Chapter: The Boy Behind the Curtain
A/N: Tonks and Charlie's graduation moved up a year. It is stated that she trained for 3 years in the books. SO she will have qualified by the summer after Harry's third year, rather than after his fourth.
"Your society seems to be an excellent void for us to reside in. Hopefully in years to come we will be able to return, once Harry is no longer a viable vessel."
"Wait, if there's a way to not be a vessel, why don't we just do that too?" Dean asked. "What is special about Harry?"
"He is absorbing my lost angel grace."
"What?" Dean and Sam asked in unison, bewilderment written across their faces.
"You mean to say that Harry will become an angel himself in the years to come?" Severus asked slowly.
"It will take time, a decade perhaps. Maybe two." Cas explained. The four of them sat in silence after the declaration. Draco and Harry noticed this silence and looked up from the journal. Cas was concerned that this news meant that Harry had been a part of the original plan, that had been offset by the erasing of John's memory. Which meant that his brothers had wanted to lock him away for separate purposes. Why would they turn against him? He was only doing what God had ordered them too. Love humanity. Dean on the other hand was wondering about the implications of having essentially adopted an angel. Was he worthy enough to raise Harry, when he was so pure of heart? Sure, he was meant to contain Michael, but that hardly meant anything. Would Harry become his replacement, or Sam's? Sam was studying Harry with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Nothing ever worked for them, how could something so pure backfire? Would Harry need to smite him in some sort of sick right of passage? He couldn't help that the demon blood was reacting strangely to the magic around him. As a spy it was very easy for Severus to accept new information, especially when the evidence was directly in front of him. While learning that angels were real was a shock, what had rendered him silent was that he no longer had any reason to hate Harry Potter. All the bitterness he had carefully cultivated over the years, waiting to scorn the spawn of James had been for nothing.
"Draco it is time to bring you home. We will visit Harry tomorrow." Severus said as the clock began to chime nine. He would need to reflect on how to act around Harry and if was wise for Draco to be so close to the boy.
"Goodbye Harry." Draco called out as he moved towards the floo, wanting to be the one to throw the powder in. Severus scooped up the pot just as Draco reached the mantle, causing the boy to pout. Harry screwed his eyes shut for a moment, and the pot was suddenly in the blond's hands. Severus gave Harry a disapproving frown but the boy was distracted by the grin Draco was giving him.
"Goodbye Draco."
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"I can still hardly believe it Mum. I cannot wait until one of them comes to explain it more to us. Do you think they will come tomorrow?" A bushy haired little girl babbled around her toothbrush. Her mother gave a small smile, brushing back a loose strand of brown hair. Her little miracle had turned out even more special than she had imagined. Jean Granger had prayed every night, even on the nights after a miscarry, for a baby. She had just been about to give up when Hermione came into her life. Thinking back, she theorised that it was Hermione's magic that allowed her to carry through the term, and she was so thankful. She had never wavered in her love for her daughter upon learning she was a witch. She had worked too hard, suffered through too much to even think about turning her only child away.
"I'm not sure Hermione." Mrs. Granger gazed at their reflections nervously. "Are you sure you'd like to do this dear?" Hermione set down her toothbrush, turning around to face her mother. Hermione could at times seem wiser beyond her years, but she was a child just the same.
"It will be alright Mum. I will call often, and visit on holiday. I just...I want to figure out what it means to be a witch. The other children already tease me, can you imagine if they find out I'm different?" It was hard for Mrs. Granger to admit that this was true. Her Hermione was so incredibly gifted, to the point that she had thought her daughter's accidental spurts of magic were a result of an elevated IQ. Hermione did not have friends, she had books. Unshed tears making her eyes gleam she placed a hand on her daughter's cheek.
"Okay." she whispered. "But if you don't like it for any reason, you tell us and we bring you straight home."
"Yes Mum. I hope that I do like it. A whole new world to explore, and learn about." Hermione gushed. "I bet everything is wonderful there. Just like in the books I read." She was very excited about the opportunity she had been given. She would be among people like her, and perhaps she could even make friends with others. It was always terribly lonely for her. Every morning she got up for school and waited at the bus stop, none of the other children on her block talking to her. At school she was able to answer each question the teacher asked her. At times though other students would pelt her with bits of eraser, that would get stuck in her bushy hair and her mother would have to hunt for them later. Her cellular never buzzed, and no one ever asked for her over the phone. Going to this new school would give her the opportunity to reinvent herself, to be like the amazing heroines in her books. It wasn't until after her mother turned out the lights that Hermione remembered that while good was better in her books, bad was evil. She pulled her covers closer, as shadows twisted into horrible beasts and evil men. She wouldn't be powerless there like she was here. Hermione turned over, grabbing a spare pencil from her nightstand, casting imaginary spells.
"To bed Hermione!" She heard her father call from downstairs. Hermione ignored it, the final evil in front of her as a passing car caused the shadow to grow. She stood firmly on her bed, childish magic creating a wind to keep hair out of her face. She slowly released the pencil, and it remained floating in the air. Her father opened the door just as the projectile was shot into the wall, the hall light extinguishing the shadow. "That's enough now Matilda." he said lovingly. Hermione blushed and got back under the covers. She rather liked it when her father would call her that. It had of course taken her many days of practice in order to get things to float on their own. This excursion had made her exhausted and she turned to her side as her father closed the door, bidding her goodnight.
