Xaver had been wandering through the streets of Hogsmead for hours, his hands jammed deep into the pockets of his leather trench coat, his head bowed slightly against the cold wind, his eyes watching random shop windows, when he had seen her reflection.
She was young, bundled in thick jean pants, and a big, bulky, fluffy looking coat, her hands covered with what looked like three sets of wool mittens, just as many socks over her small feet beneath her floppy, but child-approved pink shoes. She, in height, was only as tall as his hip, maybe an inch or so shorter, with all her fluffy clothes and earmuff slash beanie. Long, wavy black hair tumbled down over the many blacks and pinks and blues and greens, and so on, and blue eyes, a reflection of his, but not nearly as dark, stared at him, arms extending. She would have looked like a normal, 'adorable' little girl, if it had not been for the small black, bluish wings (her frame was still small, so her wings were still small, though big to her) sprouted from her back; a comfortable presence behind her, but an odd one to onlookers. She had never liked the cold.
Xaver whirled, a grin on his face, spinning to meet his little sister.
"Kylie!"
He kneeled down next to her, enveloping the little polar fluff into a tight hug. She giggled, and grinned, her wings fluttering happily. He missed letting his own wings out in public, but he had refrained from doing so, as of yet in this world.
"How are you?"
He pulled away, pinching her nose, picking her little frame up, for she was just a little child, after all, and out of harms way, holding her at his side. She wrapped her short arms around the one nearest shoulder, smiling.
"Happier now, 'aver," she said, her words a little slurred with tiredness. "Xences has been acting all weird since Father died, and no one has seen him in weeks. People keeps treating me like a baby, 'aver, and I hate it. They leave me with mean kiddy's who tugsed my hair, and no one listens to me. I'm all alone, 'cause everyone I loved left."
Kylie hugged Xaver's shoulder, as he walked toward the castle, frowning.
"You came here, all alone?" he questioned.
"Ya, 'aver. No one even noticed I lefted. No body cared."
Xaver scowled, though it turned into a deeper, concerned frown.
"And what would I have done, if my little sister had been hurt in some way? That was very dangerous, you silly kid."
She nodded, beginning to cry against his shoulder. He let her, of course, knowing that she had gone through too much to keep it all in. She was scared, she was tired, and she felt just as abandoned as he felt. And she was his very young, baby sister.
Xaver mumbled a few soft words to her, letting her rant and rave into his ear, passing through the crowds, not feeling her light weight against his side as he carried her.
He comforted her, but more importantly, kept her close and protected, his 'big-brother-instincts' kicking in. He didn't much like being in a big crowd with her, so distressed.
"Xaver is that you?" came a voice behind him. It was Lavy. She was wareing a light blue coat and dark blue jeans. her hair was pulled back into a tight pony, which keept the wind from blowing it into her eyes. "I haven't seen you in months."
Ginny appeared in front of Xaver and his little sister. She blinked, then smiled. She hadn't smiled in days, but she liked little kids.
"Hey." She said, nodding to Zaver. She looked at the small girl.
"Hi." She said.
"Hey Ginny." Lavy said waling from behind Xaver so that she could see his face.
Ginny nodded at Lavy, her loose hair hanging slightly.
She looked back at Xaver and his sister.
"When did you find your brother?" Ginny asked, looking at Kylie, smiling.
Kylie held tighter to Xaver's shoulder as the girls approached them, both Fallen eyes searching both faces, relaxing just a bit in unison. But Xaver, like his little sister, was too nervous to be calm. Kylie buried her small face into the curve of his shoulder and neck, a big bundle of multiple colors; fluffy kid.
Xaver tried a smile, and tried to play collected. Didn't really work, but he could pull off the image to those who didn't know him well.
"M'ladies," he replied, his voice low.
He didn't really expect Kylie to reply, but she did. It cheered him up a bit, and that was evident.
"I founded him just a second ago," she said, turning her head to look at Ginny, just for a moment, and finding the rare amount of trust Xaver had for her appealing. She kept looking at Ginny. "I flew here all the way from home. I hope nobody had followed I."
"Me," Xaver corrected gently, and she nodded.
"Me," she repeated.
Xaver suddenly frowned, and grew a shade paler. He had been so worked up over seeing her, he had forgotten the added danger of someone seeing the little princess and following her. He felt like cracking a stone wall over his head. And what would they say about her flying?
