Here's another chapter! So sorry for how long it took!
Chapter XII: Owed to Love and Broken Promises.
Dean doesn't waste any time. He pulls himself up from the crouching position he was previously in, hands scrambling to find the coin once more and pick it back up, and once it's in his grasp, he tightens his hand around it so tightly that he's afraid it's going to disappear under his skin.
His footsteps thunder throughout the house as he runs down the stairs, bursting into the kitchen with wide eyes and an expression that makes Jo let go of the knife in her hands, and for the bowl that Ellen was holding to clatter to the worktop surface.
'Dean, what is it?' Ellen questions, but Dean's never told anyone about Dumbledore's Army. Not his dad or Bobby or Ellen. No-one. The only person that knows about it and how the coin works is Jo, and so that's why he turns his gaze onto her, throwing the coin at her and thanking her quick reflexes when she catches it straight away. The last thing he needs now is for her to drop it and for another minute or two to be wasted trying to catch a stray Galleon.
'"War at Hogwarts"?' Jo reads aloud, turning the Galleon over with a frown as she recognises it almost immediately. Her brown eyes meet Dean's a second later, and there's worry and panic hidden directly beneath the layer of scepticism that Dean meets. 'Is this a joke?'
Dean hadn't even considered the possibility of it being a joke… seems like a sick joke, though, too sick for anyone that was a part of Dumbledore's Army. But what if it is a joke? What if he's just getting wound up for nothing, and it's just some stupid, humourless dickhead thinking he's funny?
Well, Dean still wants to go to Hogwarts; whether it's to fight in a war or just punch the bastard in the face is still to be discovered, depending entirely on whether the note is true or not.
'Is someone going to fill me in here? What the hell is on the Galleon and why do you think there's a war at Hogwarts?' Ellen snaps, and suddenly Dean is filled with impatience, because now he has to go through the whole history of Dumbledore's Army when people could be invading Hogwarts and trying to kill his brother? There's no way he's waiting that long before he goes to his old school. No way at all.
'It's a coin that can change it's wording to send secret messages, and apparently, there's a war at Hogwarts,' Jo explains quickly, handing the coin over to her mother without being prompted to.
Ellen gives her daughter a soft smirk at the instinct, but it's quickly wiped off her face when she reads the words on the fake Galleon, swallowing down the panic that starts clawing away at her from the inside, desperate to get out.
'You two stay here; I'll go and check,' Ellen starts, but she doesn't even get to move one step or get another word in, for both Dean and Jo shout in protest.
'My brother is there, Ellen! If you think I'm going to just sit here with my thumb up my ass, waiting for news on what's happening, you've got another thing coming,' Dean declares as he draws himself up to his full height, his shoulders puling themselves back automatically and straightening himself, much like his dad taught him when he was a young boy, because John was a Marine and apparently all six-year-olds should stand like Marines.
'And if you think I'm just going to sit in another room because he's sitting in this one with his thumb up his ass, well, you're sorely mistaken. If there's a fight, I'm fighting, and you're not going to change my mind,' Jo declares, her eyes set even as she steps aside to dodge the oncoming slap from Dean.
Ellen looks like she's going to protest; looks like she's thinking about using her "mother" voice and demanding them to stay here, but then she sees the look in their eyes. There's a determination in both of them, something so similar that reminds her both of her late husband, and of Mary Winchester, a woman she never got to meet but will admire for everything she taught Dean in their short time together.
She sighs, 'Fighting is only a necessity, do you understand? You make sure people are safe first before you cast any spells, you hear me?'
'Yes ma'am,' Dean nods his head, grinning when he notices Ellen roll her eyes despite herself.
'Right, from what I've heard, Apparating is now allowed in the grounds of Hogwarts, so both of you go there; I'll catch up with you.' Ellen explains, before she goes to turn away, but Jo's voice stops her, suddenly worried about her mother.
'What are you going to to do?'
'I'm going to find Bobby and let him know. I don't want him coming home to an empty house and thinking the same thing happened to us that happened to his last wife.' Ellen declares softly, before she moves forward, reaching up with each hand to cup both Jo and Dean's cheek. 'Cut down anyone that tries to hurt you, and make sure your family is safe. I'll be with you as soon as I can.'
She moves forward and presses a gentle kiss to her children's forehead, before she urges them on with a small shove.
'Now go, war doesn't wait for no-one.'
Dean's tempted to pull her into an embrace but realises that she's right. The Death Eaters and Voldemort won't wait for two nineteen-year-olds to say goodbye to their mother. They need to get a move on if they are planning on helping; if they're planning on doing some justice.
