Author's Notes: Oh, I'm such a ridiculous child for starting another multichapter story. This has spent forever (read: a year and a half) gathering dust in my writing folder, but I recently started thinking about it again. I edited and added to it and came up with this. It's AU: Percival is still in Azkaban, but Albus neither befriends nor falls in love with Gellert Grindelwald. Title may change in the future.

Disclaimer: A disclaimer haiku poem:

All belongs to Jo

I am just borrowing them

Suing makes girl sad

His Father's Son

Chapter One

of school supplies and surprises

Young Albus Dumbledore was sixteen, clever, fearless, and at the moment, bored. In his opinion, there was nothing more tedious than shopping for school supplies. He and Aberforth walked through Diagon Alley, Aberforth carefully placing a check mark next to each item on his Hogwarts books list after it had been purchased.

It was all rather mind numbing.

“Right then,” Aberforth said as they exited Flourish and Blotts, “We still need to head over to the apothecary to get our ingredients for potions.”

“Why don't I meet you there?“ Albus asked his younger brother, “I want to go to Madam Malkin's and look at the robes.”

Aberforth sighed angrily, “Albus, Mum left you in charge, and with all of the money, so you'd better come.”

Albus groaned inwardly; he hated the apothecary and its awful stench. However, arguing with Aberforth was pointless, so Albus resignedly walked towards his least favorite shop.

Once inside the apothecary, Aberforth looked at herbs and dried roots while Albus lingered by the door, reading a book about time travel, which he had purchased while he and Aberforth had been in Flourish and Blotts. Aberforth had been annoyed, pointing out that Albus already had enough books to fill a library and then some. However, Albus had always been interested in time travel and had gotten the book anyway.

The door to the apothecary opened, and a man stepped inside; Albus, completely absorbed in his book, did not notice. The man paused and studied Albus.

“Albus Dumbledore?” the man asked in a hesitant voice.

Albus looked up to find a tall and scrawny man standing next to him. He gave the man a thoughtful glance; something about him looked vaguely familiar, but Albus could not place where he had seen him before.

“Hello,” Albus addressed him politely.

“I have something of the utmost importance to give to you,“ the man said, a nervous expression on his face. He looked around, giving the distinct vibe that he was hiding from something - or someone.

"What is it that you have?" Albus inquired. Though he was a bit suspicious of this man, his curiosity had gotten the better of him, as it always did. He wondered who the man was; the familiarity of his gray eyes made Albus certain that they had met before.

“Will you meet me in about ten minutes near Knockturn Alley?” the man asked him.

Albus raised his eyebrows. He didn’t like the idea of going to Knockturn Alley with this man, even though he knew he had seen him somewhere before. He countered with, “Flourish and Blotts, towards the back of the store, behind the history books.”

The man nodded and quickly disappeared. Albus wondered yet again who he was.

Aberforth then appeared, carrying a basketful of items, “Ready?”

“Yes,” Albus replied, “Listen, Aberforth, I've got some things to do. I'll meet you at the ice cream parlor in about half an hour, alright?”

“Okay,” Aberforth said with a sigh, “But don't be late. We promised Mum we'd be home at a quarter to four.”

“I won't,” Albus promised. He gave Aberforth some money and set off towards Flourish and Blotts.

Once inside the bookstore, Albus walked to the section that they had agreed to meet in. The man was already standing there, waiting patiently. He looked less nervous.

“Hello, Albus,” he greeted him, almost cheerfully.

“Who are you?” Albus asked, “I’ve seen you before.”

The man smiled, “Does the name Patrick Kenton ring a bell?”

“You’re…no, you can’t be,” Albus stuttered, “Patrick?”

“I see that you remember me now, Albus,” Patrick Kenton replied. He had been a good friend of Albus’ father, Percival Dumbledore, and before Percival had been imprisoned, they had been co-workers at the Ministry of Magic. Albus hadn’t seen him since before his father had been sent to Azkaban nearly five years ago.

“You look so utterly different than I remember you being,” Albus replied, still shocked that this scrawny person could be the majestic man from his childhood.

“Ah, well, I fell out of favor with the ministry since I last saw your family,” Patrick explained, “I am forced to stay out of their sight, hence this disguise. But.”

Patrick muttered an incantation. Suddenly, the scrawny man was gone. In his place stood a handsome one in majestic purple robes. It was the man Albus remembered as one if his father’s closest companions. Seconds later, however, the scrawny man was back.

“I’m still me, underneath it all,” Patrick concluded.

Albus nodded.

“Merlin, Albus, how you’ve grown. Your father would be proud.”

Albus stiffened at the mention of his father. Percival Dumbledore had dragged the family name through the mud, and Albus did not appreciate him for it. Albus never thought of his father if he could help it. In fact, he had chosen to omit his father’s name from his own, so that he was called Albus Brian Wulfric Dumbledore.

“You said you had something for me?” Albus asked, changing the subject.

“Yes. Yes, I do,” Patrick rummaged through his pockets, “Before your father was imprisoned, he managed to purchase this.”

Albus was filled with a desire never to set eyes on the thing since it had belonged to his father until he saw what it was. Albus’ eyes widened. Patrick was holding the object of his fascination and dreams; he never imagined that he would see one in his lifetime.

Albus’ initial disgust was replaced with amazement.

“It’s a time turner,” Albus said softly.

Patrick nodded, “Your father wanted you to have it. Out of all if his children, you inherited his sense of adventure. He kept it at my house, because he knew your mother would have a fit if she came across it. I knew he wanted you to have it, Albus, so here you are.”

Patrick’s eyes twinkled, “Use it well.”