"Now see here, young fellow, that there is a young billy goat," said the old hermit. Wild Winston was an old wizard who loved showing kids the wonders of his craft. Blackbird Pond had been his home as long as he could remember after Hogwarts. He had been in Ravenclaw and was Head Boy in his day, but few people knew that bit of information. Very modest of his academic accomplishments, he set out to tell others, but in a very indirect way.
"But, Winston, why doesn't it walk straight? Why won't he open his eyes?"
"She, Albus. You wouldn't expect a newborn to know how to skip a rock perfectly on the water, now would you? Many newborns are blind when they first come out of their mother because their eyes aren't adjusted to the sunlight yet. They're completely helpless."
"Oh," said the small auburn-haired boy, grabbing some sweet clover near the pond's banks for the baby goat to smell. Albus loved the countryside. He loved the rolling hills, the quaint villages, the hidden ponds (as Blackbird was), and he especially loved the animals in the spring. When new lambs, calves, and kids were born, his papa would always employ him to help out. He somehow felt a connection with these animals, and also with the very essence of nature itself.
"Come on, there ya go," said Albus gently, as the young lamb began to eat some of the clover. "Where did Aberforth go?"
"He's probably in the high pasture. The young male billy goats are there and you know how fond your brother is of them," said Winston, picking up the baby goat.
"Come now, Albus. We must put this little one back with its mother, find your brother, and be heading back to me hut. The smell of rain is in the air and your mother would have me head if you two caught cold.," said Winston, as he shouldered the young goat, and motioned for Albus to follow him.
(Mother would have your head anyway if she knew you were friends with Aberforth and I.) Albus thought. He loved Winston. Not only was he an interesting old man, he was extremely well educated. He knew everything about animals, plants, medicines, weather….it seemed like he even knew a few magic tricks as well.
Walking from the house to Blackbird Pond seemed to take forever. Since the boys were very familiar with this route, they would take no time to reach the pond and come back with all sorts of dangerous animals in their pockets. Coming over the hill and seeing the familiar opening into the woods, she bolted for it. Aberforth would always come here before Ali was born. And when Ali was old enough, he had never dared to take him along.
"Ali! Ali!" screamed a voice through the woods.
Winston and Albus turned to see the caller, but all they could here was a rustling of petticoats.
"Winston, you must go now! I'll take the responsibility for finding Aberforth. If she sees you, then I'll never see you again. Go, now!"
Winston darted deep into the woods on the far side of the wood's entrance. Albus tried to look for his brother, but the billy goats could have gone anywhere. At least, he thought, Aber will be in much bigger trouble than me.
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!"
Albus winced. He hated it when she used his full name. It was a signature moment of embarrassment. He turned and faced his mother, who was glowering at him while coming down the hill.
Without a word, she grabbed him arm turned him sideways, and walloped him on the bottom. "Don't you ever run off without telling me where you're going? Do you hear me, boy?
"Yes, Momma."
"Well, I sure hope you do," she said with a pleading look in her eyes. "Do you remember when our neighbor's son was drowned?" Albus nodded. "All evidence points to Wild Winston. And I don't ever want hear that you've been hanging around this pond and this wood, do you understand me?"
"But, Momma, they've got it all wrong! Winston's not like that! He's a brilliant man," said Albus turning from his mother, and setting his twinkling blue eyes on the ragged hut on the other side of the pond.
"He understands me, Momma, like nobody else I know," making Mrs. Dumbledore drop to her knees.
"Ali, you're my baby boy. Nobody knows you like I do. You've got that gorgeous auburn hair where an angel kissed you, and those laughing blue eyes that put a smile on my face," said Mrs. Dumbledore, holding Albus in her arms.
"But I still think you're wrong about Winston. It's not wise to judge a wizard by the length of his beard, Winston says."
"But how do you know about wizards?"
"Oh, Winston's one. He told me he was at Hogwarts and everything. But now he prefers to live a solitary life. He's taught me a lot of biology, geography, and climatology. I told you he's a brilliant man, Momma."
"Very well, then. I will visit him tomorrow and lay down the law on what he is to discuss with you boys. Come along now. We must find your brother," said Mrs. Dumbledore with a final nod.
Albus followed behind her, immensely relieved she didn't send a shooting party after Winston. He was after all, a good friend of Albus's that would mentor him for years to come.