Chapter: After School Special
A/N: Here's the next chapter :) each character kind of had a theme song for this chapter, if you're interested in knowing send me a message or review!
Music is an integral part of life in my opinion. It can sometimes speak the words you cannot say yourself. There are a few segments of music within this, which at first glance may seem OOC or childish, but if you picture it in the larger picture and in the context of your own teenage years of headphones maxed out it might seem a bit deeper ;)
Bobby had quickly learned that on any given night, without fail, at least one of his boys would be plagued by nightmares. Each were so unique, and their problems were as well. He took a sip of his FireWhiskey, glancing at the clock nearby. It was almost three in the morning, there was no time for rest. As of late, it had been him having nightmares. 'No pillow for my head' He let the empty bottle fall to the floor, a small clink of glass echoing through the living room as it joined the two others he had polished off earlier. He was afraid. He had never wanted to be a father, and yet here he was. Guilt consumed him, for he had been so selfish as to not share this with his wife. He wanted to give these young men the chance to be normal, but for some it was too late. For others, they were quickly sinking into a life he did not wish for them. Bobby gave a tired sigh. To the silence he vowed to teach them all he knew, but as an afterthought promised to get them all together for Thanksgiving. The chair creaked as he stood and made his way to the kitchen. Although he had painted over the faded memories on long forgotten portraits, it had not left his mind. Bobby had tried his best to find more about Severus, just short of asking the neighbors. The man was truly a mystery, perhaps even to himself.
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Very similarly, Severus was up in his office, grading a few papers. Or rather he was staring at the same essay as he had been five hours ago. Wordlessly he summoned a full set of twelve vials. He placed the tip of his wand against his head, slowly extracting the memory of confirming Dan as his half brother. He would of course still know this knowledge, but a definite reenactment of the ordeal would no longer be available. Vaguely it reminded him of how him and Lily used to pass notes back when they were attending Muggle school. He was converting the memories into a non-visible lemon juice written story, and only the emotions in his heart could provide the flame to reveal the message, burning it if anyone else were to see. For if his face showed no emotion at the mention of something an opponent said, they would never suspect there to be a message to read. It is why he kept his heart as cold as ice, except when he was within his own chambers. At times he wished that removing the scenes from his head could truly rid him of the memories, but there was no way to run from this, no way to forget. One by one memories began to fill the vials. His hand touched nothing but the wooden desk and he looked down in mild shock. With a sound that was halfway between a sob and a sigh, he let his face fall into his hands, his black hair obscuring him.
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Sam rolled the potion between his hands. He held the vial up to the light; a red glow being cast upon his face. He uncorked it and took it as easily as a shot of whiskey. By this point he no longer made a face at the weird tastes of potions. He felt as if the room was being filled with disjointed whispers. All around the shadows creep, getting closer and closer, as if reaching for him. Sam shook his head roughly, deciding that perhaps he had had one too many potions. He stood shakily, his foot hitting a pile of vials, sending them skittering around the room. His footsteps felt heavy as he reached the bathroom. He figured it was the surging energy of his physic powers adjusting to such a human body. He brushed at himself, feeling like something was suffocating him. Looking into the mirror, he could see nothing on his person. It was just the imagine shadows draped over him. 'Like friends' Sam thought, a bit too giddy. 'They cover me' Slumping drunkenly to the floor his eyes closed and he found sleep for the first time that night.
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Adam let the necklace he held drop onto his chest. He was laying in bed, wondering if he should be doing something more than just reading books for Bobby. He may not be the smartest but he could tell that his brothers were involved in some heavy shit, to put it simply. He got up, pacing around the room for the fifth time that night. He paused to look at some of the knick knacks he and Dan had placed upon the desk. Well, his items were useless knick knacks. Everything Dan had placed was significant in its meaning. The silver cross barely made a sound when he let it fall onto the desk they shared. Without much though he grabbed the same bag he had come here with, stuffing a change of clothes inside. The blond cast a quick glance to the top bunk, not realizing that his roommate was awake as well. Adam ducked out of the room, fully intending to leave under the cover of night. 'Just want to lay me down and finally try to get some sleep.' His knuckles turned white with how tightly he gripped the doorframe. The youngest Winchester crept downstairs, but in his haste forgot to skip the step that creaked.
"Adam?"
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Dean thrashed around on his bed, entangling himself in the bedcovers. His face was tormented, mouth open in a silent scream. A particularly bad spasm caused the hunter to draw his own blood. He was burning. A loud gasp broke the silence as Dean sat bolt upright in bed, the sweat rolling off his body mixing with the wound on his chest. Dean pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes, trying to expel the visions of Hell. It took a minute to escape from the blankets, and then he was scrambling for the lights. There was no cord, he had forgotten he was in the castle, where everything was charmed by voice command.
"Lu-" he cut himself off. He felt safer in the dark. He knew what was in the dark. He could hear it, he could almost sense it even. But in the light, a monster could walk up to you with a smile on its face. 'Or maybe' he wondered. 'I feel safer in the dark because I'm a monster too.' "Lumos." the lights blared to life before settling down to a soft glow. He walked to his bathroom, grabbing a nearby washcloth and cleaning the wound he had inflicted upon himself. Next, he washed his face, looking up at the mirror, and flinching back, blinking in surprise. A shaky hand reached out and touched the mirror. He thought he had seen himself with black eyes. The crack of lightning caused him to jump. Shuffling back into the room, he lifted the small curtain of the window. He needed to go for a run to clear his head. Even though it was only four in the morning, the faintest hint of sun cresting on the horizon was enough for him. He got dressed in a hurry, stepping out into the pouring rain in no time. He chose to carry on through the storm, the illness in his mind more toxic than any flu he might catch. Shapes flitted past in the forest as he ran along its edge, making his way towards the lake. He could feel his heart pounding with every footfall. 'We're all tired soldiers in this war, when will it ever stop?'
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Dan had listened to Adam pace around for most of the night, which was a welcome distraction. Once the boy had left the room however, a fear overtook him. He stared at the white glove on his hand, flexing it and seeing the neon fed wires embedded within them. Activating it, he created a ball of ectoplasm.
'Really badger? Planning to use those lovely powers against me, even though I am the only one that can bring your soul back from the edge of death each time you use them?'
The green light extinguished lazily, leaving a trail of light as his fist struck the wall next to him. He rolled out of bed, landing deftly despite the drop from the top bunk. Both gloves whirred to life, blast after blast hitting the wall opposite him. A guttural growl left his throat as his eyes were encased in neon green. With each step closer to the imaginary enemy, more of his power ups activated, without the use of their buttons. The wall was beginning to give way, despite the self repairing charms that it had. He was just so angry. How could he have been such a fool as to believe in Vlad? A scream was dragged from him as twin beams of energy left his eyes, boring into the wall, causing it to sizzle and spark as magic warred with ectoplasm.
"DAN!" though the fog he could hear someone calling his name, but it didn't matter. He wasn't Dan, Dan had died along with his family in the explosion. He had created a new identity, one that inspired the very same fear he felt everyday. He heard a gasp as the wall crumbled, but he did not relent. He was all powerful in this form. In this form, he did not feel pain. He was known throughout this realm and the next, not as Dan, but rather…
"Phantom…" the demon gasped.
( _ ) _ ( _ ) _ ( _ )
Adam stepped forward to catch Dan as he fell from his slight hover, all of his equipment having shut down as he lost consciousness. The white of his hair receded back to black, a bit of color returning to his cheeks. Now free from attack the wall rebuilt itself, despite Ruby's indignant demands to be freed. Bobby motioned for Adam to bring Dan to the bottom bunk. The older man took the time to investigate the equipment on Dan, assured that the boy would not be waking any time soon to tell him off.
