The Beginning

John woke the next morning, still very much in pain, but not so much he couldn't hold himself together. Sherlock refused to leave his side, helping him eat and drink, and holding him tightly after the Diggorys had been to see them.

'I'm sorry,' he said to them, 'I tried - I tried to get to him, I did.'

'We know you did,' Mrs Diggory said quietly. 'We saw you run into the maze after them.'

'I - but I couldn't - I wasn't-'

'It's not your fault,' she said. 'You did everything you could.'

As soon as they were gone, John curled up with Sherlock.

Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower that afternoon, but John was too weak to move, and far too sensitive to everyone around him. The only ones that didn't pull his visions were Sherlock and Castiel. Sherlock because he purposely and carefully stopped himself from pulling, and pushed John's mind back if it did. Cas because his presence soothed John, and all he saw was white light when he looked at Cas.

'Do you think he knows he's doing it?' John mumbled to Sherlock, as Cas passed by them.

'I don't think so,' said Sherlock. 'He wouldn't be happy about it if he did. He's afraid of whatever this is.'

'I don't see what's so scary about it,' John mumbled, dozing off again.

'People are afraid of what they don't understand,' Sherlock murmured, gently giving John an impression of himself when he was scared of his visions.

John just sighed and let sleep take him. It wasn't much of a reprieve, as the images of the graveyard and Cedric assaulted him, but it was better than forcing himself to stay awake.

Two weeks passed with John hardly able to move, but his strength began to return and he was able to sit up himself. The sun streamed through the windows of the hospital wing, and John gazed at it longingly.

'I want to go outside,' he whispered, mostly to himself.

Sherlock heard him, of course, and looked over at Cas.

'I think that can be arranged,' Cas said. 'Do you want to go now?'

'Really?'

'Sure, come on.' Cas conjured a stretcher next to John's bed and helped him into it, then the three of them went out onto the grounds.

It was a hot day, but John was glad to feel it on his face.

Cas carefully lowered him to the ground under the shade of the beech tree next to lake, in view of the Durmstrang ship.

'I'll be back in a couple of hours,' Cas said, leaving them to it.

They settled themselves at the base of the tree, John leaning heavily against Sherlock.

'How are you?' John asked Sherlock, rubbing Sherlock's leg, his eyes closed.

'I'm fine,' Sherlock said, kissing him on the top of the head.

'Really?'

If he was honest, Sherlock still felt the odd shock through his head after the time he'd spent holding John together, but it wasn't enough to bother him. 'Really.'

John nodded and was soon dozing off again, but he felt a lot better in the sunlight and with fresh air. Then he felt Sherlock nudging him awake again. 'What?' he mumbled.

'Look.'

John squinted across the grounds in the direction Sherlock was looking, and rubbed his eyes, not quite believing what he was seeing.

Professor Trelawney was walking towards them. Almost everything she was wearing glittered in the sun, and she was carrying a black pouch in her hands. It was odd enough to see her out of her tower room, let alone walking around in the grounds.

She knelt in front of John and took his hand with both of her own. 'My dear, I believe I owe you an apology,' she said sincerely.

'What for?' John frowned.

'I must confess, I allowed my envy to colour my judgement,' she said, clutching his hand. 'I should have stepped up as your teacher, and nurtured your gift, but I did not.' She looked down at the floor for a moment. 'Allow me to make amends.'

'Professor, you don't have to-'

'Nonsense, you need someone experienced in the field to guide you.'

'Erm-'

'To start with, I have something for you.' She passed him the black pouch.

It was made of thick velvet and it had something smooth and round inside.

'This was my great-great-grandmother's,' she said.

John opened the pouch, revealing a large crystal ball. 'Professor, I can't take this!' John gasped, trying to put it back into her hands.

'I'm giving it to you,' she said, refusing it, 'and I'm sure you'll find more of a use for it than I will.'

'Professor…'

'Take it.' Professor Trelawney got to her feet. 'I hope you will continue to take my class.'

'Yeah, of course.'

She smiled, then disappeared back into the castle.

John sat in shock, slowly pulling the pouch closer to his chest. It was surprisingly warm.

'It will probably work now,' Sherlock said. 'Since the curse wore off.'

John turned it over in his hands. 'I'll try it later.'

Sherlock nodded.

Eventually, Cas came back for them, and floated John back up to the hospital wing.

Cas himself started walking around the castle more often, a lot more restless than usual, and was wandering around near Hagrid's on a hot afternoon, when he bumped into Dean.

'Oh, hey,' said Dean, grinning when he saw Cas. 'If you came to see Hagrid, he's not here.'