-I need to get her out of here. It's not safe for her..-
~Do you need help?~ Ginny asked him in thought while outloud she spoke to Kylie.
"By yourself? Didn't that tier you at all?"
-I'm taking her to Hogwarts. She knows a lot about magic. Maybe it will be ok, for a temporary place for her to stay. Dumbledore has already accepted her.. knowing out situation.-
Kylie shook her head, smiling, playing with a flappy ear built into the hood of her fluffy coat.
"Just a little," she said honestly. "But only because I haven't been flying as much as I used to, when 'aver and Xences were around, and Father was alive. I've been treated like a baby, missus. It was so unfair. But I'm back with brother, now. Yep, I'm back with brother."
(Have you read the sixth book?)
Ginny smiled at the girl.
"I'm sure your brother loves having you here to. By the way, no need to call me missus. I'm Ginny."
(lol, yeah. I meant McGonnagal, presuming she's taken over leadership, right? lol, Dumbledore is a built-in name :P )
"He does," Xaver said, smiling a bit, continuing toward the castle, slowly at first, to not be rude, but to remind of urgency.
Kylie smiled at Ginny, holding tighter to Xaver's shoulder, chewing on a black, silk looking pool of liquidy candy Xaver handed her. She smacked her lips, sucking her thumb to get the black liquid candy off.
"Missus Lady Ginny."
She laughed, following.
"Now, not tht either. Ginny is fine." She said, half scolding the child. All the while she kept her eyes out.
An certain something lingering in a small slit, between two shops. He flicked a hand, his eyes aflame with a deadly glow, and a black haze erupted from his fingers, sliding uncerimoniously through the crowd to the dark area. The little place grew suddenly white as pure snow, then darker than ever before, the shadows themselves dripping like black liquid, the deepest blacks dripping slowly, leaving the usual shadow, of which was now, unoccupied.
Kylie, noticing none of this, because though her senses were sharp, she was in no way as in-tune as Ginny or Xaver, still sucked at her thumb, where the dark candy had settled for her to slowly eat.
"Laady Ginny," she said seriously, drawing out 'lady', with a certain air of importance.
(ug. lost half the post, lol)
~What was that?~ She asked Xaver, her mind calm.
"No, what makes you think I;m a lady?" She asked, still laughing at the absurd idea.
-Someone following us,- Xaver replied, though he was a bit calmer now. Once you threated to incinerate someone, calmness just seems to happen. -I think we'll be fine here for a little bit of time now. Enough to get Kylie into safer headquarters.-
"Bucause," Kylie said, smacking her lips. "You are older than me. And you look like a lady. And bucause," she sucked for a moment on the candy on her thumb, "you are the queens of 'Omaineeat."
~Yes, enough time~ Ginny thought back.
"So, isn't your brother older then me?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Omaineet?" Try hard as she could, she didn't understand the girls word.
-I think so..-
Xaver avoided a group of giggling witches, watching straight ahead, his mind not really near their conversation.
"Well ya," Kylie said, sucking her thumb still, eyes never leaving Ginny though. She had taken a liking to Ginny. She didn't treat her like a baby. " 'aver is a twin brother to Xences. But Xences was bornded second. Xences likes dark stuffs more, and I think he left to Hell again. He's a bad boy. 'aver and Xences are four thousands and three in our years, but only seventeen in body here. I don't know how to esplain it, Lady Ginny. I don't know if he would be older then you, but in our years I thinks he is."
She absently chewed her candy.
" 'Omainia?"
"In our years, yes he's older then me. And you mean "Romainia?" She said, nodding. She smiled at Kylie.
~Take the path through the forest.~
Kylie nodded.
"Ya! 'Omania! See? That's another reason I calls you 'lady'. You're a queen."
Xaver shifted Kylie slightly at his side. Not that he was tired; he was strong, and barely felt her weight at all. No, she was slipping, and he didn't want her to be uncomfortable. He nodded at Ginny and turned that way, then smiled at Kylie, she smiled back, and then his attention was back to everywhere else.
"Anyways," Kylie said, resting an elbow on Xaver's shoulder. She smacked her lips and grinned.
