Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or Harry Potter
"Professor!" The students cheered. He had the array of Puffskeins in a pen on the grassy ground.
"Hello. I have a treat for you. We'll be working with Puffskeins today. If you all want to keep them it's fine." He said smiling warmly as his students cooed at the adorable little balls of fluff.
"Actually professor." One student said, prying herself away from a purple Puffskein. "We wanted to talk to you about Professor Dean." She said nudging the girl next to her. Soon the rest of the class had abandoned the Puffskeins to stare at Castiel who was now very uncomfortable. Both from their stares and their new favorite topic.
"What about this, you each pick out a Puffskein, take it to your seats and every time one of you answers a question correctly I'll answer one about Dean." He offered. They consented happily, each picking their little puff and going to sit.
"What's a Puffskeins favorite food?" He asked settling down the class effectively. He was in his favorite spot to teach, leaning against his desk. It was a gift from Gabriel in his first year of teaching. More of a small table made of gnarled wood. It looked natural among the trees and grass, nature was his classroom. Its drawers were full of books and papers to be handed back or graded accordingly. He liked to stand in front of it so he didn't have to crane awkwardly to see all his students, and leaned back against it so he wasn't actually fully standing. He smiled as a few hands shot up. He pointed at the one he saw first, a boy with an orange Puffskein that was resting happily on his shoulder, leaning against his face.
"They're scavengers so they eat basically anything but they like bogies the best." He said proudly. Castiel smiled and nodded, the student was exceptional at dealing with his Puffskein, and he most likely had one of his own as a pet.
"Well I was going to ask another question about their being scavengers so I guess you get to ask two." Castiel said looking pointedly at the boy. He thought for a moment and the people around him whispered ideas.
"Is it true that you helped Sam?" The boy asked. There were groans around the class in disappointment at the first question.
"Yes I promised Dean I would help Sam so I did. Dean was so worried. I wanted to help." Castiel said earning coos from the students at the sheer adorableness of it. The boy thought for a long time about his next question much to everyone's displeasure.
"Is it true you and Professor Dean kissed?" He asked at last.
"I suppose it is." Castiel said thoughtfully. "It was more Dean kissing me but in any case, we did kiss."
"Was it good?" A girl asked.
"Ahh you must answer a question correctly to ask another." He said ruefully. She frowned, studying him, trying to figure out the answer but he gave nothing away. There was a slight humming coming from the group so he consented. If the Puffskein were happy, the class should earn another answer. "Seeing as the Puffskein are happy, I will answer that. It was...mind blowing." He said with a smirk as all the girls swooned. "Now, next question, how did I know the Puffskein were happy?" He asked, a few hands raised and again he picked the first one he saw. The girl who had originally made the request for a focused topic on Dean. She had gotten the purple Puffskein she had desired and it was now rolling all over her lap.
"They hum when they're happy." She said grinning. Castiel nodded, wary of her mischievous smile. "Does that mean the two of you are an item now?" She asked. Castiel thought for a moment.
"I don't know." He answered honestly. He really did hate it when he didn't have an answer for a student. "I suppose you'd have to ask him that." He said, now curious what Dean's answer would be. "Now for a harder question." Castiel paused as nervous glances shot between them. "What classification are they put in for the ministry?" He asked. There were some timid hands raised. Castiel nodded at the one who looked most scared just for some fun.
"X?" She asked. Castiel shook his head, still smiling. The class groaned, upset about not getting another question.
"Now I get to ask a question." Castiel said. "And the answer was XX." He said. "How might one go about asking if they're an...'item' when one is as awkward and anti social as I?" He asked with 'item' in air quotes.
"You just ask." One guy said.
"Yeah like you would know." His friend said.
"You should be if he kissed you." One girl said.
"But that may have only been to say thanks for...you know...saving Sam." Her friend said.
"You have to..." A girl paused as there was someone approaching. Suddenly Dean was there, not making much of an entry with snapping twigs and getting knocked around by tree branches.
