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" When am I going back to school?"

From the kitchen table in the Potter household James, and Lily both stop their conversation- Dawn had walked in on the ending of it where James had been teasing Lily about something and Lily appeared to be hitting him with the muffins on the table.

James attention turns toward her, " Why do you want to go back? Aren't you having fun here?"

Dawn thinks for a second, not really.

She looks at James and shrugs.

There was nothing wrong with Godric's Hollow. It was a nice home. That was the issue. It was a home, but not hers. Her room felt like a guest bedroom. She felt like a guest at their home. It wasn't James' fault. She couldn't leave the house either incase the Daily Prophet had lurkers hiding around. Plus she felt awkward and uncomfortable around Lily when James would leave.

James seemed to be thinking. Dawn glanced at him and waits for him to answer.

" Can't I just go back?" Dawn requests after waiting for him to answer, he seemed to be taking his time. " I'll just ignore Umbridge if I see her, and if I get a detention I'll just sit it out-"

" No I'm not letting her away with that." says James immediately linked with his stubbornness, "And you won't be in a room alone with her ever again. I don't know what to do yet about it, but you going back with her being in Hogwarts, not a chance."

Dawn attempts not to roll her eyes but did so discreetly.

She didn't know how she would describe her relationship with James. During the summer she had somewhat decided to give him a second chance, except she hadn't fully forgiven him yet. She had been trying, keyword trying. She had learned to like some things about him;

She liked the fact that he was so intent and when he set his mind to doing something he often succeeded. She liked how he was patient and understanding.

However, She didn't like how protective he was and the fact he treated her like she was five ( according to Harry he was always going to do that ), and she didn't like the fact he kept trying to form a relationship between herself and Lily. He was his wife, she knew that, but they had no relation to one another.

Also, she would never feel as close to him as she would Dave and her mum, the people who raised her.

Something Kathy said to her last week when she visited stuck in her mind, it was when she said that James was somewhat " stuck," with her. It had been in her head ever since. Technically she could see how that was true.

Dawn felt as though she belonged no where; not with Dave, not in her old home, not here in the Potters, not with Kathy, and not at Hogwarts.

Dawn felt like an orphan, and the worst thing about that was that to the world she was.

" So what am I supposed to do? Sit inside for the next year?"

" We could go out and play Quidditch?" James suggests. He gestured across the room to the three broomsticks.

" Don't you have errands to do today?"

" I mean yeah, but not for another twenty minutes."

Dawn shakes her head. " Oh. I don't want to play Quidditch anyway."

" Well," Lily speaks up, James turns towards her and Dawn doesn't miss the encouraging look he sends her. He did this almost everyday now. " I was actually going to meet up with Mary and Marlene for lunch if you wanted to come?"

Dawn doesn't even spare a glance in her direction. " I'm good thanks."

She ignored the look James gives her and returns back into her room.

Ten minutes later Dawn was laying across the bay window in her room, watching a hundred and one Quidditch facts in under ten minutes.

Dawn hadn't played Quidditch in many months. Sometimes she missed it, other times she just didn't. She glances across the room towards her quidditch jumper which was folded up onto her desk. Dave had sent it to her a couple weeks ago.

She missed Dave.

" Knew that," she mumbles, zoning back in on the television.

She doesn't look up from her spot when James' entered her room. She says nothing about the fact he doesn't knock on the door. She knew already what he was going to say. He sits down on her bed, and shifts.

" I thought you said you were going to try with Lily."

Dawn doesn't raise her head from the television instead she simply furrows her eyebrows. " I did."

James glances between her and the television, and tries not to sigh. " That definitely wasn't trying. What are you watching?"

Dawn gestures to the tv and mutters, " Quidditch show."

James gets so entranced in watching the television program he almost forgot the reason he was in here.

" Dawn," he mentions after a moment, he sounds slightly more serious now, " Really, I thought you were going to try and get along with Lily? You have barely replied to her half the time she's spoken to you."

