I don't owe SPN or Harry Potter.
Chapter 2 – family, wands and changes
After Hermione finished the last sentence the room exploded. The emotions run high for everyone, including Fred and George. They voiced a simple. "Wow."
"Fucking unbelievable." was Dean's reaction.
"I need a drink." Ellen says. Dean, Sam and Jo seconded that idea. So she purred them all a drink as well.
While the others started to drink. Hermione tries to process what she has learnt. Her conclusion is faith is a bitch. Not only is she a muggle-born, which isn't true anymore, because now she is a half-blood, from one of the wealthiest families in wizarding Britain, and the best friend of the chosen one, no now she has her own destiny to fulfill.
She got up from her place and started to pace trough the bar, her way of thinking. She recognized that all her siblings tried to approach her, but the twins stopped them. They know that she needed time to process everything and as soon as she had done that, she will start acting in some sort of way. But she needs time to do that without pressure, so they have to let her be for the moment.
Some many thoughts circle in her head. Her father John Winchester wasn't John Winchester at all,, but Regulus Black, part of the Black Family. Sirius Black was her uncle, how did that happen? Her two brothers were also magical, but they don't know their potential and she should train them. It's like DA all over again, but she isn't Harry Potter. But do they have time for training, who knows, because hunting Horcrux's comes first. All of a sudden a thought hit her, her father was Regulus Arcturus Black, R.A.B. could it be, that he had the real necklace somewhere. They have to check that, another point on her to do list.
But the top of the iceberg is that her father betrothed her to someone before she even was born. Hermione hates those pureblood customs, because they are barbaric, she isn't a thing that you can pass from on person to another. But only with her luck could her new fiancé be nobody else then Draco Malfoy. The universe must laugh really hard at her expanse at the moment. She doesn't want to marry someone she hates; no she wants to marry because of Love, like she loves Fred. Hopefully her uncle was already working on getting her out of her betrothal contract. That may be important to her, but it has to wait at the moment, other things are more important.
Some question arise; what should she do? She didn't have an answer. What can she do? She could find out if it is true. The only person, who could answer that, is Sirius. He and Harry are currently staying at Grimmauld Place 12. Since the incident at the Ministry, a year ago, Harry is staying with Sirius during the school breaks. Bellatrix Lestrange, part of her family now, tried to kill her uncle. Bellatrix send a Stupefy in Sirius direction and with that he would have been on his way into the veil and would have been lost to them. But because of her quick thinking she could save him, by casting a simple spell to change his direction away from the veil. He would or could answer all her question. At least that is what she hopes. So the first thing for her to do is, to contact him. "Mom can we us the fireplace?" she asks her.
"Yeah of course, but what for?"
Hermione ignored her question and instead spook to George. "George floo-call Sirius, he is at Grimmauld Place, and tell him that he has to come here. But he has to come alone; Harry still has the trace on him and I don't want that anyone can follow him here. Also try to hide the connection somehow. I know if someone could figure it out, it would be you." As answer he nods with a mischievous glint in his eyes, so she turns to her Mom again. "Can you show George the fireplace?"
Dean was perplex, what has a fireplace with a call and transportation in common? Probably something only wizards knew and now he is one of them. It sounded like a hoax, but it made sense somehow or it felt like it. He can't describe it, but while Hermione has read the letter something inside of him wanted to get out. Could it be his magic? But the tip of the iceberg is, that he, Dean Winchester, could became a fucking Lord. What is wrong in this world? It is good, that their uncle apparently still is alive and could bring some light to this situation, because at the moment all is a little overwhelming.
Ellen nodded and together with George she went to the fireplace. What's next? She needs to inform Molly that she will come later to the Weasleys then arranged, but it should be enough time till the wedding to get this all sorted. So that she didn't panic and believes something has happened to her. Even if something has happened to her, but Molly doesn't need to know that. That's not important. The fastest way to do so is a patronus. So Hermione concentrates on her first kiss with Fred and casts "EXPECTO PATRONUM" as soon as her otter appears she says. "Go to Molly Weasley – I will stay longer with my parents then planned, nothing happens so don't panic." with that he vanished to fulfill his assignment.
After he had left the remaining non-magical people have to say something to her otter. "Wow." was Jos simple statement, while Dean asks. "What the hell was that?" and Sam's question was "What is it for?" He somehow reminds her of herself and her thirst for knowledge.
"Thanks, that was my patronus it is a charm to fight against dementors. They absorb all the happy thoughts and memories of a person, only the bad ones remain. Normally they are stationed in Azkaban, a prison for wizards, but since Voldemort is on the rise the changed allegiances." she declares and looks at them.
"Ok." was the simple answer from all three of them. All of them look at her with surprised faces. Nobody told her why they literally stare at her. So she asks. "What?"
"Your hair is black and not so curly anymore" was Jos answer.
Oh, the glamour must have been broken. "How to I look?"
"Like a Black." was Fred answer with a smile.
"Helpful." she counters pissed.
"Love, I don't mean it in a bad way. Look all Weasleys have red hair and all the Blacks normally have black hair." he answers.
"Really, are you sure? What about my brothers? They don't have black hair!" she states.
"I believe that has something to do with their closed cores. That could change after we open them up." So they can only wait and see what will happen to her brothers.
"Ok and what about Narcissa Malfoy, she is blond like her husband and son." Hermione points out.
