32

You know, Tom's reaction to me was somewhat unpredictable. I thought that even though he was cured of insanity, he had not forgotten the Power he possessed and would probably succumb to it. And so he was wary. However his reaction to what he saw through the system he had been temporarily given was strange.

And so.

I looked back at the Great and Dreadful Voldemort, who was clearly in a world of his own, walking behind me.

And we were on our way, by the way, to the one famous bathroom of the weeping Myrtle. To get into the Chamber of Secrets. I had to look at the basilisk and decide what to do with it.

One of the Shards lives in a world where there is what is known as the Eastern Empire. A huge country dominated by a species of Asians. And he's given me some interesting information. And I want to check it out. Because the books I read about Slytherin and chimerology said that the Basilisk was not capable of living that long. Nor can it grow to the size that the books say it can. And so either Salazar had done something to him, or this snake was not at all what one thinks of it.

Having made our way to the toilet and scared off the ghost of the girl, who literally fell through the floor at the sight of Tom and escaped, we approached the marked sink where Tom, still somewhere in his own reverie, hissed the right phrase, and the sink folded into a wall that turned into a passageway.

Well, and from there I felt like I was on a water slide with a gyp. Fun, but Tom, shocked by my reaction, took a long time to recover. What was he thinking? Like the gods are all important and majestic and even, ahem, poop heroically all the time? That's crazy.

As we walked down the corridor, I started to think about stunting the guy and sending him to sleep it off, because he was starting to remind me of some kind of fanatic, honestly! He was using magic to clear the passage of debris and dust, and wouldn't let me walk down the corridor where the water was dripping until he'd fixed and dried the ceiling!

Yes, it took us half an hour to walk a path that could have been walked in five minutes! Thank goodness for Hedgehog, at least he has magic! Can you imagine how long I'd be locked out of the corridor until it was fixed?! I'm shocked.

But the gate is finally revealed, with a bas-relief of two snakes with gilded scales and gems inserted in place of eyes.

Once again Tom hissed and the gate came to life, the snakes sprawled and sprawled out so that the doors, with the creak of long-unlubricated hinges, began to open.

Walking on, the lad and I found ourselves in a vast room. With pillars, a swimming pool, and a giant statue of Salazar himself.

- He's got quite an attitude," I nodded to myself as I stared at the massive, fifteen-metre tall statue.

- Well, according to some reports, yes," Tom said, and then hissed again like a boiling kettle with a whistle on its spout. And his hiss made the ever-burning torches along the walls burn brighter, and then, with a loud clang, the statue's mouth opened so that in a minute it looked like metal was dripping from it, but a closer look revealed a really huge snake. About twenty metres long and a metre and a half wide, this snake commanded respect. As was the magical power contained within it. I can't imagine how the canon Potter could defeat it. It's unrealistic on principle.

As the snake descended the statue and its huge head froze in front of Tom, I finally hissed myself, making Tom, who thought I didn't know Parseltongue, wince. But it's true, I don't know Parseltongue. But I do know the language of dragons.

- Answer, if you can, and speak, if you can," I said in the inner, ancient language of the lizard.

And the reaction of the serpent was stunning, and in an instant he was beside me and stared. Its enormous eyes were literally half a meter away from me, but it did not strike fear in me. In my true form, I would tie this snake in a knot and leave it there, telling everyone that it was nature's plan. And his stony gaze will have no effect on me.

- I hear. I answer," he hissed, and a grin spread from ear to ear on my face.

- Then I am not mistaken," I hissed to the serpent. - Answer me, Serpent. How long have you felt as if your scales were not yours? And how long have you been molting much more often?

- Two centuries,' replied the Serpent. - But what do you mean by that, strange smelling Native man?

- I'm saying it's time for you to grow up," he grinned, plucking a pearl the size of an ostrich's egg from subspace and shoving it into the serpent's mouth, which made it stretch across the room. It was about to attack me, but...

He was about to attack me, but as he was about to do so, a rainbow of light began to pour out of the serpent's mouth, and the serpent froze, as if paralyzed. I was paralyzed, but that was the way it was.

Gradually the glow began to show on the scales, causing them to fall off in layers, exposing the glowing gold skin. Once all the scales fell off, the Serpent hissed in pain, and then both Tom and I were blinded by the brightest of flashes.

And when we opened our eyes and blinked, we saw an unbelievable picture. A long Chinese Dragon was hovering at the ceiling. Its long body was covered by golden and white fur, which had a metallic finish. Its paws, large and powerful, looked a little ridiculous, but I knew how well the beast could use them. I could not even call it a snake now, only the length of its body resembled that of a snake.

