RP: Double, double toil and trouble...
The copper cauldron bubbled as it sat over the coals to the side of the massive hearth. With a wooden spoon Annis stirred the concoction counterclockwise as she concentrated on the hot gurgling.
“I do not think it wise to use a copper cauldron, Dani,” a level, thoughtful voice spoke, “You should be using the iron one.”
“Iron would chase away the faeries,” Annis replied.
“Which is precisely why you should be brewing this particular mixture in an iron pot!” the voice snapped again as its owner moved from behind Annis to stand beside her.
Owsley the House Elf was a free House Elf and had been for quite some time. He was getting on in years and therefore peered at his former owner, now lifelong friend, over the top wire of rounded spectacles. The elf’s face was rather normal, for he had no bulbous nose, no saucer-sized eyes (although they were uncannily round-shaped), no overly-elongated ears…but he did have an extremely large forehead, as if some mischievous creator-god had played a terrible prank upon Owsley and cursed him with a gargantuan pate that his once-prematurely-receding-now-no-longer-existent hairline could ever attempt to cover.
Upon his outburst Owsley composed himself as best he could with an attempt to straighten his paisley bowtie.
“But I like faeries, Owsley,” Annis said with a good-natured sigh, “You should know that by now.”
“That is what I thought you would say,” came the reply as he raised his gnarly hands in symbolic surrender, “But do not look to me for answers when some bad faery breaks your wards. This is a strange little town, Dani. Great Godric, that potion smells like a vampire’s worst nightmare.”
“It is making me hungry,” Annis said blankly as she put more sea salt and crushed garlic into the mixture, “For supper tonight we should roast some garlic and spread it on toasted bread. I think there is hard cider left from before our move.” Her deosil stirring continued. “We have to sprinkle this mixture in every room, doorway, and window; around every pipe and exhaust chimney going to or coming from the house and outer buildings; around the circumference of the house and inside and outside the barn; in the region of and inside the well; on all the roofs and fences and then we have to sprinkle it around the outskirts of the entire property thrice. I do not think it would hurt to anoint each of the animals, creatures, and ourselves with it either.”
She pulled the spoon out and tapped the side of the cauldron three times before bending forward to gently blow on the embers beneath it. The coals flared and slowly went out. When she continued to breathe on them they cooled to the touch. She peered into the vessel and exhaled across the surface of the water, slowly and steadily until the liquid turned lukewarm enough for her to dip her thumb in it.
“The spell is a ward against evil. Humans and/or sinister beings of any species will be unable to see the farm or any of the structures or life forms on it. Animals and magical creatures, those of wholesome intent, and beings that are not human, will be able to see the compound,” Annis added as she rubbed her wet thumb in a small counterclockwise circle on Owsley’s forehead, “But only animals and magical creatures of pure heart will be able to enter the property.”
“Not humans, you say?” Owsley asked skeptically. Annis shook her head. “Good,” he replied.
“Humans and creatures with ill intent will neither be able to see or access the farm,” she assured her companion, “Unless I let them.”
“Unless you feel sorry for one of them. Dani, you must promise me you will not adopt too many strays while we live here. I do not trust this town, not one bit.” Again Owsley peered at her over the rim of his spectacles.