Looking for Clues

James walked into a nearly deserted coffee shop not far from the Leaky Cauldron, he was carrying a large brown satchel slung across his body. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a crimson turtleneck sweater, his feet were encased in a pair of sturdy looking boots. He slid into a booth as a waitress came over to take his order. Ordering just a coffee he began pulled out a thick file from his satchel, only opening after the waitress dropped off his coffee. Pulling out photos as well as notes and paper with a million things scribbled on every available space. It was late at night so he knew that no one would probably be coming in at this time of night.

James then pulled out a spiral notebook so that organize his notes better and not have them look like a bunch of random thoughts. Then taking out a pen he started going through his notes quickly and without much pause except to take a drink of his coffee. His hand was flying across the page until he realized that he had been sitting there for three hours and he didn't have much left on his spiral notebook.

James sighed as he decided to order something to eat from the waitress as he put away everything that was on the table. Smiling as he realized that there was not much more notes that he needed to write down that he finally signaled the waitress. Ordering a burger with fries he checked his watch and knew that after this he would have to start heading back to work. After finishing his meal he paid for it and tipped the waitress then walked out the door.

"JAMES!" a person yelled from behind him turning he looked at his younger brother Sam running towards him. Looking at what he was holding started shaking his head as Chance was running alongside him, looking happy and energetic. "I need you to take Chance, I have a date tonight." Sam said grinning like he won a trophy.

"I'm gonna tell Anya that the only reason you take Chance is so that you can get a date with a pretty girl." James said looking at him seriously. "You are shameless little brother, i'll take Chance but you owe me big time." Taking the leash from him and looking down at his twin's dog then waved to Sam as he took off to go get ready for his date. "Come on buddy let's go see our favorite person," James said as he began walking in the direction of his sister's house.

It been a long day for Sophia,  she was honestly glad that the day was over with,  it been one crazy day.   People were idiots in her opinion,  she knew that it was coming close to the Christmas holidays,  but that didn't mean you had to do stupid things.   Sophia couldn't count how many potion explosions she did today due to trying to make love potions or some other potion that went wrong.   Don't get her wrong,  she loved her job,  but she didn't like people who acted stupid as these people were.   Walking into the locker room she changed before disapparating out of the hospital to her house.  


Appearing with a pop  she whistled as Maya came running towards her barking happily at her.  " Hey girl,  lets go get some food and we'll go for a walk!"said Sophia as she grabbed her purple leash and clipped it to her collar.   Walking out of the house, Sophia apparated them her favorite cafe that wasn't to far from the Leaky Cauldron.   Walking across the street Sophia walked in and took a seat ordering chicken noodle soup and hot chocolate.   Petting Maya she waited for her soup and hot chocolate as she digged into her book bag for a can of dog food to feed Maya.   Setting it down Maya waited until Sophia gotten her food before eating,  she didn't eat without knowing that her master was to.

After a few minutes Sophia's order came and she started eating and reading her book as she petted Maya as her and her beloved husky ate.  Time flew by quick,  and before she knew it she was reading  for three hours.  As she looked up Maya barked before looking outside as Sophia chuckled.  " Oh yeah I'm sorry girl I forgot! "said Sophia softly but honestly.    " Lets go for a walk around the park! "said Sophia softly as she paid for her meal as she stood up with Maya and walked out heading towards the park.   Sophia chuckled at Maya's excitement,  she always loved going walking around the park.

Grabbing a large hot chocolate to go,  Sophia walked out of the cafe into the falling snow.   Smiling to herself,  Sophia and Maia headed towards the park for their evening walk.  " Woah easy there girl,  I know that you're excited but calm down! "said Sophia softly to Maya as she started walking fast dragging Sophia.   It wasn't like Sophia couldn't control Maya,  she was stronger than normal humans,  she just didnt want to show it.  " Maya slow down! "said Sophia as her husky started running towards the park.

Sophia running along with her gripped the leash tightly.  " MAYA STOP!"Sophia command her beloved husky but as she stopped she crashed into a man walking a dog himself.   As she realized what she done her eyes widened.  " Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, are you ok? " Sophia asked him softly but curiously.   " I didn't burn you with my hot chocolate did I?  If I did I do apologize! "said Sophia softly.  " Maya sit! "said Sophia as Maya sat down in front of her.  " Sorry about her, she's just loves walking around the park don't you girl! "said Sophia petting her. " Oh so rude of me, I'm Sophia, Sophia Granger. " said Sophia softly but honestly.

