77: In Which Guests Begin Arriving

"All set?" Xander paced around his living room, looking for any last minute item they may have forgotten.

"Xander, you've asked me that three times already. Trust me, we're set," Willow told her friend. "All that's left now is waiting for Spike and Buffy, grabbing the book, and then settling in for ninety minutes of magical travel."

"You've got the presents and the luggage."

"I've got it all. And even if I don't, I'm sure we can buy new stuff when we get there. I've heard rumours that one can get clothing and toothbrushes in England."

"But what if I want something tweed free?"

Spike clapped a hand on Xander's shoulder, and Xander jumped. "Trust me mate, there is tweed free clothing in England. Just because every time Giles comes back he's covered in more of it, doesn't mean it's all that's there."

Xander spun to face Spike and Buffy. "Okay, first, you guys have got to make more noise when you enter my house. I lose a year of my life each time you creep up on me like that. Second, what happened to you? Did you borrow that outfit from Giles?" Xander gestured to Spike's now mousy brownish locks and remarkably conservative outfit.

"I think this is my natural hair color, I think." He and Buffy had spent close to an hour in the grocery store looking at boxes of hair dye, debating which one they thought was likely to be closest to his natural shade.

"I can understand that, but why did you change back?"

"From what Snape said, Hermione put herself out to get me permission to go home. So, while I'm there, I may as well try not to shock my hosts too badly. Maybe, if I'm on good behaviour, I'll be able to get a return invite. I'd like a chance to really show Buffy my old haunts."

"For which his hair may go blue and black and some ratty, punky clothing will be involved."

"All part of the charm love, all part of the charm." Spike grinned at her.

"Hurry up and get over here. The portkey will go off in a minute," Willow said. The four Americans grew quiet and each grabbed a corner of a copy of Fodor's Great Britain. After ten seconds the feeling of being yanked from behind the navel hit them, and their trip had begun.

"I hate flying." Robert Granger sat in the lounge of Qantas.

"We didn't have to fly," Jean said pointedly.

"I know, but I like the other method even less. At least this way I've got a bag to be sick in."

"It won't be that bad. You'll take your meds, go to sleep, and in a few hours we'll be in Singapore. We'll get some food, stretch our legs, then get back on the plane, and head for London. You'll get some more sleep, and you'll be nice and rested by the time we're home. It'll be nice to see home."

"It will be nice. Good to see our families."

"Better to see our friends." Jean smiled at him. Both of them knew from long experience that seeing their families would probably involve an unpleasant moment or three, but their friends, now that would be pure joy.

"I can't believe our daughter is getting married."

"Me neither. Are you excited?"

"Of course. You?" Robert had been wondering about this since they received the news that Hermione was engaged, but this was the first good opportunity to ask.

"Certainly. Not so sure about her man, though." Jean sighed. Robert sighed with her. What they had seen so far hadn't been too bad, but Mr Snape was not what they had been hoping for.

"Hopefully we'll like him better as we get to know him more."

"Hopefully."

Words slightly distorted from the loudspeaker reached them. "I think that's our call," Jean said.

"I think you're right." Robert Granger stood, fumbled in his pocket, found the pill he was looking for and dry swallowed it. "I hope I'm asleep fast."

"You'll be fine, dear." Jean Granger took his hand, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"When are they all due?" Ginny asked. She looked up from the sketch of an eight stringed Celtic knot tattoo she was designing for Hermione and Snape.

Hermione looked away from her friend's drawing to the clock. "Willow, Spike, Buffy and Xander should have left about an hour ago. My parent's plane gets in at 8:10. Although the last time I checked it showed that they were already delayed. Who knows what time they'll actually be in?" Severus put his hand on her shoulder. Her tension level had been increasing as her parent's arrival got closer and closer.

"So, what do you think?" Ginny finished connecting the last line of the knot.

"It's excellent," Snape said.

"Just perfect, Ginny," Hermione told her.

"So, all we need to do now is color it."

"Oh." Snape looked unsure of himself. "I rather like it black and white." Ginny took that in and looked at her sketch again.

"How about this?" She left six of the lines uncoloured, and then shaded one line to a rich, vibrant crimson, and the other to a deep forest green. The effect was a solid band with little flashes of color.

"Ginny, can you make the other strands metallic looking?"

"I don't see why not."

"Make them silver and gold, three of each. After all, usually this would be jewellery, with these colours it'll look like a torque."

"Aren't torques worn on the neck?" Severus asked.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It'll be a wrist torque. A two dimensional, tattooed, wrist torque."

