Disclaimer is in chapter 1.
Xander's arrival in Salem ended with him on his backside in the office of the Dean, staring up at the bemused faces looking down at him and flushing in embarrassment.
"Sorry," He said, climbing to his feet. "I can't seem to get the hang of those things."
"No need for apologies," Said an old man who reminded Xander a lot of Dumbledore, though with a little less insanity showing through. "I believe I was in my forties before I learned to land properly from a portkey, though they were a tad rougher back then."
The two other people in the office smiled slightly, and Xander recognized one of them as his great Aunt and quickly bowed to them both.
"Well, a polite young man as well," The old man said, smiling. "I'm Arthur Fitzpatrick, young Mr. Harris, Dean of Salem Academy for the Magical Arts."
Xander blinked, then turned and bowed slightly to him as well. "Pleased to meet you, Sir."
"And you, young man. I regret that you have chosen to school yourself elsewhere, I think you would have been a fine addition to the campus." Arthur said, smiling widely. "Now, we gathered here to speak of how things will work on this exchange program, if you're amenable?"
Xander blinked, not actually knowing what the word meant, but decided to agree anyway just based on context. "Yes sir, of course."
"Excellent," Arthur smiled again, then nodded to the man Xander didn't recognize.
"I am Professor Hardy," The hawk faced man said, "I've been assigned to liaise between Salem and Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. I will be providing you will extra tutelage in the coursework you'll be expected to know should you go on to higher learning in a non-magical institute after you write your NEWTS."
"Nice to meet you, Sir."
"You will be expected to maintain a certain level of grades, Alexander," Arthur said seriously, "Last year we didn't watch as closely because we had nowhere else to send you, but if your grades drop you will not be permitted to continue at Hogwarts."
Xander swallowed, but nodded. "I understand."
"Judging from your marks last year, I don't believe there will be any great issues," Arthur said, glancing through the sheaf of parchment he was holding. "You've turned out very respectable results that, while not exceptional, do show you to be ahead of the class averages at Hogwarts and here."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Now, the standard warnings of gloom and doom done with, I believe that you're Great Aunt wishes to speak with you in private." Arthur stood, "You may, of course, use my office if you like."
"Thank you, no, Dean." Jessica Lavelle said as she too rose up. "I believe we'll talk and walk."
"Of course." Arthur replied, returning to his seat with an affable grin.
"Come along child," Jessica said, laying a hand on Xander's shoulder.
Xander nodded and let her lead him out.
Once they were away from the office, outside and moving along the manicured paths that made up the non-volcanic portion of the campus, Jessica spoke again.
"Lesson one, never hold a private conversation in someone else's office." She said out of the blue, "It is an invitation to nosy busybodies to spy on you."
Xander blinked, looking back, "You think he would have...?"
"Unlikely, but possible. No, I meant it as general advice, child." The older woman said, "It is far too easy for Wizards or Witches to get the idea that they deserve to know everything about everyone around them. Power Dementia is an ugly thing."
Not knowing what else to do, Xander nodded in agreement.
Jessica smiled, "You don't know what I mean yet, child, but you will. Tell me, what do you know about your family?"
"About my mom and dad?"
"No, Alex. Your family. The Lavelle's and the Harris'."
Xander shrugged, "not much. Mom told me some over the summer, but it seems really complicated."
Jessica sighed, shaking her head. "You should have been identified as magical a long time ago, Alexander. The scrying devices must have been blinded by the infernal portal you live near, and no one thought to check The Book. Marcus will tell you nothing of the Harris family, I expect, and there is little I can say other than some background."
She paused, considering, "The Harris magical line is Irish, as is your Lavelle bloodline, though we Lavelles are a widely traveled bunch. Both trunk lines were destroyed, as I told you before, and now only the Colonial lines exist. Some here, some in Africa, Australia, South America. Likely a few extended relations in the Ural mountains, and possibly even into the Russia's, Lavelle family only. Harris clan members are almost entirely in Australia and America, and most of those in Australia have been disowned at some point in their ancestry."
"Why?"
"As the non-magical folk sent criminals to Australia as punishment, so too did our lines send... black sheep. Family members who chose not to fit in, but rather to cause trouble in one form or another." Jessica shrugged, "Actually, many of those types came to America as well, but our ancestors on this side of the Atlantic were usually too important to strike from the family register and so your paternal blood is possibly one of the last of the official Harris lines."
"Whoa." Xander blinked.
"You don't understand any of this, I know," She sighed. "So much to learn, so little time. On the Lavelle side you're not quite as important, but you're still one of ours and we tend to stick together."
"I know some of this stuff," Xander said, frowning. "Blood seems really important to a lot of people in England, you know."
She smiled slightly, "I was aware, yes."
"A lot of my schoolmates," Xander wouldn't say friends, "seem to think it's the most important thing when it comes to being magical."
"Many people do, though I will say that few of them are intelligent folk." Jessica said, faintly amused, "Of course, in fairness, few folk of any sort are intelligent."
"My friends are." Xander said, his tone defensive.
She smiled at that, amused by his instant leap to the defense of his friends. "Perhaps. Are they purebloods?"
Xander snorted, "Not hardly. Hermione is muggle-born, and Wednesday things purebloods are pretty thin blooded."
"Interesting names." Jessica raised an eyebrow.
"I guess."
