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twenty-four: court part 2
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The walk with James outside the court and down to the coffee shop was quiet. He went in and got her a latte with extra cream and a donut. She was starving and she was glad she was being able to eat before going back into the room. He, however, looked too ill to even begin to eat.

Dawn didn't know what she was supposed to say to him.

She was angry about what happened with her mum, to her mum. Instead, she just glanced around. London was very quiet which made sense considering after what happened at the ministry- ever since Voldemort was known to be back everyone stayed indoors because they knew what was coming. She wondered what Hogwarts was going to be like in the coming year.

She also reminded herself that it was going to be different since Harry let it slip in the elevator about her being his sister. Now, Luna and Neville both knew about her being his sister.

Her eyes flickered up at James: she reminded herself that time was short. She learnt the hard way. She told herself not to hold any grudges anymore.

"You continue to lie," she told him swiftly with no sting to her tone. At this stage, she was fed up. "Why do you do that? Why do you hide stuff from me?"

He grimaced. "I don't know. I don't know why I act so stupid sometimes, it just happens." she heard the honesty in his voice. "I should have told you during the summer but we were getting along and I didn't want to ruin it."

"You're right." Dawn mentions taking a sip of her drink. "You're stupid."

"Why didn't you tell me about the blackmailing or what Umbridge did to you?" he asked after a moment.

She hadn't an answer right away but after a moment of thinking, she did. "I have two answers. The first one is that sometimes I feel like you're...ashamed of me-"

"You know I'm not ashamed of you at all-"

"James, you're a celebrity who has a secret kid with another woman!" she whispers in a low voice. "I know it's not what you wanted-"

"Dawn, you do realise that Lily and I couldn't have any more children, right?" he asked quietly. "We both wanted another child, and I know you're not Lily's child but oddly we got lucky-"

"Odd interpretation of luck, dad."

"I know but still-"

"You still got an unexpected daughter who showed up at your doorstep-"

James glances down at her as they enter the courthouse again. "I'm serious Dawn. If I could I would give my fame and money away to the closest person who wanted it. I don't care about it. I don't care about what people think. I just don't care about it anymore - at first, I thought it was a good thing, but it's not. Standing there in court all I want is you to officially become a Potter. I don't mean changing your name but I want to be there for you for as long as I'm here-"

"You are there for me."

"No, I'm not. You're not letting me be." his words came out so fast and she could tell he wanted to say them for a while now.

Her mouth opens to reply but she couldn't his words hit her across the face like the cold wind. She focused on his words. He thought she wasn't letting him be there for her? Her brows furrowed. He noticed her confusion and further explained. "You haven't let me be there for you and I understand why, I never was. If it was your mum or dave, would you have told her about the blackmailing?"

After a moment, she nods.

Maybe that was true and maybe she knew deep down that she was still closed off to him.

She turns to him and sighs. "Let me be the adult in the situation and suggest that the two of us start talking more. Do you have any more things you want to tell me?"

"I agree, you're sometimes a better adult than I am," he says, sending her a small smile. "I won't hide anything from you again and I have nothing else I'm keeping from you. You, are you going to start telling me stuff?"

"Not everything. Only important things."

He rose an eyebrow. "Agreed."

"Agreed."

"We should also talk about er Fletcher." she could see how uncomfortable he was when she turned to him and looked up at him curiously. When James saw Dawn's expression, something in him said she was too young and in love to understand what he wanted to say. "I just wanted to say...that's he lucky to have you by his side."

She smiles and gives him a small nod.

They entered the courthouse again and straight away Fletcher went over towards her and pulls her into his chest. She noticed the look he sent towards James. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she mumbled, giving him a small smile. "Just tired now, and I want to go home."

At this stage, she just wanted to go home. She wanted to meet with Colleen and Drew and she wanted to see her friends. Colleen was probably forced to return to her dads right after making her statement. She probably also felt incredibly guilty.

"You'll be going home soon."

"Are you coming too?"

Fletcher didn't answer straight away. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there for you as long as you need. I'll be by your side."

"We should probably head back in now," Frank mentions, coming over, eyes zoomed in on her. "Don't worry, Dawn. Have a little faith in me."

"That other lawyer was good," she muttered.

