SuperPotterLock - The Order of the Phoenix

Career's Advice

The excitement from Ravenclaw's win against Slytherin was quickly extinguished by the flurry of panic coming from the fifth and seventh years, as they realised their exams were rapidly approaching, especially now that the DA couldn't meet.

Cas and Dean met in the library instead, but Dean was finding it more and more difficult now that he wasn't allowed to wear his glasses. They had to fall back on Cas's original plan, where he charmed as many of Dean's materials as he could.

It all felt futile to Dean, since he wouldn't be able to charm his exam papers, but he didn't bring it up. Helping Dean made Cas happy, and that was good enough for him.

Cas, however, wasn't fooled, and on the first day of the Easter holidays, he arrived at the library beaming at Dean.

'What?' Dean said.

'I did some digging, and I found out that Umbridge will only be allowed in the Defence Against the Dark Arts exams,' he told Dean excitedly. 'And I checked with the other teachers - you can wear your glasses for all the other exams. Don't give up yet, you're doing great.'

Dean felt lighter after that, and he worked with a renewed vigour.

Cas, too, had mastered his fear of potion making. All he had to do now was replicate it in the exam.

Their enthusiasm was halted the next morning, however, when a letter dropped in front of Cas at the breakfast table, and everyone froze to stare at it.

'Do you want me to open it for you?' Hermione said kindly, when they were certain it wouldn't explode.

Cas shook his head. All the blood had drained from his face and he stared queasily at the envelope. Eventually, he picked it up in shaking fingers, barely able to open it at all, and read the letter. When he got to the end, several goblets and plates went flying, and he stumbled away from the table, hand over his mouth.

Dean scrambled after him, catching him as he stopped for breath just outside the front doors.

'Hey, what happened? What did the letter say?'

Cas shook his head, doubled over. 'I can't,' he gasped.

'Come on, sit down and tell me,' Dean said firmly, guiding Cas to the stone steps.

He had already crushed the letter in his fist. It took him a moment to force out the words.

'It's my father,' he whispered. 'He wants to see me for Easter dinner.'

Dean inhaled sharply. 'Absolutely not,' he said immediately. 'No way.'

'Dean-'

'Don't tell me you're actually considering this? After last time?'

Cas shook his head again. 'I have to,' he said, his voice tight. 'If I don't he'll come for me...'

'No, Cas!' said Dean. 'I won't let you go.'

Cas clenched his fists. 'If he comes here, it'll be so much worse,' he said desperately, 'and Dumbledore isn't here to stop him anymore... I have to go.'

Dean thought quickly. 'So... you have to go?'

'Yes,' Cas sighed.

'And I can't talk you out of it?'

'No.'

'Fine. Then I'm coming too.'

Cas's head snapped up. 'What?'

'If you think I'm letting you go anywhere near him alone ever again, you've got another thing coming,' Dean said. 'You're either not going, or you're taking me with you. Those are your only options.'