Demons Run When Good Men Go to War

by FandomCameo

After reading John's journal and finding his unfinsished mission of saving a boy named Harry the boys agree to finish it. Or rather the decision is made for him as Heaven's plan is derailed and their wrath is brought down upon them, forcing them to escape with Cas.However, certain events lead them to believe finding Harry might have been Plan A, and the apocolypse will come anyways

16. If You Want Love When the Levee Breaks

Severus led Harry through the halls, heading towards McGonagall's office. He had not spoken the entire time, looking conflicted. Harry wanted to ask what was bothering the man, but he knew that Severus would not tell him. Harry himself was having an internal conflict. He knew his family was not able to see how demonic he had become, but Harry had seen the twisted beast he could become. He needed to remember that it was a choice. These powers were for him to control, not the other way around. Harry thought about going to speak with Danny, but according to Severus he was healing. What could have happened to the ghost boy? Most of all though, Harry wanted Cas back, their Cas, not the new one Heaven had sent back. With a curt knock, Severus brought Harry out of his musings. Minerva opened the door, kneeling to hug Harry tightly.

"Never in all my years have I had a Gryffindor so reckless." she lamented. She could not blame the boy however. How was the boy to know how dangerous the forest was if Albus sent them there for detention like it was not a big deal? How was he to know that he was too young when his own father brought him into the forest?

"I think you are forgetting the Gryffindors I had the displeasure of being classmates with." Severus muttered under his breath. Minerva pulled back from Harry, seeing his green eyes sparkling.

"No, he is definitely more hard headed than his father, but I suppose he gets that from Lily." Minerva blinked in surprise as a wand was pointed between her eyes. Her eyes travelled upwards to see Severus standing protectively in front of Harry. She smiled, knowing it was what Lily would have wanted. "I haven't told Albus. I don't intend to." The wand lowered slightly, Severus glowering at her. "You must not forget who his true parents are, less another incident like this one occurs."

"How do you know?" Harry asked her from behind Severus. Minerva stood, gazing down softly at the boy.

"I had my suspicions around Halloween, when the Daily Prophet put out their special. Seeing you at practice after that, well, I would be a right fool if I could not see the resemblance. Don't you forget that I saw those children grow, in my house. I am as much their mother as I am yours." Severus seemed a bit taken aback. "Come now Severus, how do you expect the boy to be brought up right without at least one woman in his life?"

"I believe Sam and Dean did just fine." Severus countered, not expecting Minerva to be the old fashioned type.

"Is there not a single woman who cares for them? I am not implying that each family needs a mother and father. I am saying that each growing child needs at least one confidant of each gender, for questions they don't feel comfortable asking, or that the opposing gender may answer in a more satisfying way."

"Aunt Ellen is no nonsense." Harry piped in. Minerva raised an eyebrow at Severus as if to further her point.

"Harry, go on inside and have yourself a biscuit." Harry grinned, stepping into the room while Severus and her conversed.

"Was Professor Novak under another's control?" she asked. Severus sighed, letting his demeanor fall. He had known Minerva a long time, and she had stepped into a mentoring role once his mother had passed. He realized she was right, as he had sought her many times in his years at Hogwarts with no other motherly figure to turn to.

"It was an honest mistake." he lied, hoping she would not catch on. "Professor Novak thought the calming aura of the unicorns could clear his head enough to speak to Harry about Claire. It is a lot to explain to a child. They became lost." he looked past her to Harry. "I know the man may not look like much, but he as much a Hunter as Sam and Dean. Harry was safe." he continued, wondering how the boy was simply moving on from the events.

"He can stay here until you make more of whichever potion you used to change his eye color." Minerva told him.

"The solution to that is not as difficult as you may think." Severus admitted. "Harry, do you have more contacts in your room?" Harry immediately turned, face filled with biscuits. He nodded. "Make sure you are unseen after your visit." he said before leaving Harry with the closest thing he would get to a grandmother.

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Harry went through his exams that following week, not realizing the absence of his family. In the years to come he wondered how he could oversee such a large sign of something not being right. It was sweltering hot, especially in the large classroom where they did their written papers. They had been given special, new quills for the exams, which had been bewitched with an Anti-Cheating spell. They had practical exams as well. Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap dance across a desk. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuffbox - points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was but taken away if it had whiskers. Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness potion.

Harry did the best he could, trying to ignore the stabbing pains in his chest, which had been bothering him ever since the kidnapping. Neville thought Harry had a bad case of exam nerves because Harry couldn't sleep, but the truth was that Harry kept being woken by his old nightmare of Danny trapped in the mirror, except now it was himself trapped in the mirror, banging away at it with bright blue eyes as his demonic form laughed from the correct side of the glass.

When the final exam let out, Harry couldn't help but cheer with the rest of his classmates, rushing out of the room. Pansy, along with Crabbe and Goyle decided to go grab a replenishing snack from the Great Hall. The others elected to go outside, thinking some fresh air would do them good. Hermione started talking about what a breeze the exam had been, Blaise nodding along the entire time. Ron was trying him best to tune them out, suggesting that they all go sit by the lake to relax. Fred, George and Lee Jordan were already at the edge of the lake, tickling the Giant Squid's tentacles. The twins watched Harry carefully as he passed, gold and silver speck glinting respectively on the pair. They stood, leaving Lee Jordan behind. Their friend ignored it, used to the pair doing strange twin things by now.

"Heya Winchester." George greeted. Fred leaned on his Ron's shoulders, annoying his younger brother.

"Word on the street is, Hagrid had a dragon." Fred whispered.

"Who told you that?" Harry asked, trying to keep his cool.

"Well, we kept seeing Hagrid go into the forest," George teased.

"So, we thought we would ask what he was doing in there." Fred added.

"And he told us it was a secret, and to not tell anyone," George said with a sly grin.

"But then he asked if Charlie was ever gonna come visit, and well." Fred shrugged.

"One plus one makes two." they chorused. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. His eyes suddenly popped open as a thought occurred to him. He stood, gathering his things.

"We gotta go, like right now." He told the others. He hugged Fred and George, leaving them quickly. The twins shrugged at each other, deciding to go back and try to throw Lee Jordan into the lake.

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Sam was pacing in his room, feeling as if he were going out of his mind. He heard footsteps approaching the door, and he made his way towards it. Dean opened the small latch, so they could talk. Sam stared him right in the eyes.

"Okay, let me out, this isn't funny anymore." Sam growled. Dean chewed the inside of his cheek.

"Never was." he answered. Dean had been in utter shock to the amount of potion bottles that he had found strewn throughout Sam's room. He had been expecting bags of demon blood, or even a demon summoning kit. Now that Dean knew his source of mojo was even more accessible than he thought, Sam's chances of coming out until fully detoxed where slim to none.

"Dean, this is crazy, it's been weeks. Whatever blood I got from that demon is gone by now." Sam argued. Dean tilted his head to the side with a small shrug, as if he were thinking about it. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you."

"You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault. It's not your fault that you lied to me over and over again. I get it now. You couldn't help it." Dean shot back, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets. Sam pushed away from the door, raking his hands through his hair in aggravation.

"Nooo, you are so not making this into a drug intervention." Sam complained. Dean suddenly became angry.

"And why shouldn't I?" Dean shouted, startling the man in the room. "Alright, I've talked with Severus. This shit that you're doing is ten times as addictive as drugs." Sam felt his body go cold, and he stared at Dean as if he had been caught in the headlights. "Yeah, Sam, I found your bottles. So, tell me why you are STILL LYING TO ME." Spittle flew from his lips.

"Dean, I'm not drinking the potions for, for, for kicks, alright?" he answered. "It takes time to make them, if I was really a goddamn junkie I would be stealing them from the Infirmary." Dean didn't look convinced. "I'm only trying to get strong enough to contain Lilith. Ruby told me that if I got strong enough I could do it-"

"You're going to listen to that sleazebag?" Dean asked in alarm. "When Danny has already told us of her treacherous ways?"

"Look, containing Lilith is what matters. If we stop her, no apocalypse, ever." Sam rushed back up to the bars. "Or have you become so self-righteous, Mr. Rides Unicorns, that you forgot about that?"

"Oh, Lilith will be stopped. Bobby and I will take care of that. But not with you." Dean told him simply, as if he were reading directions off a microwave dinner. "Congrats, you've won yourself a benchwarmer seat to the apocalypse." Dean shut the latch, walking away. Sam started to pound on the door.

"Dean let me out of here! DEAN!"

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"Where are we going?" Ron asked as he struggled to keep up with Harry. Harry turned, walking backwards and addressing them all. Hermione rushed forward a little bit, spotting Harry so he would not crash into anything.

"Don't you find it a bit weird, that the thing that Hagrid wants more than anything in the world is a dragon, and some random guy had one to bargain with?" Harry asked the group. Blaise's nose scrunched in thought.

"I didn't realize he had gotten it in a bargain, it is highly unlikely that one would simply be carrying an egg around, it is against Wizarding Law." Harry did a finger gun in Blaise's direction.

"Exactly. Seems pretty lucky that he found Hagrid. Which only confirms that whoever is looking for the Stone," Harry trailed off.

