Fic: "Damned Demented Demons" 32/32 (SPN/HP)
Title: Damned Demented Demons 32/32
Author: ME!
Fandoms: Supernatural/Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13 (for swearing)
Warnings: Spoilers for all Harry Potter books, Spoilers up to 4x17 for Supernatural (but takes place around 4x11).
Disclaimer: Sam and Dean belong to Kripke, Harry Potter belongs to Rowling.
A/N: I thought that the Battle of Hogwarts took place in Spring 1997...so that's what I based my timeline on. Since then I've seen that most sources have it in 1998. Ah well. In this story it's 1997. The events of the story take place sometime in late 2008.
A/N to Chapter 32: Thank you everyone for reading! It's been fun!
Summary: In which our heroes must finally part ways.
Chapters
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
Interlude |
24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31|
Harry felt the familiar tug of consciousness. He didn't open his eyes at first. Content to listen to the noises around him. He could hear birds outside. The air smelt clean, but not hospital clean. The sheets were too soft for that as well. Beside him someone turned a page - Hermione - he could tell by the way he could practically hear her thinking.
He blinked his eyes open and looked over towards Hermione's blurry figure, silhouetted by the sun through the window.
"What did I miss?" Harry asked, his voice rough from sleep. He saw Hermione's head snap away from where she had been gazing out the window, while he squinted to try to see her expression.
"Your glasses are on the bedside table," Hermione said.
"They always are," Harry replied and reached over and slipped them on. Hermione was smiling at him.
"How long?" Harry asked.
"A day and a half," Hermione said, "not so bad, given the state of you. I was worried we'd be here for a few days."
"So, original question?" Harry said, smiling back.
"Ron and Phil took care of the reports to the Department and the Ministry." Hermione reported with a sigh, "Told enough that no one would believe they were lying, but not so much as to actually tell the truth."
"Is Ron's head alright?" Harry asked, remembering the slurred words and concussion.
"I'm not sure that's a question anyone can answer," Hermione laughed, then smiled sincerely, "He's fine, Harry."
"The Winchesters?" Harry asked, and watched as Hermione's smile vanished, though she replaced it with a nice fake one.
"They're alright too," Hermione answered, then took a breath before continuing, "they had a bit of a row yesterday."
"They do that," Harry said, "they're brothers."
"I know," Hermione replied, but frowned nonetheless before continuing, "Sam stormed off for a few hours. Came back looking a little better than before he left, but things still seem tense between them. Ron distracted Dean with some electronics project. He wanted Dean to teach him how to steal cars, but I told him I'd have none of that. So, they decided to make an EMF meter, I believe."
"Here?" Harry asked, knowing that they must be at the safe-house.
"Out in the garden," Hermione answered.
"And Sam?" Harry asked.
"Reading," Hermione answered, "down in the study, when he's not in here looking at you guiltily."
"He's been watching me sleep?" Harry asked, "that's a little unnerving."
Hermione laughed again, but then gave Harry a stern look.
"You better tell him that it wasn't his fault," Hermione said, "I swear...the eyes on that boy. If he gets any sadder it'll break my heart."
"That bad?" Harry replied.
"Do you want me to go tell him you're awake?" Hermione said as an answer. "I promised him I would."
"Yeah, might as well get it over with," Harry said.
Hermione slipped out of the room, and Harry pulled himself up to sitting, and took a long drink from the water that had been placed next to his bed. He heard the distant murmur of Hermione's voice, and then Sam's, but couldn't make out what they were saying. It appeared as though the safe-house was an old farmhouse. The walls made of slatted wood, painted white. White curtains hung loose over the windows of his room, letting the breeze and the sunlight in. It was old, but much nicer than the motels the Winchesters had been staying in.
Sam's tall frame peeked around the edge of the open door, and Harry could see what Hermione meant about his eyes. Merlin, it was the first time Sam had really looked his age. Still, it was hard not to smile at Sam trying to make himself look small, when he had to duck to get through the old doorway.
"Hey," Harry said.
"Hey," Sam replied, "How're you feeling?"
"Well-rested," Harry answered with a smile, "How are you and your brother?"
"We ate two chocolate cakes," Sam said ducking his head as though he were embarrassed.
"None left for me then?" Harry laughed, and then regretted it when Sam's head snapped up and he looked a little worried.
"Do you need some? I could go get some more! I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"No, no," Harry said hurriedly, "I'm fine, I was just...nevermind."
"Oh, ok..." Sam replied, "Listen Harry, I'm sorry about...I didn't know that I could...that is, I never meant-"
"Sam," Harry interrupted, because this was quickly going from awkward to painfully awkward. "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Hell, I didn't even know that the pendant could do that...this demon-blood thing...it's not like we have any knowledge of how it reacts to certain things."
