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Whistling her favourite tune, Hermione started to decorate her flat for the next day.
Halloween.
She was preparing herbs, vegetables like pumpkin, potatoes and apples as offerings. Placing candles and most importantly, she put up picture frames of loved and lost ones.
She invited Harry over, knowing full well what that day meant to him and she was determined to give him some better memories of it. And he would be meeting her new boyfriend for the first time. Hellbent on making it right, she decided Halloween had to go, so she went back to its roots: Samhain.
Thinking back on how she met Dean, Hermione smiled. How they ever became friends was beyond her.
It had been Castiel who had asked her to work with Dean and Sam.
She hadn’t been happy about it at all, and Dean hadn’t been happy with her. He didn't trust her and Hermione wasn't exactly keen on working with a hunter. She hadn’t even known they existed in the first place.
Dean was rude, loud, aggressive, a womaniser, and prejudiced. No matter how good-looking he was, those weren’t very endearing qualities. She couldn't remember when his attitude changed, but when it did, she started to see him differently and they developed not just a friendship, but it became more. That's why he was currently sleeping in her bedroom.
"Dean, wake up!" She yelled from the living room. "I need your help with the decorations, preparations, and grocery shopping." She knew most witches and wizards wouldn't understand why she's doing it the Muggle way, but she grew up in the muggleworld, and while magic was nice to have, she enjoyed doing things like a Muggle. It reminded her of her parents, and brought back memories of her childhood. She couldn't have her parents with her, but she at least could feel closer to them. It reminded her not to become dependent on magic.
"Fuck, you're a morning person? Thought you just woke up early because you had to get to work before!"
And with that, he turned around and tried to fall asleep again.
"Dean! Get up! I'll send Crooks otherwise, and you know how much he likes to climb you and use you as his bed."
Hermione really thought her threat would work,. Unfortunately, Dean just smirked.
"Your cat loves me and you know it."
But he stood up, went to the bathroom and joined her 30 minutes later to help her decorate the flat.
***
"I'll get the door," Hermione said when Harry knocked. Her wards alerted her about his arrival, and she didn't know anyone else knocking in that specific way in the UK. It wasn't the kind of secret club entrance knock, it was just typical Harry.
She was happy he hadn't forgotten how to behave in a Muggle house. Godric, she didn't even want to think about how Ronald would enter her flat.
"Harry!" And before he could even enter her flat she flew into his arms and gave him one of her typical bone crushing hugs.
"Your hair is suffocating me, Hermione."
He was laughing, however, so it couldn't be that bad. She led him into the living room and Harry got his first look at Dean.
"Really, Hermione? A Winchester? Couldn't have warned me, could you?" Pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and pointer finger, he closed his eyes. "And as I know you, you couldn't have chosen the one with the mild temper, you had to go for the one who shoots first and asks questions later. IF there's someone left to ask."
Turning towards Dean, Harry went on. "So…I guess you're Dean Winchester? Nice to meet you."
"You know Dean?"
Hermione wasn't sure what to say.
"I wouldn't say I know him, but I know about him. We do have files about known hunters in the Ministry. Photos included."
That made Dean look pissed off.
"You mean some supernatural ministry has a file about me?" He gritted out.
"No, not just about you, about every known Hunter. We need to know who you are." Harry said, hand in his pocket. Hermione was sure he was gripping his wand.
"Dean!" Hermione scolded. "Behave. Harry is like my brother, he wouldn't do anything to you, isn't that right Harry?"
Turning towards Harry, she saw his crestfallen face. Honestly, men!
"Sure, Mione. But let me know when you tell the Weasleys, I'm going to leave the country should Ron and Dean meet."
Hermione pushed Harry and Dean towards her table and brought out dinner. The mood was a strange one, with Harry and Dean attempting to be nice and Hermione trying to pretend nothing was wrong while worrying about the next war. She just knew Ron and Dean would start it. Against each other.
"Harry," Dean started, "tell me about this Ron guy. Anything I need to know?"
Harry smirked. "How much time do you have? The short version is he didn't treat Hermione right, the long one is that tried to feed her love potions and succeeded for some time, tried to tamper with her contraception potion and more or less abused her mentally and emotionally. And that's not even my opinion about any sexual relationship while one is under the influence of Amortentia."
Dean was silent for some time, he took his phone and dialed a number. "Sam, get over here. We've got work to do!"