Stuck on the Details
- - Steamcraft
+ + Supernatural
~Notes: I had been wondering whether I should put this in-verse of Harry Potter or just have that Harry Potter didn't exist but this was still the Wizarding realm. I didn't really want to put Harry Potter cameos in the story since I feel that is the definition of a cross-over fanfic. So, what would probably be normal HP character spots will be OCs, like for shopkeepers and other interaction characters. They hold no importance to the story.
Diagon Alley, August 20, 2011
Once the alleyway was opened, Castiel dashed forward. He would have made it, too, if it weren't for the fast hand at his collar. Blue eyes sulked at his father over his shoulder, but Bobby only raised an eyebrow under his large pointed hat. "Not so fast, idjit," he said lightly. "We're going to get you suit up, first." Castiel's mouth twisted unpleasantly, his eyes glancing towards Quality Quidditch Supplies but he nodded, and with a hand on his shoulder they went the other way, to the robe shop a few businesses down.
When he entered first, hands grabbed him from around the corner. Castiel gave a startled gasp, but when saw Anna's long red hair he settled. He put a hand on chest. "You scared me," he said, eyes narrowing, but a smile on his lips. "How was your summer holiday?" he asked as he was guided to a step platform. An elderly witch made measurements by hand while an enchanted quill wrote the sizes. Further along the shop, needles were being threaded and a black robe was being lengthened. The young wizard watched it for a moment, amazed.
"Boring," Anna said with an over-dramatic sigh. "I can't wait to go back to Hogwarts. I'm going to try out for the Quidditch team this year."
"That would be so cool," Castiel admired as he was made to stretch out his arm. "No matter what House I get sorted in, I'll be in the Slytherin stands." Anna giggled again, but it slipped away as she glanced at their parents together. Bobby was nodding patiently as Mrs. Milton seemed stressed.
"She's probably asking your dad to owl her the second I step out of line," she said quietly, grimacing. "Mom and Dad have been worried ever since I've been sorted into Slytherin, but its nothing how it used to be, centuries ago." She considered her mother with a tilt of the head. "But when both parents come from Hufflepuff, I guess they wonder what went wrong in their parenting. Maybe I should do a bit of rebelling now that they expect it." Castiel stared at her, unused to these sort of thoughts from his friend. He remembered her when she first got her letter, almost two years prior, excited and gushing, clinging to her mother's elbow as they wandered the Alley. Now mother and daughter wouldn't stand a foot's distance within each other.
The dark haired boy cleared his throat uncomfortably and Anna looked back up at him sheepishly. "Sorry, I forgot to say Happy Birthday! Have you gotten anything yet?"
Castiel nodded. "Aunt Maybell got me a couple of books I really liked."
That grimace was back. "I don't understand why you call her 'aunt', she's not even blood related," Anna pointed out. "And she's so weird, with all those... deficiencies."
If they comments on her mother didn't shock him before, then that had. When Anna visited his house during the earlier summers, she adored Maybell because the adult witch would always treat her. She had not one bad thing to say about the woman, who would read them stories, allow them to stay up later than normal, and bake sweets.
He worked to get his mouth unstuck while the seamstress measured his shoulder width. "Deficiencies?" he asked in a small voice. "What's wrong with her?"
A blush rose to her cheeks and she looked embarrassed. "I-I don't know, I just heard Bela talking about her." Castiel gave a questioning noise, but Anna didn't hear him. "Whatever Bela says is usually right, so I imagine she's right about Maybell, too."
"Bela?" Castiel questioned.
She looked dumbly at him for a moment before she realised her mistake. "Sorry, Castiel! It's hard to remember you're not in Hogwarts yet... Bela, she's in my House. She's a sixth year, and said when she was in first, Maybell was removed from Hogwarts in her sixth year." Castiel was stunned; he's never heard about this from Maybell. She had told him her graduation stories of her seventh year. Was she making it up?
"Why?"
Anna shrugged. "For being weird, I dunno. Bela didn't say."
The seamstress witch patted him on the back. "Okay, luv. You're good to go. Your robes will be ready around five." Castiel hopped off the platform, and he watched as Anna talked to the witch alone. It was here that Castiel felt the biggest disconnection from his long-time friend: she didn't hug him, or pinch him once for each birthday. Nor did she make an effort to say hello to his father, and as he and Bobby left the shop there wasn't a goodbye calling after them.
Castiel felt lonely. He reached up and put his hand in Bobby's, ignoring the questioning look he sent down at him.
"What's next?" he asked instead, looking straight ahead. They weaved through the crowd of soon-to-be Hogwarts students and their parents. Castiel had been anxious to get his supplies as soon as his letter came for him (which he had tacked to his bedroom bulletin board to save as a memory), but his father disagreed as he hadn't had grown a single inch in the year and wasn't going to get him robes that ended up too short.
