Wonderlust

Xenophilius Lovegood

[caradoc-cares-not]

You know, in New Orleans, they have this thing called a jazz funeral. They end the ceremony with a brass band playing all these upbeat tunes and everybody dances and celebrates the life of the person who’s passed, and it’s peace and catharsis and hope for the future of their soul. 

I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing this week, what the right thing is, but… I think she’d want us to smile. Smile and dance and live, for her.

[thexenolovegood]

How can you know what she would’ve wanted? She is dead. You can’t know. I’m sure she would’ve been happier living. 

[thexenolovegood]

smokinteddy:

“Yeah…yeah, I’ll go to the Ministry tomorrow and get one. That’s all. And then I’ll go back and stop her. Not the party. She loved the party. She was so excited to be the…the v-victim this year, you know, she couldn’t stop talking about it. She…she…”

“Tomorrow. I can fix it tomorrow.”

The chances of that happening were practically impossible. But Xeno had always believed in impossible things. And if someone was worth breaking the laws of possibilities for, it was Pomona. So it could happen. Teddy could save her. Then...Why were tears rolling down his cheeks? Because no magic can bring the dead back. “It’s not fair...It was a game, this is not fair.”

[thexenolovegood]

smokinteddy

“Oh. Oh, no.” If this were a book he would have fallen to his knees, but instead he stood frozen, ramrod straight, as he took in the sight of Pomona’s lifeless eyes. “Oh no,” he breathed again.

“Xeno, I think she’s…how can she be…no.” He stared at her again, feeling hope drain through the floor, until he snapped his head to Xeno. “A time turner. We just have to get a time turner and then we can go back and stop this from happening. Of course, I can’t believe no one’s thought of it…we can get a time turner. Where do they keep them? Where do you think the time turners are, Xeno?”

She had promised to watch Hocus Pocus with him. Why was she on the floor when she had promised him? Xeno wanted to get closer, he wanted to make sure. He wanted to grab her wrist and find her pulse. She had promised... “What?” He looked at Ted, blinked with confusion. “Time turners?” He blinked again, turned to look at his teacher, laying on the floor, pale and with red staining her dress. “Like in Doctor Who. She showed me that show. Said I’d like the aliens and I do. We watch it on Fridays.” He blinked again, turned to look at Ted again. “She needs to be okay by then. It was getting interesting.” He couldn’t register that she was...No. Because Ted would fix it. Like the heroes in stories and movies. “The Ministry. I read about a law somewhere that forbid to use them so they have to be there.”

[smokinteddy-blog]

“See, that’s what I mean! None of this makes any sense, because who would want to kill her? Why would anyone want a world without her? No, she’s not gone, they’re wrong, they’re wrong. They’re so wrong, this is all part of the joke, it’s just Halloween, and she’s going to jump out and say trick or treat and give us all tootsie rolls just like every year.”

“I won’t yell at the kids if they don’t get in my way.” He hesitated, then took Xeno’s hand. “Okay. Okay. I believe you. I trust you.”

[thexenolovegood]

“They are just scared, Teddy. But I’ll get them out of the way. We will get to her soon enough and this game will be over.” He squeezed Ted’s hand and began walking, pushing through the ocean of kids, doing his best to soothe them and make them follow the instructions of the prefects. “We are getting there, see? We are...” The green glow was brighter now and Xeno could see the skull with the snake, bright and horrifying. The mass of students was gone and on the floor, a pool of red and pearls. 

[smokinteddy-blog]

I don’t care if the Dark Lord Grindelwald is standing over her right now, I’m going to help her. Why isn’t anyone doing anything? Why are they all just standing there? Where is Madam Pomfrey? Why isn’t anyone trying to help her?

Xeno, please…I know you’re a pureblood and I know you probably don’t care but…she’s like my mother, Xeno, you have to let me through. What if it was your mother there? I’d help you, you know I would, I wouldn’t just let her lay there hurt like that. 

[thexenolovegood]

“I care. I love her. She always has time to drink tea with me, she likes my stories and is always looking out for narggles. She promised to help me catch some on December, when there is mistletoe everywhere. I helped her pick her dress for tonight, Teddy. And I want to see her too, I want to hep but...But...”. But what if it’s true?

Xeno never had a mom but when his dad got sick, he wanted to be by his side at all times. If Pamona was hurt....“Okay. Okay, I will help you. Just don’t yell at the kids.” He grabbed Teddy’s hand. “We will get to her. I promise.”

[smokinteddy-blog]

Xeno, no, I have to get to her…God damnit move out of the way!

Everyone’s saying that she’s dead but she’s not, she can’t be dead. I saw her only a few hours. I saw her, Xeno, she was wearing a string of pearls long enough to trip over and she kept trying to wink - you know how she can’t really wink right? I saw her, she was fine, she’s fine.

[thexenolovegood]

Don’t yell at them! They are scared and they want to go back to their dorms, they are not trying to get on your way so stop yelling at them! 

