A/N: This collection of one-shots is a companion to my story Forced Perception. Most likely none of them will make sense unless you've read the story. Spoilers for that story are heavy, especially in this first chapter.

Memories

Albus Dumbledore twitched his blackened hand. While it hadn't hurt in months, a dull ache began to form a few days before. Albus took that as foreboding, especially when he finally realized leads to where a Horcrux might be.

He knew he'd need help during the mission he was about to go on. He had already written a letter to Harry, but he hadn't sent it yet. The sooner he sent it, the sooner the bad things would begin.

Instead, he stared at it, rereading it and glancing up at the Sorting Hat. "Should I truly allow Harry Potter to come on my mission?" he said softly.

"As you have, Headmaster, I have looked into his mind, too," the Sorting Hat said. "He's braver than Godric Gryffindor himself."

Albus sighed, thinking about his conversation to Harry, how Albus had promised Harry could come on a Horcrux mission. Of course, Harry had to learn to learn how to find the Horcruxes on his own in the coming months. He needed to allow Harry to come.

He glanced at Fawkes on his perch, but just as he caught the bird's eye, Fawkes disappeared. He stared in confusion. "Odd," Albus said, standing. He surveyed the perch. "Is he angry with me?"

But a moment later, Fawkes reappeared. This time perched on the edge of his desk. An old, yellow bit of parchment was rolled in his mouth.

"What have you got there, Fawkes?" he said, petting his head and holding his hand out. Fawkes deposited the parchment in his hand and flew back to his perch.

The parchment was nimble, at least a hundred years old. Again odd. Who would send him parchment so old?

He unrolled it and began to read.

August 3, 1898

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I'm about to go back. I'm leaving this with Flamel, who's charming this for the day before you die so you can read it and gain your memories of the year back. You have to know this.

I feel like I should have done more. In fact, I know I should have done more. I can't help but feel as if I'm doing you wrong for letting your mother and sister die. You know I can't change the future too much. I might have even changed it now. I have no idea since I'm not back in the right time yet.

I never meant to travel through time. I just fell into the time turners in the Ministry while I was chasing after Rodolpus Lestrange. I think I was meant to meet you again when I shouldn't have. You've been a little manipulative bastard this last year since I've arrived here, but if I had doubts before if you really loved me like Hermione said you did, I don't have any now.

Albus, before you die, I want to let you know that I forgive you for everything you've put me through my whole life. I'm starting off again the same day I left- September 6, 1998. I forgive you for your plans that practically made me a pig for slaughter. I lived through it and I'm happy. You've been a great friend this year that I've spent in the past. You've told me things I never thought I'd learn about you. I'm grateful for it.

In all honesty, I think you would have been one of my best friends if we had been teenagers at the same time. You seemed to care for me, even if I know for a fact that you were trying to get information out of me. You still seemed to care about what I said, even if it wasn't information you wanted.

Albus, thank you for being so open with me. I appreciate getting to know you more than I knew before. After you died, I felt betrayed, but I know you had the best intentions for me.

I guess you'll see me again, most likely in a few hours, as of you reading this. I won't see you again, but before I go, I'd like to just say that no matter what, you were right about love.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter?

Albus blinked and an energy forced it's way through his body. He shivered for a moment before memories began to play across his mind. He remembered finding a boy in the corridor, he remembered sitting in Merrythought's office making his Deluminator as Harry talked. He recalled Harry standing at the front of the room as Merrythought taught, felt his own sadness at learning Harry was leaving Hogwarts. He remembered the first time Harry appeared in Godric's Hollow, remembered their conversations in the front garden and in the meadows.

Even remembered that Harry Potter was in the kitchen on that horrible day when Ariana was killed.

Albus had to sit down.

How could he have forgotten all that? He'd always thought parts of his seventh year and the summer after were a blur, as if some parts of them were censored out, but he assumed the events of N.E.W.T levels and his mother and sister dying were to blame. He never expected, never thought it could be a memory charm.

Albus stood, grabbing both the letter and the letter to send to Harry. On the grounds, he handed the letter for Harry to Jimmy Peakes as he searched for a Gobstone he'd dropped.

"Thank you, Jimmy," he said before practically jogging to Hogmeade for The Hog's Head.

Aberforth was up in his sitting room, looking through that old journal Albus gave him on his fifteenth birthday. In fact, it was a shock to recall that Harry had accompanied him to buy it.

Albus handed Aberforth the letter. "What is it?" he said, squinting at it.

"Harry Potter sent it to me," Albus said, sitting in the other armchair. "One hundred years ago."

Aberforth's eyes widened and he grew pale. "I don't know anything."

"You do," Albus said, staring at him. "You remember everything. When did he time-travel?"

Aberforth shrugged, handing the letter back. "I believe he was 18 and an Auror."

"Ah," Albus said, leaning back and studying the document more. At least he survived for so long, enough to become an Auror. "And he was there when Ariana died?"

Aberforth glanced up at Ariana's portrait. He nodded. "He took my side, if you remember now. He hated Grindelwald just as much as I did, but I'm sure he knew about your past."

"Yes, I remember," Albus said, closing his eyes. Another memory seemed to come to him. As he kneeled next to Ariana's body, he recalled Harry allowing him to see into his mind. He'd been sitting in the exact room Albus was currently residing. Aberforth told Harry about what he'd thought of Grindelwald, how he'd left immediately after Ariana died, how he'd thought Albus was free of the burden of Ariana. Harry even mentioned the day Albus died and said that Albus was never free. The boy was correct, not his brother.

"It's true, Albus," Aberforth said.

Albus nodded. Nothing could be more true. His memories weren't betraying him in the slightest like they had for a hundred years when the memory charm was placed on him.

Albus stood heavily. What he was about to do was also a burden. "It's time, Aberforth," Albus said. "I need to retrieve Harry and allow him to finish this war."

"Do you really expect-" Aberforth began.

"I know your feelings about it," Albus said.

Albus stepped toward the door, the memories still playing rapidly in his mind. Strange how much one could forget. He glanced at Aberforth, who was looking around the edge of his chair at Albus. He turned away as soon as Albus caught his eye.

"Ab, I love you."

Aberforth jerked his head around again. His blue eyes, exactly like Albus's, seemed to gain a twinkle.

Albus closed his eyes, and then spun on his heel.

He guessed the saying was true. Right before death, a person's whole life really did flash before their eyes. It certainly was the case for Albus Dumbledore.

A/N: First one-shot posted, yay! There will be others from the 1800s. If there's anything you'd like to see, tell me in the reviews/PM me and I'll try to write it.