Authors Note: I was inspired to write this story after re-reading Deathly Hallows recently. Not sure how long this will last, guess I'll just have to see where I end up with this. In regards to Dumbledore's personality in this chapter, I know in the book young Albus is described by others as somewhat bitter, resentful, and selfish in relation to his home life (mostly after Kendra died). Since she's alive at the start of this, he's feeling pretty happy and excited, and in terms of personality, thinks of himself what others think of him (honest, accomplished, compassionate etc) But if you look closely there's some hints of the Albus that is to come.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter yadda yadda.
It was a sweltering Summers day, A young man with a flowing curtain of dark hair sat cross-legged on the dry grass with his nose in a book. Much to the amusement of his neighbors, who saw spending a day inside of their cool homes to be a better use of their time. Still, they learned to expect nothing less from the Hogwarts star student turned graduate, Albus Dumbledore.
Being as young as he was, many admired and even envied him for the various accomplishments he already had under is belt. Medals, awards, titles, things many spent their lives desperately wishing they had, seemed to have come to him so easily. It was quite strange, all that he had done in his short life could easily turn even the most gracious of men into arrogant, egotistical shadows of their former selves. Yet, despite all of his talent and triumph, Albus remained a most humble, respectable man.
Often, when young adults leave school, they find themselves stuck and unsure on where they want to go in life. So far, it seemed that Albus was not destined to be one of those people. In just a day's time, he would be off traveling the world with his old friend Elphias Doge. If there was a grander way to start off his newfound freedom, Albus didn't know of it.
His excitement was hard to miss, after all he had spent most of the last few weeks packing and preparing for this venture. In his hands at that moment was a Muggle book called '100 Places to Travel', if he read about anything interesting, he would be sure to mention it to Dodge. Though he wasn't sure how long they would be staying in Greece, and if there would be time for any hastily planned stops.
As he read, Albus thought of the witches and wizards who shunned Muggle literature, thinking their works below those created by magical folk. What wonders they were missing out on! Even without the movement, the illustrations felt so real that he took a moment to brush his finger across one. Whether his urge to do this was out of appreciation for the Muggle book, or just his general excitement, he wasn't sure. What he was sure of, was how much he longed to explore, see things he never dreamt he would see.
Sure, as a Wizard he had the chance to see the many wondrous things that magic created, but it wasn't often that he was able to travel, and see the natural miracles of the earth itself. Still, he was also eager to see monuments and other man-crafted works that had been slaved over by Muggles and Wizards alike.
Time passed as he continued to read, only deciding to stop when his eyes were feeling strained to their limit. He snapped the book shut and observed his surroundings. The sun had begun to set and the air was considerably cooler than it had been. Not many were out of their houses though, for now was the time when mosquitoes and other bloodthirsty pests were on the prowl. "I think it's time I joined Elphias at the Leaky Cauldron." Dumbledore thought to himself, remembering their agreement to spend the night there before heading off in the morning. Albus wasn't worried about Dodge being cross with him for being late, all he had to do was explain that he had been sucked in by an enthralling book. Elphias was a kind soul, and was sure to understand.
Before he could head off to meet his friend though, he had to grab his luggage and bid farewell to his family. So, Albus turned and entered the small yet cozy place he called home. The old door creaked as he opened it, but from what he could tell, there was no one around to hear it. All the better, he figured. He would rather be packed and ready when he said goodbye so he could keep it short, he didn't want to get any second thoughts about leaving.
In a way, he felt bad about leaving his family. His absence meant one less person to watch over his siblings Aberforth and Ariana (Not to mention he had been neglecting these jobs as of late), and one less person to assist his mother. Though at the same time, he felt like he deserved some time to leave and spread his wings. Every so often, the thought of the burden his family put on him crossed his mind, but he did his best to push them away as soon as they came, feeling ashamed of even thinking such a terrible thing about his loved ones.
Sure, his mother was very tired and constantly tending to the house and his mentally frail sister, making it hard to find time to communicate one on one, but he loved her nonetheless. Albus remembered being close to his mother when he was younger, but everything changed when Ariana was tormented by Muggles and his father was sent to Azkaban for exacting revenge. With Percival destined to rot in prison, Kendra was forced to harden and take on the challenge of being the sole provider for three vastly different children.
