A/N: This was written for a contest on a Harry Potter forum. Basically, in order to enter you had to write a story about an Order Member or Death Eater on vacation. I chose Dumbledore, and I made him skydive. THIS IS MY REAL ENTRY. I decided I didn't like my original entry. I was going to delete it, but I didn't have the heart to.
It's an amazing site, where the contest is at. It's called The Third Floor Corridor. The link's in my profile. If you join, please say Hedwig referred you in the Sorting Quiz. Thank you!
And also, the idea of Dumbledore skydiving isn't mine. It was given to me by one of the users on the site, esir. And one of her friends gave the idea to her. So, thank you to them!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter related. Everything belongs to JK Rowling. And, don't listen to the skydiving instructions Severus gives if you're going to go skydiving. Listen to your instructor, or a professional, instead. (I am not a professional. In fact, I've never been skydiving, and I don't plan on going anytime soon. So, I know next to nothing about the subject.)
Summary: Albus Dumbledore's all-time dream was to go skydiving! He finally gets a chance to achieve that dream. Read what led up to this particular event, and what happens as a result. Oneshot.
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The "Vacation"
Albus Dumbledore paced around his cluttered office. After years of working to stop Lord Voldemort, sometimes along with the Boy Who Lived, Dumbledore was trying to think of some way to get rid of his stress, as it was summer now and he needed a break.
"I must go on a pleasant, mind-clearing vacation," Dumbledore declared out loud, although he was only speaking to himself. "It's a very good way to relieve oneself of stress, I've heard."
Oh, but where to go, where to go? "My destination must be peaceful, yet adventurous. It must be popular, but not a tourist's trap. It must also have pleasant weather. And it must be close enough that I am able to return here quickly if I am needed."
The little dust mites behind the desk could almost see the smoke coming out of Dumbledore's ears when he thought about this question of where he should take his vacation.
He thought.
Someone as wise as I should be able to come to an easy conclusion of this question, shouldn't he?
He thought some more.
"I know!" he exclaimed. "I shall go to... Scotland."
The dust mites looked at the old man like he was crazy. Doesn't the old bat know what the definition of a vacation is? Doesn't he know that you have to go AWAY? Far, far, AWAY?
"Hmm. I wonder what adventures I will encounter there," Dumbledore continued thinking, out loud. "I think that whatever they are... I think I will let them find me."
He continued pacing. "But then again, I don't want to be too bored on my vacation. I need to at least choose some activity to do, just in case no other opportunities find me. Time to throw on my thinking cap again, I think."
This time, Dumbledore came up with an idea fairly quickly.
"I know. I have always wanted to try skydiving. I think I will try to go skydiving at least once."
The dust mites continued to stare at him strangely.
So, after planning to skydive, Dumbledore searched around his office, searching for things to pack. The things he needed were all here. He decided to do this without magic, so as to prepare himself for the fact that skydiving was purely Muggle "magic". This meant that a Muggle would probably be instructing him if he went skydiving. He didn't want to 'blow his cover,' as those young people said these days.
After he finished packing, he took his suitcase, and spun on the spot. He was the only one who knew how to Apparate out of Hogwarts. He used magic because he didn't want to over-complicate the matter of travelling.
So, he Apparated. He went to Scotland. He ended up in the same room.
"Wow! What a beautiful view!" He went over to the window and looked out. "You can see the lake from here! And that pretty little cabin with the half-giant man walking out of it. And... oh my- is that a Giant Squid?"
The dust mites were way beyond surprised by now. They were back to carelessly spreading dust wherever they could go.
A greasy-haired man looking curiously into the doorway answered his previous question. "Yes, sir. That is indeed a giant squid. And who are you?"
"My name is Albus Dumbledore, and I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland. I am on a vacation. And who might you be?"
"I am Severus Snape, and I also am the headmaster of another Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are two, you see. What a coincidence! Oh, I'm sure we'll be the best of friends by the time your vacation is over." He laughed.
"You look oddly familiar, Professor Snape."
"That's quite odd. I have no idea where you might have seen me before, Professor Dumbledore. Would you like something to drink? Tea, perhaps?"
"Yes, thank you, Professor Snape. And please call me Albus."
"Here you go, Albus. And call me Severus, please."
"Thank you." Albus had a brilliant idea and went for it. "Do you have any idea where I may find a skydiving instructor?"
"Actually, yes I do," Severus replied. "I am one. That is my part time job. I make Muggle money that way. Would you like me to instruct you?"
"Brilliant! I would only like to do it at least once though, I don't have to become a professional."
"We can arrange for that."
"Okay. When shall we meet? I currently have no plans so any time is fine with me."
"Tomorrow at 3:00?"
"That's fine. I'm going to go find a hotel of some sort right now," Dumbledore concluded. "It was pleasant meeting you."
"There are places to stay in Hogsmeade, Albus. You should try to get one there. They're wizarding places too."
"Excellent, I will. Goodbye, Severus." At that, Albus left the room.
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Albus woke up the next morning. He looked at the clock on the other end of the room, and it was only 12:00. Albus never slept this late. He had managed to get one of those hotel rooms in Hogsmeade, and this is where he was now. He decided to get up and walk around Hogsmeade, and then meet Severus for his attempt at skydiving at the location they decided.
For two hours, Albus went around in Hogsmeade, shopping and walking and doing anything he wanted. Eventually, 2:45 came, and he went to go meet Severus. He had already told Severus that he already knew a lot of theory about skydiving, because he had looked it up. They had talked on the phone last night. (They both knew a lot about Muggles and their tools.)
"Good afternoon, Severus," Albus greeted.
"Good afternoon. Now, you have informed me that you know a lot about skydiving already, you've just never done it before. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Would you like to tell me what you know?"
"At first, all you have to do is jump. It's better to just jump as hard as you can out the door. Then, all that's going to happen is that you're going to fall freely for awhile. After that, when you're closer to the ground, the parachute on your back will inflate. You can then steer with the steering lines until you fall to the ground. This will all be applying to me."
"Precisely. Nothing is going to hit you or be in your way as an obstacle. This area is cleared of regular planes, we have made sure of that for safety reasons. The only obstacles you may have are daring birds, but they're clever enough to always get out of the way if they ever see someone coming.
"I will jumping with you," Severus continued. "Once you land, you can come find me. I will help you get out of the parachute and such. You've already paid for your jump, so you don't need to worry about any money. As soon as you land and you're out of the parachute, you may leave.
"Are you ready for this?" Severus asked.
"I believe so."
"Let's go get on the plane then."
"Lead the way, Severus."
Albus followed Severus to a small plane that looked like it was frequently used for this purpose. After putting on their skydiving gear, they got in and the pilot piloted it into the air.
"We're both going to jump. You first, and I'll follow. All you have to do is jump and then steer once your parachute inflates automatically. Are you ready?" Severus asked, again.
"Yes. Just tell me when to jump."
"Jump- now!"
Albus jumped.
As soon as he jumped out of the plane, Albus knew he had no need for a vacation anymore. As soon as he landed, he knew he would go back to his home. He had achieved his dream. He had skydived. He had also made a new friend and cleared his stress. Now, he could go back to the chaos that was Hogwarts.