Instead of Fred, a voice form the kitchens answer her. "Kitten you know, that their always are exceptions from the rule." All eyes went to the source, while Hermione knew how Sirius looked; Sam and Dean didn't know him. They tried to find similarities between him and their father and they found some. Both had the same hair color, but apparently that didn't count, because Blacks have naturally black hair. But the also have the same nose and eyes. To them Sirius looks old, but not in the sense of the body, but of the soul. They could see in his eyes, that he literally has been to hell and back, that's definitely a family resemblance.
"Don't kitten me, Sirius Black." Hermione says in her best Molly Weasley impression, the only one who can somehow control him. Her brothers look at her, because of the tone she uses with their uncle. Wow, she has some serious guts and doesn't back down from a challenge, both her brothers thought. "Why didn't you tell me, about that?" she asks him and gestured at her hair as well as the other changes.
"I made an unbreakable vow to Reg, not to tell anyone that he is still alive and that includes you." he answers her.
"Unbreakable vow?" Sam and Dean ask at the same time.
For the first time Sirius looks at the other persons in the room. After he took a good look around, his eyes stilled at the brothers, even if he never met them, he knew that they were his nephews. "Heracles, Perseus, I am happy to finally meet you. Even if it means that Reg is dead or?" he ask them.
What has he called them? Heracles, Perseus. For a short moment they were taken back by that. But it didn't last before they react to that. "What the frigging fuck?" Dean yells, while Sam pleads. "Please tell us that you're kidding and that aren't our names?"
Instead of reacting to Sam, Sirius looks at Dean and says. "Oh I like you, but be careful. You will get in trouble with this one." and points at his niece. Dean has to smile at her because of that. He already has figured out, that she has a problem with curse words, but she will have to get used to it. There is no better way to getting used to something then being in the constant reminder of that element.
"Very funny … UNCLE." she retorts.
That hit a nerve. "So that we are clear, we all forget the uncle part. I am too young, too handsome and too funny, to be an uncle. I am Sirius to all of you."
"That depends on the point of view." Hermione says with a smile.
"I didn't know you could be funny, Kitten."
"You have no idea, Uncle." she stressed the last word with insistence.
Dean and Sam watch the banter and find it kind of amusing, but Sam has to give her a piece of his mind. "You know that he is our uncle or?" like he wants to indicate that she can't act like that to her elders. Of course Dean and Sam have also their problems with authorities, but that doesn't mean that their baby sister should be that way t too. Their father demanded respect all the time without question, but that didn't mean that this sort of respect was earned. One of the things Sam and his Dad fought of all the times. Respect is good, but has to be earned and sometimes can be lost. John lost the respect of his youngest son for some time as he stated his ultimatum during the whole Stanford debacle.
"Yeah I know, but despite his name, Sirius is never that serious." she says with a smile.
"Oh a good one." their uncle says with a smile, before he turns to Sam and says. "And believe me she is more civilized than we three together and I have a pureblood education in etiquette." he says with a disgusted face. Dean has to laugh about that. He liked Sirius, he reminded him of Dad with a bit of himself in it.
"If you say so, Uncle." Sam tried to tease him, because he gets the feeling that is somehow, how he wants to be treated.
"What did I say … Perseus." Sirius mocks and now Fred starts finally laughing. He couldn't keep it in any longer.
"Why do you call me that?" he asks him.
"It's your name at least according to your wizarding birth certificate. You are Perseus Samuel Winchester Black." he turns to Dean and says. "That makes you Heracles Dean Winchester Black" and his glance after that goes to Hermione. "and you are obviously Hermione Jean Harvelle Winchester Black, a mouthful Kitten."
Dean's reaction to that is. "I need another drink." and Ellen serves him one.
While Sam's reaction was different, he always was the scholar of the two, who wants to know everything. "Why is it important that we have those names?"
"It's blood magic. In the wizarding world traditions are very important and a Black tradition is to name their children after star constellations. With respecting that traditions John made sure that we three could inherit and be a full part of the Black family someday." Hermione declares. She hopes Sam didn't catch that she said John instead of Dad or father. In her opinion he didn't do anything for her to earn that title.
While Hermione gives them the pointers of pureblood customs Sirius looks at his nephews. He knew about them, but he never has seen them. He sees so much of Reg and himself in both of them. Dean was so much like Reg always the family man, but his looks and his charming smile reminded him of himself during his time in Hogwarts. Sam on the other hand is more than himself then Reg, both were rebels in points of family, but if needed the always would come back to help. His looks are a combination of Reg and himself. All in all the Black genes are not that bad after all the inbreeding, all the man are very handsome. And there is Hermione a natural beauty combined with the trademark features of the Blacks and you get a girl where guys wait in line. Not that he or her brothers like that fact. Her character is Reg and himself, she is studious as Reg and reckless as himself. The three will be a force to be reckoned with; should Dean and Sam decide to become wizards.
"But don't panic I will only call you that to tease you." Sirius gave his input to the conversation.
"Good to know." Dean says before he adds. "We keep this in mind. Uncle." Oh teasing each other will be a new family tradition from here on out. But time is of the essence, because they have work to do.
"So do you want to be wizards?" he asks his nephews bluntly.
As Dean thought about the question, he looked at Hermione and could see the changes in her. Her bushy brown hair was black now, as well as less curly, and her skin was paler. Would such rapid change also happen to them? Probably! But would their appearance change their personality? Definitely not, but being a wizard could. But even if he didn't know, what the future holds a glance at his little sisters eyes told him all that he needed to know. His father was right, the decision was made in the moment they knew they were a family. Dean looks at Sam. In his face he could read that he had similar thoughts with the same conclusion. With a nod of his head Sam initiate that Dean would answer the question. "Yes."
