Unfound
Chapter Seven
"Minister, this is my letter of resignation," Justin said as he stood in front of Hermione's desk. He had thought this over. He had served as her liaison/spy for years. But things were getting darker and more dangerous and he was beginning to fear for his family if he were to be discovered.
Hermione wasn't surprised. "Justin – please, we've talked about this…"
"I know. And I respect you, Hermione. I think you know that. But I can't be involved in this anymore. It's not safe. They're crazy. And they are beginning to slip out of your grasp as well."
"Oliphant has assured me that…"
"Oliphant is an idiot," Justin countered. "He falls under the same trap as all other pure-blood wizards do. He assumes that because they are Muggles that they can't possibly get one over on him. He is overconfident and he underestimates them."
"But you and I don't."
"No. I think you understand the threat. But Minister, after you accept my letter, I have something to show you."
The piqued her interest. And it wasn't as if she hadn't placed anyone else in the organization in preparation for this moment. This was only a temporary blow. She finally took the offered letter. "Alright, Justin, I understand. I accept your letter of resignation. Please let me know if there is any other department you are interested in joining. You've been wonderful and could be an asset elsewhere in the Ministry."
Justin let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thank you, Hermione. But I think I'm going to take some time off. Spend time with the kids."
"That sounds lovely, Justin. You deserve a holiday."
"As do you," he said. "It's nearly 9 in the evening and I knew that I could still find you in the office. You're a beloved Minister, Hermione, you can take a break."
Hermione blushed a little. "There's just so much to be done. And with both Rosie and Hugo off at Hogwarts, it's easy to stay late."
"Of course. But I'm sure Ron would appreciate seeing more of you."
Hermione laughed. "He asked you to say that, didn't he?"
Justin had the good grace to look a little guilty. "He might have mentioned it the other night. That was the fifth DA meeting you've missed this year."
Of course, in this case, DA meetings were just gatherings at the Room of Requirement where everyone got far drunker than adults of their age should. But Hermione had missed seeing her friends, which she had expected to see more of after her kids had gone off to school. But there was always so much work to be done.
"I know. I'll try to make it to the next one. What did you have to show me?"
Justin knew that he couldn't distract the Minister for long. She may be exhausted, but she was still as sharp as a tack. He pulled a file out of his robes.
"I managed to smuggle this out. I want you to know, before you read it, that I didn't know anything about what is in that file. I think they knew that I wasn't to be trusted, even though they pretended that I had their full confidence. I'd appreciate it if you didn't act on any of the information in this file until a little bit after you let them know that I have resigned so that they can't trace it back to me. I don't trust that they wouldn't do something…drastic, in an act of revenge."
Hermione couldn't wait to get her hands on that file. "Thank you, Justin," she said, a clear dismissal.
"Thank you, Hermione," he said in response as he left the room.
She opened the file and gasped. She could hardly believe what she was reading. Justin had been wrong – she had severely underestimated what the Men of Letters were capable of. Not just what they were capable of – but the level that they were willing to sink to. She thought that she would have ages before things got out of hand, but from this, it was clear that things were well beyond that point. She swore.
III
Under threat of bodily harm – or worse, calling his mom, Ben had reluctantly followed the Impala to a nearby motel.
Before either boy could get out of the car, Sam and Dean were standing on either side, ready to stop them if they tried to run.
Which, both of the young men had internally debated.
They hadn't spoken to each other on the way over. Both lost in thoughts of what it meant seeing the Winchesters again.
"Out," Dean said to Ben.
"Alright, I was going to anyway," Ben grumbled.
Dean glared.
Sam was giving Teddy an equally hard time from the passenger side door.
As soon as the motel room door closed, Dean rounded on them.
"This is some dumbass shit the two of you are trying to pull."
"But – " Ben started.
"Oh, did it sound like I was asking you for your opinion?" Dean asked. "No, I wasn't. Ben, what the hell? I thought you had gotten away from all of this. Last I heard you were applying to colleges. And then I get a phone call from Jody telling me that you are hunting. Where does your mom think you are?"
"You told Jody!" Ted turned on Ben. "Why? And you didn't even tell me?"
"You were too busy crushing on Claire to talk to," Ben shot back. "And I didn't tell her on purpose. I thought that she had changed her mind, anyway. It was over a month ago when she found out."
"You mean my freaking uncles could have shown up at any point in the last month and you didn't bother to tell me?"
"They're not your uncles," Ben said spat.
Teddy flinched but didn't back down. "Dean's not your father either, but that didn't stop you from asking stupid questions trying to find him, did it? That's what it was, right? I told you a million times…"
"Hey – hey, stop it!" Sam yelled. He hadn't missed the hurt look on both boys' faces as they had thrown insults at each other. He wondered if this is how Bobby had felt when he and Dean fought. "You couldn't possibly think that you could become hunters and Dean and I wouldn't find out."
"You've avoided us for years, so why would now be any different?" Ted snapped. "I haven't seen you since you left Hogwarts. And you," he said to Dean, "I had to find out from Aunt Ginny that you were even still alive. Neither of you ever told me anything. So, you can just bugger off."
