Disclaimer: Supernatural and Harry Potter belong to their respective owners.
Warning!: Will be slash. Spoiler alert for all of Harry Potter and all of Supernatural.
Summary: Harry's uncanny survival was due to more than just good luck and protective spells. Mary knew what she was talking about when she said angels were watching over Dean. Castiel just had to receive the two most accident prone charges in history.
A/N: This will be the last chapter with the disclaimer, warning, and summary in it. Please give a huge thanks to my beta Black-Raven3, as without her this chapter would not be so readable. Thank you to everyone who added, favourited and reviewed the last few chapter. I love all the support and hope I can live up to your expectations for this story as well as mine. Update info is in the end author's note. That's enough babbling though, onto the story.
Castiel winced as the lightning bolt carved itself into his shoulder. He did not regret making the vow to protect his ward, he simply feared the repercussions of doing so.
Over the next couple of years Castiel did everything he could to keep Harry content in his cupboard. As he could not show himself to humans he did his best to protect Harry from his relatives.
Thankfully they seemed to be mostly afraid of catching his, as they called it, freakiness. They usually refrained from beating him, and did their best to not touch him at all. Castiel tried to make up for this at night by allowing Harry to feel his presence, and doing his best to comfort him when he would cry.
Castiel didn't realize that the more he watched over Harry, the fewer trips he made to the Winchester home. He wasn't overly worried, as Mary was an ex-hunter, and knew her way around protections. He still showed up when Mary called for him, though it had only happened once.
Dean had been playing on the tallest slide in the playground with Mary watching from a distance. She had looked up just in time to see Dean slip from the tall structure and fall the long distance to the gravel. She had been at his side in an instance. Doing the first thing that came to mind, she had called for Castiel. As she fretted over her son, she quickly realized he had cracked a rib and was slowly bleeding from the ear.
Upon realizing this she had frozen, not sure if she should scoop him up and take him to the hospital, or if it would be too dangerous. She watched, stunned, as a glow enveloped Dean. As soon as it faded she quickly checked him over and noticed that his rib had been healed and that he was no longer bleeding. She smiled at the apparently empty space next to Dean and whispered a quiet 'thank you'.
Other than that one instance Dean had been safe. After that Mary kept a closer eye on him, and Castiel visited more frequently.
Shortly after the anniversary of Harry's 2nd year with the Dursleys, Castiel felt something he had never felt before. He was angry. Now, he had been angry before, but it had always been on behalf of heaven. For the first time ever, it was on behalf of a mortal.
Harry had been caught trying to look at one of Dudley's books. Petunia had found him doing this, and immediately begun screaming at him. Her shrieks had brought Vernon running. He had been working in his study, doing something important for work. Petunia yelled for a few more minutes before she left the room, but not before Castiel caught the look she had sent Vernon.
As soon as she left the room Vernon had grabbed Harry, who had been huddling in the corner in fear, and sat on the couch. He proceeded to turn Harry over his knee and give him 20 hard smacks across the bottom. He then yelled at Harry to stop being such a pansy and to stop his wailing. This was before he had shoved Harry into his cupboard and locked it.
Castiel, unused to feeling so angry, did not know how to fend off the rage that grew and boiled while watching this. Thus, he was surprised when the screen on the television blew out, and the power in the entire house abruptly shut off, due to the enormous surge of his abilities. As he got his powers under control he noticed Vernon cursing up a storm and heading towards Harry's cupboard.
Castiel was about to throw Vernon into a wall as his ire began consuming him again when he heard his name whispered in Mary's voice. This brought him out of his anger and he quickly threw protective angel magic at the cupboard door before disappearing. The magic ensured that Vernon could not open it until he had calmed down, or until Castiel returned.
Castiel re-appeared in the Winchesters house, only to see Mary pinned to the ceiling, dying from the large wound on her stomach.
As she, undoubtedly, feels his presence fill the room she utters her dying wish.
"Get Dean out…Keep him safe…"
Castiel felt yet another emotion, this one resembling remorse or sorrow. He reached out and brushes his hand over Mary's cheek, uttering a near silent apology. She seems to lean into his touch before he disappeared again, re-appearing in Dean's room. He quickly but gently woke Dean up, and whispered in his ear that he should run. He isn't allowed to appear to mortals but he is occasionally pardoned for making his presence or voice heard. Usually only his vessels, those about to die, or children can perceive his true form and voice however.
As Dean ran to Sam's room, Castiel followed so as to keep an eye on him. He promised to get Dean out of the house after all.
As John passed Sam to Dean, Castiel looked up at the ceiling again, expecting Mary to be dead. Upon looking at her Castiel could tell that she was able to perceive his true form and solemnly looked her in the eye, making another magically binding vow.
"I will always protect him."
