Aramis Valkin looked seriously at the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Headmaster Dumbledore's chambers. He had never met Dumbledore, but Lord Valkyrie Caldori who was Headmaster back at home had told him Dumbledore was a fair man, would give someone a fair chance no matter what others might think of him. This was what Aramis was counting on. "Sherbet Lemon." He said seriously, ascending the spiral staircase to the Headmaster's chambers and knocked on the large oaken door

Albus Dumbledore had been settled behind his desk for the past hour, replying to the many letters that had been delivered to his office earlier that morning. A quill held loosely in one hand, he sighed softly to himself, wondering if perhaps it would have given him less work if he has actually accepted the Ministers position himself. Much as he wished to distance himself from power, he knew he would not be able to help feeling a little responsible if he denied the Minister his advice, and the wizarding world suffered as a result. At the soft tapping on the doors, he laid doqn the quill, flicking his eyes to a small decorative clock settled upon a nearby shelf. "Come in."

Aramis took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the office and walked in taking a seat in the chair in front of the Headmaster. If one looked at him they could immediately observe a few things.. Aramis was a tall, lithe figure. He had tawny, brown wavvy hair that reached just below his shirt collar which he wore free and loose, and very expressive golden-brown eyes. His skin was pale.. no not just pale but deathly white. His eyes thrown into sharp relief by the bruised looking shadows beneath them... and his smile, soft, half there.. a serious expression on the young face. "I had heard you 'vere looking for a Defense Professor." He said, carefully ennunciating each word as if worried he would say the wrong thing.

Albus allowed a small smile to spread across his lips as he replied. "Indeed, we find ourselves without a Professor for that particular subject. His eyes twinkled as he observed the figure seated before him. He had been rather good at Defensive lessons himself during his time as a student, and a sudden curiosity had invaded his thoughts, driving all recolection of the letters from his mind. Unless he was much mistake, this young man could well be... but he knew from personal experience how deceptive appearences could be. He paused slightly, considering his words, before finally settling upon "you wish to apply?"

"I do." Aramis said, his hands folded on his knees rather anxiously, he felt out of place in the broad daylight, even though he was a daywalker and unaffected by the light, it felt as if he were giving an interview to a very important person in the middle of the "night". He watched the man before him thoughtfully, his eyes taking in everything about him, wondering...

Albus nodded, gathering the various papers laid out in front of him, and bundling them together. He opened a drawer in his desk and placed them neatly inside, allowing himself room to lean forward over the desk. "Very well." he stated simply, withdrawing his wand from his sleeve. With a lazy flick of the elderwood shaft, he produced two pewter goblets, careful not to produce silver as he usually did, in case it should affect his guest. One of the goblets hovered above the desk, bobbing in midair for a second before floating in the direction of the applicant.

Aramis looked at the goblet in front of him for a second, seemingly unsure what to do with it... after all, it would be considered poor manners not to drink it, but on the other hand ... he shivered inwardly just imagining how awful it was going to taste. He took the goblet bravely in his hand and tipped it up as if this were something he did every day. However, the moment the liquid hit his tongue his eyes practically crossed with the repulsed expression that might come if you'd been offered dirt or vomit to drink in your goblet- for it was probably a similiarly horrible taste for Aramis. The vampyre choked once, managed to get the one drink down, the awful expression still on his face and slowly he set down the glass. "I .... do not think... I like mead.." he murmured, his face still looking so strangled and pitiful it was actually comical

Albus attempted to stiffle a chuckle, but did not quite manage it. "Ah well, it's not quite to everyone's taste. Perhaps this, then?" He flicked his wand in the general direction of the goblet, hoping that his guest would enjoy the replaced contents more than the mead. "So..." he began as he plucked his own goblet from midair, and took a small sip of the honey-coloured liquid within. "Have you had any experience in teaching, or perhaps in the practical application of defensive magic?"

Aramis looked at the liquid... clear, but the scent was definitely of his own personal preference and, so, a bit more carefully this time he took a sip... and when he put the cup back the liquid inside had gone a deep red.. /clever it changes to suit you/ he thought, a hint of a smile pulled up the corner of his mouth. "I haff never taught before but, vell, I will say I haff adquate practical knowledge."

