Chapter One

With his trusty holly and phoenix wand repaired Harry stood before Dumbledore's portrait.

"I am really so very proud of you Harry" said Dumbledore. "You have done something that no one thought possible. You have defeated the most powerful wizard of our time. Everyone in the wizarding world will be celebrating today. You were famous before, but now everyone will know your name, there will be books written about you. But, Harry, you don't look too happy about things."

"I'm just relieved that it's all over, and I will never have to fight Voldemort again. As for happy, well, how can I possibly be happy when so many of my friends have been killed. So many of the people I care about are dead. Sirius, Tonks, Lupin, Mad-Eye, Cedric, Fred ..." Harry had to stop as his eyes filled with tears. Beside him he could hear Ron trying to suppress his sobs. Hermione pulled Ron into a hug, holding him as he fought back his tears. Harry stood alone, his tears now streaming down his face.

"He has taken everyone from me, my parents, and my friends, even you."

"I'm still here"

Harry turned round; he hadn't heard Professor McGonagall arriving with Neville, Luna and Ginny. Ginny rushed forward and entwined herself around Harry, wiping away his tears with her robes.

"Well done Master Longbottom! The way you used the Sword of Gryffindor, you're parents would have been so proud of you. You have proved yourself again to be a true Gryffindor."

Dumbledore had turned to Harry again "I hesitate to suggest this Harry, and if you don't feel up to it you just have to say. But I think there might be a way to change some of the things that happened. But you would have to fight Voldemort again."

"How could I possibly change what has already happened. There is no way to bring the dead back to life, it's not possible and even it was, it wouldn't be right."

"I'm not talking about bringing the dead back to life. I'm talking about going back in time and changing what has gone before. To go back to before Voldemort killed your mum and dad, and kill him first."

"Headmaster, you must not put ideas like that into Potter's head." burst out Professor McGonagall "You know that even with the Time Turners you can only go back in time by four or five hours. And besides, even if Harry could go back in time, he would have to fight Voldemort when he was at the height of his power. It would be far too much to expect of him."

"I believe Harry could do it. With some help from his friends." Dumbledore smiled at Ron and Hermione. "It's really just a question of whether or not he wants to take that chance. On the one hand, Voldemort is dead. We can tidy up Hogwarts, say goodbye to our dead and move on. Or, Harry can make one last supreme effort to set everything right."

"Harry" said Dumbledore "go to the cupboard where the Pensieve sits. Behind it is a small box. Bring it over to my desk. Inside the box you will find a device that looks a bit like a very clunky old fashioned watch."

Harry took the device at of its box and set it on the headmaster's desk.

"I call this device my 'Time Apparater', Grindelwald and I invented it many years ago when we were still friends. It's got broken during the fight when my sister was killed. I've thought many times about repairing it, but in the end I've always decided that it was better to face the future, than to try and change the past. You could repair it Harry, with the Elder Wand."

"You mean" said Harry "that I could use this apparater to go back and duel with Voldemort before he has a chance to kill my folks. Why have you never told me I could do this? Why didn't you do it? Even if you had just warned them that Voldemort was coming so that they could have defended themselves."

"Because I didn't, don't, know if it will work. Changing the laws of time is not to be taken lightly. It may be that everything that happens is inevitable. Perhaps, even if you go back in time you can't change anything. On the other hand, even a small change could have a catastrophic result. That's why the Ministry keeps such a tight guard on the Time Turners." said Dumbledore gently. "We have no way of knowing how things would turn out. But I really do think that at this moment, knowing you have been able to defeat Voldemort in this time, you would have a good chance of defeating him 16 years ago, especially with your brave friends Ron, Hermione and Neville" Dumbledore held up his hand as Ginny and Luna protested. "One of the limitations of the Time Apparater is that you can only go back to time within your own lifespan, so I'm afraid you girls must stay here."

"It's not fair! It's always about Harry and Harry's parents. What about my parents? Why can't we save them too?"

Everyone turned to look at Neville. He was right of course, although his parents had survived Bellatrix's torture they had lost their minds. Orphaned Harry had everyone's sympathy but the Longbottoms were rather forgotten about.

"I haven't forgotten about them Neville but tonight it is important that you go to Godrics Hollow with the others. Four of you together will stand a much better chance of success that three. There is so much that could go wrong you must help each other. Your parents, Neville, were powerful wizards, more than a match for Bellatrix but they were surprised and unarmed. What I propose is that Professor McGonagall will go back to before they were attacked and will warn them to be prepared. She will tell them the exact day and time that Bellatrix will come and they will be ready this time. Will you do that Minerva? They will recognise you and they will take your warning seriously, more than they would a warning from some unknown young man, even if he does claim to be their baby Neville!"

Harry was staring, mesmerised by the Time Apparater, enthralled by the idea that he could save his parents. He knew he had to do this. He turned to the others and despite how desperate he was for their help he said to Ron "You're not coming. I can't risk your life with Fred lying downstairs. Your mother would never get over it. Do you remember the boggart in Grimauld Place? Your mother's worst fear was her children being killed. Her nightmare has come true once tonight already, I won't put her through that again. And you're not coming either Hermione. You need to stay and be with Ron, you've only just found each other – although I must say it was obvious to everyone else from the time Ron heard you were going to the ball with Victor Krum!"

"I am coming with you Harry" said Neville resolutely. "You can't go alone and I have as much to gain from this mission as you. There's no way you're going alone!"

"It's decided then" said Harry.