xavier rai

“Making it official suddenly makes it boring. Let’s just say I want people to just gather automatically and organically. How to do that, I haven’t figured out yet. There’s also the fact that I’m pretty sure I don’t have somewhere to get everyone together yet. That’s why we’re looking at flats.”

Xavier tried to hold back a chuckle. “You have a lot of ideas, have you finished any of them?” Even after he said it, he could feel a little bit of shame crawl up from his gut. Xavier had a lot of ideas too, most of which he wasn’t even prepared to say he’d finished planning them. It was rude of him and he felt instantly like he had to make it up to her. “You could always start with public places to bring people in. It doesn’t have to be someone’s home, imagine you’d have to clean up after everyone left.”

Tami had got home on Saturday and unpacked all her things just to repack most of it into a different suitcase. She’d never been away from home at Christmas, it had always been just the three of them and she’d been happy with that, but  she was fairly excited to travel too. There were still a few days she could spend out and about in London though, earphones in and line moving slowly, she mused over the different cakes and cookies on display when someone nudged into her. Pulling one bud from her ear she glanced over her shoulder with a quick, “Sorry-” Only to pause and offer a small smile to the familiar face. “Oh, hey.”

Xavier smiled wide. “Hey, I know it’s halfway through the year but I can’t remember if I’ve congratulated you for the Head Girl position. Bet this is nice to get out of the castle for a bit.”

Willa didn’t want a job right now. She wanted the freedom to do what she wanted where she wanted. If she wanted to hop on a train or catch a portkey, she didn’t feel the pressure to be home in time for work or have a curfew. “For me, I don’t think a job is what I need but maybe some set plans. Something like karaoke nights each week and wine Wednesdays.”

Was she inviting Xavier? “You’re trying to make something like a book club? Almost like we’re back at school and you’re trying to start a club. Do you have any members?”

“You joke! But I’ve found the muggles way of looking at magic completely fascinating. It’s all about manifestations and like, self care stuff. I love it! But no, this was mainly just a decision…” Make up was certainly helpful for making him feel like he was making an effort, but the sadness was still there. He gave the boy a kind smile. “I’m sure we could find a spell, or a stone. Are you sad? I’d love to help!”

“Unless you absolutely need the money I would say you should stick to the one for now. I agree with your grandmother that you shouldn’t overwork yourself.” It was never good for anybody but she understood some people needed it. “Do you need any help with your tasks? I’ve got some free time this weekend.” Meredith was actually pretty good at getting things done. Once she set her mind to a task she was determined to finish it. “It seems like it would be so beautiful and colorful.”

Xavier felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he blushed imagining Meredith visiting his family home and helping him and his family clean. “That’s unnecessary, but I appreciate it. I couldn’t ask that of you but if you’d like you can join us at the festival if you’d like? I understand if it’s last-minute but it is five days, just let me know.”

“Damn it,” PJ said to herself as she counted her coins again. Unless a niffler broke into their kitchen her mother had looted her money pouch for the fourth time in three weeks. Thankfully Ambrosia didn’t know how to hack a bank. Putting away her bag PJ turned to leave the shop, apologizing as she pushed through the queue towards the entrance with empty hands. Before she reached the door it swung open revealing a familiar face. “Oh, hi.”

Xavier held the door open and his eyes widened. “I-hello! Geez, it’s been a minute. PJ, have you already eaten?”

“I am but am I not allowed to look around? The weather isn’t the greatest, but it’s better than sitting around at home. Is it sad I think I’m starting to miss school work? Like at least in Hogwarts we had structure, all I wanted was independence and now I have to plan things to do to prevent boredom.”

Xavier chuckled shaking his head. “You can create structure in your life. I got a job at Patientia. It keeps me busy and gives me a little more structure.”

"So I decided to stop being sad and start being hot." He finished with an ironic smirk. He was still sad of course, but that morning Sonder had awoken to a need to put on a full face of makeup. "People think my migrant parents must be so disgusted but my dad asked if I can do his eyes sometimes! He's very cute! Did you see him when you came in? He's around somewhere. Any way, what do you think of the shop? Charming, right?! I love it here! I feel so lucky dad employed me even though he's probably alright on his own." Sonder was standing at the counter of his father's muggle magic shop. It sold black wands with white tips, card trick manuals, and whoppie cushions. But it also stocked a range of crystals and books on how to harness your own energy. "My idea." He gloated proudly.

“Decided to stop being sad? How does that work? Is that in one of these manuals over here?” Xavier asked while nodding to the books beside him.

