Chapter 19

"Miss, miss?" Elle heard as a man shook her awake "we've arrived in London."

"Oh, thank you," she said. Her feet wear cold for some strange reason. This was when she missed lucky. She was the best foot warmer.

She got off the train throwing her small bag holding her tooth brush and Fred's teddy over her shoulder and walked to queue up to run through the barrier to get back to the muggle world. There were a lot of adult witches and wizards about as well as her. She guessed the train.

Soon it was her turn and she ran through. The first thing she saw was Vernon Dursley. He was still in the same green coat he had had for years. Suit trousers and a jumper and shirt. It was then she noticed how ordinary her life had been. St Hogwarts she got a new surprise every day. Muggle life was it had to be said boring. But the man had just lost his dad. As much as she didn't want to be here now she was she had to act normally.

"Hi daddy," she said and let him embrace her hard. But the trust was gone for her. This wasn't the same daddy she left 3 months ago. This was just some one else.

"Ellouise darling I have missed you, are you ok?" he asked concerned. She hadn't had her family to console her through the bad patch. She'd just had the weird people. The thought his secret may have been found out had not crossed his mind.

"I've missed you too." This wasn't a lie. Elle had missed her family. "I'm fine," that was a lie though. "How is everyone, I mean mum, Dudley, Aunt Marge, granny."

"There all ok Elle, your gran is upset but that's to be expected." He said as they began to make there way to the car.

"Yeah I guess so." She suddenly felt guilty. "I'm so sorry dad. I should have come home for Christmas or at least as soon as I got the letter."

"Then why didn't you?" he asked. That question had really played on his mind.

"Peer pressure I guess. I mean no one asked me to stay but dad every one was staying on. Emily, Harry, Fred, George, Hermione, Ron, Ginny. I wanted to be with them." She told him honestly. "They're my group of friends now and I didn't want to feel left out when I got back to school."

"So the fact you told Dudley you were coming home for months and then didn't bother didn't matter to you," He asked in a very head masterly way.

"No it was never like that! I just ……….I don't know ok," she said. "I just wanted to be there."

They drove in silence for a little while but Vernon couldn't take it. He knew she would be going back to school in little more than 24 hours.

"How is school going any way?" he asked. He might as well find out what his child was learning.

"Yeah really well. Harry's being a really good stand in brother for Dudley and Emily she's my best friend. I'm top in most of my classes." She smiled. "Professor Lupin ids so cool dad. But I'm not too keen on Snape he's a bit of an old dragon. McGonagall is ok I guess. She's head of my house, Gryffindor. Binn's he's class is so boring I hate it but I use it to catch up on my sleep." She joked.

"It's good to see you still have the same sense of humour princess."

She considered for a moment telling him about all the stuff that had happened at the game and on the train for the first time but she didn't want to in the end. He might not let her go back. And besides she didn't trust him that much. Not any more.

With in what seemed too little time they were back pulling up on the drive. She started to feel sick with nerves. What about her parting with her mum? Surely Petunia hated her. She walked up to the door after getting out the car and waited foe her dad to open the door to the house. As she went in she saw that not even the coats had really moved. Still petunia's hang on the same peg and her dad placed his on his usual one. Dudley's was hanging over the banister lazily just as it always had been. But her grandmother's was there too. At least some change she guessed.

"Hi ripper," she said as she saw her aunts favourite dog walk out the living room. Oh., great Marge was here to. Just what she needed.

As she walked in to the living room she saw her mums face first then Marge's then her gran's who she rushed to hug.

"Oh Ellouise my darling I'm so glad to see your face, what took you so long."

"I'm sorry gran I came as quick as I could." She said holding her gran tight. But then a thought crossed her mind. What if they all knew? What if they were all in on together? She let go a bit. Her gran looked frail though. She was pale and had lost weight. Her hairs were going white too.

"Hi Auntie Marge," she said giving the vile women a kiss.

"I'm ok," she said. "How are you doing at this posh drama school of yours?" she looked over at her mum for a explanation and she got the "just go along with it, I'll explain later" look.

"Really great," she lied.

"Made lots of new friends?"

"Of course she has," said Elle's gran. "You're talking about our Ellouise."

"Why don't I make us all a nice cup of tea," suggested Petunia.

"I'll help you mum" said Elle eager to get away from her aunt.

She followed her mum in to the kitchen and they got the tea ready in silence pretty much until they were about to go but Elle needed to get the air cleared.

"Mum?" she said timidly.

"Yes darling," said petunia. She knew her niece needed to talk with her.

"I am really sorry for what happened when I left the train station," she told her.

