Albus' First Day

Albus woke early as was his habit. He had never grown use to a life of leisure. He was as active in his retirement as he had been in his most busy years. He moved from the bed, noticing the somewhat sluggish state of his new body. This would never do. He would have to get fit again.

He moved to his washroom and performed his morning hygiene. He noted that his alternate had some of the same procedures, but not quite the same. He found a beard twirler – an absolutely useless tool that had been invented a hundred years earlier. A comb or brush worked just as well to groom one's beard.

He looked in the mirror. His image looked similar to his own, if a bit pudgy. He took an effort to "remember" some of Wulfric's decisions. My, there were a lot of desserts in his memory. He would have to change his diet. There were also several refusals of allowing any healer to scan him. Merlin, his alternate was truly ridiculous.

He was a snappy dresser though: Albus always did like the colorful. It was one of his eccentricities. He didn't allow himself many, but that one he did enjoy. His grandchildren often teased him about it. He only laughed and argued that no one could mistake him for someone else.

He made his way to his office, attached to his quarters. When he entered, he noticed Fawkes sitting on a perch, sleeping. He was a bit devastated then. He had forgotten his own Fawkes in the non-excitement of dying. He had not noticed, but his sorrow had been muted. He now grieved more fully for the loss of his lifetime companion.

After a few minutes, he decided that Fawkes here would be his one confidante. He could not afford to pass on his knowledge of the old universe or the afterlife. He might be able to write it so that after his passing, some could know – it might be a great comfort to those whom had lost others. But he couldn't afford the luxury of using it now. It would make him look more senile.

He moved to Fawkes, and began petting the phoenix. Fawkes awoke suddenly. It had been a while since his human had woken him like this. He turned his head, and saw that something had changed. He tilted his head and trilled in question.

Albus chuckled sadly, "Come to my chambers with me, I will explain."

Fawkes lifted briefly to his human's shoulder and allowed himself to be carried to his human's nest. When they arrived, his human placed him on the perch found there and sat down in front of him.

"I have some regrettable news. I have been sent by heaven above to repair mistakes. The Albus Dumbledore you see in front of you is not the Albus Dumbledore you knew before. He has passed to his next great adventure."

Fawkes was confused. His human was there. He felt a little different but it was his human. He could feel it.

"I'm sorry. I come from a universe where I died yesterday, before my time. I was asked to come here to repair damage done by bad choices. I have lost my own Fawkes. I can only grieve and hope that we can work together."

Fawkes finally understood. He felt grief himself and sung loudly a song reflecting that. His human had left, even if his human had been replaced. He would stay with the new one, but would grieve for the old.

As Fawkes' song rose in grief and beauty, Albus was transfixed. The song cleansed him, and he hope that his presence could help his alternate's friend. For ten minutes they sat together and grieved. When the grief had been dulled, but not forgotten, Albus noticed the wards alert him to a visitor. It was his deputy, obviously reacting to the sound of Fawkes' song.

The two made their way to the office just in time for Minerva to cautiously make her way inside. "Albus? Is everything alright? I was completing my end of term grade report when I heard Fawkes' song. It was sad and it worried me."

Albus chuckled sadly. "Yes, Minerva, we are alright. Fawkes and I were reminiscing on the past and ran in to some unresolved grief. It is old news, nothing to worry about now."

Fawkes trilled in sad agreement. His new human would need support, obviously, and he would hold the worst of it until he could sing properly.

McGonagall was not fully convinced, but Albus was not one to pass on grief to others and she knew she would get no more from him.

"So, how long before the yearly reports are ready for submission?" Albus asked.

Minerva looked at her list. "I have received grades from all departments except Defense. The abrupt departure of the professor means I will have to take a few days to decode the records to complete it." She lifted her head and with a sigh said, "I wish it was an unexpected chore. Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with it."

Albus nodded. "I know Minerva. What is the summer schedule?"