'It's all right, I was just walking.'

'Oh.' Dean put his hands in his pockets. 'Aren't you hot?' he asked, looking at Cas in his full robes rather than his summer uniform.

Cas just shrugged, then carried on walking.

'How's Gabriel doing?' Dean asked, falling in step beside him.

'He's as okay as he can be,' Cas said sadly.

'And what about you? You've been in a real chipper mood lately. Well, considering.'

Cas glanced at him, but couldn't hide his smile.

'Come on, if you've got good news, you gotta share. We could all do with some good news…' Dean's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke, but it was gone when he caught Cas's expression again.

'All right, but you can't tell anyone.'

'Oooh, is it juicy?' Dean asked, moving closer to Cas with his arms folded. 'Did you get a boyfriend?'

'Dean,' Cas complained, rolling his eyes.

'Tell me already.'

'All right, all right.' Cas looked around furtively, making sure that no one but the birds flying over the grounds could hear them. 'Gabriel got a job in Zonko's, and I'm going to live with him in Hogsmeade.'

'That's awesome, man!'

'You can't tell anyone,' Cas said again. 'He wants to play a prank on Fred and George, but it won't work if anyone knows where he is.'

'My lips are sealed,' Dean grinned.

They were walking back towards the castle when Cas suddenly gasped. 'Dean, I never asked you how your O. W. Ls went.'

Dean waved his hand. 'Oh, I never went to those.'

Cas stopped walking. 'What?'

'What?'

'What do you mean you didn't go?'

'I… didn't go? There are only so many ways I can say that.'

'But - but what are you going to do?'

Dean shrugged. 'I'll just be an Auror, like my dad.'

'You need O. W. Ls for that!'

'Nah, I've already got more experience than all those guys put together, they'd be crazy not to take me.'

'Do you want to be an Auror?'

'Sure.'

'Dean, why did you really not go to your exams?' Cas looked him right in the eye, and in that moment Dean knew he couldn't lie.

Dean groaned. 'Cas… I- I- I can't really - read - all that well, and…' he trailed off.

'You can't read?' Cas said incredulously.

'I can a little,' Dean said defensively, 'I know what letters there are and what words are supposed to look like. My dad tried to teach me, but he said that my head isn't wired for reading.'

Cas's mouth opened and closed in shock. 'I - what is that supposed to mean?'

Dean looked away, cheeks blazing. 'Just that when I look at words, they move around a lot, so it's hard. I can read some stuff, it's just that big chunks of words are…' He trailed off, his last words no more than a mumble.

'But you do all of your homework,' said Cas.

'Cas, you do all of my homework.'

Cas blinked. 'Right.'

'Look, it's not a big deal, I handle it just fine.'

'So - so you can read short sentences, like if I were to send you a letter or a note?'

'Yeah.'

'But with longer things, like your homework and your exams…'

'Exactly.'

Cas thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers. 'I know what this is!' he said. 'The Muggles have a name for it!'

'They do?' Dean said, taken aback.

'Yes! Oh, what is it?' Cas said, spinning around trying to think. 'It's, um… Dyslexia, that's it!'

'How do you know?'

'I read about it in a Muggle book. They call it a-a learning difficulty, I think.'

Dean was too surprised to speak for a moment. 'How do you know that, and I don't?'

'Well, given your difficulty, I can't imagine you've read the same books I have.'

'Is that supposed to be a joke?'

'Not at all. Listen, I think I can help,' Cas said excitedly. 'I think there might be something I can do. I would need Sherlock's help, though.'

'Oh sure, bring more people into this.'

'I'll tell him it's for Gabriel.'

'Yeah, but-'

'Come on, Dean, I'm sure if we talked to Professor McGonagall's she'd let you do them again.'

'Cas, wait,' Dean said. 'It doesn't matter, I'm gonna be an Auror.'

Cas stepped closer and considered him carefully. 'Dean,' he said softly. 'If there's any small chance that you might want to be anything else, you'll come with me.'

Dean bit his lip. 'I don't know, Cas… I mean, if anyone's built to be an Auror, it's me.'

Cas shook his head. 'I think you could be so much more than that, Dean.'

Dean's heart leapt. 'I guess it can't hurt to keep my options open,' he relented, and Cas beamed.

'Let's go.'

Cas dragged Dean all the way to Professor McGonagall's office.

'Professor?' Cas said, nervously approaching her desk.

'Yes, Mr Edlund?'

'I was wondering if - if it would be possible for Dean to take his exams again?'