"Very good," Albus smiled, placing his goblet on the desk to his right and steepling his hands in front of him. "Perhaps you would care to give an example of some kind?" His gaze flicked, almost indiscernably in the direction of Aramis' goblet, and then back again to his face. He wondered idlely why he had not thought of giving such a drink to any past applicants. It would certainly have given a small insight into their personalities. Or at least, his brother had once boasted that such a feat of detective work was possible. He briefly considered whether it's contents had become blood or not, and decided not to enquire upon this particular subject. If Aramis was trustworthy, he was confident that he would be informed of any... unfortunate conditions

"I haff been a member of the Et Familia for some time... and in the courses of our attempts to do best for our vorld ve haff encountered some... interesting things." He murmured with a chuckle, remembering past experiences. "Vhen I decided I vanted to teach.. I travelled to many places... to see as much as I could.. to bring these things to my future students.... unfortunately, the professors in Transylvania never seem to get any older.." His eyes showed a sparkle of a laugh.

Albus smiled. "I can imagine." He took a brief sip of his mead, settling his beaker back down onto the surface of his desk. He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully, before speaking again. "I pray that you will forgive my intrusion into your personal life, however my first responsibility as Headmaster is to my students, and I'm afraid that before I may consider hiring you for any position, I must first know how you intend to control your... condition?"

Aramis sighed, so they had come to this at last, the part that had made every headmaster from France to the United States turn him down.. "In Transylvania only the lucky of us have donors... mortals, villing to give blood.. I am not von of them.. any blood is a temptation, but I haff survived most of my life on animal blood.. I haff spent much time practicing.. preparing until I feel confident I vould not hurt any of my students... "

Dumbledore nodded, considering this carefully, "You may know that I do not hire on qualification alone, nor to I hire on deserving alone.. .but a combination of these things, I find, makes the best measure of professor. It requires someone who is willing to give freely of themselves to each of their students over and over again, always putting them first. I can see that you seem to possess this. When I consider what a struggle it must have been for you to learn to resist mortal blood. For those in Transylvania is one thing for they are not faced with the problem every day as you have been and will continue to be. It is a brave and good thing you have done going out into the world to try and make a difference."

Aramis felt his cheeks burn a pleasant peach color. "Thank you, sir." he said, bending his head and concentrating on the folded, white hands resting peacefully in the lap of his robes.

"Would you mind telling me a bit of the syllabus you've planned for your students?" Dumbledore inquired, feeling his heart begin to warm to the unfortunate young man (though he did not pity him for he sensed that Aramis Valkin neither asked for or wanted his pity).

"Certainly, I haff done much thinking on the subject. I vant to make learning fun and interesting but instructive as vell." Aramis explained, pulling out a well creased and worn bit of parchment that had the old syllabus written on it. "The first two veeks I would be covering duelling.. one veek on the offensive and one week on the defensive. After this I 'vant to move into a study of dark creatures... leithifolds, dementors, werewolves, thestrals - and other 'bad omens' and... yes... vampires." He said. "After this a study of major curses... including the unforgiveables... sectumsempra, and other mind control charms as well as taking a week to prepare for the final examinations." He explained some of the material he'd be covering.

"This syllabus seems to have taken a good deal of preparation and thought. I am pleased." Dumbledore said with a nod. "I think.." He paused, "That you would make us a very fine Defense Professor..... and I'd be proud to accept you." Dumbledore said, extending his hand, which Aramis shook a brilliant smile coming out over his face.

"Thank you! You haff no idea vhat this chance means for me!" He said, his face showing happiness and relief. "I vill not let you down professor."

~*~*~*~

One week later, Aramis had arranged his classroom as he wanted it and had only to await his students' arrival. Cabinets and the desk were pushed back against the chalk board covered wall and the two seater desks were pushed far to the corner, leaving the large center of the room open for practicing their duelling as he'd intended for the first two classes with his new students. All was in readiness from the crates of pillows for practicing anything that might require a painful landing, to the huge shelves of volumes of defense tomes and all sorts of other interesting little knicknacks- foe glasses and sneakoscopes and such. There was an open space on the top shelf holding a huge (empty for now) aquarium, but who knew what might end up in that before the end of term.

The room was decorated rather lavishly (using magic of course) with wooden floors and huge tapestries and portraits that talked and moved as was common. Aramis was proud of it, but reminded himself not to take anything for granted, that he was really going to have to prove himself to be allowed to stay on here. He carefully prepared a little examination on pieces of parchment for his class, a little quiz to help him determine what they already knew about duelling before he began to teach them.

Aramis anxiously laid out a quiz at each place, and now he only need wait for his students to arrive.

He turned back and went to the board, taking up a piece of chalk and letting the white lines twist theirselves across the stark greenness of the large expanse putting his name on the board before he took his place at his desk somewhat anxiously.

- For this pre-term lesson, please fill ouut the questions in your quiz, next week we'll have our first "official" lesson beginning with dueling.