" I did," she stated, sitting up. " I tried."

" This is the fourth time this week you've said no when she's offered to take you out of the house." James claimed, he didn't sound annoyed just slightly disappointed.

" Well we wouldn't want to camera to see us, now would we?" she mutters.

James didn't hear her. " What?"

It appeared as though she wanted to say something but doesn't. " I'm not in the mood for a lecture."

" I'm not lecturing you," he immediately adds. That was the last thing he wanted to do. After everything that happened to her over the last couple of months lecturing her was the last thing he wanted to do. " I just want you two to get along."

" She is not my mother," Dawn responds not turning to face him, " Why do I have to make an effort? Besides I'll be out of here in a few years anyway so there's not really any point."

James couldn't help but take her words to heart but didn't let it show.

" I know. I know. I'll let you finish your show." James mutters before leaving the room. He closes in the door. Once he was gone Dawn turns off the television and sighs.

James enters the kitchen with one thing on his mind and it was what Dawn said just a few moments ago.

" She really doesn't like me, does she?" Lily retorts once he enters the kitchen.

" She's warming up to you slowly." James whispers.

Lily gives him a look, " No she isn't. She wants nothing to do with me, and it doesn't help that you are terrified to do anything to upset her. Not that I want that either."

James didn't want to disagree but it was the truth. He waits a few moments before slowly leaving the room and returning back into Dawn's, she was still watching television although she didn't seem to be paying much attention.

" You've been inside for days." James clears his throat, " I think it's best if you go out, even if it's just for a couple hours."

Dawn gives James a look that could have quite literally made his heart melt.

" Fine." she mutters under her breath, before grabbing her jacket on the door handle, he goes to speak again only for her push by him and leave her room. He sighs.

God, he thinks, he really couldn't handle having a girl. He constantly wanted to let her away with everything. And the bad thing was he was.

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James sat in doors waiting for Lily to return with Dawn. He pondered about how the day could have went. It couldn't have gone bad. What was the worse that could happen?

That was until he heard shouting coming from outside.

Just as he stands up the shouting gets louder and much to his surprise Lily accompanied by Dawn enters the house. The first thing he sees is tension between the two. Lily seemed to be angry, for once, but even when Lily was angry she was never really angry, and Dawn just seemed to be unbothered.

" What happened?" James asked, his eyes going back and fourth between the two.

Dawn turns to give Lily quite possibly, in James opinion one of the dirtiest looks he's ever seen.

" I hate your wife so much." she spat, lowly.

" I don't understand why you are so angry," Lily spoke up, her tone laced with confusion and slight irritation. " It was just a suggestion."

" I don't need you imputing in on my life." Dawn yells back, " You have nothing to do with me. You are not my mother and you certainly mean nothing to me, as I'm sure I do you. I don't need you in my life and I definitely don't need you trying to change who I am. I'm not a Potter, I'm not ever going to be like you-"

" Alright," James bellowed over the two. " What happened?"

" I told her that maybe, maybe, when everyone knows that she's your daughter, we should change her last name to Potter on her quidditch uniform." Lily explains, " I just suggested it." she turns back to her, " Then she starts yelling in the store, calling me all these horrible names including a bitch. I thought it would make you feel more comfortable in this family!"

When James turns to look at Dawn, she hung her head low.

" Dawn?"

" What?" she snapped. He surprised him with her tone.

" Maybe you should go to your room."

" Your sending me to my room?!" Dawn exclaimed, and gives him an offensive look, one he only saw once before. " So you aren't on my side?"

" What no of corse I'm taking your side." James quickly says, " I'm always on your side but right now, I think its best you cool down in your room."

Dawn doesn't spare another look in either of their directions. " Screw you."

James quickly stands up and goes to speak to her only for the brunette to lock the door into her bedroom, and slam the door in his face.

" What have we said about locking the door?" James called, knocking on it.

