Chapter 34
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, 22nd January 2012
Harry woke up in his four-poster bed in the boy's dormitory. It was still dark outside, so he knew it was nowhere near morning. It was the sharp pain in his scar that woke him. And the nightmare might have something to do with it too. He sat up and rubbed his eyes and slipped his glasses on, trying to remember what the nightmare was about. His heart was still racing against his ribs. He jumped when he heard a noise that almost sounded like a growl. Then rolled his eyes when he realized it was Ron snoring.
A tapping noise caught his attention. He looked around to see Hedwig tapping her beak against the nearest window, a letter tied to her leg. Harry crept over to the window, narrowly missing Trevor the toad, and letting her in the room. Hedwig hooted happily and nuzzled against Harry's hand.
"Hey, Hedwig." Harry smiled softly. His fear over his nightmare seeming to evaporate at the sight of his favourite companion. He untied the letter and unfolded it, seeing Sirius's handwriting.
It had been a few days since he had heard from his godfather. It was a brief letter. Sirius hadn't much to say. He wished he could just talk to him; Ask for his advice on… basically everything. Harry wished Sirius could just be a free man. He knew he essentially was, but Sirius couldn't exactly walk out in Death Eater infested England. Hopefully, if Professor Dumbledore managed to bring Voldemort down by destroying the Horcruxes, they could all be free. He sighed as he scribbled a quick reply and sent Hedwig off with a biscuit. Harry moved back to his bed and lay down. He closed his eyes and tried to get more sleep.
The month since he came back to Hogwarts, wasn't very eventful, for a change. The only difference he noted was the Demonology classroom had three new teachers: The Winchester's mother, Mary, father John and their friend Bobby. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of the two brothers, getting their family back. It seemed a little hypocritical that they told the class 'what's dead should stay dead.' Now they seemed ecstatic with the family reunion. Not that Harry blamed them of course, but he wished he could have the same. On the other hand, he also felt like a hypocrite. Hadn't he been given back Sirius? He shouldn't be so greedy. He should be happy for the Professors. Frustrated, he shoved his pillow over his head, trying to block out his thoughts.
The next day was quiet. Due to his lack of sleep, he almost dozed off in History of Magic. Granted, that wasn't an unusual occurrence. There was a popular joke that Professor Binns took the term 'bore me to death' quite literally. Ron had to prod him a few times, resulting in a muttered 'huh?' from Harry.
"Focus mate," Ron muttered under his breath.
Unfortunately, Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts went much the same way, although luckily, he didn't fall asleep in Snape's class. The last thing he needed was another detention from him. They went into the Great Hall, for dinner, bellies empty and rumbling.
"Has anyone seen Hermione?" Ginny asked as Harry and Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"Not since DADA," Ron replied with a shrug. "We had a free period after. She had Arithmancy." Ron's words were suddenly cut off by a shrill sounding shriek. In a blur of brown hair, they saw Hermione racing down the length of the Great Hall.
⸸
Dean was in the classroom, cleaning up some supplies after a fourth-year Djinn class. The hunters were already in the Great Hall.
"Hello Dean," a voice sounded, and Dean turned, knife raised. Crowley stood there, smiling. He waved his hand. Dean scowled at Crowley as he approached the hunter.
"Well look who decided to show up," Dean smirked. "Pulled your head out of the ground, have you?"
"You Winchesters have been a thorn in my side," Crowley sneered, eyes glowing red. Dean smirked.
"I know, we're just that awesome," he said cheekily. Crowley grabbed Dean by the throat and slammed him into the wall.
"Listen to me, you bastard. You and your brother will die," Crowley snarled, and plunged his knife, aiming it at the frantic muscle that was Dean's heart. It would kill him quickly, but to his satisfaction, it would be a painful death. At the last second, Dean moved, and Crowley watched as the metal sunk to the hilt into the area directly under his sternum. He smiled as Dean cried out in agony. He twisted the knife, hearing Dean beginning to moan in pain, nothing but nonsensical mumblings.
