Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by rich, brilliant people, and I am not one of them.
Warnings: I feel like I should warn you about another AU!neville –boy –who-lived story. I just hope I put enough originality in it to keep you interested. Oh and its SLASH in future chapters.
Summary: Life would have been very different if Neville had been chosen that fateful night. Lily is tortured to insanity, Frank and Alice dead, and Remus thought to be a traitor. RLSB in later chapters,
This story is from multiple POV and is kinda scattered, everyone's story will continue but after the third chapter everything begins to focus on Remus and Sirius almost exclusively.
October 31st Chapter 1 Part 1
In a crowded, dimly lit but ornately decorated dining room, The Dark Lord was making plans, his most faithful followers gathered around the oak table in the middle of the room, all masked and leering. Peter Pettigrew stood before the table and looked nervously between the hooded forms of Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape.
"No m-my Lord." He stammered, falling to his knees before his master. "Malfoy speaks lies. Dumbledore told us the prophecy concerns Harry Potter, not this Longbottom boy."
Voldemort did not respond instead look at Malfoy who nodded quickly, and stepped closer to the throne like chair that Voldemort lounged in. The snake, Nagini, was curled around the arms and the back of the chair, like an awful adornment. Its head rose slightly when Malfoy approached, its fork tongue darting out as if to taste him. Malfoy swallowed hard.
"My Lord, this Prophecy dose not name the Potter child as your conquer. It could be about either child." Malfoy spoke carefully. Voldemort's red, glowing eyes darted to Peter, still groveling on the floor.
"Interesting, tell me Wormtail." The Dark Lord started, Peter flinched at the old, familiar nickname and looked up fearfully. "Isn't the Potter brat a half blood?" Peter flinched again and with a great trembling motion managed a bow.
"Yes my lord." He whispered horror and sniffling almost making his words inaudible.
"Well, my 'conquer' wouldn't be the spawn of muggle filth now would he?" Voldemort's eyes narrowed dangerously at Peter who gave a great sob, the crowd of hood of figures gave an uneasy, collective laugh.
"N-N-No my Lord." Peter gasped.
"Then I don't really need you after all?"
"Pl-" Peter started.
"Avada Kadavra!"
The beseeched, fearful look was frozen on Peter Pettigrew's face.
"We have a change in our plans, my faithful friends." Voldemort snarled. "We go to Hogsmead." The crowed let a cheer, and flooded to follow their Lord's orders.
"Bella." Voldemort purred amongst the outburst of noise. Bellatrix turned a wicked smile on her otherwise pretty face.
"Yes my lord?"
"I need you and Rudophus to remain behind; I have a special plan for you."
"Yes, anything." Bellatrix responded passionately.
"Eventually the Potter's will leave there protected home, once they do, torture and kill them."
"Yes Lord." Bellatrix's smile widened and she turned to find her husband. Voldemort let a satisfied smile sink into his lipless mouth. He was so close, so very close to complete power. No one would stand in his way now.
The Dark Lord did not see one Death Eater remain behind, did not see one man whose mask slipped from his face as everyone else cleared the room. Severus Snape remained, tears staining his cheeks, eyes wide and horrified.
November 1st 1981 Chapter 1 Part 2
"Nymphadora, please sit still."Andromeda Tonk's scolded gently. Eight year old 'Dora' stopped fidgeting, and struggled to remain as still as possible, but it was hard. Something was going on, nervousness had settled over her house, making her mother impatient and her father more quiet than usual. Something was going on, and no one ever let eight year olds in on anything. It was right unfair, it was.
She looked across the table to her father, who was resting his head in his hands. He gave a wink and tired smile.
"What's going on?" She asked. Both her parents ignored her. She really didn't expect an answer; they hadn't answered the previous nine times she had asked that evening either.
"Isn't it past your bed time?" Ted asked Dora whose face twisted indignantly.
"Like I can sleep with you lot so tense, just please tell me what's going on." She begged, her hair turning an electric blue as she spoke. Andromeda and Ted exchanged a dubious look.
"Bed." Her mother said with a finality that told Dora that arguing was useless. The girl settled for stomping her foot in a half hearted fit and headed upstairs.
Ted watched his daughter go and turned to his wife.
"We should have told her." He said quietly.
"She will find out soon enough, if what Dumbledore said is right, then it will change her-and our- whole life." Andromeda felt exhausted all at once and sank into a chair next to her husband. Ted took her hand in his own.
"It will be ok, dear." He said, brining their heads together and planting a kiss on her forehead. She leaned heavily against him and took a deep breath. Tears she had held back all day threatened to fall now. Ted pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her.
"It's ok." He said again. It wouldn't just be a huge change in the Tonk's household. It would be a change in the entire world. Dumbledore's letter sat folded on the table, slightly crumpled from repetitive reading. Ted could almost recite the entire thing from memory now. Still, hours later, the profundity of it left him reeling.
