Harry was sitting in a diner, reading a newspaper and he could hear the radio where a man was talking, "The Police are continuing with the investigation into the cause of the Millennium Bridge disaster. Traffic has been halted as police search for survivors. The surrounding area remains closed. The mayor has urged Londoners to remain calm…"
A waitress was wiping down a table next to Harry, unknowingly that it was Harry, "'Harry Potter.' Who's Harry Potter?"
"Oh, no one. Bit of a tosser, really," he replied as he put the newspaper down.
"Funny, that paper of yours. Couple nights ago, I could've sworn I saw a picture move," she said.
"Really?" Harry asked, innocently.
"Thought I was going around the twist," she commented.
She was turning to leave and Harry called out, "Hey, I was wondering—"
"Eleven," she immediately said and then added, "That's when I get off. You can tell me all about that tosser Harry Potter." Harry looked out the window and saw the train going by but he could have sworn that he saw Dumbledore on the other side of the tracks. He waited until the train left and saw him looking at a poster. He got up from his seat and walked towards the other ramp.
Dumbledore looked up and saw Harry walking off the stairs and said, "You've been reckless this summer, Harry."
"I like riding around on trains. Takes my mind off things," he replied and looked at Dumbledore's right hand.
Dumbledore saw that Harry had seen his hand and said, "Rather unpleasant to behold, isn't it? The tale is thrilling, if I say so myself. But now is not the time to tell it. Take my arm. Do as I say." He offered Harry his arm and they both disappeared from the train station.
"I just Apparated, didn't I?" Harry asked when he saw that they were standing next to a statue.
"Indeed. Quite successfully too, I might add. Most people vomit the first time," Dumbledore stated.
"I can't imagine why," Harry said sarcastically. They both walked down a street, trying to find the house that they needed to visit.
"Welcome to the charming village of Budleigh Babberton. Harry, I assume, right about now, you must be wondering why I brought you here. Am I right?" Dumbledore asked.
"Actually sir, after all these years I just sort of go with it," Harry answered. He noticed that Dumbledore paused and looked around where they were standing. "Professor, what are we doing?"
"We are waiting for someone," he replied.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm here," Ella replied as she appeared standing in front of the door."
"Ella," Harry called out and ran over to hug her.
"What's this I hear that you're been riding trains this summer, Harry?"
"It's just a distraction for me, that's all," he said.
"Now that we're all here. We need to go in," Dumbledore instructed. Harry and Ella agreed. "Wands out." All three of them went inside, looking around the surroundings with the lights out of the wands. The house looked like someone had searched the house, trying to find something. "Horace?" Dumbledore called out.
"Professor, I smell blood," Ella whispered. Dumbledore looked up at the ceiling and saw something drip. He touched what dropped from the ceiling, tasted it and immediately knew what it was. He looked into the lounge area and noticed an armchair, still intact. "Horace?" He pointed his wand at the armchair and tapped it twice.
"Merlin's beard! No need to disfigure me, Albus," Slughorn cried out and shook off the excess fat.
"Well, I must say you make a very convincing armchair, Horace," Dumbledore commented.
"It's all in the upholstery. I come by the stuffing naturally. What gave me away?" he asked.
"Dragon's blood," Dumbledore answered.
"You can smell all sorts of blood?" Harry asked as he turned towards Ella.
"Yes, I can, Harry," she answered. "Every living creature has blood."
"Oh," Horace muttered as he saw Harry.
"Oh, yes, introductions. Harry, Ella, I'd like you to meet an old friend and colleague of mine… Horace Slughorn," he introduced. "Horace… well, you know who this is."
"Harry Potter," Slughorn replied.
"This is Ella Cullen, my own personal assistant at Hogwarts," he introduced her.
"Miss Cullen," he said as he extended his hand towards her.
"Mr. Slughorn," she replied respectfully.
"I've only heard so much about vampires," he started to say.
"What's with all the theatrics, Horace?" Dumbledore interfered. He knew that once he started to discuss something, nothing will stop him. "You weren't, by any chance, waiting for someone else?"