"Feeling a little nervous?" Ginny asked as soon as she changed the colours.

"Yes, I'm sorry. That was a bit snappish wasn't it?"

"Just a tad," Severus said. He looked at the image for a long time. "I still like it better black and white with just a hint of color."

"What if I made all the other bands silvery?" The gold lines vanished and were replaced with silver.

"That's better," Severus said.

"I love it."

"Do we have a wedding two-dimensional wrist torque?" Ginny asked.

Hermione grinned. Snape gave his eyes a gentle roll, and then smiled as well. "I think we do."

Hermione kept checking her watch.

"They'll be here soon enough. Checking your watch won't make them come any sooner."

"I know, but I'm anxious to see them."

"Me too."

"It was very nice of McGonagall to give you these days off." Snape was looking for any topic to get Hermione to quit pacing and checking her watch.

"She didn't want to, but she gave Neville two days off for each of his weddings, so she had to follow the precedent." Hermione checked her watch again.

Well conversation didn't work. Severus gently took a hold of her shoulder, and kissed her deeply.

Which is why Buffy, Spike, Xander, and Willow were treated to the sight of them snogging away as their first glimpse of England.

"Uggh, I know you're about to get married and all, but please, get a room," Xander said when his vision stopped spinning.

"And here I thought you were a closet voyeur. I had put on the show especially for you," Hermione quipped, while breaking free of Severus and heading over to hug her friends.

"You, I don't mind so much. Him…" Xander gave Severus a playful slap on the back, and then a friendly handshake.

Severus introduced Ginny to the group, and wrapped up with, "So, what can we do for you? Do you want to get something to eat, or head to your hotel?"

"How about just stand still until the trip wears off?" Buffy asked, looking slightly green.

"Long distance portkey not your favourite mode of transport?" Hermione asked while going into the kitchen and fetching four drinks. "Drink up. It'll help settle you." They did so, and the four of them immediately looked better.

"I like the new look, Spike," Hermione said.

"Don't get too used to it. I'm hoping to get your brother-in-law to let me come back."

"That's actually a pretty good first step. Use your Oxford accent and agree with anything he says to you, and you'll probably get it."

"That easy?"

"Well, maybe not that easy, but he's a political animal, and the possibility of useful allies always makes him happy. Having a Vampire, a Slayer, and their American buddies thinking well of him, or even better, owing him a favour, is something he'd like."

In a soft, mumbled voice, Xander said, "Someday, and this day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But, until that day, accept this as a gift on my sister-in-laws wedding day."

The Americans burst out laughing. Snape, Hermione, and Ginny looked perplexed. Spike explained, "It's a line from a movie. Next time you come to the States we'll show it to you. Great flick. So what was that you said about food? Could real fish and chips be in the offing?"

"Real fish and chips, bangers and mash, a pint or three, hell, we can get you haggis if your tastes run that way."

"Ohhhh… so many choices. It's so good to be back."

After a wonderful meal and happy conversation, much of which centered on the move to the New Orleans branch of the Watcher's Council, they got the Americans settled into their hotel and left for Heathrow. Hermione had made sure to carry a flask of the same potion she had given her friends earlier in the day. Robert Granger was likely to be green with motion sickness by the time he got off the plane.

They had prearranged a spot to meet, and now all that was left was the waiting. Hermione kept her eyes moving over and through the crowd, looking for the familiar forms of her parents. After several moments she caught sight of her father's hair, and began to wave.

"Hello!" She hugged her mum first, while her father and Severus shook hands, neither man smiled, but there was no outright hostility either.

"Here Dad, take a drink of this." She handed him the flask of stomach settling juice, he drank, and looked much better after a second. Now he was smiling.

"You must make sure I get some of that to take home with me."

"Not a problem, dad. Keep the flask. It's got about five doses left in it. Just take a sip as needed. It's one of Severus' concoctions."

"Thank you, Severus. This has been very helpful."

"You're welcome. It's a slightly modified version of the anti-nausea potion. It's not quite as strong and specifically designed to help with motion sickness."

"Well, whatever it is, it's a lifesaver. Besides thinking it's the middle of the night, I'm feeling almost human."

"Speaking of the middle of the night, would you like us to take you to your hotel, or you could see our place, or go get something to eat? Take your pick, neither of us has anything to do until tomorrow morning."

Robert Granger perked up. "Food, a hot shower, and a lay down in a real bed. Preferably in that order. Is Henley's still open?"

"Yes it is Dad. Mum will that suit you?"

"Certainly. Let's go get the luggage, and then we'll get some food."