Chapter 53: Misfortunes Never Come Singly

Loki and Severus landed in a street of some American town right next to Alastair, Dean, and a very different looking Castiel. The angel didn't have that look of an obedient little puppy anymore but looked a lot more confident and dare he say it, cocky. Sure, he still wore that beige trench coat but with the obvious hand-tailored suit the colour of freshly spilt blood he wore with a pristine white button-down shirt beneath it and a far more alert expression, he looked like…well, Loki had no words that would do him credit. One thing was for sure, wasn't it for the fact, that two evidently extremely possessive demons already claimed the angel for themselves…he would certainly try to hit on him.

"Castiel, you look good," Loki said with a seductive wink that frankly spoken looked strange on the face of a twelve-year-old boy. However, he drew back when he saw Alastair's glare, protective indeed.

Around them, children, who were already costumed, ran around despite that it was only around noon where they currently were. The houses also were decorated with Halloween themed decoration and carved pumpkins that would light everything up once the sun set.

Severus, after they landed, instantly looked around and assessed, who or what might be a threat. Old habits die hard. However, on first glance, he couldn't see anything that might be a threat if you didn't count hyper excited children bumping into you.

"So, Dean, Alastair, Castiel, what happened and where are those bastards who performed the ritual?" Loki finally asked in a low, threatening voice, and though they all knew that it wasn't directed at them, they shivered.

"Over the last two days, two people died. The first one two days ago was a father who ate some candy and ended up with razors in the throat and stomach, he died of blood loss. The second victim was a high school girl," Dean explained. "She was on a Halloween Party last night and died during apple bobbing. The water didn't let go of her anymore and began to boil. I think you can imagine how that one ended."

"The first one resembles what happened at Hogwarts," Loki mused and elaborated the statement upon the questioning glances. "This evening during the feast children suddenly started to scream. Some had needles, razors and other extremely dangerous things stuck in their throats. Luckily we could heal everyone before something graver happened."

"No wonder you're pissed," Dean muttered. "Anyway, the culprits are two siblings. A witch and a wizard as it seems. Whether they made a deal with Samhain, some other demon, or are naturals, we don't know. Both are from what we could get extremely old…like over 600 years old. The brother hid as a teacher under the name of Don Harding at the local high school while the sister went there as a student under the name of Tracey Davis," he explained before he remembered something. "Ah yes, and they tried to make one or all of us the third sacrifice."

Dean twirled a little hex bag around that Castiel had found in the wall of their motel room.

"It was made with the supposedly extinct herb Gold Thread, a centuries-old Celtic coin and the charred finger bone of a new-born," Dean said, throwing the thing to Loki who inspected it more closely.

"This is powerful witchcraft. Severus, what do you think?"

The only thing from the hex bag Severus picked up was the herb, which he held against the light before biting off a bit, tasting it and spitting it out again.

"The herb indeed is known as Gold Thread though it seems that it isn't as extinct as you think. This one is no older than a few months and in outstanding quality too. If they're growing it themselves, I'll certainly take a plant with me," Severus replied, placing the rest of the herb back in the bag

Loki chuckled lowly, Severus…always the Potions Master. "Well, as it seems only one sacrifice is missing. Where do they live?" he asked when he suddenly tensed.

Severus who saw it also placed his right hand on his left wrist where his wand was hidden from view in case that he needed to quickly draw it.

Not much later, a dark-skinned man with a bald head, and who wore a black suit, approached them. The man looked around in disgust as if he didn't want to be here but was forced to, muttering under his breath something about mud-monkeys.

"Uriel, what do you want?" Loki sneered.

That drew the man's – Uriel's – attention to the group. When he let his eyes roam over the group in front of him, he seemed surprised to see Castiel standing there though he dismissed everyone else as inconsequential.

"Castiel, where have you been? You ignored our calls," Uriel asked the other angel in a low tone.

Castiel chuckled lowly. "Sorry, Uriel but I now listen to a higher authority than Zachariah's."

