Epilogue: Looking Back

Dumbledore finally saw fit to retire from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the ripe old age of 162 years old. Tom, of course, took over the position as Headmaster. Severus Snape was given the job of Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, as he had always dreamed of, and a young Miss Hermione Granger was hired as the Professor of Potions.

Dumbledore casually strolled his way over to his favorite sitting chair, a cup of tea in one hand and the most recent issue of the Daily Prophet in the other hand. He sat down, placed his tea on the end table nearby and grabbed a lemon drop from his frequently used candy dish and began to suck on it. He lifted the Daily Prophet to reveal the front cover of the page and couldn't help but smile greatly.

James Potter, Newly Named Minister of Magic

After winning the vote of confidence from the Wizengamot, James Potter has been officially declared the newly elected Minister for Magic.

"I want to thank my darling wife, Lily, my dear children, Harry, Samantha, and Marie, and of course the wizarding world for your votes. I will try my best to be a great Minister." Said James Potter to Daily Prophet reporter, Ginevra Weasley.

Albus chuckled happily to see James' smiling face waving towards a great crowd of people. He flipped the page to the announcement section. The first caption read:

Severus and Madelin Snape announce the birth of their first child, Aurelia Eileen Snape. She was born at 3:32 pm on November 3rd.

Following closely after that, a caption read:

Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione Granger, to wed star seeker for the Chudley Cannons and son of newly named Minister of Magic, Harry Potter. The wedding is to take place on Hogwarts' grounds on December 20th with Headmaster Riddle as minister for the marriage.

Albus let happy tears fall from his eyes. It was at that moment that Minerva decided to enter the room.

"Albus, you are not cracking up at the Quibbler again are you? Madame Pomfrey says you are too fragile for such excitement!" She admonished before looking at the Daily Prophet.

"No, Minerva, it is just the prophet."

"Why ever are you crying dear?" She walked over to his chair and grabbed his hand, squeezing it comfortingly.

"Incredibly happy, you see," He showed her the front page of the Prophet. "James looks so happy." Minerva looked at him strangely.

"Yes. Who would have thought James would be the next Minister of Magic." Dumbledore remembered suddenly why it didn't occur to Minerva to be such a great feat.

"Yes," he sighed, wishing to tell her what he did in the past to make everyone so happy and content but knowing he shouldn't dare, "Severus and Madelin had their baby." He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

"A beautiful girl named Aurelia, I heard." Minerva smiled happily. "I wondered when he would finally settle down and start a family. He and Sirius both were bachelors for far too long." Dumbledore chuckled, remembering that Severus hadn't actually settled down with his wife until he had turned forty-five.

"Hermione and Harry are getting married." Minerva nodded her head knowingly.

"We both saw that one coming their fourth year. You remember his jealousy towards Hermione and Tom's grandson's brief relationship." Dumbledore laughed again.

"Yes, I suppose we did, but we both know that nothing is true unless it is written in the Prophet." Minerva chuckled lightly and leaned over to give her husband of three years a kiss on the forehead.

"What would you like for dinner, Albus?" She asked and gripped his hand tightly.

"You don't have to wait on me like I am some barmy old man who is too weak to do it on his own." He wished it weren't true, but it was. Albus was indeed far too old to do much of anything.

"How does some stew sound?"

"Wonderful." She began to leave his side but he gripped her hand tightly. "I love you, Minerva." She blushed the same way she always did when he said that to her with such affection.

"And I love you, Albus." She gave him one more tender kiss on the cheek and squeeze of the hand before she let go to make dinner. Albus sat in his chair, an old man barely able to walk on his own, and thankful for the love of his life. Despite having such a short life together, he knew that the love he shared with Minerva would last forever.

He reached over and grasped his tea cup, taking a few sips, and thinking about the events of his life. Years ago, when he took back baby Hermione to Tom's era and succeeded in changing around his life for the betterment of the wizarding world, he knew that what he was going to have to do would be difficult, but he succeeded.

Harry was given a life with his loving parents and family, Hermione never lost the love of her life due to an evil tyrant, and an evil tyrant never even existed. His solution was effective, for the most part.

Despite all of the good that the events of one night created, Albus could not help but feel guilty over taking Sarah away. Tom Riddle loved Sarah with all of his heart and it was a cruel thing indeed to take her away, but it was the only thing he could do. He knew that Tom's life was so much better with her in it.

Because of Sarah, Tom was raised around love and compassion, because of Sarah, Tom never hated himself, because of Sarah, Tom loved. He had the chance to feel the one thing that no human being should ever go without, and that was how Albus Dumbledore knew he did the right thing. For Tom to have felt love for his wife, no matter how long or short a time, was better than for him to have gone without.

And in looking back, Albus knew he did the right thing. He wasn't a selfish man who wanted to save his own life, and promote happy lives for the ones he loved, he was a barmy old man who loved everyone too much to let the lack of love in one person, destroy all.

Slipping a lemon drop into his mouth, he casually leaned back into his chair, resting his wrinkled and weak hands on his chest. He closed his eyes slowly, imagining the happiness those he loved were feeling at the moment, and fell into a deep sleep.

Minerva rounded the kitchen door and sighed, a tear slipping from her eyes.

"Goodbye, Albus." She whispered and walked over to give him one last kiss on the forehead.

AN: I hope you enjoyed my story. I enjoyed writing it immensly and was sad to see it go. Technically speaking, they all lived happily ever after, including Tom Riddle... thanks for the reviews... I love them all.