"C'mon, Harry!" Becky whined.

"It's Halloween! Come and enjoy yourself a bit."

"I can enjoy myself just fine with a few bottles of whiskey and a Netflix subscription," her roommate grumbled with a thick, British accent.

Becky rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips, staring at the petite female sitting on the couch in front of her with pursed lips. The girl, Harry, stared back expressionless, her green eyes far too bright to be natural, yet somehow, they were. After a short staring match, Becky sighed and looked away.

"I don't know why you hate Halloween so much," she started.

"But if you'd just come with us to the party, I'm sure we can change your mind."

Harry huffed and looked away. She was a lot more interested in finding the TV controller than going to some loud college Halloween party. Becky rolled her eyes and grabbed her roommate's arm, hauling her off the couch and started dragging her out the dorm.

"Let's go! You're way too uptight these past few weeks anyway."

"Yes, well, considering I have been studying for my MCAT, I think that was to be expected," Harry grumbled.

"In fact, I'm pretty sure I won't relax again until I get my results." In truth, Harry didn't actually need a muggle medical degree. She'd become a fully certified healer, abandoning that path in an effort to escape her past. Indeed, she'd already learned plenty the wizarding world didn't have. Potions and spells accomplished plenty, but you couldn't just summon a bullet, for example. Imagine using precise, perfect magic for surgery!

"I bet you did great!" Becky replied cheerfully.

Harry sighed in annoyance and shook her head. Becky was almost as stubborn as she was, and since Harry was already tipsy, Becky was about to win this argument hands down anyway, so Harry just gave in and let her friend drag her over to the party. If she was lucky, she could get drunk enough at the party to forget what day it was.

They arrived almost at the same time as Sam and Jess did. The tall brunette smiled at their two friends and waved them over. Sam wasn't dressed up, just like Harry, but Jess sported a sexy nurse outfit while Becky was dressed up as a slutty witch. Harry found that incredibly ironic, she playing a muggle and the muggle dressing up as a witch. If they only knew…

"They got you too, huh?" Sam asked her, smiling a bit.

Harry smiled back. Sam was the only person she had bothered telling why she hated Halloween so much, or at least given him part of the reason. They all pretty much knew her parents were dead, but only he knew they died on this very day.

"At least I got to keep my drink," Harry muttered, showing her friend the half empty bottle of firewhiskey.

"You really shouldn't drink so much," Jess told her.

"Yes, nurse," Harry replied sarcastically.

"It's my liver, I can do with it what I want. Besides, it's just once a year."

The blonde rolled her eyes and led her boyfriend towards an empty table. Seeing as Becky had already ditched her, Harry decided to join them. She quickly grabbed three clean shot glasses from the counter behind them and filled them with the bottle of firewhiskey before handing one to Jess and Sam.

"So, here's to Sam and his awesome LSAT victory," Jess spoke up, holding the glass up.

Harry grinned and clinked their glasses together.

"It's not a big deal," Sam muttered, though he was smiling as he joined in.

"He acts so humble, but he scored a 174," Jess told Harry, chuckling.

"Bloody hell," Harry exclaimed, already feeling the alcohol going to her head.

"You mean he's that good?"

"Scary good," the blonde laughed.

"With that kind of score, you can go to any Law School you want!" Harry smiled.

"Actually, I got an interview here on Monday," Sam told the two girls.

"If everything goes okay, I think I got a chance to a full ride next year."

"How come I always seem to end up with at least one genius as a best friend?" Harry asked frowning.

"Says the Med student," Sam snorted.

"Pre-Med student," Harry pointed out.

"I haven't been administered yet."

"Speaking of, how did your MCAT go?" Jess asked.

"I should get the results back any day now," the red-haired girl replied.

It was obvious she was really nervous, and Jess and Sam both smiled in encouragement. Jess put a hand over Harry's, making the petite girl look up, her bright green eyes wide and curious.

"I'm sure you aced that test," she said.

"Thanks," Harry mumbled, smiling at her friend.

. . . . .

"I'm really, really sorry about this," Harry said for the third time since they left the party.

"It's not your fault Becky kicked you out for the night," Jess told her, smiling.

"At least now we know why she wanted you to come so bad," Sam chuckled.

"Yeah, so she could ditch me with you guys while she hooks up," the redhead muttered.

