Loads of Problems

"Loads of Problems"

Angelina Johnson was very nervous.

When she was on her broomstick, ready to score a goal, she never felt this way. Not even if Gryffindor's chances of winning the Quidditch cup completely depended upon her Chasing skill (which they often did, these days).

But now she was standing in front of her Muggle Studies class, ready to read her composition. It wasn't that she didn't think it was good. She was only nervous because she'd written it about the only thing for which she'd ever really cared more than Quidditch.

She cleared her throat. "Loads of Problems," she began. "By Angelina Johnson." She looked up and saw Katie Bell smile at her and give her the thumbs-up.

"I suppose I was quite naïve before I met Ardien," she went on. "I had applied for a pen friend through the Students United in Magic program at the Department of Magical Cooperation, deciding to take the suggestion of my friend Fred, who told me his older brother had participated and that it was really a worthy program. I was under quite a bit of stress from trying to manage a Quidditch team by myself, especially since a certain abrasively nasty new member of the Hogwarts faculty (whom I'm not allowed to mention but I don't think I have to) has been attempting to disband it."

There were some appreciative snorts.

"I thought that if I could just find another student somewhere who shared my love of Quidditch, I would e able to vent my frustration in a constructive way. But it wasn't Quidditch which became the bond between Ardien and I. It was our race.

"You see, I don't talk much about being black. Why should I, after all? At Hogwarts, and in the British wizarding community in general, blacks are few, but it doesn't matter, because wizards are too preoccupied with being nasty to Muggle-borns and half-bloods that they don't have time to bother with us." A few of the students laughed. Feeling heartened, Angelina continued.

"Muggles, of course, are all alike in regard to the purity of their blood. However, like all human beings, they search for differences with which to justify their division. Ardien, my pen friend, was not only Muggle-born, but American. To be a black in the American Muggle world is a bit of a challenge..."

* * *

Dear Angelina,

Hey! Thanks for writing me back, girl. I guess you wanted to know why the S.U.M. paired the two of us. Well, we aren't that alike, that's for sure. I've got to admit to you that I'm Muggle born and poor as they get. Not to mention that I go to the Salem Wizarding Academy here in the U.S., while you go to that British school, Hogwarts. But we do have stuff in common, too. Like the fact that we're both into Quidditch. I started playing in my third year at Salem. I got to be an expert really fast.

Plus, we're both black. That's why we really got paired. When I applied, I told them I wanted a pen pal who was black, because I really gotta talk to somebody about these problems I'm having with the American wizarding community. See, most of the wizards in America are African American, because they came to the New World a long time ago to try and help their race out of slavery. (I'm just gonna give you this really quick history lesson.)Wizards were so common in Africa back then that they mixed with Muggles freely. A lot of the Muggles who were being sold into slavery were their friends and families, and they couldn't do much to the slave traders since they weren't using wands back then. So they came and suffered along with their friends and families out of loyalty.

Then there was this whole thing with the white Americans. They hated magic because...well, they thought it was evil, so that was when the wizards started living in secrecy. (There was a whole mess in Salem where a lot of white women were being killed because people suspected they were witches, but that's a whole different story.) After the U.S. joined the International Confederation of Wizards, the wizards had to cut off all their connections to Muggles, so they kind of abandoned their non-magic brothers and sisters altogether after that.

At Salem, I'm not unusual for being black, but I am unusual for being Muggle-born. Most of the Muggle-born students here are white, since for the most part the European magical community stayed in Europe during the Muggle explorations a few centuries ago. I hope you don't think this is boring. I'm just trying to explain to you what my beef is with the magical government here...

-Ardien

* * *

"Ardien Benning grew up in Philadelphia, a large Muggle city with a very extensive poor black community," Angelina went on. "His mother was single, working as a maid in a hotel in order to raise Ardien and his two younger brothers, Lance and Corey. Ardien had never made friends easily and often suspected that there was something quite different about him. Needless to say, he was quite right.

"When he got his owl post from the Salem Wizarding Academy, he at first thought it was a joke, and ignored the letter. However, when he received four more the next day, he timidly showed them to his mother, who didn't know what to make of them, either. When he finally understood what this mysterious school was, and what he had to do to go there, he wrote a letter back explaining that his family couldn't afford the cauldron and spellbooks, but thank you anyway."

There was some whispering in the class. Angelina's voice shook as she continued.

"This is just the problem with wizard/Muggle relations. There is very poor communication between them. When Ardien did not turn up for his first day at Salem, The American Ministry of Magic finally sent a representative to Ardien's home to explain to his mother what exactly was going on. The school helped pay for Ardien to attend, but it did not cover all the costs, and his mother sacrificed a great deal to allow him to go...

