Alt Epilogue

"Ah, Mr Dumbledore, right on time."

Albus startled, looking around in surprise. The last thing he remembered was dozing off in his cell after watching the day to day going ons of the Ministry. It was an unfortunate habit of his, dozing off randomly. It had seemed to happen more and more often of late, but he was getting older so it was his due. It would be his due even if he wasn't getting old, for he was Albus Dumbledore.

The room he now found himself in was not his cell, he knew for he had memorized every square millimeter of that accursed prison in the last twenty-eight years. This room had shelves and carpet, his cell had blank walls and stone floors. The feel of this room was warm and welcoming, while his cell always felt sterile like a hospital room. He noted the warm colors peripherally as his gaze locked longingly on the copious volumes displayed on the shelves. It had been almost two decades since anyone had been kind enough to read something for him. The clearing of a throat finally tore his gaze away from the books and to his host.

The man behind the large desk looked familiar, yet Dumbledore could not place him. His strong features and commanding presence told him he should remember, yet his face was utterly foreign to him.

"Welcome Mr Dumbledore, it has been some time."

""I'm sorry, you have me at a disadvantage. I obviously thank you profusely for releasing me from my unjust confinement, but I'm afraid you are unfamiliar to me."

"Unjust? Release?" Confusion momentarily crossed the man's face before understanding took hold. "Ah, I see. You were not released. Well, I suppose in a way you were, but not in the traditional sense. Your body is still where it was an hour ago, curled up on your cot in the cell you have inhabited for the last twenty-eight years, four months, seventeen days, three hours and twelve minutes."

"I…" Then recognition blossomed. He remembered now, he remembered who he was facing. "You. Finally come to your senses have we? Finally realized that you had erred greatly and come to apologize for interfering?"

"Still think you are righteous, huh?" Zir leaned back. "Well then, let's see, shall we?"

The room disappeared, evaporating as the world around them faded from bright white to the sounds and colors of the world. Albus could make out flashes of scenes, moving past at incredible speed before it slammed to a stop. He found himself in a graveyard. It was dark and he could make out shapes moving in the distance around a statue of the muggle visage of death.

"This is what would have happened if Harry had not been purified by the Goblet, had he stayed and competed in your little farce," Zir spoke evenly.

Albus looked back to the scene as a portkey flashed and deposited a pair of teens into the middle of the cemetery. They were suddenly closer, watching as a raspy voice ordered "Kill the spare." Albus moved, or tried to. He found himself trapped, unable to move as Cedric Diggory was killed and Harry was stunned, then trussed up tied to the statue. He gazed evenly as Voldemort was reborn, as he tortured Harry before forcing him to duel. As the hurt and exhausted Harry summoned the portkey and departed.

Newspapers flashed by, and he saw his name along with Harry's, each one decrying their madness. Denials of Harry's report on Voldemort's resurrection, claims that both were insane, calls for his dismissal. Then they slammed into a scene again, these flickered by, each showing a similar scene. Harry writing lines in a classroom, Fudge's helper… Umbritch? Smiling as each word Harry wrote caused pain. Dumbledore eventually realized Harry was writing lines with a Blood quill.

Serves the little shit right, should have listened to me, thought Albus, a hint of a grin peeking out of his forced stoicism.

The scene changed again, this time showing a battle between several of his students and about a dozen Death Eaters in the Death Room of the DoM. He watched with mixed pride and horror as six students held off a round dozen Death Eaters, though they eventually were overpowered. He watched as members of the Order rescued them, then watched Sirius Black get cursed through the veil.

Good, Harry will be easier to control without Sirius to encourage his independence.

The battle in the atrium brought a bigger smile to his face, especially when the Ministry workers arrived and saw him battling Voldemort. The awe and shock was evident on everyone's faces. As it should be.

Another shift, this time to the top of the astronomy tower. He watched himself and Harry arrive by broom, then saw himself immobilize and disillusion Harry. He watched his confrontation with Draco, smiling at his failure and the first step towards redemption. Then gasped as Severus killed him.