His father let the subject not be brought up. "Well, given that we already have all your Hogwarts spell books for every year, I'll drop you off at Ollivander's to get your other supplies. If you finish before I do, you stay put, okay?" he said as they drew up to the wandmaker's workshop.
"We'll still go to the Quidditch shop, right, Dad?" Castiel looked up at him with a hint of worry on his face. "You promised..."
Bobby chuckled. "Yes, idjit. We're going to go to the Quidditch shop." When Castiel beamed, Bobby shook his head. "I don't understand why you want to check the brooms when first years aren't allowed any."
"Because they're cool," his son replied instantly, and pulled open Ollivander's door, leaving his father outside to chuckle.
The door closed behind him gently, but some how still made a loud sound. Castiel walked slowly towards the counter, peering into the glass box that held a couple intricate designed wands. They were beautifully carved and flourished jewels embedded in their handles. A tiny pinprick of a tunnel was in the absolute center of the wand, the core emptied or haven't been placed yet. Castiel moved to the glass counter next to it, and found the cores: a large jar of red and golden feathers, which seemed aflame at the tips; three containers with separated hair strands, one pure silver, another a dark blue, and the last multi-colored mix in the variety of blonde, black, and brunette; a very large petrified heart. There were other core ingredients, but he didn't recognise them as the commons.
A noise came from a back shelf behind the counter, and a startled yelp.
"Sorry, sorry!" a woman's voice came. "I'll be with you in just a moment, Castiel Singer." Before Castiel could be surprised that a complete stranger knew his name, or even knew who he was without looking at him, a heavily gowned lady appeared in front of the counter. "Good afternoon, I'm Miss Ollivander," she introduced herself with a smile. She held a long and slender box in her hand in front of him, then removed the top to a wand. "Ten inches. Yew and a hair from a veela."
His first wand. Castiel's heart sped with joy and excitement as he reached for it. His fingers didn't even manage to touch the handle before it was whisked away.
"What?" Castiel asked, confused.
"No, no! Not that one!" Ollivander put it back in an empty slot and went on to scan box descriptions. The wandmaker returned with another wand and held it out. "Eight and three-quarters inch. Cherry with a dragon's heartstring. Firm handling, now." He hesitantly took it and looked at her expectantly. "Well, try it out, go on."
The young wizard waved his first wand, but it didn't do a single thing. She plucked it from his hands immediately. "No, that won't do. That simply will not do." Ollivander went out of sight, and while she was gone the door opened. Castiel looked over his shoulder as two boys entered, one probably his own age and the other several years younger. The older boy nodded towards Castiel, and Castiel returned it and looked away.
The younger boy, however, went up to the glass counter much as Castiel had, 'oooo'ing over the cores and wand woods.
"I'll be right with you Dean and Sam Winchester," came the wandmaker's voice from the back of the store. Castiel smiled a little at the look of surprise on their faces. A few moments later, and Ollivander came to the front end again. "How about... ten and a half inches, hornbeam with a dragon's heartstring. This, at least, should give a positive result."
Castiel took it in hand, and while it felt warm under his touch, he waved it and the lights overhead sparked out. He waved it in a reverse motion, and the lights turned back on, but the wandmaker wasn't satisfied. She took it back, and was about to turn away again before her eyes landed on one of the brothers, the older one. Her silver blue eyes narrowed in thought, flickered between the two of them, and she ended up passing the wand to him.
An unfelt wind rustled his clothes and the tip of the wand emitted glowing sparkles when he waved it. His younger brother 'ahhhh'ed at him and looked at the wandmaker. "May I get a wand, too?"
Ollivander rustled his hair with a smile. "Not this year, Sam Winchester." She looked to the other brother, Dean. "That will be ten Galleons and eleven Sickles." Dean went to the counter and set a satchel on top, counting the money. Sam, however, drew his attention to Castiel.
"Hi, are you going to Hogwarts, too?" Castiel nodded and Sam pouted. "You're so lucky. I have to wait five more years."
"When your brother comes home for the holidays, you should read his books and you'll be glad you have five years to go." Sam laughed at that.
"Come on, Sammy, we're going," Dean said. Castiel nodded at him again. "See you at Hogwarts, I suppose," he said to Castiel. And the door shut behind them. Castiel watched them through the window, even as Dean glanced at him.
"I think I know just the one, now. Oh yes..." and Ollivander flitted off again, but just around the corner. She returned just a few seconds later. "Eleven inches. Willow with a phoenix tail feather." When Castiel looked at it, he decided it was one of the more intricate designs of a wand he's ever seen. It was beautiful and pale, and the handle whisped around a large round stone like feathers. There was a gem in the shaft of the wand, too. He took it in hand, and a familiar, nostalgic warmth enveloped him. His eyes closed and he gasped softly when he flicked his wrist and felt the acceptance of the wand and his use of it.
