"It all begins at the end."

WARNING; Suicide

When Dumbledore died and the dust had all settled, Harry had come to the realization that Dumbledore was certifiably insane.

He was a manipulative, evil codger who played like he was some amazing wizard who stood for the light.

It took over a few years of investigating from multiple sources to find out all Dumbledore had done.

First to come out was Rita Skeeter's scathing "biography," which most knew not to believe, but after some more reputable people investigated; they found that some of what Rita Skeeter had written was true.

Second to come out were the memories, though it had been many years later, showing how Dumbledore had always intended for Harry to die. That Harry had to die for the greater good.

Then as more memories came out, everyone realized that Dumbledore was not so much a good-and-true wizard, but a manipulative bastard.

Why?

Because when that final memory was gone through, everyone realized that the whole Voldemort issue, the war, and even Harry Potter himself were all used to vilify "dark" magic. As for the reason? Apparently that fateful duel between Dumbledore, his brother, and Grindelwald was what had caused his sister's death, and after that, something in Dumbledore changed .

Or that's what many assumed, Harry just figured he was a controlling prat who desired to lord over the wizarding world, if not for the Gaunt ring throwing a wrench in his plans. In fact, Harry was certain that if the Gaunt ring hadn't started to slowly kill Dumbledore, he'd have never sacrificed his life for "the greater good." He may have very well let both Severus and Draco die right then and there.

Admittedly, when Harry found out, he was downright pissed.

His entire life turned into a play by some madman. It made Harry wonder if the prophecy was legitimate, if Voldemort- Tom Riddle- was truly as evil when he was younger as he was portrayed in the memories shown by Dumbledore.

Unfortunately, no one could answer Harry's questions because those memories of Tom Riddle- when he was younger- were all destroyed and gone. It was actually a miracle that the memories they had found were found in the first place and even those memories were hell to find.

The years after the war had been both relieving and heart breaking.

Heart breaking because of all those who were dead, relieving because no one had to fight anymore.

For the first years after the revelation of Dumbledore's lies and manipulations, things seemed to get better.

Ginny and Harry were on and off, and he did have three lovely kids he loved, but he also had to watch as Ginny grew older and his own children looked older than he did.

The same thing with the rest of his friends and family.

When his friends died, he watched their kids, and the children they had, and the children those kids had. He also watched as magic began to fade from the world.

The war did terrible things to the magical community in Britain and the pureblooded ideals and breeding also led to a decline in magical children and magic using children in Britain. But that wasn't the only issue. It seemed the magical communities everywhere were slowly losing magic, regardless of the "purity" of their blood. It was like magic as a whole was retreating from the world. First with the magic users, then the magical creatures who all died out.

And Harry had to watch as magic slowly left the world, and with all the magic gone, the muggles came in with amazing devices.

Honestly, Harry hated using muggle technology most of the time, and lived his life as a wanderer, never sticking to the same area for very long.

Harry lived and died many times, and with the years ticking by, he grew more and more numb, until finally, Death made a miraculous offer Harry couldn't deny.

Master, are you quite sure about this? It won't do much, anyway.

Harry Potter- the Boy Who Lived- stood atop a futuristic looking high rise building, staring down at the welcoming concrete many floors down. Around him was a cloud of smoke, coming from the lit cigarette hanging loosely between his lips.

"It'd take me out for a little while, so I can take a break, at least."

Harry grabbed the cigarette from his lips, flicking off the accumulated ash, before returning it to his lips.

What if I were to make an offer?

Harry paused, one foot lifted and hanging off the edge. If he just leaned forward a little and he'd fall to the ground in a heap of muscles, blood, and bones.

"Make it, doesn't mean I'm really going to accept it."

Perhaps, once upon a time, Harry would have been nicer, more accommodating, but years and years of death and fighting left him numb and pissed at the world.

What if I could send you back, to try and fix things?

Harry's brows knitted together, pulling his foot back from the edge and placing it firmly on the ledge of the roof of the high rise.

"And you didn't think to make this offer before?"