“Imagine the notoriety of this mysterious wizard who controlled the weather.” Willa mocked. “It would really be something, wouldn’t it? Regardless, the weather isn’t the most important part of this. Can you see in this fog? I feel like I might be missing something.”

“You grew up in London, what could you possibly miss that you haven’t seen before?” He knew the answer, he knew she was looking for a place and honestly so was he but he wasn’t in a rush. His parents and grandmother were nice enough to let him wait it out there till he knew what he really wanted. “You’re not staying with your moms?”

“Thanks for that, I’ll have to pay next time.” Once they got out of the store it was like a breath of fresh air to get out of the crowd. “Oh where are you working now?” Meredith’s smile grew wide at the mention of Diwali. “How fun! What a beautiful celebration. Do you have any special plans?”

“I work at Patientia but I’m thinking about applying for a second job maybe. My grandmother says I shouldn’t overwork myself but I’m still trying to figure it out. I feel like I’ve got so much to do and that I’ve never finished anything including my plans for Diwali. My brothers will be home for it and we’ll celebrate with the community. I really only know what the muggles do for Diwali, I’ve always imagined if the event involved the wizarding world it would be completely different, exciting and new.”

So Xavier wasn’t Billy Elliot, not even close, but Isaac decided he had enough poise for the both of them. He wasn’t going to let him trip or fall anyway. “That so?” Isaac rolled his eyes, smirking as they continued to say. “There’s probably a club for that somewhere, you should apply for president, I’ll even send you pictures to stick up on your club dartboard. I can’t promise they won’t be scandalous though.”

“I’d have to practice before I attempted to become President. Can you imagine the club president tossing a dart and it bounces right off? They would all laugh at me.” Xavier huffed and squeezed Isaac’s shoulder. “Are you any good at darts? I feel like my hand-eye coordination sucks.”

“I’m plenty good at sharing all I have to offer,” Isaac countered with a roll of his eyes. He had promised Xavier no fancy moves, some simple swaying, but he was growing bored with this casual rocking. Stepping up into the boy’s space, Isaac took one of Xavier’s hands into his own, pulled him in close and then pushed him away into open space, twirling his friend when he drew him back in against his chest. “If I’m that precious, you should cherish any opportunity to get me alone.”

Xavier’s eyes went wide as Isaac stepped closer and that’s when he saw it in his friend's eyes. Betrayal. He tried his best to remain graceful but graceful he was not. Xavier felt he had stumbled through the move but relaxed again once he was back against Isaac’s chest. “You’re insufferable and I obviously hate you.”

“Oh a park sounds lovely and the weather is so nice. Greenwich sounds great lets get our drinks to go.” Just in time Meredith’s earl gray arrived. “So what have you been up to?”

Xavier’s tea wasn’t far behind and when it did Xavier dropped enough bills on their table for their drinks and started making his way to the apparition point. “I’ve been searching for a flat and working. Diwali will be November 11th so there’s that.”

Willa missed her time in France; and while France had its own problems and she knew she could always go back to France tomorrow, she felt she was needed here. For what, she wasn’t sure yet. Didn’t have much of a plan either but the first step might be to settle in for the small battles. She was strolling some wizarding neighborhoods for a flat. The next step would be finding a steady job but that would mean opening the Prophet again and seeing all the strife happening in her community. “I gotta be honest, the UK’s weather doesn’t do this bleak and dreary atmosphere any favors. See anything nice yet?” 

Truth be told he was half looking for himself. “Weather isn’t something we can control even as wizards.”

“Not trying to get rid of you, just wishing my usual spot wasn’t without any elbow room today.” Hard to enjoy a relaxing cup with so many people and so much noise. “With how busy it is I doubt but maybe somewhere else?”

Xavier nodded. “Alright, let’s get it to go, I find parks have all the elbow room you could ask for and more. I personally like Greenwich Park, what say you?”

“Paris, mon cher.” Isaac smirked, shrugging a shoulder. Same old, same old. He’d done a few weeks of all this Fashion Week thing now and it was interesting one moment and tedious the next, largely depending on whether or not Isaac found something to occupy himself with. “Watch movies with take out?” He couldn’t help but grin at the suggestion, it was so painfully Xavier, not at all a bad thing. “I could be down for that, no doubt Declan would be too, we’d have to see if we could rope the girls in but I think we could count on Piper and in a team effort we could gather all of us together in one place, at one time.” Greater feats had been made. “Might be a little jealous though, you talk about spending time with me and then invite another handful of people, hardly flattering.”

Xavier pouted a bit “This coming from the guy who will be going off to Paris. Free time is precious with you, why not share it with everyone?”