Dean grabs ahold of Jo's hand and concentrates on the school that he's tried not to think about for the past year. He doesn't even know if what Ellen said was true. If the ban on Apparating in Hogwarts' grounds had been lifted, but he's willing to take a leap of faith. After all, if Voldemort and the Death Eaters have control over the school… it seems like something they would do.
The second he lands, he realises just how bad the idea to Apparate directly into Hogwarts Castle actually was. They had no idea where the Death Eaters were, where they were stationed. Not to mention that the members of Dumbledore's Army and the Order could curse them, thinking that they were Death Eaters.
'Where do we start, Dean?' Jo questions the second they land on the stone ground of Hogwarts castle. No-one is around them just yet, so no fighting has broken out just yet.
'Great Hall,' Dean replies immediately. His hand automatically reaches for hers, and before he even realises what he's doing, he's running in the direction of the Great Hall with Jo trailing behind him, her hand holding onto Dean's almost painfully.
'Why the Great Hall?'
'Every student knows where it is and it can hold them all! The Professors will want to let them know what's happening and what to do.' Dean explains. 'It just makes sense,' he finishes with a shrug, and Jo gives a small breathless chuckle.
'Smart-ass.'
Dean doesn't have to time to turn his head over his shoulder and give her a grin, and maybe even a wink, because he's determined to get to the Great Hall. They don't pass anyone as they make their way to the Hall, and Dean takes that as as sign; they're all there, already. That's why. It's got nothing to do with them being too late. Nothing at all.
Before long, the great double-doors of the Great Hall are in their sight, and Dean takes in a deep breath before he starts to run faster; kicking himself off the ground with more force in order to propel himself further along.
'Got your wand out, Jo?' He questions through pants, as he reaches with his free hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls his wand out.
'Had it out before you,' Jo quips and even though Dean isn't looking at her, he can hear the damn smirk in her voice.
Who's the smart-ass now? He wants to retort, but the doors are right in front of him, and he's so focused on pulling his hand free from Jo's grasp in order to push them open, that he doesn't even remember he can speak.
They stumble into the Great Hall, their breaths coming out short and sharp, and when they finally look around the Hall, they see the familiar faces of the people that were once in Fifth and Sixth Year before they left. Though, he assumes that they're in Sixth and Seventh Year now.
They all turn to stare at them, and neither Jo nor Dean can blame them. They probably thought they were Death Eaters and were the first attack on the castle.
'Winchester! Harvelle! What are you doing here?' McGonagall's familiar voice demands, and Dean's head whips to the front of the room where Professor McGonagall stands, worry eating away at her lined face. She's still the same as Dean remembers her; emerald robes, thick-Scottish accent, stern but somehow still kind-faced.
'We heard there was an attack on Hogwarts,' Dean explains, stepping forward and looking around the room for members of Dumbledore's Army. When he catches sight of Neville Longbottom standing beside Ginny Weasley, as well as the rest of the Weasley family, Dean grins at them. He pulls the coin from his pocket, where he had stuffed it when Ellen gave it back to him, and tosses it to McGonagall as soon as he's close enough. 'We're here to help.'
McGonagall sighs as she lifts her gaze from the coin and looks back to Dean and Jo, before her eyes trail over the entire Great Hall.
'Very well, Winchester. We are evacuating the younger students, you and Miss Harvelle can help with that right now. Be ready to fight when the Battle starts.'
Jo turns and runs over to the nearest member of the Order, asking how she can help, but instead, Dean walks straight to McGonagall.
'Have you seen Sam?'
A fond smile pulls at her thin lips, 'They are currently with Professor Lupin and Miss Tonks, trying to arrange the evacuation of the Second Year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.' She waves her hand to a group standing on the far right of the Hall, and Dean turns back to her with a smile. There's something else on her face, but Dean shrugs mentally. He needs to get to Sam right now. Worrying what Professor McGongall isn't on the top of his list.
'Thanks Professor,' he mutters, before he goes to turn away, but something comes into his mind, and with an almost sheepish expression on his face, he adds, 'Stay safe.'
He turns and runs to the group where Sam's supposed to be before McGonagall can say anything in reply.
Okay, so it's not top of his list. But it's definitely on the list.
'Sammy!' He calls the second he's close enough, and his little brother's head shoots up, his eyes flying to Dean in an instant.
'Dean!' Sam replies, suddenly ignoring his duties and whatever Remus Lupin was saying to him, and waves his brother over.
However, before they can even say a word to each other, tell the other how happy they are to see them, to have one of their silent conversations with their eyes, admitting that they're scared all the while telling the other there's nothing to be scared of, another voice seeps in through the Great Hall.
