The Little Lightning Girl

13- Scars Prove Survival

James's POV

As the days went by, I found myself actually improving in training. Adrian met me every morning in the same spot, and each day we added something new to the routine. I was gaining endurance, I could tell. I was visibly gaining muscle, and slowly I was getting faster.

One morning, Adrian proposed we train somewhere else.

We met in Alana's backyard as usual, but then Adrian started questioning me on how I traveled here every day. I explained how Floo worked, and he followed me up the hill when I offered to show him. But when he explained where he wanted to go... I was confused, but I trusted him enough and volunteered to Floo first, as an example. I landed in the back of a restaurant, a closed one. Adrian soon arrived in the fireplace behind me, looking a bit bewildered at the new form of travel. When we left the restaurant, we found ourselves standing on a cobblestone street that I didn't recognize.

"We're in Bordeaux, in France," Adrian explained before I could ask.

I nodded, trying to pretend like I wasn't freaking out about being in a different country.

"My friend Noah is here for another few weeks before we go to camp, he asked me to meet him, and he wanted to meet you. He's excellent at hand to hand combat, as good or better than me."

I was shocked that someone would be better than Adrian, but I just said, "Alright, let's meet the master, then."

We walked a few blocks before we ended up in front of a stone townhouse. Adrian didn't hesitate to walk up to the wooden door and knock.

A boy about Adrian's height opened the door, and a wide smile spread across his face when he gripped Adrian in a bear hug. The boy was golden haired and tanned, with bright blue eyes that seemed oddly familiar. Looking at the two of them together was like pushing two bookends together, one golden and bright, the other dark and calm. When Noah released Adrian, he approached me to shake hands. The cheery smile he wore put me at ease, but it was so at odds with Adrian's usual solemness that I wondered how they were even friends.

His grip was as firm and calloused as Adrian's, "I'm Noah Finch, I assume you're James Potter?"

I nodded. His name seemed familiar too, but I couldn't place it. I knew I hadn't met him before, so I dismissed the lingering familiarity.

He ushered us inside, "Come in! I've even told the family to speak English today. You hungry?"

Adrian shrugged, more casual than I'd ever seen him, "I could eat."

Noah's smile widened, "Great! Kaley is making crepes."

Kaley Finch. I only remembered when I saw her in the kitchen, her golden hair tied back with a grey bandana and her hands busy.  I'd always thought she was beautiful, from the moment I first saw her. She was taller than I remembered her being. That was where I recognized Noah's bright blue eyes from. I knew them in her face first.

"You'd better hurry before I eat it all, Noah," her voice was sweet but firm, teasing her brother.

She turned around, a frying pan in hand, and froze in place when she saw me. Her eyes widened and she took a step forward, "James?"

I smiled at her and nodded, trying to control my increasing heart rate, "Hello, Kaley."

She dropped the pan on the counter and hurried over to embrace me. I failed to control my involuntary flinch (this had been a recent habit when anyone touched me without warning), but I managed to hug her back. The top of her head barely reached my chin.

She laughed and let me go, "It's so good to see you! I knew you were home but I'd not expected to see you until September!"

Casually, she reached up to brush a finger over the short scar by my mouth and my eyes widened at the gesture. Noah stepped between us, confusion on his face, "Why would he see you in September? And how do you know him in the first place?"