The Winchester Portkey

Chapter Eleven

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They settled around the kitchen table, an unspoken feeling in the air that this would be their last dinner together.

Molly served up earthenware bowls of butternut squash soup and placed a bread board in the centre of the table. Hot, home-made, crusty bread and dark, nutty pumpernickel bread steamed next to a slab of golden butter.

"Eat up boys." She settled at the foot of the table, sending a sharp glance from the Winchesters to Arthur and back again.

Sam dipped his shiny spoon into the rich soup and paused. "I figure it's time we were thinking about heading home."

He raised his eyes almost apologetically to Molly, feeling and ignoring the heat of Dean's gaze upon his cheek.

Her response was warm. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like, isn't that right, Arthur?"

Mr Weasley nodded enthusiastically, scattering crumbs across the surface of his soup and the table top.

"Thank you." Sam's voice was earnest. He saw Dean nodding out of the corner of his eye.

"Yeah, thanks." Dean cleared his throat. "Thing is… that shapeshifter… there's more things like that out there, everywhere. And it's our job to hunt 'em, save people."

"I know, dear." Molly smiled sweetly. "Arthur will organise a portkey for you. When were you thinking of leaving?"

"In the morning, I guess?"

Arthur sighed. "There is one thing though, I'm afraid. We really shouldn't let you return with any knowledge of our world. The normal procedure in this sort of situation is for the obliviate charm to be performed on any muggles who stray into our world."

Ginny's high voice broke the sudden silence. "But how will they be able to come back and see us? If they don't remember us?"

"Ginny, dear. You know how this works. It's too dangerous, for Sam and Dean and for us. We have to perform the charm."

Dean's voice was gruff. "You get in trouble, right, if you don't?"

"Yes. I'm afraid we do." Mr Weasley nodded, regret written on his features.

"Only if someone finds out!" Ginny insisted.

"No dear. It has to be done, you know that." Molly frowned at her daughter and Ginny subsided.

"You've been good to us." Sam noted.

"Yeah, awesome."

"I guess it's the least we can do, right Dean?"

"Yeah. Yeah it is." Much as he hated the thought of anyone performing a spell on them, Dean thought that if anyone had to do it, then the Weasleys were the only ones he'd trust. "You'll do it, right?"

"Of course." Mr Weasley looked sad. "We'll travel back by portkey, then I'll perform the obliviate charm and leave you, by your car."

Dean's eyes lit up at the mention of his Baby.

"We'll keep it simple." Mrs Weasley said gently. "If we take out everything from when you first saw the portkey. Then insert a memory that it was a false lead?"

They thrashed out the fine details and pushed back their chairs, heading for bed. Dean hung back; he caught Molly's eye.

His voice was quiet, unsure. "This, obliviate… you can wipe any memories away? Make someone forget anythin'?"

There was a sorrow in her face. "Yes dear, it can remove any memories. All memories if that becomes necessary. Not that you'd ever willingly choose that for someone, even in the most extreme of circumstances."

He nodded slowly, face grim as he stared at the floor.

"Is there something particular? I could work it into the spell, if you wanted?"

The dark lashes lifted, again she was struck by the intensity of his eyes up so close. He shook his head.

"No." Barely louder than a whisper. "Wish y'could. There's a few things I'd just as soon wipe away."

She laid a hand on his arm. "If you change your mind…"

He patted her hand. "Yeah, I know." And he was gone, his boots clattering on the staircase.

She sighed. At least, when the obliviate charm was complete, he'd forget whatever horror he'd seen in the crystal ball.

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Mr Weasley waited awkwardly. The Winchesters took a last look around at the homely kitchen, not sure what to say.

Ginny made the first move, suddenly throwing her arms around Sam's waist. She gave him a tight hug. "You won't even remember us," she said in a small voice.

"Hey." Sam looked down into her face, his hazel eyes filled with warmth. "You'll always remember us though, right?"

She nodded tearfully.

"It'll keep your family safe." He stroked her bright hair in a brotherly manner. "Family is important. Y'know that, right."

"Right," said Ginny, lifting her chin bravely.

Molly held her arms out to Dean, enfolding him in a motherly hug. Less awkward this time, he leaned in, whispering into her ear. "Thank you."

She petted his face. He was still a bit peaky. "Take care of yourself, dear."

He nodded, mouth tight and turned to Ginny. "Hey there, gnome warrior."

She giggled at him. "That was fun!"

He grinned. "Yeah it was. Awesome hunt."

She gave him a hug, then pointed to the two slippers waiting expectantly by her side. One was smiling cheekily, the other had a dark rain cloud and broken hearts circling over its head.

Dean raised an eyebrow. He'd forgotten the slippers.

Behind him Sam enfolded Molly in a huge hug.

"It's… er… been nice knowin' you." Dean tried, not sure how to deal with a pair of slippers. Okay, he thought. These things have feelings..."

He faced the smiling slipper first. "You look after your sister, okay?" A grin, a roll of the eyes and a flick of a bunny ear and the slipper was gone, leaving its sad sibling facing him with woeful eyes.

