Severus sat in Grimmauld Place looking like he was under a confundus charm.

Gabriel and Albus had just finished filling him in on the details. It had been a very long night. He glanced across at Sirius and Bella. They noted that this Severus was a lot more taciturn than their Severus had been but, knowing the outcome in his world, they could understand why.

'Lily? Your Severus made peace with her?' he had asked in a strangled voice.

Gabriel nodded, 'She would visit him at the castle. She bought him a lot of peace in his later life,' they had explained the Potters situation as Severus had listened dumbfounded.

'She still visits us,' Sirius had said to him as Severus's eyes glistened.

'She exists? She's still alive?' he had asked. Albus had given a slight nod. Severus still couldn't believe that this was the headmaster. He looked fantastic.

'Things here are so different,' he had stated in wonder. They had shown him some moving photographs of his other self. He could barely recognise the man. He looked happy. Well, not happy but not miserable.

He looked content. Yes. That was the word.

'Iris noticed her counterpart did not have the Peverell ring. Our Iris has been wearing hers since she was eleven,' Albus informed him. They needed to know what the differences were.

Severus moved forward, 'The ring confounded Dumbledore. He searched for the blasted thing for years. He travelled to every connection to Riddle he could find but always it evaded him. He was sure Riddle would have used it due to the Slytherin connection. Where was it here?'

'The Gaunt Shack,' Gabriel said, 'Iris found it when she was in the Astral plane. She was young and curious about her heritage. It was heavily protected. No one could have taken it by chance.'

Severus frowned, 'Albus looked there. He did find a Horcrux. A gold bracelet that was heavily protected. He had to assume Riddle had simply kept the ring as an heirloom in the end,' he told the confused group.

Albus tapped the table gently, deep in thought, 'What was the Iris in your world's upbringing like? How was she different from our version.'

Severus glanced across to Sirius and Bella, 'Some of it matches up. Harry Potter was targeted because of a prophecy. He was the boy who lived in our world too. Lily and James were killed. Pettigrew tried to frame Sirius. Riddle resurrected himself at Grimmauld Place using Hayley's blood to do so but that seems to be when it changes. Gareth explained about Greta. It appears the Horcrux blood in her kept her from dying until Hayley was born. Hayley herself died during the ritual. Without the Resurrection Stone's magic, she must have had no way to keep the connection to Earth. Riddle returned with his magic intact. It was, well. Kingsley, Mad-Eye and Walburga were killed. Even the poor house-elf was slaughtered and Riddle kidnapped Iris. Rita Skeeter had been spying on the events and Tom had scanned the room for spies and found her. He forced her to change into human form. She paid with her life for that,' Severus shook his head.

Severus continued as the others peered intently at him, 'Albus caught Pettigrew and the rat received the Dementors kiss for his actions regarding Sirius, the Potter's and the Muggles that were killed and for resurrecting the Dark Lord. Back then the Ministry wasn't as blatant with their allegiances. The Death Eaters were still in the cells that week. There was still some opposition to them. When our Sirius found out Hayley's true parentage he disowned Iris officially and took in Harry. I saw in her mind when she arrived at Hogwarts. Iris hated them both from the start and anyone connected to them. At the trial for his Death Eaters, Riddle rescued them and they disappeared for a long time. He said he was pursuing other leads for the future. Bellatrix was completely corrupted by the Horcrux. I remember she always wore a tiny silver cup around her neck. I thought it odd at the time. She was demented by the end. Her sadistic murders were in the thousands by the time Sirius managed to kill her. She was, well, she was ruined by the end. A husk of a woman. I think he did her a favour by ending her misery.'

Bella's eyes narrowed in anger at the fate of her alter.

'Iris was, and I use the term loosely, raised by our Riddle and Bellatrix LeStrange. He took her away from Britain and corrupted her mind completely. She grew up around the worst Death Eaters this country ever produced. She was already insane on her arrival at Hogwarts. Very cruel. Very cunning. Riddle had trained her well. The sorting hat barely touched her head before it bellowed Slytherin. She used the Basilisk in the Chamber for her own amusement. Several students went missing over the years. Gareth Greengrass tried for the first few years to acquire custody but, I'm afraid, he was pushed out of the proceedings legally by a very twisted Ministry,' Severus said quietly.

