It was a week before Halloween as a tall and thin man with a long, silver beard that could be tucked into his belt and long, silver hair. He had twinkling blue eyes that, when agitated, flashed like a cold blue flame, they always twinkled like he had some plan up his sleave, and he wore half-moon spectacles.

In Godric's Hallow, Albus Dumbledore was walking up a large street. He was trying to ignore all the Halloween decorations that the muggles were putting up; nothing like Hogwarts, of course, but he found the decorations pitiful since he liked the wizarding world in his opinon were far more superior. The pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns strewn about the square, as well as the shop windows adorned with paper spiders and bats, added to the festive atmosphere.

Dumbledore smiled, but it was tinged with sadness and slight anger. It had been a long time since he had visited this area. Godric's Hallow... it was where he grew up... where he lived with his family... it was where everything began for him. This was the place where he had lost everything due to a certain former dark lord.

He passed a few Muggle kids who were running around with excited expressions on their faces, looking at all the decorations.

One of them, a young girl no older than seven, came to a halt and looked at him with interest. She gave him a sidelong glance before saying, "Mister? Your costume is fantastic! But it's still a week until Halloween."

Dumbledore gave the girl a false friendly smile while inwardly scowling at the stupid muggle girl. "I know," he said in a fake cheereful way, "but I couldn't wait to try on my costume." He was dressed in blue robes with stars and planets embroidered on them, as well as a pointed hat made of the same material. These clothes would have been considered odd on anyone else. They looked natural on him. And, since it was almost Halloween, he knew he could get away with it without drawing suspicion to the locals.

The girl smiled before saying, "With your beard and clothes, you look like Merlin! Are you dressing up as Merlin?"

Dumbledore held back a retort as he responded with a slight edge in his voice, "No, I'm going as myself."

She looked at him in confusion but, before she could respond her older brother came over to her. "Sis? Come on. We have to go home now."

The girl sighed uncomfortably but nodded. She waved goodbye to Dumbledore before bolting across the street.

"I'm sorry if she bothered you, sir," the boy grumbled, "she's really annoying sometimes."

Albus shook his head and held back the bile in his throat, "It was no problem at all. And she didn't bother me at all. Oh, yes and before I forget." He held a wand up to the boys eyes and whispered, "Obliviate." He did the same to the girl who was waiting across the street for her brother.

The boy walked away without saying anything forgetting about the old wizard... But when he got to his sister, he took her hand in his and they started walking home.

Dumbledore smiled sadly once more before continuing on his journey. Even if it was a little forced, it felt good to smile again. There hasn't been much to laugh about in the Wizarding World lately. Voldemort, a.k.a. Tom Riddle, was spreading like a plague across the entire countryside.

Nobody knew who to trust or what to do; people were dying left and right, and things appeared to be getting worse by the day. However, just when things seemed hopeless, a small ray of hope appeared on a cold, wet night at the Hog's Head inn.

A prophecy... about a child born to parents who have three times defied Voldemort... born at the end of July.

The next chapter will be a flashback to the day he heard the prophecy.