Chapter 24

Sam escorted Hermione to the meeting spot where dozen's of students had already gathered. Ron was there with a giant bag full of his Honeydukes purchases, and a smaller secondary bag. Many of the children had similar bags and were in the process of craning their necks to see what each other had bought. Sam looked at his watch and saw that it was 3:42pm.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley." Sam said as they approached.

Ron turned. "Oh! Hello, Professor!" He saw Hermione a few paces behind Sam and snarkily added, "And what sort of boring old books did you get?'

She stopped short and leaned on one hip, "And what sort of nasty tooth rotters did you get?" she shot back. The two started to bicker while Sam looked around for Dean.

"Hey, um. . ." Sam interrupted them while still searching. "Have you seen my brother around?"

Ron turned away from Hermione's reddening face, "Not since Honeydukes, Sir. I showed him all around the shop, he bought a whole mess of things and left in a hurry."

Sam cocked his head to the side. "Hurry? Where did he go?"

"Not sure exactly. We were standing over by the fudge counter and then he paid, and asked me to hold onto his shopping." he said shaking the smaller bag he was holding. "Then he said, 'thanks kid', and that was it."

"Which way did he go?"

"I don't know which way he went, but he said he something about watering the roses."

"Watering the ros. . .?" Sam suddenly had an idea of where Dean might be and took off. "Thanks Ron!"

Three minutes later, Sam reentered The Three Broomsticks. Sam scanned the pub quickly. Most of the kids had already left. There were just a couple of 5th years finishing up the last dregs of their Butterbeers in a booth in the corner and were in the process of leaving. The rest of the patrons were locals. He checked the rest of the booths, the tables, the bar, and even the bathroom. No Dean.

He was headed toward the exit when he heard the creak of a door open across the room. Sam looked and there was Dean stepping out of the doorway fiddling with the top button of his shirt.

Dean looked up and saw his brother and quickly gave him a sly boyish grin.

Sam took a few steps toward him but froze when he saw a lady's hand reach out from the room within and turned his brother's face back toward her. Sam's suspicions were confirmed when he recognized Madame Rosemerta as she stepped out and pulled Dean partially back into the room, and into a fiery kiss.

He took his time crossing the room. By the time he had reached them, they hadn't stopped.

After a minute Sam cleared his throat. "Dean . . . I, uh. . ."

Dean held up a solitary finger. Sam waited.

He checked his watch and saw it was seven minutes till 4:00.

"Sorry, Dean." he said as he stepped in and grabbed his brother's arm and pulled. "I'm not getting yelled at by Minerva."

Rosemerta looked disappointed as she watched Dean get carted away.

Dean looked over his shoulder and said, "See ya around Christmas!"

Dean strutted as they made their way back to the meeting place. Sam kept glancing over at his brother now and again to see that his expression hadn't changed. Dean was beaming.

"So?" Sam asked.

"It was magical, Sammy." Dean joked and popped the collar of his jacket for emphasis.

Sam laughed and rolled his eyes. The day had been a veritable roller coaster for sure, and it still wasn't over. Between Crowley showing up, and inevitable chaos that would ensue later in the evening, thank goodness the trip to Hogsmeade was ending on a high note.

The meeting place was now full of students and Professors which grew louder and louder as they approached.

Minerva and Severus met them on the outskirts of the fray.

"There you are!" Minerva said. "I trust your first visit to Hogsmeade was a good one?" she asked.

"Yeah. It was great!" Sam said.

Severus looked at Dean. It was like looking through a window. "It must have been fun for you, Dean. Judging by that smile on your face."

Dean practically swallowed his lips but continued to smile.

"Well!" Minerva said obliviously. "Let's make sure all the children are accounted for and head back to the castle." She reached into her robes and pulled out four scrolls. "Sam, Dean, I am putting you in charge of the Gryffindors." she handed Sam one of the scrolls. "Severus, here's yours. Go ahead and start while I give Pomona and Filius theirs."