"We stay away for a reason. To keep you safe," Dean said, without a hint of the regret he was feeling.
"We're not little kids anymore! We don't need you to protect us," Ben pouted.
"Oh yeah, you're a big tough hunter now, are you?" Dean asked, furious. Sam put his hand on Dean's arm.
"Why don't you two sit down," he said, indicating to one of the two beds.
Ben and Ted looked at each other, looking like they might refuse. Ultimately, the stormy look on Sam's face left them no place to argue. So, they sat.
"Now," he said severely. "You stay right there. Don't move a muscle. I'm going to go talk to Dean outside for a moment, and then we will be back. Am I understood?"
Both boys nodded glumly.
"Dean, come on," he said to his older brother.
Dean gave the boys one last warning glare before reluctantly following Sam outside.
"What gives? I thought we were going to read them the riot act and then send them back to their parents."
"Yeah, back when we thought that this was them trying to become hunters, but that is clearly not what is going on here."
"Huh?"
Sam gave Dean a bitchface. (You're a moron)
"I didn't realize until I heard them arguing just now. They don't actually want to be hunters."
"What'd'ya mean? They're hunting. That means they want to be hunters."
Sam shook his head. "I think this was an elaborate ploy for attention."
Dean stared at Sam blankly.
"For our attention. Dean, I think they wanted to get caught. I'm not sure that they know that's what they wanted, but they are both too smart to have started in on all of this thinking that they wouldn't run into us eventually."
Understanding dawned on Dean's face. "That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard. What can we do about it though? We can't let them keep hunting."
"Obviously not. I think we should divide and conquer. I'll take Teddy, and you talk to Ben."
Dean looked pained. "I could talk to Teddy."
"No. I barely know Ben. We've only ever met a couple of times. You're the one that he sees as a father."
"He does not –" Dean started, then Sam gave him a look, "alright, fine, maybe he does. Fuck. This is why I left, you know?"
"I do. But no more avoiding responsibility. You've got this, I believe in you," Sam said, patting Dean on the back. He was less convinced. "I'm gonna send Ben out here. Just – don't be too hard on the kid."
"Yeah. You too."
III
Ben came out, sulking, just a couple of minutes later. Which was not nearly enough time for Dean to get his shit together.
He stood; arms folded with an attitude that could probably be seen from space. It reminded Dean so much of a young Sam after a fight with their father, that he had to fight from smiling. 'Head in the game, Winchester,' he thought.
"This your car?" Dean asked, indicating to the blue Firebird parked behind them.
That surprised Ben, who was expecting an immediate lecture. "Yeah. Restored her myself."
Dean smiled faintly. "Why don't you show me what you've done under the hood?"
He could tell that Ben was trying his very best not to look excited. "Fine," he said.
Ben popped open the hood and started talking animatedly about all the work he had done. Dean was pretty impressed. He grilled Ben on the different parts of the engine and proper care maintenance. He could see Ben relaxing, maybe even letting his guard down a little.
Once they had exhausted talk about the engine, Dean decided this was as good a time as any.
"Ben, you know that you can't keep hunting," he said, surprising even himself with the gentleness in his voice.
Ben looked down. "Yeah."
"And it's not because I don't think that you could be great at it. Jody told us how well you did – and I know that she couldn't have been easy on you. But Ben, there is only one way hunting ends, which is with blood. Either yours or everyone you love's. I don't want that for you. I never did. It's why I left."
Ben's heart soared a little at Dean's compliment. But he wasn't going to let that show, so he glared at him and said, "I know."
Dean's eyebrows shot up. "You do?"
"Yeah. Harry told me. He said that you left because you loved me and mom and wanted us to be safe and it was the best way that you knew to show that love."
"Harry knew what he was talking about," Dean admitted, his throat constricting a little. He had no idea that's what Harry had said to Ben. He had given Dean more credit than Dean ever would have given himself.
"I wish you'd've just stayed," Ben said sadly.
"I know, buddy. I wish – I wish that could've worked. But…but your mom – she's happy right?"
"She is."
"And you – you got to have a childhood. And it was good."
Ben nodded. "Yeah. I suppose. But it would have been better with you."
Dean knew that couldn't be true. "For what it's worth Ben, I'm sorry for all that I put you and your mom through."
"I know that too." Ben wiped tears from his eyes, which Dean pretended not to see.
"And you know that I'm still gonna have to call your mom, right?"
Ben's gaze shot up to Dean. He looked like he was going to argue, but seeing the look on Dean's face he thought better of it. "Do you?"
"Yeah. I hate to be a snitch. But this is too important. She has the right to know."
"They're going to make us stop hunting."
Dean chuckled. "Yeah, that's the general idea."
"She's gonna kill me."
"She's not gonna be happy, no. But you'll face her like a man, won't you?"
Ben straightened. "Yeah."
"Good man," Dean said, slapping him on the back. "You'll be fine."
