Chapter 5

Edward "Teddy" Lupin, or Ted as some called him, was in a quandary. He was torn between refusing Jamie or giving in to her request. Growing up together, Jamie had always been impulsive and reckless, and he was the one who had to clean up after her.

Sometimes, he even wondered if Jamie was really sorted into Slytherin, or if the sorting hat had made a mistake. Hell, she looked more like a Gryffindor with the amount of trouble she got herself into. Then again, she was a Black, and the Blacks were not known for being the most level-headed of people.

"Could you at least let me know where you are? That way, I'll know where to send it to." Ted asked, observing Jamie's face through the mirror.

"Awesome! Ask Kreacher about the family tent; he'll likely know where it's kept. I'm actually in the States right now. You can just send it to the post office. I'll pick it up from here. That's all for now. Catch you later!" Jamie didn't wait for Ted to respond before ending the call.

Ted sighed as he looked at his own reflection in the mirror. What choice did he really have other than to comply with her demands?

"Kreacher!" Ted cried out. Being a descendant of House Black, he could call upon the house-elves bound to the family to serve him.

"Why would the spawn of a werewolf be interested in old Kreacher?" Well, sort of.

Ted gave an eye-roll as Kreacher appeared in front of him. "Jamie wants us to send the family tent to her in the US." He explained, choosing to ignore the insult that the old house-elf had directed his way.

"Mistress Jamie? Old Kreacher will find it! Poor Mistress Jamie, staying in that uncivilized land. Madam would be really upset if she knew." Kreacher grumbled to himself before disappearing with a loud crack.

Ted exhaled heavily and ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn't a fan of Kreacher. In comparison, Jamie's house-elf, Koby, was much easier to get along with.

"Whatever, I hope she's doing alright in the US."

* * *

Jamie stared at the coin resting in her hand. Were it not for the renovation expenses, she wouldn't have found herself in a position where she had to seek help from Ted. It would have been easier to just buy them, but she didn't have that much money left.

The following morning, Jamie was greeted by an owl delivering a package. Upon opening it, she found a neatly folded tent. She nodded in satisfaction. The only thing left was to wait for Pepper to deliver the money.

After her morning meal, Jamie inspected her potion kit. Given the ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan, she took special care to include an extensive range of potions: Pepper-Up, Healing Draught, bezoar, and an ample supply of Acromantula venom. Of course, she also ensured she had enough food and water for her journey.

She then examined her collection of protective jewelry—a necklace, ring, and bracelet. Each piece had been enchanted with an array of protective charms and spells. Jamie knew the importance of being prepared, especially when traveling alone.

When Pepper finally showed up that noon, she found Jamie sitting comfortably on the couch with a trunk next to her. The attire Jamie had chosen looked more fitting for a social gathering than a rescue mission.

"Just as we promised." Pepper said, managing to stifle the urge to criticize Jamie's choice of wear. Happy then opened the boxes they had brought. Jamie picked up a sapphire and held it in the sunlight.

"The quality is decent enough. Alright, I'll accept the payment. Here, take this. It will notify you when the person is rescued." Jamie placed a blank parchment on the table and signaled for Pepper to take it.

"When do you plan on leaving? We can arrange for a private plane to take you there." Pepper asked.

Jamie smiled gratefully at Pepper. "Thank you for the offer, but I've got my own way to get there. I'll be taking my leave now. Koby will see you guys out later."

Making her way to the fireplace, Jamie picked up a handful of green powder and cast it into the fire. The flames instantly transformed into a vibrant emerald color. With full confidence, she took a step into the fireplace and announced in a clear voice, "Magical Congress of the United States of America."

Suddenly, Jamie vanished amidst swirling green flames, and just as quickly, the fireplace fire changed back to its normal orange color.

After some time, Pepper finally found her voice again. "So can we leave now?" She couldn't spot Koby, the one Jamie mentioned earlier. She asked cautiously, "Can we take the stairs? We don't need to go through the flames, do we?"

Pepper and Happy blinked, and in an instant, they were back outside. The door was now locked, with a closed sign displayed on the window.

They walked back to the car in a daze. Everything they had experienced in the past two days had completely overturned their perspectives and understanding of the world.

* * *

Exiting the floo at MACUSA, which is the US equivalent of the British Ministry of Magic, Jamie headed straight for the Department of International Travel office.

"Please state your name and business. You also need to present your wand for inspection." The curly-haired witch behind the registration desk didn't even look up as she handed a form to Jamie, which she quickly filled in.

Jamie gave her wand and the form back to the Ministry employee. She briefly scanned the form and nodded in approval. "Everything seems to be in order. You're cleared for international travel. Have a safe journey."