"Raphael is the highest authority for you, and you know his orders, you have to follow them," Uriel told him in a low voice.

"There are higher authorities than Raphael as you very well know," Castiel growled, and he could feel how Alastair got agitated behind him. He could only hope that Dean was able to calm the other demon because he didn't want to find out what Uriel would do should he find out that he not only was with a demon but also that Dean became one too. For now, they both had their auras hidden.

"Who? Michael?" Uriel questioned with a harsh laugh. "You're delusional if you think that Michael has the time to concern himself with you."

This time it was Loki who had to suppress his reaction though it was more one of amusement than anything else. Oh, the hilarity if heaven ever found out that yes Michael not only wasn't in heaven anymore but also didn't want to have anything to do with them anymore. Zachariah certainly messed up their plans.

Castiel though only shrugged. "I don't know about Michael…," he began but was interrupted by Uriel.

"What? God? He doesn't care about us, has stopped doing so a long time ago or why do you think he left heaven? You're even more delusional than I thought," Uriel snarled.

"This is blasphemy, Uriel!"

"Blasphemy is that you seem to value those mud-monkeys more than your own kin," Uriel now smirked.

"Uriel, you should really be careful what you say. Father created the humans and commanded us to love them. Or do you want to be declared fallen?" Castiel said in a threatening low voice.

"Ah, and who are you going to tell about it if I get you declared fallen?" his smirk widened. "Anyway, I only came to tell you to leave the city. It will be destroyed soon to end the threat of Samhain. The seal cannot fall."

"You're going to blow up an entire city to get rid of one witch and one wizard? A bit overkill, don't you think?" Dean asked in sheer disbelieve.

"Believe me he smote larger cities for less. He is something akin to an expert in heaven, he was the one who dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Babel," Castiel explained before he threw the other angel a dark look.

"Well, then you feather-brained douchebag, you can turn around and go back home because we have everything under control. We know who and where those are who try to summon Samhain," Dean spat but was held back by Alastair so that he wouldn't do something stupid like attacking the angel.

"I would listen to him Uriel," Loki suddenly spoke up. "You see you're the one who is currently standing between us and doing our job. So, if you would be so kind and move your ass out of our way, it would be appreciated."

"What does a mud-monkey child know about such things?" Uriel said with a sneer.

"My name is Loki, you ignorant idiot," he grumbled.

"I hope that isn't supposed to tell me anything…" Uriel began but fell silent when Loki pointed an angel blade at him, to be precisely the one that once belonged to Lucifer though how the mud-monkey got it he didn't know.

"What did you want to say?"

Uriel did the wise thing and simply vanished without another word, he had to talk to Zachariah. Several things were amiss here, and he didn't want to make any move without talking to his superiors first.

Dean stared at the point where Uriel stood previously before looking to Loki and back, not able to believe that Uriel just left.

"I get the impression that nearly every angel is a dunderhead," Severus spoke up for the first time since arriving. Until now he had just loomed behind Loki.

"That you can say again. I didn't ask earlier but you're Severus Snape, aren't you?" Dean replied upon which Severus nodded. "Nice to meet you, Harry told us quite a bit about you. But back to business, namely two idiots who hurt children with that damned ritual. They live down the street, and we followed them there to make sure they are at home, ready to go?"

Both Loki and Severus nodded, and so the five set off towards the house they knew the perpetrators were living. Once there, Severus just waved his wand at the front door which made it slam open and into the opposite wall. He knew that this probably warned the occupants that something was amiss, but it would also shock and surprise everyone in reach of the door so that the chance that they'd be attacked lowered.

They walked in and quickly scanned the house, but no one was to be found on the ground floor or the first floor. So, they walked over to the door to the cellar, and after slowly and carefully opening it they walked down the narrow, steep stairs one by one with Loki making the front and Alastair the back.

After walking down, a short corridor the reached a large room in which an altar stood at the far end. From a wooden beam at the ceiling chains hung down with which someone evidently had been bound. However, whoever – and they suspected it had been the woman Tracey – had been tied there, managed to rip the chains apart and get out of them.