A voice that sends chills down Dean's spine, despite the fact he told himself not to be afraid of the man.
'I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood.' Dean wants to scoff at his words. He's already spilled magical blood. 'Give me Harry Potter, and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight.'
Then the voice is gone.
Dean swallows hard, but before he can even express how fucking stupid Voldemort must be, there's a scream.
'There he's there!' Pansy Parkinson screeches, and as Dean turns, he can see Harry standing in the middle of the Hall, and it's in that moment he realises most of the Hall is divided by House. The Slytherins stand at the top on the left, the Gryffindors beside them on the others side of the Hall, and the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs stand at the bottom. 'Someone grab him!'
The second the words are out of her mouth, the entire Gryffindor House - Dean included - have their wands pointed at the Slytherins, and after only another second, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs follow suit, all three Houses threateningly pointing their wands at the members of Slytherin, daring them to try and touch Harry.
'All Slytherins will be escorted out of the castle through the passage that leads to the Hog's Head Inn,' McGonagall declares, and a small cheer sweeps through the room. 'As well as any other student that is not of age; those at are may wish to stay behind a fight, but it is not required of you, and most definitely not expected of you.'
Dean turns back to Sammy as the Order members finally start their evacuation plans, and when he notices the look on Sam's face, he gives him a soft smile.
'It's for the best, Sam. You're too young to -'
Sam cuts him off before he can even finish the thought, 'I'm staying, Dean. I don't give a fuck what McGonagall says. I'm not going home so I can twiddle my thumbs and wonder how many people I love aren't going to come home. You even think about making me, and I'll hex you into next week,' and with that, Sam turns on his heel and starts ordering First Years to follow the Order members.
Dean stares at his back for a few seconds, ready to protest that fact because no, he's not going to let his little brother fight and run the risk of dying for the sake of some school. But then he remembers just what a determined ass his brother can be, and with a sigh, he concludes that it'd be easier just watching his back than telling him not to fight.
'Fine. I got you.' Dean mutters, before he starts to follow his example and usher the First Years out of the Hall.
~oOoOoOoOoOo~
'Sam!' Dean shouts, his head whirling around to try and find his brother. He was standing by his side not five seconds ago, where the hell did he get to? 'Sammy!'
'Expelliarmus! Stupefy!' Dean sends the spells to the Death Eater that sends a Killing Curse his way. He curses when his first spell misses, but the next one is straight out of his mouth and hits the Death Eater square on his chest, sending him flying backwards.
His hand sweats around his wand, and he loosens his grasp for a split second, before readjusting his hold.
'Dammit,' he hisses before he turns back around, casting yet another spell at a passing-by Death Eater. He nearly trips over something as he starts to move, hoping to get somewhere and find Sam again, but when he looks down he's nearly sick.
He steps over the corpse that lies at his feet, swallowing down the bile that rises in his throat. It's a Death Eater, but it's still a dead body, and it's just lying there, stone cold and eyes distant and glazed over. Maybe he had a family; maybe he had a son or daughter that didn't know where he was right now, and didn't know he wasn't going to come home again.
Dean takes a deep breath in and briefly closes his eyes. They bolt open a second later, however, when he hears the sound of a hex whooshing by his ear.
'It's a war.' He mutters, reminding himself that moments like that aren't allowed. There'll be plenty of time for emptying the contents of his stomach, and wondering if it was really worth it later. Well, maybe there will be. Either way, the time isn't now.
Another flash of green shoots by his head, and he turns his head to see yet another Death Eater advancing towards him, wand in hand and ready to cast another Killing Curse.
He's not going to use any Unforgivables, that's for sure, but there's got to be something more violent that Stupefy right?
'Reducto!' Dean exclaims as soon as the Death Eater is closer than he'd like, and he watches with a grin as the man is thrown backwards. He can't help but smile wider when the man crashes into the walls of the castle and falls to the ground unconscious.
Dean's about to take another step forward, ready to defend himself against whoever else that tries to hurt him, when a cold, harsh voice seeps into his mind.
'You have fought valiantly. Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat, immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured.' The voice of Lord Voldemort informs, and Dean feels his hand tighten its hold on his wand, despite the fact the wizard had just told them they had an hour armistice. 'I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour.'
Then the voice is gone, and before Dean can even register or process the words of the man they were fighting against, his followers are suddenly gone. Apparating out of Hogwarts and to the Forbidden Forest to be with their master… at least that's what Dean reckons.
He takes a deep breath and turns around, looking at everyone else that surrounds the battle field, and it only takes one person to turn and pick up their injured friend before heading back into the castle, for everyone else to follow suit.
