"Disclaimer: don't own anything in the Harry Potter world, I'm just borrowing them, k. anything else, I guess I'll claim them, they need a good home…

Everything Is As It Was, Frozen in Front of Me

I look up slowly to him, "Are you getting me back for leaving?" I said very seriously.

"Dora, it's the only way I will allow you to stay here." I gave him a stare that took me centuries to perfect and he knew damn well what it meant.

"Minerva, will you be so kind as to give us some time alone." She nodded and left, no questions asked.

"This is demeaning, seriously Albus…" I continued my rant which went on for a little while more.

Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere he said, "Do you know why Voldemort is such a menace?" he said seriously. A menace, really; that seems like an understatement.

"He wants to be the most powerful wizard in the world, I've heard that many times before. That's what they all say." I said sarcastically.

"It's not just that, he also wants to be immortal. He's already cheated death twice. With that and his increasing power, he would be unstoppable, even to me."

"So why don't you want anyone to know about me, it's not like he can suck what-ever-the-hell-it-is-that-keeps-me-young, out of me. I've tried, it doesn't work." I said fast, still pissed off.

"There are other reasons," he said with a sigh and just then I could really see how old he looked, how tired. "I don't want you to get hurt." I got up and walked over to Albus, kneeling next to him, I could see a single tear on his cheek. Sentimental fool.

"Oh Albus, you know I can't get hurt, I can only cause hurt. And I can see from your eyes how much I've caused you when I left. I'm sorry but…I… if I could change it…I would." I told him this to comfort him somehow, and it seemed like it did, but I was lying to him. I wouldn't have changed it, I still would have left. That's what I do. I did love him, and in a way I still do. It's just that after some time I have to move on, it's not like he didn't know that. I know, it seems cold hearted, and at times that's the mentality I have to put on, but no matter what happens, it still hurts. Besides they usually get stronger because of it, except for those few who went insane, but they were only a few and they were really clingy.

"Albus, I'll do what you say, but you have to know, pleats are not flattering on me…" I said. After a second of confusion, he smiled and walked me out of his office. Little did I know, there was another set of eyes looking upon us.

Minerva was waiting for me outside Albus' office when I came out; to show me to a room I could change into my brand-spankin' new uniform.

"So, how did the reunions go?" she asked as we walked.

My answer was a shrug, because I honestly didn't know. It seemed like a blur.

"So," she started again, "you two had something, a while ago…"

"Yea, we did…"

"What happened?"

I stopped and took a deep breath, "I really don't want t… it's too hard." The rest of the journey was silent.

In another part of the castle was a lone figure staring out a window. He turned and made his way to a small box in the very back of a large dark cabinet full of exotic relics, then went back to his desk.

He opened the box which was full of envelops and pulled out a short letter dated many years ago, very worn from numerous reading.

A

I'm writing you to catch you up on places I've been. You held this letter probably got excited, but there's nothing else inside it. Today skies are painted colors of a cowboy's cliché. And it's strange, how clouds that look like mountains in the sky are next to mountains anyway. I didn't have a camera by my side this time, hoping I would see the world with both my eyes.

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way but let me say you should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes. It brought me back to life. But you'll be with me next time I go outside, no more 3x5's.

Guess you had to be there.

Guess you had to be with me.

Today I finally overcame tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame

Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way but let me say…

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes. It brought me back to life.

You'll be with me next time I go outside. Just no more 3x5's.

Love always,

DG

He continued to read letters late into the evening until a small clock chimed, reminding him of the welcoming feast in the Great Hall.

That night, I put on my spiffy new uniform and shinny new boots and waited in the entrance hall with the other new students, who were about 2 feet shorter than he. Then looked so little and innocent, my mind wandered back to when I was just like them, man was that a long time ago, I could barely remember. They gave me questioning stares in-between looks of anxiety. I gave them reassuring smiles what didn't seem to help. Just then Minerva came through the large oak doors and addressed the young children in front of me and ushered the grouping to the hall: a duty that was once mine, a long time ago. As I walked through those doors I was walking straight into a dream I had recently, like all my dreams, it was memories. All eyes were on the small new students and as their eyes traveled towards the end they saw a very tall first year. Before I knew it… the hat began to sing. (I'll save you from the long windedness of its speech which covers the basics, 4 founders building a school, their ideals, his creation, the parting of one founder and now the sorting!)

The students were all in awe of the hat's song, clapping and cheering when it had finished. All I was thinking was that I wanted to raise my hand and correct it…

After the small ones were sorted and were at rest at their house tables, I heard Albus…uh…Professor Dumbledore, man got to get use to that, addressed the mass of students.

"As you may know, we are in troubled times, and our duty is to become more united. In light of that, it is of the utmost importance to strengthen relations with other Wizarding nations. And this brings us to our exchange student from America. Please welcome her and show her how Hogwarts treats their guests. If you would please continue Minerva." She nodded slightly to him.

"Abigail Dorian," she addressed me.

I walked up toward Minerva, who gave me a slight smile in the corner of her mouth. If she was the same person that I knew all those years ago, I could probably know what she was thinking. Mostly along the line of 'this is very disturbing and quite funny."

I sat down on the little stool, and the hat was placed on my head.

All eyes were on me as I walked up to the stool, which at some points in my life I would have felt like a rush but now I felt nervous. And I felt ashamed that I was nervous. What was I nervous for, I looked about the same age as some of these student, they would never know that I was old enough to be their ancestors, and I may actually be, you never know.

I had a bone to pick with this sorting hat, the stupid hat that never mentioned…

Minerva placed the hat on my head….

"Hmmm…interesting...very interes…OH!!!" it exclaimed for everyone to hear.

"Hello Hat, long time no see…" I thought to the hat. "I think you left a few things out of your wonderful song…"

"Mist…you are here…there is but one place to put you…it is an honor... GRIFINDOR! GRIFINDOR! GRIFINDOR!!!" IT shouted. I glanced at Minerva with a small smirk and walked up to the Gryffindor Table where there was a place saved for me next a girl prefect.

The rest of the sorting continued as usual and with two words from Dumbledore the food appeared.

A/N: I can't believe it's been almosta year since updated. Thanx for reading, please review, even I you don't want to just put something down so I can know I anyone reads this. It gets lonely being the only person reading the story. This chapter was longer, yeah! Okay byeee.

OHI almost forgot, the chapter title is from John Mayers song "83" and the letter is John Mayers song "3x5" just a note that I'm not stealing them.

Aurora Angel