There are many magic mirrors in the world. The simplest are trivial things, created with common charms. The more powerful, and more dangerous, can show you many things… far away places, secrets lost for lifetimes, even truths about yourself. They can entrance you and metaphorically pull you in. There are whispers of magic mirrors that can literally pull you in, dragging you to worlds where everything seems backwards… reversed.

Albus walked down Diagon Alley, reasonably confident in his disguise—he was a master of transfiguration, after all—but he was still ignorant of this world and knew better than to be complacent.

Still, Diagon Alley was Diagon Alley and even if the shop names were different, they sold the same things.

Case in point, a man selling the newspaper—The Daily Magical News—was just a few shops down.

The majority of the front page was devoted to an important Quidditch result, but in the corner…

Preparations Underway for Anniversary of Vice-minister Grindelwald's Death.

Dumbledore didn't show his consternation on his face, but he peered closer.

With the second anniversary of the death of our much-beloved and sorely-missed Vice-minister occuring this Sunday, foreign guests have begun to arrive from abroad. Muggle governments have been commanded to observe a week of solemn observations for the man to whom they owe so much.

To coincide with the event, the official biography of his life, jointly authored by the most prominent academics and historians, but edited by Chief Minister Dumbledore himself, is to be released (see page 7 for—

Dumbledore quickly turned the pages.

Available at all Ministry approved magical bookshops, The Life and Times of Gellert Grindelwald will cover all the important events (and many of the less important ones) of his incredible life. Beginning with his persecution at what used to be Durmstrang School, before his fateful meeting with Albus Dumbledore, their quick friendship, and their development of what we now know as modern magical philosophy and morals. What follows is accounts of the tumultuous years as the two friends fight wars across Europe before emerging victorious and dismantling the archaic and perverse International Statute of Secrecy. Finally, the conclusion of the book deals with Grindelwald's slow, but gradual decline in health as the terrible curses he received in war could never be totally healed.

This 2000 page epic is published in 3 volumes—

"If you're going to read that, I'll need some money," the proprietor said. "And some kind of proof you're allowed to buy wizarding goods."

"Of course, my good man," Dumbledore said. "However, I was just passing the time until meeting with my friend. Good day."

Replacing the newspaper, Dumbledore set off down the street. With no particular destination in mind, he let his mind work.

Clearly the mirror had sent him to a world that reflected a part of himself. This Chief Minister Dumbledore obviously had joined forces with Gellert and done all that they had imagined in their youth. That would explain why those Muggles had treated him so fearfully and why Diagon Alley wasn't hidden.

Already, Dumbledore was eager to confront his reflection. To battle him and cast him and the whole system of government down. In his pocket, the Elder Wand thrummed in agreement, pulsing with power and ready to deal out death and destruction. But Dumbledore clamped down on the impulse. He'd need allies first and more than anything he'd need information. Most importantly, did the Elder Wand exist here and did Chief Minister Dumbledore wield it? What would happen if the Elder Wand were to come against a copy of itself? Would the native wand win?

Dumbledore expected that Master Flamel wouldn't have mentored his reflection and if history had diverted when Dumbledore was twenty, then Tom Riddle would never have been born and it was his experiences fighting Voldemort that truly honed Dumbledore's fighting potential. It would mean that he would have an advantage over the native Dumbledore in some areas, but not enough to be certain.

What allies could he find? Everyone born after 1901 would be a stranger to him, but Bathilda would be able to fill him in on the history and… the Flamels… if he could find them, they would be invaluable sources of knowledge and power.

Dumbledore waited a moment to see if his presence had activated any magical alarms, but quickly began his search when none sounded. Evidentially, his counterpart hadn't designed his defences with mirror doppelgangers in mind.

Dumbledore had visited the Minister's Apartment many times in his own world, so he quickly found the office and began rifling through the desk, looking for anything interesting.

"Is that you, Al?" a soft voice called from further in.

Dumbledore froze. There was only one person who had ever called him 'Al'.

"Ari?" he asked breathlessly.

"Of course it's me, silly. Are you in your office?"

Dumbledore gave a start and magicked the door closed.

"Ah, yes, but… I'm, uh, not dressed properly."

"When are you ever?" she asked rhetorically, from the other side of the door.

Dumbledore stepped closer to the door, his search of the office abandoned. "Are you… are you well?"

"Oh, yes," she said. "I had another solution with dinner."

A thousand questions burned in Dumbledore's mind, but he couldn't think of where to start or how to do so without blowing his cover.

"It's good to talk to you, Ari," he said.

"You talk to me all the time, Al," she said. "You know, when you're not drafting laws or crushing rebellions on the Continent."

"I need to go," Dumbledore said quickly.

"Of course, Al. Don't let me keep you. I'm going to bed."

"Ariana?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"... I love you too, big brother."

"Oh, the years have not been kind to you."

Chief Minister Dumbledore was a mature, but still handsome man. No wrinkles marred his face and his auburn hair only had faint grey streaks.

"Kinder than you have been to Master Flamel, I fear. They're both dead, I take it?"

"A necessary sacrifice," the Chief Minister said.

"For the Greater Good?"

"Exactly. Even if the Elixir of Youth couldn't save Gellert, it has done wonders for me and for Ariana."

"And everything else you've done can be justified, too?"

"Of course." The Chief Minister narrowed his eyes. "I am curious where our paths diverted, however. I take it you weren't convinced by Gellert."

"Oh, but I was," Dumbledore said sadly. "And it took dear Ari's death for me to see the error of my ways. Is Aberforth…?"

"Oh, yes. Here it was our brother who died. Thank Merlin it was him and not our Ariana… He always was a fool."

"To the contrary, he has always been wiser than the both of us, I think."

The Chief Minister sighed and shook his head. "You are a true disappointment. To think it is at all possible that I would turn away from the Great Mission. You should be ashamed, Mister Dumbledore."

"It's Professor Dumbledore, actually, or Headmaster."

"Oh, a school teacher! How quaint. Are you going to teach me the error of my ways, professor?"

"More like show you, I think."

The Chief Minister laughed. "I am not an errant schoolboy, professor. I have fought many wars—"

"Yes, it took you fifteen years to conquer an early twentieth century Europe with Gellert Grindelwald at your side. I'm disappointed. It wouldn't have taken me ten."

The Chief Minister glared at him.

"I'm just glad that there is no Tom Riddle in this world," Dumbledore continued. "He would have torn through your worldwide government, magical and Muggle, like it was cheap parchment."

"Enough. I will get all the information I want from you later. For now, I only require your submission."

And then it began.

Smart, Greater Good Dumbledore versus smart, Canon Dumbledore. Anything could happen.