As for his brother Aberforth, they were never really close, for they were practically polar opposites. If wasn't as if they were at each other's throats, but the relationship was definitely tense at times.
Then there was Ariana, being attacked at such a young age left her unstable and unpredictable. Most of the family's time was spent watching over her, soothing her when she released uncontrolled bursts of magic. In all truth, that job was left mostly with his brother and mother. The excuse Albus told himself every night, while reading in his room as the rest of the Dumbledore's tended to her, was that he needed to focus on his studies, and she was already well cared for.
Breaking away from his thoughts, Albus walked up the dusty stairs that led to his room. The locked door that closed it off from the world, was one that he alone knew how to open. Though one would think the process to be complicated, the door swung open with a flick of has wand, and closed again after he stepped through.
Inside, was a room cleaner and more cared for than any other in the house. Not a speck of dust was to be seen, and while most would consider house elves to be the reason, Albus alone was responsible for his maintenance.
The décor was his doing as well, something he was very proud of. The room was much larger than one would expect (and much larger than it had been originally, he had spells he learned at Hogwarts to thank for its increased size). This meant more of an opportunity to use his space to its fullest potential. Underneath his feet was a plush carpet that covered the entire floor.
On the left side of his room were things that didn't seem out of place in the sleeping quarters of a young wizard. In the corner was a king size bed with a few packing trucks on top of it, seemingly unimpressive until noticing the satin bedspread that decorated it. Farther down, but against the same wall, was a red mahogany desk of decent size. On it were many drawers, one in particular stood out from the rest. If examined closely, one could notice it shaking slightly, and accompanying thuds could be heard. It bore a large lock, to keep whatever magical creature that rest inside at bay.
On said desk, sat two stacks of paper and a magical quill that seemed hard at work. The first stack was for blank sheets, the second for completed. On the blanks, the quill could be seen writing 'Sincerely Yours, Albus Dumbledore' In impressive gold ink. Once that was finished, the papers would float over to the completed pile while the quill started the routine over again. Apparently, this station was set up to make Dumbledore's personalized letter paper.
On the wall, above the desk and bed, were many decorations. They ranged from aged newspaper clippings, to red and gold Gryffindor banners, and old family photos.
The right side of the room, was arguably the more impressive one. Most of the wall was taken up by large oak bookshelves. Almost every shelf was crammed with books, and the ones that weren't, were only bare because of the few books that were currently fluttering around the room like butterflies. Plus, the single book, when placed in a certain empty slot, would cause the bookcase to swing open and reveal a secret room. In the room was nothing out of the ordinary, it was a place where Albus could practice spells in solitude, and hide away things that disrupted the flow of the main room. Such as knick knacks, clothes, and mementos of his time at Hogwarts.
The space left above the bookshelf was used to showcase Albus's various awards. The would-be gap was filled with medals, plaques, ribbons, pictures and many other things. The wrapped all of the way around the room, and stopped above a crackling marble fireplace that was at the very back of the room, directly across from the entrance. A slight distance away from the fire were two red armchairs, mirroring those one might find in the Gryffindor common room.
With so much going on, a first time guest would need time to drink in the sights, though for Albus everything was comfortably, and somehow achingly familiar. He had grown to love this room, and when he was home, it was the place where he spent most if not all of his time. Yet, he was still anxious (in a positive sense) about leaving a world of secure familiarity, for an unknown and exciting one.
Not wanting to spend time reminiscing, Albus walked briskly over to his bed where his trunks waited for him. Almost positive he had gathered all he needed, the young man flicked his wand and began heading out the door, with the trunks following.
He descended down the stairs and looked about the room, there was still no one in sight. "Mum! I'm leaving!" Albus called, not too loud, but loud enough for her to hear if she happened to be near by. This was one of the many reasons Albus chose to stay up in his room, his sister was easy to set off, so loud noises were usually avoided at all costs in the Dumbledore household.
After waiting for a few seconds and hearing no answer, Albus decided he wouldn't pursue it any further, and would just leave his mother a note on the fridge. Most likely she was busy caring for Ariana, which is something he wouldn't want to intrude on. Not to mention their goodbye was bound to have been awkward.