Sam laughed softly and ruffled his friend's hair as they entered the house he shared with Jess. Harry hissed a bit in annoyance and tried to flatten her unruly hair unsuccessfully. It never listened to her anyway. the only thing that could tame her hair was a slick potion, and even that was only temporary. She and Hermione had always been able to bond over the fact that they had that same issue.

"What did you guys do with Teddy, since he can't be there right now either, and you're here alone?" Sam asked curiously.

"Staying at a friend's house for a couple of days," Harry replied smiling.

"He wanted to go out trick or treating and since I'm allergic to this holiday…"

Sam chuckled and shook his head fondly. He ruffled her head again, earning an indignant squeak from the petite female. Jess laughed melodically at that.

"I hope you don't mind taking the couch!" the blonde called out as she went to the bathroom.

"Never have before!" Harry called back in reply.

"Goodnight, Harry," Sam muttered, kissing the short girl on the crown of her head before walking into the bedroom.

Harry smiled and looked for the blankets so she could go to sleep as well. She was pleasantly buzzed for the time being, but knowing the drawback of firewhiskey, this night would come back to haunt her in the morning and she liked being at least somewhat comfortable when she felt like dying.

. . . . .

Around midnight, Harry was woken up by sounds near the kitchen. Her head was throbbing with a vengeance, so she guessed it was just her hangover talking. Wishing that she had brought a hangover potion, Harry turned around in the couch and tried to get to sleep again.

When she heard the window in the kitchen slide open, she sat up immediately. Footsteps could be heard coming her way and Harry slid out of the blankets, moving soundlessly as she hid behind the door. As expected, the burglar walked past her without seeing her and she jumped him. The intruder threw her off with surprising ease and attacked, but Harry ducked away just in time and swung at the stranger. Her fist connected with the guy's face only a second before she found herself on her back on the ground and the intruder straddling her and pinning her arms above her head.

The light was turned on, enabling Harry to see her attacker. The young man was pretty attractive, with short dark blond hair and dark green eyes that reached more towards hazel than her own. He was not nearly as tall as Sam was, but he was broad shouldered and had some good muscles on him.

"Dean?" Sam asked blearily from the door where he and Jess were staring at them in shock.

"What are you doing here?"

The man smiled at Sam and let go of Harry, who immediately jumped up and smacked the strange man in the face. Jess gave a squeak in surprise while Sam's lips twitched as if he wanted to smile.

"What the hell, lady!" 'Dean' yelled.

"Who do you think you are, breaking in in the middle of the night?!" she demanded furiously, her hands on her hips as she glared up at him.

Dean gave her a once over. She was thin and short, with fiery red hair that went slightly past her shoulders and didn't seem able to decide whether to be wavy or curly. Her eyes were a beautiful vibrant green, but they were obscured by a pair of fashionable oval glasses, which were slightly askew because of their little tangle. Her tan skin seemed smooth, only marred by the weird lightning bolt scar above her right eye and she was blushing. Probably in anger.

Dean frowned a bit. The girl didn't seem older than 18, and the accent was clearly British, so he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing all the way in Stanford University when she looked like she should still be in High School. A silver chain hung around her neck, with a small angel wing on it. Just one though. She was wearing an incredibly oversized University T-shirt that looked more like a gown on her. It was probably his brother's.

"What are you staring at?" the girl growled.

"And who are you anyway?"

"Harry, this is my brother, Dean," Sam muttered.

Harry tensed and looked between the two before looking over to Jess and then back to Sam.

"Does your brother always come in through the window?" she asked pointedly.

Dean snorted amused.

"I like her," he stated.

Sam rolled his eyes and Harry glared at the older Winchester, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Dean, this is Harriet, one of my best friends, and that's my girlfriend, Jessica," Sam introduced the two girls with a sigh.

"Now can you please explain why you broke into my place in the middle of the night?"

"We need to talk."

"Ever heard of a phone?"

"If I called, would you have picked up?" Dean asked.

"Look, can we just talk in private for a moment?"

"No," Sam said resolutely, standing between Jess and Harry.

"Whatever you gotta say, you can say it in front of them."

"Okay. Dad's on a hunting trip, and he hasn't been home in a few days," Dean replied.

Harry could see Sam's grip on Jess' shoulder tighten and she frowned. Harry tried to understand what was going on, but the only thing that could make sense to her also scared her the most. But that couldn't be true, could it? No way Sam was a Hunter.

