Tom "just Tom," greets Castiel and Gabriel when they arrive. A gust of air blows around the sparse contents of what must be one of the bar's guest rooms. Tom was a friendly man, but also did not give them any illusion that he had other, better things to do than make small talk with two tourists.
With little fuss, they arranged accommodations for the night and stayed for a meal before they left to investigate Flourish and Blotts.
The directions that Tom gave them were helpful, but unnecessary. It wasn't difficult to find the bookstore they were looking for.
Within moments of entering, an older man with greying hair greets them.
Castiel and Gabriel show him their Garrison badges with a flourish. "We're actually not looking for books," Cas says, "But we do have questions about some individuals we're trying to find. Were any of your employees here on August 19th?"
The man laughs. "Everyone was here on that day. It was all hands on deck for Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing. We had more customers that day that we have in our regular month!"
"Any chance you would remember these two?" Castiel holds out the photo that Chuck had given him. The man adjusts his glasses to look at the photo. It now has two circles marking Sam and Dean. "They are both Americans, one about my height, and the other a few inches taller."
"No, but that's Alexander with them." He turns over his shoulder. "Hey! Alex!" A young man with shoulder-length hair strides over.
"What's up, Ben?"
Ben holds out the photo to Alex. "These fellows are looking for information on these men. Do you remember them? They were at Lockhart's book signing."
"Oh yeah, I remember them." Alex says with a laugh. "They were, like, the only guys here that day. I had to help them find their books because it was a crowded mess in here."
"Do you remember what books they got that day?" Gabriel asks. The kid scrunches up his face.
"A lot of stuff, really. The tall- uh, taller one had a whole list of books. Nothing specific, but some of the books were ones that I read while at Hogwarts. A lot of books on curses and magical creatures. Broad, educational stuff." Gabriel takes the photo from him, and wanders off to the shelves in the photo.
Ben runs a hand through his beard. "What were their names again?" Castiel hesitates, and looks over to Gabriel who is examining the shelves on the upper floor of the shop. Cas sees him glance down and back up, trying to see which books Alex had taken off the shelf for Sam.
"Sam and Dean Winchester."
"That last name sounds familiar," Ben says. "I feel like I've heard it recently. Let me check our records." He shuffles off, leaving Cas with Alexander.
"Any chance that you remember which titles they bought?" Alex is already shaking his head.
"I drank to forget that day. Sometimes, I swear I still have a ringing in my ears from all the shrieking." His face becomes serious. "Have you ever worked retail?"
Cas shakes his head.
"Don't."
They stand in awkward silence until Ben shuffles back with a small stack of books. "I have an order here for a Sam Winchester. It is addressed to Hogwarts." He hands the books to Cas. "He's too old to be a student, so maybe he's a professor! I wouldn't put it past old Albus to go international in his search for someone willing to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. That position has a nasty curse on it, it does. No one lasts more than a year."
"Interesting," Cas comments. Looking over the stack of books. Old legends, books on ancient monsters in the area. History books on Hogwarts. "Have these been paid for?" Cas asks idly.
"Yes, the money was sent in with the order. We just have to mail them off, now."
Cas hums, still examining the books.
"I knew that name was familiar," Ben comments. "Winchester. It isn't a common one. In fact, I've only heard of it once before." Cas tenses up. "There was a notorious criminal duo in America. Still is, as far as I know. Two brothers who…" He trails off, and Cas can see the gears turning in his head.
"Hey Gabe," Cas calls up at Gabriel who, having finished compiling a list, is meandering around the store. "Can you do your thing over here?"
Gabe walks over, drawing his wand. "Sure thing, Cas. What memories?"
"Of the Winchesters on August 19th for this one" he points at Alex, "And any knowledge of the Winchesters' names in relation to this shop from this one. And the conversations after I showed them the photograph." Castiel places the books in his bag.
"Got it." Gabe hands the photo back to Cas.
Ben becomes indignant. "Now hold on! You can't just do that!" Whether he was referring to Cas pocketing the books or Gabe about to wipe his memories, they would never know.
With two waves of his wand, Gabe examines their minds with Occlumency, and casts the memory charms.
Castiel holds up the photograph again as their eyes turn blank and distant for a moment. Gabriel wanders off in that moment, presumably to find where orders were stored, and to change Sam's entry.
Ben is first to recover. "I'm sorry, my mind seems to have wandered off for a moment. What was your question?"
"Do you know anything about the men in this picture?"
The old man adjusts his glasses to look at the photo.
"No, I don't know anything. Alex? You seem to be with them in this photo."
The young man shrugs. "I have no idea who they are. That was a really busy day. I tried to forget it as best I could."
Cas feigns disappointment. "That's not a problem. Thank you for your help." He asks about what else there is to do in Diagon Alley. The store-keepers go on long enough for Gabriel to wander back with a smile on his face, and a discreet thumb's up.
"Nothing?" Gabe asks.
"Nothing. But I have a list of places we can keep looking. Thank you both, again."
They leave the store, and Gabriel turns to Cas.
"Alright. Now we've just got to break into Hogwarts."
Cas frowns at his brother. "Why don't we just ask permission from the Headmaster to visit?"
Gabe slings an arm over Cas' shoulder. A feat because he was several inches shorter than his little brother. "Cas, that is what losers would do. Are you a loser?"