"Some other families like to play by all the ruleses, and if we had been in a different family, I guess that I would have had to calls 'aver and Xences Lords. But 'aver never liked that stuffs, and told me not to. He said it wasn't right. Father always had me call him lord though. And I'm a princess. I get called lady a lots by people who work for us in the castle. I only was able to get away from those picky people and our weird home when I went and followed 'aver to training. Only 'aver would let me come with him."
She waved her hand, unusually comfortable with talking to Ginny.
"Xaver would probably not like me talking so much about out home, but I bet he talks about it lots, right?"
"Actually, Xaver hasn' spoken much about it. But I'm sure he'd tell me if the time was right." She smiled.
~Xences?~
Xaver stopped midstride, blinking, staring at Ginny. Kylie looked back and forth from him to Ginny, sucking on her thumb, confused.
"What about Xences?" he questioned aloud, his tone low and monotonous.
He continued to walk, but continued to stare at Ginny.
Kylie, tucked her head into his shoulder, but turned so she could see Ginny's face.
"Family?" She asked, smiling reassuringly at Kylie then looking at Xaver.
Xaver nodded. He stiffened slightly, but his voice softened as he replied to Ginny.
"My twin brother," he said shortly.
Kylie nodded.
"Yup, our brother. He's a bad boy."
Xaver raised an eyebrow down at her, and nodded.
"In a way, she's perfectly right."
"I see." Ginny said, nodding. She looked back at Kylie and smiled.
"So, would you like your own room?"
"Room?" Kylie's tones grew excited. "What room?!"
Xaver grinned slightly at Ginny, as they neared the castle grand doors.
"Of course a room, Kylie. Where else would you stay? I'd never forgive myself if I let you sleep outside." She said, looking almost like a child herself.
"I dunno. What will it be like? Will there be elveses and chocolate?"
Xaver stared at Kylie, then almost laughed, for she was so excited. He kicked open the grand doors, and entered. Ironic to his heritage, he was Gryffindor, so he headed up to the Gryffindor common room, entering, and finding it pleasing that there was no one else around. He set Kylie upon the couch, messed her hair slightly, and began to untie her right shoe, shaking his head as she shifted, clutched the pillow, and simply, fell asleep. He kneeled down, took off her shoe and set it on the floor next to him, then began to take off her many, many socks.
"Once she's down to one or two layers of clothing, she will be more comfortable in here," he explained softly.
Ginny nodded and knelt beside him, helping him.
"So, where do you plan to have her sleep?"
"No idea. Is there room near you in the girls' dorm? She likes you. That is very unusual. She rarely ever says a word to anyone other than me. A good sign, I think. Maybe she's coming a bit out of her shell my father and brother so aptly created."
He tried a smile over at her, and took off Kylie's beanie and four baseball caps, and three sets of ear-muffs.
She smiled.
'She's a cute girl, Xaver. Despite having people so dark around her she's so....light." She looked at Kylie, thinking.
"You know what? She can have my room. I never sleep much anyway, and rarley use the room, plus they gave me my own since I'm not a student anymore."
"Yeah. She is. She's kept me alive."
Xaver smiled slightly, then gently removed four fluffy coats from Kylie, careful of her wings, and when he neared setting the coats down, he hesitated, staring at Ginny. He wasn't used to her kind of generosity. It confused him.
"Really?"
"Yeah. She can even decorate it however she wants. As long as I have a space to keep my trunkc, she's fine." She said, not noticing his hesitation.
Xaver continued to stare at her, almost gaping.
"Why would you do that?"
He shook his head, setting Kylie's coats down on her shoes and other stuff.
"And why do you keep helping me, when I don't really know what to offer in return?"
She stopped and turned to him. She was on her knees, which ment she had to turn at the waist.
"Who said you had to offer anything in return?"
Xaver was still staring at her.
"Who said helping me was a smart idea?"
"Who said it was a dumb idea?" She whispered back.
"Who said it wasn't?" he mumbled, picking up a blanket from the couch arm.
"Wait. Pick her up. We might as well take her up there now." Ginny said, stooping his hand that held the blanket.
Xaver grinned and nodded, reaching down with brotherly care, and picking Kylie up, holding her at his side, allowing her to tuck her head into the curve of his shoulder and neck. He mumbled a few kind words into her ear, picking out of her pocket, an entire handful of candy. He raised an eyebrow, glanced at Ginny, and shook his head.
"She's addicted to sugar," he explained.
