Dean composed himself from his tears as his fury started to build. Who knows what punishment that prick was doing to his baby brother right now. He started to shake as Penny hugged him tight and was crying herself. Dean quieted himself and concentrated all his power to send a single message. It would have to use most of his power to cover the distance alone but he didn't care. Enough was enough and he needed answers now.

Dumbledore. If everything I did for your school means anything you will get here now and start talking. Or I'm gonna go beat the hell out of Jacob and take Y/N back. Then I'm going to the Daily Prophet. Albus Dumbledore allows the son of the Archduke to be tortured and abused. You've got ten minutes!

Dean sent the thought to the old wizard and collapsed back in Penny's arms, exhausted.

"Are you ok babe" she asked, panicking as he fell back.

"Yeah, just contacted Albus, demanding answers" Dean replied.

Within five minutes the floo network came to life as out stepped an old man with moon shaped glasses and a warm smile. He looked at his two Hogwarts alumni with a fatherly gaze.

"How delightful to see you both again, you were both two of my favourites students and I knew from the moment I saw you together you would be one of wizarding's great love stories" Albus smiled at the pair.

Penny blushed slightly as she helped Dean onto the couch, he was still recovering from using his power. The brothers were all powerful legilimens- she knew that- but to send a message from London to Hogwarts, and to pinpoint it to one man... Penny shuddered to think how much it would have taken out of her lover as she greeted the elderly wizard:

"It's good to see you too headmaster, thank you for the kind words" she smiled.

"Ahh young Ms. Haywood, Albus or Dumbledore is fine. You aren't my student anymore"

"Thanks.... Albus" Penny smiled while rubbing her lovers back.

"Cut the niceties Dumbledore" Dean scowled at him. "I want answers and I want them now. That wasn't an empty threat. Tell me everything or I mean it, I swear on everything holy I will go to the Daily Prophet right now and bring my brother home".

Penny gasped at this but didn't speak up, instead hugging onto her lover tightly. She knew from his tone of voice this wasn't a threat. He was far beyond threats and anger at this point. He was serious.

Dumbledore looked at the young couple over his glasses and sighed. He knew the young man well enough. He knew of his determination- he'd seen it first hand when he spent years unsuccessfully punishing Dean for his interference with the Cursed Vaults. When a L/N had his mind made up nothing could impinge upon their will and determination. It was time for Albus to come clean. He had to make the couple understand.

"Ok. I will explain everything. I understand how hard this must be for you..." Albus started to speak but was quickly cut off.

"Do you... do you understand... cos I don't think you understand shit". Dean interrupted coldly.

"Babe please..." Penny sighed before kissing his temple. Dean sighed before looking back at the aged Professor. "Please continue"

"It is our belief your youngest brother is the subject of a prophecy. The prophecy. Key to the downfall of the Dark Lord himself. Young Y/N may be one of the most important wizards to ever live". Albus stated with sincerity.

"So you like Jacob think he will return" Dean asked, concerned.

"Yes Dean I do, I know he will. And your brother along with Harry Potter will be the keys to defeating him. Without them all we have and love will be lost forever". Dumbledore sighed.

Dean rubbed his eyes with his hand while Penny looked down and rubbed her lover's back. "Why is it always our family" he sighed before looking up, his gaze returning to the aged Headmaster as he asked:

"What is the prophecy Albus"

Dumbledore recited it from memory:

"The protector of the chosen one arises
He will be marked through torture and pain
Youngest of three and the sacrifice of the father
He will be stronger than even the Dark Lord
And will kill him when the chosen one cannot
But he maybe even darker
Only a single choice can decide his path
Power for love or power for ambition
He alone can decide"

Penny's eyes started tearing up as she heard him finish. Dean tried to take it all in as Albus continued:

"The Prophecy was made in the Department of Mysteries on the day Y/N was born. It mirrors similar prophetic passages made in the Book of Revelation and Tycho Dodonus about an end time figure known as The Prophesied One. We- myself, Jacob and a number of other important figures believe Y/N to be The Prophesied One"

"Well it certainly seems to fit Albus, the youngest of three, sacrifice of the father, marked by torture after what those bastards did to him" Dean replied. Penny broke down at this point.

"But the last half, Y/N has to kill Voldemort himself. And might rise himself an even darker lord, I refuse to belief that" Dean added forcefully.