Hermione could feel his eyes on her, while Dean thinks about his answer. She figures that she as their sister plays a huge role in their decision. She was honored that they already care about her that much. But her logical-self reminds her that they need a better reason and not just her. Because of that they could resent her someday, should they decide to change their life only for her? She doesn't want that. "Give me a good reason … that's not Me." she tells them.
Dean has to smile, she is really smart. She worked out, why they would do this. But she wasn't the only thing, maybe the main thing, but not the only thing. But instead of him, Sam answers. "It's like the family motto says saving people, hunting things, the family business. In this case more than before, because the wizarding world apparently could need us and we already decide to accompany you home after our first meeting, before all this." and points at the letter as well as her changes.
"Noble and suicidal just like a true Black." Sirius comments. "But you should know that we are at war at the moment."
"Mia told us parts of it, but doesn't go into detail." Dean says.
"Mia?" Sirius asks curious.
"A nickname and only my brothers are allowed to call me that. Are we clear Uncle?" Hermione answers his question.
"Of course Kitten." he doesn't have a problem with that, because he has his own endearment for his niece.
"Back to the war." Dean brings them back to the topic.
"It's about blood purity. I am a pureblood and my damned mother was so proud of her status that it meant more than everything else to her. All the people, who weren't from pureblood families didn't value to her. … Totally insane and one of the reasons why I ran away." Sirius answers.
"Racism." Sam concludes.
"Yeah, Voldemort wants to purify the wizarding world of every muggle-born, because the put a stain on magic.
"And he is only a half-blood, that reminds me so of World War II" Sam says. Hermione likes Sam she sees that they have learning in common; maybe she isn't the only bookworm in the family.
"So what is the plan of action?" Dean wants to know.
"First we have to free your magic, then you need wands and then we start your magical education." Sirius answers while he points at himself and Hermione.
"Oh joy." was Dean responds while Sam declares. "Let's go." it seems like he couldn't wait.
"Of course I will teach you Transfiguration." Sirius says with a mischievous smile, before he changes into Padfoot.
"Yeah, yeah, show off." Hermione says.
"Wow." yell Dean and Sam as Sirius changes back. Both of them pull out their guns and point them at their uncle.
"Guys, he isn't a skinwalker, but an animagus and this form reflect his inner self. So you can say that Sirius likes to chase his own tail." Hermione tells her brothers. The room explodes with laughter. Both of them put their guns away, while they try to control their laughter. Even Sirius has to laugh at her joke. It took some time for all of them calm down.
"Can we learn that as well?" Sam wants to know. The prospect of changing into an animal could come in handy.
"Of course, but you have to start at the beginning. Hermione and Harry, my godson, also works on their animagus form."
"Cool." Dean says.
"Thanks."
"Let's get back to business. Hermione you know the spell to open their cores." Sirius asks her. As answer she nods and shows him the letter of his brother. "Ok good. You take Sam and I Dean." she nods again and walks to Sam while Sirius walks to Dean. "Are you ready?" he asks his nephews.
"Not really, but let's get it over with." Dean answers for both of them.
Sirius and Hermione glance at each other and with a nod they point their wands at Sam and Dean, while they speak the words. A yellow light hits the boys directly in their chests. At first they feel nothing, but after some seconds warmth spreads through their bodies and it feels like they have missed it their whole life, even without knowing it. All of a sudden they feel whole again and for the first time in their lives they see their magical cores. Dean's was big, which points out his strength; with many different colors like a rainbow, some were brighter while others were not so bright. Sam on the other hand saw something similar, but he has little dark spots as well. If he has to guess, he would say, that the origin of the dark spots is the demon blood. The brightness of the colors points them in direction of their magical strengths. Energy runs through their bodies and tries to get out for the first time in their life. The releasing of the magic leads to the shattering of all the glasses in the bar.
"Sorry, Ellen." Sam declares with an embarrassed face, because he has the feeling that they were the reason for that, which somehow impressed him in points of power. At the same time it is also scary, because with great power always comes great responsibility.
"What the hell?" Dean yells and turns to Sam. What he sees surprises him, because his brother looks different, but still familiar. His appearance changed only a little bit. His hair was darker almost black and his skin was pale. That leads to the question himself on, how he has changed. So looks for a mirror, he finds one behind the bar and sees that his hair was surprisingly lighter instead of darker. His blonde hair had a bleaching touch while his skin tone stayed the same; his eye color lost a little of green and had now grey spots in it. He still looked handsome to himself, but it was different and definitely will take some time to get used too.
"No problem." she says.
"What was that?" Dean wants to know.
"Accidental magic." Hermione says unbelievable. "How is that possible?" she asks Sirius as she turns to her uncle to look into his eyes.
"First time they used their magic and their core wanted to get out. Second they are powerful like all the Blacks, but they need wands and that fast." he answers. A magic like that can become uncontrollable really fast, especially with the age of the wizards in question.
"Ok." Hermione says.
"You take them to New Orleans, while I get everything in order." Sirius says. Hermione wants to know what he means by that, but didn't get the change because he called. "KREACHER." with a pop the house-elf appeared in front of them.
Normally Dean and Sam would get their guns, again. But this day was so far from normal, that they aren't faced anymore by something new. The creature looks at Sirius and asks. "Master, what can I do for the stain on the house of Black?"
