CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Summary: Nine years after the war, Hermione's the Head of the Auror Department that specialises in dealing with Magical Creatures and fugitive Death Eaters that are loose in the Muggle World. With the fugitive Death Eaters no longer hiding in Britain, she's tracking rogue Death Eaters in the United States, which leads her to The Winchester brothers. The Witch and The Hunters are a dynamic trio that no creature, being or beast wishes to mess with, Magical or Supernatural. Hermione/Dean pairing. Rated M for a reason.
Disclaimer: I don't own original canon characters or events, just those that I create myself. Everything belongs to J.K Rowling and the creators of Supernatural. I am not making a profit posting this fanfic.
Page count: 6
"What is this place?" Sam whispered in awe, his eyes wide and darting about trying to take everything in and Dean was in a similar state, seeing the flashing signs, the magical window displays, the patrons shopping and children running about and laughing, with shopping bags floating behind their owners.
"This is Diagon Alley, our shopping mall."
"It's amazing."
"No, it's magical," Hermione said, looking around with a fond smile on her face. She started walking down the alley, and they followed her, Sam beside her and Dean with his arm around her shoulders. "Potions, sports, candy, books, ice-cream, broomsticks, owls, familiars and pets, quills, second hand items, newspaper, bank, jokes and pranks, clothing, a second newspaper, beauty products, pub, publishers and an expensive clothing shop." She pointed out each one as she spoke.
"It's just like a regular town, only..."
"Magical?" Hermione chuckled. "Told you, Sam. We live just as you do; we have the same needs and wants, the same feelings and emotions. We're human, only we're born with magic. And you think that is amazing, wait until you see Hogwarts which we're visiting on Monday."
"It's Thursday today."
"I know, so we better get you used to things such as this so you don't look like an idiot when I'm giving my lecture."
She walked off, leaving a gawking Sam and a chuckling Dean, before they caught up to her.
~000~000~000~
"And the bank is run by goblins?"
"Yes,"
"And the ice-cream parlour has over five hundred flavours to choose from and some glow in the dark, but it's edible?"
"Yes,"
"And you can just walk into the store and walk out with an owl, without anyone giving you a second glance?"
"Yes,"
"And you have a sport in which takes place hundreds of feet in the air, with the use of brooms and it's basically dogeball, basketball and baseball rolled into one."
"Yes,"
"My head hurts," he frowned, rubbing at his temples and she chuckled at him.
"Well, it's only going to get worse. We have less than an hour before we're due at The Burrow, and we'll take that time to have a look around this place."
"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," Dean read the sign aloud, and he appeared impressed by the giant rabbit being pulled out of the hat.
"My brother, George, is the owner of this place. He's got one in Hogsmeade, a Wizarding village near Hogwarts, and he's looking at properties in France. He's doing well for himself, especially since he lost his twin brother, Fred, in the war. But his wife and children help him to manage. If we see him, don't take anything he gives you."
She took their hands and dragged them through the door, and despite it almost being closing time, the shop floor was crowded beyond belief. As usual the displays were loud with both sound and colour, products were being tested and the shelves were almost empty being so close to the end of the day, and Hermione ducked when the canon went off and the cannon ball soared over their heads.
"This is the best one yet," Dean commented and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Thanks, Mate, you'll never find a place like this anywhere else in the world."
Hermione spun around so fast she almost fell over her own feet.
"George," she said happily.
He chuckled at her, bending down to pull her into a hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her in circles. She laughed at him loudly.
"Put me down, I'm getting dizzy," she demanded and he laughed as he put her back down.
"I see you're feeling better," he commented, and then his eyes fell behind her to where Dean was watching him with narrowed eyes for touching her, and Sam was looking around in amazement, not paying attention. "Does this have anything to do with the family meeting you've called?" He asked.
"Yes, George, this is Dean and Sam Winchester. Boys, this is my brother, George."
George shook their hands, wincing slightly when it was Dean's turn and Hermione elbowed him in the ribs. He looked down at her, before slinging his arm over her shoulders.
George smirked at the action. "I take it Ron doesn't know."
"No, but if he starts he's not going to know what's hit him. Dean's not exactly a patient man and Ron will end up injured."
"Well I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve," George grinned. "My brother's an arsehole, particularly when it comes to Hermione."
"He's not them," she said suddenly, and George seemed to pick up on her meaning.
"Really?" He asked, sounding unconvinced.
"He's different, George."
"You've said that about all of them."
"I mean it this time, Dean would never hurt me. Harry approves," she said. George's eyes widened at the news, knowing that Harry had never approved of any of her boyfriends, including Ron. "And Mimsy approves, too."
"Bloody hell, what did you do?" George asked amazed.
"Nothing," Dean replied.
"Ah, American, too, this is going to be fun. Well, if Harry and Mimsy approve, then so do I and if you need someone on your side, then you have me and Angie fighting in your corner."
"Thank you, George," she said softly. "We're going to need it for what we're going to discuss at the family meeting."
He raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment.
"Well, we better get going, we're meeting Harry before heading to The Burrow, I just wanted to show the boys this place before closing."
"But we..."
"We'll come back tomorrow, Sam," Hermione promised. He looked disappointed but nodded. "Right, we'll see you in a little while," she hugged him one last time, before they exited the shop.
Hermione elbowed Dean in the ribs.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"For trying to break his hand, you prat. He's my brother, not my ex-boyfriend and he took time out of grieving the loss of his twin, to dish out revenge on Ron for what he did to me. You should be talking revenge plots with him, not injuring him." Dean scowled and Sam smirked. "Now let's go, Harry's going to meet us in The Leaky Cauldron, and I promised I'd tell him what we learned from Castiel before going over to The Borrow."
