(A/N: I pinched a few lines from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". I don't own it or anything in the Harry Potter universe either.)
"Headmaster, the students may now return to their seats." Harry told Dumbledore as he bowed low. Dumbledore awoke from his enchantment and nodded to his staff and they began to direct the students and their families back to their seats. They had seen much this night and where still processing the memories as they stumbled in silence back to their house tables.
The hall was hushed. The sounds of slow scrapping feet as everyone made their way back to the house tables and perhaps a small sob from one of the younger students were all that could be heard. The first whisper was a young Ravenclaw first year to his mother, "But I don't want to die!" The whisper rebounded around the hall as if it had been shouted. More whispers arose and soon the hall was a cacophony of sound. The young students cried, the parents consoled and the staff did what they could but it would take more than a few encouraging words before the memory of what they had witnessed receded.
Harry turned away from the headmaster and walked down the hall. Fudge came back to his senses, raised his wand and yelled, "STUPIFY!"
The spell raced down the hall and struck Harry Potter's back. Harry stopped and turned his head back towards the Minister's group. Harry was quite unaffected by the stunning spell except that his eyes were glowing bright green.
"Attack! Attack!" Fudge yelled fearfully to the Aurors surrounding him.
"You gotta be kidding." One Auror said as he and the others backed away from the Minister and out of the line of fire from Harry Potter.
But Harry Potter took no action other than shaking his head. Harry just turned back and walked away untouched by the Fudge's curse.
Albus Dumbledore however, was not going to allow anyone to hurt his students. Everyone in the Great Hall jumped in surprise when he yelled, "CORNELIUS FUDGE, MUST I REPEAT MYSELF! NO STUDENT IS TO BE ENDANGERED BY ANYONE SIR! IF YOU CANNOT ABIDE BY MY RULES, I MUST ASK YOU TO LEAVE. NOW!"
The hideous figure of Voldemort in the suspended orb cackled with laughter. "Why do you put up with these fools Old Man? Release me and together we could rule this world."
"Be quiet Tom. I wasn't speaking to you!" Albus Dumbledore said calmly but the power his presence emanated shocked many of those gathered in the hall, not least among them the Minister himself.
"You… You can't…" Fudge stammered. "If you think I am leaving here with that… that thing allowed to do…"
But the headmaster moved closer and loomed over the much shorter Minister. Dumbledore's eyes held his rage at the attack on one of his students. "Get… Out…Now!!!" he said from between clenched teeth. Fudge paled and stumbled away from the angry Headmaster and hurried to the doors with the Aurors moving quickly after him.
~*~
"Good God!" Senator Robinson gasped.
"I must agree with you for once!" Count Stassy said, "Attacking someone we just saw has the power to destroy the entire universe is hardly a wise thing."
"Look, I know we don't agree on many things but now that Lucius Malfoy and his cronies are out of the way, can we at least agree to get rid of Fudge. That idiot is a menace to us all!" Senator Robinson said heatedly.
"How strange!" Count Stassy replied coolly, "I find I must agree with you again. With our combined votes we could be rid of him tomorrow but then who would be Minister?"
"Not many will want the job after tonight and fewer still are qualified for it. We have to find someone who is acceptable to both your purebloods and my muggle borns and knows how to run the ministry. Then there is the prospect of dealing with young Mister Potter…" Senator Robinson stopped as the green eyes of Harry Potter met his. Harry turned his gaze towards the red heads at the Gryffindor table. Senator Robinson got the hint and said, "What about Arthur Weasley?"
"Weasley!" the count said surprised, "Do you really think…"
"He does!" Senator Robinson replied indicating Harry, " and I for one am not prepared to dispute it."
"Yes, I see your point." The Count replied taken aback by the gaze Harry levelled at him.
"You know when you come to think about it, it's not a bad idea." Senator Robinson replied thoughtfully, "Arthur Weasley has helped many of my party deal with Ministry problems over the years and I am sure I can get my party to support his candidacy as Minister. And as a pureblood, he would be acceptable to yours. In fact he could be the poster boy for your campaign for pureblood wizards and witches to have larger families."
"But why would Potter…" the Count began but stopped as he beheld the scene at the Gryffindor table.
~*~
Harry walked across the hall towards the Gryffindor table. People in his way stepped quickly aside as if he had some mysterious bubble surrounding him, keeping them back but Harry knew it was their fear of him that was the real cause. Even the brave Gryffindors to whom he belonged were wary of him now.
Seamus looked pale, Dean Thomas was sweating with his eyes wide and Neville threatened to pass out as Harry walked past them and up behind the crowd of red heads at one end of the Gryffindor table.
"Hi!" Harry said as the Weasleys noticed him. They were obviously taken aback by his sudden arrival and looked pensive as they stepped hurried back away from him.
"There's no need to…" Harry told them falteringly, "I'm sorry, I should not have come." He continued, turning away.
