I Really Do Know Psychology

They had chosen to fly on this trip, not for the experience. Back when he was working, flying had long since stopped being anything new to Lupin.

The fireplaces in the American Ministry of Magic simply weren't connected to Europe, and to make matters worse, their Floo Network was practically falling apart.

Flying Brooms were out of the question, too.

Word was that an Indian-descended Pure-blood Family was pushing Flying Carpets in the United States, and was locked in a fierce battle with the thoroughly homegrown Pure-blood Families that made Flying Brooms. The Ministry of Magic was currently at its wits' end, and the entire Department of Magical Transportation had ground to a halt amid strikes and all sorts of inexplicable protests.

In any case, the American Ministry of Magic wasn't nearly as powerful as people imagined. Like the British Ministry of Magic, it was a complete mess most of the time.

By comparison, the disastrous British Ministry of Magic almost seemed pretty good.

The three of them got off the plane and went to the Magical Congress in New York to register, claiming to be attending an international academic conference.

"This really isn't a good time to hold a conference," grumbled the middle-aged woman in charge of reviewing their application. Even so, she pulled out her Wand and tapped the Parchment. With a sharp pop, the crest of a Horned Serpent appeared on it.

Lupin smiled without saying anything. He took the Parchment, picked up his Suitcase, and led Anton and Anna outside.

Then they took a Taxi to an apartment building in Manhattan.

As soon as they walked in, the door of a small car parked by the roadside suddenly swung open. A plump, middle-aged man in a suit, with a grizzled goatee, climbed out. "Merlin's beard, Remus,