Dawn unlocked the door briefly, he looks down at her. " Hm I don't remember, it's lost in the list of the many other house rules we can't have. What's the first one again? Oh yeah no fun in the Potter household."

James gasps and goes to speak only for Dawn to slam the door shut and lock it again.

" Dawn!"

" James." he hears her mock from the other side.

" I heard that!"

" Good for you."

James sighs and decided it would be best to give her time to cool down. She really did get her temper from him. She was extremely hot headed at times. However even though she was, James still though she was a harmless little thing.

He goes into the living room to check on Lily who seemed to be teary eyed

" I've tried so hard with her James. She's your daughter, she's part of this family and I want to get along with her but it's just. . .so hard! It's like she doesn't even want to try!"

" I know."

" And when I do try this happens!"

James didn't want to take sides especially when it came to anything. Lily was his wife, but Dawn, was his daughter. His everything. It didn't seem like the easiest choice.

As the days varied James and Lily only found that Dawn's behavior and attitude towards Lily only decreased. She either spoke too much to her ( and not in a good way ) or completely ignored her. It seemed as though Lily struck a nerve when she suggested about changing her last name.

" Isn't it time you get up?" Lily asks from her bedside, accompanied by James.

" Isn't it time you die?" Dawn responds, sounding incredibly like something a younger James would say.

James sighs.

Later that night whilst Dawn was fast asleep in her room, James, Lily accompanied by Sirius and Marlene had been having a wine night, something usually done once a month. The atmosphere had all been great until Frank came into the house telling James he had urgent news.

" What is so big that you have to come over here at one o clock in the morning?" James asks allowing the man to enter the house.

Frank doesn't respond immediately but opens his suitcase and takes out a piece of opened parchment.

" As you know I work with families fighting for custody over children, and cases that deal with what happens to a child of their guardians are passed and all of that stuff, well I also handle the letters that request judges approval, and today," Frank reaches into his pocket and pulls out a long parchment of paper, then slide it across the table towards James, " This came in and before you say anything, calm down."

" Why would I need to be calm?"

" Just read the letter."

James exchanged bewildered looks with Sirius and Marlene before himself and Lily glance at the letter.

To Ministry of childcare and protection,

I am writing to you today about the safekeeping of my beloved niece, Dawn Euphemia Kale. The end of the school year her mother was supposedly murdered by he who shall not be named. It was a tragic loss, not only on Dawn but on I. I was aware she was staying in named address below with her step father Dave Kale, he has recently moved out of the country meaning Dawn has no taken it upon herself to move in her with her biological father, none other than James Fleamont Potter.

As you can guess, this was probably a spare of the moment decision on both of their halves. James Potter has never been apart of Dawn's life, and I'm aware that he was known of her existence. His household, his lifestyle, him, isn't healthy for Dawn. And I would like to file for full custody over my niece.

As I'm aware at this moment my name is written on the will left by Sarah, my niece is to be left in my custody.

I only want what's best for my niece and I know I can provide it. Well I will be able to provide it also with the child allowance given if I take her in.

Sincerely,
Kathy Kale.

As James eyes scanned through the letter the parchment slowly begun to crumble under his clenched fist.

" She's filing for full custody." Lily confirms looking over towards Frank who nodded worriedly. And that was the thing that both James and Lily noticed. " I mean. .well James is her father? Shouldn't he have full legal custody over her?"

" It's not that simple."

" She's not talking her away." was all that James could muster, " I'll sooner give her my lungs than let her take her to fucking Australia."

" Do we have anytime to speak to a judge?" Lily requests, " Explain the situation."

" The Judge already granted it approved." Frank reveals, " You should get called a letter from the Ministry within the next couple of days, with a date for a hearing. If that goes well then they'll be no need to take it to court, if it doesn't, then..."

" Then what?" Marlene asked, putting the letter down.

" Then you'll be in a custody battle with a woman who has a high chance of winning."