"Will I ever see you again?" Ben asked quietly.
"If – if you want." Dean wasn't sure if he meant it.
"I do."
"Well, then, I'll just have to check in on you. This car is no Impala, but she's still a beauty, and I'll have to provide supervision. Just to be sure that she doesn't explode from the modifications you make to her engine."
Ben gave a tiny smile.
"Let's head back inside, kiddo, see if Sam has had any success talking some sense into Teddy."
Ben looked skeptical. "I doubt it – I'm far more sensible than he is."
Dean laughed and ruffled his hair.
III
Sam looked at Teddy moping on the bed. He could see how upset the boy was and it was taking a lot for him to remain angry at him. He had to remind himself that what Teddy was doing was dangerous. Especially for a wizard. Sam was just about to start the discussion when Teddy interrupted.
"Save it, Sam," he snapped. "I already know what you're going to say. And I don't care."
Sam sighed and sat down on the bed across from his nephew.
"I think you do," he said softly. He decided to try and appeal to Teddy's rational side. When he was younger, his father's tough love had never worked, but Dean's logical follow-up talks usually reached him. Or at least got him to back down.
Teddy blinked up at him with surprise.
"Teddy, I don't need to tell you how dangerous hunting is. I know that you know that. Not only because of what the work involves, but also because you know what the political climate is like in the wizarding world right now. If you got caught…I'm not sure that the adults in your life could protect you from the ramifications. You're being reckless."
The anger returned to Ted's face. His whole life he had grown up with stories of Harry and the Weasleys during the war and all the heroic things they had done. The stupid and reckless things. And then, when Sam and Dean had come into his life, he had heard about what they had done. He didn't understand why it was acceptable for them to put their lives in danger, for them to break laws left and right, but he was expected to stay at home and be a good little boy.
So, he scowled and said nothing to Sam. He didn't see the point.
"Why don't you tell me why you were hunting in the first place," Sam asked gently.
It had been a long time since Teddy's emotions affected the way he displayed his face, but he was feeling particularly high-strung right now, with the betrayal by his best friend, and his long-lost quasi-uncles showing up. He didn't realize it, but his features changed to resemble Harry's. Sam felt his heart sink. He didn't need a verbal response to his question.
"Harry wouldn't want you to hunt either," Sam said, trying to be mindful of using the past tense.
"Yeah, well, Harry isn't here is he?" Teddy finally snapped. He clenched his jaw stubbornly. "And you and Dean don't love him enough to avenge his death, but that doesn't mean the rest of us have to sit back and do nothing."
"Teddy," Sam started.
"It's Ted."
Sam was beginning to realize why it annoyed Dean so much when he corrected him calling him Sammy. "Ted, then. Harry sacrificed himself. He made a choice. And yes, Dean and I were angry at Cas, but…"
"But you still call him Cas and pal around with the arsehole who killed my father!" Teddy roared, standing up, and pointing his finger at Sam's chest. "I'm going to kill the son-of-a-bitch because you're too cowardly. He's a monster. You're supposed to kill monsters."
Teddy's face was now an exact replica of Harry's. That would have hurt Sam a whole hell of a lot more if he didn't know that his brother was alive and maybe not completely well, but safe. He wanted desperately to pray to Harry and get him here now, but he didn't think that would be best for either party. Teddy was already feeling betrayed.
"Ted, it's not that simple," Sam sighed. "Cas isn't the same as he was. I know it's hard to understand."
The fire in Teddy's eyes flared. Sam half expected his magic to get out of control, especially since he looked like a younger version of Harry right now, but he forgot that most wizards, even Teddy, weren't as strong as his bother.
"I don't want to understand. I want to kill him."
"And then what?" Sam asked simply.
That question caught Teddy off guard. "Huh?"
"Let's suppose that you get to Cas and you are, somehow, able to kill him, which, let me tell you from experience, is not an easy feat. And you manage to do all of this without getting caught by MACUSA or your family. What then? What comes next?"
"Harry is avenged. It's justice."
"And you go back to your life in England? Join the Auror Academy? Find another job?"
"Well…yeah, I guess," Teddy said but with very little confidence. He hadn't thought about what came after. If Harry hadn't survived an encounter with the angel, he didn't know what right he had in thinking that he could. Teddy just hoped that he could take the arsehole with him.
"You guess? You see Castiel as a monster, but you've never killed before, have you Ted?"
"Ben and I have been hunting…"
"Ghosts, if what Jody has to say is true. Have you encountered a werewolf? Or a djinn? You know they look human most of the time. I know you haven't had any vampires come across your path either. Ted, once you're in this life, there is no getting out. There is no other job. Eventually, you're either dead or you live long enough to become a monster that needs to be hunted."
"What about you and Dean?"
"Dean and I have been both," Sam said, calmly. "And every day I hope that we are killed before we're monsters. But that's how our lives end – bloody. I know it hurt you when I left. I know that it hurt Ben when Dean left. What you need to understand is that we did that because we love you. We don't want you mixed up in our business because it will suck you in and there is no clean way out."