"Hermione the Heroine." she whispered to herself just before drifting to sleep.
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"I am getting no signal on my phone." Sam complained, holding it above his head. Dean flipped his open from where he sat on the bed.
"Same here." He confirmed. Harry fished his phone from his pocket, placing it on the table. He used his free hand to tap at the buttons and screen, eventually getting it to display something. Sam peered at it, finding that there was no signal there either. Harry continued to eat his chicken tenders, not entirely worried about the signal issue. Sam sighed and sat back at the table to finish his salad.
"Do you think Severus will tell me more about my parents?" Harry asked, trying hard to avoid meeting anyone's gaze. "I would like to know what my Mum looked like." Sam paused in his eating.
"I'm sure he will. Do you want to hear a bit about our family?" Harry nodded enthusiastically. Sam opened his mouth to begin but was cut off by Cas of all people.
"Deana and Samuel were a Hunter couple. It was a practice that they taught their only daughter Mary. Mary was a beautiful woman, with blond hair and green eyes just like Dean. She met John Winchester because they were destined for each other. John Winchester had dark brown hair and blue eyes. He never knew of Mary's past, becoming a Hunter on his own."
"Cas..." Dean sighed. "Our mother was amazing. She would bake the most amazing pies on the weekends, my favorite was cherry. When I would wake up from a nightmare she would sing Hey Jude to me. We lost her to a fire when Sammy was only six months old."
"You interrupted because you thought I lacked sentiment." Cas said. "You do not have much to say about your mother, and your father leaves much to be desired. Have you forgotten the point of the gift you gave to him?" Cas swiftly moved the glass stag from the mantle to the table. "Dean and Sam were raised to be Hunters. Now you will become one as well, because you are a part of their family."
"Tomorrow though, I think it's time for bed now." Sam teased. Harry pouted but went to claim one of the beds. It only took a few seconds for soft snoring to be heard. Sam leaned back in his chair, exhausted.
"What a day. Start out in some bar in nowheresville, almost get struck down by the wrath of heaven , and end up with a kid." Dean shook his head, finding a weird amusement to it all. "We never stood a chance at normal."
"Huh, yeah."; Sam smiled, checking his phone again. He didn't know why he kept checking it. Cas had assured them that Bobby was safe, but he did not have complete faith in the angel either. "We gotta talk about what's going on. If what is happening is part of some original plan, we need to be careful."
"Let it be known that I will lay down my life for this boy." Cas vowed. "It's horrible to think that so many children are left without guardian angels simply because they are undetectable. I am finding it hard to believe that God would allow this to happen. Or that he would make an angel as defective as me." Cas sat down on a nearby chair, staring out the window to the wizard street below. The brothers looked away from the angel unsure of what to say.
"The priest at home says 'God sees all and knows all. Mistakes are not mistakes but instead lessons. Unique is not for the sake of individuality, but rather purpose. It is okay to be different, man, woman, colored or not, gay or straight, you were created with intent. To believe that someone is wrong or broken is an insult to God, and so we must learn tolerance.' " Harry said without moving.
"I thought you were asleep." Dean said.
"You don't know much about kids, do you?" Harry sat up, looking over at the trio. "Aunt Petunia always said that this didn't apply to me because I had been made by the Devil. God did answer my prayer though, it was the first time I had done so in a very long time."
"What was your prayer Harry?" Cas asked softly.
"I wanted to be normal." Harry replied. "It's what made me remember Father Simon's speech. Here I am normal. With you I am normal, just another student instead of the amazing Harry Potter. The point is, I'm sure God is watching you, and I'm sure that he's very proud of you."
"You have suffered so much and yet you are so kind. If my brother could see this, perhaps he would not be so lost." Dean got up, patting Cas on the shoulder as he passed.
"Alright, that's enough mystic stuff for tonight." he said, sitting on the bed next to Harry. He smoothed back a few strands of hair that the gel could no longer hold. "Snapemageddon is coming by tomorrow and I do not want to keep that guy waiting."
"I'm not tired though. This day was the wildest of my life. I even have a friend now. Do you think Draco really likes me? Would we still be friends if I was Harry Potter instead? I want to learn about Hunting now, not tomorrow." Dean gave a distressed look, turning towards Sam who shrugged helplessly. Cas sang softly in Enochian, the words sounding harsh and grating to Sam and Dean, but before long Harry was fast asleep.
"What was that?" Sam asked, ever fascinated with the angel and his powers.
"It is a Lullaby that my brother Gabriel would sing to me. It is very popular among fledglings." Cas studied Harry carefully. "He is receptive to the ways of angels already, even with less than an eight percent of grace within him. He was however unable to hear the screams of his necklace."
"Do you think it's safe to have that thing around him?" Dean asked in concern. The trio studied the boy on the bed, the necklace glinting softly as it rose and fell in sync with his breathing.
"No, but I do not see any other way. I do not know how to destroy it, and will not attempt anything lest I make it stronger or release it." Cas answered. "There is no telling how my miracles will be affected by magic, or vice versa. Have either of you felt any ill effects of being within this world not meant for you?" Sam stiffened but shook his head along with his brother.
"Harry didn't mention anything that we said regarding him." Sam said, changing the subject. "I know nothing about kids. Like at all, none of us do. We are going to need help."
