paths we all default to/xarrah

[ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS]

Books, this was where Icarus felt in his element. Charlie was meant to be meeting him so they could get school supplies together, or was it tomorrow? Or maybe yesterday? No it was today. He thought. So maybe he was starting to doubt that Charlie was meeting him today, it must have been tomorrow. Awesome. Icarus clearly had no life. At least he was around the books. He walked the shelves stopping every so often to pull a book from its place to get a look inside.

He'd gathered a small collection of novels, at least it would give him something to fill his free time with when he was back in school. Well assuming he had free time. It was his final year, the year that would determine if he had learned enough to follow in his parent's foot steps. His father had never seemed too keen on the idea of him getting involved as an Auror, but that hadn't deterred Icarus. He continued down the shelves keeping his head down, that was until he caught sight of some bright red hair. He would know that hair anywhere.

"Xochilt!" He said his voice seeming a bit higher in pitch and paired with an awkward laugh/ Bloody hell would he ever be able to greet her like a normal person? "Funny seeing you here, well maybe not funny because everyone comes here for books right? So I guess its more - more...." He stopped, he'd felt awkward already but now, now he just felt ridiculous.

Since their first day at Hogwarts Icarus had found himself fixed on Xochilt, he'd hoped they would have ended up in the same house, but they hadn't. Funny enough though Xarrah, Xochilt's identical twin had ended up in his house. He always thought that he could tell the difference between the two, after all identical didn't mean exactly they same - well it did, technically but it didn't mean they were the same person. It was something about those deep green eyes, so of course the moment he found himself about to be lost in those lovely eyes was when he realized he was not talking to Xochilt.

Bloody. Frigging. Hell. He just wanted to slip away. It was embarrassing to mix the two up, especially for him. What would Xochilt think? Well she most likely wouldn't care because it wasn't like he actually meant anything to her but on the off chance that somewhere down the line she did ever consider him to be anything and she heard about this being the umpteenth time that he mistook her twin for her, then what?

He coughed and turned his gaze away from her. "You're....you're Xarrah...aren't you?" What did it say about him to not even be able to tell which twin was the twin she suppository was in 'love' with? His voice held a tone of embarrassment to it, more so then usual. Why did he even open his mouth?

XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER

[XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER]

Xarrah was scanning the many shelves at Flourish and Blotts for the books she would soon need for her classes. She couldn't believe that she would be journeying back to Hogwarts in less than a month. It was honestly bittersweet thinking about it because it was her last year. She had come to love that school and a lot of the people in it. She had already experienced the pain of losing some of her friends to graduation, now she would be losing some because she would be graduating. Of course, it was a process of life and she would get over it, but she was very close to certain people and would miss them dearly. One of her best friends had just graduated and though she had seen him a few weeks back, she still missed him like crazy and the thought of him not being there this coming up year was somewhat hard for her. That boy was James Potter.

James and Xarrah had met when they were both in their younger years at Honeydukes. She was purchasing what would seem to bee too much chocolate, when she dropped some of it on the ground, causing a minor embarrassing scene. James had came to her aid and after that, they became fast friends. Now Xarrah was thinking of him and much more than just a close friend, and that slightly scared her. He was going to be off playing for Puddlemore. Why would he be wasting time thinking about a seventh year such as herself. But, such was life and it would have to be one more thing to get over. She could do it; she always did.

As she continued picking up some of her school books, she heard her sister's name shouted out in an oddly high pitched, but familiar voice. Her eyes searched for the source of the voice and soon landed on one Icarus Lugubelenus. She should have known it was him. Who else's voice would go up an octave just trying to get Xochilt's attention. Chuckling to herself, she shook her head at the boy as he rushed over to her. Xarrah had known Icarus for quite some time as well. Actually, since first year when they were sorted into the same house and being the same year, they had all the same classes together for a while. Xarrah adored Icarus and found his crush on her sister to be quite cute. But Icarus was one of her close friends as well, so she was excited to see him, despite the mix up.

When he reached her, he stared spewing words about meeting her there and other stuff and all she could do was nod at him and smile, being the only one at the moment to know he was talking to the wrong person. "Um... Icarus.." She started, and then she saw his face fall and turn into something awkward. It had hit him that she was not Xochilt. Laughing lightly, she nodded when he asked if it was her. "Yeah, wrong twin, love. But it's really nice to see you!" She beamed, reaching out to give the boy a hug. When she pulled back, she only continued to smile at him. "How are you Icarus? I do hope your summer has been well?"

ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS

[ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS]

To think he had ever questioned if he could be any more embarrassing in life. It was a good thing Xarrah was his friend and that she never seemed to hold a grudge about the occasional mix up. Life might have been much easier if he'd fallen for Xarrah, really though it was only fitting of his to fall for the wrong twin. Well not the wrong twin just the twin who he had no chance with what so ever. Yet that didn't stop him, did it? He smiled sheepishly before wrapping an arm around the red head for a quick embrace. He'd relaxed a little, something about her being Xarrah made things all the easier. He had no issue with embarrassing himself in front of her. It really was a shame he'd not fallen for her."Sorry 'bout that." The embarrassment lingered in his voice as he let his arm slip away and they resumed a comfortable distance. "It's good to see you too." There was a hint of relief in his tone and no longer that awkward high pitch. Why he could talk to one twin but not that other would always be a mystery to the poor boy.

"My summer - well, its...its been summer-y..." He laughed a short awkward laugh. "I mean, no classes, and tones of free time, doesn't get much better, right?" It wasn't that he disliked summer, but this had been a stressful one. The impending doom of seventh year was just about upon them. It was feeling more and more intimidating as the days grew closer. "Could be longer though, bet everyone would like that." But there was no putting it off. School would start soon and then before they knew it, it would be over and then out into the world they would go. He shifted on his feet and tried not to think too much on it. "What about you?"

He wanted to know about her sister too - but he'd already mixed them up it seemed rude. He knew something was up with Xochilt though, she was different ever since...well he knew what it felt like. He'd been there. Xarrah had seemed to cope with matters better then her twin, he had to commend her for that. "You, you want to sit or something? I mean, oh wow - I didn't, I'm not interrupting your shopping am I? I'm sorry I should have thought about that before everything and - you wan't me to let you be? I mean we can do this later if -" He stopped, clearly flustered. Okay so Xarrah could fluster him too but it wasn't the same. He just hated the idea of interrupting someone, anyone really. People had busy lives, and often times he could forget this.

XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER

[XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER]

Xarrah chuckled at her friend as he apologized, waving her hand in front of her and shaking her head. "Don't apologize Icarus. There's nothing to say sorry for." She told him sincerely. If it was any other person, maybe she would have thought the apology was necessary, but it wasn't. It was Icarus and there was something about him that made it completely impossible to even be the slightest bit mad at him. Not that she would be mad over a mix up of her and Xo. But she seriously couldn't ever get mad at the boy, nor did she remember even once doing so in their six, going on seven years as friends. Maybe it was those dimples of his or that baby face. Or maybe it was his kind nature. She didn't know and she honestly didn't care.

"Summer..y?" Xarrah had to think on that for a moment, her eyebrows furrowing as she tapped her chin with her finger. She then looked at him again and chuckled. "Nice choice of word Lugubelenus." She told him, still laughing lightly. "You don't sound so happy about your summer though. Everything okay, love?" She asked, genuinely curious. She cared about the boy, just like she did her brother, and wouldn't want anything to be wrong with him. He was too sweet; too good. He deserved nothing but that in his life. "My summer was alright. Caught up with a good friend of mine. You know..." She started, her voice in a mumble now as she looked away innocently. "Found out I had feelings for him." She then looked back with a bright smile, ready to change the subject. "But enough about that! No need to dwell on such silly things, right?"

Laughing at her friend once more, she shook her head. "Woah, slow your roll Sara Lee." She teased him about his rambling. "No need to get all nervous and apologetic around me. And yes, I would love to sit and maybe we could even have a normal conversation? You know, without all the I'm sorrys and rambling words." It was so easy to tease her friend, being that he was such a nervous and awkward thing. But she loved him for it and wouldn't want him any other way. "Trust me, I don't mind setting aside my book shopping for some Icarus time." She told him with a warm smile.

ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS

[ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS]

It was hard not to adore Xarrah. Often times it felt as if he could do no wrong in her eyes. It was this that made it easy to be himself around her, he never felt as if he was treading on egg shells. So when she told him not to worry about the mix up he smiled at her thankfully. Maybe he would have protested, that was if he actually thought she was truly upset. But she was not, instead Icarus relaxed a little. Well until she asked about summer.

It wasn't that he could actually complain, it was something else. "It really hasn't been all that bad, its just...scary to think its our last summer. I sort of feel like maybe I should have done more...." Icarus chewed at the inside of his cheek. Done more. It was the simplest way to put it. "Oh?" He said curiously when she mentioned catching up with a friend and realizing her feelings for him. Well there was something he could relate to., maybe not exactly but he did know the struggle that came with falling for a friend, or a friend's friend, or a friend's sister. "We can dwell on it, if you wanted to. I make a great listener. Well, for you I can make a great listener - much better with that than lectures in class." Icarus laughed a little, it was well known he had some minor attention issues. Maybe a bit more than minor.

