The rest of the day's classes had been uneventful, apart from the stares and whispers Y/N got after his Dementor lecture. Word indeed traveled fast at Hogwarts. Y/N and Hermione were finding Tuesday afternoons difficult. From 1:00-2:00 after lunch they had Divination and Ancient Runes and then from 2:00-3:00 they had Magical Creatures and Arithmancy.

Following all their classes the couple had sat in the library with Lavender and Harry when suddenly a bright ball of light came bursting into the library.

"Y/N, go to Albus and Floo to the Leaky Cauldron immediately. I need your help."

A voice spoke from the Patroni ball before the light disappeared. It was Sam, he sounded worried.

"Shit. Alright babe, I'll be back in a few minutes. Through those doors ok!" Y/N said before he kissed an anxious looking Hermione and walked out the library doors. As soon as he was alone he apparated.

—~—

Y/N arrived at the Leaky Cauldron and Sam was stood anxiously at the bar.

"Sam wha-"

Before Y/N could continue his shoulder had been gripped and he felt himself apparate.

Y/N looked around as they arrived in a car yard, there were hundreds of wrecks stacked up around a two story house in the middle of the yard. He knew exactly where they were.

"Are we going on a hunt, Sam?" Y/N asked as he walked towards the house, Sam rushing to keep up, surprised at Y/N's assertiveness.

"Uh, we're not sure, could have a problem. Transfigure out of your robes, this is-"

"I know where we are Sam" Y/N said with a smile as he quickly transfigured his robes into jeans and a shirt and the pair entered the house.

Bobby was stood in his hallway on a phone call and looked up as his kitchen door opened. A smile crossed his face.

He hung up the phone and walked into the kitchen, the smile growing wider as he took in all of Y/N.

"Hey boy" he said with a smile, leaning forward and embracing the taller man-child in front of him. Y/N was surprised but chuckled and hugged back.

As the two parted Bobby warmly patted Y/N's cheek:

Saying with a smile:

"You got big, son."

"Hey Bobby, it's been a while. It's good to see you." Y/N said happily.

"You too. Thanks for coming along, Sam and I both figured we could use your raw power on this one." Bobby replied.

Y/N was surprised at such an admission, looking between the two experienced Hunters and asking:

"What have we got?"

"I've got a Hunter friend one county over. Olivia Lowry. I've been trying to reach her for three days on this... thing. It's not like her to ignore this many calls" Bobby replied in a slightly panicked tone.

"I'll help where I can" Y/N nodded, still unsure why he was pulled out of school for this but figured it was something to do with Ghoul Studies.

"You ride with Sam in his car, I'll take mine" Bobby answered.

"Wait, we're driving?" Y/N asked puzzled. "Wouldn't apparition be quicker?"

"There's too many wards between here and there" Sam answered quickly. "They've been put up for security with all the dark creatures that have been coming in the country, and most hunters except Bobby aren't connected to Floo. Too paranoid."

Y/N nodded in understanding and followed Sam to his 1967 Impala. Sam smiled proudly and stared:

"Get in shotgun, Y/N. This here is my baby"

—~—

As Sam and Y/N were driving through the English countryside following Bobby, Sam said with a heavy sigh:

"Look I'm sorry to drag you out here, kid. But given what you were able to do to that den, you're probably already more powerful than most hunters I know. I'll give you credit for today towards your NEWT somewhere."

Y/N smiled as he looked out the window and replied:

"Don't worry about it Sam. One, we're friends, I protect my friends. Two, I'm a L/N. We're hunters. This is the family business."

Y/N was too busy looking at the Dorset countryside rolling by to notice Sam smiling next to him.

—~—

It was little over an hour of driving when the two cars arrived at Olivia's house to find the front door unlocked. The three wizards entered, wands drawn. They were met by a horrifying sight.

Olivia's corpse was laying on the floor, ribcage ripped open, blood everywhere. It looked like she had been ripped apart from the inside. Bobby suddenly took off out the door.

"Bobby?" Y/N asked as Sam walked towards an open cupboard. Y/N turned back and looked at a white substance spread along the doorway of the room.

"Sam we've got a salt line." Y/N said as he leant down and observed the large white crystalline substance.

Sam nodded and bent over, picking up a small electrical object and showing it to Y/N.