"Yeah and Snape doesn't seem the mothering type. I'm getting a more children are the bane of my existence vibe. Which means dear brother, that you have to find yourself a lovely witch to woo."
"I-" Dean held up a hand.
"There is time now Sam. Shorty and I will keep up charades until the Big Day, but there is nothing stopping you. This is the place we've been looking for...home." Sam gave a wary smile at his older brother, knowing that he meant well, but unsure if he could find it in himself to make a connection with someone.
"I will survey the surrounding void, while the both of you sleep. Time zones have been affected, and your need to adjust." In an instant he was gone.
"I call the single bed!" Dean blurted, diving onto it, not bothering to change. Sam rolled his eyes, and went to change in the adjacent bathroom. He stared at his reflection for a while, knowing that the demon blood surging through him was hidden beneath the surface. He briefly wondered if he could achieve his previous level of power by simply remaining in this realm. Ruby hadn't been extremely specific in what would happen to him if he continued to drink. Surprisingly his hunger had not come about since hit with the two spells and downing the had seemed easier as well, even though all he had done was trip his nephew/brother's tormentors. He decided to leave his musings for the next day, heading out to lay next to Harry. He allowed himself a victory smirk as he heard his brother struggle to keep the pets off the bed.
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Kingsley Shacklebolt,Head of the Auror department gave a sigh as Three of the Four Hogwarts Head of Houses were escorted into his office. It was six A.M, and only Head Sprout seemed to be cheerful. He found this strange, despite her usually cheery nature, even she was not immune to the dreariness of pre-term business. She gave him a dimpled smile, guessing the question on the Auror's mind.
"Oh haven't you heard? Severus will be joining us this year!" She barely refrained from bouncing on her toes in excitement. McGonagall and Flitwick turned to her in surprise, not having known this information. Kingsley allowed a smile to slip onto his impassive face, before it was once more chased away. There had been issues finding available bodyguards for the trip into the Muggle world. He saw a shock of pink hair flounce past his doorway. He was out of his seat in an instant. His swiftness was always a surprise to those around him, who described him as an immovable mountain. He laid a hand on the young auror's shoulder, and she whipped around giving him a hard chop to the chest. She immediately flushed in embarrassment.
"Sorry 'bout that boss." She squeaked. "I thought you were Taleven, Bugger has been harassing me all day for a date." He gave a nod in understanding, finding her free spirit quite refreshing.
"How would you like a field test?" Magenta eyes sparkled at him. "As if I needed to ask."
"Am I going to help find Harry Potter?" She asked in a low whisper, her eyes turning a deep blue as they subconsciously reflected her state of mind.
"Perhaps you will find him; you do have a knack for getting into trouble. No, you will accompany one of the Heads of Hogwarts into the Muggle world." Nymphadora Tonks had just graduated from Hogwarts two years prior and he knew she would enjoy herself.
"You think the kiddos would enjoy it if I mimicked my charge?" She said with a smirk, changing her appearance into that of Severus Snape. The playful grin and sparkling eyes looked absolutely bizarre on the dour Potions Master's face. Metamorphigi were extremely rare, and yet in the same instance not. Occasionally one would pop out into the world, making up less than one percent of the wizarding population, but from then on their lineage would continue to birth them. It was because of her rare ability that Alastor Moody, one of the most vigilant and hardworking aurors had decided to take the exuberant girl under his wing.
"I am not amused Miss Tonks." Tonks gasped in surprise, whirling around to face Severus Snape, her appearance quickly changing back to her preferred default.
"You are late Severus." Kingsley mentioned, earning himself a scowl.
"Then let us not waste any more time." he snapped back, striding past them to the office. Tonks shook her head and followed after him. The trainee found it odd that Severus stood next to her old Head of House, instead of hiding in a shadowed corner. Sprout gave her a welcoming hug.
"Always knew you had a good head on your shoulders." she whispered, making her former student glow with pride. Kingsley retook his seat, three aurors coming in behind him, taking post behind the three expected Heads. Tonks paled a bit when she realized she would be left to accompany Severus. Said Professor distributed the edited lists that Dumbledore had given to him, evenly distributing the Muggleborn children. McGonagall eyed her list sadly, only two names upon it. This year's class only contained 40 students, a direct cause of the war. Her eyes watered momentarily remembering Lily and James. They were one of the few to try and have a family despite the War, reasoning that it would give them more reason to win. She heard Tonks blow a raspberry and complain about having only one name. This lightened her mood just a bit, and she turned to give her auror a nod, the two departing. Flitwick tried not to let his distress show, as he filed out as well. He would not fail in his mission to get these children into the magical world. Sprout gave Severus a pat on the arm before departing.
"Ready to go then?" She asked Snape.
"We have a stop to make first."
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"You think this'll work?" George whispered to his twin, as they loomed over the bed of their little brother. Only the shocking orange hair that they all shared was visible, loud snores filling the room. Fred grinned impishly at his brother, sapphire eyes sparkling in anticipation. George swore up and down to his brother that the small fleck of gold Fred had in his right eye glimmered brighter whenever his brother had mischief on the mind.