Crowley pulled the knife from Dean's body with a rapid motion and Dean fell to the ground. Blood poured from his abdomen, staining his robes. His green eyes were unfocused, and blood dripped from his mouth in steady drops. Crowley smiled as he vanished in an air of black smoke, leaving Dean for dead. Cas, Dean thought. Help…
Hermione Granger was walking down the hallway towards her Demonology classroom. Her mind filled with questions about her homework. She rounded the corner and arrived at the door. She heard a voice speaking in the room.
"Listen to me, you bastard. You and your brother will die," the voice snarled. Hermione saw a glimpse of a figure before it vanished. She heard a cry of pain, followed by weak pained noises before a thump resounded in her ears. She edged into the room and gasped. Dean was lying on the ground. He seemed to be barely conscious. His green eyes were nothing but slits as his hands pressed to his abdomen, trying to stem the flow of blood. Hermione dropped to her Professor's side.
"Professor, it's going to be okay," she said, pulling out her wand.
"Vulnera Sanentur," she said softly. The bleeding seemed to slow slightly, but she couldn't close the wound completely. She needed to find his brother and parents. Hermione stood and raced out of the classroom. She didn't want to leave her professor, but she had to get some help.
Hermione ran down the moving stairs in the Grand Staircase Tower, her heart racing, with tears in her eyes. She reached the bottom and left the tower, reaching the Entrance Hall. Just as she was making a run for the main door that led outside, the door opened, and she saw Sam and his parents enter. His mother was smiling, and his father was grinning at something.
"I swear, Jess got such a scare," Sam was saying with a soft smile. He looked up when he saw a panicked Hermione approaching.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked in a concerned tone.
"Professor! Please come quick! Your brother is in trouble! I have done everything I can to stop the bleeding, but he needs help!" Sam's eyes widened.
"Hermione, what happened?" he asked urgently.
"I think he's been stabbed," she choked out. She saw as the Winchester families' faces paled. Sam took off running at once, racing towards the Demonology classroom. Hermione, John, and Mary followed. Worry etched into their faces for their son and brother.
When they arrived in the Demonology classroom, they found Sam kneeling next to Dean. Sam had two fingers pressed to Dean's carotid artery, and the other was on his bare chest over his heart. Sam must have ripped Dean's shirt because the grey material was nothing but grey bloodstained strips at his side. It brought the stab wound into horrible clarity. Even from a few feet away, John knew it was bad. Dean was lying in a pool of his own blood that brought his skin into a horrible chalky complexion.
"What's his heart rate like?" John asked as he grabbed the shredded material that used to be his shirt and pressed it to his abdomen to help stop the bleeding. The blood was still seeping out, but it didn't seem to be as bad as before.
"It's rapid and skipping. I think he's gone into shock," Sam choked out.
"Dammit," John muttered as he turned to the terrified sixteen-year-old girl.
"Can you get the nurse for us? And some of the hunters. We need some help here," John said in a forced tone.
"Of course," Hermione whispered before leaving the room in nearly a blur.
Hermione raced down the steps again, checking the clock. It was five o'clock. Dinner time. She ran to the entrance of the Great Hall and slipped inside. She sprinted up to the Head Table. Harry and Ron called after her. The hunters were off to the side, talking about past hunts.
"I'm sorry!" She gasped, out of breath. "Dean really needs your help, now!" she added urgently. The gruff hunter, Bobby, raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with that idjit?" he asked.
"He's been stabbed," Hermione told them in a rushed whisper. Ellen and the blonde girl, Jo stood at once. The women and Bobby left the room with Hermione following after telling Madam Pomfrey. The other students and teachers turned to look at the small group as they left the Great Hall, Hermione sharing a curious look with Harry and Ron. Dumbledore called for order and the usual chatter resumed.
They arrived in the classroom in record time. Madam Pomfrey kneeled down, checking Dean's pulse, and breathing.
