When Harry was two, the adoption was finally done. It had been a huge amount of paperwork and multiple visits from social workers, and the temptation to use magic was at times almost overwhelming but they managed and in July of 1983 Harry Evans was finally and legally Millicent and Martin Evans' son.
When Harry was three, Dudley found out why Millie had been so keen on living in Willingham. She had joined a reading club that met weekly and a few weeks after joining another young mother came visiting. Mother and daughter were introduced as Eleanor and Hermione Granger. Millie had offered to babysit the girl, as Eleanor was keen on going back to work in their dental surgery.
When Harry was four, Dorothy Evans was born. Harry was a proud and helpful big brother.
When Harry was five, Sirius Black called. He had been searching for Harry ever since a year earlier Mrs. Figg had moved to little Whinging and reported that Harry was not at Privet Drive. They met and after a long afternoon they agreed that Black could meet with Harry every few weeks, going out with him in the company of one of the Evanses.
When Harry was six, Hermione had her first case of accidental magic. She had thrown a tantrum when a teacher had confiscated a book from her for not being age-appropriate. The book had hit the teacher over the head and flown back into Hermione's hand. Harry told the story when they came home after school with tear tracks on Hermione's face. The explanations for the Grangers at dinner were long and complicated but in the end, after a demonstration, Hermione's parents accepted that their little girl was special and so was her best friend.
When Harry was ten, they sat down with him and talked about his first parents and how they died. They talked about the legend of Harry Potter and how the wizarding world would receive him. Harry wasn't very keen on the idea and was very glad that he would be "Harry Evans". The only thing that made him sad was that he would have to hide his scar. He liked the scar. It always made him the best pirate at the playground.
When Harry was eleven the Hogwarts letters came for both of them. They celebrated with Hermione and her parents. The trip to Diagon Alley was remarkable only for Hermione's enthusiasm at Flourish and Blott's and the expressions on both children's faces as they held their wands for the first time.
And then the Hogwarts Express pulled away from King's Cross.
"Did we do it right?" asked Millie. "We should have done so much more. He's still carrying that thing. We have just a few leads on the other pieces, and –"
Dudley put one arm around Millie and the other on his daughter's shoulder.
"He has a friend who's with him, he has parents who love him. He's a scrappy boy who knows how to have fun. Both our children know we will always have their back. We did good."
He turned them around and took their hands.
"Let's go home", he said.