New story! My new year's resolution was to edit my original novel, but this fic couldn't get out of my head, and I just had to write it. Updates will be sporadic, since I'm still editing my original novel, but I'm hoping for every week/week and a half.

Dean stared at himself in the mirror. The pounding inside his head was rhythmic. And it was becoming more and more frequent.

He stared at his eyes, as if he could stare down Michael. He knew it was impossible, but he couldn't help but try. If he could just get the bastard to stop pounding on the door he had him locked behind, everything would work out. He would be able to tolerate his presence for just a little bit longer. But as it stood, he didn't know how much longer until his mind wouldn't be strong enough to hold him in anymore.

He closed his eyes as there was a particularly loud and strong push against his mind. It reverberated across his brain, causing the migraine of all migraines to hit him. He squeezed his eyes against the pain, feeling the tears leaking through the creases and make their way down his cheeks.

If they didn't find a solution to get rid of Michael soon, he didn't think he would be able to last much longer. Which meant the box would be back on the table. And no matter the brave face he put on for his brother and Cas, the persona that didn't mind sacrificing himself for the greater good, he really didn't want to spend eternity on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean with Michael.

HPSPN

Sam threw the book he was reading against the wall. Frustrated wasn't a strong enough word for how he was feeling right now. He looked at the back of the room. The damn Ma'lok Box was sitting there. Taunting him. As if reminding him that if he failed to find a solution to the Michael problem he was going to have to help Dean lock himself in that box and watch as his brother sunk to the bottom of the ocean forever.

"Another dead end?" Cas asked from where he sat with his own pile of books.

Sam nodded. "Yeah. Isn't it always? I think our last hope went out with that pearl."

"We can't think like that," Cas said. "It doesn't help us to think negatively about the situation. The answer has to be around here somewhere."

"Does it though?" Sam asked. "Dean says Billie was pretty clear about the end game here. Either Michael breaks through and destroys the world, or Dean spends eternity in that damn box. I think it's becoming increasingly clear the more we research that these are the only options we have for us."

"We don't know that," Cas said. "We're running out of options here, in the bunker. But we have Rowena out there trying to find a solution. And Jack. And your mom. We have feelers to the ground all over the country. We're bound to find the solution eventually. We just need to keep trying."

Sam sighed. "But will we find the solution before it is too late? Dean rarely comes out of his room. And when he does, I don't think he is here, not completely. I think it's starting to become too much for him to have Michael in his head."

Cas frowned. "We need to keep thinking positively. It doesn't help to start giving up now. We'll give up when everyone returns here empty handed."

Sam nodded. "You're right. You're right. But having that fucking box looming there like a specter is not helping me."

Cas looked over at the box. "You're right. Why did you two even bring that inside? You should have left it in the garage."

Sam shook his head. "I don't know. I don't think we were even thinking."

The door to the bunker opened and shut, causing the two men to look up at the balcony. The shock of bright red hair announced Rowena's presence before her lilting, "Hello, boys."

"Rowena," Sam greeted. "Please tell me you've found something."

"Oh, Sammy, you are never going to believe what I have found for you. It's a good thing you're already sitting down, because what I'm about to tell you is going to shock you. Where's Dean?"

"In his room," Sam replied.

"Get him out here, he's going to want to hear this," Rowena said.

Cas stood up immediately and rushed down the hall to get Dean from his room.

"Please tell me what you're going to tell us is good news," Sam said quietly.

"Sammy, it's better than that," Rowena said with a smile.

Cas re-entered the room followed closely by Dean, who looked worse for wear. But just hearing Rowena tease good news was enough to give Sam hope that they were close to finding a solution for their problems.

Dean and Cas took their seats at the table, and all three men turned their attention to the red-headed witch.

Rowena took a deep breath, and began. "So, we all know about traditional witches. They gain their powers through nefarious means, a deal with the devil if you will. However, what would you say if I were to tell you that there are witches out there that were born with their powers?"

"Impossible," Dean said.

"We would have heard about them," Sam agreed.

"Wait," Cas said. "I think I remember something about them. The Wizarding community," he said.

"Yes," Rowena said. "You boys wouldn't have heard of them, hell, I had never heard of them until now. They take great care to keep themselves hidden from the rest of the world."

"If they keep themselves hidden, how do you know about them?" Dean asked.

"Well, that's the thing, dear, there are ways to get someone talking. I had heard rumors of this group for a very long time. And then I was out trying to find any leads for someone who could go into Dean's mind, as a long shot, and just rip Michael out. And that's when I met this guy. He's part of the community, and he was drunk as a skunk. And drunk people, they're the easiest to get information from. Didn't even have to work any magic on him. Guy just started spouting out about the hidden magic community."

"And they have something that can help us?" Sam asked.

