Owl Post Again

'Do you think we should have gone with them?' John asked nervously.

'No. Only the two of them would have fit inside the chain anyway. I have complete faith in Hermione.'

'And Harry.'

'Of course.'

John chuckled at him and the door reopened.

Harry and Hermione ran back to their beds, breathless with triumph.

'Did you do it?' John asked eagerly.

'Yes!' Hermione gasped. 'We saved Sirius and Buckbeak!'

Madam Pomfrey opened her office door. 'Did I hear the Headmaster leaving?'

They nodded and she got back to bustling around the ward.

John grinned at Hermione and at last felt content enough to sleep. He got under the covers and was just drifting off when the hospital doors burst open once again.

Fudge, Snape and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore alone looked calm. Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself. Fudge appeared angry, but Snape was beside himself.

'OUT WITH IT, POTTER!' he bellowed. 'WHAT DID YOU DO?'

'Professor Snape!' Madam Pomfrey shouted. 'Control yourself!'

'See here, Snape, be reasonable,' said Fudge. 'This door's been locked we just saw-'

'THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!' Snape howled.

'Calm down, man!' Fudge barked. 'You're talking nonsense!'

'YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER! HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT-'

'That will do, Severus,' Dumbledore said quietly. 'Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?'

'Of course not!' said Madam Pomfrey, bristling. 'I've been with them ever since you left!'

'There you have it, Severus,' said Dumbledore. 'Unless you are suggesting that Harry is able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further.'

Snape ground his teeth, then whirled around and stormed out of the ward.

'Fellow seems quite unhinged,' said Fudge. 'I'd watch out for him, if I were you, Dumbledore.'

'Oh, he's not unhinged. He's just suffered a severe disappointment.'

'He's not the only one!' puffed Fudge. 'I'd better go and notify the Ministry…'

'And the Dementors?' said Dumbledore. 'I trust they'll be removed from the grounds?'

'Oh, yes, they'll have to go. Never dreamed they'd attempt the kiss on an innocent boy. Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance…'

'Hagrid would like that.'

Dumbledore and Fudge left, and at last there was peace.

John settled back down and fell asleep, Sherlock's head resting on the bed beside him and their fingers curled together.

Dean was conscious by the next morning, cold, dehydrated and very, very hungry. He opened his eyes and tried to move, but the slashes across his back awoke with a deep, hot pain. A low moan escaped his lips and Cas appeared, looking very tired.

'You're awake,' he said, relieved.

''Course I am,' Dean whispered, voice cracking. 'You got any water?'

Cas picked up the glass on the bedside table and lifted Dean's head to help him drink.

The cool water cleared Dean's head. 'Is everyone okay?' he asked.

'Wormtail escaped,' Cas told him. 'But so did Sirius and Buckbeak.'

'Buckbeak? How?'

'Hermione has a Time-Turner, so they used that to rescue him.'

'Really? That's awesome.'

Cas smiled, then helped Dean drink a potion. 'This should help with the pain, and you should stick to liquids, at least for the morning.'

'Aw man,' Dean said, disappointed. He had just been considering what to have for breakfast. 'Can you help me sit up?'

'I don't know if that's a good idea.'

'Sure it is. You just gave me the pain medicine. No better time than now, right? Please?'

'Fine. Give me a minute,' Cas relented. He walked away, but after a minute he returned to Dean's bed holding a large stack of fluffy pillows. He arranged them on the bed, then helped Dean into a sitting position. Despite the effects of the numbing potion, it was still very painful. By the time he settled back against the pillows, he was starting to feel quite light-headed.

He took another sip of water, then looked around the ward. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sat cheerfully on their beds, watching him. John was still asleep, holding Sherlock's hand too tightly for Sherlock to move, though he didn't seem to mind.

'How are you feeling?' Hermione asked.

'I've been better,' said Dean. 'I'll be fine, though. What about you guys?'

Hermione waved a hand. 'We're all fine. You had the worst of it.'

'And John?'

'Completely fine. Just tired.'

'Well that's good.'

Madam Pomfrey then came over with a goblet of deep red potion. 'Here you are, Winchester.'

He took it without question.

'I hope you realise how lucky you are,' she said briskly. 'If it hadn't been for Castiel's quick thinking, you likely would not have survived.'

'Is that right?' said Dean, eyebrows raised. Cas avoided his eyes.

'We were working with Dittany yesterday, so he must have had some with him. Where he got the silver from, though, I don't know.' She took the empty goblet. 'His dressings will need changing soon,' she said to Cas as she walked away.

'Where did you get the silver?' Dean asked.

Cas's hand momentarily went to his neck.

'Your necklace? Really?'

Cas nodded.

'Wow. Thank you,' Dean said sincerely.

'It's nothing. A choice between a necklace and your life is not a difficult one.'

'Still, I appreciate it.'