Because I needed a better connection to you to do so. The more you die, the more connected we are, and I feel I could send you back now.

"What, to do it all over again? No thanks."

What if I sent you back to before it all happened?

"What, like when my dad was at Hogwarts?"

Earlier.

"Wait-"

Yes, to when Tom Riddle was attending Hogwarts. Perhaps you could lead him down a different path.

Harry inhaled a long drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out of his nose.

"Wouldn't that mess horribly with the future?"

Time is a fickle thing, Master. When one goes back in time and changes things such as with a time turner, things will flow as they should. When one goes back further in time and changes something, an entire new timeline will branch out. You could consider it a different dimension, if that helps wrap your brain around it. It's far more complicated, and not something I can simply explain to someone who used to be a mortal.

"Hold on, though, wasn't Dumbledore a professor then? I don't want to see that cunt. Also wouldn't I not be born? How'd I go back in time then?"

Maybe, in the past, Harry would not use such… colorful language towards anyone, really, but after learning what he learned and all that he had been through, he felt it was ridiculous to try and monitor his language.

Everyone was dead and gone and he hadn't bothered to remember anyone's name for over two hundred years.

Why should he bother acting so stuffy?

Yes, he would be there, but with all you know, how could he possibly manipulate you? And I already explained, a new timeline would emerge. You will always exist. Harry Potter may not exist in this timeline, but the you who you become during that time will exist.

"Makes sense, and a good point. Though… will I still look like this? And I imagine it'd be complicated if they did an inheritance test and they found the very-much-alive-and-young Fleamont Potter is my grandpa and I'm some several-times-removed nephew of Charlus Potter, who I think is also attending Hogwarts around the same time as Tom Riddle..."

I will handle all of that. You will look quite a bit different. It'd be a bit suspect if you were to show up looking as you are when your parents hardly look like you do. Looking like you do now, it'd be evident you're a Potter, even if the Peverell line is related to the Potters, they aren't related that closely. I will basically give you a brand new body, so if Harry Potter doesn't exist in the future, you won't disappear.

"I see, who will be my parents, then?"

Their names were Silas Benedict Peverell, the last hidden pureblooded male Peverell, and Mary Sally Peverell née Thompson, a muggleborn witch. You will remain a half blood, and you will get the Peverell properties. Do not expect Potter-like riches, but you will have enough and a sparse manor to inhabit, should you do an inheritance test.

Harry sighed out another plume of smoke before dropping the cigarette on the edge of the roof and stamping it out with his booted foot.

"Were, huh? They're gonna be dead? Can't say I'm surprised."

Yes, can't have them realizing their son has changed so remarkably. Plus it matches up with Grindelwald using the "supposed" Peverell family coat of arms and seeking the Hallows.

"Speaking of, will they still even work with me being the master of death and all?"

They will, but not to their full capacity. Can't have the Elder Wand suddenly not work. They'll only work completely in your hands. I have accepted you as my master and you have Peverell blood in you, I would be reluctant to accept anyone else, even if they gathered all the Hallows.

"Well then. Anything else I should know?"

I will essentially be remaking you from the ground up, the only thing remaining of the old you is your memories and soul, as well as your status as the Master of Death. When you arrive you will be in a great deal of pain in Saint Mungos, because you will have just been attacked by Grindelwald's people. I will give you memories so anyone who wants to go fishing in your mind, should you allow it, will see those memories. You will still have all the skills you have learned, and even the muscle memory. I just advise being careful about showing too much to others, as that would give certain individuals reason to see you never set foot in Hogwarts.

"Huh, so… pretty good deal, but I want one more thing."

Such as?

"Unlimited supply of cigarettes. Dunno if Marlboro existed in the 40's, but if they don't exist, then I want Marlboro's disguised as rolled cigarettes and I'll gladly go on my way."

That is fine, and doable. I do wish you wouldn't smoke, however.

"Not like it'll kill me."

Well, once you decide to get going, simply take a step forward.

And so, without much flourish or even an ounce of care, Harry Potter stepped forward off of the high rise and let his body fall to the concrete below with a sickening thud.