Chapter 25

"Precious, are you ready?" said Marcus as he straightened his tie.

"O One minute," he heard his granddaughter say.

"You sure you want to go?" she asked Dudley. "We don't have too," she tried to reassure him.

"Yes we do," he said to her.

Picking up his blazer he looked back at her and stretched out his hand to take hers. "As long as I have you I can through anything, even today. Don't abandon me now Elle."

"Never," she said to him and the two hand in hand walked down to met there grandfather. They had been through so much together; this should be a walk in the park.

"There my little ones are, come on," said there grandfather and they followed on through the door to the car.

Elle knew she was being silly but she didn't really want too get in a car again after what had happened to her.

All her traveling had been a magical method since the day she had been knocked down but ass she saw the pain her brother had on his face she knew she had to be brave for him.

How stupid did that sound? She thought to herself. It was like something you said to a five year old. "You have to be big and brave for mummy," or something along those lines but what could she do? She had to talk herself in to it.

Getting in she felt the cool leather on the back of her neck and she smiled at Dudley. "Are we set to go then?" she asked and he nodded. They both had to be big and brave.

Driving thought muggle London Elle and Dudley both felt a desire in the every soul of them selves that made them what to turn and run but as long ass they were together they knew it was going to be ok. It had to be.

Arriving in the court corridor where the battle was going to take place they sat down.

"We just sit and wait,"" she said tot him.

"Just sit and wait," he said repeating her.

Shoe put her head on his shoulder and hugged him tight with one arm.

"You're not along."

"I know." he said... "I'll always have you."

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Walking in to the room petunia for the first time in eight months saw her husband or soon to be ex.

He had changed. She didn't know but he had and even thought she wanted to she couldn't hate him. Then again she hadn't ever, not really. She had been mad and they had fought and they had both needed a clean break from each other but the never hated.

Seeing her father, that was when she hated.

She was going to kick his arse she was going to make sure off it.

Hall had no fury like a women scorn as the saying went.

Seeing Vernon he gave her a smile. She knew they were on the same team. They only wanted one thing. The best for their baby boy.

"The court hearing will now proceed…" the judge said and it all begun.

first the judge told then why they were there. He was a bullet. She thought to herself.

First of all her father had his speech on why he should be grated custody.

He told theme what a bad mother she was , a liar and cheat but what amazed her through all this was the rage her husband was displaying. If he went a deep shade of red he would burst she was sure. He didn't hat her then.

It was Vernon's turn next.

"I do not care what any one says. The right person to raise my son…is not Me." there was a gasp. Had he meant to say that? The court wondered. "The right person is my wife, Petunia." god he had made he heart flutter before but never like this. She had never felt this is so long. "She is a great mum, the best you'll find. She is devoted to her son, she is a women and mother like no other. You will never find a better even if you searched the whole world. Pet's the best... You can't beat her."

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"what's taking so long," asked a nervous Dudley as they sat there.

"I don't know honey," said lily who had arrived.

"I just want to know." he said and his aunt embraced him.

"I know honey all do," she tried to soothe him.

Just then the waiting ended. The court had injured.

"Grandpa," said Ellouise as she saw Marcus in tears.

"Precious," he choked out and put an arm round her. "your going to have to go back with your mum for a few days, grandpa isn't feeling up to it right now," he said kissed her forehead and looked to his youngest.

"I'll see you soon darling he said and left.

Just then petunia came to them and held her son tightly.

"Ready to go home angel," she said.

"You won," he said in joy.

"I did it baby, for the both of us." she said before turning pensive. "But couldn't have alone,." she said as she saw the father of her son. "Vernon…thank you," she said not believing still what he had done for her.

"No problem, I only said what the truth was, for once in my life," he grinned as he saw his son. "You alright Dud?"

"I'm fine….dad." he smiled.

"Elle?"

"Never better," she grinned.

"Right," said Petunia, "My treat, you four up for McDonalds?"

"Just a bit, come on," said lily holding on to her daughter and sister one arm each ""my cravings are killing me."

In turn Pet wrapped her arm round her son, who in turn wrapped his round his father.

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"Mum," said Ellouise as her mother tucked her in that night, "today ruled, Dudley's going to be fine," she said.

"I know that and so do you so we can really stop worrying now he is back with his mum," she said.

"And his dad." Lily smiled. "Are you ok?" she said seeing a weird expression on her daughters face.

"Yeah It was just weird I mean them going off to be a family and me not being included in that," she said and Lily held her tight.

"It will feel difficult and it might even hurt, for a while but it'll heal," said Lily. "I am so proud of you for what you did for your cousin today, I know it took every once off courage you have in your body," said lily

"I am glad you and aunt petunia are friends. Can we see her again?"

"Real soon honey, but have to sleep now." she said kissing Ellouise's forehead.

"K night mum." said Elle rolling over.

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However one flat where there would be no sleep was Petunia's.

