Unfound

Chapter Nineteen

"How'd the rest of the case go?" Harry asked the morning after his brothers had gotten back to the Bunker. They had looked exhausted when they walked in, so he had let them get sleep before moving to interrogation mode.

Sam and Dean looked at each other. They had discussed how they were going to break the news to Harry.

"Uh, well, we found the werewolf and took care of it," Dean said. "So, mission accomplished."

Harry didn't buy it for one moment.

"What happened?"

"Harry. We'll tell you – you just…you have to promise that you're not going to do anything crazy."

Harry crossed his arms across his chest. "And why would I need to do "anything crazy" if the case was so straightforward and simple that you didn't feel the need to bring me back in?"

"Look, we handled it," Dean said. "And now we're gonna tell you about it, but we need you to not lose your shit."

"When have I ever lost my shit?" They both stared at him and he winced, thinking of the last time he had stormed the Men of Letters compound. "Alright. Fine."

"No flying off. We mean it," Dean said. "Don't make us call in Gabriel – 'cause we may hate the douche, but we'll do it."

Harry bit back a retort about how Gabriel couldn't control him, but, wisely, decided against it.

"Maybe have a seat?"

"SAM!"

"Ok, fine, look, it's like this…"

He proceeded to tell Harry about how Claire had been bitten by a werewolf and what had happened when Teddy had defied a direct order.

Harry started pacing in the map room. But, alarmingly, said nothing.

"And then Teddy told her that he was a wizard. Which, she took pretty well, all things considered," Sam finished, feeling lame.

"But that probably had something to do with the fact that she had just been traumatized by being turned into a werewolf and then cured. I'm sure she's gonna give him hell about that later."

Harry still said nothing. And he wasn't staying still long enough for either Sam or Dean to gauge his reaction.

"Harry?" Sam asked. "You – uh, you want to talk about it?"

"Or go hit something?" Dean offered. "Sometimes, when I'm real mad…"

"It was taking away his magic?" Harry interrupted. "For disobeying Mick? Not Ketch? And not because he was trying to get out of his contract?" His voice was dangerously calm and rational sounding.

"Er – yes," Sam said. "Well, that's what Mick said…"

From the thickening in the air and the electric feeling around them, Sam and Dean were both bracing themselves for something big. The map table to explode or for lightning to strike in the room.

To their surprise, it did not.

Harry took a deep, shuddering, breath and the air calmed.

"So, what do we do?" He asked.

That struck both his brothers dumb.

"Well?"

Sam shook his head. "Uh – research. There's gotta be something here about soul bonds," he said. "We're going to fix this, Harry, we're not going to let Teddy be hurt. Or lose his magic."

"Damn right," Dean agreed.

"Books it is then. Where do we start?"

"Actually, I've been thinking about that," Sam said. "And I'm not sure that books are going to cover it this time. I think that we should call Rowena."

"No," Dean and Harry said with one voice.

Sam held his hands up. "I'm just sayin',"

"No," Harry responded stubbornly. "Let's start with the books."

Sam suppressed an eyeroll. "Fine. Books it is."

III

"Look, Harry, there's nothing here," Sam said, shutting a book harder than he normally would, annoyed by the hours of research that he was putting in when the answer was just a phone call away.

Dean had abandoned them about an hour before, claiming that someone needed to do a supply run. But they both knew that meant that he just couldn't concentrate any longer.

"Yeah?" Harry asked, looking up from his own book. He'd found nothing useful so far. And he had thought that the Men of Letters were experts at Earth Magic. For all that, information about soul bonds was suspiciously missing from their collection.

"We need to call Rowena," Sam said, setting his jaw. He wasn't going to give it up this time.

"No," Harry responded. "No, you don't know…"

"I know as much as you," Sam interrupted. "I looked her up after you met her for the first time. Hermione sent me some books. I know that she seems untrustworthy, that's because she is, but she's helped us before…"

"And you trust her to do any sort of magic on Teddy?" Harry asked. "Because I think it's bad enough that he's in the clutches of the Men of Letters."

"I trust Rowena more than I trust them," Sam said.

"They have to follow laws," Harry argued. "Rowena answers only to herself. And her moral compass is a bit lacking."

"The Men of Letters are torturing witches and wizards. Is that legal?"

Harry hesitated. "Well, no."

Sam did his best not to look too smug for having won the argument because Harry stubbornly looked back into the book he had been reading.

Sam pulled his phone out.

"Don't bother," Harry said.

III

"You won't find what you're looking for here, you know," Crowley drawled at his mother. Rowena had broken past the enchantments and wards on a Men of Letters outpost hidden deep in the Siskiyou Mountains. Of course, he only knew that she was here because he had sent minions ahead of him before he planned his own excavation of the site.

Rowena heaved a heavy sigh. "Fergus," she greeted without turning around. "I thought you were still quite cross with me."

"Cross doesn't even begin to explain my loathing for you," Crowley growled.

She slammed a book down. "Just tell me why you're here and leave then, what do you care?" She turned around, realization hitting her. "You're looking for the same information I am, aren't you?" She sneered.

Crowley scoffed. "Please. As if I need these lousy librarians' information about anything."

"You're scared," she pointed out.

"I'm not."

"Come here for your mummy's comfort and protection, haven't you? Well, I would hope that you would have learned long ago that I have none of that. Not for you."

That shouldn't hurt Crowley's feelings. Crowley shouldn't even have something as nasty as feelings but the little abandoned boy in him flinched. He hated her for that. He hated himself even more for it.

"You should be afraid too, mother," he said. "You're trying to find out information about the Winchester's newest companion, aren't you? Having trouble?"

Rowena tried to keep her utter frustration with the situation hidden in a look of disdain. But Crowley knew her all too well.

"I could tell you, you know. He and I are – previously acquainted."

"You? Previously acquainted with an angel? I wouldn't think that they'd give you the time of day."

"Oh, the angels have their uses for me. But that's not how I know him. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet," he taunted. "You've been in the same room as him and Dean have you not? You're really beginning to show your age."

"What would…" Rowena thought quickly through her encounters with the angel and the Winchesters. They didn't treat him the same way they treated Castiel. He wasn't a pet…he was… "No," she said.

"Yes," Crowley smirked. "The third Winchester."