"I hope so." Fred sprinkled a small packet of dust onto his younger brother's hair. Slowly orange faded to a sickly green. "Ronnikins is in for a surprise when he wakes up." Fred looked up to see the speck of silver in his brother's left eye sparkle in pride. These small specks, invisible to anyone who didn't know they were there, was the only difference between the two twins, physically. In brains, they were perfect complements, filling in the holes in each other's knowledge. The only differences in personality happened away from others, though this was not done consciously. George was bit protective of his brother; ever since Fred had come down with Dragon Pox at a time they did not have the funds to immediately cure him. It had been the only time in his life that he had separated from his brother. Fred was also the artistic type, while his brother could hardly draw a stickman.
"You think Mum will get mad?" George asked, pulling out the chair for Fred. Fred shrugged plopping down and pulling two tablemats out of the pile in the center of the table. George took the seat to the left, staring up at the ceiling.
"It washes off in the shower. He'll be fine." Fred finally said. "Little Ronnikins joining us at Hogwarts. Seems like just yesterday we were mentally scarring him for life by changing his teddy bear into a spider."
"Boys? Is that you?" They heard their mother call.
"Kitchen Mum!" They said in unison. Unknown to anyone else, the two shared a mental bond that had formed just as they began to speak. In the magical world it was not uncommon for different bonds to pop up between family members or lovers. They varied and there were no set rules to them, except for the bond itself compelling the bonded to never give away the secret directly.
"Honestly you two, must you always match?" Molly Wesley asked, rushing to start breakfast. The twins grinned, leaning into each other with innocent smiles.
"What's the matter Mum?" Fred asked.
"Can't tell us apart?" George questioned. Molly looked between the two, whom were both wearing maroon long sleeves and black jeans.
"Since you two are up early, you can go de-gnome the garden. Go on get!" she scolded good naturedly as the twins began to snicker at her inability to tell them apart. The two scampered off, joyfully chasing the small garden tormentors around. Together they were experts at catching the buggers, Fred with increased hearing and George with his heightened sight. It was only because he was so in sync with his brother that George happened to see a shadowy figure perched in their tree. It disappeared a moment later, and Fred sprinted towards the tree after the sound of fluttering wings.
"Fred! Stop! It's gone!" George called out, chasing his brother, in case the figure had simply become invisible. Fred halted, only half turning back to his twin.
"I- It was wings...I thought maybe an owl." Fred was worried, George could sense it. They had been very aware of the dangers of the first war. Bill and sometimes even Charlie would tell them all they had experienced, the fear, the hatred, the betrayal. They were shaken of their wariness when they heard Ron give out a shrill scream. Twin grins immediately dissolved at hearing Ginny scream as well. Wands were instantly in their hands as they dashed towards the house. There was no need however as they heard Ginny scold Ron for scaring her. They entered just in time to hear Ron's explanation as to why he had barreled into their sister's room and dragged her down into the kitchen in such a panic. His face was nearly the same color as his hair, not tomato red as the twins had been hoping.
"Gin...I didn't mean-I thought I had seen a man in my room."
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Cas entered the next home, making sure to use cloaking powers this time around, lest he be spotted as he had been by the red-haired bunch. It was what he had been doing since leaving the hotel, jumping from place to place following a mental thread no thicker than spider filament. It worried him that each string led to a child. First had been a boy living with his grandmother. Neville. Aura an extremely pale green. Nothing remarkable had happened while he was there. Following that he found himself in the home of Draco Malfoy, and had quickly moved on. The next line led him to a random point, and did not to connect to any being, simply waving around wistfully as if waiting for someone to come along. It was not until he stepped into the home of seven that something seemed different. It had been three in the morning when he first arrived, following two threads that ran parallel. Twin boys laid in each bed, hands connected between them. Cas had decided to touch one of the cords, vibrating it slightly, the one next to it reacted in perfect harmony, and suddenly both boys were sitting up. In the dark, however, it seemed like a single being with mismatched gold and silver eyes was staring back at him. He had stilled the cords immediately, the eyes dimming back to sapphire, twins going limp against their pillows. He could see two other cords through the house, but had tracked the twins, who had caught sight of him in the garden. Without much thought he rushed to another string, looming over the bed of a boy with sickly green hair. Said boy had shot up from bed in mere seconds, rushing not downstairs but higher. Cas thought this to be a foolish thing to do when faced with an enemy. He heard the green haired one give small warning to the female before having them both jump over the banister straight to the kitchen from the third floor. The female had glimpsed him as well as she fell, confusion and anger across her face.
"Would you like to join my tea party?" Cas jumped in surprise as he looked to see a young girl staring directly at him. "Mother said your kind would come one day, it is why I have tea made every day."
"What is your name young one?" He asked, even as the name seared itself into his brain like a white hot arrow.
"I am not ready yet. It is why the threads are so thin." She plucked the one connected to her and gave a giggle.
"What can you tell me Luna?" Cas asked gruffly. She didn't seem affected, and began to sway on her feet, humming softly. A small innocent smile graced her lips.
"You are doing the right thing." She slowly twirled away from him, stopping suddenly to stare off into space, a distressed whine escaping her throat. Xeno, her father, rushed in at that moment, the necklace he wore still glowing. Cas watched in confusion as Xeno did nothing to help his daughter out of her trance. He simply laid his hands upon her shoulders.
"It is impossible to save everyone Luna dear."