"Makes sense. Now wonder she's so sweet. " Ginny teased softly, standing and motioning for him to follow her to the girls dorm.
Xaver grinned slightly, and shook his head, following. He was a bit wary of the girls' dorm, but decided that Kylie's needs were more important. He almost tripped on a stair, and Kylie mumbled, "Silly dork."
Xaver had to grin, and laughed aloud at this, shaking his head, still following Ginny.
"Smart girl, she is." Ginny giggled. The walked on, till about the middle of the tower when she stopped and tapped a door. The lock unclicked and the door swung open. The room was slightly dusty, but brightly lit by a large window. The bed had the red and gold covers of Gryffindor along with the canopy. There was a bookcase, which looked at though it needed cleaned. The only thing that seemed to have ever been touched was the large chest in the corner.
Ginny walked to the bed and tapped it with her wand, extracting the dust and pulling back the covers.
"Shut up."
Xaver grinned at her, then gently placed Kylie in the bed, ruffling the girl's hair. He pulled up the covers to her chin, and gently tucked the blankets at her side, smiling a glance over at Ginny, then watching Kylie sleep soundly, falling silent for a long moment before speaking.
"I could hug you," he said, facing Ginny with a wider grin, then exiting the room.
Ginny smiled and left the room, following Xaver. She left the door part way open, but not fully.
"She should be safe. All of my worldy possesions are within that chest, and the entier room has so many protection spels, it's riduculus."
Xaver smiled, and hooked an arm around her shoulder, messing up her hair teasingly.
"I don't doubt it."
Xaver released her, smiled, and dropped into a chair.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. Besides, I like her." Ginny said, leaning against a wall and sliding down it to sit on the floor.
Xaver smiled over at her, rising from his chair and beginning to pace. Quickly.
"She likes you too. She shows how much she likes someone by the amount and way she talks."
"So if she hadn't liked me she would have been quiet? Makes sense." Ginny said thoughtfully.
"Yup," he said, pacing still. "Defense mechanism. You would never hear a word from her where I came from, unless she was with me while I was training."
"I see, the less she spoke, the easier it is for people to over look her." Ginny said, tapping her fingers on the floor.
"No. The less it was my father, brother, and the castlepeople picked on her. And my father... my father was a brutal man."
Xaver scowled at the ground, and continued to pace, his footfalls harder.
"And?" Ginny said, watching him pace.
"And..."
His scowl disappeared, and he looked up with a blank expression, staring at Ginny, meeting her eyes without discomfort.
-Why am I telling you this?-
"And.. my father had no qualms about hitting little girls around. It wasn't right. She was just a kid. Kids should be able to make a mistake or three. She fell completely mute to everyone except for me, until she saw you."
He smiled a little
"You're the best thing to happen to her in a long time."
"Well, I agree, it wasn't right, and he must have been a brutal man. But I do know why your telling me. Because she trusts me enough to talk, and you trust her judgement." Ginny said, smiling back.
"Her judgement means a lot to me," Xaver agreed slowly, nodding, beginning to pace again.
He thought it might have been a little more than that, but he didn't know how to word it. He watched her lips turn into a smile, and he calmed a little bit, his pacing a little less brutal.
She nodded at him, her respect for him rising. Out of such respect, she had stayed out of his thoughts ever since he had picked up his sister.
"Your going to get tierd." She pointed out, "Or wear a hole in the floor, whichever comes first."
Xaver nodded, trying a grin.
"I'm not tired though," he said stubbornly. "And a nice trench in here would be really homey."
"Do I have to force you to sit down?" She asked, grinning back devilishly.
Xaver grinned back, a bit more demonically.
"Try me, woman," he said, not disrespectfully of course.
He didn't stop, keeping his eyes on her.
She stood, watching him as well, still grinning.
"Try? No, I'm sure I could get you on the floor at least."
"Then what? Beat me senseless? Try might you, Milady, you will not win," he teased gently.
Xaver stepped slower, and more melodramatically, grinning.
"I thought I told you not to call me that!" She said, laughing as she walked toward him. She didn't run, for she was sure he'd see her comming anyway.
"I thought I told you it was habit," he returned, a bit more stubbornly.
He grinned a bit broader, his aura lifting slightly as she laughed, as he still paced, though watching her.
She walked till she stood in front of him, forcing him to stop walking. the toes of her sneakes touched the toes of his shoes and she smiled.