"I'm better," Frank replied with a shrug, opening the door. He didn't say it the way her father for example would have, he said it as though it was a simple statement. "I'm far better."

They entered the room and all sat back down in their seats. When Fletcher picked up Dawn's hand, he noticed she flinched slightly. He gives her a small look but she ignored it.

"Right, right settle down, please." the judge came back in and looked around the room. "Are we all back, right perfect? Let's begin. Members of the jury, I want to remind you all what we're here for today. We're here to put Dawn Kale into the correct placement home where she will continue to live a normal life. We have heard quite a lot in the last hour, now we will move onto Mr Longbottom."

Frank stood up and brushed off his suit, she had to admit the warm smile he gave the jury even relieved her stress. He walked over to them all, and their eyes zoned in on them all.

"I think we can agree that we've made mistakes before. Big mistakes, little mistakes, we've all made them. We've all hoped we can take back those mistakes but we can't. It's impossible, no matter how hard we try." Frank tells them, "Mistakes are inevitable. James here has relentlessly apologised for the mistakes he's made. I would like to remind you all that he was only a mere boy when he hurt those people. What he did was wrong, he admits that, but it was a mistake he'll always regret. Ask yourself is there something you've done you wish you could take back?"

Dawn's eyes widened slightly because the way he spoke was almost alluring. He was a good lawyer. He spoke confidently but not overpoweringly so.

"I wish to call my first witness to the stand, Kathy Kale, please."

Dawn glances towards her aunt. She had no encounters with her thankfully since Hogsmeade. She did attempt to speak with her this morning but she walked past her so fast she didn't get the chance. The blonde woman strolled up to the stand and sat down. Their eyes met briefly before Kathy looks towards Frank.

Dawn still found it insane her aunt wanted to take full custody of her.

"Hi, Kathy." Frank smiles. "I'm going to ask you a few questions."

She stiffened and plastered a smile on. "Right."

"What are the two things Dawn's allergic to?"

The room was quiet and Dawn instantly knew where he was going with this. Kathy rose an eyebrow and didn't have an answer.

"Your honour, relevance?" Benedict questioned. "Why are speaking about-"

"Relevance your honour if Dawn is choking and this woman who claims she's a better fit for Dawn, doesn't know why." Frank didn't wait for the judge's response and turned towards Kathy. "Two things that will kill Dawn if she's not brought to a hospital wing after eating them."

"I don't know but she doesn't like-"

"Alright, let's try another one. Kathy, what sport does Dawn play?"

Kathy hesitated. "The game - the one you fly in the air and chase after the-"

Frank rose an eyebrow. "Quidditch. Have you ever seen Dawn play one of these matches?"

"No."

"Why?" Frank questioned, brows furrowed. "You claim to care about your niece more than James who has been to many of Dawn's quidditch matches, so why have you never watched your niece play?"

"Well, I-I-"

"The truth, please. Just an honest answer of why you've never watched your niece of nearly sixteen years old ever play her favourite thing to do?" Frank questioned, more so of a demand.

"Because I don't care for the sport-"

"Do you care about Dawn?"

"Yes-"

"Then you should care for the things she cares about, right?" he turned back to the jury. "We can all agree that someone who cares would at least try to care about the interests of the girl she wants to take into her custody."

Kathy's mouth opened to speak but Frank had spoken again.

"Can you tell me what she fears the most?" when she didn't reply straight away he added. "Can you tell me what you know about your niece? Can you give me one good reason as to why Dawn should go into your custody as opposes to her father-"

"Objection your honour." the lawyer stood and gestured to Frank. "We've been over the reasons as to why Kathy will make a good legal guardian for Dawn-"

"You're right, you've made some points as to why she is a good guardian. She's got a solid income, she's got a large house in Australia. However, all the points that have been made have been that James is a bad father, there's been no points to claim that Kathy is going to be a good guardian for Dawn."

Frank turns towards the jury.

"Dawn's been through a lot. We all know this. Her name was put into the Goblet of Fire. She lost her mother in front of her. She was informed of who her biological father was by the dark lord and faced him. Dawn has enjoyed her time spending with her father and getting to know him more. The last thing this fifteen-year-old child needs is to be up and brought across the country. After everything she's been through, is that the best solution?"