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"So is it protocol then to bring other children to an interview or am I missing something here?" Tonks asked, giving a wary glance towards her second cousin. Upon seeing where exactly they would be making a stop, she had transformed herself into a plainer version of one of her colleagues. It was not that she was afraid of Draco, but she was almost certain she could get booted from Auror training if she permanently removed an eleven-year-old's mouth for spewing insults.
"Draco has made friends with the Winchester boy." Snape offered as explanation. Tonks glanced sideways at her cousin, who had a serene smile on his face. She let her appearance change to her preferred state. Her mother was a prime example that someone should not be judged by their family name, and Draco seemed an okay enough kid, especially if he was friends with a Muggleborn, though she had no idea how that came to be.
"Oh, hello Dora." Draco said, though his polite tone seemed just a tad bit forced. "Severus told me to be on my best behaviour, or else I'd be sent home. While your mother is a disgrace to the Black family, I think you should be given a chance due to your amazing ability." Tonks hid an amused smirk as the boy tried to imitate his father's way of puffing out his chest.
"Ever the diplomat.'' She said deadpan.
"Draco, go on ahead and make sure they are decent." Draco nodded and jogged up the stairs. Severus took a seat at a booth, and Tonks warily slid in across from him. "I am about to tell you something of great importance, keep all your idiotic questions until the end." Tonks scowled at the Potions Master, but nodded. "As foreign as the concept may seem to you, I do have the capacity to care about people. This family is some of the very short list. Do not speak to the boy unless he speaks to you directly. Do not step in when Draco undoubtedly expresses a bias view, I want the boy to be able to defend and think for himself. If you manage to upset any of them, I will give Kingsley a negative review of your duties."
"Why are they important to you? No offense there, but you seem the type to keep everyone a stone throw away." Severus sat silent for a few moments. Tonks shifted nervously, sensing something off but not sure what.
"These are Lily's god siblings. Dean's adopted son reminds me a lot of Lily as well. I can only imagine that this is because the Evans picked a family with similar values to theirs to entrust their daughter to." Severus watched his former student process the information. As he would with anyone who would be coming in close contact with Harry, he was misleading her.
"If only Harry Potter had been entrusted to someone like them." She said sadly, surprising the man across from her. He then remembered that Tonks was a notorious fly on the wall, and could have easily snuck into a meeting of importance. He was kept from having to respond when he heard the stomping of feet. Draco and Harry were racing down the stairs, the blond winning. Quite suddenly Harry was next to Severus, and Tonks gave a startled yelp.
"Cheater!" Draco called.
"You cheated first." Harry replied, sticking out his tongue. Tonks shakily placed a hand on the table, amazed at the level of control the boy had. She quickly regained her composure when Snape sent her a withering glare. Draco sat next to Severus, nudging him slightly to make room for Harry. Tonks attention was drawn back to the stairs when several loud thumps effectively silenced the patrons. The man making the noise smiled sheepishly, and attempted to step lighter. Behind him a shorter man was struggling with a small kitten and dog.
"Are we going to get our wands today?" Harry asked his blond friend.
"Wands?" The taller man asked, electing to pull out a chair instead of trying to squeeze next to the pink haired woman.
"Harry get your damn pets." The shorter complained. Harry laughed and called his pets over. The kitten hopped onto the dogs back and the pair went to sit next to their master. "Oh of course."
"Harry, this is my second cousin Nymphadora, we call her Dora. She is training to be an auror." Draco said, waving slightly in Tonks direction.
"What is an auror?" Harry asked, fake blue eyes looking at her inquisitively. Tonks cleared her throat, an unexpected case of nerves cropping up as what she assumed were Harry's parents stared her down as well.
"It is a magical police, or detective. We keep the peace. I'm being trained by the best auror ever, his only student ever." She said proudly.
"Why's that? You powerful?" The shorter asked, a bit rudely. Tonks gave a sickeningly sweet grin, before shifting into an exact copy of the man. She had expected shock, or even awe, not a knife being suddenly pressed to her neck. The one she was copying pulled out a cell phone, holding it near her face.
"Not a shifter, Sammy." The knife was removed, no other patron knowing what had just happened. Tonks quickly scuttled away, turning back to normal. The man, Sammy, glared at her.
"How did you do that? How did you change into my brother?" He demanded, brown eyes glinting with restraint.
"She's a metamorphmagus." Draco explained. "She was born like that. How did you get your knife out of your pocket so fast? I would have thought it magic, except you're Muggles."
"He keeps a holster under his sleeve. I plan to get two, one for my wand and one for my knife." Harry said excitedly. "Oh, are you okay Dora? They didn't mean to, it's just, you could have been a shifter." Harry extended a hand to her in comfort. He thought it was very funny that he had just learned about shifters and Dora had shown up. Tonks took the hand, and a calm feeling washed over her.
"What is a shifter Harry?" Draco asked, trying to gain back his friends attention.
"They can shed their skin to turn into anyone they want! As long as they are close to the victim they can gain their memories and then no one would know which one was the real one. Dad checked her using his camera on his phone. Shifter eyes glow in pictures."
"That's repulsive." Draco sneered, scrunching up his nose.
"I'm really sorry." Sam said. Tonks nodded, but did not resume her previous seat.
"Dean." The shorter one turned to the stairs, grinning brightly upon seeing a dark haired man.