"Oh, bravo," the shopkeeper congratulated. "I had a feeling it would be, after Dean Winchester's wand."
Castiel approached the counter again, laid his wand in its box, and counted out the requested price of the wand. "Why's that," he asked.
"Last December, I was splinched in an Apparation," Ollivander said. "Both my arms, and while the Healers at St. Mungos were able to fix me up, my therapy wasn't going great. I couldn't make wands for a whole two months. My father had to cover for me." She gave a small sigh and smile as she recalled the memory. "But one night in February, I was feeling particularly depressed, so I tried to prove to myself that wasn't going to be the end of my wandmaking.
"Dean Winchester's wand was created first, after many tries, of course. Then to show I could do it again, your wand came along. They were the only two wands I could produce that night, I was so exhausted," she said with an embarrassed laugh. "It's probably the reason why Dean Winchester's wand didn't give you such negative results."
"So, he would be able to use mine?"
"Every witch and wizard can use someone else's wand, Castiel Singer," she laughed, "it's just depends on if the wand will allow the foreign user to cast from it." Castiel nodded in understanding, storing that information for later. "Ah, your father's coming." He faced the door as it opened with difficulty. Bobby's arms were full of supplies, so Castiel thanked the wandmaker and went to help his father. "Have fun at Hogwarts!"
Back on the Alley road, Castiel showed his father the wand. "They just keep getting fancier, don't they?" Bobby smiled. "Now, one last thing before the Quidditch shop: students are allowed to bring a cat, toad, or owl-"
"Hippogriff!" Castiel exclaimed, thrusting his arms into the air. Their animals and beasts would be transported to Hogwarts, as there would be no one at home to look after them, and it only seemed right since Bobby was the Care of Magical Creatures professor. Their longest kept beast was Gracia, a Hippogriff, his mother having founded the abandoned fledging long before Castiel was even born. Gracia was a big part in Castiel's life, like a third parental figure watching over him. Knowing he would be able to see Gracia at school gave Castiel a sense of going to be at a second home.
Bobby chuckled. "Asides from that, something you can keep inside the castle."
Castiel came to a stop outside Eelyops Owl Emporium, staring at a Great Grey Owl that screeched at him. "Is another owl alright?" he asked without breaking his stare.
"Sure, are you wanting that one?"
Castiel shook his head and finally looked at the rest of the owls perched outside the store. It was a long and hard decision, but his eyes finally rested on a snowy owl. He went closer to it and it looked down at him. The owl hooted, and when Castiel extended his arm close to its talons, it hopped from its fake branch on to him. It hooted again, and Ciel read the tag attached to it's leg.
Snowy Owl
Female
"Dad," Castiel turned, "I would like this one."
Castiel named her Ciel before they reached Quality Quidditch Supplies, where the young wizard dashed inside before Bobby could grab him again. He went to a model glass case where a miniature Quidditch match was in session. It was a replay of a famous game between Huston HolyWinggers and Denmark DeviousDeviants. The glass was enchanted no to break when the Bludgers bashed against it continuously. After the Snitch was caught by the Holywigger Seeker and the players flew the center of the field to begin again, Castiel roamed the store leisurely, sifting through the all-about-Quidditch books and kits.
He came to a display case of Hogwarts Quidditch uniforms. He imagined himself wearing any of them. Then he thought of wearing only either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw and going against Slytherin, to play against Anna. He grinned, wondering if she'll make it on the team like she hoped.
He continued on, looking at other equipment, signed Quaffles, Bludgers, and Snitches, posters featuring teams, and back to the front where the display window featured the latest brooms. The broom on display was an Impala, black wood and silver trim. The plaque underneath was as read:
Reaching it's maximum speed of one-hundred and seventy miles an hour, the Impala's design was influenced by Muggle transportation. The Impala had been in the making since 1967, only now releasing to the publics. It's a must-have broom for any serious Quidditch player.
Bobby came behind him. "Dream on, idjit." Castiel grinned up at him.
"Don't worry, it's not my style," his son said vaguely. "And besides, first years aren't allowed brooms." It was said teasingly, as though he would ask for a broom if was allowed.
Staffordshire, August 20, 2011
Ciel was placed in his room, a large circular bedroom that had more space than Castiel really needed. He had a lot of his mother's possessions in this room from her Hogwarts days: a Hufflepuff banner above the fireplace, yellow and black bed curtains, and a yellow and black striped throw blanket she had knitted herself. There was a lion's head mounted above his bed, however, from his father's same school years.