"It wasn't all you're fault love," Petunia admitted. "I and your father should have let go soon. We should have respected your decision to go to Hogwarts. Do you like it there?"

"I guess so," she said playing down her love of the place. "The people are kind and I like seeing Harry everyday again."

"Well as long as you're happy. Take this tea to your gran would you?"

"Sure"

"Good girl." Petunia said watching the girl leave the kitchen

They all sat comfortable drinking tea. Ellouise just looked around taking in her surroundings. She felt tired from her journey despite the fact she slept most of it.

"Where's Dud?" she asked after her brother. She missed him most of all.

"At the park, we said we would send you over when you were ready to go but you don't have to if you don't want too," her dad told her

"No I do want to," she said. "And beside if I don't see them tonight I wont see Lauren and piers at all will I?" she said.

"Okay go on darling," said her mum. "But wrap up warm and make sure you and your brother are back in time for tea at 7 o'clock please."

"Will do," said Ellouise putting on her scarf and coat and running out the door. She ran round to the park. She knew the way so well. She knew every crack in the pavement. She knew every street lamp.

When she got to the park she saw her brother immediately. He'd seemed to of lost a lot of weight. He was watching Lauren and Piers play football. He looked utterly depressed. He had been very close to there granddad and thought the world of him. He had been the one Dudley would run to after Vernon got cross at him if Elle wasn't about.

After all the months of longing to see her Dudley didn't know how he felt seeing Ellouise. In one sense he wanted to hug her forever. On the other he could hit her. She should have come home sooner and it shouldn't have taken a death of a family member to get her home.

He didn't move from the bench but she knew he knew she was there so she went over to the bench on which he was sitting and sat with him.

"I missed you some thing rotten," she told him. "It's horrid not having an over protective big brother around."

"Yeah well I missed you too. I had no one to annoy," he admitted. "If you missed me that much you should of come back. What happened at Christmas Elle? You promised me."

"I guess I wanted to be with my friends and Harry. I'm sorry for it now though. I no I did something wrong. I should have been here with you all."

"What about your friends here? What about the people who raised you?" he asked.

"A lot happened to me lately and the Hogwarts gang were there through it all. I could talk to them more easily about everything." She told him.

"Lord don't you think I won't have been there if you had given me half a chance!" he practically shouted while hiding his face from her. "You have no idea how much I love you do you Elle?"

"I'm sorry, I love you too," She said. "Forgive me, please."

He finally let her see his face and to Ellouise's utter horror it was tear stained. Dudley hadn't cried in years, but the way he looked right now she thought he might never stop. She put one her arms round him and he embraced her hard. He had missed his baby so much. But for now, just for now she was safe. She was by his side.

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That night Dudley and Elle stayed up later than there parents would allow them normally. As the whole family sat round the TV watching Eastenders Petunias favourite soap Elle found how normal she felt. She didn't think she could relax in her family's presents again but then again they were that weren't they, they were her family. At least for that night they were.

So she made hot chocolates all round and snuggled in to her daddy's side. He put his arm round her and rested his head on her while he watched the TV.

It did fell good to be home.

A/n: sorry this chapter was a bit slow but the next one contains a lot more drama I promise. And a huge clue too who Elle really is!

DrunkenBuddie; yeah as soon as I thought of the plot I thought who could be her boyfriend. Maybe she shouldn't have even had one after all she is only 12 but I wanted the chance to write a romantic story line for her. I guess maybe I should of gone for dean or Seamus looking back but I don't know I always liked the idea of using Fred since I thought of it. In the end as I wrote it seemed to come easily but maybe if they break up her next one will be younger. He is in his fifth year which makes him 15. When I started to write for there relastionship it just seem right!

TabbyMinerva: suspect is great I love writing it!

Dante Lewis: yeah remus rules. How he does it I don't know. He is so shocked she has put the pieces together and soon well ……..your see what a close shave to letting the penny drop fully.

I love your plot and what may have happened to her while being at home but I am afraid to say petunia didn't cook her father in laws dearth up. Granddad has died but I'm sure you know that already after this chapter.

My mind is over active too, I think it happens to the best of us. In fact mine is every day. LOL.

Yeah it was a quick up date (for me) but I've got more than 1 chapter actually ready for once in my life I'm actually just finishing up 21 now. YAY! So you guys are getting no. 20 on Monday!

Skittlesdog: thank you!

Taeniaea: as long as the chapters are ready I will try to post every two days!

Sarahamanda: you'll see my main reason for sending her home apart from the funeral in the next chapter.

Rocks-my-socks

PS please, please, please review