She led them through the thinning crowd of shoppers as they prepared to head home as most of the alley was closing for the night. They stepped into the pub, seeing the dingy decor and atmosphere, as well as the patrons filling the tables and seats at the bar, with food and beverages floating about the room on trays.
Hermione spotted Harry sat in a booth in the corner at the back and she pulled the brothers over to him. Hermione slid in opposite him, with Dean beside her and Sam sat beside Harry.
Hermione downed the fire whiskey waiting for her and then she threw up a Silencing Charm around them.
"Bloody hell, Hermione," Harry chuckled. "I assume this family meeting is to introduce Dean and Sam to the family."
"Yes,"
"You sounded panicked in the second patronus you sent me, what's going on?"
"This is going to be a rush job, Harry, we don't have a lot of time and we're going to need all the support we can get before the press gets wind."
"Alright, you know you'll always have my support, and Ginny's, but what are we dealing with? Does this have something to do with what Castiel discovered? Did he ever get back to you?"
"Yes, it does," she confirmed, before she lifted her left hand for him to see and Dean did the same, showcasing their runic tattoos.
Harry's eyes widened. "Is that what I think it is?" He asked.
"Yes, it is."
Harry blinked, before removing the Silencio from around them and ordering more fire whiskey for himself and Hermione. Once it arrived and Harry put the galleons on the tray, he put the Silencio back up, and he and Hermione both downed their two tumblers of fire whiskey, of which Dean and Sam found amusing as they did it in sync.
"Bloody hell! This is going to be a pain in the arse," he said.
"I know; that's why I need your support more than ever tonight."
"You have it," he promised. "Now, tell me everything."
She took a deep breath. "The shortened version is that Dean and I are fated, despite the fact he's a muggle."
"Well that explains your behaviour and reactions towards each other, but he's a muggle, that's never been seen before, does he have any magical ancestry?"
"No," Hermione answered.
"How do you know?" Sam asked curiously.
"I compared your family tree to the magical families of the US; you have no magical lineage, not even a Squib. I did it because I was curious and the fact that you were so aware of magic around you wasn't normal, and I'm referring to the instance of the wards that were around the warehouse where the battle took place, the wards you could see but Dean couldn't." She turned her attention back to Harry. "I think it has something to do with my mother." He raised an eyebrow. "It turns out my mother was an Angel."
"Like Castiel?" Harry frowned.
"Yes, she met my father when she visited earth and she found her soul mate in him when in Rome. She took over the life of her vessel since she was apparently heading down a dark path after the death of her parents. She moved to England and met my father again and before their wedding, she gave up her grace and became human. I'm not only a witch, but I'm part Angel, too, which is why I've survived all the torture and dark magic I've been exposed to over the years, and it's why I've legally died four times. My Angel side protected me. And it turns out, Dean and I are fated and we've been married since the night I came to you."
"The night you turned up crying because of..." He trailed off and she nodded.
"What do you mean she came to you crying?" Dean frowned, his eyes looking to Hermione.
"Our first night together, when you were sleeping I went to see Harry. I needed him because I was too overwhelmed, and in hindsight, I should've known something had happened between us because my magic felt unsettled."
"So you didn't wake up for a sandwich?"
"No, but I did have one when I returned," she admitted sheepishly.
"Back on topic," Harry interrupted, pulling their attention. "So you're married and have been for what? Six weeks?"
"More or less so, yes," Hermione answered.
"And how do you feel about that?" He asked, daring her to lie to him. Hermione's smile answered his question. He turned his eyes to Dean, seeing the way he was looking at her lovingly, and that answered his question, too. "So, you're both happy then," he stated.
"Yes, we are. Harry, my name's changed. My personal, banking and medical records have automatically updated my name, marital status and my next of kin is now Dean."
"And since your records have changed, people of going to notice you're name change and marital status and they'll sell the information to the press."
"Exactly, I imagine we have until Saturday, maybe Sunday."
"We need to get a handle on this. The last time they had a story on you as big as this was your break up with Ryan, and the press almost got you killed when they followed you into that hostage situation with Rowle."
"What?" Dean growled out.
"Nothing, don't worry about it, it was a long time ago," she placated, patting his arm, but he didn't look pleased. "That's my point. This is why I need all the support I can get and more importantly, I would like everyone to support us. I know Ron isn't going to be happy, but I'll be more focused on stopping Dean from shooting him when he opens his big mouth."
"I doubt anyone would mind," he shrugged.
"Molly will."
"Molly's worse than Ron sometimes, or have you forgotten how she treated you our fourth year?"
"Thank you for the reminder, Potter," she scowled and he chuckled at her. "Anyway, Dean's agreed to an interview and photo shoot."
"Smart," Harry nodded. "Give them what they want but control it; they'll be less intrusive if you comply with their wishes."
"We're only staying a week, maybe a few days longer, and I have no doubt news will travel across Europe quickly and to the States, before we even get back."
"It's more than likely," Harry agreed. "Well, now that I know everything, I can help minimise damage. We better get going before we're late and Molly sends someone looking for us."
"I need another drink first."
Harry chuckled. "If you show up pissed, she won't be happy and you won't be ready for Ron's verbal attack."
"Oh, I'm always ready for a verbal sparring with Ronald."
"I'm aware, I'm impressed you even managed to pronounce those words, despite the fact you were completely off your face and you could barely stand without someone holding you up, but it made my evening, and Ginny's."
Dean and Sam looked amused by his words. She scowled at him, before taking Dean's tumbler, which he hadn't touched and she downed it. Sam pushed his over to her without her needing to verbalise her wishes and she downed that, too.
"Right, I'm ready, let's go."