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You know, one would assume, wrongly, that kindergarten teachers would have no such things like petty squabbles and rivalry. Yet, teach toddlers regulatory skills long enough (plus a handful of basic arithmetics), and you'll find that it ebbs away at your own skills outside the classroom. It could be attributed to exhaustion or other such things—but Tom will, at the very least, admit its Harry Potter's fault.
"Oh you little shit-"
When one wasn't lying straight through their teeth to themselves (and others), one would clearly see they're just like, straight up evil. They may pet the puppies and be a wonder with kids, but it's all evidently a facade! When one steals from the communal fridge and glues everything in one's classroom, it's obvious there's not other recourse but well-earned violence. Harry had earned a little vengeance, hadn't he?
"You have no proof it was me,"
The counsellor stares straight into the eyes of both of those men simultaneously. (Don't ask how that's possible.) She's usually meant to help out the kiddos, but it seems that lately, due to the principal being too lenient, she was forced to act as some sort of… couple's therapist. By the gods, she thought these two should just fuck already and get it over with. This was actually becoming a nuisance to their student's learning opportunities, and she knows they both care deeply about their charges.
Three voices, three people, three colleagues—and two of them hate one another's guts.
Who will win?
"Tom, it's not about winning," Clearance chides gently, "It's about working together to be the best we can be."
Sounds fake.
"Harry, I can hear you even if you're murmuring,"
Clearly, his enemy had no knowledge of what inner thoughts were. Inner thoughts weren't meant to be broadcast. They were, as the name implied, INNER. Only an imbecile—
"You too, Tom!"
The hypocrisy could make Harry laugh for day, but he held back because clearly, Clearance was not having a happy camper moment.
"…you think? You two need to settle down your troubles, right here and now. I won't tolerate anymore tomfooleries from the part of two grown adults! Your students are upset at this. There's a reason they refused to go to class until you two get along."
At that, neither Tom nor Harry made a smart comment. But they didn't speak, either. Clearance felt like a clearance rack, unfortunate pun unintended, where her efforts were considered cheap and looked down on. But emotional stability shouldn't be thought of like retail, go in buy some shit feel better—it should be considered like a choice. Something you choose every day and every moment, and you keep choosing, even in your lows. Even when all you want is to fall into those old habits. Maturity is a commitment; you can't half-ass it.
"Talk to each other," Clearance pushed, "Why do you two hate each other so much?"
Hate? Hate was such a small word for what Tom felt for Harry. Tom thought he was stupid and unimpressive from head to toe—"I know he's insulting you, but let him finish speaking. Do watch your language, Tom."—Hate was kicking and screaming, but what he felt, this loathing, was quieter. It was how he saw Harry let himself be disrespected by everyone, stepped on used as a doormat. Hate is what he felt towards Harry's family, who were content to think he was worth nothing because his job was supposedly derisive.
None of these people actually cared for their children, or the future of the next generation, and that was hate. He remembers the first time he met Harry. Surrounded by kids who taught the world of him, and the next time he met him : small and quiet, surrounded by screaming adult children.
Harry spoke of hypocrisy, yet he was the biggest hypocrite Tom ever had the pleasure of meeting. The man is an excellent teacher, he'll admit that, but the rest is just a shell of a human being he cannot stand seeing.
"…alright. And what do you make of that, Harry?"
Tom spoke of hate, but he knew nothing of it. Harry was used to be met with stupid reasons for it, and Tom's was the most dumb of all. The man never lets anyone close enough for him to be vulnerable. The self-loathing drives him insane! He'll act arrogant but Harry knows well he spends his hours counting down until he can go to work or to his volunteering commitments. He's a deeply lonely and miserable guy who takes it out on Harry for stupid reasons.
Harry already gets enough flack from everyone in his life for having chosen to go teach kindergarten after getting his doctorate. They said he was wasting his brain—but he was right where he wanted to be. Wasted potential was, in his opinion, a harmful myth. It prioritized value over people, and was just the kind of capitalistic mindset he was trying to shield his students from.
Mr.Rich Boy philantropist had never known how to back up actions with words. He'll do the right thing, but the way he gets to it is so deeply convoluted Harry is sick of him and his two cents ideals.
"Okay… so, from what I'm hearing, I don't think you two hate each other. Tom, you're upset Harry has little self-respect. Harry, you're upset Tom is isolating himself. From what I hear, you two care about one another."
Tom and Harry exchange glances.
Then they smiled.
Clearance Terra Piste was scared for her life. Which! Meant success for her. She totally won this session, let's be honest.
"HEY!" the men said in chorus but she just shrugged. "My job is done, I can go back to having a personality, you know."
Tom Riddle, in his soft cardigans, and Harry Potter, in his super-hero t-shirts, began teaching in joint after the intervention by Clearance Terra Piste. They went on to educate wonderful children who grew up to be artists, scientists and more.
They also lead a revolution that ended capitalism but that's just a foot note.
And Clearance Terra Piste? Well.
You'll have to see in the next episode of People Who Changed The World.