"The pendant?" Sam asked, confused. Harry suddenly realized Sam didn' t even know how it had happened, no wonder the poor kid was so wracked with guilt.
"The pendant," Harry began to explain, "was made with the same crystal as the walls in the Chamber at the Ministry...do you remember? It conducts ambient magic, or amplifies directed magic. The pendant was hanging between our two hands, and when you grabbed my wand, it finally got close enough to make a connection. You said the incantation - and meant it - and as I already had an incantation going, the pendant was basically sitting in a river of magic, you just...opened the floodgates, so to say."
"Oh." Sam said, "I thought-"
"That it was all you somehow?" Harry finished for him, "No, it wasn't, at least not all of it. Though, I doubt it would have happened had I been chained to Dean, but it might have happened with another wizard."
Sam nodded, and Harry wasn't sure if he was feeling better or worse.
"You're forgiven, Sam" Harry said, "you didn't know what you were doing."
Sam nodded again, but now gave Harry a small smile.
"You have to stop trying to turn your brother into a Patronus though," Harry said jokingly, "that's not the way it's supposed to work."
Sam sighed, and turned slightly, choosing to look out the window rather than at Harry. Harry wasn't sure what he was looking at, and was about to ask when Sam spoke.
"I speak Latin, Harry" Sam said, "Hermione does too, but I'm guessing you don't."
"Uh, no" Harry said, a bit confused.
"Patronus means 'protector' or 'guardian'..." Sam explained and shook his head, "...I can't believe you are saying these spells without knowing what they mean...but, when you say 'Expecto Patronum', what you are saying is 'I await a protector.' I can't say the words without thinking of Dean. It's just not possible. I never meant to hurt him though."
"Oh," Harry replied, "but Sam...the Patronus is supposed to be a reflection of you. I mean, sometimes it changes - when people fall in love sometimes, for instance - but even then, it's something that comes from you, not another person."
"I know," Sam said, turning back from the window to look at Harry, his eyes suddenly sharp and sincere, "I know it's up to me now to fill that role. It's just - Dean's been looking after me my whole life...but I know I have to try to do better."
"Sam?" Harry said, "what are you talking about?"
"Dean's not..." Sam said softly, his eyes saddened, "Ever since...it's like I'm still waiting for him to come back...look, I just have to step up, that's all. Return the favour. I don't care what it takes."
"Sam?" Harry asked again, a deep unease coiling in his chest, but Sam just smiled at him and nodded, like that was the end of the discussion.
"I should go tell him that you're awake," Sam said, "if Hermione hasn't already."
"Ok," Harry said, but Sam was already moving out of the room. Harry heard his heavy footsteps down the stairs and then a screen door clap shut. Voices came from the garden through the open window, and moments later there was a flurry of footsteps bounding up the stairs.
Harry smiled as Ron and Dean both came into the room, while Sam leaned against the door frame.
"See!" Sam said, like Harry being awake proved something.
"Harry!" Ron said, "that was quick."
"Quick?" Dean said, "man, being your friend must be boring if you sleeping for more than a day is a regular event."
Ron ignored Dean's comment completely and instead was waving a weird electronic contraption in front of Harry.
"Look what Dean made me!" Ron said, "it's just like his. I'm going to give it to Dad for his birthday. He showed me how to fix it and everything too, and he refuses to take any money for it. I'm not allowed to turn it on inside the house, but you can get dressed and we can go out into the garden-"
"That's great, Ron" Harry said, giving Dean a thankful smile. Dean ducked his head in a move that was so like Sam that there was no denying the two were brothers.
"I, uh, owed him one for saving my ass with that dog of his," Dean said dismissively, "plus he was able to get the tazers from the car."
"Dean can kill Dementors!" Ron said, as though Harry hadn't been there to see it. "He uses electrickacy!"
"Damn straight!" Dean replied smiling brightly, "I told you something had to kill those sons of bitches! There's not a supernatural creature out there that you can't kill somehow - 'cept Reapers."
"Yeah, about that..." Harry said, "Why did you decide to try electricity?"
"The usual stuff didn't work," Dean said, "So I was trying to think of things that might kill something that was magic...then I remembered how y'all were talking about electricity not liking magic. I figured maybe the feeling was mutual if you had enough electricity. I keep the tazers ampted really high to kill Rawheads."
"I hate those fuckin' things," Sam interjected from the doorway.
"Anyway," Dean said with a roll of his eyes, "turns out I was right! It completely destroyed the tazers, but not before destroying the Dementor first."
"Dean's a genius," Ron told Harry, "we should have him come teach the trainees back home...or give a lecture at Hogwarts"
Harry laughed at the idea of bringing a Hunter into the Auror department, and then laughed at the image of Dean in a tweed jacket in front of a roomful of thirteen year olds.