The dark Lord is gone.
The letter had started, causing Andromeda to burst into sudden and uncontrollable tears, and Andromeda was not a weepy person by nature.
Voldemort had attempted, on this night, to murder Frank, Alice, and Neville Longbottom in their home. Frank and Alice Longbottom are dead. Neville, for reasons that I will explain at a later time, lived.
This caused another burst of tears from Andromeda, Ted felt his own eyes sting with grief at the words. Frank and Alice dead?
If you are willing, the boy needs a temporary home, and I would like the opportunity to explain more fully the events of this evening. Send your response quickly. –Dumbledore.
Ted sent a hastily scrawled note in response and sent it with his own owl. They then had nothing to do but wait. It wasn't long before other owls started pouring in; news of the sudden defeat of the dark lord, rumors of what had happened at the Longbottom's, invites to parties celebrating the freedom of the wizarding world.
Ted responded to friends and family, but neither Tonks would leave until they heard from Dumbledore again. So they sat, and waited. Waited for news of Neville, of the dark Lord, an official announcement from the ministry, waited for anything.
It was well after midnight when a tremendous roar rattled the windows in their house. Ted jumped to his feet, wand in hand and sprinted out the front door. Andromeda followed, fear tingling in her spine.
An enormous motorcycle was apparently falling out of the sky, no not falling, flying, and flying right into his yard. Ted flinched slightly when the great bike hit the ground with a thud that shook the earth with its force. If the bike was huge, it was nothing compared to its rider. A mountain of a man with a tremendous beard was perched atop the seat, a pile of blankets gathered in his arms.
"Hullo Hagrid." Ted said lightly. The giant settled the bike and killed the roar of the engine.
"Ted, Andromeda." He greeted.
"Did Dumbledore send you?" Andromeda asked hopefully. Hagrid nodded and settled the blankets in his arms before climbing off the bike.
"Supposed to meet me here." He muttered. "He'll be here."
"Is that Neville then?" Ted asked, motioning to the blankets. Hagrid nodded again, removing some of the blankets and revealing a sleeping baby with light, wispy hair and a thin, lightning bolt scar across his forehead.
"Fell asleep as I was flyin' over Bristol." He handed the baby gently to Andromeda and let out a howl like a wounded dog.
"S'not fair!" He wailed. "Frank and Alice dead?" He cried. Andromeda patted him awkwardly on the elbow.
"It's ok." She said softly, her eyes never leaving the sleeping infant in her hands.
"Ah, Hagrid you've made it alright." A voice spoke next to them. Dumbledore stood as though he had been there the entire time. Hagrid nodded.
"Young Sirius Black lent me the motorbike." He explained, wiping his tears on his sleeve. "O'course, him n' James been having a 'orrible night too."
"James Potter?" Ted asked.
"Alas, many lives have been taken tonight." Dumbledore said sadly.
"James is dead?" Andromeda exclaimed, holding tighter to the baby.
"No, he is alive, but Peter Pettigrew's body was recovered from an area believed to be used as a headquarters for Voldemort and his followers." Everyone flinched at his name but Dumbledore continued as if he hadn't seen them. "He was obviously tortured for information. He died a hero's death."
"Poor Peter."
"Are Lily and the baby ok?" Andromeda asked, feeling suddenly extraordinarily concerned with the welfare of children. Dumbledore paused and his blue eyes sparkled with tears behind his half-moon glasses.
"Lily Potter is in Saint Mungos." He spoke softly. "She was captured soon after and tortured for information about the whereabouts of the defeated dark lord."
"But she is alive?" Ted asked, his heart breaking for the Potters. Hagrid let out another howl, large tears falling into his beard.
"She is insane, only time will tell if she will recover."
"Oh." Andromeda felt tears rise to her own eyes, for the loss of such good people, for the breaking of families.
"Now, we have concerns that demand our attention." Dumbledore took a step towards the house. "Ted, Andromeda, might I press upon your hospitality for some tea? We have much to discuss."
November 1st `1981 Chapter 1 Part 3
The gentle snoring of James Potter filled the waiting room; he was curled haphazardly in a chair. His son was nestled on his chest, covered in his cloak. Both Potter's sleep was uneasy and light.
Dreams made half of memories and half of nightmares flooded his over taxed mind. Some were of Peter, dying to protect James and his family. Guilt left him horrible crippled, he had no right to ask Peter to be the secret keeper. Poor, bumbling Peter stood no chance against the Dark Lord. Confusion rattled his brain.
Dumbledore had said the Voldemort was after Harry, after the Potters. Why had Frank and Alice died that night? Why hadn't they been given the protection of the Fidelius Charm? Why did Peter need to die? Protecting a secret that hadn't been necessary? Memories from that night flashed through his mind, clouded and uncertain. They had received an owl from Sirius, saying that Frank and Alice had died, and Peter was missing, so much confusion and so much worry.