John woke up soon after Madam Pomfrey had discharged everyone but Dean, Sherlock and himself. He still felt groggy, and was dismayed to find that he couldn't remember any of the visions he'd had the day before.

'Castiel said that it must have been a traumatic vision that triggered your subsequent ones,' Sherlock told him, rubbing the hand that John had finally let go of. 'Perhaps your mind is trying to protect you from them.'

'It'll have to not do that in the future, then. Can't go around not remembering any of them.'

'I'm sure now that you know what's happening, it'll be fine.'

'Yeah. Can we go?' he asked Madam Pomfrey as she passed.

'Certainly,' she said.

John said goodbye to Dean on his way out.

'Can I have some food yet?' he asked around lunchtime.

Madam Pomfrey eyed him and took his temperature. 'I suppose so,' she said. 'Take it slowly though.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'I'll get something,' said Cas.

He tried his best to get food that Dean would like, and ended up with a plate of sandwiches and a slice of apple pie. He let Dean eat one of the sandwiches, then brought over a bowl, two potions and some cotton balls.

'I need to change your dressings and clean your wounds.'

'Okay.'

'If you can I need you to move forwards so I can sit on the bed behind you.'

'Sounds doable.' Dean slid forward and winced, but Cas supported him by his shoulders so he wouldn't have to exert himself too much.

'Take this, it's for the pain,' said Cas, handing him one of the two potions.

Dean drained the bottle without complaint, then Cas carefully eased off Dean's pajama shirt.

The bandages underneath were almost very red, but Cas was pleased to find that they were dry. He removed those too and saw that the bleeding had stopped completely. The scratches were still quite deep and ragged, but where the skin had begun to knit back together, it had a silvery sheen.

Cas was soaking them in the potion with gentle dabs, when the door to the ward opened. They looked up to see Professor Lupin slipping inside.

'I wanted to come and see you before I left,' he said, sitting on the chair beside the bed.

'You're leaving?' said Dean, shocked.

'I resigned this morning.'

'What? Why? Aah.' Lupin winced as Dean jostled his wounds.

'Dean, please,' Cas chastised.

'Professor Snape – er – let slip that I'm a werewolf at breakfast this morning. Parent won't want someone like me teaching their children.'

'That jerk!' Dean exclaimed.

'Dean, you're getting the potion everywhere, this is really hard to make.'

'Sorry, sorry.'

'I would have thought that you, of all people, would not want me around,' Lupin said sadly.

'Of course not! This was an accident, you couldn't help it.'

'An accident it may have been, but your life will be very different now because of my carelessness.'

'Not that different. I might want more meat now, but I'm already a pretty big fan of meat, so…'

Lupin looked confused, then sighed. 'Perhaps you're not taking it in. Understandable of course. Dean, I- I turned you, you're a werewolf now.'

Then it was Dean's turn to look confused. 'No, I'm not. It's only a scratch.'

'Well yes, that's how you're infected.'

'No it isn't. Lycanthropy is transmitted through saliva, so it has to be a bite,' Dean told him. 'You didn't know that?'

'I- no.'

'Yeah, my dad got scratched once and he as this gnarly scar on his shoulder, but he was fine. I bet my scar'll be way cooler though.'

Lupin chuckled, looking thoroughly relieved. 'I'll admit, that makes me feel a little better. I am very sorry.'

'Don't worry about it. You know, I might grow a beard now. I bet I'd look pretty distinguished with a beard,' Dean joked.

'It was still very reckless of you to come after me like that. I very easily could have bitten you, and no one knows if wolfsbane even works after transformation.'

Dean shrugged. 'I had to try.' At that moment, the numbing potion that Cas had given him kicked in. 'Whoa, Cas, what was in that?' he said, swaying.

Cas frowned. 'I must have made it too strong,' said Cas, holding Dean in place more firmly.

'Hey, Professor?' Dean slurred, eyes going out of focus. 'I have a – a question.'

'Yes, Dean?'

'What would happen if you put a werewolf on the moon?'

'I- I have no idea,' Lupin said, startled.

'He would die, since there's no atmosphere on the moon,' said Cas without looking up.

Dean scoffed at him. 'Well obviously I would put him in a space suit first, Cas. Come on, what kinda monster do you think I am?'

'Perhaps I'll have to try it someday,' Lupin smiled.

'Do you really have to go?' asked Cas. 'You're an excellent teacher.'

'That's very kind of you,' Lupin said. 'But there's nothing else to do.'

Cas sighed. 'Then I wish you good luck in the future.'

'Thank you very much,' said Lupin, rising from his seat. 'You were both a pleasure to teach, and I hope we meet again.'

He left the hospital wing with a smile on his face.

Cas placed the bowl he was using on the bedside table and wrapped Dean's entire torso in bandages.

'It feels a lot better already,' said Dean, carefully rolling his shoulders.

