Untitled HP#1
Chapter One
"It is our choices, far more than our abilities that show us who we really are." JK Rowling
Remus Lupin sat in Death's waiting room, reeling in pain at the knowledge he had died. He had known that it was a good possibility, had even understood that he had escaped death during the first war with Voldemort. He had lived his life with the knowledge that this might happen sooner rather than later for him, but with meeting and falling in love with Dora, and fathering Teddy some part of him had thought that it wouldn't happen.
"Mr. Lupin, follow me." A tall woman with long blond hair and wearing a silver gown said as she checked his name off a list. Walking past others who had also lost their lives in the war, he never saw Fred Weasley, never saw Severus Snape and never noticed a handsome young man named Tom Riddle looking around fearfully before two large muscular angels grabbed him by his arms and led him off to his own interview.
Remus sat in the small office still in a sense of stunned disbelief at the offer he had received. A chance to go back, to make a difference. To save countless lives. As he once again read the file, read about how one simple choice made almost sixteen and a half years ago had ruined so many, many things, how once simple change would create a much different world, he was so angry with himself for his own choices, for the choices made at a such an immature age that had created the rift that had helped destroy his world.
Looking at the angel sitting across from him, he weakly asked "So you are saying is that making this one change, then allowing events to fall where they may will make all the difference in the world?"
"That is a simplified version, but yes." She answered. There are some events, some deaths that can't be prevents. There are certain events that have to begin the same but what happens afterwords, as you just read, that can be affected."
Remus fingered the edge of the file then stammering asked the question that scared him the most regarding his own future. "My wife and child..."
The woman gave him a warm smile and said "Nymphadora Tonks and you were fated to be together. Your son Teddy was meant to exist and his siblings as well. If you make these changes, you get to see his grandchildren graduate someday from Hogwarts, Mr. Lupin. Your wife and you live to a ripe old age with more children than Edward. Your friends live also change for the better."
Remus looked at the Angel of Death and said "Where do I sign up?"
"I will take care of that, but you do understand that this choice supersedes you receiving orders from anyone else. That your our answerable to us and no longer to Albus Dumbledore or anyone else with his Order of the Phoenix paramilitary organization." She cautioned.
Lupin gave the woman his usual lopsided smile and said "Even if my own life wasn't going to be better, I would owe it to James and Lily to fix things."
Tom Riddle was bewildered as to where he was as he was led into a small room and handcuffed to a table. He had attempted magic but had not even been able to succeed at a simple summoning charm. Hearing the sound of breathing and fearful at his loss of power, he spun around to see a beautiful yet terrifying woman standing in the doorway staring at him.
"Tom Riddle Junior, you have been judged and are to be sentenced for your crimes. Follow me." She ordered and didn't even bother to look at him before heading to the door on the other side of her office. Tom felt the mystical pull and soon found himself in a cold, large room with marble seats arranged in a straight area style order.
He was soon seated in a marble chair with his hands magically flattened onto the wide arm of the chair and his head stuck to the back of the headrest, unable to move as others entered and took their seats without a word to him.
"Tom Riddle you have been found guilty of crimes against humanity. You have been sentenced to purgatory until such a time as you repent for your crimes." The voice out of nowhere announced. The handsome boy looked around, trying to see who was speaking but all he felt was a ache in the back of his head.
When he tried to speak, tried to inform those in the room that he was a god among men, that they had no right to judge him, he saw the small woman standing in the center of the room and when she moved towards, him, he shuddered at how ugly and misshapen she was. "Get away from me. Who do you think you are? I am..."
"My son." The woman answered, her eyes filled with tears as she saw the revulsion on his face. Yes, you Tom Riddle are my son. My name is Merope Gaunt. I gave birth to you. I hoped that you would someday have the life I never got to live, instead you wasted your opportunities, you squandered any chance at a decent life and for what? Revenge on your father and on muggleborns for my crimes.
When he began to speak, he found himself unable to as Merope moved forward and said to him. "Oh, Tommy."
Wiping away her tears, Merope softly said "I know all that happened to you, I know what made you the way you are. I know that you felt like magic gave you power over those who rendered you powerless, but your choices, how you gained that power, was what led you to your doom. Your choices... this wasn't the life that fate had for you."
Merope touched her son's forehead and showed him the life he should have led with a dream. Watched his pain and horror grow exponentially the older he became in his dream. When he came out of his dream, his eyes met his mother's and he could only choke out the words "I am sorry."
"Terrible things happened in your childhood, Mr. Riddle, but others have had bad things happen and they didn't make the choices you did. There is nothing we can do to stop your punishment for your choices but in the end, you will find peace. The voice in the room announced and the next thing Tom Riddle knew, he was reliving his life, his choices as Lord Voldemort. His mother leaned over and whispered in his ears. You will have a chance to make another choice in the end. Please, remember son, I love you and if you make the right one, you will see me again.
Soon Death's waiting room was clear of the victims and perpetrators of the Battle of Hogwarts, The Angels of Death were gathered in a small antechamber with the Three Fates who had rather serene smiles on their faces as they realized that this time they had chosen the right champion of their cause.