Sirius ignores it, for now. He doesn't have time to discuss elf-rights with Hermione again, should he discipline him in front of her. "Please clear rooms for my two nephews. Each one gets his own room. They have to be beside each other with a connection door, so please create one. As decoration use all the colors of the houses of Hogwarts." with that he points at Sam and Dean, who were more than perplex that they suddenly would have their own rooms. As soon as Kreacher lays eyes on them, he shrieked, before he says. "Oh Merlin, children from my dear Master Regulus." and bows to them.
Before they could react to him and command on his wired behavior, Sirius speaks again. "That's not all, please clear a third room for my niece Hermione in Gryffindor colors." with that he points at Hermione.
"Sirius I have a room." she says to that.
"I know, but now I have the possibility to spoil you, so let me give you a room like I gave to your brothers."
While Hermione and Sirius discuss that, Kreacher turns around and takes a good look at her. As he sees the resemblance between them, a second shriek escapes his mouth, this time louder than the first time, before he exclaims. "Salazar it can't be … the Mudblood is Regulus daughter. Oh, no, no." and shakes his head in a disapproving manner.
Before Dean or Sam could even think about defending their little sister, Sirius declares in a demanding tone. "I don't want you to call her that ever again and from here on out, you are forbidden to make any bad comment about Hermione. She is a Black, my niece and Regulus daughter. So show her respect." In the little elf's face all the inhabitants could see that he wasn't so pleased about that order. So Dean and Sam would keep an eye on him, while they are stay at their uncle's house, apparently their new home.
House, they only ever lived in a real house, while Dean was still a toddler and Sam was only a baby. What a change of scenery? Let's see if they can work with that or not. But a house must have a garage and maybe there is way to bring his baby with them, Dean thought. "Hey is there a way that we can take my Baby with us?" Dean asks his uncle.
Sirius looks bewildered at his nephew as he asks. "Baby … you have a child?"
"Almost, his car is like a part of him." Sam says and Ellen as well as Jo has to laugh at his joke. They all know about the unhealthy relationship between Dean and his car.
"Bitch." Dean says to that.
"Jerk." was Sam's automatic reply.
Normally Hermione would have called them out on their cursing, but it looked to her like that is somehow a way to show affection between them. So she let it slide. But the top of the iceberg is that she found a way to tease her brother and uncle at the same time. "Oh I see the family resemblance Sirius treats his bike like it is his lost love."
"That's not true I treat her like she is my only love, Kitten." Sirius says with a smile.
"Can I take her for ride?" Dean wants to know.
"Only if I can drive your car?" Sirius gives back.
Dean thought a moment about it. Normally the only other person driving Baby is Sam, but that is only under special circumstances. But if he could get a ride on a nice bike for that, that should be possible, especially because it would be a one-time-deal. So he answers. "Deal." holds his hand for his uncle to shake on it.
Sirius walks to him, shakes it and declares. "Good, show her to me and I bring her with us."
"That is good to hear." Dean says with a smile.
But Sirius needs a drink first, so he walks to bar and for the first time looks at Ellen, Hermione's mother and sees how beautiful she is. No wonder that Regulus fell for the bird, he would enjoy the ride as well, if he wasn't in a relationship. So he turns on his Black charm, because to flirt doesn't hurt. "Can I get a drink, pretty lady." he says with a smile. She brings him a glass of Whiskey and smiles back. It is always nice to get attention from a handsome man and the Winchester family has definitely a handsome gen in their DNA. Yeah, he still got it, if her face is an indicator. So he downs the drink in one go, it doesn't burn as much as fire whiskey, but it satisfied his needs.
That her uncle flirts with her mother, doesn't sit quite well with Hermione, especially because she heard the stories about him during his Hogwarts time, so she says. "Uncle, can you stop your womanizing ways with my mother."
Sirius looks put out at his niece because she spoils his fun. While his nephews Sam and Dean laughed about his shocked expression. But Sam can't resist teasing his brother. "Dean I don't know why you are laughing you are a womanizer as well that's why Ellen wouldn't let you near Jo."
That stopped Deans laughing, before he can say anything to that. Hermione ask Sam. "So Dean also looks at everything with legs in a tight skirt?"
"Definitely." Sam answers with a big smile.
"Oh my god, it must run in the family, Women of this world run." Hermione jokes and Sam start laughing with her.
"Hey." say Dean and Sirius at the same time annoyed, but the other two just laughed harder. Sirius shrugs his shoulders and downs his drink. While Dean takes a good look at his siblings and discovers that he never would have a change against them should they choose to gang up on him? Sam outsmarts him on a daily basis, but with Hermione on his side, Dean has lost before it even started. But as he sees them laughing and having fun together, he wouldn't have it any other way. His only hope is that Sammy never would show her his poppy dog eyes. 'God or whoever is listening, help me', he thought.
"Hermione you should take them side along to Circle Lane in New Orleans so they can get their wands." Sirius tells them as he searches his pant pocket for something. He found it and took out a bag and gives it to Hermione. "Her some galleons, that should be enough for the wand and some other stuff, you all maybe want to buy."
"I have money Sirius." Hermione tries to protest.
"No discussion. We are family so let me spoil all of you. We have all the Black family vaults to our expanse. Old Walburga wouldn't have it any other way, so spend as much money as you like." He says with a smile.
"Walburga?" Dean asks as Sam says. "Who?" Both of them ignore the fact that they are all of a sudden into money.
"My dearest mother and your grandmother." Sirius declares sarcastically.