"I'm pretty sure Dean has enough on his plate as it is, dear" Hermione's voice came from the door. Sam pivoted on his heel to let her by.
Harry was thankful to see that Hermione was carrying a pile of laundered clothes - specifically, his clothes. As much as he was used to entertaining guests while sitting in bed in his boxers, Harry didn't really prefer it.
"How about you three go find us some supper," Hermione continued, "I'm sure Harry would like to shower and get dressed."
It was as Dean, Ron, and Sam shuffled out of the room arguing about what ethnicity of food they should pick up, that Harry noticed that there was something off with the way Hermione's eyes were following them.
"Hermione?" Harry said, "what's the matter?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione said, quickly dropping her gaze to the pile of clothes in her arms as she dumped them at the foot of Harry's bed.
"You're looking at Dean, like..." Harry began, not sure how to explain it himself, "...You're looking at Dean like you haven't seen him before."
Hermione bit her bottom lip, and the unease in Harry's chest returned.
"Hermione?" Harry said, "what did you find at the library?"
"I found the correct translation of the seal," Hermione stated, and Harry nodded, he remembered that part, "And...and I found out what happened in August."
Harry sat up straighter.
"What?" Harry said, "What was it, Hermione?"
Below them, the screen door banged shut, and Harry could hear the now familiar sound of the Impala's engine.
"I found a translation of the first seal," Hermione said. "The first seal has to be broken before any of the others can be broken."
"So the first seal was broken in August?" Harry said, somewhat relieved, "well, that makes sense...and it explains why Dean knew that it wasn't something Sam did."
"Harry..." Hermione said, and Harry relief vanished at her tone. "The first seal is broken when a righteous man sheds blood in hell."
"What?"
"'As he breaks, so shall it break'" Hermione recited. "Harry, it had to have been Dean..."
"Oh," Harry said, not sure what to make of the new information.
"Harry, the second surviving line of the prophecy. It says that the two brothers are the Alpha and Omega of the End..." Hermione said. Harry nodded. "If Dean began it...then Sam..."
"Will end it," Harry finished, "well, that's what he's doing isn't it? That's why he was protecting me?"
"Harry, I don't think it means..." Hermione started to say, but then cut herself with a confused huff, "well, nevermind, maybe you're right."
Harry didn't know what to make of Hermione's mood shift, but his mind was too caught up in the information she had given him.
"Do you think Dean knows that he started it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Hermione answered. "If he doesn't, I don't want to be the one to tell him."
"Do you think we should?" Harry asked, remembering a similar conversation with an angel in the Hall of Prophecy.
"I don't know," Hermione answered again, getting distraught. "He's been....making that meter with Ron, showing him how to fix it...he's seemed...happy. If he...if it was really him who...I don't even want to think of what they must have done to him to get him to-"
"No," Harry said, "let's not. Dean would never...I mean, obviously he did, but..."
Hermione laughed mirthlessly.
"And then there's Sam and the demon-blood" Hermione said, "I didn't find any information on that."
"So, you figured it out too?" Harry asked, "or did Ron tell you?"
"Ron told me about the demon-blood yesterday, but I already knew there was something about Sam that you weren't telling us." Hermione answered. "You vouch for Sam though, right? I mean, he's not...it's like you and Voldemort? Because that prophecy..."
"Just because he has evil in him, it doesn't make him evil" Harry said, "I don't know what that prophecy meant, but I can't imagine anything tearing those two apart. Merlin's sake, the guy just finished telling me he'd do anything to keep his brother safe."
Hermione frowned, and Harry was a bit confused.
"Maybe that's not a good thing, Harry" Hermione said tentatively, then sighed. "Let's just...forget about all of this for now. The bath is across the hall, the boys will be back soon with the food, so hurry up."
* *
"Well, it's been great meeting you guys," Dean said, as the last of the food was cleared off everyone's plates, "but I think it's time for me and Sam to head out."
Hermione and Ron both made noises of protest, but Harry didn't look surprised.
"You could stay the night, leave in the morning" Harry offered anyway, "it's already sunset."
"Nah," Dean replied, "I've still got plenty of driving time in me."
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"Iowa," Sam replied, "suspicious death."
"Yeah," Dean agreed, "I also want to find Cas and ask him why the hell we had no warning or help on this one. If it hadn't been for Hermione here, we may have been screwed. Thanks again for rescue, by the way. Unlike these two, I know you didn't make the career choice to risk your neck everyday."
"Oh, don't mention it," Hermione said, "Really actually, I should go back and thank that librarian. When I couldn't get in touch with Ron, he was really adamant that I go immediately to find him. He was the one that found me the proper books too. He knew exactly what I was looking for."