"Is already in the castle." Draco gasped as it dawned on him. All the children began to sprint, realizing the severity of the situation. Hagrid was sitting in front of his home, shelling peas when they arrived. He smiled warmly at them.

"All done with yer exams?" he asked. "Have time fer a drink?" Ron sighed happily.

"Yes please." Harry stepped in front of Ron.

"No, Ron. Hagrid, we are kind of in a hurry. The man who sold you the egg, what did he look like?"

"Dunno," said Hagrid casually, "he wouldn' take his cloak off." The group exchanged glances. "It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head -that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up." Harry sank down next to the bowl of peas.

"What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?" His eyes were hopeful, but his instinct was not.

"Mighta come up," said Hagrid, frowning as he tried to remember. "Yeah... he asked what I did, an' I told him I was gamekeeper here... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after... so I told him... an' I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon... an' then... I can' remember too well, 'cause he kept buyin' me drinks... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg an' we could play cards fer it if I wanted... but he had ter be sure I could handle it, he didn' want it ter go ter any old home... So, I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..."

"And did he - did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Well - yeah - how many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So, I told him, Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep -" Hagrid suddenly looked horrified. "I shouldn'ta told yeh that!" he blurted out. "Forget I said it! Hey -where're yeh goin'?" Harry looked over his shoulder as they ran towards the castle.

"I need to go talk to my Dad, seeya Hagrid!" he shouted. None of the students stopped running until they hit the main entrance, panting and sweating. "We've got to tell my Dad."

"Shouldn't we tell Dumbledore?" Hermione asked, hands resting on her knees. Harry shook his head.

"It won't do any good. Dumbledore will never believe me, and if you back me up he'll think I brainwashed you or something." Harry told her. "Plus, whoever was under that cloak was either Voldemort or someone in the school. If it's the latter, Dumbledore might trust them more than he trusts us."

"Right, so where's your Dad at?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, he wasn't at any of the exams as a proctor." Blaise added. Harry thought back to the past week and realized that this was true. He hadn't seen his family in weeks. He turned to look around as if they would suddenly appear to him.

"He's probably-"

"What are you all doing inside?" rang a voice from across the hall. Harry thanked the higher powers that it was only McGonagall. She strode closer, books in arm, peering at them over her glasses. "Surely being cooped up for hours has you wanting some fresh air."

"We were just looking for my Dad." Harry admitted, not seeing the harm. Perhaps they had been tasked with something else in the school since they were not experienced with magical forms of cheating. McGonagall however gave them a perplexed look.

"Did they not inform you that they would be taking a break at home to recover from pneumonia?" she asked, starting to doubt what Severus had told her.

"No, they-" Harry started, looking confused.

"They probably didn't want to worry him with exams and all!" Hermione interrupted. Minerva nodded at the rationale.

"What did you need assistance with, perhaps I could be of help." she offered. Harry struggled internally, knowing he could most likely trust his Head of House, especially when she knew bigger secrets. Then he remembered that the thief could be one of the staff and he swallowed thickly, shaking his head and backing away. "Very well, Ms. Granger, would you mind returning these to the library? Professor Dumbledore had to leave in a hurry and had no time to do so himself." Hermione accepted the books, but Draco looked affronted.

"Professor Dumbledore is gone, now? Of all times?" Minerva cut him with a side glance.

"Yes, he had very important duties at the ministry. Rest assured the school is perfectly safe in my hands."

"Of course, Professor. Let us take those books back." Blaise soothed, leading the way down the hall. The students' steps became quickened as they rounded the corner, anticipation overtaking them.

"It's going to happen tonight." Harry told them once they were sure they were out of earshot. The others looked to him with searching eyes. "It's up to us."

"You want us to take on a fully grown wizard?" Blaise hissed out.

"No." Harry said, detailing out a plan for them in the dusty chest plate of a nearby plate of armor. "I will."

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Sam banged on the door one final time before giving up and circling his room. He was getting tired of being trapped like an animal. His clothes were sweaty, his teeth felt filmy, and his throat was becoming sore from shouting. The lights flickered for a second and he froze on the spot.

"Guys! Hey, get down here, something is happening!" No one answered him. At least no one he was expecting to.

"Hello, Sam. It's a pleasure to see you again. Looks like I have you all to myself here. Goodness. How will we pass the time?" Sam turned in alarm, seeing Alastair in the room with him. In the next blink he was tied down to a cross in the middle of the room.

"No! Don't- Please don't! Please, please no!" Sam begged to no one. Alastair grinned at him sadistically.

"So polite this time. Very nice, I appreciate that." The demon said. Sam struggled against his bonds, heart beating fast.

"Please." he pleaded, running out of breath. "Please, don't! Don't, no please!" he fought against nothing, laying in his cot with arms outstretched. His screams carried upstairs, where Bobby and Dean were sitting at the dining room table. Bobby poured them both a glass of whiskey and sat down, taking a long sip. Dean's eyes wandered to the panic room entrance.

"How long do you think he'll be like this?" Dean asked Bobby. Bobby gave him a level stare of impatience.

"Let me check my Demon Detox manual. Oh, wait. There isn't one." Dean rolled his eyes childishly, drinking from his glass. "There's no telling how long this will last, or if he'll even survive." Dean rolled his glass on the table, thinking of something to say. A cellphone ringing interrupted the silence. Bobby dug the phone out of his pocket, a look of surprise crossing his face. He looked over at Dean.

"It's Rufus." Dean sat a bit straighter, not having heard from anyone in the states since they left. Bobby answered the phone. "Rufus, you son of a bitch." he said with a laugh. His amusement turned to contemplation. "Can't tell you were I'm at, but rest assured I'm still kicking, monster ass that is." His brows furrowed as he became troubled. He placed the phone on speaker. "Could you repeat that?" Rufus' voice filled the room with a chilling message.

"I've never seen so much supernatural activity in such a short scale of time and this big. I think… well I think something big is coming."

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Harry rushed up to his room after dinner, grabbing a bag and dumping a first aid kit and his invisibility cloak inside. His eyes scanned the room and he also grabbed one of the sheets, a few books and the bezoar that Severus had given him a while back. Once he was back downstairs he saw that Hermione and Ron were ready to go, changed into plain clothes with trainers on their feet. It was starting to get late, and the exhaustion of exams had many students going to bed early. Harry, Ron and Hermione waited in the common room nervously, ready to go. When the final student left Harry touched the coin in his pocket, alerting the Slytherins that they were ready. With a final nod to each other they made for the door.

"Where are you going?" Neville asked from the staircase. The trio froze, slowly turning to face the boy. "You're sneaking out again, aren't you?" he accused. The face Ron pulled gave them away. "No, you can't!"

"Neville, we don't have time to expl-" Ron started. Neville was always getting in the way at the wrong time. He was glad the boy was standing up to people, but he didn't mean for it to be directed at them.

"I won't let you." Neville told them. His heart was pounding in his chest. These were some of the only people he considered his friends. Especially Harry, but he had the Longbottom name to uphold and that meant being a good Gryffindor. "You'll, why, you'll have to fight me!" the boy clenched his fists, bringing them up in a classic boxing stance. He had never truly fought before, and he knew that he was outnumbered.

"We're just making a kitchen run." Harry lied. "Did you want anything?" Neville's fists lowered a bit, before raising once more. He didn't think that Harry would lie to him, but something in his gut was telling him to stand strong. He had messed up a lot already that year. He wanted to be able to do one thing right. He wanted to help Gryffindor win the House Cup. Gram would be ecstatic if he told her about it, considering they hadn't won in the past seven years.

"That's still breaking the rules." Neville stated, eyes narrowed in determination. Harry looked at Hermione, begging her to do something about the situation. She looked over at Neville guiltily.

"I'm sorry Neville. Petrificus totalus!" Neville's arms snapped to his sides, and he became stiff as a board, pitching forward. Harry and Ron rushed to catch him, stopping him inches from the floor. They moved him over to the couch, facing him towards the back so it would appear as if he were sleeping. Neville could do nothing as they left, rushing to go meet up with the Slytherins. It was not long before they met on the second floor, in an abandoned classroom near the stairs. Vaguely Harry wondered if this was the same room he had fallen victim to the mirror in. He shook his head as if to erase the memory, looking around at the other students. Pansy had brought her music box as promised. He handed her the invisibility cloak. He didn't feel strange about giving it to her, seeing as how fake invisibility cloaks were a big thing. Ron had verified for him that it truly was an authentic one, but at the boy's urging didn't tell the Slytherins. They may be working with the other House, but at the end of the day Ron was still wary of the snakes.

"Everybody ready?" he asked. Blaise placed his hand out in front of him. Harry grinned, stacking his hand on top. One by one they joined to the pile. "Let's do it." Harry and Pansy went beneath the cloak, heading out to the room on the third floor. Slightly behind them were Crabbe and Goyle, ready to serve as a distraction if need be. Draco and Hermione shared a nod, splitting up to take alternative routes to the room. Ron began to walk the wrong way and Blaise grabbed his hand, pulling him along to their assigned path.

