This one's filled to the brim with fluffy, adorable cuteness nearing the end, so you have been warned ;)

Oh, and a really humongous thanks to ArmyWife22079 for being such an awesome, great Beta! Seriously, I had like the hardest time writing this chapter, and when it was 'finished' it sucked pretty bad, flow wise and really, content wise and basically everything else. And then she fixed it up brilliantly with her tweaking and her awesome ideas! Thanks hon!

Read, Review, and Enjoy!

EDIT 6/1/12: For a better reading experience, all review replies and old, unimportant ANs were removed. Any questions, just PM me

Disclaimer:I do not own, nor claim to own, anything pertaining to Inuyasha nor Harry Potter. Just the ideas that pop into my mind ;)

—Trying For the Norm—

The rest of breakfast progressed slowly after that realization, filled with tension and awkwardness that was almost palpable. From the corners of her eyes, Kagome could see the concerned glances her parents were sending her way and how James kept to himself, withdrawn, staring at his plate and eating mechanically, but she pretended to ignore it all.

To celebrate, the family spent their afternoon at the annual spring fair being held in the nearby village. Their house was settled away from the village, tucked away in a cleared, but nonetheless secluded section of the surrounding forest for privacy due to their magic, so they enjoyed the quiet walk into town.

James and Kagome were switched between walking and being carried, the two children staying silent while their parents chatted quietly.

Fortunately, Kagome's inner four year-old self bubbled to the surface unbidden as the family explored the fair and enjoyed their day.

It was an experience if nothing else, especially considering she used to live in a different continent with completely different customs and culture, not to even mention it was about thirty years before she was born.

At least, as she gazed, some things stayed somewhat normal. There were stands with games – a little old fashion, but hey, it was the sixties.

Making a split second decision, Kagome grabbed onto James' wrist, watching with pleasure as his face contorted into pleased surprise before she proceeded to drag him off. "C'mon James, let's go to this one first!" she said quietly, heading over to the stand with bean bags.

James' lips twitched into a slight, hesitant grin – an improvement.

It wasn't much, but at least it was a start.

The awkward tension slowly died down as they spent their time playing games and exploring with their parents, taking their minds off from earlier that morning.

Their parents watched them closely with joy and love as they shared a doting embrace. "They look fine now," Ella murmured gently, lips curled in a soft smile.

Charles let out a low grumble in agreement. "That's good news. What's worrying is what caused it..." he whispered thoughtfully.

Ella let out a soft 'hmm'. "Her nightmare... it must have been a terrible one if it had her reacting like that. I hope it doesn't continue," she commented, obviously worried.

Charles sighed, his own concern shining deeply. "We'll just have to keep an eye on her then. We have plenty of dreamless sleep potions, and there's always St. Mungo's if it goes too far," he mused, dipping down to place a comforting kiss on his wife's forehead.

Ella's eyes closed, and she squeezed the arm wrapped around her in response. "Let's hope it doesn't..." she murmured worriedly.

Charles could only nod his agreement.

Though, they couldn't help but later laugh when Kagome ran up to them on a whim and asked for a pony like the one she saw in the next tent.

—o—o—o—o—

It was later in the day though, while their parents were busy preparing another feast for dinner, that James finally decided to approach her to... talk...

Kagome was sitting on her bed just staring, taking in her room to decompress from her day.

It was pretty spacious, but not overly so or too extravagant. The walls were a soft blue color and the carpet was plush and a dark blue.

As she reclined on a four poster bed with soft, deep blue sheets and a matching comforter, light pink blossoms embroidered along the edges, Kagome smiled in wonder. It was so different than her old room, back in her other life in Japan, but in a way, she knew it was her. She loved it. It emanated a calming vibe and she so direly needed.

It was perfect.

The room was mellowed with an obvious child's touch. Toys were scattered around the room. There was a trunk to the side that she knew held other toys. A small table was to the side, coloring books and crayons scattered over it along with a small radio. Stuffed animals of all variety were placed on the rosy wood dressers. A lion, with deep golden faux fur was sitting beside her.

'Gryffindor,' her mind randomly supplied her. It didn't exactly help very much, considering the fact she didn't know what that meant. Maybe it was a mascot of sorts?

Kagome shook her head and continued gazing.

There were photos littering her dresser drawers and the shelves of her bookcases, and not just normal ones either. They moved.