Teddy felt tears prickling in his eyes. "I just want him back," he admitted. Because, at the end of all this, that's what he really wanted.
Sam's heart broke. 'Damn you, Harry,' he thought.
He shifted to sit next to Teddy and drew him into a hug. The younger man accepted it but only for a couple of seconds, before he broke away, embarrassed.
Ben and Dean came back into the room.
Dean pulled his cell phone out. "It's time, boys," he said.
"Dean – " Ben started to plead.
"No. I respect your mother too much not to let her know. I expect that she and that husband of hers will be around to haul you home. And whatever punishment she gives you will be a lot less than what Sam and I will do we ever catch you hunting again. Am I understood?" He left no room for argument in his tone.
"Yeah, Dean," Ben conceded.
"Ted?"
"Fine," he said.
"Good."
III
"So, Lisa was pissed," Sam said to Dean when they were finally back in the Impala headed back to the bunker.
"Yeah, no kidding," Dean said, a shudder running through him while remembering his ex-girlfriend's reaction to the fact that her son had been hunting. She and her husband had immediately apparated out and it had not been pretty.
"How'd your conversation with Ben go?" Sam asked carefully.
Dean grunted in response.
"Yeah. My conversation with Teddy was about the same. I'm not sure if he'll ever speak with us again."
"That's probably for the best," Dean said without taking his eyes off the road.
"It's gonna be hard once Harry comes back in his life though."
"If he ever does," Dean said. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind if he didn't hang around his wizard friends anymore. You said he didn't want to contact them right?"
"Yeah, that's what's he told me, but, Dean, I don't think that's a good idea."
"No? I think that's up to him. Plus, Hermione is the government now. Couldn't he get in trouble for – I dunno, being what he is?"
"An angel? You can say it, Dean," Sam said, annoyed. "It's not illegal in the wizarding world to be an angel. What could they do to him anyway? That place we were locked away in, he said that it was secure in ways that he had never seen before. Where could they even hold him? They couldn't even hold him when he was a human. But that's not what this is about."
Dean gave Sam a sidelong glance. "What is this about?"
Sam was frustrated. "They're his family. He needs them."
"We're his family, he's got us."
"It's not just about us, Dean," Sam snapped. "You saw what a mess those boys were? Think of what it would mean to Teddy for him to get Harry back. We know better than most what it's like to have a parent come back from the grave."
"Yeah, we know, we know that it's not all it's cracked up to be. How long after we get back to you think Mom is even going to stick around?"
Sam frowned. "I don't know. But just knowing that she's alive… and it's a miracle. And maybe when we tell her about Harry, she'll want to…"
"Kill him? Like Samuel wanted to do?"
"Come on, Dean, you know that's not fair."
"Isn't it?"
"Whatever, Dean."
Dean turned the music up. Sam knew that meant that their conversation was over.
III
Crowley sat on his throne, bored, as usual. More reports from more demons about things that mattered, of course, but were no longer interesting to him.
That was until a very specific demon entered the room. Crowley had given him a very special and secretive project ages ago. The King of Hell was no fool – he didn't really trust anyone, but if he was a more trusting sort, this would be the right demon to put his faith into.
"Everyone out!" He shouted when the demon had entered the room. The demon that had been speaking looked up at him with wide eyes. "Did I stutter?" When everyone in the room just sort of froze and stared at him.
Quickly, they all left.
"Paz, what do you have for me?"
Paz was a non-extraordinary-looking demon. His face was one of those that was utterly unremarkable. Neither handsome nor ugly. Everything about him was average. Which was perfect and showed just how clever this demon was in picking his meat suit.
"I've made progress, my lord," he said.
"Oh? At last. Well, go ahead, don't keep me waiting."
"It was difficult, and as you know, it took me a great deal of time…"
"Don't test my very limited patience."
"Right, of course. Well, the good news is that I was able to tap into angel radio using the tools you gave me."
Crowley sat up a little straighter. "What did you hear?"
The man in front of him fidgeted a little. Crowley didn't mind a little of that – he wanted his minions to be scared of him. After Abaddon, he had briefly thought he had lost that fear forever. But, at this moment of time, he was dying to hear what the demon had to say and he didn't have time to be flattered.
"The disturbance, the angels think that it is something to equal a Nephilim. But not a Nephilim itself."
"Hmmm, go on."
"Well, I was only able to hold the connection for a limited time before Lucifer figured out what I was doing and…"
"And what?" Crowley interrupted.
"And, he didn't cut it off, like I was expecting him to," Paz said, swallowing hard. "He – he used to send a message. To the angels. All of them."
"What did he tell them?"
"He told them that the non-Nephilim came from Gabriel. That it was – his creation." Crowley's eyes narrowed. "He advised them to…do something about him. As soon as possible to stop his power from growing. I was able to cut him off! But not before he slipped out a name."
Crowley couldn't wait any longer. With a clench of his fist, he sent the demon to the ground, writhing in pain.
"What. Name."