"Have you seen this before, Y/N? With Jacob?"

Y/N shook his head and Sam nodded, replying:

"This is an Electromagnetic reader, or an EMF. It's used to locate non ghostly spirit activity."

"So not like the ghosts at Hogwarts?" Y/N asked confused.

"No. Ghosts are the souls of people who are afraid to cross after death. They can't really interfere with the living much past annoying them. But salt and EMF, that suggests another type of spirit. A wraith or a revenant. They are something else entirely" Sam said as he stood and turned to his protege.

"Alright, Y/N, quick lesson time. Spirits can be banished temporarily with salt or iron. Hold out your wand."

Y/N did so, instantly unsheathing his wand

"Repeat after me, Halite inspiratione"

Halite inspiratione Y/N repeated, a haze of salt shooting out from the tip of Y/N's wand.

"Wow" Y/N uttered in surprise at the fast paced white spray.

"First try, great job. You were the right wingman after all" Sam smiled proudly.

"Now try Ferrum testa"

Ferrum testa

Y/N repeated, a shower of microscopic iron shards flying out of Y/N's wand this time.

"Great job" Sam praised with a proud smile. "Those spells will buy you time before the spirit can rematerialise. The only way to kill a spirit is to find it's body and salt and burn the corpse."

Y/N gave Sam a look, he hadn't ever encountered spirits in his training with Jacob. He replied simply:

"That sounds incredibly time consuming."

Sam nodded in agreement as Bobby rushed back into the house.

"Bobby, you alright?" Y/N asked as the grizzled hunter entered looking extremely frazzled, answering:

"I called some hunters nearby on the two way."

"Good we can use the help" Sam answered.

"Except they aren't answering their calls either"

"Something's up huh?" Sam asked.

Bobby looked at him like he was an idiot, muttering: "Ya think?"

It was understandable. Who knew how many of his friends were dead?

—~—

Sam and Y/N exited a remote Wiltshire house, having driven up from Olivia's Somerset home. They entered the Impala and as Sam started driving, Y/N picked up the two way.

"Bobby come in. Bobby come in, over."

"Yeah boy, Bobby here"

"We just left Jed's. It's not pretty. He looks even worse than Olivia. What about you?"

"I checked on Carl Bates and R.C. Adams. They've redecorated, in red."

Y/N shot a look towards Sam before speaking again:

"What the hell is going on here Bobby? Why do a bunch of spirits suddenly want to gank off-duty hunters?"

"I don't know but until we find out you guys better get your arses to my place."

"We're on our way, over and out" Y/N replied as he hung up the receiver.

"Sorry to pull you into this, kid" Sam said solemnly.

"I told you we're friends Sam. I just hope I can be of some help."

Sam smiled as they continued driving.

—~—

About halfway to Bobby's the pair pulled into a petrol station as the Impala was on fumes. Sam went to the bathroom while Y/N filled up the car.

Sam had finished and was washing his hands when he suddenly felt the air growing cold, the mirror froze up and his breath was visible in front of his face. He turned around and saw someone in front of him he didn't expect.

Viktor Henrikson. He was a muggle police officer Sam was working with trying to take down a werewolf that had been attacking people in Essex. He died fighting the creature. Viktor smiled at Sam:

"Hi Sam, it's been a while."

Sam stared at the police officer shocked:

"Henrikson, are you?... did you?"

He flashed in front of Sam before replying:

"I'm dead Sam. Werewolf got me. Ripped me to pieces. Thought you would remember that."

Sam looked at Viktor guiltily and replied:

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are" Victor replied, slightly aggrieved.

"If I'd known that werewolf was coming"

"You wouldn't have left half a dozen innocent people in that police station to die in your place?"

Henrikson suddenly grew a look of anger and shoved his spiritual hand into Sam's chest. Sam noticed on the way in a strange mark on his hand before feeling his heart start to be crushed. He gasped for air as Henrikson sneered before a wand appeared next to the spirit's head.

Ferrum testa

Iron shards flew from Y/N's wand, turning the wraith to vapour while Sam gasped for air, able to breathe again. Y/N held out a hand and helped him up.

"You ok Sam?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah... thanks kid... you saved my life" Sam exclaimed between deep breaths.

"Don't mention it, let's hurry back to Bobby's" Y/N replied.

