How could he have lost him? How could he have lost the boy who lived? HOW COULD HE HAVE LOST THE BOY WHO LIVED TO THE SAME ORPHANAGE TOM GREW UP IN. HOW-

"Excuse me, sir, is there anything you need?"

Dumbledore blinked and his surroundings came into light once more. The young woman looked slightly amused and worried at his expression.

"Aah, yes, I am in need of a-" dumbledore looked down to the information sheet on the paper ('I swear these things get harder to read each passing decade' he thought), "Ms. Anly?.

"Just a moment sir-" the young woman said politely. She pulled a cellphone from her pocket and unlocked it.

"Those haven't been invented yet.." Dumbledore said (calmly). The lady just laughed.

"Invented? Do you think this place makes sense? This orphanage is an entire exception to the universe!" (later she congratulated herself on such a realistic performance; Harry would be so proud!)

Dumbledore blinked. "Alright- is Ms. Anly here yet?" he asked.

"Just a mo'" the lady assured. Sure enough, one minute later, the manager of the orphanage (Ms. Anly) came down. She was wearing a white collared shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Hello, sir! Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

"Ahh yes," said Dumbledore, "I am here to offer young harry potter a scholarship,"

The lady raised an eyebrow. "Well come on then," she said, ushering him up the stairs and into her office. The headmaster sat down and waited for Ms. Anly to do the same. A moment later, both were sitting parallel to each other.

"Are you family?" she asked, looking suspiciously at him. (Harry had warned her of a teacher coming that day and how she should avoid drinking or looking at anything he put under her nose.)

"No, I am a teacher," Dumbledore replied, feeling an icy chill go down his back, something was not right here.

(Later Harry and his best forever friend Fate would high-five and laugh at how perfectly the effects went.)

"I am here to offer Harry a place at my school" Dumbledore continued,-he didn't know why he was using the same words as with Mrs cole about tom riddle, but they seemed to be coming straight from his subconscious and out his mouth. (Fate cheered and conjured up a chalkboard; Fate & Harry: 1, Dumbledork:0)

"What school is this then?" asked Ms. Annly, who reckoned she was playing her part as perfectly well, thank you very much.

"It is called Hogwarts," explained Dumbledore, he opened his mouth to say more but was interrupted.

"And how come you're interested in Harry?"

"We believe he has the qualities we are looking for," Dumbledore said.

"You mean he's won a scholarship?" Ms. Anley pestered.

"Well, his name has been down since birth-"

"But who registered him, his Parents?"
There was no doubt that Ms. Anley was an un-conveniently sharp woman. Fortunately, Dumbledore knew just what to do. He slipped his wand out of his suit and picked up a piece of blank paper (He was not comfortable with the parallels with Tom's invite but what was he to do?)

She looked to the right of the paper (like Harry instructed) and pretended to have been brainwashed.

"Everything seems to be in order." She said placidly, sliding the paper slip back (to Mr. Dumbarton was it?).

"Now-" said Dumbledore, eager to just get over the inevitable and hear of whatever escapades Harry'd had in the orphanage, "Can you tell me about harry?".

"He's a funny boy-" Ms. Annley said, eying the door.

"Yes," said Dumbledore, "I thought he might be.."

(Nostalgia and Fate fist-bumped, this was going to be awesome! Harry would be so proud.)

"He was a funny baby, too, he hardly ever cried, you know, and then when he got older, he was a bit odd.." (This was not the truth, of course, Harry was a wonderful boy through and through but Ms. Anley had been instructed to say as much, and she wasn't going to let her poor harry down.)

"Odd in what way?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well-" Ms. Anley cut herself off, just as Harry had instructed.

"He's definitely got a place at your school, you say?"

"Definitely,"

"And nothing I can say can change that?"

"Nothing,"

"You'll be taking him away, whatever?"

"Whatever," repeated Dumbledore gravely. (Ms. Anleys heart broke, oh how the kids, and quite honestly the staff, would miss him.)

Nevertheless, she squinted her eyes conspiratorially at the old man.

"He scares the children," She said at last (Harry had told her to say things, insisted upon it, but she still felt bad as she badmouthed her favorite ward)

"You mean he's a bully?" Dumbledore asked cautiously.

"I think he must be," said Ms. Anly, ' but it's very hard to catch him at it.."

"Oh, Merlin-" thought Dumbledore.

Up in their cloud mansion, Death, Fate, Nostalgia, and even good old Destiny cackled in anticipation at the old man. If they knew harry, and they did, he was going to give good old Dumbles the scare of his lifetime, this was going to be good.