"Honeybunch!" Dean called back, holding out his arms. Sam snorted, and Tonks cracked a smile. The man had a confused look as he came to stand next to them, completely ignoring outstretched arms.
"I possess no honey." Tonks saw Harry roll his eyes. "Dean I must speak with..." The man trailed off, noticing a small thread worming away from Harry and towards the female sitting across from him. There were also solid ones connecting Severus, Dean and Sam. "Who are you?"
"Names Nymphadora Tonks, Auror in Training. You can call me Tonks or Dora."
"Order her to leave, now." The man told Severus, blue eyes cold. Severus gave her a sharp look.
"No! This is my job, I cannot abandon you. This guy seems suspicious to me, constant vigilance. Severus, you aren't doing anything, illegal, are you?" Tonks sputtered in indignation.
"Why do you want her to go Cas?" Sam asked. Cas stared at a point right between her eyes and frowned.
"It is too late now." Cas turned and pulled Dean away with him. Tonks silently cast an eavesdropping spell that Alastor had taught her.
"What is going on Cas?" Dean asked.
"This is the original plan. It is forming; I was trying to keep her out of it." Cas replied.
"What do you mean it's forming?"
"Harry is the center of it all. When the destinies of mortals are intertwined, there is a thread visible to angels. They are thin, but certain events will still come to pass. I met the new prophet last night. All the players are children, and everyone at that table. Which means Lilith will somehow infiltrate this void." Cas stared off in contemplation.
"Lilith?"
"The first demon. Stripped of her humanity by Lucifer himself. She was in the process of breaking the 66 seals to release Lucifer, but I had assumed with his vessel set to be destroyed they would prolong. It seems this is not the case."
"Okay, so when she gets here, we gank the bitch." Dean responded.
"No, we will need to protect her. Her death is the last seal. You and Sam are possibly the only ones powerful enough to kill her, as in accordance with the plan."
"Fuck." Dean rubbed at his face. "In that case, I'll tell Sammy to get on some containment spells or something." Tonks ended the spell, lucky to find that no one had been speaking to her. She sincerely hoped that this family was simply crazy, or in a constant state of RPG for the amusement of their son.
"We should get going, collect your brother and his husband." Severus said. Harry and Draco slid out of their seats. KitKat climbed onto Harry's shoulder, and Danny waited patiently as Harry clipped on his leash.
"They don't allow dogs at Hogwarts, you know?" Tonks said.
"An exception will be made." Severus replied immediately. Harry beamed at Severus, and Tonks stared in shock as Severus placed a hand on the boy's head in a caring manner. His hand dropped as the Winchesters returned, scowl set firmly in place.
"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Sam asked as he fell in step with Tonks. She nodded, scanning the immediate area as the archway opened up. "So you were born with this ability, do you know if it is recessive, or?"
"I don't think magic fits into Punnett Squares. It is a gift really. Magic is based on intent, which is why children can do accidental magic that has no corresponding spell words. As for my gift specifically, it is rare to receive it randomly, but my children and their children and their children yadda yadda yadda, will have this gift."
"Okay," Sam scribbled furiously into his notebook. "What exactly does your ability allow you to do? Can you only copy people you've seen?"
"No. I can change anything, to whatever I want. It is just like regular magic, it took me a while to get control over it. I can't gain memories like your shifters. Well, I mean I could if I knew Legilimency."
"What is that?" Sam asked eagerly.
"It's being able to go through someone's memory with just a glance into their eyes. Only powerful witches and wizards can do it easily. Anyone can learn, but you just get more success the better you are."
"You sure know a lot, you look very young." Tonks blushed.
"I am 20. I only know all this stuff because of Alastor. Know thy enemy and all that. I would tell you to go to him, but I doubt he'd tell you anything due to the Statute of Secrecy. I think it makes sense to hide from Muggles sure, but with people like you, who have magical children. You should be allowed to know everything. You will be a target, your child could be a target, and you need to know." Sam thought back to all the Hunters he had called.
"What happens if a Muggle sees something they aren't supposed to?"
"An Auror will erase their memory. I think it is cruel. Obliviate should only be used by the more powerful, because it can cause damage. Our government is just like any other, with rotten apples throughout. Some don't take the time to replace memories, or they don't get the full memory out and a Muggle can be driven mad. It should be like...like Men in Black. "
"There isn't a way to reverse this?"
"The memory that is taken is stored in the wand. There is a spell to make it tangible but Alastor will not tell me what it is. Otherwise it is destroyed by the next spell cast. There is no way to restore the memory. There are other memory charms that just put blocks up temporarily, but there is too much risk of those breaking when you least expect them too." Sam drifted away from her at that point, deep in thought. Harry exclaimed over the goblins in front of Gringotts, with Severus imparting their importance. Sam quickly shook out of his stupor and began jotting down everything the Potions Master said. Tonks took this time to come in between Dean and Cas. She was unsure of how to start the conversation, so she decided to dive right in.
"They say the first wizard was the product of an angel and a demon. Meaning we are all technically Muggle born."
"That's a weird legend. Was Merlin the first wizard, or just a real powerful one? Is he real?" Dean asked without hesitation. Cas had not reacted at all.
"I am connected to this aren't I? I deserve to know." She hissed, eyes turning red.
