The castle looked exactly as she remembered it; its blazing torches throwing light on the corridors she had walked down as a student, but also on the tragic memories she had tried desperately to forget. But it was in this school, after all, where her life had changed around and she met the man who still adored her and the girl who still lived in her heart. Andromeda put aside all memories; the happy and the sad, and finally reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office (a room so illusive she had never been inside it in the seven years she had studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry).

"Enter" echoed the voice of the aging man who resided in these chambers after she had ascended the spiral staircase. Upon entering the overwhelming workplace of Albus Dumbledore she noticed who things. Firstly, a flame-red phoenix that made her think of being chased by fire near greenhouses' secondly, the prominent blue eyes of her former headmaster which resembled greatly the rush of water that had saved her that night.

"Thank you for coming here on such short notice, Andromeda" Dumbledore said apologetically.

"It was no problem, Professor".

"I here you are engaged?"

"Yes; Ted and I are getting married in the autumn" she couldn't help smiling to herself as she thought of Ted Tonks, one of the two most incredible and loving people she had ever met; and who she had loved greatly for nearly five years now.

"Congratulations" he said; genuinely pleased for the pair of them, "I believe you're looking for a job?"

"The Ministry had to make some more redundancies and 'replacements' after Christmas, Ted's still there though so we'll be able to cope".

"The Minister does have a rather unorthodox method of employment. I think it rather unfair that he gave your job to an older and yet more inexperienced witch".

"But Dolores has always been popular amongst the Minister and his friends"

"Indeed. Now, Andromeda, I have asked you to visit the castle today because my Muggle Studies teacher has been somewhat incapacitated, it seems" Dumbledore spoke with some hesitation.

"Incapacitated?"

"He was murdered by the Death Eaters". Andromeda was at a loss for words, that same man had taught her Muggle Studies and had been her best teacher, and she his most prosperous student. Before she had met Ted it had been her Muggle Studies lessons which had kept her sane in the school where she didn't fit in as a Slytherin. Even afterwards she still saw the subject as a much needed form of escapism from the stresses of family feuds and mean-spirited students. Still, there was nothing she could say to Albus Dumbledore that would put all these feelings and passions for the subject into perspective.

"And you want me to take over?" she finally said.

"I realise it could be dangerous-"

"He was murdered, Professor!"

"-but I thought you were more than capable of dealing with some opposition to what is considered in the wizarding world to be a controversial aspect of my curriculum".

"And why should I have any more luck than he did?"

"It is rumoured that Bellatrix Lestrange has returned to England". Andromeda's heart had frozen and her breathing was uneasy. She had never feared her sister in the same way that Cissy had; but it had been Bellatrix who had used the Cruciatus curse on her, who had kidnapped Ted and planned to dispose of him, who had kidnapped one of her best friends-

"That can't be true" she whispered, holding back the tears.

"I have it on good authority. She appears now to be travelling alone, having left her husband Albania to pursue a mission in this area that Lord V-"

"Please don't use his name!" Andromeda interrupted desperately.

"I apologise; a mission in this area that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has bestowed upon her. Rodolphus is still in mainland Europe working on a separate task that we are unaware of and aren't concerned of at this present time".

"Who is we?"

"It is a group of witches and wizards I'm getting together in the hopes of never having to deploy them" he gazed suspiciously at the phoenix sat in the corner of the room; "all will become clear soon enough, but that does not matter for the time being".

"You were talking about Bellatrix?"

"Yes, of course. Our initial theory was that the mission was to murder the aforementioned Professor here at Hogwarts. However, over the past week she has been sighted in Hogsmeade on several occasions. Therefore it appears her mission has not yet been 'accomplished' as it were".

"So you don't know what her mission is?"

"We have a few suspicions, but nothing conclusive. Alas; we are no closer to answering that question than we are of capturing the 'Dark Lord' as his followers call him. He, by the way, is also said to have returned to the country".

"But that means-"

"Yes, Andromeda. Death and destruction often come hand-in-hand with dark wizards and I believe that he is of no exception. Some of my teachers have already left the castle in the fear that they are in danger, so I need Professors who are demonstrate the courage and loyalty to remain at the school".

"You think I qualify for that?" she asked with slight scorn.

"Did you enjoy the carriage ride up to the castle, Miss Black?"

"I'm sorry?"

"The carriage ride, Miss Black"

"Well, it wasn't much different to my trips to the castle when I was studying here. Except for the horses-"

"The horses" Dumbledore agreed; more of a statement than a question; "That, Andromeda, is why I need you as part of my teaching staff".

"Because of the horses?"

"They are thestrals; wonderful creatures that can only be seen by those who have seen death. You saw death in its worst form; that of a friend very close to you and your fiancé, which is how I know that if Mrs Lestrange and her master do try to infiltrate the castle I know that you will want to fight, revenge is not a virtue . . . but justice is".

"It's still a bear, you know"

"I thought it might be, and Ted's?"

"Ever since the funeral it's been a nymph. Apparently it's extremely rare to have a near-human Patronus but anyone can see that he still misses her". There was a pause whilst Andromeda brushed away the tears that hadn't stopped for four years and pondered the decision in front of her.

"I'll do it"

"Wonderful! Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor Black! I will have the house-elves make your chambers habitable of course, and please feel free to make yourself at home any time before the new academic year begins next week and I would advise you to prepare an appropriate teaching schedule in advance".

"I'll get to work on it straight away, Professor Dumbledore".

"At least there should be one familiar face in one of your classes so don't get too worried about it" he smiled in the same friendly way he did to the scared first years.

"Did Cissy keep the subject on?" asked Andromeda hopefully; Cissy was now in her final year at Hogwarts and had been slightly enthusiastic about Muggle Studies.

"I'm afraid your sister dropped the subject after you completed your education. I was referring, of course, to the third year Muggle Studies class".

"Why, who will be studying it?"

"Your cousin" Dumbledore smiled once again, "Sirius Black".