1856 was an eventful year. Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross. That February was the only month in recorded history that had no full moon. In the United States of America, the Great Train Wreck of 1856 changed railroad history forever. The Anglo-Persian War was declared that November.
And September 1 was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore's first day of school.
His auburn hair shone in the bright morning sunlight, the red tint shining through like a bloody sunrise. Clear blue eyes shone not only because of the sun but from great excitement. He was wearing new clothes, which rarely happened: a crisp white cotton shirt, breeches, and fitted boots. It was proving to be a hot day, so his morning coat was packed away in his father's old trunk—now his—that was nearly his size.
Albus—nicknamed Allie by his siblings, though his parents always called him by his true first name—was grasping his father's hand tightly, nervous despite his overwhelming happiness. He looked up the long way into his lanky father's face. Abner Dumbledore was a pale man with mousy brown hair. He was dressed very formally, although he did not seem rich by the quality of his clothes. One would think that he was the type of man people would not take a second look at, but his eyes—his eyes were as bright, clairvoyantly blue as his son's, and since he had few other redeeming features—his nose was quite large—they stood out even more than his son's.
Luca Dumbledore stood on her son's other side, but her arms were rather full. She was balancing a little girl in layers of petticoats under an old-looking lacy white dress who could not have been more than five years old on her hip and was holding the hand of a boy of about seven years old on her other side. Luca was an attractive woman. Her hair was deep red, braided, and wound into a bun at the nape of her neck. A few soft curls were scattered across her low forehead, admitting to the world that she had been in a frenzy to get her family to the train station in one piece. Her eyes were grey-blue—not nearly as impressive as her husband's—but her face was pretty and her skin still smooth; not a wrinkle yet, even at her age, which was nearly forty.
Albus's younger brother Aberforth was a peculiar-looking lad. His crudely cut hair (he had taken shears to it just a few days ago) was an almost painful shade of red, his eyes were as solid blue as the sky that morning, and his skin was even paler than his father's—but his features still bore a strong resemblance to Albus. His older brother, however, had a softer, less queer, and all around nicer look to him.
Vivienne was the baby of the family. Her hair was mousy brown, like her father, but her skin was as smooth as her mother's and she had the promise to be just as appealing. Her eyes were her father's, though. She had a hopeful look in her eyes that nearly broke Albus's heart whenever he looked at her. He could never figure why.
"Father, how will we get to the train? How will we get there without the Muggles seeing us?" Albus asked interestedly. This was only the second year that students were taking a train to school. It was a very exciting occurrence for the entire wizarding community, but especially for the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because they were able to experience the ride. And, of course, their parents were completely content with not having to take their children all the way to Hogwarts on their own.
"Well, Albus, we'll be going right through there," Abner replied calmly, pointing out a solid brick wall just opposite them. Albus's eyes widened.
"Through a wall?" he said just a little too loudly. A group of nearby Muggles stopped to stare at him for a moment, then seemed to shake it off and smile at the cute but obviously mistaken eleven-year-old before continuing on their way. Abner relaxed as they left.
"It's all right; wizards and witches can walk through as if there is no wall there."
"Whoa," Albus said, his eyes wide. He was unable to say anything else, but he kept thinking that someday he would be able to cause such amazing things as a-wall-that-was-not-really-there-but-looked-so. Now he was even more excited for school to start.
"We should hurry up, though, or we'll miss the train. Are you all right alone for a while, Luce?"
Luca nodded in assent, tightening her hold on Aberforth's hand. "Let me say goodbye to my son first, though," she smiled. Abner quickly took Aberforth's hand and allowed Albus to go and be enwrapped by his mother's free arm. (Aberforth was never allowed out of arm's length when they were in public. He had a tendency to do strange and sometimes disturbing things.)
"Have a good time at school, love," Luca said.
"Bye-bye, Allie," Vivienne said a bit sadly. Albus smiled and kissed her on the cheek.
"Don't miss me too much. I'll write to you every day and see you on Christmas!" he reassured her. She giggled, happier. Then Albus patted Aberforth on the head (he always did this, a bit afraid of any more physical contact than that with his eccentric brother) and soon found his hand back in his father's. Abner walked him towards the brick wall rather quickly, but Albus found the time to look back and wave at his family before his heart jumped, still expecting to collide painfully with the wall and squeezing his eyes shut—
And they were through.