"Can I see you outside for a moment?" Sam asked quietly.

The two brothers walked out of the room, leaving Harry and Jess behind with their confusion and worries. Harry sighed and walked into the kitchen for a nice cup of coffee. Something told her she wasn't going to get any more sleep tonight anyway.

. . . . .

"You can't just break in in the middle of the night and expect me to hit the road with you!" Sam fumed.

"Dad's missing. I need you to help me find him," Dean replied pointedly.

Sam sighed in annoyance and glared at his brother.

"He's always missing, and he's always fine," he said.

"Not for this long. Now, are you going to come with me or not?"

"I'm not."

The two brothers stopped walking and glared at each other for a moment. Dean scowled.

"Why not?" he asked.

"I swore I was done hunting, for good," Sam told him.

"C'mon! it wasn't easy, but it wasn't that bad."

"Are you kidding me? When I told Dad I was afraid of the thing in my closet, he gave me a .45!"

"What was he supposed to do?" Dean asked dismissively.

"I was nine years old! He was supposed to say 'don't be afraid of the dark'!"

"Of course you should be afraid of the dark! You know what's out there," Dean replied incredulously.

"That's not the point Dean! The way we were brought up after mom died… we were raised like warriors!"

Dean rolled his eyes and glared at his brother as they reached his car.

"So what are you gonna do? Live a happy, normal life with your little harem in there?" he asked.

"Harry's a friend!" Sam growled.

"And not normal. Safe."

"And that's why you ran away?" Dean asked almost bitterly.

"I just went to college," Sam pointed out.

"It was dad who said that if I was gonna go, I should stay gone."

"Look Sammy, I can't do this alone," Dean sighed.

"Yes you can," Sam replied irritated.

Dean looked away and sighed again.

"Well, I don't want to."

The way his brother was looking now made Sam feel guilty. He gave a deep sigh of himself and looked down.

"What was he hunting?" he asked reluctantly.

. . . . .

"Wait, you're taking off?" Jess asked shocked.

Sam looked up from where he was packing to find his girlfriend standing in the door. Harry was still in the hallway, watching the two of them curiously while nursing a steamy cup of coffee. Black with two sugars, just like she liked them best.

"Is this about your dad? Is he alright?" Jess wanted to know.

"Yeah, fine," Sam replied quickly, smiling at her.

"Just a little family drama."

Harry snorted, earning a glance from her best friend. Sam rolled his eyes at her and grabbed some more clothes to put in his bag.

"What about the interview?" the blond girl asked worried.

"I'll make the interview. It's only for a couple of days."

"Sam, please!" Jess almost begged.

"Stop for a second. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Sam told his girlfriend.

"And I promise I'll be back in time."

"You better," Harry told him grinning.

"Otherwise, I'll come find you myself and drag you back."

Sam laughed and kissed his girlfriend's cheek before ruffling Harry's hair.

"Take care of yourselves, alright?" he called out as he rushed to the car.

Dean was already waiting for him in the Impala and the second his brother sat, they drove off. Jess was frowning worriedly as she watched them go.

"Sam will be fine," Harry told her friend with a comforting pat on the shoulder.

"Do you want some company until he gets back? I don't mind keeping your couch hostage for a while longer and I can call Jake's mum to ask if Teddy can stay for another night. He won't mind at all."

"Thanks," Jess replied smiling.

. . . . .

Harry was strolling through campus. She had left Jess and Sam's place about two hours ago after helping Jess bake some welcome back cookies for Sam. She'd figured the two would want some time alone once Sam arrived and had left. Now though, she was on her way back there. Partly because she wanted to make sure Sam had actually made it back, and partly because her MCAT results had arrived today and she wanted to show off. They weren't exactly outstanding, but she was still proud she succeeded.

When she walked into the street her two friends lived, she saw a black Chevrolet Impala stop in front of the house. Harry smiled when she saw the familiar figure of Sam get out the passenger seat and rush inside. She was still a distance away, so she wasn't surprised he didn't see her, besides, he probably was excited to see Jess again. The two of them were inseparable ever since they started dating.

"Hey!" she called, waving at the male still outside, leaning against the car.

Dean looked up and watched as the petite girl approached him, giving his own little wave. He looked a bit upset, Harry noted.

