AN; This is the best possible future epilogue. It might happen. It might not. Just an idea that wouldn't leave me the hell alone.

1998.

It was sunny out, and I apparated to the spot she had sent me. It was a cafe in Diagon. Minerva was almost seventy, and had taken over Hogwart eleven years ago when Albus had decided to retire and live out his golden years in Bermuda. Peter had been invited, but our business was strong and despite our son's return to us, Magitype Global still had to be run. Even though Susan oversaw the day-to-day operations, we still helped out with long term planning. The three of us were planning on retiring soon, as soon as Edward's boy graduated Oxford.

She was prim as always, and I took a spot and ordered tea. The service arrived and I fixed myself a cup.

"How have you been Minerva?" I asked, after taking a sip of my tea.

"Oh, I'm fine." She said. She took a small silver flask from her pocket and poured a healthy splash of amber liquid into the cup. I gestured with a finger, and a stream of the liquor diverted itself from the flask, and poured into mine.

I took a sip of my tea.

"Yet, your lacing your tea with firewhisky." I murmured.

She gave me her best headmistress look and I pointedly ignored it.

I had grown up with her. I was immune to that look. I ignored the chill that went down my spine and the urge to look away.

She paused for a moment.

"It's that bloody Potter Boy, and his two sidekicks."

"Ah, yes. Rigel's grandson, and the first-gen girl. Granger. You know I've had my eye on her, and if Fogg doesn't snatch her up. I will." Magitype had an internship, and Hogwarts was definitely one of the feeder schools for that. Had the Weasley Twins decided to not go into business for themselves, I would have snatched them up. Gods knew their brother Bill was an amazing magician. I had nearly had to kill the Goblins to get him. There were a few that slipped through my grasp. Lily Evans. Severus Snape. Evans and Snape had gone to Brakebills, and had married a few years ago.

"Tom. I thought that when I survived the Weasley twins, I could survive anything! That boy has test my patience and I'm at the absolutely end of my rope. It's his Father and Black reborn I tell you!" She said. There was wild look in her eye. I chuckled. I had done a brief stint as Adjunct for Transfiguration during the reign of terror those two had lead during Hogwarts had been a few interesting years.

"Of course, Potter and Black weren't the brains behind the operation." I said smugly.

"Of course not. It was Remus Lupin." She said and took a bite of the cucumber sandwiches that were part of the service. I scoffed, and she raised an eyebrow at me.

"Good guess, Minnie. It was Pettigrew." I said.

"Little Peter Pettigrew?" She said, and I nodded. We moved through the tea service. I took a cigarette out from a silver case and lit it with my finger. Then I took a deep drag. Peter would kill me if he caught me smoking. I offered her one, and she grinned mischievously and took it, lighting it with her own bit of wandless magic. According to our respective partners, we had quit years ago. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

"Oh come on Minnie. You've seen Potter Senior grades. Great at Transfiguration, but not really much else. Black was amazing at Dark Arts and Defense and Runes, but that's typical with regards to his upbringing." I said. I still feuded with the Blacks. At least Lucy did, while the Wizengamot was in session. She nodded.

"Peter was stellar at charms, and arithmancy. It's why I recruited him out of Hogwarts Lupin was the brains behind the potions." I said.

"So, who do you think is the brains behind this little trio?"

"Hermione Granger?" She asked, scandalized.

"I adore Granger, but she's just a typical Ravenclaw. Bookish, follows the rules of the school to a T."

"Who is a complete troublemaker behind the scenes. I would be money on it." I said, taking another drag off my cigarette.

"You would know. I for one was completely innocent." She said. I laughed.

"No matter. The reason I wanted to meet was I find myself in need of a Runes Professor. Bethsheda has decided to take a year off. Recruited by the american government if you could believe it." Minerva said. I did. There was something going on in Colorado. A steady stream of Brakebills grads had been recruited to go there, according to Edmund. I had my suspicions, but hadn't found any proof quite yet. I had my own projects going, and I was getting too old to stick my nose into other people's business. That, and Peter promised me I would sleep on the couch for a year if he caught me. The old lumpy one in my office.

"Is Miss Granger enrolled in Runes?" I asked, I had long since gained a mastery in that subject.

Minerva nodded.

"Top of her year. Her and the Malfoy boy are neck and neck."

"I don't have any projects going on that require my utmost attention. I'll teach for a year." I said. She nodded.

"Speaking of the Malfoy boy, you couldn't guess who he was caught in the sixth floor broom closet with." She said.

"Who?" I asked, a smile on my features. I loved a good bit of gossip.

"Ginny Weasley!" She said with a chuckle. I laughed.

"I'm surprised there hasn't been a declaration of war." I murmured. The Weasley's and the Malfoy's hated each other.

The conversation drifted off into other matters, and ended. We parted ways with promises to talk soon. The remainder of the summer flew by, it was time for my return to Hogwarts.

The first week went smoothly. My class of six NEWT students were an interesting lot. All of them were quite gifted. I'd be in a shadow war with Fogg for at least two of them. The term was preceding nicely. Soon, it was time for the Halloween feast. I enjoyed my dinner and returned my quarters. I paused as soon as I got to the door. The magical lock I had placed on the door had been picked, as had the small ward I had placed. Minerva had forbidden me from placing anything too severe on the door. I frowned. I gestured with one hand, opening the door, and calling up magic with my other, ready to burn whoever had trespassed to cinders. Or at least wipe their mind and send them on their way. Three people greeted me. Harry Potter was suspended upside down by ropes. Neville Longbottom was trapped, by his robes, to the walls with a sticking spell. Hermione Granger, who had managed to get the farthest into my quarters, was stuck by a rune trap. A glow of magical energy shone around her in a ring, and she was making gestures with her hands. Sparks flared from her fingertips, but she hadn't noticed me enter. The three of them looked up, or in the case of Potter, down at once. I smirked, walked over to my desk, and took a seat. With an idle wave of my hands, the spells trapping the trio undid themselves. Another spell bound their hands in place.

"Would you care to tell me, why exactly, you three are trespassing." I asked. The boys exchanged nervous looks. Hermione looked at the both of them and scoffed.

"Professor Riddle, is it true that you visited another world one?" She asked. I raised my eyebrow.

"Who told you that?" I asked.

"My Grandfather, Professor." Neville said. He looked like a younger version of his father. Frank was head of the DMLE, and a protege of mine.

"With all due respect, Neville, that wasn't Rigel's story to tell." I said.

"Neville, he won't believe us." Potter murmured.

"Oh?" I asked.

"Try me." I said with a smile.

Hermione stepped forward.

"Well, you see. Last summer, we were in my Grandma's house in Cokeworth, and we found this funny mirror, and there was this funny rabbit with a watch." She began, and I settled into to listen to their story.