"WAIT!" Ron yelled and when Harry turn back to face him, Ron step forward and asked, "That was really me, without my arms and legs and things?" Mrs Weasley grabbed Ron in a hug from behind sobbing on his shoulder
"Yes. Because of me." Harry replied with tears shining in his eyes.
"Rubbish!" Ron replied hotly. "It's like on the chess board. It is always you that has to go on. Anyway I guess it's not going to happen now you taken care of You-Know-Who and his deatheaters."
Harry smiled at his best friend and replied, "I certainly hope not."
"Me too! I mean, how in hell would I scratch my nose without my arms?" Ron said loudly. His brothers just laughed and it certainly brought another smile to Harry's face.
But Hermione just rolled her eyes and said, "Really Ron!"
Harry feeling playful for the first time in decades replied. "You don't have to worry Ron, the headmistress here took care of things like that for you."
"I was really headmistress of Hogwarts" Hermione said in awe and before Harry could reply continued. "Professor Hermione Granger, Headmistress of Hogwarts!" Hermione's eyes glittered with excitement at the prospect.
Harry with an even broader smile corrected her, "Professor Hermione Weasley, Headmistress of Hogwarts."
Hermione looked shell-shocked as she heard Harry. "You can't mean… " she said but was cut off by being swept up in a hug by Mrs. Weasley who had stopped sobbing over Ron. The twins were slapping Ron on his back and offering their congratulations. Ron just looked puzzled until the twins explained the obvious.
"BLOODY HELL!" Ron yelled.
"Ron! Language!" Mrs Weasley shouted.
"Sorry Mum but…married, we're married!" Ron replied looking at Hermione horrified.
"Ronald Weasley! If that's the way you feel about things…" Hermione replied angrily but Harry cut her off.
"You guys spent years arguing constantly, until you both realised you only did it to hide how much you care for each other. Whether you do that again or not is up to you." Harry said. "But I'm not going to be here to referee."
"Why? Were are you going?" Hermione asked as she tried to dislodge a clinging Mrs Weasley.
"Away." Harry said sadly. "I can't stay. Not with everyone afraid of me. I don't want to go through that again."
"Harry," Arthur Weasley "I'm Ron's father and this is his mother, Molly. But I guess you know that already. You are welcome to stay with us until we get things sorted out for you. You don't have to leave."
"Thanks Mr Weasley." Harry replied, "I don't know if it was evident or not but I always considered the Weasleys to be the closest thing I had to a real family. You often took care of me even when it put your own family at risk. And Mrs Weasley and her hugs were always there when I needed consoling." Harry tears flowed down his face until he was wrapped in the arms of Mrs Weasley.
"You poor boy!" Mrs Weasley said. Molly Weasley may have been terrified by the display of power she had just witnessed but confronted with a child in need of comfort, there was no way her maternal instincts could be held in check. She rocked the young boy in her arms until he stirred and gently pulled away.
"God! I have missed those." Harry said smiling coyly at Mrs Weasley.
"You'll be coming home with us!" Mrs Weasley announced. "And that's an end to it!" She added with a look on her face that would prevent any from disputing her proclamation.
"Thanks Mrs Weasley but I can't. For everyone's sake, I need to go!" Harry replied sadly.
"So, you'll return to your muggle family?" Arthur Weasley asked.
"No. No, they never wanted me. My aunt took me in only to keep me safe from Voldemort but now he's been dealt with, they would not want me back. But don't worry; I know where I am going. Everything will be fine, I assure you." Harry smiled at everyone.
"But there are so many things you could help with." Arthur said, "the ministry is in need of a shake up and I think you could be the one to do it Harry."
"The wizarding world can't ever progress as it should, if there is some powerful being lurking in the wings threatening to intervene, even if they mean to do good and not evil, Mr Weasley. Beside I believe you will have a new Minister of Magic very soon to effect that shake-up."
"They always seem to elect political hacks like Fudge, Harry." Arthur Weasley replied.
"I have complete confidence that the new Minister will not be anything like Fudge, Mr Weasley. He'll be the leader the Ministry needs for the future." Harry said.
"Well, I hope you're right, Harry. If he is as good as you say, he'll have my total support." Arthur Weasley said as he placed his hands on Harry's shoulders. "But are you really sure you can't come home with us? Just for a while? At least think about it!"
"I have saved the wizarding world, but not for me. It is often so, Mr Weasley. When things are in danger, someone has to give then up, lose them, so that others may keep them." Harry said smiling. "It looks like everyone is heading up to bed. You go along. I need to have a few words with the headmaster."
Slowly the Weasleys, Grangers and the others at the Gryffindor table got up and wandered towards the Great Hall's doors.
~*~
As Arthur Weasley and his family approached the doors he heard a voice call his name.
"Arthur Weasley!" Senator Robinson called.
"Senator, I didn't realise you were… Count!" Arthur Weasley replied as he saw the two men standing beside the doors.
"In the morning, perhaps you'll drop by my office for a little chat with the both of us, eh!" Senator Robinson said. "Nothing to worry about, I assure you."
