Disclaimer: I do not own the HP world or its characters. JKR does...

Dear Mr Potter

The other day I was doing my usual spring cleaning of my office when I came across a letter addressed to me as well as another letter addressed to you from Albus Dumbledore. I would send you your letter, but Dumbledore made an express wish that you come here to this office and read it here.

There is no rush, so whenever you can take a day or two off of Auror training you can come to Hogwarts. Let me know in advance so I will know to open the gates.

Regards,

Minerva McGonagall.

Harry received the letter two days ago, and he had immediately made arrangements to take some time off of his training to go up to Hogwarts. It was now Thursday, and Harry was preparing to go.

"Say hello to Professor McGonagall for me, will you Harry?" said Ginny as she fixed the lapel of his jacket and tried, in vain, to flatten his hair. she gave up quickly and ruffled it up instead.

"I will," he said, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek. He picked up his rucksack and slung it over his shoulder. He had opted for the normal size bag rather than using the charm Hermione had perfected on their travels.

He picked up a handful of Floo powder and leaned over and planted another kiss on Ginny's cheek. He threw the powder into the flames, stepped into the now green flames and said clearly, "Hogs Head Inn." The flames leapt up around him and he felt the familiar tugging at his navel before he was whisked away, other fireplaces appearing fleetingly before vanishing again. it wasn't long before he was spat out of a fireplace, landing on his feet in a dingy room.

"Hello there Harry," came a familiar voice. Harry wiped his glasses off and looked again at the man in front of him. Aberforth Dumbledore held out his hand and Harry shook it.

"Hello Abe." Abe loped back behind the bar and picked up a glass.

"Care for a Firewhisky while you're here lad?" asked the tall man.

"No thanks Abe, I actually have to get going. Professor McGonagall is waiting for me up at the castle." Abe shrugged and put the glass down. "Thanks anyway though," said Harry, pushing the door open.

He hurried down the long narrow pathway that led between the buildings of Hogsmeade. Once out of the village, he saw the tall gates of Hogwarts flanked by winged boars looming up ahead. He had barely arrived at the gate when it swung silently inwards. Harry had always been amazed at how the huge gates could move so smoothly and silently when they obviously weighed a lot.

At the entrance to Hogwarts, standing in the massive doorway, was Professor McGonagall. She smiled at him as he was walking up the lawns.

"Hello Mister Potter," she said when he reached her.

"Hello Professor. It's good to see you again," he said. He and Professor McGonagall walked side-by-side up through the castle to her office. Harry felt a pang of nostalgia as he walked through the corridors that held so many good memories for him.

Once inside her office, Professor McGonagall offered Harry a seat. She handed him a letter that had been folded over. The seal it bore was purple with the Hogwarts badge. On the front, his name was written in handwriting he knew so well. This was the letter from Dumbledore.

"I have instructions from Dumbledore, in my own letter of course, to leave you here in my office for a few hours. He said you will need access to a few things, but he trusts you will not destroy anything," said McGonagall. Harry was a little startled by her abrupt departure without letting him do or say anything further.

Once the door was closed behind her, Harry took a moment to look around the office. Not much had changed since he had last been in there, the odd contraptions still littered across the office. He looked up at the paintings on the wall, and smiled when he saw one containing a black-haired wizard sitting in a high-backed green chair, staring out the window in his painting. Harry chose not to disturb Professor Snape. The portrait of Dumbledore was empty, and Harry assumed he had gone to visit another painting.

Harry then opened the letter from Dumbledore, and read the familiar handwriting.

Dearest Harry.

I am writing this because I know I will die soon. I have been a stupid fool in thinking I can beat the curse this ring holds. I know that death is inevitable for me. I hope that you will have a chance to read this letter, and subsequent ones.

I have to apologise to you Harry, my dear boy, for everything I have done to you. I have realised that I was using you as a means to an end, and it was unfair on you. I think that you have always followed me blindly, and yet you knew almost nothing about me.

It is time, I think, to rectify that. I want you to realise I am not entirely the man you thought I was. I do not deserve your unquestioning loyalty when you know so little about my life and thus my motivations.

I sincerely hope that you will finish the task I set for you, and that you will vanquish Tom Riddle. It is a lot for me to ask, but I have every faith that you will succeed.

I have collected a number of memories from my past, and hidden them in the wall where I keep my Pensieve. I trust you know where that is from our numerous meetings. There is a letter accompanying each memory, and you need to read the letter after viewing the memory.

I make no excuse for the occasional bad things you will witness in these memories, because I won't deny that I did them. I do hope that you will be able to forgive me.

Yours always,

Albus Dumbledore.

Harry stared at the letter in his hands. Dumbledore had left his memories of his past for Harry?He glanced up again at the empty picture frame that was the home the portrait of his old headmaster.

He looked around, suddenly feeling awkward, not knowing if he should get the pensieve out. It was no longer Dumbledore's office anymore.

Eventually, after much deliberation, he stood and went to the secret door that concealed Dumbledore's pensieve and memories. Upon opening the door, he saw the familiar pensieve, and a shelf containing several small vials filled with a silvery liquid. Each vial was sitting on top of a small letter. Harry picked up the first vial and poured the swirling silvery liquid into the pensieve. He glanced around once more to check he was alone, before diving into the memory.

A/N: This is a new idea I had. Each subsequent chapter will be able to be read more or less on their own. Please read and review.