Aperture Of Body [James]

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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March 24th, 2028

"I have put in a request for the same security detail to be used weekly, that way we will not have to keep tracking down lost mainlanders every other day," Fae laughed as she guided James Potter along the eastern coastline of Hy-Brasil. She hadn't liked the Ministry involvement at first. It felt like an intrusion on her home and there had been many lengthy meetings with the Council on how to proceed forward. Without the barrier and the retreat of Yrisle, she personally felt like capitulating a bit. The aurors and hit-wizards that were sent as security were mainly only there to prevent other mainlanders from attempting to illegally enter the island. Which was a silly pretext because that would never happen. Druids knew the land better than any mainlander ever could. The second an unwanted soul stepped onto it, they would be known by every living thing here. That was how it worked. At the same time, the sudden reintroduction into the modern world had drawn a lot of curiosity beyond just the government and parties interested in flora and fauna. Preventing Hy-Brasil from losing anything else, especially it's creatures, was the main reason she had accepted assistance in security.

James happened to be one of the ones that occasionally got sent, making her duty of showing each new person around the island a lot easier since she already knew him. There were others she recognized as well, keeping the number of new faces to a minimum. Having the same team rotate throughout the days of the week made it a lot easier too. They worked in shifts, usually one during the day, a second at night, and were replaced daily since they had other duties back home. This was nothing her guardians couldn't have done themselves, but it was something they would have to deal with for the time being. She could always renegotiate the terms of the deal at a later date. It wasn't like she was going anywhere.

"Have you been shown the interior trails of the island yet? she asked as one of her more frequently traversed ones was coming into vision. "I have been told by other mainlanders that they are easy to get lost in... The particular one they were approaching led to one of her favorite spots on the island: a small pond a quarter of a mile into the trees that was only ever frequented by the griffin herd she tended to. A perfect hideaway when she felt like shirking High Druid responsibilities.

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

James nodded as if Fae could see him while he followed her lead. ”Makes sense.” He could only imagine the annoyance a lost mainlander would cause, whether intentional or not. James liked to think he had a good sense of direction, but Hy-Brasil was a big place. When Bianca explained their purpose here and began to hand out assignments, James had not argued with his. To be fair, he wasn’t asked if he wanted to be part of this. But a few visits later, he still marveled at this place. It was peaceful in a way home was not. And Bianca was smart. She wasn’t sending all the Aurors and Hit-Wizards abroad, knowing that some might risk an international incident offending when they opened their mouth.

If he was being honest, James looked forward to his assigned shifts. And occasionally, those rotating out would visit Boudicca’s Grace, including James, if they didn’t work the next day. So far, there had only been one or two minor incidents. Herbologists and other harmless types attempting to take advantage of the open borders. It wasn’t the adrenaline-pumping work he was used to, but that view from the coast made up for it. ”No, I’ve mainly been near the coast.” James responded his scanning his surroundings. It was a beautiful place, and for the most part, his mind had felt clearer than it had since the new year when he’d gotten dumped. James hadn’t quite been like himself since then. Maybe the fresh air would do him good.

”I don’t suppose a four-point spell would help?” It was partly a joke. It would be helpful to know, though. James looked forward again. Fae seemed so at ease here than back in London. Naturally, he’d brought a restock of those candies she loved. They had seen one another in passing, but she had her work as the High Druid, of course. And now she showed him around much as he had on the mainland. ”Bit of a maze, isn’t it?” One didn’t have to try very hard to get lost here.

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She didn't blame any of the mainlanders that visited for wanting to stay on the paths along the coast. It was hard to get lost when those walkways always ended back up at Boudicca's Grace. But where was the sense of adventure in that? Knowing enough about James from all the help he'd provided whenever he was attached to her for visits, she figured a little trip through the forest would be more than enough to officially welcome him to Hy-Brasil. A taste of something that the other mainlanders probably wouldn't get for a while.

