Author's Note: It's a good thing I went back and started reading this from beginning to end! Otherwise I wouldn't have realized that I had not saved the authors note for this chapter. Spoiler alert ahead for The Man Who Would Be King with a reference made to Frontierland. As always, I don't own the characters save baby Winchester.

Chapter Inspiration: Beethoven's 5 Secrets by The Piano Guys

Chapter 19

1 Month and 2 Weeks Later

Hermione was sitting in her charms classroom preparing a curriculum for the term starting the coming September. It was mundane work, one needed preparing for each grade year, but it kept her brain busy. As long as her brain was busy, it couldn't torture her with memories of a certain green-eyed hunter.

She was in her eighth month of pregnancy, and she was uncomfortable as all get out. She couldn't get comfortable standing, sitting, or laying down. Nights were awful for two reasons: the first, the nightmares she'd been having since Dean broke up with her, and the second, her daughter was most active during the night. Luna scolded her at every appointment about the importance of proper rest, and Hermione listened politely. She told Luna it was because of the baby's activity levels during the night, but she'd suspected her half-truth was seen for exactly what it was. Ginny and Hannah had offered her dreamless sleep draughts, but not knowing the side effects to the baby, she'd refused.

Hermione stifled a yawn behind her hand. She wanted to nap, and she knew no one would begrudge her one, but she was afraid to close her eyes. Getting up from her desk chair, she wandered through the row of desks, hoping movement would wake her up. When all it did was remind her of her djinn induced dream world, she wiped the unexpected tears from her cheeks, and returned to her desk. Looking out the window, she half expected to see her owl with a letter from the States, however, Athena wasn't there. Hermione had cut all communication, and that included to Bobby and Sam. Harry, she knew was in contact with them, but she couldn't bring herself to. She even refused to let Harry read their correspondence out loud.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Hermione shut her textbook choice, sliding it, and the parchment she'd been writing on, into a drawer of her desk. The lock clicked into place, and Hermione slowly rose. Walking carefully, with her new, more defined waddling abilities, she made her way from the classroom to her new professor's quarters. Minerva had graciously given her new rooms when Harry had dragged her heartbroken self, back to the school. She had been sympathetic when Hermione explained why she wanted new accommodations. Minerva had secured the new quarters, and even made sure that her rooms didn't require taking too many stairs. Something Hermione was very grateful for now.

When Hermione pushed the door open to enter the sitting room portion, she was startled to see a familiar blue-eyed angel, standing in the middle of the room. "Castiel?" Hermione asked.

"Hello Hermione." Castiel greeted.

"I thought it was too dangerous for you to transport into the magical world." Hermione observed, closing the door behind her, so that no one would overhear the odd conversation that was most likely to ensue.

"It is. I came to talk." Castiel explained.

"You risked your life to come talk to me?" Hermione asked, her brows pulling into a confused frown.

"Yes." The angel replied as if it were obvious.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she allowed herself a moment of weakness. "How is he, Cas?" She asked.

"I fear he's a shell of his former self. He's actually the reason I'm here." Castiel replied.

"Very well, have a seat." Hermione offered, gesturing to the couch where she took a seat at one end. Her back was stiff as a board, worried about whatever it was his angel friend had to say.

"Thank you Hermione." He replied, taking a seat on the other end of the couch. "You know, I've been here for a very long time, I remember many things. I remember being at a shoreline, watching a little grey fish heave itself up on the beach, and an older brother saying: 'don't step on that fish, Castiel. Big plans for that fish.'"

"Castiel," Hermione interjected. "Are you telling me a story?"

"Yes, I need you to understand." Castiel explained.

"All right." Hermione acquiesced, gesturing with her hand for him to continue.