" But I'm her father." James emphasized.

" Technically," Frank seemed hesitant with his next words, he took the letter back and folded it up. " She would be entitled to it. Her name is in writing stating Dawn is to be left in her care, her mother put it down. I checked her will as well and it's as plain as day. You aren't on her birth certificate, James, so as far as the world knows. . .Dawn's technically an orphan."

James face converted into sadness. " I don't want people knowing she's my daughter because the minute they do she's in the eye of the public for the rest of her life. They'll compare her to Harry, they'll do everything that will rip down who she is and I don't want that."

" I understand that," says Frank, " but since your not her guardian technically she shouldn't even be living with you. You could try and get someone in the ministry to change the will and explain to them the situation, although it's most a very smart move incase they rat you out. The judge has already read half the information about this, it's a fair case."

Sirius scoffs lowly. " We have had our fair share of them."

" I think you need to consider it." Frank says honestly, " Here me out-"

James shakes his head. " No, no way-"

" James-"

" I said no," he cut off, " If bloody Augusta tried to get Neville and move him miles away from you, what would you do? Just hear it out. She's my daughter, I am not about to loose her to some woman who probably wrestles sharks in her spare time."

James is cut off when the door in the hallway opens and Dawn enters the room, clearly just after waking up. She blinks a couple times and squints her eyes around the room.

James eyes watched her squint as she looked around the room at the figures.

" What's wrong?" she asks tired of rubbing her eyes. " Did something bad happen again?"

" It's nothing little stag," James responds softly, " Sirius just told us he was going to stop wearing his suits. I recommend it was for the best, makes him look a little chubby."

" Oh," she responds glancing at Sirius and slowly nodding like James, " It does. I'm going back to sleep."

Dawn grumbles something about them keeping it down before returning to her bedroom. When the door shuts in everyone continued talking.

Sirius gives him a fake mockery and places a hand on his heart.

" She's adorable. Your so lucky." Marlene says looking over towards James. James nods and mutters something about her taking after him until she noticed the small frown Lily had. " You two haven't been getting along?"

" Something like that," Lily says. Marlene and Sirius give her a look that tells her to continue and after a moment of hesitation she does. " The other day I suggested that we should change Dawn's second name to Potter and she got a little mad. Since then it hasn't been the easiest to..bond with her."

" Oh god." Marlene sighs out. This immediately worried James as he gestured for her to continue speaking. " When Dawn was in first year, and she finally got on the Quidditch team, whoever was doing her jersey kept spelling her name wrong. Eventually, her mother went in and she fought really hard to get her name spelled right. Dawn told me that last year, it's her patrnous."

A silence lingered throughout the room. Sirius sighed softly and exchanged looks with Frank who was gathered his belongings. It appeared as though Dawn, Lily and James did have a lot to discuss.

James eyes widened, as did Lily's.

" That's why she got so mad."

" She wasn't mad," James realized slowly as he frowns, " She was upset, and I send her to her room....."

He should have know that, he should have, he was just saying the other day how hot headed she was like him. And he as well, often hid sadness over anger and hostility.

" You actually had the courage to do that? You actually send her to her room?" Sirius was surprised. " Wow Prongs, guess you aren't a softie."

James gives him a glare.

As James and Lily discussed what to do about the situation, Dawn was in her room tiredly rubbing her eyes. She searched through her wardrobe for a jumper to wear as she had woken up drenched in sweat from a nightmare she didn't want to recall. She continued to search her wardrobe before sighting.

Her eyes landed on her Quidditch Jumper across the room. She hesitantly picks it up. However, when she picks it up a small note falls out.

Dawn doesn't spare a second before opening the letter.

Yacker,

Hope your doing okay.
Thinking of you always,
Fletcher.

Dawn holds the letter as if it was going to crumble under her hands. Her lips fall into a frown as she folds it back up and places it into her journal by her bedside. It had been the letter he sent her over the summer but she never opened it. She puts the Quidditch jumper on.

