DUSK TILL DAWN:

EPILOGUE

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"Which colour shoes? The blue or red ones?"

James held up her two pairs of runners. The overwhelming fear that Dawn would never return home to get one of them was stuck in her mind. She wanted to convince James that she would be coming home soon, but she didn't know. It was the day she was suppose to be leaving except none of her stuff was packed and she didn't want to go.

She stood in her bedroom - because it was her bedroom. She and James spent the entire summer designing the room. The bag window James put in. Everything about the room was her room. Even the house was her house, it was her home.

"I'll bring both." Dawn swallowed and James put them into one of the brown boxes on the floor. She packed her clothes up and he was doing the shoes. "You can leave the white pair here though, they don't fit me anymore."

He nodded, quietly.

Shit. He was being so quiet since she arrived this morning she almost wanted to leave. She had spent the last week with Dave and was only allowed to see him today, which just so happened to be the day she was leaving. Her room was almost empty as this stage and there was only a few things left for her to buy. Dawn hadn't the packing though - that was Lily and Harry.

"My flight leaves in two hours. Dave's coming to collect me and then we're going to the airport." she mentions offhandedly in a low voice. He continues packing but nods. "He thinks it's safest if we don't use floo powder."

"He's right. Is this your first time going to an airport?"

"Yeah, never been on a plane before."

"You'll like it. Hopefully the weather isn't bad." James forced a smile and she could see through it. "Florida will be nice though. They have small wizarding schools over there. The weather will always be good too. Nice beaches too."

Dawn's mouth opened and closed but nothing came out for a few moments. She could see he was hurting and it made her feel bad. "We'll see each other soon-"

"I can't see you until this time next year. You're nearly sixteen right now and you'll be almost seventeen the next time I see you, Dawn." James whispers, shaking his head. "I'll be missing everything again. Your audition for your Quidditch spot. Everything, I'm going to be missing everything. It's not fair."

He didn't sound sad anymore, he sounded frustrated.

"I know." she agreed quietly. "I know it's not fair."

James nods, "What about Fletcher? Are you two still gonna...."

"Date? Yeah, we've agreed to do long distance. He can always come visit. Besides if he tries to cheat, Harry can always tell me."

She tried to make the last part a joke but James didn't really seem to be in the mood. Her mind was on Fletcher a lot and their relationship. It was a big thing to go from seeing each other every single day to only writing to each other and hopefully being able to see one another every few weeks.

Fletcher didn't seem to like the idea of long distance but didn't have any choice.

"I'll be meeting with at the airport to say goodbye." she added, tapping over her last box. She threw it into the portable box-bag in the middle of the room that was bringing her things to the house in Florida. She turns to James and sees he was finished packing the last box. He hands it to her and she throws it into the bag. "Right. I guess this is goodbye."

A silence rang throughout the room, and James just seemed so genuinely distraught.

His lips fall into a small smile. I'm really glad I got to know you, Dawn-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence because she ran forward and hugged him. He didn't hesitate to hug her back and did so tightly for the last time. Dawn let a small sigh out, one that would hopefully prevent her from shedding anymore tears - because that's all she did over the last week.

"I don't want to go." she whispers.

"I know you don't, but this might be good for you."

"You're lying. This is my home."

"I know. I'm trying to be an adult like you suggested." she pulls away and James looks down at the tears in her eyes. He leans forward and pressed a kiss against her forehead. "You're going to be late. Dave will be here soon."

His words are cut off when Harry and Lily both came into the room.

"Dave is waiting outside." Lily told them, with a frown. "Are you packed?"

She nods, and it's silent between them all for a few moments.

"Can I have your room?" Harry asks abruptly.

The room became quiet and all of them tuned to Harry with surprised looks. Out of everything he could have possibly said that was the first thing he decided to say. She stared at him for a moment before leaning forward and hugging him. He hugged her back tightly.

"I hope your New Year's Eve wish will come true." she says quietly, with a frown. "I hope if he does come after you again that I'm here for you."

"I hope you're not." he replied leaning forward and hugging her. "We can write to one another, just not about dad. I'll keep you updated on everything."

"You'll keep an eye on Fletcher?"

"I will." he nods pulling away. "I'll keep an eye on him."

Dawn sent him a small smile and she was certain that he would keep an eye on him. She told herself she trusted him enough too. She also had Colleen and Drew to keep an eye on him. Thankfully, she didn't have to say goodbye to Colleen and Drew because they were coming out to visit her in Florida in a week once she was settled - they could stay for as long as they wanted, even the entire summer if they were allowed.

