A/N: I was sorely tempted to stop writing this story but my reviewers have inspired me to continue writing it, so thanks to you all!

Explainations

Harry stared at Dumbledore, hardly daring to believe what had just happened.

"What did you just do?" he said very quietly.

Dumbledore sighed heavily and sat himself down on the end of Harry's bed. He stared very intently at Harry for a moment.

"Do you believe in magic Harry?" he asked softly.

Harry was about to respond with a positive "No", but then he stopped himself. Did he believe in magic? His uncle had made it very clear to him from a young age that the even the very word magic was complete and utter rubbish. But then there had been times, he remembered, when things had happened which were just...unnatural.

"I don't know..." he said slowly.

"And what if I told you, that there were people who are capable of magic?" said Dumbledore, with a very faint smile.

"You mean like magicians" replied Harry, remembering the time when he saw a man pull a rabbit out of a hat for the very first time.

"Not quite," said Dumbledore, "people who can cast spells, like witches and wizards, people who can make things happen without realising how they did it" he said with a very knowing look at the younger boy.

Harry felt his jaw drop. The image of Dudley's birthday cake exploding replayed in his mind. He had never really understood how it had happened.

"Are you saying that...that I'm a wizard" he said stunned.

Dumbledore smiled, "that's exactly what I'm saying".

"And you're a wizard too, that's what you just did...magic!"

"Indeed" replied Dumbledore nodding.

Harry fell silent, trying to digest what he had just been told. Although he hardly dared to believe it, being a wizard seemed to explain everything that had occurred in his life. The numerous unexplainable things he had somehow managed to make happen, the power he felt when he was angry or sad, and his uncle's great fear of magic.

A question suddenly occurred to Harry, "Were my parents a witch and a wizard too?" he asked.

Dumbledore's smile turned sad. "Yes Harry they were"

"Then how did they die in a car crash?" he asked puzzled.

"They were not killed in a car crash. Your aunt and uncle never told you the truth because they did not wish you to know of your abilities as a wizard. Like everything else in the world, there are bad wizards as well as good ones. A very dark wizard came to power many years ago, a wizard called Lord Voldemort. He murdered many innocent wizards including your mother and father, he even attempted to kill you Harry, but the spell backfired and you survived. That's why you are so special. Nobody in our world has survived such a curse" said Dumbledore, with something akin to pride in his voice.

Harry stared into the elder man's face feeling very lost. Everything seemed so unreal, he was a wizard, there was a magical world and a dark sorcerer had tried to murder him. He wondered for a fleeting instance whether this was all just a very cruel joke.

Dumbledore seemed to know what Harry was thinking, for he pulled his wand out again. He gave it a wave, causing flames to spring up in the fireplace. Another wave and the curtains were drawn. One final flick and Harry's torn T-shirt and trousers were replaced with a brand new thick green jumper and jeans. Harry stared in amazement.

"Do you believe me now Harry?" asked Dumbledore amused.

Harry nodded, grinning sheepishly.

"Good, then let us get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm famished" he said with a wink. They both got up and headed for the door. Behind them, the owl ruffled its feathers indignantly and glared at them, evidently still waiting to be un-silenced.

Though he had tried his hardest to restrain himself throughout their dinner, Harry couldn't help but ask questions. Questions about spells and jinxes, wizarding customs and traditions, sports and even how the ministry worked. Dumbledore, to his credit, answered them all. Patiently he explained the ways of wizards, his blue eyes sparkling at the awestruck look on Harry's face as he learned about his wonderful new world.

As the night wore on however, the young boy's eyes began to droop and eventually he fell asleep in his chair. Dumbledore, who had been busy explaining the various types of wizarding sweets, looked up and noticed, with a fond smile, that his young charge had fallen asleep. Gently, trying to disturb him as little as possible, Dumbledore carried Harry back to the bedroom and lay him down on the bed. The young wizard rolled on his side and Dumbledore caught a glimpse of the marks across his chest. He laid his hand on the boy's forehead in a gesture of comfort, but as he did so, a voice sprang unbidden to his mind.

neither shall live while the other survives

What was he doing? He couldn't start felling affectionate for the boy. This was the prophesised child and he had a destiny to fulfil. With a heavy heart, the elder man retracted his hand. He knew the dangers of getting too emotionally involved with Harry and he would not jeopardise the wizarding world's future by doing so.

Dumbledore got to his feet and walked slowly to the door. He paused by the entrance and looked back at the small figure sleeping peacefully on the bed.

"I'm sorry Harry"