Bella and Sirius shook their heads. This was worse than they thought it would be.

Severus sighed, 'Hogwarts alone stood firm against the New World Order for several years but when Albus was poisoned by Quirrell the Castle was vulnerable. Quirrel must have been planning it for years. It had always been volatile before that but after Albus died it was open season. There was a final battle at the Ministry a couple of years ago but what was left of the Order of the Phoenix was destroyed that night. The Ministry had been completely taken over long before then. The few Weasleys left and most of their guests were all killed at Bill and Fleur's wedding. It was a massacre. Harry and Hermione successfully managed to escape by using the invisibility cloak. They were the only two who managed to get away in time. Luna Lovegood was captured and held at Malfoy Manor for some time. They were the only survivors. It changed Luna a great deal. I tried to help Harry and Hermione from behind the scenes. I needed to protect the students at the castle as much as I could. I managed to get the sword of Gryffindor to them. I told them about Riddle's snake and of Nagini being a Horcrux,' they all gave a jolt at that information, 'Harry and Hermione kept up the Horcrux hunt and managed to destroy a diadem but their luck ran out. Harry was, well, I will spare you the details. He died. Riddle had to kill him twice. I think by that point Harry welcomed death.'

The room was silent as the fate of this other world sank in.

'Riddle had got inside Harry's mind. He knew everything then. Hermione and I were to be kept until last. They wanted us to suffer the most,' Severus said in the quiet, 'Just. Be careful with her. With all of them. They have had had a dreadful time of it. We all have.'

Sirius winced, 'We came this close to that happening here,' he emphasised with the touching of two of his fingers.

'So, the Peverell ring,' Albus asked the room, 'What changed? Where is it?'

'Perhaps our Gellert or Riddle got a message to him. It seems everything up to that point of the Resurrection was the same.'

Albus shook his head, 'No. Dimensional travel would kill anyone else not connected to the ring. The trick with the mirror was clever. It was set up for Iris. They must have thought the ring wouldn't be strong enough for it. That it would only work for this universe or at the very least trap her there. The ring was more than able to work. It bought through the others from Hogwarts. They must not have thought that possible.'

Albus mused, 'The infinite. The beginning, the end. All. The elder wand and the cloak are the most sought after in any world but the Stone is by far the most valuable. None of us realised the power of it.'

'What was the prophecy in your world? Do you remember it?' Sirius asked Severus.

'I have it etched into my mind,' Severus said as he shifted uncomfortably, 'Riddle has only heard the first part. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...,' Severus trailed off as he looked uncharacteristically nervous.

Albus looked at him sharply, 'That matches ours. What was the rest of it?'

Severus seemed to shrink, 'Albus kept it a closely guarded secret from me. From all of us until almost the end. I think he kept it quiet because he wanted us to keep fighting. He told me when he was dying in my arms. I, er, I haven't told anyone else.'

Albus softened his look, 'Severus, what was the end of it?'

Severus gulped, 'He will be born in the looking glass, the circle's within circles will start to crumble and the wicked will face the wrath of the Heavens. Vicious retribution will commence when the snake slithers in and takes only the brave she finds home.'

Albus sat back in deep contemplation. Gabriel looked at Severus in speculation as all in the room pondered this.

Severus's dark eyes glanced at Sirius.

'What happened to me in your world?' Sirius asked in a curious voice.

Severus sighed, 'You were at the Ministry battle. It was a trap. Harry had been lured there with visions of you being tortured. Riddle was after the full prophecy. He has only heard the first part of it. He failed. The prophecy was smashed before anyone could hear it. You killed Bellatrix and in revenge, Iris sent you through into the veil that is in the Department of Mysteries. From what I can gather you two have a very different relationship here.'

'Oh,' Sirius said in a vacant tone.

There wasn't much to be said about that.

'But how can the Stone be so powerful to change everything so much?' Gabriel said in a pondering voice, 'It has the power to resurrect. It creates connections. It represents rebirth. To do all this,' Gabriel stopped in his tracks as his golden eyes flared.

They all stared at him. They felt a chill go through them.

'The truth can be both a beautiful and terrible thing,' Gabriel whispered, 'You told me that, Albus.'

Albus gazed at the Angel in trepidation.

