Demons And Dementors
Chapter Three
"You know I do not approve of this!" Castiel hissed in Lizzie's ear as they walked along the crowded streets of London after Castiel, Sam and Dean had held onto Lizzie's arm while she Apparated.
"Yeah, yeah! I know, Cas! But believe me, this is going to benefit everyone!"
"Why are you so against us, learning how to produce Patronuses, Cas?" asked Dean. Castiel sighed impatiently. "As an angel of God, I am against any form of witchcraft or magic in general!" Castiel snapped. "Okay, okay!" said Lizzie throwing up her hands. "I get it, but would you rather suffer the Dementor's Kiss, or be protected from them?"
"She's got a point," Sam murmured. "Ah! Here we go!" said Lizzie happily as she stopped in front of a shabby pub. "The Leaky Cauldron! It's a real famous place…."
Lizzie held open the door as Sam, Dean, and Castiel walked inside.
The small pub was crowded with witches and wizards, and a stooped toothless man was serving a bunch of warlocks at the bar.
"Ah, Lizzie!" said the barman, looking up. "The usual, right?" Lizzie smiled. "Can't Tom," she said. "I'm on a hunting trip, I just need to go to Diagon Alley to help Sam, Dean and Castiel buy wands – There is this group of Dementors we need to ward off."
Tom, the barman was looking bewildered now, "Hmm," he said "They never stray far from Azkaban, what in the world would they be doing so far from the prison?"
"That's what I intend to find out," said Lizzie. "Good luck!" said Tom, giving Lizzie a toothless grin. Lizzie thanked him, and proceeded toward the back of the pub and opened a door that led to an allyway that was surrounded by nothing more than a few dustbins.
Lizzie pulled out her wand from her jeans pocket, and tapped the third brick from the left and stood back as the entrance to Diagon Alley opened in the wall.
Sam, Dean, and Castiel gazed in awe as they walked down the cobble-stoned street that was packed with people.
As they walked, Lizzie pointed out various shops and what they sold. "Here's where I would get my quills and ink, and here's where I got my school robes….Ah! Here we are! Ollivander's! He's the best wand maker I've ever come across!"
Lizzie opened the door to the tiny shop, and there was a ding from a bell on the door.
The shelves were stacked with wand boxes, and there was a desk up front.
"Hello?" Lizzie called out softly. "Mr. Ollivander?"
There was a shuffling sound as an elderly man with graying hair, in tattered robes emerged from behind one of the shelves.
It became apparent to Sam, Dean, and Castiel, that Ollivander recognized Lizzie immediately because a smile instantly grew on his face.
"Ah! Lizzie! Welcome back!" he said happily. But then his expression turned serious. "I thought you were dead!" Lizzie smiled. "I faked my own death – ahem! Don't tell anyone!" she whispered. The smile returned to Ollivander's face. "Your secret is safe with me," he assured her. Lizzie smiled back. "Thanks," she said, looking grateful.
"So," said Ollivander, clapping his hands together. "What do I owe this pleasure?" "Well, uh, I'm here to buy a wand," said Lizzie.
Ollivander raised one of his eyebrows curiously. "Your wand is not working out for you?" he asked. Lizzie laughed at this. "No, no! My wand works fine! I want to teach my friends Sam, Dean and Castiel how to produce a Patronus, because well, there is this group of Dementors that have gone on a feeding spree back in the States,"
Ollivander nodded as his eyes wandered to Sam and Dean, a smile growing across his face. "Sam and Dean Winchester," he said. "It is such an honor to finally meet you two face to face,"
Sam and Dean stared perplexedly at Ollivander. "How – how do you know our names?" asked Sam. The smile on Ollivander's face grew. "Even in the wizarding world, you boys are considered famous," he said. "Oh!" said Dean, looking flattered. Ollivander's eyes strayed to Castiel as he smiled. "And you must be Castiel, I presume?" Ollivander asked politely. "I am," said Castiel, smiling slightly. "You are here to buy a wand as well? I was under the impression that angels were against magic,"
"You are not wrong," said Castiel. "However, Elizabeth talked me into coming with her. She is very persuasive, you know,"
Ollivander smiled. "Yes, I do," he said.