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Cas was keeping lookout on the roof of the castle. He had seen Dean go running out some time ago but knew better than to interfere. 'Our tainted history, is playing on repeat.' he mused, recalling how Michael had also become agitated and secluded as the time of the battle grew near. Cas stood with practiced ease, stretching his wings out against the rain. The sun was beginning to crest on the horizon, making each drop seem as sharp as glass. As he had been doing for the past few days, he reached up the heavens, as if he could heal it by mere touch.
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Harry slept peacefully, the first time in many nights. In his dreams, he was surrounded by unknown persons, yet he felt safe with them. All too soon his alarm was going off, waking him from the comfort. As he started to get ready, the dream began to slip from his mind, until only one message was left. Be unafraid for the heirs to come, be brave.
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Breakfast was a quiet affair. Severus watched the children chatter amongst themselves. Harry was playfully wrestling with Weasley, and he had to look away. He could still recall those days when Lily would sneak up on him at the schoolhouse back in Spinner's end. Of course, he had always let her. His skills were refined, even back then. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nott approach Harry and he stood abruptly, drawing the attention of the Winchesters. They followed his gaze, and their eyes grew hard as well. The two first years exchanged some words, and then the Slytherin left. Severus slowly lowered himself back into his seat. Harry continued on with his friends as if nothing had happened. He wondered what exactly Harry's school experience had been like. There was much that was still a mystery about the boy, things that not even the Winchesters knew. Then again, they had essentially kidnapped the boy. How starved for attention was the boy that he would go with the first people to show him he was wanted. It could have been anyone to approach the boy, even a Death Eater, but he had been accepted so he decided...Severus let his hand rest over his left arm. Next to him Sam adjusted his position so that his leg rested against his. The small platter in front of him cracked clean in half. Severus stood. He did not let the inquisitive look on Sam's face form into a question on his lips. To his dying his breath he would deny that he had run away, but every student who had seen his exit agreed that he was even scarier when his cloak snapped with his quick movements.
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Albus had still not come up with another plan to get Harry alone. The boy stayed out of trouble for the most part, and what shenanigans he did get into were done with other students. Regardless, he had other issues pressing him at the moment. Such as the arrival of the Daily Prophet, which announced Tonks' disappearance. Alastor had still not come forth with any information on either Winchester. It was for this reason that he did not hear the conversation that Professor Quirrell was having with Professor Sprout about Devil's Snare.
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"So, she's got braces now, don't she?" A young girl asked her table mates.
"Yeah, I heard she got them over the weekend, what a loser!" A boy answered.
"There's no way Jake will ever ask her out now." Another girl snickered.
"Hey guys." Emily greeted, standing at the end of the table with her lunch tray. The 'u' had stuck in her mouth though and the occupants laughed, causing her to tinge red. It was then that she noticed a new girl sitting at the table. A girl that her and Tabitha made fun of endlessly for her outdated cell. "That's my spot."
"Sorry, brace face, only the cool kids sit here." The boy replied smoothly, leaning back in his chair. A few of his friend nudged at each other with large grins.
"Brace. Face. Brace. Face. Brace. Face. Brace. Face!" Emily quickly turned away, sitting down at a mostly empty table. The girl near her moved closer, pushing up her glasses as she sat down.
"You shouldn't listen to them." Emily looked up, with a look of disgust.
"Don't talk to me, you fat, ugly pig." The other girl became upset, blinking back tears as she left the table.
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Severus stood in the trophy room, staring at the plaque bearing James Potter's name.
"Come on Sev. It will be a new start!" Lily exclaimed as they got ready to cross the barrier at 9 ¾. He nodded absentmindedly, because he knew that she was right. No one here knew what his life was at home. He might actual stand a chance of being normal this year. Plus, since there was a uniform, there would be no ridicule because of his attire. A smile had just barely started to form when another boy crashed into him, causing tears to spring forward instead as his mending rib was hit.
"Oi, quit standing around you idiot." The boy called over his shoulder.
"You're the idiot!" Lily fumed, turning pink in the face.
"Lily!" Her mother admonished, as she fussed over Severus. Petunia snickered softly in the background. "Go on and get going you two. Make sure to write!" Severus went through first, turning to wait for Lily. He took a step back as the trolley started to come through, tripping over the outstretched foot of another boy.
"Come on now Sirius, leave the poor thing alone, can't you see he's about to cry?" The bespectacled one taunted. Sirius crouched down so he was close to Severus' face.
"I was just joshing with him James." Sirius offered Severus a hand. Severus slapped the hand away, getting to his feet, holding onto his left side.
"Sev." Lily called as she passed fully through the barrier.
"Here." He grit out between labored breaths. He saw the concern on her face. "Let's go grab a seat."
He had intended to hate Harry Potter. This liquid poison was still within him.
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He had finally found a lead on the Winchesters. Dean Winchester, born to Mary and John, was on the FBI's most wanted list for murder. Amongst the other things the man was wanted for, including credit card fraud, grave desecration, Impersonation, Arson, kidnapping, mass murder, desecration of corpses and breaking out of jail. The Winchester family had been on the move ever since Mary's passing. Until young Sam decided to go to college. Stanford. To be a lawyer no less.
"Now he's got himself on the wrong side of the law." Alastor muttered. The conclusions he was coming to were skewed by the fact that he had never been around when John had helped the Order during the first war. He knew of a man that helped, but he did not know the circumstances, for he had not thought it to be important at the time. He scolded himself. Constant Vigilance had become his saying once he had lost his eye. By then John had been gone. His son's however, were criminals. He would not put it past them having kidnapped the child they called their son. The poor boy was probably too brainwashed to even notice anymore. He feared that they were the ones who held Nymphadora captive.
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"Alright She- Demon. I have questions, and you damn well better have answers." Bobby stated as he pulled up a chair to the edge of the demon trap. Ruby glared at him sullenly.
"How about you explain what the Terror of the Afterlife is doing here?" She spat back. "How did you even bring him to this domain? Did you summon him? Do you know how many claimed souls he stole from right under a demon's nose?" She ranted, pacing around her circle. "Not to mention his hellhound! Lucifer sure was pissed about that one."
"You're going to have to start from the beginning." The older man requested. Ruby hugged herself as she paced around some more.
"He first appeared four years ago, and no one gave him a second glance." The nameless white-haired ghost shivered violently as he floated listlessly through the green of the Soul Sector. He looked as if he would keel over if he weren't already dead. He flinched as two Hellhounds ran past him chasing a soul for their master. "But as the months passed, he began to notice us." Neon green eyes were constantly watching, even if the boy never moved. Most continued to ignore him, for he was neither aiding nor hindering their work. Word began to get around about the strange teen, but no demon brought forth a claim on his soul, meaning he was most likely bound to the Soul Sector for other reasons. "No one really thought he could do much. He looked so scrawny, but he is so much more than he looks. He is stronger than most of us." A demon nudged a nearby coworker as the white-haired teen came closer to them. The weaker one gave a nervous laugh. The stronger of the two turned to make a comment, and it was then that the teen grabbed him, tearing him limb from limb, as if he were paper. "Faster…" Sic'ing the hellhounds on him was ineffective. He dodged them as if they were not moving, his green eyes forever unblinking. "Scarier…" The demons had starting giving a wide berth to The Phantom's domain. If one was daring enough to approach, they would see a powerful white-haired ghost, donned in black in white. The only color being those unblinking, piercing green eyes. By his side would be the Cujo, the behemoth Hellhound, as well as the souls that had appeased him for protection. Those that were dragged there...would also see a pair of red glowing eyes in the shadows, guiding the young teen, but they never escaped The Phantom to relay such detail. "I need to leave, tell Sam he can find someone else to train Harry, because there is no way I am going to be around when Phantom wakes up."
"Only way you're leaving is if I send your ass back to Hell." Bobby said, getting up to leave the room. "And if you fail to train Harry, I'll gladly let Phantom in here."
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The children filed into the classroom, hurrying to their seats as Severus had a deeper scowl than most days. Even Professor Singer seemed to be affected by the dark cloud surrounding the Potions Master.