Ted...Teddy, look at me. There is a dark mark in the middle of that hall and there are a bunch of kids frightened out of their minds. You are not going to be able to pass, you won’t be able to reach her so just.... You can’t go there, you can’t. Don’t go there, Teddy. Don’t. Please.

[smokinteddy-blog]

Like hell I’m going to go back to the tower. Get out of the way, move, I have to…I have to get to her…She has to be okay.

[thexenolovegood]

I know you want to find her but you’re just scaring people. I’ll help you find her but you have to help me get the kids out of here. They don’t need to see...They are just kids, Teddy.

[blackvelvetbones-blog]

“I definitely think Ted carrying you to breakfast is a very viable plan B should the sock thing not work out. How did your feet even get this cold, Xenophilius? …You weren’t… you weren’t walking outside in the rain without shoes, right?”

[thexenolovegood]

“ ....Um.” He looked away innocently. “No...?” Okay, he wasn’t a very good liar. “It wasn’t my fault! I couldn’t find my shoes this morning and I had to go outside. Every Wednesday I go feed the thestrals and I pet them because they need to know they are not invisible to everyone and that they are not scary. Do you know how much it would hurt them if I didn’t show up? A little rain never hurt me before so...I’ll be fine, really.”

[mappingmary-blog]

“You know it’s all fun and game until your toes come flying off next time you take off your shoes. I don’t know about you but in a place that has about fifty million cats roaming about, I wouldn’t want to go losing my toes anytime soon. Although, it would be a pretty rad story to tell. Pretty much everyone has all their toes anyways, it’s bound to be overrated too.”

[thexenolovegood]

“That is a scenario that I have never really considered. Huh. But I don’t wear shoes that much to begin with so...It might not go exactly like that. But I see your point. Madam Pomfrey would get quite cross if I end up losing my toes and Mr. filch won’t be too happy to see Ms. Norris walking around when there are toes flying around.”

[lemonspells]

“Sounds like a problem. I don’t think numb feet are a good thing, do you?”

[thexenolovegood]

“Well...Maybe. But it’s not that big of a deal...I think. I’m just used to walk around without shoes and I can’t find my socks anywhere so...Oops?”

[ravenrosalind-blog]

“I do believe socks would be a good idea Xeno.”

[thexenolovegood]

“Hmm...Maybe you’re right. Walking is getting kinda hard.”

[arielionheart-blog]

“My God, Xenophilius, you’re crazy. How can you even stand that? Maybe it’s not crazy, then, maybe you just have a really high pain tolerance… Actually, either way, you’re still a little bit crazy. No offense, of course.” She snorted. “That does sound like something that would make socks mad. Still, though…I still think you should be putting something on your feet.”

[thexenolovegood]

“Go with eccentric, please. Crazy is just...” He scrunched up his nose. “I mean, I know you’re not trying to offend. I know what people sound like when they are trying to hurt me with words but um...Crazy is not my favourite adjective, you know? But anyway...I think you are right. I don’t want to end up with blue feet.”

[blackvelvetbones-blog]

“That, um… That sounds like it’s probably pretty high up on the list of things you should worry about. Feet are pretty essential, Xenophilius, how else are you going to get to the great hall for Tortellini Tuesday? You should probably see Madame Pomfrey.”

[thexenolovegood]

“Hmm, good question. I guess I could always walk on my hands. Or maybe I could get Teddy to carry me to breakfast! That would be so much fun! Oh, no need to worry Madam Pomfrey, I’ll be fine. Probably just need to stand by the fire with a pair of warm socks.”

[arielionheart-blog]

“I don’t think you quite understand how feet work, Lovegood. If they’re numb, that’s definitely something to worry about. C’mon, we’re going to the Hospital Wing, and you need some socks.”

[thexenolovegood]

“They are not completely numb. Just a little bit. But it’s not my fault! I usually wear socks when it’s this cold but I’m pretty sure my socks are playing hide n’ seek. Maybe they are mad because I always wear them mismatched and Pandora says they don’t like when I do that all that much.”

[peculiarly-pandora-blog]

“It seems as though everyone is having a rough day, so I thought it would be a good time to hand out some flowers. Would you care for one?”

[thexenolovegood]

“That is a lovely idea, Pan! And well, my day has been nice so far but I’d love to have a flower.”

[thexenolovegood]

“It’s fine, my feet are not cold. Kind of numb maybe but...I wouldn’t worry too much about that.”

[thexenolovegood]

The floor felt cold beneath his is bare feet but he was comfortable walking around shoeless. He was used to it, one or both of his shoes missing more often than not. His steps were silent and, usually, people failed to notice him until he spoke but this time, people’s eyes were on him. After all, it was difficult to ignore a boy carrying a big basket filled with cookies that he was giving to everyone.

“Do you want one?” He asked, offering a smile and showing the cookies. However, he noticed the other person gazing at the bruise on his brow. “Is not as bad as it looks, promise.”