"Yes," Cas deadpans. "Based on my past actions and the fact that you call me one at least twice a day."
Gabe frowns up at Cas. "I didn't raise you to be such a little shit."
Cas extracts himself from Gabe's arm. "And I didn't grow up to be some two-bit criminal getting arrested for breaking and entering in a school zone. I'm going to see if I can get into contact with Albus Dumbledore."
"Well then I'm going to go see what crimes I can commit." Gabriel strides off, petulant, and with purpose.
"I'll see you back at the pub," Cas calls after him, and goes to see if Tom has a way to contact Albus Dumbledore.
-.-.-
With some reluctance, Dean follows Sam and the other professors to their place, high (too high), up in the Quidditch stands.
Pomona Sprout settles down beside them shortly after, admitting that she only feigned interest in the game when her house was playing. But she predicted this match would be a tough one, for the sole fact that it was Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Both teams took all the rivalry they showed in the classrooms and amplified it a hundred-fold on the Quidditch court.
As soon as the whistle blew to start the match and the players shot up into the air, all the rules and tactics Dean had learned from Castiel came flooding back.
Despite not enjoying Quidditch in the least, Dean was familiar with football, and an expert on strategy. Castiel, head of the Wampus team from year 4 to year 7, had used him as a sounding board for ideas on tactics and plays. Before long, Dean was silently critiquing the students' flying and decisions during the game.
He was also becoming increasingly horrified at how fast the brooms these days were capable of going.
It didn't take Dean long to notice the odd behaviour of a bludger. It must've eaten it's Wheaties that morning. Or steroids. Because it would whip around the pitch at crazy speeds, and then come rocketing back at Potter. Dean might have thought it was just some variation in the game where the Seekers had to face an extra challenge, except that the Slytherin seeker was unharmed.
Murmurs were arising among the staff. "That's not natural," Sprout said to no one in particular. Time and time again, the ball would careen towards Potter who barely managed to dodge it each time. As it was, he already was hit once or twice in the process.
After a short interaction with Slytherin's seeker, Potter's tactic of dodging switches abruptly to flying headlong through the air. Dean's eyes catch a hint of gold.
The entire crowd groans when Harry's arm gets hit by the bludger. Dean winces in sympathy at how the arm hangs unnaturally. But Potter only reaches out with his other arm, closes his fist, and promptly loses his balance. He falls several feet to the ground.
Dean finds himself racing down the stairs to the grounds. Sam is tight on his heels. Cheers erupt on their way to the pitch. Perhaps Harry was successful in catching the snitch before falling from his broom.
As they approach the growing crowd on the pitch, he notices all the players are on the ground. While the Slytherins are standing with crossed arms and sour expressions, the Gryffindors are a flurry of action. Several of them are gathered around Harry, who has by now passed out, trying to figure out what they should do. Fred and George Weasley are several feet away, trying to wrangle the offending bludger into its box. Sam rushes over to help the twins, so Dean sprints to Harry's side.
"Do you guys keep stretchers or something around here?" Dean asks the Gryffindor team." They nod. While two of the chasers run off to go fetch it, Dean kneels down to assess Harry. He checks for external injuries and head trauma. During his check, Harry jolts awake with a cry of pain. "Hey, Harry. It's me, Dean. Can I give you a hand?" Harry nods shakily, cradling his arm. "Okay. Besides your arm, does anything hurt? You landed pretty hard."
"My back is a bit sore, but it might just be bruising. And my head."
"Okay, maybe a concussion. Do you find it super bright right now?" Harry nods. "Can you feel your toes?" Harry nods again. "Wiggle them for me." Dean continues his assessment, taking stock of the injuries. Harry gasps when Dean presses gently on his ribs. "Probably cracked." Dean notes. The bludger had caught Harry once or twice in its hell-bent attack. "Can I fix them? I know my way around healing spells. It will make breathing easier, and then we can leave your arm for Madam Pomfrey, alright?" Harry nods, then turns white as a sheet.
Dean rolls Harry onto his side just as he vomits. Dean mutters the healing spell in between Harry's heaves. He hopes that it helps at least a little.
"Either that's from the concussion, or you've got some other stuff going on. Let's get you to the hospital."
Harry makes a sound that Dean hopes is agreement. The Chasers return with the stretcher, and with a spell, Dean carts him off to Pomfrey, muttering cleaning spells along the way as Harry continues to be sick.
Dean is nothing but reassured as he finally reaches the Hospital Wing; Quidditch was a dumb and dangerous sport, no matter where it was played.
-.-.-
AN: HELLO. MY NAME IS DEAN. I KNOW FIRST AID CAN I HELP YOU? Has anyone else completed first aid training recently? No? Alright.
I'm not committing to an update schedule yet, but two updates in one week is promising, if I do say so myself. The secret is that I love writing Cas an Gabe. They're fun like the Winchesters, but without all that ANGST.
Also, I got a comment this week from a Guest about how they didn't agree with me making Dean bisexual because they felt like it changed the character into someone else entirely. I do want to address this.
This story is not a romance story, but I do consider Dean to be bisexual. In my opinion, there aren't nearly enough fics with queer characters that aren't revolving around romance. So yes, Dean is queer, but I am also doing my best to keep him as the same Dean we all know and love from the show. I hope that this explains my perspective, but if anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me.
Leave a fave, leave a comment, let me know what you think