"The potion is on the board. Get started." Severus snapped. There was a flurry of activity as the students began to pull out equipment. He could hear Draco chatting up a storm with his Slytherin friends, occasionally throwing a comment to the neighboring Gryffindor table, where Ron, Hermione, Neville and Harry sat. Harry was dexterously chopping and cutting his potions ingredients, something Severus had never noticed before. The boy was not even putting much thought into it, making jokes and completely turning his head away to talk to his friends. The boy must have noticed the dark eyes on him, for he looked up with an impish grin. Severus tried to muster up that poison within him, but found he was unable. Not when Harry was giving him a look devoid of any hate or ill intent. Not when he had come to love the boy known as Harry Winchester. Yes, he had promised himself he would protect Lily's son, but this was more than that. He knew that should he have to chose a side once again, he would be on the side of this young boy. Harry eventually looked away, continuing with his potion.
"Severus?" Sam questioned, coming in close to the man, his voice low.
"I do not have time for your ill concocted concern." Severus replied wearily, beginning his rounds around the classroom. Sam retreated to the back of the store rooms, trying to stay on his feet despite his double vision.
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Emily stood in front of the mirrors in the bathroom of the schoolhouse. Tears were streaming down her face, and she was so carefully inspecting her braces that she did not notice the girl from earlier enter the room.
"Do you think I'm ugly?" Emily jumped, turning to face the other girl.
"Look, Amelia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Amelia struck Emily causing the girl to fall to the ground. Emily kicked and screamed as Amelia grabbed at her blond hair, dragging her to the stalls. "Please! Please, I'm sorry!"
"You think I'm ugly?" Amelia snarled, pushing the girls head into the toilet bowl, face calm despite the desperate flailing of her victim. Gradually, the body went limp, and Amelia stood with a practiced ease. "I'm not ugly." Black goo began to leak from her eyes. "You're ugly."
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Adam rushed into the house, closing the door behind him. Bobby was out of his seat in a minute, shotgun at the ready.
"No, it's fine." Adam hastened to explain. He had been sent down a few blocks to the local shop in order to get some things for Bobby, while the older man kept an eye out for Dan. "I got what you needed, wasn't followed."
"Then why you runnin' in here like your coattails are on fire?" The older man scolded, laying his gun to the side.
"Sorry. I heard something at the store that I think might interest you." The blond set the bags down on the dining table, grabbing a small notebook out of his pocket. "Uh, they have the streets and all that blocked off about eight blocks from here, at the school, uhm Summerville Primary."
"I feel like you're burying the lead here Adam." Bobby gruffed.
"There was a murder. One of the 'Year Fives' drowned another in the school bathroom."
"How is that our problem?" Adam flipped his paper.
"Well, those kids are like 9-11. You don't think something fishy is going on?" Adam stressed. He wanted to be helpful, he really thought he had discovered something.
"Humans kill others all the time. Even children." Dan said from the stairway, causing Adam to jump. The teen's voice was deep and raspy, as if he had been screaming for hours. Bobby had been silent for a while, as if he were reflecting on something. His mind wandered to the crushed model he had found in the attic.
"What was the name of that school again?"
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Sam was desperately trying to hold himself together. He whipped around when he thought he heard howling. He resumed his pacing, the small clinking of the students causing him to flinch occasionally. The sudden grip on his upper arm startled him, but the voice following grounded him, even if it did sound angry.
"What in Merlin's name has gotten into you?" Severus hissed, pulling the man into the store room.
"Well, I tried to tell you earlier, but you told me to fuck off!" Sam spat back. His demeanor suddenly became very timid. "I may have taken too many potions."
"You-"
"Shh…" Sam looked around. He could hear whispers, but now he was starting to doubt that they were imagined.
"Which potion?" Severus grit out. Potion addiction was a serious issue. Though he had never seen it happen to a Muggle.
"I, I don't know. A bunch of different ones. Look I was planning on rebrewing them for you, but a lot of them were complicated."
"You stole from my personal stores?" Severus growled, grabbing the taller man by the lapels of his suit. Sam looked remorseful, looking down at him with brown puppy dog eyes. In instant however, the look was cruel, yellow bleeding into the irises.
"Maior sum quam haec ossa." The look was of one consumed by power they could not control. He recognized it from his years working with the Dark Lord. Severus tried to push the man away from him, but he was quickly trapped between the wall and the towering Winchester. "Hhhelp." Severus felt as if he were nine years old again. He prided himself on being a man who could push fear out of his mind, but in this instance… Sam doubled over, sounding as if he were choking on his own words. "Severus…." Sam felt as if the pressure of his powers was going to destroy him from the inside out. "I'm sorry…" Severus met the man's eyes and suddenly he was being dragged into his own memories, his delicate occlumency walls tearing.
It was like falling into a black hole. He felt like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, seeing the pinprick of consciousness growing smaller and smaller. He landed harshly outside his childhood home. Sam offered him a hand to stand, looking oddly emotionless. The potion master glared, grabbing the hand and ejecting them both from his mind.
"Thank you." Sam said, before Severus could tear into him. "We should get back out there before the seventh years start spreading rumors."
"You go." Severus instructed. Sam nodded and walked out of the storage room. With a flick of his wand Severus locked himself within the store room, both hands coming up to press against his temples as he let himself slide to the floor. Repairing the damage felt like he was stitching his mind up with red hot needles. It was slow, and agonizing. He clenched his teeth so harshly they felt as if they might break. By the time he was finished, he was sweating and breathing heavy. There was still much to do, but the quick patch up would have to do for the moment. He made to leave the storeroom, but paused, the reality of what had just happened hitting him.
A Muggle had just surpassed his Occlumency shields as if they were paper. It made no sense. Whatever power Sam Winchester possessed was strong. A power than he apparently gained from consuming potions. Except, it wasn't just potions. Severus thought back to the first time he had met the man, the first time he had cast a spell at him. He had assumed the strange reaction was due to the fact that Sam Winchester had never before experienced magic. The night he had Sam had been talking, the night Harry defended him, had been chaotic, but thinking back he did remember what Sam had done. Quietly, he made his way back to the classroom. Sam seemed occupied, reading a note at the front desk. He seemed ordinary enough, if not a little nerdy. The man was also very sympathetic. Sam shifted in his chair, the glint of his gun showing for the briefest of seconds. Severus had conceded when the boys had asked to keep a demon in his home to train Harry, but it seemed as if Sam shared the powers of his adopted nephew. He was pulled out of thought when he noticed brown eyes on him. The resulting shock gave him confirmation of something he had wished to be untrue.
He was afraid of Sam Winchester.
The taller man got up from the desk, passed him the letter, and moved onto answer a question one of the students had. It was a quickly scrawled note, presumably from Bobby, detailing a new case at Summerville Primary.
Eileen Snape gently brushed Severus' hair away from his face, giving him a kind smile. Summerville had not been her choice, but Severus still elected to make her proud. He turned to face the school with trepidation.
Severus promptly cast the memory down to the recesses of his mind where it belonged, not allowing it to continuing playing across his thoughts. He set the letter on fire. Perhaps he should put some truth to what he had told Harry all those weeks ago. After all, being a Hunter could not be much harder than being a spy.
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Albus scanned through the various reports that Alastor had given him. Each one further convinced him that the Winchesters were here to keep an eye on the heir of Tom Riddle. In fact, the boy's friendship to young Malfoy now seemed suspicious, as it was out of character for a Malfoy to befriend a Gryffindor, much less a Muggleborn. Harry Winchester's true mother may be Malfoy's own aunt, Bellatrix. Severus would then of course be playing his part in 'offering' protection to the family while at Hogwarts.
"I fear that the Winchesters have Nymphadora." Alastor said quietly. His eye suddenly whizzed in his head, and he had barely gotten his wand into his hand before Castiel was standing in the room with them.
