That evening, Miss Petal rushed home. She arrived sooner then she had done before, but ran straight into the kitchen. She sat down, head in hands, completely confused. What should she do? She barely had time to wonder, when her boyfriend arrived home.
"Hullo! Didn't expect to see you home!" He said as he put the kettle on. "Tea?"
"Thanks," said Miss Petal. She sipped her tea, staring intently at the tiled floor. She got up, and practically ran to the bathroom. She pulled the little box from it's hiding place next to the bath, and wrenched the top open.
Here was the evidence of a life she had tried to forget. Potion ingredients scrunched up parchment, old quills, an assortment of odd coins… rummaging through the box, she finally found what she was looking for. Miss Petal withdrew a tiny pot, barely larger than a golf ball. Prising the lid open, she revealed some fine powder. She weighed the pot in her hands, thinking. After all, she doubted any one would be able to do anything (She wasn't even sure what she wanted to happen), yet she had gone so long with out any interference from the wizarding world, would her will power stretch to ignoring the greatest young wizard that had ever lived? How could she relax, knowing the power that could burst from Harry at any moment, and (Miss Petal shuddered at the thought)? No, floo wasn't the answer.. .but what was? Realising that she had no other option, she put the box away and went back downstairs. Her boyfriend said he was going for his next shift, and that he would be back soon. She said her goodbyes without really listening to the conversation. No sooner had he closed the front door, when a loud crack issued from the back garden, followed by a neat knocking. Miss Petals heart stopped dead. She hadn't heard that noise in seven years….
She got up as slowly as she could, and shuffled over to the door. Surely not two wizards in one day? But, as she opened the door, she saw that it wasn't just two wizards in one day; it was two very famous wizards, in one day. A tall man stood before her, in long violet robes. His white beard and overwhelmingly blue eyes were unmistakable.
"Well, are you going to invite me in? It's very chilly you know," He smiled at her, and she realised she had been gawking at him rather rudely.
"Yes, yes, of course… come in…" Professor Dumbledore trotted behind her into the kitchen, where he sat down and conjured a pot of tea. He chuckled at Miss Petal, who had been bruising herself at the kettle.
"Surely, when you're on your own? Not even a little bit of magic?" When she did nothing except gaze past him at the back door, he pressed on "I'm sure you know why I'm here?" She nodded. "Well, I have come to tell you that you are to treat Harry as you would treat any muggle boy," She looked at Dumbledore.
"But why?" She said her voice a little higher than usual. "Why isn't he with wizards Professor? I had heard rumours, but I thought that they were just – well, rumours," He did not answer straight away, but merely drank his tea in silence.
"Nobody knows what has happened to Voldemort," She jumped violently, spilling tea down her blouse.
"Don't they?" she said apprehensively,dabbing at the white linen with a tea towel. She tried to make it sound casual, but she was really doing what she had wanted to do for nearly seven years – ask Dumbledore about You-Know-Who. He grinned, clearly seeing right through her.
"I haven't a clue," His blue eyes twinkled "But I can't say for certain that he is truly gone. And when, I mean to say if, he returns" Miss Petals stomach did a back flip at the very thought. "Then killing Harry will be his number one priority. I have my reasons for sending Harry to the muggle, but I can't discuss them now. Rest assured, however, that it is for his own safety," She nodded. If it was okay with Dumbledore, then it was okay with her.
***
The next day, Miss Petal went to work with a somewhat different attitude. She hummed merrily to herself, reversing into the car park. She stood beside her little fiat, watching a shiny silver car roll into a space on the opposite road. The Dursleys clambered out. Mrs. Dursley holding a pink-faced Dudley by the hand, and Mr. Dursley walking beside them as they crossed the road; Harry was walking a few paces behind.
She sat down in class, unable to stop staring at Harry. He could easily be James. At this thought, she ached inside. She suddenly jumped back to her senses, and took the register, stuttering slightly on Harry's name. The whole class got changed for PE, and they filed onto the field, shivering in their shorts and t-shirts. It was a cruel rule, she thought to herself, that they weren't aloud PE jumpers. She got four children to set up the bases on the rounder's pitch, and sent two more to get the bats and ball.
When all six children had (finally) returned, she picked two team captins, and they chose players for their team. Every time a child was picked, she was shocked to see Harry sitting on the muddy field, fiddling with a bit of grass. He looked upset, but seemed to expect no other treatment. Harry was left until last.
When Dudley, having fought his way through the crowd of children, walked forwards to bat, Miss Petal could simply not see why Harry had not been last. Dudley hit the ball far out of the pitch, and Harry ran, at astonishing speed, jumped and magnificently caught the ball one handed. No one cheered or applauded. On the contrary, even on his own team, the children muttered and scowled at Harry. He threw the ball back to the bowler, looking down at his scuffed old trainers.
As the week carried on, Miss Petal soon learnt that the rounders incident was not unusual. Harry would always be left with the dried up paintbrushes, would be left alone when they chose teams, would be last in the dinner queue, and always stood alone in the playground. There was nothing she seemed to be able to do; she never saw the others being mean to Harry, but she never saw them being nice either.
After three weeks of being completely ignored, Miss Petal asked Harry to stay behind after maths.
"Harry," She said, squatting down so her face was level with his, unsure how to phrase this. "You don't seem very happy at playtime," When he did nothing but look at his muddy hands, she continued. "Are you happy?" He looked up.
"A bit," He said.
"Only a bit?"
"Well, I'm allowed to play on the climbing frames, and I like that," Miss petal looked at Harry.
"When you say that you're allowed…"
"I don't get the chance often, the others are on it," He looked innocently up at her. She sighed, and changed tact.
"Well, why don't I see you playing with your cousin and your friends?"
"We play by the edge of the field, so you can't see us from the window," Miss Petal was stunned at the speed of this lie.
"Very well Harry. You may go. But remember – if you do feel unhappy you can talk to me,"
"Okay, Miss Petal," and with that, he shuffled out onto the playground.
***
Harry did not come to talk to Miss Petal. Another three weeks went by, and she nothing was said about Harry – until one day just before half-term. She was walking past the headmistress's office on her way back from the classroom, when she heard the headmistress's raised voice and another, very familiar one.
" A very stupid thing to do, absolutely ridiculous" Came the headmistress's harsh bark.
"I d - didn't," Harry stammered through heavy sobs.
Intrigued, Miss Petal pushed open the office door. The headmistress was towering over Harry, whose face was dry from tears, but his whole body trembled under the furious glare the headmistress was giving him.
"Ah, Miss Petal," said the headmistress, glancing up and spotting Miss Petal. "I'm sorry to tell you that Harry has been climbing school property. He was on the roof of the kitchens, twenty foot in the air!" Miss petal stared at Harry in disbelief.
"I didn't Miss Petal, honestly didn't, I was running one minuet and up there then next –" Harry was hushed by a furious Headmisstress, who had no time to listen to silly exscuses.
" I will be writing to Harry's parents," Miss Petal was getting more and more annoyed with every word the headmistress spoke "And I don't expect Harry to be allowed out at break for the rest of the week,"
As Miss Petal lead Harry back to the classroom, she suspected that there might be more truth in Harry's word than the headmistress thought.