They rushed to the car and Sam started driving like a mad man. It was dark when they arrived at the junkyard.

Everything was quiet, forebodingly quiet. Sam and Y/N entered Bobby's house cautiously, wands drawn.

As they passed the kitchen and library they noticed Bobby's wand at the foot of the stairs.

Y/N leant down to look at it before speaking to Sam through legilimency:

I'll check upstairs, you check outside.

Sam nodded and headed out to the caryard as Y/N walked up the stairs.

—~—

Sam walked outside looking through the stacked up cars, his wand forward as he moved apprehensively, having the distinct feeling he was walking into a trap.

"Bobby? Bobby?" He called out in concern. Little did he know Bobby could hear him, but not answer. Two little girls, about five, were holding him down, a spiritual hand covering his mouth.

—~—

Y/N slowly walked up the staircase in Bobby's house to a hallway. The four doors to his left and right slammed shut as the single door at the end of the hall opened slowly with a creak.

"That's not menacing at all." Y/N chuckled, before continuing:

"Come out come out where ever you are" Y/N chuckled to himself- he'd said the same thing to the vamps. He slowly walked down the hall wand drawn, before he felt a presence behind him. He turned around to see a blonde woman, about 20, standing in front of him.

"Y/N L/N. Still so bossy. What wrong, you don't recognise me?" The woman asked.

"Wait... aren't you from the den?" Y/N asked confused. She was one of the muggle girls taken by the vampires. One of the ones he had to kill. The woman smiled and nodded:

"This is what I looked like, before the vamps cut off my hair and dressed me like a slut."

"But why are you here?" Y/N asked, still immensely confused.

The woman's smile turned into a menacing gaze. Y/N raised his wand at her as she stepped forward with her hands raised.

"It's ok. I'm not a vampire".

"You're the girl the vamps took"

"Megan Masters. Nice to finally talk to you when I'm not, you know. Choking on my own blood."

She stepped forward again as Y/N stood back and gripped his wand tighter. She lowered her hands.

"It's ok. Seriously, I'm just a University girl. Sorry... was. I was walking home one night got jumped by all these guys. Next thing you know I'm a prisoner. A sex slave. A blood slave. I was awake and conscious when they did all those things to me. When they finally turned me."

"I'm sorry" Y/N could barely squeak out in horror. Meg turned even angrier:

"Oh yeah. So sorry you had to cut my head off?"

Y/N was shocked, on the back foot, as he stumbled out:

"Well I thought-"

"NO YOU DIDN'T THINK!" Meg roared. "You just came in hacking and slashing. I never fed Y/N. When you turn it's like a parasite takes over. I was fighting it. I was inside my own head begging with you, pleading with you, just help me, please! You're supposed to help people Y/N. Aren't you Prophesied One? Supposed to save everyone? Why didn't you save me?" Meg pleaded.

"I'm sorry" Y/N said again.

"Stop saying you're SORRY" Meg roared. She punched Y/N with unnatural strength, sending him flying into the wall and losing his wand in the process. She quickly kicked it away from him and then kicked him hard in the ribs. Y/N felt a crack. He tried to plead reason as a second kick cannoned into his rib cage, muttering:

"I didn't know."

"No. You just attacked. Did you ever think there was a girl in here? No you just charged in hacking and slashing."

Meg leant down and got in Y/N's face, only centimetres away from him as her voice calmed again:

"You think you're some kind of a hero?"

Y/N looked up at Meg, directly into her eyes before answering:

"No, I don't"

Meg pulled him up by his shirt, snapping:
"You're bloody right there."

Y/N noticed at a strange sigil on Meg's hand as it raised. He was certain it hadn't been there at the den.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be ridden for months by pure evil. While your family has no idea what happened to you?"

He did. Years of it. But he didn't tell her that. He simply looked at Meg, answering defiantly:

"I did the best I could."

Meg roared in fury, throwing Y/N down in a rage and kicking his ribs with supernatural force over and over and over again.

—~—

Bobby was laying in the car, looking up at the two girls as they covered his mouth.'he was unable to move.

"Are you scared Bobby?"

"We were scared Bobby"

"When the monster came for us"

"And grabbed us tight"

"And we couldn't even scream"

"You were right there Bobby"

"You were in the house"

"You were so close"

Bobby's eyes darted between the two as they spoke. Sam kept looking around the car yard until he looked up and notice a car door mirror was frozen. He yelled loudly

"Bobby. I'm coming Bobby!"

