Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom looked with pride at their fifteen-month-old son. The boy gurgled happily.
"What if he comes for us?"
Mr. Longbottom frowned. "We'll be ready."
"But..."
A crash echoed from downstairs.
"He's here."
"Take Neville. I'll hold him off."
"But -"
"Go!"
Many miles away, the Potter family sat in their living room.
"It's us or the Longbottoms, you know."
James nodded. "Yes, I do. I'd hate for it to be them, but..."
Harry reached for his father's glasses.
"No, Harry. Your daddy can't see without -"
"It's fine, Lily." James removed them and handed them to the boy.
"James, really..."
"Hush, little Neville, it'll be alright... Daddy will come back from his fight..."
The mother sang to the tune of 'Hush Little Baby', trying to comfort her son. Neville whimpered.
"Shh..."
CRASH!
The infant let out a wail. Footsteps came up the stairs - slow, menacing footsteps.
A tiny hand reached for the doorway. "Dada..."
"Shh... shh..."
The door creaked slowly open. A figure stepped in.
"Give me the boy."
"James," whispered Lily, after putting their son to bed, "something doesn't feel right."
"I know. I feel it too."
"You don't think... the Longbottoms...?"
"I'll go check on them."
"James..."
He looked at his wife. She sighed.
"Be careful."
"No!"
"There's no need for you to die.... Just give me the boy...."
"No!"
"Stand aside!"
"NO!"
"Then you leave me no choice.... Avada Kedavra!"
Neville cried as his mother's body dropped to the floor.
James Potter sprinted the last mile to his destination. He hadn't dared to Apparate directly there.
He skidded to a stop as he saw a flash a green light envelop the entire house.
"No..."
He hesitantly opened the door.
"Hello?"
A cry came down the stairs.
James bounded up them like a stag, pausing only once, to see if the man lying on the stairs was really dead. He was.
A door lay on the floor, the hinges broken. A whimper came from the room.
Mrs. Longbottom lay on the floor, her body still warm.
The boy in the crib reached for his mother. James picked him up.
As he walked away from the building, it collapsed.
"James..."
"I'm fine, Lily."
"Wait.... Neville...."
"He picked them, Lily. I was too late."
"Where is he?"
"No idea. Neville here was the only living thing in the house. He's gone."
"And the scar?"
"From the curse, probably."
Lily looked at the boy. "We'll care for him, won't we, James?"
"Yeah. We will."
"Neville! Wake up! It's time for breakfast!"
"I'm coming, Harry. I'm coming."
They raced into the dining room.
"Boys! Boys! No running in the house!"
"Yes ma'am," said Neville, as Harry said, "Sorry, mum."
Lily Potter nodded. "Neville, you go get the mail. Harry, set the table."
"Yes, ma'am."
Harry had just finished when Neville came rushing in with two letters in hand.
"Harry! Look our Hogwarts letters! Even mine came in! Look!"
Lily smiled. "Congratulations."
Neville smiled, but said nothing.
If only...