Pansy was breathing down his neck, causing the hairs to stand up. They heard footsteps and froze. Crabbe and Goyle heard them to and ducked near a corner, faces turning red as they held their breath. The footsteps passed without incident and they continued. Once near the door they stood flat against the wall, waiting for the others. Draco showed first, red faced from the exertion of using a sticky hand charm to climb the service chute. Hermione was next, hair a mess from her stint inside a suit of armor.

"Where are Ron and Blaise? They should be here by now." She asked. The others shrugged. They heard a distinct meow. All the students stared down at Ms. Norris in alarm. Blaise appeared with Ron in tow at that moment, drawing her attention. The others scrambled into the room. Blaise got to one knee and began to coo at the cat, drawing her closer.

"Ron, go inside." Ron looked between the door and Blaise. "Go. I'll be only a moment." The redhead nodded, rushing to the door. Blaise looked Ms. Norris in the eyes, causing her to purr in return. "Go find some other trouble please. We can't have anyone finding us." he murmured to her in a voice that almost sounded like a rumbling purr. Ms. Norris took off down the hall, Blaise giving a sigh of relief, getting up and slipping into the room.

"What'd you do to her?" Ron asked in a whisper, not wanting to wake the slumbering Fluffy. The others looked at him expectantly.

"Stunned her and placed her a few rooms away. Let's hurry." he lied with a straight face. Draco and Hermione lifted the trapdoor, peering into the darkness.

"Looks deep, Harry." Hermione told him.

"Last chance to back out." Harry told them all. No one moved from their positions. "Alright, you ready Pansy?" The Slytherin girl nodded, pulling the cloak over herself. She positioned herself near the door, cranking her music box when it began to slow. Her wand was at the ready in the other hand, in case someone else came in. Harry had everyone line up behind him, and they began to jump into the hole. When the last had gone through, Pansy stopped the music box, listening to the snarls of the Beast as it awoke.

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"The answer's yes. You're hallucinating." A boy said as Sam discovered he was not bound at all. Sam looked over to an empty corner. The boy smiled at him with his own smile. "That's right, I'm you."

"I'm losing my mind." Sam groaned as he sat up. He looked down at his own body as if it would offer him any clues. He was still in the same dirty clothes, bruises appearing on his arms from all the thrashing he had done. He didn't want it to go on any longer.

"Definitely." Younger Sam replied impishly, a grin on his face. He seemed so carefree considering the circumstances. Sam looked at him with desperation, wondering if somehow this self-reflection would help him escape.

"What do you want?" he asked coarsely. Young Sam seemed to think about it for a moment, moving closer to the bed. Each step was careful and calculated, something that Sam had not possessed when he was younger. He was always the clumsiest of him and his brother, which is why he got left behind a lot. John had put him through almost every course he could think of, which Sam had secretly been grateful, but nothing had ever truly stuck, especially when he almost never completed a course due to moving so much.

"I want an explanation." he said at last, eyes boring into Sam's. The younger boy's demeanor had changed drastically. "How could you do this to me?" he shouted, throwing a hand out to demonstrate the current state of being. "We were supposed to be normal." he growled. Sam swallowed nervously, trying to avoid making eye contact.

"Look, things...they didn't pan out that way." Sam admitted, holding back tears. He thought of his friends back at Stanford. Of the professors who had praised him, but had still not filled the void of a father's pride. He thought of the fire, burning, churning on the ceiling, Jessica looking down in a silent scream. "Sorry, kid." he offered, knowing it would never be enough.

"Sorry, kid?" Young Sam repeated, stepping towards Sam menacingly. "It's all we've ever wanted! You were so close, but you just had to follow Dean!"

"Hey, you can say what you want, but I had no choice. Dad was missing." Sam argued back. Young Sam scoffed, letting his arm fall to his sides in a flippant manner.

"The same Dad that told us to never come back if we left for college? We got away from him, we were going to finish college and get married." The younger version of him was getting more aggressive by the second.

"I'm sorry. I am. But life doesn't turn out the way you thought when you were fourteen years old. We were never gonna be normal. We were never gonna get away. Grow up." Sam said through gritted teeth, hoping to rid himself of the illusion. Young Sam scowled.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe there's no escape. After all, how can you run from what's inside you?" Sam looked up in shock at the sudden tone change. Yellow eyes greeted him. Upstairs Dean ignored the war cry that Sam gave out, and the resulting slam of the bed against the wall. They had bigger issues to deal with, namely the breaking of seals left and right. They had spent the last few moments confirming everything that Rufus had told them, and it was not looking good for them.

"Key West sees ten species go extinct. Plus, Alaska. Fifteen-man fishing crew all stricken blind, cause unknown. New York, teacher goes postal, locks the door, kills exactly sixty-six kids. All this in a single day. There's no doubt about it." Bobby confirmed.

"How many seals do you think are left?" Dean asked.

"No way to tell." Bobby admitted, shifting through all his books, grabbing notes here and there. "Where the hell is your angel pal?" Dean shoved his hands into his pockets.

"You tell me." he muttered. Bobby paused in his tracks, looking over to the stricken man. Dean had lost weight since Cas had left. He no longer slept in the castle, choosing instead to sleep on the couch, sleeping fitfully. He frowned, knowing the feeling, but knowing he couldn't tell Dean how to fix it. It was something that the man would have to discover for himself. It hurt to watch, but a parent couldn't always give their children the answers. They could however, guide them.

"The apocalypse being nigh and all...is now really the right time to be having this little domestic drama of ours?" he asked seriously. Dean looked up in confusion. Bobby motioned with his head towards the panic room. "I know you won't like it. I won't like it either, but Sam is our best shot at stopping Armageddon. You know we aren't even close to solving a way to contain Lilith." he said, pressing the notes against Dean's chest for emphasis. Dean glared.

"So, what? Sacrifice Sam's life, his soul, for the greater good? Is that what you're saying? Times are bad, so let's use Sam as a nuclear warhead?" Dean argued. "No. That isn't happening."

"You can't keep everyone away from the battlefield simply because you love them too much. One way or the other, the war takes what it wants."

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Cold, damp air rushed passed them as the children fell into the dark hole. With a thump they all landed on something soft and plantlike. Ron uttered out a cry as something wrapped around his ankle. Blaise was fighting one off his wrist, cursing in Italian. Hermione was feeling around, her eyes closed to fully enhance her other senses.

"We must be miles under the school." she commented. Harry was subtly using his demon powers to see them all in the dark.

"There's a ledge to your right Hermione, get to it now." he ordered. She raised her head in shock but did as he said, a vine aiming for her ankle as well. Everyone else was already entrenched in the vines, save for Blaise. He and Harry made eye contact, and it was not an accident on Blaise's part. Harry could tell that Blaise had a way of seeing in the dark as well. They gave each other a nod and Blaise began to work on trying to free the others, knowing that Harry would find a way out on his own.

"It's got to be Devil's Snare." Hermione said, causing both boys to look at her. "Oh, what was the rhyme?" she asked herself, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to remember. "It likes the dark and damp…"

"Light a fire!" Harry told her, struggling to keep the vines from around his neck. Hermione started to scramble around panic setting in. She had never liked the dark. She was 12 years old, but still slept with a bit of light.

"But, there isn't any wood." she cried out, ashamed of her fear. It was threatening to consume her. Blaise sent her look of disbelief that the darkness hid from her.

"NO WOOD? ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?" he shouted at her, drawing his own wand. "Incendio!" he cast, burning a hole through the plant. Everyone was dropped to the floor below. Blaise grabbed Hermione's hand, drawing them down the hole as well. Hermione began to control her breathing in order to stem the impending panic. The hall underneath was much brighter, and Harry did a quick head count. His eyes landed on Blaise. The vines behind him began to curl back up to create the barrier once again.

"Think you can last on that ledge?" Harry asked the Slytherin boy. Blaise gave Harry a nod, grabbing onto one of the vines and being pulled back up. The others wished Blaise luck, not knowing it would be a breeze for the boy. Hermione had her hand on her forehead, berating herself.

"There's no wood, honestly." she muttered. It had been ages since her magic had shorted out the elevator at the local library. She had only been in the room with the Devil's Snare for 5 minutes, it was nothing compared to the three hours sobbing for someone to save her. She felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Hey, you might not have remembered that you were a witch, but you remembered what we learned in Herbology, and that was more important." Goyle told her with a soft smile. She smiled back at him, appreciating his help.

"Each Professor must have made a trap to get to the stone." Harry surmised, looking up at the ceiling of Devil's Snare. "Talk about real world application." he joked. Only Hermione, who had been to Muggle School laughed.

"What you doing over there Crabbe?" Ron asked, seeing the boy crouched by the wall, inspecting something. Crabbe picked it up, bringing it back to the group.

"Was trying to guess which teacher wears this." he told them, showing them a neon earring. Harry's eyes widened.

"That's Luna's." he gasped. Goyle frowned.

"Loony is trying to steal the stone?" he asked in confusion. Harry shook his head.

"She must be hostage, she told me to stay out of all of this, she must have tried to stop the bad guy herself." Harry told them, tumbling over his words. He did not want to think of the possibility that Luna had betrayed him. Ron started moving down the hall to the next room. Luna was his sister's best friend, he would be damned if he would let anything happen to the girl.

"We better get going then. World isn't gonna save itself."