After a little torture, the beast was able to descend from the ceiling and speak in a perfectly human, but loud voice.

- What have you done to me, Mage?

- Oh! No big deal. Just checked some data. And it turns out my reasoning was correct. You're not a Basilisk, you're a child of the Asian Dragon. And you should have turned into a full dragon long ago, but you were mistaken about your nature, thinking you were a Basilisk. Surely not even Salazar knew who you really are. After all, a dragon child of the Orient is indistinguishable from a giant snake. And your magical power has simply adapted to the magic of the Basilisk. In fact you are capable of much more, and now, reborn, your potential has increased many times over. You should be able to feel it yourself.

The former Serpent reflected and landed on his paws, arching his long body like a cat threatening its enemy. And it even began to look harmonious somehow. I wondered how these creatures walked on their feet. And here we are...

- You're right, strange mage, I do feel stronger than I did before, and I know I'm capable of much more than I used to. But what's in it for you?

- Heh, it's simple. I'm the Rector. And I could use a beast like you. You are capable of controlling and caring for other local dragons and many other magical creatures. You're intelligent and wise, which means you'll come in handy. That is if you take the job at the University. Taking care of Magical Beasts would be the most epic thing for children to do if it were you," he chuckled, looking at the stunned face of the East Dragon.

- And you're a lunatic, you know that? - The newborn dragon curled up on the floor.

- And who's normal, you know? - I answered in tone with him, looking at the shocked and obviously not with us Tom Riddle.

- And you're not so simple," the serpent snorted back at me. - You look like a snake of a man, you feel like a Kindred, and you reek of the wisdom you hide beneath the mask of an idiot.

- Alas," I spread my arms to the side, instantly extinguishing the smile on my face and turning on my seriousness. - Sometimes you have to act like an idiot to be underestimated.

- Wise indeed," nodded the Beast. - I agree, but I'll need to prepare before I start training.

- Good. And for ease of preparation, learn how to become human first. You are capable of it, but you must practice.

- I can feel it, but it would take me a long time to get to that point on my own, Rodic. Thank you.

- You're welcome.

That's how the amazing UZMS teacher came to the new University. And many children were pleased with it. For this Serpent had found his path - to be free and to teach. And Easterners have always had a weakness for that.

When the Gates of the new Magical University opened for incoming students, huge numbers of would-be students began pouring into the incredible size of the courtyard. There were Mages from various countries, young eleven year olds entering the School of Magic, Adults, and even seemingly older Mages wishing to comprehend a greater depth of magic in various, interesting aspects.

Also arriving in the courtyard was a crowd of squibs looking out over the verdant garden and fairies fluttering in the jets of water. They wished to be tested for Witchcraft and Shinobi. And the mage parents who came along with them even held their backs proudly. After all, a squib is no longer a disgrace, but a uniqueness and new opportunities. By the way, the incoming Warlocks and Shinobi were the youngest - from six to eight years old. It took them much longer to learn, and even longer to develop.

There was also a separate bunch of magicians. That is, magical beings and half-humans. There were Veils, werewolves, and even a couple of water-drinking mermaids from the Great Undersea. They too would find each their own way. For example, all the werewolves had sewn a shinobi badge on their clothes: the Scarlet Whirlpool. Which I brazenly stole from the Base world. Warlocks wore a silhouette of a man with a staff and a halo of blue around them. Mages wore an embroidered sword and staff, crossed, and above them the sign or skull of a dragon. But only those entering the Great Faculties had additions in the form of a dragon.

As they made their way to the square, the entrants and their parents watched my clone perform in his adult form and Jonin uniform. Those who wished to go into shinobi, and especially werewolves, defiantly devoured the Rector with their eyes, secretly dreaming of the same form, but also realizing that it would be a very, very long time before they could get it.

By influencing the Ministry of Magic and many others through goblins and Fire Elves, as well as painting prospects and engaging the ancient Clans in the new possibilities of the future Magical World, I soon had them on my side. Special elementary schools for those born outside the magical world were also introduced, where young wizards from the ordinary world were introduced to the realities of the Magical World and asked if they wished to become mages or wanted to return to the ordinary world. Those who wished to return to the simple world after their training were confined by a magical non-disclosure contract and released into the ordinary world, where they became whatever they wished. Though many pretended to be psychics, which only benefited the magical world. It was easier to explain the unexplainable to the simpletons. Those who left were helped to cope with their own magic and not to die accidentally, just in the preparatory school. So there were no excesses.

