Chapter 3

The three ended the day with a stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and while Neville and Harry shared a triple fudge ripple Alice ate her chocolate sundae that was covered in chopped nuts and had a cherry on top.
She observed the boys silently for a few minutes and watched as they attacked their shared sundae with energy and enthusiastic. It was a pleasure to watch Harry acting like a normal little boy although she had had to admit that Harry was better behaved then most children his age. Even Neville had his moments of driving her crazy but then all children did that to their parents occasionally, so she didn't hold it against him after all both boys were only two.
After the sundaes were gone Alice took both boys hands and headed towards the entrance to Diagon Alley so they could use the Floo in the Leaky Cauldron to return home.
As soon as they stepped out of the Floo Alice put both boys down for a nap and it was because of their tiredness that neither boy protested, just went right to sleep.
Alice tucked them in then kissed them both on the foreheads before heading downstairs again.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

Harry and Neville age 3

"Frank," said Alice. "I think we need to get Harry glasses. I've noticed him squinting more than once as he and Neville go over their letters."
Frank nodded for he had observed the same thing. "I've noticed that to," Frank admitted. "Apparently his eyesight is good enough so he isn't bumping into walls and besides, James wore glasses so it would stand to reason that Harry would inherit James's lousy eyesight since he looks so much like him. Why don't you take him to the optometrist tomorrow?"
"Okay," Alice agreed kissing her husband's cheek.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

"Come along Harry, Neville," said Alice taking both boys hands as she headed towards the optometrist's shop that was located. "Now when we enter this shop you boys are not to touch anything is that understood? If you break something, I'll have to pay for it."
The boys nodded and Alice entered a small shop simply labeled optometrist
The three entered the shop and they were immediately greeted. "Good morning what can I do for you today?"
"My nephew needs glasses," said Alice as she gently pushed Harry forward. "He's been squinting while doing his letters."
"Does anybody in his family wear glasses?"
"His father did, but he's dead now."
"I see," said the optometrist softly using a device to examine Harry eyes. "Yes, he does need glasses. I can have a pair ready in an hour if you'll just pick out the frames."
Alice looked around the shop for a few minutes until she came across a pair of simple black frames that were very similar to the ones James had worn except smaller of course.
"Nice choice," said the optometrist. "I'll even put an unbreakable charm as well as a charm to where they'll get bigger as he grows and that way you won't need to get a new pair unless his eyesight changes."
"Thank you very much. We'll be back in an hour then. Come on boys what about a visit to Fortescue's?"
"Yeah!" both boys cheered then chanted, "Ice cream! Ice cream!"
The optometrist watched them go in bemusement before he got back to work.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

Harry and Neville age 7

Harry and Neville both woke up early the day of June 30 for it was Neville's birthday and Alice and Frank were going to throw a big party not only for their son but for their nephew too since Harry's birthday was the very next day. There was no point of having two parties when the boys' birthdays were only a little over twelve hours apart. Neither boy really minded for it was almost like they were brothers by blood they were so close. They liked a lot of the same activities and the only way they differed was that Neville had a real gift with plants that Harry lacked, but Harry on the other hand was better on a broom then a lot of professional players while Neville was adequate at best.
Both boys rushed downstairs from their separate rooms after getting dressed and hurried into breakfast
"Morning Neville, Morning Harry, happy birthday to you both," said Frank, Alice and Augusta who had arrived just in time for breakfast.
"Morning mum, dad, Gran," said Neville sitting down at his place at the breakfast table.
"Morning Aunt Alice, Uncle Frank, Gran," said Harry. Augusta Longbottom had insisted that Harry call her Gran just like Neville did and Harry had been only too happy to agree for all three adult Longbottoms treated him no differently than they treated their own son making Harry truly feel that he was a member of their family.
"You two looking forward to your party this afternoon?" asked Frank with a grin.
"Yes," both boys said enthusiastically.
The adults chuckled at the boys' enthusiasm and all five started to eat breakfast.
After breakfast was over both boys asked if they could leave the table and when they were given permission both boys rushed off and disappeared upstairs.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

