Lloyd was a fool. All he got was that single kiss, and then Petunia twirled around, giddy.

“Did you see his face?” She snorted, “As if a muggleborn wixen couldn’t have possibly bested him —the great and powerful half-blood prince?”

And then she was gone, simply calling behind her, “All right, Lloyd, see you Sunday for brunch, yeah?”

“Yeah,” he said, out of breath, “Yeah, okay.”

----------------------------------------

“So? Who is he?” Lyla prodded, both metaphorically and physically —pressing her finger into Petunia’s side.

“He’s a terrorist.” Petunia replied, whacking Lyla’s hand away, “And he wants to take Harry back to England.”

Lyla scowled, “Over my dead body.”

“That’s what I said,” Petunia sighed, showing her weariness for the first time, running her hands across her face and drawing attention to the red rims and dark bags covered by a glamor, “What am I going to do if they don’t stop?”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Oh, Pet,” Lyla hummed, wrapping one arm around Petunia’s shoulder, “We’ll just have them all deported. It’s not like they can force him back. Hell, I bet Lloyd would be willing to pull some strings to pause connections between New York and London until Hecate’s starts. When is it again?”

“August 15th.” Petunia said, voice cracking.

“Okay, it’s August 2nd now. That’s what? Two weeks?” Lyla snapped her finger, “Easy, we’ll have Stevie hold Snape on even more in depth charges, and use that as a reason to close the direct immigration line.”

“Okay,” Petunia pulled away, straightening her dress and perfecting her hair. Her face was back to a cool nonchalance, “Tomorrow I need to take the boys shopping for supplies. Lloyd was supposed to join, do you or Prim want to come as well?”

Lyla out on a bright smile, “Of course! We’ll get them kitted out, yeah?”

Petunia smiled, wrapping Lyla in a full hug.

“I don’t know whatever we’d do without you three.” Petunia, in a rare moment of sincerity, held Lyla tightly. Lyla thought she would break the woman she grasped so tightly back. Lyla wouldn’t waste the love Petunia gave her. Not the trust.

And so, she went back to the office with a new determination.

Her and Prim and Lloyd worked through the night, putting together a books worth of charges to add to Severus Snape’s charges. It would take an act of God to free him in time to stop Harry’s enrollment at Hecate’s. Lloyd, meanwhile, called the only string he required.

The President of the MACUSA. One Lisa Farnsworth. Lloyd’s sister.