Books, Broomsticks and Butterbeer Oh My! ((Jim))

[mudblood_andproud]

Hermione was excited for the day ahead of her. It was finally time that she could bring Jim to Diagon Alley with her, so he could see a part of the Wizarding world. It had taken some time, since she had needed to talk to Minerva McGonagall and Arthur Weasley, and sign off a few scrolls to bring a Muggle to Diagon Alley. But Hermione had followed the letter of the Wizarding laws in these regards, so there was no worries on her end.

She had decided to open the PINpoint portal in her own home, a small cottage located in Wiltshire. After all, it was best that a portal wasn't open in Diagon Alley, where any wizard or witch could discover it, and try to gain access to the Nexus themselves.

Hermione send out a quick message to Jim, hoping that he was available.

Good morning! Feel up to exploring some of the magical world with me? Hermione

Comments

[boldygoing]

Jim's schedule has been fairly busy in recent days. Between his new duties at the Academy and the increasing paperwork associated with the Enterprise's repairs and overhaul, it's going to be a relief to get away from it for a little while and spend some time without having those worries weighing on his shoulders.

So when he gets Hermione's message, he's more than ready to go. Very. Do I need to bring anything?

[mudblood_andproud]

If you are planning to do some shopping, bring a small bag to carry everything in. And anything else you think might be necessary.

After all, Hermione wants Jim to feel comfortable in this strange environment.

[boldygoing]

Shopping... That's going to be interesting. His Starfleet account isn't going to work there, so as Jim prepares to PINpoint over, he makes sure to grab some gold, silver, and platinum wire from the house's electronics repair kit. He certainly hopes that's worth something in her economy, at least enough for him to pay her back if she has to cover him. Coming from this kind of economy, none of those materials hold the same kind of value that they used to on old Earth, but he got the impression that Hermione comes from a less advanced society. Technologically speaking, that is. So here's hoping.

He changes from his black instructor's uniform into civilian clothes, strapping a concealed phaser holster to his shoulder, easily hidden under his leather jacket. With his ever-present survival knife tucked into his boot and a small battered shoulder bag slung over his shoulder, he feels pretty prepared, and enters the coordinates that Hermione gave him.

[mudblood_andproud]

The cottage itself has a very homey feeling to it. Since Hermione lives on her own, the cottage only needs to accommodate herself and Crookshanks. Jim will arrive in a study, that is filled with shelves and shelves of books and a fireplace. The study is open concept, with the other end of it Hermione's kitchen. She has a collection of old-fashioned pots and pans hanging from the walls of the kitchen.

At the back of the kitchen is a patio door, that opens into a large garden. Crookshanks is outside right now, enjoying the sunshine on top nearby a herb garden.

There is a adjourning hallway to the study and kitchen, which connects to a bathroom, and two bedrooms.

Hermione herself is dressed in blue jeans, a leather black jacket, and a tank top. She smiled when Jim arrives. Her small pouch is attached to her side.

"Greetings! Welcome to England!" She smiles.

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles in greeting, and looks around her house with mild interest. "Nice place." It's all very pastoral, even more so than Iowa, with an older feel to it. He's never been to England before, but given Hermione's accent, he's not surprised that's where they are.

"Before we take off, you said you were going to disguise my phaser?" He shrugs off one shoulder of his jacket, enough to reveal the weapon nestled in its holster.

[mudblood_andproud]

"Yes I was. I also want to enchant your shoulder bag, so you can carry a lot, without it causing any stress on your body."

Hermione leads Jim over to a pentacle-shaped pedestal in the corner of her study. "If you wouldn't mind placing both on top of this, please."

"And then, we will discuss the different ways to getting to Diagon Alley, and which one would be the most comfortable for you."

[boldygoing]

Sure, why not. Jim unholsters the shiny silver weapon, and places it and the bag where she's indicated. "I've got a few things in the bag already; do I need to take them out?"

Her mention of different ways to get to this magical market of hers does catch his attention, but he figures she's going to get to that in a minute, so he doesn't ask.

[mudblood_andproud]

"Yes please." Hermione smiles and pulls out her wand.

She starts with the disillusionment charm on his phaser. The spell is modified so that instead of concealing the weapon, it basically places an illusion form over it, so that will appear like a deck of cards. Hermione had selected this form, since it would be believable enough for Jim to pull out his 'cards' from his pocket.

Once he has placed his own things onto the pedestal, Hermione casts an undetectable extension charm on the bag itself, before placing the items back into the bag.

She hands both back to him. "There you go. All set."

[boldygoing]

As instructed, he removes the wire from the bag before stepping back and watching her work. It's not very similar to the types of magic he's seen before, but it's interesting to watch. The bag in particular is a hell of a thing, and the captain peers into it once he gets it back. "That's kinda nuts."

[mudblood_andproud]

"You would be surprised how much you can actually carry." Hermione gestures to the little pouch at her side. "This was a very handy way for us to carry supplies, while we were on the run."

"So as I mentioned there are a few different ways we could travel to Diagon's Alley."

"There is the Floo network," she points to the fire place. "But you might get a little messy. As the ash does carry with you."

"We could use my Portkey, but there is an uneasy sensation in your stomach when you travel by Portkey."

"Or we can go down to the train station and catch the Express." She does not mention Apparation, since she would be concerned about splinching him accidentally.