"I have never needed to do that, so I do not know if it would work or not," she responded. She probably couldn't with Merlin's staff. What would that even do? Lift up in the air and point the correct way like the wand did? Certainly a curious string of thoughts to pass through her head. It had gotten to the point where she rarely had her wand on her unless she was off-island. The two conduits functioned differently with her: Merlin's staff had bonded quickly and listened in a way that made even nonverbal spellcasting seem like a joke. As for her wand? It worked on a smaller level for sure. It didn't contain the raw magical power that the staff did, and she knew now not to expect too much from it. She still enjoyed using it for rudimentary tasks though since it wasn't exactly easy to carry the staff around with her for the little things.

"It may not work, now that I think about it. The amount of magic here may confuse the spell. You are welcome to try though," Fae added, almost as an afterthought. Calling the forest a maze was an apt description. She could waltz through it in the middle of the night without a light source with no problem. With her eyes closed, not as effectively, though she was getting better at it. As she climbed the small embankment that separated the beach from the stone path that circled the island, Fae led James straight to the opening into the woods. "You will not get lost if you are with me," she smiled and held her hand out to him as she took the first step onto the path. Any further and she knew she'd disappear entirely. The trees had a habit of masking anything just beyond the fringe.

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

James wondered if perhaps all the Druids knew these paths from experience or if it was due to some magic he didn’t understand. Over time James always had a chance to ask more about Hy-Brasil, and everything seemed so unbelievable. Now that he was here, well, it all made sense. And Fae always answered his questions, however many he could ask, before his brain registered he was probably talking too much. He’d never voice his opinion that maybe Bianca could learn a thing or two about patience from the High Druid.

The way Fae made it sound, it was like his final years at Hogwarts. Where his feet would take him to whatever staircase or entrance on his way to a class, as each school year had gone by, the Castle essentially shrunk, not that he felt like a first year again. He was excited to see other parts of the island. The maze of the forest definitely discouraged foreigners, but he had a guide—the High Druid herself. ”You’re probably right.” Her reasoning was sound. And he didn’t want his wand flying out of his hand into the unknown because of the magical interference. Soon they approached an entrance. She looked back at him with a smile and assured James he wouldn’t get lost.

Her eyes were a bright and clear blue in the natural light of the island. James knew an adventure when he saw one. And not the kind from work that was always so serious all the time. He grinned and took her hand, following her in. ”How did you learn all these paths?” Even growing up here, it didn’t look like a small forest. Surely there was a limit to what one person could learn in their lifetime? Fae clearly wasn’t as old as some of his superiors or even his parents, maybe a few years older than him. James didn’t know. ”Does everyone know them well?” James thought of the popular spots he and his cousins and friends would always visit. A random but perfect clearing to play Quidditch, although the path to get there involved using specific plants and even tree branches as landmarks. But they always knew the way.

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The curiosity the mainlanders had about Hy-Brasil and druid life rivaled that of her own for mainland society. While she was completely flummoxed by phones and their overall nonchalantness of how they practiced magic, it seemed like druid culture supplied an almost infinite wonder to them as well. What was inherent apparently came across as learned. Which could be true, the more she thought about it. The knowledge of the paths through the forest was something she just knew without thinking about it. Maybe it came from being carried by her parents everywhere at a young age, or from seeing it all overhead when her favorite griffin allowed her to take a ride. She immediately made a mental note to show James the herd, as that was an integral part of her as a person. There was a chance that one or two of them could be at the pond too. Water two plants with one spell. That would be ideal.

"Could you walk through your home in the dark with your eyes closed and generally find where you need to go? It is sort of like that." She also had a dirty little secret. Being the island tour guide for those couple of years had given her free reign to walk about without much thought by the rest of the community. Fae knew the main paths and tricks to get from point to point far better than most. Obviously that didn't include pathways like the one they were currently on, but she learned quickly. As High Druid, time spent thinking and observing nature was encouraged. There was no such thing as needless wandering, despite there being a lot of it these days. "I would say that some know them better than others. But getting lost is not something that happens to us here. The island would not allow that." Rather, the magic wouldn't let it happen. Druids were equipped with so many innate abilities to communicate with plants and animals that a concept such as getting lost really didn't exist on Hy-Brasil. Even if she, with her inability to turn into an animagus or fully speak to plants and animals, had ways of finding her way out of the trees. Though that probably had more to do with her being High Druid or carrying Merlin's staff. Both seemed to assist in far more than most realized.

