The Witch and The Hunters

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

Page count: 13

"So, what do you want to do today?" Hermione asked as the kids devoured breakfast around the kitchen table. Lily sat on Dean's lap, happily splashing both hands into the puddle of milk she'd just made.

Hermione snorted softly before flicking her wand and vanishing the mess. Lily scowled at the empty table like Hermione had personally offended her.

"The park!" James and Albus shouted in unison, bouncing in their seats.

Hermione chuckled. "I thought you'd say that. Alright, let's get you three cleaned up, and then we'll head out."

"Can we go in Uncle Dean's car?" James asked immediately, eyes wide with hope.

"You'll have to ask him," Hermione said, far too smug.

James whipped toward Dean, practically vibrating. "Can we, Uncle Dean? Please? Pleeease?"

Dean couldn't help the grin tugging at his mouth. The kid was a perfect mini-Harry—same wild hair, same big green eyes—while Albus had Ginny's brown eyes but the same Potter mess on top of his head. Dean was screwed either way.

"Yeah, sure," Dean said casually.

Both boys erupted into cheers, launching themselves off their chairs and sprinting out of the kitchen like they'd just been told they won the lottery.

Sam stared after them, then at Dean. "You're going to willingly let three children in Baby?" he asked, pure disbelief dripping from every word.

Dean shrugged, dead serious. "You gotta admit... they're cute."

Sam blinked at him, horrified. Like genuinely horrified.

For a second, he looked like he was debating whether to stab Dean with a silver knife and douse him in holy water and hope for the best.

"Car seats?" Dean asked, turning to Hermione with zero shame.

"I'll transfigure some," she said simply. "We can fit them in the car easily with the expansion charm I put on the back seat."

Dean nodded.

Sam continued staring at him like someone had replaced his brother with a shapeshifter that enjoyed playgrounds and small children.

Dean just smirked.

If he was going soft, he didn't particularly care.

~000~000~000~

"James, be careful. If I have to tell you one more time, you'll be coming away and sitting on my knee!" Hermione warned the now-six-year-old as he launched himself off the top of the toddler slide like a miniature stuntman.

Sure, it wasn't more than a glorified garden slide, but he could still break something. She was at least grateful he was using the bigger one properly.

"Okay!" he yelled back over the chaos of laughing, shrieking children filling the park.

The weather was warm for once, so Hermione wasn't freezing her arse off while she sat perched on a park bench, tracking both boys with the precision of a sniper. Sam sat on her left, Dean on her right, with Lily perched contentedly on Dean's lap. She was far too busy playing with Dean's fingers to even consider abandoning him for the sandbox—even after Hermione offered to take her. Lily had responded with a firm, unimpressed, "No," which the brothers found hilarious.

Hermione was both proud and heartbroken that Lily's speech was improving so quickly. Proud for obvious reasons; heartbroken because it meant she was growing up far too fast.