BDR343: oh my god! Somebody is actually reading this, I am utterly shocked!

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize from the Harry Potter books belongs to J. K. Rowling, anything else is mine.

Chapter one: Mayara The Murder Teaches Defense Against The Dark Arts

Mayara sat outside on her tree branch in the forbidden forest. She watched the other Hogwarts students run and play like maniacs, but had no intention of mixing with the rest of those shallow little creatures. She was just getting so restless lately, she was 28 years old, half demon, proud to say her father was a wizard despite his demonic blood, an assassin who quite enjoyed thee art of killing, and stuck in a school. She had done many crimes in the past, trained herself in the dark arts, but still she had never wanted to join Voldemort. Never. In her opinion he was a coward, a fraud. She hated people like him; she looked at people like him to be even lower than her spit. She thought back to how she had ended up in this place anyway. She had been born in a wizard's village called Menopimn. She was the daughter of Nadria and Tasho Nukai. Her father was an ice demon, and she had taken after him mostly, but she had her mother's eyes. She had his silver hair, but it was long and silky like her mother's, not spiky like his, it was lined with light blue at its ends, her eyes were the most beautiful, icy blue, like her mothers, but, they were sharp, solemn, and frigid like her father's. She had been kidnapped at a very young age during a raid. The dark wizards had sensed potential in her and spared her. But it wasn't because of them that she had the skill she did. She left them at the age of 8, training herself. Magically, mentally and physically. She was as fast and good a fighter and as the strongest demon, and could match wands with the Dark Lord himself if need be. She had looked for her parents before beginning her journey, but she had only found that they had never wanted her in the first place and had handed her over happily. He mother had anyway. Her father had gotten killed trying to get her back, she used to cry over it, but now she simply shrugged the thought off. But then one day, she had been careless and gotten caught. She could have escaped but she found the way they thought they were superior to her amusing, they threw her in Azkaban. The dementors's kiss hadn't worked on her. She had no happy memories and her soul was cold and bitter. Then those fools found out her weakness, a special spell made for demons like her. So, now she was trapped. During her time there she met Sirius Black, she saw how he was different from the rest. He didn't share the same grim type of past as her, but he was different. He didn't fall into the dementors's web of darkness. Her cell had been right next to his and they would talk and share their stories. Though she was reluctant to talk at all at first she did open up to him more than any other by the end of it. But before that he had seemed dead set on getting her to talk, always pestering her. But he had also comforted her, when she had those terrible nightmares, she would awake to him gently stroking her hair, it did take effort to reach out that far, but he never seemed to mind. Yes, in that gruesome please, which suited her so well, she had made what came terribly close to a friend. She never looked at Sirius as a friend, but he was close to one. She had never trusted anyone, at first. After Sirius escaped to go after his godson she became bored with the place, thanks to some tutoring from Sirius before he left she transformed into a phoenix. Yes, she was a beauty as the bird. Blue feathers, with black flames hanging off, and black eyes. Phoenixes' spirits couldn't be seemed so she had easily escaped. Only to run into Albus Dumbledore. He was quite the wizard, and gave her an offer. He wouldn't send her back to Azkaban to be bound with Anigamus transformation blocking spells, if she came to his school and learned the magic she had missed out on. She could see behind his mask, he had really wanted her to experience the childhood joys she never had. And so with the help of the elderly man, she learned to trust, why? Because to trust, is to be trusted with trust. Because it would so painfully boring to go thorough it all from first year, she was enrolled as a sixth year. She had used a spell to make herself look like a child. Her hair was black, and cold eyes a dreadful gray, but still, she had a light inside her while she was there. She didn't think it was so much that the dementors's kiss might have actually worked, but still. It felt good. That was where she met Harry Potter. So this was Sirius's godson, she owed it Sirius to protect him. So, while Sirius was still on the run, she made sure no harm ever came to Harry. She would follow him on his night escapades in her phoenix form. But this year, while he had been chased into the Forbidden Forest, he had found out. Oh well, it didn't matter. She also met Lupin who had come by to stay at Hogwarts that year, thought he wasn't teaching. This was the Remus Lupin Sirius had talked of so much. He was a kindly man, she liked him. No, she didn't trust him either, but she liked him. She also met Severus Snape, the former death eater, she knew because she had seen the death eaters mark on his arm in potions class once, none of the others had though. Human eyes are so incompetent she had thought to herself. She thought about him, so he had given up his life of crime because of Dumbledore's trust? No, she wouldn't do the same, not yet. Suddenly she heard something, she was only on the borders of the forest, all the students knew of her abnormal abilities, as they liked to call it, but she didn't care. She looked down to see Harry,