"It is too bad, you just missed one of our days long festivals. The Council has become more accepting of letting mainlanders observe these last few years." Not that James would have been able to speak to her much throughout Ostara, as she had a series of tasks and rituals to perform. Thankfully they had another dozen or so littered throughout the year. He would probably be around for one of them. "I have heard that apparently mainlanders know of our next one. We call it Beltane, the spring equinox, but you call it May Day." Personally she had always enjoyed any ritual that included large bonfires. The whole animal sacrifice thing was required despite her own thoughts on it, but things had gotten easier the more she had to do it.

james sirius potter ● 529 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

Many in the Law Enforcement department had scoffed at these assignments. Finding any way to not be assigned. But in James’ mind, they were missing an opportunity. While he certainly missed the adrenaline his work typically brought him, when would he ever have the chance to learn more about Hy-Brasil in person? And while James and Fae had known one another for a couple years now, it was still surreal the leader of the Druids was showing him around. Had James traveled to the United States, he hardly expected the President of MACUSA to show him around New York.

As his parents could confirm, James had always been a curious child. That curiosity was mainly focused on planning a prank or some other complicated plan that had his Uncle George beaming with pride. His personality and reputation often overshadowed the curiosity he gained from his grandfather, Arthur. How did things work and why? He’d already made mental notes to visit his grandparents when he was back home to tell them about this. James still followed Fae, though he walked a bit closer. One might not think a forest could be particularly interesting, but James would disagree in this case. He would never be in tune with the island's magic as its native inhabitants, but he could still feel something in the air.

”So more of a feeling?” James asked. He knew the layout of his home. He’d grown up there. But it wouldn’t save his toes from ultimately meeting the corner of a door frame at some point, he figured. And then again, knowing which way was North without a compass or spell helped him with his job. But her following response left him a little confused. He tried to think of a follow-up question but didn’t know precisely what to ask when Fae spoke again. With a nostalgic grin on his face, James nodded his head. ”Yes, May Day.” But James was curious about Beltane. ”Do many of us—mainlanders attend the festivals?” Sometimes, referring to himself as a mainlander felt odd. There was a quiet moment as James paused his stream of questions. But it wasn’t awkward. ”Thank you for showing this to me.” He knew the tour wasn’t over, but he was also aware enough to know that another Druid could have shown him around as well. ”I’m sure you have a lot of things you should be doing.” James added with a grin. She was the leader of their government, after all. If her work was like any of the Minister or the Department Heads, Fae likely had rolls of parchment stacked somewhere or other paperwork to attend to.

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"Exactly!" she exclaimed while holding a large, low hanging leafy branch out of the way so the two of them could pass. "Maybe even more than a feeling...it is hard to explain sometimes." The closest she had ever heard of a mainlander getting to understanding the 'feeling' was by those that had stepped foot into Yrisle. A more sinister, internal magical feeling she was sure, but the way they described it was eerily similar to how druids overall knew of the magic that the island contained. Having such an intrusive magical tickle from Yrisle sounded horrible to her, as her only experience had led to an overwhelming nausea and her metamorphmagus ability going haywire. Some researcher probably found that interesting though. Fae hadn't enjoyed it in the slightest.

Fae had been quite curious about the mainlanders that showed up at the druidic festivals these last few years. Most were researchers, trying to see where their own versions had deviated from the more classical interpretations (their words, not hers), and how the druids had altered their rituals from using sacrifices. Apparently ancient mainland texts and muggle moving pictures liked to depict these as acts of savagery to the old gods. Everything was so much simpler than that. Not that she was offended by the mainland's silly attempt at understanding her culture. "Some do. I do not get to interact with them most of the time because of my responsibilities. Hopefully one day though." She had heard that there had been a surge of mainlanders celebrating similar festivals over the last few years too. If only she didn't have her role to complete, otherwise she would have loved to see their interpretations in person.