As he walked outside (his trunks still in tow) he felt a nagging guilt that he should've tried harder to find his mother, but he shut up the voice in his head by reassuring it that he would be seeing her again soon enough.
With that thought in mind, he walked to the Leaky Cauldron with a new found spring in his step. It seemed as though his exuberance was radiating off of his body, for he was getting even more attention than usual. During his walk he received many friendly winks, nods, and smiles from the likes of storeowners, townspeople, and saucy young women. While he wasn't usually to ham it up while given attention, he couldn't help but shoot back a few winks and smiles here and there. "I don't even know half these people!" Albus thought to himself, though amused nonetheless.
As he came up to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, it was almost saddening to realize he wouldn't run into anymore adoring fans. When the thought of his approaching travels popped back into his mind however, he was less reluctant to enter.
When he did, he was quite unsurprised to find the pub looking the same as it always did. Dark, plain, dusty, and still rather welcoming. A small collection of witches and wizards were spread about at different tables drinking unidentified brews out of old mugs. No one seemed to take notice of his arrival, except for the innkeeper Tom.
"Why Albus!" he exclaimed, in such a way that might give the impression they hadn't seen one another in quite some time. "Taking a big trip with old Dogbreath, I hear?" He let out a wheezy laugh at his use of the nickname Dodge had picked up at his time in school. Being the awkward boy that he was, it wasn't often he was able to snag a date, for most girls at Hogwarts found him weak and repulsive. This widely known fact spawned many jokes and rumors at his expense. The most notable one, was that he took to practice snogging on his family dog, because no girl would ever bother with him. And so the nickname "Dogbreath Dodge" was born, and stuck with him throughout his school years.
Albus was quite surprised that Tom was even aware of the name, but figured he probably picked it up while hearing some students gossip one day. "Elphias" The boy corrected kindly, as he pushed up the half-moon spectacles that had slid down his nose. Albus had a strange way about him, he had very good people skills, and had a knack for making others feel comfortable in his presence. Things that might offend, he could say without them batting an eyelash at it, for he could say almost anything, and make it seem like pleasant conversation.
"Yes, well.." Tom began, sounding disappointed, evidently he had expected Albus to join in on his mocking of Elphias. "Dog--the Dodge fellow is waiting for you up in room 3."
"Thanks Tom." Albus replied with a nod before heading off. As he went he could've sworn he heard Tom mumble. "The boy's been talkin' my ear off he has, be glad to be rid of him."
Disregarding what he assumed to be another dig at Dodge, he continued on until he noticed a door decorated with a large number 3. He gave it a quick knock before entering, and the trunks that had continued to follow behind him, landed on a large bed in the center of the room.
Sitting on the edge of the same bed, was Elphias Dodge, who appearing cleaner than Albus had ever seen him. "Albus!" Said Dodge, the smile he now wore could almost be heard in his voice. He rose to his feet and trapped him in a one armed hug. Dumbledore returned the gesture with a smile.
"So, are you ready?" Albus questioned, after time had passed and all repartee had been exhausted.
"Oh yes!" Squeaked Elphias. "While waiting I packed and unpacked my trunks three times, so I must say I'm quite prepared."
"Glad to hear it, I--" But he was cut off when the sound of knocking echoed around the room. "Come in" The two said in unison, and the door swung open. Standing in the doorway was Tom, a dark brown owl was perched on his arm, and it had a piece of parchment tied to it's leg.
"Owl came for you Albus." In the background Dodge gave him a friendly wave, but the man didn't make a return gesture. "Really? How strange.." Albus rose from the chair he had been seated in and walked up to Tom. "I wonder what this is about? Maybe a friend wishing me good luck?"
Though after unrolling the parchment and reading over the contents, he found that it was far from a friendly good-bye letter.
To Mr. Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,
We regret to inform you that your mother, Mrs. Kendra Dumbledore, passed away at exactly 8 o' clock this evening. Your younger brother Aberforth was also notified and it was requested that you return home to assist with the funeral arrangements. Our deepest condolences are sent to both you and your family over your loss.
Ending Notes: Alright, well that was the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it..and if you did please feel free to review. Constructive criticism welcome, just no flaming. Over all I think this went well, and while I know I wont be able to get the complex character that is Albus Dumbledore perfectly in character, but I'm doing my best.