Dean makes his way back into the castle, hoping to God and Merlin and whoever else that will listen, that his brother is in there, alive and unscathed. It's this thought that pushes him into a run, feeling that his previous walking pace was just too damn slow.
He needs to get to the Great Hall, he needs to make sure that his brother is still here; that his brother is still alive. He doesn't know how he'd react if had to find Sammy's body laid out beside his friends. It's already bad enough he's lost Fred Weasley and Ash and Benny, the Beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, who had left by the time Dean had entered his Sixth Year and joined Dumbledore's Army, but had always been there for him before he graduated.
He's lost the friends that he adored, and he doesn't want to see his brother, his baby brother, who he had sworn to protect, lying beside them. He just can't witness that. He can't.
By the time he bursts into the Great Hall, he's hyperventilating, his breath coming out so sharp and short that his mind starts to spin; his vision starts to blur. The image of Sam, broken and dead lying beside the other people he loves has imprinted itself into his mind, and he needs to find him, needs to see him and hold him, right now, in order to make those images go away.
Dean stands by the door, his eyes frantically searching the large room, trying to find his brother. The damn thing is packed to the bursting point; people treating their wounds in the rare time-out that Voldemort has called in order to get Harry to surrender; people grieving dead loved ones, people consoling friends. He can see everything, from the blank stare of those that can't believe what's happened, to the cries of anguish of family members.
And he needs to find Sam.
He can feel the worry clench at his lungs, sharpen his breath impossibly further, and his legs start to feel weak; start to buckle because even standing up is too much. He needs to find Sammy.
He doesn't care if he looks like an idiot doing so, if he pisses Sam off by being so over-protective, he just needs to find him, and it's with this thought that he takes as deep a breath as he can manage, and shouts, 'Sammy!'
People turn to stare at him, a mixture of both pity and confusion on their faces, thinking that he's either in denial or just doesn't know the sad news yet. He wonders if they know it; wonders if they've seen Sam's corpse lying cold beside someone else's; wonders if that's why they're looking at him like that.
He's almost ready to ask them where his body is when he hears it, the sound of someone calling his name.
'Dean!'
And that's most definitely Sam's voice. His head whips around to where he's positive the voice came from, but he can't see Sam. Not until he finally pushes himself through the throng of people and comes running towards Dean.
He can't help himself. As soon as his brother is within reach, he wraps his arms around his neck, tugging him closer as Sam's arms wide around his waist. Usually, hugs and embraces like this are too chick-flick for Dean's liking, but right now, with the image of Sam lying on the stone ground, pale and lifeless, still seared into Dean's mind, he really doesn't give a fuck. He wants to feel Sam's warmth spread through him, wants to feel his heartbeat thud against his own, wants to know that he's safe.
It doesn't last long, however, for Dean pulls away in order to look at Sam, really look at him. It's the first time he realises that his baby brother is nearly as tall as he is, as he cups his neck and tilts his head this way and that in order to check his skin for cuts and bruises, like a mother would.
'I'm fine, Dean,' Sam's voice declares, and since when did it get so deep? When did his voice break? But before Dean can ponder this any further, Sam is talking again, and his words distract him from his voice. 'Where's Ellen and Jo?'
'I thought they were with you; they said they were coming to find you.' Dean replies, letting his hands move from Sam's neck. One falls by his side but the other remains on his shoulder, holding him tight as if he's afraid he'll disappear, or as if he's afraid he'll collapse to the ground if he doesn't use Sam for support.
Maybe it's a bit of both, he realises.
'I haven't seen them since they got here,' Sam answers and before Dean can even begin to panic, Jess is suddenly there, her small hand finding its way into Sam's. She's panting hard and there are tears in her eyes, and that is never a good sign.
'I've found them. I'm so sorry!' She whispers, before the first tear falls. Sam's free hand comes up to wipe it away, throwing Dean's hand off his shoulder in the process.
'Where are they?' Dean demands, his voice fiercer than he intended, but judging from the fact that Sam doesn't give him into trouble for it, they both know it was just a mistake; a heat-of-the-moment thing.
Jess doesn't say anything, just turns and leads them in the direction she had came from, and when they get there, Dean can see Ellen, but he can't see Jo.
Not until he's standing right beside her and he can see the body that Ellen is leaning over as she cries.
Yep. Another cliffy. I'm evil!
Also anon - i can't really decide what accent they'd have. in my mind, they still have their american accents, because mary and john are still american and only moved to britain when she got a job with the ministry. and seeing as the boys spent most of the time with their father, well, i think they'd have the same accent. so, uh, yeah. i know it doesn't really sound feasible but, that's just what my mind says!
please review! i'd love you forever!
~Charlotte.x