The jury was looking at Frank intently.

"Kathy, tell me about your relationship with your late sister?" at the mention of Frank's words, she saw her aunt stiffen slightly. Dawn was never made to aware of their relationship - she knew they tolerated each other but she never heard about them growing up or any fond memories. "Tell me about Sarah? Did you trust her?"

"She was my sister and I lost her as a result of what he did," Kathy said instantly shaking her head. She pointed at James. "It was his fault. Dawn does not deserve to be put into his care. We weren't very close. We never were, but I don't want to see my niece suffer because of his actions-"

"So you trusted her?"

"Of course," Kathy answered.

"So even though you trust your own sister, despite the fact Sarah's last words were for Dawn to stay with her father, you still don't believe he should have full custody?" Frank turns to the jury. "Sarah's last words to her daughter were for her to trust James. The two had intended to tell Dawn after the final task but never got the chance. Sarah trusted James."

The jury was looking at him and some across at James.

Frank turns to Kathy. "Are you ready to be a mother, Kathy?"

Dawn noticed how her blonde haired aunt's eyes went wide. "I beg your pardon-"

"Your honour-" Benedict began.

"That's what the job of taking someone into your legal custody does, you know that right? You will become Dawn's legal guardian, you will act as a mother to her, are you prepared to do that?"

The place was quiet and Kathy's answer sounded so unbelievable that Dawn almost wanted to get up and hug Frank.

"Yes,...I am prepared to do that." Kathy told him and Dawn could see her anger building. Frank's question was quick and left no room for elaboration or a way to get out of what she was saying. "I believe I will be the best care for my niece."

"You believe that?"

"I do."

"And you don't believe that she should live with her biological father?" he emphasised the word biological and Dawn had a feeling this was going somewhere.

"Biological or not makes no difference, I am still the best and safest person to take Dawn in-"

"So even though you aren't Dawn's biological parent, you still believe that you have the same right as any biological parent?"

Kathy nods. "Yes."

"So, would you trust the integrity of Dawn's stepfather, Dave, even though he is not her biological father? Like you, he wouldn't be biologically related but he was still-"

Kathy sent him a fake smile. "Of course, he is an honest man."

Frank looked so delighted with himself. "Right, that's all my questions. You can return to your seat now."

Kathy stood and walked over to her seat and sat down. She was flustered and Dawn could tell. However she seemed confident with the fact that Frank had been light on her, or so it seemed. Dawn found that slightly confusing how he ended it like that.

"I want to call my next stand-in, Dawn's stepfather, Dave."

Almost instantly she looked up when the doors opened and Dave walked in. Her heart quite literally stopped and she didn't realise how much she missed him until now. He looked the same except his hair had grown longer and he had a tan.

Despite the fact she knew she wasn't supposed to do something like this when he glanced around the courtroom and spotted her, she got up and went to him. Without a second of hesitation, he extended his hands and she hugged him.

She ignored the fact there were people in the room.

"I got you, Dawn," he mumbles, and she wanted to cry, she didn't want to let go. "I've always got you."

It felt oddly horrible when she realised she hadn't seen him in almost a year - she last saw him at the end of July, and now it was June. Letters meant nothing compared to him being here right now. She didn't let go for a few moments because she didn't want him to see the years welling in her eyes. However, when she did she was sure everyone saw the fact she was close to tears.

Dave sent her a small smile. "I'll see you after," he says quietly whilst taking the stand. Dawn returns to her seat, sniffling. She could feel James' eyes on her briefly.

"That was cute," Fletcher mumbles.

Dawn rolled her eyes. "You're annoying-"

"This is why we can't nice things, yacker-"

She rolled her eyes again but did not comment back. She leans into his side with a small laugh.

"Dave, tell us what you think about James?"

Dave leaned down so he was beside the microphone. "I don't like him." this was a surprise to everyone in the room, especially both James and Frank. The jury looked at him like he grew four heads. "It's the truth, I don't, and when I was called by Longbottom to speak up, I didn't want to because initially, I despised him-"

Dawn didn't know where this was going.

"I mean I know he didn't know about Dawn, and I know he most likely would have been there if he knew, but still I hated him. He is a celebrity, he is arrogant, entitled-"

She heard her father mumble, "Thanks," from across the room.