"I remember the tower of Babel, all 37 feet of it, which I suppose was impressive at the time. When it fell, they howled 'divine wrath!' But, come on, dry dung can only be stacked so high." Castiel went on. "I remember Cain and Abel, David and Goliath, Sodom and Gomorrah, and of course, I remember the most remarkable event. Remarkable, because it never came to pass. It was averted by two boys, an old drunk, and a fallen angel." Castiel's eyes locked onto Hermione's at his inference to the Winchester brothers and Bobby. "The grand story, and we ripped up the ending, and the rules, and destiny. Leaving nothing, but freedom, and choice. Which is all well and good, except, well, what if I've made the wrong choice?"

"What do you mean by the wrong choice?" Hermione interrupted. She was kind of becoming worried at where Castiel was going with his story.

"How am I supposed to know... I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me tell you my story. Let me tell you everything." Castiel went on as if he hadn't heard Hermione's question. "It starts in the Impala, I popped in on Dean to see if he knew anything about me, and my connection to someone named Crowley. The King of Hell, in fact."

"You know The King of Hell?" Hermione asked, worried.

"Yes, and anyway, I needed to know what he knew. He told me that he was on his way to help Sam on a hunt. Satisfied that he didn't know anything, I went to Crowley. He was torturing monsters. He was mad at Sam and Dean for killing Eve." Castiel replied.

"Who is Eve?" Hermione asked, trying to keep up with the story.

"She's considered the 'Mother of All,' she is the creator of the monsters that Sam, Dean, and Bobby hunt." Castiel explained.

"And they killed her?" Hermione wondered, mildly impressed if she were being truthful.

"Yes, with the ashes of a phoenix. I had to send them back in time for them to obtain the ashes." Castiel informed her, gauging any reaction. Hermione didn't disappoint, he saw her clench her hands into fists.

"Is that safe?" Hermione questioned.

"It wasn't the safest, with as far back as they had to go. If they'd stayed even a minute past 24 hours, they'd have been stuck forever." Castiel informed her.

"Lovely." Hermione commented, her heart hammering in fear. "Go on."

"Because Sam and Dean killed Eve, Crowley was murderously mad. He threatened to quote 'tear their hearts out.' He accused me of all sorts of things too, underestimating the Winchesters, and having a conflict of interest. Crowley had a point, of course. My interest was conflicted. I still considered myself the Winchesters guardian. After all, they taught me how to stand up, what to stand for, and what generally happens to you when you do."

"How do you mean?" Hermione asked for clarification purposes.

"The cemetery, standing up to Michael with Holy Fire." The angel reminded her.

"That was you! You're the one who exploded!" Hermione connected the dots immediately. Her hands flew to her mouth that had dropped open in shock.

"I was done, I was over, and then the most extraordinary thing happened: I was put back." Castiel acknowledged her intelligence with a nod. "And we had won. We stopped Armageddon, but at a terrible cost. And so, I knew what I had to do next. Once again, I went to harrow Hell, to free Sam from Lucifer's cage. It was nearly impossible, but I was so full of confidence of mission."

"You rescued Sam from Hell?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, I see now, that was arrogance, hubris. Because of course, I hadn't truly raised Sam, well, not all of him." The humbled angel replied.

"Okay, now what's that supposed to mean?" Hermione questioned.

"You mean Dean never told you?" Castiel countered.

"Tell me what? I found out Sam was back when I showed up on Bobby's doorstep 2 months ago!" Hermione replied.

"I raised Sam physically from Lucifer's cage, but his soul got left behind. Dean made a deal with Death to get it back. Even though he failed Death's wager to be him for a day, Death still returned Sam's soul, and even put up a wall so the damage inflicted to it by Michael and Lucifer wouldn't kill him." Castiel explained.

"So that's why he played Death." Hermione commented, more to herself than him. She'd always wondered why he'd do something foolish like that, but now it all made sense.

"Yes, well, sometimes we're lucky enough to be given a warning, this should have been mine. After Crowley ranted about killing the Winchesters, even trying to tell me I should kill them myself, I went and am ashamed to say, I spied on them. When Dean returned to Bobby's, he told him that he'd lied to me, even though it felt wrong for him to do so. Sam and Bobby though, they already suspected, and the worst part was Dean, trying so hard to be loyal, with every instinct telling him otherwise."