"That's not possible," Rowena said, even though, she could see it now. She had been dancing around the Winchesters for long enough that she was sure that if they had another brother, she would have known. "He's a bloody angel."

"That he is," Crowley confirmed. "But he wasn't always." He was thoroughly enjoying this moment. Maybe if he sent Rowena down this path, Harry Potter would take care of her for him. Not that he couldn't kill the bitch if wanted to. But this way was…less messy. For him at least. In fact, this all gave him an idea. With a smirk, he disappeared without another word to his mother.

"Bollocks," Rowena swore. She had been hoping to find information here. Instead, she was finding more questions. Then, her phone rang. She smirked when she saw who was calling.

"Speak of the devil," she said. "Samuel," she drawled. "What do you need this time?" She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, aye," she said. "I know something about soul bonds. But this time – you'll have to pay up."

III

'Dagon,' came a voice in her head. The Prince of Hell tried to quell her anxiety. 'Dagon, have you found my son yet?'

She didn't know where her Lord Lucifer was, but she did know that he was keeping close tabs on her. Knowing that he would hear her, she spoke. "I haven't. But I have reason to believe that your brother has her."

'Gabriel?'

That was a dumb question, but she tried not to think that too loud. Lucifer had a complete hold on her – body, mind, and demonized soul.

"Yes, My Lord," she responded. "He has kept her well-hidden. Her family as well. I had been hoping to use them as collateral."

There was silence for a moment. Dagon had hoped that the information she had would suffice for now. But Lord Lucifer wasn't known for his patience, even in the best of situations.

'You don't need to track her family,' he said finally. 'It's not her you need to sway. I know my brother. His loyalties are predictable. What you need is to get a hold of his…creature…and he'll fall in line.'

She knew who that was, of course, having fought him herself. "How am I supposed to get to him?"

'That sounds like a you problem,' Lucifer said. 'But I suggest that you reach out to your brother. Asmodeus will have the tools you need to reign that abomination of Gabriel's in."

Dagon sighed. She hated Asmodeus. To be fair, she hated just about everyone – but her fellow Prince of Hell was insufferable. But if this is what she needed to reign at Lucifer's side, she could handle a family reunion.

"Of course, my lord," she responded. "I'll seek him out at once."

'See that you do. My patience is running thin.'

III

Rowena arched an eyebrow and stood defensively as the wizard-turned-angel appeared in front of her. "I believe that I told Samuel that I would make my way to you on my own."

"You did," Harry said. "But we need help quicker than that."

She gave him a wary look. "And he agreed that you could fly and get me?"

Harry smirked. "He couldn't stop me."

"But – "

Harry didn't wait to let her protest continue. They both appeared in the Map Room, where Sam looked like he was still contemplating yelling at the spot that Harry had been before he'd flown off.

"Well, that was quite uncivilized," Rowena pouted. "And not the best way to ask a lady for help."

"Who said we were asking?" Harry asked, menacingly.

"Harry…" Sam said.

"Sam, we don't have time, we don't know what those wankers could be doing…"

"Why don't you go check on Dean?" Sam suggested, cutting him off. "I'll deal with Rowena."

"I – "

Sam gave him a look.

Harry huffed, but listened and left the room.

Sam leaned further back onto the table, massaging his temples. He didn't know what he had done to deserve two hotheads for brothers, yet, here he was.

"He favors Dean in looks, you know," Rowena said, staring after Harry who had just left. "He certainly doesn't have your height."

Sam looked at her cautiously. He shouldn't be surprised that she knew – and he didn't see the point in denying it. Anyone who knew Sam and Dean, even a little bit, should be able to recognize that Harry was their brother.

"He actually looks like our dad," he said lightly. "Except for his eyes. He's got Mom's eyes."

Rowena inclined her head.

"How much do you know?" He asked her.

"Why should I tell you?" She challenged.

"Because, otherwise, I don't know where I need to fill in blanks," Sam said. "It's not like his history is unknown. I'm fairly certain that even you will have heard of him."

Rowena didn't exactly want to reveal that she knew almost nothing. "You'd think I would have heard that humans could become angels now, but I don't see how I could possibly know anything about him. Other than he's clearly had contact with wizards."

"He was…is a wizard," Sam said with a question in his voice. "I don't know what exactly to call him now. But he didn't grow up a Winchester – he was raised under a different name."

A light bulb went off. She had seen the scar, of course, but not really thought about it. "No," she said. "No, he died. Five years ago." She was backing up as if to leave. She was a powerful witch, of course, but even she wasn't so foolish to think that she could tangle with the man who had not only vanished the darkest wizard of his time as a baby only to kill him as a teenager but was also responsible for wiping an entire dark creature off the planet with his death.

"He did die," Sam said. "But he's back now. Look – "

She fully started to move towards the exit. If he was back that could only mean one thing. And that one thing was not good for her.

"Rowena!" He called after her.

"No," she said. "I may be fool enough to dance with the devil, but not…"

"He agreed not to hurt you."

"Oh, great!" Rowena said, feeling a little hysterical. "If he's back, he's not just any angel, you know. If I were you, Samuel, brother or not, I would get far away. He's the bloody Angel of bleeding Death. Do you know what that means?"

Sam declined to respond, but now he needed Rowena to say even more. What did she know that they didn't?

"I really must…"

"Please, Rowena, just hear me out. Let me tell you what's happening and if you can decide then if you'll help or not."

She turned and sighed. "I don't know what you could possibly say to entice me, Samuel, but I'll hear you out, even though I'm sure that I'll come to regret it."

Sam gave her a wry smile. "What do you know about the British Men of Letters?"

III

"Sam kick you out?" Dean asked when Harry knocked on his open door.

Harry responded with a glare.

"You know, one of these days you're just going to have to stick up to him. You can't let our baby brother boss you around. It's bad for business," he teased.

Harry flopped into the chair across from Dean's bed. "I don't trust her," he ground out.

"Yeah, no kidding, no one does," Dean responded.

"Have you heard from Mom recently?" Harry asked, changing the subject. Dean looked down at his phone.

"She texted me yesterday morning," he said.

"You're worried about her." It wasn't a question.

Dean sighed. "Yeah. I don't like the chokehold that the British Men of Letters have on our lives."