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Sam was sitting in the center of the room, cross legged, bed still up against the wall near the door. He trying to take calming breaths, fearing what the next vision would bring. He noticed the water pitcher on a nearby table and clumsily got to his feet, praying it was not an illusion. He reached it, grabbing hold and pouring the water directly into his mouth. He drank for a while, shirt soaked by the time he finished. It was then that he noticed the note. He opened it, hoping for some sort of instructions. It was a note from Severus, explaining that he would be sending a House Elf from the Hogwarts kitchens to bring him water once a day. He told Sam not to mention it to his brother, as Dean did not approve of the interaction. Sam wondered what a House Elf was, and why he did not see it enter. It was possible he had passed out for a while.

"Poor baby." Sam looked up startled. His mother stood in front of him, wearing a white gown with a large bloodstain on the front.

"Mom." he gasped, taking in her image. She gave him a pitying look.

"Sam, you look awful." she told him softly, almost sounding heartbroken. Sam looked away from her, breathing in deeply, holding back tears. He suddenly gave a laugh devoid of humor, looking at the ceiling.

"No use in dragging this out, I know what you're gonna say." he huffed. "You're disappointed. You never thought I'd turn out this way. I'm a piss-poor excuse for a son. Your heart is broken. Am I close?" Sam asked. He wanted to leave this room more than anything. He was tired of being stuck with the self-loathing voices in his head.

"Not at all. You're doing the right thing, Sam. What you're doing is brave. You're not being crazy, you're being practical. Sam, I am so proud of you." Mary told him, stepping closer. Sam looked to her in shock.

But, but Dean-" he tried to rationalize. His older brother was always right, even if Sam didn't like it. It was the way things had always been. He was in denial about the demon powers, Dean would know better.

"Your brother doesn't understand. I was raised a hunter from a long line. We understand that there are gonna be hard choices. And we do what we must, to get the job done. Yes, our family is cursed. But you—you have the power to turn it into a gift. You can use it against them." She urged, almost fanatically. Sam looked within himself to see if she was right. He thought Dean was always right because he was the older brother, but this was his mother. What's more, his mother had known Dean. She would know if he could be wrong. Mary was raised a hunter, she claimed.

"For revenge." he clarified. She gave him a tight smile, the same one he frequently used.

"No, for justice." she gave him a doting look. "I know how scared you are. This thing that's inside of you. It's evil and you know it." Sam gripped his sleeves tightly, trying to remember that it was just an illusion. Nothing it said mattered. He was in here because Dean wanted him in here. He should just listen. He needed to stick with the rules of the family business.

"What if it's stronger than me? Look at me. What if Dean's right?" Sam croaked out. He had feared it from the moment that door closed behind him.

"Dean can never know how strong you are, because Dean is weak. Look at what he's done to you. Locking you in here? He's terrified. He's in over his head. You have to go on without him. You have what it takes. You have to kill Lilith." Sam shook his head, pulling a hand over his face.

"I'm not killing Lilith, she's the last seal. YOU are not real. NONE of this is real." Sam declared, eyes screwed shut. "I- I don't need the potions. I don't need the blood. I need to trust Dean. I need to trust myself." he opened his eyes to an empty room. He punched the nearest wall. He was hurting so badly inside, and there was no one around to help. Repeatedly he banged on the door, begging for anyone to talk to him. With a final thud, he let himself slip down to the floor, crying. "Please, I don't want to be a monster."

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Dean kicked a nearby rock in frustration, looking back to the sky. Suddenly, he heard it behind him, the signature whoosh of wings. He turned, already telling himself it was not the Cas he knew, because he knew the second he saw the angel he would want him to come home. Castiel stood next to a nearby tree, looking over the lake as the Giant Squid caused ripples. Dean swallowed thickly, glaring at the angel.

"It's about time." he said. "I've been out here screaming myself hoarse." Castiel's eyes took on a pitying look that Dean dismissed as nothing more than a reflection of the moon.

"What do you want?" Castiel asked. He almost sounded hoarse as well. Not the same as himself though, Dean thought, more as if the angel was in pain. He glanced at the angel from head to toe but could see no injury.

"You can start with what the hell happened in Illinois." he demanded, walking closer to the angel. Castiel of course gained all of Jimmy's memories upon entering him. He knew however that this is not what Dean was referring to. He wanted to know why he was now distant, he wanted to know why he had left.

"What do you mean?" he asked at last. He saw Dean clench a fist.

"Cut the crap!" he shouted, getting another step closer. "You were gonna tell me something."

"Well," Castiel said, looking away from the man. "It was nothing of import."

"You got ass-reamed in Heaven and it isn't of import?" Dean asked. Castiel placed his hands in his pockets.

"I just need some time, I'm trying to think straight, I just need a moment in my own space." Castiel told him, trying to explain away his absence. He saw the longing in Dean's eyes and had to avoid looking at them. Another step closer.

"How are you doing?" Dean asked him, voice gentle. He had missed this tone.

"Okay." Cas responded. It was low and despondent, and most definitely a lie. A soft breeze stirred up the branches behind them. He heard Dean scoff, but not in a demeaning way.

"Isn't that what we all say?" he asked, pulling on his face with his left hand. Cas saw the glint of the family ring, posing as a wedding band. Cas looked down at his own hand, seeing the ring that married Jimmy to Amelia. When he looked back up he caught Dean's eyes and knew the Hunter had seen. "Heh, maybe that's why our marriage isn't working, never got the proper rings." Dean joked. Castiel did not smile.

"Sometimes I think back to the old days." Castiel admitted, thinking of when he had first taken Jimmy as his vessel. "In the pointless conversations with the old me, I felt more human then, than I do currently." He expected demands of more explanation but did not receive it. Instead Dean deviated a bit towards the lake.

"I know how you feel." Dean said, gazing over the water. Castiel stood near Dean, trying to see what the man was looking at. "Back when my momma used to hold me. That was the last time. Ever since that, been nothing but a Hunter." Dean made a huffing noise between a sob and a laugh. He looked up to the Heavens. "I wish somebody would have told me."

"What's the real reason you called me here?" Castiel asked, ashamed that he was no longer the angel that Dean looked to.

"Sam, can he really do it? Can he stop the apocalypse?" Castiel felt a pain in his heart at the question. He would have to go through it though if he wanted the love of his fellow angels. He took a calming breath and began to nod.

"Possibly, yes." He lied. "You know he would have to take certain steps." he warned. Dean picked up a nearby rock and skipped it across the lake in thought. Cas' eyes widened at the path of ripples the rock had created. He crouched down, watching the surface of the water. Dean grinned to himself, picking up another. He didn't want to think about letting his baby brother become an addict for the good of the world. He just wanted to enjoy this moment with Cas. "There is a way to avoid this." Cas offered. He knew it was a trick on the angels' part, but he knew deep down that Dean would be happier if Sam was kept out of it.

"What?" Dean asked in shock.

"We believe it's you, Dean, not your brother. The only question for us is whether you're willing to accept it. Stand up and accept your role. You are the one who will stop it." Castiel said, standing and facing Dean. They were only feet apart at this point. He saw Dean lick his lips in thought, still watching the water.

"If I do this, Sammy doesn't have to?" Dean asked. Castiel knew that Dean was already sold, as he had referred to his brother as Sammy.

"If it gives you comfort to see it this way." Castiel told him. Anger returned to Dean.

"God, you're such a dick these days." he complained, turning and walking a few more feet away, not turning back to look at him. Castiel could feel his wings droop. He had meant the phrase as an honest sentiment, but he supposed that was not how Dean understood things. To the Winchesters, sincerity was not expressed as a formality. It was always honest and raw. He would have to relearn how to change. Dean gave a sigh. "Fine, I'm in."

"You give yourself over wholly to the service of God and his angels?" Castiel asked, invoking the pact.

"Yeah, exactly." Dean muttered. Cas walked closer.

"I need you to repeat it." he explained. Dean rolled his eyes, turning to face the angel.

"I give myself over wholly to God and you guys." The last part of the sentence was pointed. Castiel ignored the sting.

"You swear to follow his will and his word as swiftly and obediently as you did your own father's?" Castiel continued, taking another step forward.

"I swear." Dean said raspily. "Now what?"

"Now, you wait, and we call on you when it's time." Cas explained. They were only a foot apart, looking for deception in each other's eyes.

"I'm trusting you." Dean whispered coarsely. Cas placed a hand on Dean's shoulder, right over the hand print he had left there what felt like ages ago.

"I have faith in you." Cas responded. Dean took the final step forward to hug the angel but was met with the sound of wings and empty air.

Castiel had left.

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"Can you hear something?" Ron asked. Harry listened, a soft ruffling and clinking could be heard up ahead as they approached the next door. "Do you think it's a ghost?"

"I don't know, sounds like wings to me." Harry responded.

"I see a light up ahead. There's something moving." Draco said. They were reaching the end of the tunnel. They reached the end of the passageway and saw before them a brilliantly lit chamber, its ceiling arching high above them. It was full of small, jewel-bright birds, fluttering and tumbling all around the room. On the opposite side of the chamber was a heavy wooden door.

"I'm gonna make a run for the door." Ron told them. Hermione grabbed onto his arm as he got into a ready stance.

