CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
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: 9
"You boys okay?" Hermione asked amused.
The brothers nodded dumbly in response. She chuckled and turned her eyes back to the large castle where she had spent a large part of her childhood exploring and getting into trouble. A fond smile crossed her face, seeing the old structure of the castle melded with the newer and more recent renovations due to the damage that had been done during the war.
"You lived here?" Dean asked, turning his eyes to her and he honestly looked amazed, she had never seen such an expression of awe on his face.
"Not only did I live here, I grew up here. This place has had a significant impact on the person I am today. The professors, the portraits, the ghosts, the experiences, it all helped me to grow and learn, some for the better and some for the worst," she replied. "This was home to me, and it will always have a special place in my heart." She looked back to the castle and smiled. "Right, we better go, Minerva is expecting us and she doesn't appreciate tardiness, she hasn't changed a bit since I first met her when I was eleven."
She took Dean's hand and looped her arm through Sam's, pulling them towards the castle and away from the entrance gates to Hogsmeade. Hogwarts was always beautiful in the spring, with the wild plants blooming, the trees large with big green leaves and the grass shining in the sunshine. The sunlight reflected off the windows of the castle and wind blew gently in the early afternoon. They were walking passed The Black Lake when Hermione spied the sun shining on the surface of the water, and the ripples in the water as the point of a tentacle peeped out at the sound of people being nearby.
She stopped in her steps, and the brothers tore they eyes from the castle and to her in confusion.
"Why have we stopped?" Sam asked.
She smiled and nodded to The Black Lake, and when their eyes followed her gesture, a loud splash was heard, water went everywhere and there was the Giant Squid, with large tentacles, a huge and fat body and it was purple in colour. They both gawked and she chuckled.
"Boys, I would like you to meet the Giant Squid."
"It's real," Sam muttered. "It's fucking real!"
Hermione laughed loudly as he both blinked and stared. "I told you so," she said amused.
She pulled away from them both, put her hand into her beaded bag and pulled out a fresh loaf of bread. She used her wand to toast the slices, before she threw them all into the lake and they watched as the Giant Squid's tentacles darted about to collect them all and deposit them in its mouth.
"He loves toast," Hermione shrugged, before she once more grabbed Dean's hand and hooked her arm through Sam's and she pulled them towards the castle.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, boys," she said, as they walked into the entrance hall and down the corridors, their eyes darting about wildly trying to take it all in.
"This is awesome," Dean commented.
"If this is a school, where are all the students?" Sam asked, after fifteen minutes of wandering the halls slowly to allow them time to see everything.
"In their classes," she shrugged. "Lunch would've finished about an hour ago. I'll be lecturing the sixth and seventh years for both the care of magical creatures class and the defence against the dark arts class. That's around sixty students, possibly less. The wizarding Britain population suffered dramatically during the war and after the first couple of years, but now it's back on track since inbreeding is being eradicated, meaning more healthy wizarding born children are birthed, and Hogwarts' population will increase in the next couple of years."
They rounded the corner and stopped in front of two gargoyle statues.
"Why have we stopped?" Sam frowned.
Hermione smiled at him. "Mandrake," she spoke.
"What?" The two brothers asked, and their eyes widened when they heard the sound of stone scraping and they turned their heads to see a staircase that hadn't been there before.
"Password to the Headmistress' Office," she said.
She stepped onto the steps and pulled them onto them and they looked confused when she didn't try to move up the stairs. Suddenly the stairs shuddered and began moving upwards. They turned their wide eyes to her.
"Magical staircase," she shrugged.
"Awesome," Dean spoke awed and she held back her laughter.
The stairs came to a stop and before she could knock on the door, it opened. Hermione shook her head and stepped in, the boys eyes darted about the room, seeing the magical objects, the tidy and organised layout, the large fireplace and the many, many portraits on the walls.
"They are all the previous Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts," she explained, before walking forward to where Headmistress McGonagall stood with her arms out, waiting to except Hermione's hug.
"Hermione, it's good to see you, Dear," she said with a smile.
Hermione smiled widely and hugged her. "Thank you, Minnie, it's good to be back and have the chance to visit you, it's been a while."
"Yes, it has," she agreed, pulling back from the hug and her eyes darted to Dean and Sam. "And I hear you've gotten married, surprising since you never mentioned a boyfriend during your last visit."
Hermione smiled sheepishly. "It's a new development, I know. Minnie, I'd like to introduce you to my husband, Dean Winchester, and his brother, Sam."