The next scene saw the final battle at Hogwarts, students and Death Eaters littering the ground. The castle was in near ruin, Gryffindor tower was gone and the back wall of the Great Hall was a pile of rubble. Everywhere you could see holes in walls and bodies sticking from the piles of destroyed castle. The main concourse was littered with bodies on the half that was still erect. The sun was just coming up and he saw a badly injured Harry finally defeat Voldemort. He saw groups of students, parents, and everyday witches and wizards crowded around the fallen, crying and sobbing. The Weasleys gathered around Fred, his body almost unrecognizable from being crushed under a wall. Nearby, Andromeda Tonks cried over Remus and her daughter while she held a crying baby boy in her arms.

"Still think your way was better?"

"We won, the light was victorious," Albus didn't quite preen.

"Did it? Let's see what happens after," Zir shook his head, then they shifted again.

An older Harry, probably early to mid twenties, stood in chains before a panel headed by Percy Weasley. By his side were Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott. Harry looked like he had after his duel with Voldemort, only worse. His wand arm looked broken, unsplinted despite the cuffs holding it behind his back. One eye was swollen shut, his lips busted open, and his left leg looked to have been severely burned.

"Prisoner Potter, by order of Minister Riddle, you have been convicted in absentia of the murder of Bellatrix LeStrange, Lucius Malfoy, and one hundred forty-seven other upstanding citizens of the realm. As you are considered deranged and dangerous, you shall be executed immediately. As a token of mercy, you shall be allowed to witness the execution of your co-conspirator before your own sentence is carried out."

The floor between them opened up, and a divided cage rose from below the courtroom. On one side was Hermione Granger, obviously heavy with child. She was bruised and appeared unable to stand. Her normally vibrant hair was matted, and half had been shorn clean off by fire, the burns beneath oozing pus and black around the edges with infection. Despite that, there was a defiance in her eyes, a spark that said she was ready to fight.

The other side of the cage held a dementor.

Albus watched in fascination as the divider was removed, and the dementor fed. Hermione tried to fight it, tried to protect herself and her unborn child, but her fate was inevitable. Looking at Harry, his eyes vacant, he heard Percy speak again.

"Fear not Mr Potter, your child will survive. Her body will be sustained until she is able to give birth, then you child shall be given to Lord Malfoy as recompense for the murder of his father."

Harry never moved. He never took his eyes of the tribunal as Hermione's body was removed, as he was pushed into the cage, and even as the dementor was devouring his soul, his hard, pitiless eyes never left those who had murdered him and his family.

More scenes flashed by. Silken robed witches and wizards leading sacrificial rituals, gleaming knives used to end the lives of children on altars. Deserted Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Nuclear fire consuming Hogwarts. Fires burning across continents.

They returned to the office Albus had arrived in, and Zir once more sat behind his desk. "Still think your way was the best?"

"All I saw was victory of the Light. That Harry failed to uphold the peace afterward is not my failure," Albus defended. "I saw the decline after your interference, the wizarding world as it is today is not any better than what you just showed me."

"It isn't? Let us see."

Again they shifted, and he saw they were back in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Streamers of every color adorned the walls and flowers brightened every corner of the room. The house tables had been removed, in fact, even the points counters were missing. In the center of the hall was a large table, round, and it had unusual seats in several spots. A large tank sat in one spot, while a padded ottoman looking chair sat in another. Several had what appeared to be highchairs at them.

Suddenly the doors opened and a multitude of individuals entered. Leading the way was Minerva, no longer wearing her simple robes but a full Highlander dress in her clan tartan, brightwork shining. Following her were several goblins in riches that would make the kings of old jealous. House-elves wearing a variety of oddly matching clothes followed them, and a trio of centaurs continued the procession. Five humans followed, though only two were in robes. One seemed to be in some sort of uniform, a few rows of colorful ribbons on his left breast. A middle aged woman in a business suit and skirt was accompanied by an elderly man walking with a cane and wearing coveralls of all things. The final attendees splashed as they appeared in the tank, revealing a pair of Merfolk. As they all took seats around the table, seating in chairs adjusted for their species, Minerva stayed standing.

