Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Wednesday. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.
Note: A couple people have mentioned that I haven't had a lot of time with Harry giving his girls individual attention. That is a fair note, and it was by design. I needed an excuse for Harry to question what exactly each girl might want more of out of a relationship with him. In Enid's case, that is more instinct based, as I alluded to at the end of last chapter in the library.
Warning: Just a heads up, Harry and his girls are going to be getting up to some intimate stuff up ahead. Nothing crazy yet, but they will be exploring each other and some new dynamics.
Chapter Six - Alone Time With The Girls And A Boat Race
"Hey, Harry, you got a second?" Sirius asked as the younger man was lacing up his shoes in preparation of heading to school.
"Yeah, pops, I got a few minutes if you need them. I was gonna head up early to grab breakfast with the girls, but they won't mind if I meet them at the cafeteria instead of walking them from the dorms."
Sirius smiled at how happy his boy sounded before getting serious and pulling him over to their unlit fireplace where a pair of leather backed wing chairs were waiting. Sitting Harry down he took his own seat and said, "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Look, I know in all the excitement of the Wendigo attack, and warding up the school, I haven't had the chance to congratulate you on getting your first girlfriend, let alone two of them, so… congrats."
"Thanks… I guess?" Harry wasn't sure what to make of his dad's tone of voice. "I thought that was okay for people like us?"
"It is. That isn't what I'm trying to say here." The Black family patriarch sighed and leaned back further in his chair, wishing it wasn't so early in the morning so he could have a stiff drink with this conversation. "Look, as your father there are certain conversations I need to have with you, and especially when you are in a relationship like this it becomes important to-"
"Wo, wo, wo!" Harry began to wave his hands in front of his face in a panic, "You aren't about to give me the Talk are you? We already took care of that in Budapest!"
"I know that!" Sirius' face went red at that memory, but nevertheless he powered on. "This isn't 'that' kind of conversation so relax. It's just going to be a bit awkward is all. Look son, dating two women is a lot of work. You need to be attentive to each of their wants, needs, desires, and values. What's more, you can't spend all your time with both of them at once. I've made that mistake in the past and it can come back to bite you in the ass. You need to take the time to make each of them feel loved and appreciated in their own ways."
A suddenly nervous look crossed his son's face as he answered, "But, most of the time when the three of us hang out we do so together. Neither of them have said anything bad about it."
"They wouldn't. Women are strange, son. They'll just expect you to pick up on things from them."
"But that doesn't make any sense! What do I do then?"
"Take some time with them one on one. Still hang out as a group, but maybe take them on individual dates here and there. Show them that being in a relationship will mean they'll have your individual love too."
"That's… actually a good idea. Thanks, dad."
"It's what good parents do. Although I also wanted to talk to you a bit about Enid in particular. She's a werewolf right?"
"Yeah."
"Is she a dominant personality? In werewolf culture that would be an alpha."
"Not that I've noticed. She's definitely bubbly and bright, but not very forceful."
"Then she's going to want that from you. It's a werewolf thing, opposites attract. And especially as a beta she'll need someone to be her alpha. I'm guessing she's been pushing you to be more physical and affectionate with her?"
"Yes, actually. And her expressions of PDA have been getting crazy lately. I was about to ask her about that today."
"Don't. Just accept it. Trust me, you'll both be happier for it."
"Huh." Harry thought that over. "I'd not considered her needs as a werewolf. Wednesday is almost the exact opposite."
"How so?"
"Well, she is really all about control. I think she likes taking the lead on how things go with our end of the relationship, and I have no problem with that." He paused, "So when are you taking Principal Weems on a date?" Harry asked with a smirk, glad of the chance to turn this conversation back on his father.
"Next weekend. I mentioned I have a twenty year old bottle of scotch in the cellar and she was ecstatic at the chance to come over for a taste. Now get on off to school and think about what I said."
Harry did so, and after a delightful breakfast with his girlfriends, classes, and time in the beekeeping club, he stopped by the dorms and called Enid down.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Enid, would you like to go on a date tonight? Just me and you?"
The blonde's eyes shot wide and with a squee of delight she leapt into his arms and nuzzled his cheek. "Yes!"
Chuckling happily, and silently thanking Sirius for this, he asked, "Wanna go for a ride and then a walk in the woods?"
"What about the Wendigo?"