Severus wasted no time. "Slytherins!" he shouted, and a quarter of the crowd fell silent and gathered to him almost instantly. Dean and Sam's eyebrows jumped up, affected by the reaction. Neither one of them could tell if the student's actions were fueled by respect or fear. Regardless, Sam handed the scroll to Dean and urged him to gather the students.

Dean nodded. "Gryffindors!" he shouted, but he crowd kept chatting away, causing the brothers to exchange looks. Dean exaggeratedly cleared his throat loud enough to be heard by everyone.

"A-A-AAA-HEEEEM!"

The chatter suddenly stopped completely and everyone's heads were turned toward Dean now.

"I said . . .Gryffindors!"

Without a word, all the scarlet collared robes headed over to Dean and Sam. "Thaaaank yooooou." he finished. Dean looked over at Severus who in return gave him the slightest nod of approval.

Dean unrolled the parchment and started reading off names and all were present. The other Professors did the same. When every single student was accounted for, they started the journey back to the castle. Somewhere along the way, Dean had retrieved his bag of sweets from Ron, and was happily snacking the whole way back.

The Great Hall was decorated for the Halloween Feast with floating jack-o-lanterns overhead and groups of them stacked in pyramids along the walls. Bright fiery orange streamers floated in the air like great snakes. The bats had increased in number and the House Ghosts had joined in the festivities. Nearly Headless Nick laughed hardily at seeing the children entering the Hall, while the Grey Lady hovered pensively over the Ravenclaw table. The Bloody Baron paced back and forth in his chains between the Slytherin table and the wall, and the Fat Friar swooped through the air between the jack-o-lanterns.

The students sat at their tables, marveling at the giant pumpkins that decorated them. As the adults took their seats, it did not take long for Sam and Dean to notice that Remus was not present.

"Where's Remus?" Dean asked.

"Maybe he isn't fully recovered yet." Sam offered.

A moment later Dean pointed at the doors across the hall. "There he is!"

Remus moved sluggishly across the room. He seemed exhausted as he made his way toward them. He took his seat next to them with a audible groan. He had a few abrasions on his cheek that looked as though they had been tended to and were starting to heal.

"Well you look better." said Dean.

"After you left, I drank my potion and felt decidedly better. As foul as the concoction is, it does its job. I went to my office to finish up some work after the children left. And I also had a conversation with our young Harry."

"About the Boggart?" Sam asked without thinking.

Remus looked taken aback at his question for a moment before he dropped all traces of being surprised and simply accepted that this sort of thing would be normal when talking to Sam.

"Yes, actually. But you'll know all about that. Won't you, Sam?"

"Sorry."

"Frankly, I really shouldn't be surprised by anyth – Dean? Are you alright?" asked Remus, his attention focused on the other brother now.

Sam turned to see Dean rubbing his forearm and flexing his fist. He looked at Dean's face. He could tell that it straining trying to cover his true expression.

"Dean? What's wrong?" Sam asked.

"Uh, nothing." he lied. "Just an arm cramp."

Remus wasn't convinced. "I may not be skilled in Legilimency, but I can tell when someone is lying to me." he looked at him. "Dean." he said seriously. "Show me your arm." he insisted in a dark tone. "Discretely." he added.

Dean looked around, everyone else was engaged in their own conversations so he did as he was asked. He rolled up the sleeve of his flannel shirt and showed him the Mark of Cain.

Remus breathed a sigh of relief. "Forgive me, Dean. I thought for a moment. . ." his voice trailed off.

Sam leaned forward in his chair. "You thought it was a Dark Mark. Didn't you?"

"I did for a moment. Yes." he admitted.

Dean's forehead began to bead up with sweat and his vision alternated between fuzzy and clear. He leaned back in the chair to steady himself.

"Does this happen often?" Remus asked.

"Not since we've been here." Dean said through gritted teeth. "Something is happening."

"What? What's happening?" Sam insisted as quietly ask he could.

"This usually only happens when I lose it. I mean, it always calls to me. It wants me to. . .to. . ." he looked at Remus. "Do things. The violent visions, the urge to. . ."