James turned in time to see a woman crash into him, he grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling. Letting go once she had found her ground, he looked down at himself not really feeling the hot chocolate. "I'm fine, I'm used to worse in my field of work. Seems like Maya was excited to go for a walk, Chance has done that a few times to me." Looking at Sophia he smiled softly, "It's a pleasure to meet you Sophia. I'm James, James Faulkner. Let me buy you another hot chocolate since yours i'm kinda wearing." He laughed softly wondering if she would accept his invitation. He never before felt so awkward standing there but there was something familiar about Sophia that he has seen before.

"Maybe after I buy you the hot chocolate, we can take these two for a walk?" James said wanting to know more about the woman who stood in front of him. That's when it hit him, the reason that something about her was familiar. She had the same air about her that his sister did but he kept his mouth shut for the time being. "That's of course you want to, I don't want to make you uncomfortable in any way." James said smiling softly trying to not seem like a weirdo.

Sophia was quite glad that he didn't let her hit the ground, that would've been embarrassing. " Thanks for that, not many guys are gentlemens like you are! "said Sophia giving him a soft warm smile. " Well... I'm glad that I didn't hurt you, I would have felt horrible if I hurt you. " said Sophia softly but honestly. Sophia chuckled. " She loves the snow, she can't get enough of it! "said Sophia chuckling. " Nice to meet you James, oh you don't have to buy me another one, it was my fault anyways! "said Sophia softly but honestly.

Sophia smiled. " Sure a walk would be lovely after the day I had, being a healer isn't easy at times. "said Sophia softly but honestly. Sophia seen that he was looking at her a bit weirdly she giggled at him. " Are you ok James? "Sophia asked him softly but curiously her chocolate brown eyes looked up at up him. " No it's fine James really, I need some company, I don't really have it that much anymore. "said Sophia softly before sighing. " I guess me being a vampire scares people off, no one wants to be friends with a blood sucking monster! "said Sophia softly but honestly before sighing. As she realized what she said, her eyes widened. " Um... you're not scared of me are you? If you are its ok, I won't hurt you. " said Sophia softly but honestly.

"Not many things hurt me these days, except maybe something bigger and faster than me." James said smiling back at her. "Chance tries to eat the snow when it falls, sometimes he gets some but other times not so much. He chuckled softly as Chance bumped his leg for attention, petting his head softly. James then reached up and cleared a clump of snow from her hair. "Well I think the snow is trying to clump up more, you had a rather large clump on your head." He said explaining his actions to her so she wouldn't think he was trying anything.

"I think i would have preferred a healer over my own job, less hazardous and less likely to die." He said smiling as he looked towards the park then back. "Oh I'm fine, just worn out." James couldn't help but think she had pretty eyes. "Well with me company tends to stay at least a fifty foot distance. They think that i'm weird and dress funny, except I'm always in my work clothes." He reached up to move snow off his own and grinned. "My twin sister is a vampire, trust me if you have any pointers for her she needs them. I never think of vampires like you and my sister as blood sucking monsters. I know you won't hurt me, most people are scared of my sister as well except she's as sweet as they come." James said grinning at her, "Come on let's go for that walk otherwise these guys will end up dragging us there themselves." Holding out his arm for her to take as Chance started jumping up and down.

Sophia nodded. " Yeah not many things hurt me these days either, other than falling for a guy that always ends up leaving. " said Sophia softly before sighing. Sophia laughed her tinkling bell laugh. " Maya does the same thing, when it falls on her nose she tries to lick it off, it's so funny! "said Sophia chuckling. " Chance is a very pretty dog, is he yours? "Sophia asked him softly but curiously before she petted Chance as he licked her hand. Sophia chuckled before shaking the snow out of her hair. "Did I get all out? "Sophia asked him softly but curiously. " If not will you help me get it out? by the way you didn't get yours all out! "said Sophia giggling.

Sophia laughed. " Yeah that might be true, I'm glad that I didn't become a Auror or anything like I wanted to at first, they are always in St. Mungo's because of something! "said Sophia shaking her head. " What do you do James? "Sophia asked him softly but curiously. Sophia nodded. " Yeah I know how that is, I just got done doing a double shift at St. Mungo's, so I'm best. "said Sophia softly but honestly. " I don't think you dress weird, I think you dress just fine. "said Sophia softly but honestly before giving him a soft warm smile. " Wow...really? I been a vampire since I was eleven years old, I was attacked in the forbidden forest while doing a detention, turns out my father turned me just like he did my brother Ryo. " said Sophia softly but honestly. " I been a vampire for nine years, so I can tell her anything she wants to know. " said Sophia honestly. " Some people don't know that I am, I act just like everyone else, I don't know why don't people are so afraid of me. " said Sophia sighing. " Sounds like a good idea, and I think I'll take the offer on your hot chocolate Mr. Faulkner! "said Sophia smiling at him as she took his arm.

