AN: This chap is a little shorter than I thought it'd be. Anyways, as for Mr.D's motives, the entire set will be revealed slowly. I mean (to quote Cu) 'He's a sly old coot.' He has his reasons for hiring the mage killer. Those reasons aren't going to be revealed immediately.

Location Unknown, 13:27

He had sent Maiya to scout out the location as soon as he got the return letter (that owl looked absolutely pissed at this point, he could't figure out why). The meeting was set in a small cafe out in countryside Britain a few days from now. She said she found a favorable place to observe and offer fire support should things go south. He'd been preparing counter measures, planning escape routes, and deciding which armaments to bring. It may have sounded a bit paranoid for a meeting with an old man but, even paranoia has it's uses. That was a lesson that had saved his live on numerous occasions, and one he wasn't about to forsake anytime soon.

Currently, he was eying a file on the other half of this little negotiation (not to mention potential future employer). It was his SOP (standard operating procedure) to conduct background checks on clients. Blind trust was a security risk that just could not be afforded. In this line of work, the chances of being betrayed, back stabbed, left for dead, or just simply not paid were exceedingly high.

Though this time, the check had been more thorough for obvious reasons. A wizard as well establish and powerful as this one reaching out to a mercenary-mage like him for a teaching position? Especially when he has reputation for preferring the peaceful solution, if not outright pacifism? This just set off too many alarms in his head to not look at this from every angle he possibly could.

So far, the check hadn't turned up anything too alarming. All that succeeded in doing was adding to the suspicion.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,

-Born 1881

-Father sent to Azkaban wizarding prison a few years after his birth for attacking a group of civilian boys

-Began attending Hogwarts school in 1892 where he received top marks all the way until his graduation in 1899

-Kendra Dumbledore (mother) killed in 1899 from accidental magic outburst (Ariana Dumbledore-Younger Sister)

-Ariana later killed as a bystander of a rather violent duel

-Later started teaching 'Transfiguration' at Hogwarts

-Appointed headmaster in 1957

After that it gets rather uneventful (aside from the wizarding wars, which was an entirely different can of worms).

In summary; this man is smart, powerful, and long lived with a past marred with tragedy. No doubt he was also good at reading people. Closing the file, he looked over his weapons and debated on taking the grenades. In the end he went with them, plus a few flash bangs just in case. Can never be too careful, right?

Countryside, 3:45pm

Albus had been steadily making his way to the cafe he selected for the negotiations. They made the most excellent tea he had come across. Not to mention they also sold sweets and candies (particularly sherbet lemons). It was a nice, quiet little place he made sure to visit often.

When he got there he noticed had yet to arrive. 'Oh well' he thought as he made his way to the counter to order. The man had, no doubt, been doing his homework before today. It was only the logical thing to do after all. Likely trying discern what might motivate a wizard such as himself to reach out to a Mercenary-mage with such a reputation.

15 minutes later he had been reading a small work of fiction when arrived. 'Exactly on time' he noted, punctuality was always a good quality for one to have after all.

"Lemon sherbet?" Dumbledore asked, offering up the small pouch he bought. He didn't receive an answer, 'Silent type, eh?'

Emiya sat down and sent a critical gaze to the elder wizard, then simply asked, "Why?"

'All work and no fun.' He was going to have to change that, "Because they're simply delicious and I assumed you'd find them as enjoyable as I have, Mr. Emiya."

'Offer of sweets, non-agressive tone of voice, and attempted humor. Simple yet effective.' Emiya filed that away for later and pressed forward, "I mean, why hire me?"

"You are good at what you do. Which happens to be what this class teaches." came the reply.

'Evasive answers, there's something he doesn't want to tell me, at least not yet.' "I'm sure there are other who'd be more favorable than me."

"Well, Mr. Emiya, let's just say I've found you are, more suited, for the challenges the position holds than most." Dumbledore stated in his typical cryptic way.

"And what would those challenges entail?" Emiya asked.

"The seat has had trouble keeping someone for more than one school year. On top of that, there are more…personal.. concerns I'd like your help with." answered Dumbledore.

'A curse tester and a sword to act outside his personal nature. He's as cunning as the files suggest.' Emiya noted, "Why a mercenary mage? Why not another wizard?"

"Because i see something in you. I see something good, something righteous. You'll never let the innocents fend for themselves. You always throw yourself in harms way for the sake of every living thing on the planet. that's my theory at least. Though, I'd like to inquire about the passenger jet incident." came the reply.

"A dead apostle had been experimenting with bee familiars and was set to land in an hour. I couldn't risk the chance of an outbreak. I weighed the options and shot the plane down." Emiya said, wondering why he said it.

"That's all I need to know. You're hired, if you'll accept the seat."

"When does the term start?" Emiya asked as he grabbed the pouch for his assistant.

.

AN: Even though it was short and quick, this chap was hard to write. Anyways, I'm having trouble with the 4th grail war... should i even include it? I mean now, I'm set on harry's 3rd year. Any suggestions?