Au: Please forgive me :-( I'm sorry its been so long but ugh, where has the summer gone. Well, I wrote most of this chapter on a plane ride. On the way to and from Australia. Really cool...got to watch fireworks at Pearl Harbor...amazing. So, I should have more updates now that I'm back home...oh...just a side note, my b-day was...july 23...same as Daniel Radcliffe, so, to honor our birthday...you should review!! :-D Again, soo sorry, I hope to start posting more often.

Chapter 14: Dream Achieved

Albus Dumbledore did not want to wake up. The sun streaming in his window shone on his face...and yet...he did not want to get up. He had hardly slept the night before. More nightmares...the same as usual. A green flash in the dark, the sound of a body dropping to the floor...it didn't happen as often now...six years on...but there were nights that he would wake up, as if he had just ran a mile in the desert with tears and sweat mingled...and always...that voice he had once loved so much.

With a sigh he heaved himself out of bed. Looking in a mirror he took in his appearance...his auburn hair now almost to his shoulders...his beard now full...but he noticed some wrinkles beginning to form. How fleeting youth is he thought with some amusement. The years have not been exactly generous to him. Working for Transfiguration Today had been interesting at first. But he had been there for six years now. He yearned for something...more...something where he could teach, how he loved nothing more then to sit someone down and explain to them how to do something, it was joy like none other that he knew of.

But perhaps luck was finally with him. His old transfiguration Professor was retiring. How he would love to have the chance to go back to Hogwarts, to walk those halls where so recently he himself had walked as a student...but this time...as a teacher. The thought of going back to Hogwarts was the only thing keeping him sane, the only thing he really had...ever since Aberforth got finished with school...he came home...for three days before he left. It took Albus nine months to find out that he was working as a busboy at the HogsHead pub. Every time he had tried to owl Aberforth, he did not receive a reply. It tore at him. But if he were at Hogwarts...maybe...it would be easier to contact Aberforth...

Albus let his thoughts take him away. After a few minutes he pulled a watch out of his pocket and looked at it. Ten till eleven...the post should be arriving at any moment. And sure enough within a few seconds he saw a small, round object flying to his window. It was a gray colored owl, larger then normal. It perched itself on the window seal. It stood almost at attention, and had it not moved its leg out for him to untie, one would have thought it was a statue. Professional little bird he thought to himself as he took off the letter. It was addressed to one

Mr. Albus P. W. B. Dumbledore

He turned the envelope. A seal was on it. A seal with a lion, a badger, a snake, and an eagle. All were around a giant H. He felt nervous. His fingers started to tremble as he opened it. Pulling out the parchment, he read it slowly, taking in every word as if he only had one chance to. The elegant writing on the page seemed to jump to it.

Dear Mister A. Dumbledore,

It is my deep honor to officially welcome you to the post of Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Term starts on 1st of September. If at all possible, arrive by 9:00 a.m. On 30th of August for proper time to prepare. Salary shall be 354 galleons per year.

Your Sincerely,

Dexter C. Fortescue

Headmaster

Albus closed his eyes. He allowed himself to savor the moment. He had done it. His one dream in life...achieved. Opening his eyes...he let out all his emotion in a loud roar of delight. He heard is own owl somewhere else squeak in anger. Trying to calm himself enough to act presentable, he made his way to the fire place and threw in some glittering dust. Getting down on his hands and feet, he stuck his head in the fire and said clearly, "Elphias Doge". After a few seconds of spinning, his head finally seemed to set still...finally. He never was a huge fan of communicating by the floo network, but there really was not a faster way. Looking on the inside of Doge's home, and saw an empty room. Thinking quickly, he pulled out his wand and pointed at his throat, "Sonorus" he thought. Clearing his throat, he yelled, "ELPHIAS!" Albus heard a crash of someone in another room dropping something. Hearing the matter of feet, Albus waved his wand and performing the counter spell. Elphias entered the room.

"Albus? What on..." he trailed off...seeing Albus's wide smile, he himself broke into a smile...he already knew.