Chapter 4

Staring at the letter before him, Jaime could not believe that it really was from him. Sure many of the facts including the kid's name were correct, but he was in denial. There was no way that their father could abandon one of them just because they had magic. He read the letter over for the hundredth time, but came up with the same conclusion.

Sam Winchester was his pen-pal. He had been abandoned by his father for being a wizard. He was foisted off from wizarding foster home to foster home because he wasn't welcome home anymore. He was alone.

Jaime's emerald eyes flashed and the glass vase behind him exploded, startling the people around him. They all gave him wary looks but knew better than to ask him what was wrong. That line of questioning was better off left to the 'professionals'. But before any of his friends could even be notified about his explosion, Jaime was already gone. He arrived at the headmaster's office, his magic raging around him. The gargoyle protecting Dumbledore's office leapt aside before Jaime could do as much as mutter a password. It remembered the last time it stood in the way of an angry Jaime and still hadn't recovered. Dumbledore was in a meeting with the heads of houses when Jaime burst into the office.

"I need to speak with you immediately," he said, urgently.

"Mr. Potter," McGonagall protested, "We are in a meeting with the headmaster right now. Whatever it is can wait…"

"I wasn't talking to you Minnie!" Jaime said, not even realizing that he was calling her that to her face. His attention was exclusively on the headmaster.

Dumbledore nodded and wrapped up the meeting. Snape looked hardly surprised that the old man was clearing his office for the boy wonder and even commented on it bitterly. Jaime was at the end of his rope and was about to lash out at the man but Dumbledore ushered the potions aster out before any damage was done. Finally Dumbledore sat down at his desk and looked at Jaime expectantly. He noticed that the young 17 year old was upset and knew that it would be remiss of him to ignore that like he did with others.

"Did you know?" Jaime demanded.

"I'm sorry my boy, but you'd have to be more specific." Dumbledore said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Jaime narrowed his eyes at the old man, "Do not call me your boy. You kidnapped me, remember? I'm only here because of the tether you have on me, linking me to England; otherwise I'd be with my father and brothers right now. Now tell me, did you know Sam was a wizard?"

"Is he really?" Dumbledore asked, surprised, "That's wonderful news. You can share our world with him."

Jaime rolled his eyes, "Yes it would be great if only he hadn't been abandoned by my father for using magic."

"I'm afraid I do not understand."

Jaime snarled, "If I had been there I could have helped my family understand what it meant to be a wizard. John would have never thrown my baby brother out on his arse."

"Ah,"

"Whatever old man," Jaime said, "I need to go to my baby brother. He needs to know that he's not alone in this world. He needs me now more than ever!"

"Alas as much as I would like to let you go to him, you can't leave the boundaries of these islands. The tether won't dissipate until you complete your part of our contract."

"What kill or be killed?" Jaime asked bitterly.

"Harry…"

"Whatever," he said, divorcing himself from his emotions. He didn't want anyone to see his weakness.

"However I do believe that I can do something for you and your brother."

"What?"

"Since young Sam is a wizard who has been abandoned by his family, I can make you, as his magical older sibling, his legal guardian and have him transferred to Hogwarts."

"But?" Jaime asked, thinking it was too good of a deal to come true.

"No buts," Dumbledore said, "Even though you're an adopted sibling to Sam, as Lord Potter you have the power to take in anyone and put them under your protection."

"I want it done today," Jaime demanded, "I want to see Sam."

"Of course," Dumbledore said, "Just let me consult with my counterpart at Salem and arrange that for you."

It took Dumbledore exactly an hour to convince the headmistress of Salem to release one of her young charges into his capable hands and only then it was because Jaime assured the woman that he really was Sam's brother. The paperwork making Sam his charge was much quicker to be processed. Within minutes he had Sam officially under his house's protection.

The first time Jaime saw his baby brother since his kidnapping, he swore his heart stopped. He couldn't believe that he was finally reunited with at least Sam, it couldn't be real. He had imagined their reunion hundreds of times but that didn't prepare him for the real thing at all.

Sam was much taller now than Jaime had ever seen him. Of course it made sense since the kid was older, but it still hit Jaime hard all the same. All that time lost, he could never get it back. Sam's hair was longer than ever and seemed to have a darker tinge to it, but what really struck the seventeen year old were Sam's eyes. The light and innocence in them had faded and wariness with distrust had settled in their place. Jaime knew right then and there that Sam hadn't had it easy since he left and if it hit Sam that bad, Dean and John were probably worse off. A terrible sense of guilt settled in the pit of Jaime's stomach. He knew that if he had been there for his brothers, none of the hardships would have happened. John and Jaime had a special relationship as first son and father. John always listened to him even if he didn't want to. Jaime knew that if he had stayed with his dad and got his letter to magic school he would have been able to talk his dad down from doing something he would regret.

"Hello," said Dumbledore, completely unaware of his prized pupil's dark thoughts. "Welcome to Hogwarts, young man. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of this fine school."

"Hello," Sam replied shyly. Jaime looked at Sam in shock. The kid had changed so much…

"I do believe that the headmistress at your previous school explained why you are here."

"Well yeah, but there must be some mistake," Sam insisted, "I mean who would want me? My dad just needs some time to get used to the idea of having a witch son and I'll be going back home before you know it."