"Someone else?" Slughorn asked, slightly offended. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean," no one said anything and then he continued on, "All right, the Death Eaters have been trying to recruit me for over a year. Do you know what that's like? You can only say no so many times, so I never stay anywhere more than a week. Muggles who own this are in the Canary Islands."
"Well, I think we should put it back in order for them, don't you? Mind," he asked Slughorn, who only shook his head. Dumbledore, flicking his wand, things were immediately starting to be put back into its place around the house. Pictures were put back into its rightful place, furniture being sewed together and stood upright, the chandelier was put back together. Harry just stood around, in awe of everything being cleaned up with a single flick of a wand. Harry heard a squeaking coming from where his foot was and looked down. He stepped away as soon as he saw a glass like piece struggling to move away. Once he moved his foot, it immediately connected itself back to the chandelier. "That was fun. Do you mind if I use the loo?"
"No, of course. Don't think I don't know why you're here, Albus. The answer's still no," Slughorn called out after him, "Absolutely and unequivocally, no. You're very like your father… except for the eyes. You have your—"
"My mother's eyes. Yeah," Harry finished off.
Harry looked at the pictures that were on the furniture and Horace saw the picture that Harry was looking at and said, "Lily. Lovely Lily She was exceedingly bright, your mother. Even more impressive when one considers she was Muggle-born."
"One of my best friends is Muggle-born. Best in our year," Harry commented.
"Please don't think I'm prejudiced. No, no. Your mother was one of my absolute favorites. Look, there she is. Right at the front. All mine. Each and every one. Ex-students. I mean. You recognize Barnabas Cuffe, editor of the Daily Prophet. Always takes my owl, should I wish to register an opinion on the news of the day. Gwenog Jones, captain of the Holyhead Harpies. Free tickets whenever I want them. Of course, I haven't been to a match in some time. Ah, yes. Regulus Black. You no doubt know of his older brother, Sirius. Died a few weeks ago. I taught the whole Black family, except Sirius. It's a shame. Talented boy. I got Regulus when he came along, of course, but I'd have like the set," Horace explained.
At that moment, Dumbledore came out, calling for him, "Horace? Do you mind if I take this? I do love knitting patterns."
"Yes, of course," Slughorn said, giving his consent. "But you're not leaving?"
"I think I know a lost cause when I see one. Regrettable. I would have considered it a personal triumph had you consented to return to Hogwarts. Oh, well. You're like my friend, Mr. Potter here, one of a kind. Well, bye-bye, Horace," Dumbledore said as they all walked out of the house together.
Not a moment too soon, Slughorn comes out saying, "All right. I'll do it. But I want Professor Merrythought's old office, not the water closet I had before. And I expect a raise. These are mad times we live in. Mad!" He went back into the house, afraid that someone had heard him.
"They are indeed," Dumbledore said softly.
"Sir, exactly what was all that about?" Harry asked as they continued to walk away from the house.
"You are talented, famous and powerful," Dumbledore started to explain. "Everything Horace values. Professor Slughorn is gonna try to collect you, Harry. You would be his crowning jewel. That's why he's returning to Hogwarts. And it's crucial he should return. I fear I may have stolen a wondrous night from you, Harry. She was, truthfully, very pretty, the girl."
"It's all right, sir. I'll go back tomorrow, make some excuse," he replied.
"Oh, you'll not be returning to Little Whinging tonight, Harry," Dumbledore responded.
"But, sir, what about Hedwig? And my trunk?" Harry asked.
"Both are waiting for you," Dumbledore replied. "Ella will be taking you to Weasleys' house, to ensure your safety." Once they were within a safe distance, Dumbledore Apparated to Hogwarts.
"Come, Harry, let's go to the Weasleys. We'll have time to chat," Ella said. "Grab my arm." The moment he touched her arm, they were standing by a puddle. Ella wrapped her arm around Harry's shoulders, "What's been going on, Harry?"
He knew what she was talking about but he really didn't want to talk about. But at least he's here and able to talk to her privately. "I just needed time and space away from the Dursleys. I can't stand being around them."
"I wish I could say that I understand, Harry but they are your only family that you have left. Harry, you're smart, I'm sure that you can find a way to be creative at home and not be bothered by them."