"He didn't recognize you, did he?" Ron asked, "you were supposed to stay under the invisibility cloak as much as possible."
"No," Hermione answered, "I don't think he knew who I was. He was a little strange anyway."
"Strange how?" Sam asked, brow furrowed. 'Strange' was a trigger word for any Hunter, Dean included. If Dean heard the word 'strange', it was basic reflex to investigate.
"Oh, I don't know," Hermione said, "he was wearing odd clothes for a wizard. He seemed to work there, but he still had his outdoor coat on. Also, he got annoyed when he caught me reading certain chapters of one of the books, and kept trying to direct my attention back to the chapters that were about the seal."
Dean took a deep breath, and met Sam's questioning gaze. Then turned his attention back to Hermione.
"Black suit? Beige trench-coat? Blue eyes? Very serious? Didn't blink much?"
Hermione looked a little stunned, Ron looked confused, Harry looked surprisingly like he had reached the same conclusion that Dean had.
"Yes..." Hermione said.
"Well, I guess that answers that question," Sam said. "Though, why he wouldn't come to us directly..."
"Well, we did mess up his last few assignments," Dean shrugged.
"Wait," Hermione said, "Are you saying..."
"That your librarian was an angel of the Lord?" Dean asked, "Yes."
"Oh my," Hermione said.
"Were you able to find out anymore about why your government's keeping a file on us?" Sam asked.
Dean watched as Hermione's gaze slid momentarily to Harry's, before she spoke.
"I was able to find that most of the research is coming from the Elders of the West Coast. Other than that, no...I didn't find anything else about the government files." Hermione replied, "So, my only advice would be to try to stay out of the Pacific North-West."
"Easier said than done," Sam mumbled.
"Well, thanks for trying," Dean said, "why don't you go grab your stuff Sammy."
Sam nodded and went upstairs to pack, while Dean packed up the weapons he had been cleaning that afternoon. Hermione and Ron seemed content to clear the kitchen, while Ron peppered Hermione with questions about what Castiel was like. Dean smiled when he overheard some of her responses.
"Dean?" Harry said, and Dean turned to find Harry standing slightly awkwardly in the doorway. "I just wanted to thank you for all your help," Dean raised his hand to halt Harry's speech, but Harry ignored him. "With the Dementors too, I mean...you really didn't have to help with that. I know it must have been..."
"Dude," Dean said, "stop. It was nothing."
Harry rolled his eyes, but nodded. Then crossed the room and held something out for Dean. Dean shot Harry a confused look, but took what was being handed to him. He realized that it was a small compact flip-mirror.
"Is this-" Dean started to ask.
"If you ever need help with anything...anything...I want you to call me," Harry answered, "You just have to speak my name into the mirror."
"Uh, thanks" Dean said.
"Even if it breaks, the pieces will still work," Harry added.
"Ok," Dean said, at a loss for what else to say, and a little thrown by Harry's sincerity.
"Everything alright?" Sam's voice asked from the doorway, most likely sensing the serious mood in the room.
"Yeah, Sam" Dean said. Harry smiled.
"I was just thanking Dean for the help," Harry added, "I'd like to thank you too, of course."
"Don't mention it," Sam said smiling softly, then looked a little guilty, "I'm sorry again about the umm...accidental magic."
"Not your fault," Harry dismissed.
Hermione and Ron appeared next. Hermione handed them a slip of paper.
"My address," she said, and Dean raised an eyebrow and gave her a slow smirk. Hermione blushed, "for umm...your friend Bobby."
"Does your husband know you like older men?" Dean teased. Hermione blushed further, while Ron tried to look annoyed, but Dean could tell that he knew Dean was teasing.
"If he's alright with what I am." Hermione continued, "I'd very much like to stay in touch, maybe do a book exchange?"
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Dean teased.
"Oh for goodness sake!" Hermione exclaimed, and Dean chuckled.
"We'll explain everything to him," Sam assured Hermione, "I'm sure he'll be in touch."
"Shit," Dean muttered, "how long have we been out of cell-range? Bobby's going to kill us."
"Shit," Sam cringed, "yeah...we um, really should go now."
There were handshakes, and Hermione gave them both a polite kiss on the cheek in parting, and then Dean and Sam were back in the Impala. Sam waved back towards the three figures on porch of the old farmhouse as they drove down the long driveway.
Both brothers watched as the house disappeared as soon as they were off the property, leaving what looked like an empty field. Just like that, the secret world of wizards was once again hidden from them, save for the pendants tucked in a corner of the trunk and the weight of the small flip-mirror in Dean's jacket pocket.
Dean spun the tires for fun - earning an eye-roll from Sam - and they took off into the night.