"That is absolutely foolish." she scolded. Ron gave a shrug in response. Crabbe and Goyle stood to either side of him.

"We'll go with too." Goyle offered. Harry pulled Hermione away and gave the others a nod, pulling his wand. Draco drew his as well, trying to recall anything more powerful than Stupefy to use on the birds should they attack. The three boys took off, covering their heads with their arms. None of the birds seemed bothered, and it resulted in Ron slamming face first into the wooden door. Hermione let out a small noise of sympathy. Goyle tried opening the door. "It's locked!" he called out. The final three walked over to them, knowing that the birds would not attack. Hermione attempted to unlock the door with magic to no avail.

"Now what?" Ron asked. Hermione looked back to the birds.

"These can't just be here for decoration." she mused, gazing up at the glittering birds. "Hold on, these aren't birds-"

"They're keys." Harry finished. Draco was scanning the room and pointed to the other corner.

"Look, brooms! We have to catch the key."

"But there are hundreds!" Hermione exclaimed. She was already running calculations in her mind about how long it would take to catch and try every single key. Ron was crouched by the keyhole, touching it softly.

"You're looking for a big one." he surmised. He jiggled the handle. "Old fashioned and silver." Harry and Draco nodded, heading towards the brooms. They kicked up simultaneously. Harry felt overwhelmed with so many keys darting past him. Now that they knew they were in danger of being captured, they were acting erratically. He felt a hand slip into his and turned to see concerned silver eyes. It reminded him of Claire. It reminded him of Cas. Draco did not flinch when Harry's eyes went all black. They separated whizzing past keys, trapping a few of the wrong ones. Harry was in hyper focus fueled by his demon side. Ever since the incident he had found it easier to use his demon powers. Almost as if they were guiding themselves.

"That one!" Harry called out to Draco. A key was struggling near the middle of the pack, wings bent as if someone had handled it roughly. "With the bright blue wings!" Draco scanned before nodding when he saw it. They both raced towards it, acting as if it were a competition to keep themselves sharp. The key noticed them and began to weave and hide behind other keys. Harry snarled when another key hit him in the face. He reached out, the key inches from him.

"Harry look out!" Hermione shouted. His eyes returned to their fake blue and he saw the wall he was rushing towards. He threw caution to the wind and continued, trapping the key between his hand and the wall. The cracking of stone was heard once Harry hit the wall with his hand.

"I got it!" he called out, holding the key up proudly. The other keys were not happy. The raced towards Harry. Draco rushed forward, taking the brunt of it. The keys scattered after attacking, but soon again began to converge into a cloud for attack. Draco looked over to Harry, bruises already forming on his alabaster skin.

"Hurry." he urged, pressing on Harry's back so he would move towards the door. Draco stayed behind him, showing that he was not to be underestimated on a broom. He brought both legs to one side, steering with only one hand. With the other he shot spells towards the forming cloud. Harry landed roughly, shoving the key into the lock. It opened with a loud click. Hermione and Ron pulled the door open as Harry grabbed Draco off his broom, leading him to the door. Draco slipped from his grip, pushing Harry through the door. Harry fell to his knees, looking behind him in shock.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked, getting to his feet. The others behind him where calling for Draco to join them.

"Look, it'd be better if I stay. If I hold on to the key, I will be ready when someone comes." The fluttering of wings increased as the cloud behind Draco became tightly packed.

"Let go of the key." Harry told him. "If you keep it, the other keys will get you." Harry batted it out of Draco's hands, to the boy's frustration. "Draco, I've seen you on a broom. You are incredible." Draco beamed. "There is no doubt in my mind that you can get the key if my family comes through. And if an enemy comes…" Draco's eyes were steel. "I know you can catch it first and get through the door with the key." Draco gave a nod, picking up the broom at his feet, in case the room tried to reset once the door closed.

"I know you'll be able to do it. You're a great wizard." Draco told the boy. Harry hugged his friend, the inspiration very much needed when he felt he couldn't draw on his angel powers.

"I'm going to end it."

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Sam was gasping in air as if he were suffocating. His looked down at his arms, having long ago shed his long sleeve. He twitched as black veins spread up his arms. He shakily stood, moving unsteadily to the mirror. The black veins were crawling up his neck, a stark contrast to the white tee-shirt he had on.

"Guys! Help!" he shouted. He continued to breathe as if he were drowning, spittle coming from his lips. "Please! I'm begging you! Please help me!" Bobby shook his head in the living room, ignoring the cries, for what Dean had told him.

"So, you willingly signed up to be the angels' bitch." Dean looked at him affronted. Bobby raise his eyebrows in fake concern. "Oh, I'm sorry. Would you prefer sucker?" Bobby got up from his chair. "After everything you've said about what they did to Cas. Why would you trust them?"

"I don't trust them, I trust Cas." Dean clarified, voice hard. "What other option do I have?" he exploded, throwing his arms out to the side. "It's either I trust an angel, or we let Sammy trust another demon."

"I see your point." Bobby conceded, knowing he could not change Dean's mind. They sat in silence for a moment before realizing it was unusual. Dean rushed to the bookshelf, running down the stairs and throwing open the window latch. Sam was convulsing on the floor.

"Sammy!" he shouted, already reaching for the door latch. What if he was too late, he wondered. What if he had doomed his brother by cutting him off? Maybe he should have listened to Severus, instead of thinking he knew everything. He was on his knees next to his brother, holding his head. Bobby came in a few moments after, armed. Dean's green eyes gazed up at him, and once again they were two young boys in need of guidance. Sam was ripped from Dean's grip and hit the wall hard. Bobby was frozen. He could not see the adults in the room. He saw a teenage Dean running after his brother, wrestling him to the ground. He saw bruises on a young Sam, as his eyes stared into nothing. "Bobby!" Dean cried, snapping the older man out of it. "Please, what do I do?" Dean was crying, cradling his brother close.

"We need to strap him to the bed, for his own protection." Bobby said, pulling the bed down from the corner. "Dean?" he turned seeing Dean blinded by tears, whispering to his brother. "You with me? Dean!" Dean's head snapped up and he nodded, dragging his brother to the cot. He stayed by Sam's head, reciting apologies for every moment since he took him away from college. Bobby focused on tying Sam down. Dean never once stopped in his speech, and Bobby felt that it had been a long time coming. Bobby listened closely to Dean, wanting to know the pain he was in.

"I used to think life was moving so slow. I'd just watch it go by. I wanted to grow up so fast to get away from Dad and from hunting. I never wanted to leave you though, and then you left, and I should have let you stay gone." Dean lamented. "I remember when we would ride the bus you would watch the world around, and comment about how small it was. It wasn't though. We travelled the country and you rarely got to see any part of it. Even when it was just the two of us, I should have done more things you never got to do, like go to art museums and zoos and shit like that." Dean swiped a sleeve across his eyes. "I've always tried to control things. And right now, that's what's controlling me. I want to have all the answers Sammy, but I don't have them. I remember when I was the only person you needed, and now I just don't know." Dean gripped his brother's hand tight, wishing he could be hugging him. "I know I'm controlling, and I'm so sorry."

"Dean, we have to go." Bobby gently interrupted. Dean looked at his brother with watery eyes. He didn't want to leave, but he knew he had to. Dean squeezed Sam's hand one last time, unknowingly waking him as he walked away with Bobby. Bobby brought Dean into a side hug as they walked to the door.

"I wish somebody would have told me." Dean told Bobby as they exited. In Sam's eyes however, Dean turned at the last moment to address him.

"I wish someone would have told me that you were going to turn into a monster." Sam went to sit up and realized he was bound. "We had to, that demon blood of yours was tossing you all over the room." Dean explained, leaning up against the nearest wall. "Tell me something Sam. Why did you do this to yourself?"

"You know why." Sam grit out, feeling like a ton of bricks was on his chest.

"Right, contain Lilith. Why? For revenge?" Dean asked him. "In case you didn't notice I'm here and kicking. So, what's the point?" he said harshly. "You think we'll love you if you do something quote unquote good with your evil powers?"

"Love?" Sam asked. He knew that Dean already loved him. What was he referring to then? He looked back to the empty spot expectantly. Right outside the door, Dean and Bobby were still talking.

"Are you absolutely sure we're doing the right thing?" Bobby asked.

"No." Dean admitted, shocking Bobby. "You saw what was happening to him in there. I don't know if it's the demon blood, the potion withdrawal, or us that is killing him."

"I can't bite my tongue any longer." Bobby said with a sigh. "It's us, Dean. We're killing him. This cold turkey thing is not working." Dean was staring at him, self-loathing in his eyes. "If he doesn't get what he needs soon…" His eyes were glassy as he dug his nails into his palms.

"I'm not going to give him anything to fuel his addiction." Dean said, sounding like he would rather be dragged back to hell.

"And if he dies?" Bobby said, feeling as if his mouth were full of sand.

"Then at least he dies human!" Dean shouted. He was falling apart at the seams, desperately trying to pull himself together, because the end of the world was neither the time nor the place to have a breakdown. "I would die for him in a second, but I won't let him do this to himself. I can't. I guess I found my line. I won't let my brother turn into a monster."

