Shadow Council 128E

“So what brings you across the pond this early in the summer?” Xander asked curiously as he took a sip of his butterbeer and nodded thanks to Tom for delivering the drink.

Wednesday just looked at him evenly, not speaking for a moment.

“I believe that you may require some more work before All Hallows Eve,” She finally said.

Xander rolled his eyes, “You still haven’t given me a good reason to go along with your insanity.”

“Most boys wouldn’t need much of one,” She replied with a twist of her lips.

“Would you trust most boys with this ritual?”

Wednesday flushed ever so slightly, looking away briefly before returning her gaze to his face.

“I would not,” She admitted.

“Then find a good reason.” He told her dryly as he took another sip.

Wednesday sighed, but reminded herself that he did in fact have a point. The only reason she was willing to trust Xander was the fact that he wasn’t merely interested in anyone in a skirt.

Ok, bad example at our school, She though with rare amusement.

“I am not concerned,” She said finally. “In the end, you aren’t foolish enough to ignore advice from someone who’s smarter than you are.”

Xander rolled his eyes, but didn’t really have a rejoinder for that off the top of his head. She was smarter than he was, and they both knew it. That didn’t mean that she was right all the time, however, and he wasn’t about to let her have a free pass just cause of that. He’d learned the hard way with Willow that would be a bad precedent to set.

Instead he finished off his drink, “Another time, then. For now, we should probably get you to Harry’s so you can settle in.”

Wednesday glared at him, “I believed that you were joking about that.”

He just had the audacity to smirk at her, “I’m not that funny.”

“I know, but I wasn’t aware that you knew.”

Xander winced, holding her chest, “That hurt.”

“What will hurt is what I’ll do if this is some practical joke on your part.” She informed him simply.

“I’m rarely practical.”

She glared at him but, as was becoming more and more normal, he cheerfully ignored her as he stood up.

“Come on, let’s get going.” Xander said as he produced his door and pulled it open to the full size and opened it up. “Come on, boy, hop in.”

Fenrir yipped a little reluctantly, but finally went into the magically expanded room with some reluctance. Xander closed it up and nodded to the door as he glanced back at Wednesday.

“Ready?”

Wednesday sighed, but followed suit, leaving a few coins on the table for the proprietor. They went outside to where Xander had parked his bike and he hopped on, gesturing to the rear.

Wednesday sighed audibly, but casually slipped onto the stiff seat and leaned against Xander’s back as she slipped her arms around him, gripping tightly despite having no need to thanks to the security charms on the bike.

Xander reached down, cupping her hands for a moment before he smiled and grabbed the handlebars, making sure that the muggle repelling wards were on as he kicked the engine over and guided them out onto the street. Traffic was light, so he easily rolled up to speed before pulling the bike back and up, the wind rushing over them as they climbed over the buildings and rapidly put London well below them.

“We could portkey,” He said over his shoulder, “Or we could drive it.”

“Drive,” She said into his shoulder, quietly but enough to be heard.

“Just what I hoped you’d say.”

*****

The flight to the South East was a fair distance, Wednesday had been surprised to learn, but at the speed the motorcycle could manage in the air it hadn’t been either a long trip, nor an uncomfortable one.

She was surprised, again, though when they circled an old tower in the middle of a forested area instead of heading to some random home much closer to other people.

“Potter lives here?” She asked as they dropped down, heading for a landing near the front of the tower.

“Nope.”

Wednesday glared, knowing from his tone that he was enjoying himself and uncertain whether she should be correcting that or not.

Let’s get all the facts before I decide, Wednesday finally though. “You said that you had arranged for me to stay at Potter’s place.”

“I did, yes.”

They touched down, and she gave him a moment  to add to his statement, but realized quickly that he had no intention of doing so.

“Alexander, I will hurt you,” She said finally.

“You’ll try,” He said over his shoulder as they rolled to a stop and he kicked the stand down.

Wednesday realized, in a flash of insight, that he was being far more confrontational than he normally would be. She wasn’t entirely certain of his reasoning, but couldn’t help but like the shift… up to a point.

Instead of letting him go now that they had stopped, she tightened her grip and dug her fingers in like claws as she pressed her cheek up against his ear.

“Hallow’s Eve is a long way off, but I’m sure that I could make it seem much much longer, Alexander.”

“Peace,” He folded, laughing as he prized her arms apart and slipped off the bike. “This is Harry’s ancestral home. He’s at the Weasleys for the rest of the summer, and is hoping to move in here next year. For now it’s all yours, already got you entered into the ward scheme.”

She stared for a moment, then followed him off the bike, “Very well. Show me around.”

“Trust me, you’re going to love the basement.”

*****