Chapter 22

As they walked by the lake together Elle and Neville were both deep in there own thoughts of what had gone on the past few weeks and months. There had been so much.

"so how are you an Harry now?" he asked her.

"ok I think or at least I hope, he is finding it hard to come to terms with that I went to see our uncle again I think."

"He isn't best pleased then?" Neville asked.

"No, he says I shouldn't still love him although not in so many words," pondered Elle. "Maybe he's right but the thing is I can't say I hate Vernon because I don't. I don't want to hate him." admitted Ellouise.

"of course you don't your to sweet for that," Neville complimented her although felt shy about it and everything about the relationship if it was ever going to really start which he was beginning to doubt. Then again she had had a lot of others things to do.

"Neville so are you," she smiled at him as they spent the quality time they had both been craving together. "I missed you while I was gone," she admitted.

"Yeah well you were on my mind a lot to. I wanted to come and see you but I couldn't," he said to her. "Gran wouldn't let me."

"That's ok, you're here now," she smiled.

"Yeah." he nodded. "So what did you get up to when you got how with your mum and dad." He asked her interested.

"While spent a lot of time trying to 'bond' with them both again and I saw my elder cousin which was so great. I didn't realize how much I missed him in my life till he was back in it." she smiled.

"Well, I am glad you are back, Elle. Things were quite with out you around for us all." he said to her.

She blushed. He made her feel so special.

"Thank you never," she said to him as they sat down by the lake and he shyly wrapped an arm round her.

"Do you want to hang out with me on Saturday?" he asked her.

"Sure." she smiled realizing why he wanted to hang out on Saturday. It was valentines.

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As Dudley walked round his grandfather's home has still buzzing from the visit to his mother.

She hadn't changed a thing.

And he was going to start studying magic just like his cousins.

So slowly he didn't know now but all the walls he had put up to the world after last June together they were going to just knock them all down.

Smiling as he did his math and finished it he realized what that Christmas had been for everyone. Time to grow.

In those cold December and January months so much had changed for him and his family but they had come out stronger for it and Elle had accepted who she was.

Herself.

She wasn't a family and didn't have to belong to one to be herself. She was going to be fine. Dudley could so feel it.

Just then he got a text on his new phone he had got for Christmas from lily and James.

Sender: mum

Time: 15:56

Hi popkins. Just spoke 2 lily. Next Tuesday we're going shopping. Can't wait to see you. Mummyxxx

Petunia smiled as she got a reply.

Can't wait. Love you too xxx

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As they got to the room of requirement Hermione looked at Elle.

"How did you come by this?" she asked Elle.

"Do you remember in my first week I snuck out of the common room with Fred?" asked the second year.

"Yes I thought you were crazy then. Now I know I was right," smiled Hermione.

"Yeah I've been spending too much time around you," Ellouise smirked back.

"Oh yeah your funny."

"As I said I spend too much time with you."

"Shut up and show mw this place," said Hermione ending there play fight.

"Yes is," she said and begun to concentrate hard.

An empty room…an empty room …an empty room

Thought Ellouise desperately.

As she thought it for the l at time Hermione watched as a door with a golden handle appeared and then Elle put her hand on it and they walked in.

It was a plain room but on good taste and fairly big with blue walls and a carpet to match.

"Will this do?"

"Yes," nodded Hermione in a kind of amazement. "How did you do that?" she asked.

"A marauder never tells," she grinned aback at her.

"Fine," Hermione rolled her eyes though was secretly thrilled Elle had said herself she was a marauder.

"So," sitting herself down said Ellouise. "Let's get to work." she said.

"Yup let's," she said as Elle sat down and got ready for Hermione to teach her what to do now.

"Today, we are going to try and find out what our Animagus is. All you have to do is point and say Animago.

"I'll go first," said Hermione. Pointing her wand and trying to think on it hard she looked almost unreachable. It was one of the most bizarre faces Ellouise had ever seen Hermione pull and was almost laughable and indeed Elle would have laughed if the situation wasn't so tense/. As Hermione pointed it she finally said the incantation.

"Animago!"

Hermione watched in excitement as just like it had with Harry's Patronus but only this time a blue light came from the wand.

The most beautiful owl came from it. The owl resembled Hedwig but was snowier, if that was possible and larger.

"Hermione!" said a proud Elle. "That was so cool!"

They watched as the Owl flow around for a long time only fading around three minutes after the spell was cast.

"Now you go Ellouise," Hermione hyped up from her own success encouraged Elle.

"Animago!" she shouted and a fox appeared but as thrilled as Ellouise was to see she had an animal for her Animagus it wasn't as strong as Hermione.

Twenty seconds at an estimate the little blue fox faded until just a puff of smoke was left in its place.

"Elle don't worry you've been through a hard time your magic is probably just a bit run down right now." said Hermione trying to keep Ellouise spirits up.

"I guess so," she said but felt disappointed in her self. She didn't want to be the poor little thing that had a break down. And it didn't make her any different or weaker than her friends.

"Besides I am older than you are remember?" said Hermione.

"Yes I know but its not just that is it? My dad -"

"Was also probably a fourth year when he did this? Will you relax? This was just a test run. We don't have to get it right today."

"But you did."

"But you're not me."

As she got in to her bed that night Elle felt a bit down but deep down knew Hermione was right. There would be other tries at this and she could do it.

Smiling with that thought she hugged her bear tightly. She would get it right next time.

a/n: sorry it is again so short, next one is longer

Taffy-Isabelle-TaffCunns: its ok thanks for the review!

Abby: in this fic I must admit, one of my fav people to writer about is Dudley! I know he is so OOC but I love him! As for how Petunia and Vernon eend up nothing is going to be giving away yet! Thanks for the review!

Azari Kaiya Son: thanks for reviewing!

Paula: James is being a fool right now! Lily and petunia are cool when there together which there will be a lot more of. Thanks for the review!

moonfire-lovr: yep Hermione is an Owl. I really had fun writing the animagi bit in this chapter. Thanks for the review.

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