Numb. Tired. Defeated.

Lelouch vi Britannia, 17th in line to the Britannian Empire's Throne, lay quietly and by his lonesome. This choice, to be here by himself, wasn't something out of place. It was, in fact, something that he'd become quite used to.

Ever since that day, the one that elevated him above the rest of humanity, he'd been alone. A deprecating laugh left Lelouch's mouth at the sudden realization that'd just flitted through his head.

'CC had been right.'

What had it been that she'd said to him again? Lelouch could barely remember the prophetic statement, "The Power of the King shall set you apart from the masses?" He felt it was something along those lines, it had been so long ago …

Still, no other warning could ever be as accurate as that which CC had told him back then. He just hadn't listened, had he? Too focused on the present as he had been to take proper heed.

"I've been such a fool, right… until the very end," the bitter admission tore another bout of laughter from his lips, though a deep and aching sadness went unhidden behind his false act of levity.

The laughter rang hollow, even to his willingly deafened ears. Only a deaf man could not have heard the voices, and only a demon such as himself could have willfully ignored them — this was a matter of choices and absolutes, after all.

Looking up to the cloudless, light-filled sky, ignorant of the cries by his side and the cheers of those across the world, a whisper left his lips. Unheard. Unwanted. A hand reached towards that which could not be reached, weakly clenching to show that which was once impossible had been done:

"I destroyed the world and created it… anew…"

Unbidden by conscious thought, tears fell from violet eyes.

… Then, there was only darkness.

—

Cloudless, dark. Around this time, lamps lining the streets and roads all across England were casting their dull and yellow lights, but here, in Little Whinging, this wasn't the case.

The quiet and unassuming suburban street, while deep into the night, was lightless. The usual dull hums of the lamps, mysteriously silenced; a mystery the people of Little Whinging would never be privy to.

Not a single source light could be found, save for the moon and the stars hanging from the night sky — he'd made sure of that.

"You still insist this is the right thing to do, Albus? After everything I've told you about these horrid people?"

Albus dipped his head at the question, his eyes taking in the bundle in his arms with something akin to melancholy. He gave the words of his colleague serious consideration; was this truly the right way?

His eyes then closed tiredly, the answer to the pointed question leaving his lips almost in a whisper, "Sometimes, Minerva, it is not what is right that we must do, but what is best."

"Some would say those two things are the very same."

"Some would, yes," Albus whispered as his feet carried him forward "But sometimes, they are not." An indignant scoff was the only response he'd been given. Hearing it brought him some amusement, though it was only a small amount.

Little about tonight would truly amuse him, as too much had gone wrong, but alas, life and magic were cruel mistresses.

As he walked to the front doorstep of the small house just ahead, the slightest glimpse to the stele at the side of the front door notified Albus he'd arrived at his destination — No. 4 Privet Drive.

"Just know, Albus," Minerva's brogue voice carried over to his ears, catching his attention. Her next words left her mouth thick with emotion, "Should anything happen to that child, I will never forgive you."

Ignoring his colleague's words for but a moment, Albus bent at the knees, very gently placing the tightly wrapped bundle where it would stay until found; leaving only a slightly crinkled envelope for a single clue as to why it was there.

"Nor would I blame you, Minerva." His response was solemn, one he meant entirely, and one which he knew left his companion only slightly placated; her continued silence was telling.

Slowly straightening himself, Albus gave the bundle one last forlorn look, and all he could feel at the moment was regret and sadness. "I'm sorry," He said, his blue eyes expressing the sorrow he felt at what took place mere hours earlier, and at what he must do now — even if it was for the good of them all.

The bundle squirmed at the sound of his voice, and eyes previously hidden behind tufts of black hair met his own. A small, false smile formed on Albus' lips as he looked into those eyes, and for only a moment, he hesitated — only for that hesitation to be swiftly cast aside.

There was no room for such things — not tonight, and perhaps not even in the future. So, with yet another regret poisoning his heart, Albus turned away from those eyes which had stared deeply up into his own, searing their color and innocence into his mind against his will.

… They were the most beautiful shade of violet, and Albus Dumbledore felt that they would haunt his dreams for many years to come.

"I wish you the best of luck, Harry Potter." He whispered.

—

With two loud pops, the street of Privet Drive became quiet and empty once more, leaving the inhabitants unknowing of their uninvited guests. It wouldn't be until the morning came that any evidence of their visit would be discovered, but for now, this evidence went unfound, and they slept peacefully.

… But across the country, many were yet still awake, their loud celebratory cries all mentioning a single name:

"To Harry Potter — the boy who lived!"

—

A/N: Chapter Edited (8/20/22) Marginal grammatical error fixes, additional exposition added, and the removal of Sirius' POV.

I decided that the previously uploaded chapter needed some serious cleaning up. It felt jumbled and awkward in some areas to me, and I already feel happier with the changes I've made.

Still, let me know in the reviews what you think of it, and if you have any ideas of where I can make this better send me a PM; any feedback is most appreciated.

Also, before I forget, I would like to thank you for reading. I hope to have you all here for the next update coming out sometime this week.

— VincentFS

(Note: The Sirius POV may be used sometime in the future as a flashback)