A/N: This is a fic based on events that happen in the books, so apologies for any confusion caused if events do not match up with films. That said, in the books Neville apparently ends up with Hannah Abbot. And that just won't do.

Hope you enjoy the story!

Summary: Thanks to something a bit…wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey, Alice Longbottom finds out that in the future she will never know her son, and he will never know her. She writes her brave boy a series of letters, so that he will know he is loved.

Chapter 1 – Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey.

Alice Longbottom enjoyed her life. She was in her seventh year of Hogwarts, she wanted to go into healing, she had a wonderful boyfriend called Frank, and a fantastic best friend called Lilly.

Oh Alice knew she had her faults – she was shy at times, and had an annoying habit of sneezing an inopportune moments. But she was who she was. Frank loved her, and that was what mattered. He made her feel….faultless.

On the Monday that it happened, Alice and Lilly had just had breakfast. The boys were off at an early morning quidditch practice, which had given the two girls the chance to enjoy some much needed 'girly time' before breakfast. Lilly loved breakfast, but Alice wasn't huge on it. She couldn't really eat until she'd been awake for a few hours. So, for this purpose, she tended to keep a secret stash of brightly wrapped sweets in her bag. Neatly smoothing out and collecting the sweet wrappers when she was done.

Sometimes, when Alice was in a really good mood, she's use a tiny pin to scratch messages into the sweet foil. Frank could count on receiving at least 3 sweet wrappers a week, with tiny love hears sketched into them.

After breakfast, Alice and Lilly had set off to charms. They were giggling secretly at something James had said to Lilly last night, when Alice thought she heard a whisper. Turning round fast, she looked behind her, but nobody was there. As she turned, her bag split open, spilling books, parchment, quills and sweets all over the floor.

Alice sighed, and bent down to pick up her supplies. Lilly stooped to help as well, but Alice held up her hand.

"There's no sense in both of us being late, Lills. You go ahead and let the professor know I'll be late."

Lilly nodded, and turning on her heel, walked away.

Harry tucked his wand into his pocket, and watched his mother walk away. He longed to go after her- hug her, talk to her, get to know her- but that was not what he was here for. That would change the time line too much.

Stepping out in front of the short, blonde girl, he held out his hand to help her up.

"Oh-James- thanks." Alice gushed, not knowing that he had been there. She stood up, looking curiously at whom she thought was her best friend's boyfriend, wondering why he was not wearing his school robes.

"My name is not James." Harry stated, simply.

Alice's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Then…who are you?" She asked, hesitantly. She was from a lighter time. A time when you asked questions first, and cursed later. Harry was jealous of her naivety.

"My name is Harry, and I need to talk to you." Harry stood with his arms folded, slightly taller than he was, an odd look in his eyes.

"Ok…" Alice said slowly. "I'm supposed to be in charms though."

"Trust me, this is more important." Harry said, somewhat impatiently. It was quite disconcerting – but in a way nice – to meet someone who didn't know him. Of course, no one would in this time.

He took the time to really look at Alice. She had Neville's face – but long, blonde hair, and kind eyes. She had dimples. His mother's best friend.

Harry tried not to connect the girl he saw in front of him now, to the woman he knew was lying in St. Mungo's, wasting away.

He lead Alice to the room of requirement. Today it was furnished with comfy sofas, and a fire, and a small table. Taking a seat on one of the squishy sofas, Harry leaned forward and waited for Alice to take a seat too.

"What is this place?" She asked, looking round in awe.

"It's called the room of requirement. Fittingly, it will provide you with what you require." Harry sighed, and ran his hands through his hair. This was going to be difficult.

"My name is Harry Potter." He stated simply, and watched her reaction.

"Oh, are you related to James?"

Harry smiled.

"Yes. I'm his son."

He knew that he was meddling in time, but he didn't care. He needed to make Alice understand how important this was.

She gasped.

"But…you're older than him!"

"Which brings me to my second point. I'm also not from this time." Alice eyed him sceptically, and started to laugh.

"OK James, whatever you say. I must say you have gone a long way to make this prank convincing."