"Of course I do. But quiet contemplation and listening to the island are just as important to my duties as paperwork is." Fae stopped walking as they broke through a particularly thicker tangle of trees and bushes, the pond she had been leading James to now in full view. The griffins were nowhere to be seen, though that wasn't completely out of the ordinary. They were probably late to wake up, or eating second breakfast. "This is what I wanted to show you," she said happily. What a great day for it too! Even in the rainier seasons, there were very rarely any bad days on Hy-Brasil. With today being particularly warm and sunny, the soft glow of sunbeams breaking through the canopy of the trees and playing across the surface of the pond was, dare she say...magical? "I come here often with the griffin herd I tend to. I was hoping they would be here, but it looks like it is just us for now..."

james sirius potter ● 448 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

Like a choreographed dance, Fae gracefully walked, talked, and moved branches and such out of the way for herself and James. It was sort of mesmerizing to watch, but there was something about the High Druid that left one awestruck. James had undoubtedly fallen into that boat, but it didn’t take him long to get over feeling starstruck. Fae may be the High Druid and all that, but she was also a person like the rest of them and someone James liked conversing with. I’m the day-to-day of drudging London life. Such authenticity stood out. The way she and other druids spoke of the magic on this island wasn’t something he could even comprehend and, honestly, probably beyond James’ comprehension. But it was obviously special.

”Does one have to be invited?” The last thing James needed was Bianca on his case about interrupting or interfering with an important Druid cultural tradition. Maybe one of his cousins would be interested in accompanying him, especially if Fae were occupied, which totally made sense that she would. Or maybe one of his Uncles, or his father? James mentally made a note to ask when he returned home. Finally, they reached their location, according to Fae. Before James could thank her again, his eyes trained on the pond and then followed the beams of light sneaking in through the trees.

It was wonderful. Beautiful and peaceful all at the same time. ”Wow.” James didn’t realized he muttered as he took it all in. ”A herd of Griffins?” James hadn’t expected to hear that. So the High Druid tended a herd of Griffins, he supposed that made for a fun fact. But also, his curiosity got the best of him. ”What are they like? I’ve never seen one in person.” James probably looked like an excited little boy. But it had never taken much to pique his curiosity. Walking up to the edge of the pond, James stood close enough to look into the water. He could somewhat see his reflection, something he’d been sort of avoiding. It was enough the people in his life were as loud as he was and constantly reminded him he looked tired or sad, but he didn’t feel that here. Maybe the fresh air was a good idea. ”It’s peaceful here. Or is that just the magic?”

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"We prefer there to be an invitation, yes," Fae answered as she let go of James's hand and did a small twirl in the sunbeam. Even though they had just been on the beach, the warmth of the rays through the trees had always felt more comfortable to her. Less harsh and more welcoming of a nap. "Though I do not believe you would need one at this point. Many druids know you now, and they would think nothing of you watching." The same could be said about several of the researchers that had visited for decades. She hesitated to call them honorary druids, but they were not looked down upon for visiting and staying on the island. In her own mind, she equates them to the mainlanders that married druids and then started living on the island. They were still 'outsiders' by all standards, yet they were not treated as such. Of course, that was all determined by the Council and not solely her, so if James truly did want to attend a ritual, such as May Day, then she would put in a request. They would never turn her down, but everyone was held to the same rules. Even her.

Fae often forgot that griffins weren't in abundance off of the island. Growing up with them only a short walk away had distorted that. "They are very gentle to those that they know. So because I have lived with them my whole life, they are comfortable around me more so than even the other druids." Not that her people would ever have an issue with a griffin not trusting them, Fae just had a better way with the island's herd. She did not have an affinity for them like some druids did with animals, but she felt she was about as close to them as one could be. They were her friends after all.