"James." A whispered word and warm hand on his shoulder tore James from his twisted nightmares. He blinked up and the concerned face of Sirius Black.
"Hey mate." James greeted his voice hoarse and unsure. Sirius sat next to him and helped him sit up straight without waking Harry.
"Any word?" Sirius asked quietly. James shook his head sadly, trying desperately not to cry.
"No, we've been here for hours and no one is even talking to us." James said, casting a hateful look towards the secretary seated across the room. Sirius took a deep breath and stared intently at his feet.
"I'm so sorry." Sirius whispered, tears prickling his own eyes. "It was my idea to use Peter as the Secret Keeper. It was my fault he died."
"We didn't need a Secret Keeper, you-know-who wasn't after us, he was after the Longbottom's. Dumbledore was wrong." James said his voice strangely absent of emotions. He looked at Sirius, windswept and unwashed. His knees curled to his chest and covered in that blasted leather riding jacket. He looked so incredibly breakable in that moment. James wrapped an arm around his best friend and took another deep breath.
"Where is Remus?" He asked. Sirius flinched.
"I don't know." He answered, a indefinable emotion clouded his eyes.
"Mr. Potter?" A woman interrupted. James looked up and for a moment considered not answering, he so scared to hear what the Healer had to say. That Lily was dead, that she wouldn't recover. He could run now, run and never know.
"That's me." He said standing and handing Harry to Sirius. The boy fidgeted slightly but fell back asleep almost instantly.
"My name is Lorilyn Zizes, I'm the Healer-in-Charge." The woman said, holding out her hand for James to shake feebly. Zizes looked almost as tired as he was. Bags darkened under her eyes, grey fly-a-way hair falling freely from the clip at the back of her neck.
"Walk with me Mr. Potter." She said, placing her hand on his back and steering him towards the door.
"How is my wife?" He asked, much more tensely then he had intended. Zizes gave a exasperated sigh.
"She is stable, and has been moved to the Fourth Floor." Zizes spoke calmly for someone tearing down another person's entire world. James Potter reeled visibly, caught himself on the wall and took several deep breaths.
"I'm so sorry Mr. Potter, we tried everything we could. She is not responding, the damage is too extensive."
"Will" His mind didn't seem to be working; it was difficult to string together a sentence. "Will she ever get better?" He asked quietly.
"There is a chance she might improve with time, but, Mr. Potter, It's a very slim chance."
We had fought. He thought, with such bitterness it burned his throat. Right before she left to help find Peter. They fought over who would stay with Harry and who would answer the call. Lily wanted to go, James argued. Lily left. The last words to his wife where spoken in anger.
Now she was worse than dead, tortured by the Cruciatus Curse to insanity, maybe never to recover. Peter was dead, Lily was insane, Sirius was consumed with guilt, and Remus-. James felt his blood boil.
Someone in there group had been giving information to the Dark Lord. Someone was a traitor. They had suspected Remus earlier; James didn't want to believe it. Peter had suggested that the not tell anyone that he would be Secret Keeper instead of Sirius. James had protested. They didn't tell Remus. Now Peter was dead, in defense of his friends. Sirius had been with James almost the entire time.
Remus was the traitor. James felt so overwhelmed he sank to the floor. After everything Remus would turn on them? A small, logical voice in the back of his mind protested.
Maybe it's not him. But He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's follower's had intimate details of their activity and whereabouts. Someone close was providing information. James took a deep breath. His wife was gone from him, and one of his best friends was dead. There would be time to mourn but for the moment he had something to do. There was a traitor in there mists.
He walked talk back to the waiting room, the Healer calling after him. He Found Sirius slumped in the seat, curled around Harry and glaring darkly at everyone else in the room. The man was instantly on his feet the moment he saw James.
"Lily?" He started, but the question died on his lips when he saw the look on James's face.
"Remus is the traitor." James growled. Sirius took a deep breath and nodded quickly.
"What are we going to do about it?"
"Kill him."
November 2 1981 Chapter 1 Part 4
Vernon Dursley was having a very odd day. He had seen owls swoop all over his neighborhood, funny people in cloaks had gathered around the streets all day, talking in loud whispers and seemed very excited about something. One had actually hugged him on his way to the bakery. He had a very horrible and heavy feeling in his gut that all this nonsense had something to do with his wives' sister's people. Those freaks.
He didn't mention his concern to his wife when he got home from work. She chatted happy and oblivious. Telling him all about Mrs. Next-Door- Neighbors problem with her daughter, and that their son Dudley, had learned a new word, "won't".
He nodded and half listened through dinner, and then got ready for bed. He laid there on the pillow, long after Petunia had fallen asleep. His mind racked with confusion and fear. The last though to enter his mind before he fell asleep was a comfort.
"Even it is Petunia's sister's lot, it wouldn't affect us." He thought. He was absolutely right.
If you can't already tell I don't have a beta:) Yeah its bad. Please tell me what you think! Please?