"Mr. Ollivander, sir?" asked Sam as Ollivander looked at him. "Yes, my boy?" he asked. "How are we supposed to know which wand is right for us?" asked Sam curiously. Ollivander smiled. "The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Winchester," he replied. Castiel was gazing perplexedly at Ollivander now. "I'm afraid I do not understand," he said. Lizzie smiled and gave Castiel a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Trust me, Cas. You will," she said.
Because Dean was older than Sam, he was 'fitted' for a wand first.
Ollivander went behind a few shelves and reappeared with six or so wand boxes.
"Here we are," said Ollivander taking one of the boxes and opening it. "Blackwood and dragon heartstring fifteen inches," he said as he handed it to Dean. He took it but didn't do anything, a slightly perplexed look on his face. "What am I supposed to do with it?" he asked, feeling slightly stupid. "Just give it a wave!" Lizzie encouraged him before Ollivander could reply.
Dean waved his wand at a shelf full of wand boxes as the shot off the shelves and fell to the floor. Taken aback, Dean handed the wand back to Ollvander, who was muttering, "Apparently not. Hmm, well, let's see..Ah, here we go! Mahogany and unicorn hair, twelve inches…"
Dean took this wand and this time waved it at a glass vase that was sitting on a nearby table as it shattered.
"No, no, definitely not…no matter," said Ollivander as he took one of the last boxes and opened it as he gave the wand to Dean. "Here we go, blackthorn and phoenix feather, fourteen and half inches,"
Dean took it in his hand and this time he didn't even have to wave it! Golden sparks immediately flew from the wands tip as Dean grinned obviously fascinated.
Sam however took a little longer to decided on a wand. He went through at least twelve wands before he settled on a wand made of hornbeam and phoenix feather in its core.
Castiel's wand was made of ivory and unicorn hair.
As Lizzie helped them pay for their wands, Sam gave Lizzie a grateful kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for this," he said. Lizzie smiled. "Your welcome,"
"Good luck fighting those Dementors, Lizzie," said Olivander as Lizzie, Sam, and Dean left the shop.
"Okay, now I understand what Ollivander meant when he said that 'the wand chooses the wizard,' or whatever,"
Lizzie nodded. "I told you so!" she said. "Here we go!" she said stopping at a brightly colored building. The sign on the front read: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes
Dean and Sam stared bewilderedly at the sign. "Lizzie, where the hell are we?"
Lizzie smiled. "Remember that joke shop that I told you my friend runs? Well, this is it!" she said as she opened the door and walked inside.
The shop was packed with customers; Castiel, Dean, Lizzie and Sam could not get near the shelves, they gazed around, looking up at the boxes piled to the ceiling. Here were the Skiving Snackboxes that George and his late twin brother friend had invented and had tested on first years when Lizzie was a fifth year at Hogwarts.
Lizzie noticed that the Nosebleed Nougat was the most popular, with only one battered box left on the shelf.
There were bins full of trick wands, the cheapest, merely turning into rubber chickens, or pairs of briefs when waved, the most expensive, beating the unwary user around the head and neck, and boxes of quills which came in "Self-Inking," "Spell-Checking," and "Smart Answer," varieties.
A space cleared in the crowd, as Lizzie, who was holding Sam's hand, pushed her way to the counter, where a gaggle of delighted ten-year-olds was watching a tiny wooden man, slowly ascending the steps to a real set of gallows, both perched on a box that read, Reusable Hangman! Spell it, or he'll swing!
"Patentent Daydream Charms,"
Castiel and Dean had managed to squeeze to a large display near the counter and were reading the information on the back of the box, bearing a highly colored picture of a handsome youth and a swooning girl, who were standing on the deck of a pirate ship.
