Disclaimer: This work is not a challenge of any copyrights and trademarks; it is not written for profit, but merely for personal entertainment purposes. The wizard of oz is also not mine. Anita Blake is Laurel K Hamiltons, Stormwings are Tamora Pierces, Wraiths are Tolkins, changlings are Mercedes Lackeys.

Lately I have been writing one shot fics because they are easy to start and end and some of the best stories on this site are one shots. Though I have great respect for the authors who write epic length novels. I love those as well. Well I'm gonna try write some more of my more then one-shots now.

Anyways on with the story


Chapter three.

Dementors and the Past.

Something was wrong, my bed did not get direct sunshine from a north facing window. That was the first thought that entered my mind as I groggily wiped my eyes trying to rid them of sleep. Yawning and arching my back I soon remembered that I was in the Leaky Cauldron. I froze as it hit me. Magic, it was mind blowing, excitement crept into my stomach. I wasn't a muggle, a wand had worked for me. Cauldrons, books, cats and and no evil Dark Lords were what I had to look forward to. A grin tugged at my cheeks and I let out a whoop of joy, I ran to the chair grabbed my hoodie and walked out of the room locking the door. The excitement and adrenaline soon wore off but I was awake and my stomach was clawing at my backbone. Soon the only thought that filled my head was breakfast. The smell of baking bread wafted from the tavern part of the inn. Stomach growling I decided to follow my nose.

The tavern entrance served as a dining room. Making sure I still had my money I wandered down to a table and sat, knowing that a waiter or waitress would soon be along.

Breakfast was quick, some oatmeal, orange juice and a muffin and I was off to get more things for myself. A trunk was first, and I walked into a trunk store. There were different colored ones, wooden, metal, mixtures. I decided on a blue and silver trunk, one that reminded me of the trunk that sat in front of my bed at home. It had seven compartments and would magically enlarge inside and had a permanent featherlight charm on it, which could be turned off in the presence of muggles as well as a shrinking charm button. It cost me four galleons and two sickles but I could now store all my equipment and such in it.

I had no clue when I could go back to my own world or even if I could. Thinking about it made my eyes damp for a moment, then I shrugged my shoulders and threw off the slight feeling of depression that had come over me while I was nostalgic. Robes were next at Madam Malkins and I bought myself standard black form fitting ones that would grow with me, as well as a cloak, dragon hide gloves but I refused to buy a hat. They could not make me wear a pointed hat and that was final, it reminded me too much of the wizard of Oz and made me want to start cackling and threaten girls and their little dogs too.

I had bought other robes as well, three different colored ones, a deep blue with green ivy at the bottom, an emerald green with gold stars and a silvery grey one with draping sleeves like those of a princess. Smiling at my fancy, princesses of all things! Next I would be oohing a ahhing at unicorns and being rescued by knights from dragons. Ok Ashe back to reality. Oh wait, not my reality but the reality of Harry Potter. I went to buy a cauldron, pewter standard size 2, potion ingredients, a scale for said ingredients, a telescope, and crystal vials, two sets since I knew that I would probably end up throwing one at the wall at some point. The books I went and got standard set for a first year as well as an interesting one on time travel theories and parchment and quills and a neverending ink pot that turned into different colors if you told it too. I read the back of the Time travels book and could understand about half of it before it rambled off into quantam physics and paradoxes. Thinking maybe I would understand it later I put all of the books into my trunk and shrunk it.

I looked at my watch deciding that I had been out shopping long enough and deserved ice cream. Strolling down the street I was jostled more then once. Making sure I still had my money pouch, I decided to second check my other stuff. Mp3 player, check, wand number one, grabbing the dark arts wand, check, wand number two, check. I shoved the dark arts wand back into my pocket and while I was trying to stuff the other wand into my other pocket screams erupted from an alleyway to my left. Freezing I looked around wildly. There can't be any death eaters as Harry Potter was refered to as the boy who killed the dark lord so what the hell? I muttered to myself as I stumbled through the crowd that began surging as soon as I left it. I hugged the wall not wanting to get caught up in the panicked mob.

