Disclaimer: This story is provided by the author 'as is' and does not contain or represent any expressed or implied ownership of any fictional characters and/or creatures created by J.K.Rowling.

Harry involuntarily swore and ran over to the fireplace, needing to make some vital calls.  "I thought you said this wasn't urgent!" he loudly said, "How could this not be urgent?!"

Dumbledore calmly said, "Please sit down, Harry.  This isn't urgent how you're thinking of it.  The sphere was opened almost 20 years ago."

"WHAT?" Harry yelled.

"Please, calm down," Dumbledore softly said, "The sphere was guarded by your department for all these years, but no-one has actually entered the inner chamber housing the sphere.  The chamber was sealed, and the strongest anti-apparition wards ever created since Hogwarts' inception were placed in the area.  Finally, guards were posted in the area leading to the chamber."

Harry thought a minute and asked, "What happened?  The sphere was intact and no one entered the chamber.  What went wrong?  And why did we find out now that Voldemort escaped?"

"There was an attempt to breach the chamber.  A single death eater gained entry to the building, and then proceeded to the entryway.  He managed to kill two of the guards, and was only barely taken down by the third.  When Nora Joss arrived on scene, she entered the chamber to ascertain whether the attack succeeded.  And she found that the sphere was indeed empty."

"So the attack succeeded?  Or… or did Nora open the sphere herself?" Harry wondered.

Dumbledore shook his head.  "I'd like to run a hypothetical situation by you."  Harry forced himself to calm down and sat down behind his desk.

"Let's say Voldemort is released from the Sphere of Madness," Dumbledore started, "but he's freed by someone from the future.  Then, Voldemort spends his time in secrecy, gaining enough power to open a portal to the past and free himself."

"What?" Harry asked in amazement, "Is that possible?  How could he get out to free himself?"

"It all depends on your point of view," Dumbledore simply said.

"I still don't see how this isn't urgent," Harry complained, "Voldemort is free, and we need to stop him as soon as possible!"

"You're not thinking things through," Dumbledore chided, "We know how to stop him already."

Harry pondered this, and suddenly sat upright.  "Of course!  All we have to do is stop him from going back in time!  Then he can't release himself from the sphere."

Dumbledore smiled, although Harry thought there was a cryptic tint to it.  "Very good.  There are only two things you need to do.  First, you must determine the exact time and place Voldemort will open the portal.  Then, you must devise a way of destroying Voldemort for good."

"Me?" Harry asked, "Don't you mean us?"

"You're too kind," Dumbledore chuckled, "but I'm just too old.  I can only give you this to help you fulfill your destiny."
Harry looked at the odd amulet that Dumbledore delicately handed to him.  It was very odd, and Harry had never seen anything like it.  It was a simple circle, but it gleamed prismatically.  The colors changed from one section to another, and there didn't seem to be an end or beginning to the amulet.  It seemed to imply there was no start or finish to anything, and Harry wondered why the amulet was crafted in this shape.

Harry dutifully put the circle in his robe pocket and said, "I think I'll need someplace besides the ministry to work on this."

Dumbledore smiled and extracted a roll of parchment from his robe.  "Headmaster McGonagall will be expecting you tomorrow.  I've already arranged some time off with the department."

"Hogwarts?" Harry asked in confusion.

"They do have the largest library in England.  While they don't have many senior wizards to collaborate with, you can always call the ministry if you have questions."

Harry admitted it made sense.  Dumbledore smiled again, and said, "I think it's time I leave."  Harry had to laugh as the ex-headmaster transfigured himself into what looked exactly like Nora Joss.

Almost immediately, a knock came on the door, and Harry hesitantly called out, "Come in."  How does he do that – that timing?

Three guards immediately went in, wands drawn.  Dumbledore authoritatively called to the guards, "There is an imposter in the compound which looks exactly like me.  Find them, now!  And I want them alive!"

Harry fought not to laugh as the three guards saluted and left the office.  Dumbledore chuckled, said, "I'll see you later, Harry."  Finally, he transfigured himself again into an exact image of one of the guards who had just left the room and departed himself.

Harry quickly rifled through the paperwork on his desk, deciding to handle a few of the more pressing matters before leaving for Hogwarts.  After he had delegated the Anomaly of Archon and the Dunkirk Disappearance investigations, he left his office and headed towards the lobby, where he could Floo over to the Misuse Office.

"I'm telling you, IT'S ME!" screamed a voice from the lobby.

"Maam, hold still.  I need to check for Polyjuice, Self-Transfiguration, and External-Transfiguration," insisted another voice loudly.  Harry rounded the corner, and saw Nora Joss was held helplessly against the corner by three security guards.

Finally, the three managed to scan the outraged security captain, and the leader said, "Nope.  She's clear."

As Harry stepped towards the fireplace, he loudly ordered, "We cannot afford to have unauthorized intruders.  Double check her."

He quickly called, "Misuse of Muggle Artifacts" before Nora could kill him.

---

Well, things have just gotten interesting… well, sort of.

Kaelli: Who opened the sphere indeed…

Oh: Calm down – I'm really excited about this story's plot, so I'm going to finish – even just for myself.

Kim: Hmmm… Is Dumbledore Voldemort in disguise… Hmmm….

Olivia: To tell the truth, I hadn't given much thought to kids, but it does make sense that they would have some.  I'll probably throw them in some point in the future, but the main point of the story isn't Hogwarts, Little Potters, or the Ministry.  The main point is the sphere's opening…

Lakergurl13: Thanks!

M.C: Same thing as Olivia – they're coming up, but they won't have to big of a spotlight.

Beefywpac: Thanks!

Ariel: Wow, a lot of people want to see the little Potters.