Chapter Two- Explanations

Harry Potter had returned to Hogwarts.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." Spoke the soft, slightly husky voice of Harry. "You told me that upon our first meeting. About that mirror, I believe. One of my first adventures." Harry gazed at Dumbledore, a twinkle reminiscent of the headmaster's in his eye.

As Harry's words registered in Albus's mind, he slowly lowered his wand. That sentence had proved the young man's identity, as he knew it would. None else would know that quote and the circumstances surrounding it. But it was seemingly impossible to perceive that image of a young, thin child Albus had observed so many years ago before the mirror, with the young man before him. Oh, the features were similar, as any seem from child to adult, but the eyes no longer spoke of innocence. No, the green eyes now held experience, pain, truth, and dignity hard earned.

Albus had not been so shaken in a great number of years. Regaining his composure, he finally responded.

"Harry. By Merlin, I can barely believe it. All thought you must have been killed."

"I know." Harry said, taking a step towards the headmaster. Albus closed the distance and embraced him.

"I'm sorry," Harry continued, as Dumbledore stepped back to look at him.

"You've changed so." The headmaster said quietly, holding him at arm's length. "What happened? Where have you been?"

Harry glanced down with a brief smile and then turned his sight back on Dumbledore. "That's a long and... interesting story, Professor."

"Well then," Albus said cheerily, "I suppose we should sit down and make our selves comfortable, my boy." His eyes shown with caring and curiosity behind his bright glimmer.

With a gentle nod, Harry moved to the chairs before the headmaster's desk. Albus walked around it, waving his wand to vanish the spilt tea and cup on the floor as he passed it. He sat in his overstuffed chair and conjured a tea set. Pouring two cups, he handed one to Harry. Harry took it with a slightly raised eyebrow at the pattern of sparkling shooting stars darting across the china. Apparently the headmaster's taste was as ostentatious as ever.

"Sherbert lemon?"

Harry declined with a chuckle. Then gazing at the headmaster, he raised both his eyebrows inquiringly. Nodding at the unspoken question to begin, Albus sat back to listen.

"Two years ago, as I'm sure you recall, I was... well, for lack of a before term, kidnaped by Voldemort. I was taken to a place were I was held for, what I later determined, about a week. I do not recall... what actually happened there. Not more than images. But I do remember nearly being killed that last day." As he spoke, Harry's gaze turned inward and his sight unfocused. "As my power was threatened, I was able to... tap into it. I threw out a burst of magic- it hit the various people around me, Tom being one, and struck the building. As it returned to me, it... overloaded, so to speak, and in an attempt to find purchase, it caused a rip in... well, the realm. I dimly recall landing in a clearing, a field, before it went black. I awoke in a room, with a person that didn't really appear human, and was told that I was in a... side realm." Refocusing on the headmaster, Harry watched his reaction.

Albus, for his part, was avidly listening. As Harry spoke, he noticed the young man seemingly go over his memories. He also noticed, in the back of his mind meant to look for details while he focused on other things, that Harry's posture was straight, his bearing ready. Also, Albus registered a slight, nearly undistinguishable, accent colouring his words. It wasn't from a British local, not like the one the boy had grown up with. It seemed that where ever he had been, he must have spoken some other language.

When Harry broke off, Albus blinked. A side realm? Of course, the headmaster knew of them, but that Harry had actually managed to transport to one? That stunned the unflappable elder wizard. Realm transporting took a most amazing amount of power and the ability to channel it for that purpose. Very, very few humans ever accomplished the feat. Most that did, never returned. The whole thing was left for magical non-humans to do. Vampyrs and the like. Albus didn't disbelieve Harry, it just seemed so unbelievable.

"A side realm?" Some of his incredulity must have sounded in his voice, for Harry nodded with a patient smile.

Harry stood, moved to the desk, and leant down. With a graceful motion, he swept his hair from the side of his neck and revealed a mark. Two crescent moons turned inwards. A dimension transport symbol. Any being with the ability that has jumped realms, shows one. The magic creates the mark and that can be seen within it. Without a doubt, Harry had jumped realms. As Harry returned to his seat, he went on.

"As I am sure you know, the world consists of dimensions running alongside each other. A balance is held between them, all co-exist harmoniously. All are inter-connected. Magic runs through and around them. Beings in each are found in the others. Some can jump from realm to realm. It is rare, but possible. As you can see, as I am here." Harry smiled slightly, as did Albus. "Mostly, the ones that can are not human, as the power to transport can quite drain the one doing it. A lot of humans can not handle it, or can do so only once. Hence, we don't. I barely managed the first time I 'jumped', however unintentionally I did so. As for my return now, well... let's just say, I've learned a few things.