Thinking of you always, she replayed the words as she lay down on her bed. She thinks back to the charity event last year, it was the first time she felt something strange towards the boy. Dawn was cut out of her thoughts when she heard a tapping on her window.

Dawn pulls back the curtains to reveal none other than Matthew. Her eyes widen and she unclips the lock from the window. She opens the window and allows him to come into the room.

He crawls inside the room. She shuts it softly and immediately goes over to her door and locks it. She waits a second praying James didn't hear that because if he heard her locking her door he always presumed the worst.

Dawn nervously pulls at the Quidditch Jumper. " Uh Hi...."

" Hi. You haven't been in school," Matthew pointed out, " I thought I'd come by and check if you were alright. My parents came by Hogwarts and took me out shopping in London. Harry told me you had the flu."

" How do you know where I live?"

" I was here last year during Christmas." he reveals, " And might I say this room looked nothing like how it used to."

" James redesigned it," she reveals, " I know it's nicer than I expected as well."

Matthew glances around and nods impressed before his eyes stopped on her. " You play Quidditch?"

He was pretty cute, and he had such nice hair, she thinks looking at him. She shakes her head.

Matthew nods. " You look pretty good for someone who has the flu."

Dawn gives Matthew a surprised look but none the less impressed one.

" You didn't just come by to tell me I look good with the flu, did you?"

" No."

Matthew suddenly leans in and kissed her. At first, her first instinct was to pull away, but after a second she realized she didn't want to. Her hand in surprise didn't move at first but slowly did onto his cheek. Once they pull away ( her doing so first ) the two looked at each other in surprise.

" I like you Dawn Kale," he breaths pulling away, " As in I really like you."

" You uh might get the flu now." Dawn blurts out, obviously he didn't understand her sarcasm in her voice. She made a mental note to remember to thank Harry for doing that.

" I don't care." Matthew states at her for a moment before rephrasing. " I mean I do care because I have asthma and if I catch a cold I could literally die....but you know, I think you're pretty cute."

" Thank you." Dawn tells him, an amused smile on her face as she watched the boy. He's sitting on the bay window nervously glancing at the door as if silently praying no one ( James ) doesn't walk in. She clears her throat. " Dont worry, the door is locked."

" Oh thank god. James would have killed me if he saw me in here." Matthew held his chest, but eventually says, " I should get going, my parents are parked down the road. Told them I'd be a few minutes. I hope I'll see you back at school soon."

" You will," she confirms truthfully, she had intended to be back by next week. She couldn't be here any longer, plus she needed to see Colleen and Drew more than she needed to breath at the moment. " I'll see you in school, Matthew."

Just before the blonde haired Gryffindor leaves he leans forward and pressed a kiss on her cheek. Dawn closes the window shut, and the returned back to her bed.

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AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS CHAPTER IS THE FACT THAT DAWN SAID SHE'LL BE " OUT OF HERE," IN A FEW YEARS ANYWAY (!!) BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT DAWN ALTHOUGH DOESN'T SAY IT FEELS LIKE SHE DOESN'T BELONG WITH THEIR FAMILY BUT THEN JAMES THINKS IT MEANS THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO STAY FOR ANY LONGER THAN SHE HAS TO AND ITS AN OBLIGATION ( etc !! ) YOU CAN SEE HOW CLEARLY DAWN HAS AN ISSUE WITH LETTING ANOTHER PERSON IN.

ALSO SO NOW WE HAVE DAWNS STORYLINE FOR ORDER OF PHOENIX, SHE WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE CUSTODY BATTLE BETWEEN JAMES AND KATHY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY FLETCHER's NOTE ( 🥺 ) AND DAWN AND MATTHEWS KISS. HOW ARE WE FEELING RIGHT NOW??

PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING A VOTE OR COMMENT ON THIS CHAPTER :)