The sky was clear for the first time in weeks.
fin
Masterpost (now with sequels)
Author: ME!
Fandoms: Supernatural/Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13 (for swearing)
Warnings: Spoilers for all Harry Potter books, Spoilers up to 4x17 for Supernatural (but takes place around 4x11).
Disclaimer: Sam and Dean belong to Kripke, Harry Potter belongs to Rowling.
A/N: I thought that the Battle of Hogwarts took place in Spring 1997...so that's what I based my timeline on. Since then I've seen that most sources have it in 1998. Ah well. In this story it's 1997. The events of the story take place sometime in late 2008.
A/N to Chapter 32: Thank you everyone for reading! It's been fun!
Summary: In which our heroes must finally part ways.
Chapters
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
Interlude |
24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31|
Harry felt the familiar tug of consciousness. He didn't open his eyes at first. Content to listen to the noises around him. He could hear birds outside. The air smelt clean, but not hospital clean. The sheets were too soft for that as well. Beside him someone turned a page - Hermione - he could tell by the way he could practically hear her thinking.
He blinked his eyes open and looked over towards Hermione's blurry figure, silhouetted by the sun through the window.
"What did I miss?" Harry asked, his voice rough from sleep. He saw Hermione's head snap away from where she had been gazing out the window, while he squinted to try to see her expression.
"Your glasses are on the bedside table," Hermione said.
"They always are," Harry replied and reached over and slipped them on. Hermione was smiling at him.
"How long?" Harry asked.
"A day and a half," Hermione said, "not so bad, given the state of you. I was worried we'd be here for a few days."
"So, original question?" Harry said, smiling back.
"Ron and Phil took care of the reports to the Department and the Ministry." Hermione reported with a sigh, "Told enough that no one would believe they were lying, but not so much as to actually tell the truth."
"Is Ron's head alright?" Harry asked, remembering the slurred words and concussion.
"I'm not sure that's a question anyone can answer," Hermione laughed, then smiled sincerely, "He's fine, Harry."
"The Winchesters?" Harry asked, and watched as Hermione's smile vanished, though she replaced it with a nice fake one.
"They're alright too," Hermione answered, then took a breath before continuing, "they had a bit of a row yesterday."
"They do that," Harry said, "they're brothers."
"I know," Hermione replied, but frowned nonetheless before continuing, "Sam stormed off for a few hours. Came back looking a little better than before he left, but things still seem tense between them. Ron distracted Dean with some electronics project. He wanted Dean to teach him how to steal cars, but I told him I'd have none of that. So, they decided to make an EMF meter, I believe."
"Here?" Harry asked, knowing that they must be at the safe-house.
"Out in the garden," Hermione answered.
"And Sam?" Harry asked.
"Reading," Hermione answered, "down in the study, when he's not in here looking at you guiltily."
"He's been watching me sleep?" Harry asked, "that's a little unnerving."
Hermione laughed again, but then gave Harry a stern look.
"You better tell him that it wasn't his fault," Hermione said, "I swear...the eyes on that boy. If he gets any sadder it'll break my heart."
"That bad?" Harry replied.
"Do you want me to go tell him you're awake?" Hermione said as an answer. "I promised him I would."
"Yeah, might as well get it over with," Harry said.
Hermione slipped out of the room, and Harry pulled himself up to sitting, and took a long drink from the water that had been placed next to his bed. He heard the distant murmur of Hermione's voice, and then Sam's, but couldn't make out what they were saying. It appeared as though the safe-house was an old farmhouse. The walls made of slatted wood, painted white. White curtains hung loose over the windows of his room, letting the breeze and the sunlight in. It was old, but much nicer than the motels the Winchesters had been staying in.
Sam's tall frame peeked around the edge of the open door, and Harry could see what Hermione meant about his eyes. Merlin, it was the first time Sam had really looked his age. Still, it was hard not to smile at Sam trying to make himself look small, when he had to duck to get through the old doorway.
"Hey," Harry said.
"Hey," Sam replied, "How're you feeling?"
"Well-rested," Harry answered with a smile, "How are you and your brother?"
"We ate two chocolate cakes," Sam said ducking his head as though he were embarrassed.
"None left for me then?" Harry laughed, and then regretted it when Sam's head snapped up and he looked a little worried.
"Do you need some? I could go get some more! I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"No, no," Harry said hurriedly, "I'm fine, I was just...nevermind."
"Oh, ok..." Sam replied, "Listen Harry, I'm sorry about...I didn't know that I could...that is, I never meant-"
"Sam," Harry interrupted, because this was quickly going from awkward to painfully awkward. "I know you didn't do it on purpose. Hell, I didn't even know that the pendant could do that...this demon-blood thing...it's not like we have any knowledge of how it reacts to certain things."