Rowena nodded. "So, their magic, from what I can tell, is very different than the magic I'm familiar with. They use spells, but they don't need to do rituals or anything to make their magic work. It's all inside of them. And they have a type of mind magic, where the witch can go inside your mind and alter your memories. Now, I don't know if they'll be able to remove Michael, but-"

"It's worth a shot," Dean finished. "Hell, this is the biggest lead we've had since that damn pearl. But how do we find someone to do this magic? They're hidden."

Rowena's smile widened. "Here's the best part. I was able to get out of him that there is a witch who is some sort of well known, specialized mind-healer in the community. She moved to the States from England a couple years ago. In fact, she lives just outside of Boston. I did use my magic a little to get a name, and I'm sure you can use your computer sleuthing to get an address."

Sam reached over and pulled his laptop in front of him. "What's the name?"

"Hermione Granger."

Sam typed on the computer, and just a few minutes later he let out a victory shout. "Hermione Granger. Right here. We have an address."

Dean stood up from the table. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get our shit together and start driving out to Boston."

"Rowena, you joining us?" Sam asked as he started gathering everything he wanted to take with him on their trip back east.

Rowena shook her head. "No, I think I'll sit this one out. But I want to hear about everything. I'm going to go take a much needed break."

Dean turned and looked at Rowena, his eyes shining with emotion. "Thank you, Rowena."

She gave him a small smile. "Don't thank me yet. Wait until this actually works."

"Well, it's still the biggest lead we've had a in a long time, so, thank you."

"You're welcome."

HPSPN

With the three of them taking turns driving, and really pushing some speed laws, they were able to make it into Boston in just over a day. They rolled just past the city limits and found a cheap motel. They felt it was better to get some sleep before they went and greeted the mind healer.

As Dean laid on the bed trying to get some sleep, he couldn't help but try and anticipate what they were going to find once they reached the witch's home.

Hermione was such a strange name. But if the community was hidden from the rest of the world, it would be expected that they would have some strange names.

He closed his eyes and tried to figure out what they could expect when they got there. He tried to think about what she would look like. Rowena said she was an expert in her field, so she was probably older. Maybe his mom's age, maybe older. Rowena also said she practiced magic differently than the witches they were familiar with. He was mostly curious about that. And how she would get inside his mind and get rid of Michael.

His last thoughts before finally drifting off to sleep was, if she couldn't get rid of Michael, maybe she would have something to help him while he spent eternity on the bottom of the ocean.

HPSPN

Dean pulled the Impala up to the curb and killed the engine. The house was not what he had expected. It looked like a quaint little suburban family home. Nothing about it screamed out of the ordinary, and that had him frowning. He thought there would be something creating the illusion of secrecy. This was just so…normal.

He opened the door and listened as Sam and Cas followed suit, but he couldn't tear his eyes off the house. It was single story, and painted white with blue shutters. The bushes out front were well maintained, and the lawn well manicured. He laughed wondering if she did it herself or if she used magic.

The three men worked their way up the walkway to the front door. And then they paused. They really hadn't planned past this point. What do they say? How do they get her to believe them?

Cas reached over and pushed the door bell, and they waited. The door swung open a minute later and Dean frowned. He didn't see anything.

"Who are you?" a little voice asked, and all three men swiveled their attention to a spot not more than three feet off the ground.

"Um, we're here to see your mom?" Sam said, not quite sure if he was even right.

Dean couldn't tear his eyes off the little girl in front of him. Expectations were being smashed all over the place. He was not expecting children to be part of the equation.

"Mummy!" the little girl shouted. "There are some strange men at the door!"

He listened as foot steps approached the door from behind the little girl, and the door opened wider, revealing not the older woman he had been expecting. No, this woman had to be around his age. And she was not bad on the eyes. She held the door with one hand and had a toddler perched on her opposite hip.

"Can I help you?" she asked, her British accent evident. And her suspicions obvious.

"Um," Sam started. "Are you Hermione Granger?"

"Yes," she answered, with hesitation evident in her voice.

"I'm Sam, and this is Dean and Cas, and we were told that you would be able to help us."

"I think you were mistaken," she said, pulling back from the door, getting ready to shut it. "Have a good day."

"We were told that you're an expert in mind magic," Sam tried, just as Hermione was about to shut the door.

She paused. "There's not such thing as magic," she said, with a forced laugh.

"Please," Dean found himself saying as she moved to shut the door again. "Please, you're our only lead, and I'm sorry to put this on you, but my life really depends on your help."

She paused with the door halfway open. Toddler on her hip, young daughter hugging her leg, and she just looked at him. She stared into his eyes for a very long time, and it was making him just a little bit nervous. He'd never been scrutinized so closely, at least not for a long time. After a while she sighed and opened the door a little bit wider.

"Come inside," she said quietly.

"Thank you," Dean said quietly, before stepping across the threshold, Sam and Cas following closely behind.