"It's why you drink the potions." Dean said within the chamber. "They make you feel strong, invincible even." he said with a flourish, pushing off the wall and flexing an arm. "Well, that's not how this works. If you want to be loved, you're going to have to go through the pain like the rest of us. You don't get to use a cheat code to avoid sacrifices."

"No, you're wrong Dean." His brother had never said such hateful things to him. Not even on the day he left for college.

"It's more than that, isn't it? It's because your whole life, you felt different. Am I right? How about you learn how to change?" Dean hissed, his voice distorting. Sam didn't notice.

"Stop." The handcuffs clanged as he tried to raise his arm.

"Oh, I hit a little close to home, huh? Not different because you were some lonely kid or because of your weirdo family…" Dean strolled around the bed, hands in his jean pockets. "Different because you're a monster." he hissed out into Sam's ear.

"Stop it!" Sam shouted, twisting his head away. "Shut the hell up! Just…"

"Monster, Sam. You're a monster. And I tried so hard to pretend that we were brothers. That you weren't one of the filthy things that we hunt. But we're not even the same species. You're nothing to me." Dean spat out. Sam looked at him with watering eyes.

"Don't say that to me…" he begged. He couldn't handle it. Not from his brother. "Don't you say that to me." Dean had been the only thing he had for so many years. He loved his older brother more than anything. He started to cry, looking to the other side of the bed. He was trembling, the chains rattling with him. His forced his eyes open and back to where he thought his brother was standing. There was nothing there. He prayed that it had just been illusion, but he couldn't be sure.

He didn't trust himself.

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The lights around them sprung to life. Ron gasped at the sight of the giant chess board. They were standing on the edge of it, behind the black chessmen, which were all taller than they were and carved from what looked like black stone. Facing them, way across the chamber, were the white pieces.

"Now what?" Harry asked in frustration. How many rooms were they going to have to go through? He couldn't keep leaving his friends behind.

"We'll have to play." Ron said confidently, already approaching a knight. He touched the horse and the rider looked down at him. "May I use your horse?" Ron asked politely. The knight slid off, bowing to Ron to give him permission. Ron scrambled to the top of the horse, with a slight boost from the knight. The others were watching Ron, not wanting to throw off his groove. The redhead scanned the board. "I suppose we'll all have to play?" The knight nodded. "No offense to the lot of you-" Ron started.

"No offense taken," Harry interrupted quickly. "Just tell us what to do." Ron nodded, looking at each of them in turn.

"Harry, you will take the place of the King. Can't afford losing you." Harry nodded. The King stepped from his place, gesturing to Harry to step into his square. "Crabbe, Goyle, both of you will be bishops." The pair high fived and went to their spots. "Hermione, you'll be the rook to my right." She hesitantly took her place, expelling a nervous breath. "White usually goes first." he told the others, and sure enough a white pawn moved forward two places. Harry had never seen Ron so composed and sure of himself, as he did now. Ron was directing the pieces with ease. The opposing Queen demolished on of their knights, black chunks of stone scattering as she threw him from the board. "Had to let that happen." Ron said shakily. "Leaves you free to take that bishop, Hermione." his voice cracked.

"You're doing amazing Ron." Harry assured, not being able to afford Ron losing faith, especially when they realized it was exactly like Wizard Chess. Every time one of their men was lost, the white pieces showed no mercy. Soon there was a huddle of limp black players slumped along the wall. Twice, Ron only just noticed in time that Crabbe and Hermione were in danger. He himself darted around the board, taking almost as many white pieces as they had lost black ones.

"We're nearly there," he muttered suddenly. "Let me think let me think..." Harry still hadn't moved from his square, but the urge to do so kept increasing. The White Queen looked to Ron. "That's it."

"What's it?" Hermione asked. Ron sat tall upon his steed. "I've got to be taken."

"What no!" Harry shouted, going to make a move towards Ron.

"Don't move!" Ron shouted, halting Harry in his tracks. His eyes were like blazing fire. "This is the only way. We can't waste any more time. In chess, you make sacrifices. Once I'm taken, Crabbe, you'll have to checkmate." He instructed his horse to move forward a step, face pale. The white queen pounced. She struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm, and he crashed to the floor Hermione screamed but stayed on her square - the white queen dragged Ron to one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out.

"Ron!" Harry called out. Ron wearily moved one of his arms. Crabbe moved to the left three squares, though his eyes did not leave Ron. The white King dropped his crown at his feet, admitting defeat. Crabbe rushed off to Ron, inspecting him. The others rushed through the passageway that the King had revealed by stepping to the side. Crabbe ran towards them, carrying Ron on his back. He was able to dodge the debris and reach the group just in time, as the King stepped back into place, the rattling of pieces coming back together deafening. "How you feeling?"

"Like I've been beaten by a rogue bludger." Ron groaned as Crabbe set him on his feet. "I can make it though." Harry gave him a smile, leading the way to the door. The sudden thud of heavy footsteps startled them, a sword plunging into the ground in front of Ron, separating him and Crabbe from the rest. Harry didn't think, he acted, lunging over the sword. The knight placed a finger on Ron, and Harry took this moment to heal Ron. Harry berated himself when only the major issues disappeared. The knight removed his finger and then pointed to the white horse that stood alone on the board. Ron looked between the two multiple times. "You, you want me to stay?" The Knight nodded. Harry stepped in front of Ron.

"I don't know Ron." Harry warned. The Knight pointed to Ron once again, and then clasped his hands together, shaking them overhead in a celebratory manor. He then bowed, gesturing to the horse once again.

"I accept." Ron stated, patting Harry on the back. Harry turned to his friend.

"Are you sure?" he asked. The pieces were brutal. What if the next opponent took out his brother? Sapphire eyes held more pride than he had ever seen. Harry gave him a final clap on the shoulder before moving on. Ron's voice echoed as the rest entered the next tunnel.

"Please, please. You're all to kind." Harry gave a snort of laughter, shaking his head at his best friend's antics. He knew the path to the stone was well guarded.

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Sam awoke when the cuff on his left hand snapped open. He sat up in alarm. The cuff on his ankle gave out as well, and then the other two, the door opening before him. Sam watched it for a second.

"Who's there?" he called out. "Danny?" He received no reply. Sam sat for a moment longer debating with himself. The door was wide open, beckoning him. He stood, taking steps towards it, trying to convince himself not to. Dean trusted him to stay in this room. He poked his head out the door. "Anyone?" he asked. He placed a foot on the first step of the stair, but hesitated. His brown eyes were red rimmed and staring up to the top of the stairs. He took another step, hand on the railing. He let his head hang for a second before he rushed up the rest of the stairs, placing his hand on the secret wall. Sam did not notice Castiel closing the panic room door as he stepped through the rotated bookshelf. Tears pooled in the corner of his eyes as he took in the sight around him. He delicately touched the edge of his favorite armchair in the living room. There was soft clinking in the kitchen and against better judgement he went to go see. The rest of the house was dark, and he assumed it was late. Sam carefully slipped through the open door, seeing Bobby inventorying several jarred ingredients. Multiple kits were open around the kitchen, small notes written around it. "Bobby?" The old man looked up, seeing a broken Sam in the kitchen with him.

"Sam?" he asked. Sam gave a weak smile. His stomach growled, and he moved past Bobby to the fridge. "What are you doing out?"

"How long has it been?" Sam responded. He heard the click of a shotgun cocking behind him. He raised his arms, turning back to Bobby. The older man had trouble resisting his instinct to lower the gun from a boy he considered a son. Sam's chest jerked with shaky breaths.

"You have to go back downstairs." Bobby told him, hoping Sam would comply. He mentally cursed Dean for not being around. The idiot was out making another beer run, hoping alcohol would fill the gaping hole within him. Sam shook his head, lowering his arms.

"No." Sam would rather die than be placed back into solitary confinement. He couldn't last much longer inside.

"Damn it, boy!" Bobby cursed, steadying his aim. They were in a standstill in the kitchen. For the first time Sam realized how empty the house was now compared to a few months ago. They had all gone through so much. Yet, Bobby remained, as reliable as ever.

"You won't shoot me, Bobby." Sam said. It wasn't a taunt, or a bid for more time to think. He knew this to be true. He saw Bobby's face change as he struggled internally. Bobby glared daggers into Sam's eyes.

"Don't test me." Sam stepped forward, closer to the barrel.

"You won't. You can't." Sam told him. Bobby broke, his own eyes watering.

"We're trying to help you, Sam." Sam nodded, showing that he understood. He grabbed the gun, pressing it against his chest.

"Then shoot." For a long moment neither of them moved. The last thing that Bobby saw was the regret in Sam's eyes. Sam expelled a trembling breath as he looked down to the unconscious Bobby. He tossed the gun aside, grabbing a few things from the kits. He then stepped over Bobby and left.

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"What do you reckon is next?" Harry asked as they saw the next door. Hermione thought about it for a moment.

"We've had Sprout's, that was the Devil's Snare; Flitwick must've put charms on the keys; McGonagall transfigured the chessmen to make them alive; that leaves Quirrell's spell, and Snape's." she reasoned. They had reached the door. Harry let his demon power tingle just beneath the surface. Hermione swung the door open, and they were hit with a smell worse than a sewer. Eyes watering, they saw, flat on the floor in front of them, a troll even larger than the one they had tackled, out cold with a bloody lump on its head.