"The pendant?" Sam asked, confused. Harry suddenly realized Sam didn' t even know how it had happened, no wonder the poor kid was so wracked with guilt.
"The pendant," Harry began to explain, "was made with the same crystal as the walls in the Chamber at the Ministry...do you remember? It conducts ambient magic, or amplifies directed magic. The pendant was hanging between our two hands, and when you grabbed my wand, it finally got close enough to make a connection. You said the incantation - and meant it - and as I already had an incantation going, the pendant was basically sitting in a river of magic, you just...opened the floodgates, so to say."
"Oh." Sam said, "I thought-"
"That it was all you somehow?" Harry finished for him, "No, it wasn't, at least not all of it. Though, I doubt it would have happened had I been chained to Dean, but it might have happened with another wizard."
Sam nodded, and Harry wasn't sure if he was feeling better or worse.
"You're forgiven, Sam" Harry said, "you didn't know what you were doing."
Sam nodded again, but now gave Harry a small smile.
"You have to stop trying to turn your brother into a Patronus though," Harry said jokingly, "that's not the way it's supposed to work."
Sam sighed, and turned slightly, choosing to look out the window rather than at Harry. Harry wasn't sure what he was looking at, and was about to ask when Sam spoke.
"I speak Latin, Harry" Sam said, "Hermione does too, but I'm guessing you don't."
"Uh, no" Harry said, a bit confused.
"Patronus means 'protector' or 'guardian'..." Sam explained and shook his head, "...I can't believe you are saying these spells without knowing what they mean...but, when you say 'Expecto Patronum', what you are saying is 'I await a protector.' I can't say the words without thinking of Dean. It's just not possible. I never meant to hurt him though."
"Oh," Harry replied, "but Sam...the Patronus is supposed to be a reflection of you. I mean, sometimes it changes - when people fall in love sometimes, for instance - but even then, it's something that comes from you, not another person."
"I know," Sam said, turning back from the window to look at Harry, his eyes suddenly sharp and sincere, "I know it's up to me now to fill that role. It's just - Dean's been looking after me my whole life...but I know I have to try to do better."
"Sam?" Harry said, "what are you talking about?"
"Dean's not..." Sam said softly, his eyes saddened, "Ever since...it's like I'm still waiting for him to come back...look, I just have to step up, that's all. Return the favour. I don't care what it takes."
"Sam?" Harry asked again, a deep unease coiling in his chest, but Sam just smiled at him and nodded, like that was the end of the discussion.
"I should go tell him that you're awake," Sam said, "if Hermione hasn't already."
"Ok," Harry said, but Sam was already moving out of the room. Harry heard his heavy footsteps down the stairs and then a screen door clap shut. Voices came from the garden through the open window, and moments later there was a flurry of footsteps bounding up the stairs.
Harry smiled as Ron and Dean both came into the room, while Sam leaned against the door frame.
"See!" Sam said, like Harry being awake proved something.
"Harry!" Ron said, "that was quick."
"Quick?" Dean said, "man, being your friend must be boring if you sleeping for more than a day is a regular event."
Ron ignored Dean's comment completely and instead was waving a weird electronic contraption in front of Harry.
"Look what Dean made me!" Ron said, "it's just like his. I'm going to give it to Dad for his birthday. He showed me how to fix it and everything too, and he refuses to take any money for it. I'm not allowed to turn it on inside the house, but you can get dressed and we can go out into the garden-"
"That's great, Ron" Harry said, giving Dean a thankful smile. Dean ducked his head in a move that was so like Sam that there was no denying the two were brothers.
"I, uh, owed him one for saving my ass with that dog of his," Dean said dismissively, "plus he was able to get the tazers from the car."
"Dean can kill Dementors!" Ron said, as though Harry hadn't been there to see it. "He uses electrickacy!"
"Damn straight!" Dean replied smiling brightly, "I told you something had to kill those sons of bitches! There's not a supernatural creature out there that you can't kill somehow - 'cept Reapers."
"Yeah, about that..." Harry said, "Why did you decide to try electricity?"
"The usual stuff didn't work," Dean said, "So I was trying to think of things that might kill something that was magic...then I remembered how y'all were talking about electricity not liking magic. I figured maybe the feeling was mutual if you had enough electricity. I keep the tazers ampted really high to kill Rawheads."
"I hate those fuckin' things," Sam interjected from the doorway.
"Anyway," Dean said with a roll of his eyes, "turns out I was right! It completely destroyed the tazers, but not before destroying the Dementor first."
"Dean's a genius," Ron told Harry, "we should have him come teach the trainees back home...or give a lecture at Hogwarts"
Harry laughed at the idea of bringing a Hunter into the Auror department, and then laughed at the image of Dean in a tweed jacket in front of a roomful of thirteen year olds.