Remus spoke calmly. "I think we'd better have a private chat before this gets out of hand. Shall we?" he nudged his head inconspicuously toward the staff room.

The food suddenly appeared on the tables and a tremendous chorus of cheers and applause happened all at once. While everyone was distracted, the three of them stood and slipped away from the table. Dean turned back toward the table and picked up an entire pumpkin pie and then rejoined them.

Once inside the room Sam noticed what Dean had done. "Really? You're sitting there looking like your about to have a heart attack and you grab a pie?"

"Shut up. It's Pie." he said simply, and stumbled forward toward the armchairs. Remus took the pie from him and set it on a table.

The room was dark. But the fireplace was still lit and crackling away. Dean sat in one of the armchairs and Remus kneeled beside him. He rolled up Dean's sleeve and examined the Mark in the firelight.

"I have never seen this before. What is it?" he asked.

"It's called the Mark of Cain." Sam began. "You see, where we are from, we hunt monsters as you know, but there are also Demons. As in 'straight from bowels of Hell', Demons. A while back there was a Knight of Hell called Abaddon. She was the strongest Demon we'd ever faced. In order to take her out, Dean went after the only thing we knew could kill her. The First Blade."

Remus listened intently but continued to examine the Mark.

"You are familiar with the Bible Story of Cain and Abel?" Sam asked. Remus nodded. "Cain traded his soul in Hell for his brother's in Heaven. But Cain had to be the one to send him to Heaven. Lucifer was behind it all. After Cain killed Abel, Lucifer transferred that Mark to Cain and somehow bound it to The First Blade. Cain turned the Blade on himself but the Mark brought him back. . . as a Demon. He was an unstoppable killing machine. Cain transferred the Mark to Dean and gave him the First Blade, because it wouldn't work without it. Dean suffers from this Mark every day."

Remus looked at Sam with great concern, the firelight dancing across his face as he continued to listen.

"We were on our way to see a friend when we were sent here. She found a spell book that could possibly remove it."

"What kind of spell book?" asked Remus.

"It is called The Book of The Damned." Dean answered darkly.

Remus stood. "That sounds to me like powerful Dark Magic."

Sam bowed his head. "Yeah. It's . . . not good." A thought crossed his mind and he looked at Remus hopefully. "Wait! You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Maybe you can help us find a way to get rid of it!"

Remus scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "Perhaps. But I have to be honest with you, I wouldn't even begin to know where to start. You have already seen that things are not exactly compatible with your world and ours."

Dean stood from the armchair with a groan. "It's okay, Sammy. I'm fine."

"No, Dean. You are not fine. This is just going to get worse and worse. We were possibly only one day away from a cure and now there is almost an entire year that will go by before we even get to see that book. The Mark is not just going to stay dormant."

"You think I don't know that?" Dean shot back. "I feel it every day, Sam. Calling out to me. The only thing I can do is just say no, and keep on keepin' on. Look, I know we are long for this place, but we gotta be realistic, it might not even help. "

"And how is not trying to find a cure here 'realistic'? Yeah, it's true, it may not help, but it certainly wouldn't hurt! If there was even the slightest chance it could work, wouldn't you want to take it?"

Dean sighed and looked away. His eyes were moist. "Yeah. You're right." he said, looking off into the dark corners of the room. "I would jump at it."

"Okay. Are you okay now?"

"Yeah. I'm good. I think it senses the rage and wants to join in." Dean said matter-of-factly.

Sam nodded and looked over his shoulder toward the door.

"Okay. Remus we need to talk about something else too."

Dean retrieved the pie from the table and brought it over. "If you are about to do what I think you are about to do, we're gonna need pie."

Remus looked at them sideways. "What are you on about?"

"You might want to sit down, Remus." said Sam as he did himself and Remus took the advice and joined him.

"Right about now, something is happening in the castle." he started. "The important thing is that it is okay. It'll seem . . . violent and scary, but it is more an act of desperation."