The walls still had the same woodland nursery theme he grew up in, and Bobby would enchant baubles to hang from the wall-tree's branches. Castiel loved the warm glow, as it reminded him when his mother would put him to sleep with the glowing orbs swimming in the air.
Castiel scooted back on to his bed and looked at his new school supplies, his wand in particular. Eleven more days and he would be able to properly test it in Charms, or Transfigurations. He wondered which classes he would excel in and which he would need tutoring. he also wondered what sort of wizards and witches he would meet, and if he'd be able to make friends with them. Castiel hoped Anna really didn't change that much and would seem normal again when he was at Hogwarts with her, probably being sorted into the Slytherin House.
What he was most excited about was being Sorted. Which House would he belong to? Castiel didn't feel particularly brave, smart, cunning, or kind, the main traits for the four houses. He felt normal, but surely he carried one just slightly more than the rest? He hoped the Sorting Hat didn't stall too long on him.
A knock came to his door, and he looked up to see Maybell stick her head in. "Hey, pumpkin. I wanted to tell you I'm leaving now, and I'll see you tomorrow."
Castiel began to nod, before he remembered the conversation he had with Anna earlier that day. He called to her, "Aunt May!"
"Yes, Castiel?"
He hesitated only slightly. "...I heard from Anna that you were removed from Hogwarts... Is that true? Because you told me about your Graduation, and I don't think you lied to me, but Anna hasn't lied to me before, either..."
Maybell's eyebrows shot up. "I wonder where she heard that story from. But..." she came and sat on the edge of Castiel's bed. "There was an incident in my sixth year where I had to leave Hogwarts, my mother was in really bad health and my stressing was rather...frowned upon at the school. I was owled my assignments and I completed my sixth and seventh years from home and went back to Hogwarts to attend Graduation with the rest of my classmates. Understand?"
He nodded. "I understand, but Anna said you also had deficiencies. What does that mean?"
The witch stared at him for a long moment. "Castiel, tell me. Which House was Anna sorted into?"
"Slytherin, why, what does it mean?"
Maybell looked very much upset. "What she means is that I'm born from Muggles. To a lot of Slytherin families or students, it's wrong. Like, unnatural-wrong, and I should have just attended Muggle school instead of going to a Wizard's school."
Castiel was aghast. "B-but, Mommy.. She was Muggle-born-"
"Castiel, don't worry your pretty little head over it. It's just the mannerism of a lot of Slytherins," Maybell smiled, but it was strained. "Anna's probably mingled in with a lot of the wrong sort in the House, and not all Slytherins are like that."
He looked at his hands in his lap, twiddling his thumbs together. "I don't think I want to be in Slytherin, now..." he mumbled.
"Hey, pumpkin, hey.. Slytherin's not a bad House. The students there don't make it seem wonderful, but I had friends in that House. You could be Slytherin, and you'd be better than the rest of them, you know." Maybell winked at him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Every House has it's perks and downsides, but its the people you become friends with that show their House's true colors." Castiel nodded slowly. He was confused about Anna, though, and what her friend told her about 'deficiencies'.
Anna came from a long line of Purebloods, and her parents didn't mind his mom when they came around. In fact, her parents, his mother, and Maybell were all Hufflepuff students and friends with each other. The only thing that made sense to Castiel, since the dislike wasn't inherited, was that it came from Anna's new friends in Slytherins. He wondered what they said about half-bloods; would he be picked on just for the way he was born?
There must have been a look of distress on Castiel's face, because Maybell tackled him to the bed and tickled him until he couldn't breathe. "What did I say!" she yelled in her 'Monster' voice. "I eat children who don't listen to me! If you repeat what I said, then you will be saved!"
"D-don't- ah-hahahaaha! Don't wor-worry! Aunt Maybell, haha, stop!" Castiel laughed, pink in the face as he tried to squirm away. Maybell released him with a soft smile.
"That's right. Don't worry, be happy, turn that frown upside-down and all that jazz." She stood. "Now, will you be thinking of it?"
"No, ma'am."
"Good. Go to sleep soon, okay?"
"Yes, Aunt Maybell. Goodnight, love you."
"Goodnight, I love you too." And the lights were switched off, and the baubles began to glow their warmth into the room.
~End Note: Thanks for reading, and the two lovely people who reviewed for the first chapter. :] To passing on a broom stick, I agree with that, but it was the only way I could start the story, I feel. It's an improvement of what would have happened if I started this two years ago, at least, where Karen's enters the Leaky Cauldron and sees the werewolf and just kind of dies from a random attack. Bleh.
Anyway~ This felt a little more smooth. I hope you wonderful readers agree, so I hope this also lives up to your expectations, FrauSpeicher!