"We do not. I do know where she is though." The angel said seriously. His eyes caught sight of the papers on Albus desk. "This will never do." He grabbed the papers despite protest from the Headmaster. They were tossed into the fire without much thought.
"Professor Novak!" Albus stood from his chair, hands on his desk. Castiel gave a small frown before placing his palm on the Headmasters head. Blue glowing light filled both of their eyes and the old man slumped over his desk. Castiel's wings ruffled as a spell hit them. Eyes still glowing blue he turned to Alastor.
"What have you done to him?" Alastor demanded. "What are you?"
"I would offer to heal your eye, but I feel you have grown rather attached to the replacement." Castiel said. "Was the Patronus of Nymphadora a rabbit?"
"Where is she?"
"America. Occasionally being used as a vessel by the demon Lilith." Castiel looked over to the unconscious Headmaster.
"I have left him with the memories of what he saw, but not of who supplied it to him, or that I was the one to destroy it." The angel searched Alastor's face for a moment. "I am willing to make a deal. I will provide you the tools to recover Nymphadora, replacing the memories of what you have learned regarding my family."
Alastor considered the deal for a long moment. Albus would still have the information he needed, but no physical proof. However, the Auror had the utmost confidence that the Headmaster could make use of what he knew to bring the outcome to the benefit of the greater good. In return, he could bring Nymphadora home.
"Are there any other effects of making a deal with a demon?"
"The standard is that they have claim to your soul in 10 years." Castiel stated plainly. Alastor stuck out a hand.
"Deal, this bloody war will be over before then." Alastor responded bravely. Castiel grasped the hand. "Ten years to this day then?" Castiel gave a small chuckle.
"I am no demon." He moved his palm to the man's forehead.
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The fireplace in Spinner's End came to life with green flames, Severus stepping through. His eyes scanned the room, spotting Dan reading in the corner. Blue eyes came away from the book to stare back at Severus. Dean stumbling through the fire gave Severus an excuse to look away.
"Where's Bobby?" Dean asked, directing the question at the teen. Dan stood silently, giving a shrug.
"He gave me free reign of the house today." Dan replied.
"And what have you accomplished in your free time?" Severus asked. Dan held up a finger to get them to wait as he rushed to the next room, grabbing the phone that Adam had bought for him. Strings of Latin music came from it, a song that perhaps Adam had preloaded into the phone.
"Si, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirando te. Tengo que bailar contigo hoy." The grin the boy was sporting actually reached his eyes, causing Dean to break out into a grin as well. Watching the boy's attempt at dancing was also amusing, although it seemed Severus was not enjoying the moment as much as Dean. "Vi, que tu mirada ya estaba llamando me, muéstrame el camino que yo voy."
"This childish display does not suit someone of your age." Severus commented. Dan's smile cracked, though did not fall off his face. The light in his eyes however, had died. Dean's eyes hardened, but he did not let Dan see this as he walked closer to the boy.
"Nah, keep it going. Teach me some of these moves." He said, standing directly next to the teen. Dan seemed unsure, so Dean started doing one of the moves that had already been done.
"Oh yeah... Ya, ya me está gustando más que el normal." Dean was supportive of whatever was going to make this boy feel human again. He did not even stop to think that the boy had chosen a foreign song so that one of his enhancements, the language translator, could be used for something positive. This was the scene that Cas came across when he finally arrived. The small pulse that was James Novak had him tapping his foot along to the music. Dean grabbed the angel, pulling him into the dance. A laugh escaped Dan, the first that Severus had heard. The potions master felt as if he had been dunked into a bucket of ice water.
Eileen let out a velvety chuckle as she and her son waltzed around the living room. She smelled of wine, but this did not bother the young boy, who was happy to see color in his mother's cheeks, and light in her eyes.
"Sevvy, I lo-"
The memory was cast down, just as the other had been.
"We have business to attend to, if you are all quite through." he grit out. Dean rolled his eyes, jabbing a thumb in his direction.
"Life of the party, am I right?" Dean turned to Severus, talking to him in low tones as Cas learned a hip roll from Dan. "Dude, this is your brother. He's already had a shit life, maybe for once in your own miserable life, you can not be a dick?"
"The same could be said regarding your own newly acquired brother, or do you always give away the advice you don't wish to take?" Dean looked away, his jaw clenched.
"I have bigger problems to worry about."
"As do I, namely the rising of a Wizard whose sole purpose in returning is destroying your son." Severus saw the fist reel back, and as quick as ever his wand was in his hand. However, as the blow came at him, his addled brain brought to the forefront the way that Sam fed off magic to become something truly worth fearing. To his benefit, he only stumbled a few steps after being struck. Throwing his wand to the side, Severus lunged at the Hunter, only to be stopped by a wall of green. The rage quickly left him as he looked over at Dan. Pain was clear on his face, white streaks appearing in his hair. He strode over to the boy, laying a hand on his head, much like how he did with Harry. Blue eyes looked up at him wearily, unsure of anything besides the desire to do good. "I... apologize. I appreciate your interference, although I will leave you with this. Do not set yourself on fire to keep others warm."
"That's alright, my ice core will keep me cool." Dan said with offhanded wit. The white of his hair had completely faded by now. "Adam might know where Bobby is. ADAM!" there was a flurry of noise as the uncoordinated blond exited the room and rushed downstairs.
"Are you alright?!" Adam asked, inspecting the boy. Severus didn't miss the pleased grin or manipulative glint in Dan's eyes.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Do you know where Bobby went?" Adam seemed to clam up, looking towards the adults.
"At the store." He said at last. "I'm guessing you need the case info. I got it right here." Adam reached into his pocket, pulling out a piece of notebook paper. Dean read the note from over Severus' shoulder. His eyes glanced over at his shrunken down Impala.
"That within driving distance?"
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"So, you must really trust Sammy then." Dean started awkwardly after almost ten minutes of silence. "Leaving him in charge of your classes and all. I know how you get about potions."
"I am comfortable with the silence." Severus said in response, turning to look out of the window. Dean mocked the sentence, staring out at the road moodily. "It will be coming up on the left."
"Wouldya get a load of this place." Dean said with a whistle. The hospital was decrepit and starting to fall apart. "I have a pair of white orderly uniforms in the trunk, third compartment."
"I will go on my own. It won't take long." Severus tapped himself with his wand, his black sweater and trousers turning into a pristine uniform. Dean tried to hide the grimace upon seeing the professor in light clothes. It made his face all the more shallow, and his hair look greasier than normal. Severus tucked away his wand and exited the vehicle, avoiding other personnel as if he had cast a notice me not charm. His white shoes squeaked eerily against the linoleum floor. Everything about the place made him uncomfortable.
"Can you believe it? Only ten years old and capable of such a thing." A passing nurse commented. Severus fluidly changed his step in order to follow the nurse and the doctor. Once he had gleaned where exactly the girl was being kept he detached from them. There was no one in the room with the child, so he entered, taking a seat in the available chair. Amelia sat up in her bed, glaring at him accusingly.
"What are you doing here? Who are you?" Severus was slowly flipping through the chart at the end of her bed.
"Why did you claim to be possessed?" Amelia looked as if she had been slapped.
"When I - when I hurt Emily, I was there, in my head, but I couldn't control my body. I could see what I was doing, but I couldn't stop. I just wanted to stop. I'm sorry." Severus gave a nod, not overly concerned with the girl's remorse.
"Legilimens." He said under his breath, diving into the girl's mind. He could find no memory of a yellow- green flash of light, nor any thing out of sorts for the matter. He retreated, helping the dazed girl lay on her side. His dark eyes scanned the room, and he slipped out of the hospital as easily as he had entered. White morphed back to black as he walked back to the car, where Dean was waiting with Dan. His steps hurried to approach them.
"Would color kill you?" Dan commented with a grin. He was wearing a baggy black sweater and black joggers. Although his hands were stuffed in his pockets, Severus assumed they still donned the white gloves, if the white boots in his feet were anything to go by.