Warlocks and Shinobi, after their training, went to the Curse Breakers, or the Obscurants, which were rare but did appear in the world. There was no way to keep track of all future mages.

Shinobi were also used for various tasks in the prostrate world. So they had carved out a niche for themselves.

The magical world began to flourish again, evolving because of the new abilities of the Warlocks and Shinobi.

And after thirty years, unoppressed Magic had accumulated in sufficient numbers for the Statute to finally build up the right amount of energy.

And then the Worlds divided for good.

A new World was born in the Universe, where mages could live in peace and evolve, as could the magical races and half-breeds. There were also ordinary people in that world, but they were not oppressed, and they did what they could - moving science, trade and many other things. That world was called Albion.

And from Earth, almost all the Mages had disappeared. Only the weak ones were left, who had become the very real psychics. And a lot of charlatans. But Earth and Albion could still interact, though only on rare occasions. When ancient and dangerous to mere humans artifacts of Magic were found, which had not all disappeared from Earth with Albion, then elusive and incredibly mysterious people in loose clothing, with pouches on their legs, arms and belts would appear. Swords and kunayaks and white, porcelain-like masks. Who at first peacefully, and if unsuccessful, by force, took the dangerous things and disappeared without a trace.

Of course, all sorts of things have happened in Albion too. Still, people are people.

I have lived a full and long life, being Rector for over three hundred years. Had a family - as the Potter bloodline was bound to be continued. As did several new bloodlines.

Dragonlance had grown into a Large and Proud Lord of the Sky, but loved to pretend to be a regular Shinobi, though in the rank of Sennin the Shallow. He was the continuation of the Drago bloodline.

The Potter bloodline was continued by my two sons, and my three daughters had families and husbands of their own. Many people wanted to be related to my kind, for the strongest kind magically and monetarily attracted many. But the daughters came out of love, and any rogue son or daughter I warned, and if it did not work, they disappeared without a trace. I didn't want my beauties to fall into the hands of scam artists who would break their hearts.

Sirius Black was bailed out of prison, restored, cured, and after a couple of years, to everyone's surprise, he married a seemingly ordinary witch, whom he adored. As they say, there's a majestic alpha female for every dog.

Tom Marvolo Riddle went to the Academy and graduated with honours. He contacted all the Reavers and systematically put all their brains in place, making servants out of vassals. And most unbelievably, he gave Bella to the Elves for treatment and they restored everything to her. Even the madness was removed, dissolving the curse of Rod. The girl was really much calmer, but given her bitchiness... Lestrange divorced her, only to marry her again in a couple of years, but to a calmer girl.

And Bella in some unimaginable way ended up as Tom's wife. And by the way, under him she became the happiest and most at home. They had three children, two girls and a boy. Oddly enough, Tom was happy. And after graduating from the Academy, he took a job at the School as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And somehow he became my secretary. I don't know how he managed to combine the two.

And so, lying in bed, I could feel the strings tearing away that held my essence of the shard and this body together. The body was dying. Too much trauma had been inflicted in childhood, though that wasn't the problem. Cured, but the fact that this body could no longer contain my Shard Essence was the truth. And it was time to move on down the stream of worlds.

At 7:07 p.m. on August 22, 2311 Earth and 251 Albion, Harry James Potter died of old age, dying in the company of family and loved ones who loved him.

Tom Marvolo Riddle stood over the body of his Master and God and smiled, for he knew that he had not died, but had ascended into His Chambers. And he, Tom, simply had to grow stronger and join him there. For how could the Rector be without his faithful and executive secretary! And he has plenty of time to become stronger. And he will spend it wisely.

Outside the window the Dragons roared in their Nursery, wishing their Lord well.

Cole Harold Potter sat down in his departed father's chair with a sigh and took up the papers from his father's desk and safe. After all, the man had ordered him to examine them after his death. Although Cole could not believe that his father was dead. Yes and he knew for sure that he had just moved on. To other worlds. Such was his fate, and a Shard of Deity could not occupy the body of the one who had given it to him more than that body's life expectancy. And even all the power of God is not able to change it.

And in Paradise, the soul of the real Harold James Potter watched over the life of his given body. And when the last breath of his former body broke off, he smiled. He was pleased with the way he had lived, what he had done and left everything behind by the one who had replaced him. And happily dissolved, giving himself over to the flow of Sansara to be reborn in the world of the living...