"Ah hey Cas." Dean said smiling and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hello Dean." Castiel responded, clearly uncomfortable. His students were watching the scene animatedly.
"Sorry. Didn't know you had a class. I'll come back later." He said, turning to leave.
"Oh no, wait. You should join us." Castiel said, not wanting Dean to leave. He heard some sniggers in from the students but some of their peers shushed them. "We're learning about Puffskeins." He said nodding to the three left over's on his desk. Dean consented and picked up a black one, petting it tenderly as he stood awkwardly by Castiel at the front of the class. Castiel, back in professor mode, gave his students a look that said no more messing around, it was time for business. Wanting to help impress Dean for their favorite professor, they were all on their best behavior. Soon enough the class was over and everyone left, most taking their Puffskeins with them. There were only five returned to the pen and Castiel wondered if he could keep them. If his other pets didn't mind it would be fine. He was broken from his thoughts by Dean's hand. It had moved to rest lightly on Castiel's as they rested against his desk.
"You're a good professor. They really respect you." He said casually, as if his hand were not making Castiel's world spin just by resting a hand on his. Castiel didn't answer; he didn't know what to say. Coherent thought seemed miles away, and speech, farther. "I have some of them." He continued carrying the entire one way conversation. "They can say the funniest things sometimes." He said, leading to something without much subtlety. "Like yesterday one boy asked if we were an item." He said looking at Castiel with a hopeful smile.
"And what did you say?" Castiel managed. It wasn't poetic but it got the job done.
"I said if he'll have me." Dean said inching closer. Castiel felt his heart swell and his brain shatter as his world was filled with hearts and rainbows. "So?" He asked, dragging Castiel back to the present.
"Yes." Castiel managed to croak out. Dean grinned, a sight that made more stars and hearts cloud Castiel's vision.
"Any more classes today?" Dean asked. Shit. He didn't remember. Did he have any more classes today? His schedule was written down on a piece of parchment in the top left drawer of his desk. But if he got it he would have to let go of Dean's hand. That was not something he wanted to do. Dean was watching him. What to do... Don't panic. Shit. Castiel was panicking.
"Yeah." He said at last. He did. He had the Ravenclaws. They should be arriving soon. Intent on learning, no more goofing around.
"Well you should come to my room tonight." Dean said smiling.
"Why?" Castiel asked curiously.
"So we can sleep together." Dean said.
"I don't really sleep." Castiel said. Was that weird? Was it something that would worry Dean or upset him? He hoped it would be okay. He still wanted to be an 'item' with him.
"Why not?" Dean asked. Yep, worried. Castiel faltered what should he say? Tell the truth? Dean may think he's gone mad but lie and you start the relationship off badly. Truth, Castiel decided, was the best way to go.
"Did my students tell you about me?" Castiel asked. He forced a calm over himself. No dancing hearts, just his reason for not sleeping.
"Well I asked but they didn't know anything. Then the next day everyone had all this information about you." Dean said puzzled.
"Did they tell you about my brothers?" He asked. Dean nodded solemnly. "Well I was never really right after Gabriel left. He was the only one who made me feel safe and when he was gone my other brothers tortured me mercilessly.
"Tortured like Cruciartus?" Dean asked. There was a flare of protectiveness and it made Castiel's heart flutter.
"Sometimes. But mostly it was telling me things to give me nightmares. So whenever I sleep I have bad dreams. Either of the monsters they told me about or about being completely alone when Gabriel left. I learned some spells on how to keep me awake for extended periods of time without much detriment to my health." Castiel said. He hoped this eased Dean's now upset features.
"Without much detriment?" He asked. Castiel was scared, Dean was upset with him. What should he do?
"Yes it's really no big deal-" Castiel tried to sooth Dean.
"Any detriment is too much. You're coming to my room tonight and you're going to sleep." Dean said. His voice said it wasn't a question. Castiel was about to respond but Dean had already turned around and left. His first students were arriving. Castiel sighed, what was he going to do?