"No! No! Good news and all that." Count Stassy continued. "So! This is the famous Weasley clan I have heard so much about. Well you are certainly doing the wizarding world proud raising such a fine number of wizards. And, of course, by no means least, such a pretty young witch. Capital! Capital! A few more families like yours and our numbers would not be decreasing at all." The Count positively beamed at the Weasleys.
"Ah! Thank you, Senators. I'll be round as soon as I get to the office in the morning." Arthur Weasley replied nervously.
"No hurry Arthur. Take a late morning. Anyway we have a little meeting with Minister Fudge to conclude first." Senator Robinson replied. "Now go get your family settled for the night."
"Senators!" Arthur said in departing and walked away from the two men.
~*~
Harry watched as the families departed the Great Hall. Some parents would leave immediately and others would stay the night and go on the train with their children in the morning. As they passed, few would look directly at him. Harry knew this was from the fear he knew too well. One of the few that did catch his eye when leaving was Draco Malfoy. The blond boy held his mothers hand as they walked out and on seeing Harry looking at him, Draco meet his gaze with a look that was hard to read but was not fearful or hostile. Harry knew he had given the boy a lot to think about and that he would now be master of his own destiny. That was enough for Harry.
"Harry!" a gentle voice said from behind as the last few people were leaving the hall.
"Albus." Harry said turning to meet the eyes of the Headmaster.
"So you are from the future?" Dumbledore asked.
"I am from a future. I doubt it will come about now." Harry said.
"No! I believe you have dealt quite effectively with that." Dumbledore replied. "Especially as we now have Tom with us."
"Yes, although frankly I am not sure what to do with him. I know what the prophecy says but now I have given up killing…" Harry said thoughtfully.
"Ah, of course, you would know about the prophecy." Dumbledore replied looking relieved.
"Yes, you eventually got around to telling me." Harry said with a glare at the headmaster but it softened as he let go of his pain again.
"I take it was not under the best of circumstances then." Dumbledore said having noticed the glare.
"No, you waited too long and it cost us both a great deal. But that is in the past, or should I say the future? This time travelling is very confusing." Harry smiled as he said this. "Whatever! I forgave you long ago from my perspective."
"And what now, Harry?" Dumbledore asked kindly but there was an underlying intensity in his words.
"You don't need to worry Albus. I have no desire to be the next Dark Lord. As I told the Weasleys, I am leaving." Harry replied.
"I am sorry to hear that Harry. If I can be of assistance…" Dumbledore said.
"It's ok Albus. My plans are made." Harry replied and after a short silence between them he continued. "I never told you how much I loved it here at Hogwarts. I always considered it my home even in this first year. The Dursley's were never my home, but here was."
"And when will you leave?" Dumbledore asked
"Soon, Albus soon." Harry replied.
"Well you certainly proved earlier that the wards are of no hindrance to you. I don't suppose you would like to tell me how you managed that, would you?" Dumbledore asked.
"I can give you a hint Albus. Muggles use digital encoding these days for many things. During the war Hermione found the same techniques could be used in magic. I am able to encode any spell right on top of your wards and they pass through without any interference at all. You should be able to figure the rest out given time."
"That means there's not a ward in this world that could not be passed through." Albus said shocked.
"Not until someone designs digital wards too. Then it's back to square one. But in the mean time it should allow you and the Order to deal with any of Voldemort's supporters' vaults and houses. There are a lot of dark objects in store that could give the world a lot of trouble in the future unless taken care of soon."
"I'll get everyone right onto it, if I can get the Minister's permission for the raids. Hmmm that may not be easy after I shouted at him tonight." Dumbledore said.
"I am sure that tomorrow the Minister of Magic will be only too happy to help Albus. Now I think its time you went to bed yourself. It's been a long day." Harry said
Dumbledore looked at the small boy in front of him that had sounded like the real adult in this conversation.
"And you?" Dumbledore asked.
"I will say my goodbyes to the castle and then I will sleep more peacefully than ever before." Harry said as he turned away from the headmaster.
Albus Dumbledore knew deep down that the boy was right but his heart still ached with sorrow for Harry's leaving.
"Contact me if ever you need us again, Harry. Take care of yourself and I hope you find some measure of the happiness you deserve." Dumbledore said as he turned to leave.
"Look after them all for me Albus." Harry said as the headmaster walked away.
Harry looked around at the Great Hall of Hogwarts for the last time and he knew he was ready.
"To the next great adventure." Harry said to himself but his words reached the Headmaster just as he approached the doors to the Great Hall. Albus Dumbledore felt the chill down his spine as he heard those words and realised their meaning. He spun and screamed "NO!"
Harry raised his wand and said the words "Avada Kedavra" as he pointed the wand towards his own head.
Harry, engulfed in a rush of green light, fell onto the floor looking up towards the enchanted ceiling with blank open eyes.
Harry Potter was dead.