"I'm glad we didn't have to fight that one," Harry whispered. Crabbe and Goyle rushed past them with war cries. They landed on the troll with shouts of victory. Harry gave a small chuckle. "Come on, I can't breathe." he told Hermione making his way over on the massive legs.

"Don't worry Harry!" Goyle shouted. "We'll hold him down!" Harry opened his mouth to beckon them.

"Tell our story!" Crabbe lamented, feebly raising an arm out towards him.

"Guys." he said, trying to keep the humor out of his voice. Hermione was already at the exit door, pulling in breaths of fresh air.

"Don't let them forget us!" Harry sighed loudly.

"It's unconscious." He told them. The pair looked down at the troll. The laughed a bit before climbing off. Crabbe became pensive, circling the head of the creature, poking it occasionally.

"Should be out for another few hours." Harry tried to see what Crabbe was seeing.

"You sure?" Crabbe nodded, though he looked nervous. It was not a nervousness that stemmed from being unsure of one's answer, but rather and uneasiness of being unsure with one's self. "Alright." Crabbe smiled at him, and he wondered why the boy didn't do so more often. "Can you guys hold the line here?" he asked them. He received an affirmation from both. "No use in you both staying in the room with this stench. Better to stay in the hall before this room. That way you can help my family if they ever get here. And if it's an enemy."

"We'll run through the room, I will wake up the troll on the way through." Crabbe stated. Harry flashed him a grin.

"Sounds good." Harry told him, not bothering to ask Crabbe how he would accomplish the feat. He had trust in his friends. He gave them one last wave as he and Hermione moved onto the next room.

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Sam threw the drawer towards the wall, realizing that his brother had taken everything he had stored in his room. He went to the fireplace, flooing to Severus' quarters. He knew the man would most likely be asleep and that worked in his favor. He headed toward the smaller lab in the man's quarters before stopping himself. He would be going back on what he had told Dean if he stole potions. He shook his head, turning to head to the bedroom. The door made no sound as he slipped into the bedroom. Severus as he had guessed was asleep, for once looking unstressed. Sam sighed, sinking into the chair at the nearby desk. He shook his head looking at the papers on the desk. Without much thought he grabbed the quill that was next to the crimson ink and began to grade. It made him feel normal, even if it was just for a bit. The bed creaked and then a wand was being pressed at the base of his skull. Sam set the quill down and raised his hands up to show he held no weapon. Slowly, he stood, turning to face Severus. The shorter man looked at him, an unknown emotion in his eyes.

"Sev." Sam started, realizing that he had missed seeing the man. He lowered his arms to his sides, feeling powerless in front of the war veteran. "Did you…did you help me out of the room. Did you tell the uh, house elf?" he asked. Severus lowered his wand.

"I did nothing." He admitted. Sam detected the regret in his voice. "Believe me when I say that I argued their decision, Sam." Severus could feel the all too familiar iciness of self-loathing in his gut. He knew all too well how it felt to do nothing when someone you loved suffered at the hand of an ally. "I wanted to, I…"

"I believe you." Sam told him softly. Severus looked into the mournful brown eyes and could feel his chest grow lighter. He allowed Sam to hug him, eventually wrapping his arms around the man as well. "Then how did I get out of there?" he wondered aloud.

"I haven't the slightest clue, and at this point it is irrelevant. You're out. That's all that matters. I'm glad you're here." The voice was slightly muffled against Sam's chest. "You are in need of upkeep." He said suddenly, pulling away. Sam raised an eyebrow before noticing the miniscule scrunch of the potion master's nose. Severus pointed to a nearby door and dug through his closet to find something for the man to wear. Sam took the hint and went into the bathroom. The sight that greeted him in the mirror was not a pretty one. He gave a sigh, striping down and stepping into the shower. The water started on its own, nearly scalding. Sam felt as if he were in Heaven, the heat feeling amazing on his aching muscles. He heard the door open and could see Severus' shadow in the room. "I have adjusted some clothing for you."

"Thanks, Sev." Sam said, closing his eyes to wash his face. He wondered if this is how Dean felt with Cas. Having someone who was almost infinitely more powerful than you by your side as an equal. He could hear that Severus was still in the bathroom. "You okay?"

"Sam, what is happening." The voice left no room for denial of an issue. It was not the authority in the voice, but the desperate need to know, threatening to turn to paranoia. It was the whispers of ghosts slipping past his lips from his haunted eyes. Sam placed a hand against the wall to ground himself. It was something he did not think much on, the fact that the Wizarding World had already been plunged into a war once. That Severus had lived through it, on the side of the enemy. He was not like the others fighting on the side of the light who would occasionally see an article in the paper, or rarely be seconds too late to save someone. Severus saw the evil every day. They were the same. In a way they were better than the others, who would not go to such lengths as they would. Others would not make the sacrifices they did, because they did not know just how bad it could truly get.

"We're holding the apocalypse back with an umbrella. And we've got a big storm coming." Sam said, turning off the water. "Could you," Sam gave an awkward cough, "could you let me get dressed before we finish talking." He heard the door close as Severus exited. He expelled breath, not knowing what he had been expecting. He quickly got dressed, knowing it was only a matter of time before he was found out. He opened the door to see Severus sitting with a ghostly bird nearby, letter clutched in beak.

"The dratted bird would not release the letter to me." Severus said with a sneer. Sam hesitantly approached it, reaching towards the letter. The bird relinquished it, dissipating. Sam tore it open, worry growing on his face as he scanned it.

"This isn't good."

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Harry pulled open the door with reluctance, wondering what challenge they would be facing next. It was both to his and Hermione's surprise when the only thing in the room was a table with several bottles on it. Hermione stepped forward to go towards the table but was grabbed on her arm by Harry. Something felt off. He double checked his bag and let his hand smooth over the bezoar he had brought. He let his other hand slip into Hermione's and they stepped forward together. Even as they did so, Harry felt his bag being pulled from him to stay in the doorway. He had no time to pull Hermione back as walls of flames burst from the floor, blocking both the entrance and the exit. Hermione's hand slipped from his as she rushed to the table. Harry took a moment to watch the purple flames, able to see his bag on the other side. He began to reach for the flames, thinking that if they did hurt, he would at least heal quicker.

"Harry, look at this." Hermione called out, halting him. He turned to her, seeing that she held a scroll in her hand. "This one, it isn't magic. It's logic!" she gave a small laugh, as if she could not believe it. "Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind," she started. Harry looked at the black flames before him. This seemed to be the last obstacle. The enemy lied on the other side of the flames. "Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, one among us seven will let you move ahead," Harry started to scan the bottles. "Another will transport the drinker back instead, two among our number hold only nettle wine," Harry felt his nostrils flair as he tried to pinpoint to wine. "Three of us are killers, waiting bidden in line. Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,"

"So dramatic." Harry muttered under his breath. He tried to think as Severus would. There was no way that the potions were the only way through. What if they Headmaster wanted to check on the stone with his colleagues?

"To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four: First, however slyly the poison tries to hide, you will always find some on nettle wine's left side. Second, different are those who stand at either end, but if you would move onward, neither is your friend. Third, as you see clearly, all are different size, neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides. Fourth, the second left and the second on the right are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight." She finished. "This is far too easy. I feel as if something else should be attacking us in the room." Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Honestly Harry. We have all the pieces, all we need is to put them together."

"Yes but…"

"Only need to find out where to start." Hermione muttered to herself, scanning the paper once more. Harry very suddenly remembered something Severus had told him about potion making. Severus had several ingredients laid out before him, and Harry had asked how he kept all the recipes straight in his mind without writing them all down.

"Start at the end." Harry repeated from memory. "If I know the result I desire, I can deconstruct it to find the first step." Harry looked at Hermione expectantly.

"Last step, right. The second left, and the second on the right are twins…" She chewed her cheek briefly. "It would have to be the wine." She surmised, pointing the bottles out to Harry. Harry leaned closer over them, smelling the tang of wine. He nodded, encouraging her. She pushed the two bottles out of line. "Neither dwarf or giant holds death." She took the smallest bottle from the middle and the largest bottle, which was rounded, and pulled it closer to them. "If you want to move on neither end is your friend." The rounded bottle had been at one end, and so Harry moved the one at the other end forward. "No Harry, we need to-"

"I need to move forward. You don't. You will go back into the hall with my bag and wait. You've lied before to save me." Harry said, causing her to smile a bit. "I know you can outsmart nearly every wizard or witch here. I also know if anyone can escape here to get help it would be you." She gave a stern nod, going back to the paper. "Poison hides on nettles left." She took the same bottle Harry had moved and pushed it away from them. She then moved to the one that was third from right and pushed that away as well.

"There's only one we haven't touched." Harry said, motioning to the third in line.

"It' poison." Hermione said resolutely, letting the parchment roll back onto itself. She pointed to the large rounded bottle. "That one leads me back through the purple flames." Harry looked at the only option left, a small bottle that looked as if it held less than a swallow. "That leads you forward." Her brown eyes were suddenly very deep as Harry looked into them. "Are you sure you need to go alone?" Harry did not respond, pulling Hermione into a hug. Words could not begin to express how much he loved the girl. He pulled away with tears in his eyes.

