Author's Note: And so the story really begins.

Summary: Dean and Sam Winchester are brothers descended from a respected wizarding family and a muggle-born Auror. It's no surprise when Dean gets his letter, and a year later Sam gets his. There's something about the brothers that has dark wizards and witches all over the nation stirring, but few have any idea what it is. Their journey through Hogwarts starts steady but they're soon caught up in a whirlwind of danger. Rated T for mature themes and bad language.

Pairings: Sam/Ruby, Bobby/Crowley, eventual Dean/Cas

Chapter One

It was no surprise when a letter slipped through the mail slot on Dean's 11th birthday. Coming from a long line of witches and wizards on his mother's side and a muggle-born Auror father, they'd long been expecting it. Dean had always been a trouble-maker, and both he and his younger brother had shown signs of magical ability since birth.

They'd also drawn more attention than anyone expected. It was what got their mother killed, though John kept this a secret from the boys. He raised them to protect themselves and each other, but still tried to let them live a normal life.

Dean was nearly insufferable in the long wait between the arrival of his letter and the trip to Diagon Alley. He'd been there before with his father, but this time would be different. He'd been hearing about Hogwarts as long as he could remember but his time was finally here.

The trip was full of excitement for both the brothers, who'd been looking forward to this for years. John fought his way through hundreds of questions as they gathered supplies for Dean's first year.

"No Dean, you can't get a broom yet."

"Dogs aren't permitted at Hogwarts, Sam."

"We can't afford that, boys, and you don't need it."

By the time they reached Ollivander's, John was exhausted and Sam was pouting about having to wait another year.

It didn't take long until Dean found the right one. A few lights and vases were shattered in the process of finding it, but the moment he took hold of that cypress wand with a dragon core, the room lit up like the sun. When the light faded, Dean grinned up at his father, who looked back with pride.

The farewell at the train station was short and Dean spent most of his time with his younger brother clinging to him. They had never been apart for very long and it was difficult to separate them when the final boarding call was announced. Dean would never admit to how hard it was for him not to cry as he boarded the train. He waved out the window to Sam and John until he couldn't see the station anymore.

He wandered through the train for a while, trying to find an open compartment. A half hour into the trip, he found one near the end of the train with two other boys in it. One was small with short dark hair and bright blue eyes. Judging by his robes and general size, he was also a first year. The loud boy sitting across from him was wearing Gryffindor robes. Dean recognized them from the pictures of his father's schooldays that they hadn't lost in the fire. The boy appeared to be at least a year older, with golden brown hair and eyes to match.

Opening the door to the compartment, Dean popped his head in and grinned at the two occupants. "Hey," he began rather awkwardly. "Mind if join you? Everywhere else is full."

"Sure," the older boy replied simply, waving him in. Dean took the empty seat beside the dark haired boy.

"Name's Gabriel Ryder, but you can call me Gabe," the Gryffindor introduced himself. "Mr. Shy over there is Cas Singer."

"Dean," the Winchester said, and Gabe gave a nod of greeting. "What year are you, anyway?"

"Third," Gabriel replied. "Helping little Cassie get his bearings."

Dean glances at the Cas, smiling at the quiet boy who shyly returned his gaze to the racing scenery outside the window.

"Are you two brothers?" Dean wondered aloud.

"Nope. Cousins; our mothers were sisters."

Dean nodded. "My brother's gonna be here next year. He tried his best to stow away on the train though."

The next few hours were spent discussing family, what to expect at Hogwarts, and various Quidditch tournaments around the globe. Cas remained very quiet, occasionally watching Dean with a curious expression. He always looked away as soon as Dean looked back though. The Winchester was beginning to wonder if perhaps the kid was mute.

When the trolley came by after a few hours, Gabriel unloaded half of it onto the seat beside him. He did share, but managed to eat most of it himself. Dean was left wondering how the older boy wasn't 21 stone.*

It was late evening when the train finally pulled into the station. Gabe slid a few ice cubes that he's conjured up down his cousin's shirt, causing him to wake with an undignified yelp.