Professor McGonagall's looked up at him, then over at Dean. 'I suppose you have a good reason for not going to them in the first place?' she said to Dean.

Dean scuffed his toes.

'Please, Professor, I can explain that,' Cas said.

'Then, by all means.'

Cas nodded and took a deep breath. 'Dean has what the Muggles call Dyslexia. It's a - a problem with his brain that makes it very difficult to read.'

Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows. 'Why didn't you mention this before?'

'He didn't know about it until just now, and we came straight here.'

'I see.' She stared right at Dean. 'Should I grant this request, how do I know this won't happen again?'

'I can help, I know I can. Give us another year to do something about it.'

Professor McGonagall smiled at Cas. 'As much as I admire your determination, Mr Edlund, I fear that Winchester is not quite as passionate about his learning as you are. Is this what you want, Dean?'

Dean looked between Cas's expectant expression, and McGonagall's stern one, and swallowed. 'If Cas can help, then I want to do it again.'

Professor McGonagall thought about it for a while. 'All right, Winchester, I'll give you one more chance. I'll speak to the Headmaster, I doubt he'll protest.'

'Oh, thank you, Professor!' Cas smiled.

'Yeah, thanks,' said Dean. He and Cas left the room. 'Ugh, I can't believe I let you talk me into doing another year of school.'

'Will your father be okay with it?' Cas asked.

'He probably won't even notice,' Dean shrugged.

They stopped in the courtyard and Dean leaned against the wall. 'You promise you're gonna help me?' he asked quietly.

'Of course. Are you worried?'

'What if - what if -'

'What?'

Dean couldn't meet Cas's eyes. 'Maybe it won't matter if I can read, what if I'm just stupid anyway?' he muttered.

'You're not stupid, Dean,' Cas said, leaning on the wall next to him. 'You're really smart. In fact, I'm going to need your help as well.'

'Really? What could you possibly need help with? You're like the smartest guy I've ever met.'

Cas smiled. 'First off, I'd like to point out that Sherlock is probably the smartest guy you've ever met.'

'I don't know about that.'

'Secondly, I need help with Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, I figure you're the guy to come to about that.'

Dean finally smiled back. 'Yeah, I might know a thing or two about it.'

'All right then. I'll help you with your written work, and you'll help me with my practical work. Deal?'

'You got it,' Dean grinned, shaking Cas's hand. 'Deal.'

'Do you want to go for lunch? I'm hungry.'

'Sure.' Dean followed him to the Great Hall, smiling. 'Oh, hey, are you still coming over to my place in the summer?' he asked as he grabbed a sandwich.

Cas thought about it for a moment. 'I don't see why not. I'm sure Gabriel would be fine with it.'

'Awesome, I'll send you an owl.' Dean grinned at Cas again. After everything that had happened, and the sinking feeling he felt at having signed up to do his fifth year again, it was nice to see a sparkle in Cas's eyes, and purpose in his steps.

John was able to walk himself by the last day of term, and went to Gryffindor Tower alone. He had insisted that Sherlock remain in the hospital wing and take a nap while he packed, however he soon regretted it when he ran out of energy half way through.

Neville came in to the dormitory, Trevor and Dolly on his shoulders, and wordlessly started folding John's clothes and putting them in his trunk for him.

'Neville,' John mumbled. 'I've seen your parents.'

Neville looked up, but didn't say anything.

'I can - I can tell you about them. If you want.'

To his surprise, Neville just smiled, and put both toads on John's bed. 'Maybe another time,' he said.

'You're not angry with me?'

'Why would I be? You can't choose what you see.'

John nodded and welled up. He'd been teary and raw since the third task, and had given up trying to control it.

'You don't have to go to the Feast, you know,' Neville said, finishing John's packing and closing up his trunk.

'Dumbledoreʼs going to talk about Cedric,' John mumbled. 'I owe it to him to go.'

'You did everything you could, John.'

'Yeah, well, it doesn't feel like it.'

'You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.'

John shrugged and sniffed. 'Thanks for your help.'

'Anytime.'

The Leaving Feast was a subdued event. The Great Hall was usually decorated in the winning house's colours, but they had been changed to black, as a mark of respect for Cedric.

Most people were sat at their house tables, but no one seemed to be enforcing it. Cas sat at the Hufflepuff table with Gabriel, and Sam and Sherlock sat at the Gryffindor table.

The real Mad-Eye Moody was at the staff table, twitching and jumping every time someone spoke to him.

Madame Maxime was next to Hagrid, talking quietly with him, but Karkaroff's seat was empty.

