"How are things in Heaven now?" Sam asked. "It must be quiet, with Castiel in Purgatory."

Max shrugged. "Things are more or less stable. They were surprised when they saw that I was elevated to Archangel. It's mine by right, as I am am one of the five who have seen the face of God, but Raphael had some particluar things to say about it."

"Gabriel had a right laugh; he thought it was hilarious."

Both the Winchesters started at this. Justin and Alex merely looked confused.

"Cass killed Raphael," Sam argued.

"And Lucifer killed Gabriel," Dean added.

Max shook his head. "Only Raphael's vessel was destroyed. And Castiel was not the only angel God revived."

"Waiit," Alex said, catching on quicker than her older brother. "When did you see God?"

"And how the hell is Raphael still allowed in Heaven?" Dean asked.

"God came to me when I faced off against Cass," Max replied, sighing. "He was disappointed. When Lucifer was thrown back into the Cage, Michael with him, the Archangels were two down."

"Michael and Gabriel," Sam said, nodding.

"But what does that have to do with anything?" Justin asked, finally catching up.

"After the Apocalypse was averted, God hoped to make Cass an Archangel, in place of Michael." Max let that sink in, then continued. "But then he fell, and God chose me in his place."

Silence greeted this pronouncement. Max continued. "Raphael was allowed back into Heaven because he repented. He isn't stupid enough to fight God. Now the the Archangels are whole again."

"So Raphael isn't making trouble anymore?" Dean asked.

"No, he's being a good boy. Even with God 'out of town,' so to speak, he knows we're watching him."

"God's gone?" Justin asked, intrigued.

"He's decided to take a vacation. And before you ask Dean, he is not Morgan Freeman."

"If he's taking a vacation, who's he left in charge?" Alex wondered.

Max smiled.

"Are you sure?" Dean asked.

Justin nodded. "It'll be there."

"What are we going after again?"

"The Blade of Anarchy," Max replied. "It's a dagger capable of killing the Fates."

"Are there any more after this?"

"No, we've already recovered the rest of the missing weapons; this is the last one." Max looked over at his brother and sister. "You guys going to be okay on your own?"

Alex rolled her eyes. "Yes, Max. Go do what you need to."

"Besides," Sam said, smiling. "They've got us."

"And I've been taking monster hunting courses at Wiztech!" Justin proclaimed.

Dean raised an eyebrow.

"It's a school for wizards," Justin explained.

"So it's Hogwarts?"

Certainly not!" Justin was affronted.

"You learn spells there?"

"Yes..."

"You wear uniforms?"

"Yes..."

"You have a sport?"

"Yes..."

"It's Hogwarts," Dean declared. Justin began to babble incoherently. Max laughed as he disappeared.

As he materialized in the clearing, Max made sure the Angel Blade was clear in the sheath at his wrist.

He heard something growl behind him. He smiled.

"I know I'm a bit late," he said, turning to face the God Hound. "I was busy."

The wolf, for his part, said nothing in return. It merely sat back on its haunches, waiting.

Max stared back at his new partner. When Chuck had told him that he would be partnering with werewolves, he'd had his doubts. And he wasted no time voicing them.

But time had proved his doubts to be unfounded. And they weren't werewolves exactly, as they didn't need the moon to transform. According to Chuck, these God Hounds had served Heaven for centuries.

And Max had grown to trust this particular wolf even though he had yet to see his human form.

"Look, it won't happen again, okay, Fido?" The wolf growled, he didn't like it when the angel called him that. Max only smiled.

Together, the angel and the God Hound made their way into the occultists' hideout.

Max had received word weeks ago that they were trying to break Lucifer out of his Cage, effectively bringing on the Apocalypse a second time. Max had no idea how they were planning to do it, but it was worth checking out.

He wasn't expecting to come upon another God Hound, muzzled, bound and bleeding, laying within a summoning circle. He was surrounded by six occultists, five at certain points within the circle, and one in the dead center, with the God Hound.

"What do you think, sneaky or direct?" Max asked softly. The wolf growled in response, alerting the others to their presence. He charged.

Max rolled his eyes. "I don't know why I still ask."

Max threw himself into the battle, and realized immediately that the occultists were demons.

Good. That made things easier.

THWUNCK!

His blade hit the mark, and the demon fled its host. The wolf was holding his own with two, which left him with three.

One of the demons charged him, and Max summoned the power of his Grace, concentrating into the center of his palm. With one touch, palm to forehead, the demon was expelled from the host body.

Max made quick work of the other two, and he came to face with something he hadn't expected to see.

The demon that been in the center of the circle approached him calmly, and Max was confused. He didn't feel right for a demon.

The demon pulled out a katana, and surged forward. Max dodged the blows as they came. Angel or not, it wouldn't do to get hit with a sword, especially one that was most likely bespelled.

He heard the wolf growl, and he risked a glance. He was holding the Angel Blade in his mouth. He twisted and threw the weapon.

Max caught it, and used it to parry.

The demon attacked from above. Max brought his blade up, blocking the move, then pushed forward.

Pushing the blade forward down the sword, Max used the momentum to step closer. When within arm's reach, Max reached out his arm. The demon was paralyzed, and Max was able to enter his mind.

His name was Malakai.

He's a meldling, Max realized. Neither human nor demon, and yet both. Who would willingly join souls with a demon?

"Free the Hound!" Max told his partner as he prepared a seal of binding. He could use the summoning circle as part of the seal. He didn't know how to kill it, but he would make sure it never left here, that it would be bound.

"You killed my servants, tossed them aside like dolls," the meldling snapped, when the seal was done and he was caged. "What are you?"

"I am an Angel of the Lord," Max replied, then he disappeared.