"Come on Mayara, we have to go!" she leaped down from the tree, landing kneeling. Harry's eyes widened, he still hadn't gotten used to her demon skill. She followed him back into the school. It was now time for Transfiguration; she really couldn't wait until the day was over. Today was just trudging along, and it was so painfully boring! She looked down as she walked, the grass was a bit blue, with frost, her season was coming. Slowly a smile crept onto her face.

The next day Mayara was called out of the Gryffindor common room-at 3 in the morning (she would have been in Slytherin but she got to pick her own house so she picked the house Harry was in) by Dumbledore, she followed him without question to his office,

"Butter beer," he said and the gargoyle jumped aside. She followed in obediently. And she realized the room was filled with professors.

"Headmaster?" she said raising an eyebrow.

"What is she doing here headmaster?" Severus asked. She turned and glared daggers at him. How dare he. He might be a reformed death eater, but he still had the cockiness of one, which was exactly what she hated about them. But she simply turned to Dumbledore, silently excepting his hidden challenge. He wanted to play, then fine.

"Now now, Severus," Dumbledore said. "We are here to discuss a matter which I feel I have put off too long. It involves Sirius Black,"

"Black?" Severus sputtered, obviously enraged. Dumbledore nodded. She noticed a big black dog sitting next to Professor Dumbledore's desk. She smirked; he couldn't hide from her eyes.

"But, Albus, he, he is insane! A convicted criminal!"

"He is innocent Professor Flitwick," before the shocked teacher could answer he turned to Mayara.

"Mayara," Dumbledore said, she turned her head towards him. "I think its time, you stopped being a student, and started being a professor. As you kn-"

"What?" Minerva said, "Albus, she is an excellent student, but really, a teacher?"

"Everything will be clear in a minute, Minerva," he turned back to Mayara, "As you know our defense against the dark arts teacher, Professor Niro has, um, run off. So I believe it is best if we put you in charge of that," her eyes narrowed.

"No," all the teachers looked shocked. Dumbledore smiled, she continued without invitation, which wasn't really her habit, "I wont teach them defense, never,"

"Voldemort is rising, the students must be equipped with something, you are the best one for he job," she looked at him, "Perhaps it is best if you relive our dear professors of their shock and reveal your true self. She sighed and nodded, it would be easier to rebel if she wasn't in this weak form.

He sat behind the desk waiting quietly, why had Dumbledore called a student in? Then he heard her name, Mayara. It was her. He smiled inwardly. Then suddenly she transformed. Light filled the room at first, but then only darkness blanketed her, a cold wind came out of nowhere, and when everything cleared, in the place of the young school girl, stood what many people might have called an ice angel. Her hair went down onto her back, it was silky silver, edged with light blue, and her eyes were a misty blue, their glow rivaled that of the moon. Her skin was a pale, but fair color, she was much taller and was the only he had ever known to give Dumbledore a death glare. Mayara was now clad in silk, black robes, with a hood hanging back. The robe had a blue dragon twirling from her ankle, around her waist and onto the long sleeve of her right arm. There was a small scar on the side of her face, and she had two dark blue lines on her left cheek, going down, but stopping a centimeter above the edge of her face.

After transforming she saw the professors were completely shocked, she saw Severus was grinding his teeth, but it obviously took some effort.

"I will repeat my answer Dumbledore, no," her voice was steely cold.