"Well, the one that I woke up to, he explained all of that to me. I had been there for about a week, healing and unconscious. As it turned out, he was not, in fact, human. He was a Warrior-Elf. I hadn't even known those existed. When I told him that I had only known of House-Elves, he told me that in our realm, Warrior-Elves are rather secretive. Relatively unheard of. It was definitely a shock." Albus chuckled as Harry revealed that. Harry just smiled and went on. "After that, he explained that I was at a warrior academy where he was a teacher, and being who I was, he said that I might study there. I would need training just to attempt to return back here, and after thought, I agreed. From then on, I studied at the Academy and, upon completion, a few weeks ago, I took the Exam. It was... different from anything here, that's certain. The magic I used to accomplish the test and, in turn, pass it, gave me this mark. An Aura symbol." Harry gestured to the tattoo adorning his cheek.

Albus nodded, "I thought that may have been. I've only seen very few in my day, and only a smaller amount of those were on humans. It is a great honour. Difficult to achieve, I'd wager." At Harry's wry affirmation, Dumbledore smiled.

"After that," Harry resumed, "I decided to return. To return home." His tone was final, Albus realized he wouldn't tell more about his time gone. The headmaster knew better than to push. And something told him that Harry would not respond to his normal manipulations.

"Merlin, I... well, I don't know what to say, Harry." Albus spoke finally.

"Yes, well, I knew my arrival would be startling. It seems an age I've been gone." Answered Harry, sipping some of his now cold tea. Glancing at it, and with a mouthed spell, he heated it. Albus saw this, but didn't comment. He discerned that Harry must have learned some wandless magic during his mysterious training. Dumbledore decided to find out more about it somehow.

Harry noticed the slightly determined air about the headmaster and knew what it meant. The man wanted to know more than Harry was willing to tell. He smirked lightly to himself. Dumbledore would learn when Harry was willing to explain, no sooner. The headmaster wasn't the only strong willed individual among them, not any longer. Nor was he the only one manipulative. Harry decided to see exactly how the man would explain the next thing he said.

"There was another reason I returned, Professor." At the headmaster's raised eyebrows, Harry continued. "I had a duty. A destiny, here. I believe you know it. 'Either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives'."

Albus blinked, the only telltale sign of his shock. "You know of the Prophecy, Harry?"

"Yes, it seems that certain spells, which have been lost in this realm for centuries, can reveal prophecies regarding the castor. I have to admit, I was surprised to find out there was one surrounding me. And that it had been told to you."

"Harry, I... yes, I was the one to have heard it." Albus's voice was slightly uncertain. Harry remained impassive and heard him out. "It was before you were born, you see, and I did not know then, who it was speaking of. When you were born, it could have been you or another. It was not until Voldemort attacked you and gave you that scar, that I realized it was most assuredly you."

"'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal'."

"Yes." Albus glanced down at his desk, then back at Harry. "As to my not telling you... I found I could not. I felt you would be, if not better off, at least happier not knowing. I thought you too young, and I made the decision worrying more for your feelings than for your knowledge."

Harry met Dumbledore's gaze evenly. When he spoke, it was honest and accepting.

"I understand, Professor. While I wish that I had known, been able to understand everything, I do see why you did as you did. I was... innocent."

Not noticing Harry's hesitation, Albus continued, "Still, I see now that I should have. Indeed, I saw when you disappeared. And for not telling you, I am sorry, my boy. Truly."

Harry smiled, though it was twinged with a sadness. "I accept, Professor. We all have secrets, for many reasons."

Albus locked eyes with Harry. The young man's revealed only a hint of much darkness, showed echos of what he had faced. With a subtle effort, Harry hid the negative emotions, but did not look away. When he felt the headmaster mentally probing to find them and their causes, he smiled wryly. Then, above his unbreakable barriers, he projected the thought, You won't find it.

Albus smiled apologetically and ceased his legilimency. Glancing out the window to the now mid-morning sun, Albus sat in thought. Harry finished his tea and waited, completely patient. Abruptly, Dumbledore turned to him.

"Will you return to school, Harry? Do you wish to?"

Harry answered, utterly calmly, "It would be my pleasure."