I love Dumbledore...not in the freaky fangirl sense, but in the way people like Jack Sparrow for his charisma (I love Jack Sporrow in the fangirl sense, but that's another story :) ) Anywho, I was doing my other story on Snape's history (Venomous Poison)and I thought, "hey, what about Dumbledore? I bet he has an awesome backstory...he is over 150 years old after all." So I decided to do a piece of Dumbledore retelling his own story (And I found I really like writing in the first person). Throughout the piece, I'll probably slip in a few of my own theories, It's inevitable. But I aim to deliver a good piece of fanfic writing.

All recognisable characters and placesbelong to JKR, the rest belong to me :)


I stand facing the young boy…no, Draco is a man now…on top of the Astronomy Tower, the place where I would often look at the stars in my own time, where I first met my love, where I first realised my goal. But now, the poison that Voldemort had made was coursing through my veins and I knew I was going to die, whether or not Severus found his way up here in time. Poor Severus, to play the part of Judas in order to both betray us and to lead us to a higher understanding.

Here he is now, so full of self-loathing. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you to be brave, not to worry. I wish I could tell Harry all that I know and comfort him. I wish…I didn't have so many regrets. I wish…I told those I loved that I love them; those that I cared about I care; those that were afraid, not to be afraid…like poor Tom Riddle.

"Severus, Please." You know what to do. Kill me, I am dying anyway. But I didn't plan it to be so soon. I am not afraid of death. I'm not afraid of the unknown. Oh Tom, poor Tom. Poor Harry. How did we end up in this mess…?

My name is Albus Percival Wulfric BrianDumbledore; but, call me Albie. That's been my nickname for well over a century. I was born at the beginning of summer in the year 1841 to Arthur Charles Odin Dumbledore and Josephine Moira Hobbs.

I can remember much of my childhood, my youth and of course my later years, having an extraordinary memory and all; and I will tell everything that I can.

My earliest memory is of my mother. She was a beautiful young witch who became a grand old dame. With rich red hair, beautiful blue eyes and extraordinary wit and peace of mind, I am proud to say I take most after her. My younger brother Bertie takes mostly after my father: impulsive, rash and exceedingly sour-tempered, but with a sharp mind and clear reasoning.

Our house was small in size, but richly furnished and on the edge of an enchanted wood, one of the last kinds in Europe. Bertie and I would often play near the edge, but Mother would always warn us never to go inside. There was also a village nearby, a small Muggle village, and Bertie and I would go to school there. Father told us never to talk about wands or any magic, which suited us just fine, Muggles never believed young boys like us and thought we just had a rich imagination.

The teacher at the school loved me, and thought I would go far in life, perhaps even being the Prime Minister of the country (funny how some things never change)…she never saw Bertie, he was always out fishing, boxing, hanging around the local pub and being a real scallywag. I never told Mother or Father about his wanderings, he was much taller and stronger than I was and would easily win an argument with his fist. I suppose he could read and write a little, he managed to pass his exams at Hogwarts until he was about fifteen; he had dropped out by that stage.

I suppose my early childhood was idyllic, but life got a little more interesting when I was around seven years old. It began when Bertie and I were looking for tadpoles in the nearby creek, he was about five at the time, but tall and strong for his age. The sun was hot and I was splashing my face with water to cool me down when I look through the trees towards the enchanted forest. Standing there was a beautiful chestnut female centaur. She looked at us with intelligent eyes and disappeared into the woods. I was amazed.

"Bertie! Bertie! Did you see that? There is a centaur in the woods!" I pulled on his sleeve, nearly making him tumble into the water. He looked where I was pointing.

"I don't see nuffink, Albie. You're seeing things." He thrust his hands defiantly in his pockets. I looked back to the forest again and the trees swayed silently, nothing to be seen. I shrugged and filled my pockets full with frog spawn.

Later that night, we were having dinner and Bertie piped up to Mother, "Mum, Albie thinks he saw a centaur today in the forest!" he laughed. Father raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't go into the forest, did you Albus?" He asked, wiping his mouth under his moustache with a cloth.

"No, sir," I always called him sir, even when I was very little, "we were along the creek and she came out and looked at us, then went back in." I retold, he nodded and said

"Don't go into the forest, centaurs don't like humans: Muggle or Wizard." He warned and went back to eating. The topic did come back to the table, but more serious in nature and catalysed many later events.

