Chapter 31

It was half way through the night when James woke up. There was thunder and lighting storm going on outside and he could hear the rain hitting the window as the wind rushed pass.

He knew he wouldn't sleep again, not now.

He looked enviously over at Lily. She could sleep through anything, the lucky person. He considered for a minute waking her up just to be annoying. Then again that wouldn't help him tomorrow night would it? Nah.

Deciding against waking his wife he got up and looked out the window. A month till the next full moon. May be now they were together the next would be more fun than the last. Maybe tomorrow he'd approach the kids and see how they'd feel about becoming Animagi. That would be something they could do together. He was positive the kids bright enough if a dumb ass like Peter could do it.

The kids. Peter. Sirius. Remus. He just couldn't get his head round it. They were together, minus Peter, but that was a good thing.

Maybe he'd just go and check on Harry and Elle. What harm could it do? Just check they were in bed, but then again if they weren't he wouldn't make them get in; he'd just make sure they were ok. That's what dad's did. Made sure there kids were ok.

On arriving in his son's room in his dressing gown and slippers he saw the boy sprawled out using the middle of his bed up and wrapped his entire duvet. He nicks it all then thought James. His wife would have hell getting that lot off him. Harry must find it weird having his own room. He knew that he'd shared with his cousin a lot.

Having his son back was amazing but he was just so big. Soon Harry would be as tall as he was. It was just so weird. It was his fourteenth birthday soon. Last time he'd seen his son he was hardly out his crib.

Convinced Harry was ok James walked over to Ellouise's room. From out side he heard a small whimper from with in.

"Darling?" he said softly. Ellouise was sitting up in bed with a tear stained face. Just then another crash of thunder went off and Ellouise looked even more petrified.

"Dad I'm sorry! I just panicked. I didn't were I was for a minute and then-the storm," She said pulling her knees to her chest.

"It's ok darling, come here," he said pulling her in too him as he got under the covers with her. She was shaking.

"And I'm meant to be a Gryffindor!" she joked.

"We all get scared sometimes," said James.

"Did I wake you up?" she asked looking guilty.

"No, love you didn't!" he said. "The storm how ever did. Do you want to go downstairs and get a drink till it's over?"

"Yes please," she told him getting her slippers on and smiling at him. Just as she left she picked up her dressing gown that was hanging on the back of her door.

Once downstairs, Thumpy, a boy house elf who had heard his Master get up asked if they wanted anything and now father and daughter were cuddled up together on the sofa.

"Dad?" said Ellouise. "How did you get together with mum?" she asked. She always asked Petunia and Vernon. They had a cute story. All false probably, but it was a nice fantasy.

"We meet at Hogwarts. I knew from the moment I saw your mother I would be with her for ever. It was the proudest day of my life the day she agreed to marry me, apart from the day you and your brother were born! She hated me for the first five years I knew her though!"

"Really?"

"Oh yeah we had a weird relationship. Very love/hate!" laughed James.

"Who did the hating?"

"You're mum. I teased and played joked on her a lot when I was a boy. She was my favorite target you know. Me and Sirius favored her. Always got the best reaction from your mum. She gave me a few bruises in her time."

"Did they hurt?"

"Hell yeah. She punches like a man!" James declared. "But I loved her and still do! She, you and Harry are what I'm living for!"

"Me too dad, but can Dudley come over soon?" completely changing the conversation.

"When we're sorted, we'll call him and Grandpa," James promised.

"Good, I think his going to need me and Harry now," she said thoughtfully.

"I agree. As soon as we're ready he can come round," said James. "I just think we all need to get settled again."

Another crash of thunder and lightning caused Ellouise to jump in her dads arms.

"Hey princess," laughed James. "You're cold?" he observed.

"A little I guess" she said and James automatically conjured a blanket big enough to wrap around them both.

CRACK!

"Thumpy has got Masters and little mistress's hot chocolate"

"Thank you Thumpy!" said James.

CRACK!

"Are you ok now?" said James once they'd drunk up there drinks.

"Yeah but I'm not tired now!" she laughed.

"Me neither, feel like a game of exploding snap?"

"I'll get the cards!" she said happily.

James won the first game and Elle the last two but she thought James some how let her. After that they played chess and by the time they were tired it was four and instead of going up to bed they snuggled back on the sofa. Neither father nor daughter stirred again that night.

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However in little winging that was not the case.

Vernon stood by the door with his case and looked pleading in to his wife's eyes but Petunias mind was made up.

"As soon as I know what's happening with our son I'll ring you," she told him coldly.

"No don't do this, I need you."

"He'll be at dads for a month or two I guess, are you going to Marge's?"

"Let's talk about this."

"Then if he wants to see you I'll send him over for a few days." she said ignoring his pleads.

"He needs us to be strong for him, he can't cope this too Petunia, he is a fourteen year old lad, he needs his parents!"

"NO! WHAT MY SON NEEDS IS TRUTH! NEITHER OF US GIVES THAT TO HIM TOGETHER! GET OUT VERNON! JUST GET OUT!" Opening the door sadly Vernon left. Once out side he sat in the car and wept. He had been such a fool! A year ago he had had it all.

Today he had nothing.

A/n: half happy, half sad chapter. Just as a warning after this there is just one more chapter! But I promise a sequel will be written!

Taeniaea: thank you!

Sarahamanda: thank you!

IamSiriusgrl: yeah it was a bit of a fluffy chapter wasn't it? You still want Elle and Fred together? That's interesting. Most people don't but that's all I'm saying.

Kougasis: thank you!

ArcangelCZ: thank you!

Dante Lewis: yeah 30 chappies has got to be a milestone hasn't it? Yeah! Your theory of the Den is really good and I wish I thought of it my self. It would have made it so much easier for the adults and children to communicate next year but oh well!

Let's face it last time they saw the children they were babies! I don't think that lily and James know how to deal with an almost teenager and a teenager yet!

I love Ditty she rules! Is it to much like Dobby though?

There's big James/Elle here too!

Yeah Lily and James are finding it tuff aren't they so far?

I made both dads call her that because that is just what dads call little girls in her eyes. She doesn't know any different and it's just something that stayed the same. I think it gives her comfort. In a weird way!

Yeah my Nan called me "chick" and "chicken". She still does.

DrunkenBuddie: it will be but equally it will not be as serious as Fred and she had been.

TwoFourThree: what you have to remember is that this story is all from Ellouise's point of view. Just because you haven't seen Lily/James/Harry fluff scene it doesn't go to say there. We just never see them.

Ellie Ashton: thanks!

Green Day Harry Potter Rock: Thanks for reviewing!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

Rocks-my-socks