"I meant the woods around my house. They're all warded to high heaven. Trust me, that monster isn't getting anywhere near them.
"That sounds awesome. I've been dying to see your home." Enid agreed and hopped off of him before snatching up his hand in her own. "Lead the way." They practically ran back to the parking lot before hopping on his bike. The drive was quick but Harry absolutely loved every second of it. Enid was ecstatic as ever and she was literally howling with glee as they sped along up the long drive to his mansion.
Then they were walking hand in hand through a worn path in the trees and the sounds of the night took them. For a while they walked in companionable silence and then Harry said, "Enid, am I doing everything you want me to?"
"What?"
"As a boyfriend. Am I living up to what you want?"
Enid quirked her head, "Where is this coming from?"
"My dad. Remember how we have that family bestiary? He was telling me that werewolves have certain desires and needs and I was worried that you were holding back because I'm still getting used to this society."
Enid was quiet for a moment, and then she looked up at him bashfully and said, "It's nothing bad like that. You're an amazing boyfriend. Kind, caring, you listen, and care about me as a person. I have nothing I would change about you or our relationship. It's just…"
"You're a beta?"
"Yeah, and I wouldn't mind if you were a bit more dominant or commanding with me. You've respected me and my boundaries, and let me set the pace of our relationship, which was good in the beginning. It showed you respected me, but now that we know each other better and what we have seems like it might be the real thing, I think I would like it if you came on a little stronger."
"Oh really?" Deciding to just try something, Harry roughly pushed Enid against the nearest tree and shoved his tongue in her mouth. She was clearly shocked at the sudden move and for a moment he worried he might have misread things and gone too far, but then she closed her eyes, moaned deeply, and tangled her fingers in his hair, dragging him closer. Taking her cue he gripped her thighs and lifted so she could wrap her legs around his waist.
It was only as they started grinding against each other that she leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Cupcake."
"Huh?" Startling through his lust fugued haze, the wizard just managed to get a hold of himself.
"My safe word. I'll say it if we go farther than I'm comfortable with." She gasped, "I love this, Harry, but I just want to be clear now that I'm not ready to go all the way yet. Everything else is fine though. I like this side of you."
"Hm," Harry smiled into her throat and kissed her pulse, "That's good to know. Now get your claws out and latch onto the tree overhead."
Shuddering anew at the tone of command in his voice, Enid snapped her claws out, reached over her head, and drove them into the bark above to support herself.
*** A bit of a Slight Lemon***
Taking a moment to appreciate the sight of Enid willingly making herself so vulnerable for him, Harry paused to thank the gods for this gift, and then he also thanked Sirius for the very informational book he'd gifted him on his Fifteenth birthday. (How To Make Your Witch Squeal!). Then he lowered himself to his knees, wriggled the werewolf's jeans down her legs, and dove in with his tongue, putting all of that book's tricks to work.
Over the next several minutes Enid panted with pleasure, groaned with desire, and when he introduced parseltongue, making his tongue vibrate at snake frequencies, she howled with her release, drenching his chin and also creating an unforeseen side effect.
When Harry got up off the ground and wiped his chin, he saw Enid's face was covered in golden fur.
"Enid," He ordered, pointing to the dirt at his feet. No other words needed be said as his girlfriend released herself from the bark, dropped to all fours before him, and promptly tore his own pants off to return the favor. He did need to tell her off for grazing him with her sharpened teeth, an action that curved her lips into a fresh smile before she dove back in and took him to paradise.
***End of Slight Lemon***
When it was all said and done the two of them lay reclothed and cuddling in the tall grass. Something about laying out in the woods with his sexy little werewolf just felt right. "So how does it feel to have moved to a new state of wolfing out?" Harry asked, caressing her newly furred face as it rested against his chest.
"Amazing." She chirped. "Seriously, Harry, I was afraid I would never get past my claws. Who knew getting… intimate with someone I cared about was what I needed to move forward." All at once her smile seemed to dim, "It's not enough though. I still haven't wolfed out completely."
"Is that such a big problem?"
"In my family? Yeah. By my age all of my brother's had been going full wolf for at least five years. It's gotten so bad that my mom has started talking about werewolf conversion camps to try and mentally force it out of me." She shuddered in his arms, "Those places are horrible. I don't think my dad would ever agree to send me to one of them, but my mom is stubborn, and crafty, and heavily opinionated. I wouldn't put it past her to send me without asking permission and then only inform him after I got back."