"One simple incantation, and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty minute daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson, and virtually undetectable! Side effects include vacant expressions, and minor drooling. Not for sale to under sixteens. Cool!" Dean said, grinning. "Fascinating!" Castiel agreed. "Wow!" said Lizzie who had come over to where Dean and Castiel were, Sam was right behind her.
"That really is extraordinary magic!"
"Lizzie!" said a voice as she turned. George Weasley walked up to her wearing a set of magenta robes that clashed horribly with his flaming hair. "I thought I heard your voice!" "Hi, George," said Lizzie as she shook George's hand. "And this must be Sam?" he asked as he held out his hand. "George Weasley – Lizzie and I went to school together," he said as Sam shook his hand. "That's my brother, Dean," said Sam as he jabbed a thumb at Dean who was still examining the daydream charms. "Who's the bloke in the trenchcoat then?" asked George curiously. "That's Castiel," said Lizzie. "How've you been George?"
"Oh, alright," said George although he had a saddened look on his face, and Lizzie knew immediately why: George had never really gotten over losing his twin brother Fred during the Battle at Hogwarts. She wanted to say something to comfort him, but couldn't think of anything.
"So what brings you back to Diagon Alley?" asked George. "We were at Ollivanders and thought we'd stop in," said Lizzie putting on a breathtakingly beautiful smile. George looked confused. "Needed a new wand?" he asked. Lizzie's smile widened as she shook her head. "No, there is this group of Dementors sucking out peoples' souls back in the States, and so I'm planning on teaching Sam, Dean, and Castiel how to cast a Patronus,"
George nodded, while smiling. He seemed to think it was a good idea. "Hey, Have you talked to Harry lately?" he asked a moment later. Lizzie frowned. "No," she said. "We haven't talked for – years, really."
"Dementors, you said were sucking out peoples' souls back in the States?" asked George. Lizzie nodded.
"Hmm," said George thoughtfully. "They don't normally stray far from Azkaban – why would they be roaming the States on a feeding spree?" Lizzie shrugged.
"That's what we intend to find out," she said.
Lizzie glanced at her watch and frowned. It was nearly four in the evening. "Oh, sorry, George. We've gotta be heading back soon," she said smiling apologetically.
George nodded as Lizzie led Sam, Dean and Castiel out of the shop.
Once they were outside, Lizzie held out her hand to Sam who took it, and Castiel and Dean put their hands on top of Sam's and held on as they Disapparated.
SPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPNSPN
They landed outside the motel where Sam, Dean and Lizzie had been staying as Lizzie took a room key from her pocket, walked to their room, with Sam Dean and Castiel at her heels, and slid the key into the door lock and opened the door. Someone had been in to tidy the room, as Lizzie dropped her purse on the dresser, turned to face Sam, Dean and Castiel, and clapped her hands together.
"So!" she said sounding business-like. "You wanna learn how to protect yourself from the Dementors,"
Sam Dean and Castiel nodded in unison. "Well, it's not gonna be easy," said Lizzie. "And it isn't gonna happen overnight either." She smiled at the look of disappointment on Dean's face. "The spell I am going to try and teach you guys is called the Patronus Charm. Ever hear of it?"
Sam, Dean and Castiel all shook their heads at once. "Ehh, of course you haven't," said Lizzie in an undertone. "Well, a Patronus is a kind of positive force, and for the witch or wizard who conjures one, it works like a shield, with a Dementor feeding on it rather than him…"
"Or her!" Sam piped up. Lizzie nodded. "Yep, or her," she said. "But in order for it to work, you need to think of a memory. Not just any memory, it has to be a very happy memory, and a very powerful memory. You think you guys can do this?"
Castiel, Dean and Sam nodded eagerly. "Very well," said Lizzie. "All three of you close your eyes," Castiel Dean and Sam obeyed. "Concentrate. Explore your past. You thought of something?"