"I thank you for your efforts these last few weeks," she began as the beings all fell silent. "I know it has been hard, and much has changed rapidly, but we finally have an accord. For the last three months, each of you, as delegates from your respective species or groups, has represented everyone well. Everyone has brought forth ideas and concepts that have become the basis for our new society. I am proud to announce that everyone has signed and agreed to the declaration, needing only a vote by all to have it ratified.

"I know I began this when I led Hogwarts and the Sanctuary residents in leaving the control of the British Ministry of Magic, but despite the honor you have afforded me, I will decline any offer or request that I become Minister. I am an educator, one who is still learning a better way of teaching. While I feel this new kingdom is a magnificent opportunity, I feel we cannot have a witch or wizard as our first Minister. The wounds of the British Ministry are too raw, too fresh. If we elect a human, especially a magic user, no one will believe we are different, they will assume it's just a new face on an old regime."

"I would disagree," the voice came from the tank. "But we respect your choice."

"I too, wish you would reconsider," the centaur stallion spoke confidently, then looked at the goblin delegation. "But as we know, you are very stubborn and shall not speak of it again. In regard to who we do elect, there is only one I can see as viable for our first Minister. The dwarrow have long been oppressed, forced to adopt the derogatory name goblins. They have embraced this, turning it to a badge of honor where originally insult was intended. They are also the ones every race has dealt with, and every race respects. They have experience in dealing across species lines, and that will be vital in our formative years."

"We's agrees with Big Horsey leader," one of the house-elves chirped. "We's never had bad times with the dwarrow."

"See what can happen when you respect others and consider them?" Zir asked a shocked Albus. "This is less than two years after the decree as you call it. This came when the British Ministry tried to outlaw what little protection new magicals had and made ritual harvesting of newblood magic legal to restore the magic of purebloods. It failed at the time but Minerva saw the writing on the wall. She was the first to leave the Ministry's control, but soon most of the country left as well. This is the formation of the United Kingdom Magical Government. It will take a few more years for the ICW to recognize them, but this is the start of the future."

They shifted again, this time to a graduation ceremony at Hogwarts. The castle gleamed and shone, every window sparkled in the sunlight. Goblins sat towards the front, while several centaurs paced behind the back row. From the lake he could see many of the merfolk lounging in the water, watching.

"Welcome to a historic day," Minerva spoke from the podium. "Today is the culmination of a decade of work, but we made it. This year's class is the first of a new curriculum, one designed to encompass everyone's desires and honestly still being adjusted. Encompassing the ability to teach not only wanded magic, but wandless and other species centric magics has already seen a leap forward in our understanding of magic. The new forums where anyone, regardless of birth, is allowed to be instructed in a given magic has already led to many discoveries that are still being explored. A new generation of wards is being developed based on magic learned here, as well as new modes of travel, commerce, and business.

"But today is not about that, it is about these children. No, not children anymore, these graduates. They are the first multispecies class to graduate from Hogwarts, but they are the first of many. Our future begins now, ladies and gentleman of all species. I give you the class of 2008!"

The scene shifted, this time to a small clearing behind a cottage. A trio of children were playing, running around and laughing gayly. The oldest was a boy about twelve, just barely school aged. He had wild brown hair that seemed to move on its own, defying both wind and movement. The black haired girl was next, her long tresses were curly but unkempt. The smiling green eyes and wry smile reminded Albus of someone but he couldn't think of who. The last was a babe, still in their mother's arms. Albus could not tell if it was a boy or girl, but the woman who held them was very recognizable. Hermione Granger sat watching her children play, smiling as her daughter tried to get her son to play quidditch with her.

"Hello sir, Albus."