Sometimes words were not enough. Dean flipped up his collar and let loose the full power of his most cheeky grin as he dipped an eyelid in a wink. It had the desired effect. The bunny slipper blushed furiously as the raincloud broke up and turned into a bright rainbow and the broken hearts became small bluebirds.

Sam chuckled behind him. "Only you, dude." He slapped Dean on the shoulder and propelled him towards the door. "C'mon, let's get outta here, before the pestle and mortar also get a crush."

"Don't let it get to ya, Sam. It comes naturally, y'know." Dean smirked at him and allowed himself to be pushed outside.

Minutes later they were in the Ford Anglia. It took off with a jerk, swooping over the madly waving Weasley girls and a rudely gesturing potato-faced gnome. Mr Weasley pointed the car in the direction of the portkey hill.

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"It certainly was an adventure, lads." Mr Weasley looked strangely out of place in the dry grassland of the Colorado plain.

He thrust out his hand. Sam shook it heartily, pulling him into a brief hug.

"This is for you. I think it'll kinda stand out in Colorado." He beamed and held out a brown paper-wrapped parcel that Mr Weasley had been eyeing with interest since they left The Burrow.

Mr Weasley opened it with eager fingers. It was a beautifully made travelling cloak. He swept it around his shoulders with a broad smile of thanks.

"I'll miss you boys."

Dean grasped his hand firmly. "That's a great family you've got there." His eyes were sad. Seeing it, even from the outside, made it all the harder to lose it.

Mr Weasley pulled him forwards, hugged him and slapped him on the back.

"I suppose that's it then. Well lads, turn around and look at the view." He took a small, green velvet pouch from his pocket. He flicked his wand and the pouch flew swiftly to the Impala and disappeared inside. Two silver swords slid out and settled onto the back seat.

The wand was now pointing at the Winchesters. Mr Weasley rotated it slowly, releasing a silvery light. He muttered under his breath and then spoke clearly.

"Obliviate…"

…There was a loud crack of thunder. Sam jumped, startled.

"That storm is gettin' nearer."

"Yeah," said Dean. "Let's get outta here."

He opened the door of the Impala, running his hand along the dusty roof. Even after a few minutes absence, he was so pleased to see her.

As soon as they reached a good cell phone signal, Sam called Bobby.

"Just a false alarm, Bobby, yeah. Rebellious teenager, y'know the type of thing."

Dean cocked his head, smirking a little at the volume of Bobby's shouts, clearly audible from the far side of the car.

"No." Sam protested. "We're fine…. It's not been that long!" He pulled the phone away from his ear, raising an eyebrow at Dean. "Wow, Bobby's been hitting the Jack. Says we didn't phone him for days!"

Dean laughed. "We got any beer in the cooler?"

"Good call." Sam reached behind the seat and fished around in the cooler, his expression turning surprised when he pulled out a can of warm beer. "Beer's warm."

Dean raised the corner of his lip in disgust.

Something caught Sam's eye and he turned his head to look further into the back seat.

"Dean?"

"Yeah?" Dean squinted quickly at him before turning back to face the road.

"You think we ought to keep these swords in the trunk?"

"Yeah, I guess. Dunno how they ended up there. I keep tellin' ya, Sammy, y'never know what you're gonna find in a thrift store."

Sam frowned, puzzled. For some reason it just didn't sit right. He shook his head; it'd been a long day.

'Whitesnake' filled the car as Sam slid down in his seat, drowsily watching Dean tapping his fingers on the wheel. After a while he drifted off to sleep, his dreams filled with the giggles of a little ginger-haired girl.

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Arthur arrived back later that night. He stood outside The Burrow for a while, staring absently at the stars. All the lights were out in the house, apart from one warm, yellow one where he and Molly had their bedroom.

He made his way wearily up the stairs to find Molly was sitting up in bed, her head slumped to one side. Her glasses were perched on the end of her nose and an open book lay on her lap. He smiled at the little, soft snores in a fond way and kissed the top of her curls, putting the book onto the bedside table.

She stirred and opened sleepy eyes. "Did it all go okay, dear?"

Arthur sat down on his side of the bed, buttoning up his pyjama top. He nodded.

She laid a comforting hand in the middle of his back. "I wish they could remember us too. I was very fond of them both."

"No, it's for the best. And legal. It just brought back a lot of memories of when I was travelling with Robert." He settled into the bed.

"It's a shame they couldn't meet him. Did you think of perhaps calling on him?"

He sighed. "It did cross my mind, to tell you the truth. But we parted on such bad terms."

"It's so sad. After all you learned from each other too."

"He made it very clear, petal. After that awful thing that happened to his wife, he told me he never wanted anything to do with magical or supernatural things again." Arthur's face was furrowed with remembered pain. "He was in such a state. I've never wanted to perform an obliviate charm so badly… but of course I would never do that without his permission."

Molly sighed. "Poor Robert. Such a good man." I wonder if we'll ever see him again, she thought. She kissed Arthur on the cheek and turned off the light.

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