Harry had never understood how the Privets worked. The small, plain houses were all lined up like books on a shelf, each one exactly the same as the last save for a small ornament, perhaps a succulent in the window or a pinwheel in the yard.

The symbols on the flags that hung from the fronts of houses let a passerby know who in the family had fought, and in most cases died, in the ongoing war between Gryffindor, the kingdom Harry and his family lived in, and Slytherin, a rival kingdom.

The people of Privets were mostly Muggles and had no magic, much unlike the Pureblood wizards in the palace and surrounding city. There were a few Muggle-born wizards, such as Harry himself and his childhood friend Hermione, but they were treated equally to Muggles and didn't get luxuries such as wands.

Yet even while being treated like servants, the people of Privets had some dignity, a dignity that Harry could never pull off. Even as he sat quietly reading in his loft, occasionally pushing up his round glasses, he could hear his aunt Petunia talking to his uncle Vernon about "preserving the family name" and "getting that boy into a decent job."

But I don't want a decent job, he thought to himself. Hermione wanted a decent job, and now I hardly ever get to see her. She's too busy with the king to come home. He had known Hermione all seventeen years of his life, and now she was off serving arrogant Purebloods too lazy to fill their own glasses.

"Boy!" Uncle Vernon thundered from downstairs. "Get down here now!"

"Coming!" Sighing quietly, Harry put down his book and climbed down the ladder to the ground floor.

Right away his uncle grabbed his arm, steering him towards the foyer. "There's some important people here to see you," he hissed to Harry. "Go see what they want. And don't embarrass me. You hear?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon," Harry replied, while in his head he thought what else is new?

Just as he was about to twist the doorknob, Aunt Petunia came up behind him. "Act civilized," she whispered in his ear, while at the same time trying to smooth down his jet black hair, which permanently stuck straight up at the back and was impossible to tame. Then she hurried away.

When Harry opened the door, the first thing he saw was two figures, one of them so tall Harry doubted he could fit in the doorway. The other was a girl Harry didn't recognize at first, but when he looked at her more closely, he realized who it was and through his arms around her. "Hermione!"

The girl hugged him back, burying her bushy brown head in his shoulder. "Harry! I've missed you so much!" The two broke apart, beaming.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked.

"Nice to see you too," she said, laughing. "Official business. King's orders." She said this part loudly, as if to make Harry seem more important. Then, in a much quieter tone, "I got you a job."

Harry froze. "A job? Working with you?" It sounded like a dream come true.

Hermione nodded. "They pay ten crowns a week."

For a moment Harry didn't believe her. Ten crowns a week?" With that much money, he could leave his aunt and uncle and get his own house. He'd never have to go to bed hungry ever again. He might even have enough money to get a wand, like the Purebloods.

As if reading his mind, Hermione reached into the back pocket of the red uniform she wore. "I got one. Vine wood and dragon heartstring, ten and three-quarter inches. A bit flourish-y." She paused, then added, "Well, that's what Mr. Ollivander said."

She handed the wand to Harry, who rolled it between his fingers. "Wow, Hermione!"

"And I've already learned some spells, look," she said, taking back the wand. She then pointed it between Harry's eyes with the command "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The world suddenly became very blurry, and Harry rubbed at his eyes until he realized his glasses were gone. "Hermione…"

"Look up."

Harry followed her gaze, and sure enough, he could make out a blurry brown shape rising and falling above him. "That's amazing, Hermione! You really are... "

"...the brightest witch of them all, I know," Hermione finished. It was an old joke between them, and they laughed again.

"What's going on in here?!" Uncle Vernon came storming in. His eyes landed on Hermione in her uniform. "Who the ruddy…"

"Hermione Granger, sir," Hermione said quickly. "I'm a friend of Harry's."

"What are you doing here?" Uncle Vernon asked, rather rudely.

"I've gotten Harry a job," Hermione responded. "He serves the king now."