"Cas?" Dean questioned. Cas turned suddenly, blocking her path. Dean discreetly moved to cover them. Tonks gripped her wand tighter as blue eyes shone with an unnatural light. Her eyes became unfocused for a few moments before he stepped back.
"Yeah, Merlin existed. About a billion year ago." She said with a snort. Dean clapped her on the shoulder and walked off with Cas. Tonks frowned when she realized that she had her wand in her hand. A voice in the back of her mind that sounded just like Alastor was screaming that she had been preparing for an attack. She could feel no changes to herself, and the Muggles had carried on as if nothing had happened. That left a few options, the most prevalent being memory charms. Yet, as she looked around, she could not find a single person out of place, or suspicious. Dean and Cas were simply holding hands gazing around as Severus helped Harry work out his account, Sam scribbling notes. She wordlessly rejoined them, but did not put her wand away. Rule number 52, never underestimate anyone. Severus was a master Legimis, but by the frustrated look on his face and the two boys refusing to look at each other, he had been dealing with Harry and Draco bickering just a moment before. Sam had nearly two more pages worth of notes, and a rudimentary sketch of the goblin behind the counter. Dean had asked her about Merlin, and his husband...had not said a single word to her since leaving the Leaky Cauldron. He was a Muggle; he could not have possibly charmed her memory. Tonks had been studying Cas so intently that she did not notice the look Dean shared with his brother.
"Hey, Severus said if I touch anything, it could possibly kill me. That true? Cause I wanted to do a rubbing of one of the pillars." Sam asked her.
"Goblins take security very seriously. They don't trust wizards worth jack." She replied absentmindedly.
"Do you know if the magic is advanced enough to recognize intent? What if I was to trip and fall, and accidentally touch something?" Tonks smacked herself in the forehead. "Oh, uhm, was that a dumb question?"
"No...no. I just realized I probably set something off earlier. I'm a bit of a klutz. I don't know a lot about goblin magic, it is closely guarded secret." Sam nodded, and when she turned away sent Dean a significant look over her head.
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"I would feel much better if one of your parents were home Ms. Granger." Minerva repeated as the bushy haired girl led her into her home. The house was very simple, and cozy, a multitude of pictures on the walls, depicting a happy family. It was only because of this that Minerva did not assume that Hermione was hiding her magic from her parents. It was always such a tragedy to see a name disappear off the master list because of parents who could not understand that their child was not broken. She often thought that they should be allowed to check up on the children, but the ministry continued to refute it.
"Mother and I made a comprehensive list of questions and concerns. Ultimately the decision is up to me as well, so it would make more sense for me to have all the information, and to conduct the interview." Hermione gestured to the kitchen table. "Would you like any tea?"
"No, that is quite alright Ms. Granger." Minerva took a seat. Sometimes it was glaringly obvious which house a student would end up in. That is not to say that they did not possess the other qualities of the remaining houses, but they were paired with their peers for a reason. Hermione pulled out notebook, with several neatly written questions, furthering the assumption that she would end up in Ravenclaw. "As you know from your letter, you are a young witch. I am the Transfiguration Professor, Head of Gryffindor and Deputy of Hogwarts. Our school is one of many across the world, but is regarded as the best. By accepting the invitation to our school, you would be entering a gateway into our magical community. Hogwarts will provide you with the necessary skills and talent to enter any field of magical work that you desire. Upon arrival you will be sorted into one of four Houses, each with peers that hold similar values as you. It takes seven years to graduate, in which you will be able to move into a training program. In short, we can teach you to be the best version of yourself."
"Will there be others like me? Who were born to non-magical parents?" Hermione asked. Minerva gave a soft sigh, pulling out the short list from her pocket. This was a question that almost every Muggle family asked. This year her assurances of inclusion were not going to be as strong as usual
"In your year, six others are being offered a spot. This class is smaller than normal, I'm sure you will connect with other Muggleborn students." She reassured.
"Why." It was not a question that could be written off. Soft brown eyes were boring into her, pen poised above paper.
"I'm not sure if I should reveal such sensitive information without-"
"The wizarding world isn't all glitter and gold, nothing ever is. I am not foolish enough to keep such important information from my parents, because by doing so I could put them in danger too." Hermione stated. Minerva gazed at the girl in front of her before slowly nodding.
"You are the generation born from those who fought in our civil war. The war ended eleven years ago, thanks to Harry Potter. That is not to say that there aren't still those who foster old beliefs. You seem like a smart girl so I will tell you what you must likely have already figured out. There is Dark Magic and evil villains, but you will be safe at Hogwarts, and within its walls you will learn how to overcome it."
"What was the civil war about?" Hermione asked, dreading the answer. She could only imagine how other wizards and witches would react if she was ignorant of their customs. Unless of course there was a class to help children learn such traditions.
"On one side was a blood purist, much like Hitler, who believed only those of pure wizard blood, should be allowed to live. On the other, led by our Headmaster, those who believed magic was a gift and anyone who possessed it deserved to learn how to yield it, and those who did not were to be left in peace. Many good people died...students I had taught, deciding to become soldiers right after graduation..." Tears appeared in her eyes. "So many Gryffindors, the very children I was tasked with protecting, but you can't, not once they leave Hogwarts. You can only teach them so much without drifting into the Dark Arts and dimming their core. You take a child out of the Muggle world, and they are not even home when they fall."