They both stepped forward and shook her hand, tipping their heads respectively.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both." She eyed up Dean, making him uncomfortable, then she looked to Hermione, then back to Dean and she nodded to herself. "So, are you going to tell me who they really are?"
"I'm sorry?" Hermione said with a confused frown.
"I may not agree with The Daily Prophet and it's reporters, but I do still read it, Dear, and I know that despite what the paper printed, your husband nor his brother are wizards, meaning they're muggles."
Hermione blinked. "How do you know that?" She asked surprised.
McGonagall chuckled at her. "I'm a Half-blood, Hermione," she reminded her. "I know a muggle when I see one, and neither of them are wizards." They all stared at her, unable to think of a response. "And Kingsley told me," she added.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course he did, he's awful at keeping secrets. Well, at least you know everything and I don't have to explain it all again."
"It is true? Are you bound by fate?"
Hermione smiled and she showed McGonagall her left hand, Dean stepped closer to her, hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side, before lifting his left hand, too.
McGonagall looked at the golden bands on their ring fingers, and then to see Hermione smiling and Dean looking at her adoringly and a smile appeared on her face.
"You're happy, Dear?" She asked.
"Very happy, Minnie, happier than I've ever been," Hermione confirmed.
"Congratulations, to the both of you," she said.
"Thank you," both Hermione and Dean replied.
McGonagall chuckled. "Is it true of their identities?"
"Yes, they are The Dean and Sam Winchester," Hermione nodded.
"Your reasoning for wishing to keep their life style out of the press is understandable. I had thought Harry was the trouble magnet, now I'm not so sure."
Hermione laughed. "Yes, I've come to the same conclusion."
"Well, I'm glad I had the chance to meet your husband and brother-in-law, and I can see you are happy, that's all I wish for you, I can't think of anyone that deserves it more than you."
"Thank you, Minnie," Hermione replied quietly.
"No thanks necessary, Dear. Now, the students should be arriving at your lecture in less than an hour, would you like me to escort you?"
"No, thank you, I'm sure there's plenty that requires your attention, I know my way around the castle."
"Yes, I believe you do, better than the staff and resident ghosts," she said amused.
Hermione looked sheepish, before she hugged her and then left the office, leading the boys down the corridor.
"Well, that wasn't so bad," Sam commented.
"Speak for yourself," Dean said. "I felt like she looking into my soul," he shivered.
"She just wanted to make sure you wouldn't hurt me," Hermione explained. He looked outraged at the thought, and it made her smile. "Don't take it personally, she doesn't know you, not like Harry, or even The Weasleys after they saw what you did to Ronald for insulting me. All she knows is what she's been told by others and what she's read in The Prophet, and she wanted to make sure I hadn't gotten myself into another toxic relationship."
"Where are we going?" Sam asked, changing the subject.
"Third floor corridor, it's where my lecture room is. The bigger classrooms are usually on the third floor but there isn't much need for them at the moment, so they're rarely used. Whenever I lecture I use the same room so the students know where to find me. And you're going to want to brace yourselves."
"For what?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"For the moving staircases, they're a pain in the arse to navigate, particularly when they decide they don't wish to cooperate."
"I haven't seen any staircases," he frowned.
"That's because we're only on the ground floor, there's seven in the castle."
"But you've been showing us around for almost half an hour," he said surprised.
"I know, the castle's huge. It would take weeks for me to show you everything." They climbed the first staircase they came to, leading them to the first floor, before stopping at the moving staircases and they stared as they watched the staircases swing from perch to perch.
"Get ready, it's coming around to us," she said, and just as the staircase stopped in front of them, she stepped on and pulled them on behind her. "Hold on tightly, we need to get off there," she pointed to a door in the distance, "And then we need to get on another staircase and until we get there," she pointed to a second door, "And the next staircase should take us to the third floor corridor."
"Should?" Sam questioned, holding onto the railing tightly when the staircase began to move. When he paled she bit her tongue to stop herself from laughing at him.
"Should," she nodded. "Like I said, it depends on whether they're cooperating today, if not, it could take us a lot longer than usual."
Thankfully the staircases did cooperate and they quickly made their way down the third floor corridor, with Hermione answering questions as they did so.
"Shit, duck!" Hermione yelled, before grabbing them both by their jackets and pulling them down, just as water balloons went flying over their heads and splashed against the floor, and a cackling was heard.
