off, antagonistic exorcist, she felt a small measure of happiness that she had reached out. She'd tried and even though it hadn't worked, she'd faced down her fear.

She had tried, she could do nothing more.

Kanda shut the door to his room with enough force to let the noise resound around his living quarters.

He dumped the pile of books on his bed without preamble, and sat heavily on the end. He rested his head in his hands.

Fuck.

He hadn't meant to snap so viciously at the German woman, although he was certainly not regretting making her leave him alone.

Damn Komui. Damn this stupid mission to this stupid goddamn school.

He sighed and decided that despite his harsh words earlier, the Lotto woman had been right. He should take a break, if only for a while.

Standing, he rolled his shoulders and reached upwards, hands deftly untying the tie that kept his hair in place.

Running his fingers through his now loose hair, he made his way towards his door, intent on a shower and an early night.

After some more study, of course.

It wasn't often Komui felt guilty about revenge, but this was one of those times.

He supposed he should have thought it out a bit better, since this situation should have been easy enough to predict.

Apparently overloading Kanda Yuu with an almost impossible workload was a bad idea, since he was now even more inimical and unpleasant to deal with. Not to mention the fact that the swordsman had almost made Miranda Lotto cry (which, admittedly, wasn't that difficult), and had startled Allen with such a vicious slew of curses and profanity that the young exorcist had actually backed off, as opposed to butting heads with his comrade.

The Supervisor rubbed his temples.

He'd seen how tired and ill the Japanese exorcist was looking these days, and felt an unpleasant lurch in his stomach.

Yes, he felt bad.

While it was certainly necessary, the research was not nearly as pressing as he had made it out to be.

He'd half thought that the dark haired man would have come complaining to him about the sheer volume of work he was being tasked with (whereupon Komui could engage in some well-deserved gloating), but he had clearly underestimated the others stubbornness.

It wasn't that he felt especially guilty about the level of pressure Kanda was under, but rather the fact that he had inflicted a supremely stressed Kanda on the population of the Black Order headquarters, which if not remedied soon, was likely to result in some mental breakdowns and/or dismemberment. Possibly both. Maybe at the same time.

He scowled.

He couldn't even tell Kanda to take it easy, since as oblivious as the swordsman could be sometimes, he was perceptive enough to find fault with this. Then Komui would be in trouble.

Big trouble.

Severe wound, stay in the hospital, Mugen related trouble.

The Supervisor raised his coffee cup to his lips, but found it empty.

Cursing, he set the mug on his desk with more force than was strictly necessary.

Wonderful.

Kanda was irritated.

Nothing new there, but this was a specific irritation directed at a particular person.

He was being avoided.

This was perfectly fine by him, and often appreciated. However, this was getting ridiculous.

Miranda Lotto was getting on his nerves.

Every time he passed her in a hallway, she would still like a doe in a hunters sights and tremble when he drew close. This would have been funny (if only to him), if it wasn't so awkward.

He could hear her relieved sigh when he was significantly far away, and occasionally hear her mumbling something in her native tongue which sounded suspiciously like prayer.

He scowled just thinking about it.

This was stupid and- goddamn it- he was feeling just a little bit bad about tearing into her the other day.

Normally, he wouldn't have reacted so in such a volatile manner. Alright, that was a lie. He wouldn't have lost control so much as he had done.

She was not making fun of him; she was honestly trying to help. Help he didn't want, but it was nothing malicious on her part.

That's why he felt like her fear of him was unwarranted. He wasn't suddenly going to attack her in the hallways, and certainly wasn't going to snap and go on some murderous rampage through the Headquarters. Well, not yet.

So it was with an irritated glance and a sharp voice that he called her name when he spotted her in a hallway a few days later.

Miranda swore she felt her heart stop when she heard her name called. Oh Gott, had she done something against the rules?

She felt faint when she turned, a meek look on her face and an apology on her lips, only to see the one person she had been trying to avoid striding purposefully towards her, his boots rapping harshly against the cold floor of the Orders hallways.

"Lotto." He addressed her once he was close enough. His tone was neutral and for that she was thankful. She chanced a glance upwards. He was looking better. The circles under his eyes were not gone, but were certainly less noticeable and his skin had regained some colour.

This cheered her somewhat.

"H-Herr Kanda." She greeted, wringing her hands. "What c-can I do for you?"

He raised an eyebrow at her polite form of address and she felt her cheeks redden. He was younger than her by several years, and she was deferring to him as though he was her social superior. In fact, Kanda Yuu was probably one of the few people who actually had less of a social life than she did.

He paused for a moment before speaking.

"You've been avoiding me." He stated plainly. She gasped softly in embarrassment at being found out, but he continued before she had the chance to speak.

"Listen, I'm not about to attack you in the halls, so quit fucking praying every time you pass me."

Oh, she wanted the ground to swallow her up right now. He could hear her? She was so stupid, to assume he was out of earshot! She was just grateful not to find herself on the wrong end of Mugen!

