Chapter 2

The Feast had proceeded more or less how Harry expected it to. Much of the school had stared and pointed at him, more than usual, but he'd learned to expect it given the pattern from the past few years. Gazing up at the head table he took in the new additions who were now sitting at it.

Slughorn was readily recognisable chatting happily with those on either side of him, looking as Harry remembered him from his visit with Dumbledore. He also clearly recognised Soul, though apart from his apparent connection to Dumbledore that he'd inferred with his mention of acting as security as a favour to the headmaster, Harry had no idea why he was sitting with the staff . Was he perhaps a new teacher? That seemed unlikely to Harry for some reason. Sitting directly next to him was a young, pale skinned, petite woman who looked to be around the same age a Soul. Possessing ashen blond hair and forest green eyes set in a beautiful face she cut as captivating a figure as her neighbour. She too was dressed in clothes of the same material as Soul, though hers in the form of a gorgeous black dress that seemed to fit her perfectly. We're they related somehow? He wondered at who they were and what they were doing at Hogwarts as he ate.

After dinner was finished and the last of the dessert was consumed, Dumbledore got to his feet at and beamed down at the chattering students. "The very best of evenings to you!" he said cheerfully, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room. The motion, however, accidentally gave the hall a glimpse of his blacked, dead looking hand.

Whispers swept across the room and people craned to get a better look. Dumbledore, interpreting them correctly, merely smiled and shook his purple and gold sleeve over his injury.

"Nothing to worry about," he continued calmly. "Now... to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you, as usual I must remind you that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits to all students. Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has also asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought from the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," he took a moment to allow the rush of laughter to pass, then continued on as if there had been no interruption. "Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators who should do likewise."

"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year, Professor Slughom," Slughom stood from his seat and waved genially at the watching students, "is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of potions master."

Harry's brow raised in surprise at the announcement, and near everyone else was just as surprised as him.

The confused query "Potions?" echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.

"Professor Snape, meanwhile," Dumbledore said, ignoring the confused murmurs, "will be taking the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Seemingly oblivious to the controversial news he had just imparted, Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments, but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing

"Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength. I cannot emphasise strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that you teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them, in particular, the rule that you are not to be out after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety."

"There is one more announcement I would like to make before you all head off to bed."

"In the wake of the rebirth of Lord Voldemort, the breeding of dementors, now that they are no longer under ministry control, is evident."

"There have been an alarmingly increasing number attacks of late, no doubt many of you have heard about this and it has been a matter of great concern."

Here he paused as quiet whispers once more broke out among the students, "I am sure you have all noticed the two new additions to the head table tonight, it is with pleasure and to my great relief that I introduce them to you them now."

"Please welcome, Three Star Meister and Death Scythe: Maka Albarn and her partner Death Scythe: Soul Eater, who have been temporarily assigned as the acting Death Scythes in Britain.

At this pronouncement the quiet, surreptitious murmuring ground to a halt to be replaced by loud, excited muttering breaking out throughout the hall.
Harry looked around confusedly not sure what his words meant, the expressions Dumbledore's announcement provoked ranged from stark relief to downright terror. Students everywhere were turning and frantically whispering to their neighbours about what had just been said or looking around at each other confusedly, clearly as in the dark as Harry himself about what Dumbledore was talking about.

Dumbledore waited for the excited talking to die down before continuing, "they will be staying here at Hogwarts but will be frequently out of the castle as they monitor the situation here in Britain, as well as carrying out assignments and conferring with the British Ministry of Magic."

"I trust you will warmly welcome our guest from Shibusen and treat them with all the respect they deserve, I urge you to make every effort possible to assist them in anyway possible while they remain as our guests."

"Ms Albarn if you would" he stepped aside while gesturing the girl forward.

With a polite nod of her head and a polite, "thank you professor," Maka steeped forward and turned, gazing out over the students.

"As professor Dumbledore mentioned, our primary purpose here will be monitoring the ongoing situation here in Britain."
"I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to the professor for so graciously offering us the use of Hogwarts for the duration of our stay."
"Again as has already been stated, we will be frequently out of the castle investigating and carrying out assignments and overseeing operations here in Britain, this will most likely primarily be restricted to the tracking and hunting of Dementors."

