Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.
Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. There is also blatant reference to canon child abuse and the ongoing apocalypse. Feel free to back out if need be.
Author's Note: This chapter is brought to you by Whumptober, because I decided that a month worth of angst & hurt/comfort is just want I needed to deal with the sudden influx of undergrads into my library.
General Reminders: Critique/criticism has not been requested on any of my works. Chapter length is already set and will not be changing. Non-white people exist and do not require explanations. Yes, I do require all my meta information. Check my profile for more info on these topics & more.
Timeline Reminders: Supernatural S05-Ep22 (Swan Song); Post-Chamber of Secrets/Pre-Prisoner of Azkaban; Currently Second Week of July 2010
Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts (Term 15); MC4A (Year 4); Whumptober 2021
Individual Challenges: Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); The Real MC (Y); In a Flash (Y); Above Average Natural; New Fandom Smell; Old Shoes (Y); Zed Era; Colors Galore; Hold the Mayo; Rian-Russo Inversion; Rian-Russo Inversion; Ethnic & Present; Claimed; Neurodivergent; LEO MC; Hunter MC; Magical MC; Gryffindor MC; My Favorite Things; La Vie Boheme; Best Stories (Y)
House: Slytherin
Assignment No.: Term 15 – Assignment 07
Subject (Task No.): n/a
Other Hogwarts Challenges: 365 [274](No Using "and"); Fantastic Beasts [146]("Bite me.");
Other MC4A Challenges: Set [2B](Coffee Shop);Chim [Loride] (Royal Purple; Indigo); Fire [x3](Fruit Basket; Into the Multiverse; Little Rascals); Garden [More Favs (Dean Winchester; Coffee/Tea; Nicknames)]; Hang [Phrase 02] (n/a)
Other Challenges: Whumptober [D04](Trust Fall; "Do you trust me?")
Representation(s): Desi & Autistic Harry Potter; Team Free Will as Family; Hurt/Comfort
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Bad Beans; Forked Path; Sitting Hummingbird; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; White Dress; Found Family; Nontraditional; Middle Name; Mother Hen; Unwanted Advice; Deadliest Catch; Lovely Coconuts; Grease Monkey; Lyre Liar; Muck & Slime; Hot Apple); Chorus (Wabi Sabi; Machismo; Peddling Pots; Mouth of Babes; Tomorrow's Shade; Eternal Boredom; Larger than Life; Unicorn; Creature Feature; Abandoned Ship; In the Trench; Surprise!; Turtle-Duck)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: War (Sanctuary; Ennui; Obstruction); TY (Enfant; Kulonbozo); Mea (Rampant; Ennui)
Word Count: 902 words
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Needs and Wants
Chapter 12: Right Way
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"I agree that primordial beings are difficult to argue with," Jody said after Dean had finished his abridged version of how they had gotten Harry. She sipped her coffee with a thoughtful frown on her face. As if completely ignoring the conversation happening over his head, Harry chased the last soggy cherry around his plate. "I also acknowledge that a couple of days is not a long time, but I still gotta ask if any of you lot have thought to actually check if there's anyone looking for Harry."
"I don't know how we'd even start," Dean admitted. He had finished his own slice of pie as well, leaving only smears of crimson sauce across his plate. Idly, he fidgeted with his fork. Despite their similarities in age, Jody had serious 'mom' vibes. Dean got twitchy around her. "If he was from the States, I would just call up the police or sheriff in whatever city he's from, but he's from a bit farther away."
"Confession of a felony aside," Jody said tiredly while making a gesture like she was sweeping the topic to the side, "it would be the same principle, just a more expensive phone call. Hell, not even that expensive anymore, due to the lack of long distance charges." She sighed heavily, clearly regretting whatever it was that she was about to say. "Give me his information. I can make the necessary calls as discreetly as possible. I might not be able to get much, but at least I won't be impersonating law enforcement while trying."
"Oh, sure," Dean agreed, because he had learned when someone was being genuinely helpful, even if in most of his experiences, law enforcement had always been more of an obstacle to be overcame or worked around. She pulled out a indigo notepad from her computer bag as well as a click pen. She was poised to take down the information as he spoke. Immediately, Dean opened his mouth to tell Jody what she needed to know only to stop as he abruptly realized that he didn't know any of that information. He barely knew Harry's surname. He only knew that Harry was British because of the way that he talked. He wasn't even confident that the kid actually twelve like he claimed. How nearly was nearly thirteen? "Well, there's a slight problem."
"What's the problem now?" Jody asked with an eyebrow raising in disbelief. Harry glanced up at him out of the corner of his eye as he continued to push the cherry around his plate. Dean felt his check flushing in embarrassment. Jody looked him over with obvious suspicion. "Oh, my god. You don't know the information, do you?"
"Not so much, yeah."
"Dean Winchester," Jody scolded, "you mean to tell me that for two days, you've had physical custody of a child whose name you don't even know? Do you know anything about him? Anything at all?"
"I know his name!"
"His full name?"
"That's not the point—"
"How is it not the point, Dean?" she interrupted. Her eyes blazed with righteous anger. "Did you even ask? An eight-year-old boy not thinking of giving his full name makes sense, but you're an adult! You should know to ask!"
"Bite me," Dean snapped.
"I'm twelve," Harry interjected quietly. His whisper was almost too quiet to be heard. Jody still reared back as if she had been punched in the face. Her gaze swept over the kid, clearly categorizing everything from Harry's knobby wrists to the way his royal purple sweater looked like he was swimming in it. Very deliberately, Harry set his fork down on his plate. Then he clenched his hands together in his lap hard enough to make the skin around his knuckles turn a pale tan. "I am nearly thirteen. Not eight. Not seven. Not any other single-digit age that you people want to attribute to me. I'm also telling you that there really isn't anyone looking for me."
"Harry," Jody said without any of the frustrated heat she had just been using to scold Dean, "I know you said that your relatives won't miss you, but there are other things to consider. Like what if you needed medical attention while you were here?" Harry shrugged as if he didn't care. Jody looked a lot like how she had in the direct aftermath of the zombie outbreak. Dean's stomach felt like there had been worms in the cherries of his pie. "I'm a cop. I've got to do my job, which includes making sure that kids like you are safe."
"I'm fine," Harry replied without missing a beat. Dean's heart twisted a bit. Would there ever be a time this kid opened his mouth that Dean didn't hear the exact same things he himself had said more times than he could count? Dean cleared his throat. Harry turned that emerald gaze towards him expectantly.
"Do you trust me, kiddo?" Dean asked. Harry blinked at him a few times before tilting his head in the same considering way that Castiel tended to do when he was confused. After a long moment, Harry nodded. "Okay, well, I trust Jody to know what she's doing. She says she needs this info, then that's what we'll do."
Harry didn't seem any more convinced than he had been, but he did answer all of Jody's questions, so Dean was willing to accept it.
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To Be Continued
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