CHAPTER 1

"There's nothing good on," exclaims Harry as he watches the giant gold mirror. The image shown is swirls of colorful blobs.

"Sir, perhaps you need a holiday."

Harry turns towards his office door where his PA stood with a stack of papers. "Ych-y-fi, more forms! Why is it never, ever, ever, less forms."

"The universe would be in chaos without paperwork. Now, about that holiday you need…"

"I just had one!" He replies as he follows her to his desk and watches her drop the stack into the IN tray and take a stack from the OUT tray.

"With all due respect, taking a Sunday afternoon off to watch a Crystal Palace match is not a holiday. You need at least two weeks off. You're starting to scare the interns again."

"Bah!"

"And now you are sounding like Scrooge."

"Where would I even go? What would I do? And who's going to cover for me? This place needs constant supervision. Henderson's miscalculation nearly caused the collapse of S-13 in the Omega Quadrant. This is why I implemented all those error prevention tools when I took over! But they don't work if they aren't used!"

"I still can't believe a basic algebraic problem would have caused mass extinction."

"Back-check! Self-check! Double-check!"

"Restaurant check?"

"All the checks!"

"Very good protocols, sir. Though, you did send him to teach secondary maths. I'm sure that's punishment enough."

"That's what he gets for accidently creating the Infinity Stones in that universe and not filing a permit!"

"Engineers, always thinking they know more than admins. This is what happens. No one appreciates a good filing system."

Harry nods. "Procedures are invaluable. I approved of the superheroes and aliens when Goodman submitted his proposal, but that's because S-13 was really boring before. I did not, and I repeat, did not approve of infinite power being given to children! When Henderson's done with the school year he'll be regenerated as a bread-man with a phobia of stairs and coconut matting. Take note of that, please."

"Right, bread-man, got it."

"Better yet, an introverted atheist stuck at an office Christmas party! In an endless loop! Yes, yes. That's better."

"Now, let's not get too hasty."

Harry grabs the stack from the IN tray and sits down to flip through them. "Maybe I'll make him a sock in a teenage boy's bedroom," he grumbles to himself as he signs several slips.

"That's absolutely cruel. That's a soul crushing punishment. He didn't mean to cause the death of half a universe."

"I'll think on it."

"And that holiday?"

"Where would I go?"

"You can go home for a bit. I took the liberty of filling out a request for an Aion trip."

"Why? An hour here will be…"

"A year in your home universe. Yes, I took that into consideration. When you first started here you rhapsodized about what could have, should have, would have. Well, off you pop. Go make it happen."

Harry looks up at her and then flips to the back of the paper stack where he finds the blue form personnel demanded everyone use for holiday requests. "You want me to go back in time?"

"Sideways."

"Whatever."

"You wouldn't be here if you had gone back to redo everything in your own timeline. Also, you take your job far too seriously to toss away a millennium of hard work. I am not suggesting you undo anything. But a divergence wouldn't cause a problem. You may get some closure."

"Hmm, I see. Well, it's not a bad idea. Oooh, I could get Draco back for being a prat." Harry smiles and hums. "I could squash Rita Skeeter with a hammer, scratch that, with a copy of the Prophet. AND!" He cackles, "Have Umbridge eaten alive by kittens!"

"All great ideas."

"Thank you."

"Though, if I can boldly say that it sounded like a Harry Potter version of what happens when you play a country song backwards."

"I do like Rascal Flatts."

"Everyone likes Rascal Flatts. You made it a company policy fifty years ago."

"I did, didn't I."

"Sign the form. I'll take care of everything while you're away. I'll call you if anything cataclysmic happens."

Harry stares off into nothing. Thinking of what he would change. His smile drops. "I wouldn't be able to save my parents. I know now that there is a balance that cannot be disturbed."

"You can still try to have fun, that's what a holiday is for."

Harry nods, signs the form and gives it to her. "Thank you, Death. I'll finish up this pile and clock out."

"Always happy to help, sir. Please note that the landing can be disorienting." She took the blue form and left the office.

"Right, I'll be human again," Harry mumbles to himself. "But really, how bad could it be?"

AN: Short but sweet. Included references to the Marvel universe, Monsters V Aliens (movie), The Emperor's New Groove (movie) and Dinnerladies (tv show).