“Oh, yeah,” Erica agreed with Benson. She glanced at Richard. “Of course it’s an acquired taste, but such a nice one.” She looks over at Benson. “What is the hottest food you’ve eaten, Benson?”

Erica just laughed and thought about it. “I’ll tell Piers, but knowing him, he’ll probably just give it away. Which is good for you – why spend money on something if it will get given to you instead?” she asked, the irony not lost on her, given her profession.

As they passed the stall with the scarves, Erica is drawn to it like a moth to a flame. “Richard, which of these will go with that leather jacket and pants I looked at earlier?” she asked, the cream colored outfit very much still fresh in her mind.

“The professor sounds like he was a brilliant man,” Erica said. “Too bad about the Voldy thing, yeah. But he had his reasons, I’m sure.” Her eyes grinned at him. “You want a reputation like that – brilliant and dazzling?

“The Weasleys were sometimes foolish, but luckily for them no-one died.” She snorted. “I’m sure they did. The stories told about that year is still legendary. Did they really have secret classes where she couldn’t find them?”

Erica tilted her head. “Why don’t you go to the shop on Diagon Alley?” she asked. “I didn’t meet him, no but his sister was seventh year when I was first year. The family is well known if only for being part of the resistance.”

She shuddered. “The Floo makes me ill, I can’t stand the spinning,” she answered. Erica gave Benson’s questions some thought. “You know, I think the taxi service is a good idea. Wanna go into business with me? We’d make a fortune! As for the flying carpets – I think there was an incident involving a Muggle parade or possibly a chicken, the details are hazy.”

Erica laughed again. “Well, the faculty is pretty formidable – I’d expect very clever and brainy people to teach my kids.”

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“I’m treated courteously, but not overly friendly. I think that is just because of the wizard/goblin relations. History is a difficult thing to forget if you’re treated like a third or fourth class citizen – or worse, like someone without any rights at all.” She was reaching a bit – her history was kind of spotty at best and the goblin wars was particularly dull.

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“Well, he sounds positively charming. I’d like to meet him sometime. Between you and Merrick, you’ve peaked my interest.”
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