Looking around I felt a chill come over me. "Oh no, no no no." Shaking my head I hunched down, hugging my knees. The Dark Lord was supposed to be dead! Why the hell were dementors roaming free? When did Harry Potter learn the patronus? Third year? Fourth? There was no way that I would be able to perform that spell even if it killed me. Well no a dementor wouldn't kill people it would just suck their souls out with a kiss.
Why the hell did J. K. Rowling come up with something so terrible? All fantesy realms had something terrible, the world of Tamora Pierce had Stormwings, Anita Blake had demons, hell it had a load of shit to deal with. Mercedes Lackey had changelings, Tolkien had wraiths and J. K. Rowling had dementors. Just my luck to be stuck in a battle between the light and dark, wrong place, wrong time, dammit! Where were the Aurors and ministry of magic? Hell why didn't one wizard or witch in the crowd know a good patronus?

Screams could be heard through the crowd, shouting out in pain, fear. Calling for lost family members, children, cries of dispair came from some, defiance from others all to be sucked into the crowd as it surged again. All at once I saw it. The dementor towered above the rest of the people, its face completely hidden beneath its hood. Hands were reaching out, it was glistening, greyish, slimy like something dead that had decayed in water. The cold was coming from it. Chilling me to the bone and deeper. Terrible memories of a neglected childhood flitted through my mind.

Flash

"Happy birthday dear." My mother said over the phone. I knew she only remembered it because it was jotted down by my nana into her notebook, the same thing ...why don't they love me?...had happened last year, and I found out. My father had called eariler that day, same words, same reason. Empty words for empty feelings. I didn't know why they even bothered anymore.

Flash

No I don't want to. Don't make me remember.

Flash

"Hey Sebastion?" I opened the door.
"ASHLEY GET OUT!" My brother screamed at me, his eyes burning with shame, anger and a strange emotion I didn't, couldn't comprehend. Relief. I had walked into his room intending to borrow a CD and saw something that would scar both of us forever. I could see the self-inflicted cut bleeding on his wrist,...
Sebastion no...no...crimson blood glistening on the penknife that I had given him for his birthday, it was deep but not enough to die from, he wasn't suicidal, not yet.

Flash

I whimpered, begged for it to end.

Flash

The day was pleasant, the sun was shining, birds were chirping and my parents were fighting again. ...No not this...Crashes could be heard from the kitchen where mother was throwing the good china around. Crash. Again. "Whore...slut...skank for... secretaty,... at lunch time Nick? ... she suck ... well, how ... times do you ... My fathers voice cuts in. "What ...boy Terry?...help with the grounds, he... legal? Trish? ...Father?...How about it, ...the kids... mine? ...don't look... me. Little Ash ... mailman? Do you fuck...whomever...door, ... legs spread out,...street walker? Does ...feel... alive?" A pause, another crash before my mother starts screaming at the top of her lungs. "Nick, yes she is yours but I wish to god that -that- accident had never happened. Nick you bastard. ...Mother?..."

Flash

The dementor was facing towards me. Intent on its feeding. My nails were digging into my palms, blood was dripping from the cuts, crimson tears pouring down. I was vaguely aware of a person, a man shouting out, and a warmth started to return to my bones. I was dragged back, away from the wall, complacent, limp with tears pouring down my face. I had bitten my lip so hard it was bleeding. I turned and looked at my savior, it was the same man who I had run into earlier yesterday. Remus Lupin. He was shouting at another man, dark and mean looking. Long greasy hair, hooked nose. Severus Snape another teacher at hogwarts I assumed. They were arguing, something about St. Mungos and Poppies? I couldn't concentrate too well. I mumbled something and they both turned to look at me at the same time. I fought down the urge to giggle at the sight. "Ash, how are you feeling? Can you walk? Were are your parents?"

I stood up, my legs were trembling, my eyes were burning from the flood of tears. "I'm fine, yes I can walk, my parents? Not here at the moment, but really I'll be fine. I just need to walk a bit." I took one step. Darkness flashed in front of my eyes. One thought wormed its way through my consciousness ...thats not good. "Uh maybe I..."Darkness surrounded me and theground rushed up to catch me. I knew no more.