Alone in the Headmasters office sat a tired and defeated Albus Dumbledore, who had never felt more his age than he did right now in the aftermath of Harry's complete decimation of the Ministry, Voldemort, and himself. It took close to twenty minutes to calm everyone down in the Great Hall, especially Delores, who wanted to find Harry and arrest him, and he confirmed through various sources that by midday, most of the country had read the article. Many of the students and teachers, especially Minerva, came up to him demanding answers and the school received almost 100 owl's demanding answers about the last four years, with more on the way. Nothing, however, mattered to Albus about today's events as the fact that Harry undoubtedly discovered the secrets of Voldemort's Horcruxes and likely the reasons behind the connection between himself and Voldemort, which Albus spent 14 years trying to hide.
"Butterbeer for your thoughts, professor?", Dumbledore looked up to see Harry who had snuck up on him somehow.
Albus sighed, "I take it you have finally come for the answers you've long since been seeking since Hagrid first showed up on your doorstep four years ago?"
Harry's face was blank as he nodded, "I want the truth about why Voldemort is obsessed with me, what really happened 14 years ago, and why you ignored me when I needed your help in the years following…everything."
Albus stared at the young man for a few seconds and exhaled loudly knowing he could hold his secrets in no longer, "Do you know the history between myself and Gellert Grindelwald, Harry?"
Harry furrowed his brows but nodded, "Sure, you and Grindelwald were partners and friends, but he became obsessed with power and magical superiority. He eventually united Dark Wizards all over Europe to form a movement that would see us rule over muggles, establishing a New World Order. After about a decade of conflict, you defeated him in the most famous duel in history. Why do you ask?"
Albus smiled sadly, "You see, Harry, I helped create Grindelwald into the monster he became."
"What are you talking about?", he asked confused.
Albus sat back and sighed, "Gellert and I were more than friends, we were lovers. We were so young and full of ambition and ego back then; we were experimenting with new spells and potions. We thought we could conquer the world. We were planning to run away together on a quest to find the legendary Deathly Hallows, but my brother Aberforth caught us and the three of us began arguing, none of realizing my sister Ariana coming down the stairs, and during the duel between us, she tried to stop it and was accidently hit by a curse and…she died. Even to this day, none of us know who killed her, but it doesn't matter anymore, Gellert fled, and I became a professor at Hogwarts in the hopes to stop youths from making mistakes like me. You know the rest, Gellert eventually started a movement for wizard superiority, and I was forced to stop him."
"Ok, but I don't see what this has to do with me or Voldemort?", he said.
"Hubris and arrogance, of all the many things' people used to describe me, I've often felt that these two words describe me perfectly. I knew the kind of man Gellert was the moment I saw him, but I didn't care because of what he meant to me and all I saw was the good, blinding myself to the bad until it was too late. Just as I did later with Tom Riddle.", he explained tiredly.
Harry motioned him to continue so he did, "When I first met Tom, he was just an orphan boy with no one to love or help him and for a long time, that's all I could see him as. However, even back then, I could see the coldness and dark ambitions that Gellert had in Tom, if not worse and I let it continue to grow worse as he grew as I thought I could save him because I was Albus Dumbledore and Albus Dumbledore was infallible. But Tom couldn't be saved, and he fell so far that he dragged so many others down into the madness with him."
Harry nodded, "I'm assuming we're getting to why this pertains to me?"
Albus chuckled at Harry's impatience, "Yes, you see Harry, the war against Voldemort was going rather poorly, more and more wizard families were flocking to Tom's side either out of fear or empty promises. One night, I had gone to the Hog's Head to drown my sorrows while interviewing an applicant for the Divination post at Hogwarts, Sybill Trelawney, and it was there that your life was written before you were even born."
Harry's eyes widened in realization, "She told you an actual prophecy, didn't she?"
Dumbledore nodded, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies. This is the prophecy she foretold to me, and I believed it to be just utter nonsense. I also failed to take into account that one of Voldemort's agents had overheard the conversation, or least half of it before getting thrown out, and reported to Voldemort what he heard."
Harry was stone faced, "There were only two boys from light families actively fighting Voldemort born at the end of that July, me and Neville."
Albus nodded, "He decided to attack you personally that night because he believed that, as a fellow Half-Blood, you were the more likely candidate. Therefore, your parents were marked for death and were forced into hiding at Godric's Hollow."
"You didn't believe in the prophecy?", he asked.
Albus shook his head, "No, I offered your parents protection, and I even thought it a good idea for them to entrust the duties of the Secret Keeper to someone other than Sirius since he was the obvious choice and could have been captured for information. Little did I know my arrogance and views would set the prophecy into motion and two more innocent people were killed."
