Summary:
An aged wizard remembers students from the past, some standing out more than others in his memories.
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Albus Dumbledore hummed quietly to himself
as he watched the Hogwarts' Express roll in. He wasn't waiting for anyone in
particular on the crimson locomotive, but he was drawn to it occasionally and
enjoyed the simple chug it made. Perhaps it was the irregular thing one's
heart, but he did so anyways. The purr of the coal engine, the shrill whistle
of its stack pipe and the rumbles of its pistons and gears all signified one
important thing to him; the arrival of students.
He hadn't had children of his own, always having been too busy or being one
step in front of danger had stripped him of that chance.
As the faithful doors began to open, he could see the ghosts of students
streaming out in their school uniforms, chatting cheerfully or looking around
in wonderment. Some looked as if they were finally home as others looked as if
they wished they really were there. Particular faces stood out among the
blurred and he reflected on what their expressions revealed. A small, first
year girl's expression was full of hope; she had finally come to Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was their very own Virginia Weasley,
ready to follow in each and every one of her brothers' footsteps.
Behind her came a girl in a uniform that was slightly different from generation
than Ms. Weasley's, but only barely. The girl had been a third year Ravenclaw
here at Hogwarts by her appearance. Albus frowned slightly, seeing the
miserable, foreboding sparkle in the pig-tailed girl's posture. Myrtle Jenkins
had never been happy at Hogwarts; he wished he could have changed it. Then
perhaps her fate would have been entirely different. A boy jostled past her, in
the same style robes, but in his sixth year. He glanced back at her, his
impressions of her hidden securely behind a nonchalant visage, before another
boy pushed him forward his age. Tom Marvolo Riddle had been a popular lad,
adored even by the Hufflepuffs; a rare breed unto himself. Albus wished he had
begun to doubt the boy's sincerity before he had. It had been too save the
young heir by then.
Again, the styles of robes began to change completely. The robes began to
disappear and the young men were in breeches, bots, long coast and newsboy
caps. The young women were in over-corsets, gloves, and 1920 dresses that were
a dark stormy gray. A young formidable seventh year girl stepped off, a Head
Girl badge pinned to her over-corset in a hidden, yet not superior, manner.
"You always were the serious one of your house, Minerva." Albus
chuckled. "Most of the time."
The crowds of hundreds apon thousands of students still swarmed around and
through him, never noticing him at all. The crowds thinned, the uniforms
changed drastically once more. He watched as the crowd of students disappeared
and he was about to focus on reality when a young man in breeches and a
tailcoat stepped out. The boy looked respectable and the sparkle in his eye
proved he was as kind as he looked. He lifted his hand and a small, delicate
hand clasped it as a young girl, his age stepped out gently. She smiled to him
affectionately, full of brotherly-love. She wore a delicate white gown, quite
appropriate for her day and age with a black tunic over it, her hands gloved in
white also. They didn't look a day over their seventh year and he watched the
boy return the smile before looking startled when she gasped.
"Oh, bother, I forgot my parasol. Madam Fawn will skin me if I forget it
again. Pardon me." She said before stepping back onto the train hurriedly.
"I shall wait here for you, Miss Briar." He said warmly, nodding and
helping her back in.
The young girl smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up. "You always do, you
always do." She said quietly before disappearing inside.
Albus smiled quietly to himself and shook his head slightly as the shrill
whistle cut through the air once more. Those faithful doors returned to being
closed and he watched for a second time as they opened slowly. But instead of
students pouring out, only a single, elderly but with a commanding presence,
stepped out. He made eye contact with her and she smiled slightly.
"What brings you here, Albus?" She asked quietly, her voice softer
from age.
"I was watching former students return, waiting for a newer generation to
race towards the castle, eager for what life has in store for them. Waiting for
them, waiting for everything, and waiting for nothing at all.." He
replied, murmuring pleasantly. The woman smiled at him once more and patted his
hand affectionately.
"You always do, Albus. You always have." The woman said, her eyes
sparkling as she stood at his side and turned towards the train. They watched
it in silence, relishing in their own memories that were known only to them and
only to each other.
Albus smiled slightly to himself as the ghost of the young man reappeared,
helping the young woman out once more. Her parasol securely at hand. They
linked arms and pleasantly walked towards the Hogwarts carriages to bring them
to their school. The pair walked right towards the older one and right through,
and the older turned to watch them disappear into the sunlight. Albus smiled
once more, he had been waiting for her during his trips to Hogsmeade, never
knowing it. She looked up, a little curious, though she still smiled.
"I am quite glad I left my parasol in that carriage, Albus. Though you
would have waited for me any time wouldn't you?" She asked, reading his
thoughts.
"Most certainly, I can't think of anything I'd rather have done."