"Oh, no I am related to the old bat." Hermione exclaims, Sam as well as Dean are a little bit shocked that she would be so disrespectful to one of their family members. In the short time they knew here, they had the impression that she is a respectful person, but maybe you have to earn that respect first before you get it from her. A treat she shares with Sam.
"Welcome to my world." Sirius says with a smile. Fred and George, who have come back from Grimmauld Place, start to laugh.
"Is she really that bad?" Sam wants to know.
"Just wait, you will see." all the wizards say together.
"I thought she died?" Dean wants to know.
"Yeah, but in the wizarding world you can leave a painting behind with part of your soul. So she still is kicking in her painting and we don't know how to get her off the damn wall." Sirius points out. Sam and Dean look at him as if he had two heads. There are paintings with a person talking in them. Oh god this new world is so weird. "Let's talk about this later, they need wands Hermione." Sirius reminds them.
"Yeah, I take them. While we doing that, someone or better you" she points at Sirius and the twins. "Should go to Johns locker and take everything that is in there out. … Because I believe we need the thing he stole from Voldemort." she says. Dean wants to protest that the only person, who would do that, would be them, but Hermione looks at him with a stern look that told him not to challenge her on this one. For a moment he wants to fall into old patterns and be his stubborn self, but he didn't want to constantly fight with his little sister, he doesn't have that much time left. So he simply nods, because she must have her reasons. Wow, Sam is impressed she made their brother back down with a simple glance. Ok, he needs to be on her good side, if he wants to have any influence on Dean in the coming time.
"Okay we do it. Tell us where we have to go and we bring everything back to you." Fred says for the twins. Without a word Dean walks out the door to search for his father's journal, so he can give them the information they need. Without being told the twins as well as Sirius follow him outside.
As Sirius sees the car, he says. "Wow she is a beauty. I am looking forward to drive her."
"Don't forget our Deal." Dean reminds him while he searches the trunk for the journal. He found it after some moments opens it at the named page and shows the information to the twins. They nod and with a pop they were gone. Apparently strange is his new normal, so Dean didn't even react as they vanish without a trace. He closes the trunk again and steps away from his car, his uncle takes a look around to make sure they were alone before he shrinks the car in front of Dean's eyes. "What the fuck?" he yells.
Sirius looks amused at his nephew. "Don't panic Dean; she will be the same when I resize her in the garage of our family home again. I will take good care of her." with that he picks up the car with the size of a matchbox vehicle and puts it into his jacket. Dean opens his mouth only to close him again, because nothing comes out. He looks like a fish out of the water with his Baby now in this state. Sirius puts his arm around his shoulder and walks him into the road house again.
As soon as they enter and Sam sees his brother's state, he is anxious. Sirius sees that the brothers are as close as him and Regulus were, when they were alone. Sam runs to his brother's side to help him as he asks. "What happened?" he had never seen his brother in such a state.
"I shrunk his car and that freaked him out." Sirius says in a teasing tone.
That brought Dean out of his state; he shrugs of the arm of his uncle and turns to him. "One scratch on her, family or not, I will kill you." Dean tells him.
"Oh my good it is just a car." Hermione said in annoyed tone. But before she let him start the rant, he definitely going is to start. She takes his and Sams hand and apparates with them away.
"That is definitely a good way to shut him up." Jo says and the present people have to laugh at that. Ellen purrs the three of them another drink and together the drink it.
"Ladies it was fun, but I have work to do." he says with a smile to them.
But before he can leave them, Jo steps into his personal space and asks. "I may be not a witch, but I want to come with you. Dean and Sam know that and so does Mum, but I want to know if you would let me?" Sirius looks at her for a moment and then at her mother. Her face told him, that she doesn't like the idea so much, but she knows that she can't keep her grown up daughter away from her sister and helping her, so she nods to him.
With his glance he tries to tell her that he would do everything to keep her save. She maybe not a Black by blood, but she is the sister of his niece and with that family. So he nods as well, before he glances back at Jo and says. "How much time do you need, do get your stuff?"
She smiles and answers. "I can be ready in 30 minutes."
"Looks I will be staying a little bit longer." with that he walks back to the bar and Jo turns on her heels to get her stuff. Maybe there is little more time for talking to the bird, without one of his family members interfering. Not that he would do anything, besides what his niece thinks about him; his heart belonged to one person only and that since Hogwarts. They have a long history together and it took them time to find each other, but patience was the key as well as secrecy. But he can't have him now, because they are at the moment at different sides of the war and even if he likes to flirt, he would never cheat. He also knows that his partner also wouldn't do it. So he flirts with everything, but never takes anything home. "Can I get a new one?" he asks her. Ellen brought them both a glass each, together they started to drink and talk about the children.
With a 'pop' they arrive in New Orleans at the entrance of Circle Lane. Dean and Sam feel like they could empty their stomachs as soon as they hit the ground again. A very painful feeling and they hope that they wouldn't feel so again, but that probably was a short dream. It took them some moments to get over it and Hermione gave them the time they needed, she remembers her first apparating and the feeling wasn't pleasant. Not that it gets better after all those time. She simply got used to it. The entrance to Circle Lane was like in London in a pub, but it looked new and not so seedy like the Leaky Cauldron.
After Dean felt better, he asks her. "What the hell was that?"
"Apparition." was Hermione short answer.
"Next time give a guy a warning." Dean tells his little sister. He hates nothing more than surprises. Sam simply nods in agreement, because his still doesn't feel better. After some moments Dean remembers what he wanted to say, before they made their trip. "So you know she isn't just a car."
