Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or Harry Potter
Castiel didn't associate with the other teachers or other people for that matter, unless they were his students. He would eat alone somewhere quiet on the grounds before returning to his designated area for teaching. He had gone here as a student and spent most of his time alone in his hufflepuff dorm. After graduating he had been taken on as a teacher by the headmaster, Chuck. He looked up at the sky, trying to gauge the time by the slowly setting sun. Dinner would begin soon. They would light all the candles in the building until "lights out" was called. This was a dinner he was, unfortunately, expected to be at. It wasn't just any dinner, it was the Yule ball. His students, the ones that came to his Care of Magical Creatures class would be dressed in their best clothes. It was customary prior to the tri wizard tournament to have a Yule ball. Castiel scoffed, they just wanted the kids to dance around before they led them by the hand to their death. Only one wizard won, the others usually died, and the victor, well, they were traumatized for life. It was cruel and barbaric but it was tradition. He figured he should return to his room in the castle to change. He stood, giving his tan robe a shake to lose any stray blades of grass. He was walking to his room, looking down at his book when he bumped into someone. His book fell to the floor and he looked up at who it was. He was hit by the most powerful wave of beauty washing over him as his eyes landed on the man before him. He had dirty blond hair that was spiked in the front. He had a splay of freckles that made Castiel finally understand why they called them angel kisses, and the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. He was wearing a brown and black robe that looked old.
"Hey man. Sorry." He said. His voice was like the soft murmur of a wave crashing gently against the sand. He leaned down to grab Castiel's book for him and pushed it back into his hand. His tan flesh looked perfect and his hands looked like he worked for what he had. He smiled crookedly, his eyes crinkled at the sides and his teeth were perfectly white. He licked his lips nervously and Castiel groaned inwardly. "You knew here? I haven't seen you around." He asked.
"I like your face." Castiel blurted out. The man looked confused and stunned. "I-have to go." He said quickly before rushing off to his room. He shut the door and fell on his bed. There was no way he could go to the Yule ball. That guy would certainly be there. Castiel was already planning his excuse when there was a knock on the door. "Come in." He called. Meg, his favorite house elf stepped into the room and bowed. Castiel had asked her a hundred times not to bow, had told her she didn't need to knock, and that she needn't be scared of him. She did anyway.
"Master Chuck sent me to check on your progress. He seemed to think you may skip." She said.
"I-um... I'm sick." He said with a very fake cough. Meg giggled at him.
"Master Chuck's orders sir, get dressed." She said, getting out his dress robes and laying them out on the bed with a snap. Castiel groaned.
"Do you know who else is at my table?" He asked.
"Yes sir. Professor Dean Winchester, who teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts will sit next to you on your right. Professor Pamela Barns, who teaches Divination, sits across from you. Joanna Harvelle, who teaches and referees Quiddich, sits on your left." She said. Castiel nodded as he began changing.
"What do you know about them?" He asked.
"Professor Joanna Harvelle prefers to be called Jo. It is her first year teaching here at Hogwarts. She and her mother, Ellen, have dinner together every Saturday. Her mother is an Auror. Professor Pamela Barns prefers to be called Pam. She is in her seventh year teaching here. She enjoys the company of many different men. Professor Dean Winchester is the son of two dead Aurors. He took care of his younger brother Samuel Winchester in their absence. His younger brother is the Hogwarts champion. He was hired two years after you, so this is his third year teaching here." She said as he finished changing.
"Who are the others?" He asked. "The other champions."
"From Durmstrang, Headmaster Lucifer presents his champion Crowley. From Beauxbatons, Headmaster Abaddon presents Ruby." She said as they began walking to the dining hall.
"Thanks." He said as she vanished with a snap. He entered the room and found his place. He was only a few minutes early, all the other teachers would fill in soon and then the students and then the Champions and their dates. Then dinner would begin and then dancing would ensue. Slowly the teachers began arriving. Jo was the first to join his table. She was small and had straight blond hair. She smiled awkwardly at him as she sat down.
"Hey there. I'm Jo." She said sticking her hand out.
"Castiel." He responded, shaking her hand. Soon enough Pam joined them. She and Jo were friends.
"Aww hey cutie. Well isn't he just precious?" She asked grinning at Castiel. "What's upsetting you Castiel?" She asked. Castiel blinked at her. He hadn't told her his name or that he was upset, he'd never seen her before. "Divination remember?" She asked grinning and sticking her hand out. "Pam." She said. He shook her hand too.
"You seem to already know my name." He responded awkwardly. Pam laughed and sat back in her seat. The last teachers were arriving along with the first students. Castiel shut his eyes and put his head back. He rested it against the high backed chair, willing the night to be over.
"Hey guys." Said a familiar voice.