"Color? He doesn't know what that means." Dean responded. Severus scowled at them, but turned his attention to Dan.
"What are you doing out of the house?" Dan looked away, trying to hide the hurt at it being called 'the house' versus 'home'.
"I came to help. I think it's a ghost." the teen told them. "I didn't get to help with the last one because of the magic police or whatever, but this one is here in my world."
"Do not even consider the possibility." Severus stated, opening the car door and motioning the boy to get inside. Dan gave a look of disbelief and looked up to Dean for help. This action made Severus feel a stirring of something deep inside. The other man simply shook his head, not wanting to go over Severus' judgement. Hands came out of the pockets, a green tinge around clenched fists.
"I'm a goddamn adult! Stop treating me like a little kid!" he yelled, eyes ice cold.
"I am not treating you like a small child, I am treating you as a teenager, which you are." He held up a hand before Dan could interrupt. "I am not saying you are incapable, but it is no longer your responsibility, it should have never been."
"Oh Sevvy, you should be spending the Summer with the Evans girl, not toiling away at the corner store." Eileen said mournfully, placing her hand on top of her son's head. Severus looked down at the green apron that was part of his uniform. His mother straightened it out a bit, watching him with sad eyes. "What kind of mother am I?"
"Whatever." Dan mumbled indifferently. He glanced at the car and turned away with a small huff, shoving his hands back into his pockets. "Just be careful." he tossed over his shoulder as an afterthought. Severus dipped his head in acknowledgement, simply watching his half brother disappear into the nearby alley.
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Harry dragged his feet as he made his way up the stairs, on his way to his session with Ruby. Cas had merely dropped him off this time, reassuring him that Bobby was on the premises. The young boy stopped as he heard music coming from the room next to Ruby's. He pressed his ear to the door. There was a distinct tapping of a boot in sync with the beat of the song. Harry nodded his head along. He placed more weight against the door and tumbled in. Dan took notice, pausing the music and turning in alarm. Harry got up sheepishly.
"That was a good song." The boy said, rubbing his arm. Dan looked at him strangely. There was much he wanted to speak to the boy about, but he couldn't bring himself to. Yes, the young boy knew a lot, and had a lot of answers, but It is not longer your responsibility, it should have never been. Dan restarted the song, inviting the boy next to him.
"You know how to dance?" Harry shook his head, looking up at the older boy.
"Just keep along as best you can." Dan said, giving himself a calming breath as the first strands of music came through. The younger boy kept up pretty well, a sign of a quick learner. Dan let his hands glow with a mild energy, adding a bit of a rave feel to the room.
"Can I get an amen," Harry lit up his own hands a pale blue light, sidestepping in time with Dan.
"Can I get a hell yeah." Dan and Harry let their eyes bleed into green and black respectively, grins on their faces.
"Can I get a holy ghost?" A small burst of white light from every device on his body went off at once and Dan was fully charged up, hair turning white. Harry paused, looking at the boy in awe. Even though Harry was only partially aware of what those devices meant, seeing Dan right now, he looked free despite them. Non-blinking green eyes looked over at him as Dan floated up a bit, the smirk on his face a challenge. Harry tapped into his angel powers, bright blue irises appearing in the black, rising in the air to match Dan.
"In my body, in my bones," They both dropped back to the floor, moving back into a step routine with hesitation. "Drop the beat and free my soul" Both boys felt lighter than they had in a long while, moving around the room with such an intensity that they were beginning to sweat. "When I hear that rock and roll, oh my god I lose control." A streak of blue flame created a burn mark on the floor. Harry stopped, grabbing his hand and looking at Dan worriedly. What he did not know that Dan had given over control to his alter ego Phantom. Phantom gave a laugh at the worried expression, creating a green fireball of his own, aiming it at the wall. The black marks both disappeared within seconds as the magic repaired the room. "In my body in my bones…"
"Give into it Harry. It is a part of you that no one can control but you!" Phantom gloated, meaning to express the message of superiority. Harry however, with his humble musing concluded that the teen was right. A lot of things in his life were out of his hands, but this was something he had to own. He ran over and hugged the teen, dragging Dan out of his refuge within his mind.
"Thanks Dan, you're right. These powers are mine to use as I see fit, but I can't do that unless I focus on training them." Harry smiled brightly and left the room to go next door. Dan stared down at his white glove in confusion. He forced everything to shut down. As the black faded back into his hair, he became light headed. He sloppily sat back on Adam's bed.
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Severus had let himself fall into a trance, working more on repairing the walls in his mind. He would have to research more on what happened once he returned to his quarters. Which, it seemed would not be any time soon.
"Seems I was wrong in assuming you could remember the way back to the house." Severus drawled, avoiding looking at the building next to them. Dean put the car in park.
"Nope." He replied. "We gotta investigate the school." Dean explained. Severus looked out the window at the unsuspecting building. A sign out front boasted the name.
"Very well, I will go under a guise and cast a few detection charms-"
"I have a better idea." Dean cut in, getting out of the vehicle. The potions master followed suit, meeting him at the trunk. "We need to catch this thing in the act." Severus grimaced at the two uniforms but took the less scandalous grey jumpsuit to be a janitor.
"If we find no conclusive evidence by the end of this school day we will not be returning." Dean nodded in agreement.
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Alastor reached the crest of the hill, staring down at the abandoned farmhouse. He looked down at the trinket he had charmed to glow once within walking distance of Tonks. It was a brilliant pink. His magical eye whizzed and zoomed in on the barn doors, where two teens stood guard. Another click and he was looking within the barn.
"First mistake there, never assume you're so well hidden that you don't put up extra precaution." Moody grumbled to himself. He could see Tonks, screaming silently, as a small girl touched her hands to her temples. Moody drew his wand. "Second mistake was assuming I wouldn't take the risk of caring for the girl." He charged.
"Hey!" One of the teen shouted, getting into a fighting stance. A blasting spell caused the door to burst in all directions, confusing the guards. Alastor stepped through the dust, to see a white eyed Tonks. She sported a malicious grin, twirling the wand around in her hand.
"Give her back you demon!" Moody shouted, casting a spell. It hit the target with no ill effect.
"Ah, ah!" she taunted. "Your angel tainted spells aren't enough to stop me!" His eye spun to the right, attaching to the vision of Castiel and another small blond child. Moody dodged a black spell by rolling to his left. He shot two spells behind him, the resounding thumps meaning he had hit his targets. "Wow! You're fast for an old guy!"
"And you're quite childish for an ancient demon." A soft voice quipped. Lilith spun around, wand aimed at the heart of one Luna Lovegood. Castiel blindsided her, pinning her to the ground as a loud ringing filled the barn.
"What is that?" Lilith demanded, the body she was possessing beginning to fail as Castiel overwhelmed it with his angel powers. Tonks' body began to convulse, Castiel feeling horrible for what the host was feeling, but he had to be sure that Lilith couldn't take the Auror in training with her.
"Raphael." Luna said with a giddy smile. White eyes whitened in alarm.
"Why can't I leave?!" she howled, biting the inside of her cheek harshly. Luna kneeled beside Lilith, patting the hand.
"This body belongs to our world, not yours. We will be bringing it back, whether you are within it or not." Black smoke immediately poured from the mouth, escaping to the little girl nearby, and then disappearing completely. The ringing cut off. Below Cas, Tonks gave a heaving cough, blood splattering onto his white shirt. Castiel stood, looking over at Moody.
"Get her into the Wizarding World as quickly as possible. Avoid the Muggle world at all cost, she is very vulnerable." Castiel explained. "Do not force me to guarantee your silence on my involvement today."
"What in Merlin's name are you?" Alastor spat out, cradling the young woman bridal style. Cas placed a hand on Luna's shoulder, preparing to leave.
"A friend." A whoosh of wings and an empty room forced Moody to depart with his own pop.
