Harry James Potter was finally on his way to Hogwarts. Professor Albus Dumbledore knew this not just because he was the greatest wizard of his generation but because he had sent Rubeus Hagrid to make sure of it.
Hagrid had become attached while delivering the infant Harry to his only living relatives. So had Dumbledore; he was not prepared, however, for his feelings upon laying his eyes on eleven year old Harry.
He had no reason to have any direct contact with the boy until the situation with the mirror; Harry had become much too attached to sitting in front of it, seeing his parents, sometimes all night. To be fair, Dumbledore could have sent Professor McGonagal to deal with the issue but he did not care to let anyone know he was watching the boy in particular.
Then the boy had recruited his friends to go looking for the Philosopher's Stone as Dumbledore had hoped. It was important that the boy develop a sense for seeking adventure.
The reopening of the Chamber of Secrets when Harry was twelve came as an unexpected development. The boy began to show signs that even amongst Wizards, he was unusual - a Parsel tongue! Dumbledore did his best to abstain from becoming involved but it was difficult despite the danger.
When Harry briefly connected with his godfather Sirius Black, Dumbledore worried that his ability to manage Harry's development was in doubt. Sending Sirius into exile was best for the boy. At thirteen, entering puberty, Harry was at a delicate stage and Dumbledore needed to be careful.
He was successful until the events of the Tri-Wizard tournament. At first he thought the boy had gone and done something rash but the danger proved greater than that. Looking back now, Dumbledore realised how close he'd come to losing the boy. Foolish old man!
It pained him to do it but with Voldermort's return, it was time to distance himself from Harry to concentrate on reactivating the Order of the Phoenix. Unfortunately that meant direct contact between Sirius and Harry; Sirius was far too reckless an influence for a fifteen year old boy eager to prove himself. Harry's mission to the Ministry of Magic demonstrated that and Voldemort made them pay for it. His possession of Harry had genuinely frightened Dumbledore. "You've lost, old man."
That night, Dumbledore was torn between confessing his feelings to the young man or holding back until Harry was of age, at seventeen. Harry undoubtedly had issues of abandonment, guilt and fear. He wanted to know he was not alone and that someone else cared for him as well. Was Dumbledore that person? It would be a hard conversation to have, apologising for distancing himself from Harry; Albus Dumbledore was not used to admitting his mistakes.
Harry sat opposite Dumbledore in the professor's office. For once, the desk was not between them. He felt numb. He'd been betrayed by Cho. He'd lost Sirius. He still felt violated by Voldemort, dirty and unclean. He could not put the prophecy out of mind. He longed for the older man opposite him, whose attention he had craved all year, to put his arms around Harry and lie to him, say everything would be alright. Any comfort would do for now. He'd almost died tonight. Again. Was it wrong to want someone to hold him, to kiss him, to make him forget for a few brief moments how much danger he was in so he could pretend he was safe and loved? To be cleansed of the psychic stench of Voldemort. Who better to do that than Albus Dumbledore?
Back in Gryffindor dormitory, with the other fifth years asleep, he shuddered slightly as he slowly removed his clothes and put on his pajamas. As he pulled back the bed covers, he closed his eyes to pretend he was lying down next to Dumbledore, snuggling close. Dumbledore would be gentle with him, encouraging, would slowly teach him how to please. Harry tried to imagine what that would be like, to be sheltered in his professor's arms. To be kissed by him. To be taken by him.
Drowsily, hands under the covers, Harry finally dropped off to a deep, mercifully dreamless sleep.