"Mayara, please. It is very critical, this is all a part of a plan to stop Voldemort, please, for the sake of the students," she thought about that. Sake of the students, sake of Harry. Even Black couldn't stand up to Voldemort. She grumbled a bit and then said,

"Fine, but don't expect me to teach them anything useful. 10 years ago I would have been the one to recruit them," Dumbledore chortled.

"You have been given a new room, it is on the third floor, the door with the snake carving," and then got back to what he was saying.

"Now, Sirius Black will be returning to help us. We have found that Voldemort is planning something, something immensely terrible. We all must keep our guards up," everyone except Mayara nodded. "Sirius, you may come out," a large dog stepped out from behind the desk and then before their eyes transformed into a human. Mayara realized he looked very different. He was taller, darker, he looked a lot stronger. In fact she realized he looked pretty handsome, and Mayara had never been the type to push thoughts away from her mind. Everyone was quiet, Dumbledore's word had not been enough to make them all realize that he was innocent. But then he smiled, a heart shattering smile, and said, "Oh come on now! You all act as if Vol- you-know-who has just walked in! Take Dumbledore's word, I'm not guilty of any of the crimes I was convicted of!" he shook his head in amusement. That pretty much brought oxygen back into the room.

"Sirius!" Minerva cried. The other Professors went and welcomed him back wholeheartedly. Severus did not, he was looking at Mayara. He studied her carefully and then walked up to her,

"Half veela?" he asked. Mayara shook her hear, not bothering to turn towards him. A smile crept onto Severus's face, a smile she didn't really like. Then suddenly Sirius pulled away from all the embraces and pats on the back and turned to Mayara and Severus.

"Well, well, Severus Snape. Still haven't washed you hair I see," Mayara didn't like that, she didn't like Severus, but she had her own strict code of honor. He had suffered before, and not just that, she didn't like to see Sirius stoop to such a low level,

"Teasing, Black? Have you forgotten Azkaban so very quickly," she said coldly. Sirius smiled,

"Ah, Mayara the pessimist. No, I never knew Azkaban, so there's nothing to forget. I'd call you by your last name, but even after being stuck in a cell next to yours for 8 years you never did tell me what it was,"

"And I don't plan on telling you now," Everyone gasped and Snape's eyes widened in shock. Mayara couldn't help but smile a bit. Sirius shrugged,

"So, I hear you've been taking care of Harry while I was gone," drat, he knew,

"Yes,"

"Never would have guessed," now it was Mayara's turn to shrug. Dumbledore could see she didn't like to be in the spotlight so he cleared his throat and said,

"Back to business. For now, this is all I will tell you, but be prepared for a first hand blast of this war," he motioned for them all to leave, but they didn't. All eyes were on Mayara,

"You went to Azkaban?" Professor Sprout sputtered out. Mayara turned to Sirius and gave him a spiteful look, he smirked. Then suddenly Sybill stood staring at nothing, she shook violently,

"I can see hateful memories returning, and death. Death, death," Sybill continued to chant, her eyes rolled back. Madame Pomphrey went over to her and caught her just before she hit the ground. She began to fan her, slowly she regained conciseness,

"Death," she whispered weakly. Mayara smirked,

"Well, what do you know, she actually predicted something real for once," they all looked at her eyes wide. Just then Lupin walked in, followed by Harry. When he saw Sirius his eyes widened and he ran and gave Sirius and hug,

"Sirius!" he said, his voice muffled because of Sirius's robes. Harry hadn't seen Sirius at all in his fifth year or heard from him over the summer. "You're alright! Why didn't you write to me?" he said after pulling away.

"I'm sorry Harry, but the dementors were on my tail, I almost got caught a good many times," Mayara raised an eyebrow. Severus noticed. And why does she find that so peculiar? He thought to himself.