Minerva thought for a moment. "Grades to be submitted by 30 June. Two week vacation for heads of house. Annual head of house meeting for deciding prefects and the Head students on 15 July. Muggleborn letters will be hand delivered and trips to Diagon Alley organized to be started immediately after that and completed by 31 July. Wizard homes will receive letters by 24 July, allowing a week to reply. Initial staff meeting 1 August, Books lists to be submitted. Our annual budget requests have to submitted to the board by 2 August. Hogwarts board meets 7 August. Funds disbursed 15 August. Purchases to be completed by 31 August."

Albus looked at Minerva with respect. His headmaster duties had obviously been foisted on to Minerva in this place. It wouldn't surprise him if she looked forward to the school year to get a rest!

He made a decision then. "My first Wizengamot meeting is not until the 1st of July. I think I have some time to perhaps help to tabulate Defense grades. This will free you to arrange the bulk of the annual reports for the Wizarding Examination Authority."

Minerva was dumbfounded. It was very unlike Albus to involve himself with Hogwarts outside of meetings, once the year was done. He usually spent the time politicking. She would not question it though – she would take all the help she could get.

"Thank you, Albus. That would be very helpful."

After they farewelled each other, Albus petted Fawkes once more. "We will have to take some time later to complete our grieving." Fawkes trilled in response.

Albus made his way to the Headmaster's private dining room. As school was out, meals were not as formal. Those in the castle ate dinner together, but other meals were taken in the kitchen or elsewhere.

He sat down and thought back to remember his "normal" decisions. When he had reviewed what he needed he called out, "Tippy!"

A house elf popped in. "Yes, Master Headmaster?"

"I would like to break fast for the day. If you could deliver, I would much appreciate it."

Tippy nodded enthusiastically and then snapped her fingers. A full breakfast appeared. Then Tippy popped out.

Albus spent some time enjoying the full Hogwarts breakfast. He had his own house elf in his last life, but he had missed at times the sheer variety the Hogwarts elves provided. They could cook much more without waste as there were more people to feed.

His own meal was quite large. However, he decided to eschew the raspberry jam and other sweets this morning, no matter how much he liked them. When he was finished, he called for Tippy once more. "Thank you, Tippy. It was quite excellent as always."

Tippy nodded happily and was about to return the remains to the kitchen when she made an observation. "Master did not complete the Rasberry Jam! Was something wrong with what Tippy brought?" She looked quite ready to cry.

Albus reassured the elf. "No, it was quite good. I have decided to reduce my sweets. I quite like them but have recently noticed I seem to be putting some extra around my waist."

Tippy looked thoughtfully at her Master. "Would Master like any changes in his normal meal?"

Albus chuckled. "For breakfast and lunch, please minimize the sweets. I might indulge at supper though." Tippy nodded, cheerful once more, and disappeared along with the plates and leftovers.

Soon, he made his way to the Defense corridor and used his connection with the castle to enter. He sat down with the disorganized papers and took his time to acquaint himself with the current student body. The review of grades helped him to "remember" little bits and bobs of what Wulfric had known and done and the actions and inactions.

When he had completed the task after several hours, it occurred to Albus that it really had been quite a long time since he had involved himself with students.

In his old world, he had been retired for ten years. In the new world, the Headmaster kept himself quite separate. That would never do. The Headmaster had to be accessible to all students of all houses, and partial to none.

It made his chance to become close to his grandchildren's alternates in this new world all the harder, but he would persevere.

Albus had immediately seen that his alternate had held himself aloof. He knew how much of a benefit it was that the children of his own friends had enjoyed having a grandfather they could rely on. He would not deny those in this world such benefits if he could provide.

He remembered fondly the Potter, Longbottom, Black, and Bones children. It was obvious from what he had learned that he would not have as many children to spoil. He cursed his idealistic, lazy prick of an alternate for his blatant stupidity. It would not be the last time he did so.