Jaime smiled sadly at the loyalty Sam was still showing their family. Although, his persistence that John would take him back was troublesome. Jaime knew that John was more stubborn than a bull and that it would take years for him to even consider changing his mind let alone welcome Sam back. Sam and Dean were never really good at convincing John to their point of view and Jaime doubted that had changed over the past couple of years.

"I do believe, Mr. Winchester, that this is no mistake. In fact the person who is willing to take you in wants you very much." Dumbledore said.

Sam frowned, "Why?" he asked.

Jaime stepped out of the shadows and into Sam's line of sight.

"I'll give you a moment to speak to one another," Dumbledore offered, walking out of his office.

He gave his baby brother a small smile and a nod. "I see you're wearing that dog-tag."

Sam automatically grabbed it with his hand but he showed no signs of recognition, "I got this a long time ago," Sam admitted, "From my oldest brother before he disappeared."

Jaime nodded, "I know," he told him, "For Christmas. You got it early because you couldn't sleep."

"It was Christmas morning," Sam pointed out, "I was a little kid."

Jaime laughed quietly to himself, "Yes indeed you were, but you're not anymore. You're all grown up now, and I missed it."

"Who are you?" Sam demanded, feeling a strange connection to Jaime.

Jaime gave his brother a big grin, "Sam, it's me, Jaime."

Sam shook his head immediately, "You can't be," he insisted, "He's gone."

Jaime sighed and walked closer to the kid making Sam back up slightly. It hurt Jaime just slightly but he knew that Sam really didn't mean it to hurt him. He knelt down and looked up at Sam, his emerald green eyes meeting smoky blue and hazel eyes. He stared at Sam long enough so the eleven year old started to recognize the teenager claiming to be his brother. Finally, Sam walked closer to Jaime and hesitantly touched Jaime's lightning bolt scar.

"I remember this," he whispered, tracing the blemish lightly, "And your eyes… Jaime?"

Jaime beamed at Sam and nodded causing the kid to engulf him in a giant hug. He came at Jaime so hard that he almost knocked the older teen over. Sam felt so safe in his older brother's grip. It was almost better than the rare occasion his father or Dean would embrace him. Jaime had always been the one Sam turned to when in need of comfort or reassurance. John was the type of dad to tell Sam to man up and deal with it while Dean was very prone to avoiding any situation having to do with emotions. Jaime was the one who benefited from their mom's presence the longest, and thus he was the one who picked up on the fact that sharing wasn't bad.

"Oh god," Jaime whispered, "I missed you so much baby brother. You have no idea how many times I was ready to pack up and go home."

"Why didn't you?" Sam asked in a small voice, "We needed you, still do really."

Jaime winced at his brother's puppy dog eyes and glared at where the old man had been standing before. It was his fault Sam was hurt. He was the one responsible for kidnapping him. Despite the fact that Jaime had quit trying to escape his captors, he was in no way accepting of his situation. The moment he found a loophole he'd be out of there so fast that even Dumbledore would be surprised.

"I want to go home with you, see dad and Dean, but I can't." Jaime said sadly.

Sam pulled out of his brother's embrace and crossed his arms over his chest, "Can't or won't?" he demanded.

Jaime smiled sadly, "I physically can't Sam. If I had any choice I'd have gone home a long time ago."

Sam frowned, "I don't understand," he said.

Jaime stood up, and took Sam's hand. Ignoring the old man's protests he took his brother to an empty classroom devoid of portraits. Taking every precaution Jaime cast every sort of detection and cancelling spell he knew. He was not going to let anyone censer the explanation Sam deserved to hear. Once the room was bug free Jaime sent a powerful locking spell at the door. The spell hit just as Dumbledore's hand was reaching for the doorknob. He did not want anyone to know that he had taken the boy-who-lived from his family. Jaime was under a gag, making him unable to contact the press, government, teachers, or his peers about the situation but Sam luckily wasn't covered by the gag. Jaime could tell Sam everything.

Jaime looked at the door shrewdly, wondering if it would hold before frowning and casting another spell at the door keeping any sort of eavesdropping out. He looked out the window and tapped a sequence of bricks which opened up into a tunnel. Jaime knew the castle better than anyone alive. Ever since he had been in first year he had been trying to find a way out. It also helped that he found a map of the school when he was in second year. The tunnel led to another classroom two floors down and another password at a plain wall led them to one of the smaller towers which had been abandoned for years. Jaime liked to go there to think and wonder about his family. It wasn't too high up but it did overlook the courtyard where all the students took their break. It wasn't visible unless one knew it was there.

"Do you remember what happened the night I disappeared?" Jaime asked making himself comfortable in a sofa he brought up there years ago. He gestured for Sam to sit next to him.

"I remember an owl, and I remember the panicking when you were gone. I don't know what happened in between."

Jaime nodded as if he expected that, "I was portkeyed here, to this very school." He explained, "He sent me a letter and as soon as I touched it I was teleported away…"

"Wait! That actually happened?" Sam interrupted, "You really disappeared into thin air?"

Jaime nodded, and Sam continued, "I thought I imagined that. No one ever believed me whenever I said that was what happened and Dean never spoke up. I was only 5, what did I know." He finished bitterly.

"Don't let anyone convince you that something's impossible Sam," Jaime said, "Because here in this world, they say that a lot. I found that we have no real limits with magic. We can do anything."

"You sound like one of those self-help videos." Sam pointed out with a grin.

Jaime returned it and sardonically replied, "I really do, don't I?"