I came up with this idea randomly after reading a ff about Dumbledore taking a strange turn. it sparked a little idea for this short one-shot. if you want to review, then do so, but i'm not rreeaallllyy that bothered. i just wanted to get this out of my brain, and onto fanfiction ;] hope you like it :)

It's sad it all had to end like this. My whole life had been dedicated to making things right for the whole of the wizarding community -- purebloods, halfbloods, and muggleborns. All I had wanted was some unity, for people to see right over wrong, and to realise that there was no point in evil; no point in killing or torturing.

However, everything that I worked for backfired on me. You see, all that I did was based on motives similar to those of a certain Tom Riddle's. We both wanted power, respect. We both had a certain amount, yet neither of us could get the whole of the wizarding world to be on the side of just one or the other. There were split forces. That simply would not do.

For years, be battled silently, both trying to gain the most power, until everyone accepted one of us as leader. All along, we were so different, yet so alike. Young Tom wished for power, I wished for power. He wanted respect, I wanted respect. The only difference was the way we tried to achieve it.

Try as I may, I could never quite tip the scales in my favour - they stayed balanced, neither side greatly outnumbering the other.

And so the battle continued, until it came to an end. One of us had to give up at some point - the time in between was just us biding time, waiting for one to succumb to the pressure, and give in to his foe.

I used to be so strong. I used to be able to get through anything. But this - it was all too much. I was simply too old to carry on fighting. Therefore, I let go of everything I worked for. I joined his side. It was a decision I have regretted since, but that was how fate planned our generation's life.

Now, the world - both wizarding and muggle - was a devastating sight. Muggles were living in terror, the light side were struggling to stay hidden, and my dear boy Harry Potter...well what can I say about him. Since he started Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I had taken him under my wing, and started to see him as the son I unfortunately never had. I guided him, and helped him, in hope he could continue what I started.

Where he and the rest of the Golden Trio were staying hidden, I did not know. All I could do was try my best to turn them in the right direction from my spot in the heavens, be a guardian angel to the three of them, and the many more innocent fighters I had come to know and love.

Yes, my life had finally reached it's end. In a way, I am glad I have left that dreadful place called Earth - there was too much bitterness and resentment and hate for my liking; nowhere near enough love and kindness.

It's time for me to go - to watch over my loved ones, and wait for their time to come (hopefully after a happy life) so that they too can join me in heaven.

I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, fighter for the light, deatheater for the power, and I will finally rest in peace, with the knowledge that someday, somehow, the correct balance of power will be restored, and hope that people may find out that, although I became a deatheater, I did not necessarily agree with their ways. Power can make your mind make the strangest decisions, but eventually, life will once again be normal. I just know it will be.