"I could just smite them all," Harry offered, lightly.

"Don't think I haven't thought of asking." He gave Harry a sidelong look. "Uh – how are you doing?" He didn't sound quite comfortable asking the question.

Harry snorted.

"Really."

"You want to talk about my feelings? You?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yeah, dude."

"What's next? Hugs and pats on the head?"

Dean leveled him with a look that clearly told him to cut the crap. "You can't bullshit a bullshitter. God knows Sammy's been on me enough about protecting your feelings. You've – well, it's been a bit rocky recently."

Harry said nothing.

"Don't get me wrong, man. You're a hell of a lot better than…before, but maybe let's address the issue before you resort to suicide this time?"

"It wasn't suicide," Harry said sharply, ready to defend himself. "I did it…"

"To protect us all, yeah, I know. If anyone gets sacrificed for the Greater Good, it'd be Sam and me."

"You and Sam sacrifice for each other," Harry lashed out, heckles raised. "Not that I don't think it's great, but it's not the same, and you can't pretend otherwise."

"That's…" Dean started, trying to control his anger. He and Sam had given a damn lot for the world.

"I'm not trying to undercut what you have done to save the world," Harry said hurriedly, feeling a little bad for reacting with anger. "I'm saying that you understand, Dean, the need to protect family. I get that – I really do. What I did…it was to protect mine."

"Wizards you mean," Dean said bitterly. "'Cause your death didn't do a damn thing for Sam and me."

"You seemed to be doing just fine without me," Harry snapped, unable to keep his anger under wraps.

"No, dude, we weren't," Dean said simply, wrangling in his desires to just yell back at Harry and coming to terms with the truth of that statement all at once. "I wasn't. It's been eating me for years. Look, a lot of people have died on my watch. Too many. It's part of the job, I know it is. Cas once told me that I can't save everyone, but my biggest regret is that I couldn't save you."

"Dean…" Harry said, his anger melting away.

"No," Dean said, rejecting Harry's attempt to try and make him feel better before it could even happen. He needed to say this. Had needed to say it for a long time. "I knew you were struggling, it was clear as day and instead of stopping for one goddamned minute and trying to help you out, I just kept pushing. I thought if we could just get through ending the threat of Purgatory being cracked open, we could deal with it then. I should've benched you. Maybe then…"

"You think you could have?" Harry challenged. "Dean, I've never blamed you…"

"I KNOW!" He interrupted, sitting up completely from where he had been lounging on his bed. "I know you never blamed me, but that don't mean it wasn't my fault. You warned me, man. You told me that Cas was no good. And I couldn't see it. Sam warned me that you were cracking. Bobby did too. I refused to see it." He hesitated for a second before saying the terrible truth. "If it had been Sam I would've intervened. Done something. But I didn't."

"I'm not Sam," Harry frowned, infuriatingly not seeing the problem with that statement.

"That shouldn't matter. You're still my little brother and I should have protected you. Just like I've protected him."

"Dean, what you and Sam have…"

"No," Dean cut him off again. "Yeah, Sam and I have a thing but you shouldn't play second fiddle. I have two brothers and I should have acted like it."

"I don't expect you to treat me the way you treat Sam," Harry insisted.

Dean sighed. "I know. And that's the problem. But I swear Harry, I'm gonna make it up to you. So is Sam. And then maybe, someday, I'll have earned your forgiveness."

"You don't need to earn anything! There's nothing to forgive."

"Yeah, I do." Dean had had quite enough of talking about feelings. "I'm going to watch some crap TV now. You wanna join?"

Harry shook his head, emotions tumbling around his brain. "No. Uh – I'm gonna go see if Sam and that…and Rowena have come up with something."

Dean shrugged. "Your loss. Try not to kill her."

"No promises," Harry said before he left the room.

III

"Going somewhere?" Gabriel asked as Kelly, with a packed duffle reached the front door of the condo. It was three in the morning.

"I, uh, had a craving for pickles and ice cream, you know, crazy pregnant lady stuff," she said, unconvincingly.

"Uh huh. I happen to know we have both those things. Harry has been badgering me every couple of days to be sure that the fridge and freezer are full of whatever that crazy brain of yours could think of."

"It's not the right kind," she said, not giving up the lie.

Gabriel gave her a pointed look.

"Fine. I was leaving. Gabriel, I can't stay here…"

He crossed his arms. "And why is that? Have I not provided for your every whim? You've seen the doctor, your parents are under my protection, books, tv shows, movies, food, I have provided everything. Do you know what waits for you out there? Misery and certain death."

"I'm going to die no matter what," Kelly said somewhat hysterically. "I just want my baby to be happy."

"And what do you think leaving will accomplish?" Gabriel asked. "If you leave, someone will find you, Heaven, Hell, or Winchester. Do you want your baby in the clutches of any of those? Heaven and Winchester would kill him. Hell would raise him to tear the world down."

Kelly started sobbing.

For a second, Gabriel thought they were crocodile tears and he was prepared to just keep this woman comatose for the rest of her pregnancy so that all of this could finally just end. But he could sense real distress under it all. He just didn't understand. He took a deep breath. He could do this. He had to remember that it was Harry's life in danger here. And he had worked too hard for too long to get him back to let one overly emotional pregnant woman let it all come crumbling down. This was nothing but a blink in his very-long life.

He awkwardly patted her on the back. "It'll be ok," he said, not quite getting the empathy that he wanted in those words.

She just kept crying as he led her back to her room. He left her there, hoping that she would eventually just cry herself to sleep.

III

"Well, I'm going to have to meet the boy if you expect me to be able to do anything about it," Rowena said, sighing dramatically. "All of this," she indicated to the books around them, "is all just theory. Each soul bond is unique like each soul."

"No," Harry said automatically.

"Harry…" Sam said in his "be reasonable" voice.

"I don't want her anywhere near him!"

Sam frowned. "We won't leave them alone. Come on. If this is what gets him out from under the British Men of Letters, it'll be worth it."

"That's a big bloody if, Sam," Harry shot back. "And what will we say to them? Teddy needs shore leave so that we can have a fugitive earth-bound witch from Scotland see to him? They'd arrest us just for associating with her."