An idea came to Harry then. "I think I might have a way to help you."
"Really?" Hope was practically bleeding off of the girl in his arms.
"Yeah, you seem to 'respond'" he winked, "to my authority. I'd say that makes me your alpha, and there's another level I might be able to introduce to that. Tell you what, the full moon is five nights away, right? That's the strongest time for werewolves. Come back out here with me then, and we'll try it."
"Try what exactly? You still haven't said."
"You'll see."
Five Nights Later
"Alright Harry, we're here, now what?" Enid wanted to know. She'd donned a heavy robe in case a transformation actually occurred, and had carried a backpack with actual clothing for when they left to head back to the school.
Harry, meanwhile, was dressed casually in sweatpants, a tank top, and a jacket. "Wolf out as much as you can." The werewolf did so, her hands turning into wolf claws and her face gaining golden fur. "More."
"I can't." she responded.
"More!" He ordered.
"I said I can't!" Enid was starting to get visibly upset.
Seeing this, Harry knew it was time. Stalking up to her and stopping only a foot away, his body seemed to shift, morph, and grow, until a massive wolf with jet black fur, green eyes, and enormous teeth stood poised before her. "More!" This time the order was a growl and it was punctuated with an ear splitting howl to the moonlit heavens.
Something in Enid's body seemed to snap into place at that action and her muscles began to writhe beneath her skin as her bones snapped and elongated along with them. The blonde fell to the earth, and screamed. Not with pain or horror, but pure, ecstatic, happiness as her arms and legs curled into more canine joints, her torso grew out with lean muscle, and her face elongated into a distinctly wolfish snout. When all was said and done Enid Sinclair, the full werewolf, rose shakily to her feet and added a howl of her own to her alpha's. And indeed, in her mind that was what he truly was, for only a true alpha could have forced such a reaction on his beta.
She wanted to ask him about this, to demand answers for this new form he stood before her in. Yet try as she might she couldn't get her new jaw to articulate the words she wanted. Harry seemed to sense this, and he waved a paw as if to say "Later" and angled his own muzzle back at the trees. The message was clear, 'Come run with me.' It was a message that Enid was only too happy to comply with, and together they took off into the trees to race each other around the grounds of his home.
An hour and a half later they were both panting with lolling tongues as they arrived back in the clearing with Enid's backpack. Harry shifted back to human rather quickly, but Enid needed a few moments to regain her own form before falling solidly on her rump. Her boyfriend was there in an instant but she waved him off and crawled over to her bag. As she started throwing on sweatpants and a T-shirt, unmindful and uncaring of the free show she was providing, she commented, "I guess shifting like that takes a toll when you come out of it. What the hell was that, Harry?"
The wizard smiled roguishly and rubbed the back of his head. "A trick I picked up from my dad. I'm an animagus."
"An ani-what?"
"An animagus. It means I have an animal form I can assume at will. It's supposedly tied to the animal spirit in my soul, and mine apparently turned out to be a direwolf. I was hoping that form, combined with your willingness to follow my orders, would lead to a compulsion to do as I said. Turns out I was right."
"And I'm, like, so glad you were." Having finished changing, the blonde walked up to him and kissed him soundly. "You don't know what this means for me, Harry."
"Explain it to me then."
"I'm free from my mother's plans. I'll never need to enter a werewolf conversion camp and be brainwashed! Also… You're my alpha, and you can apparently compel me. That 'means' something in the werewolf community." Her cheeks grew a bit pink and she started fiddling with the short sleeves of her shirt. "It's kind of a… a mating thing."
"Oh, well that's not bad."
"Really?" She looked up hopefully.
"Enid, I like you. Like, a lot. Hell, I'm pretty sure I love you. I've certainly never acted like we've done in these woods with anyone else." He leaned forward and kissed her on the head, "I'm proud to be your mate if you're proud to have me."
"I am."
"Good, then that's settled. Wanna come inside and have some hot chocolate before we go back?"
"Do you have large marshmallows?" She asked hopefully.
"Of course." Harry scoffed at such a silly question.
"Then lead the way."
A Few Days Later
Wednesday eyed the other two thirds of her relationship as they relaxed together in their dorm. It was a Friday evening, and they were done with their homework, so Enid had suggested a movie night. They were all agreeable, but the problem came when it was time to decide what actual film they were going to watch. Wednesday wanted to view the original Halloween, stating it as a masterclass of tension building. Enid wanted to view Mamma Mia because she was a huge fan of both Meryl Streep and musicals.