"He's a sweet beautiful little boy" Penny managed to say between her sobs: "He couldn't be another Dark Lord"

"Y/N has suffered greatly" Albus replied sadly. "He has felt much pain and loss, and there is an anger in him, a deep anger which if not channelled in the right direction...."

"And you think Jacob is leading him in the right direction?" Dean snapped. "He's practically torturing him"

Albus raised his hands asking for calm:

"I understand how you feel Dean I truly do. But please listen. Y/N needs to be strong, stronger than any of us. He's too important. Jacob hates what he does to your brother but it is... necessary"

Dean scoffed.

"Yeah I'm sure Jacob is quite capable of guilt and remorse"

"Would it surprise you to know Jacob has cried in my office on more than one occasion for what he has subjected your brother to" Albus asked remorsefully.

Dean looked at Albus stunned before muttering:

"Yeah it would surprise me... a great deal".

It was quiet for a minute before Penny asked:

"So what are we meant to do? Just sit back and let the poor boy suffer and do nothing?"

Albus smiled.

"No Ms. Haywood, and I think I know you well enough to know you couldn't do that even if you were ordered to"

Dean chuckled. Penny was not a mother hen to be trifled with. Albus continued:

"I will talk to Jacob and ensure he gives the boy more down time. I think during that time Y/N should come here, even if it's just for one night a fortnight. He needs to know that you are here for him, that you love him".

Albus smiled at the joyful expression on Penny's face as he continued:

"Only Y/N can decide which path he takes, but I know with your guidance and love he will be ok. Besides, I think recent events may have... swung the odds considerably in our favour" Dumbledore finished with a smirk.

Dean seemed unmoved as he was processing everything that was said but Penny smiled a little at the old Headmaster:

"Yeah I noticed that as well".

Albus chuckled before speaking again:

"I must take my leave now, and you should talk to your elder brother, Dean. Tell him I explained everything but it is imperative Y/N knows nothing that was discussed here, other than that he will get more downtime to stay with you and Penny".

Albus smiled as he walked to the floo network but stated one last thing:

"Nerves shouldn't get the best of you Dean. I think we are both aware that the answer will be be yes. Goodbye"

Albus smirked before disappearing into the floo in a blaze of green flames.

"What was that about?" Penny looked at Dean with a half-knowing look.

"Ugh who knows? The guy's crazier than a Red Cap on beautification potion" Dean answered quickly.

Way to throw me under the bus you old bastard, he thought to himself.

Penny decided to let it lie and address the bigger issue at hand:

"So that was a lot to take in".

"Yeah, yeah it was" Dean answered.

"I don't believe for a second our sweet little boy will become a Dark Lord. But I hate how much responsibility is going to be placed on his shoulders" Penny replied sadly.

Dean thought about the situation momentarily before answering:

"I don't want to believe it but...."

"But?" Penny answered in a shocked and angry tone.

Dean was saved from Penny's glare as Smoky re-entered the room, jumping up on the couch and sitting on Dean's lap. He stroked her before looking back up at Penny's glare:

"But just hear me out babe" Dean answered quickly. He knew he had to pick his words carefully. He knew his girlfriend. He knew how she felt about his younger brother. She looked at her Cutie Pie much more like a son than a brother-in-law.

"I don't believe he would either babe, by choice. But I mean look at our family. Our bitch of a mother is a Black, look at what she did to him for all those years. What if everything he's been through is too muc- ah fuck!"

Dean finished with a yell, shaking his hand as Smoky bolted out of the room.

"Fucking thing bit me!" Dean snapped as he shook his hand. Penny took it gently and kissed his finger before continuing:

"Then we show him another way. A kinder way. We talk to Jacob. Offer to take some of the load. I can mentor him in potions and healing, you can assist with training him in curses and curse breaking. We can give Y/N a home while he is here. A real loving home and show Y/N what love and family really means".

Penny had a look of determination on her face, causing Dean to smile happily.

"You know for a Hufflepuff you would make a damn fine Gryffindor" Dean chuckled.

"Shut up and kiss me" Penny giggled as Dean leant forward with a smile and did so. He added:

"I need to rest for a bit, sending that message really took it out of me, but then I'll go talk to Jacob. Explain everything. Hopefully he doesn't push Y/N too hard in the mean time".

"That's a great idea sweetheart. Just rest for now" Penny smiled. She was so excited, so happy to have her Cutie Pie staying with them more. She started to mentally make a note of all the potions she could teach to him before he had to leave for Hogwarts.