Watching James approach the pond, she continued to walk around, looking for a good place to sit down. The griffins tended to press down and wear out the spots they laid on, so she wanted to find a patch of grass that had been untouched. There were few, but she did eventually find one. "It is both. I come here to clear my mind often because no one else knows of it." James was the first person she had ever shown the pond too. In a way, it felt strange to be speaking to someone else in a place that was normally used for quiet contemplation. "So you must keep it a secret," Fae added teasingly, putting a finger up to her lips.

james sirius potter ● 439 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

That was a surprise to hear that James would not need a special invitation. It was flattering. And at least it confirmed he had not somehow embarrassed the entire British Ministry of Magic as Bianca feared he would. ”Oh—well, I’ll probably still request one.” He responded sheepishly. Regardless, James still felt like the outsider he was to this community regardless of the connections he’d gained. Not in a negative sense, of course. He supposed it was just overly-cautious behavior. This was a bit odd for James, in fact. Looking without leaping was far more his style, hence his decision for the more reckless career as a Hit Wizard rather than an Auror. But like a child burned despite a warning the stove was hot, James erred on the side of caution.

A herd of Griffins. James thought repeatedly. His Uncle Charlie would be amazed. They were powerful creatures and as dangerous, if not more, than Hippogriffs. It was common for children to mix up the creatures because of the name. James had also done so, but not as he grew older. After all, his Patronus was a Hippogriff, so he greatly respected the magical beast. ”That’s extraordinary.” James commented. ”So, you have to earn their respect like a Hippogriff?” Not that one shouldn’t respect all magical creatures, but it was a well-known fact about Hippogriffs if one wasn’t looking to get mauled.

James turned and looked at Fae, who had located a place to sit, as her fingers met her lips. ”I—um—of course. Lips are sealed.” James motioned as if he were closing a zipper across his grin. He returned to the High Druid, taking a seat next to her. Everything about this place was tranquil and calming. ”It must be helpful to have somewhere to hide. I don’t imagine you get much time to yourself as the High Druid.” That was likely true of any leader, whether of a nation or a Ministry Department. Merlin, James could only imagine, and he’d held a heavy weight on his shoulders occasionally. ”So, tending a griffin herd, hiding from the Council…what other hobbies do you have?” James asked playfully, looking over at Fae.

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"Mmm sort of. I guess respect is part of it, but most is from trust. It helps that druids have a natural affinity with all animals too," Fae explained. There had come a point where she almost forgot that normal witches and wizards couldn't simply walk up to dangerous magical creatures and expect everything to turn out okay. The best example had to be with the dragons that lived on the island. To a mainlander, being friends with one was almost incomprehensible. And yet there were druids that did just that. Like how she had the griffins as hers. "I went to one of those cat cafes once in, what do you call it? Horizon Alley? And all of the cats there swarmed me. So it happens with almost any creature," she extrapolated. The memory of that made her laugh, having forgotten how the cats there had basically pulled her to the ground so they could all try to figure her out. It was like if she had catnip permanently attached to her.

James took a seat next to her, mentioning how she probably didn't get much time on her own. "Not since the barrier came down, no," she responded, quieter than before. To say there was sorrow in her tone wouldn't be completely inaccurate, though it came across more as a defeated tired than anything else. Despite doing everything she could to rectify the disaster, there seemed to be nothing out there to make it all go back. Merlin, in all of his wisdom, had failed to record his methods in multiple places. While she was sure that was on purpose, it left the island in a predicament that she now had to navigate. There were times where she felt like she wasn't capable of leading her people through it. She had certainly never asked for this responsibility. But here she was, eight years as High Druid and it still hadn't gotten easier.

Pulling her knees up to her chest so that she could sit better and look at James, she continued, "Reading, mostly. I do not have as much access to new books as I would if I was on the mainland, but I try to get one or two whenever I can. The walls in my home are almost completely full with them now!" she laughed. Most were old school textbooks that she managed to get from other druids, some even duplicates. She still enjoyed all of them just the same. "I could show you? The griffins may be around there too, since they live in a clearing behind my house." As she said this, Fae got back to her feet and held out her hand to James. "It is not much further. Plus, you should know where I live. For official duties."

james sirius potter ● 466 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

James wondered if Fae had interacted with his Uncle Charlie much. Even if James had only shown an average interest in magical beasts, spending time with his Uncle taught him respect and trust were important. Everyone in his family seemed to pass along some important lesson to the next generation, though the thought always made him miss his Aunt Hermione. James curiously listened to Fae’s story of the café in London, he knew the exact one. With a chuckle, he tried to picture the High Druid under a mountain of cats. ”I know the place—there are a lot of cats there.” James felt neutral about the creatures. Their family had the dogs, after all. But he knew cats were picky in their own way, or so he was told. They must have sensed Fae’s genuine nature as most people did near her.

