Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, so I'd appreciate reviews. Let me know what you think and feel free to give me any suggestions or constructive criticism. I've had this particular idea for a while – hope you like it!

02/07/11: I fixed little bits in every chapter, and have decided that I will set the story's characters to whomever I've written about in the latest chapter. So feel free to skip to Chapter 4 if you're here for Alice (although I'd appreciate it if you read the earlier chapters too...) :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter – never have, never will. JK Rowling is a hero!

- CHAPTER ONE -

Beginning Anew

The ringing telephone jerked the Prime Minister awake. It was almost midnight, and he had fallen asleep at his desk. He rubbed his eyes and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Why aren't you home yet, sweetheart? I've been waiting up."

The Prime Minister yawned and sat up in his chair.

"No, sorry dear, I fell asleep. I've still got some work to finish, so why don't you go on to bed?"

There was a pause on the other end.

"Alright, but do try and finish up quickly, or you'll be too tired for the conference tomorrow."

The conference! He had forgotten.

"I'll try, dear. I'll see you in a couple of hours, then."

He hung up the phone and massaged his forehead. The thought of the conference was giving him a headache. His political opponents had demanded a meeting with him to ascertain why so much had gone wrong in the country in the past six months, under his leadership. The Prime Minister had no idea what he was going to say to them, as he couldn't very well explain the truth – they'd kick him out of office and put him in an institution. Too tired to think about it anymore, he slumped back onto the desk and fell asleep again.

More than six hours later, the Prime Minister jerked awake again with his hand stretching for the telephone, thinking that that was what had woken him. He sat up, confused, when he realised that it wasn't ringing. Instead, he looked up to find Kingsley Shacklebolt looking at him with a gleefully radiant expression on his face.

"Kingsley! What – "

"We won, Minister, we won! Voldemort has been defeated!"

The Prime Minister stared at the other man, dumbstruck. He had not seen Kingsley for months, and had had no news of the war in the magical world except for its many Muggle casualties.

"What – what happened? Where have you been all this time? What do you mean, you won?"

But Kingsley was already walking back to the fireplace.

"I have no time to explain now, there's a lot to sort out. We just needed to let you know that the wizarding war is finally over."

Kingsley extracted a drawstring bag from his pocket and took some powder from it. The Prime Minister stared at Kingsley, and a slow grin began to spread across his face. But then he remembered something.

"Well that's wonderful, but what do I tell my opponents at the conference? They won't believe me if I say there won't be anymore trouble!"

The flames turned green and Kingsley looked back with a smile.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that – we'll sort that out as well."

And then he stepped into the flames and vanished.