"The obviously didn't know what they were losing," James said softly knowing that he probably sounded corny. "Chance tends to lose hope of catching any and ends up eating it off the ground. Chance is my sister's dog and my brother's as well as I help her with him considering she's being hunted." He sighed remembering how scared she was when she found out someone had put in several pieces of garlic in the blood she had almost drank. Looking at her hair chuckling, "You still have a little more in it." He reached up and dusted the rest off. "I can never seem to get rid of it, it clings to me like a baby dragon."

"Auror's are okay except for the rare few that think they're better than everyone else. Well the healers at St Mungo's know me by name now." James said smiling at her, "I'm a dragon keeper. I work with the ministry so I live in country with enough space that the dragons don't feel suffocated." He tried to shake more snow off his head without any such luck. "Yeah she was bitten five years ago but some guy who pulled her into an alley. She keeps saying she's fine but i know she's not, she hates what she is. I keep telling her that she should be glad that he didn't kill her." James smiled wryly at her, "I don't understand it either, it's not like you bite people because you can." He grinned when she took his arm and said, "Just call me James, Miss Granger."

Sophia looked at him and laughed her tinkling bell laugh before shaking her head at him. " That was so corny and cheesy, but very sweet as well. " said Sophia giving him a soft warm smile. " They don't know what they're missing, what are they missing, cause I want to know what I'm doing wrong! "said Sophia softly but honestly. " Oh dear that isn't good, I know what to feel like to be haunted, not fun at all having to look over your shoulder all the time. "said Sophia softly but honestly. " Thankyou James. "said Sophia softly but honestly before giving him a soft warm smile.


" You're right about that, some of them are really stuck up, but there are some who are nice. " said Sophia honestly. " Ah.., I see, so how do you like being a dragon keeper? "Sophia asked him softly but curiously. Sophia giggled as he tried to dust more snow off him but it didn't work. "Here, let me help. "said Sophia softly as she dusted some snow of his hair. Sophia frowned. " I know how she feels, sometimes I wish nothing more than to be human at times, I can't even remember what it feels like to be human anymore. "said Sophia softly but honestly before sighing. " I don't bite people unless I have to, I drink the bloody they supply at St. Mungo's. "said Sophia softly. Sophia looked at him and chuckled. " Just call me Sophia or Soph for short James."said Sophia giving him a soft warm smile.

James blushed slightly as he began leading her towards the park. "They are missing out on an exceptional, beautiful, and intelligent woman. They are missing out on someone who probably would do anything to help someone in need regardless of who they are. It's not you that's doing something wrong it's them, they are likely running from someone who will actually care about them." He said honestly looking ahead of them. "She's afraid that he'll come after her and kill her. She never saw his face but he haunts her every day." He smiled softly at her and said, "Your welcome Soph."

"I love being a dragon keeper, they sometimes have their bad days. It's why I wear heavy fire proof clothing so that I won't sustain too many burns." James said as they reached the park where Chance started eating snow immediately. He bent his head towards her to help her so she wouldn't have to strain. "I'm sorry it has to be really hard for you," James said softly. "My mother is a healer and she gets blood for Anya so that it's easier on her." He smiled at her when she mentioned her preferences. "I think i'll just call you Soph," he smiled sweetly at her.

If Sophia could blush, she would definitely be blushing right now, instead her eyes turned pink indicating that she was very well indeed blushing. Being a Metamorphagus sometimes helped her show her emotions when her vampire self couldn't, sometimes a little to much at times. "No one ever said this to me before, I guess I wasn't special enough to hear or I just needed the right person to tell me. "said Sophia softly but honestly. " How do you know this much about me just by looking at me? " Sophia asked him softly but curiously. Sophia nodded. " I'm afraid that hunters will come after me all the time, I'm scared of them finding me and my friends and loved ones, my brother and his wife are vampires to and we had hunters after us before. "said Sophia honestly. " Is it a group of them or just one? "Sophia asked him softly but curiously.

" Well..l know how to heal burns, so anytime you need healing due to burns I'll be happy to help!"said Sophia softly but honestly before giving him a soft warm smile. " There all out for now! "said Sophia as snow fell into his hair once again as she laughed. Sophia nodded. " It is, it always been hard for me especially in Hogwarts, but I found a way."said Sophia softly but honestly. " Yeah it's easier being a healer, not many people are fortunate to have access to blood that easily. "said Sophia honestly. Sophia looked at him and smiled. " I'll like that. " said Sophia softly but honestly before giving him a soft warm smile.