Hi. My name is Haile Potter for the sixth time. But this summer, I feel different. Firstly, I'm sixteen. I'm nearly a woman now; I'm almost of age in the wizarding world. I feel older at any rate.

Like most my girls my age, I've matured. My body has stayed petite and slender, but I grew to a full five feet and two inches—not exactly a staggering total, but I'm quite content. I've filled out in womanly curves that my body embraced with ease.

When I look into the mirror now, I no longer see a child. I have even tried looking past the sad eyes that contain a life long story of demise and despair. Instead, I see the beautiful face that the wizarding world had often told me of. I could deny it no longer at a wizened sixteen years old.

One might say sixteen years old is still young. It is, I suppose. But when you've experienced all I have in five short years, you cannot deny the maturity I've reached. Several close people to me dying have helped me cope with death, one of the stranger things in this universe.

Seeing Lord Voldemort and fighting him helped me become stronger and accept my fate. Being in love and having that love crushed to pieces helped me bring my walls down and open my heart up.

It was almost eleven o'clock. I was up, unable to fall asleep. Professor Dumbledore was coming to collect me when the clock stuck eleven, and I wanted to be ready. I was dressed, packed, and waiting.

I knew I would ultimately stay at the Burrow, but in his letters, Dumbledore had mentioned we were going somewhere first. And I had not an inkling of where this could be.

Restless, I began re-reading newspaper articles. They contained mostly headlines and stories of me…the Chosen One. Instead of being the 'Girl Who Lived' or last year's the 'Girl Who Lied,' I was now the 'Chosen One.'

Okay. It wasn't as bad as being called a liar, but I still felt like everyone put me on this pedestal, and I couldn't climb down. I didn't want to disappoint the whole world by not coming through.

Other articles contained notice of a change in the Ministry of Magic—Cornelius Fudge himself had been replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour.

Finally, my clock read eleven o'clock. I looked out the window. Darkness had consumed the street. I knew that meant Dumbledore was near. I hurried downstairs, hoping that he wouldn't wake up the Dursleys.

I met Dumbledore at the front door. It was very strange seeing Professor Dumbledore at the doorstep of my aunt and uncle's house. I studied him closely. He looked older and weary, but yet so powerful. Having regained the position of Headmaster had done him well.

"Good evening," he said pleasantly. "Are you ready?"

"Yes!" I told him. "I just have to get my stuff."

"I have already transported them."

"But…I was just up there…when?"

"Fifteen seconds ago," Dumbledore told me, smiling. "Now, shall we?"

I grinned. A typical Dumbledore moment. I followed him excitedly down the street. "So, where are we going?" I asked curiously.

"Before I answer that, there are a couple things to discuss. Sirius Black plainly left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place."

"Oh," I said, surprised. "Right. That means I get Kreacher, too?"

"Correct. What would you like to do with him?"

"Uh…can I send him to work at Hogwarts? That way I can keep my eye on him," I said.

"Excellent idea. And Buckbeak is being looked after by Hagrid. Shall you make other arrangements?" Dumbledore asked me.

"Oh—no!" I said. "Buckbeak would like that."

"Excellent. Now, if you'd hold on to my left arm tightly. We will Apparate." He offered his left arm out. I took it, holding it tightly as he instructed.

A sudden twirl sent my head spinning. Air was compressed around me, and I could hardly breathe.

Then, it stopped. I looked around at the unfamiliar setting. "Where are we?" I asked Dumbledore, studying the little village we were in the middle of, trying to catch my breath.

"Well, I am visiting an old colleague. I hope to persuade him to come out of retirement and return to Hogwarts to teach," Dumbledore told me.

"Oh. Okay then," I said easily.

We began walking towards a particular house. Upon entering, we found the house to be in complete destruction. "What happened here?" I asked, bewildered, stepping tentatively on glass from the fallen chandelier.

Dumbledore smiled. "Don't worry yourself, Haile." He plunged his tip into a half-destroyed armchair.

"OUCH!" the armchair cried. And then it wasn't an armchair anymore. It was a man. A very large man.

"Horace Slughorn," Dumbledore introduced kindly.

"Knew I couldn't fool you," Slughorn said. "And who might this be?" His eyes fell upon me and he gasped. "Oh my."

"Horace, this is Haile Potter."

"I know who she is!" he spluttered irritably. He studied me closely. "Just as dazzlingly beautiful as I've heard…"

"Well, I didn't bring her along so you could gape at her like an exhibit," Dumbledore said, pretending to sound offended. "Would you excuse me while I used the restroom?"

"Upstairs on the left," Horace Slughorn said, not taking his eyes off me. "So…Haile Potter. Knew Dumbledore would resort to something like this."

Shrugging, I stood up and began looking at his shelves. They were filled with pictures and autographs. "Who are all these people?" I asked him.

"My ex-students," Slughorn boasted. "I was Head of Slytherin, and well, teachers aren't supposed to have favorites, but there were my select few. Your mother was one of them, of course."

"My mother?" I exclaimed, turning to face him.

"Oh yes. I mean, that is saying something because she was Muggle-born and in Gryffindor, but she was one of the brightest witches I've ever taught," Slughorn said thoughtfully. "What a wonderful girl she was. She was beautiful, too."

"Yes, I like to think I look like her," I said, turning back to the many photographs. I found the one of my mother.

