This story makes you ponder the question What If? What if Dean and Sam still had contact when Sam was at Stanford? What if Sam did die instead of Hermione?
It makes you wonder what would have happened in these situations.
Dean now only has a year to live, Hermione does everything she can to make sure he doesn't go to hell. But since the devil's gate has been opened there is more work to do for Sam, Dean and Hermione.