Turning, Albus found Harry Potter standing beside him, seemingly unconcerned with their appearance.

"Harry, how are you lad?" Zir asked, his face changing to a smile for the first time Albus had seen.

"Pretty good," Harry continued to watch his children. "Hermione is finally starting to get more sleep. Eva loves the elves, but Hermione has some ingrained insistence that she has to take care of everything herself. I'd have thought after Drake and Olivia she'd have just accepted the help but you know how she is."

"I do, that is why I don't argue with her or my wife," Zir chuckled. "I'm sorry to interrupt your family time Harry-"

"You are family, sir, I've told you that before." He glanced at Albus. "Him on the other hand…"

"Yes, we won't be long. Albus here just needed a bit of perspective. In fact, how many dark lords, death cults, and the like did you stop?"

"Directly? At least fifty. Indirectly? I have no idea. The world has mellowed, and the ley lines are healthy once more. Overall I think we did well. And the world knows it, just last week we got an invitation to South America to dedicate a new research center." Harry glanced back at his wife. "Hermione was rather disappointed we couldn't go, but Eva is just too young to travel much yet."

"What about Light cults?"

"You mean like those bloody life druids in Canada?" Harry looked upset. "At least a dozen."

"Life druids?" Albus couldn't help but ask.

"It was a Coven of druids that were so sure nature was the only answer. They despised anything more modern than a club made from a tree branch or flint knives. They began to 'reclaim' towns and cities by destroying them and returning the area to 'how nature intended it'. Real mess that one."

"You killed druids Harry? I knew you were on the path to darkness when you let Hermione kill Umbridge."

"I'm not dark, sir, I'm grey. I stand between the light and the dark, I am the balance. Do I think that people, especially mundane people, have gone too far in exploiting resources? Possibly. Definitely need to make some improvements and reduce consumption of natural resources. But burning people out of their homes to grow trees is not the answer. A big change will be affected once the ICW adopts the Kingdom's resolution, hopefully for the better. Preparations are supposed to be reviewed next year with an outlook for implementation in three to five."

"Resolution?"

"The Kingdom and the Crown are petitioning for a controlled revelation of the magical world. It's getting too hard to hide and there is so much we can learn from each other and help each other with. Magical healing could revolutionize modern medicine. Once proper shielding is developed, mundane communications will revolutionize magical learning and cooperation."

"You're going to break the Statute of Secrecy? Are you insane?"

"Well, according to my wife, yes, but not about this. There is so much to benefit from if we cooperate with them, Albus. The problem becomes if it is revealed in the wrong way. Hence the resolution and the timeline. Every magical community is being given time to prepare and integrate with their mundane counterparts."

"But… But… But…"

"I think we've taken enough of your time, Harry." Zir placed a hand on Albus's shoulder, and they were gone.

"Still think you were right?" Zir asked as they reappeared in his office.

"The Light won and we didn't break the statute," Albus began, only to trail off at the look on Zir's face.

"Okay, fine, you are entitled to your opinion," The room shifted, but not like before. It sort of melted away and Albus found himself standing on a scale. The side he was on slowly sank as Albus watched. When it reached the bottom, it jarred slightly, causing Dumbledore to sway on his feet.

"Any last words?"

"Everything was for the greater good," Albus smiled, knowing even Zir could not argue that.

"So be it. For your greater good, I give you a choice. Eternity in comfort but isolation or eternity receiving the accolades of your admirers."

"That is no choice at all, I cannot deny the accolades of those who see my true vision," Albus did preen this time. And Zir just smiled.

"Very well, I will check in on you in a few hundred years," Albus looked at Zir askance, for there was something in his tone. He was still considering what it was when the door hidden beneath his feet opened and he fell into a glowing hell of fire and brimstone.

"There are so many dark bastards who think you are the greatest of all time, so many fans of your utter ruthlessness and lack of regard for anyone other than yourself. Do say hello to them for me," Zir called to the falling wizard.