"A lot of them haven't been raised to want to be taken seriously," Elliot said gently. It was as close to subversive as he would get at work - and, honestly, he stood by it. A significant chunk of the wealthier girls - and the very wealthy boys - at Hogwarts were only at school to prove some level of magical proficiency before they got married and devoted their lives to making money through 'having money.'

Elliot thought of Meri. He could take her seriously, he thought, given the chance. The question was whether she would ever take him seriously.

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