"Glad you could make it." Jo said sarcastically. Castiel heard the chair on his right pull out and then someone take their seat. That voice could only belong to one person.
"Hey there. I never got your name earlier." Dean Winchester said. Castiel was thinking of excuses. I didn't hear you. I was asleep. I didn't know you were talking to me.
"I would like to say a few words before we begin." Chuck said from the front of the room. "Three to be exact. Dinner is served." He said and then suddenly there was food at every table. Castiel opened his eyes at last. Pam was loading her plate with everything. Dean was chowing down on a turkey leg and Jo was picking her way through her plate of grapes and turkey. Castiel assessed the food. He began picking fruits and vegetables from the assorted selection. When he had found enough to munch on until dinner was over and the dancing began he began to eat. Slowly. He told himself he was unaware of Dean's perfect stare locked onto him. He told himself he was oblivious to Dean's gorgeous eyes on him.
"No meat kiddy?" Pam asked, eyeing his plate distastefully.
"Vegetarian." Castiel responded sheepishly.
"I never got your name." Dean said again, leaning closer to him. Castiel wondered why Dean was asking. There was nothing so great about him. He was wearing a customary dress robes. He knew he'd tied the blue bow tie wrong but he really didn't care. Dean on the other hand, looked perfect in his dress robes. They fit him perfectly his tie was tied masterfully; his clothes gleamed with "just bought" cleanliness. Not that Castiel was looking. "My name's Dean." He said sticking out his hand and grinning.
"Castiel." Castiel managed to say as he shook Dean's hand. Oh god. Castiel was having a meltdown, they were touching. His hand shake was firm and his hand was rough but it was the most perfect sensation Castiel had ever experienced.
"So what do you teach?" Dean asked as he resumed eating. Castiel panicked. What did he teach? He forgot.
"Um professor?" Asked his favorite student Anna.
"Yes Anna?" Castiel asked turning to her. He was so thankful; she had saved him from embarrassing himself to Dean again.
"Oh well I was having trouble with the book again. I tried to find you before but you weren't in your office." She said.
"Did you stroke the spine?" He asked she nodded. Her book was oddly temperamental.
"And I tried letting it listen to music like you said but it's still so angry." She said producing the book from behind her back. He took it from her and studied it for a moment as it writhed in his hands.
"Shhh. Be still." He whispered to it. Its eyes shut and it began purring.
"How do you do that professor?" She asked.
"Just be gentle with it." Castiel said putting it back in her hands it instantly began struggling again. She looked down at it sadly and Castiel smiled. He put his hand on the book gently and it was instantly still and purring. "Be good for her." He said taking his hand off it. It looked at Anna disdainfully but was no longer squirming. She nodded resolutely and scurried off. He turned back to the table to find the other three watching him.
"That was... brilliant." Jo said.
"You're good with the kids." Pam said.
"Sexy." Dean mumbled. Everyone turned to him. "What?" He snapped at Jo and Pam before turning back to his food. Castiel resumed munching on his food. Had Dean just said he was sexy? He did something sexy or he was sexy? No. Focus on eating. This is a good grape. He liked the red ones better than the green ones but this one was a rather good green grape. "So Care of Magical Creatures?" Dean asked looking directly at Castiel. He nodded, not trusting his voice.
"Castiel sweetie, I think you're blushing." Pam cooed.
"Not just blushing. He's totally red." Jo mocked. The food disappeared as the music begun and people started dancing.
"I- um...I have to go." Castiel stuttered as he pushed out his chair and made to leave. Suddenly Dean was in front of him. Castiel skidded to a stop so as not to bump into him again.
"May I have this dance?" Dean asked, holding out his hand and bowing slightly. Castiel tentatively put his hand in Dean's and let the other man walk him out onto the dance floor. He felt Dean's hand in his, rough and callused and yet warm and gentle. Then Dean put a hand on his hip and Castiel nearly melted. He let Dean twirl him around the dance floor; he felt his face burning as Dean watched him carefully. "You look nervous." Dean commented.
"Yeah?" Castiel murmured.
"I'm not really good with big crowds either." Dean murmured as he held Castiel closer. Castiel was shaking. Why was he shaking? Dean didn't ask. He was cold, that was it. It was the cold. He thought cold was not the best excuse when Dean was making feel warm all over. No. Stop thinking about that. It's cold.
"You're doing brilliant. With the other people. With people in general." Castiel said. He on the other hand, not so much. The dance ended and Dean bowed once again.
"We should do this again sometime." Dean said smiling before leaning in very close to Castiel. He felt his face burn in a blush as Dean's warm breath tickled his ear. "I like your face too." He said before returning to their table. Castiel ran to his room, shut the door and then paused to catch his breath. What was Dean trying to do to him? Kill him?