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Severus sat quietly in his chair, absentmindedly doodling on the margins of his paper. A bright spot of color in the otherwise dreary room caught his eye. It belonged to a girl standing at the front of the class, looking nervous.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please say hello to Lily Evans." Mrs. Pruitt announced, motioning to the redhead in question.
"Hi, Lily…" he caught himself whispering as the others enthusiastically greeted her.
"Is there anything you'd like to tell us about yourself?" The teacher asked with a bright smile. Lily shook her head, looking down at the ground. "Oh, uh, okay. Take a seat then dear." The small girl surveyed the room before walking down the aisle and sitting next to Severus. The young boy forced himself to look away from her as her green eyes shifted over to him. He knocked his papers to the ground, instantly berating himself mentally. His bony hands moved quickly to pick them up, bumping into her warm hand as she picked up a sheet, looking at the drawing.
"Oh, this is yours...it's good." Lily said softly, handing him the paper and then directing her attention to the front.
"Alright children! Writing assignment coming up!" There was a collective groan from the class. "Yes, my poor heart breaks for you." Mrs. Pruitt said with fake sadness. She continued on to explain the assignment, turning her back to the class to write on the board. Kirk took this opportunity to reach forward and start flicking Severus' ear.
"Leave him alone." came the agitated growl. Severus turned to look at Lily in shock.
"Shut it, princess." Severus saw red blossom on her otherwise pale cheeks. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she turned more in her seat.
"I said leave him alone." she demanded. Kirk stopped, looking affronted. His expression turned ugly.
"Take his place then." he snarled, expecting her to back down. Lily instantly stood, hopping the armrest on her desk and splaying her hands on Kirk's desk.
"Ok, sure." she said with false sweetness.
Severus shook his head, focusing on pushing the broom down the hallway. The bell sounded, children rushing out of a nearby classroom. He took a look inside, seeing Mrs. Pruitt. She was scribbling away, grading schoolwork. He debated going inside, but ultimately turned away. Blue eyes looked up from the paperwork just in time to see Severus continue down the hall. Mrs. Pruitt reached to a nearby drawer, opening it up fully. From the very back she pulled an old essay, smoothing out the aging paper.
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Albus had spent many hours sitting at his desk, staring at the trinkets in front of him. He could not expose the Winchesters without proof. They would strip him of his position, claiming he had cracked under pressure. Harry Winchester was heading straight for the castle so to speak. He could only imagine the insanity coursing through the boy's veins. He needed to nip this power in the bud. The Headmaster stood, pulling a large tome from behind him. He flipped to the pages regaling the tales of the Founders. There, at the end, was an enchantment to awaken the souls trapped within the stonework of Hogwarts. Only to be used in the direst of situations. Albus began to doubt himself.
"I will leave you for now Harry Winchester. Until you seal your own fate, whether it be allegiance or death."
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"Today you will have the honor of playing of the greatest games ever invented." Dean announced to the class. He was sporting red gym shorts and a white shirt, sweatbands in place as well. "A game of skill, agility, cunning. A game with one simple rule...dodge." He whipped the ball at the year six, the kid falling over as it hit him square in the chest. Dean winced. "He's fine." Dean noticed Severus standing near the doors. "Here, go nuts." he said, spilling all the balls onto the court.
"I have found nothing, and by the looks of it you haven't been searching too hard yourself." Severus said. Dean grinned, holding up the silver whistle around his neck.
"This thing makes me their god."
"Fascinating." Severus said sarcastically. "May we leave?"
"Yeah, I guess it was a bust." Dean admitted. "But let's wait till after lunch. Its sloppy joe day!" He grinned, rubbing his hands together. They walked into the hallway, almost running into a few teachers who were running down the hall. Dean looked at Severus with a raised eyebrow before making his way after them. The scene they happened upon was chaos. A boy was holding his bloodied stump of a hand, another laughing, the rest of the class screaming. Except for Dan, who was making his way from the back, gloves surrounded by white light. Severus wove between the helping teachers, intent on stopping Dan. The laughing boy stopped, looking directly at Dan, taking the boy aback. The boy reached for Dan, and the teen took the opportunity to grab onto the boy as well, the white glow allowing his hands to pass through the meat to the ghost within. Black goo oozed from the boy's ear as the ghost fled. Severus caught the kid before he hit the ground. He glared at Dan.
"What are you doing here?" Dan shut down his gloves, which were a subdued version of the Ghost Gauntlets his parents had invented years ago.
"More than you it seems." Dean joined them, noticing the black goo from the boy's ear.
"That's a vengeful spirit alright." Dan made a small noise of irritation.
"No, just a bad ghost. Spirits can't be evil." he explained. "We should get out of here." The three left the room, walking down the empty corridor.
"So, we just need to break into the principal's office and find it anyone was off'd in the past." Dean said. Dan held up a small piece of paper he had been saving in his pocket.
"Way ahead of you. Kirk Tinnesz, killed himself by crashing into the building, though they say it was an accident." Dean took notice of how Severus had gone stiff with the child's name.
"You know the kid?"
"Yes, I did." Severus said, walking away without elaboration. Though he could not escape his mind as it pulled up memories to match his surroundings.
They were now ten, rushing between classes. Kirk passed going the opposite direction and knocked all of Severus' books to the floor. Lily glared after the boy but bent down to help Severus pick up his books.
"Thanks Lily."
"You should stand up to him Severus." she scolded. Severus gave a jerky shrug.
"We'll both be gone next year anyways. What does it matter…"
Yet another memory forcibly dragged down. He stopped where he was, collecting his composure. He spun heel, remembering that Dan had directly disobeyed him. He across the two discussing plans for capturing the ghost.
"I thought we had agreed you would not get involved." Severus drawled, crossing his arms. Dan rolled his eyes.
"I was just starting to have fun." Severus glared. "I'm not leaving. You can't make me."
"I believe that I can." Severus responded, towering over the boy. Fear flashed in blue eyes before angry green was pining him with a glower.
"Fuck off!" Dan growled, shoving Severus away from him. Dean grabbed Dan, holding him in a half nelson. "Let go!" Dan shot a blast from his wrist, causing Dean to let out a yelp as he let go. "Fine, I'll leave." Dan gave in with a cutting remark. His hair was slowly turning white, his breathing heavier. "See if I help out when it tries to kill you." His cloaking device activated, leaving the two adults alone. Dean offered Severus a hand.
Kirk shoved Severus to the ground, laughing with his friends. Lily came over and offered him a hand, which he graciously took.
A trembling hand reached for Dean, before it pulled back to clutch at black locks of hair. An agitated growl escaped Severus.
"Still wanna take his place, princess?" Kirk taunted. Lily turned, holding her head high.
"Yes." Kirk gave an uneasy half-laugh not expecting the answer. He reeled back his fist, and Lily closed her eyes, but did not flinch. Instead she seemed to stand taller, her own hands clenched into fists at her side. Amidst the chants, Kirk let his fist fly. Lily fell to the ground holding her shoulder. Mrs. Pruitt rushed out, scolding them all for fighting and handing out punishments.
"Severus." Dean called, though it sounded warped to the man's ears. "Severus."
"Severus." A young Lily called.
"Severus!" the voice was panicked now.
"Severus…" Lily said placatingly. "Calm down. He didn't even hit me that hard."
"I'm gonna rip his lungs out!" Severus said with a stomp of his foot. Lily sighed, sitting down on the bleachers. "Lily, you could have stopped him! Your magic is so much stronger than mine!"
"That wouldn't be fair Sevvy. He is a Muggle."
"So he's allowed to hit you?" Severus countered.
Severus staggered to his feet. Dean holding his hands out in case the man fell. He still held the palm of his hand to his temple. "Hey, hey, calm down. I'm here. Uhm. Let's get you home. I'll do the salt and burn with Bobby."
"No. I'm fine." Severus said through his teeth.