It was the picture of Tracey attacking the man Don though that spurred them into action.

Alastair had the woman quickly pinned to the wall and looked at her threateningly. What became instantly clear though was, that Tracey was possessed by a demon and considering who they wanted to summon, Alastair was quite sure that it was Samhain.

Severus on the other hand quickly stunned and bound Don.

"So, the seal has been broken?" Dean asked while walking over to Alastair.

"Looks like it," Castiel answered.

"I suggest you go play with Samhain while Severus and I take care of the idiot here. But please be careful, I have no idea how powerful Samhain is," Loki proposed.

Alastair on the other hand snorted. "Samhain is nothing more than a nuisance, he is only dangerous when he has his legion of undead," she told him with a shrug.

"What does a bint like you know? You're nothing compared to Samhain," the man snarled.

Alastair turned around to him, and her eyes flashed white while he shoved the other demon, who tried to break free, against the wall again.

"I'm Alastair, Chief Torturer of Hell. Do you really believe that some low-ranking demon like Samhain is a threat to me in any way?"

"Oh yes, you found yourself in quite a predicament. You see, your little ritual not only killed three people – not that I care much about your sister since she was working together with you – but you also hurt children, and that is nothing I can tolerate," Loki told him with a broad grin that spoke of untold pain. "And before you go on about how not threatening a child is, remember that not everything is as it seems to be."

With that Loki sent a wave of pure magic at Don who instantly began to scream. Severus took that as his cue to also point his wand at the man and cast several curses of his own.

"Hey, we take this bitch with us, giver her and…well her former soul a lecture on why it was a terrible idea to perform the ritual. You're staying here?" Dean asked over Don's screams.

"Yep," Loki replied, popping the p. "We'll send him after you once we're done. One thing before you go…did you manage to get something out of Odin?"

They all could see how hopeful Loki was to maybe finally be able to find his two missing children. All the more Dean hated to be the deliverer of bad news.

"Sorry Loki, but Odin is staying silent on the matter of your children but don't worry, with time he'll tell," Dean told him apologetically.

"Have you ever contemplated the use of Legilimency to gain the information you want?" Severus suddenly asked.

Dean and Loki looked at Alastair, but the other demon just shook his head.

"Neither Dean nor I am magical in the way you need to be to be able to perform the spell. So, the hard way it is," she explained.

Castiel though hummed lowly. "Maybe not. I don't know this Legilimency, but we angels are able to enter one's mind and directly extract the information we need."

Loki could have hit himself, he had completely forgotten about that particular ability since it has been such a long time now that he used any of his angelic abilities and reading people's mind wasn't one of his favourite pastimes anyway. However, he would let Castiel have a shot at it because it was something that would reveal his true nature for sure and that wasn't something he wanted if it could be prevented.

He just wanted to ask the angel whether he would give it a try when Castiel continued. "When we're in hell I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, this means a lot to me," Loki replied with a small smile. "Now let's get going, we don't have all day."

"Okay! We'll let you know how it went with Odin."

With that Alastair vanished together with the other demon, closely followed by Dean. It was only Castiel who seemed to hesitate a bit but, in the end, he also followed the two.

"Vengeance demon indeed," Loki muttered with a chuckle over the eagerness with which Dean wanted to show the demon and the bint that already was in hell just what he thought about their actions hurting children, and probably not to mention Odin.

However, Loki was oddly touched by how much they cared, he had given up hope to see his missing two children a long time ago but now? Maybe…just maybe he might be able to see them again after all.

Severus and Loki who were left behind instantly went to work, showing the idiot Don what they thought about hurting children. The screams were heard for hours to follow, and if they didn't get sleep that night, it was very well worth it. No one hurt children the way those two had and lived to tell the tale.