He watched sadly as a small smile of relief flitted across her face, before the light left her eyes.
He turned around to find Dean halfway down the stairs, heading towards the door. He hurried after him, and threw his corporeal body over Dean and Sam as the nursery burst into flames. He helped Dean up, deposited Sam in his arms, and disappeared as John came barreling out of the house and scooped the brothers up.
Castiel turned back to the Winchesters, prepared to watch over them as the rescue crews showed up, only to come face to face with Uriel.
"Uriel! What are you doing here?"
Uriel just shakes his head in something akin to dismay.
"Why would you do that Castiel?"
Before Castiel can ask what he is talking about, Uriel's hand lands on his shoulder. A moment later they both appear in heaven.
"You have to answer to him now. I'm sorry Castiel."
Castiel looks at Uriel in confusion, and then notices the other angelic presences in the room.
"Michael…" This name is uttered under his breath, as if he is afraid that speaking the name will bring the other angel's wrath down on him.
"Castiel. You have been brought to me in order to be reprimanded. You have let yourself become too involved in the life of your charges. Today we noted that you unleashed a miniscule amount of wrath in a mortal dwelling. Explain your actions."
"Yes sir. My ward was being threatened and I felt it was pertinent to his survival that I distract those threatening him."
"Do not lie to me!"
Castiel, while a brave angel, cowered in the face of Michael. The archangel could tear him apart without a thought, and at the rate he was going he would not be surprised if it happened.
Michael visibly calmed himself before continuing.
"I have, on good authority, that that is not what happened. According to another angel in the area 'There was a sudden burst of uncontrolled angelic wrath'. Upon hearing this I assigned the angel to follow you, and watch to make sure nothing else happened. I have been informed that shortly after your outburst you created a magically binding contract with a mortal. Have you bound yourself to one of your wards?"
Castiel looks determinedly into Michael's eyes, answering honestly.
"No."
"Why would you lie to me, when it was witnessed? Show me the bond mark."
"I am not lying." Saying this Castiel turns around, shrugging out of the top of his outfit. On his right shoulder blade, just beside where his wings met his spine, was the bond mark. It was an emerald green colored lightning bolt shot through a pale green D.
Castiel hears the nearly inaudible gasp that comes from Michael, as he turns back around, replacing his clothing.
"I did not lie."
"You have bound yourself to two mortals? What were you thinking? You have gotten too close to these mortals. You need to be re-taught before returning to earth. Report to Gabriel for training and inform him of your bonds. He will do what he can to sever them, thus keeping you from danger from leaving your bonded unprotected."
Castiel stiffens as Michael gives his order.
"With all due respect Michael…"
Uriel, who had come back to escort Castiel to Raphael, froze. No one disobeyed Michael. Ever.
Aware of the shocked look from Uriel and the danger he was putting himself in, Castiel pushes forward.
"With all due respect Michael, I must ask that someone keeps an eye on my charges. I was assigned to them for a reason, and I have seen with my own eyes that they need the protection. I will accept my punishment for creating bonds with mortals, but do not punish them. They both need a guardian, for I fear without one they will certainly not survive."
Michael watches Castiel as he speaks; admiring the courage it would take to stand up to him, while not being pleased at the bold disobedience.
"Indeed you were assigned to both of them. Do you know the reason behind your guardianship over them?"
"Yes sir. Dean is to one day be your vessel, and needs to be protected until that day comes. I was assigned to Harry due to his mother's dying prayer of wanting him to be protected."
"Good. I admire the courage it took to request that they be watched over, but I do not enjoy being disobeyed. I have been given the role of archangel by our father for a reason. I will assign an angel to Dean. He needs to be protected, as you said. Harry was shielded from the killing curse, which is what his mother prayed for. That was all she prayed for however, so your duty to that is finished. Now go."
Uriel took Castiel by his elbow and was about to transport them to Gabriel's area, when Castiel spoke up once again.
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I said no. I want you to send an angel to watch over Harry. He requires the assistance more than Dean does."
"You are treading a very dangerous line, guardian angel. The only reason I have not wiped you from existence is our father's forgiveness. I don't suggest you remain so rebellious during your training, or you may find even god's patience wears thin. I will send an angel to Harry, but remember Castiel, it was you who chose him over Dean."
With these ominous words echoing in his ears, Castiel is escorted to Gabriel's section of heaven.
"Wow, you must have done something spectacular for me to feel Michaels anger all the way over here. What did you say to him?" Gabriel jokes as soon as Castiel appears in front of him.
Castiel just glares sullenly at the seraphim, before removing his shirt and turning his back to him.
"He argued with him about the fate of two mortals, who he so easily bound himself to. Michael has ordered that you sever the bond and re-train him before he can return to earth." Uriel answers the question before leaving as abruptly as he arrived.