"On what grounds?" Sam asked, ever the legal mind. "You're an angel. I'm an American citizen. I'm pretty sure they don't have the jurisdiction to arrest either of us."

Sam had Harry there. Plus, honestly, Harry was confident that there was no human prison that could hold him now. Not that they could have even before he had made his change.

"I'll call," he finally relented.

Sam felt vindicated. Winning arguments with either of his older brothers was always an accomplishment, but Harry was always more of a challenge than Dean, just because he knew how to better undercut Dean's logic.

Although, Harry was far less likely to end the whole thing with a, "no, your face is stupid, shut up," and leave as Dean would.

Rowena had been silently watching the brothers interact. She had a keen understanding of relationships and a sharp eye for seeing what made people tick and she was getting some very valuable information on the wizard-turned-angel. Also, she couldn't deny that watching these two beautiful men argue with each other was fun. If only Harry was a little less good and not as wary of her, she might have tried to seduce him. He had all the things she usually looked for in a victim – love interest – power, money, looks, and a naïve disposition. (In the way that all good-doers were naïve.)

Harry left the room to make his phone call.

III

"Hey," Teddy answered his phone. Ketch shot him an annoyed look, as he had been engaging Teddy in a training session – trying to see how his magic worked with some of their more…unique weapons. Not that the boy knew about what made them special.

"It's Harry," he mouthed at the older man. Ketch rolled his eyes, but nodded his head, granting permission.

Teddy was relieved – he was exhausted.

"You want me to stop by the Bunker?" He asked aloud, for Ketch's benefit. The man quirked an eyebrow. "Uh, why?"

There was muffled speaking on the other end. Ketch couldn't hear what Potter was saying, but he got an idea from the general tone.

"Of course, you don't need a reason to see me," Teddy said quickly, glancing up, embarrassed. "But…"

More talking that Ketch couldn't make out.

"Ok. Alright. Yeah, usually I get weekends off if we're not working a case," he said. "I'll check. And text you." The young man blushed red, looking mortified and purposefully avoiding Ketch's gaze. "Loveyoutoo, bye," he said really quickly, hanging the phone up.

Ketch smirked. "Adorable," he drawled. "You've been summoned?"

"It's not like that," Teddy muttered. "He just wants to check in with me. You know, after the last case."

"Oh, was there something notable about it? I got positive feedback from Mr. Davies. Was there something he left out?" Ketch knew very well what was notable about the last case, but he was trying to goad Teddy into admitting weakness.

"No, of course not, he just worries too much," Teddy said. "So?"

"So, what?"

"Can I go?" Teddy ground out, hating that he had to ask. "I haven't had a day off in weeks." He hadn't lied to Harry – technically speaking, he wasn't required to work on weekends if there wasn't a case, but somehow, there was always a case.

Ketch smiled unpleasantly. "Why, of course. In fact, I'll drive you there myself. And I'll get Mary – she and I can do some actual work after we drop you off at the sitter's."

Teddy suppressed a groan.

III

Ron, Luna, and Charlie had more-or-less sequestered themselves in one of Harry's houses close to the Bunker to do their work. Tensions between Ron and Winchester brothers were high and rather than deal with a powder keg of repressed male anger and annoyance, they had agreed that it was best to remain in the area but not in close proximity.

The information they had gotten from the Men of Letters computer was sobering, to say the least.

There was video after video of them extracting grace from the dregs of American wizarding society. They seemed to have no regard for their lives and treated them as less-than-human.

Ron had thrown up several times watching the footage and had urged Hermione to get over there as soon as possible. He was honestly surprised she hadn't come, wand blazing, yet. He thought that perhaps she was trying to figure out how much MACUSA knew.

There was a knock on the door of the house they were staying in. Luna and Charlie were currently pouring over books in the living room, so Ron went to answer the door.

Although he was sure that Hermione would let him know in advance, he was really hoping that it would be his wife on the other side of the door.

Unfortunately, it was someone far worse.

Ron scowled. "Malfoy," he said.

"Weasley," the blonde man responded.

They stared at each other for a couple of minutes.

"Are you going to invite me in, or shall I stand out here all night?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ron moved out of the way silently as a way of invitation.

Malfoy entered the room and sniffed. "Quite the hovel you've got here, Weasley. Although, I suppose you're used to it."

"Really, Malfoy? Poor jokes? You know that I am the husband of the Minister of Magic, right?"

"I am, unfortunately, quite aware. Is the Minister here or is this all still top-secret?"

"Ron, who was…?" Luna came into the living room to investigate who had been at the door. "Oh. Draco."

"Ms. Lovegood," he responded, almost respectfully. "Weasley's dragged you into this nonsense as well?"

Luna frowned a little. "I volunteered."

Malfoy rolled his eyes and took off his coat. "Of course, you did. Loony Lovegood on another insane adventure with her equally insane friends."

Ron had his wand out in a second at the insult, but that was nothing compared to Charlie who had entered the room just in time to hear the insult to her girlfriend.

Before any of them could stop her or even knew what was going on, Charlie had crossed the room and punched Malfoy squarely in the face, knocking him back.

"What did you just call her?" She asked dangerously, continuing to advance on him. He held his hands up.

"Charlie, my sunshine, it's alright," Luna said soothingly, putting a hand on the redhead's shoulder to stop her from punching Malfoy again. "It's just an old school nickname of mine."

"Babe, that's not ok," Charlie said.

"It doesn't hurt. I am a bit loony. That's why you love me, right?"

The two of them made googly eyes at each other and Malfoy straightened himself up a bit, looking miffed.

Charlie turned away from Luna to glare at him. "Apologize," she demanded.

"I will not – "

She raised her fist again, threateningly.

"Alright, fine. Ms. Lovegood, I apologize. That was…childish of me."

Charlie gave him a nod of acknowledgment.

"It's alright, Draco. I know that an excess of nargles sometimes make wizards regress," Luna said graciously.

Malfoy wisely bit his tongue, rather than respond to that.

"Are you going to introduce me to your rather formidable…friend?"

"Oh, of course! Draco, this is my girlfriend, Charlie Bradbury. Charlie, this is Draco Malfoy." Luna beamed when she said Charlie's name.

"Wait? This is the dick that was such a bully to Harry in your first year?"

