Weeping Willow [James]

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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June 12th, 20227

Part of the stipulations that the Council had put in place following the destruction of Hogwarts was that if the Ministry wanted druid schoolchildren to return for their exams in the springtime, everything needed to be cleared with a representative first. Fae had been chomping at the bit to go back to the mainland school for years, always having appointments cancelled for various tragedies or the changing of Ministers. Now was better than ever though, and the Council had been more than happy to accept her request to travel abroad once again. It seemed like they were starting to be looser on their restrictions as long as she got through her required duties and didn’t miss any important ritual periods. Which was why she was going now rather than the following week, when Litha began on Saturday. Whether or not visiting the school months before the druid children were supposed to attend would actually achieve something was yet to be seen, but she was going to take the opportunity and run with it. The Ministry seemed fine with it as well, having attached another security detail to her for this trip again.

Things sort of ebbed and flowed with them. Fae liked to think that she was in the good graces of several department leads by now, namely Bianca, and everything seemed simpler with Minister Root leading the charge. The mainlanders really needed a leader that could last longer than a few years if they wanted any sort of consistency in their government. Not that she was really one to talk, since her term was for life. The Council obviously changed occasionally, or at least enough to bring in newer ideas every so often. As long as they continued to allow her to freely travel to the mainland to conduct business, she had no reason to complain. Everything seemed to be going as smoothly as possible on Hy-Brasil considering the looming problem of Yrisle and the Wyrd.

Her own security detail had traveled with her all the way to Hogsmeade, which looked like it had barely changed since the last time she had been there. The castle, its towers visible from where her portkey landed, definitely looked to be different though. She had read the list of changes that the education department provided her with, but seeing it all in person would really help solidify what had been done to the school following the attack the prior year. Leaning heavily on Merlin’s staff as she stood by the gate that separated the wizarding town from the magical school’s campus, Fae absentmindedly played around with changing the shape of her nose. She rarely did that, but being bored had pushed her to extremes like this before.

james sirius potter ● 455 ● Book of Shallows by Avantasia

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[james sirius potter]

Learn to fly again,

LEARN TO LIVE SO FREE

June 12, 2027
fae iona cloudbreaker

James couldn’t believe it was the summertime already. The year anniversary of Hogwarts’ fall had just appeared, at least to James, it had. For the past year, he’d tried so hard to simply look forward and get on with things. He didn’t want to think about the things he’d seen or experienced or remember those feelings of dread as he ran into the flames and didn’t know where his sister was. Or the panic he’d felt deep in his chest when someone he cared about was almost taken down by the fire in front of him. No. He'd looked forward, and then suddenly, it was May again.

It was the second time that James had visited the new campus. It was quite different than the structure and grounds that he had grown accustomed to, but perhaps a fresh start was needed to move forward. That seemed to be the theme. Though at least he’d been charged with a familiar assignment he was pleased to take on. He quickly made his way to the gate that separated the village from the school. ”I hope the package I sent with Bianca arrived safely.” Honestly, he’d considered the possibility that she would simply throw it overboard. Who was James to be befriending someone of such standing? But James had never had an issue making friends.

Slowly, he approached. His hands were politely behind his back, not that his wand was far out of reach if needed. A simple tour was not typically in the duties of a Hitwizard, but he was also here as protection for the Ministry’s esteemed guest. And again, Bianca had warned him not to talk too much. As if there was such a way to place a quota on how many words he spoke in a day. But she hadn’t been in his face this time with that searing glare. Instead, his boss had warned him from behind her desk, looking almost…relaxed. But he didn’t think much of such things. He was happy to take the assignment and have a chance to speak to the High Druid again.

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[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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Shifting the shape of her nose through various ones she had seen on her travels was an interesting experiment, though she always had to go back to her own before producing a new one. Fae assumed this was due to not practicing enough, only ever finding enjoyment in using her ability for her hair. Being deceptive wasn’t in her nature as a druid and she knew her people would not take kindly to her masquerading as someone she wasn’t. Such a thing felt dirty to her. But changing the color of an eye or the length of her hair at will was fair game. By not being able to be an animagus, she was allowed to have some fun with her inherited ability.

So halfway through making her nose elongated, like that of how muggles viewed witches, Fae looked up to see her Ministry guard for the day. “James!” she said excitedly, nose snapping back to the way it was meant to be immediately. “I did, thank you for your kind gesture. There are still a few left, as I did not know when I would be coming to the mainland again to get more. But now I plan on going there today if I have the time,” she explained. Buying another box of the butterbeer flavored hard candies was slated as the second most important thing to do on this trip, right behind doing her official work here at Hogwarts.

