Dean and Sam were sitting in Dean's room, grading papers and doing a bit of research late in the day. It was Halloween and the vast majority of the student body had gone off to Hogsmeade with only a few of them staying behind for various reasons. It was a rare moment of peace and quiet for the brothers, and they were enjoying it. Dean was reading a book on rare creature sightings in England in the past century while Sam was grading papers he had assigned to his sixth year students on the usage of non-combat spells in a combat situation. According to Madam Pomfrey Crowley had gone off for some 'me time away from all the little prats' as he put it. Castiel was off researching new subject material.

The sound of Dean chuckling drew Sam's attention away from his grading and he looked up, a look of interested amusement on his face. "What?" Sam asked, his curiosity aroused.

"Oh, nothing," Dean said, marking the page in his book and closing it. He absentmindedly stroked Lucy's head while he smiled at nothing in particular. "It's just… I don't know, nice? It's nice seeing you doing what you are good at."

Sam raised an eyebrow and a single laugh escaped him. "What I'm good at?" He asked skeptically, gesturing down to the papers. "Reading students' work and grading it? Yeah, real difficult."

"No, not just that," Dean said, waving a hand dismissively. "Being a teacher, having a normal job."

"Normal?" Sam repeated.

Dean waved a hand and rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

The younger Winchester considered this for a long moment. "I guess I see where you are coming from," he said, shrugging slightly.

"You know, there have been so many damn times I regretted that day I showed up on you and Jess's door step." Dean's voice was serious now. He laughed, a cold hard sound now, and shook his head. "So many times. Hell, I can't even begin to wonder about how much better your life would have been if I had just gone looking for dad all on my own."

"You can't blame that on yourself," Sam argued. "Azazel would have killed Jess no matter what, you know that."

"Maybe," Dean said, his tone still disbelieving. "I don't know Sam, this place is good for you. You are happy here. Being a teacher is probably the best thing that could have happened."

"And what about you?" Sam asked, accustomed to these odd moods that occasionally gripped Dean. "You aren't doing too badly yourself. Hell, you are doing just as well as I am. In fact the only one who I am worried about is Crowley."

"Yeah, no kidding." Dean said, shaking his head and smiling once more. "Those poor kids."

"Believe it or not he hasn't been all that bad," Sam offered. "One of the older students was hexed so that he only spoke in rhymes. Crowley fixed him in no time flat."

"I sense a 'but' coming," Dean said slowly, dreading what the second half of the statement was.

"But Crowley fixed him by putting a silencing charm on him." Sam, despite his disapproval, laughed.

Dean couldn't help himself either and started to laugh along with his brother. "Yeah, well, that's Crowley for you."

Evidently their mirth could be heard from outside as Albus Dumbedore strode into the room with a quizzical smile on his face. "It is always good to hear laughter coming from a room in Hogwarts," the Headmaster said. "Unless of course that laughter is coming from the Divination tower. I have been made aware that laughter from that classroom is often an ill omen."

"Yeah, well," Dean said, his eyes glinting wickedly as he turned to Sam. "Not all sounds that come from up there are bad. Isn't that right Sammy?"

"Everything alright, Headmaster?" Sam asked, pointedly ignoring Dean's innuendo. He had managed to avoid telling Dean about his one night stand with Trelawney. Somehow his brother still got wind of it and the innuendos had been relentless ever since.

"Oh, absolutely," Dumbledore said, peering down at the two brothers from his half-moon spectacles. "I merely wished to borrow your brother for a little while, Samuel. Unless you are too busy, Dean?"

Dean shook his head. "Nope." He rose from where he sat and gave Lucy one final pet. He winked at Sam. "Didn't see this one coming, did you Sam?"

With that parting jab Dean followed Albus out of the room. Once in the corridor, he matched the older man's pace and asked, "So what's up?"

"Tell me, what do you know of the Tri-Wizard Tournament?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not a thing," Dean said truthfully, "Should I?"

"Well, to put it simply it is just as the name implies. A Tournament between three different wizards. These three wizards come from three different schools across Europe and, due to the diligence and efforts of multiple Ministries, the Tri Wizard tournament will take place next year right here at Hogwarts."

"Awesome," Dean said. "What does it have to do with me?"

"Naturally the schools involved want the most competent wizards helping out behind the scenes," Dumbledore explained as they descended a staircase. "I should have said this earlier, but this tournament is incredibly dangerous."

"If it's dangerous, why is it being held here?" Dean asked slowly, "It's not like the kids are going to be competing, right?"

"I understand that you may have some reservations about this," Dumbledore said gravely, his tone indicating that Dean was not alone in this. "But that is precisely why I thought I would ask you to invite this meeting. The other two Headmasters have come to Hogwarts in secret in order for the Ministries to keep the Tournament quiet until they are quite ready to reveal the event. The other Headmasters thought that it would be best if we had a discussion about ways to ensure the safety of those participating."

"So why not bring Sam along too?" Dean asked. "He's a famous dark wizard catcher right, wouldn't him being here help the others feel a bit more relaxed?"

"Not quite," Dumbledore said. "Sam's fame is, as I am sure you are aware, very widespread. One of the other headmasters has a past that left him asking me if I would mind leaving Samuel out of this meeting. It was a matter of personal safety and comfort."

"So you are telling me that one of the other Headmasters is a former dark wizard?" Dean asked incredulously. "And you still let him into this school?"

"I believe in the fundamental goodness of the human soul, Dean Winchester." Dumbledore's tone was stern, but not overly so. "Igor repented for the things he did in the past, putting himself at great personal risk to do so. The sins of our past need not always shape our future."

With this bit of wisdom Dean fell silent, contemplating it. They walked the rest of the way in silence, which suited both men well enough. Dumbledore pushed open an unused classroom door and Dean nodded his thanks, stepping inside. His eyes immediately darted to what was unquestionably Igor. He studied the man intently for a few moments before his eyes moved onto the other occupants of the room. There was a giant woman, easily standing even taller than Hagrid, but though she took up the most room Dean's attention was entirely removed from her. It was the dark haired woman that stood beside the giant woman that captured his entire attention. His mouth opened and closed several times before he swallowed nervously. He knew that woman.

She seemed to notice his focus on her and smiled uncomfortably. A very, very familiar smile. "Ah, I am sorry, but do I know you?"

Dean couldn't find his voice for a few moments and when he did it was scarcely above a whisper. "Lisa."

Thank you as ever for your reviews and taking your time to read my story, dear readers. I am finishing up the Avengers/Supernatural crossover first chapter very soon so, if that is your sort of story, stay tuned! I hope your New Year has been wonderful thus far. -Hallowed