'That's good,' said Cas.

'I feel really dizzy, though, is that supposed to happen?'

Before Cas could answer, Dean fell asleep, pinning Cas to the bed.

'Damn,' Cas sighed as Dean snored. 'Definitely too strong.'

Dean was in the hospital wing for the next three days, but as soon as he was up and walking, Madam Pomfrey deemed him able to join the others out in the sunshine.

Their exam results came in and they'd all passed everything. Hermione had also decided to take John's advice and dropped Muggle Studies. 'I don't want another year like this one. The Time-Turner was driving me mad,' she said one day when they were sitting by the lake. 'Without Muggle Studies and Divination I'll be able to have a normal timetable again, so I handed in the Time-Turner.'

'Good for you, Hermione,' John smiled.

Dean grinned at her. 'You're smart, but you gotta know your limits.'

Everyone had donned their summer uniforms for the sweltering heat – shorts, a white polo shirt with the school logo, and their house ties - but Dean noticed that Cas was still fully-robed except for his cloak.

'Aren't you hot?' Dean asked curiously.

Cas shrugged and lay down in the grass, enjoying the sunshine.

All too soon, they were hauling their trunks onto the Hogwarts Express and taking their seats.

'I can't believe you didn't tell us,' Ron grumbled, still upset about the Time-Turner. 'We're supposed to be your friends.'

'I promised I wouldn't tell anyone,' Hermione replied.

'Give her a break, man,' said Dean, cringing as he sat down. His cuts were still sensitive, and protested against too much movement.

'Anyway, Harry, you have to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use the fellytone now-'

'Telephone, Ron,' said Hermione. 'Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year.'

Ron ignored her. 'It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work.'

'Oh yeah, the World Cup!' said Dean. 'My dad can get tickets too, Cas, do you want to come?'

Cas, who had been staring out the window, looked at him surprise. 'You want me to come?'

'Absolutely! You can meet my brother.'

'That sounds nice.'

'Yeah, I'll send you an owl, or something.'

'I suppose we could come too,' said Sherlock. 'Mycroft can get us tickets.'

'Okay, awesome, meet up at the World Cup, Dean grinned.

They had lunch from the trolley witch, and had just settled down to play Exploding Snap, when Hermione suddenly squinted out of the window. 'What's that?' she said.

Harry looked out, then pulled open the window, stretching his arm out. When he brought it back in, he opened his fist and out popped a very tiny, fluffy grey owl. It dropped the letter it was carrying and began zooming around the compartment, apparently very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig and Grace clicked their beaks indignantly. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, seeing this, snatched it out of harm's way.

Harry opened it. 'It's from Sirius!' he said, and read it aloud.

Dear Harry,

I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post.

Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where in case this letter falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubts about this owl's reliability, but he was all I could find, and he seemed eager for the job.

I believe the Dementors are still searching for me, but they have no hope of finding me here. I am planning on allowing some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security measures on the castle will be lifted.

There was something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt-

'Ha!' Hermione said triumphantly. 'I told you it was him!'

'Yes, but he hadn't jinxed it, had he?' said Ron.

Crookshanks took the order to the owl office for me. I used your name but told them to take the money from my vault. Please consider it thirteen birthdays worth of presents from your godfather.

I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.

If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me.

I'll see you again soon.

Sirius.

Inside the envelope was another piece of parchment.

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade at the weekends.

'Excellent!' said Dean. 'Dude, it'll be way easier to pick up chicks now you don't have to be invisible.'

'Great, thanks, Dean,' said Harry, bemused. 'Hold on, there's a PS…'

I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat.

Ron's eyes widened. The owl was still hooting excitedly.

'Keep him?' Ron said excitedly. He looked closely at the owl, then, to their great surprise, he grabbed the owl and held him out for Crookshanks to sniff. 'What d'you reckon?' he asked the cat. 'Definitely an owl?'

Crookshanks purred.

'That's good enough for me,' Ron said happily. 'He's mine.'

At last, they arrived at King's Cross station and said their goodbyes.

'John, wait,' said Sherlock, grabbing John's arm. 'You know what to do if – if you need me, right?'

'Im sure I'll work it out,' John smiled. 'Let me know about the World Cup, I'd love to come.'

'Okay.'

'Bye, Sherlock. See you soon.'

Sherlock watched John disappear into the crowd, before allowing Mycroft to lead them away.

Hi everyone, welcome back! Thanks to Sherlock Harry Winchester, Lyra Euphoria, Tacosaurus and everyone else who reviewed, favourited and followed this story! I love you all and I hope you're enjoying the series so far.

I'm taking a break now and hopefully will be back around the end of July/ beginning of August.

As with before, I will post a preview chapter here, so everyone following this story will be notified when Goblet of Fire is posted.

Thanks again, and see you all soon!