But the warning did not dampen my curiosity of the creatures, indeed, it filled me with more desire to learn about them, to know their ways and how they lived. It took to my father's library like a fish to water and began to learn. In a few weeks I had learnt about many of the centaurs' characteristics and customs, but the desire to speak with them in person nearly sent me mad. So one night, I made up my mind to go into the forest the next day, a Friday.

I passed half the school day fidgeting and sweating enough that made my teacher to think that I had a fever. She sent me home early, which was a stroke of luck; because my parents would think I was at school. I pretty much ran to the edge of the forest.

As I stood there, at the very edge, I felt calm wash over me, as if it was as natural as stepping into my own home. I walked in, unafraid. My mother later remarked that I was either very brave or very stupid to go into the forest alone and unarmed. At the time I chose to think I was very brave, but now I look back on it and think I must've been very stupid, if things didn't turn out the way they did.

I stepped in, exploring every tree and leaving upright sticks to mark my path as I went through. The forest was very old and very beautiful. It was the beginning of summer, so everything was green and bright. Soon enough I came to the largest tree I had ever seen. Even to this day, I still think it is the best tree in the world. Its roots and trunk were knotted and whorled, with places to hide and clamber over and the branches were easy to reach and climbed up for what seemed like miles. I loved high places, so I scrambled up the tree like a squirrel. I found bowtruckles and puffskeins and little red fairies. I dared not touch them; otherwise they'd be angry at me.

When I first met Romani, I was practising my gymnastics, swinging on the branches. I was pretty agile and clambered down branches then swung upside down, when I was upside-down I was confronted with a right-way-up centaur. I was so surprised, I let out a cry and fell to the ground with a clunk. I wasn't hurt, but I was very shocked.

Romani was only a colt, about my age, with amber eyes and a honey coloured coat. He was more amused than shocked and when I got up shakily with my legs, he began to laugh.

"How can you stand up with only two skinny little legs?" He laughed, pointing at my legs and showing his horsy teeth.

"I am what I am." Was the only thing I could say. He merely smiled at me.

"Are you a Muggle or a Wizard?" he asked me.

"A wizard." I replied.

"Oh good, that means I don't have to tell Father." He sighed, relieved, "Father usually has to kill Muggles who see us. But you will have to leave soon; we don't like humans in general."

"Why not?" I asked innocently. He shrugged.

"I don't know. Mother says that you are too ignorant, arrogant and stupid."

"I'm not stupid!" I said defiantly and angrily. I still hate being called stupid.

"Alright then, prove it to me and I won't call for my father." He pawed the ground, ready for action. I thought for a bit, trying to recall a bit of centaur law and then looked at his necklace. It was a river stone with a natural hole in the middle where the string when through.

"That necklace you have there is a protection amulet for young foals, colts and fillies. The best ones are to be found in the Autumn, when the moon is full, so that the ancient magic is at its highest." I recited. Romani opened his mouth in awe.

"Nyah!" He said in a way of centaur amazement, "you're not stupid or ignorant after all."

"No, I'm not." I had said proudly, puffing out my chest.

"Arrogant though. What's your name wizard?" He asked.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, but everyone calls me Albie." I said, holding out my hand ready to shake. He looked at it oddly and banged his chest and bowed.

"I am Romani…everyone else calls me Romani." He smiled. With introductions out of the way, he asked me, "Hey, do you want to play?"

Being an active seven-year-old I jumped enthusiastically at the invitation, "Yeah!"

"Alright, let's play Find and Catch!" I soon learnt it was a combination of Hide-and-Seek and Tag. I can say it was fun those two hours. Being part horse, Romani was easy to find but difficult to catch. I was hard to find, but easy to catch, provided I didn't climb into the tree. I was just caught by Romani when suddenly my feet lifted from the earth and I was being dangled by a huge dapple-grey stallion. Both his eyes and teeth were yellow and he was scary. It was Romani's father Jaspere and later I found out he was the leader of the herd.

He was very strong and very angry. One looked from him made Romani slink behind the tree, terrified. He held me out at arms length, looking me up and down, "A Dumbledore, eh?" He snorted. I think my father's side of the family must've been in this forest many times, I actually never asked my father for the details.