[boldygoing]

He listens to the options as he reholsters the phaser, replaces his jacket, and slings the bag back over his shoulder. Jim frowns a little, as that seemed a little spare on the details for his tastes. "Which way do you think would be better?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"Depends if we are in a rush or not. If you want to go there in a hurry, I would recommend the Floo network."

"If you are okay with taking your time, and seeing more of the magical world that is hidden from sight, then I would definitely recommend the Express."

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles at her. "I'm not in a hurry. And exploration's kind of my thing. Besides, I've never been in this part of Earth before."

[mudblood_andproud]

"The train it is!" Hermione smiles.

She moves to the kitchen for a moment to call out to her familiar. "Crookshanks are you coming with us?"

The cat stretches out into more sunshine. "Alright then. I am locking up. Stay out of the rose garden."

"Follow me to my car, Jim." She is one of the few witches who knows how to drive a Muggle vehicle.

[boldygoing]

"What, no broomstick?" Jim can't quite resist the obvious joke as he follows her, curious to see what kind of car she drives. Internal combustion engine vehicles are still somewhat of a novelty to him, as he's only seen a few in person back at home. Can't count his visits to twenty-first century New York, obviously.

[mudblood_andproud]

"Not for this witch." Hermione chuckles. "I am a little scared of heights. And broomstick lessons were always a difficulty for me."

"But we could see if anyone is heading to a Quidditch game, or stop by the broom store to see the new arrivals."

Hermione drives a sporty BMW, that she unplugs from a generator in her garage. Looks like this girl has an electric-powered engine.

[boldygoing]

"What's Quidditch? Sounds like a sport." Jim has a moment's confusion as to which side of the car to get in, used to the driver's seat being on the left of a vehicle, but he adjusts quickly. It's oddly more modern than he was expecting, somewhat similar to the hovercars of his century, just a much older design.

[mudblood_andproud]

"It is the number-one played sport in the Wizarding world." Hermione gets into her side of the car, starting it up.

"There is not really a non-magical sport to compare it to. The competitors play on broomsticks. There are three goalposts on each end of the field. And each goal is worth ten points. There is also this tiny little flying ball, called the Snitch, and if your Seeker catches it, it is worth one-hundred fifty points."

Hermione heads out onto the road. She is going to take one of the lane roads to London, just so Jim has the opportunity to see more of England's landscape.

[boldygoing]

"That must be fun to watch." Jim's never been huge on watching team sports, but it's more because he's never had the time rather than a lack of interest.

One of the good things about taking the car means he can still talk to her while admiring the countryside. It's a bit strange to see landscapes like this without towering structures far off in the background. Iowa has the shipyards, San Francisco has advanced skyscrapers and towers, and most places on Earth that he's visited in his time show the signs of the times. But in England, it's almost like it's the twentieth century still in some places, or even earlier, full of old historic houses and towns.

[mudblood_andproud]

"Wizard fans are fanatics about it. It has more passion than any game of football, what Americans call soccer, than what has been played in London."

"During our Hogwarts years, the different houses would play against each other. And your whole house would show up in the house colors to cheer you on."

"Both my best friends played on the Quidditch team for Gryffindor."

"I have found it confusing to follow. Each team has seven players, three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper, and one Seeker. And it has four different balls, a Quaffle, two Bludgers and a Golden Snitch. Only the chasers can score goals with the Quaffle. And the Beaters use the Bludgers to try to knock other players off their brooms, or can prevent their team members from being hit. And only the Seeker can catch the Golden Snitch."

"There have been some games that go on... forever. The longest recorded game went for three months." Hermione shakes her head, with a laugh.

[boldygoing]

"Three months?" He turns his attention away from the countryside to look over at her in disbelief. "If there's no time limit, wouldn't people get bored? Hell, I'd think even the players would get tired of it."

[mudblood_andproud]

"Quidditch players get really passionate once they get on the field." Hermione laughs. "But yes, there have been times when I brought a few books to read, as my friends were playing a match."

Hermione takes a route that will make them cross the London Bridge, before heading into central London properly. She thinks Jim might enjoy seeing the landmark.

[boldygoing]

He laughs a little at her comment. "Are you into any other kind of sports? Or is Quidditch the only game in town?"

History's never been one of Jim's great passions, but he is enjoying the chance to see old architecture, and England certainly has a lot. The River Thames is pretty impressive too, a wide span of slow-moving water dotted with boats of all sorts. The part of him that's always looking for resources in case of a survival situation is pleased to see so much water. Small wonder that such a big city grew on its banks, over the course of history.

[mudblood_andproud]

"There are plenty of Muggle-based sports. Like football. Rugby. Polo." Hermione explains. "But I have always been more about academic studies, than athletic pursuits."

Hermione takes a route that follows the River Thames, until they reach the train station, and she puts her car into a pay-for-the-space lot.

"But once you meet Arthur Weasley, you can ask him all your Quidditch-based questions. And he will talk your ear off."

[boldygoing]

That doesn't really surprise him, from what little he knows about her. "I do a little boxing and fencing, but that's to keep in shape, mostly. I don't really watch that sort of thing either."

Once they're parked, Jim grabs his bag and gets out of the car, taking in the sights and sounds - and smells - of London.