Right, the barrier. James hated to admit that he forgot about it sometimes as he was either focused on his work entirely or distracted by places like this. A secret cove of sorts with a pond, the perfect place to think. No wonder Fae kept it to herself—or had kept it to herself. ”Bianca has mentioned it once or twice.” It must have been difficult to deal with such complex and ancient magic, but James wasn’t well-versed on the issue. It wasn’t as if the Head Hitwizard went into detail during briefings. And that’s why he was here, wasn’t he? To help with the borders, the barrier once managed.

Before James could answer, Fae had begun to stand. He grabbed her hand and stood as well. ”Alright.” Made sense. His duty was to help protect Hy-Brasil, including the High Druid’s safety. Should something happen where she lived, any delays could prove disastrous. Logically, it all fits. James followed Fae, still keeping an eye on his surroundings—a mix of working and how he could not look? ”I could always bring books back from home—the mainland.” He found himself offering. James traveled back and forth enough that it made sense, and he could always ask Benny for anything specific from the bookstore if he couldn’t find it. Looking ahead, James wondered if he’d spot the herd before they arrived or would they just miss them again. ”Do you have a favorite book?” James wondered as they walked.

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She should have known the cat cafe was popular just by the amount of people that had been there when she visited. The staring crowd as she was swarmed by a dozen or so contentedly purring cats and half-kneazles had been in awe. One day she would go back, though to make it easier on the establishment, she had decided she would send an owl in advance. That seemed appropriate and much more professional.

Fae really did try not to let the barrier issue consume every waking moment. Which was hard to do considering she carried the potential key with her everywhere. She hoped that she would one day figure a way to reestablish some sort of protective layer around the island, more so than the one that deterred muggles, so that the people and creatures alike could have a bit more security and peace of mind. She wasn't one to care about her legacy, which seemed to be a popular way of thinking on the mainland, but fixing what was broken felt like the right thing to do. Leaving behind a paper trail as well on how her experience was with the entire ordeal also had to happen. One thing she had learned throughout this was that previous High Druids left very little in the way of important information. Maybe at the time, measuring rainfall and crop output was required and deemed a high priority. While the farmers still notated all of that, it was far from being part of the High Druid's duties anymore.

Deciding that it was better not to dwell on the subject of the island's safety for too long, Fae nodded her head and continued to lead James towards her house. "Could you really?" she asked excitedly, turning almost all the way around to face James as she continued walking backwards. The path they were currently on (which she considered a path but barely looked like one due to the overgrowth), would lead right to where she wanted to go. Walking forward wasn't exactly a requirement for her at this point. Each divot in the dirt alerted her to changes in ground pitch and when she needed to alter her course slightly. Years of traveling under the starry night skies had allowed this to be possible. "I will read anything. Most of the books I have are informational ones. On creatures, plants...the night sky. But I am always looking for more." She had yet to add anything new this year, though hopefully that would change on her next visit to Diagon Alley. The funny workers at the book store always liked when she visited.

"Here it is," Fae stated as they broke free from the path and into the clearing where her home was. A small, single room structure, she disliked calling it a shack despite that being the mainlander word for it. Very few druids actually lived on the ground, most opting for tree houses or a hybrid sort of building to call their homes. Her family just so happened to be the sort that enjoyed living closer to the earth. Ironic, considering their surname.

The area surrounding the four walls of her home was an organized clutter of various materials and plants that she needed for the majority of her ritual appearances. And a collection of various rocks that she had picked up either in the forest or along the beach. Fae didn't find it necessary to tell James the story on every object, but she could if they had enough time together. Two trees in the corner of the plot were tied together in the middle by a makeshift hammock, where she spent the majority of her time when she wasn't working. "We allow nature to grow into our homes, so please excuse the vines you see inside." Not to mention it was messy. Her interior walls lined with the aforementioned books, ranging all topics both magical and muggle.