"Oh, your same beauty is undeniable! But you have James's hair," Slughorn said with a chuckle. He paused. "You're lucky you have the looks to go along with the fame. It's not easy…"

"I don't know if I would describe myself as lucky," I told him, shrugging. "Then again, how else would I have gotten through everything? Facing Voldemort and the Triwizard Tournament…I guess I am lucky."

Slughorn was staring at me with his jaw open slightly. "A little thing like you facing He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Unbelievable, but it's true, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I said, shrugging again, trying not to make it a big deal. Last thing I wanted was more attention. "So, what do you think about the new minister?"

"Oh he's fine," Slughorn said shrugging. "I was afraid it would be that Umbridge woman, who was Headmistress at Hogwarts last year."

I gasped. "I despised that lady!" I said angrily, instinctively reaching for the scars on my right hand.

"Oh, I've never liked her," Slughorn agreed.

"So why don't you want the job?" I asked him.

"I'm old!" he snapped. "I'm retired."

"You're obviously not retired from hiding," I pointed out. "You wouldn't have to do that at Hogwarts. And come on -you don't look a day over thirty, Mr. Slughorn."

"You're a trip, aren't you," Slughorn told me, grinning in spite of himself.

Dumbledore returned at that point. "Well, I think it's time we go, Haile. I can see it is no use persuading Mr. Slughorn here to return."

Slughorn frowned. "Well, Dumbledore, let's not be hasty. I never said I wouldn't go."

"No? Well, that's splendid. We'll see you on the first of September, then?" Dumbledore asked, grinning, his eyes twinkling.

Slughorn looked at me. "Yes. I daresay you will. Good to be out of hiding again…" He paused. "How old are you again, Miss Potter?"

"I've just turned sixteen," I answered, glancing at Dumbledore.

"Ah, yes. Dumbledore, this girl's charming! A good year we are to have. Well, goodbye then."

"Again, thank you, Horace," Dumbledore said, and we left. Once outside, Dumbledore told me, "Wonderful, Haile."

"I didn't really do anything," I said shrugging.

"On the contrary. I would say your beauty and charm did it all for you."

"Well, glad it's good for something," I said shrugging. "I wish it would help me with Voldemort." Then I stopped, mortified. "NO! I don't! I…that came out wrong…"

"I understood what you meant, Haile. Of course you don't want another Tom-Riddle-in-the-Chamber-of-Secrets scenario."

I shuddered. "Absolutely not!"

"Now, Haile. Horace Slughorn, as you can see, has his favorite students. You undoubtedly will be one of them. You must allow him to collect you, and be very friendly towards him. I expect this of you. He will prove vital later on."

"Okay," I said indifferently.

We then Apparated to the Burrow. "Professor," I exclaimed, after the pressure of Apparating was gone, "what happened to your hand?"

I pointed to his right hand, which looked virtually useless. It was injured, burned, rotted. It was an awful sight.

"It's a rather thrilling tale, and I'd like to tell it when we have more time. Right now, there's a couple things I'd like to discuss with you, before we go inside."

"Okay."

"Haile— I can't say how proud I was of you a month ago at the Ministry of Magic. You acted braver than anyone I've ever known. Sirius would have said he was proud as well. It's not fair that you two are separated by life and death so early into your relationship. I know he was like a father to you."

"I'm coping with it well," I told Dumbledore. "Really, please don't worry about me! As you told me in my first year, Professor...death is but the next great adventure."

"I'm flattered you remember. Now, I hope, Haile, that you have confided in your friends about the prophecy. Disregard the newspaper headlines. No one knows but us."

"I haven't told Ron and Hermione yet," I said embarrassed. "I don't want to worry them."

"You need your friends," Dumbledore said lightly. "Tell them. Also, I would like to engage you in private lessons with me this year."

"Really? What will we be doing?" I asked him.

"You'll see," he told me. "Now, Haile, one last thing. I must ask you not to be reckless. I do not want you looking for trouble."

"I won't, Professor."

"Very well. Let's go, then."

We entered the Weasley house. Mrs. Weasley was thrilled to see us. "Oh, Haile, dear," she told me, hugging me tightly.

Tonks was there, too. She didn't look too happy though. She looked rather weary and sad. "I better be going. I'll see you later, Molly. Bye, Haile, nice to see you." She hugged me before leaving.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh…just upset about something. Now, something to eat? I'll fix something up for you."

Dumbledore wished us goodbye and vanished.

After I sat down to eat a sandwich she made me, thanking her graciously, Mrs. Weasley beamed at me. "Oh, Haile, you've grown to an absolutely gorgeous young lady. They'll all be thrilled to see you…they're all up in bed, though."

"Okay," I enthused.

"So, this means Horace is going to take the job?"

"Yep," I said. "He said so tonight. What's new here?"

"Oh, Ron hasn't mentioned? Arthur's been promoted by Scrimgeour," Mrs. Weasley said happily.

"That's fantastic!" I told her.

"And Bill's engaged to be married…to someone you know actually! Fleur Delacour, the other girl Champion from your fourth year?"

"Oh yes!" I said, surprised. "That's…wow! That's great!"

"And Fred and George's business is just thriving…but Haile, please go on up to bed. Ginny and Hermione are in Ginny's room."

I thanked her again, and trudged upstairs, feeling tired. Ginny and Hermione were asleep. I slid myself into an empty cot quietly and went to bed.