John got himself as comfortable as he could, with Sherlock's arm around him, ready for when Dumbledore got to his feet.

'The end,' said Dumbledore, once everyone had fallen silent, 'of another year.' He paused, his eyes falling upon the Hufflepuff table, and Gabriel, whose head was in his hands.

'There is much I would like to say to you all tonight, but first I must acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here, enjoying our Feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory.'

The benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood and raised their goblets. John was still unsteady on his feet, but he managed it, and he could see Gabriel doing the same at the Hufflepuff table, with Cas next to him.

'Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities which distinguish Hufflepuff house,' Dumbledore continued once everyone had retaken their seats. 'He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about.' Dumbledore told them all what happened the night of the third task, and had them all toast Harry as well.

'The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened, such ties are more important than ever before,' Dumbledore said. His eyes swept the Hall, over all the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students. 'Every guest in this Hall will be welcomed back here, at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again, in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.

'Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and emnity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

'It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark times. Some of you, in this Hall, have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A student was taken from our midst.

'Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to the boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.'

Their trunks were packed, pets returned to cages, baskets and tanks, and the lot of them waited for the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade Station.

John was awake for the time being, but knew both he and Sherlock would sleep most of the way back on the train.

Gabriel was doing his best to keep a smile plastered on his face as he and the Head Girl checked in with Prefects, making sure no one had been left behind in their dormitory.

Cas and Dean were talking quietly nearby.

'So what's the first thing we need to do so I can read?' Dean asked, finally getting excited by the idea that he could do his own work.

Cas smiled at him. 'I think we should at least have the summer off. It's been a long year.'

'Yeah. Long.'

Just then, Fleur Delacour came hurrying up the stone steps, and over to Cas. 'I will see you soon, I 'ope?' she asked, taking his hand. 'I would like to show you around Beauxbatons.'

'It would be nice to see where my grandmother went to school,' Cas said warmly.

'It's a shame you could not go as well. You would look very good in our uniform.'

'I agree,' said Dean, causing Cas and Fleur to give him a questioning look. 'What? I already told you, you look good in blue.'

Cas rolled his eyes.

'It was very nice to meet you, Castiel,' Fleur smiled. 'Write to me, will you?'

'Of course.'

Fleur kissed Cas on the cheek, and hurried away to say goodbye to Harry.

Dean whistled once she was gone. 'Man, she is wasted on you.'

Cas rolled his eyes. 'Perhaps that's why we're friends. I don't see her looks first, the way jerks like you do.'

Dean held up his hands defensively. 'Uh, Cas?'

Cas sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Sorry. That was harsh. Gabriel's just been…'

Dean glanced over at Gabriel. 'Yeah, I get it.'

'No, it was rude.'

'Maybe you're right about a summer break.'

Cas looked over at the crowd of milling students and smiled. 'What happened with you and Katie, anyway?' he asked as he spotted her. 'I thought it was going well?'

'We aren't compatible,' Dean said flippantly. 'She likes to fly, I don't. She likes someone else, I like someone else…'

'You do?' Cas said, surprised. 'Who?'

Dean was spared having to answer by Gabriel.

'Come on, guys, carriages are here,' he said, his voice way too excited for the occasion.

'What are you guys getting the train for, anyway?' Dean asked, picking up his bag. 'I thought-'

Cas interrupted him with an elbow in the side, but it was too late.

'You told him?' Gabriel said, annoyed.

Cas shrugged. 'He won't tell anyone.'

'Yeah, I can keep a secret.'

Gabriel rolled his eyes, but smiled. 'All right, but I'm coming for you if you ruin my prank.'

'I don't doubt it.'

'We have to get our stuff first,' Cas explained.

'Mostly his books,' Gabriel said, nudging Cas.

'Please, don't pretend like your entire collection of ugly robes won't be coming.'

'Yeah, yeah, come on, the carriages.' Gabriel pushed Cas towards the front door and winked at Dean.

There wasn't a single cloud in the sky on their journey back to King's Cross. Pigwideon zoomed around his cage at top speed, hooting madly. Hedwig tucked her head under her wing to avoid him, but Grace watched him with interest, cocking her head whenever he made a sharp turn. Crookshanks curled up on one of the seats, looking much like a furry, ginger cushion, and Dolly sat on top of him, croaking contentedly.

John lasted for one game of Exploding Snap, before he and Sherlock fell asleep in the warmth of the window, the sound of everyone's voices around them soothing. It was a fairly undisturbed sleep, until he woke up after everyone had bought some lunch from the trolley witch, frowning.