"U-uh, hel-l-lo s-sir." I gathered all the courage I could muster and smiled weakly. He snorted again, unimpressed. He rolled his eyes and with me still at arms length, he trotted to the edge of the forest and threw me out as if I was an annoying house cat. Now that I look back on it, they were very lenient on me…in fact, had that herd been Bane's from the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts, I would have been let go very hurt and very humiliated.

"Don't come back, we dislike unwanted visitors." Jaspere warned and trotted off. Romani was at the edge of the forest, pawing the ground undecidedly. His father called for him in a bellowing voice, and after a salute goodbye he disappeared. Sighing despondently, I walked back to the home, both sullen and elated. Sullen because I was kicked out, and elated because I had met a real-life centaur. I looked at the sun and nearly cursed myself, I was really late! I had to think of a good alibi, because my mother would be worrying about me. I walked up the stairs, the sense of doom hung over me. I walked through the door and immediately my mother appeared.

"ALBIE! Where have you been? Do you know how worried we were? We were about to call a search party! It's so unlike you to be home so late!" And she smothered me with a million hugs and kisses. Ah, I thought, the prodigal son has returned.

"I was exploring, mum. I was having so much fun I didn't know what time it was." I said smoothly, the truth, but not quite.

"Oh, I'm so relieved," she said, "But where's your coat, Albie? The nice one we just got?" She asked. Up until that point, I had never felt fear seemingly pour down my back like ice.

"Oh, darn it! I must've left it in my secret hiding place." I exclaimed, "I guess I'll have to get it tomorrow." I traced back into my thoughts. I had left my coat in the tree when I was climbing up it. I guess I'll have to sneak back into the forest the next day. Mother scolded me and let it drop. Everything was well until dinner time.

Father came home from work and talked with my mother. Sunny, our house elf had laid dinner on the table when father and mother came in, their faces blank. We said thanks and began to eat as normal. My father was opening the elf made wine when he asked me, smiling:

"Hey, Albie, guess who I met on the way home from work today?"

"Ummm, the Minister of Magic?" I hummed.

"No, guess again." He poured a glass of the wine.

"The Seeker of the Ballycastle Bats?"I guessed again.

"No, your teacher, Mrs Granger," my heart stopped for a second, "she told me she had sent you home early because you looked so unwell and sent the message for you to get well soon. Imagine my surprise when I found you came home so late." He chuckled to himself. I don't think the colour could've rushed from my face any faster if I had tried, "where were you today Albie?"

My heart jumped into my throat, my father would kill me if he had known if I went into the woods that day, "I went exploring." I stuttered.

"I can see that that, but I didn't asked what you did, I asked where you went." He said, a little more clearly, a little more controlled.

"Near the creek." I said. He looked at me in the eye, and even I didn't know about Legimens at the time, I knew that he knew where I was.

"Tell me the precise location."

"Uh-uuhh," I stammered. He shoved his chair backwards, his moustache quivered like it did when he was angry. He grabbed me by the ear, much the protestation of my mother.

"You went into the forest, didn't you! Against my explicit warnings!" He shouted. My ear hurt so much and he was so angry I began to cry.

"Y-Yess s-sir." I blubbed. He let go of my ear and grabbed my wrist instead.

"If you like it so much in there, you can sleep the night in there!" and he pulled me to the door. I yelled and tried to pull away, but he was so massively strong that I would never had the chance.

"Arthur!" my mother was so shocked, that this was the first time I had seen her rise her voice at my father in livid anger.

"Don't interfere, Jo'! This is my education to him to never lie!" and he slammed the door on his way out. He Side-Along Apparated me to the edge of the forest, an uncomfortable experience I never wanted to experience again. He threw me into the woods just as Jaspere had thrown me out earlier and flicked out his wand. He said an enchantment and as I tried to run out, I slammed into an invisible force field.

"I'll be back in the morning to lift the enchantment. Goodbye." He growled and Disapprated. I slammed against the wall, screaming for my mother. After several minutes, it seemed that nobody was coming back. I walked along the wall and found it circled the entire forest, even though I could see birds and badgers pass through it easily. Soon, total darkness set in and I heard noises that still chill me to the bone. I remembered the old tree from earlier and thinking it would be the safest place for me, I plunged headlong into the suffocating darkness.


Mweeeeeeee, so cute To Be Continued.