"Es tut mir leid!" She almost shouted, tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't mean-"

"For fucks sake, stop apologising!" He snarled, making her flinch. He sighed and folded his arms. "Listen, all I was going to say was that you don't need to be so frightened." He grumbled, looking away. "I'm not going to hurt you or anything."

She blinked in surprise. This situation had suddenly taken a surreal edge. She thought for a moment that she might have not even gotten up this morning, and was in fact still dreaming. If that was the case, however, she was struck by how utterly boring her 'dream' had been up until now.

"A-ah. R-Right." She managed to force out, cursing her stutter. It was justified however, she thought, in the face of intimidating people, which Kanda Yuu certainly qualified as.

Suddenly, she realised how uncomfortable he looked. He was standing awkwardly, arms folded stubbornly over his chest and purposefully not looking in her direction, a scowl set on his face.

Maybe it was the hysteria talking (and she kind of hoped it was), but that scowl looked dangerously close to a pout. It made him look almost… endearing.

And that was when Miranda Lotto realised something about the world she was living in, and her part in it.

Kanda Yuu was adorable when he was embarrassed.

She flushed. That thought was going to be locked away in the deepest recesses of her mind, and was never coming out again. Although, it was interesting to note that 'adorable' and 'mildly terrifying' were not mutually exclusive.

He squinted at her, and she bit her lip.

Apparently deciding that whatever was causing her odd reaction was nothing he cared about, the Japanese Exorcist made to walk past her and away from this incredibly awkward situation. He was already regretting this.

When he was sufficiently far away and about to turn the corner, she let out a sigh of relief.

Her muscles relaxed and she closed her eyes, blowing a long breath out through pursed lips. It wasn't an apology, but it didn't need to be. She wasn't so petty enough to demand one (not that she felt she deserved one), and was understanding enough that it wasn't even really required.

The pleasant feeling of relief was abruptly taken from her when she heard his voice again. She jumped and looked around, finding his half turned towards her. His expression was something she couldn't really place, half grudging and half amused, it was an odd thing to see on his usually sullen visage.

"Oh, and Lotto?" She swallowed and in that second, she'd lost her chance to reply as he spoke again. "I took your advice."

And with that he was gone, sweeping around the corner and disappearing, with only the steadily softening of his footsteps leaving any trace he had been there at all.

Standing still in place, frozen with a mixture of embarrassment, nerves and confusion, Miranda Lotto allowed herself a shaky smile.

"Ich bin froh."

Kanda almost grinned as he shut the door to his room. Almost. As it was, it was more like a tiny, wicked upturn of his lips that told of his humour and had anyone been there to see it, they would have likely made an excuse to leave and gone to hide in a bunker until whatever gruesome, cruel event that smile heralded was over with.

Messing with people was fun. Even if he had to wade through bullshit.

He now understood why Lavi did it so often.

While social development was occurring in the Black Order headquarters, a slightly less tense atmosphere was permeating the staff room at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Professor Dumbledore was pleased. This wasn't surprising, as he seemed to find joy in the smallest of things, but it was rare that he managed to pluck up sufficient happiness to carry him through the dull tedium of staff meetings.

"Albus?" His right hand woman, Minerva McGonagall was at his elbow, watching the rest of the staff settle into their seats. The start of term was a scant two weeks away, and he'd called an impromptu meeting to discuss certain events he felt the staff should probably be informed of. Not that it wouldn't be amusing to not inform them, and sit back to watch the mayhem, but mayhem (however fun it could be) often incurred a significant amount of paperwork. He would rather avoid that.

"Forgive me Minerva," He smiled at his colleague. "Just an old man's mind taking him places."

She raised an eyebrow.

"One would hope it returns soon then, or else we'll all go home after you called us out here and it'll all be for nothing."

He chuckled.

"Indeed. I'll not keep you admirable folk too long. Just an announcement or two you should be aware of."

She eyes him suspiciously, and he fought the impulse to grin. That woman had known him for far too long, and knew his propensity for humour.

When everyone had settled, from the caretaker to the sullen potions master to the ephemeral Divination professor, he clapped his hands together.

With a smile he began his address.

"My dear colleagues, firstly I must apologise for dragging you away from your homes this afternoon to listen to my talking. I promise I will not keep you too long, lest I give in the pull of old age and begin to ramble." His eyes twinkled as he continued. "You recall, of course, the new elective we have offered to our students?" There was collective murmuring and some sporadic nods. "Excellent! Well, it would seem I have procured an instructor for Physical Education and Self Defence!"

He beamed at his collective staff, who looked a little more interested, but not quite as excited as he had hoped.

"Wonderful." The snarky, sarcastic voice of his Potions Master rang out from where the man was sitting with his arms folded, looking unimpressed. "Can you not tell how utterly enthused we are about this little pet project?"

The headmaster frowned.

"It's not just a 'project of mine' Severus," he chided. "The instructor will be coming from an organisation that I have hoped to gain a rapport with for some time. They are quite secretive, and I have invited one of their members here in an effort to forge friendship between us. An exchange of information, one could say." He smiled.