Harry was shaking in anger but calmed himself down, "And sending me to my aunt and uncle? That didn't work out at all."
Albus sighed again, "No, it did not. I honestly couldn't fathom a world where a woman would hurt her own nephew like that, or let her husband and son do it either, so I left you there and the blood magic your mother used still required you to be in close proximity to them. When you returned to Hogwarts and Hagrid told of the condition you were in, I realized I had miscalculated again, but I just added it to another of my sins for the sake of peace and kept sending you back."
"When did you first realize Voldemort had placed the Horcrux into me?", Harry asked.
Albus knew this was coming and pulled out a familiar book, "I had always known there was some kind of dark magic hidden away in your scar, but I did not know Tom had made Horcruxes until the end of your second year when you defeated a piece of his soul by destroying this diary. It was then that I knew I was going to have to commit my greatest sin yet for the greater good."
Harry's face darkened, "You mean letting Voldemort kill me?"
Albus nodded, "I see you know then, yes, I had every intention of letting Tom kill you in a few years. I searched through every tome and text I could find, but there was no method I could find that could safely remove it without killing you. My plan, though it would destroy what little remained of my soul, was to have you to fall for Molly Weasley's daughter, Ginerva, since she was the only girl you would converse with regularly besides Ms. Granger, which I arranged from the beginning, and she would have a child to carry on the Potter line after you and Voldemort were gone and the war was over. Don't blame Ginny or Molly, Harry, I convinced them the marriage was the final wish of your parents, which was another lie. I, of course, would resign from Hogwarts and take a poison after I was sure the Wizarding World was safe and secure in the aftermath of this third and hopefully final Wizarding War."
Harry's eyes widened at that last bit, "You were planning to kill yourself?"
"Harry, I just explained to you that I caused the deaths of many of my friends and family, in addition to all the innocent people I killed when I didn't stop Gellert or Tom before they rose to power. I assure you; I've lived much longer than I have any right to when so many never got live full lives.", Albus said wistfully and depressingly.
Harry looked at him with a range of emotions, "I won't deny you deserve to be punished for your actions, but that is…"
Albus held up a hand, "It's alright, Harry, I've made up my mind, but now, I will likely meet my end another way. Now, I can assume you've somehow destroyed the one inside you, but I trust you're doing something about the other Horcruxes?"
Harry nodded, "After I got the Horcrux in me destroyed, we destroyed two more in Slytherin's locket and Ravenclaw's diadem. There should be three left."
Albus nodded, "I would recommend you search the Gaunt Shack, Tom's ancestral home, I would go with you, but I can feel my life fading and magic draining, they have been for some time, especially after the events of today taking a toll on my mind and body and I'll need the rest of it for the final confrontation with Voldemort. I can tell you've been training in secret, but even with all your power now, you will still need an edge to defeat Tom."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "What kind of edge?"
Dumbledore took out his wand, "Disarm me, Harry. Take my wand."
Harry was confused but complied with the request and disarmed the old man and took his wand. The instant the wand fell in his hand, a massive surge of magic occurred within Harry as he unintentionally sent books and paper flying as glass shattered all around the office until Harry got control of it. He was confused as to what the bloody hell happened until he remembered something, when Death had told him to find the Elder Wand to aid him in his quest.
Harry looked at Albus who had a small smile, "Where did you get this?"
"As I said before, dear boy, Gellert was obsessed with finding the Deathly Hallows, and he eventually did find the Elder Wand, which I took from him in 1945 in our famous duel. I know this doesn't begin to make things right between us…", the old Headmaster trailed off.
Harry looked at him sharply, "Nothing in this world will make things right between us but thank you for this. What will you do now? Fudge is likely on his way here to arrest you."
Albus got up and signaled Fawkes to him, "I'm going to spend time with my brother and then with the man I love, we will meet one last time though, Harry, for the final battle. My resignation is on the desk. Goodbye, Harry."
Fawkes flew to the headmaster and the two were suddenly gone in a flash of flame and light, leaving a young man who had finally gotten part of the closure and freedom he craved, "Goodbye, Professor."
Later that night, the Holiday Feast was in full effect despite the events of the morning, which was still on everyone's minds. Many were shocked and confused, others angry that Harry had married so many women, and others were scared at the possibility of Voldemort being alive becoming realer by the minute. The students were conversing in hushed whispers about recent events, while the professors were all silent and sullen as Umbridge looked like someone had killed her family. In reality, most of the students were hoping Harry would use his power to rid the school of the troll. The fragile peace was broken when the doors to the Great Hall were flung open as an irate Minister Fudge, an emotionless Amelia Bones, and Aurors Kingsley and Hestia Jones entered.
