Chapter 5
Dumbledore and Severus had opened the door to the Headmaster's office directly after Dean's departure through the fireplace. Minerva turned to see the two of them enter as she was replacing the jar on the mantle with her own handful of floo powder.
"Minerva?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Fawkes gave Sam a feather, Albus!" she said with a well controlled look of satisfaction her eyes.
"Is that so?" Dumbledore pondered.
Severus' face was scrunched up trying to hide several emotions all at once behind his normally placid expression. He was obviously perplexed by this recent development. How can Fawkes give a feather to such a person? Then again, perhaps Sam was not a threat after all. But Dean. There was a different matter entirely.
Minerva nodded to the two of them as she tossed the floo powder into the fire and followed the brothers Ollivander's shop.
Without a word, Severus moved across the floor to the cabinets along the wall that contained several magical curios. He opened the doors and retrieved a large silver disc. His fingertips lightly caressed the bottom of the vessel and it floated as he guided it to the center of the room. Once the disc stopped, Dumbledore joined Severus by his side.
The Potions Master produced his wand and placed it to his temple. He closed his eyes and recalled all that he saw when he had been in Dean's head. After a few moments a silver wisp appeared at his temple and he pulled the wisp out of his head with the wand as if it were a piece of string unraveling from a sweater.
Once he had removed it, a simple flick of his wand caused the wisp to coil down and sink into the disc and swirl about in the cloudy contents like a drop of dye in water. He looked to Dumbledore with anticipation but remained silent. Albus nodded once to Severus and leaned forward into the disc.
Immediately the familiar sensation of falling began. He sank down, down into the shared memory. Dark liquid like smoke swirled around him as he descended. Everything became still and he found himself back in the side room off the Great Hall. He was surrounded by Hogwarts staff, along with his past self. Dean sat in one chair, Sam in the other. Severus' wand was out and with a flourish he cried out, "Legilimens!"
A cloudy mass appeared between Severus and Dean, and within the swirls he could see the memories projected as if on a movie screen. Child Dean. . . fire.. . . mother on the ceiling. . yellow eyes . . . . screams. . . . rescue by his father.
Memory Sam asked his brother, "Why are we still even here?"
Memory Dean pulled out an old well-wore leather book. "This is why. This book. This is Dad's single most valuable possession. Everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us. I think he wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people, hunting things. The family business."
Dumbledore watched the memories flash by. So many different monsters, so many different times they fought for their lives.
The violence played throughout their lives. Sam's demon blood and abilities . . . the loss . . . the unwillingness to give up on family . . .
Their lives were indeed soaked in blood. They fought for what was right, even if it meant spilling blood. Angels and Demons, he thought. How very interesting. Not what we are accustom to, but they are on the side of good. . . for the most part.
When he felt he had seen enough, he willed the memory to end and he floated back up into his own mind.
Dumbledore emerged from the Pensive and straightened himself.
"Headmaster?" Severus queried softly.
"Yes, Severus?" he answered.
"Did you see?"
"Oh yes. Dean's memories paint quite the picture don't they?" he said as he returned the Pensive to its cabinet. "I also saw a world very different from our own, Severus. They come from a world of Muggles who know nothing more of our existence, accept what is written on the pages of a book."
Severus looked on into the gloom, listening to Dumbledore as he spoke.
"They may share some of the same creatures in their world as they do in ours, but they are very, very different in nature. From what I saw, their job is to exterminate the threats they come across and protect those who are in mortal danger. I cannot condemn the lives of two men for surviving in the violence of their own world. That is not to say I don't see the urgency in your warnings, Severus. I understand what they are capable of, but I also see the good in them."
Severus could not argue. If it was not for Dumbledore, he himself would be in Azkaban. After Voldemort had seemingly been killed no one trusted him because of his affiliation with the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord himself. Of course the Death Eaters didn't trust him either because he had then become "Dumbledore's Stooge". Dumbledore stood up in front of the Wizengamot and vouched for him. When no one else would, he protected him from a fate worse than death.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Headmaster?" he answered.
"You understand now why I have to trust that they are here to help protect the boy? As I recall, that is also why you are here, is it not?"
"Yes . . . of course." he admitted. A cold pang of grief hit him square in the chest as he recalled memories of his precious Lily Evans and what Voldemort did to her. He fought back the anguish welling up inside of him and choked it down.
Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it an ever-so-light squeeze.
"She would be so grateful, Severus."
"Don't you talk about her!" he snapped, unable to fight back his heartache for a brief moment. He gasped at his own words and wished instantly he could take them back. "Albus!" he cried with his eyes beginning to well. "I am –"
Suddenly the room was bathed in emerald green light as the fireplace connected to the Floo Network.
"It's alright, Severus. I know." Dumbledore said quickly and moved across the room to receive his guests.
A moment later Severus was by his side, his entire demeanor changed. He was once again the Potions Master of Hogwarts, and there was no trace of grief on his face.
WHOOSH went the flames and Sam appeared and he stumbled forward dizzily into the room.
"Woo . . ." Sam said shaking his head. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to that."
Another flare up and Dean entered the room also stumbling out over the hearth.
Once more the green flames shot up and Minerva gracefully glided out of the fireplace.
"Oh good, you didn't fall all over yourselves this time! Fast learners I see." she said. "Ah, Albus you're here."