She looks at him and can't believe that he still thinks about that. What is it with this car and his obsession with it? "You know she doesn't give you love or anything, like I don't know a brother or sister would." she tells him.
Her look was stern and challenging, but he has to smile at her statement, because the impala is as much as part of his family as she is, at least to him. But she wouldn't understand that, without him telling her. "Mia that car is the only home Sam and I have for as long as we can remember." In her eyes he reads that she is sad about that. That her big brothers consider a car a home hurt her so much and as part of her nature, she wants to be there for them. Even if the may be not that close, she can't change, who she is, so she walks to him and gives him a hug, full of love.
At first Dean was startled by her, but only for a short time and then he hugs her back. It felt so good to have her in his arms. She is so petite and he totally enfolds her in himself like a cocoon. After some moments she breaks the hug and turns to her other brother to embrace him as well. On the contrary to Dean Sam saw that coming and awaited her. With her gesture and them accepting her in her arms, magic established a bond between them that nothing can break, because the three are a unit and belong together. But neither of them not even Hermione feels as it happened, that's magic, not everything that happens needs witnesses to tell that it happened.
As his siblings embrace each other Dean has to smile, they are his brother and sister and he would do anything for both of them. He already showed Sam, how far is he willing to go, to keep him save. He may have only a little under a year left, but he will show her that he would do the same thing for her. Maybe win a war for her, but for that they need wands, as her and his uncle called it. Family is everything to him. "Come on, we have things to do." he tells his siblings with a smile. He would be the body to hold this family together at call costs. Magic approved him with this role, as she sends him into the world.
They break the connection and both of them smile at him. Even if Hermione knows him only for a short time, she guesses that feelings and such aren't his strong suit and he more than not avoids them. So she simply says. "Yepp, follow Me." with that she walks them to the entrance of Circle Lane. Before she steps through the barrier she takes both of their hands to bring them with her.
What they see next is overwhelming, people walking in robes around wearing heats, like in movies about witches, very stereotypical. Over their heads birds, which look like owls, were flying around. The street was filled with so many shops where they can buy obscured things. Hermione sees an Ollivanders in the near distance and starts walking in that direction. Her brothers follow her with an open mouth, because they don't know what to say. All what they see looks so foreign and like it was out of a movie.
Even if the both of them are overwhelmed with what they see, they also see that she fits perfectly into this world. Hopefully they will fit in as well as her. All of a sudden both of them have the urge to get to know her, not the witch, but the person behind the witch. The brothers look at each other and Dean silently orders Sam to start. "Mia wait." Sam says after some moments, because he knows that it probably would be a better idea if he would start the interrogation instead of his brother.
She turns around. "What is it, Sam?" she asks him and stops. The brothers walk the distance to her and stop in her close environment.
Sam took a moment to arrange his thoughts and then he has an idea. "Can we play a game?" was his counter question with a smile.
It doesn't happen often that someone made Hermione Granger speechless, but her brother did just that. Because she doesn't has an idea, what he wants form her. "Come again." she says after some moments.
It made Sam smile that he got the better of her, the brightest witch of her age, something to tease her about. "Do you know 20 question?"
"Yes." was her short answer. Now Dean also starts to smile, because he knows where Sam is going with this.
"Good, so while we walk to get our wands and everything, let's play."
"So we can learn about you and you about us." Dean points out to her as he finishes Sams thought.
"Ok, but you have to start." she tells them and starts walking again. Dean and Sam follow her and use a moment to think about their question.
But the brothers are not anyone; they don't talk about trivial stuff like favorite colors or favorite food, those are things they could learn from her every time. No, now was the time to get the important stuff out of her. "Why do you call Dad John?" Sam wants to know. She sighs, because he picked up on that. He wants know why and her answer can tell him so much about her. This way they can get to know her on a deeper level.
"You don't make it easy." she answers.
"That isn't an answer, Mia." Dean says, because he also wants to know.
She looks away from them at door of the store. But she didn't enter, instead she stops again as she tells them. "Don't get me wrong, but he may be my father, but what did he do for me, besides never visiting me that made him to my Dad." she turn back to them. "I don't know him."
Probably not what they wanted to hear, but they surprise her. "I get what you are saying." Sam answers. He and his Dad often clashed against each other, like two waves in the ocean, but did he really know him after everything what was revealed today.
"So you don't have to call him, Dad. … I don't know if he deserves that from you." Dean says in a hard voice. A tone that surprised Sam very much, because to Dean their father was always a hero, who couldn't do anything wrong. But here and now Dean criticizes him. Sam looks at his brother and he knows why, because he had a sad look on his face as he looks at their sister. John Winchester maybe was the hero of him in the past, but that ended as Dean learned that he kept his baby sister away from him. Wow, Dean has given her a place in his heart without her even trying to get in there and Sam knows that Dean is willing to try to make up for the last 17 years not protecting her. If he doesn't want that they constantly fight over that, he has to be the peace between them and keep the balance. The role mother magic has bestowed on him.
With Hermione as the heart and soul of the three of them, all three sides of the triangle of destiny are established. She walks to her big brother Dean, embraces him again and he wasn't surprised by that, like the first time. He learns fast that she is affectionate with people she considers important to her. Even if he isn't Mr. Touchy Feely himself, he would do it for her, so he takes her in his arms again. She may not have John Winchester accepted as her Dad, but Sam and Dean are her brothers and she would show them, what they mean to her. Their bond got another knot as the next step of their relationship was paved and got stronger with it.