It was thanks to the difference in the speed of time that Castiel landed in Alastair's torture chamber far later than Dean and Alastair. He looked a bit reluctant for what was to follow but was determined to see it through, the two humans and the demon had hurt innocent children so in his eyes they deserved what they got. Added to that was that he wanted to help Loki and try to find information about his children in Odin's mind.

"Hey Castiel, is something wrong?" Dean asked concerned. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to."

Sure, they corrupted the angel, but they never did anything that he didn't really want, Dean's consciousness forbade him to go further. That's why he would never force the angel to do anything he didn't want to, he liked him too much for that. Besides the fact that it was just plain wrong, it was far more satisfying to be able to say that they convinced Castiel to do things on his own free will.

Castiel looked at Dean for a long moment before he shook his head.

"It's okay Dean, I don't have a problem with staying with you, but I won't help you with the woman or the demon," he said.

"No problem, you know that we'd never force you. Another thing, you said to Uriel that you listen to a higher authority now. Would you mind explaining what you meant?" Dean wondered, not that it was bothering him, he was merely curious.

Castiel stayed silent for a long moment, obviously contemplating what and how much to tell Dean. In the end, he took a deep breath and decided for the truth, he owed them that much.

"It's just…I met father some time ago," Castiel admitted.

"What? When?" Dean exclaimed shocked.

Dean had to admit that this admission worried him quite a bit, not because it was God whom Castiel met – and consequentially also them since they rarely left the angel's side and if they did then only for a short time – but more the influence that meeting might have on the angel. It had taken a long time for them to get Castiel to open up and enjoy life. But if he now closed up again only because he feared his father…let's just say that Dean wouldn't be happy about it.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you," Castiel said in an apologetic tone. "But don't worry, he was…different than I thought. Father knows what you became and he…approves of my choices. He actually said that he thinks that it is a good thing that I'm…with you and Alastair."


* * * Flashback start * * *

Castiel watched how Dean and Alastair left Chuck Shurley's house – he had asked them to give him a few minutes alone with the man – before he turned around to the man. Somehow, he had a feeling that the man was more than he let on to, far more.

"You're not just a prophet, are you?" he asked the man though he hadn't anticipated his reaction, the man chuckled.

"I have to say that you're far more observant than anyone gives you credit for," Chuck replied with a soft smile.

"Then who are you?" Castiel asked suspiciously.

"Why asking a question of which I suspect you already know the answer?" the man asked with a counter question and a smile.

"Father?!" Castiel exclaimed in shock but also wonder and awe.

Chuck's or better yet God's smile only widened. Castiel on the other hand just gaped at him. That was until he realised something and looked towards the door through which Dean and Alastair had vanished.

"You're worried, aren't you?" Chuck questioned with a low chuckle. "Worried what I might think about with whom you share time, space and…bed?"

Now Castiel's head snapped towards Chuck in shock and horror at the prospect that his father knew.

"But Alastair…she…."

The other man chuckled again. "Why would I have a problem with her?" he wondered but only got a confused look in return. "You don't know? There truly is more amiss than I first assumed. You see, Lucifer created the demon race upon my order. The world needs balance. Ever heard of the Ying-Yang symbol?"

This time Castiel nodded slowly.

"This symbol is a perfect visualisation of how the world should be. Light and dark, good and bad…all in ideal balance, otherwise the world would quickly collapse. That is the reason for why I instructed Lucifer with the task to create a counterpart to the angels, and I have to admit that his solution is ingenious. He not only managed to create a new race from the souls that were rejected from heaven but also prevented them from being destroyed. That was something that pained me greatly, but at that time I couldn't come up with a sufficient way that they wouldn't be destroyed.

"Anyway, your relationship with Dean and Alastair actually represent this balance pretty well. Alastair, who is the one who acts when needed and isn't above using any means necessary and you providing the moral compass and stopping her from going too far."

"What about Dean?" Castiel wanted to know.

"Dean is the neutral element, the line that connects the black and the white. Without him, it is doubtable that you'd be in the relationship you are currently in. Both sides can exist next to each other without a problem, but it needs a binding element for them to become a unity.