Xaver grinned slightly, and settled his hands on each of her arms near her shoulders, holding her firmly, but gently. He could feel her shoes against his, and his grin widened. He pushed her foot back with his, sliding her back across the floor, but not enough so that she would fall, then pushing her other foot back, walking still, and pushing her backwards with him.
She laughed, and planted her feet, focasing her energy to the floor so he couldn't mover her so easily.
"Oh come on, your such a cheater." She said.
Xaver chucked huskily. He struggled a bit, but managed to keep pushing, twirling her slightly as he ran out of floor to walk on, chuckling a little bit more.
"Cheater, I am not, grasshopper."
"Do I look green to you?" She asked, smirking, still planning what to do.
Xaver continued to push her with his feet, his grin widening.
"Nope. I'm pleased to say there is no green, Milady."
He chuckled and grinned, noticing her smirk.
"Stop it!" She said, suddenly wrenching her arms from his grasp and placing one hand on his chest, ppushing him backwards and to the side, making him land on a chair. She stood in front of him.
Xaver fell into the chair, then adverted his weight so the chair tipped backward. He rolled backward to stand, staring at her with a soft grin on his face.
"Stopped."
She laughed and pulled the chair back to it's original position.
His grin broader, and he rounded the chair, tipping it back over with his elbow just to be stubborn.
"I like your laugh," he stated. "You should laugh more."
Xaver firmly, but gently nudged her in the arm with his elbow.
"Thank you." She said, smiling and blushing slightly.
"I should, but there isn't much to laugh about." She said.
"Well, laugh about things that aren't that funny. Make light of things that might not be so good. Just make sure to do it when I'm around."
He smiled, tugged her hair, and pushed her foot back with his, teasing, before suddenly turning and crouching to pick up the chair he had simply decided to pick up again.
Ginny blinked, then smiled.
"I'm gonna start putting my hair into a ponytail so you can't pull it." She said, smiling, teasing him.
"I'll still tug it," he growled stubbornly, teasingly, into her ear after he set back up the chair. "I will find a way," he quoted, chuckling.
"Hmm, well, I wouldn't cut it all off. I like my hair." She said, smiling.
"Don't cut it. I like it too. Besides, that would give me reason to find another way to bug you."
He grinned, and again tugged her hair, but backed away slightly as to not invade her space.
She smiled.
"Another way to bug me? Like how? So I can prevent that in the future." She said teasingly.
"Well, I haven't figured it out yet. But I'll be sure to tell you."
He shook his head, and after a moment, a thoughtful expression crossed over his face, and he stared at her.
"What? Planning something already?" She teased.
He grinned, and nudged her with his elbow.
"No. Strangely, you have a bunch of Kylie's candy stuff on your shoulder."
He tapped her, just above her collar. There was a small but noticeable pool of black, sweet smelling candy there, sure enough. He showed her his finger, now with sticky candy on it, then grinned deviously and tapped her nose, transferring the candy there.
"Snot." She said, smiling. She snapped her fingers and instantly, her red shirt was replaced with a blue one.
"You missed a spot."
He pointed to her nose, and grinned.
"You really are a snot!" She said, waving her hand over her face, making the candy vanish. She smiled.
"Better?"
"Nope. You see, there are now two more spots."
He gently poked her cheek.
"There," he pointed out.
He poked her bottom lip.
"And there."
He chuckled, watching her still as he backed away, shaking his head.
"YOu're lucky I pointed those out for you. Could have been fatal."
Ginny's hand flew to her cheek and she smiled as she realized he was messing with her.
"And why would it be fatel?" She asked, walking forward, not letting him get out of this.
"Because," he said, close enough that his nose was only an inch or so from hers. "I say so."
He chuckled, and backed away, once again staring at her eyes, very curious.
"So anything you say goes, right?" She asked, jokingly.
"Not if you oppose it of course," he said honestly.
He watched her closely still, then after a long moment he frowned, deep in curiosity.
"What do you do for fun around here?"
"Me? I don't have fun." She said, suddenly turning and sitting in a chair.
"Fun...I remember that. I used to like to run and play, fly and levitate, mess with peoples heads." She smiled slightly.
"Well.. you've been able to mess with my head today," he said, winking. "Missing some levitation, running, any playing."