Draco started. "I don't recall you from Hogwarts, Ms. Bradbury. What stories have you been telling Weasley?"

"He's not said anything," Charlie insisted, "I saw the movie."

"The what?"

"It doesn't matter," Ron said, also not knowing what Charlie was talking about, but wanting to spend as little time with Malfoy as possible. "We…appreciate you coming here," he said with great difficulty.

"Don't hurt yourself, Weasley," Malfoy said. "I said I'd help, and here I am."

"Yes. Well. We've got access to Men of Letters files that we didn't have previously. However, they are protected by some enchantments that we believe you'll know something about. We need all we can get so we can bring them down."

Malfoy nodded knowingly. "Lead the way."

III

Asmodeus had been bored for millennia. Sure, he had dabbled in projects here and there, but, for the most part, the Prince of Hell had settled into a quiet life of torturing those whom he thought he could learn something from, and staying out of the way of his fellow princes. Of course, he knew that his Lord and Master Lucifer was risen now, but his father hadn't been in contact. He awaited his summons.

They came in an unexpected way.

"Dagon?" He asked when his sister walked into his throne room, where had had been busy with his latest acquisition, the usual look of annoyance on her face. "Well, I'll be. I haven't seen you since…"

"Skip the pleasantries, Asmodeus," she cut him off. "I'm here on behalf of our Father."

He stood a little straighter. "He has need of me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah. He has an errand for you."

"And he sent you to give me this news?"

Dagon pressed her tongue to her upper lip in a show of annoyance. "Yeah. Obviously."

Asmodeus relaxed into his chair. "Why wouldn't he just call on me himself?"

"I don't know. Look, he told me to bring you a mission. You want it or not?"

"He doesn't trust you to complete this mission?" He drawled in the Southern accent of his vessel. "My, sister, how the mighty have fallen."

"I'm working on another project. Look, do you want this or not? I'm more than happy to tell Father that you're too busy with…" her eyes flickered to the man who was writhing in pain on a stone table on the left side of the room, "your hobbies."

"Now, Dagon, I didn't say that I wasn't interested. By all means, tell me of this mission."

She sighed. "It's like this…" She explained the situation, with Lucifer's son and the annoying Archangel that was keeping the container protected. "Once you've procured the girl, Father says that you are free to play with the abomination," she said, still bored. "But you're not to kill it. Keep it for him, and he will reward you."

Asmodeus did his best to hide his excitement. Finally, a chance to prove his worth to his father. After so many years of living knowing that he had disappointed the man. And it wasn't even a menial task. It was exciting. And important.

"And where pray tell, might I find this Mr. Potter?"

III

Mary had had very few opportunities to speak with Teddy privately since he had been working with the British Men of Letters. It wasn't just because Ketch and Davies kept them apart – the boy himself seemed hellbent to avoid her after Ketch had revealed that his birth father was a werewolf.

She knew that she should have reacted better, but it had been quite the shock. Now she had a better understanding of the difference between werewolves in the magical world versus the kind that she was used to dealing with. Mary regretted her inability to control her facial features. It seemed that she had really hurt the young man's feelings.

It was hard to let go of her old hunter prejudices but she was doing her best.

She thought that maybe she should try to bond with the kid while she had the chance. It only took her until they were getting close to the Bunker to finally work up the nerve and strategy to talk with him. She wanted to be very careful about what was revealed about Henry but she very desperately wanted to know what he had been like before he was an angel. "So, Ted, what was your childhood like?"

Teddy looked up from the backseat of the car into the rearview mirror to look at her.

"Uh – normal? I guess."

Ketch scoffed. Mary glared at him.

"I'm afraid that I don't know much about the wizarding world. Did you…play sports?"

"Er, yeah. Not, you know, well. My mum – she was a bit of a walking disaster, from what I've heard, and I'm not as clumsy as her, except when I'm on a broomstick. Bit of a disappointment to Harry, I suppose."

"Why would he care about your flying abilities?"

Teddy shrugged. "He says he doesn't. But being raised by a professional Quidditch player and the youngest Seeker Hogwarts had seen in a hundred years, I can only imagine that it was a bit of a let down that I'm no good at it."

Mary was completely lost. Teddy may as well have been speaking another language.

"Mr. Potter was a Quidditch prodigy," Ketch said with a bored expression. "He was selected for his house team when he was only eleven. Normally, first-years are not permitted to even bring their own brooms to Hogwarts."

Teddy looked surprised.

"Don't give me that look, Mr. Lupin," Ketch said. "It's not just with your kind that your godfather is famous. I assure you that we were regaled with stories of the Boy-Who-Lived at Kendricks. Of course, that wasn't until my later years, but I believe it was him that inspired the students to start playing the Muggle version of Quidditch." He didn't sound impressed.

"The Boy Who Lived?" Mary remembered to ask. The British Men of Letters knew that she was aware that her son had been taken. It was likely that they suspected that she knew who he was, but she had never confirmed it, and she didn't intend to now.

"That's what they called him," Ted said. "It's a long story. He hates it. Said that his Mum deserved all the credit, not him."

Mary frowned. She didn't want to hear much of anything of what Henry thought of the bitch that stole him. "That's nice. But I'm not interested in your famous godfather," which was a complete lie, "was it hard, growing up with someone so famous looking after you?"

Teddy shrugged. "Sometimes. But I hung around the Weasley's a lot and they're all famous too, so my cousins didn't care much."

For his part, Teddy wasn't eager to discuss his childhood with this woman who was a faux-sort of grandmother. He had seen her true colors the day that Ketch had exposed his father for what he was. Everyone once in a while, Ketch would let slip other hurtful things that Mary had said. That, and on top of the fact that she was voluntarily working with that psychopath led to him not trusting her any further than he could throw a hippogriff.

They pulled up to the Bunker.

Harry was waiting for them outside.

He smiled warmly at his godson. "Teddy," he greeted. The boy practically ran into his arms for a huge hug.

Since he had joined the Men of Letters life had been stressful, but when Harry was there, he felt like someone else was there to help. Really help.

Harry happily held Teddy for a couple of moments. He saw Ketch watching them closely, though, so he broke off from him. "Mary," he said, addressing his mother. "Sam and Dean have been missing you. Would you mind walking Teddy in?"