Harry let them bicker about it for a few minutes before stating in a tone that stopped Enid cold and raised Wednesday's interest, "We're going to watch Legally Blonde."
"Y-Yes, Harry." Enid mumbled with a dopey grin on her face.
Looking to the goth, he added, "Enid will like that nice story, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the horror it will bring you."
Wednesday agreed. "I have not been terrified in a long while. Very well." She wanted to say something about this new dynamic she'd noticed with the others, but before she could, her blonde roommate dragged over the bean bag chairs, Harry conjured a projector screen, and he pulled out a projector and DVD from his seemingly bottomless backpack.
"You just happened to have that ready?"
"I'm always prepared for a possible date night." He stated smugly before setting up the device and pressing play as they got comfortable. Enid of course latched onto their man like a body pillow. Meanwhile Wednesday folded her arms over her chest like a corpse in her usual method of relaxation, and allowed Harry to wrap his arm around her shoulders. It was nice, and every time Elle Woods became too horrifyingly optimistic and made her shudder, he pulled her closer. It was a gesture she'd never really imagined enjoying, but here she was, feeling safe.
When the film finally ended, they stayed in that position, leading to the goth's current interested gaze on the others. Her roommate was out cold, having most likely fallen asleep during the movie, and their shared boyfriend was smiling warmly down at her. "Something has changed between the two of you." She noted, a hint of understanding coming to her.
"Ah, yeah." Harry nodded sheepishly. "Sirius mentioned there was some stuff about dating a werewolf I should know… about their needs and expectations. Enid and I talked it out and things progressed pretty well from there."
"Oh, so you took command of her?"
"Does everyone know about that stuff but me?"
Wednesday gave him a dead stare, "At Nevermore? A school populated entirely by Outcasts? Pretty much."
"Well shit. Now I feel like a terrible boyfriend for not figuring it out sooner."
"Look at her face. She's smiling in sleep as she reclines against you. I'd not say she looks like someone that is unhappy. The important thing is that you got to this point and are providing what she needs."
Harry nodded and looked meaningfully into her eyes. "That is something I wanted to talk to you about too, Wednesday. Am I giving you what you need?"
"I don't follow."
"As a boyfriend. Enid needs me to be more dominant and take the place of her alpha, but I don't think you are the same. No, you are your own person, and you have your own things that you want in this relationship. So tell me, how can I be the best boyfriend for you? Is there anything you want from me, or for me to do differently?"
Wednesday thought about that for a minute. "I'm honestly not sure. Until I met you I never seriously considered my romantic goals. However, I know that I am not submissive like Enid, and I like being in control. You've let me set the boundaries of our relationship and something about that has been quite exciting."
"It sounds like you enjoy taking the lead on things."
"Yes, perhaps. And if I were to decide on a particular desire I have for us, you would acquiesce?"
"Without hesitation."
"Hm, let me sleep on it and talk with my mother. Then tomorrow night take me for a stroll in those woods of yours. Enid can't stop talking about them and they sound delightfully eerie."
"Yes ma'am."
"Hm." Wednesday noted. "I like the sound of that."
After her boyfriend levitated the blonde werewolf back under her covers and apparated back to his waiting motorcycle, Wednesday retrieved her crystal ball and once more called for her mother who picked up on the first ring. Was she just waiting around to hear from her these days?
"Yes, dear?" Wednesday quietly envied how well put together her mother always appeared, even over the curved dimensions of the magical device she now beheld.
"Mother, I have a… relationship question."
Morticia raised a brow, "Indeed? Well tell me what is the matter and let me see if I can be of help."
"I have told you that I am in a relationship now with Harry, and that he is also with my roommate Enid?"
"The werewolf? Yes I believe you mentioned that. I must say that I am impressed. Your father and I worried you'd never take a lover, let alone make a friend to share that lover with."
"Yes, that 'lover' is exactly why I am calling. I have noticed certain… inclinations in myself growing while in his presence, and tonight Harry asked something that has gotten me to thinking."
The elder Addams was certainly intrigued by that statement. "I'm all ears, darling."
"He asked me if there was any particular need or desire I held in our relationship that he was not meeting. This was after he decided to take on a more dominant role with Enid."