"Hey," Dean greeted back.

"Harry, right?"

"Yup, good memory. And you're Dean," the girl replied smiling.

"Found your dad?" she asked after a short moment of pause.

Dean shrugged and looked up to the house. When it became clear Harry wasn't going to get any answer, she sighed and looked at the car for a moment.

"Nice car," she said.

"Is she yours?"

This had Dean grin widely. He looked back at her and nodded, his eyes shining with pride at the mention of his baby.

"Yeah," he said.

"A real beauty, isn't she."

Harry chuckled and nodded, trailing her hand over the side of the car. It seemed to have just gotten a few extra bumps and scratches, but with the care it received, they were barely visible. It was obvious Dean worked really hard to keep the beauty in top condition, like one would a home.

"So, what's a chick like you doin' hangin' out with my geek kid brother?" Dean asked.

"We've been friends for quite some time now," Harry replied.

"Jess just showed up with him one day when we were still room-"

She suddenly stopped talking when she sensed something inside the house. Dean frowned at the sudden change in the girl's demeanor. It was pretty weird to see that bright smile wiped away and turn into a hard, thin line while her eyes turned cold.

"Harry?" he asked curious.

Harry ignored him. Cursing softly, she rushed into the house and took her wand out of her sleeve. Heavy footsteps thundered behind her as Dean followed her into the house, but she didn't care. Her friends were in danger. Suddenly, they heard Sam scream and the bedroom glowed brightly as if there was a fire burning inside.

"Sam!" Dean called out.

He shoved Harry to the side and rushed to his brother's side, Harry following right behind him. She stopped for a moment when she saw Jess in the ball of fire on the ceiling and cried out. Her friend, her first friend she had made here was dead by the work of a demon.

Dean had grabbed Sam and was now dragging him out of the room while calling for Harry to do the same. Steeling herself, Harry turned away from the horrible scene and did just that. barely in time too, because a second later, the room exploded. The fire rolled behind them, licking at their heels dangerously and it seemed that they were not going to make it.

With a scowl, Harry turned around again and flicked her wand. The fire that was rapidly approaching hit an invisible wall, which gave the three of them all the time they needed to escape.

"What the hell was that?!" Dean yelled once they were out of danger.

"A demon," Harry replied frowning.

"I thought you were the Hunter."

"I am, and that wasn't what I meant!" the man hissed, aiming a gun at Harry.

Harry sighed and held her hands up in a placating gesture.

"If you have to know, that was me no doubt signing my death warrant by saving the arses of two bloody Hunters," she bit out, glaring at the older brother of her best friend.

"Jess was my friend too! So put that bloody thing away before you hurt someone."

Sam, who had been sitting on the sidewalk, completely unresponsive for the last few minutes, stood up and walked up to the two of them. He stood next to his brother, glaring down at his best friend.

"What are you, Harry," he asked lowly.

Harry's eyes widened at the threat hidden in her friend's tone and she looked at him. Tears were slowly beading at the corner of her too bright green eyes, though they didn't fall just yet.

"I'm a witch," she told them quietly.

Dean cocked his gun the second he heard it and stepped forward, making sure he was in between his baby brother and the girl. Harry huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at the Hunter.

"Not that kind of bloody witch!" she hissed. "A real one. I was born with magic."

"Bull."

"Believe me, don't believe me, I don't bloody care. But I wasn't even there when Jess was attacked, so don't you dare point your gun at me and call me a monster!" the girl growled.

"Leave."

Both Harry and Dean tensed when they heard Sam's command. Dean stepped aside, allowing Harry to see the rage filled expression her friend was sporting. She sucked in a shaky breath and took a tentative step towards him, only for Dean to tighten his hold on his gun. Sam stayed completely still, his gaze cold and hard as he stared down on his friend.

"Fine," Harry said, voice hard, chin high, defiance belied by her watering eyes. "You want to hate me for how I was born? That's your right. You and the Dursleys would've gotten on fine."

Dean didn't know what a Dursley was, but the remark had clearly hit home as Sam paled.

She took a deep sigh, her shoulders moving up and down. With one last sad look towards Sam, she disappeared with a loud 'pop'.

This is an adoption of No Such Thing as Retirement which, unfortunately, CrazyJanaCat had to abandon. You're not going to miss anything if you've already read those fifteen chapters—I'm just making minor edits.