They were entrancing to gaze at. It was always said that a picture was worth a thousand words – the animation, of her and James grinning and laughing as they hugged or playfully nudged or trounced on each other, or of their father tickling them to the point that they were on the floor laughing, or of them sitting on the kitchen counter, faces splattered with flour as they 'helped' their mother cook... it just brought it to a completely different level.

It was like whole stories playing before her eyes, and it was amazing.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and Kagome looked up, blinking.

James was at her door peering around it, shuffling his feet and glancing at her shyly with an uncertain smile. "Can I come in?" he mumbled hesitantly, looking at her with wide, innocent hazel eyes behind his glasses.

Okay, so how was she supposed to say no to that?

...She couldn't...

If she was her older self, she would have cooed at the adorableness.

Instead of answering, she scooted back on her bed, folding her legs and patted the spot in front of her.

James flashed her a wide, relieved smile, but it was gone as he padded over. He clambered on, and mimicked her sitting position. He was fidgeting, nervous.

James peered up at Kagome, lips in a sad pout. "A-are you mad at me Mel?" he asked her imploringly. At first Kagome was confused, but remembered her middle name, and figured that must be one of his nicknames for her. "F-for this mornin'?" His voice was uncertain, and confused and obviously torn.

Kagome blinked at the question, and then her heart promptly melted into goo.

She didn't even think of it like that.

Here she was, hesitant to accept and embrace this, her family – a family that wasn't supposed to be hers, but was - and she didn't even bother to stop and consider if she was hurting them.

Of course it would hurt them – and honestly, it was hurting her. And it would only get worse as it went on.

Because... this was her family. She would never forget the woman who first raised her, or the brother and grandfather she grew up with – no, she would cherish those memories always.

But... it didn't mean she couldn't cherish this family, and create memories with them as well. She knew she loved them already, but loving them consciously so was a different story. So, it was only a matter of coming to love them, because really - to not do so? It was only denying the inevitable...

And it wasn't as if she could do anything to change it anyways.

Her own lips trembled – she couldn't help it. God, that stupid lack of control of emotions that came with being a child.

She could even feel water building up in her eyes.

And then, she gave into the impulse, the instinct, and ambushed her brother in a hug. "'Course not, James!" she whispered fiercely. "I'm sowwy for scawing you earlier..." she mumbled, shuffling guiltily.

"S'okay!" James chirped suddenly and Kagome looked up to see him grinning toothily at her before returning the embrace with the force of a bear hug. "I'm just glad you're 'kay!"

Kagome couldn't help herself as she grinned back. There was just something about him that made her smile. Maybe it was a twin thing? "You're just happy you didn't give me a – a – amnee – oh you know what I mean," Kagome's face screwed as she tried, and failed to say it, before shaking her head. "You woulda gotten in so much twouble!" she teased.

James pulled back and stared at her, before laughing. "Yeah, that's true too!"

Kagome rolled her eyes shaking her head and nudged him. "Happy birthday," she told him, shyly pecking him on the cheek, partly out of habit, partly because she remembered she always usually did that.

She smiled when he pecked her on the forehead in response, smiling goofy. "Happy birthday Mel! Let's go! Dinner's almost ready I think and I'm starving! Besides, we still need to open our presents!" he blurted out excitedly, bouncing up and down with the energy of a bunny.

Kagome giggled when he grabbed her wrist and started to drag her out of her room and down the stairs, James laughing happily and grinning the whole way.

—o—o—o—o—

Kagome snickered openly like a loon, watching as her brother zipped through the house, whooping loudly as their mother halfheartedly chased him, shouting and pleading wildly – whatever good it did though, seeing as how she was grinning slightly as well.

They had ripped through their presents with chaotic energy, and now James was trying out his toy broom with unabashed glee.

"James, honey! Please, not in the house!" It sternness of the remark was offset by the amused exasperation dripping in her tone.

James' wild laughs echoing in their happy abode was her only response.

Beside her, her father chuckled under his breath, a wry grin on his face. "I'm surprised you're not right beside James on your own broom," he commented, looking over at Kagome curiously.

Kagome giggled, her eyes flickering to said toy broom beside her in the pile of presents they've received. "Mummy's alweady got her hands full with James, I figuwed she desewves a bweak for today," she mused slyly.

Charles snorted, eyebrows raised in surprise at her consideration.

"Anyways, thewe's always tomowwow," she added in a happy chirp, seeing the look.

Charles coughed lightly in laughter, and shook his head at his daughter, missing her relieved sigh.