“I’ll be fine from here. If there is any trouble, I’ll send my patronus,” Fae told her security detail in Brasilic, knowing that no one would ever miss the giant ethereal griffin flying towards them. Her connection to the herd back home apparently meant that her patronus manifested as one. It was kind of cool. What wasn’t cool was the cautionary glance from her guard as she turned to leave. She had a bad habit of sneaking off when he wasn’t looking, especially over the past year, and he’d been reprimanded a few times by the High Guardian. Fae tried to wave off the mistakes, mainly because she was really good at disappearing quickly. Nothing had happened to her during any of those instances, and he always found her in the end.

“I have a little time before I am to meet the headmistress. I was thinking of looking at some of the changes to the school first, if that is fine?” she asked James as they began the walk up to the school. This was really on her time, so it was more than likely okay. As long as she got to the Great Hall by the correct time, she had the ability to look around both before and after her meeting.

james sirius potter ● 454 ● Leaving Soon by Ira Wolf

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[james sirius potter]

Learn to fly again,

LEARN TO LIVE SO FREE

June 12, 2027
fae iona cloudbreaker

James looked curiously as Fae let her nose shrink to its normal size. He’d almost forgotten that The Druid Queen was also a metamorphmagus. It was a fascinating ability but not one new to James. Teddy had always entertained them by changing his facial features or hair color. His grandmother had looked on nostalgically, commenting that Teddy’s mum used to do the same to lighten the mood. ”I’m glad!” James was half convinced Bianca would throw his package out to sea on her way to the Island simply because it had come from him. But he’d chanced it, and it had worked. ”I’ll see that we get to that, or I can send someone to fetch them as well.” James offered.

The best part of working on such an assignment was that he was more than just your standard foot soldier hit wizard for the day. He was escorting a rather important foreign dignitary, giving him access to resources to ensure her comfort. But he mentally made a note to fit that into the busy schedule. While he could send someone for the candies, he figured Fae might enjoy the entire candy store. James stood tall, hands behind his back, respectfully waiting as Fae addressed her detail. James had heard the language before but couldn’t make heads or tails of it. In fact, foreign languages had not been a skill of his. Something about it simply confused his brain.

”Yes, of course.” James had visited the campus when it first opened. There was something nostalgic about it, but he’d also forced himself to walk the grounds. A mixture of ancient stone pathways with new structures atop them. It was a way to heal, to accept that all that destruction meant something despite how horrible it had been. And along the way, he’d gotten to know the general placement of everything. He’d always been good with directions and knowing where he was. They walked through the gates and immediately saw a sign for M.A.G.I.C. The campus was empty aside from a few Professors walking from building to building. ”I believe this is where the first through fifth years will attend their classes.” James had read up on the changes but was nowhere near the expert on the facts as others would be. And he was sure Fae would get the whole spiel when she met with the High Council later.

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[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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In regards to the candy, Fae had secretly wanted to buy a bag of it at least. Multiple boxes worth. Or strike a deal with a butterbeer distillery to ship to Hy-Brasil. She had no idea how the logistics of that would even begin to work, yet she wanted it to happen. At the same time, keeping the drink as a treat for whenever she visited the mainland also worked. Sort of. The cravings were real, and she now knew why the druids had selectively chosen what to import from the mainland. Sugar was the real enemy here, and she loved it. "I would like to go myself and see if there are any other candies I might enjoy," she stated. She had yet to visit the famed Honeyduke's too, and she imagined it would be worth the trip.

Heading up towards the castle, she finally started to get a better understanding of the size of the new buildings. They were sprawling, whereas the old castle had never seemed that way in recent years (though definitely had when she first visited for her O.W.Ls years ago). James pointed out the sign for the M.A.G.I.C. building and Fae made a mental note of it. Of the handful or so of druid children that would be attending, this was the school that they would be attending. So essentially how Hogwarts had always been. She had little control over what the students in L.I.F.E. did, aside from giving them guidance towards what would work best for their studies.