"You've both done an excellent job of raising them," Augusta complimented them.
"You had a lot to do with it," said Frank. "I mean who stayed with them on those nights we both had to work late or were gone overnight?"
"They're both sweet boys; I was glad to do it," said Augusta. "And besides they're family. Harry is as much family as Neville, and it doesn't matter a wit that Harry wasn't born a Longbottom."
"And in a few years, they'll both be off to Hogwarts," said Frank. "The house sure will be empty with them gone."
"That's not for another four years though," said Alice.
"We'll we can always go and visit them and I'm sure we'll be getting owls from the staff when the boys get into trouble," said Augusta. "After all Harry is a lot like his father and not just in looks and he'll more than likely drag Neville into whatever trouble he gets into."
"We won't even have to pay for his education not that we wouldn't if we had to, but Lily as well as Albus told me that the Potters left a vault at Gringotts in Harry's name—a kind of trust fund if you will. It was meant to be used by anyone who raised him, but we've never seen a need to take what is rightfully Harry's, so it has just sat in the vault gathering interest. As for the Potter estate he won't be able to get into that vault until he comes at age at 17. Albus gave us the key for the Harry's vault a few years ago."
Augusta nodded. "That makes sense. I didn't know the Potters well, but I knew them well enough to know that they would have left their children provided for if anything were to happen to them.
"Lily told me once that it was better to be safe than sorry, especially with the times being so dangerous," said Alice soberly remembering. "She told me that the same day she told me about the trust fund. It was the last conversation we ever had for the Potters were killed not long after that."
"James told me the same thing when we had lunch together one day right before they were murdered. He also made me promise to do everything in my power to get Harry and raise him if anything happened to Sirius. I think James understood that Sirius was impulsive and often did things he regretted later." Frank paused as if deep in thought for a moment. "Come to think of it James was unusually serious and sober the day we had that conversation. It was almost as if he somehow knew he and Lily didn't have much time left."
Both Alice and Augusta contemplated Frank's words. Alice especially knew that James was hardly ever serious if he could help it and that he had been was disturbing.
"You don't believe Sirius Black betrayed the Potters, do you?" asked Augusta suddenly after they had all been silent for sever minutes
"Mum, I'll be honest. At the time of the Potters murder, I was as shocked as a few other people when Sirius was accused of Lily's and James's murder. It's true that Sirius could often be impulsive and that he loved to play pranks, especially on the Slytherins, but then so did James. However, once the initial shock had worn off and I had thought about all of Sirius actions over the last few years before our friends were murdered something always struck me as fishy. Not about Sirius actions but about Peter's. Alice and I both believe—although we've never been able to prove it—that it wasn't Sirius that betrayed the Potters, but Peter Pettigrew. Peter was more than a tagalong, with the other three Marauders than anything else and also very weak willed. We've always believed that it Sirius who was to be Secret-Keeper for James and Lily, but what if he managed to convince James to switch to Peter? We just don't know, not for sure anyway. All we have is our instincts and suspicions. You have to understand the relationship between the three main Marauders and know how close, they were. James, Sirius and Remus were like brothers while Peter was kind of just there and slightly outside the tightknit group. Also, the close relationship between James and Sirius was fairly well-known and if I were Sirius that would be the main argument I would more than likely use to convince the Potters to switch Secret-Keepers."
"This is just our theory we have very little proof, even though we've been working on finding evidence to Sirius innocence ever since he was sentenced without a trial."
"So, they might have thrown an innocent man into Azkaban," said Augusta with a snort. "That doesn't surprise me a bit Fudge always was a power-hungry idiot and Crouch isn't any better."
"If we ever do find evidence to get him released, I'm wondering if he'll be entirely sane. I mean Azkaban is guarded by Dementors and we all know what effects they have on people."
"We'll just have to see and there's no point in discussing it until or unless we can find evidence to prove his innocence. Until that time let's not worry about and especially not today on the boys' birthdays."
The other two nodded and talk turned to the boys' birthday party later in the afternoon.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

At 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon all the birthday guests began arriving. First to come through the Floo was Fred Weasley then his twin brother George, then Ron and Ginny and finally Mrs. Weasley. Frank and Alice knew Arthur and Molly Weasley through the Order of the Phoenix and so it was only natural that the Weasley brood became friends to Neville and Harry. Fred and George were a couple of years older and pranksters to boot but they were still good friends. As for Ron he was the youngest boy and Neville's and Harry's age and all three were best friends and often played together. Ron had been shocked to meet the famous Harry Potter for the first time but after the initial shock had worn off and he discovered that Harry was just a normal bloke. They had been the best of friends ever since. As for Ginny she had been a bit shy around Harry for a while but had eventually opened up and become a good friend as well.
Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall had also been invited along with Neville's great Uncle and Aunt Algie and Enid Longbottom. Neither Neville's uncle nor aunt had ever been married. Alice and Frank had also invited Remus Lupin the last remaining Marauder that wasn't either dead or in prison.
"Uncle Moony," Harry shouted in glee as soon as he saw that tall man with light brown hair going gray. Harry ran forward and hugged him around the waist as if there was no tomorrow. Remus smiled as he hugged Harry back his face seeming to lose at least ten years.
"I'm happy to see you too Harry. Now who is it that turns eight as of tomorrow? Hmm I wonder who that could be?" asked Remus teasingly
"Uncle Moony," Harry pouted.
Remus grinned now and hugged Harry again. "You remind me so much of James when you do that," said Remus. Remus had been a constant part of Harry's and Neville's lives ever since Harry had come to live with the Longbottoms. Frank and Alice who were very aware that it was important for Harry to know people who had known his parents and who could tell him stories about them had invited Remus over one day after Harry had been living with them a few months and had become more secure in the knowledge that he was loved and cared for. Harry had vaguely recognized Remus right off the bat, even though it had been almost a year since he had seen him last. When introduced as Remus Lupin, Harry had immediately shouted "Unca Mooy?" to the astonishment of all the adults present. Ever since that first meeting Remus had visited often and would tell Harry and Neville stories about the Marauders and his school days.
Pretty soon all the guests had arrived and both boys had a blast playing the games that had been set up for them and then eating cake and opening presents.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