"But he's not like that with his kids. Either of them. He knew about Dawn for a week, one week and then he showed up at...Sarah's door asking to tell Dawn about him. He wanted to know her the minute he found out. Sarah said no and James came back five times, five times before agreeing to wait to tell her."

Dawn thought she heard wrong at first: she knew James asked once but not five times.

"So James wanted to tell Dawn right off the bat?" Frank clarified.

"Yes, he did. He never told her about that because he didn't want Dawn to think less of her mum." Dave answered sending the smallest nods to James. "He took care of her during the summer, he helped her, he's been helping her. After Sarah died, Dawn didn't want to speak with James let alone move into their house. Now, she's got a home and a family-"

"A family?"

"She needed people and Lily Potter, her brother Harry, and James were all there for her. They have become her family."

At that, Dawn kinda wished Harry was here right now instead of setting up the after-party at home.

But even though he said that, and she would agree they were her family - he was too. Dave would always be her family, there were things he would understand that the rest of them wouldn't. He raised her for over a decade of her life. They would never replace him. He was the last part of her mum that she had left. He was the last person he knew her as much as she did.

"Do you think that James should get full custody?"

"I do," Dave answered, before leaning down to the microphone and very clearly saying. "It's what Sarah would have wanted."

Frank sent him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Dave, that'll be all."

He got down from the stand and came over beside Dawn, and gestured for her and Fletcher to separate. When they did he sat down between them.

"How did I do?" he whispers.

She grins at him. "Excellent."

Fletcher leans forward and gives him a look. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met."

"You're right," he stated, and the two shook hands. "Dawn's been writing to me about you for months-"

Dawn went red. "Stop."

"Oh, has she?" Fletcher held a hand over his mouth. "What's she been saying? All good I hope."

"You wouldn't believe-"

Dawn coughed loudly. "Stop."

"Lastly, I would like to call James to the stand," Frank says loudly with a small sigh.

Dawn's eyes lift. James stood up seemingly more confident now, walked over and sat down.

"I'd like to clarify James didn't know he was getting called to the stand today," Frank mentions, as James sits down. Dawn believed him just by the way James sent him a confused look when he called upon him. "James, what's Dawn allergic to?"

James gave him a startled look. "Er Onions, and blueberries."

"What's she scared of?"

"It used to be water, and small spaces but she got over them," James mentions, with a small shrug. "Now, she's scared of not making Quidditch captain next year. She also has trials for her Quidditch team after Hogwarts this summer-"

Everyone looked over at Dawn who says, "It's true, terrifies me."

"Now I can stand here for the next forty minutes quizzing James about how much he knows his daughter or I can simply let him tell you," Frank says and walks over towards his suitcase, he takes out a small jar with some sort of potion inside it. "Veritaserum is the most powerful truth-telling potion, and I'm going to have James take it."

Although the idea was smart, Dawn didn't want him to take it. Maybe because there was always going to be a part of her that thought the worst when it came to him. The jury murmured amongst themselves for a few moments.

When Dawn's eyes flickered towards James he was giving Frank a look that said don't. He didn't know about it. He must have known deep down that he didn't believe his words.

"It is clear that he doesn't want to take the potion," Benedict remarked, rising to his feet. "I don't-"

"I'll take it, pass it here," James says loudly interrupting the man. Frank hands it over and without hesitation he takes it. It was quiet for a few moments before it was visible by the glassy look in James' eyes that he was under the influence of the potion.

"One of the reasons that Kathy is claiming she'll be a better home for Dawn is because of the absurd accusation that James doesn't pay as much attention to Dawn as he does Harry." Frank began, and instantly Dawn wanted him to stop. "James, who do you prefer? Harry or Dawn?"

It was such a blunt question and caused the room to become quiet. She thought he was going to ask him something less, something that wasn't like that. It was a question she often wondered about herself and she never wanted the answer. She told herself that she didn't need to know the answer - because deep down she knew Harry was always going to be the perfect child.

The child was born to the woman who her father loved. The child James could see his wife's eyes in.

