'Welcome to Privet Drive,' Harry said, turning down "Seether" as they entered his old neighbourhood. Kit was silent, and Nate's eyes were glued to the window.

'It's all the same,' Kit said quietly.

Harry nodded. 'The only things that have changed since I've been here are the vehicles in the driveways.'

Kit looked sideways at him as they pulled into Number Four's drive.

'You have to be good, Nate,' Harry said quietly as he unbuckled the toddler. 'No yelling or throwing.'

'Okay, daddy.'

And if you're really good we'll have ice cream on the way home,' he added in an undertone. Nate's eyes lit up. Kit rang the bell.

A smiling and much healthier looking Dudley flung the door open almost immediately. Harry had previously been told that Dudley had lost weight, but it seemed that he had lost much more than that. 'Hi, Harry,' he said, his smile only faltering as Nate squirmed in Harry's arms. 'Come in. And keep your shoes on.'

'Thank you, Dudley,' Harry said politely, leading Kit into the ever-familiar foyer.

Dudley led them into the living room where Petunia was seated with an athletic looking, brown-haired woman. Harry assumed her Dudley's girlfriend.

'Harry, this is my girlfriend, Julia Grass,' Dudley said as they entered. 'Julia, this is my cousin, Harry Potter.'

Julia turned around, a wide grin on her face. 'Oh, Harry! Kit!' she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and wringing their hands. 'Oh, and this must be Nate! Wow, Tony's told me so much about you!'

'Tony?' Harry said, 'Tony – you know Tony?'

'Of course she does,' Kit said, smiling at the girl. 'They share a last name.'

'I'm his little sister.'

'But why didn't you –?'

'Dinner should be ready now,' Petunia cut in, leading them to the dining room.

'So you're like them?' asked Dudley as he sat down next to her.

'No, I'm more like Harry,' she said, winking at him.

'You lost –' Harry began.

'No,' Julia interrupted, 'never born with them.'

Kit nodded, silently putting Nate into the highchair Petunia placed at one end of the table. They all began to eat in silence, Nate behaving himself quite well until too much force scattered his peas down his front. As Nate bent his head and picked them up (eating them as he did so), Dudley looked at Harry and Kit.

'Why did you keep him?'

Kit froze. 'What?'

Dudley looked taken aback. 'Why did you keep him?' he repeated. 'You put your life in danger and cut short your teenage-hood for – for what?'

Kit scowled. 'I don't believe in abortion,' she said coldly. 'That was never an option.'

'Then why didn't you give him up for adoption?'

Kit laid her knife and fork down, as they were trembling in her hand. 'It – I – we –'

Julia was looking between Dudley and Kit with an apprehensive look on her face. Petunia was staring at the potato on her fork, her eyebrows knitted together. Harry was glaring at Dudley as Nate happily fished out more peas from his lap.

'I mean,' Dudley continued, his eyes moving from Harry to Kit, 'if you were sure it was Harry's –'

'Of course it was,' Kit growled.

'– then why didn't you two get married?' he finished. 'I mean, it's only socially correct to do –'

Kit had stood up. Nate looked up, a confused and worried expression on his face.

'Mummy, dad won't get me ice cream if –'

'Don't you tell me,' Kit said furiously, pointing at Dudley, 'what you think is socially correct, you –'

'More roast?' Harry asked Julia loudly, drowning out Kit's next words.

'You,' Kit thundered, 'who used his own cousin as a punching bag for ten years? Who do you think you are, telling me – us – what you think?' Dudley opened his mouth, but Kit cut across him. 'You've never even apologized! And it's too late now, Dudders, because no one gives a shit what you think, you ungrateful –'

'I lost my dad!' Dudley yelled, jumping up and facing Kit. 'Don't –'

'And Harry hasn't? At least you still have your mother, aunt, and old family friends! Do you know who Harry has as a family now?'

The room had fallen deathly quiet. Dudley shook his head.

'His best friends' family,' hissed Kit. 'And his dad's last best friend. Do you know who he's lost?'

'Kit, that's enough,' Harry said softly, dishing more peas for Nate.

Dudley shook his head and Kit ticked them off her fingers. 'Both his parents, his godfather, Dumbledore, and Hagrid. The people that had given him freedom form his life of hell here.'

'I'm sorry,' Dudley said softly, sitting back down in his chair.

'No, you're not,' Kit said coldly.

'Phoenix,' Harry pressed, 'stop.'

'I am,' Dudley said, his voice rising. 'I never knew –'

'And you never cared!' Kit shouted, causing Nate to jump, tears coming to his eyes. 'You always thought him below you, thought he wasn't as tough as you – but you were wrong! You don't know half of what he's been through!'

'Then enlighten me,' Dudley snarled.

'He saved his best friend's sister when he was twelve from a giant snake and Voldemort! Then he went back in time and saved his godfather when he was thirteen! The next year he faced a dragon, swam to the bottom of a huge lake to save his best friend, and then went through a maze, fighting a huge spider and other magical creatures! The he watched Voldemort return to power, kill Cedric Diggory, and barely got out alive –'

'Cedric?' Dudley said, looking back at Harry. 'He's the one you –?'

'Dreamt about that summer,' Harry finished. 'Yeah, him and my parents that helped me out of –'

'They came back?'

Harry shook his head. 'Just echoes. Magic.'

Dudley nodded. 'Well, you lived.'

Kit scoffed. 'Sure he did! And the next year he watched his godfather die! Year after that he watched Dumbledore die, which is when all hell broke loose. You have no idea!'

'I know what he did after school,' Dudley said quietly, looking down at his hands.

'And every summer you made him miserable,' Kit hissed. 'He saved your life, and –'

'Kit, that's enough,' Harry interrupted, not looking at her but at Nate, who had tears silently streaming down his cheeks. Kit's expression softened as she saw what her temper had caused.

Dudley snorted. 'You should've given him away.'

Julia gasped. Petunia's jaw dropped, and Harry glared at him. Kit, tears in her eyes, fled the room.

'Mummy!'

They heard the front door slam, and Nate began to wail. Harry swiftly picked him up and put him in his lap as Julia turned to look at Dudley.

'Why are you looking so smug?' she asked him coldly. Dudley shrugged and she stood up, looking at Petunia. 'I'm sorry, Mrs Dursley, but I have to go. It was a lovely dinner.'

Petunia nodded and Dudley stood up.

Julia glared at him. 'No need to see me to the door,' she said coldly.

Dudley ignored her and followed her to the door. Harry attempted to console Nate as the other couple exchanged words at the door. The three in the dining room distinctly heard a slap before the door slammed for the second time that evening. Dudley did not re-enter the kitchen. Harry looked at his aunt.

'I'm sorry about Kit.'

'Don't be,' Petunia said, shaking her head. 'I didn't know Dudley would have said … well, what he did. I thought,' she whispered, 'that he had changed.'

Harry nodded as Nate crawled out of his lap.

Petunia smiled fondly as Nate toddled into the living room and climbed onto the couch. 'You're really good with him.'

'Thanks,' Harry replied as he heard Nate sob. 'I don't feel like that now.'

Petunia reached across the table and patted Harry's arm. 'You're braver than I was,' she said softly. 'But go get Kit. Dudley won't be back down.'

Harry nodded, pushing back his chair. As he reached the front door, he saw Nate peeking over the sofa.

'I'm going to get mum,' Harry told him quietly, opening the door. Nate grinned as Harry stepped out into the night.