"Alice, I'm not James." Harry said quietly. "And I wish I didn't have to come to this time, and visit you, but I believe it is important. For your son."

Alice stopped laughing suddenly, and looked at Harry strangely.

"Prove it." Was all she said, watching him expectantly. Harry groaned. He knew he would probably get asked this, and hadn't really been able to think of any way to prove himself, except one.

A tiny, tiny dose of veratisim that would last only minutes.

He showed it to Alice.

"I'll drink this, and then tell you again my name, and the year I was born. Will you believe me then?"

Alice nodded, not trusting herself to speak. This strange man, who looked so much like James, she didn't dare to believe that he was from the future. How was that even possible?

Gulping down the drops of potion, Harry looked straight at her and recited his name and date of birth. He told her again that he was from the future, then sat back, waiting for her to digest this information.

Alice had gasped, her hand over her mouth, looking white as a sheet.

"How….are you here?" She asked, in a choked voice.

"It's a bit….complicated. It's wibbly wobbly, timey wimey. But I won't be here long. Two hours at the most." Harry looked down at his feet. He'd so wanted to go and see his parents while he was here, but he knew there was not the time. And this was about doing something good for Neville.

"Why are you here?" She asked, her voice stronger now, leaning forward. "And why do you need to talk to me?"

"Like I said," Harry began, patiently. "It's about your son."

Alice shook her head in disbelief. One day, she was going to be a mummy. It had been her dream since she'd been little, to have a real baby of her own, to love.

"In my time," Harry said quietly, "Neville- your son- is a hero."

"Won't you telling me this mess up the time line or something?" Alice asked quietly, even though she was desperate to hear more.

"Somewhat, yes. I'm going to tell you what Neville has done for the world. What he has been through. I'm also going to tell you why he never knew you. And I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but I'm not going to give you enough information to change what happens. You won't be able to."

Alice let out a small sob, and looked at Harry angrily.

"Why not? Why are you even telling me if I can't change it?"

Harry dropped his head. He wished he could tell her exactly the night when she would be tortured, so that she could avoid it, but that would change the world.

"Alice." He said calmly. "In my time there is so much….darkness. I hope that by telling you, I can do something good, and give someone who is important to me, your son, a little more light in his life."

"He's not…..your boyfriend is he?" Alice asked tentatively. Harry had looked so sad when he spoke of her son, he clearly had great affection for him.

"No." Harry chuckled. The poor girl, she was so young. She did not understand what going through a battle could do to strengthen friendships.

"No, he's not. Just a good friend. Who deserves a little bit of goodness for himself."

"Ok." Alice let out a long breath. She'd have to apologise to Lilly for not going to charms later.

She sat back in her chair, and let the mysterious Harry Potter tell her about all the great things that her son had done. How brave he had been. How he'd been bullied, and raised by her aunt, who was lovely but strict. How Neville would visit her and Frank in hospital as often as he could. How Neville had had to live a life, knowing that his parents would never recognise him. Or hug him. Or tell him that they loved him.

Harry told her about Luna. And about how Neville was the best Herbology student he had ever met. And about how good he was at defence, and the brave things he had done whilst at school with the Carrows. In short, Harry told Alice everything he knew about Neville, and she sat there, mostly in silence, drinking it in.

Alice had cried, and screamed when Harry would not tell her why, or how it had come to be, that she and Frank did not recognise their child. But in the end, she realised that Harry would not tell her, and by asking she was only wasting time.

Tear tracks dried on her face, and Alice sat, hugging her knees. Harry did not speak, and silence echoed between the two.

"What can I do?" She asked Harry, who was still sat opposite her.

"Find a way to give him some light." Was all Harry said.

He rose, and walked across the room. On his way out, he rested his hand on her shoulder, and squeezed it gently.

Saying nothing, he left the room.

Alice would never see Harry Potter again. At times, she wondered if it had been a dream. But looking at James and Lilly, and how in love they were, she had no doubt that one day they would have a son.

Alice was determined. She could not change what was going to happen. But she was going to find a way to make her son feel loved, if it was the last thing she did.

A/N: Well, this is my first chapter. Let me know what you think! More chapters to follow, reviews please :) They make me happy!