Settling the Contract (Xavier)

[Rachel Ward]

Rachel could barely believe that Professor Xavier Dawson had agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend. She didn’t think when she asked him and she started regretting it. Out of all people she could have asked that to, she chose him. She could have asked Oliver Wood, she remembered her last encounter with him and it didn’t turn out too bad but she thought her sisters would just want to peek too much into her privacy if she did and he was a heartthrob so it was out of the equation for her. The best option remained Xavier. He was a Professor at Hogwarts which meant minimal contact with him and her sisters wouldn’t nag her too much if they ended up knowing his profession. She was not much into physical contact and preferred to focus on her studies at her job which were far more interesting in her mind. Not to add that he wouldn’t be afraid of answering her sisters’ questions and would probably turn them off which was another bonus. She didn’t need love like they did after all!

It was why she and Xavier decided to meet up and discuss the contract they would get into and she picked the Leaky Cauldron because one, none of them did bars and there would be too many people they might know there and two, it was a much calmer place which would be better to discuss. She took a seat at a table and waited for him to arrive so they could settle this mess and she could get that out of her head once and for all. A distant relationship with someone who wasn’t so loving sounded like a perfect plan. She doubted that he would corner her into a kiss (which was pretty much what she did not want to endure!).

[Professor Xavier Dawson]

Xavier life had thrown him a huge loop and that being he had a son he had no clue about. He was not a fatherly or emotional person. He had no clue what he was going to do. There was literally no escaping his son as his mother died and he was his teacher as well. He was in quite the pickle as the muggles say. 

He was surprised when his old school rival had come to him with a suggestion of a relationship of sort to help both of us out. He was hesitant at first but at least he could do was give Xander a mother figure. 

he walked into the Leaky Cauldron and saw Rachel right away. He walked up to her. ‘There is a lone table in corner.’ Was all he said as he began walking over to the table. 

[Rachel Ward]

Rachel was glad that Xavier didn’t give her time to wait too much after him. She didn’t feel quite comfortable being alone in such places or having to socialize in general. It might have been why her sisters often decided to peek into her private life and make sure that she wasn’t going to die alone forever. She wouldn’t mind doing that, besides, she never thought that she was alone to begin with! She just had a different lifestyle than theirs and they didn’t get that point.

She didn’t say a word when he walked towards her and told her about that table. She preferred that as well and went to sit down. “I’m surprised you agreed to this.” She admitted, eying him just to make sure that he wouldn’t find some sort of way to make things worse for them. She couldn’t say that they were friends either, but they tolerated each other. They had been rivals for so long while one would avoid that kind of relationship with a rival she thought it was the best option, especially if they were alike as they were.

She pulled a parchment out of her robes, having written the contract but leaving a spot for him to add or fix whatever he wanted. “You can add what you want in there.” She said going already straight to the point. It’s not like she could do that much small talk either.

[Professor Xavier Dawson]

Xavier looked straight at her as she mentioned she was surprised he agreed to this. He was himself as well. He never been in a real relationship before. Hook ups and flings yes. That’s how he ended up with a son apparently. “Ya, I am too,” he replied, “But this benefits me I suppose in a way too.”

Xavier grabbed the parchment reviewing the contact. “I have a son that needs a mother figure. In return of me being your ‘boyfriend’ I need you to help me raise him. His mother passed away and I only learned he was mine. That’s my term to this.”

He looked at her with a serious expression. “I don’t do the I love you and touchy feely stuff. I will act in front of your siblings if you help me with Xander.”

[Rachel Ward]

Rachel nodded when Xavier told her that it would benefit him as well. She started wondering why. It’s not like they were all that close…well, maybe they were but they kind of bickered more often than they would agree on things. He challenged her most of the time and they would often head butt over a few things but if she truly hated him she wouldn’t even speak to him in the first place. She supposed that she liked to be challenged.

She let him read the contract and listened to him when he told her that he needed a figure mother. “You know, I’m not exactly the best motherly figure one could have.” She warned him. “But if this is your condition then I agree.” She just wanted him to know that she might not know all to do with a kid under her responsibility especially considering that she always came back late from work. Hopefully, he’d be at Hogwarts for a good part of the year. “Thank God, I don’t do that either.” She simply said when he warned her.

“How old is Xander?” she asked him. She might as well ask about him so she could mentally prepare herself for what was coming to her.

[Professor Xavier Dawson]

Xavier looked at Rachel with a straight blank face when she said she’s not mother material. “And you think I’m father material?” He asked her. He didn’t know first thing about being a father. He was more of the let me do my thing and leave me be. “I obviously know your not mother material really either, but all mother material want the relationship with it and I’m not for that.”

Xavier looked at Rachel when she asked his age and did a quick count. “14. Before you ask about him, I barely know him other than his name is Xander and a Slytherin as I teach him at Hogwarts.”

“With your agreement you get me for three family event and one holiday to get your family off your back,” Xavier stated. “Which you can use excuse I’m at Hogwarts teaching.”

[Rachel Ward]

Rachel could see the comic aspect in this scene: Xavier and Rachel ‘signing’ up to be parents. They were both the last people on this planet who would be labeled as parents and yet, here they were planning a contract for that. She didn’t even feel the need for his answer as they both knew it. They’d probably be the worst pair to become parents. To her, relationships weren’t as important as they were to her family. She understood they wanted her to be happy but they didn’t seem to understand that she was happy when she was working late night shifts at the Ministry working on her research, especially when she was discovering things that mattered. It was just that her definition of happiness and her sisters’ weren’t the same. Not everyone needed a child to feel accomplished! Don’t get her wrong though, a contract was a contract, an engagement of some sort, and if she was willing to sign it then she was willing to achieve her part of the goal. The reason why she thought that Xavier was a good ‘boyfriend’ candidate was because she was certain he would let her be and not be a needy person. Besides, he worked at Hogwarts so that gave her a perfect excuse for a good part of the year!

She nodded her head when he told her the kids’ age. 14, teenage crisis. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be too much of a handful. Then again, Xavier was also a Slytherin and she was able to deal with him too. “That at least, gives me an idea of what I will need to do.” She simply said, keeping her thoughts to herself and also keeping a straight face.

They were now discussing the terms of her side of the contract and it almost had her scowling remembering that she might have to bring him to family events. “I will warn you before when the events will happen.” She assured him. Quite honestly, she would be happy just having him pop in for a few minutes then leave but she doubted her family would allow that, especially if he was to be a boyfriend. “This is why you’re a good option; a lot can be spared with you being there.” She admitted.