*St. Grogory's Primary School*
Emily was stirring her coffee with one hand, giving Lilith hard eyes.
"Just because he is different doesn't mean you treat him like that," Miss Emily said. "You know what he said, make him like any other kid."
Lilith gave her a hard look. "Have you seen his clothing? Really, now. I am not treating him any different than any other child."
"I don't see you fawning over his cousin," Emily said.
"Dudley?" Lilith asked. "That kid is an issue. He doesn't do his homework, he bullies other kids, and his father is one of the meanest people I have ever met. He called me sugar when I told him his son was failing out of maths. Oh Sugar, don't worry, he will be fine when he gets older. Women just aren't good at maths."
"He is a bit of a bastard," Emily agreed.
"I could have turned him into a cow," Lilith said. She opened her take-out box and took a bite. "If he tries to hit on me again, I am walking out. The money is not worth listening to that fat worthless Muggle call me inferior."
Emily took a long sip of her coffee. She didn't know how people in England liked tea better. Coffee gave a kick where it was needed. Tea was boring and plain and not worth its weight in gold.
Lilith watched her friend and sighed. "It's been almost 11 years, he's going to go back soon. If he isn't broken already," she whispered. "He's not old news, not in the world-But he is going to drown in that family. They will destroy him if they can. I have heard the mother, calling him an abomination."
Emily looked up sharply. "Did you follow him home again?" she demanded.
"They thought I was a dog," she said.
"You know better than that," Emily chided, gently.
The younger woman was filled with a lot of compassion. She didn't know how Albus Dumbledore worked. The man would have her gone in a second if he knew-the pity she had for that little boy, Lilith would be sent to some other location to watch rich kids learn to fly on a broom.
"I want to help him," Lilith said. "He's so skinny and-Why would he send that kid to those people?"
Emily paused. It was nothing short of magic that Albus had been allowed to send Harry Potter anywhere that wasn't to a magical family. Some laws were meant to be broken and this might be one of them. Still, Lilith was young, only 23. She would have been a First Year when Voldemort fell. And it showed in her carefully constructed bravery.
"Do you know anything about him?" Becky asked. "About why he was sent to live with his Aunt and Uncle?"
"No."
"Then it might be best to let people who do run the show. I agree those people are terrible, but not useless." Emily smiled.
The bell rang and the women stood up.
Outside in the hallway, both women took a deep breath. It was time for class.