After a moment she steps away from Dean and says. "Come on, let's get your wands." With that she walks to the door and opens it, before she enters the store she asks them. "But let's not forget our game, so what is your biggest fear? Mine is to fail." then she steps in.
The brothers follow her and Sam answers first a little shy. "Clowns."
"Yeah Giganator here hates Clowns." Dean laughs. He tries to lift the tension by teasing his siblings a bit.
Sam looks at him and says. "You are one to talk, Dean hates flying."
"It is not normal, if we should fly, God …" Dean answers stern.
"Would have given us wings." Hermione finishes for him. Because like him, she also isn't so fond of flying and Dean has to smile at her while he lays his arm around her shoulders. She leans into him.
"No, not you too?" Sam says with a sigh.
"Sorry, to disappoint." she tells him. Sam has to shake his head at his siblings. Even if they didn't say it out loud, their biggest fear they share with each other and that is losing someone they love. They all have lost too many people in their short lives.
Before they could go on with their game the patron of the store speaks to them. "Welcome to Ollivanders, we make wands since 382 B.C. and have a shop here in Circle Lane since 1587. We make the wands, but the wand chooses the wizard and not the other way around." He was a petite man with grey hair and old aura, he reminded Hermione of Ollivander himself.
Hermione walks to him and says. "Hello, my brothers here" she points at them "need wands."
"On it Miss." with that he steps away to them from the counter and tells her brothers. "Could you please step forward?" They look at each other for a moment, before they do as told. "Please hold out your arm." he tells them.
Dean, as the smartass he is, asks him. "Which one, I have two!" Sam and Hermione have to laugh at his silliness. He likes to make his siblings laugh, even if he has to make a fool out of himself in the process, he would do it.
"Of course, please hold out the arm you use to write." With that Sam holds out his left hand and Dean his right one. The shop assistant starts measuring from shoulder to finger, elbow to wrist and as well as the wrist range. During that he tells them. "Not every wand is the same; we use different magical substances as cores. Creatures from which we get the substances for example are unicorns, hippogriffs, phoenix's or dragons."
After he finished measuring them, he starts searching wands for them. He starts with Dean and brings him three wands to test and holds them out. Dean isn't quite sure what he should do with them, so he simply takes the first one in his hand and as soon as they connect Dean feels like he is electrocuted, instantly he lets the wand fall. "Not that one … Try the next, please." the seller says. Dean gets his composure together and takes the next one and this time nothing happens, he feels nothing so the seller declares. "Please swish it." So Dean did that and the window behind them explodes in thousand glass shards. "That still isn't it. But we have another one." He says as he waved his wand to repair the window. Dean sighs and takes the last one and as he takes it in his hand the wand feels warm like an old friend that he hasn't seen in a long time. The clerk smiles as he sees the familiarity of a wizard, who was chosen by a wand on Dean's face. "Very good, elven inches, redwood, as a core we have here a feather of hippogriff. A very special, very powerful wand against the dark arts." he says with a smile. With that he searches for a wand for Sam, Dean didn't let go of his wand. He has the urge to hold him close, because he knows that he can protect his family with this wand and that gives him confidence.
Hermione watches the process with great interested. It is really a special wand, because that wood wasn't used that much. But every wand against the dark side is a good one. She sees the happy face on her brother's face and knows that feeling; to hold your precious wand after a long time being separated from it, even if you didn't know that you need it. She looks forward to learn what wand will choose Sam as his wizard. As if her thoughts would summon the shop clerk he steps back into the shop with wands to try for Sam. In difference to Dean he brought at least 10 different wands. It looks to Hermione that Sam is a harder task then Dean and that it will take some time. But she knows that every wizard will find his wand sooner or later, in this case it looks like later.
Sam looks at the choice the shop assistant presents to him and starts with the first one. He takes it in his hands, but feels nothing, before the clerk could say to swish it; he did just that and empties the shelves, because all the wands spring out. "No, no, no … next one." So Sam takes the second one in hand, as soon as he is connected to it he feels like he was on fire and like Dean he lets the wand out of instinct fall. "Go on." the shop man encourages him. So he went to the next one and the next and the next. As he reaches the last one, he starts to think, that their maybe wasn't a wand for him and he blames in on the demon blood. But apparently good things can't be rushed and as he takes the last in his hands, a warm feeling spreads through his body and his magic starts to hum. "Good, good, interesting. That is the first wand of this kind that I sell. It is nine and half inches long, hazelnut wood with blood of a basilisk as core, one of my newest creations. Very powerful, but be aware of the dark arts it can be addictive. The only wand with parts of a basilisk was the wand of Salazar Slytherin."
'So typical that I have to get the wand with the dark arts problem', Sam thought to himself. But he must have displayed his thoughts to his siblings on his face. They look at him and it was Hermione, who said. "Sam, a wise man once told me that there isn't only a light or a dark side inside of us, we have both parts in us. What defines us is which side we choose to live on and believe me that we" she points between Dean and her "as your siblings will always keep you on the light side." Sam has to smile at her, because he knows without a doubt that they just would do that. Dean is proud of his baby sister, who has stopped Sam angst before it gets to big. Yeah they were siblings.
"We get those wands please." she tells the seller.
"Certainly Miss, that makes 20 galleons." he tells her and she gives him the money. The brothers pocket their wands in their jackets so that they don't walk like dumb asses with a wand in their hands around the shopping mile.
Together they left the shop after. Outside Hermione looks at them as asks. "Sirius told us that you can get what you want, where to you want to go next?"