Under his command, she rose from the chair, simply floating in the air. He shrugged, and smiled.
She turned to him.
"Your lucky I'm wearing jeans." She muttered, taking over the control of the levitation.
It took a moment, but Xaver met her control over the levitation, and gently, but forcefully pushed it aside, breaking all bonds to let her drop. He caught her easily, grinning.
"I wouldn't have tried it if you weren't," he muttered back.
"Mind putting me down?" She asked, blushing slightly.
"Technically, you are down. From there anyway."
He chuckled, and gently set her to her feet, nudging her with an elbow, teasing.
"But it's never a question if I mind or not."
He smiled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.
"It means you are in control. You win."
He bowed respectfully, raising with a half smile, though it faded after a moment into a concerned mask of surprise. Kylie was screaming.
Xaver disappeared, reappearing in a quick flash next to Kylie's bed. She was huddled against a bedpost, her wings beating furiously, crying.
"What?" he asked hurriedly, picking her up under the arms, and holding her close until she stilled slightly.
Kylie pointed to her pillow, and squirmed.
"What is it?" Ginny asked, appering as well. She looked worridly at Kylie.
Kylie squirmed away from Xaver as he started toward the pillow, and wrapped her arms around Ginny's waist, sobbing. Xaver ripped through her pillows, and found the source before Kylie announced it.
"Spiduh!" she sobbed softly.
Xaver picked up the spider an cupped it in his hand, setting it on the wall outside, and shutting the window. He didn't kill it. He wasn't like that. He didn't expect them to understand.
"It won't get you now Kylie," he said gently, checking around to make sure there were no more spiders.
He approached them, and gently rested a hand on Kylie's shoulder, leaning in close to Ginny to whisper in her ear, "Sweet as candy, and terrible afraid of spiders."
Ginny smiled at Xaver and knelt down, putting her arms around Kylie.
"Tell you what, Kylie. We'll clean this room, top to bottom and I'll tell the spiders to stay away." She said, smiling at her.
Kylie wrapped her arms around Ginny's neck and nodded, drooping tiredly.
"No more spiduh. I don't like them.."
Xaver patted Kylie's head, and smiled at them both, an odd expression at his eyes. Kylie was finally liking another. It was relaxing in a sense.
Ginny stood, picking up the small child, letting her head rest for a moment before she moved back to the bed.
Xaver helped tuck Kylie's feet back under the covers, and covered her up again, smiling at Ginny over his shoulder. He made sure Kylie was asleep before straightening, glancing back and forth between them both.
Ginny smiled at the girl, then looked back at Xaver.
"What?" She asked, seeing him looking at the two of them.
He crossed his arms with a low chuckle, leaning the back of his head against the wall, gently sighing.
"You've amazed me again," he said quietly.
He shook his head, glanced at Kylie and seemed to listen to her steady breathing for a moment, before shaking his head again, exiting the silent room slowly, a small smile on his face.
Ginny looked once more at Kylie and followed him. Once she reached the door, however, she tapped it lightly and put up a small shield against spiders and other bugs. She followed him.
"Because I comforted her?"
"The whole situation of it," Xaver said, suddenly tired. He smiled, and for one rash reason or another, he gently brushed his lips to her forehead.
He didn't know how to thank her, and he didn't really rationalize his own actions until he dropped onto the couch. The one farthest from the fire, and closest to the window.
She blinked with surprise as his lips touched her forhead. She watched him sit down while she trid to clear her mind.
Xaver stretched out on the couch for a moment, almost relaxed, when he sat up, reaching back an arm to scratch his back. he growled slightly, and tried to itch around his shoulderblades, where his wings wound be if he let them out. It literally itched him from time to time.
Ginny went to a seat and sat down, curling her feet under her. She watched silently as he stood.
Xaver itched his back a bit more hurriedly, his shoulders knotting a bit painfully. He stumbled slightly at the awkward sense of concentration, catching his foot on the floor, and falling flat foreword onto the side of his face. He grumbled a low growl, and allowed his wings to appear, stretching out from his back and shredding another shirt, beating softly then tucking, settling comfortably on his back. He sighed, and fell still, remaining where he had fallen, his eyes partly watching the fire, partly watching Ginny.
Ginny watched as his wings opened, her mouth opening slightly at the sight of the beautiful black wings.