"Ah, so he met the needs of one of his girlfriends and now worries he isn't doing the same for you. That is quite understandable. I must say I am liking the sound of young Mr. Black more and more."
"Yes, well, I don't know what to tell him. He is offering me the chance to further define what we are and how I want us to be. I am gladdened that he is willing to do this for me, yet I am unskilled and unknowledgeable in this realm. Thus, I have turned to you." She inclined her head as a student to a master, and her mother visibly preened at the praise.
Getting serious again, Morticia said, "This is a turning point for you as a couple, Wednesday, so I applaud you for seeking aid before jumping to a decision. Now, what do you like about your relationship with Harry?"
"He respects me, treats me as an equal, and honors me every second that he is with me."
"That is well of him, but what else?"
Wednesday pinched herself and bit the bullet. This was not the time to withhold anything due to propriety. "He looks at me with pure desire, yet is not degrading. He calls me his beautiful raven, and means it. When he kisses me I see the beautiful abyss of the dark beyond beckoning to me, and want nothing but more of him. I am unsure if that last is just me or my succubus heritage."
"It is both, Wednesday. Now, what else do you enjoy? What are some things he does that get your pulse running?"
"He holds me closer, takes my arm or hand, and he…"
"Yes?"
"When I tell him to do something, or ask anything of him, he does it. Whenever we kiss or act intimate, I set the pace and control how he moves, and he lets me."
Morticia beamed at that string of information, "And there we have it. You, my darling daughter, have a dominant personality. This is quite common in the Frump family actually."
Wednesday frowned, "You mean I need to control Harry as he does Enid?"
"Oh heavens, no. Well, not unless he asks you to of course. I really should have seen this coming before, you've always been very self-reliant and obsessed with controlling your environment."
"Mother…."
"Oh alright. Honey, what I mean is that you seem inclined to enjoy taking control of your life and all things in it. Of course that would include your relationship. You will never be the blushing submissive your roommate is, and you would never submit to anyone, so you must take control. It seems to me that the answer to Harry's inquiry is simple: you want to take a more active and dominant role with him. He already moves at your pace, so maybe you use that and push things. Make him submit, and see how it feels to hold his throat in your hands? Be the aggressor for once instead of just seeing where it all goes."
Something about those words just felt… right, to the younger goth. "That sounds promising to me. However, I am unsure of how to do this thing."
Morticia smirked and pulled out a leather bound book from seemingly nowhere. "Our ancestors have been taking our men in hand for centuries, Wednesday, and they have written their experiences here. Let me read you a couple of entries and see if any ideas strike your fancy."
The Following Evening
The ride to the Black estate was uneventful, and even though she did not vocalize it, the goth did enjoy the experience. A motorcycle was a two wheeled deathtrap, so what wasn't to love? They got to his house and he made to lead her into the woods, but she stopped him by grabbing his hand in her own.
Channeling that voice of command inside her she declared, "Take me inside first."
"Okay, but why? I thought you wanted to walk in the woods?"
"I do, but first I want a drink, and then I want to answer the question you posed to me last night."
Harry smiled warily and answered, "Alright, come on." He led her inside, glad that Sirius was out patrolling the forest around Nevermore so he had the place to himself. "What would you like?"
"Just some water." The drink was merely a pretext. She wanted to watch him do something she directed him to as well as wet her throat before what came next. Talking about feelings and desires was not something that came naturally to her.
When he came back with a glass she drained it in a long gulp and set it down. "Where is your living room?" He led her to a large open space with a long leather couch and a crackling fireplace. She promptly pushed him down onto the couch and stood before him between his spread knees. "I've thought about your question, and I've decided what I want in our relationship."
"Yeah?"
She folded her arms and stared down at him. "I want you to do what I say."
"I already do that."
"No, I want you to do what I say," she raised the edges of her skirt and shifted forward to sit on his lap with her knees on either side of his waist, "when we're like this."
"Oh, well that makes a lot of sense." Harry nodded before leaning up and kissing his girlfriend. "Anything for you, mio bella corvo."
Wednesday actually blinked at those words. "Just like that? You'll submit to me?"
"Wednesday, I want to make you happy. That's what makes me feel like a good boyfriend. So if taking the reins is what you need to do, then I'm happy to let you."