"What was that?" Sam asked, his eyes darting around. Dean appeared to be reaching for his gun out of habit and instinct.
"Bloody, Peeves, the school's poltergeist. No one knows how long here's been here, rumour has it he was once a student during the time of the Founders a thousand years ago. He terrorises the students and professors with pranks, he's a pain in the arse but he's harmless, he's never actually hurt anyone, so there's no need for weapons to be drawn," she explained.
Dean moved his hand away from his gun, and she knew it was difficult for him to do, and she kissed his cheek in thanks. She stood up and they followed her and she sighed when Peeves rounded the corner, water balloons in hand and a wicked smile on his face.
"Well if it isn't the troublesome Granger, and she's brought some new targets," he smirked.
"Peeves, I swear to Merlin himself, if you throw another of those water balloons, the outcome for you won't be pleasant."
He tutted. "Telltale," he muttered, blowing a raspberry at her.
"I'm not going to tell The Bloody Baron," Hermione said, Peeves looked surprised. "Do you know what Hunters are Peeves? Muggle Hunters?" Peeves frowned. "Well, I would like to introduce you to my husband and brother-in-law, and guess what Peeves, they're Hunters."
A look of terror crossed his face.
"So you understand? Lovely, why don't you go terrorize Filch, I think he's in his office."
Peeves gave a strange cackle before zooming around the corner and out of sight.
"Who knew, I found his weakness," she said amused, before walking off, leaving the two brothers staring in surprise, obviously in shock to have been in the presence of a spirit that didn't want to kill them or that they had to deal with before it hurt someone.
They quickly caught up to her as she entered the classroom and they looked around. It was a large room, and much like the rest of the castle, it had stone walls and flooring. Approximately twenty-five two seater wooden desks filled the room; there was a large desk at the front of the room and a black board behind it. A large medieval chandelier hung from the ceiling and there was a staircase off the side which lead to a small balcony and a door, which they assumed was an office.
Hermione waved her wand and the dust and cobwebs disappeared from the room, she conjured two chairs and placed them behind the table for both Dean and Sam, and then she perched herself on the desk, facing the desks, just as there was a knock on the door.
"That was well timed," she mused, before she took her wand and waved it, the classroom door swung open. The students filed into the room, taking seats at desks of their choice whilst whispering amongst themselves as their eyes darted between Hermione, Dean and Sam.
The brothers took in the sea of students, seeing that they were all wearing the same uniform of black robes, only they were separated by coloured ties and the coloured lining of their robes and the house crests. They narrowed their eyes, looking for any tells that they weren't like Hermione, but they were and that's when they realised, if it wasn't for them meeting Hermione, they would've never been able to tell if they came into contact with a witch or wizard. They would never know that the students in front of them practiced magic as they looked to be like regular teenagers; much like the ones they had seen when they'd gone undercover at the school a short while ago.
"How old are they?" Dean asked Hermione quietly.
"Between sixteen and eighteen, they're sixth and seventh years," she replied.
Dean looked to Sam with a smirk. "Hey, Sammy, some of these girls are legal."
"That's disgusting," Sam grimaced and Dean chuckled, until he saw Hermione's glare and he shifted in his seat and cleared his throat.
"Sorry," he muttered. Sam smirked at him for his clear fear of his wife, even if it was understandable; Hermione was terrifying when she wanted to be.
Hermione turned her attention back to the students seeing as they had now all taken seats, and she noted that she didn't need to conjure anymore tables or chairs, in fact, there were a couple spare. Hermione hopped off the desk and removed her robes, showing her black skinny jeans, her black heeled boots and her white long sleeved blouse that clung to her, showing her curves and the form of her breasts.
"Settle down, please," she called, and the students quieted, giving her their full attention, she noticed the looks of awe on their faces and several of the love-struck and lustful stares of the boys, and so did Dean and he didn't appear pleased.
"For those of you who aren't aware, I am Hermione Winchester, Head of the Magical Law Enforcement and Auror Department for Magical Creatures and Wizarding folk in the Muggle World. I am based in the United States and I work in conjunction with The American Ministry of Magic, and with other Ministries around the globe. I have over fifty aurors under my supervision, aiding with other Ministries to protect those in the Muggle World from the dangers of our world. We are the line between life and death for many, we deal with some of the most dangerous creatures and beings the Wizarding World has to offer, creatures and beings you may not have heard of, or you are yet to study."
