Here We Go Again!

"You've got to be kidding me!" Dean is pissed. After everything, he now has to rescue his friend from Purgatory. There was no way he was going to leave Remus in Purgatory, of all places. Standing in the middle of the Great Hall, watching all of the other fallen stand, hugging family members and friends, Dean takes a deep shaky breath. He closes his eyes and thinks back to the year he spent fighting for his life, picturing Remus doing the same and it sent his nerves into overdrive. "One way or another, I'm getting him out of there."

Dean turns to Tonks who is sobbing hysterically on Hermione's shoulder, "Tonks." She slowly lifts her head, facing Dean with red, puffy eyes, tear streaks down her face, "Yes Dean?" Dean takes another deep breath, "I need you to listen to me carefully." He pauses, waiting for her confirmation that she is thoroughly paying attention. "I'm going to go get him. I need you to take care of his body. I will be bringing back his soul, so his body needs to be preserved until then." Tonks nods her head, "I can put a stasis charm on him after I heal his wounds. But it doesn't last very long, a few days at least. Plus the full moon is in three days, he may not recognize you if he has shifted."

Even though Sam and Dean were taught to hunt all things supernatural, they had learned there were more than one strain of Lycanthropy. The strain the Winchesters' have dealt with is a newer version of the ancient one that Remus was infected with. It's transmitted in the same matter, but the newer strain is very diluted. Those infected with the newer strain don't shift fully and have no memory of such event to the point of denying ever being infected. The ancient strain allows for the infected to remember and understand what is happening to them. With the added benefit of Wolfsbane, Remus can partially retain his humanity when he's shifted. Unfortunately, Remus does not have access to Wolfsbane in Purgatory, so Dean is going to have to find him either before or after the full moon.

Dean nods his head in understanding after witnessing Remus during a few shifts while staying at the bunker. "Listen, I've been to Purgatory. Spent an entire year there. I know I can get him out. He'll be back before you know it." Dean is doing his best to comfort Tonks even though deep down he knows he may not be successful. Sam put his hand on Dean's shoulder, "I know one way to get in. We would need to visit Crowley in Hell, hopefully he hasn't closed it. It's how I got into Hell when I rescued Bobby's soul." Bringing up Bobby was still a sore subject for the brothers, he was like the father they never had but always needed. Both of them snorted thinking about how Bobby would react to what has happened over the past few months. He would probably try to have them committed, at least until Bobby was formally introduced to everyone the brothers have surrounded themselves with.

The Bunker

After making sure everyone was alright, the brothers called Cas to head back to the bunker. Once arriving there, they explained what happened after he left and what Dean is planning to do. "Dean, you can't go alone. I'm coming with you." Sam tries to argue. "And so are we." Sam and Dean were too busy arguing with each other to notice the twelve witches and wizards apparate into the bunker. There standing in the middle of the foyer was Harry, Hermione, Draco, Blaise, Theo, Seamus, Dean T., a newly resurrected Fred, his twin George, Claire, Ginny, and a very apologetic looking Ron. Harry and Draco standing tall, next to each other like the leaders they were meant to be, the rest of the group standing behind them waiting to hear the plan to rescue their beloved professor and friend.

"LIKE HELL YOU ARE!" Dean yells in his 'dad voice'. "Do you even know where I'm going? How dangerous it is?!" The teenagers shuffle their feet in anticipation. Dean takes a step closer to the lot, "Let me make this very clear. When it comes to the afterlife there are four different planes a soul could end up. There's Heaven, very bright, shiny, sterile, everyone gets their own piece of peace and quiet." Dean looks Fred directly in the eyes, who shifts his expression from confusion to comprehension then looks to his brother, then back to Dean. Dean continues to walk towards the group, "The Empty. Its name says it all. There is absolutely nothing there. Which is probably where  HE  was sent since he's not fully human and has died more than once. In its own way that's a blessing because he will never be able to get out of there. Then there's Hell. Crowley's domain. Hell is where every sick, sadistic, and crazed soul is sent. Most of the Death Eaters are probably rotting there as we speak, as well as demons and Lucifer himself."

Dean takes a moment to let that soak in. Looking over this group of misfits, who five months ago would never have got along, seeing their faces turn white with shock. "Purgatory on the other hand, is somewhere I wouldn't wish to send my worst enemies. There are creatures in Purgatory older than time itself. Some of these creatures actually roamed the planet a few years ago after escaping. They were trying to turn us humans into livestock because their diet consisted of eating human flesh. Taking out the head honcho is how I ended up in Purgatory. I spent a year fighting for my life day in day out. I even teamed up with a vampire who became a good friend of mine until he returned to Purgatory. The moment Remus woke up there, he probably has not stopped fighting. I don't even know if his magic works in Purgatory. Which is another reason you are not coming with me. I understand how much he means to you, but I can't risk your lives as well. Especially after fighting for so long already."

Harry and Draco look to each other then back at their friends before Harry speaks up, "We just don't want to feel like we let him down by not coming after him." That struck a particular chord with Sam since he let Dean down while he was in Purgatory. "Look Harry, I get it. I do. But Dean is the one with the most experience dealing with that place. He fought his way back. He will find Remus and bring him back. If it makes you feel better, Dean is not even letting me go with him. I will be going as far as the back door in Hell then Dean will be on his own. We could all wait for him to return. The exit is in Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness. Dean will need to be brought to Remus' body and he's probably going to be too exhausted to get there without help." The teens thought this over, realizing they lost the fight agreed to meet Sam in Maine. Draco, however, will be going with Sam to Hell. Draco made it clear he needed to check on his mother, he was not going to back down.