Carrying three plates of Chinese in there her son took the drink and her husband took the knifes and forks.

"To us," she said as she said s they popped the champagne.

"To us," the other tow agreed as they tucked in to the meal/.

Suddenly they're a very awkward silence between them. Looking around they found they were content though.

Nothing had ever felt so right.

"How's Nan dad?" Dudley asked.

"She's ok I'll take you to see her soon if that's ok with your mum." He said to him.

"Of course it is Vernon don't be silly." said Petunia. She wasn't going to deny his family access.

"Thanks," he nodded.

"Any time."

Not so long after they had done there meal Vernon left mother and son alone and Petunia took great joy that night for the first time in eight months tucking her baby in good night.

"We'll move somewhere bigger soon." she told him. "Don't unpack."

"Have you found a house?"

"Yep just in the village near your aunt and uncles house," she smiled.

"Seriously?"

"Yup so it'll mean a fresh start but I was wondering. What do you think of me asking daddy to come with us," she asked.

"That'd be wicked mum." He said tot her.

"Well I might just do that." Said petunia. Maybe a fresh start for her and her family both her men could help them to sort out there're differences.

"I love you," she said and hugged him.

"I love you too," he replied and fell asleep in her arms. She didn't leave his side that night, at all.

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"I can't believe you," said James in tears, he felt so betrayed.

"I didn't make her go to day she wanted to!" insisted his wife and sat down . "Jamie she had to prove to her self she was better and this did it. She is fine but she had to see her cousin through today. Why don't you get that?"

"Why don't you get that what you did was wrong for her? What if she breaks down again?"

"Then we will work through it again."

"Shut up." he whispered low and as angry.

"What?" asked his wife.

"SHUT UP LILY. FOR GODS SAKES, YOU DON'T GET IT DO YOU, NOT AT ALL!" He yelled at her for the first time in years. "IF SHE DOES AGAIN THEN IT'LL BE OK FOR YOU, SHE IS OK WITH YOU, BUT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEN AGAIN SHE WILL REEJECT ME!" He said. A tear of anger slip on to his check. "I can't take that."

"Jamie," said lily trying to understand.

"Go to bed, I'll see you tomorrow," he said and left the kitchen. No way had that just happened.

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When Elle got up and saw her dad and mum at breakfast the next day she knew something was up. Lily and James both looked at her guiltily. "Are you two ok?" She asked them as she entered the living room.

"Fine honey, dads just going to work," said lily through a yawn.

"Yeah I am sorry baby," he said picking up his cloak and going to the fire place.

"Ok," said ell going to give him a hug. He squeezed her more than usual. "Have a good day."

"You too," he shouted back and left home till the night.

The plan Elle had devised at Hogwarts about home work just as it always did, hadn't worked and she spent that day finishing it off.

"So third year for you next missy," said lily as they sat on the cough. "Have you picked your new subjects?"

"Yeah ancient runes and care of magical creatures," she said and satisfied her mother that she had picked two goo9d helpful subjects not like divination which lily had a hate for after what had gone on with the prophecy over her son.

"What we going to do today," she asked as she finished the last sentence off her essay.

"I am pretty tried baby after yesterday I was going to have a rest ok?" she said and went of to the room she shared with her husband. The bad had been so cold last night with out him by hers side, she had wanted to hold him.

#why did she feel so guilty, she had done a thing wrong and now she wasn't spending time with Ellouise for it because she felt guilty and in a sense was punishing her baby.

Sighing she rolled over. James hadn't meant to make her feel bad but he had been so angry last night lily had never or rarely at least seen him so mad at any one never ever at her. And this made her so upset. They never ever fell out especially since they had come back to life, they hadn't fought until now. There was always going to be a fight over this, thought lily, and who could not blame him.

If it had been the other way round and jams had had a brother that had done what her sister had, would lily put her hand on her heart and swear to take an oath she would for give him. No. but there was so much history between her and her sister, she just wanted them to get back to the way they had been with each other she guessed, once upon a time.

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Elle spent the day in her mother's garden. It was so refreshing. She felt like she was in a while new world where nothing of could harm her.

It was so clear from the way the flower that were all so perfect had been tended to by a hand as soft as her mothers.

No magic had been used here, a spell couldn't create the warmth and love Ellouise found the garden did.

Breathing n the soft scent of the flowers she smiled and held a rose that had fallen in her hand.

A red one. Sighing she thought back to Hogwarts. Now the trail was over she just wanted to go home really.

a/n: next chapter is due Sunday!

randypotter1222: I never thought of a connection between elle and voldie, I'll have to look in to it. Thanks for reviewing.

Taffy-Isabelle-TaffCunns: Ohh I've really got you all thinking about the child haven't I? LOL yay! Thanks for the review!

Faerielights804: LOL, thanks for reviewing.

moonfire-lovr: will do, thanks for reviewing!

Abby: ok, I hope you had a good weekend what ever you did! Thanks as always!

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