Dawn told herself that she was all cried out and that's why she wasn't crying right now. Especially when Lily had burst into tears and hugged her rapidly. She was hesitant with her next words but not because she didn't mean them, but because she knew just how much she hated what she did.

"I'm sorry." Dawn tells Lily quietly. "I'm sorry for not being nice to you at the start-"

"No, no, don't you apologise for that." Lily interrupted and Dawn was taken back at how much she and James were alike; not just with their words but with their feelings. Lily shook her head, tears falling out of her green eyes. "You needed time and I was being pushy-"

"It's not an excuse, you were trying to help." she muttered but Lily waved her off and hugged her again.

"I'll see you soon, alright? The months will go by really quick. It'll all go by really quick. You'll have a great time in Florida." Lily assured her. "You should probably get going, don't want to miss your flight."

She picked up her bag, and turns to James who sent her a small smile. Lily was in tears. Harry was analysing the room as if trying to measure if his belongings could fit. James was sitting on the bay window.

"James," Dawn turns to him using her eyes one more time do manipulate her way. "Can you please not give Harry my room."

"He's not getting your room, don't worry. It'll be left here for you."

She sent him a grateful nod. She wasn't good at goodbyes. "Right, I'll see you all soon." they all said goodbye once last time before she made her way to the door and saw Dave outside in the car. She still wasn't used to muggle devices which is why he came out and helped her put her bags in the car.

"Fletcher meeting us at the airport?"

"Yeah, he should be there by now. He was taking floo powder."

"Great. You ready?"

She frowned. "Not at all. I'll be right back."

Dawn quickly ran back up to the doorstep and opened the door. She went straight into her bedroom, this time her father was showing a lot more emotion and was tears eyed as he spoke with Lily. His mouth opened to speak when he saw her but she didn't say anything only hugged him again. This time, he hugged her back more promptly and tightly.

When she pulled back, his eyes were full of tears, she leaned up and pressed a kiss against his cheek. "I love you, dad. I'll see you soon."

James nods, giving her an assuring smile. "I love you too. Now go or you're going to be late!"

"You can cry when I go." she tells him sarcastically walking out of the room.

"I hope you're better behaved for your step dad!" he shouts. She sends him a small forced smile before leaving Godric's Hollow and getting into the car. She sighs. When Dave saw her expression, she told him, "Please just drive. If I stay any longer I'm going to burst into tears."

The airport was extremely full when they arrived, and they waited around for Fletcher in the lobby. Dawn checked her watch, and sighed. He wasn't good at being punctual, she knew that, but at least today she thought he would be here.

"Did you give him the right time?" Dave asked, tapping his foot against the floor.

"Yeah, I said three o'clock." she whispers. "He'll be there. Just wait a few more minutes."

"Dawn, it's half three, our flight leaves in fifteen minutes. We need to be heading to the checkout now."

Dawn looked towards the doors and realised he wasn't coming.

She frowned and stood up. She should have known something was wrong when right after the courthouse he wanted to leave. Even when he wouldn't return her calls this morning, she should have known something was wrong. She should have known he wouldn't have wanted to do long distance.

She should have known.

Dawn convinced him to wait for five more minutes before they had to leave and they did. Fletcher never showed up. He never showed up and it broke her. The two of them went through the gates and headed towards the boarding for the flight.

"I don't want to talk about it." she muttered, wiping the tears from her eyes. Dawn couldn't tell if she was more sad or angry. "I can't believe he didn't show up. I can't believe he would do that."

Dave frowned. "I'm surprised."

She stood in the line whilst Dave went and put their bags through security. She continued to walk trying to push her feelings aside right now. She looked at the door one more time before entering through the doors with Dave and boarding on the plane.

"We don't have the same seats but I'll be a few rows ahead of you if you need anything, alright?" Dave told her, giving her a small nod.

Wordlessly, she nods before making her way to her seat and sitting down. Dawn looked around at the airplane and the amount of people that were on it. The plane was completely full, except the two seats beside her.

She glanced out the window.

Dawn felt like Fletcher not showing up, or him breaking up with her had been the worse part of it all - because that's what just happened. He didn't come because he didn't want to be with her if she wasn't with him. He was her person, even if they weren't together, and she would have expected him to at least show up and say goodbye.

"Sorry. Is this seat taken?" someone asked. She shakes her head, still looking out the window.

They clear their throat and she rolls her eyes.

"I never expected you to be one for the silent treatment, Yacker."

When Dawn turns around her throat catches in her mouth as she looks at him. Fletcher sat down in the spot next to her on the plane. He wore a grin.