The two girls continued:

"You could have saved us Bobby"

"You walked right passed the door"

"The monster had us"

"And you didn't find us"

"And now they won't find you"

Sam blew the boot open and shot salt at the spirits, shattering them away.

—~—

"It wasn't  just me Y/N" Meg taunted as Y/N crawled along the ground with numerous broken ribs, desperately trying to reach his wand. He accio'd it but Meg intercepted and held it tight.

"I had a sister. A little sister. She worshipped me. You know how siblings are right? How they'll do anything for you. She was never the same after I disappeared. She just..." Meg teared up... "she just got lost. And after my body was lying in the morgue, after it turned up decapitated after the Ministry dumped it... Do you know what that did to her?"

"Meg" Y/N pleaded.

"She killed herself last week!" Meg stomped on Y/N's back in rage as he yelled in pain.

"Because of you and your blood lust, Y/N. One little potion and I'd still be alive. My baby sister would still be alive."

Y/N looked up at her as she raged again.

"THAT BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS Y/N!"

"You're right" Y/N answered in a pained groan. Meg kicked him again in rage.

Y/N crawled before turning on his back and unsheathing his hidden secret wand.

"Come on Y/N. Did your brain get French fried by the Basilisk venom? Magic doesn't work on spirits." Meg looked down at him sneering.

Halite inspiratione Y/N cast quickly causing Meg to instantly disappear.

"That worked" Y/N said as painfully pulled himself to his feet in pain and picked up his normal wand, holding his ribs as he made it downstairs.

—~—

The three hunters were gathered in the library.

"So they're all people we know?" Sam asked pacing.

"Not just know. People we couldn't save." Bobby said sadly.

"Hey, I saw something on Meg. It was like a mark on her hand, like a brand" Y/N said.

"I saw it on Henrikson too" Sam replied.

"What did it look like?" Bobby asked.

Sam drew it and showed Y/N who nodded and answered:

"Yeah that's it"

Sam handed it to Bobby.

"I may have seen this before" Bobby said as he grabbed a dozen aged books and saying:

"We gotta move. Follow me"

"Ok. Where are we going?" Sam asked.

"Someplace safe you idgit." Bobby snapped back causing Y/N to chuckle.

They descended the stairs to the basement before Bobby opened a cast iron door and Sam and Y/N entered. It looked like a bomb shelter. Y/N looked around stunned as the door clanged shut.

Sam touched the wall before turning around.

"Bobby is this....?"

He was cut off by a smiling Bobby:

"Solid iron, completely coated in salt. One hundred percent spirit-proof."

Sam looked stunned. Y/N chuckled.

"You built a panic room?" Sam asked.

Bobby shrugged his shoulders and answered:

"I had a weekend off."

Y/N looked at the grizzled hunter and chuckled: "Bobby, you're awesome!"

Bobby couldn't help but smile.

—~—

Bobby read for the next half an hour while Sam healed what he could of Y/N's shattered ribcage.

"I've done what I can, Y/N. When you get back to school Pomfrey will need to look at that" Sam said regretfully.

"Let's just get out of here first" Y/N chuckled.

"Found it" Bobby yelled out.

"That symbol you two saw, the brand on the spirits, it's the Mark of the Witness."

"Witness? Witness to what?" Sam asked.

"Muggle witnesses to magic before their deaths. None of em died what you'd call ordinary deaths. See, these spirits, they were forced to rise. They woke up in agony. They're like rabid dogs, it ain't their fault. Someone rose them... on purpose." Bobby answered sombrely.

"Who?" Y/N asked.

"Do I look like I know?" Bobby chuckled back. "But whoever it was used a spell so powerful it left a mark, a brand on their souls. Whoever did this had big plans. It's called the Rising of the Witnesses. It figures into an ancient prophecy."

This peaked Y/N's attention.

"Wait, wait what? What book is that prophecy from?" he asked concerned given he was the Prophesied One.

"Well the widely distributed version's for tourists but long story short The Predictions of Tycho Dodonus. This is a sign, boys."

Sam and Y/N looked at each other before asking in unison:

"A sign of what?"