Paz gasped in pain and responded as soon as his breath came back. "Harry, my lord. Harry Potter. But, my liege, he died. Five years ago."
Crowley's eyes widened in understanding. "Bugger," he swore.
"There's more…" Came a nervous squeak from the floor.
"Oh?"
"Lucifer was trying to tell them of a way to not just defeat him, but how to lock him away. He suggested that they cage him in the same place as the rest of his kind. He suggested that they send him to Purgatory. My lord, this means that…"
"Lucifer knows how to get to Purgatory," Crowley finished for the trembling man. Crowley had given up on trying to find a way to Purgatory when Castiel had gone nuclear on him all those years ago. But, if Lucifer, who was under his control, knew of a way, then he had a shot at the information again. Not only that but if the Devil wanted to lock up Harry Potter that put Crowley in a very interesting position. It gave him…choices. And there was nothing that Crowley valued more than multiple avenues to forward his plans.
"Yes, my lord."
Crowley stroked his chin. "That…that is some very useful information, Paz."
The demon sighed in relief.
"Of course, I have to reward your good work," he said, smirking down from his throne.
Paz visibly relaxed.
"Since you have proven such a loyal minion, I have another task for you. One that is, well, it might be a little more dangerous than the last one that I gave you, but I have faith in your abilities."
Paz's heart sank. 'More dangerous than tapping into Lucifer's brain?' He thought to himself.
"I need you to find out more about Harry Potter. And just what he is now. Of course, if he is alive, there is really only one place he'll be."
"Where is that, my Lord?" Paz forced himself to ask.
"Why, with the Winchesters, you moron. I have a vague idea where their hidey-hole is, of course, and I will provide you with that information. That's where you should start."
"With the Winchesters?"
"Yes."
"But…"
"Are you questioning me?" Crowley asked, threat evident.
"N-n-no, of course not sir," the demon muttered. "I – I'll just start trailing the Winchesters."
Crowley leaned back in his throne. "Good. I will call you when I am ready for an update."
"Of course," Paz turned to leave.
"Oh, Paz?" Crowley called out to him. Paz looked up.
"I think it goes without saying that if you're caught, you won't mention our arrangement to Squirrel and Moose. It might…upset, the truce we have going. And you wouldn't want that, would you?"
"No, no, of course not."
"Good. Off you go."
Paz hurried from the room before Crowley could issue any more horrifying commands.
III
Unlike most wizards, Teddy was well acquainted with muggle technology. Or, at least now he was. Claire had teased him mercilessly when she realized that he didn't even know how to turn a computer on. So, he had secretly enlisted Alex to teach him the basics of computers and phones. He had never been more grateful for that than in this moment.
Lisa had taken Ben off to another room to give him (yet another) reaming out for hunting, while Tommy announced that he would take care of informing Ted's family. Lisa had given her husband a grateful look, and it had taken all of Teddy's self-control to not smirk when he had taken on that task. He would be much easier to fool.
"Ted, please give me your phone," he said sternly.
'Even better,' Teddy thought. He pretended to be upset as he handed the phone over. But he was the son of a Marauder – and this American wizard was a moron.
"Do you want me to stay here..."
"No, I think you should go to your room," Tommy said seriously. Teddy had to turn around to hide his smile. A part of him felt a little guilty – especially, while he thought the man was about as bright as a Blast-Ended Skrewt, he and Lisa had kept a guest room specifically assigned to him all these years.
Once he was out of sight, he quickly ran to his room.
He arrived and closed the door just in time. The second mobile he owned rang. (It's not like he hadn't picked anything up from Dean.) Once, while Lisa and Tommy had focused their lecturing on Ben, he had slipped out his mobile and reprogrammed all the numbers so that any adult in his family's number would ring him.
"Yes?" He answered in his Aunt Ginny's voice.
"Ginny?" Tommy asked to confirm his identity.
"Hi Tommy, it's so nice to hear from you, I was - wasn't expecting to hear your voice from this number," Teddy responded, grateful for all the work he had done as a child learning to imitate all the members of his family. He had done it for playing jokes, but it was paying off now.
"Yeah, I asked to borrow Teddy's phone. I'm afraid I have some upsetting news for you," the American said.
Teddy very nearly corrected the use of his name but stopped himself just in time. "Oh no, is he alright? Is he hurt?"
"He's not hurt. But it seems that he and Ben were not entirely truthful about the road trip that they were taking across the United States."
"What do you mean?" Teddy asked, faking concern.
"Dean called Lisa. He and Sam found out from a mutual friend that he and Ben had been hunting."
Ted waited for a beat before responding. "What? That can't be true. Put him on the phone, please." He hoped that he was playing this right.
"I sent him to his room. He's pretty upset."
"Upset that he got caught?"
"Yes. Dean told Lisa that even though the boys claimed to be hunting for fun, Sam suspects that there might be something else going on here. But they've been pretty closed-lipped so far."
Ted was relieved. Ben must have not given up more information. He would have to make amends with his friend before he left. He was also thankful that Sam hadn't told Lisa and Tommy about his mission to kill Castiel.