"I'm pretty sure Dean has enough on his plate as it is, dear" Hermione's voice came from the door. Sam pivoted on his heel to let her by.
Harry was thankful to see that Hermione was carrying a pile of laundered clothes - specifically, his clothes. As much as he was used to entertaining guests while sitting in bed in his boxers, Harry didn't really prefer it.
"How about you three go find us some supper," Hermione continued, "I'm sure Harry would like to shower and get dressed."
It was as Dean, Ron, and Sam shuffled out of the room arguing about what ethnicity of food they should pick up, that Harry noticed that there was something off with the way Hermione's eyes were following them.
"Hermione?" Harry said, "what's the matter?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione said, quickly dropping her gaze to the pile of clothes in her arms as she dumped them at the foot of Harry's bed.
"You're looking at Dean, like..." Harry began, not sure how to explain it himself, "...You're looking at Dean like you haven't seen him before."
Hermione bit her bottom lip, and the unease in Harry's chest returned.
"Hermione?" Harry said, "what did you find at the library?"
"I found the correct translation of the seal," Hermione stated, and Harry nodded, he remembered that part, "And...and I found out what happened in August."
Harry sat up straighter.
"What?" Harry said, "What was it, Hermione?"
Below them, the screen door banged shut, and Harry could hear the now familiar sound of the Impala's engine.
"I found a translation of the first seal," Hermione said. "The first seal has to be broken before any of the others can be broken."
"So the first seal was broken in August?" Harry said, somewhat relieved, "well, that makes sense...and it explains why Dean knew that it wasn't something Sam did."
"Harry..." Hermione said, and Harry relief vanished at her tone. "The first seal is broken when a righteous man sheds blood in hell."
"What?"
"'As he breaks, so shall it break'" Hermione recited. "Harry, it had to have been Dean..."
"Oh," Harry said, not sure what to make of the new information.
"Harry, the second surviving line of the prophecy. It says that the two brothers are the Alpha and Omega of the End..." Hermione said. Harry nodded. "If Dean began it...then Sam..."
"Will end it," Harry finished, "well, that's what he's doing isn't it? That's why he was protecting me?"
"Harry, I don't think it means..." Hermione started to say, but then cut herself with a confused huff, "well, nevermind, maybe you're right."
Harry didn't know what to make of Hermione's mood shift, but his mind was too caught up in the information she had given him.
"Do you think Dean knows that he started it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Hermione answered. "If he doesn't, I don't want to be the one to tell him."
"Do you think we should?" Harry asked, remembering a similar conversation with an angel in the Hall of Prophecy.
"I don't know," Hermione answered again, getting distraught. "He's been....making that meter with Ron, showing him how to fix it...he's seemed...happy. If he...if it was really him who...I don't even want to think of what they must have done to him to get him to-"
"No," Harry said, "let's not. Dean would never...I mean, obviously he did, but..."
Hermione laughed mirthlessly.
"And then there's Sam and the demon-blood" Hermione said, "I didn't find any information on that."
"So, you figured it out too?" Harry asked, "or did Ron tell you?"
"Ron told me about the demon-blood yesterday, but I already knew there was something about Sam that you weren't telling us." Hermione answered. "You vouch for Sam though, right? I mean, he's not...it's like you and Voldemort? Because that prophecy..."
"Just because he has evil in him, it doesn't make him evil" Harry said, "I don't know what that prophecy meant, but I can't imagine anything tearing those two apart. Merlin's sake, the guy just finished telling me he'd do anything to keep his brother safe."
Hermione frowned, and Harry was a bit confused.
"Maybe that's not a good thing, Harry" Hermione said tentatively, then sighed. "Let's just...forget about all of this for now. The bath is across the hall, the boys will be back soon with the food, so hurry up."
* *
"Well, it's been great meeting you guys," Dean said, as the last of the food was cleared off everyone's plates, "but I think it's time for me and Sam to head out."
Hermione and Ron both made noises of protest, but Harry didn't look surprised.
"You could stay the night, leave in the morning" Harry offered anyway, "it's already sunset."
"Nah," Dean replied, "I've still got plenty of driving time in me."
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"Iowa," Sam replied, "suspicious death."
"Yeah," Dean agreed, "I also want to find Cas and ask him why the hell we had no warning or help on this one. If it hadn't been for Hermione here, we may have been screwed. Thanks again for rescue, by the way. Unlike these two, I know you didn't make the career choice to risk your neck everyday."
"Oh, don't mention it," Hermione said, "Really actually, I should go back and thank that librarian. When I couldn't get in touch with Ron, he was really adamant that I go immediately to find him. He was the one that found me the proper books too. He knew exactly what I was looking for."
