Hermione's Hounds:
1. Hermione's Hounds
2. Master of Death
3. Soul Marked
4. Abandon All Hope
5. The Devil You Know
6. My Heart Will Go On
7. Ursula
8. Drinking at Bobby's
9. Survival of the Fittest
10. Mistress of Death
11. Queen of Hell
12. Casifer
Dressed in his usual trench coat and suit, Castiel stood in front of her, leering like a loon. His posture and demeanor divested greatly from his usual composure, which had stopped her from approaching him further. She hadn't expected to see him in Boston, of all places, and her greeting died on her lips as she noticed the odd behavior. Thus, the angel and witch stood about ten feet apart silently.
"I gotta ask Crowley," the imposter said confirming her suspicions, before providing her with the information about why she hadn't been visited by her demon in months. "How'd you get out of the box I shoved you in? Not that I really blame you. After all I took every opportunity to get out of my cage. Out of curiosity, and obvious security reasons, did I miss a minion of yours when I was purging your administration?"
Hermione had never heard Castiel, much less anyone else, speak in such a cavalier manner that this version used. She did, however, choose to take a parchment out of Harry's playbook, by simply allowing the madman to talk. It was one of many lessons she'd learned from Voldemort. Dark Lords loved to hear their own voice.
"Be honest,' the man wearing Castiel said, still grinning, " how many demons did you have to slaughter to escape from your own palace? I do love that you've gone and proven my point about how fucked up demons are. Absolutely no loyalty, am I right?."
She didn't wait for him to continue, and disapparated on the spot. Harry was going to kill her when he learned how reckless she was acting. In true Gryffindor fashion, Hermione landed in the foyer of Crowley's ostentatious palace, armed with her wand and the knife Dean insisted she carry after a particularly close call with an enemy of Crowley's. The two demons standing guard were dead before they realized she was there.
In a blind rage, and driven by an unexpected urge to find Crowley, Hermione didn't allow any demon to survive. By the time she'd reached Crowley's throne room, she was covered from crown to toe in blood.
"Who are you?" One of the several demons demanded when she'd magically thrown open the double doors.
"You're Queen," she hissed, as all took a hesitant step backwards, "Lovely, you've heard of me. Whomever doesn't bow, will die." Several demons exchanged wary glances, before a few chose to attack her. She made quick work of all of them, until she was standing over the final demon, a young man, who was groveling at her feet.
"You don't understand his power!"
"Yet you all underestimated mine," she hissed angrily. "No, none of you bothered to question why Crowley kept me away from all of you." The demon shuddered. "Instead you all arrogantly assumed I needed his protection. Get out. Tell your friends whom they should truly fear."
She unlocked the cage, once the demon had ran from the room, helping Crowley hobble to his feet, as he leaned heavily on her.
"Mimi," he breathed, struggling to speak. "You shouldn't be here. Too dangerous."
"Yell at me when we're safe," she said helping him turn towards the exit. Unexpectedly, Cas was standing in their path grinning as he clapped enthusiastically.
"Lucifer," Crowley croaked, failing to push Hermione behind him. She groaned as she recognized the name.
"Please tell me your joking," she muttered, suddenly horrified at their circumstances. Harry really was going to kill her.
"Happily, he's not!" Casifer answered grinning. "He's quite serious. Little brother was terrified by the effect Amara would have on the world, and knew I was the only solution. Thus here I am! That said, I couldn't pass the opportunity to punish Crowley, here, for his actions during the apocalypse."
"Lovely," Hermione answered, braver than she actually felt.
"Now, I about kicked myself, after you ran off, for not reading that sigil correctly," Casifer said.
"Must run in the family," Hermione answered.
"Really, bravo for your speed," Casifer congratulated, ignoring her commentary. "Exactly how many of your brethren did you slaughter to reach Crowley here?"
"I didn't stop to count," she answered with a shrug.
"Deeeeelightful!" the devil drawled out. "Ooh I understand why he felt the need to claim you. Honestly, I'm tempted to put my own sigil on your soul. If only you weren't a scummy demon. Tell you what! If you can get out of this building, I'll let you live. Hell, I'll even give you a headstart!."
"Agreed," Hermione said without hesitation.
"Oh, you should know that I changed the protections on this palace, after getting rid of the little usuper you're holding up there. Demons can't just smoke out!"
"Doesn't bother me," she answered before disapperating with Crowley. Casifer glanced around, before turning over his shoulder and looking back towards where the two had been standing.
"Well...I didn't see that coming."