"Hermione Granger, you are the most brilliant witch I have ever met." He told her sincerely. She grew red.

"Me?" she exclaimed in disbelief. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery and - oh Harry - be careful!" Harry grabbed the rounded bottle and handed it to her.

"You drink first." He told her softly. She took the bottle and took a few mouthfuls. She shuddered as she placed it down on the table.

"It's not poison?" said Harry anxiously.

"No - but it's like ice." She managed to say through chattering teeth.

"Quick, go, before it wears off." He told her.

"Good luck - take care." She said sweetly. Harry could already see her shivering decreasing.

"GO!" he shouted. Hermione turned and rushed straight through the purple fire. She picked up the bag and stepped into the hallway, slamming the door shut. Harry took a deep breath and picked up the smallest bottle. He turned to face the black flames. Harry wanted to tell her that he would be fine. But he didn't. He didn't because he did not want her to know he was THE Harry Potter. He didn't tell her because if he revealed his angel half to her, the demon half would soon follow.

But most importantly, he didn't tell her that he would be fine, because he did not know if he would be

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Dean came home to find Bobby nursing his head with an ice pack, looking disgruntled. He rushed over, asking the man what had happened. Bobby glared a bit.

"I got a shotgun butt to the forehead." He ground out, standing from the kitchen chair. He led the way to the bookshelf. "Took you long enough to get home." He groused as the bookshelf turned and stairs appeared. The pair rushed down, unlocking and opening the panic room. Dean stepped in, looking around in confusion.

"How the hell did he get out?" Dean asked in alarm. Several suspects came to mind. He scoured the room, noticing a soggy paper near the mirror, yet no apparent source of water.

"Maybe he had help. Room's full of busted devil's traps." Bobby noticed. Dean's eyes narrowed.

"Demons? We got rid of Ruby though." Dean thought aloud. The story hadn't been pretty, but Danny had been able to assure them that the she demon would never come back. It had to be a ruse. It had to be someone else.

"What difference does it make?" Bobby snapped. "How he got gone ain't as important as where he got gone to." Dean racked his brain for where Sam could have gone. He had no car, and Dean would have seen him on his drive back to Spinner's End. Which only left the castle.

"He went to Severus." He growled out. How could he? For his brother to turn around and escape to the man who most likely started his addiction. Dean very clearly remembered the potion given to his brother in the Leaky Cauldron. Bobby could almost see the jumps Dean was making to find a conclusion.

"You sure about that?" Bobby asked as Dean made his way up the stairs. "I'm missing enough ingredients to summon a demon upstairs."

"One way to find out." Dean shot back, heading for the fireplace. He grabbed a fistful of floo powder, being whisked away to his quarters by green flames. For the first time since flooing he landed in his own fireplace on solid feet, the thud sounding almost menacing. He took a single step out before turning around and grabbing more floo powder. He tossed some into his fireplace, the sneer already on his face as he stated the destination. "Snape's Quarters." The flames popped up at half height, signifying he had to ask permission to enter. He knelt, sticking his head in the fire. He was able to see into the room, Sam and Severus gathering things from around the room. "HEY!" he shouted, causing Sam to drop a vial at his feet.

"Dean." He gasped. He had not expected his brother to find him so fast.

"Let me in." Dean growled. The level of anger he felt was not properly portrayed by the flame rendition of his face. Sam looked to Severus, giving a nod. With the news they just received, they would need all the help they could get.

"Enter." Severus said lazily, turning his back to continue what he had been doing. Dean came charging out of the fireplace, bypassing Sam and grabbing Severus. He whirled the man around, pushing him until he hit the wall behind him. Sam rushed to stand between them.

"No. Leave him alone." He pleaded to his older brother. "Just take it easy." Severus pushed himself away from the wall, standing closer to Sam. Dean scanned their faces before taking a half step back.

"Nice try, keeping me away." He scoffed. "But, guess what? I still found you." His eyes trained on Severus. "You fucking piece of scum." He started forward again, but was stopped by a solid block from Sam. There was fire in the brown eyes, daring Dean to feed it. "Why the fuck did you do this to my brother?" he shouted at the wizard. "For what? To take him to your Dark Lord? To turn him against his family?" Dean had spittle flying from his lips, but he did not care. This man was trying to take his brother away, and he would not stand for it.

"I would never do anything to harm Sam." Severus stated coolly. Dean punched at the air in frustration. Severus was not bothered by Dean's behavior, not when he had a chance at something he had always wanted.

"Why the hell should I believe you?" he accused, jabbing a finger in Severus' direction. Severus let his dark eyes meet with Dean's.

"Because I love him." The statement shocked the entire room. Severus had not expected himself to say the words, and certainly not with that much resolution. Sam had turned to look at the shorter man with surprise, feeling his cheeks filling with color. Dean had gone stone still, his heart beating faster to the point that he could hear it rushing in his ears. His lips twitched as several insults tried to escape his jumbled mind.

"Yeah, fucking, right!" Dean shouted at last, lunging for the man. Sam grabbed Dean by the middle and tossed him away.

"You have no reason not to believe him!" Sam shouted back. "Just because Cas left you-" Dean attacked Sam, pulling him to the floor. The boys began to wrestle for dominance, not holding back on their blows. Severus drew his wand, but wavered in aiming it, fearing he would hit Sam. He took a breath and did something to buy time.

"Expecto patronum." He recited, silver mist exiting the wand and turning not into one form, but two. The Winchester's paused, watching the animals run around the room before settling next to Severus. Sam stood up, amazed by the sight. Dean watched with his good eye from the floor. A doe nuzzled Severus palm, and Severus began to pet it with a sad smile. "The older I get, the younger you appear." He told the Patronus. The young doe looked to Sam when he approached. Sam however, was looking at the large moose to Severus' left. It was missing an antler, the energy that the doe had stolen to continue to exist within Severus. Sam had not yet said anything. Severus began to doubt himself, arguing with himself for letting himself fall so quickly, to be so vulnerable in a time where they could not afford it. The moose Patronus looked to Severus, signaling Sam. Sam scooped Severus into another hug. The hunter had doubted for a second while fighting with Dean, but hugging Severus felt right. It couldn't be wrong then, could it?

"I'm scared that one day I'll wake up…" Dean said as he slowly got up. "and you'll be dead because you trusted someone other than me." He didn't like what he was seeing. It had nothing to do with the fact that Severus was older, or even that he was male. Dean knew nothing about the man, and he assumed that Sam didn't either. Sam on the other hand, felt he could trust the wizard, who had been honest about this past and the involvement in the war.

"Dean..." Sam started, voice cracking. "I need Severus' help to contain Lilith. She's going after the Stone…I know you can't wrap your head around it, but maybe one day you'll understand. I'm the only one who can do this, Dean." Dean shook his head.

"No, you're not." He shot back. He wasn't going to let Sam ruin himself for the war.

"Right." Sam said, letting his arms hit his sides. "That's right, I forgot. The angels think it's you." He growled out, taking a step towards his brother.

"You don't think I can do it?" Dean asked in disbelief. Sam gave a laugh.

"No. I don't." Sam said flatly.

"And who the hell are you?" Dean responded, getting within striking distance. Severus stood closer to Sam's side, glaring at the older Winchester. The energy in the room was almost palpable.

"Look. I know what needs to be done okay? I know what I'm doing!" Sam shouted. Dean sneered at him.

"Do you really, or are you just letting this freak fill you up with potions and hope for the best?" Dean asked. Sam clenched his fists.

"I do know what I'm doing."

"Well then that's worse. Then that means…" Dean cut himself off, turning and taking a few steps to calm down.

"No, finish." Sam urged. "Go ahead."

"It means you're a monster!" Dean shouted, turning to face his brother. The shout echoed a bit in the room, eerie in the resulting silence. Sam clenched his jaw and gave a nod. A purple beam hit Dean sending him flying through the air. Sam stalked towards him, trying to see past the tears in his eyes. He lifted Dean up by his shirt, surprising the man. Sam threw him into a nearby table. Dean retaliated once Sam was close, hitting him in the face.

"I am not the monster!" Sam shouted as he kicked Dean in the stomach. Dean doubled over, trying not to vomit. He fell to the floor as Sam crashed a wooden chair into his back, splintering it. "In case you haven't noticed Dean, you are the weak one here." He lifted his brother's head, crashing the face into his knee. "All you are is some pathetic Muggle. Even the angels abandoned you."

"No…" Dean gasped, spitting out blood. "No…Cas…he's coming back."

"You don't fit in with us." Sam spat. Severus kept quiet, his hand over the Dark Mark. Sam looked to Severus, motioning towards the fireplace. Severus nodded, and moved to start the fire. Sam started to walk towards it, Severus holding out a potion.

"Stop! If you walk out, don't you ever come back!" Dean ground out from the floor. Sam looked down at his brother, beaten and bruised. His brother knew he couldn't beat him physically. It was why he chose the same words their father had used. Sam shook his head at the attempt.

Sam grabbed the potion and swallowed it in one go, heading out to save the Stone, not knowing that Harry was doing the same several yards below the school. There was only one difference.

Harry was alone.