Gabriel just shakes his head in disbelief, walking towards Castiel.
"Well, let's see what the damage is. It's been centuries since the last angel-mortal bond. So which of your charges did you bind yourself to?
"…"
"What was that?"
"…Both."
Gabriel stops at this, before hurrying the rest of the way to Castiel.
"Both? Are you insane? The last angel that bound themselves to a mortal nearly went crazy, and that was just one mortal! It's no surprise Michael is furious. I will do my best to severe the bond, and then we will begin your training."
For hours Gabriel focuses on the bonds, first trying to separate them, then trying to simply sever them at the same time, then moving on to more drastic measures such as threatening to simply kill the mortals. At this point Castiel intervenes.
"Perhaps you can simply block it?"
Gabriel stops his planning of a quick and painless death for Harry, to regard Castiel speculatively.
"'Perhaps you can simply block it?' Don't you think I would have tried that already if I thought it would work? Simply block the bond… Really…Who is the one that's done this before? Right, me…"
Gabriel continues muttering, even as he runs his hands back over Castiel's tattoo. He immediately quiets however, when the angel in front of him suddenly slumps, as though a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. He hurries around in front of Castiel, pushing him up by his shoulder and looking at his face, checking for any sign of pain. What he sees shocks him even more. Tears are flowing freely down the angel's cheeks.
"Why are you crying? Angels have no need to cry, even when in pain."
"It is not me, it is my wards. The connection is blocked. I will no longer die if my promise is not kept. I can still feel their strong emotions and still locate them though. They can no longer feel my presence."
Gabriel straightens up, pulling Castiel from his slumped position at the same time.
"The first thing of our training will have to be learning to block them then. Come, we will begin immediately."
Castiel nods numbly, following behind Gabriel. He cannot help but be distracted by the overwhelming sense of grief he is feeling at the moment. Hours later however, he no longer notices due to the completion of the first portion of his training.
On earth identical cries are suddenly heard from separate continents, followed by sobbing.
Dean can't explain the suddenly hollow feeling in his chest. He simply knows that it is extremely unpleasant, almost to the point of being painful.
John holds him as he cries, assuming it's due to losing Mary. He soothes Dean, murmuring nonsense until he calms and falls asleep.
Even in sleep though, the hollow feeling haunts Dean.
In Number 4 Privet Drive Harry Potter releases an unearthly cry, followed by uncontrollable sobbing. His cries are quiet however, as he doesn't want to call attention to himself. The initial cry did that well enough, and Vernon is suddenly outside the door to his cupboard, banging on it.
"Shut up, boy! We are trying to watch a television program and don't need you interrupting it!"
At three years old Harry can't describe what he is feeling. All he knows is that the comforting presence that he usually feels when he begins to cry has suddenly disappeared. He continues crying for a few more minutes, feeling as though his heart has been ripped from his chest.
Outside his cupboard, a new presence watches this, debating with himself. It is unusual for this presence to feel anything other than a sense of duty, but it is suddenly feeling the need to protect and comfort this small mortal child. Deciding that as he was assigned to protect the child, and the child will be hurt in mere moments if it does not stop crying, the angel reveals his presence.
Harry slowly stops crying as a new presence washes over him. It is not as comforting or as welcoming as the other presence had been, but it does have a protective air about it. While it does nothing to filling the hollow feeling in his chest, it puts Harry's mind at ease. He is able to doze off thanks to it, even though it is the middle of the afternoon.
As Harry sleeps the new angel watches over him, now understanding why Castiel had felt such an urge to protect this mortal. Normally he found humans to be nothing more than mud-monkeys. Usually he would question the reason behind his father's love for them. With this particular human however, he felt different. He wasn't about to give up his soul and bind it to him, but he did feel the urge to protect the little mortal. This intrigued the angel, and he was suddenly less upset about being assigned as a guardian.
A/N: Now we have seen what happens when angels get tattoos. Can anyone guess who Harry's new guardian angel is? For the first person who guesses it correctly I will attempt to write a one-shot of your choice.*HAS ALREADY BEEN GUESSED CORRECTLY* For anyone else who guesses it correctly the next chapter will be dedicated to you and you will get a mental cookie and bonus cool points.
I will try to keep updates as a fairly weekly thing, but I will be starting a new story shortly. I am also looking for betas for Holy Family Dinner and Most Dangerous Poison. I will be updating both stories very shortly, so due to that my updates on this story may end up being a bi-weekly thing.
Huge thank you again to Blackest-Appologies, Lil Miss Shadow.5, Natalie668, athena89, Charmina, Choas Babe, masks, charlie-becks, Krysstinia, Softball Angel, silverharpie17, and mauralee88 for reviewing.