Our American Cousin

XVI

A Connected Hufflepuff

Sara knocked on the door to the Hufflepuff common room and waited. She heard a creak as the suit of armour guarding the door turned to look at her. After a moment a mousey girl of about 14 stuck her head out.

"Hi, I'm looking for Justin O'Brennen. Is he here?"

"Yeah. Come on in." The girl waved her right in. Unlike the ornate Gryffindor common room, the Hufflepuffs had something that looked more like it came from a Muggle university, with generic, utilitarian furniture, and some limp houseplants.

"That's him." The girl pointed to a tall boy huddled in the corner, reading. Sara approached cautiously, but openly, making sure nothing could be taken as sneaking.

"Justin O'Brennen?" The boy looked up from his reading.

"Yes."

"What's the price of carrots?"

"32 pence." A slight nod passed between them.

"Sara Todacheenie."

"Justin O'Brennen." The two shook hands carefully, sizing each other up. Sara had learned a long time ago to be cheerful with, but careful of, your friendly neighbourhood arms dealer. "Please, step into my office." Sara was led up stairs to the Hufflepuff's boys' dormitory where she got the chair while Justin perched on his desk.

"I won't ask who you know."

"Good, because I won't tell you."

"Well that's set. What can I get for you?"

"This, to start with." Sara handed him a small piece of paper. After a moment he gave a snort.

"I like this request. Very American."

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"Not in the slightest. I'm assuming you know how to use all this." Sara gave a thin smile that sent a bit of a shiver up Justin's spine.

"Yes, thank you."

"I can understand you not wanting to be unarmed these days."

"Sometimes a bullet or a blade is simpler and more effective than a spell."

"Certainly more surprising around here. Most of this I have in stock. The rest you'll need to wait a few weeks."

"That will be fine. Cash on delivery?"

"Of course. And prices are practically market. I take galleons, pounds, gold, or dollars."

"Market, with slight mark up for shipping and handling of course?" Sara asked with a smirk, knowing full well the answer.

"Of course."

"If I like what I get and the price is reasonable I might be willing to do business in more complicated items."

"Such as?"

"You hear the rumours about Moldywarts and open battle?"

"Along with everyone else, yes."

"Well, let's just say I'd feel safer if I knew I had the equipment to pick off Death Eaters from a quarter mile, or fill their ranks with 320 bullets in a minute." Justin smiled.

"I like the way you think. Tell you what; I'll make sure to throw in some nice sharps with your order, seeing as how you're a new customer." Sara smiled back.

"And who says you can't get customer service in Europe?"

Dear Mom and Dad

Just writing to say hi. Everything's going well here at Hogwarts. I'm learning some fairly interesting things about potions I never knew before.

People are starting to gear up for the first Quidditch match of the season. It's the big event here at school. A couple of my new friends are on the house Quidditch team and have been practicing like mad. Anyways, I hope things are going well at home and everyone's keeping out of trouble. Give hugs to the grandparents for me.

Love

Sara

Dear Nathan

Just writing to say hi. I'm doing just fine although I wish I could say the same for everyone else. The American press has been seriously underplaying the Death Eater problem here. I don't think a week has gone by without someone getting a messenger crow telling them they've lost someone in their family. Most of the attacks have been far away from Hogwarts, which I think is lulling everyone into a false sense of security. Apparently the only person Voldemort (aka The Dark Lord, aka He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named aka You-Know-Who aka Tommy Riddle aka That Red Eyed Son Of A Bitch) really fears is our headmaster, so he's keeping a distance for the time being but I don't know how long that will last.

There's also been talk of a possible overthrow of the English Ministry of Magic seeing as how nearly everybody is very dissatisfied with the current Minister. I think they're angry because they don't know which side he's on.

That's the update from the western front.

Sara T.