Disclaimer- J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters. The Five People You Meet In Heaven is owned by Mitch Albom. The plot and chapter titles are also from him.
A/N: The italics means that it is a flashback. In case you hadn't noticed, this whole chapter is a flashback.
The Five People You Meet In Heaven
Chapter Two- This is Dumbledore's Memory
Albus is a young boy of the ripe age of ten. He has short auburn hair, exactly like the woman's standing next to him. That woman is his mother.
Albus stands patiently by his mother's side in the small entrance way of their home. His father is opening the door for tonight's dinner guest.
The woman stepping through the door has a long traveling shawl wrapped numerous times around her bony shoulders. She has small beady eyes and short black hair.
"Albus," his father says, motioning for his son to come forward. "This is Elise Erolds. She works at the ministry."
"Pleased to meet you," Albus says politely, lowering his head towards Elise.
"Shall we head to the dining room?" Albus's mother suggests.
Albus closely follows the three adults as they head towards the spacious dining room. Albus's parents sit at the two heads of the table, and Albus sits opposite Elise.
Soon after they sit down, a tiny house elf brings out a large, silver serving tray. On the tray are four plates, each holding a hearty serving of roast beef, carrots, mashed potatoes, and cabbage. The house elf distributes each plate to the party of four.
"This looks lovely!" Elise says enthusiastically, as a plate is set in front of her.
Albus is growing a little bored as the adults discuss current events happening in the wizarding world. As soon as he scrapes his plate clean, the house elf collects it, along with the other three plates.
"That was delicious!" Elise exclaims, daintily wiping her mouth with her napkin. Though she is talking to Albus's parents, her eyes are resting on Albus.
At that moment, there is a loud crash from the kitchen. It is most likely from the desert trays that the house elf would have been carrying between his two small hands.
"I better go check on this." Albus's father says as he stands up from the table.
Albus's mother nods, also getting out of her seat. "Why don't you two have a small chat as we sort this mess out?"
Albus nods as both of his parents leave the dining room. He isn't sure what to say to the strange woman across from him, but he never had to start. Elise does.
"Will you be starting Hogwarts soon?" she say politely, peering at Albus.
"Yes ma'am." Albus says. He will be at the magical school in a year's time.
"There's no need to be calling me ma'am. It makes me feel old. Call me Elise." Elise answers, in a similar fashion to how Albus's grandmother speaks to him.
Albus decides to ask Elise about her work. Even though it is a very boring topic for him. It could keep an adult talking for hours. "What exactly do you do for the ministry?"
Elise purses her lips, and folds her hands in front of her, as if she was about to say something extremely important. "I do many odd jobs. Whenever somebody needs something done they call on me. However, my main job is in the Department of Mysteries. It would be unwise to tell you much about that, but I can show you one thing."
Elise begins writing something on her napkin. She has large loopy handwriting. When she finishes writing, Albus takes a peek. She has written her name. As Albus watches her with curiosity, she circles the last two letters of her first name and the first two letters of her last name. She slides the napkin towards Albus.
Albus isn't quite sure what the point of this is. He doesn't even have a chance to look at the napkin, for Elise's eyes go abruptly out of focus. She grips the edge of the table, her rings digging into her fingers at odd angles. She speaks her sentences in short spurts.
"BEWARE–OF THE–HANDSOME–DARK-HAIRED MAN. HE WILL–ATTEMPT–TO STEAL–THE SWORD–OF YOUR–MOST FAMOUS–ANCESTOR. HE MUST–NOT–SUCCEED."
Elise lets out a small cough, and her eyes refocus to look at Albus. "Why are you so pale dear?"
Albus is unable to find an answer. Before he could speak a word, his mother and father enter the room.
"That's all taken care of," Albus's father says happily. "Just a little accident."
At that moment, the old grandfather clock strikes eleven.
"Oh dear, it's late." Elise says. "I better get going."
Elise stands up and heads towards the door, Albus's parents following closely behind her. Even though Albus is still terrified, he politely follows the three adults into the entrance way. The Dumbledores bid their good-nights to their dinner guest, and Elise heads out the door.
"Bedtime Albus," his mother says kindly, giving him a hug as his father ruffles his hair.
"Yes mother," Albus answers as he heads up the stairs. "Wait, I forgot something."
Albus rushes past his confused parents and heads back into the dining room. He grabs the napkin that Elise had written on.
"Good-night." Albus says, rushing past his parents for the second time. Once he is safely in his bedroom with the door closed, Albus takes a look at the napkin.
Elise Erolds is written on the napkin, but that is not what Albus is looking at. He reads the four circled letters aloud. "S-E-E-R. What's a seer?" Albus wonders thoughtfully.
Albus is still confused about Elise's mysterious trance. Did it have something to do with 'seer' or the Department of Mysteries. Also, what was the message about? Not wanting to forget what Elise said, Albus carefully wrote down her words on the napkin.
As Albus's head hits his pillow, his head is full of thoughts about what a seer was. However, he should have been focused on Elise's prediction. Preventing the sword from being stolen was a matter of life or death for a certain Harry Potter.
A/N: In case you were wondering why I did flashbacks is because that is how Mitch Albom's novel is. There will be lots of these, each important to the ending of the story. Don't worry, it will all come together. Anyways, thanks for reading, and please review.
Also, to answer vaderfan220x's question, the lessons Dumbledore will be taught will be completely different from what Eddie was taught.