"How did it go?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Quite well, Albus. Both of them found their wands and what marvelous pairings they are."
"Oh?" he said amusedly as the brothers found their way over to the conversation. "What are they?"
Sam and Dean pulled out their wands and showed them to Dumbledore.
"I got Rowan with dragon heartstring." Dean said.
"And I got a Willow wand with a Unicorn hair core." said Sam.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly at both of them and his eyes caught site of the charm around Sam's neck. "Ah! I see that Fawkes has given you a token of his friendship, Sam."
"Oh yeah! He's an amazing bird – phoenix!"
"That he is." Dumbledore agreed. "He has been with me for a very long, long time. As bonded as we are, I am very surprised to see him take to you so quickly."
"That's what McGonagall, erm, Minerva said."
"It's Minerva only behind closed doors, Sam. Professor McGonagall in front of the students." she said. "As both of you shall be Professor Winchester."
Dean noticeably winced at the mention of them being Professors. "Yeah, about that." he said. "What are we supposed to teach? I mean, we don't even know any spells yet."
"A very good question, Dean." said Dumbledore. "We shall place you into classes as Teaching Assistants for the time being. After the Christmas Holidays you will have your own classes that will be considered extra credit in the curriculum. In the meantime, you shall both have private lessons after school hours with the staff, and learn what you can during the classes. Is that agreeable?"
"Will we have access to the library or be given books to study from?" asked Sam.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Oh yes, Sam. We have extra books students have left behind over the years in many subjects. I will have them delivered to your rooms. I will arrange it with Madam Pince, the school Librarian, to allow you full access."
"Thanks." both brothers chimed.
Sam turned his head to catch a glimpse of the sleeping phoenix on his perch. Fawkes had his head buried in his wing and he was snoring slightly. Sam smiled to himself and was about to ask more about why he gave him the feather in the first place when something along the wall caught his attention. His eyes shot back to the area he had just been looking.
What did I just see? Sam thought as he visually scanned. Something on the bookcase? He looked again, and finally he saw it. A dusty old witch's hat sat on top of the bookcase, patched and frayed from age.
"No way." Sam said under his breath and took a few absentminded steps toward it.
Dumbledore followed his gaze and saw what it was he was looking at and his blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "I see you've spotted the Sorting Hat."
"Yes. I mean, reading about it is one thing but seeing it is another. I've wondered . . ."
Dean rolled his eyes.
"What your houses would be?" said Dumbledore finishing Sam's thought.
"Well, yeah."
"Houses? Oh wait! I know this one!" Dean said jumping into the conversation.
Sam, Dumbledore, Severus, and Minerva all stared at him.
"What?" Dean asked. "I saw it on TV when I was flipping channels."
"Oh yeah," Sam said to Dumbledore. "They also made the books into movies."
"I see." said Dumbledore.
"Okay, don't tell me. I got this." Dean said closing his eyes trying to recall the details of the movies Charlie had insisted they watch. "Uuuuuuuuh, Gryffindor. Aaahhh . . . Slytherin . . . Ravenclaw, and – and . . . and . . .Jigglypuff."
"It's Hufflepuff, Dean. Jigglypuff is a Pokemon." Sam said
"What the hell is a Hufflepuff?"
"They're uh . . .well . . . they're particularly good finders."
"We'll find you a copy of Hogwarts, A History." said Dumbledore.
"I am also curious to see where you two would be placed. Let's see if he's up to the task Accio Sorting Hat!"." Minerva said with a wave of her wand, and the hat jumped off the bookshelf and flew into her hand.
"I was sleeping, but what else am I here for?" said the hat groggily in her hand. "Aren't they a bit old to be sorted?"
"It is more of a curiosity than a sorting." said Minerva.
"Ah. Alright then," said the Sorting Hat. "Well let's get on with it, shall we hmm? Who do we have first?"
Dean looked at Sam. "Go ahead, eager beaver!" he said and waved him ahead.
Minerva nodded and placed the Sorting Hat on Sam's head. "This is Sam Winchester."
"Well, hello Sam. Let's see here. Hmm . . . very studious this one . . . very brave as well. I do sense a mysterious darkness within you but it has been kept at bay with the light of your altruism and sense of justice . . . Courageous beyond measure, yet an insatiable lust for knowledge. Both clever and logical I see. Where to put you? Right then! Ah, yes! RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted at last.
"Alright!" Sam cheered. "Your turn, Dean!" he said as Minerva lift the Sorting Hat from his head.
"Great." said Dean, clearly not as excited as Sam was. "If I end up a Jigglypuff, I'm gonna hurt you."
"Shut up, Dean. Be a good sport."
"Dean is it?" the hat asked as it was placed on his head. "Hmm, also a Winchester I see. You are courageous and bold. You carry with you a terrible burden." Dean rubbed his arm where the Mark of Cain lay hidden under his jacket sleeve. "Family and friends are highly important to you . . .Yes indeed. Confident . . . strong sense of adventure and daring, strong loyalty, yes, yes . . . and dedicated too! Also a determined and cunning young lad . . . hmm . . . difficult to place, this one. It'll have to be . . ."
Everyone in the room hung on the hat's next words, none more than Severus.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat shouted.
Minerva stepped forward and took the Sorting Hat off of Dean's head.
"To be honest," it said. "I almost placed you in Hufflepuff. You have a particular knack for finding trouble."