"Now, now everyone! I think we should all leave! The headmaster needs his rest!" Madame Pomphrey said. Dumbledore gave her a thankful look. Everyone was ushered out and Sirius went over to Lupin and said,

"Good to see you again, old chap,"

"You too Sirius," then Sirius transformed into the grim and followed Lupin out, staying a bit close to Mayara, separating her from Severus. He followed Mayara out to the grounds, she was grumbling to herself and was well aware he was following. She slipped into the Forbidden Forest and stopped once they had gotten a good way in. She turned; the moon complimented her angelic appearance. She walked a bit closer to Sirius,

"How I want to kick you right now!" she said shaking her head. Sirius wagged his tail. She sighed; she shouldn't have lost her composure over him. She put on the famous poker face she wore so rarely as a student. She sat down and leaned against a tree. Sirius went laid down next to her, and then he spoke,

"Miss me?" Why is behaving so personal? She thought to herself angrily.

"Hn," (I'm a Hiei fan, BIG HIEI FAN. Stay away, he's mine!)

"Guess not," he said with a sigh and closed his eyes. He expected her to walk away but she didn't.

He had followed her out of Dumbledore's office, making sure that slime ball Snape didn't get too close to her. He had followed her into the woods and now, she didn't even seem to have missed him, he felt she would just get up and leave at any second, but she didn't.

"So, you wont be leaving?" he said, not opening his eyes.

"I was here first if anyone will do any leaving, it will be you," then suddenly they both heard something.

" 'ello, 'oes out there?"

"Hagrid," Mayara grumbled. "Come on," she grabbed Sirius by the nape of his neck and pulled him to another side of the forest. from there she let go and began walking to the castle obviously not caring if he followed or not. He trudged along side her,

"Why wasn't he at the meeting?" Sirius asked.

"I am not sure, I suppose he had a task to complete," he followed her all the way back to her room, there he got sick of being a dog and transformed into a human.

She looked at him, drat him she thought, as he transformed. He looked like a shadow, but a very well built and good-looking one. He leaned against the wall,

"Defense against the dark arts?" she looked away, she didn't want to dwell on thoughts of him. She didn't want to trust so much, no. She barely trusted Dumbledore, she didn't trust him, not yet. She shrugged.

"It matters not to me," he looked at her with concern.

"Mayara, do you still-"

"'Yes, nightmares don't just disappear, but its just like this new occupation of mine, it matters not,"

"So that's what they are to you, as meaningless as a job?" he asked, he was getting a bit hotheaded. That wasn't normal. She turned to him, a look of amusement in her eyes.

"It matters just as much as being abandoned, as losing my father, as being beaten, as being taught hate. It matters as much as nothing," Sirius looked at her in shock. He had forgotten how she was, which he had always thought to be impossible to do. He looked into her eyes, yes, behind that poker face was fear, despair. She didn't show it and probably never would, but that didn't stop the pain, Sirius knew that all too well.

"Is that really how you feel?" he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. She cursed herself inwardly and moved her eyes away from his. Then he turned, looked away and stared at the ceiling. His hair slipped back and eyes went into such a strange look of concentration. She shrugged,

"Maybe," she turned and was about to walk in when a strong arm stopped her. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in front of himself, his touch seemed to burn her skin, then he let go, knowing that holding onto her would be like embracing a black cobra after you stepped on it.

"Mar, is maybe all you have to say?"

"Mar? Its been a while, Black," he winced a bit. She still calls me Black, even after all these years. But then her eyes narrowed,

"To feel love, you need a heart, to feel sorrow, you need feelings, to feel loss, you need a soul. I don't have any, I am merely a shadow that runs through the night, a panther, stalking its prey, when it doesn't even need to eat, I am nothing. I wouldn't care if I died right now for I have no reason to live, I am merely going on like the stars, burning away sooner or later, leaving nothing but a black hole," Sirius looked up again,

"A star, you sure as brilliant as one at times, and as fiery and dangerous as one at others," he looked at her, "But stars have purposes,"

"Oh really?"

"They give the gift of dreams and hope," she stepped closer to Sirius and shook her head,

"To dream, you need sweet memories, to have hope, you need something to hope for, I don't have those either," he frowned at her. "Do you know what Mar means? To tarnish and stain,"

"Sometimes, stains are what make a person appreciate true happiness," She turned and started to walk into her room but then, without looking at him said.

"Its good to have you back, Sirius,"

"Good to be back Mar."