Disclaimer: I own nothing that J.K. Rowling does.

ARCHMAGE

After Albus Dumbledore had returned the last light to its proper lamp post on Privet Drive and made his departure, another oddly dressesed fellow made his way to the stoop of Number 4. The man was wrinkly and as crooked as the gnarled staff he carried, wearing tattered gray robes that hung from his frail body with his face covered by his hood and his long white beard. He bent down to examine the bundle that was the worlds newest hero and lay a wrinkled hand across his brow, rubbing the newley made cut on his forehead, mumbling incoherently to himself. There was a bright flash of blue light and the old man straitened himself up with the help of his staff, and as quick as he came, he was gone.

15 years later...

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, going over the weekly Death Eater reports that his spy, Severus Snape, had given him earlier that day. The reports detailed upcoming attacks against wizard and muggle families alike, and it was Dumbledore's hope that they could all be prevented or at least avoid casualties. It was thanks to one of these reports that he had been able to rescue the Weasley family (most were members of Dumbledore's underground group, The Order of the Phoenix), as well as the Granger family (a muggle family from which a very talented witch had come) and sent them into hiding.

Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes and thinking about what had happened in his office barely a month ago, when he had put the weight of the world onto a fifteen year old boys shoulders. Barely a month ago he had revealed to Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, that the only one with the power to destroy the Dark Lord Voldemort, was himself. Harry had the expected reaction of rage mixed with violence, though part of that could owe to the recent death of his godfather, Sirius Black, who had been dead less than two hours when Dumbledore revealed to Harry a prophecy detailing that he was the only one capable of destroying Voldemort. The prophecy stated that Harry was to have a power that the Dark Lord did not have, but he continually stated that he had no such power. Dumbledore, however, had a sinking suspicion as to what that power was, having gone through a similar process in his earlier life, prior to his fight with the dark wizard Grindelwald.

Dumbledore straitened up in his chair and nearly jumped out of it with surprise by what he saw. Leaning against his fire place was none other than the wizard responsible for who he was today, the Legendary Arch-Mage Merlin himself.

" Great Merlin!" Dumbledore exclaimed, getting up from his chair and approaching his former mentor. "What, might I ask, brings you here?"

"Ah, Albus!" Merlin replied, shaking the younger mans hand. "With the times as dark as they are I'm sure you can guess as to why I'm here."

"You are here to take Harry to the Academy I presume?" Dumbledore stated more than asked, knowing the probable answer.

"The Supression Barrier I put on him as a child is beginning to wear thin, and since he knows of the prophecy I see no reason for him not to attend." Merlin explained. "You know of the time flow difference Albus, he will be back in time for school."

"When do you wish to take him then?"

"As soon as possible."

Dumbledore walked to his window overlooking the castle grounds and said, "His birthday is in two days. I will bring him here and then you may take him."

"I shall return in two days time then, Albus." with that he nodded and was gone.