"I'll tell you a little secret, Alexander, something pureblood lines hate to dwell on." Jessica said after a moment, "If you go back far enough, even the oldest pureblood family begins with a 'muggle-born'. We came from the non-magical populace, as does every variation of humanity in existence. Vampires, Lycans, Wizarding Kind, all from the same source. What many would consider 'lowly' humans."
Xander smirked, "Makes sense. I knew there was nothing to this pureblood stuff."
"I did not say that, Alexander." Jessica said sharply. "Remember this well, we may have originated from them, but bloodlines that have existed for centuries and even millennia are changed by time. There are talents, little blood traits that arise from time to time in a bloodline, that do follow the blood. They separate us from the majority of those who are born to non-magical folk. You will almost never see a Speaker born to normal folk, not one of any stripe."
"Speaker?"
"Those who have a natural empathy with an element of magic. There are those who speak with animals, elements, even the spirits who have crossed over."
"Spirits? You mean ghosts?" Xander grinned, "Anyone can speak with them."
"No, those who have crossed over. Not the souls who remain here for whatever reason, those who have moved on." She corrected sharply. "These are bloodline traits, it's almost unheard of for a first generation Wizard or Witch to enjoy anything of the like."
Xander considered that for a long moment, then spoke up, "Do our families have any talents like that?"
Jessica smiled, "Good question, child. One I will table until another time, however. If you're very good, you'll be able to answer it for yourself."
Xander crossed his arms over his chest and sulked slightly, causing her to laugh again.
"Come, Alex. Our time runs short, and you have another busy year ahead of you."
His great Aunt led him back to the dorms, then bade him goodbye, leaving Xander feeling very confused as to what the whole meeting had been about. One thing he did know, however, was that he was going to be doing some research into his family lines just as soon as he got a chance.
The possibility of having magical talents that went beyond casting spells was just too cool to leave unchecked.
He played with Fenrir a bit, then went to sleep for the night with the knowledge that he'd be heading back to England the next day dancing through his dreams all night. Lack of proper sleep aside, however, Xander was up early and excited to get moving. He was meeting up with Wednesday again today.
The Addams once again arrived by car, forgoing the faster modes of transport in favor of the ancient automobile chauffeured by the title character from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
"Wednesday!"
"Alexander." Wednesday Addams returned his happy shout with a more reserved greeting, leading Xander to slow his approach slightly, and shift to a more laid back wave.
"Ready for more Hogwarts?" he asked, smiling.
"Of course. Are you?" She asked pointedly, one eyebrow peaking.
"Probably not." He grinned.
She sighed slightly, shaking her head, then turned back to her parents. "Mother, Father."
"Wednesday, Darling, we'll miss you so." Mortisha said, leaning over to hug her daughter.
"Alex, my boy," Gomez greeted Xander as he came around the car, "How have you been? Care for a cigar?"
"Uh, no thanks, and I've been good, Sir."
"Sir. Please, call me Gomez lad." The exuberant man laughed, "No need to stand on ceremony with me."
"Gomez, honey, Wednesday is ready to go." Mortisha said, dabbing at her eyes.
"Ah yes, off on another adventure. You do us proud, Wednesday, just remember the Addams motto and you'll do fine." Gomez said with a fierce grin.
"Of course."
"Addams motto?" Xander asked, curious.
"We gladly feast on those who would subdue us." Wednesday said in a deadpan delivery.
"Yikes. Cheery." Xander blurted with a shiver.
"I know," Gomez clasped his hands together. "Gives me goosebumps just thinking it. That's a strong family statement, my boy."
Xander nodded, slowly. He couldn't really argue with that, that was for sure.
The elder Addams left shortly after, and with only a short bit of milling around Xander and Wednesday were herded into a smaller group than the last time, with professor Hardy chaperoning.
"Is everyone here?" he asked, looking around. Once he had satisfied himself that he wasn't missing any of his charges, he gave out the last minute directions and held out the portkey.
When they all touched it, the key tugged them into the swirling space they transited, and then spat them back out in London's Diagon Alley. The group arrival created a bit of a fuss, but things calmed down shortly as the group made their way around the alley, getting their books for the year. There seemed to be a lot more of them this year, Xander noticed, most written by the same guy.
"Who's this Lockhart dude?" He whispered to Wednesday.
"I do not know." She admitted, "I've never read any of these books."
"They look kinda cool." Xander said hesitantly.
Indeed, they looked a lot cooler than the other books they had to buy. Shiny covers, moving pictures, and a wizard posing on the front of each book with wide smiles and heroic looking postures made the books seem pretty interesting. Xander tucked them away, counting out his money quickly, and wondered if he could get some time in some of the other stores before they had to go.
It wasn't to be, however, as Hardy rounded them up shortly after that and another portkey later found them on platform nine and three quarters as people milled about, saying their goodbyes to students who were boarding the train.
"Alexander, Wednesday, I'll see you on the train now." Hardy said firmly.
"You're not coming?"
"No, I have to take the others across the channel to Beauxbatons and Durmstrang." he said, "You two are the only two returning to Hogwarts."
Xander nodded and Wednesday merely pulled him along.
"Come alone, it's time to board."
"Alright, see ya, Sir!"
Professor Hardy nodded as the duo boarded the train, then turned to the rest of his charges and withdrew his portkey ring yet again.