"It becomes their home! No one would want to stay in the Muggle world, knowing that their brothers and sisters were falling for their rights." Hermione declared. Her outburst had made the table rattle under her hands. Perhaps, Minerva thought, she had been too quick to judge Hermione Granger. She could not bear the thought of training another Gryffindor to their death. Not when she watched them grow up away from home.
"That is why they should not have to fight them..." Minerva said, knowing of the hundreds of older wizards who could have taken up the front lines.
"That is why they have to fight! Half of the battle is intimidating the enemy. To prove they have no right to decide who is and who is not worthy." Hermione sat back in her seat, a blush creeping up her face at her outburst. "Listen to me...the war is over." Minerva placed a hand over Hermione's.
"No. It's not."
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Harry and Draco stood side by side in front of Ollivander's, staring at the fogged windows. They were silent for two very different reasons. Draco had known this day would come since he could understand English. With a wand he would be able to achieve greatness, he would become powerful. With a wand a great burden to do well, and do good would be placed upon him. He would have to make sure to preserve his family name, while not furthering the negative family image. He blindly reached out for his friend's hand. Harry accepted it, lost in his own fears. Once he accepted this wand, there would be no going back, no running. Severus had made sure he knew this. Once he accepted this wand he would have to do his best to remain anonymous, while secretly training Harry Potter to be the stuff of legends.
"This is a very special moment in a child's life." Tonks said. "You should go in separately." Dean nodded and grabbed Harry's other hand, leading him into the store. Draco and Harry kept their hands linked into the very last moment, and Tonks could only standby and appreciate their symmetry. Draco's hand fell to his side as the door shut with a soft thunk.
"Cas, come with me. I want to get one last thing for Harry." Sam said, leading the angel away.
"How long have they had Harry?" Tonks asked Severus, finding it odd that Cas did not go in as well. In fact a lot of things that the black haired man did were odd to her.
"That information is not of importance to you. The way they decide to raise their child is their business." Severus looked down at Draco, who was biting his lip nervously. "Would you rather wait until your father has time to take you?" Draco shook his head no, but did not elaborate. "Very well."
Meanwhile, inside the shop an aging wizard made his way to the front, milky blue eyes lighting up in delight.
"I had wondered when I would be seeing you." The man snapped his fingers and a measuring tape jumped to his hands. "Hold out your wand arm, the one you write with." Harry held his right arm out. Ollivander took several measurements and then moved away, the tape continuing to record abstract distances. Dean reached out to poke the enchanted object. He spent the next minute running away from it as it tried to ram itself into him. Ollivander snatched the thing out of midair.
"Woah." Harry breathed, amazed that the man had been able to do that. Ollivander gave him a wink as he passed him the wand. Normally, he would tell the specifications of the wand, but he had waited years to meet the boy, and wanted the moment to be perfectly magical. He frowned and quickly snatched the wand back, handing him another. He should have expected the wand similar to his father's not to work; he could already tell that the boy was more like his mother in temperament. When the second didn't work, he began to mutter to himself and decided that a boy so special would require a special wand. He started to pull out several odd combinations, yet one after the other they produced nothing.
"I wonder..."
"Could I not be a wizard?" The boy asked, terror written across his face. Ollivander scoffed at the question, and headed towards the back. Carefully, he pulled a black box from the shelf, and held it close to his chest. He stood before them and handed over the entire box.
"This one will work." There was hesitation. "I promise." Harry took the wand and immediately several sparks shot out, dancing along the walls. Ollivander placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"How'd you know it would work?" The man behind him accused. Ollivander did not need to turn to notice the man's glare.
"To make a wand core, you must willingly receive hair or feather of a magical beast. It just so happens that the phoenix who gave this feather, gave one other. The other lies in the wand hat started the war. I hope with this wand...that you may end it, Harry Potter." Harry looked up at him in shock.
"I never forget a face Mr. Potter. Both your father and mother came to me. Both from very different worlds, and you my son, are in a league of your own." Ollivander noticed Dean's stricken expression. "I did not recognize you by your face construct. It was the expression of awe, pure Lily Evans. The amazement when I snatched the tape, James Potter. Mostly, it was the feel of your magic. You have them in equal parts within you. But it is clear to me that you are not just an Evans-Potter."
"Harry Winchester." Harry said, holding out his hand. Ollivander laughed loudly, vigorously shaking the offered hand.
"Your name is the gift of your old family, paired with the gift of your new. Well, Mr. Winchester. That will be seven Galleons." Dean handed over the money. "Harry Winchester. I expect great things from you, and I know you will not let me down."
"Thank you sir." Harry and Dean left the store. Ollivander smiled to himself as he returned to the back of the store.
"No, Harry Winchester, thank you."
A/N before I get hella reviews asking why so many people know who Harry actually is (a few more know in later chapters) The point is no one ever thinks to ask minor characters. Sometimes minor characters have more importance than they are given credit for. In my opinion I feel Ollivander would have recognized him, because wands are his passion. He WOULD remember the expressions of each child, the feel of their magic because it is what he loves to do. And that is another thing, Ollivander is essentially neutral. Because every person who has a wand, good or bad, most likely got it from him and the only thing he remembers are their expressions of awe at 11. He doesn't speak directly to Dumbledore, he has no idea that Harry Potter isn't meant to exist, and all he wants is a happy child, so Harry Winchester it is.