Castiel nodded first, then Dean, then Sam. Lizzie nodded approvingly. "Allow it to fill you up, lose yourself within it, then speak the incantation: Expecto Patronum,"
"Expecto Patronum," Castiel, Dean, and Sam echoed in unison. "Good," said Lizzie. "You can open your eyes again,"
Sam, Dean, and Castiel opened their eyes and this time looked excited and determined to learn. "First I'm going to show you my Patronus," said Lizzie as she pulled her wand out from her pocket, and imagined Sam proposing to her. "Expecto Patronum!" she cried.
A silver peacock burst from the tip of Lizzie wand, and it landed on the floor. It walked a few paces before vanishing completely. Sam, Dean and Castiel were looking deeply impressed and couldn't wait to begin. But as Lizzie stowed her wand back into her the pocket of her jeans, she told them that it takes lots and lots of practice to cast a corporeal Patronus. "I started learning when I was only fifteen," she said.
"Why did you learn anyway?" asked Dean. "My friend was teaching a group of students how to cast Patronuses when we were in our fifth year at Hogwarts. It was a tough year for us because we had a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher that was foul enough to be a demon – thank God she wasn't! She wasn't let us use magic at all, and we had these huge exams coming up, so we invented this secret defense group we named 'Dumbledore's Army' or the D.A. for short so we could talk about it outside the meetings and no one would know what the hell we were talking about!"
"Clever!" said Dean. Lizzie smiled. "Okay! So, you've got your wands? Good!" said Lizzie as she nodded. "Dean, You go first."
Dean nodded as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, concentrating on the happy memory he chose to focus on as he raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" he shouted. A silvery vapor was cast from the tip of Dean's wand as Sam and Castiel watched in awe.
A moment later the silvery vapor vanished. "Good job, Dean!" Lizzie said happily. "That was definitely a good start!"
Dean beamed at her as Lizzie turned to Castiel. But he did not immediately raise his wand. "I don't feel comfortable doing this," he muttered. "Cas," said Lizzie. "I understand you feel awkward using magic when you disapprove of it, but this is the only thing that will protect you. Please try?"
She gave Castiel a begging, hopeful look, as Castiel nodded as he raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" A silver dove burst from the tip of Castiel's wand, flew around the room once and disappeared.
Lizzie was applauding. "Well done, Cas! Well done!" she said, looking extremely impressed that he managed to produce a corporeal Patronus on the first attempt.
Lizzie was still smiling as she turned to Sam. "Okay, Sam," she said. "Go ahead,"
Sam took a deep breath as he raised his wand. "Expecto Patronum!" A slight silvery vapor emitted from Sam's wand then quickly vanished. He looked incredibly disappointed as he turned back to Lizzie with an apologetic look on his face. "No, no!" Lizzie said encouragingly. "That wasn't bad! Keep trying!"
Sam nodded as he raised his wand again. "Expecto Patronum!" The silvery vapor emitted from Sam's wand tip again, a little stronger than before but it vanished again almost immediately. Lizzie was looking troubled. "Hmm," she said. "Sam, What were you thinking? Which memory did you choose?"
Sam gazed up at Lizzie. "The day we first met," he replied. Lizzie smiled. "You may want to select a different memory," she said. "That one doesn't seem to be strong enough. You are focusing, aren't you?"
"Yes!" said Sam as he wracked his brains for another happy memory.
"Try again," said Lizzie watching Sam closely as he raised his wand for a third time. "Expecto Patronum!" Sam yelled. The silvery vapor burst from Sam's wand again, and stayed there for half a minute before vanishing.
In the end, Sam felt discouraged, disappointed. He was focusing on his memory, and yet he could not produce a proper Patronus! Not in the way he imagined to anyway….
Sam went to bed that night wondering if he could ever learn how to produce a proper, corporeal Patronus – one strong enough to fight off the Dementors.