The Other Choice

Harry Potter FanFiction

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, I do not own the Harry Potter Franchise, I only own the plot. If I owned Harry Potter, I would not be writing FanFiction, I would be writing books.

Summary: Neville is the Chosen One; the first war is still raging. Obviously AU. My first fic, so please review!

Snape strode into the room. "My lord." He said bowing.

"Severus, what have you found?"

"Much, my lord, much. At the Hog's Head Inn I overheard Dumbledore and a woman. The woman made a prophecy."

"The point, Severus."

"It included you."

"Many do. Tell all."

"Here is what she said. '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.' After that, I was discovered, and was unable to hear anything more."

"Severus" the dark lord hissed. "Which families will bear in the next few weeks?"

"The Longbottoms and the Potters, my lord."

"Good. The Longbottoms it will be then."

Alice Longbottom's child was to be born in a few weeks. She was having trouble bending over and picking things up from the floor. Cooking was hard, but she was managing. She missed working at the Auror Department, but soon she would have a little baby to take care of and that would be enough work in itself. Frank would be home soon from the Ministry, and the Lily and James Potter would be coming over for dinner. Lily Potter's child would be born soon also.

Unexpectedly, the fireplace turned green and Dumbledore spun out. He landed gracefully and dusted himself off. Alice motioned him toward the dining room, which wasn't quite as messy as the parlor.

"Dumbledore!" she exclaimed, "Won't you sit down?"

"How are you doing?"

"Oh!" said Alice, "Splendidly! We've decided to name it Neville if he's a boy or Vivienne if she's a girl. We don't know which the baby will be yet, the healers didn't tell us!"

"Really!" he said brightly. "Well, I'm sure we'll be seeing the child at Hogwarts soon enough!"

"Oh," Alice laughed, "It'll be a while yet!"

"As I'm sure you will have guessed, Alice, I didn't come just to chat. Sybil Trelawney and I met at the Hog's Head Inn last night about a new Divination teacher. As you might have known, Professor Laceweed has retired. While we were there, Trelawney made a prophecy." Dumbledore's tone became very grave and sincere. "It concerned a baby who would be born as the seventh month died."
"Oh!" said Alice, clearly frightened. "Continue."

"This baby, whose parents were to have defied the Voldemort three times…"

At this (and the name) Alice gasped.

"…would be marked as Voldemort's equal, and would have a power that Voldemort knows not. Neither could live while the other survived, so one would have to kill the other."

Alice sat down hurriedly.

"The thing is," Dumbledore continued, "This could apply to either you and Frank, or James and Lily. Also, I am pretty sure that a spy of Voldemort's overheard this."

Alice looked stricken.

"He only heard the first part of the prophecy, but I am sure he informed the Dark Lord. I have decided that the best idea would be to put you both under the Fidelus charm. I will leave you to talk this over with Frank, when he returns and I hope to be informed of your choice of Secret Keeper soon." He turned to leave when Alice stopped him.

"Have you spoken to the Potters yet?"

"No, I have not. I was planning on doing so now."

"They may not be at home."

"Why ever not?"

"They will be coming to dinner here in five minutes. You may just want to stay?"

"Yes, I think I shall." He said, sitting down again. "Lemon drop?"

A/N: I would have written more, but I just HAD to end it there. Please read and review! Again, this is my first fic!!!