Wednesday smiled, and not just her half smirk, both sides of her mouth curved up as she beheld the open honesty and trust on her boyfriend's face. Her mother had been right to push her to this. "Put your hands by your sides and don't move them."
*** Slight Lemon ***
Harry did as ordered and his girlfriend wrapped her arms around his neck before beginning to rock her hips, grinding down hard against him. "Feel me." She breathed into his ear. "Feel this."
He groaned into her and instinctively tried to reach up to grip her waist, but she responded by moving back to stare into his eyes and squeezed his neck with her right hand, stopping him in place.
"I said, keep your hands at your sides."
"I'm sorry," he gasped out, weirdly enjoying the pressure on his throat, "but you're just so sexy."
"Thank you." She kissed his chin and started moving again, not removing her hand. "Don't disobey me again, or I won't let you finish." She ordered, and smirked at the groan her tone elicited. The hardness beneath her telling her exactly how much he was enjoying what she was doing to him, and it filled her with a unique thrill to know that she was causing it. That he wanted her that much.
"Look at you." She breathed, "So easy, so docile, you'd do anything I asked wouldn't you?"
"Yes." He gasped out.
"Do you love me, Harry?"
"Yes."
"Will you worship me?"
"Yes!"
She sped up her pace rapidly and then jerked her hips one last, forceful, time, "Then cum for me."
Her man shuddered beneath her and his huge eyes stared into her own as she tightened her grip and watched the passion and pleasure consume him. The mere sight of it sent her own body into spasms of delight and she found herself holding onto him just to stay upright.
When all was said and done they were both stained, sweaty, and smiling like a couple of fools. Harry said, "That was…"
"Otherworldly?" Wednesday offered.
"Incredible." Harry agreed.
*** Slight Lemon End ***
Harry cleaned them both with a concentrated scourgify spell and pulled the goth flush against him. "Thank you for that, mio bella corvo."
"I should thank you more." She offered. "I didn't know that I had that in me, but now I'm glad that it got out. Your question forced me to confront it."
"You… asked me if I love you."
"I did." She smirked, "I already knew the answer. My mother taught me the signs."
Twirling one of her braids through his fingers he whispered in her ear, "I love you, mio bella corvo."
"I love you too." She answered and kissed him. "But my love is a dark and deadly thing. Are you sure you wish to accept it?"
"I'll accept any part of you I can get. Now come on." He stood up and pulled her into his arms, "We have a stroll through the woods to complete."
"Indeed we do."
One Week Later
Harry was having the time of his life. He was attending a great school, he had a father who loved him, and there were two absolutely gorgeous girls on his arms. Indeed, his relationship with Wednesday and Enid was stronger than ever now that he knew to devote different parts of himself to each of them. It just felt so right.
So when classes were done for the day he kissed the blonde in farewell in preparation of heading to beekeeping club, but he was interrupted by one of the vampires he worked with in the Fencing club. "Hey, Harry?"
The wizard and werewolf shared a grimace at being interrupted, but he nevertheless rallied and addressed the vamp. "Yeah, Reggie? What's up?"
"Look, sorry to interrupt, but the Poe Cup is coming up and one of our guys just came down with Daylight Fever so we're short a man for our team. Wanna join up?"
Beside him, Enid clasped her hands over her chest and began to bounce in place, "Oh, please, please, say you will! The Poe Cup is like, my entire reason for existing right now! I've been working on my team's boat for weeks and it would be great to compete against you."
Harry raised a brow at her exuberance and asked, "First of all, what is a… Poe Cup?"
Reggie answered, "Part canoe race, part foot chase, no rules and anything goes. Each dorm picks an Edgar Allen Poe short story for inspiration."
"But I don't live in the dorms."
"I know. Principal Weems made it clear to us that that means you're fair game for any of our teams. I wanted to snatch you up first."
Wednesday's arm tightened on his own at that statement. "He's mine. But I won't mind lending him to you. Harry, be a good boy and win this for me."
"Of course, mio bella corvo."
They were interrupted by a laughing Enid, "Oh no, missy. If both Harry and I are in this then you are too. You'll be on my boat and together we'll knock the snot out of Bianca's sirens."
Wednesday eyed her blonde friend. "Bianca is competing?"
"Yes, and she always wins through some manner of trickery. With your smarts though I'm sure we can outmaneuver her and take the trophy for ourselves!"
The goth nodded, "Taking that girl down a peg certainly sounds enjoyable." She looked back up to address Harry once more, "I am sorry, but we will destroy you."
