The Spell Engineer

James was fixing his tie in his bedroom mirror. The images of the Court of Owls and the battle Angus had endured flashed before his eyes. He looked to his right as Angus stood in the door way.

Angus stared at him. "Hmm So did you get your answer to your question?" He asked.

James nodded. "Yeah. What were you good at in school?"

Angus stared at him. "I majored in Apparition, Alohomora. Avenseguim. I did my minor studies in Incendia, Legilimens, Occulumency and wizard dueling. Other then that I was a book nerd and liked to work with my hands. Making friends was my best skill set."

"Apparition. Alohomora, Avenseguim and Incendia. Legilimens and Occulumency. How the hell did you find the time to master those skills? Did you pick that skill set because you knew you would need them or did Grandpa Harry suggest it in his book?"

Angus smiled. "No. I liked the subjects and I enjoyed studying the subjects so by my last years at Hogwarts I made it my field of study. They came in handy later in life."

"What did you want to be?" James asked him.

"What did I want to be? An Auror. I didn't have much career goals but when I failed the examine and then lost my wand I just didn't want to end up like my Dad and brothers. So I took another road. Are you worried you might not like the job with your mother's company?"

James shook his head. "No. I want to work with mom. I-I took a liking to the hobby of engineering spells at school. I did think about teaching or publishing my own spell books. Alright. I'm ready to go."

Angus was quiet. "There is something you want to ask? Go for it." He said.

James sighed. "The man called Hector Wells. Is that his real name?"

Angus' lips formed a lopsided amused grin that shook with held back laughter. "No. It's a fake name and his side identity. Just like every other member in the Owls but me and Nick. I don't even know what he looks like in real life. I just know his voice. His face is always masked and his body could be illusion spell he put on himself. I have no way of knowing."

James nodded taking out his wand. "Did you and your friend start the Court of Owls?"

Angus shook his head. "No. Nick inherited it from the previous President of the Congress. He needed somebody he could trust to work with him. So I helped him out."

James nodded and turned to Angus and held up his wand. "Don't blink Dad." He said.

Angus nodded. "Go ahead."

"Veritas Internus Illumination."

James wand shined a light in Angus' face. Angus' eyes glowed gold for a second and then something was burned away from around his vision. James lowered his wand from Angus' head. He stared at Angus. "How was that?"

Angus blinked and he shrugged. "Yeah. I think that might do the trick son. Was that something you came up with at school?"

James nodded. "Yes. It's a special charm. It's a combination spell. I haven't thought of class for it but I'm keeping it secret because I'm planning on combining it with Vertitasserum."

Angus smiled holding out his arm. "Let's go visit your mother." He said.

James took his father's arm starting at him as the world shifted around them. There was the twisting and pushing inward feeling that he felt but James kept his focus and let the feeling roll over him.

He blinked and they were inside in his mother's office. Ava got up from her desk and walking over toward him to hug James first in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you. You did well on your first turn around the world." She said.

Ava kissed his forward before letting him go and turned to Angus. She reached up toward him as he took her in his arms lifting her up and they kissed.

Angus let her down after a few minutes gentle. She smiled at him before turning to James. "Are you ready to see the lab?"

James nodded but he still glanced between them as Ava let the way out of her office down a hallway toward an elevator. They got inside and the doors closed behind them. She looked at James. "We have a lot projects you'll be looking over. You and another intern will be working with one of our best engineers in the company to refine a personal spell for a private client to use."

James frowned. "Okay. But, what about the interview?"

Ava laughed waving aside his comment. "We already had it. I saw what you did for your father a few moments ago. It's interesting mix of a spell. A bit rough but it was the right idea and you solved for the reason he couldn't see them. Though. I don't know if you spell will last sadly. They'll just have another engineer craft something stronger the next time they prevail upon Angus to see them."

"Damn it." James said.

Ava nodded and patted his shoulder. "No worries. We shall figure something out in the near future."

James nodded but then something occurred to him as the doors to the elevator opened. "Mother can I ask you something?"

Ava nodded leading the way out. "Of course but I will have a question to ask myself of you as well. I will need a straight answer as well."

"Watch yourself son. It's a trap." Angus said playfully.

Ava smacked Angus on the chest lightly. "You will be quiet. This is your son's big day. Go ahead. James."

James nodded. "I was wondering. Ah did you and the Count break up because Dad and me couldn't finish the job."

Ava blinked in surprise to the question. "Oh no. Honey. That was business. We're done with each other now. I got what I needed from him now that's over. Besides that The Count will be going away for a bit."

James looked at Angus for a reaction. Angus looked bored. "Dad."

"Son. It's better that he went away otherwise I would have had to put him in city trash bin for touching your mother. I don't care if it was business. That jackass was trying to use your mother to play me and he nearly got us killed trying to get his stupid "stolen" rock back. It is only lucky for him that he's going away for a while." Angus admitted.

"Oh. I get it." James said nodding his head.

Ava stared at him and then she shook her head. "I don't think you do but you will soon enough. Anyway. When were you going to tell me about Mara?"

James just stared at his mother.

Ava shook her head at him. "James. Why didn't you think I wouldn't approve Mara? She is a lovely young lady from a old respected family that is closely tied to your own and she is obviously in love with you. Why didn't you tell me?"

Again, James could only stare at his mother.

"James."

James frowned at her. "Your calling me James now."

Ava nodded her head slowly. "Yes. That is the name your great great grandfather wanted to call you by. It is the name you think of yourself that aside. Why didn't you tell me about Mara and when are your father and I going to meet her parents officially?"

James stared at his mother.

Angus shook his head. "You better answer her son. She isn't going to let it go."

James sighed. "I'll set up a meeting with Mara's parents."