"He didn't recognize you, did he?" Ron asked, "you were supposed to stay under the invisibility cloak as much as possible."
"No," Hermione answered, "I don't think he knew who I was. He was a little strange anyway."
"Strange how?" Sam asked, brow furrowed. 'Strange' was a trigger word for any Hunter, Dean included. If Dean heard the word 'strange', it was basic reflex to investigate.
"Oh, I don't know," Hermione said, "he was wearing odd clothes for a wizard. He seemed to work there, but he still had his outdoor coat on. Also, he got annoyed when he caught me reading certain chapters of one of the books, and kept trying to direct my attention back to the chapters that were about the seal."
Dean took a deep breath, and met Sam's questioning gaze. Then turned his attention back to Hermione.
"Black suit? Beige trench-coat? Blue eyes? Very serious? Didn't blink much?"
Hermione looked a little stunned, Ron looked confused, Harry looked surprisingly like he had reached the same conclusion that Dean had.
"Yes..." Hermione said.
"Well, I guess that answers that question," Sam said. "Though, why he wouldn't come to us directly..."
"Well, we did mess up his last few assignments," Dean shrugged.
"Wait," Hermione said, "Are you saying..."
"That your librarian was an angel of the Lord?" Dean asked, "Yes."
"Oh my," Hermione said.
"Were you able to find out anymore about why your government's keeping a file on us?" Sam asked.
Dean watched as Hermione's gaze slid momentarily to Harry's, before she spoke.
"I was able to find that most of the research is coming from the Elders of the West Coast. Other than that, no...I didn't find anything else about the government files." Hermione replied, "So, my only advice would be to try to stay out of the Pacific North-West."
"Easier said than done," Sam mumbled.
"Well, thanks for trying," Dean said, "why don't you go grab your stuff Sammy."
Sam nodded and went upstairs to pack, while Dean packed up the weapons he had been cleaning that afternoon. Hermione and Ron seemed content to clear the kitchen, while Ron peppered Hermione with questions about what Castiel was like. Dean smiled when he overheard some of her responses.
"Dean?" Harry said, and Dean turned to find Harry standing slightly awkwardly in the doorway. "I just wanted to thank you for all your help," Dean raised his hand to halt Harry's speech, but Harry ignored him. "With the Dementors too, I mean...you really didn't have to help with that. I know it must have been..."
"Dude," Dean said, "stop. It was nothing."
Harry rolled his eyes, but nodded. Then crossed the room and held something out for Dean. Dean shot Harry a confused look, but took what was being handed to him. He realized that it was a small compact flip-mirror.
"Is this-" Dean started to ask.
"If you ever need help with anything...anything...I want you to call me," Harry answered, "You just have to speak my name into the mirror."
"Uh, thanks" Dean said.
"Even if it breaks, the pieces will still work," Harry added.
"Ok," Dean said, at a loss for what else to say, and a little thrown by Harry's sincerity.
"Everything alright?" Sam's voice asked from the doorway, most likely sensing the serious mood in the room.
"Yeah, Sam" Dean said. Harry smiled.
"I was just thanking Dean for the help," Harry added, "I'd like to thank you too, of course."
"Don't mention it," Sam said smiling softly, then looked a little guilty, "I'm sorry again about the umm...accidental magic."
"Not your fault," Harry dismissed.
Hermione and Ron appeared next. Hermione handed them a slip of paper.
"My address," she said, and Dean raised an eyebrow and gave her a slow smirk. Hermione blushed, "for umm...your friend Bobby."
"Does your husband know you like older men?" Dean teased. Hermione blushed further, while Ron tried to look annoyed, but Dean could tell that he knew Dean was teasing.
"If he's alright with what I am." Hermione continued, "I'd very much like to stay in touch, maybe do a book exchange?"
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Dean teased.
"Oh for goodness sake!" Hermione exclaimed, and Dean chuckled.
"We'll explain everything to him," Sam assured Hermione, "I'm sure he'll be in touch."
"Shit," Dean muttered, "how long have we been out of cell-range? Bobby's going to kill us."
"Shit," Sam cringed, "yeah...we um, really should go now."
There were handshakes, and Hermione gave them both a polite kiss on the cheek in parting, and then Dean and Sam were back in the Impala. Sam waved back towards the three figures on porch of the old farmhouse as they drove down the long driveway.
Both brothers watched as the house disappeared as soon as they were off the property, leaving what looked like an empty field. Just like that, the secret world of wizards was once again hidden from them, save for the pendants tucked in a corner of the trunk and the weight of the small flip-mirror in Dean's jacket pocket.
Dean spun the tires for fun - earning an eye-roll from Sam - and they took off into the night.
The sky was clear for the first time in weeks.
fin
Masterpost (now with sequels)