"I know but they get under my skin so easy and so fast, it's suffocating," he commented.
"We better go in, Ginny's been asking about you," Ella said. Harry was puzzled but it took him a moment to realize that she has vampiric hearing and was able to hear things from a distance. They both walked into the front door and saw that Ginny was standing in the middle of the lounge area with Molly coming down the stairs.
"Harry!" she called out and hugged him. "Ella!" and hugged her.
"Harry!" Hermione followed Molly and hugged him.
"Ella, what a lovely surprise. Why didn't you let us know you were coming?" Molly asked as she looked back and forth between the two.
"I didn't know. Dumbledore," he responded.
"Oh, that man," Molly replied.
"We should have told you, Harry but it was better if you didn't know what was going on especially after what happened this past year," Ella explained.
"But then, what would we do without him?" Molly added.
"Very true," Ella commented.
After all that hugging, Ron leaned over to Hermione to wipe something off her mouth, "Got a bit of toothpaste."
"I best be off. I'm sure Dumbledore would like to know that you're safe and I need to help him prepare for the new school year," Ella replied. She hugged Harry and said good bye to everyone before leaving. She stood outside for a moment and heard Harry take his trunk upstairs as Hedwig flew out of the window for a chance to spread her wings.
Not a moment after he put his trunk aside, they sat down and Harry immediately started to talk, "So when did you get here?"
"A few days ago. Though for a while, I wasn't sure I was coming," Hermione replied.
"Mum sort of lost it last week. Said Ginny and I had no business going back to Hogwarts. That it's too dangerous," Ron added.
"Oh, come on," Harry replied.
"She's not alone. Even my parents, and they're Muggles, know something bad's happening," Hermione commented.
"Anyway, dad stepped in, told her she was being barmy and it took a few days, but she came around," Ron explained.
"But this is Hogwarts we're talking about. It's Dumbledore. What could be safer?" Harry asked.
"There's been a lot of talk recently that Dumbledore's got a bit old," Hermione said.
"Rubbish! Well, he's only… what is he?" Harry asked, unsure of how old Dumbledore was.
"Hundred and fifty? Give or take a few years," Ron replied, then all three of them had a laughing fit.
Ron: He'll be here soon.
Hermione: Will you stop eating? Your best friend is missing!
Ron: Turn around, you lunatic!
Ginny: He's covered in blood again. Why is it he's always covered in blood?
Ron: Well, it looks like it's his own this time.
Hermione: Where have you been? What happened to your face?
Harry: Later. What have I missed?
Ron: Sorting Hat urges us all to be brave and strong in these troubled times. Easy for it to say, huh? It's a hat, isn't it?
Dumbledore: Very best of evenings to you all. First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff, Horace Slughorn. Professor Slughorn, I'm happy to say has agreed to resume his old post as Potions master. Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape.
Students: Snape?
Dumbledore: Now as you know each and every one of you was searched upon your arrival here tonight. And you have a right to know why. Once there was a young man, who like you, sat in this very hall, walked this castle's corridors, slept under its roofs. He seemed to all the world a student like any other. His name: Tom Riddle. Today of course, he's known all over the world by another name, which is why, as I stand looking out upon you all tonight, I'm reminded of a sobering fact: Every day, every hour, this very minute, perhaps, dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's walls. But in the end, their greatest weapon... is you. Just something to think about. Now off to bed. Pip-pip.
Ron: That was cheerful.
McGonagall: History of Magic is upstairs, ladies, not down. Mr. Davis! Mr. Davies! That is the girls' lavatory. Potter.
Harry: Oh, this can't be good.
McGonagall: Enjoying ourselves, are we?
Harrya: I had a free period this morning, professor.
McGonagall: So I noticed. I would think you would want to fill it with Potions or is it no longer your ambition to become an Auror?
Harry: It was, but I was told I had an "Outstanding" in my O.W.L.
McGonagall: So you did, when Professor Snape was teaching Potions. However, Professor Slughorn is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T.'s students with "Exceeds Expectations."
Harry: Brilliant. Um… well, I'll head there straightaway.
McGonagall: Oh, good, good. Potter, take Weasley with you. He looks far too happy over there.