The Potter ancestral home was nestled snuggly in the vast Yorkshire countryside, hidden away by acres upon acres of dense woodland. Among the trees was a path that led to the well-warded gates of the manor, lined by whatever seasonal flower that tickled James' mother's fancy at that moment. Currently, it was draping apple blossom trees that dotted the path with pretty pink petals and filled the air with a pleasantly sweet scent. The path led straight to the perfectly trimmed front gardens of Potter manor, and eventually the large double doors of the home.
The manor itself was stately and beautiful, and sometimes in James' opinion, much too big for a family of three, a dog, and a house elf. Cream brick with plants that climbed along the wall, large windows lining the walls and framed by beautiful champagne coloured curtains on the inside, along with the well cared for hedges that surrounded the manor, it was no wonder that their home had been named one of the top ten most beautiful homes by Witch Weekly, much to his mother's joy.
The woods that surrounded the home was a perfect source of entertainment for the Potter heir growing up, and even as a young adult, it never ceased to amaze James how the woods never seemed to end, and that it was nearly always possible for him to find areas that he had never discovered before, which was what led James to where he was currently, as he stepped over a fallen tree. Of course, there was a small Quidditch field for him to practice, the greenhouse where his family kept their potion ingredients, his study with state-of-the-art potion equipments, or even the well-stocked and frequently updated family library, but there was always something calming and exhilarating at the same time as he navigated nature with his own hands and feet. As ancestral landowners, the Potters took great pride in protecting and maintaining the woods that surrounded their home, resulting the luscious greenery today. One day, he'd be expected to continue this great duty and tradition.
Plus, he might as well forage some ingredients that his family didn't keep in their greenhouse while he was at it. He was in need of some fresh foxgloves for a potion for treating heart disease that he was experimenting on. Might as well kill two birds with one stone, as the muggles would say.
The Potter heir tilted his head towards the leaf covered sky and took a deep breath, inhaling as much air as he could until his lungs burned, then exhaled. While Hogwarts was situated in the Scottish countryside - which was beautiful in its own right - the air there was much too frigid for James' liking. Plus, the air there lacked a crispness that his family's forest had.
A snap of a twig startled him to his left, and James immediately halted and snapped his head in the direction, heart thrumming in adrenaline as he watched for the next few moments. His wand was in his hands within a second. Since turning into an Animagus, his senses were sharp as a deer.
Nothing happened. A mix of relief and disappointment washed over him and he tucked his wand back into its holster. Back to business.
The weather was pleasantly warm with a slight breeze, given that he'd just returned home for his final Easter break. Sirius was supposed to stay over, just like he did during Christmas, but the boy had decided to spend it at the Lupins', so the Potter manor sat in silence again. Not that he minded it, or Sirius' presence at all. Growing up as the only child of aged parents who were shunned by the more prominent and traditional Purebloods who had children his age meant he grew up practically alone, and learnt to enjoy the silence and time for himself. And Sirius had been his best friend since they met on the Hogwarts Express six years ago, and there was never a dull moment with the former Heir Black.
James let his gaze linger as he passed by a patch of wild flowers, their pretty blue and purple petals adorned with sunlight. He made a mental note to pick some to decorate his study with on his journey back. Another rustle came about and as James' head snapped to see what it was, he felt his breath leave him.
Several feet away from him were a flock of unicorns - four adults and two foals - and in the midst of the gold and silver, was a doe with dark grey fur and large dark eyes. The young man tried to remain as still as he could, lest he scared away the brilliant creatures. The foals immediately noticed him, and started to go towards him with the curiosity that only creatures as young as them could manage. Their parents looked up from where they were grazing and one of them made a snorting noise, which did nothing to deter their young. Meanwhile, the doe stared at him with her eyes wide and alert, her stance stiff.
James felt a shiver go down his spine. There was something off-putting and unnatural about the doe's eyes, something that seemed less animal, and more... human. Unlike the innocence and wild fear oft present in the eyes of an animal as jumpy as a deer, there was intelligence, wariness, trepidation, anticipation, among others that made James a bit too uncomfortable to name. He turned his attention back to the foals. They were sniffing at him, necks straining as their main body stayed rooted farther away.
Slowly, James held out his hand, palm up and silently cursing that he didn't bring any fruits with him. One of the foals stepped closer towards him, and James squinted with a grunt as the bright afternoon sun peeking through the leaves reflected off the unicorn's golden coat. He could feel the creature's soft velvety nose tickle his palm, and suddenly, there was a timid little lick.