Bobby sat back in his chair before looking up at the pair and answered worriedly:

"The apocalypse"

The pair were stunned.

"The apocalypse. You mean like, End of the world, apocalypse?" Y/N asked.

"That's the one. The rise of the witnesses is a mile marker, according to Tycho. It means we are on the path to it. But let's just worry about surviving our friends out there first."

"Any ideas? Apart from staying in this room until judgement day?" Y/N chuckled.

"Yeah. It's a spell to send the witnesses back to rest. I think I got everything we need in the house" Bobby answered.

"Any chance you got everything we need here in this room?" Sam asked hopefully.

Bobby smiled at his 'boy' before answering: "You thought our luck was gonna start now all of a sudden? Spells gotta be cast over an open flame."

"Floo place upstairs" Sam chuckled in realisation.

"Bingo" Bobby answered.

Y/N meanwhile rubbed his temples as he replied:

"That's just not as appealing as a spirit-proof panic room, you know?"

The three gathered what they needed. They stepped towards the door with wands drawn.

"Cafeful. Don't stop casting until I'm done or they'll shred you. Ready?" Bobby asked as he opened the door. The pair nodded to him and walked out to see Henrikson on the stairs.

"Henrikson I..." Sam started before Y/N cast iron at the spirit, evaporating him.

"If you're gonna cast, cast don't talk" Y/N said commandingly to his teacher.

Sam nodded and Bobby chuckled: "Telling your teacher what to do. Who do you think you are, your old man?"

—~—

The trio made it to the library and made a circle of salt around the Floo place as Bobby lit it normally with incendio. He turned to Sam:

"Upstairs, linen closet, red bed box. It'll be heavy."

"Got it" Sam answered running upstairs.

Bobby turned to Y/N. "Kitchen, cutlery drawer. It's got a false bottom. Hemlock, opium, wormwood."

Y/N stopped and asked: "Opium?"

"Go!" Bobby roared.

Y/N nodded entering the kitchen as the doors slammed behind him. He turned to see a tall bald man in front of him.

"Why does a killer like you get to live while I was torn to shreds by a werewolf?"

Y/N lifted his wand which was smacked out of his hand as Henrikson grabbed a hold of his heart.

Y/N felt a crushing pain in his chest, his body turning to fire as he was completely unable to breathe.

In desperation Y/N lifted his left arm and unsheathed his angel blade, straight into the the spirit's temple. Viktor's eyes and mouth lit up just like the Dementors as he exploded in a bright light.

"Thanks Cass." Y/N muttered getting what was needed from the draw. Sam returned at the same time. Bobby quickly cast the incantation and threw the ingredients into the flame, the spirits in the room attempting to get past the salt line evaporating in a bright light.

The three fell into chairs exhausted.

—~—

After five minutes Bobby went to the kitchen and returned with three beers. He handed one to Y/N, saying:

"Custom after every successful hunt."

Y/N smiled, opened it and chugged.

"I shouldn't be giving alcohol to my 14 year old students, Bobby" Sam chastised opening his own beer and drinking.

"You didn't. I did. And this kid earned it. You proved yourself a Hunter today, Y/N. I'm proud of you. You're Daddy would be so proud of you looking down" Bobby smiled.

Y/N smiled widely, attempting to hide his unbridled joy at the praise he had received by trying to hide it behind a drink of beer and answered quietly:

"Thanks Bobby. Glad I could help."

—~—

Y/N drank a couple of beers with the Hunters before standing and looking at his watch. 

"I better get back to Hogwarts, it's 3:45am. I'm going to have a, more than likely, extremely pissed off girlfriend to explain this to."

Bobby and Sam chuckled.

"See you Sunday Y/N, and thanks you did good. Real good. Thanks for saving my arse." Sam smiled at his student. Y/N smiled back before apparating.

"You were right Sam. He's still a good kid. Bigger, more confident and more powerful than the last time I saw him, but still a good kid under it all" Bobby chuckled, opening another beer.

—~—

Y/N apparated into Dumbledore's office, surprised the headmaster was sat at his desk.

"Ah Y/N, I've been waiting for you. For... twelve hours since you abruptly left school grounds, and by apparition as well. You are full of surprises. Ms Granger has been distraught. Turn it twelve times and then I'll go get her and Lavender and Harry from the library and meet you at the hospital wing."