She told herself she understood it, she could understand why he would always prefer his son. However, it didn't stop the constant feeling of loneliness, and disappointment when she thought about it. She understood it, that didn't mean she liked it.

She did feel alone a lot of the time without her mum. It wasn't something she never said to anyone but felt it the minute she died.

Everyone had someone who they trusted the most, someone who was their person, everyone had one even if they didn't realise it.

For Dawn, it was her mum; she was always there for her and never judged. Like the time she went to say goodbye to Fletcher, she was angry for sneaking off but never yelled at her about it. She knew it was a stupid thing to do but she never questioned her reasons.

Even though Harry hadn't realised it, he had James. The two of them didn't realise it. Dawn knew it within a moment of getting to know Harry. The two of them had similar senses of humour and Harry talked with James about everything. The two of them had one another.

It was only recently that she realised that Fletcher was her person. He was the person she always felt as though she could talk with without being judged.

"Dawn." Fletcher nudged her into the shoulder. She blinks out of her thoughts and focuses back on what was happening.

"Harry and Dawn are two completely different children. I love them both equally. I couldn't choose between them. I was with Lily throughout her pregnancy, when Harry was born I was in the room, when he took his first steps I was there, I raised Harry. I didn't raise Dawn but she couldn't have turned out better. I wish I could have been there with her and supported Sarah, it's my biggest regret. I can't choose them both and I won't ever."

She could Fletcher's eyes on her and she tried not to react to his words. At first, she told herself it didn't mean anything cause he could be lying but then she reminded herself just how powerful the potion was.

"Do you think the claim that you prefer Harry over Dawn is right?"

His words were quite big to her because for the first time she believed them.

"It's the reason I wanted to keep Dawn a secret. She thinks it's cause I'm ashamed of her but it's not. I don't want people to compare them because it's what they'll do." James spoke as if in a trance. "No one should compare them. They're both completely different kids, they've gone through so much stuff. You can't compare them. They shouldn't be compared."

That was probably one of the best things she'd ever heard.

"I care about them both so much," James mumbled. "Along with my wife, they changed me for the better. I'm a better person because of them both."

"And do you strongly believe that Dawn is best safety in your care?"

"Yes." he answered without hesitation. "I'd do anything to protect her. I know that the other stupid lawyer is bringing up all the times she's gotten hurt, like the Ministry or the tournament but even the best parents can't stop what happens. Everyone gets hurt. I can try my best to stop it. I will always try my best to stop it."

"Would you have been there for Dawn had you know-"

"I wish I was." he answered with a sigh. "I really wish I was. I would have moved closer so I could have been there all hours, and there wouldn't be any limitations on when I could have seen her. I would have been there when she played Quidditch, when she first walked, when she went to Hogwarts, I would have been there for it all."

Frank smiled, "Very good, James. You may sit and take this-" he handed him the clearing potion to have his mind and mouth return to normal.

"You surprised?" Fletcher asked.

"Yeah. You not?"

"Not at all."

"Listen, I can stand here for hours telling you reasons why James is the best father Dawn could have. I really could but I've just shown it to you. James needs to be judged on the person he is today rather than the person he was." Frank finished. "Because the person he is today is an incredible kind-hearted father who deserves a chance to make up for lost years with his daughter. The last thing anyone needs, most importantly Dawn, is more uncertainty."

Dawn merely looked between the jury and judge. When Frank returns back to his seat she realised it was over. It was completely over and nothing could be changed or done now to change it all. Her eyes flickered to the clock - they had been her a lot longer than expected.

The candles on the cake that Harry baked were surely blown out at this stage.

"I believe this has been dragged out for too long." The judge sighed, his eyes flickering towards the jury. "I wish for you all to go into the chambers and make your decision now."

Dawn, with wide eyes, turns to Fletcher. That was it? She expected more. If anything she was expecting there to be a chance for her to get to speak - to persuade them about living with James. Even though she had a strong idea that they were going to win, still, she had so much to say.

Not to mention the fact she had an entire speech written in her pocket.

"Wait!" Dawn stood up and everyone's eyes went towards her. She stood there for a moment trying to explain what she wanted to say. "I-I...don't I get a say in any of this? What is happening right now affects me the most. How come I'm not getting a say in what happens to my life-"

"Typically yes, but this case is different. Unfortunately, miss Kale you've been living with your father all this time, you are biased." the judge answers. Her brows furrow. "You might not see that your father is a bad guardian for you. You may be blinded by your clear admiration for him."