"At least he's loyal to someone." Hermione muttered. Castiel caught what she'd said, whether he was meant to or not. He was determined to help mend something he felt responsible for breaking.

"As I said Hermione, he's a shell of himself. I watched him, invisible. He tortured a demon, as he was taught to in Hell. He didn't even flinch as he used to." The angel insisted.

"Wait, he was taught to torture in Hell?" Hermione asked, eyes wide.

"Yes, and I'm ashamed to say I forced him to do it to a demon prior to the apocalypse. He turned into a different person when he was doing it, and afterwards, he was depressed. It hurt his soul, made him feel as if he were no better than the monsters he hunts. He's back to being that person. It was like looking at Dean from 2 years' prior." Castiel went on. "It got them information to a demon named Ellsworth, but at what cost?"

"Sounds like the cost was Dean's self-loathing." Hermione commented. "Though I don't see how that has anything to do with me."

"Because he didn't need to be convinced that the demon needed to be tortured. He just chose to do it himself. Not to mention all he does is drink, hunt, and pick fights with everyone around him." Castiel replied.

"Very well, let's say I believe you. Who's Ellsworth?" Hermione questioned, bringing the angel back to his story.

"If there was a demon counterpart to Bobby Singer, Ellsworth would be it. These demons would lead the Winchesters to Crowley, and Crowley would tear their hearts out. So, I went and smote Ellsworth and the demons working with him, and I cleaned the place out. I had no choice. I did it to protect the boys, or to protect myself, I don't know anymore. Of course, when Dean, Sam, and Bobby turned up, Bobby and Sam suspected what I did. They did their best to convince Dean, but he was still trying to believe that I hadn't. Hiding, lying, sweeping away evidence, and my motives used to be so pure." Castiel confessed to Hermione.

Before Hermione could comment, they were interrupted by a knock at the door. Hermione rose and laboriously her way to the door. She opened it to see Harry and Ginny in the hallway. "Hey." She greeted them.

"Hey there, dinner is being served in the Great Hall. We came to get you." Harry said gently.

"I'll eat later, I'm kind of in the middle of something." Hermione hedged, fidgeting.

Seeing Castiel sitting on her couch, Ginny asked: "Who's your friend?"

Hermione swung the door open further so they could enter. "Harry, Ginny, this is Castiel, Angel of the Lord." Hermione introduced. "Cas, these are my friends Harry Potter, and his girlfriend Ginny Weasley."

"Very nice to meet you." Castiel replied, rooted to his spot on the couch.

"Angel of the Lord?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, he's one of Dean's friends." Hermione hesitantly explained, knowing Harry and Ginny were feeling less than charitable towards Dean.

"I suppose you're here to plead Dean's case?" Harry asked, voice hard.

"I came to talk to Hermione." Castiel explained.

"About Dean?" Ginny asked, her arms crossed in front of her, voice bordering on hostile.

"About a situation I find myself in. I could use outside perspective." Castiel replied, his usual matter-of-fact tone still in place.

"Very well then, it was a pleasure meeting you, but it's time for us to eat." Harry replied, gently guiding Ginny towards the door by her elbow. "Hermione, make sure you do eat before retiring."

"I promise to get something from the house elves." She replied.

Once they'd exited, Hermione retook her seat. "Why'd they remind you to eat?" Castiel asked.

"When I returned to England, after Dean cut me out of his life, my friends found me wallowing at a bed and breakfast, where I hadn't eaten or drank anything in a couple of days." Hermione explained, ashamed of how she'd handled herself.

"Hermione, that was not wise." Castiel admonished.

"I know, I know. I was rather distraught." Hermione defended. "But we're not here to discuss me, we're here to discuss you. So, you said Sam and Bobby suspected, correctly, that you'd taken out the demons before they could get there, and Dean was defending you. What happened next?"