"I have been appointed as the guardian for the children we are sending this year. It is very exciting," Fae added, not trying to hide said excitement at all. She wasn't exactly clear on what that meant yet, though there was a reason there was a meeting today with the powers to be. "Supposedly I am to be their representative, similar to how parents are for their children."

james sirius potter ● 323 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

Learn to fly again,

LEARN TO LIVE SO FREE

June 12, 2027
fae iona cloudbreaker

James had seen a few High Council members walking to another building. They also seemed incredibly busy, although he doubted they would keep the High Druid waiting for long. He figured his time with her was already limited. Which was a shame, he thought. Most people found individuals with such grand titles intimidating, James included, but she was not what she seemed. In a good way, of course. Their conversation had felt seamless, and he supposed it was just a meeting of two curious individuals. ”Very well.” James agreed. After all, he wouldn’t turn down a trip to Honeydukes either. ”We can go after your meeting with the High Council, so you don’t have to rush.”

He resisted the urge to stare at his surroundings for too long. Scoping out everything was one thing, but his job was to be on guard. The likelihood that something would happen was low to almost no chance, but it didn’t stop that chill up his spine. The path he walked was different. It was new and without the soot and everything else from before. Fae explained that she was appointed the guardian of the students attending from Hy-Brasil. It was surprising, but it made sense. From what Fae had explained to him so far, James figured not many parents would want to make the trip, and it was simply easier to consolidate with a representative.

”Oh, that’s interesting.” James responded. ”I suppose that makes it all easier?” He asked, genuinely curious. That would never happen here if only because the parents he’d met were not the type to sit and wait for anything. It reminded him of his mother, whose sharp look could silence all her children at once. ”How often will you visit?” James asked calmly, or at least to the best of his ability, on that question. Other Hit Wizards or Aurors in his position would have complained about being sent on what might be a “boring” assignment. He was happy to volunteer on account of the good company, and it saved him from admitting he liked a calm assignment now and then for the mental break. Turning a corner, more signs were displayed like those at any crossroads. Probably to help students from getting lost. ”I imagine you’ll have to speak to the Professors now and then.” James added turning right would lead them to the staff buildings while going left would leave them in the maze of LIFE buildings.

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[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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How was she even supposed to think of anything but candy at this point? This meeting with the High Council was going to be horribly boring when she had sugar on the mind. "My guardian secretly wants to go too. He always looks so serious but enjoys when I have to attend meetings or events and there is new foods to try," Fae explained happily, as if she didn't have that same problem. A young witch she had talked to during her last visit to the Ministry had said that the two of them were something called foodies, which she still didn't truly understand. Didn't everyone like different foods? That was part of the human experience, she thought. And as far as she knew, sugar was made to elicit happy and fun feelings, so why wouldn't druids want it? It was certainly better than their all natural candies and other 'sweets' that were made on Hy-Brasil. As much as she enjoyed them, they didn't even compare to what the mainland had to offer. Only the Wormwood wine had a chance at that.

"I believe only if there are issues with the student and then in the spring for a conference of sorts with the professors that parents are supposed to attend." Which was probably easy for parents with only a couple of kids. Fae had almost a dozen druid children to think about. They were all studious and kind kids, so she wasn't too worried on that front. It really all came down to how time consuming those meetings would be in the spring time. "I always look forward to speaking to educators. They have insights on teaching that I always benefit from." Even the few Hogwarts professors she'd spoken to over the last few years had been enlightening. Those that had traveled to Hy-Brasil two years prior for the field trip had all been excellent. She wished that could happen again soon.

james sirius potter ● 323 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

Learn to fly again,

LEARN TO LIVE SO FREE

June 12, 2027
fae iona cloudbreaker

It was good to know that not all Druids, especially the Guardians were so serious all the time. A playful curiosity always seemed to appear when those candies were involved. ”So, what you’re saying is—if I bring him some candy, I might get a smile out of him?” James joked. The irony that he was Fae’s current escort was not lost on him. But nobody could ever tell James Potter not to smile, crack a joke, or even stay quiet. The truth was, or at least according to Vivian that he’d probably combust. It was not a bad trait. However, it made James’ off days that much more noticeable.

But he could understand her security’s seriousness. Guarding and protecting their leader in a vast and foreign place where many misunderstood them. It didn’t stop James from noticing the pointed glare from him every time, as if he hadn’t met James so many times now. He nodded as she responded. It made sense. And word always spread through the Ministry when Fae or anyone else of her standing would be visiting. Not in a gossip sort of way, but just general knowledge. And James would be around, at least as long as Bianca hadn’t sent him to the other side of the planet for talking too much. He was about to go into some of the staffing changes he was aware of, but he saw a tall figure approaching out of the corner of his eye. ”Looks like they’re ready for you.” James stopped, allowing Zabini to approach them. The older man nodded at James, who reciprocated. ”I’ll see you after.”

[ end james ]

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