"Sorry," he said softly, a wing twitching nervously, satin feathers twittering in a non-existant wind. A nervous jitter. His wings explained his emotions better than he did.
"They itch until they literally hurt, unless let out.."
"Don't be." She smiled at him, then watched his wings again, "They are really cool."
Both wings in unison twitched, though with a more relaxed sense.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
Xaver reached back and massaged the base of where his right wing met his back, wincing slightly but kind-of rubbing out the knot there. He couldn't really reach, but it didn't really matter to him.
He smiled at Ginny, eyes still watching both her, and reflecting the fire.
She looked down at him, surprised to see the way his eyes reflected.
Xaver grinned slightly, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" he questioned, noticing she was staring, confused a little by her surprise.
"The way your eyes reflect the fire...just surprised me.." She muttered, looking away, but smiling.
He blinked.
"Interesting..." he chuckled quietly. He watched her for a long moment. "I've never heard that before."
He smiled slightly, a wing twitching randomly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She challanged, frowning, slightly.
"That I've never had anyone tell me that before," he said simply, for once, backing down from a challenge from her. He didn't want to word anything wrong.
She turned and watched him again.
"Well, if it had been anything else, I would have said it."
Xaver frowned.
"What does that mean?" he questioned, interested.
She looked at him for a long moment, not even blinking.
"Exactly what I said."
He continued to frown, staring at her, until finally the message clicked.
"Oh."
He dropped his temple back to the solid floor, and chuckled slightly.
"Sorry."
"It's okay." She said, blinking.
'I'll be right back." She said, standing.
"Alright. I can't exactly walk around the castle like this, anyway."
He moved his wings softly, motioning them, closing his eyes. He listened to her footsteps, and fell silent.
She walked up the staircase and quietly slipped into her room, being extra careful to not make any noise. She knelt down and opeaned her trunk, feeling around for her small puch. She pulled it from the trunck and closed the lid, soundlessly walking down the steps.
Xaver heard her footsteps, and opened his eyes a bit, watching her walk down the stairs, before he closed his eyes again, folding an arm under his head.
She knelt on one knee in front of him, opeaning the pouch and pulled out a muffin.
"Eat this." She said, holding it in front of him.
Xaver opened his eyes and watched her for a moment before taking the muffin, a small grin splitting his lips. He took a bite.
"Muffins?" he questioned after he swallowed, taking another bite.
"It'll help with the muscels in your back." She said, tying the pouch onto her waist, but still kneeling.
Xaver narrowed his eyes at her, though happily, taking another bite. He glanced about her, just to see if there might be any more muffins she was hiding.
He was a muffin addict.
"You better stop being nice to me," he said, finishing off the muffin.
"Seriously. You'd better stop, or I'll show you just what muffin slobber is."
He grinned at her, and began to chuckle quietly.
"Thank you," he said after a while, quietly.
"No problem. AFter all, I have a feeling Kylie would be angrey if I didn't help you once and awhile." She said, patting the top of his head and standing.
"Maybe, maybe not. Though I don't really understand women and their motives all the time, so I'll trust your judgement."
He grinned teasingly, though speaking the truth.
A wing twitched and feathers fluttered slightly, and he chuckled. Whatever was in the muffin was soothing. He felt slightly relaxed, and he wondered if that was the point of it. He didn't ask, though.
"I studied healer classes for awhile. They give potions for everything from acne to near death injuries. I mix them with food like muffins and bread and such and then, abracadbra, when your hurt, take a bite and you'll be cured." She said, walking to the bookcase.
Xaver walked up behind her, grinning slightly.
"Well they're delicious. Do you have any more?" he questioned close to her ear, glancing at the magic pouch.
He licked his lips, suddenly hungry again.
She fumbled with the book she was holding, almost dropping it, before glancing at him sideways.
"Actaully, alot more."
"Well then."
He gently flipped the book she was holding up so he could read the title, then pressed it back into her hands. He met her eyes as she glanced at him.
"Can I have a few, maybe?" he asked softly, not moving.
She looked at his eyes, and smiled.
"You can't have too many."
He absently rested his hand over hers, begging with puppy eyes.
"Please?"
"Nope, sorry. It's like overdosing on medicine. You'll get yourself sick." She said, setting the book back on the shelf with her free hand.
Xaver chuckled, but nodded.
"Alright, alright. Just no muffin-tempting, or I'll have to steal some."