"Right, and I'm the Easter Bunny." Dean said condescendingly. His expression softened. "Dude, what happened?"
"The cemetery isn't far from here." Severus told him, straightening his posture. He banished the janitor uniform with a flick of his wand. From within the folds of his cloak he pulled out a Pepper Up potion, downing it in a single go. Dean nodded.
"Lead the way."
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Voldemort gave a satisfied sigh as he lifted his lips from the neck of the young unicorn. Quirrell stood without instruction, staring at the woods nervously. He was in a good mood. They had successfully found out at least two of the traps standing between him and the Philosopher's Stone. He was tired of living as a shade to this pathetic professor. He would return, stronger and hunt down Harry Potter. He was like this because of the boy. Voldemort wondered just how proficient his adversary would be. After all, he had not arrived at the school this year. Which left only the option that Albus was training the boy, perhaps he had been for years. He was not overly concerned however.
"Should we head back Master?" Quirrell asked nervously. Voldemort took one last look around the forest.
"Yesss..."
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For a while, Severus and Dean simply stared at the fire. The memories would not leave the dark-haired man. It felt like colored dye had been dropped into his clear mindscape. His mind flashed to various items from his childhood. His blue tennis shoes. A red wooden car. The yellow flowers he picked for Mother's Day. Orange pumpkins on Halloween. String lights at Christmas time. Bright red hair… green eyes…
"Was he your friend?" Dean asked.
Kirk took a step back, having not expected Severus to swing back, much less land the hit. Lily was getting up from the ground behind him, a trickle of blood dripping down her palm from where she landed on the rocks.
"Oh look, the freak is defending his girlfriend." Kirk taunted. Severus could feel his magic crackle around him, something that had never happened before. In fact, by this point in time he figured he was going to be the worst student at Hogwarts, not due to his lack of knowledge, but lack of ability.
"You aren't cool Kirk." Lily said behind him. "You're just a jerk."
"Yeah, Kirk the Jerk." Severus said with a chuckle. It spread like wildfire. It became a chant.
"No." he let the memory linger a moment more. How strange it was that he would only uncover this memory when he did not need it. A reminder that going after your bullies does not make you even, or better than them. It would not have been possible without Harry Potter becoming Harry Winchester, yet if the boy had remained a Potter, he would have most likely been victim to the poison that James had left within him. Perhaps it was time to forgive the man. Then again, perhaps he was not yet ready. "I must return to the school. There is a bit of unfinished business I must attend to."
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Severus walked down the hall, heading towards Mrs. Pruitt's room. School had let out for the day, just the staff wandering about doing last minute paperwork. Severus had changed his clothes into a pair of dark jeans and a brown coat over a black shirt. A tall man wearing a grey suit was striding down the hall in his direction, and they accidently bumped shoulders.
"My apologies." Severus said, pausing in his route. The man placed a hand on his shoulder, sending a million alarms off in Severus' head.
"Severus RUN!" Eileen screamed from where she had landed a heap on the floor. His father suddenly came around the corner.
"It's quite alright...Severus." Dark eyes shot up to meet cobalt blue, and pink began electrocuting him. Severus bit down hard to keep from screaming out. The potions master fell to his knees and clutched at the affected shoulder. "You know, I staged these murders to draw out Daniel...this, however, is oh so much sweeter. Daniel ripped my heart out when he left our home, it is only fitting that I rip his apart by killing his beloved brother."
"Even if you kill me, Dan will still be safe. He does not care enough for me to reveal himself to you Vladimir. He is surrounded by those who love him." The man grinned, revealing fangs.
"I see the boy is as secretive as ever. It truly is a delight to tell you how much the boy cares for you, even if you do not feel the same." Vlad said, smoothing back his grey hair. "He speaks very highly of you to the boy...Adam. He hopes to one day make you proud, he hopes to one day be included into your family as Harry has been. How terrible it will be that you died here." Vlad powered up his hands, pink electricity crackling around them. "But even more terrible, your last words. 'You'll have to kill me to get the boy back, a degenerate freak such as him deserves nothing but suffering at my hand." Vlad gave a derogatory laugh. "He will come running back to me in no time. My son belongs with me!"
"Well, you are half right." Severus thought he heard a small gasp, but was unsure, still a bit disoriented from the electrocution. "My last words...you were almost right." Severus got up to his feet. "You'll have to kill me to get the boy back. A brilliant teen such as he deserves nothing but the best from me."
"You are going to grow up to be a strong man…"
"Rather be a smart one." Severus quipped. Eileen smiled, patting his hand.
"You will be strong, you will be smart, you will be brilliant."
"Unlike Papa." Severus said, albeit sadly.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't be more for you Sevvy." Severus gripped his mother in a tight hug. He feared for her wellbeing while he was to be away at Hogwarts.
"You will ALWAYS be enough for me, mother."
"Lovely sentiment, but history is written by the victor." Vlad responded, eyes turning red.
"So be it." Severus challenged. Vlad lunged at Severus, spiriting them away to a nearby forest in a cloud of red smoke. The man was knocked back by a nonverbal Protego. Vlad snarled, aiming another punch. Severus dodged, firing a spell in the man's direction. A pink shield absorbed it, condensing into a pink fireball that raced towards him. As the wizard dismantled that attack, Vlad pulled out a ring and crown from his inner coat pocket. The red crown was a bit askew on the taller man's head, and Severus attempted to blast it away. His aim was true, but the man faded out of existence just a moment before impact. Vlad laughed as he reappeared, placing the red ring on his finger. He hesitated as the items did not activate as they were supposed to. He kept this to himself, allowing a black ring to spring from his middle and separate head to toe. He now wore a white tunic with black boots and gloves, a direct contrast to Dan's outfit.
( _ ) ( _ ) ( _ )
Dan's eyes widened in terror when he saw Vlad transform. It didn't even seem possible, but it seemed all the experiments that the evil man conducted on the teen had finally given him the answer he was looking for. While the functioning human ghost hybrid was a shock, Dan held solace in the fact that he had managed to pull one over on Vlad by leaving the fake crown and ring behind when he left. Severus was firing spells off faster than Dan could count, but Vlad merely stayed in the air erecting a new shield each time.
"Come on Sev." Dan mumbled under his breath. He didn't want to fight Vlad. He wasn't sure that he could be strong enough to overcome the monster. He touched the back of his neck. Yet, he had done it once before, all on his own. Dan looked at his half-brother. The man had admitted to caring for him and was fighting this battle for him.
"Come now Severus, give me a challenge, won't you?" Vlad said, dropping the shield and staring down at the man. "I can tell when my opponent is holding back."
( _ ) ( _ ) ( _ )
Severus gripped his wand tighter, firing a volley of spells. Vlad created a sphere of reddish pink energy around him, giving a fake yawn. A green ball of energy hit the shield dead on, instantly shattering it. Both adults immediately looked to the source. Slowly, as his cloaking device shut down, Dan Phantom appeared in the clearing with them. His eyes were glowing with such an intensity that the green energy was leaking, leaving smoke like tendrils to spill form the outer corners. This was not the most shocking though, for atop his snow-white hair, the Crown of Rage was blazing with red flames.
"Daniel…" Vlad called, drawing the teen's attention.
"You…" it came out harsh, eyes narrowing, enhancements whirring loudly as the power from the crown and ring forced them into overdrive.
"Look what they have forced you to become badger. Come home with me. I can make you like me. There will be no more experiments, it will be just like old times." Vlad said soothingly. The man touched down on the ground, barely blocking an attack from Severus. He bared his fangs at the wizard. The resulting growl from Dan drew back his attention.
"Dan, get out of here. This is not your fight." Severus shouted, firing another spell.