Enchanted and enthralled, the wizard let the foal continue to lick his hand before he gingerly raised it to its muzzle. The fur was so soft it was almost like he was touching air, and he felt a laugh bubble from his throat as the creature eagerly bumped its nose against his hand. As his hand smoothed down the creature's neck, the other foal nudged his other hand, as if envious that its friend as getting all of his attention.
"Alright alright, pets for you too." He chuckled, rubbing his hand along its smooth forehead. Noting that, plus the size of the foals, James presumed that they were around three weeks old. Still young, still trusting enough in a man's presence. The brunet lifted his eyes to where the parents and the doe were still stood, watching him warily, but significantly less anxious than before. The doe on the other hand, tilted its head, as if regarding him and considering him.
"I promise, I'm not here to harm them, or you." James found himself blurting out, and the doe blinked, seemingly taken aback at his words. Before he could say anything else, one of the adults snorted again, as if to say 'That's enough for today, time to go'. The foals whinnied, and James smiled. They weren't really that different from human children.
"I'll see you next time, and I'll bring snacks this time." He promised and slowly nudged away the foals. The wizard watched as the foals trudged back, making unhappy noises the entire way even as their parents nosed their manes affectionately. The doe turned to look at them with fondness and turned back towards him.
'You're still here?' Its eyes seem to say.
James resisted the urge to snort so as to not offend the creatures. "I'm just making sure that you guys leave safely." Was he really speaking to a deer as if it were a person? He must be losing it.
The unicorns began to leave, and the foals turned in farewell, then turning back to follow their parents. The doe stayed to stare at him a few more moments before bowing her head and following the unicorns. James watched the creatures disappeared between the trees, the crunching of leaves and dirt under their hooves diminishing until all that was left was the chirping of a bird somewhere in the distance.
He was in such a stupor over the experience that he only recalled that he forgot to find some foxgloves until after his shower.
~~~
"Unicorns and a doe?" His mother said incredulously over dinner. James nodded as he cut into his helping of beef wellington. "Well I suppose given how big the woods are, it is fairly possible. Monty?"
His father hummed thoughtfully as he chewed and swallowed. "I do recall my aunt saying that she had come across a similar situation in her youth, though I doubt it would be the same doe. Although..." he trailed off thoughtfully, tapping the prongs of his fork on his moustache.
James leaned in expectantly. "Although?" His father had a habit of trailing off right before revealing what he thought was interesting. The young man was fairly certain his father did it own purpose to rile him up.
"There is an old legend that my grandfather told me when I was young. Apparently, there's a guardian fae that resides in the woods that our family protects. Long ago, an ancestor of ours had aided a fae, and as such the fae promised them that as long as their descendants took care of the forest and ensured its prosperity, the fae and their descendants would protect the Potters and the life within the forest. It's through the joint effort of generations of fae and Potters that allowed the Potter woods to become what it is today." HIs father's chest puffed out in pride. "As the story goes, sometimes the fae takes the form of an animal, usually a doe. Perhaps that's what you saw in the forest, James."
James pursed his lips. While he had much respect for much of his family's stories, this one sounded a bit too much like a children's tale that he should have heard when he was much younger. Then again, when he recalled the intelligent eyes that the doe possessed, he found himself agreeing with his father.
~~~
A couple days later found James returning to the woods, this time with a satchel filled with apples bumping and potion harvesting tools bumping along his thigh. What his father said had remained in his mind after dinner, and when he dreamed, he was in his animagus form, chasing after a doe with dark grey fur and big dark eyes.
He passed by the patch of wildflowers he saw earlier in the week, and stopped to pick some. He would correctly identify them later when he returned home and determine if they were suitable for any potions, or to brighten up his study.
"You have the skills of someone who regularly digs up plants." Startled, James shot up from where he was crouch, and winced as his world spun. Blinking a few times until his vision returned to normal, he felt his heart stop at the girl before him. She looked to be about the same age as he was, and dressed in draping silks and sandals. A tall regal nose, hair as dark as a raven's wing flowed down her back and skin as pale as snow, as if the sun had yet to touch her. But what fully captured his attention were her eyes. Dark and doe-like, filled with intelligence, wariness, trepidation, anticipation...
"You're the doe." James breathed.
