He watched the children who scurried along the corridors of his school and he wondered if they would hate him for killing them. Because that is what would happen. It wasn't his life he was putting on the line, it was theirs. They would be the soldiers and victims of this never ending war with evil.

For even if Voldemort was killed and finally done away with, another evil would rise in his place. Hadn't this war proven that much at least? There would always be one wizard somewhere who would be too attracted to power and black magic. There would always be small minded people who would eagerly follow. There would always be racism, blind politics pushing an agenda and ... evil.

He watched Cho Chang walking down the hall alone, avoiding her friends yet again. He could almost see the ghost of Cedric Diggory beside her. Cedric had died, and needlessly. If only I hadn't been so blind! Dumbledore thought. I should have known that Moody wasn't himself! I should have known! I should have seen it coming! I should have been able to stop it!

But he hadn't. He hadn't seen the diabolical plan that Voldemort had been hatching right under his nose. The audacity! And it had cost someone their life. Almost 2 someones. He thought of Harry. And closed his eyes in pain. Dear God. What if Voldemort had succeeded in killing Harry?

Harry. He could feel his heart burn w/ pain, regret and fear. He put a hand to his chest. Not Harry. It was selfish and he knew it, but he could handle anyone dying but Harry. Let the rest of them burn. He had fought too long and too hard to save that boy to simply watch him die.

He opened his eyes and, almost as if he'd summoned him, he saw Harry and Ron walking towards him. God help him, but he loved that boy like a son. Harry was so brave. He had survived so much, but the worst was yet to come. He didn't even begin to understand the dangers that lay ahead of him. He'd never really had a childhood, had he? Yet another casualty of Voldemort's.

Dumbledore could feel tears pricking at his eyes. At that moment, Harry's eyes met his and Dumbledore turned away. He didn't want him to see the pain that he held so near to his heart. He could protect him from that at least. He could protect him from the danger anyone faced right now from being associated with himself. If Umbridge saw him talking to Harry, Harry would be even more suspect than he was.

So he walked away. He walked away from the boy that he loved like a son. In order to protect him.

He could do that much at least.


Disclaimer: These characters are not of my own creation, but belong to JK Rowling.