Remus moved to the edge of his seat and put his elbows on his knees. "What is it, Sam? Are the children in danger? Harry?"

Sam held up his hands in a calming manner. "Please, just listen. Harry is fine. It is Ron's rat he's after."

"He?" Remus realized in a flash whom Sam meant and jumped up from his seat. "Sirius! It's him isn't it?"

"Whoa!" Dean jumped in, pie in one hand. "Slow your roll, Remus let Sam explain."

Remus eyed Dean for a moment, then Sam in turn. He stood somewhere between wanting to run out in search of the criminal and a need to hear the rest of the information. He reluctantly returned to his seat. "Sam, I know your intentions are good, but if Sirius Black is here in the castle then Harry is in danger!"

"That's just the thing, Remus. He's not. Sirius Black is not the criminal and traitor everyone thinks he is. He is not the one that betrayed the Potters."

Remus' brow furrowed in disbelief. "That, that can't be! Everything points to him being the traitor! Lily. . . James. . . they are dead because of him!"

"No. Not because of Sirius. Because of Peter."

Remus' eyes flashed and looked directly into Sam's as if searching for some sign of betrayal or deceit. "Peter? Peter is dead."

"Is he?" Sam asked. "Sirius thought Voldemort was onto him, Remus. He passed on being Secret Keeper for the Potters to keep them safe and instead entrusted Peter with the job. He didn't realize that Peter was the actual spy. Peter betrayed them, faked his own death and framed Sirius."

Remus stood and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace taking it all in. He started biting his thumbnail in thought.

"Remus," Sam continued. "Right now, Sirius Black is here, in the castle, on the way to the Gryffindor dormitory in search of Ron's Rat, Scabbers."

With this, Remus stopped dead in his tracks. "Wormtail." he whispered. "The rat is Peter, isn't he?"

Sam nodded. "He is."

Remus took off toward the door. Sam leapt from the chair, Dean threw the pie to the floor and they both caught him within five strides. "No no no no no!" Sam pleaded.

"Please, Sam!" Remus begged. "Let me go! Peter – he killed my best friend!"

"I know. . . I know. But I told you this now so you could help Harry later." Sam felt Remus' head flop against his shoulder and the rigidity of his body ease up. Sam nodded to Dean who then let him go.

Dean looked down at the pumpkin pie, now splattered on the rug. "Oh maaaan!" He looked genuinely depressed as he retrieved his wand and pointed it at the mess. "Scourgify!" he said, and the mess disappeared in an explosion of bubbles. He turned back to Sam and Remus, the latter was gently weeping into his brother's shoulder.

"Come on." Sam said, and proceeded to guide him back to the chair. Once there, Sam knelt by Remus and spoke in a low, calm voice. "Remus, you do realize what this also means? Sirius. He is innocent, and wasn't he also your best friend?"

Remus nodded. "He was, yes." he sniffed, wiping the tears from his face. "All this time. I thought such hateful, spiteful things about Sirius. Now that I know the truth, I – we can help him! Peter must be brought to justice!"

Dean approached the two. "Sam, you do realize now that you've told him all this, it is going to effect the rest of the story. Like, completely."

Sam stood. "I've already changed so much. Just being here was enough to change minor things. But now? I keep sticking my foot in my mouth, and I hate knowing everything."

"What about Dumbledore? Didn't he say not to do exactly what you are doing?" asked Dean.

"I can't, Dean. If I hadn't have interfered, things would have progressed as they should have. But I messed it up and I have realized that if we have to live it as it happens, I don't want to know everything. It's been nothing but torture to watch things unfold and stand there twiddling my thumbs. So you know what? I'm not going to hold back anymore, Dean. If we have to stay here till the end, then I am going to be me, and I will help people when I see the opportunity to do so. Crowley said he wanted us to make it interesting, so . . ."

Dean nodded. "So we do what we do. We save the good guys, and bring down the bad guys. I can get behind that."

"Who is Crowley?" Remus asked.