'Hermione,' he mumbled, rubbing his eyes, and disturbing Sherlock, 'why do you have Rita Skeeter in your bag?'

Dean snorted. 'Someone's half-asleep,' he said, stuffing a pumpkin pasty in his mouth, then nearly dropping it when he saw the sheepish look on Hermione's face.

She pulled a jar out of her bag and showed it to everyone. There was a single twig inside, upon which sat a shiny, black beetle.

'That's never - that's not…' Ron stammered in disbelief.

'It is,' Hermione said smugly. 'She's an Animagus. Not registered of course.'

'So that's how she's been doing it,' Harry said.

'Wait, you knew she was an Animagus?' Hermione said to John, who shrugged. 'Why didn't you say anything?'

'Am I supposed to tell you every time I see an Animagus?' John grumbled. 'Oh, by the way, Professor McGonagall is an Animagus, and so is Sirius.'

'Oh, very good, John,' Hermione said sarcastically.

'I think someone needs to go back to sleep,' said Dean.

'Gladly.' John closed his eyes and tucked himself back into Sherlock's chest, this time not even waking up when four different people curse Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in their compartment.

The next time John opened his eyes, they were pulling into King's Cross, and everyone around them were gathering their things.

'Time to go,' he murmured to Sherlock, shaking him awake.

They said goodbye to everyone on the platform, and John elbowed Dean before he left, nodding at Castiel's back.

'It's working,' John said to him. 'You let him in.'

'Yeah,' said Dean, rubbing the back of his head and blushing.

'Is this a thing now?'

Dean fidgeted. 'I dunno… maybe… I hope so.'

Just then, Sam yelled across the platform. 'Hurry up!'

'Gotta go. Have a good summer guys,' Dean grinned, running off after Sam.

Harry nodded to John, grimacing, then left as well.

John took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. 'Are you ready to meet my mum?' he asked Sherlock.

'I've met your mum.'

'Nevermind,' John sighed.

Sherlock paused for a moment. 'I know you said you wanted some time…'

'I know it's hard,' John said, 'but I just want - I just want a couple weeks with my mum, okay?'

Sherlock nodded.

'We'll be in touch the whole time, you know,' said John, tapping himself on the head.

'We've never done it from that far away before.'

'Then perhaps we ought to practice before everything gets worse.' John hugged Sherlock closely. 'I'm sorry, I just need some space, I need to get better.' He squeezed the spot on his hand that Sam had showed him.

'I understand.'

He held Sherlock's hand the whole way through the barrier and out into the station. They found his mum and sister looking over the crowd expectantly, and as soon as John saw his mum, something in his chest loosened, and he started crying again.

Mrs Watson smiled brightly at him, but her face fell as she saw him. 'Oh, love, what's wrong? What happened?' She cupped his face and wiped his cheeks.

'I'll t-tell you when we get home,' John sniffed. 'Oh, you've met Sherlock.'

'I have.' Mrs Watson smiled warmly at Sherlock. 'It's nice to see you again.'

'He your boyfriend, or what?' Harriet asked in a bored voice, looking Sherlock up and down.

'Er. Yes?' John said uncertainly.

'Oh,' Mrs Watson said in surprise.

'Ha. Gay.'

John let out a watery laugh. 'Thanks for that.'

'That's both your kids now, Mum. Did you put something in our food?'

'All right, let's just go,' John said moodily. 'I want to sleep in my bed.'

Harriet grabbed John's trunk and walked off, but Mrs Watson waited patiently for John to say goodbye to Sherlock.

'It's only for a little while,' John said quietly.

Sherlock nodded, then bent down to kiss him. 'I'll miss you.'

'Promise me one thing?' John asked.

'Of course.'

'Don't ever send Greg to my house.'

Sherlock chuckled. 'Promise.'

'I'd better go.'

'Yes.'

John kissed him once more, then walked away with his mum, leaving Sherlock to track down Mycroft.

Change was coming, he could feel it rumbling closer, but until it came, he had time with his family to rest, and the comforting brush of Sherlock's presence in the back of his mind.

Welcome back everyone! Thanks to VegasGranny, Morgan Teri Befan and Morgause Pendragon for the reviews!

Well guys, we did it. Goblet of Fire is finally finished! Big thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed and faved, and if you're still here, you're an absolute legend.

Give me a little while to write a detailed timeline for Order of the Phoenix, and iron everything out, and I'll be back soon! We'll be revealing lots of secrets in the next one, especially with Castiel, so I hope you all stick around!

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Anyway, thanks again to all of you. See you again soon!