Crouching, Charles scooped her up and held her, tapping her nose playfully as she laughed. He looked down at her with a soft expression, "I see things between you and James are back to normal," he commented lightly, though there was a worried lilt to his voice.

Kagome snuggled into the gentle embrace, partly to bask in it, partly to hide her troubled expression, and she nodded silently.

Charles' eyes flickered for a moment, before he shook his head, waving it off. "So, did you get everything you wanted, sweetie?" he murmured.

Kagome nodded absently – she honestly couldn't think of anything else she could possibly want – they practically lavished James and her with toys and books and other miscellaneous things.

Then she paused, remembering earlier, and pulled away from her dad's shoulder. She pouted impishly at him, batting her eyelashes and unleashing the 'puppy eyes'. "You fowgot my pony," she said in a small, pitiful voice, teasing him.

Charles stared at her, and he let out a rumbling laugh. In one smooth movement, he set her down and brandished his wand. "Well my dear, I shan't disappoint my princess," he said with over-exaggerated flourish. With a few uttered words he waved his wand.

To say Kagome was floored would be a gross understatement. She watched with unabashed astonishment as her father transfigured a nearby chair into an actual, living pony.

Her mouth dropped to the floor.

She faintly registered the soft chuckle that escaped her father's throat before he lifted her up again and placed her carefully on the pony bareback.

Amazed, Kagome began petting the pony unconsciously, a soft, awed smile twitching into existence as the soft feel of the pony's deep russet mane.

With another spell, Charles conjured a rope and looped it around the pony's neck. "Now, hold on tightly," he instructed sternly, grasping Kagome's hands and moving them over to the rope, patting the small appendages once they wrapped around the rope. "And now, let's take a little ride," he said and they moved.

Kagome couldn't help herself – she giggled happily as her father led them around the drawing room. Turning, Kagome gazed at Charles and said, her voice thick with emotion, "Thank you Daddy..." And she really meant it too.

Charles gazed back at her, and Kagome was thrown at the sheer amount of unconditional love shining brightly in her father's hazel eyes. Dipping down, Charles pressed a soft kiss at the crown of her head, smiling at her happiness like any loving, doting father would. "Anything for you, little one."

This was probably one of the best birthdays ever. Little did anyone know that one of Kagome's child fantasies was exactly this. Yes, like any other little girl she wished for a pony on her birthday.

But the one thing she desired most above everything else would be to spend a birthday with a father.

It was her dream come true.

Just then James zipped through back the room and stopped short at the animal, eyes wide. "Whoa!" he breathed out in awe, and like a switch, he exclaimed. "When did we get a pony? Where did it come from?"

Kagome grinned at him. "Magic," she chirped and James laughed back at her, rolling his eyes.

There was a pause of momentary silence, the footsteps that were running after James halting at the boy's exclamations. Then, they started with a new vigorous fervor just as quickly as they stopped.

Ella sprinted into the room and skidded to a stop at the sight of the large, four-legged animal that had her daughter on top of it. Her disbelieving gaze went from the pony, to Kagome, then her husband, and repeated for a good couple of minutes. Her mouth worked open and closed, but no words came out.

Just then, the pony neighed.

The sound seemed to jolt Ella back into talking. "Charles!" she gasped incredulously. "In the drawing room?" She didn't know whether to scowl or smile.

Charles only looked at his wife innocently, and offered a shrug. "What? She said she wanted a pony," he said simply, as if it was no big deal.

Ella rolled her eyes dryly and groaned while her two children howled with laughter. But even she couldn't help the small smile on her face at the scene.

Words- 2,416

So? What do you think?

Hehe, that last part up there has got to be my favorite – and it's all thanks to ArmyWife22079 for the amazing idea to end with a present scene haha! Thanks again!

On a side note, I just love writing a young James – he's so freaking adorable. I'm like 'awh'ing at him, and I'm the one freaking writing him lmaooo!

Hope you all enjoyed reading it as I did writing it! XD

Till laters!

RainLily^^

A big huge honking thanks to all those who read, alerted, and fav'd this fic, and to these awesome reviewers!

Magykrider, InfiniteWhiplash, TsukiyoTenshi, MoonPrincess1989, ladyyuuki16, SasoLOVE111, chibi-kaze-sofia, CrescentMelody, lady sesshomaru-sama, cheerfreak2, jkl, jalapeno bagels, ObsidianFrost, maxeyn, Nameless Fable, ArmyWife22079, TheIcecreamGeek, Valleygoat, Bunny.W.K, Boo, Darksilvercloud, Sailorjennifer, o-Owl