"It's a little weak," she said, pulling out her wand.
"Tergeo," she continued, and the blood covering Dean's torso siphoned away. "Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Sanentur," she chanted, smiling a little as the wound began to close.
"How the hell did this happen John?" Bobby exclaimed.
"I don't know," John admitted, running a hand over his face. "This girl just came out and told us what happened." Bobby turned to the teenager.
"I heard a man saying he was going to kill Dean, and I heard a thump, and I found him like that," Hermione said in a shaky voice. She couldn't look away from her Professor's body.
"Who was talking?" Sam asked, looking up from his brother's face as Madam Pomfrey worked.
"I didn't quite get a good look at him. But I think he was average height, slightly round build, and he had a beard," Hermione replied, out of breath. "He had red eyes. Perhaps a crossroads demon?" she remembered.
"Crowley," Sam snarled.
"I'm going to put him on a few doses of a Blood Replenishing Potion and monitor him for a day or two. I will also give him Essence of Dittany, which will minimize scarring," Madam Pomfrey said to the group. She started to work immediately and used a floating charm on him, making it easier to transport him to the infirmary.
⸸
Hours passed and now Dean was in the Hospital Wing surrounded by his family and fellow hunters. Sam, Mary, and John went to work on warding the area around the hospital bed. Madam Pomfrey had only complained about the extra precautions once, after Sam assured her that the warding could be removed once Dean had recovered. He had responded well to the Blood Replenishing Potion and other potions and spells he was given to fight the different symptoms. Dean was lost in a world of darkness. The air whistled through between his lips, and he could feel his heart pulsing steadily beneath his ribs. He groaned. He remembered being in the Demonology classroom, someone was with him… Crowley's face flashed through his hazy memory. Crowley was in Hogwarts. He had to warn the others.
"Dean? It's okay angel, take your time," a soft voice said. Dean fought to regain consciousness.
"M-mom," Dean breathed.
"Yes, sweetheart it's me," Mary said. She squeezed Dean's hand gently from her position at his bedside. Dean's eyes opened slowly, blinking at the lights. His mother, father, brother, Ellen and Jo were at his side.
"Hey kiddo, how are you feeling?" John said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He was oddly tender at this moment.
"Good I guess, considering," Dean said, surprised. John smiled back a little. A squeeze of his right hand pressed him to look over. He saw Jo there, smiling.
"When will you ever stop getting yourselves into things?" she asked. Dean smiled back.
"Hey, it's a talent," he said smiling.
A while later the Hospital Wing was empty except for Dean and his family. It had been about three hours since Crowley had stabbed him.
"I swear Mr Winchester. If you don't start taking care of yourself, you will work yourself into an early grave." Madam Pomfrey muttered as she made Dean take some potion.
Dean made a face as the liquid ran down his throat and coughed before saying, "That's the perks of the job Madam Pomfrey. You might as well reserve this bed especially for me, I'm gonna probably be back here in a few days for something else." He laughed which caused him pain. Madame Pomfrey sighed, rolled her eyes, and walked back to her office. After a few gasps of air to deal with the pain, he saw Ellen standing protectively behind Jo. Jo's hand was wrapped around Dean's and hadn't let go of it.
"Hi, Ellen." He smiled, hesitation making his voice crack, or it could have been the liquid chalk he had just drank that Madam Pomfrey swore was a potion. He wasn't sure.
"Hi, Dean." She smiled back. "You just can't stand to stay out of trouble, can you?"
"I try to Ma'am." Dean tried to pull his hand away from Jo. She looked at him questioningly as she let go. Dean cleared his throat as he tried to jerk his head towards Ellen nonchalantly.
John noticed the interaction between the three of them.
"Out of all the scary monsters that you have beaten, you're afraid of Ellen?" He asked out loud, seeming to state the obvious.
"Yea, she'd shoot my ass if I did something stupid." Dean grinned at his father.
