DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, its characters or its plot - however this particular story plot does belong to me along with a few other characters. Trust me, if I owned Harry Potter, my life would be very different.

A/N - As a fellow lover of Harry Potter, I decided to do what many others have done before me: explore some other characters of the Harry Potter series.

Unlike others, I won't focus on characters which have now been greatly explored, such as the Mauraders, Malfoys, Weasleys and Severus Snape. Instead I will look at the childhood of one of the most influential characters of the whole series: Dumbledore.

Dumbledore is a fascinating and intelligent character, so mysterious, and yet so lovable. He is a character which has always enthralled me, and yet so little of his childhood has been explored, and as far as I know, very little fanfics talk about him as the main character, focusing on him when he was a young child, and how he came to be one of the greatest wizards of all time. Bearing this in mind, I would like to offer you my newest fanfiction story; I present to you:

Dumbledore's Tale

"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."

Albus Dumbledore

Prologue

A warm Summer's Day, 1881

Once upon a time, a long time ago, Albus Dumbledore, the most famous Hogwarts' headmaster of all time, and often known as the greatest wizard in all of history, was born.

It was a typical and warm 1st July in 1881. The sun shone gently, bathing the inhabitants of the small town in syrup like sunlight. Percival and Kendra Dumbledore were in the midwife's house had their first ever child; Albus Dumbledore.

Writhing in the hands of his loving mother, Albus had sparkling blue eyes and was crying immensely. Percival stared at his son lovingly, noting how Albus had his own blue eyes, but otherwise looked remarkably similar facial characteristics to his mother.

"He looks just like me." Kendra said, turning to her husband. Percival nodded, a smile plastered on his face. As the midwife swathed Albus in clothes, waving her wand wildly, Percival hoped that Albus would be able to live up to his expectations. Finally, the midwife spoke to them, giving them instructions, and they were on their way to their home in Mould-on-the-Wold. Kendra was as composed as ever, and people kept a wide berth of her; despite their new-born baby, very few people came to congratulate them. Percival had grown used to this over the years. However, a few people did pluck up the courage to confront the couple from time to time, and so he was not at all surprised when old Ben Flitwick congratulated them warmly, and shook their hands. Other than this, they walked straight home, ready to learn how to look after a baby.

Howling, the baby was to put to bed and from that day forth was brought up as a wizard by his temperamental father and strict mother.

"A very special baby," the midwife had told them. If only she knew just how right she was.

A/N - Please understand that this will be sticking as close to the truth as possible, including ages, characters and plots. This story is not only meant to answer the hundreds of questions that Dumbledore leaves behind, but also to uncover how such a troubled and power-hungry character became to be the character he ended up being.

I won't lie to you, this will start off as a horrific story, but will also try to add to the character of Dumbledore, as well as to have its own riveting plot with evil masterminds and will be VERY dark at times. I hope you enjoy :)

Happy New Year