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Dumbledore: The Greater Good

Albus Dumbledore was patiently listening to Severus complain about a couple of first year Hufflepuff students. He watched as the Potions Master ranted and paced in his office, somehow becoming more worked up by the second. As tiresome as it could be to have every little problem brought to his attention, Albus found it comforting to know that some things would never change.

Students would cause trouble — no matter how unintentional — and teachers would feel like pulling their own hair out in frustration. Soon enough, however, those students would become teachers and experience their elders' pain.

Yes, some things remained the same. He couldn't help but chuckle at that thought.

"Albus!" Severus said irritably. "This is no laughing matter. Adding porcupine quills and Wampus cat hair to that potion could have—"

Then, in one heartbeat, reality was ripped apart at its seams.

It was as if the breath was stolen out of his lungs; for a single moment, Albus struggled for air. Then magic crackled and slid over his skin, and the world snapped back into place.

Everything had changed.

He was no longer in his office. Severus was no longer with him. He was standing in a darkened room, facing an expansive window and desk with glowing buttons on it. The sprawling city lights twinkled back at Albus through the night, dazzling him with their impossibility. For how could they be possible? He saw floating Muggle cars zip through the sky and ominous, towering buildings. The desk was another thing that appeared out-of-the-world with its foreign interface.

He had seen nothing like this in either the Wizarding or Muggle world.

Questions flashed through his mind — Where was he? How did this happen? What happened to Severus? — but something stopped his train of thought almost as soon as it began. Out of the corner of his eye, Albus caught the reflection of someone else standing in the room behind him.

He slowly turned. The shadowed figure, cloaked in a black robe, was facing the opposite direction. The unknown person was talking to an armored figure floating slightly above a small pillar; it appeared to be a cross between a ghost and Pensieve memory.

"Execute Order 66," the figure commanded.

Albus knew that voice.

He didn't know specifically who that was, of course. However, he knew the type of man that had just given that order. It was the same tone of voice and presence that haunted his memories and dogged his steps — first with Gellert, and now with Tom. The weight of sadness and weariness settled on his shoulders. After confirming the directive, the shimmering figure disappeared.

"What have you done?" Albus asked, stepping from the shadows.

The figure before him turned with surprising agility. Albus could then see the man's face clearly — it was pale and deformed. Reminded so much of what Tom had become, he almost missed the lightning arcing from the man's fingertips. Allowing his reflexes to make up for his mental hesitation, he silently slashed his wand through the air. The electricity met the resistance of a purple shield and fizzled out of existence.

"Who are you."

It wasn't a question.

Albus gazed sorrowfully at the twisted and Dark man before him. "I'm just a simple wizard," he replied, forcing his voice to sound lighthearted and carefree, "trying to make my way in the world."

"What you are is anything, but simple," the man growled. "I would offer you a place by my side, but I am afraid I already have an apprentice."

"And I am afraid that I would have to decline your invitation, regardless," he replied amiably, scanning the room for exits. "Although, I must ask you again: What have you done?"

The cloaked figure laughed, and the air in the room seemed to grow heavier by the second.

"I did what I had to do to destroy my enemies, and my apprentice is taking care of the children."

"Children?" Albus repeated, his heart tightening in pain. "You would destroy such innocence and purity? Retract the order! It does not have to be this way."

He knew before he finished speaking that such pleading was useless. The man before him was so far gone; there was no hope talking him back to the Light.

Just like Gellert, a nasty voice whispered in his mind. Just like Tom.

Just like the older Slytherins and children of Death Eaters. You cannot save them.

You cannot save anyone.

"I am doing this for the Greater Good," the man replied. "Surely you can understand that?"

The voice was silky and tempting in the most dangerous way, but Albus held firm. If he couldn't save the children, then he would defeat this Dark Lord to prevent further tragedy.

"Trading lives like this does not make you powerful," he said. "It makes you weak."

Like you're doing with Harry? The voice was back.

Albus and the man stared at one another. The silence lasted one heartbeat, then two.

Then the world was alight with spells and lightning.

Prompt (Star Wars Week — The Golden Snitch): (dialogue) "I'm just a simple wizard trying to make my way in the world." [10 points]

Dessie / Castelobruxo / South

Word count (not including title or author's notes): 838