"I will see what I can get out of him. I'll talk to Andromeda, of course, but I think it would be best for you to send Teddy home, where we can give him a proper talking to."
"Of course. We'd be happy to keep him here and ground him with Ben, but I completely understand you wanting to have him home with you."
"Yes. I'll arrange a portkey for tomorrow. Would you be so kind as to drop him off at the Hartford station?"
"Tomorrow? That's a quick turnaround. It might be tough to book one so quickly."
Ted swore a little under his breath. Tommy was right, of course, but he had just wanted to get away from this house as quickly as possible. "I'll have Hermione pull some strings if need be."
Tommy laughed. "Right. It must be useful having the Minister of Magic for a sister-in-law. I'm happy to take him. I'm sure that Lisa will want to call and talk to you about this later."
'Shit, shit, shit,' Ted thought to himself. He forgot that his Aunt Ginny and Lisa spoke fairly regularly. He tried to play it cool. "Yeah, I'm sure we'll have a lot of long talk about this. But maybe ask her to give us a little time first? I have a feeling we'll have to call the whole family together to handle this." That would at least buy him some time to figure out how to head her off.
"Oh, I imagine it will be a while before she lets Ben out of her sight, in any case. I better go check on them now. I will send you a…textual message after I've dropped Teddy off. Just let me know what time."
"I will," Teddy agreed. "Thank you, Tommy."
"You're welcome, Ginny."
He hung up.
Teddy quickly pulled out his magic-safe laptop. He had a lot of research to do if he was going to try and get to Castiel before his family found out about all of this. It was clear to him that the angel was a threat to his family. Not just him, personally, but somehow the monster had convinced Sam and Dean that he was safe to be around. Teddy wasn't going to let anyone else die because of Castiel. He would protect his uncles – he would keep the world safe. And, in the end, they would thank him. He knew they would.
III
Sam and Dean didn't know what to expect when getting back to the Bunker. In retrospect, it had probably not been a great idea to leave Harry and their mom alone for a couple of days. Especially considering Mary's family history with wizards.
"Harry, Mom?" Sam called out, not immediately spotting the rest of his family.
"In here, Sam!" Mary called back, leading Sam and Dean, who was just slightly behind him, into the kitchen.
"Woah," Dean said when they walked in.
Harry was standing at the counter, his hands fully submerged in what looked to be a dough of some sort while Mary was cutting apples next to him. They both looked – they looked really happy. Dean tried to push down the spike of jealousy that came over him.
"I thought you didn't cook," he said to Mary as he swiped a piece of the apple she had been chopping.
"I don't. But Henry wanted to make apple pie since you stole all of the last one, and while I told him the closest Piggly-Wiggly couldn't be that far away, he was determined to make it from scratch. I may not be able to bake, but I can cut an apple."
"Henry?" Sam inquired, looking puzzled.
"Yes. I prefer it. Can you imagine, Mary and Harry Winchester? How awful," she crinkled her nose.
That stopped Sam and Dean straight in their tracks.
"You told her?" Dean asked in a strained voice.
The tension in the air was so thick they could practically see it. Dean's eyes were darting back and forth between his brother and his mother trying to determine if either of them was going to bolt. They didn't look like they were going to.
"I – er, didn't get the chance," Harry said. "We had a visitor. And, by the way, we're going to have to talk about the wards on this Bunker. They're good – some of the best I've ever seen, which is a conversation topic in and of itself, but we could probably beef them up a bit."
"Who?" Sam asked. Harry looked to Mary.
"Billie," she said.
"Billie the Reaper?" Dean was alarmed.
"Yeah. Only we don't have to worry about her anymore, Gabe killed her," Harry said, almost casually.
"Gabriel was here too?" Sam asked. "What the hell happened while we were gone? And why didn't you call us?"
"Honestly, it all happened so fast," Mary tried to explain. "She showed up asking Henry something about needing a new Death. Actually, I didn't think to ask about that. Why would she go to you?"
All eyes were now on Harry.
"Because of what I am. Or, at least, what I'm called. I'm the Angel of Death. Because of the ascension, you see," he said it without hesitation, as if it was obvious and something that they would have known on their own.
There were a couple of moments of shocked silence.
"And you're just now telling us that?" Dean asked, pissed about this whole situation. That he hadn't been able to control the information about Harry. That a Reaper had invaded the Bunker and he only found out about it after the fact. And Harry was keeping secrets. Again.
"It doesn't matter," Harry snapped back. "It's just a title. I'm not going to do anything with it."
"Harry – you might not have a choice," Sam said, searching his brain for all the lore had dug up on the Angel of Death years ago. There hadn't been much, and he had dropped it after Harry had died, but what there was alarming.
Harry gave Sam a bitchface that Dean would have been impressed by, if not for the given circumstances. "And it's not like it was a secret. Unlike whatever the hell the two of you just got up to, want to tell us more about that?" Harry changed the topic. "You didn't mean to, I'm sure Sam, but I heard you cursing at me."