Hours later, after the last piece of cake was eaten and most of the guests had left Remus paused for a moment and said, "Frank, Alice I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of Harry. James was like my brother and Harry is like an honorary nephew and also thank you for allowing me to be part of his life again it means a lot to me, and it would to James and Lily too."
"James and Lily meant a lot to us to, Remus," said Alice giving her old friend a hug. "You will always be welcome here."
"I know," said Remus with a sad smile. "Thanks." Finally, Remus disappeared through the Floo.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

A couple of months' later Alice wasn't feeling well and Frank insisted she go see a healer at St. Mungo's just to make sure it was nothing serious. When Alice arrived home, she was practically floating on air. "So, what did the healer say?" asked Frank anxiously When Alice Apparated into their bedroom. "It isn't anything serious, is it?"
"Nothing that won't be solved in about seven months," said Alice mysteriously.
"Seven months?" Frank asked in bewilderment. Finally, his face lit up as he worked out what Alice was trying to tell him. "Are you telling me you're pregnant?"
"Yes," said Alice with a grin that made her whole face glow.
"This is fantastic," said Frank picking Alice up and swinging her around in sheer happiness. "We've both been wanting another child."
"Several more," Alice corrected with a smile. "We'll have to be careful how we tell the boys though, especially, Harry. We must make sure he knows that this changes nothing and that he is still a part of our family. He is still a little insecure about his place in our lives."
"And with good reason," said Frank. "First, his parents are killed before he even really has a chance to know them, then he is placed with Lily's Muggle relatives who hate anything to do with magic which means they hated Harry on sight. They then mistreat him from the first day he is in their care. He has a right to be a little insecure, but don't worry we'll make sure he understands that he is still loved."

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

A few days later, Frank and Alice sat the boys down on the couch between the two of them. "Boys we have something to tell you," Alice began. "In about seven months you two are going to have little brother or sister to play with."
Neville looked excited at this news and hugged his mother and then his father. "This is great. I'm so happy for you."
"Yeah, congratulations," said Harry not very enthusiastically. In fact, he looked downright dejected. Another child he figured meant that he would probably be thrown out onto the street. Who needed him around—someone who wasn't even related to them by blood—when they were about to have another mouth to feed?
"Harry," said Alice softly. "We love you just as much as we love Neville and just as much as this child growing in my belly."
"We couldn't love you anymore if you were our own flesh and blood," Frank added, giving Harry a one-armed hug.
"We loved you from the moment you were born, and we both were there the whole time your mother was in labor."
"We were two of the first to hold you—well, after your father, Sirius and Remus of course," said Frank. "You and Neville were friends from the first and no matter how many children we have you will always have a special place in our hearts and in our family."
Harry nodded seeming relieved that he wasn't going to be thrown out of the only family he had ever known. "I love you," said Harry throwing his arms around Frank.
"We love you too," Frank assured hugging Harry back and kissing the top of the messy black hair.
The whole family just sat there for a few minutes glad that their family was whole and that they were together.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~

Six and a half months later Alice went into labor and Augusta who was staying at her son's home to look after Alice in the last month of pregnancy while her son went to work rushed Alice as well as Neville and Harry through the Floo to St. Mungo's. With times being what they were there was no way Augusta was going to leave the two boys with the house-elves. After all there were plenty of Death Eaters still out there and why take chances of leaving the boys' home alone when the house could be attacked while all the adults were gone?
Once they were all safely at the hospital and Alice was in a room with the boys Augusta left just long enough to try to contact her son through the Floo after ordering the boys to stay put.
Frank arrived soon after Augusta had Floo called him and just three hours later little Ewan Algie Longbottom was born and both his parents cooed over him in wonder.
After Little Ewan was fed for the first time Neville and Harry along with Augusta were allowed into the room to admire their new baby brother. "Neville, Harry, mum meet Ewan Algie Longbottom."
"Oh, isn't he just adorable," Augusta cooed taking her grandson out of Frank's arms. "Look boys you have a new little brother. Harry and Neville came closer to where Augusta was standing holding Ewan in her arms so that they could see better, "Look he has blond hair like Uncle Frank," said Harry.
"And brown eyes like mum," Neville added in wonder as little Ewan opened his eyes and yawned waving his little fists in the air.
"He's so tiny," Harry said in wonder.
"He's not that small, he weighs over eight pounds," said Alice. "That's a pretty good-sized baby especially considering he's at least a couple of weeks premature."
"Come along boys let's leave Frank and Alice alone. Alice after all needs her sleep after bringing your little brother into the world."
"Why don't you head back home?" Frank suggested. "Alice is more than likely going to have to stay here overnight, but I'll be home in time to tuck you boys in for the night."
"Come along boys," said Augusta her vulture hat nearly scraping top of the doorway as she exited the room the two boys following trying not to giggle at their Gran's back.

~~~An Alternate Future~~~