Y/N was too tired to question how Dumbledore knew. He just nodded, turned the time turner and went back twelve hours. It was now 3:45 pm.

"How far back did you come Y/N?" Dumbledore asked with a smile at his desk.

"Twelve hours" an extremely tired and sore Y/N answered, holding his ribs.

"You said to-"

"Go to the hospital wing while I fetch Hermione, Lavender and Harry. Pip-pip".

Y/N nodded and walked down holding his ribs, ignoring the shocked looks of other students. He arrived to be chastised by Madam Pomfrey for being admitted yet again to the hospital wing. He explained he may have broken ribs but neglected to say how he got them.

The doors flew open and Hermione rushed over and grabbed Y/N in a bone crunching hug, causing him to groan in pain.

"I'm sorry baby I'm so sorry." Hermione said shocked.

"It's ok love" Y/N said with a tired smile.

Poppy pointed her wand at Y/N doing an X-ray spell before she stopped stunned.

"Headmaster, please come here"

Dumbledore looked at Y/N's chest through the spell intrigued, as did his friends and girlfriend. Besides a number of broken ribs there were many markings.

"What the hell is this? I've never seen anything like...." Pomfrey was almost speechless.

"Enochian sigils, Madam Pomfrey. To block all wards and enchantments from affecting me" Y/N chuckled.

"But how are they carved on your ribs?" The shocked medical nurse asked.

"That's a secret I'm afraid ma'am. Can you heal me up, I've got a lot of work to do in the library."

After being healed and transfiguring back into his robes he looked at the headmaster:

"Sam and Bobby will explain everything sir." Dumbledore simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Y/N and his group headed back to the library until dinner. They ate, before returning to the library. Y/N promising to explain everything to Hermione when they were alone in their special place tonight. They invited Ron to the library but he wasn't interested.

The four students were sat at a desk when Y/N spoke to Hermione: "Hey babe, look at this for a minute."

He got no answer. Y/N looked up puzzled to see everyone in the library frozen, everyone that is except the one looking at him from across the room.

Castiel

The angel looked at Y/N and said simply: "We need to talk"

Y/N walked over to him and the angel said instantly:

"Excellent job with the witnesses."

Y/N looked at him puzzled, asking : "Wait you were hip to all this?"

"I was, uh, made aware" Castiel answered.

"Well thanks a lot for the angelic assistance." Y/N replied sternly. Castiel looked down as Y/N continued:

"You know I nearly got my heart ripped out of my chest."

"But you didn't"

"I thought angels were supposed to be guardians, you know fluffy clouds, halos.

Castiel chuckled:

"Read the Bible. Angels are warriors of God. I'm a soldier."

"They why didn't you fight?" Y/N snapped.

"We had larger concerns"

"Concerns? There were people being torn to shreds down here! And by the way, while all this is going on, where the hell is your boss? Huh? At what point does he lift a finger to help the poor bastards stuck down here?" Y/N roared. The angel though kept his cool, answering:

"We are here to observe, direct you. Help, but we cannot intervene. It's man who is trying to break the seals. It's man who has to stop them!"

"Seals, that's what the rising was, a seal being broken?" Y/N asked in realisation. Castiel nodded:

"Yes. Think of the seals as locks on a box. A powerful dark witch named Lilith is trying to break them all. She leads the Knights of Merlin."

"Those sons of bitches who murdered my father?" Y/N asked enraged.

"Yes. This was one, the Dark Lord returning is another. That one will be opened, it is foretold. We need to stop the others".

"And what happens if all the seals are broken?" Y/N asks with a sense of dread.

Castiel looked him straight in the eye and answered plainly:

"Lucifer walks free."

Y/N's eyes shot open: "As in the Devil? There's no such thing!"

Castiel smirked, answering only:

"Three days ago you said there was no such thing as me."

He disappeared and quiet noise returned to the library. Y/N tried to absorb what he was just told.

"Baby how did you get over there?" Hermione asked puzzled.

Y/N turned and walked towards his desk, sitting down next to Hermione, a look of shock on his face still. Harry and Lav were looking puzzled at Y/N now as well.

"Baby what's wrong?" Hermione asked him.

Y/N turned to his girlfriend and asked still shocked:

"Do you believe in the devil?"