Chapter 3

That first year was the hardest for all involved in what had gone on that Halloween night. It was a year of remembrance, but also a year of personal growth. Especially for the daughter of James and Lily.

Ellouise pulled herself up. At one she was already such a determined little girl (just like her real parents were) never giving up on the task she had on hand. Now on her feet she clung to the sofa. Then she spotted her goal. To huge open arms. The arms of the only man she knew to be her father. Even at this age he was her hero but unfortunately that meant her hero was a lie. Just one big lie.

She looked around and listened to what she could hear. She saw two boys. One her big brother and the other her best friend and Cousin Harry. They were both treated like princes and though they eat the same amount of food Harry was always thinner than Dudley who was over weight. He did little exercise unlike Harry who was always running about. Harry had a long thin lighten bolt on his forehead to. His aunt and uncle were informed that on the fatal night his real mother and father died he lost his memory which they were grateful for otherwise he would have know about there big secret. But right now that didn't matter not right now, anyway.

She saw her mummy not far away .Her long neck leaning towards her. Her face beaming at the little girl.

"Go on, darling. You can do it." She encouraged the little girl who was already the spitting image of her aunt lily. Her little head of hair a dark red. Her rosy checks. But her eyes were hazel. Although Vernon and Petunia didn't know this they were James's eyes. Her real daddy's eyes.

"Go on sis "Dudley cheered her on

"Go Elle" said Harry his voice full of hope for what she may do.

"Come here, Princess" Vernon encouraged her using his favourite name for her. His little princess. "Come to daddy"

She mustered all her strength. Let go of the couch and tried her best she didn't want to fail not this time shed all read failed to many attempts at walking. She couldn't believe it. She took one step. It was the best feeling in the entire world. Thee boys were cheering madly. 2. It was getting harder to control more shaky. 3 and she fell but didn't hit the floor. Her daddy caught her in his arms and swung her round making the girl giggle in her little lungs.

"How bought that honey you did it, you really did it." Vernon smiled. A part of him loved this life. Raising his niece as his daughter. As far as he could see she was blessed. Lucky. To get out the life of sin which she would have been forced to live. She made him whole. Never, unlike his wife's, did his mind stray to his Vanessa except once a year on the anniversary of death. But no, little Elle was now his. And with her biological parents now dead who could deny him of her. The answer. No one. She had the name Dursley. She was a Dursley as far as he was concerned.

Then came something he wasn't expecting. Elle was huddled against his chest and finally her first word came out clearly.

"Dada" she said, knowing no better.

"What? Honey, what did you say princess?" Vernon said smiling. He knew exactly what she had said.

"Dada "she repeated adding in the cheekiest grin she could muster.

It was all too much for petunia. She ran out the room. Vernon no longer cared or loved her precious Nessa. The death Petunia had never got over herself, it hurt her every day in every way. And Elle and Harry always their .reminding her of lily. The cow she hated. Why was her daughter granted life but not petunias. Vernon treated the three the same but petunia just couldn't bring her too. It was so unfair. She still visited her girl's grave every week mostly alone. She would normally turn to her own father, Marcus Evans with something like this but he would be disappointed in her for lying. Not to mention furious. For lying about lily's girl. Lily's death had killed their mother and two deaths at once were something petunias father never got over .She was alone. Totally alone.

4 years later

Tears burned in the proud parent eyes as little Elle run in to school for the first time. She joined hands with Lauren Polkiss, her best friend, and then three boys who weren't quite as happy to go in to school dragged their feet along the ground. Piers, Harry and Dudley had had a great summer holiday and didn't want it to end unlike the two excited girls.

"Have a good day boys" petunia called. The boys didn't return the kind gesture she had seen through their sicky routine straight away this mourning. She had wanted to give Dudley the day off but Harry was obviously faking. Vernon had thought the same except the other way. The older they grew the more petunia hated her husband. No matter what they did her sister kids could do no wrong in his eyes unlike poor Dudley who was always being shouted at by his father. She thought of a few days ago. A conversation the couple had had.

-Flashback-

"Dudders is doing well isn't he Vernon. Our son is a very quick learner" Petunia commented

"Is he, in what?" she hated him sometimes. He sounded so bored.

"Just generally"

"O rite well that's good" he said trying to return to his news paper

"She would have been dead 5 years tomorrow Vernon" said petunia in a far away tone.

"Who?"

"Vanessa" She said sadly.

"O"

Was that all he ever had to say. It was unfair. Her and her son deserved better.

-End flash back-

They wiped away their tears and walked away they knew their kids needed to be independent.

REMUS POV

He couldn't believe it as he clung to the gates for strength. Last night, the full moon, Was so hard but now that didn't matter because for the first time in 5 years he had seen them. He had seen the kids that lived whom by now were the spiting image of there parents. Remus could almost believe it was James and lily when they seven and five. But they had seemed to swap eyes.

"Bye daddy!" Elle called back to her uncle.

"WHAT!" Thought Remus. Why was she calling the Dursley man daddy? James was her father not him. What had they told her?

His heart was breaking. He was so tired. But still the only thought in his mind was that he should have been with her not Dursley. By her side all the times she tripped or fell. He should have been there when she was sick. He was her god father. She was his responsibility. A single tear feel from his eyes. He hated Sirius. This was entirely his fault.

"I should never have let him say by to Harry, that would have taught him a lesson." Sirius had betrayed the lot of them. One thing had always puzzled Remus though. Why hadn't Sirius tried to kill him too? He seemed to want to kill the marauders. James, lily then poor defenseless peter. He was alone with the murdering marauder and Sirius never so much of reached for his wand, it was so confusing. He wished he was dead. He had no one and nothing in his life anymore all he had was a few stolen glances of Elle and Harry. The children should be with him now.

Disclaimer: I don't own harry potter

A/N : I don't know how I feel about this chapter. There's some fluff . I'm not sure about how you guys all feel about Vernon and Harry getting on but I like it in a weird way! Next chapter harry and Elle start to acknowledge their world again.