'Great,' Sam thought. He was going to have to pay more attention to when he was thinking about Harry to keep him out of his head.
"It was nothing," Dean immediately brushed him off.
"Uh huh," Harry responded. "Well, Mom knows about me, so no more secrets, right?"
"Right, no more secrets," Dean agreed and crossed his arms. "I guess that you still have a lot of explaining to do, then."
"Dean – " Sam pleaded, not seeing that this conversation could go anywhere good. He had honestly forgotten what Harry and Dean were like when they were arguing.
"It's fine Sam," Harry snapped. "What have I been keeping a secret from you exactly? I've answered all the questions you've asked me."
"Yeah, you're a regular open book," Dean said sarcastically. "Which is why we were completely prepared to face the British Men of Letters when they kidnapped Sam and tortured him. That didn't throw us off in the least, much less learning that you were freakin' in charge of them."
Harry's expression hid none of his surprise at this accusation.
"Where'd you hear that name?"
Dean laughed. "Harry, this Bunker we're in? It belonged to the Men of Letters – we're legacies. We've known about the Men of Letters for years. The American chapter at least."
"But the American chapter went defunct in the 1950s!" Harry protested, looking around at where they were with more interest. "I know that our grandfather was one, but Dad didn't know anything about them. At least that's what the Wilkinsons told me."
"You knew about Henry?" Sam asked, surprised.
"Generally speaking, yeah," Harry said defensively. "What didn't Dad tell you about him? I assume that he was wiped out with the rest of the American Men of Letters."
"Dad hated him," Dean said. "But he wasn't killed with the rest of them – you know what, this is beside the point. The point is that the British Men of Letters still exist and they are a major pain in our asses. And maybe, if you had told us about why there are no Supernatural creatures in England, Sam wouldn't've been ambushed by them in our home. We would have done something to protect the Bunker from them."
"But they have no reason to come here! I was trying to phase them out entirely before I quit – I would've thought by now that Hermione would have dismantled them. Especially if she's the Minister of Magic."
"Things changed after you died," Sam said quietly.
That deflated the tension in the room.
"What do you mean, Sam?"
"I don't know all of it – but I spent some time at Hogwarts after…well, about a year after your death. Politically speaking, your death caused a bit of a nightmare. The blood purists took to your cause. Or rather, what they decided was your cause. They blamed hunters for your death there was a backlash against the community."
"But there aren't any hunters that aren't Ministry-supervised in the UK!"
"Right. But here in the States… Well, let's just say that there is a reason I don't keep my wand on me. It's now illegal for wizards to hunt supernatural creatures."
Harry had to sit down. (Alright, maybe he didn't. As an angel, he could stand all day, but he found his human instincts outweighed his angelic ones the majority of the time.) He never imagined that his death would have reverberated in this way. Honestly, he hadn't thought much about his family in the UK – mostly because it was too painful. But he couldn't imagine the mess that he had left them.
In all of this, the boys had forgotten that Mary was in the room. She had stayed silent, just wanting to learn the information that they were all throwing out in a way that they would have never done in her presence if they had been thinking about it. All three of her boys were fairly closed off – and she supposed she knew why, but she couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Sam, you're a wizard?"
Sam swiftly turned his attention from Harry to his mother.
"Uh – "
However, her expression wasn't quite what he was expecting.
"I knew that," she whispered.
"Huh? How could you? I didn't even know that until like a year ago," Dean said.
Mary looked like she was trying to figure something out. "I – Missouri told me that I had my memories taken. I remembered some things when I came back, but just little flashes. It's how I knew to look for Henry. I had searched for him until…" her head hurt.
"Until what, Mom?" Sam asked gently.
"Until…ah!" Her head exploded with pain.
Dean rushed to her side. "Mom!"
She batted him off, lightly. "I'm ok. Just a headache. When I try to remember…"
"Harry! Do something!" Dean commanded.
"Like what?" Harry asked, also panicking a bit.
"I don't know!" Dean yelled back. "You're a freaking angel. Can't you heal her, or bring her memories back?"
"Oh. I forgot," Harry said.
"You forgot you were an angel?" Dean asked incredulously.
"Uh – yeah. Sort of. Hey, Mom, look at me," he said coming up in front of his mother and raising his hand to her temple. She flinched back. "It shouldn't hurt," he said, and without waiting he placed his hand on her face. He had never done this before, but it felt instinctive. A bit like legilimency, but easier. He didn't want to pry or see the memories himself, but he unblocked them. And removed the pain from her trying to access them.
"It must have been an inexperienced oblivator – wiping her memory shouldn't have caused pain."
Neither Sam nor Dean was paying attention to him, they were both just focused on Mary.
"Mom?" Sam asked.
She looked up. Clarity was in her eyes. And tears. "I remember." She collapsed on the ground.