Mary nodded. Teddy took the hint and the two of them headed to the large iron door. Ketch went to follow them.

"Not you, Mr. Ketch," Harry said, stepping in his way. "I'd like to have some words with you."

"Very well," he said, not looking intimidated in the least.

Harry waited for Teddy and Mary to disappear before speaking. "Do you know what I am, Mr. Ketch?" Harry asked.

"Yes. An angel – a powerful one at that."

"No."

Ketch raised an eyebrow.

"I'm a father. And you are currently holding my son hostage. I don't know what you did to trick him into that soul bond, but, rest assured, I will find out and the second this year is over, you are dead." Harry couldn't see it, but his eyes glowed green with the anger simmering just below the surface.

"Mr. Lupin chose this path," Ketch said. "There was no trick. In fact, I have a copy of his contract. I'd more than happily send you a copy of it." He said that as if it was nothing more than a lease that Teddy had signed. "And he has been quite the valuable asset, all things considered."

Harry grabbed the man by his lapels. "He is not an asset," he ground out. "He is a child."

"Not legally," Ketch said, still not losing his cool. "Now, if you would kindly unhand me."

Harry let go. He couldn't wait for the day when he could tear this man to pieces.

"Thank you," Ketch said. "This suit is one of Mary's favorites, you see, and I wouldn't want you to ruin it."

Harry didn't like that implication in the least. "What did you say?"

"Oh, Mary, you know the woman who you are pretending is not your birth mother? That's really quite cold of you, Mr. Potter, I would expect an orphan such as yourself to be a little more concerned for the woman who gave birth to him."

Harry knew that Ketch was trying to goad him. Get under his skin. Unfortunately, it had never been all that difficult to do for him.

"I'll take your silence to mean that she really doesn't know," Ketch said, pleased that he had Mary's trust. "You know, she's told me about you. Well, not you you, but the baby she lost. She mourns you. Has even cried on my shoulder about it from time to time. It's really quite tragic."

"You leave my mother out of this," Harry said.

"Oh, but I can't. She hates your kind, you know. Is quite eager to hunt them whenever we're allowed. Did you know that MACUSA occasionally has us track down some of the worst of your kind here in the United States? Those are the hunts that she was the most…eager to complete." That was a lie, but Harry was too upset to notice.

Harry shuddered. But he tried to keep himself under control. He knew that if he lost control and killed this man, Teddy could pay the price. But there was no reason that he had to put up with hearing this nonsense from him. So, without really thinking about it, he placed two fingers on the man's head and he crumpled to the ground, asleep.

Harry smirked, as he left Ketch lying in the dirt, and headed into the Bunker to join his family.

III

Asmodeus watched the young angel walk away and he couldn't help but feel genuine excitement for the first time in years. He was delicious. He was precious. And, most of all, he was powerful. Soon, he would be his. Licking his lips, Asmodeus started formulating his plan. Those who loved others were always the easiest to manipulate.

III

Inside the Bunker, Harry couldn't help but smile when he saw three generations of Winchesters all gathered together around the Map Table. Of course, Teddy wasn't technically a Winchester, but, with pride, Harry knew that Sam and Dean had treated him like a nephew.

He stood and watched for a couple of minutes before descending the stairs.

"There he is," Dean said. "I was just about to start filling Mom and Teddy in on some of your more embarrassing stories, so I'm glad that you're here now."

"Where's Ketch?" Mary asked, concerned at how loose-lipped Dean was being.

"He elected to stay outside," Harry said diplomatically.

Sam gave him a questioning look.

"Alright, fine, I put a mild sleeping spell on him. He should be awake soon enough. But I wanted to buy us some time.

"Henry," Mary rebuked. "You shouldn't do that."

Harry shrugged. "He's fine. If he's that upset, I'll pay his dry-cleaning bill."

"What?"

"Oh, just, he fell asleep on the ground. He really should be more careful."

Dean snickered from his place at the table.

Mary stood to leave.

"Wait, Mom," Harry called out to her. She stopped and turned. "He definitely thinks that you don't know who I am. He was taunting me about it."

Mary straightened a little. "He shouldn't have done that," she said. "But I'm glad - I was worried that I had let something slip."

"I can handle it," Harry said. "But keep up the good work."

She gave him a soft smile and started moving toward the exit.

Sam jumped up to follow her. "Someone's got to help her get him into the car," he said as he went.

Harry turned to Teddy.

"How are they treating you, Teds? The truth please."

"Harry's an angel now, so he can tell if you're lying," Dean added. It was very annoying for him but convenient for these sorts of situations.

Teddy squirmed a little. "Uh - fine, mostly."

Harry didn't need any supernatural ability to know that that wasn't exactly the truth. He gave Teddy a look.

"I'm fine," he insisted. "I wish I hadn't made this stupid deal, but it's mostly just boring. Ketch makes me write all his reports for him. Says that it builds character, but I have to do it all on this barmy keyboard, he won't let me use a proper quill and parchment for any of it."

Harry and Dean exchanged a glance. "All his reports?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, think so."

Dean cracked a smile. "Great. So, you can tell us everything they've been up to…"

III

The weekend was everything that Teddy had been hoping to have when he had moved to the US to be closer to Harry.

After grilling him for information, which was a little pointless because he didn't know anything actually useful, they had assigned him a room in the Bunker and the mood had lightened considerably.

Teddy had never really gotten to see Harry interact with both Sam and Dean and it was every bit as amusing as watching his Weasley aunts and uncles with each other. The petty bickering, teasing, and joking was a great relief after living with the far-too-serious Men of Letters. And Harry seemed relaxed - like the man that Teddy had grown up with.

He had been hoping that they may take him out on a case with them, but they didn't seem to have one. Or, that is what he thought until Sam knocked on his door, which was open while he was reading a book on the bed.

"Hey Ted," Sam greeted him. "You got a moment?"

Teddy gave him a strange look. "Yeah, of course. Everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, no need to worry. Uh - Dean and Harry are out running an errand. But I have someone I'd like you to meet."

Ted got up from the bed. His uncle was acting weird and he didn't like it. "Where'd they go?"

"They didn't say," Sam said quickly, in a way that Teddy knew that he was lying. But he let it drop as he started to follow the tall man into the infirmary, which was odd.