"Damn right I would kid," Ellen smirked as she rubbed Jo's shoulders.
Dean started laughing lightly and then spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing further back talking amongst themselves.
"What are they doing here?" He rasped, pointing towards the trio of students.
"Isn't it enough that they are concerned for their favourite teacher?" Jo smiled playfully as she slapped Dean's hand down lightly.
"You really should be thanking Hermione," Sam replied seriously. "If she hadn't found you when she did…" Sam paused. "I don't know what would have happened." Hermione smiled shyly at the mention of her name. She stepped toward the bed, so Dean could talk to her.
"So, I hear that you saved my life." Dean smiled at her.
"Well, I wouldn't say that," she blushed. "I was coming in to ask you some questions about our essay. When I found you, I only tried to stop the bleeding and then went to find your brother."
"That's pretty good in my opinion."
"I guess you have a Guardian Angel after all, sir." Ron piped up.
"Speaking of Guardian Angels," Dean looked at all the smiling faces that surrounded his bed, his mother, father, brother, his father figure, Jo and Ellen, and the three students that he had come to know and love, he realized that there was a face missing.
"Where's Cas?" Dean tried to sit up and see if the Angel was sulking in a corner, but Jo pushed him back down on the bed. Sam exchanged looks with John and Bobby.
"He hasn't shown up yet."
"Really?" Dean leaned his head back down on the pillow. "I thought he would have shown up by now. It's like he has a radar in his bird brain telling him I've got a paper cut or something." Dean frowned, realizing how close to death he was and the Angel that risked his life to pull Dean out of Hell hadn't been there to help.
"Maybe he was helping someone else?" Mary offered an explanation.
"You don't know Cas like we do," Sam muttered darkly.
"I came as fast as I could!" came a shocked voice from nowhere.
A ruffle of feathers announced the Angel's arrival. Cas appeared behind John and Sam, looking worse than usual.
"Dean." Cas sighed in relief. "I thought I would be too late. How are you feeling?"
"Like I just won the Miss World Pageant! What do you think?! Where were you earlier Cas?" Dean shouted at the Angel, he gripped his abdomen and his face twisted with pain as he gasped for air. Mary and Jo encouraged him to lay back down.
"I'm sorry Dean, I was… detained." Cas looked down at the floor.
"Detained? I'm swimming in my own blood and your excuse is you were detained?" Dean said through his teeth. He knew it wasn't fair to unleash all this on Cas, but he didn't care.
"I said I was sorry, what more do you want from me?" Cas shouted at him, Sam and Bobby were stunned. Cas had never raised his voice to a shout before.
"I want you to be there for me!" Dean shouted back. "You have really dropped the ball lately Cas! It's like you don't even care anymore! I mean, what the hell?"
Cas had nothing to say because he knew Dean was right. He hadn't been there for the Winchesters' lately.
"That's enough boys," Mary said after a few seconds of silence. "Dean needs some rest; all this company isn't good for him. I think we all need to take a breather."
"Mary's right," Ellen added. "You two can kill each other when Dean is back up to full speed."
"Fine." Dean crossed his arms across his chest and turned away from the angel. His voice was full of hate with a slightly disappointed edge to it.
"Fine," Castiel muttered sadly as he disappeared, the gust of wind ruffling the sheets as Dean's face softened into one of sadness. The hunters left him alone to rest.
A few minutes later, Jo crept back into the Hospital Wing.
"What are you doing?" Dean asked.
"I thought you needed some company," Jo said, sitting in the chair by his bed. "I told my mom I forgot something in our room."
"I have no problem with that," Dean shrugged.
Together, the two hunters talked well into the evening, until Madam Pomfrey ordered Jo out. As Jo got up to leave, she turned and smirked slightly, before crashing her lips to Dean's. Dean's eyes widened a little, but he returned the kiss. When they separated, Dean smirked.
"I knew you always had a crush on me."
"Shut up. You're such a jackass."