"For your fears, I gave everyone the freedom to choose what they want to do and so you can – like Gabriel did – choose what to do with your life and if you want to be with Dean and Alastair, I'm the last person who objects."

For a few minutes they both stood there, Castiel lost in his thought while Chuck gave him the time and space to process everything he just told the angel.

"Thank you," Castiel finally said in relief that his father didn't think any different about him, though one thing confused him. "But Gabriel is dead, is he not?"

"Oh, Gabriel is very well alive but where he is, isn't my secret to share," Chuck replied with a mischievous smirk. "However, I would ask you that you don't tell anyone about what I told you or where I am, it might endanger my plans."

"Of course, father. If I can be of help…," Castiel told him, looking a bit like an overeager puppy who wanted to please its owner.

Chuck laughed upon that display much to the indignation of Castiel. "For now, just help to get Lucifer out of that damned cage without endangering people. I would do it myself, but that would raise questions I'm not ready to answer yet."

Castiel nodded solemnly.

"Now, I suggest that you follow your mates before they wonder what takes you so long. Should you ever have the need to talk, my door is open for you."

Chuck watched how Castiel nodded once again and with a goodbye he left the house. With a smile, Chuck, who stood up at some point, sat back down at the kitchen table.

However, his smile quickly vanished. The meeting with the three had shown him that a lot more was amiss than he initially thought. He had left heaven and this universe because he had some other business to tend to, but he hadn't expected to return to this mess.

There was no other way, he would have to adjust his plans, or he feared that the war he worked so hard to prevent would break out anyway though probably between entirely different parties. That wouldn't do at all, but before he could adjust his plans accordingly, he needed more information.

With a sigh, he stood up again and vanished to try and get the information he so badly needed. It was true that he was nearly omnipotent but certainly not omniscient.

* * * Flashback End * * *


"I'm surprised, I never thought that your dad would be okay with it," Dean admitted.

"You have no idea how worried I was when I realised who he was," Castiel said looking at the ground in front of him. "When I saw him, I feared that he would order me to stay away from you but...I could never...I would never stay away from you. I really have fallen, haven't I?"

When Dean heard that he stepped in front of Castiel and gently pushed the angel's head up so that he had to look at him.

"Should anyone ever try to declare you fallen I'll gladly show them that they're wrong. Besides, who's going to call you upon you staying with us?" he asked while slowly stroking with his thumb over the angel's cheek.

"Raphael, he's the leader of the garrison I belong to. He can get me thrown out of heaven," Castiel muttered in reply.

"Why do you care? I mean you have two people who love you the way you are, you have a home with us, and most importantly your father is, from what I got from your statement, happy for you. Sure, you stayed in heaven for most of your life, and I know it sucks if you shouldn't be allowed back but be honest, is it really so bad?"

Castiel smiled tentatively.

"I guess not," he said while his smile broadened. "Thank you."

"Besides, I have a feeling that should Raphael really throw you out, that your father will not be pleased. Anyway, I think you wanted to help Loki finding his two missing children," Dean told him, throwing his arm over the angel's shoulder and leading him towards the holding cells. "I think helping two children getting back to their father will help you feeling better."

Castiel perked up upon that. Yes, helping children would certainly lighten his mood. So, with new vigour, he walked next to Dean towards Odin's cell. His father had been right, being with Dean and Alastair was a good thing, he could see that now and was a bit ashamed that until now some doubt had still lingered when both Dean and Alastair had never been anything but gentle and understanding with him.


Harry, with the help of Sam and Neville as well as followed by Luna, Hermione and the twins slowly but surely made his way towards the Gryffindor common room to get his well-deserved sleep. Having to heal so many really took a toll on him and he doubted that he would even be able to get changed before collapsing onto his bed.

However, their return to the common room came to an abrupt halt when the hallway was blocked by students of different houses talking to each other and gaping at a wall.


A/N: 'til next chapter!