Smirking, the wizard answered, "I'm sure you will try. Now come on, we don't want to keep Eugene waiting for too long." The couple moved off to carry on their business, leaving Enid to scamper off to her own activities, and Reggie the vampire to do who knew what.
The day the boat race dawned, Harry arrived with his team to find them all dressed in red party-going outfits. "So we're the Masque of the Red Death team then?"
"Yup." Reggie answered while tossing him an oar and a red cape. "You're on point. So if you see anything coming, use your magic."
"Will do." Harry walked the length of the dock and took his position at the nose of the canoe as he turned to survey the other craft moored alongside them. He saw references to the Pit and the Pendulum, their team in executioner's garb. It annoyed him to see that artist twat that kept flirting with Wednesday amongst them and he resolved to drown their vessel at the first opportunity. Next to them was what appeared to be the Gold Bug, Bianca's team of sirens. Finally, The Black Cat. That last was the team that held both of his girlfriends, and as he gazed down the line of rowers to find them something inside him stuttered to a halt.
Wednesday and Enid were dressed in skin-tight leather cat suits, with drawn on whiskers and fake cat ears. How was it possible to be sexy and adorable at the same time!? The two of them must have sensed his eyes on them, because Enid turned and struck a pose for him while Wednesday provided a look that clearly implied any public comments would not be appreciated.
The wizard wasn't exactly sure what he was waiting for for the race to start, but he supposed instructions would be a good first step. To provide those, Principal Weems stepped up onto a raised platform. Surprisingly enough, her short hair appeared a bit mussed and her pantsuit coat ruffled, though a smirking Sirius standing a little ways off might have had something to do with that. The old dog was working fast.
"Greetings, students, and welcome to one of Nevermore's proudest traditions dating back over one hundred and twenty five years." She proclaimed, earning a fresh hush from the crowd of onlookers. "Every year we gather here to celebrate the life of one of our greatest graduates, Edgar Allen Poe, with a healthy bout of competition. Each of you are representing one of his famous works and will be competing to earn the vaunted Poe Chalice." She gestured to a nearby table where a very large gold cup was resting. Harry had to admit it looked quite nice.
"The task of this challenge is to row across the lake to Raven Island, retrieve your flag from old Crackstone's tomb, and be the first one to row back. Whoever gets their feet back on shore with their flag first will win the Poe Cup, bragging rights for the year, as well as some special privileges." The crowd cheered once more at those words. "Crews at the ready!"
Everyone set their oars in the water and readied their shoulders.
"Get set!" She raised a pistol full of blanks in the air. "Go!" The crack of a fake gunshot sounded and everyone took off, their oars slashing through the water as fast as their bearers arms could take them.
Seizing an opportunity, Harry fired off a quick drilling spell at Bianca's canoe, and smirked as they immediately stalled to patch the hole, giving the others a head start. His team currently had the lead with the Black Cats close second, and the Pendulum crowd quickly gaining. To date nothing crazy had happened yet, but a slight shimmer in the distant water was catching his attention…. Until the Pendulums sent a hidden axe blade flying towards his girlfriends heads! Where had they even hidden it?
"That's it!" Harry had had it with that smug artist asshole. Nobody sent sharp objects at his ladies! He dropped the oar at his seat, focused his hands palms flat on the black canoe behind them and channeled as much dark magic as he could. The Black Family spell coming into his mind with ease. "Spinta Onnipotente!" (Almighty Push) a crushing weight of gravity slammed into the vessel and all the executioner cosplayers were sent flying off into the water. Their ability to cause bodily harm to those he cared about drastically minimized.
His teammates cheered, the Black Cats pulled ahead while nodding their thanks, and the Gold Bugs were catching up. That was when the shimmering mass from before made its reappearance and crashed into them. Their canoe skidded back several feet in the water at the force of the blow, and then regained solidarity as the rest of the team worked like hell to row against the forceful tide.
"Harry! It's underneath us!" Reggie called out from where he too was rowing.
The wizard nodded, pointed his hand at the water immediately next to the railing, and cast a concentrated heating charm. At once the water began to boil, and a second later their backwards force disappeared and a scalded-red Siren boy (Harry thought it was the same one from that night in the library those weeks ago) shot out of the surface and practically skipped his way to shore to escape the heat.
