Are you absolutely sure that this will work?" asked Minerva McGonagall to the Headmaster.
"Pray to Merlin that it will." said Albus Dumbledore twirling the time turner over and over in his hands.
"Let go over this one more time. I want you to hear how insane and utterly foolish this plan is." Came Severus Snape's drawling voice from his position leaning against the doorway.
"Always a downer, Severus. The plan is I'm going to go to Merope and Tom Riddle Sr's home and collect newborn Tom Riddle from them, then I'm going to my brother, Aberforth and I'm going to deposit Tom at his orphanage in December of 1979. He will be raised by my brother, and he will be raised correctly and if there is another threat like him again, he will fight on the side of the Order." said Dumbledore still playing with the Time Turner.
"And what happens if he turns on us all? He could kill everyone standing in this room and then some." said Snape.
"That is a risk we have to be willing to take. Lord Voldemort was raised to be a monster in a horrible environment without love, my brother will provide the proper care for him." said Dumbledore, ignoring the cringe that came with saying the Dark Lord's name.
"Well, it looks like my time has come. I must be going now." said Dumbledore, the clock on the far wall chiming indicating it was midnight.
"I still think that this is completely and utterly irresponsible," said McGonagall her lips pressed in a hard line. "I know I can't talk you out of it so that being said, take care of yourself, Albus."
"I shall. Oh, and Severus? Take care of Fawkes." The Potions Master just gave a brief nod and left the room.
Albus Dumbledore picked up the Time Turner and turned the dials to December 31, 1926. The swirling golden dust surrounded the Headmaster before his office faded to black.
He landed rather unceremoniously in front of Ms. Cole's orphanage in the early morning; He then cast a Disillusionment Charm before moving up the path. He cast a silent Alohomora on the door and quietly slipped in. Albus Dumbledore maneuvered past two men wheeling out cart with a sheet covered body on it; He kept moving and eventually came upon the room that the newborn Tom was slumbering in. Dumbledore quietly picked up the baby and fastened him safely in a papoose, so he could turn the dials on the Time Turner. He shifted the dials until they read December 31st, 1979 and with a tiny click they were gone. Dumbledore landed in front of his brother Aberforth's orphanage and quietly knocked in the large wooden door.
"Albus? What are your doing here so late? Who's child is this?" asked Aberforth questioningly.
"I will answer all of your questions if you just let me come in." said Dumbledore. Aberforth pondered it silently for a moment before holding the door for his brother. Dumbledore set Tom down in a nearby cradle and magically lit a fire in the room.
"You'll want to sit down for this Aberforth." said Dumbledore, conjuring some tea and biscuits.
"Who's baby is that?" asked Aberforth sitting down slowly.
"His parents are Merope Gaunt and Tom Riddle Sr., a muggle."
"Why do you even have their child?" asked Aberforth harshly.
"Because if I didn't take him, he would've most likely killed us all. Tom Marvolo Riddle, that child over there, grew up to be the most notorious wizard-killer in our history. He went by Lord Voldemort, a man who hated Muggles, Muggleborns, and Halfbloods, even though he was one himself. He had destroyed half of Britain before I came up with this plan." said Dumbledore solemnly.
"What do you want me to do, Albus?! A threat as great as this has to be stopped!" shouted Aberforth drawing his wand.
"Sit down, Aberforth. You haven't heard my plan. I believe that Tom Riddle grew up the way he did because he wasn't raised in the proper household. I believe that the right environment can raise him to be good and if there is another threat like he, he can fight on the side of the Light." said Albus calmly.
"Do you even realize what your asking me to do here Albus? You are asking me to house and essentially raise a mass murderer." said Aberforth angrily.
"I know Aberforth, I know. But think about how many lives we could save. Our friends died in the war, our families. The Longbottoms, The Prewett brothers, Regulus Black, hell, Lily and James died in the war." said Albus.
"Potter?" asked Aberforth solemnly.
"Yes. Voldemort killed them before trying to kill their son." said Albus. Aberforth seemed to ponder this for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Fine. I will raise the boy. Not for you, not for the Order, but for those who have passed." said Aberforth getting up and going to the cradle. His brother disappeared with a pop and they were alone. Aberforth looked one last time at the slumbering baby before turning and walking out of the room.