* * *

Dear Ardien,

I suppose I see now why the wizarding world is so keen to ignore Muggles. It really does drive one mad to start philosophizing over just how easily some of their desperate problems could be fixed with magic. The trouble is, of course, if we were to alert them of our presence, we'd be swamped. As you said in your letter, they just have so many problems.

I suppose I understand how your brothers feel. I would be just as upset if my brother were allowed to go to a fine school and learn magic while I was forced to wonder whether or not I was going to be attacked by gangs the next day. But they've got to understand that you're going to help them as soon as you're old enough to use magic legally on your own. In the meantime, why not talk to your teachers or the parents of your friends? Couldn't they do anything to help support your family so you can stay in school?

-Angelina

* * *

"The American Ministry of Magic repeatedly turned down Ardien's request for assistance," said Angelina, her voice beginning to rise passionately. "Nor could he appeal to grown-up friends or teachers at Salem, because secrecy regulations are even stricter in America than they are here. Witches and wizards are not even allowed to enter Muggle communities unless they are either government officials, or, like Ardien, they happen to live in one. As a result of Ardien's inability to contribute to the family despite his training as a wizard, his brothers have grown to resent him. Even his mother is getting rather tired of having to stretch the family's budget tight enough to buy Ardien's school things. Chances are that he may not even be able to return to Salem for his sixth year.

"Despite the fact that the American wizarding community is overwhelmingly black, they have little pity for their Muggle sisters and brothers. The fellowship they shared centuries ago has long since dissipated, leaving families like Ardien's in a very bad position indeed. Hopefully, something can be done in the future to repair the rift between Muggles and wizards in America."

Angelina finished her presentation, gathered up her notes, and returned to her seat. After a brief silence, everyone began to clap. She was proud of herself, but their appreciation couldn't make her smile. She was still thinking about Ardien. Her mind kept returning to a picture that he'd sent her a month ago. It was one that had been taken at Salem Wizarding Academy, with some of his friends. It haunted her, how happy they had looked, laughing and pushing each other around playfully. She thought of how she would have felt if she had to drop out of Hogwarts simply because she couldn't afford to stay.

* * *

"Wow, Angelina," said Lee Jordan, catching up with her in the hall after Muggle Studies. "That was quite a presentation."

"Thanks," said Angelina. She was a little worried; she'd thought at first that he was going to ask her out again. He'd asked her out every year since they were eleven, but she'd never said yes. She was waiting for him to either grow up some or find a girl who didn't mind his antics. It wasn't that she disliked him; it was just that he was not exactly her type.

"Listen," he said, stopping. He looked concerned; there was no trace of the usual mischief in his dark eyes. Angelina was surprised. Was this a new Lee? "I--I wanted to talk to you. Until you gave that presentation, I always felt as though being black was something I wasn't supposed to really talk about. Not that I think anyone minds, but...you know--as though it were an uncomfortable subject."

"So did I," admitted Angelina. "But after talking to Ardien, I realized that it's an issue we have to address." She shifted her books to her other shoulder. "After all, the Africans contributed a great deal to the world of magic. There may not be a lot of us in England, but you can't deny that our legacy is everywhere."

Lee nodded, tugging at one of his dreadlocks absently. "Listen," he said. "I'd like to help Ardien. I've got a little extra gold saved. I was planning to buy a broomstick, but this seems more important."

Angelina gaped at him. Who was this boy and what had he done with Lee Jordan? "You--you want to give your gold to Ardien?" she said.

"Yep," said Lee, nodding. "I mean, it's not much to me, but it could be enough to keep him in school until he can get out and help his family. I feel like black wizards should be more united than they are."

Angelina was at the point of tears. She was overwhelmed with his generosity. "That's a very big thing to do, Lee," she said.

"It's the least I can do," Lee said. "It's not fair that such a smart bloke may not be able to finish school."

She laughed. Then, she thought of something. "You know what? I might even say yes the next time you ask me out."

He laughed, too, and Angelina noticed how perfect his large, white teeth were. He was very good-looking. She wondered how that fact had escaped her before. Perhaps she'd been too preoccupied with his joking to notice.

* * *

Dear Angelina,

Tell your man Lee thanks for me! That was honestly the nicest thing anyone's ever done for my family. My mom was in tears when I told her. I can't tell you how happy he's made us. Lance and Corey want to meet you guys, but I told them you're not supposed to come to our house. I was wondering if we could meet you in the wizard's section of New York over the summer sometime?

-Ardien

* * *

Ardien,

I talked to Lee and we'd definitely love to take a holiday in America! I'll talk to Mum. Hopefully, I'll have passed my Apparating test by then!

Love,

Angelina

P.S. Lee and I both have a pretty good idea of how to dress and act like Muggles, having taken a course this year on Muggle Studies. Fancy giving us a tour of "Philly?" We won't tell anyone if you don't!