Albus suddenly appeared in his office, sitting in his old chair. He blinked a couple times, but then got his bearings.

"Tempus Cras", Albus spoke with a shaky voice.

July 30th, 1991 23:00

'Most monumental moment in Harry's life...the discovery of magic.'

A knock pounded on his door.

"Enter, Hagrid."

The gargantuan man walked into his office with a smile.

"I'm ready to go grab 'arry, sir."

Albus pondered that for a second. An idea flashed through his mind.

"Actually, Hagrid, I might need you to do something else for me."

Panic and fear went through Hagrid's eyes.

"D-Dumbledore sir...is 'arry not-"

"Peace, Hagrid. I realized that Harry may not have the reaction I originally expected, and he might want more information. I thought it might be good if Harry could see...see his parent's wands."

Relief flooded Hagrid's mind.

"I will retrieve Harry, you may take him to Diagon Alley. Would you mind grabbing some of Lily's notebooks while you're at the vault? Oh, and the stone as well."

"O' course, 'eadmaster.", Hagrid spoke, a gleaming smile on his face. Then he went wide eyed.

" 'eadmaster...I've made 'im a cake if you wou'nt mind taking it to 'im."

"I think it might be better for him to eat it here, Hagrid. We won't be there long."

Hagrid smiled again, nodded, and left to retrieve the wands and notebooks from the Potter Vault.

Smiling back, Dumbledore prepared for a confrontation that he did not have the strength for in the past. He would have to be strong now though, because he doubted he could live with himself if he had to be scolded by a saint again.

--

Albus apperated to a rock off the coast of Scotland, a shabby hut sitting upon it. Walking forward, he stood on the doorstep of the barely standing structure. Firmly, but not too loudly, he knocked on the door.

He waited, heard a small scuffling noise, but the door did not open. Sighing, he pulled out his wand, and opened the lock. Pushing open the door, he saw a sleeping boy on the couch, snoring without a care. He also saw a tiny, wide eyed ten-year-old gawking at him.

"Hello Harry."

His voice seemed to wake up Vernon and Petunia, because not 10 seconds later a shotgun was aimed at his beard.

"What are you doing in my house, freak!"

"Standing, you?", he spoke calmly, turning the shotgun into a rabbit while he did so.

The action startled Vernon and he fell back onto the stairs, waking up Dudley on the couch.

"Wha..ah! Who'er you!"

"I'm Albus, you are?", the boy didn't respond.

Ignoring the rest of the family, he turned back to Harry.

"Hello Harry, Happy birthday, by the way."

"H-hello...sir?"

"Do you have a question, Harry?"

"N-no sir, it's just...no one ever told me happy birthday before."

Albus nearly winced, but what interested him was seeing Petunia cringe.

"Well Harry, I'm happy to be the first, I'm Headmaster Dumbledore. I noticed that you hadn't responded to your Hogwarts letter and wanted to make sure you had come to a decision

regarding your attendance.", Albus held out a letter to him, but stopped when he saw the address.

"To Harry Potter….cupboard under the...Petunia….why was he living in a cupboard under the stairs?"

The woman had the gall to look sheepish.

"You...didn't write the letter?"

"No. I….no. Harry, how would you like to never come back to these people again?"

The hope in Harry's eyes was enough for Albus to know he deserved hell.

"Don't play the hero, Dumbledore. You sent him to us!"

"That is my greatest fault, Petunia." 'and I started a war' "Harry?"

"Y-Yes!"

Albus noticed that Harry didn't even ask where. Anyone could've just taken him away and he'd of been happy to go.

"Then let us leave."

--

Harry threw up when he landed on the grass outside Hogwarts, not taking well to apparition.

Letting the painfully scrawny boy catch his breath, Albus stood to the side of him. Discreetly, Albus unbound Harry's magic, figuring he could use Harry being in contact with Hogwarts for the first time as an excuse. His magic would help the healing process, give him a bit more height.

"Whoah, what is that?"

Albus didn't respond, as he was entirely taken aback by the power coursing through the young boy. It made him all the more guilty.

"That...is magic."

"It's wonderful…"

"It's everything."

Harry looked up from the ground and saw Hogwarts herself, gasping at the sight of the massive castle.

"That's...that's a school?"

"Truth be told, she's a fortress with the ability to educate young ones. Hogwarts is old and powerful. She does not take kindly to those who might try to harm her dutiful students."

"You said 'she'- sir."

"Yes. Magical items and places tend to have….an intelligence of a sort. But we'll leave discussions like that for when you're a bit older. Shall we?"

Harry timidly smiled and walked forward. Dumbledore walked with him across the stone bridge, through the courtyard and great hall, and walked him towards the hospital wing.

Harry was in awe, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses with a glee only children experienced. He stayed quiet, obviously not used to asking questions.

Albus left Harry with Pomphrey after explaining that she was a nurse and just going to make sure he was okay. Later, Poppy would give him a venomous glare that had shocked his soul.

--

Poppy, under oath, wasn't allowed to tell Albus what all Harry was dealing with, the wizarding world being very private about their physical and magical condition. The laws keeping Poppy silent were pureblood made, the old families not wanting anyone to know about how they chose to punish their children. The only time Poppy was allowed to speak to him is if a child had life threatening trauma...as she ended up doing that night, so why hadn't she gone to him in the last life?