Her anger rose but she pushed it aside. "But its my life. I should at least get to say what can happen to me." when they didn't bulge, she shouts. "That's not fair. None of this is fair. I want to live with my dad-"

"Dawn, please sit." the judge interrupts. "The jury need to decide."

"Oh, because ten strangers should get to decide what happens to me life? Because that's fair?" she retorts, raising a brow.

"Dawn, it's okay." James says, and when she turns to him, he gives her a look - one that took her worries away after a few moments. Hesitatingly, she sat back down, still upset. James mouthed, "It'll be fine."

She wanted to believe him, she did, but everything felt as though it had been falling downhill since last year.

The jury must have only been in the chambers for five minutes before they came back out. She was surprised by this but wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing. Her eyes flickered towards Frank and he answered her question just by his expression. He didn't look happy, and if anything seemed confused at how quickly it happened.

Dawn was at least expecting half an hour, let alone five minutes.

Fletcher raised an eyebrow. "That can't be good."

"Maybe it means they liked James." she muttered, keeping her hopes up.

"You're right. It's gonna mean that."

"Fletcher, please try sound more convincing."

"You are finished?" The judge asked as one woman hands them the votes. They all nod and takes their seats. Dawn's heart beats rapidly as he goes through the sheet of paper and reads them all. Fletcher's hand tightens in hers. She waits for him to tell them the answer. She waited long enough now. He went through them slowly.

The judges eyes fill with disappointment.

"We have five votes to Miss Kale and five to Mr Potter. It'll be my vote that decides whose custody Dawn should go into."

Dawn and James both threw their heads back and groaned. This was an absolute joke and she was so done with other people deciding what was happening to her. Fletcher seemed like he wanted to say something, as did Dave, but neither of them wanted to test the waters right now with this judge.

"I've my mind made up already." the judge begins. "I've sat here since nine o'clock this morning trying to see which household Dawn should go into. That's the main point of this. When deciding about where a child should go we take all the factors into our minds, we consider their age, each guardians living situation, each of the people's relationship with the child, we consider the child's preferences. We also consider what best fits the child's needs."

Slowly she saw Frank started to sit back in his side and bury his head in his hands.

She ignored this and focused on what the judge was saying. "I sat here this morning seeing how unsuited Kathy Kale is to being a legal guardian. I see how much she clearly knows nothing about her niece. However, living with Kathy opposes no risks. She won't be in constant danger from the dark-lord."

Dawn's continued to look at him.

"This is one of the most complicated cases I've ever dealt with. I see a young girl who has gone a grave deal in the matter of less than a year. I see a young girl who doesn't deserve to face any more danger. If she was to live with her aunt, she would have a lot more security."

Fletcher scoffed. "You're kidding me."

"However, I don't want to put her into someone's custody who she clearly dislikes."

Dawn just wanted him to shout out the answer.

"Out of the both of you, I want to award full custody to Kathy Kale." the words left his lips so fast and her body froze. "However, I don't believe either of you are the right household for Dawn to go into, so I am offering one more option."

By the time he finished speaking, Dawn was already in tears. This wasn't how it was suppose to go. She couldn't leave England, her entire family was here. Fletcher was here. Her entire life was here. Her memories with her mother was here. However when he said the last bit her eyes lifted. One more option?

Her eyes flickered across to James, who seemed to be holding back both his anger and sadness.

"Other option?" Frank repeated.

"We can settle this right now by offering full custody to you." the judge said, and it took her a moment to realise he was speaking to Dave. "Dawn, was suppose to move with you to Florida, correct?"

"Yes."

"I will offer the option of you having full custody of Dawn." the judge stated a moment later. The room was quiet and she didn't dare look at anyone else's expression except for her step father who seemed surprised. "I believe the best thing for Dawn is for her to return to a normal household. She needs normality. Her aunt is the second best option although not the best."

It was like a slap in her face. It wasn't an option - it was an ultimatum.

When the judge saw the angered look on James face, he says. "I do believe you care for your daughter, James, but her living with you isn't the safe for her. I hope you'll come to see that."

