Dumbledore watched Horace Slughorn approach him, normally cheerful face unwontedly serious. Horace almost never got mad, even laughing off the pranks the Marauders pulled on him, although that didn't stop him from giving them detention. So it must be something of note, especially to get him out of bed before noon, the day after all the students went home.

"How may I help you, Horace?"

"I…" Odd, the man normally was impossible to shut up.

"I have a favor to ask of you." Normally Horace was unabashed in asking and delivering favors, especially through his connections developed in 'collecting' those of talent. SO why was he suddenly awkward about it?

"Go on," Dumbledore urged gently.

"It's not for myself, you see…My…my great-niece, well that's the simplest way to put it, you know how muddle relationships between pureblood families are, Albus." The headmaster smiled knowingly. Slughorn obviously had quite the soft spot where his young relative was concerned.

"This would be young Miss Annibell Irving, whose school rejected her because of the attack she suffered, yes?" Slughorn blinked. "An invitation is already on its way to her, in fact, she should be receiving it any minute, Horace."

"I should have known you would have heard already, and moved to help. Thank you, Albus, she is a sweet girl, and the news just about broke her, while she took the fact of her new condition without a wince." Gratitude shone in the plump Potions Master's eyes.

"Everyone deserves a chance to do good in their life, Horace. I merely am insuring that those who would otherwise not receive it are given that opportunity." Despite his mild tone, the fervor in the blue eyes would have convinced the greatest skeptic that for Albus Dumbledore, 'helping people help themselves' was no platitude, but his mission in life.

That evening, the Potions Master received a letter from his great niece, along with his dinner. It was long, for her, and chatty, and told him that the news had revived the girl's spirit. She loved to learn, and to be barred from that had just about killed her, whereas, having dealt with werewolves all her life, being on didn't faze her, but was simple a challenge to be met.

Uncle,

I have no idea how you did it, but you worked a miracle. This morning, during breakfast –the food at St. Mungo's is awful, it hardly deserves the title- I received a message straight from Dumbledore, inviting me to Hogwarts for my final year of education! He says there are a series of precautions we can take to make sure no one gets hurt.

So, I guess that you'll have to put up with me in your N.E.W.T class! Mwahahahaha! The mayhem and havoc I shall wreak! You said you've lost another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Isn't that one a year for fifteen or so years, now? Is the position jinxed or something? You must be glad to have a break, knowing you, uncle; you aren't going to get up before noon any time soon. You love to teach, it's obvious, but if it is tiring to be a Prefect and run herd on kids in that role, being in your position must be exhausting!

What are the other teachers at Hogwarts like? Do you think you could give me a tour, so I'm not wandering around, lost, and looking like an idiot when term starts? Please tell me Divination isn't a mandatory subject all seven years, at Hogwarts! If it is, I might have to smash all the crystal balls, and teacups! Or jump off of your Astronomy tower, or where ever the highest point is…just kidding…

Only two of my teachers came to see me, my favorite and least favorite, Transfiguration, and Divination. The lady couldn't stop babbling about the tragedy in my future according to her reading of my palm. Bleh. Apparently, my lifeline is unusually short and broken in several places, indicating severe disruptment. Joy of all joys. Apparently, I have yet to meet my soul-mate, but when I do, he will be my first and only love. Load of rubbish. Last week she was convinced that someone would blow up or burn down Diagon Alley on Sunday. Guess what? Sunday's come and gone, and, would you look at that, Diagon alley is untouched. Speaking of touched, she'd touched-in the head.

Do you know if it is possible for werewolves to become animagi? I still want to finish teaching myself that. I looked up the registry, and found that Professor McGonagall, the Hogwarts Transfiguration teacher-you already knew this, heh…heh…- is one. I wonder if she could help me. Could you ask? Do you think that becoming one would be harder, because you have to deal with preexisting transformative magic, or easier, because the shape-shifting aspect is already there?

On a side, but related note, I was bored, and practicing spells, and I noted something odd. My Patronus has changed, in the few days since I was bitten. Before, it was a horse, now it wavers between horse and wolf…which has some…interesting… combinations in between the two solid forms. Wolves shouldn't have hooves, and horses shouldn't have canine muzzles. Horses shouldn't have fangs. The only horse-like creature with fangs, should be thestrals.

~Annibell

P.S. I hope you like your birthday present!

With the letter was a box of candied pineapple, his favorite treat. The man, laughing at her snark, and crossings-out wrote his reply.

Anni,

Thanks for the pineapple, of course I love it! I'll send you some real food so you don't waste away. You have a higher rate of metabolism, now, if I recall your father's rambling correctly. Who's ever heard of a fat werewolf? I'd like to lay claim to being the reason you got the letter, but Dumbledore had sent it off before I'd ever approached him. Don't ask me how he knew, the man knows everything. Don't worry, you'll love Hogwarts, dear, and no, I'm not going to get up before noon for at least a month.

As for the other teachers, they're a mixed lot. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, is, of course, an unknown. We had a new Herbology teacher this year, Professor Sprout, you probably won't have her, but she's a jolly sort, kind and understanding. Flitwick, the Charms teacher, is a tiny fellow, with a massive intellect, and a good sense of humor. You'll adore McGonagall, she's a bit strict, but she's absolutely fair, and rewards effort, and intelligence, and will always help you if you need it, even if it is to say 'check the library'. I'll ask her about your animagi questions when I see her next. Divination is NOT mandatory, you'll be glad to know.

Only two of your teachers? What about your friends? And there was no reason you should've been kicked out! It's preposterous! If anyone can handle the transition with equanimity, it is you, dear heart, but I'm so sorry that you have to. I hope you gave Greyback a good trouncing! He deserves Azkaban if anyone besides You-Know-Who does! Dementors are filthy things, but they do make it an escape-proof prison…

I wonder if you Patronus will change over completely over time… They change you know, as you soul changes, shaped by your life. Actually, one of the strongest indicators of true love is that the Patronuses of the lovers change to become the same species, but of the gender of their caster. Lycanthropy is a severely life-altering event, which is probably, (but don't quote me on that), the trigger for the change. Send me sketches of the in-between forms, I'm having trouble picturing them. I know you sketched them, love, so don't 'Uncle Sluggy' me, like I know you're doing. No, don't glare, either, just send them.

Your absolute favorite, always-loving 'uncle',

~Sluggy

Upon receiving her letter, the girl laughed, and did just what he'd told her not to, before sighing and sending off a few sketches with the owl, grumbling to herself. She was eager to get out of the Hospital, but they were insistent on holding her for her first full moon. In the meantime, she went to work on her new project, developing a potion to control herself during the full moon, if she couldn't prevent the Change entirely.