Author's Note: Sorry for no update for like, 3 weeks or something. I'm having major writer's block for any more short stories of Dumbledore. Could anyone give me ideas? Well, anyway, here's the 4th chapter of Albus Dumbledore!

Chapter 4: The Hogwarts Train

Albus pushed the heavy trolley ahead of him, looking for a train station. What was the number again? He consulted his ticket, and realized it was Platform 9 ¾. He looked around for the Platform, but there was no 9 ¾ in sight.

Albus Dumbledore was alone in the Muggle Train Station, known simply as The Cross (later to be called King's Cross). His mother and brother had not wanted to come, as Ariana had another tantrum just minutes before their departure. So Albus had left the house, walking toward The Cross, feeling sorry for himself.

The Cross was two miles away from Albus' village, Godric's Hallow. While he was walking, Albus practiced all his spells with the wand that the stranger had left for him so long ago. Albus wished for a friend to talk to for the long walk to The Cross, but there was no one. He levitated his trunk to float silently behind him (As you recall, magic was allowed to be performed out of school at his time).

It took Albus three hours to reach The Cross, by which time it was 8:50. The train left at 9:00 AM, precisely. Albus had to run the final half mile to reach The Cross in time.

Now he was standing in front of the huge signs, which dictated the location of Platform 9 and Platform 10, but where was Platform 9 ¾? Could there be magic involved? But surely he would look silly waving a stick in an all muggle train station. There must be a solution.

Albus looked at the Platforms again. There was a barrier separating the two platforms. Could the platform have anything to do with the Hogwarts train? Albus decided to find out.

He walked up to the solid brick barrier, and pressed his hand against the cool stone. At his touch, the bricks dissolved. Albus gasped in shock and surprise. Magic! I finally get to see real magic! Albus pressed his hand against the brick, and watched as his hand sank into the barrier. What if…? He glanced around the train station, but it was empty of people except for an old janitor sweeping the dust away from the ground.

Albus stepped inside the barrier. In an instant, the room before him changed. A bright scarlet train was belting heavy gray smoke into the blue sky. Albus felt a stab of delight in his heart. He was here, at last! Everywhere he looked, families were bidding farewell, friends were hugging after 3 months of solitude, and owls were hooting around the station.

Albus lifted his trunk of books and supplies up the train. He scanned his eyes around for an empty compartment, and found one in the back of the train. Everyone steered clear, partly because of his huge trunk, and partly because all the students had heard about that nasty boy with a murderer for a father. Albus slid his eyes down to the ground, and just focused on getting the trunk to the compartment.

When he finally got there, he slid down in a warm leather seat. Alone at last. The train whistled once. The signal for everyone to find a seat.

Albus heard a loud rapping at the compartment door. He looked up in surprise, and said, "Come in!"

A young boy stepped in. He was thin and frail. He had the demeanor of someone who was always sickly. As Albus looked into his face, he saw that the boy had large blotches of a greenish hue that dotted his pale faced. It was obvious that the boy had dragonpox.

"Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full." The boy sounded so lonely and sad that Albus immediately felt sorry for him.

"Sure. Sit wherever you like."

The boy's smile stretched across his face.

"What's your name?" Albus asked.

"Elphias. Elphias Doge."

"Well, Elphias, pleased to meet you. I'm Albus Dumbledore."

Judging from the look of shock that flitted across Elphias' face, Albus realized that he too had heard of the story.

Albus sighed. "Look, Elphias, I know what everyone is saying about my dad. Truth be told, I don't stand by his actions. I don't believe what he did was on purpose. Just don't judge me because of him." He stretched out his hand.

Elphias looked at him, then at his hand. He smiled, and shook Albus' hand.

"We're going to Hogwarts at last!" Albus said happily, looking out at the speeding landscape.

Author's Note: So? How was it? I tied this up with that scene in the Deathly Hallows, where Doge, as an old man, describes Dumbledore. I thought it would be cool to see that scene again through Albus' eyes.

I hoped you really liked this chapter. If you did, please REVIEW!

Thanks for reading! The next chapter may come out… I don't know. But you can be assured that the fifth chapter is on its way out.