Disclaimer: I re-iterate - I am not JKR

To Change the Past

Chapter Three

The First Major Difference

23rd December, 1926

James held fast under his invisibility cloak outside of Borgin and Burke's on the cold, blustery morning. The past week had been very good for the orphanage, with all but a few of the orphans, both squib and magical, now residing there. Frank was truly a godsend, running things smoothly as was his due. James merely did a little here and there, acting as the big brother/parent to the orphans.

Today, however, he was on a much more important mission. One that would be worth the uncomfortable weight, at least in his opinion. Today, he was going to change history, and for the better. Today, he would intercept Merope Gaunt.

He knew, from his 6th year lessons, that she stumble into the shop a few days prior to Christmas. She was then swindled by the owner, selling her one heirloom for a mere 10 galleons. If James had anything to say about it, he wasn't going to let that happen.

When he and Nev had originally planned the whole thing, they knew that there were many times in which they could travel to in order to make a difference. They could go to Tommy's first few school years. Maybe that would stop the Chamber from opening, but not much else.

They could have gone to just before school, when he would have been 7 or 8, but by then he already had control as well as a mean streak within him.

No, in the greater scheme of things, it would be best to go back to before his birth, and raise him in a proper childhood, not the one Harry had been forced to live through after the War. And by preventing Merope from selling the Slytherin Locket, Tom wouldn't feel compelled to liberate it later on, hopefully preventing another murder.

James was drawn from his musings by the sight of a heavily pregnant, staggering figure making her way down the street. Even if this hadn't been a part of the plan, he still would've helped her, for it was within James' nature to do so.

"Excuse me, but are you quite alright." James reappeared from under the cloak.

Merope's eyes went wide with fear, as she espied the finely garbed figure of James. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out of it.

James pushed forward "I couldn't help but notice your predicament. I assume, by your prescence here, that you are from a magical family, or at least are a squib/Muggleborn?"

"Yes... What do you want with me?" She was starting to get a bit frightened, but also holding a glimmer of hope for what this kindly-looking man may do.

"Well, my dear, my brother and I have recently started an organisation, The Phoenix Foundation, where we help struggling families and orphans. From your state, I would assume you need such help, and would like to offer it to you. We have the best Healers and medical facilities, and it is all free of charge. What do you say?"

Had the situation not been so serious, James would've laughed at the expression on Merope's face. But as it was, this conversation was the pinnacle of mankind's future well-being, and hence not a laughable situation.

"Yes! Yes! Please! My husband has died, and I have nothing left! Please help me!"

"Not to worry my dear. Please, if you could please place your hand on this piece of wood? Portus. Hold on: three, two, one..."

The two disappeared from the Borgin and Burke's entrance.

Merope and James reappeared comfortably in the warm environment of what Frank had dubbed 'The Maternity Ward'. Thanks to Voldemort's knowledge in the past/future, James had learned how to create 'safe' portkeys, or rather portkeys that didn't involve all the spinning and avoided the nauseating experience. Good for pregnant women, or people like James who just couldn't stay upright, much to Frank's amusement during the war.

"Frank, can you give me a hand here? I got a pregnant woman in dire need of some good food, due to the next week or so!" James shouted through the door.

Not only Frank, but the Foundation's best Healer walked through the door. On sight of Merope's deistended belly, the Healer clucked (much in the same way as Madame Pomfrey during harry's many hospital visits) and raised her wand, lifting the girl up and placing her in the center of the warm, cosy bed.

"Mr Evans, please call Marie through, and ask for some new clothes and hot food. Dearie me,this poor girl needs it!"

"Right away Alice," Frank replied. "But didn't I tell you to call me Frank?" James chuckled at the glare Healer Alice sent at his 'brother'. Even in the most lighthearted of situations, the irate Healer had proven to have a scowl worthy of Snape when she had a patient. Something that caused no end of amusement for James.

Beside him on the bed, Merope couldn't believe her luck. "Please kind sir, take this as a token of my appreciation it is SS Slytherin's Locket SS. Oh no!" She stopped immediately, afraid at what would happen now.

But James just chuckled once more. SS Not to worry, both my brother and I are speakers of the language. Everyone here respects the snake speakerss SS

Her look of fright was replaced by one of relief. SS Thank you. Please take the Locket, you are truly heirs. SS.

James refused. Returning to english, he replied "My brother and I acquired the gift through an African ancestor,so I'm afraid I can't accept it on my own conscience. Keep it, or if you want I can give it to your child later on. And I must insist that you do everything Alice asks you to,or otherwise I fear your child will grow up without a parent."

At Merope's confused expression,he continued. "Once the child is born, I would also like to offer you a place here at the foundation. Are there any skills you posses? It is not really a requirement, and you wouldn't have to work until the baby would be a coupl of months old as well. Can you cook? Clean? Look after children? Brew potions?" Her face lit up at the last one. "Ah, so we have a potion brewer in our midst. Just so I make sure you understand, you are not obliged to work at all, but many find it rather boring with nothing to do. And if you want, we have many texts here that deal with the niceties of the art, which you can learn from if you so wish. Is that alright?"

She looked like she had died and gone to Heaven. "Thank you, thank you, I could never repay you!"

Her enthusiasm was heartening. "That's all well and good, but first you should get better and have your child. Rest well my dear, and I'll see you later on." Using Dumbledore's famed 'eye-twinkle', James beamed at the pregnant girl and left the room. Frank would certainly want to be hearing about this.

A/N 1: Just in case someone hadn't noticed, Frank/James refers to them in the past, and Neville/Harry refers to them in the future.

A/N 2: The bit about where they go back to when Tom is 7 is from 'Altered Destinies' (DobbyElfLord), the major inspiration for this story.

Thanks to all my reviewers:

SlytherinsGryffindor, Xenia Marvolo, - thanks!

dnangel1986 - no was, this will NOT be hpxtr

superluna - Merci! and i dont think your english is that bad ;-) Tu habites en France? Moi, j'habite a melbourne (en Australie)!

Ratty (Hedwigthephoenix)

Also, can someone please let me know if these A/Ns actually appear? Cheers Ratty