'The Infinite. The end of one world. This is the end and the start of a new beginning,' Gabriel said slowly.

Severus looked at the Angel as he began to comprehend his words.

'Your world. You said it yourself. It is over. No part of it is civilised. It is cruel. Brutal. There is no hope. No life. Many of the lands are poisoned. It is barbaric. Decimated. Few of you remain alive who fought against this. The ring successfully brought Iris to you. She is a Parselmouth. She is the snake. You are all here for a reason. That world is to end. It is meant to end.'

Albus ran his hand through his hair as Severus looked blankly at the Angel.

Gabriel looked at the mirror they had brought back from Tibet and wandered across to it. He ran his fingers over the mirror, 'I feel nothing now. The connection is severed. I believe that if Iris were to attempt to go through again there will be nothing left of your Earth. There will be no world to go to.'

Severus looked disbelieving, 'Not that it would be any great loss, but how?'

The Angel looked upward.

'Oh,' Severus said stupidly.

'I think this is part of the plan,' Gabriel said, 'Even Satan is concerned by the destructions happening on Earth. You are being tested. I believe your planet has now been graded.'

'Well. Yes. I would grade it Troll,' said Severus in a dour voice.

Bella and Sirius were listening to this with confusion.

'That still doesn't explain the Peverell ring,' Bella said.

Gabriel looked at the calendar on the wall, 'What is the date, Severus?' he asked in a polite tone.

Severus looked confused, 'June the tenth 1997.'

'Well. That's wrong. It's August the tenth 1997,' Sirius said.

Albus inhaled sharply, 'Your planet is two months behind ours,' his blue eyes were looking sharply at Gabriel.

Gabriel looked around at all of them, 'The Infinite is circles within circles. The end is the beginning. Picture a snake eating itself. This planet is the end and the beginning of your circle. Different universes are connected through the circle. Riddle tainted and abused the Resurrection stone on this planet. The Deathly Hallows transcend universes. It took its revenge instantly. It protected itself in the other universes it inhabits. Some circles are smaller, some larger. The Resurrection Stone's all disappeared in a ripple effect before Tom could acquire it in the other worlds. The ring Iris possesses has the power of all the rings from all the universes. They merged into one. That is why it disappeared from your world.'

The Angel stared at each of them. His golden eyes were bright.

They watched the Angel in a daze as he continued, 'Severus. The Tom Riddle in your world was too late to find the Stone. I expect the other Riddle's from the other universes would all be too late. I'm afraid that from now on we are only delaying the inevitable. The planets of Earth will start to crumble in each dimension. The evil souls will diminish into Hell itself. This has been on the cards from the day Riddle tainted the Resurrection Stone. This world is the start. It may be that it is destroyed with the others. It may be resurrected in a different form and the souls tested that made the grade will be reborn and the Infinite universes will expand in its image. The Divine uses the planets of Earth for the beginning of life. I expect there to be much change.'

No one made a sound.

'Excuse me,' Bella said eventually, 'I must have misheard you. Are you actually saying this planet may be destroyed?'

'I fear this has been a long time in coming. It is not only the Stone. That is simply the catalyst. I have been an Angel for thousands of years, Bella. I heard of the old tales from the ancients who heard tales from their ancients. There have been other worlds. Greed, cruelty and destruction of all that was good and decent is not new. All those planets paid the ultimate price. They are not yours. They are for all. Those planets must be respected at all costs. This Earth has seen nuclear bombs dropped. The innocent murdered. The greed of the few dominates. Severus. Did they kill the unicorns on your planet?'

The pale man gave a stiff nod.

'That is a sign of the end times. They are all that is pure and good. They represent the balance,' Gabriel whispered.

Albus stared at the others in the room.

'Is there any chance to salvage this planet?' Sirius said in a broken voice.

'I think you need to fight as hard as you can against those that seek to do here what they already accomplished elsewhere. Talk to the survivors from the other world. They can guide you. Perhaps then your planet can find its redemption. The ring seems to be trying to help you. That is a good sign.'

'What do we tell the others?' Bella said in a small voice.

'The truth,' Gabriel said when Albus went to object, 'You won't be protecting them if they do not know. Those who are sincere and decent have nothing to fear. Equilibrium will always welcome them.'