Author's Note: Time skip going on here. Another short chapter, but by Chapter 4 they're getting longer. Bear with me! 3

Dean's first year was rather uneventful. Aside from cheering Gabriel on in Quidditch, some melted cauldrons, more detentions that most students would have in their entire school career and a few threats of expulsion. Gabe kept dragging Dean and Cas into far more trouble than either of them wanted, but they quickly became accustomed to it. Cas even seemed to enjoy their late night adventure into the Forbidden Forest, despite the Wendigo that chased them out and the month's worth of detention they received when Professor Crowley caught them.

Castiel's father, who seemed a bit familiar to Dean, seemed almost proud of his son's endeavours. Crowley probably would've sent the three of them packing long ago if he didn't have such a soft spot for Professor Singer and everything to do with him. Ravenclaw's Becky Rosen, resident crazed fangirl, practically lived off the rumours they were lovers.

Speaking of Ravenclaw, they won the house cup that year. Gabriel accepted blame for Gryffindor being in dead last. Most of the lost points were his fault after all.

Dean spent the summer telling Sam everything he didn't in the myriad of letters he'd sent over the year. He, Cas and Gabe wrote to each other regularly. When Sam's letter arrived, John wasn't sure which of his sons was more excited.

Despite their begging to go right away, John was too busy to take them to Diagon Alley that day. It would've been too long of a trip and most places would be closed by the time they got there. Besides, he had business to attend to elsewhere. Followers of a dark wizard presumed to be dead had been stirring recently. Being an Auror, he had to look into it.

Sam and Dean spent the day discussing wands and cauldrons, Dean teaching his brother a few incantations for spells that wouldn't actually do anything.

"Just hope you don't melt as many cauldrons as Gabe did in his first year," Dean told his brother, laughter in his voice. "I mean, I'm not a genius in potions, but he was flat out useless."

The younger of the brothers was excited about the idea of a pet. Dean hadn't bothered with one, but Sam wanted his own owl pretty badly. The older Winchester told him a few stories of Cas' shaky old owl who spent more time caught in trees and bushes than he did flying. Each story made Sam more excited, and his brother wasn't sure if he'd ever get to sleep.

That night however, with the promise of Diagon Alley in the morning, an urgent message arrived in the form of a small, nervous-looking witch on their doorstep.

"John," she said quickly, hurrying in the moment he opened the door. "You and the boys, you have to go. Now!"

Dean and Sam were watching nervously from the top of the stairs as their father tried to calm her.

"Kate, just calm down," he murmured to her. "What going on?"

"All over the country," she began, "Death Eaters are on the move. All of them, they're coming here."

"There are protection charms all over this town, they can't—"

"It doesn't matter. They'll find a way in. Please, just go. Get as far away as you can."

The brothers didn't hear anything more. Dean dragged Sam to their shared room and pulled out their trunks.

"Everything you're taking to Hogwarts, get it in there," he ordered before going to work packing his own things.

By the time John came to their room, they were already packed. Dean had his wand held tight in his hand, ready to hex the first thing that tried to touch him or his brother.

"Good," John muttered, half to himself, before waving Kate into the room. "Take them to Bobby's. They'll be safe there."

"What about you?" She sounded frantic.

"I'll be right behind you," he assured her, but Dean knew a lie when he saw one. Even so, he grabbed his stuff and Sam's hand as he readied to leave. He wouldn't be any good to Sam or his dad if he caused a fuss now.

Next thing he knew, Kate was gripping his shoulder and he had the sudden sensation of being squeezed through a very small tube. The sensation was nauseating, but he made sure to keep a tight grip on Sam's hand, not willing to let go despite his brother's frightened attempt to pull away. Dean had never apparated before and he wasn't in a rush to any time soon after this. It felt a lot longer than it actually was, but when he opened his eyes again, he was standing in front of a rather shabby-looking old place. He noticed a sign beside the door that read "The Singer's" and the realisation came with excitement. Cas' house!

"Wait… So Bobby is—"

"Professor Robert Singer," Kate interrupted hastily. "Yes."

She ushered them to the door while Dean excitedly told Sam he'd be meeting Castiel. Kate knocked with an odd sort of rhythm and footsteps sounded on the other side of the door almost immediately. The door swung open and there stood Professor Singer looking remarkably like a Muggle. Plaid shirt, faded old jeans and a trucker's cap, he looked nothing like the head of House Dean was used to.

Kate didn't even need to explain; Bobby— er, Professor Singer – was waving them in. "I heard," he told her in his usual gruff tone. "You're welcome to stay too."

She shook her head. "I'm going back, I don't trust him alone."

Before the Professor could say anything else, Kate vanished with a quiet pop. He sighed before turning to face the boys. "There's an extra room upstairs, beside Cas'. Drop your stuff in there, I'll make some tea."

The brother obeyed without a word, both rather shaken by the night's happenings and worry for their father. Neither of them could make sense of it all and, in his wonderings, Dean was caught completely off-guard when a pair of arms were thrown around him.

Cas, who seemed to have overheard everything, was standing pressed against him, with his arms looped tightly around his shoulders. Dean was sure the skipped beat of his heart was due to shock. After a brief moment of surprise, he awkwardly returned the embrace. Cas quickly pulled away, as shy as ever and grabbed one of Sam's bags. The two friends exchanged awkward greetings as they carried the bag into the spare room.

The third boy excused himself to go talk to his father, and the moment the brothers were alone, Sam spoke up. He'd been quiet all this time, but Dean knew how scared he was.

"Dad said he'd be right behind us," Sam said, looking up at Dean with bloodshot eyes. "But he's not coming, is he?"

Dean's strained silence was answer enough, and the younger Winchester quickly ran to the room's bed and hid his face in the fluffy fabric of the pillow. They were used to their dad going away for business, but they always knew he was coming home. This time was different.

He knew there was nothing he could say to Sam at that moment, so instead he left his brother alone to sleep, although he wasn't sure either of them were capable of it that night.

Cas and Professor Singer were waiting in a room that seemed to double as an office and a sitting room. There were books scattered everywhere, stacked high on every bookshelf and overflowing onto the floor. A desk and a couple of dusty armchairs were placed around the room, but getting to them involved navigating the small maze of books.

Once he made it to the unoccupied seat, his Head of House silently handed him a large mug of tea.

"I'm sure your dad's fine," Castiel offered, and Dean made an honest attempt at a smile. He hoped his friend was right, but he knew better. Fact was he probably wouldn't see his dad again until at least Christmas holidays. That is, if he ever saw him again.

"Thing is… I didn't even say goodbye."