The group went to separate parts of the bunker to prepare for what lies ahead. The twins took this opportunity to re-introduce themselves to the Winchesters without the battle looming over the heads. "Name's Fred. The ugly one is George." The twins shake the brothers hands again. "I wanted to say thank you for, well, everything." Fred steps next to his twin. "I can't speak for the rest of our family, but I'm forever grateful to have my brother back. For a brief moment I felt like I lost half of me." George is trying not to get too emotional then Fred breaks the tension, "The better half." The four of them laugh a little before Fred asks the question that has been on the twins' mind since he came back, "So, Death will be joining us for Sunday dinner? Actual Death?" Dean nods his head, "Yeah, Death is a bit of a foodie. You can't tell by looking at the guy, but he loves food. And I know Molly is a great cook, so it works out in the end."

It didn't take long for everyone to get ready. The plan was simple, there was no plan. The Winchesters have learned when they plan, it never goes as planned. They all will be 'winging it' as they say. Sam, Dean and Draco will enter Hell and find the back door to Purgatory. Then Sam and Draco will speak with Narcissa and Crowley making sure Draco's mother is comfortable and safe. Finally Sam and Draco would meet up with the rest of their group in Maine. Seems simple enough. Good thing they didn't plan anything, it would have gone wrong right from the start.

Hell

Entering Hell was easier than they thought, the guards at the hidden entrance to Hell knew the Winchesters and that Draco 'belonged' to Crowley. The guards did not want to piss off the King of Hell by denying those three from entering Hell. Draco turned up his nose at the shabby, decaying building they entered. Dean explained it is just a front for the entrance to Hell. Nobody would suspect the door to Hell to be inside a place like this. Draco wholeheartedly agreed.

Finding the back door to Purgatory was a little tricky. The halls of this particular floor in Hell looked exactly alike. Sam almost got lost several times but eventually found the right one when Sam passed his hand through a false wall. "This is it. Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Sam asks his brother, not wanting Dean to possibly get stuck there for too long without back-up. Dean pats his brother on the back, "I'll be fine Sammy. Just make sure to be ready for me in Maine." Sam nods his head, his hair falling in his face.

Dean turns to Draco, "You make sure Sam doesn't get into any trouble while I'm gone. And make sure your mom is alright." Draco looks at Dean like the father figure he has become, "Yes sir." Draco states quietly putting his head down. Dean puts his hand on Draco's shoulder to get him to look up, "Hey, listen. I may have not known you before all this, but I'm damn proud of who you have become." Dean pulls Draco into a hug, something Draco has grown used to being around the Winchesters. Draco never thought he would feel so glad to have turned his back on his old life. Dean lets go of Draco and heads through the wall as quickly as possible before he loses the motivation to go alone. Entering Purgatory once again, Dean takes a moment to gain his bearings and heads further in, searching every which way for his friend.

On the other side of the wall in Hell Sam and Draco march with a purpose towards the throne room on the main floor. Pushing the double doors open they stop at the sight of Narcissa laughing while sitting in her own exquisite throne next to Crowley's throne. "Darling, is everything all right?" Narcissa asks her son. "Dean just entered Purgatory to rescue Remus. Sam and I were already here, so I thought we could make sure you're comfortable before heading to Maine. We don't know how long it's going to take for Dean to find Remus." Draco answers his mother, looking her over and realizing she is very happy and safe with Crowley.

Narcissa gets out of her seat and approaches her son, "Oh my little dragon, please be careful. I don't know what I would do if I lost you." She places a hand on Draco's cheek, he leans into the touch. "I'll be careful mum. Sam is with me and everyone else is waiting for us in Maine. As soon as Dean has Remus we will return home." After reassuring his mother Draco hugs her and shakes Crowley's hand. "We better get going. Maine is quite a bit a ways. It's good to see you again Narcissa." Sam hugs her after Draco let go, then shakes Crowley's hand as well. "Always a pleasure Moose." Crowley turns to return to his seat, "When you're ready Draco, you know where to find us." Draco slightly bows his head, "Yes sir."

"Oh, one more thing. Mother sends her regards. She is beyond ecstatic to have a grandson." Crowley sees Draco crack a half smile then looks to Sam, "She would be here but she is currently tracking down her worst enemy and failed lover." Sam immediately gets the hint and his eyes grow wide with fear and anxiety. Crowley cuts Sam off before he can speak, "We have it handled. He is incredibly weak since Voldemort is dead. Seems Lucifer was quietly feeding off him. So quietly in fact, that by the time mother found the link between the two, Voldemort was already dead. His death weakened Lucifer beyond repair. When she finds him, she will be able to handle him on her own."

Sam finally speaks his mind, "Why didn't you tell us? We could have been hunting him down." Crowley stops him once again, "Like I said, mother has it handled. Cas and I were hunting him with mother's help. She may or may not have found the spells needed to deal with him in the Book of the Damned. She's quite resourceful." Draco states quietly, "Slytherin." "Oh most definitely." Everyone but Sam chuckles. "Are you sure she's going to be alright on her own?" Sam is concerned if Rowena is capable of capturing Lucifer by herself. "Well, she's not completely alone. Cas is with her. He has been going back and forth between you lot and dealing with Lucifer, as was I. Don't worry that pretty little head of hair Sam. Mother knows what she's doing." Sam exhales through his nose, "I hope you're right. But if not, Dean and I will be ready." And with that final statement, they all said their goodbyes, Sam and Draco made their way to Maine.

A/N: This chapter is mostly a filler. Lucifer will be dealt with quietly. Purgatory is next.