The girl tilted her head. "An astute observation. What is your name, wizard?"
Just as James opened his mouth, entirely ready to tell her without a second thought, he stopped himself. If what his father said was true, that this girl before him was a fae, then telling her his name was the very last thing he should do, lest he wanted to lose his identity and sanity forever.
He cleared his throat, standing straighter and bowed politely as he would for a lord or lady. "Prongs. And you, miss fae?"
The girl's petal pink lips stretched in a wry smile, seemingly impressed. "I am at no liberty to disclose my name, Prongs. I do have to admit, that is a very interesting name. Not that common, I presume, even for wizard folk."
James gulped and rose from his bow, though kept his chin tilted down, hoping to look more humble to avoid incurring the offence of a being immune to magic. "It's what my friends call me."
"Am I your friend then?"
"It is my hope that we will become friends in the foreseeable future. My father spoke of a guardian fae that resided in our family's forest. As the heir, I believe that it is important to foster a close relationship with the other protector of our forest to ensure that it continues to flourish for generations to come."
The fae made a pensive noise, which sounded like a gentle autumn breeze. "You put your words in a very eloquent way, heir Prongs. But yes I do agree. My mother spoke of the longstanding agreement between my family and yours, and I have been entrusted with the task to act as a partner to the next head of family in protecting this natural wonder."
"Your mother?"
"The previous guardian fae, who would have worked alongside your father."
"My father had not mentioned that he'd met your mother."
"Normally, faes don't make contact with humans. We prefer to keep to ourselves and only choose to interfere should the situation call for it. As such, my mother had no reason make herself physically known to your father, though it does not mean that she was absent. She had done her part in making sure that no harm came to the inhabitants of the woods."
"If I may ask, where is your mother now?"
"She still comes around every so often, but she prefers to spend her time in the Fae Court now. As the next guardian, I can't always have her hovering over me. Faes are expected to be independent from an early age."
"I'm afraid I can't say the same for a lot of wizard folk." James sighed. A certain pompous blond had instantly come to mind.
The fae laughed. James decided that he quite liked the sound. "Your kind's over reliance on magic and wealth has been much looked down on amongst faes."
"My father and mother made sure that I worked well without the help of my wand or magic." He held out his hands and let her observe the callouses. "I've been digging for potions ingredients with my own hands and a trowel since I was three."
"Am I right to presume that you're here to do the same today?"
"Indeed, miss fae. I am only here to dig for foxgloves, and I give you my word that I have no intention of hunting the unicorns for their horns, blood, hide or hairs."
"First of all do look up, heir Prongs. I won't kill you with a look of my eyes, and I believe you've long proved your worth as a competent heir and future guardian."
"If you insist, miss fae, and I thank you for your praise." He lifted his head and adjusted his glasses, which had slipped down the bridge of his nose. "I do hope you aren't telling a half truth, though."
The fae's smile grew, her teeth peeking between her lips. "I have no reason to."
"I'm glad." James glanced at the white flowers sprinkled in the fae's hair like stars in the night sky. White hollyhocks, baby's breaths, white magnolias. Female ambition, everlasting love, love of nature.
The fae continued. "Second, I am fully aware of your intentions, and once again I must praise you for your full commitment in cooperating with me. Your honour and honesty are truly rare in the modern age of wizard folk and magic."
"You flatter me, miss fae." James the warmth of bashfulness creep up his neck and heat up his ears.
"I only give praise where it's due, heir Prongs." She lifted a hand to brush her hair over her shoulder, and the young man felt himself watching with rapt attention. "Anyway, you said you were looking for foxgloves?"
"Yes, I am working on a prototype potion that may be helpful in curing heart disease, are at the very least, lessening the pain."
"A very noble aspiration."
"I only wish to help people, nothing more, nothing less." He replied. The fae made another thoughtful noise.
"I see. Well," She turned to her left and pointed into the distance. "The foxgloves you are looking for are a ten minute walk that way. They are in excellent condition."
"I see, thank you for your advice, miss fae."
"You're welcome, heir Prongs." She took a step forward and James felt his world narrow down to the fae as her obsidian eyes drew him in. "I look forward to our next conversation." She promptly shifted into her doe form, bowed her head, and bounded away in the opposite direction.
James lifted his hand to press against his heart, feeling it thunder against his chest, as if it wanted to break out of his ribcage and chase after the fae.