Once they were all off the train, Gabe bid them farewell as he went off with the rest of the third years. Cas and Dean stuck together as they were lead to the boats, the former finally speaking as they floated across the lake.

"I don't know what I should do," Cas admitted, his voice as quiet as, but far more mature than, Dean had been expecting.

"Well you just follow everyone else in and get sorted—"

"I know that," Cas cut in, his tone a bit defensive. "But my dad is Gryffindor Head of House. If I don't get into Gryffindor, he might be disappointed."

Dean paused for a moment, letting this new information sink in. Then he smiled. "I don't know the guy, but I'm sure he'll be proud no matter what."

Cas nodded just slightly, seemingly satisfied by Dean's answer.

The walk into the Great Hall was as silent as ever, but when they walked past Gabe, he gave them a sly wink. Both the boys smiled, proceeding a bit more confidently.

Professor Harvelle, the one who'd lead them into the Hall, stood at the front beside a stool. On it sat the famed sorting hat, and looking at it sent shivers of excitement and anxiety shooting through the gathered children. Dean wasn't even listening to the rest of the goings on until students started being called up.

Two girls among the first called up were both sorted into Hufflepuff, a house Dean wasn't quite as familiar with. Sarah and Rachel were their names if he remembered correctly. One by one, each first year was called up, and the sorting hat shouted out which house they belonged in. The crowd was thinning by the time an overly excitable girl named Becky Rosen was sorted into Ravenclaw. Dean thought his eardrums might pop from the scream of joy she let out.

Once she ran off to take her seat, Professor Harvelle checked her scroll again and called out, "Singer, Castiel."

Cas froze up for a second before Dean shoved him towards the stage. Shaky legs brought him to the stool. Dean thought he looked rather ill when he sat down and the hat was placed on his head.

There was quite a long pause in which, Dean guessed, the hat and Cas were deliberating in his mind. After a while, the girl beside Dean muttered something about him being a "hatstall." The hall was beginning to get fidgety and Cas was looking increasingly pale by the time the hat finally shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF."

Both Dean and Cas immediately looked to the man who'd earlier been introduced as Head of Gryffindor: Professor Singer. He was on his feet, smiling and applauding. Dean wondered if the man was perhaps going to cry. The grin that broke out on Castiel's face was beyond relief. He ran to the Hufflepuff table, taking a seat beside the girl name Rachel, who shook his hand and started talking hurriedly to him.

Bela Talbot, the girl beside Dean, was called up and sorted into Slytherin. Dean ended up being the very last to be sorted.

He curses his last name being what it was as the hat was set on his head. Almost immediately he heard the Sorting Hat's voice ringing in his mind.

"Another tricky one, eh?" it mused, searching Dean's mind and trying to figure him out. "The reckless bravery of a Gryffindor with the raw ambition of a Slytherin. You'll certainly accomplish great things either way."

Cas' words on the boat suddenly ran through his head, and he thought of his own father. What would he think if Dean were to be Slytherin? He wanted to be Gryffindor, like his Dad had been before him.

Nearly the second he came to realise this, the hat above him shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!" and the table adorned in red exploded in applause. He was quite sure he could hear Gabriel's voice whooping and hollering above the rest.

He quickly joined the other new Gryffindors at the near end of the table, but it didn't take long for the third year to sidle up beside him.

"I had a feeling, y'know?" Gabe told him, a stick from a lollipop hanging from his lips.

Dean ate far more than he thought possible at the feast, which made him feel rather sick as he travelled up to the Common Room that night. Gabe teased him and poked his stuffed belly a few times.

The excitement he felt that night kept him awake for hours. He simply stared at his scarf and tie set out on the chair beside him. He was here. He was finally at Hogwarts. He couldn't wait to write to Sam.

Author's Note:

*21 stone equals about 300 lbs.