Umbridge jumped up in both elation and nervousness, "C-Cornelius…why are you here?"
Fudge looked even more angry, "Where are Dumbledore and Potter?"
McGonagall looked wary, "Neither have been seen since this morning, Minister."
Fudge exploded, "Well find them! They are to be arrested and thrown into Azkaban!"
Everyone gasped as McGonagall stood, "On what charges?"
Fudge grinned maliciously, "Dumbledore will be arrested for conspiracy to commit treason and child negligence, and Potter will be thrown in Azkaban for stealing inheritance rights and spreading lies and inciting public panic."
Everyone froze when they heard a voice behind them, "Actually, Minister, I won't be going to prison for false crimes."
Everyone turned and a saw a smiling Harry and his twelve new wives behind him and Fudge moved toward him, "Potter, you are under arrest! You'll remain in Azkaban until your trial."
Harry raised an uncaring eyebrow, "First, each of my lordships was given to me either by blood or conquest, and I have the paperwork to prove it. As for the other charge, I'm fairly certain it's not illegal to speak out against a corrupt government in the news while we are still a democracy."
Fudge was fuming at this point, "Even if that is true, you cannot call for a vote of no confidence against me. That hasn't been done in almost 500 years and you don't have the votes."
Pansy smirked, "On the contrary, Minister, Harry has a combined total of six votes between his lordships and titles, not to mention all of the lords who have already written to us to pledge their support to call for the vote. Which, if my math is right, numbers the majority of the Ministry."
Umbridge decided to make herself important, "Well, Mr. Potter, you might be able to worm your way out of facing justice in a court of law again, but you will face punishment while here at school."
Harry was just annoyed, "You know, it amazes me how people in power stay in power when they're such tossers. I own this school, and you professor are no longer employed at this school as of tonight."
Everyone was shocked as Umbridge screeched, "WHAT!? You can't do that! You need the Governor's permission to add and remove professors."
Harry smiled brightly, "Oh, I know, however in the rules it states that the Lord of Hogwarts can circumvent that authority if they provide evidence of child endangerment, and all the evidence I need came from student testimonies that you've used veritaserum on students without their consent or their parents'. Speaking of parents, many of them have sent owl's demanding I fire you or they'll send their children to study elsewhere."
Fudge finally paled at that last threat and Harry continued knowing the Minister won't interfere now, "Delores Jane Umbridge, you have disrupted the learning environment and abused your power at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, so as Lord of Hogwarts, I hereby dismiss you from the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts and strip you of all your other titles and privileges and banish you from these grounds for life. BEGONE!"
Harry's four Hogwarts rings flashed as the room was engulfed in a quick flash of light as Umbridge and all of her belongings were expelled from the castle as the pink troll hollered from outside the castle wards. Unfortunately, she also drew the attention of some of dark creatures living in the Forbidden Forest, who were very hungry. Aurors would report later that they found remains belonging to Umbridge scattered throughout the forest in different nesting areas.
Back inside the castle, all four tables exploded in cheers as Harry restored all the paintings and decorations around the castle back to normal. Fudge was apocalyptic but Director Bones just put a hand up to stop him, knowing it would do no good. The Minister just seethed silently and blew past Harry and the others as Amelia approached him.
"Mr. Potter, Susan.", she said in a tone that sent shivers down their spine.
Susan thankfully recovered first, "Hello, Auntie. I know you have…questions, but I promise we will explain everything soon. Harry will be visiting some of the families with the girls over the break and the three of us will sit down to talk about everything."
Amelia took an exasperated breath, "I can't say I'm surprised about this outcome, considering my niece talks about you in her sleep, for God's sake."
Susan squeaked in embarrassment as Harry chuckled and Amelia continued, "I am angry about how this was done, though, and how fast, but I'm assuming there is a story behind this which we will discuss. I'm assuming you want to spend the holidays with your new family, Susan?"
Susan nodded, "We all decided it was best to stick together at a safe house of Harry's for the majority of the break, but I'll be there with you on Christmas Day."
Amelia solemnly nodded, "It's alright, I'm going to be swamped with so much work this Holiday, I don't think I'll be able to see you anyway."
Harry decided now was a good time to mention another part of his plan, "Director Bones, there two very important topics I wanted to bring up at the Wizengamot session where we hopefully vote Fudge out, with your support being essential."
Amelia raised an intrigued eyebrow, "And what would that be?"
Harry took a deep breath, "The next Minister of Magic…and my Godfather, Sirius Black."