She stared at him.

"W-What are you doing?" she shouts rising up to her feet, he stood up and went to hug her, however instead of accepting the hug she hit him across the chest. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHY-WHY ARE YOU-"

"I'm coming with you." Fletcher tells her and sits back down.

She didn't move. "Y-You what?"

"I'm coming with you to Florida." Fletcher looks into her eyes. "I've spent the last week swallowing in self pity. I only went back to Hogwarts because I knew you were going to be there. You're my home. I'm coming with you, whenever you go, I go. Don't be surprised, you know I'm in this for the long haul."

Dawn's heart beat rapidly, trying to process his words. "You...you're moving to Florida, what? When did you....you want to move, but Dave and your mum-"

"My mum won't even notice. I'll tell her I'm staying with you for the summer and returning to Hogwarts in September. She'll never know. As for Dave, he won't be able to say no once we get off the plane." Fletcher grins, putting his bag in the spare seat. "What?"

She was still in shock. "You are moving to Florida with me."

"I'm moving to Florida for you." Fletcher corrected, his eyes softening. He leaned forward and resting his forehead against her head. "I love you Dawn. You're the only thing I have that I can't mess up. I want to be with you."

She sat there looking at him, tears welling in her eyes for the millionth time today. Dawn had felt so many things all the once that her emotions were flying away with every second. She was initially sad, then angry, then sad and even more angrier, and now she was just in shock.

He wiped the tears from her face. "I love you. I thought that you-you weren't going to show up-"

"No, no all the tickets were completely sold out so I had to try and bargain with this old couple for their seats. They gave it to me but I had to pay an extra hundred euros for each seat." Fletcher explains with smile. "It was just luck that it ended up being these seats."

She sits back and lets out a laugh. Her head was all over the place right now. She came to the realisation that she wouldn't have to do this all alone.

She puts on her seatbelt. "I was about to write a breakup song about you."

"Oh really. How'd it started?"

"Fletcher is the biggest prick I've ever met in my life-"

"You're mean." he mumbled, leaning forward to kiss her lips. They kissed right before the plane took off and when they pulled away, he smiles softly at her. "We'll do this together. We'll do this all together."

She smiles at him, before leaning over and resting her head on his shoulder as the plane took off.

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THREE MONTHS LATER:

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At first Dawn hated Florida, but as the weeks went on both her and Fletcher settled in nicely.

Inevitably, there was a massive part of her that still missed her family- that missed her friends included. That missed everyone. Especially since the fact that Harry had only wrote back to her letter a week after she left saying, I'm working on something, signed his name. She didn't reply to it because it was incredibly vague and confusing.

However, as the weeks went on she found she started to enjoy the summer days she spent by the beach with Fletcher. She also enjoyed seeing him shirtless nearly everyday by the beach.

Like right now, the two of them were in the water. He held her up by her waist tightly and his head was rested on her shoulder. It was the middle of the sunny warm day and he hosted her up in his arms.

Over the past few months, the two had really come to terms with how much they were in their relationship for the long haul. The time they spent together made them realised they didn't want to be apart again.

His lips were on her jaw, and she let out a laugh.

"It's nice to see you can swim now."

"Shut up." she mumbles, her fingers tracing over his chest.

"Dawn! Fletcher!" Dave's voice rang on the beach and the two pulled away and looked towards the house. It was at the top of the small beach and was big. It was a brightly yellow coloured house that many of the tourists who visited were jealous of. Dave beckoned for them to come inside.

Dawn and Fletcher both went back into the house and Fletcher wrapped a towel around her.

"What is it?" Dawn asked Dave who was looking at the television. When she went over and looked at what he was staring at, she was surprised when she saw a picture of herself on the news - the Wizarding news of course. Her eyes widened. "Why am I on the news?"

Fletcher starts laughing before realising she was being serious. "Oh, why are you on the news?"

JAMES POTTER'S DAUGHTER; SENT TO AMERICA TO BE KEPT A SECRET?

"Someone found out. Someone leaked it about you being James' daughter." Dave whispers, eyes widened. He stands up. "You're all over the news in England, Dawn. They know. They know your here. My phones being going off the last three hours. It's later over there, the news came out this morning."

"They know that Dawn is James' daughter?" Fletcher clarified.

"They're been hundreds of stories, online. Everyone is about it. T-They want her to come back. You know how there is a massive population of people who love your family, they're demanding to meet you-"

Dawn's eyes widened. "What does this mean?"

"It's means that it's all going to change."

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The end!

Hope you enjoyed!