Disclaimer: This is JKR's world, but my idea.

Courage.

I can honestly say that in all the years that I have lived on this place we humans so fondly call earth, I have rarely seen people who have displayed such vast amounts of courage. The people I have in mind are children, none the less. I can not believe how amazingly brave these children are.

It takes a special kind of person to face the things that they have faced and still manage to live their lives. They are forced by the times we live in to live in fear. They do not deserve this. I so fondly hope that one day they will be able to know what it is like to live a carefree existence. I only knew this for a few very brief yet glorious years, myself.

Those were the best times of my life. I gave them up the first time to defeat Grindewald and then it seems as if I was in a constant flurry of activity. I was looked at as a hero. I still am.

I know what everyone says about me. I have gone mad, but I am still brilliant. It suits them. It would not do for the brave one who put fear into the hearts of evil to just go mad. No, no matter what I do I still have enough sanity to run things.

I admit it, I do what I do because I know that I can. I enjoy being able to get away with being the odd headmaster who has an odd obsession with socks and lemon drops. I spent far too many years of my life not enjoying the time I had. I pushed aside my own desires and time and I helped others. I do not regret helping others, far from it. This was what I was put n this earth to do. I had to help them, but I always wonder what it would be like. Just to spend one day without a burden on my shoulders.

I know Harry has a burden on him. It is really unfair that it was pushed on him like that. I at least chose my own path. Harry has no choice. He was chosen to defeat one of the most horrible fiends to walk the face of the earth. No matter if he wants to or not, Harry must face him and he must fight him. There is no choice, even if he wants to run away, eventually he will be found by Voldemort and they will face off. I wish that I could take this burden from Harry.

That is my problem. A long time ago I realized that I had so many burdens that my life was no longer my own. I then began to have more and more burdens placed on me and I accepted it. I asked people to place their burdens on me. I the great and mighty all-seeing Dumbledore would be able to fix their problem. For many I have. I just want to do everything in my power to let people live the life that I know I could have lived if I had not faced Grindewald, if I did not have to be so Gryffindor like and choose to fight, I could have been happy with a wife, maybe a few children.

But this would have been too easy. Grindewald perhaps would never have been taken down and we would then live in a world too horrible to even contemplate.

Yes, I gave up my life for others. I am now just a shadow of my former self. I know I am. It is just a matter of time before my weary eyes close for the last time and I am finally allowed to rest in peace. But until then, I will gather my courage and trudge on, doing what I know I must do.

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Ok, thanks so much for reading this! It would be great if you guys would please review afterwards!!! It really would mean a lot to me!!! Thanks!

Oh, and thanks so much to my reviewers:

arimel: yeah, I always felt a bit sorry for the way JKR portrayed Neville too, I am hoping there is in the grand scheme of things reason for it, cross your fingers!!!

missingthecat: thanks for your review, I'm glad you liked the way I did Neville!!

A. M. Winters: Thanks so much for your review! I'm glad you liked this and the other one! I really am flattered! Like I said to arimel, I always felt that Neville got a bad rap in the books, and he was always the forgetful, clumsy, un-Gryffindor of all Gryffindor's and the first one to be made fun of, so I thought this would be a nice tribute to him!

Tati1: Thanks for your review, I'm glad you liked my writing, also thanks for your good advice!!!

A/N: Ok, I hope you guys enjoy Dumbledore!