Chapter ten

"Okay, very good Al! Now I'm going to ask you a few questions. Alright?" Dumbledore interlaced his fingers and set his chin on them.

"Alright, try me." I clutched my head and started rocking back and forth. Hey don't make fun of my habit!

"What is the main ingredient for the 'Strengthening Potion'?"

At first, I was like, 'Uh..wha?'but then something went off in my head.

"Salamander blood."

"Correct." 'Whoah…dude..'

"This would've a lot more helpful if I would've had this at my old school." It was true; I was the photographer at school and spent most of my free time not doing homework, but trying to catch some good shots and I spent most of my time after that in my makeshift dark room in the janitor's closet, he wasn't too happy 'bout that. So I didn't make too much time for schoolwork.

Plus I had insomnia, so that didn't help. WEEEE for caffeine pills! Bwhahahaha!

"Now that we have that covered, who was that crazy lady who tried to assonate me with hugs!"

"That was your aunt." All forms of bitterness were etched on his face.

"Nun uh. I don't have an aunt." 'She must be an impostah'! But wouldn't I have to have an aunt in the first place for someone to impersonate her?' My rambling thoughts were cut off my Dumbledore clearing his throat.

'Oh, I guess I should listen..'

"Are you with me Al?" I shook my head. "Didn't think so. Anyways, I was saying, you do have an aunt. Your parents never liked her because she was always..er..jealous I guess you could say, of how better off they were than her. She was very hateful, as you seen this morning."

"Better off? I always thought we were normal. You know, average."

"She was very jealous of your parents' money."

I thought of our little house in the suburbs, my hand-me-downs from Adam..

"Uh..wha?" We were mostly once again average in that area.

"Your parents had a lot of money stored in the Gringotts Bank in Diaogon Alley. That's what she was so jealous of."

"Why am I not in her custody?" My head was jumbling with thoughts. Ow. I still have a headache.

"Your parents didn't think Jenus was capable for raising a child. So they put you in mine instead; I was a very close friend with Marivian and Jane, so they trusted me more."

"Okay, that's cool. Do I still call you Dumbledore?" He let out a laugh along with a warm smile.

"Yes of course."

"I don't mean to change the subject so abruptly, but I don't have that many clothes. Actually, none at all."

This was also true. At the moment, I was clad in gray sleep pants and a loose, gray shirt that I'm assuming were provided by the nurse.

"I know. I was planning on taking you to some muggle shops in London."

"You?"

"Yes me. I maybe old, but I do have great taste in socks and mittens. Plus I would like to get to know you more."

'Socks and…mittens…riiight.'

"Okay then, sounds alright with me."

We sat in silence for a moment.

'Wow, now this feels a little awkward.'

I took this as my chance to take a closer look at his office. Portraits of what looked like to me, more old people; some scowling at me, and some waving warmly at me like they had known me forever.

"Sooo..when are we going?" I placed my hand on a little metal object on his desk.

"Now." He placed his hand on the object too and we were sucked into it.

"HOLY SH-" Was all I got to say before being sucked into it completely.

It looked like we were in a waterslide of different colors, mixing and melting into one.

Until we popped out again in a whole new surrounding.

"Don't EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" Dumbledore merely smiled toothily while waving at a man with an apron on who apparently knew Dumbledore.

"Hello William."

"Hello." Dumbledore led me outside shouting, while 'William' stared at me like I was crazy.

Ha. Me? Crazy? No, of course not.

"So this is London eh?" I saw many tourists' shops and boutiques.

"This is London."

"So Al, what are some of your hobbies? Knitting? Rugby perhaps?"

I was in the dressing room at the moment, trying on some loose jeans and shirts of different multitudes.

"Ha. Knitting? No, but I like photography, and drawing. I used to be a yearbook photographer at school, well, 'til they fired me for turning the janitor's broom closet into a dark room. Nope, they didn't like that too much."

Dumbledore gave a laugh and I turned back to changing into my gray outfit, oblivious to the thoughts brewing inside Dumbledore mind.

I finally came out of the cramped dressing room, and started for the cashier.

"I've already paid for that." Dumbledore waved the receipt in the air.

"You did? Wow. Thanks, but why?" I stood there between the cashier and Dumbledore. The cashier was just watching back and forth like a slow motion tennis tournament.

"Do you have any money Al?"

"Well, no but.." This guy is uber smart. Then again, I could just be slow..

"Come on Al." I ran after Dumbledore out of the store, seeing as he left me standing there.

It was the next afternoon. I had bought all the clothes I would need and now hate shopping.

Not that I liked it before anyways.

"So Al, are ya nervous?"

I was at the moment in Hagrid's hut, him offering me some more tea, which I politely declined; Hagrid can't cook very well, that included tea.

"Yeah, a bit. But whatever happens, happens. I'll just go with the flow."

"I wish I had yer courage Al. I was absolutely tremblin' when they called me up for sortin'. Just be glad you didn't hafta' be sorted in front o'the whole school." A series of shiver over took Hagrid, as if remembering a bad memory.

"Yeah, that would've had to suck. So when did you get this job at Hogwarts?"

I wanted to get off the subject because Hagrid didn't seem to take to well of it.

A wide smile replaced the sour look that had seem to be plastered on his face.

"OH! I got this job only a while back; I think it was 'bout a year ago. You see, there aren't many jobs for half-giants out there, especially for those with only a third year education. I was expelled. So Dumbledore, great man he is, gave me this job!" He let out a hearty laugh.

'Whoah, wait he's a HALF giant? And he got expelled! Wow, I never knew..'

"That's great Hagrid!" The coo-coo clock he owned chimed five o'clock.

"You best be headin' up to the castle; Dumbledore wanted to talk to ya 'bout what yer suppose to do tomorrow. I'll take ya myself. Nasty creatures in the forest 'round sunset." He led me towards the door.

"Okay then." Creatures eh?

Don't jump to conclusions. I'm not curious at all.

Nope not one bit.

Not me.

FINE! OKAY! I BREAK! I'M UBER CURIOUS!

Geez, happy now?

OKAY! HERE"S ANOTHER PIC OF AL THAT I DREW, SO ONCE AGAIN, DON'T TAKE IT WITHOUT PERMISSION….well that is if you like it….T.T

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