Their detriment dealt with, the Red Death crew got back to work and in short order they pulled up next to their adversary's vessel, Bianca's still a ways behind.
"Better hurry, Harry." Enid teased him as they tied up to the dock next to them. "Wednesday's already on her way to the crypt."
Instead of answering, the former boy who lived took off running. No one but the werewolf saw the severed hand crawling from her boat underneath her boyfriend's with a corkscrew in its dexterous fingers.
For his part, Harry raced through the woods on fleet feet, intent on snatching up this victory. Say what you would about Harry Black, but he liked to win. So when he finally made it to the crypt he didn't even stop to look around. No, he grabbed his flag from the clearly viewed stand, and turned around to run back to the dock, only to trip over… something. Picking his face up from the ground he looked down and there was Wednesday, staring sightlessly up at the sky.
"Wednesday!" He immediately dropped his flag and pulled her into his lap, checking her vitals. Far as he could see, she was perfectly fine, but her pupils were dilated and she wasn't responding to his cries. Could it be a vision? There was one way to find out.
"Ugh, I hate doing this." It was a skill he really wasn't that good with. Looking into her eyes he intoned, "Legilimens."
At once he found himself standing in the same place he was in the waking world, yet with an off-putting blue tinge to the environment. Wednesday stood before him, facing off against a girl that could have been her twin but for her antiquated style of dress and blonde hair.
"You are the key." She was saying, much to his girlfriend's clear confusion.
Deciding to be of help, he offered, "Can you be more specific? What is she the key to?"
The girls spun around to face him. "Harry? How are you here?"
The wizard rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "You were kind of catatonic, and I got worried, so I entered your mind to see if you needed help."
"That was quite thoughtful. I appreciate the intent, yet as you can see, I am perfectly fine."
"An anomaly." The stranger rasped as she perused his form. "Verily do my responses be of limited means in this place. The key to Crackstone be my descendent. Protect her with thy life, I beseech thee."
Turning a fond gaze on his dark girlfriend, Harry answered, "You don't need to beseech me. I'd do it anyway. Your descendent is quite special to me."
"Verily she has a fine protector. Mine own time now is done and I must go." She turned to Wednesday, "Again will thou see me, but know I do not the time. Farewell."
All around them the vision faded away, and the couple found themselves lying on the ground, arms wrapped around each other as Binca stood above them laughing and retrieving her own flag before running off.
"Okay, so, whichever one of us wins, she loses right?" He asked, earning a sharp nod from the goth before They both jumped to their feet, grabbed their flags from where they lay, and raced back to the lake. The Black Cats took off at once in pursuit of the Gold Bugs, but when Harry's boat made to leave they found the rear end absolutely flooded from a hole in the bottom of the hull. It was a small matter to repair it with magic and throw the water out the side, but it still cost them previous seconds to get back out on the open water.
It was as they were doing their best to catch up that they saw of all things a rack of spearheads pop out of the Black Cats' canoe and ram into the Gold Bugs, rupturing the integrity of the craft and sinking it down in a matter of seconds before bustling off once more. Even though he was technically losing, Harry had to appreciate the effectiveness of the engineering. As he rowed past Bianca, treading water with annoyance written clear across her face, and returned the snicker she'd given him back at the tomb, he rowed like hell after the others.
Sadly, it was to no avail. The headstart the girls had gotten by flooding their canoe was more than enough to reach the finish line several yards ahead of them. Could he have stopped them with magic? Sure, but what kind of boyfriend would that have made him? So instead he rowed with the others back to the dock, and walked over to congratulate the winning team with all respect and dues owed the victors.
He got there just in time to hear Enid proclaim, "O, M, God, Wednesday we did it! This is amazing!"
"Congratulations, Enid, and you too Wednesday. You won fair and square." Harry happily stated.
"Don't be ridiculous, we clearly cheated." Wednesday scoffed, "But I suppose everything was allowed, so 'fair' is accurate if not exactly 'square'. Regardless, thank you for the congratulations."
Any further words were cut off as Principal Weems came in with the trophy, and presented it to Enid who raised it high for all to see as her rowing team crowded around her with hugs. It was time to celebrate.
Author's Notes:
-As mentioned in my previous chapter, animal instincts play a part with these characters, so yes, as a werewolf Enid is submissive.
-As for Wednesday, come on, can anyone doubt she'd be the dominant personality in her own relationships?