III
It was only just before he was about to leave that Ben and Ted finally got a private moment to speak. Ben was grounded for the rest of forever, but honestly, he was a little relieved. If he was being honest with himself, he had gotten into hunting for more than just helping Teddy. He wanted to prove to Dean that he could do it and that the man that he had regarded as a father was wrong to have left him to prevent him from becoming a hunter.
Only, after just a couple of cases, he had to grudgingly admit that Dean might have had a point. He had liked helping people, but he couldn't stomach the decisions that he might have to make when things got more serious. And he couldn't see how they wouldn't. But he didn't want to leave things as they stood with his best friend.
"Ted, I'm sorry," he said when his friend walked into the room. "Things got out of hand."
Ted looked at Ben fondly. "I know. For what it's worth, I'm sorry too. I got so caught up in Claire and everything that I lost sight of everything. Still friends?"
"Best friends, yeah. I suppose that you have to go home now?"
"Yeah, I imagine that Nan isn't going to let me out of her sight for ages," he lied. Right now, even though he wasn't angry with him anymore, he didn't trust his friend not to spill that he was staying. "But maybe next time you can come to visit me."
Ben smiled. "I haven't been to England in ages, I'd like that a lot." He thought for a moment. "Ted – before we go, do you think we should tell someone about the Men of Letters?"
Honestly, Ted had forgotten all about them.
"They're here to recruit, right? I imagine that Sam and Dean already know."
"You're probably right."
"I always am," Ted smirked.
"Yeah right, you ass," Ben responded with a grin. He suddenly got up and hugged Teddy. "I'm gonna miss you, Teddy."
Ted returned the hug. "I'll miss you too, Benji," he teased, using the nickname that Donna had given him.
There was a knock on the door.
"It's time," Tommy said to the boys. "I'll side-along apparate you to the portkey station. Please call when you arrive safely back in England."
'Oh, that won't do,' Ted thought to himself. The last thing he needed was someone escorting him into the building, he was going to have to think fast. "Tommy, could Ben drive me? One last trip in the Firebird?"
"Absolutely not," Tommy said. "After the stunt, the two of you just pulled? Lisa would kill me."
Ben turned on his puppy-dog eyes. "But what if you came with us? Surely if you're with us the whole time we won't be able to execute our grand escape plan."
Ted kept his face as neutral as possible. He hadn't even told Ben!
"I don't know…" Tommy said.
"Please? I'll meet with that career coach you keep trying to set me up with."
"Really?" Tommy seemed surprised.
"Yeah, come on Tommy, please?"
"Oh alright," Tommy caved. "But I will be with you the whole time. And you won't say a word of this to your mother."
"Of course not," Ben said smoothly, winking at Ted.
'Perfect," Ted thought. Before he knew it, he was saying his goodbyes to Ben and Tommy outside the portkey office. He walked in.
"How can I help you?" A friendly man at the front desk asked him as he entered. Ted declined to answer, just peering out the door to make sure that the Firebird drove off. It did.
Ted turned to the man at the desk and plastered on a fake smile. "I have a portkey that's supposed to leave here for London in half an hour," he lied.
The man frowned. "We don't have any international trips planned for today. Are you sure? What is your name?"
Ted faked concern. "I was sure it was today! Let me check…" he pulled out his hunting journal, the one with the information on how to get to Castiel, and pretended to check it like it was a diary. "Oh no, my mistake. The portkey is leaving from Boston! This country is so big, I forget what city I'm in. My apologies."
The man looked relieved as if the error had maybe been his fault. "If you would like, you can use our floo to get to Boston. You should still have plenty of time."
"Thank you," Ted said sincerely. Things were going better than if he had actually planned this himself. "If you could just point me in the right direction?"
"Oh, of course, sir," the man said. "Down the hall, last door on your left."
"Thank you."
"Safe travels!" The man called after him as he left. Ted quickly made his way down the hall, checked to make sure there was no one around, changed his appearance, and then took some powder from the mantle.
Boston was as good a place as any to start his journey. He quickly slipped out of the building without being noticed. Once he was in a safe location, he went into this wallet.
Ted took a deep breath.
It wasn't the best plan. But it was the best he could think of. His last chance, because he knew it was only a matter of time before Tommy or Lisa actually talked to Ginny and he would be forced to return home.
He held out the business card and carefully typed the number into it.
"Davies here."
"Mr. Davies. My name is Ted Lupin. We met the other day with my friend, Ben. I need your help."
AN – It's Friday! Happy Friday. I have to physically go into the office today and I'm going out after work so I woke up early just to get this out before I leave for the day. And I am not a morning person.
Is Teddy reminding you of anyone else that we know and love yet? In my notes about him, I have typed that he has a "warped sense of duty and complete disregard for his own safety."
Paz (named by a bot in my HP Fanfic Writer's Guild Discord – his full name is actually Paz Spore) is dedicated to all people who get "rewarded" for being good at their jobs with more work. If you are a Harry Potter fanfiction writer, I highly recommend this server because even though the bot is very bad at naming characters, the people are some of the best you'll ever meet.
As always, thank you to everyone who interacts. I love seeing your comments and reviews and responding to them! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to put them below.