Standing in the middle of the room was a short woman with dark red hair. She was wearing a ridiculously formal dress and had an air of power and confidence.

"This the wee lad, then?" She asked, with a Scottish accent. Teddy was even more intrigued.

"Yes. Ted - meet Rowena. Rowena, Ted Lupin."

"What is she?" Ted blurted out before he could stop himself.

Sam gave him a look.

"I'm a witch," she responded. "And a real one at that."

"Rowena…"

She gave Sam a haughty look. Sam sighed.

"She's an Earth witch," he explained.

Teddy drew back, instinctually. He sent a frightened glance to Sam and pulled his wand out.

"She won't hurt you," he said. "I won't let her."

The Earth-witch snorted. "As if you could stop me," she sniffed.

"Not helping, Rowena."

"Wasn't trying to, Samuel."

Sam sighed again. "Rowena is the reason that we wanted you here this weekend, Teddy," he explained. "She's an expert on soul bonds."

Teddy's eyes got wide. "Uncle Sam…I thought that…"

"Uncle?" Rowena interrupted. "Did Dean procreate without me knowing?"

Sam flinched. "Not Dean," he muttered.

"You're telling me that Harry Potter had a son and I didn't know about that either?"

"Godson," Teddy said.

"Ah. Of course," Rowena said. "That makes far more sense. Well, what are you waiting for laddie? Hop up on the bed and let Auntie Rowena have a look at you." She indicated to one of the many beds in the room. Sam gave him a nod of encouragement. Teddy trusted his uncle enough to follow the instructions.

"Now lie back," she told him.

Rowena held out her hands and waved them in a careful, deliberate way, over his whole body. After a couple of moments, she stopped.

"And just what was the godson of the wizarding world's most powerful doing making this kind of deal? That is one nasty piece of magic."

Teddy didn't respond, but he sat up on the bed.

"Can you do something about it, Rowena?" Sam asked, ignoring the question entirely.

"Aye," she responded. "But it's going to take some time. It's a tricky spell."

"We don't have time!"

"Well, would you prefer that I trip the spell in the wrong place, resulting in the boy's death?"

"You better not," Harry said from the doorway and striding into the room. "Teddy, are you ok? Did she hurt you?" He shot a glare at the witch and stood protectively in front of his godson.

Dean came in next, huffing. "Sorry Sam, I kept him as long as I could. He didn't even fly, he's just quick."

"It's fine, Dean. Harry, you know I wouldn't let her hurt him."

Harry didn't say anything but everyone in the room could feel his displeasure.

'He's become a much better actor,' Dean thought to himself. Although, he supposed that Harry didn't actually have to fake his reluctance to the situation. But they had decided that Rowena would be better kept in line if she didn't know that Harry was mostly onboard with this plan.

"How much time do you need?" Sam asked, choosing to ignore his brothers entirely.

"Well, do you want the boy to be alive by the time I've released the curse?" She snapped.

"If you do anything…" Harry started to threaten until Sam silenced him with a look.

"Of course, this is all to protect him, Rowena," Sam said.

"It'll take many hours spread a couple of days apart, at least," she finally answered the question. "To minimize the risk."

"What would it look like? Would it hurt?" Harry asked.

"I imagine that it wouldn't look like much to you," Rowena responded. "But Earth magic requires a certain finesse that you wand-wavers don't possess. It shouldn't hurt him unless someone causes me to lose concentration."

Harry sucked in a breath.

"Teddy?" He asked, surprising all present. His godson gave him a questioning look. "What do you think?" Harry asked. "You're the one that will be affected the most by this."

"I – uh…they're not good people, the Men of Letters," Teddy said, stumbling, still amazed that Harry had sought his opinion. "I think – I think they might try to make me do things that I would regret later."

Harry nodded and Dean looked like he wanted to punch a wall.

"Alright. Sam – you'll look over her spell work?"

"Of course," Sam said.

Rowena rolled his eyes. "As if he knows anything."

Dean gave her a pointed look. "He knows enough. What do you need?"

"I'll put a list together," she sniffed. "And some quiet, which means those of you inclined towards temper tantrums will have to leave." She pointedly looked at Dean and Harry.

"I'll watch them," Sam assured his brothers. "You can get whatever on the list."

"It shan't be easy," Rowena said. "Or inexpensive."

"You let us worry about that," Harry responded.

She arched her eyebrow.

"Alrighty then. Let's get to work."

III

"Are you ok?" Harry asked, pressing his hand to Teddy's forehead to see if the red-haired witch had done any damage to his godson.

Teddy swatted him away. "I'm fine," he said, exasperated.

Harry looked like he wanted to do more of a physical examination but stopped himself short.

"Give the kid a break," Dean said, walking into the room. "Sam was there the whole time. He wouldn't have let Rowena get away with anything."

Wisely, Harry decided to keep his retort to himself. It wasn't that he didn't trust Sam, he did, but he knew the number of times his younger brother had been tricked. Dean just shrugged off the lack of response and kept on walking towards the kitchen, which had probably been his original reason for being there in the first place.

Teddy didn't seem any worse for wear.

"Well, I'll be sure to talk to her before she leaves, but first, I have something for you Teds," he said.

Teddy brightened up.

"Yeah?"

Harry grabbed the bundle he had brought out for this purpose and held it out to Teddy.

Teddy didn't take it.

"Is that…" he breathed.

"Yes," Harry said.

"I – really? Are you – are you sure?" His eyes were huge with wonder.

"Yeah, of course. It probably should have gone to you earlier, but I thought that it would give Andy a heart attack if I had given it to you before your fifth year and well…" he awkwardly didn't finish the sentence.

"But – shouldn't you pass this down to your kids?"

"You are my kid, Teddy," Harry said with no room in his voice for questioning.

Teddy blinked back tears and looked determinedly down at the invisibility cloak like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Which, in fairness, it was up there. He couldn't believe that Harry was giving this to him. The significance of both it and Harry's words was not lost on him.

"I want you to keep this a secret though. And that's not all," Harry said.

"What else?"

Harry pulled out a large galleon.

"Your DA coin?" Teddy asked, recognizing the object for what it was.

