The Great Hall lay in ruins. Flames crackled across the shattered floor, the once-proud banners of Hogwarts torn and burnt beyond recognition. The scent of ozone and blood filled the air, and the very stones of the castle groaned under the weight of the magic that had been unleashed.
I stood amidst it all — panting, trembling, barely able to keep myself upright. My wand hand shook violently, every ounce of strength drained from me. My body screamed in protest, my magic almost completely spent. Yet, despite it all… I laughed.
A dry, cracked, almost hysterical laugh spilled from my lips as I stared at the fallen body before me. Albus Dumbledore — the greatest wizard of the age — lay still, his wand shattered, his once-bright blue eyes dim.
"I finally… did it," I breathed, barely able to speak through the exhaustion that threatened to claim me. "The great Albus Dumbledore… is dead."
The words hung in the air like a curse, echoing off the broken walls. My knees nearly gave out, but I forced myself to stay standing. The room felt heavy — not just from the destruction, but from the weight of what I had done. For decades, his name had been the barrier between me and complete dominion over the magical world. And now… that barrier was gone.
"You should've stayed out of my way, old man," I whispered, dragging in a ragged breath. "You could've retired… watched the world change from afar. But no — you just had to play the hero one last time."
A coughing fit took me, and I almost collapsed to the ground. My magic reserves were nearly gone — I could feel the hollow emptiness in my core, the aftershocks of the battle leaving cracks in my very soul. But I didn't care.
I staggered forward until I stood directly over Dumbledore's corpse. His half-moon spectacles had fallen to the floor beside him, one lens shattered. For a brief, flickering moment, I saw not my enemy — but the man who had once been my Headmaster, the one who had seen promise in every student, even those the world had given up on.
But that sentiment faded as quickly as it came. I crouched down, pressing a hand against the cold stone beside his head. "And now," I said softly, "the new age begins."
My laughter returned — weaker this time, but no less triumphant. Every muscle in my body ached, every breath felt like fire, yet I couldn't stop smiling.
"I did it," I whispered to myself again. "The greatest threat… gone. England is mine."
As the echoes of my laughter filled the ruined hall, a gust of wind blew through the shattered windows, scattering ashes into the air. Somewhere deep within Hogwarts, the wards shuddered — reacting to the death of their master.
And though I could barely stand, I raised my wand — cracked, flickering with the last traces of my magic — and whispered, "Hogwarts… kneel."
The ancient castle groaned, its very foundation acknowledging the shift in power.
Then, at last, my vision darkened. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to my knees beside Dumbledore's lifeless body, my laughter fading into silence.
Exhaustion consumed me completely.
But even as I fell into unconsciousness, a single thought burned bright within my mind —
The old order has fallen. The new one begins… with me.