Her eyes flittered around the room, seeing the boys staring at her and the girls staring at both Dean and Sam. One of them, a seventh year Slytherin she guessed, even had the guts to wink at Dean, and Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"The men behind me are my husband and brother-in-law, Dean and Sam Winchester," she spoke. Everyone turned their eyes to her and shifted in their seats at the warning in her tone. "To clarify, Dean is a married man and Sam, he's not interested, he's several years older than you all and the older students in here are barely legal wizarding folk; there's no point in wasting your time trying to flirt, as neither of them is interested."
She looked behind her to see that Dean looked amused, but he nodded in agreement to Hermione's words, and Sam looked relieved for her quick take down of the girls staring at him, and he, too, nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure you're all aware that I have a very busy work schedule and I'm never in one place for long, but, I have returned to England for a short while and as a favour to Headmistress McGonagall, I agreed to take time away from my responsibilities to come and spend a few hours with you all, to share my experiences and expertise in order to improve your knowledge in the subjects of defence against the dark arts and care of magical creatures. These next few hours will be beneficial to all of you. Before we begin, do you have any questions?" Hands shot up in the air and she blinked in surprise. "I wasn't expecting that many," she muttered.
She pointed to a student.
"Why are they here?" The Ravenclaw boy asked.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "They're visiting England with me as they've never left America and they wanted to see the differences between our magical communities, and I can't leave them alone for too long otherwise they get in trouble, much like Harry and Ron used to during our school years," she replied, to the sniggers of the class and the mock glares of Dean and Sam. "Question?"
She pointed to a Slytherin boy.
"The article said they were wizards, what's their blood status?"
The room plunged into silence and Hermione narrowed her eyes at the smug smirk on his face, whilst she heard both Dean and Sam shuffling in their seats. She turned her head, seeing them both with their hands hovering above their guns as they looked at the boy with a dangerous look in their eyes, one she knew usually resulted in someone getting shot.
"Yes, they are wizards, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to enter onto the grounds," she replied, knowing the students wouldn't know that McGonagall had allowed Dean and Sam temporary access. "Their blood status does not matter, a war was fought and won and many good people sacrificed their lives so that you could live in a world free of dictatorship and evil. We recently took down the resistance group of Death Eaters that fled to America, and now it's over. Blood prejudice has no place in this world and it certainly has no place in this school."
"My father used to say Purebloods are the founding families of the Wizarding World and only we should exist."
Hermione took a deep breath; she would not let a teenage boy get to her. She wouldn't! Dean on the other hand...
Hermione rounded the desk and placed her hands on his shoulders, digging her nails into him as a warning and to keep him in his seat.
"Your father?" She questioned.
"Martin Herrald," he answered smugly.
"Herrald?" She muttered with a frown, nibbling at her lip. "Ah, I remember, a Pureblood found to have been a supporter of Voldemort." Gasps rang out at her using the name and she rolled her eyes. "It's my understanding he provided financial aid, as well as hosted several of Voldemort's out of town followers. He received life imprisonment as dark magical artefacts were also found on the property, as were several Muggleborn witches and wizards who were barely alive."
No one dared speak and all eyes were on her.
"I have a little life lesson for you, Mr. Herrald, not everything you learn from your parents is the truth, not everything you are told can be trusted and you should never take on the opinions or views of others, without doing some research and discovering what you believe yourself first. Purebloods are better than Muggleborns and Half-bloods? Then how is it possible that, Harry Potter, a Half-blood, defeated the darkest and one of the most powerful wizards that has ever been seen, and he was also a Half-blood? How is it that I, a Muggleborn, am the head of a department that was created in order to protect the Muggle World and at the age of twenty-one? How is it that I, a Muggleborn, am an incredibly influential person in our community? And how is, that I, a Muggleborn, am wealthier than your Pureblooded family?"
Sniggers rang out in the room as Hermione locked eyes with the teenage boy. Dean had a proud smirk on his face and Sam's lip twitched in amusement.
"Blood status means nothing, we all possess magic, we all have the same rights and we all have the same needs. If the topic of blood status comes up again, I will be informing Headmistress McGonagall and I am sure the consequences will not be pleasant. Whether you choose to leave this lecture or remain to learn invaluable knowledge that you will not learn from books or you professors, is up to you, but if you wish to leave, then do so now."
He didn't move.
"Are there any more questions?" Hands shot up once more. "Are there any more questions that aren't about my private life, my husband or my brother-in-law?" Every hand went down. "Then let's begin."