"Right, right, sorry." He grinned sheepishly, he couldn't help how often apologies tended to slip from his lips. "That's great though, perfect really, my summer has lacked Xarrah time." He'd missed the red head over the course of summer. "We can still look around for books too though, I mean you're a great multitask-er so it shouldn't be too hard to find books and tell me more about this friend of yours." It wasn't as if Icarus would have any love advice for her, having been hopelessly in love with Xochilt since third year (or first if you count awkward preteen crushes) he didn't have much experiences with any matter of love. Never the less it didn't mean he couldn't be there just to listen.

XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER

[XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER]

Xarrah nodded at her friend’s words understanding exactly what he was feeling. Summer was almost over, which meant they would be heading back to Hogwarts soon for their last year. It was crazy to think that in just one short year, they would all be graduating, and then what? What would they all be doing? Would they still be friends and keep in touch? It saddened her to think she could lose some of her friends from the group they had going. She loved each and every one of them with all her heart and wouldn’t want to lose them for anything. “I agree.” She told him, her face dropping slightly from her usual smile. “It’s odd, huh? The fact we’ll be leaving after this year?”

The redhead could tell she peaked his interest when she mentioned James. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything, but it was Icarus and he was easy to talk to. She trusted him, so why hide anything? Clearing her throat, she chuckled lightly. “It’s James Potter.” She told him, wondering what his reaction would be. “And well…” Pausing for a moment, she smiled to herself as she remembered that day; that specific moment. “He kissed me.” She said almost excitedly, but tried to contain herself. She didn’t want to draw attention to them, nor did she want a bunch of people knowing if there were any other students around. Not that they were a secret, but she’d rather not have everyone gossiping about her or him.

“You said sorry again.” She teased him, laughing lightly at her friend. He was such an awkward fellow, but she loved him. She couldn’t think of a better person to be in love with her sister, and she would tell him that too if the moment called for it. He was one of the best guys she knew, along with Charlie and James. “Yes, and I am due for some Icarus time.” She said, taking his hand and pulling him to a nearby small table with two chairs. “That is why, even though I can multi-task, I want all my attention on you. Sit down dear.” She told him softly as she sat herself.


ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS

[ICARUS ALAWN LUGUBELENUS]

In some ways it was reassuring to Icarus knowing he wasn't the only one who was feeling the melancholy of the impending seventh year. He smiled softly at her when he noticed the way her smiled dropped. "I'm sure its not going to change things all that much...but it is intimidating. Makes me wonder if I've prepared enough for it or not." He had studied as many books as he could get his hands on, but was it enough? He guessed he wouldn't know till he was faced with the world at the end of the term.

As Xarrah went on a smile cracked on Icarus' face. Xarrah was dear to him, so there was a certain joy the boy got out of seeing this happiness and excitement in her. "James Potter?" He gave a small laugh and grinned. Icarus couldn't say he personally knew James - but he knew of James. "He was totally rubbish at it wasn't he?" His tone was lightly and jokey clearly meant to be a tease. It was his way of expressing he was happy for her.

Icarus smiled sheepishly and looked down at his feet for a moment before looking back up and meeting Xarrah's gaze after she mentioned he still apologized for apologizing. Maybe one day he would learn he didn't have to always be sorry, but for now he was still working on it. He knew it was mostly just teasing any way, and with Xarrah he didn't mind. He let Xarrah take up his hand an lead him off to a seat, sitting himself in the other seat after she was seated. "Ah - missed me that much Ollivander?" His tone was far from serious and his face cracked into a half grin. There were so few people who Icarus felt so comfortable around, so in all actuality he was thankful for any one on one time he managed to get from those who he truly felt able to let loose with. "I mean, of course you have, but, I'm sure your little scandalous encounter was enough to take your mind off it."

Icarus might have gone on the rest of the day teasing Xarrah - that was if he didn't find himself burning with a questions. "Speaking of encounters...has, uh - well, Xochilt - has she say anything to you, about me?" He tapped his fingers lightly on the table as she asked about the other Ollivander. Having shared a slightly awkward and unexpected walk in the night Icarus had found himself full of many questions. "I'm, well, I'm sure she hasn't because - its not like anything happened I mean...nothing...important....." His gaze had slowly drifted away from Xarrah as he started to question if he really had wanted to try and find out if their little late night encounter had some how meant something to the girl who barely noticed him.

XARRAH PRIMROSE OLLIVANDER