"Yeah." Harry had played with the idea of making an entirely new one for Teddy, seeing as the Protean Charm on this one had worn down so much that he had had Hermione recast it just to be sure that it would still work. "The original DA still has theirs. That means, if you are in trouble, you just have to do…" Harry showed him how to make the numbers change and the coin warm, "and you could have every member of Dumbledore's Army coming to your aid."

"Woah," Teddy said.

"Yes. Obviously, that is not something for you to take lightly. I have also turned it into an emergency portkey. I mean emergency too. This is the only object in existence that will get you past all the Bunker's wards. It will also raise some additional protections when you arrive. Only use this if you have absolutely no other option."

Teddy just stared at the coin.

"Do you understand?" Harry asked, needing verbal confirmation.

Teddy nodded his head and clutched the coin.

"Good. Now – let's see if we can get Sam to play us in Exploding Snap before Ketch and Mom come to pick you up. Personally, I don't care about winning, but I would love to singe his eyebrows or hair."

Teddy's eyes twinkled. "Yeah, that sounds fun."

Harry laughed, ruffled his hair, and called out, "Hey, Sam!"

III

All too soon, it was time for Ketch and Mary to come to pick Teddy up.

They made sure that Rowena had cleared out long before they were expecting any Men of Letters.

Wisely, Ketch had elected to stay in the car and sent Mary in to get the young man.

She found him in the kitchen with Harry and Dean.

"Hey guys," she greeted.

"Mom," Dean said, going over to give her a hug. "How'd the hunt go?"

"Ah, you know, melted some brains. Decapitated a couple of vamps, nothing too strenuous."

"I thought that they had eradicated all the vampires in this region," Harry said, with a frown.

"Yeah. One wandered back in. They've been testing wards to be able to track them in the same way that – " She saw the looks on her son's faces. "It doesn't matter," she finished quickly. "Problem solved. And now it's time to get back to Headquarters."

Dean sighed unhappily. "Mom…"

"What?"

"Teddy, why don't we go gather your things?" Harry suggested, sensing the serious conversation that was to come. And there were things that were just unsafe for Teddy's ears.

Ted looked like he wanted to protest, but as long as Harry was coming with him, he didn't mind so much.

"What now, Dean?" Mary asked when the other two had left the room.

"I don't trust them, is all," he said, without backing down.

"Yeah, I don't either. But there are things that I have access to…"

"Yes, yes, I know. But it's dangerous, Mom. I don't want you to get hurt."

Mary stiffened. "I thought we established that I can very well take care of myself, Dean."

"Yeah, I know. Come on – you know what I meant."

She gave him a look. "I know you worry. But Dean – I'm doing this for you. For your safety. And Sam and Henry's too." With her eyes, she begged him to understand.

And a part of him did.

But that didn't mean that he had to like it that it was their mother in the line of fire.

"Just – be careful would you?" He said gruffly.

She shot him a cocky smile that was all-to-reminiscent of his own.

III

Harry missed Teddy when he left. It didn't sit well that his godson was in trouble and there was almost nothing that he could do about it. It just felt wrong. He was the adult. He was the one that was supposed to be able to take care of him.

Sam and Dean had gone to meet with Ron, Luna, and Draco fucking Malfoy, further leaving Harry alone. They had decided that it would be best to not alert Malfoy that Harry was back. And, in principle, Harry agreed completely. He didn't want to paint a new target on his brother's back by formally coming back into the wizarding world. And of all the people to not inform of his return, Malfoy was pretty close to the top of the list.

But, of course, that left him alone to brood.

Something that he tried to avoid at all costs.

Being alone with his thoughts was dangerous. Well, not dangerous, but deeply uncomfortable.

When he had first returned, his plan had been to return to Heaven and his afterlife as soon as possible, as to not further disrupt the lives of his friends and family. But it was becoming more and more evident that he couldn't do that without causing more harm than good. Which meant that he had to deal with…living again. And that was a whole other can of flobberworms.

Nothing made him want to beg Gabriel for Ambrosia more than facing the crushing weight of pressure that staying on Earth would require. And he would've – if he didn't know the kind of satisfaction that would give the archangel.

Thankfully, his dark musing was interrupted when his phone rang.

Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin. He still hadn't figured out how to change the ring tones back from the songs that Dean had set for him.

"Hello?"

"Harry? Harry?" Came a desperate voice on the other end.

"Teddy?" He asked, worried. "What's wrong? Why didn't you…"

"I need you to come and get me. Please – I think – just, please hurry I'm just a mile maker 26 outside of the Men of Letter's Compound."

"Teddy, what's wrong…"

The line went dead.

And, of course, Harry didn't think for one second before unfurling his wings. He just dropped his phone and flew.

"TEDDY!" He called out, looking around desperately. "TED!"

Then, all-encompassing pain took hold – starting with his wings, which he didn't even know could feel pain – seeing as they didn't exist in this plane. He crashed to the ground, trying to identify where it was coming from, but it was so strong that he felt blinded by it.

The pain disappeared as quickly as it came. But, before he could react or take any sort of action, he felt his wrists magically pulled behind him and locking into place. A burning ring of metal did the same around his neck and shackles appeared around his ankles.

He fought. With every move, the restraints got tighter and tighter.

Eventually, he stopped moving.

"My, you learned that lesson quicker than I thought you would, Mr. Potter," a Southern-accented American voice came. "Perhaps you won't be the challenge to tame that I was led to believe you would be."

AN – I have to confess; this is one of my favorite chapters so far. This is the beginning of the end, so to speak, of this part of the fic – we're really building towards the climax now.

Dean finally had his own talk with Harry and you can see how important that was for both of them, both in terms of their relationship and how Harry feels about being alive again. I know that several of you have been frustrated with the boys – but it just took time for them to kind of come around hopefully that character development read as realistic and true to their characters, on top of being a bit annoying and agonizing at times.

Things will be fairly fast-paced from here on out, so I hope y'all are prepared! Please, again, mind the tags and take care of yourselves.

Next week may be a bit delayed – I'll be at a conference all week so I don't know if I will be able to work on editing enough to get this chapter up by Friday – but it will be up by Saturday at the latest.

Until then, thank you, all you lovely readers, and don't forget to tell me how you think these are going in the comments and reviews!