"No, he told us that we, as in all of us, should get something." Sam tells her.
"Yeah, yeah, were to you want to start?" she asks them again and then she points out the different shops. "There is a shop for Quidditch supply, a book store, a Zonkos, a prank shop but if you like such things I would recommend Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, because they have way better things." They look at her as if they would say that she only says that because of Fred, but that's not true. The twin's inventions are more creative and extra ordinary. She also adds after some moments. "But don't tell them that." her brothers laugh about that. As she looks around she sees a shop where she can take them, so she takes their hands and pulls them to the shop.
It took only two or three steps before they follow her willingly, because they both figure that she would win the end and always get what she wants. So why not give in sooner than later. As they follow her Sam is curious about something. "Hermione, who was the wise man?"
Nonchalantly like it isn't a great deal, she says. "Sirius and if you tell him that I said that, believe me I am not afraid to use my prankster boyfriend against you." Her tone was teasing, but Sam saw in her face that she was serious about it and he really doesn't want to get on the bad side of either of the twins. They have way too diabolic minds; he can't beat them, so why try. So he nods in understanding. Dean has to smile at that, he also wouldn't cross the twins in any way. But Fred needs a reminder, that she is their sister and that he has to treat her right.
Hermione stops at the shop entrance, where they could read "Magical Menagerie". The reason for her to stop at this particular shop is that every wizard or witch should have a familiar, who is always on your side and helps them. Like Hermione has Crookshanks or Harry has Hedwig. They look at her with big eyes and wait for an explanation why they should go into a pet shop. "Before you say no, walk in, look around and if you found something or better someone tell me."
With that she opens the door and almost pushes them in. They don't fight it, even if they have mixed feelings about it, they would give it a try for her. Slowly they walk through the shop and look around as well. Hermione watches them.
Sam was the first one, who saw something that peaks his interest. In a cage with five or six other ravens was a raven in the back. He was smaller, but somehow older and he looks at him as if he knew him from a different live. His feathers were shiny white and beautiful. He never had seen a white raven before. They stare at each other and it feels to Sam as if the bird stares into his soul. After the ravens inspection was over, the bird flew to the front and Sam reaches for him to pet him, the bird lets him. Before his sister could say anything to that, the shop assistant walks to him and says. "Wow I am impressed, because I have this raven for years and he never looked a customer like he looked at you. But he never ever let someone pet him. … I think he finally found his partner." That were exactly Sam thoughts and he would buy him, so he nods. The shop assistant goes into the back to get a smaller cage for the raven, while Sam simply pets his new friend.
In the meantime Dean was still looking around. He wasn't a big animal or pet person with living in a different hotels every other week or with carrying a pet in his beloved car. But now they have a home and maybe he can be as lucky as Sam and found a familiar as well. He never was a fan of fury animals, he liked reptiles always more. So he went to reptiles, there you can find toads and snakes. One of the snakes got his attention, it was a yellow boa and from the looks of it around two meters long. As he approaches her, she suddenly turns her head in his direction and looks at him. In her eyes, because he knows she is a female, he can see himself always slick on the outside, but gooey on the inside. "I take this beauty." Dean tells them and without thinking he takes her out of the cage, puts her around his neck like a scarf. She hisses with containment, she likes to be around him.
The seller nods as he puts Sams raven into his cage. Then he walks into the back room again to bring them a second cage for the snake. But Dean didn't want to put her in there, no he would carry her around on his body. So Hermione simply puts the cage in her bag as the seller says. "In total 25 galleons." She nods and gives him the money.
The three or better now five walk together out of the shop. Hermione sees a park bench and takes a seat. Her brothers follow her, as they take a seat beside her she asks them. "So what names have these two beauties?" The two creatures were truly beautiful to her, but what surprised her was the meaning behind the animals. The raven is a connection to other worlds like the after live or the underworld and omens with ravens were always seen as dark ones. But a white raven is such a rare thing, that they are being seen as a beacon of hope. While the snake symbols balance, because she stand for positive as well as negative outcomes. Her own familiar, a cat, was always associate with freedom and as such seen as white. It would be interesting to see to what amount the three familiars represent their owners.
"Hope." Sam says in whispers, while Dean answers. "Mirror."
"Beautiful names for beautiful creatures." The brothers simply nod, because they are fascinated with their new companions. After some moments she says. "I have to buy some things. Is it okay, if we meet here again in 20 minutes? So you can still look around." She gives them each 20 galleons so they can buy something if they want. "Here."
"Thank you. Do you think it is okay, if I bring Hope with me into the shops?" Sam asks.
"You could do that or you let him fly. … He looks like he hasn't flown in a long time and don't panic, he will find you again." she tells him. In his face she sees that he isn't so happy about that, like he wouldn't see him again. "Magical creatures, familiars especially like those two, always find their owner. … But I would only let Hope fly, because for Mirror the way back to England is too long."
"Ok." the brothers say together. Sam is still not sold on the idea, but he trusts his sister. So he opens the cage and Hope flew out, like he felt Sam's insecurities he tweaks his ear to tell him, that he will be back. Sam was almost sure that the raven winked as well as he flew away. With that Sam looks at his sister and smiles, because he somehow knows now that he will see Hope again. He nods to her and together they let Dean, who simply wants to sit on the bench for a moment and enjoy his new life, alone.
PLEASE REVIEW I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.
SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG, I HAD SO MUCH TO DO! BUT I ALSO FINISHED CHAP.3