There was a general murmur of interest and no little suspicion. He forged on.

"They are quite a selective, enigmatic group who operate globally. What they hunt is actually quite rare, when one thinks of the possibilities…" he trailed off, lost in thought. He brought himself back to the present. "They are, simplistically, demon hunters."

The reaction was not as explosive as it could have been. They were adult Witches and Wizards after all, and they were fully aware that there were unexplainable things in the world, and that they could not know them all. Demon hunters were not such a difficult thing to believe in when one remembered that such things as Kelpies, dragons and merfolk were all rather commonplace in magical society.

There were a few minutes of quiet discussion, and some disbelief, followed by patient explanation before the Headmaster brought the conversation around.

"Please," He called, raising his hands for quiet. "I have received communication from their European Headquarters and they intend to send one of their top operatives." He surveyed them over the rims of his half-moon glasses. "Their top operatives."

He was pleased when the Muggle Studies professor (at least!) gave a small chuckle at his Muggle film reference.

"They wish to learn more about magic, and we would most certainly benefit from their specialist knowledge and skill. Who knows, we might make some friends." He finished brightly.

"The Ministry has been informed, of course," he continued blithely, "they will be keeping an eye on our guest, and will inevitably be interested in the near future, but have made it clear that he or she will be our responsibility."

Minerva, who had been relatively quiet during the briefing, spoke up with a frown.

"Albus, do you not think we are taking on a little too much this year? After all, we will have three other schools to be responsible for, as well as the added issue of the Tournament itself."

He nodded, having considered this himself.

"A valid concern, certainly." He agreed. "I think, however, that this will be less a task and more something that we can quietly monitor and step in if something untoward happens. This operative is a professional after all, so I don't think we'll have too many worries."

His words seemed to set the staff at ease somewhat, as did his benign smile.

It wasn't their duty to worry about these kinds of things. That weight was on his shoulders. He did not need to tell them that if he had a doubt about this venture, it would have certainly not gone ahead. He could make mistakes, surely, but he had done all he could. He had a bad feeling about the future, something he couldn't explain. He would need their strength. He simply hoped they would be willing to give it.

He clapped his hands again cheerfully, giving no inclination as to the sombre nature of his thoughts.

"I requested an opening of dialogue with the Supervisor of their Headquarters a week or so ago, and he has informed me that they have selected an individual to take the post." He chuckled. "Our interchange became quite informal, as I don't believe the Supervisor is the sort of man who insists of formality often. He is quite the academic, and our discussion often veered into the realm of the theoretical." He grinned, the action taking years of his wrinkled face. "It seems it will be an interesting experience, hosting this 'Kanda Yuu'."

Snape raised an eyebrow.

"Why so?" He questioned shortly.

The Headmaster shook his head in amusement. "It seems Mister Kanda is quite the ahh- character, shall we say?" He nodded. "Indeed, he appears to be a younger, more acerbic version of yourself, Severus."

Pomona Sprout gave an exclamation of what could have been either surprise or amusement, perhaps both.

"He can't be that bad, surely!" she exclaimed.

Dumbledore chuckled at his Potions Masters rapidly darkening visage, and the rest of the staffs entertained faces.

"We shall see Pomona, shall we not?" He gave a half shrug of his thin shoulders. "After all, he will be arriving within a week."

With that proclamation, the meeting continued for some time, well into the darkening evening. The sun was dropping over the horizon earlier and earlier as it moved towards Autumn, and the staff were talking about this new development for long after the last vestiges of light had trickled down the canvas sky, and night had brought its velvet scene to drape across the world.

And that's a wrap for this first chapter.

I had intended to write more of Avaritia: Book Two, but I got distracted. Again. My bad. Still, I'm on holiday as of now (although I still have work to do…) and therefore have actual free time to do things other than research, write, eat and occasionally sleep.

Which is nice.

I don't intend for there to be much, if any romance in this, and if there will be, it will not be slash. No problem with it myself, but I find it difficult to write, seeing as I don't have any experience with it, and as I rarely read it either. Sorry, but no Yullen (never liked that pairing…) or Lava (or whatever the hell it's called). No Hogwarts gals either. I rather like the idea of Kanda/Hermione myself, but not within this context of teacher and student, not to mention the age gap here. Also, Kanda/Tonks has possibility… But not here. Maybe an Omake or two somewhere along the line. If there is going to be shipping, it will likely be Kanda/Miranda. It's a guilty pleasure of mine. That's not set in stone though, so don't be looking forward to it or anything.

Watch this space, and please, badger me to do things. Hound me until my inbox EXPLODES about getting off my ass and writing. Seriously, if people don't poke me to do stuff, it's likely I will never get around to it. People who read my Purgatorio series know this all too well. So yes, poke the lazy person.

Be that as it may, please do leave a review (especially in these initial chapters) so I know I have things going in the right direction and whatnot, or if things needs to be tweaked.

Thanks in advance,

MercuryPilgrim