Shadow Council part 128 FINAL

*****

Hermione stared, eyes a little wide when Xander arrived back at her place with Wednesday in tow.

“Wednesday? Why are you here so early?” She blurted.

Wednesday looked at her evenly before drawling, “Why Hermione, one might think you’re not ecstatic to see me.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “Only Xander is crazy enough to ever be ecstatic to see you. I tend to rest more on the mildly pleased while majorly concerned range.”

Wednesday’s lips twitched as she inclined her head, “It’s good to see you as well.”

Hermione laughed, ignoring the slightly concerned looks she was getting from her parents, and actually embraced Wednesday for a brief moment before stepping back.

“I’m sorry for invading your space, but I think I needed that bit of dark humor,” Hermione said, “It’s been… trying here this summer.”

She shot Xander a glance, “I made the mistake of getting him invited over early.”

“That would be trying, I agree,” Wednesday said, unruffling her clothing from the unexpected hug. “You are forgiven your tresspasses on my space, this once, as a nod to my understanding of how it is to deal with Alexander.”

“I’m so confused,” Emma whispered to Daniel in the background, getting their attention.

“Don’t worry about them,” Xander said, rolling his eyes, “They bond over insulting me. It’s their way, I think. I’m just a convenient glue that holds their sordid relation- Ow!”

“No jokes like that to my parents,” Hermione snapped, shaking the sting from her hand. “It’s bad enough when you do things like that to poor Harry.”

Xander opened his mouth to object, then considered it for a moment and shrugged, “Yeah that’s fair.”

He carefully moved to keep Hermione between himself and Wednesday, noting the gleam in her eye.

“Also, I’m currently afraid for my life so, you know,” He chuckled nervously.

Hermione just rolled her eyes, not looking behind her, “You know as well as I do that she’s not going to kill you.”

“One should speak only for oneself, Hermione,” Wednesday said softly, not taking her eyes off Xander. “Besides, there are worse things to do to someone than merely kill them.”

Hermione pinched her nose, “Could you please at least attempt to not freak out my parents? They’re going to get the impression that you’re representative of the Magical world.”

“She’s… not?” Emma asked softly, something about the young girl making her nervous.

“No,” Wednesday answered for Hermione, “Most of the magical world are as uniquely cheerful as they are useless.”

The way she said the word cheerful left Emma wondering why it had sounded like the most vile epithet she’d ever heard uttered, and given that she’d heard people cursing after someone went to work on their teeth without anesthetic… well  it was saying something.

“Wednesday’s family are… unique,” Hermione said with a sigh. “They’re largely… feared by anyone sane.”

“Hey, I’m not afraid of them,” Xander objected.

Hermione just looked at him, “I stand by my statement.”

Xander sighed, “Also probably fair.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes at the pair of them, “Pardon the comedy show. Alexander believes he's funny, and Hermione doesn’t seem to have the heart to correct him.”

Daniel snickered softly, “I’d noticed.”

“Hey!” both his daughter and Xander objected, getting a laugh from Emma as well.

Xander sighed, but grinned in the aftermath as the two adults laughed openly at him.

“Anyway,” He said, “Wednesday crossed the pond today, and I got Harry’s permission for her to stay at his place. Figured we’d do a little visiting, and also need to let Hermione know about what’s going on with Harry.”

“What? Something’s wrong with Harry?”

“The things wrong with Potter are multitude,” Wednesday said dryly. “However none of them are, currently, a threat to his well being.”

“I dunno, the possibility that he may have to ask you to be his date for this party seems like a looming threat to his life,” Xander smirked at her.

“He will not.” Wednesday said firmly. “He values his life more than that.”

“You have a lot more faith in Harry’s survival instincts that I do,” Xander said idly, “though, as you pointed out, there are worse things than death.”

Wednesday paused, turning to fix him with a stare, “are you implying that dating me is one of them?”

Xander leaned in close to her, almost nose to noise, “Are you implying it’s not?”

They stayed like that for a long moment before Wednesday’s lips twitched again and Xander broke into laughter.

“I’ve missed you,” He told her between guffaws.

Wednesday merely shook her head, “As I you, with every shot so far.”

Hermione, watching it all, just shook her own head.

“Would one of you want to tell me why Harry would be asking Wednesday out?” She asked, seemingly pained.

“Oh yeah, right,” Xander settled, “He’s got an invite to a party from her Majesty. Needs a date and a couple bodyguards. I was joking about Wednesday, really, it’s not the sort of situation she would enjoy putting up with. I suggested he ask you as his date, while I took one of the guard slots. Not sure about the second, though. Weds could serve in a pinch, but honestly a bored and aggravated Wednesday Addams in close proximity to a bunch of Nobles feels like a bad idea to me.”

“Why Alexander,” Wednesday smiled just slightly, “Are you concerned for me?”

“More for me,” Xander told her. “Burying bodies is a lot of work.”

“Enjoy what you do and you will never work a day in your life,” She told him philosophically.

Xander grinned at her, while Hermione groaned and rubbed her temples.

“She doesn’t mean that,” She assured her parents.

“So sure of that, are you?” Wednesday challenged her before shrugging, “At any rate, all things considered, Alexander is likely right. It would be a tiresome way to end my time here in England. There are still some years left to my education as well, so removing some of your nobility would be counterproductive.”

Hermione looked troubled, “Harry is going to need so much preparation. I need to research.”

*****