Holding up glasses of ambrosia, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom nodded at Aphrodite, Goddess of Love then toasted the Angels of Death and the Fates. "To Long life for those who will guide this world into a more peaceful future, allowing us a chance to walk among the mortals again."
"To Remus Lupin, a warrior of the soul, mind and body." Ares said with a low chuckle as he joined his fellow immortals. I told you from the beginning, you need a warrior for this job. Athena, an academic like Minerva McGonagall, sees things her way, Aphrodite, you forgot that love has it's dark side, that jealousy like Severus Snape felt clouded his judgment.
Remus awoke in the small cottage he had been living in during the first war with Voldemort and his followers. Looking around, trying to recall why he had obeyed Albus Dumbledore in the first place all those years ago, he quickly showered and changed into fresh clothes.
Dressed, he apparated to a certain neighborhood, his heart pained by the knowledge that he had only been sent back AFTER the death of James and Lily. Looking around the muggle street, he saw that he had timed things perfectly as he noticed the basket on the stoop.
Looking around and then using his wand, he transferred the traces he found on it to the front door of the house so that they would rebound onto the young child already living there and then apparated away with the child.
Stopping at a nearby store, grateful he had often stopped to pick up the supplies that were ordered by his friends, he thought about what he had been told about where to hide and with a slight smile, quickly decided to use muggle transport to hide his destination from magic.
Three hours later, just as the sun was rising off in the east, he arrived at the wrought iron gates and looking down at the child asleep in his arms, winced before pricking his hand just enough to get blood flowing.
Wiping the blood on the gate and stepping inside when it opened, Remus called out for the Potter house elves and one quickly appeared. "This is your young master."
"Master Harry has returned as Lord Potter?" The house elf sadly announced before leading the way up to the large stone house that the family used as a vacation cottage. Once inside, Remus looked at the house elf who closed the door and warded it. When the house elf noticed his expression, he said unscrupulous wizards have attempted to breach
the wards.
Now with wide eyes, Remus asked "Have the elves warded all of the Potter properties?"
Yes sir, we have." Replied the elf. "We also removed all property belonging to Master Harry to the attics here as ordered by Master James in case of his or the Lady Lily's death."
Remus winced at realizing that he had missed that thought during his previous life. The Headmaster had stated that Harry would gain the entire estate when he became an adult wizard when questioned by Sirius but now looking back he realized that the Headmaster had doubted Harry would survive his last confrontation with Voldemort.
Hearing rustling of the blankets, Remus realized that Harry would be waking up soon so he asked the house elf his name.
"I am Mismatch."The house elf announced before adding with a put upon sigh, "Master Charlus was allowed to name all house elves after he turned eleven and he had a rather odd sense of humor."
"Just like his son." Remus replied reminiscing for a moment before recalling why he had asked. "Mismatch, would it be possible to find a room to place Harry into. He will be waking up soon and needing fed.
"Yes, one moment." With that Mismatch left with a snap of his fingers and returned mere seconds later with a female house elf who he introduced. "This is Betty Boop."
"Lord Charlus strikes again?" Remus asked as he looked at the second house elf.
"Yes. Master Charlus saw a muggles plays." She announced. "He was a wonderful master who arranged for all of the house elves to be educated in the language of wizards and the greater world but he also had a rather fanciful turn. I was Mr. James' nanny and was hoping to be Master Harry's."
Remus turned Harry over to the elf so that she could change his diaper and arrange for his morning meal before requesting she teach him how to help. With a slight bow, she agreed and then stated "We be repairing and returning the Potter nursery to it's original state and it is awaiting the young master. Lady Dorea's portrait is here in the library, Mr Remus and she is requesting you attend to her immediately."
Remus nodded and with a heavy heart went to speak to Prong's mother. Seeing the dark haired and gray eyes woman who was staring off into the fireplace that was part of her portrait, he said "I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Lady Potter."
"Remus..." She looked at the young werewolf and requested he be seated in the nearby Chippendale chair. "If my grandson is with you, where is my nephew?"
"I don't know." Remus said before adding "Madam. I have quite a tale to tell you and I am going to need your help and advice."
With that, Remus told her the entire story of his first go round and how things had been so messed up. When he finished, his voice trailed off and he was staring at the paisley swirl in the carpet, drained as he told her how the previous war had ended.
"They sent you back after the death of James and Lily?" She asked.
"Yes, they said that the events of last night had to happen." Remus said looking up at the woman who was now frowning as she absorbed his words.
Shaking her head, she stated "I will mourn my son and daughter later but for now, we must figure out how to protect my grandson and nephew."
"I was thinking we could have a house elf remove Sirius from Azkaban." Remus said.
"We can send food and comforts but unfortunately that is all that the wards will allow." She replied. "We must free Sirius legally."
"How?" Remus asked looking at the older woman. "No one would believe me about this even if I didn't mention the return in time. Not when I am a werewolf."
"Maybe not." She said with a serene smile on her face before saying "Were you aware that I was in Slytherin, my dear Remus?"
"I..." Remus found himself in shock as he thought about that statement. "Really? James was pure Gryffindor though."
"Oh course he was. The Potters are descendants of several magical lines including that of Godric Gryffindor and the Pervells."
TBC