He grinned jokingly, and shook his head.
"ha. If you reach for that bag, I will slap you." She said, glancing to make sure the bag was still tied at her waist.
Xaver grinned slightly, smirking, lowering his voice.
"I told you no tempting."
She smiled.
"A slap isn't tempting, Xaver."
"Yeah," he growled gently. "But reaching for that pouch is."
He grinned in return to her smile, and glanced at the pouch, teasing.
"So, you'd rather take the tempting thought od reaching for the pouch and end up getting slapped then not getting slapped?" She asked, teasing back, but not moving.
"Maybe."
He grinned down at her, his eyes once again glancing to the pouch.
She smirked.
"Somehow I doubt that." She said, turning back to the bookcase.
With a quick swoop of his hand, Xaver had detached her pouch and was holding it in his hand. He dangled it by her ear, grinning, chuckling.
"You can hit me now if you want," he said into her ear.
He waggled his eyebrows.
She snatched it back from him and tsked at him.
"Nah, you'd enjoy it too much. Next time, I'm putting the puch down my shirt."
Xaver grinned.
"Yes, retain your abuse for another day."
He smirked, then shook his head.
-Devilish woman.-
"Yes, devilish, but you won't reach for it there." She said, smirking back and ducking under his arm.
He watched her, and laughed a little.
"You are right. I won't. I'm not allowed."
Xaver laughed, shook his head, and began looking over random book titles.
"Exactly." She said walking to a couch and laying down, her arm over her eyes.
Xaver paused, glanced over at her and smiled, then returned to his search.
"Exactly," he repeated quietly.
He found a random book about potions, and settled on a chair, flipping absently through the pages, though not making a sound.
After a few moments, without even realizing it, Ginny fell asleep. Really,the only indication was the fact her block slumped a little.
Xaver glanced at her, noticing immediately when her guard dropped just a little. He set up a firm mental barrier around her, just to reinforce her own block without waking her, then began to flip through the book again, memorizing random potions. Eventually he was near the end of the book, when he frowned. A page had been ripped out.
Ginny jerked in her sleep and fell off the couch.
"Ow..." She moaned, sitting up and rubbing her head.
"Are you alright?"
Xaver set the dulling book on a lamptable, watching her with a concerned interest. On a thought, he withdrew his barrier around her.
"Yeah. But these floors are hard..." She muttered, not fully awake.
Xaver got up, kneeled and easily picked her up, and gently set her on the couch.
"I know it."
He scowled at the floor, then smiled at her.
She smiled back, and yawned, her eyes half open.
Xaver noticed she was still half-asleep and chuckled, patting her shoulder.
"Go back to sleep, if you want. You look exhausted."
"No...I'm okay." She yawned again, and despite what she said, leaned sideways onto the arm of the couch.
"Yeah, you are."
Xaver smirked, then pulled a blanket off the chair back and dropped it over her.
"Right...I'm okay.."She murmmered, drifting in and out, even while she spoke.
"Yep."
Xaver smiled at her, then turned and sat, his back against the couch, summoning the book back to his hands, opening it and staring at the spot the ripped out page would be. He began to concentrate, and was soon reading the words that would have been there.
She fell back to sleep as he began reading, and murmmerd something softly, too low to understand.
Xaver glanced at her as she stirred, smiled, then turned back and finished off the book. He set it to his side on the floor and slouched slightly, leaning his head back against the edge of the couch. He watched the ceiling for what seemed like hours, just thinking, never really bored, before he, too, fell asleep.
Ginny opened her eyes, it was just beginng to be light outside. SHe blinked, and sat up, the cover falling off of her as she did so.
The blanket happened to fall over Xaver's head, and he awoke with a start, squirming, falling over to his side to literally roll out of it. Xaver grinned up at her, sitting up, yawning slightly, throwing the blanket into a pile on the chair. He ran a hand through his hair, of which wasn't spiked anymore, but hanging and standing in various directions, but soft to the touch.
He yawned, and waved.
"Sorry." She said, leaning over the couch and grinning.
He returned the grin.
"No problem."
He yawned again, lazily, absently scratching his chin.
She stood and stepped over him, streaching.
Xaver smiled after her, picked up the book, and slowly walked over to the bookshelf, sticking it where he had found it.
She walked to the window, and looked out, leaning against the sill.