"Like hell." Dan shot an energy ball at Vlad, who put up a shield at the last moment. The pink shattered under green, allowing Severus' spell to hit its target. Vlad began to laugh uncontrollably, falling to his knees and gripping his stomach. Dan could feel his ice core wake up and let ice form around his hands. He admired the way that the icicles glimmered on the ends of his fingers like claws before looking at Vlad with a predatory grin. He grabbed the man by the neck, lifting him. Vlad was still laughing, by his eyes showed fear.
"Dan...believe me, you do not what to do this." Severus pleaded, sending a blasting curse at Vlad so that he was ripped away from Dan's grasp, landing nearby. Dan stalked towards Vlad. The halfa sent an arc of lightning at him, causing him to cry out in pain, a few of his enhancements short circuiting. Vlad moved quicker than the blink of an eye, a red mist surrounding Dan. Suddenly black gloves were gripping his face, forcing him to look at Severus. The ragged man held his wand in front of him, through he was trembling slightly.
"You really think you're different from this man? Look at where he has ended up. Alone in the world with no one to fight at his side." Vlad explained with a fake solemnness. "Join me Daniel. We can become more powerful than anything in the world."
"I can become more powerful than anything in the world," Dan grabbed Vlad's wrists, his acidic energy eating away at the black gloves. Dan twisted them so that they were face to face.
"Daniel Masters, cease this at once. The longer you stay like this, the further from life your soul travels. You could die." Vlad pleaded as a last-ditch effort to get Dan to return to a more manageable human state.
"It would be worth it if I can take you down with me." Dan hissed. The trees seemed to creak in protest as ghosts came to Dan's silent beckon. "It would do you well to remember that I am still a Fenton." The shapeless, mindless ghosts reached stretched arms towards Vlad, the wispy appendages wrapping around him slowly. "And Fenton's?" Dan threw the man away from him, the ghosts restraining him to a nearby tree in a frenzy. "We hunt ghosts."
"Dan." Severus called out, standing between Vlad and Dan. "Don't do this. This will not heal you. It will eat away at you for the rest of your life." Dan seemed as if he might give in, and so Severus made to continue. The widening of green eyes was the only warning Severus got before he was hit with twin eye blasts from behind, pitching him forward. Vlad managed to free one of his hands and used all of his power to send a volley of ecto discs at Severus, leaving a multitude of burning cuts.
"NO!" Dan shouted, it dissolving into an electronically enhanced ecto energy wail. The pulsating rings hit Vlad dead on, drawing on his energy. Black rings appeared, and Vlad was human once more. Dan fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Severus was crawling towards the teen, despite his injuries. Vlad was more stable and wobbled to his feet, pulling a dagger from his jacket pocket. He planted his feet on either side of the teen, raising the dagger.
"Sectumsempra!" Large gashes appeared on the man, and he stumbled back, clutching at a particularly bad one on his stomach. "Crucio!" The hybrid screamed. Dan stood, hand still at his throat. He had read about the unforgivables. It took a great amount of willpower for someone to be able to cast them. Deemed Dark only recently, as in ancient times it was acceptable to use to defend loved ones. Here was his brother, bleeding out, and he still wanted to be the one to banish the monsters from his past. Dan attempted to put up a shield between the two, but it shattered under the powerful spell. Dan looked down at his gloved hand, searching the recesses of his mind for the more ruthless part of his personality. The crown and ring flared up in response, his skin beginning to tinge blue. The darker green shield interrupted Severus' attack. Severus met with the green eyes, sending across a memory to the boy.
Severus loomed over his father, who lay dying on the floor. He had not used a spell, for he wanted the man to suffer as he had all those years. Tobias clutched at his throat, trying to force words out.
"Why...why did you become this?" He rasped. Severus sneered at the man.
"You made me this. You created me in more ways than one. Now, you will die by my hand as punishment."
"Thank you…" Tobias whispered, letting his head roll to look at a picture of his wife. Severus let out a snarl, turning the man's head away.
"How dare you gaze upon her!" he yelled, spittle flying off of his lips.
"I tried so hard…" Severus dove into the man's memories.
Tobias ran a hand down his face, the irritation of not drinking getting to him after a long day of work. He would continue though, for with his wife sick he could not afford to lose his job. The house was silent as he entered, as it always was when his son left for school.
"Eileen?" he called out, hoping that perhaps she was feeling well enough to be cooking. A small moan came from the floor. He looked down in shock, seeing her a crumbled mess at the bottom of the stairs. The man fell to his knees, feeling his breath catch in his throat. Shaky hands cradled her head, which had a large gash across the left side. "Oh Eileen, we need to get you help." His wife slowly shook her head. "Yes! I cannot raise Severus without you! I do not understand the boy, only you do. How am I s'posed to teach him all you have? I don' know nothing 'bout it. He could be the best, because you are darling…" it had been ages since a pet name had graced the man's lips and it created a lump in his throat that he found hard to swallow. "For fucks sake, get up woman!" He shouted. "The boy needs you! I ain't no father to him anyhow."
"Goodbye Tobi…"
Dan blinked rapidly, the sensation of the memory disorienting. His powers flared once again. Taking notice of the still human Vlad, Dan walked over to Severus, creating ecto goop embedded with ice crystals to rub over each of the man's wounds. He removed the wand from Severus grip, ignoring the warmth it offered and tossed it aside.
"What in Merlin's name-"
"This is my kill. It is my right. There is no forgiving Vlad for what he did to me. I did NOT want to become THIS!" All of his enhancements surged. "Save your redemption for another time."
"You foolish boy. Turn back, lest you end up like me." Dan quirked an eyebrow.
"I don't see anything wrong with that. Now," Dan stood, turning heel to face Vlad. "let me finish this." Dan raised his arms to either side, the same spirits reconvening, awaiting his command. "Lift him." the spirits grabbed at the billionaire, raising him up into the air by his arms, his body still twitching from the after effects of the cruciatus curse. Ice infused with acidic energy began to form into a large spike in his hand. "Hey UNCY VLAD, how 'bout a little target practice?" The man startled as his watch began to beep at him.
"Daniel...please...you will die." Vlad rasped out. The boy's reading was off the chart. What looked like a small pellet rushed past him, sticking to Vlad's chest.
"What is-" the man disappeared with a howl of pain. Dan whirled around in anger, only to have the crown knocked from him. The extra power boost that was keeping his soul tethered to this plane, but which was destroying his body slipped out of existence, the boy swaying on his feet. Severus caught the boy as he pitched forward.
"Hold on Dan, you will be fine. I am here for you." Severus said is hushed tones, looking for signs of a pulse. He forced the devices to shut down with the boy's own hand, but the white did not recede from his hair, nor the green from his eyes. The ice spear melted, the hand holding it trembling. "You will be fine. Relax, stay with us here." Severus nearly gave a sigh of relief when he felt a flutter of a pulse under his fingertips.
"You bastard." Dan grit out. "I had him."
"I couldn't Dan. I could not watch you take that man's life. I know it is not what you truly wanted. You wanted answers. Why you? Why the hatred, why the experimentation?"
"I will never forgive him for what he did. I will not forgive you for what you did." he whispered.
"That's alright. I will still love you regardless." Severus promised. Tears sprung in the teen's eyes.
"I…" half a sob escaped. Severus looked down at his fingers in confusion. A small beat ghosted his fingers. "I'm scared." His eyes slid shut, the pulse growing fainter by the second. The body was dangerously cold, but Severus clutched it to him regardless.
"Please, please no." Severus pleaded. "NO! It was meant to be me!"
His brother's heart stopped midbeat, and no matter the fact that Severus tried everything he could think of in the next hour, it did not restart.
A/N I realize that this chapter was very Dan and Severus based, but I felt as if some of you would see the extra characters as pointless and filler if they only appeared when needed. Of course, most of Severus' memories are fake, and in fact mirror many of the ones shown in After School Special (Supernatural). The goal for next chapter is 2 weeks but could be as much as a month (not more though!) Also I made the Spinner's End family in the Sim's 4, which at least one person has downloaded. Wonder if it was one of you all :D