Setting Merlin's staff in the corner of the entryway, Fae waved her wand and two stools appeared for the two of them to take a seat. "Tea?"

james sirius potter ● 684 ● Song by Artist

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[james sirius potter]

it leads you here,

despite your destination

March 24, 2028
fae iona cloudbreaker

James stood, eagerly following Fae to their next destination. The area they were leaving still lingered in his mind. What a nice and peaceful place to sit and gather your thoughts. It was probably important to have something like that with an important position as High Druid. "Sure." James responded confidently, smiling. "Wouldn't be a problem." Only Merlin knew the last time James Potter entered a bookstore willingly. Contrary to popular belief that his skull was a little empty, James did enjoy reading. The difference was he preferred the subjects he wanted and on his own time. It was far better than his school days' grueling NEWT study schedules.

Unfortunately, her response meant that the first book he would bring would need to be carefully selected, and she seemed open to just about any subject. It was something to think about later. Very quickly, they arrived at her home. It was small, and James blinked a few times in surprise and curiosity. He supposed it really was that much different than back home. Typically, the Minister had a decent-sized home, especially if their family came from that old money. "Must be nice to not have neighbors." James commented, noting the stark differences from back home.

But it was quaint and charming. As he followed, his eyes brightened curiously at all the items his eyes landed on. Various plants, rocks, and other things. "Where are these rocks from?" James found himself asking as he passed through the entry. Almost habitually, James ducked his head down just a little bit. While the doorway wasn't as small as some he'd had to crawl through, he was just extraordinarily tall. "Yes, thank you." James glanced at the stool, but then his eye caught the many books surrounding them. Before taking a seat, he walked over to a shelf near one of the stools as he leaned in to scan the titles of the shelf closest to his height.

One title caught his eye, something about Bats. "I think I saw this one in Bianca's office once." James remarked. Unfortunately, without a Pensieve, James couldn't be one hundred percent sure it was the same book. " I think." James tried to recall again. He could hear the doubt in his own voice. "I didn't get a good look. She'd kicked me out before I could." James recalled, turning around to sit on one of the stools. "She thinks I talk far too much."

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[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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She was already so excited at the possibility of reading more and new books that locating everything she needed to make tea was difficult. What did she want to read first? More on dragons? Or something muggle? There was a tiny corner of her hut that was solely dedicated to muggle crime thrillers. Supposedly they were closer to reality than anything else that the non-magical wrote, but to her they were pure fiction. The mystery is what she really liked, and they almost always provided on that.

Busying herself with finding the tea kettle and then sending it off to fill itself with water from the nearby creek, she turned to see James observing her various knick-knacks. "Here and there," she responded about the rocks, as if the shiny pieces of earth were more special than they actually were. To her they were, at least. "Mostly on the beach, but I have taken some from the dragon caves too." One rock in particular had looked like it had almost been glassed over on one side, an effect of a dragon breathing flames on it unknowingly whilst asleep. Since that particular cavern was empty these days, she saw no issue with taking it with her.

By this point, the kettle had returned and Fae created a floating flame underneath it to begin the boiling process. Such a simple set of spells to create tea. She had seen the instant hot water on the mainland and been enthralled by it. Still, she enjoyed this was of doing it too. James had pointed out that he was fairly certain Bianca had a similar book in her office, and she nodded her head. She wanted popular books, after all. That way she could try to talk with others on the mainland as if she wasn't lacking any knowledge that they had. "I do not think you talk to much," Fae smiled at him from across the tiny room. "Far too many in London treat me like I am to not be disturbed. Like I am more important than them." Fae supposed that in a way, she sort of was. A technicality that she didn't agree with because of her own views on human equality. She just so happened to be the druid chosen to preside over the rest of them. "I enjoy listening to your thoughts on everything. It makes me feel less formal, and more like I am normal again."

james sirius potter ● 407 ● Song by Artist

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