"I'm the one who can keep her safe!" for the first time ever, she actually heard extreme hurt in his voice. "I would do anything for her-"

"I'm not saying you wouldn't. But as you said earlier, incidents can occur and there's a less likely change they'll happen if she's kept the same as she is. One day someone will find out about her, and imagine what she will go through then?"

The question was hung in the air but didn't convince James. Everyone was stood at this stage

"That is not fair!" Kathy shouted.

"Silence!" the judge shouted.

"You..you don't have to do it." she whispers to Dave who turns to her. He gives her a slightly confused look. "I..I don't want you to do it because you have an ultimatum. I know if you ever wanted to take me into your custody you would have-"

His eyebrows furrow. "Dawn that's-"

"I don't want you to feel guilty about saying no, I don't want that. I-I'll live with Kathy. I'm not expecting you to say yes just because-"

"Dawn." he says this time more firm. "Before you met James last year, I was going to ask you if I could adopt you. However, I wanted you to get the chance to know him before I threw something like that in your face."

"You-you wanted to adopt me?" she managed fk say.

"Me and your mum always planned to wait until you were fourteen or fifteen to ask you. I wanted to give you a choice." he told her quietly. "I'll do it without hesitation but do you want me to?"

It was such an easy question if she hadn't met James; it would have been a straight yes followed by an extreme amount of happiness. However, it was an extreme amount of happiness but the answer didn't leave her lips so quickly. She knew there was no choice.

"I do." she says, wiping the tears from her eyes. "It just...hurts because I-I thought that-"

"You thought it would have turned out differently, I understand." he held her softly. He understood she wasn't sad about him being the one to get custody, she was upset because her father was across the room and had lost.

"Yes." Dave answers to the judge, and she didn't realise that everyone had been waiting for an answer. "Yes, I'll take full responsibilities for Dawn Kale."

The room was in uproar. Both Frank, Lily, Kathy and Benedict were all shouting at the judge and jury. The jury got up and left their duties were done and they took the potion to make them forget the entire case happened - that way to ensure that none of them could say anything about James. It had all felt like it happened so fast.

The worst part was the fact that she couldn't even look or go to James, because she didn't think she could handle looking at him.

It was him that walked over of her and without hesitation he hugged her.

"I'm sorry." Dawn cried out, leaning up on the top of her feet. "I didn't. I never meant to...I wanted to live with you-"

"Don't you apologise, this isn't your fault. None of it is." James muttered pulling away to examine her face. "I'm just happy you don't have to go and live with your aunt." he says the last part loudly, and it sounded as though he was trying to cover up the hurt in his voice. "If anything this is my fault because of the way I was."

"It'll be fine. We can still write and see each other." Dawn mentions, wiping her eyes. "You didn't loose."

"No, Miss Kale, it doesn't." the judge shouts loudly across all the commotion. Her eyes snap up to meet his ones. He shakes his head. "The same rules will apply. Starting from the moment you leave this courtroom, you will have no more contact with your father or your aunt."

Dawn stood there for a moment, before she burst out into laughter. "What? But my aunt didn't win. Neither did James. It was even. You can't do that."

"Failure to amend the rules will result in you being put into Kathy Kale custody."

Now, she was realising why James was acting the way he was.

"But when can I see him again? My dad, my brother, Lily-" she began.

"We will have another meeting this time next year to reassess the situations-"

Her eyes widened. "Next year. I-I'm not going to see...."

When she turned to James, he looked like he wanted to say a thousand things but didn't. Without so much as another word, he mumbles, "I'll see you at home when you have to pack your things." before leaving the room. It was so fast that she couldn't even stop him.

Lily came over, tears in her small green eyes, and said quietly. "I'll go get him. W-We also needed boxes...yes boxes to help you pack."

"You're moving." Fletcher muttered, and when he looks at him she frowns. "Y-you're moving across the world."

Dawn couldn't even process what was going on. When she turned to the top of the room, the judge finalised it all.

"The court today grants full favour custody to Dawn's stepfather."

▪▪▪▪▪

How many of you hate me right now?

Before anyone is wondering, there will be a goodbye in the epilogue, which will posted tomorrow.