"This is our primary directive."

"As Shibusen's representatives though we will also liaise with the ministry often."

"Our duties will frequently see us away from the castle for long periods of time at all hours, as such it is likely you will not see us often."

"When we are not otherwise occupied we have agreed with professor Dumbledore to hold occasional elective lessons on subjects relating to our profession and positions."

"I thank you for your patience," and with that she handed back the conversation to Dumbledore who promptly dismissed them.

.

"Hermione, Hermione!" Harry hissed out her name trying to get her attention as they made their way through the crowd of students leaving the hall.

"What was that all about, and what did he mean Death Scythes and what's Shibusen?"

Catching up to them Ron interrupted before Hermione could open her mouth, "blimey didn't think they were Death Scythes"

Whirling on him Hermione let out a strew of rapidly fired questions, barely pausing for breath between sentences.

"Do you know what they meant, what that was all about then Ron?"
"What's Shibusen? It sounds like some kind of organization, only I've never heard about it much."
"I've only ever heard or found it mentioned briefly, never in detail, so I never really found out exactly what it was."
" And what have they got to do with dementors, and what they were saying before about hunting them!?"
" I've never heard of dementors ever being killed, but then it's not exactly mentioned anywhere how the ministry controlled them, or that they could be killed, or anything much about them really!"

The further along she went the faster her words grew until she seemed to become almost hysterical.
Starting to hyperventilate she managed to get out a few more words before she broke down gasping wordlessly.

"They're breeding, oh my god! Soul eating demons breading and spreading all over Britain now the ministry's lost control, I can't believe I never thought of any of this!"

Neither had Harry really for that matter, considering what his boggart was he'd probably should have thought about that more.

Harry and Ron shared a wary look as she finally ran out breath. Ron was starting to look overwhelmed by the time she finally stopped talking, trying to catch her breath while gasping for air.

Seeing her about to open her mouth to continue he interjected quickly before she could continue on.

"Oh yeah Shibusen or the DWMA, they kind of get switched around a bit they're pretty interchangeable, but anyway they deal with dark creatures and stuff."

Harry frowned as he listened, remembering all too well last's years ministry approved 'dark creature' expert, "are they part of the ministry then?"

"What no," Ron spluttered out looking agape at the idea.

"They're totally separate to any of the ministries."

"Anyway, like I said they deal with dark creatures and stuff, and I don't mean stuff like kelpies and vampires or anything, I mean the really dark stuff", he shuddered.

"The really dark stuff?" Hermione questioned having finally regained her breath and calmed down enough to form coherent sentences.

Seeming to brace himself Ron took a shuddering breath before ploughing on.

"There's stuff out there... really terrible, horrible things..."

"Stuff that'd make You-Know-Who scarred."

"Worse stuff then dementors or any dark wizard or creature we learn about."

That night as he lay in bed Harry wondered and shuddered at the thought that there were things out there that might be worse than dementors.

AN:

Dementors are pretty much equal to fairly dangerous kishin eggs, though they are often not as active.

Historically the British ministry has managed them, though in recent years their capabilities have been somewhat questionable.

Following the ministry's current complete failure Shibusen has had to step in.

No longer under ministry control they are breeding and running dangerously out of control.

It's mentioned in the books that the fog is casued by their breeding.

Considering that to the best of our knowledge wizards can barely control them and are quite likely to be unable to kill them, a massive increase in soul sucking demons would be incredibly dangerous, and have devastating effects even long after the situation with Voldermort was resolved.

So in this the DWMA has sent Maka and Soul to keep an eye on the population while also serving the duel purpose of monitoring the situation in Britain.

Of note is that Kishins and Kishin eggs in this are altogether far more terrifying, dangerous and evil than they are usually portrayed. This also goes for the soul eater world in general. I feel this would be how it would be realistically given the descriptions we are given of them: terrifying, evil, soul consuming horrors, radiating madness, that wreak havoc across the world. This of course means the danger and importance of hunting them is directly proportionate and shows the difficulty, dedication and danger meisters and weapons must possess and face, as well as their importance.