A/N: A big thanks to those who have reviewed. You guys just made my day! Here's the latest chapter in the story. I think I have done a decent job of writing while improving steadily. Let me know what you think.

A/N 1: Probably won't be seeing Lord Azkaban again. He's dead. I have planned something for Azkaban in general though.

Disclaimer: I always strive to be original but, given the amount of HP fan-fiction out there, almost everything has probably been done before. Oh and I don't own Harry Potter, they belong to Jk.

Five years passed swiftly and Baba Yaga roamed freely in Diagon Alley. Many things had come to pass since the time she chose to settle here, in Great Britain. She had made excellent contacts to the Apothecary- Slug & Jiggers and Flourish and Blotts. She would go and provide rare potion ingredients and in turn get store credit and galleons for her 'trouble.' For two years she stood and watched the hustle and bustle in the streets. She was absolutely fascinated in the ordered trade now going on. Parents with their children used to frolic at the end of August, talk about going to 'Magical School' called Hogwarts.

Her purpose was simple at first, watch the people going about their lives and learn from it. After a month she was familiar with the 'regular' people and occasionally she would come across people from 'upper class' the nobles as she put it. She was curious and watched intently as they strut around the place like they owned it. At first she wanted to lash out, hang them by their necks but she found that people would respect them, most of them anyways.

This not the case when she was around; Nobles would frown upon common masses like they were dirt under their shoes. People would cower under their gaze, and feared for their lives. Here, they would go on their business and would often say a witty remark or two, without fear or reprisal! After two years she had got a basic understanding of the workings of the street. She was not above reading people's mind, and took liberty on going through the memories of unsuspecting victims. From there she got more comfortable on how to act in public and what did it mean being respectful in current world.

She learnt how Purebloods come to possess the power they wield, and how they usually used it. Here, it was more about social status and image; she also found out that people didn't have magical prowess to back up their image. Instead, people boasted about their family legacy to back up their image; they did little to improve them. The noble's were now nothing but businessmen not keen to learn or develop magical abilities further.

She was saddened by it. It appeared that wizarding world had stalled from progress. She did take in fact that the country was still recovering from a civil war but it did nothing to improve her mood. People now thoroughly depended on wands and could not think of a way to cast magic otherwise! Baba Yaga reasoned to herself that this was the condition in todays Great Britain and she would have to accept it as it is. But she would not accept these beliefs as her own.

Thus the duels she was so familiar with didn't result often in this time or place. She found out more about 'Wizengamot' as she had heard from dementors. But most importantly she learnt about the 'Dark Lord' whose name was so feared that they wouldn't even speak of it. Even when he was dead. She scoffed at him when she had learnt he targeted muggles and muggle born. To her attacking the weak was a sign of weakness. She also learnt that 'ordinary people' had made great development and had weapons powerful enough to destroy entire countries.

But for now, she focused on the magical community and was at least reassured the ministry took the 'Statute of Secrecy' very seriously. Thus, after two years of constant observation, she had dressed and made her way to the Apothecary store. She smiled at memory that had occurred at that time.

The store owner was going about his business and paid no special attention to her. She had chosen the store very carefully. She had to connect to the wizarding Britain and she would need something to provide to it. Apothecary Store was the perfect opportunity in her eyes. She had rare ingredients and whatever she didn't have she could get it.

The eel's skin she provided didn't raise any eyebrows, but as she proceeded to her more exotic collection, the shop keeper began looking appraisingly at her. At their end of the bargain, the shopkeeper's eyes had glazed over as he considered his profit in the trade. Thus Baba Yaga had walked out of the shop, with a heavy purse and a useful contact.

Now as she walked again in the store, just as she did every Monday at noon. Shopkeeper looked up and instantly his demeanor brightened considerably.

"What brings you here Mrs. Gretel?" Rollin Jiggers asked politely. Inwardly he was looking eager for today's trade. Every week Yaga would go to the 'marketplace' as she called and do business with that store.

"The business as usual Mr. Jiggers." Baba Yaga had adopted a clever name, for the business. (This is the alter-identity for her. In public she will be referred by that name.)

"Please, call me Rollin, Mrs. Gretel. We have been doing business since three years. " He said in amusement.

"And I've told you to call me Gretchen, Mr. Jiggers." Her eyes sparkled of mischief.

"So what have you brought for me today, Mrs. Gretel?" Rollin said as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Yaga smirked to herself; he was so under her charm. At first Yaga was reluctant to do business in general but when she found appreciation and as her contacts grew, she was pleased. Now, she was respected and most of the shopkeepers used to keep an eye out for her.

"Piece of Dementor cloth, eyes of water snake, fang of an ash-winder, and bone of dragon." She took out the collected ingredients and placed them gently on the table. As expected, Rollin's eyes glazed over as he lifted each item to examine it carefully. For a potion master, ingredients are synonymous to gold. Only they know the true value of the ingredients and their importance in potion making. Yaga herself had grown to be a good potion mistress herself.

"Where did you find a piece of Dementor cloth?" Rollin almost cried out in delight, he desperately wanted to know of such things but his efforts were rebuffed every time. Dementor cloth was almost rare to find, and while it was a small piece about a square inch, it could be used in potions as an alternative to various substitutes. It was effective in keeping potion cool and could absorb light from surroundings. Yaga had found it useful for several of her potions which reacted to presence of light.

"You know the deal, Mr. Jiggers." Yaga reminded gently.

"Yes, yes I know." Rollin muttered.

"So…? How much for all of them?" Yaga said, before Rollin could dwell in darker thoughts. She was sad to part with dragon bone but she had made use of her dragon and was now selling the scraps.

"Well, eyes and fang usually go around 20 galleons each." Rollin said matter-of-factly. He met Yaga's eye for a brief time and added further.

"But since the eye is of water snake and the fang is of ash-winder I'll add five galleons each."

"Five?" Yaga said innocently.

"Fine eight galleons!" Rollin said exasperatedly. He shook his head in bewilderment. She would always play innocent and then question him about prices, knowing the actual prices on the street. Baba Yaga let go, knowing full well he should pay at least a galleon more. It was their part of the deal. He doesn't question her trade and her name as a trader is kept secret. Yaga did offhandedly comment that she was a regular visitor to that Asian Continent and Rollin didn't question more.

"The Dementor cloth is rare, so you should be satisfied with 100 galleons." Rollin said with whatever confidence he could muster. Yaga nodded in understanding. 100 galleons was a lot of money and she would be content with it.

"The bone of dragon, not in use particularly but could be useful in some potioneers. Ah well 20 galleons."

"20 galleons and add hair of unicorn tail in return. Also, put in some cedar with it." Yaga said.

Rollin thought about the exchange and nodded affirmatively in response. Yaga collected the unicorn hair and cedar and proceeded to leave. There was one last ritual she had to perform; the years hadn't been kind on her and pain would grip her at odd times. She blamed the rituals for it, but it had made her 'sane' as she put it. The nagging voice had faltered and receded back. She had also used a pendant which contained purified water. It had come in handy in calming her down when she felt bouts of anger.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Mrs. Gretel." Rollin said bidding her.

"Likewise!" Yaga added as she left. Rollin had a contentment smile as she walked out. For the past three years his popularity had increased significantly. He would enjoy haggling Potion Master Severus Snape for rare potion ingredients. It also helped to watch in amusement while he would question his source and Jigger would politely refuse. The rest of the Apothecary's nearby were fuming as most of the customer's preferred his shop.

Yaga made her way to 'Flourish and Blotts' for purchase of various texts. Yaga smirked when she felt warding on the books after she had 'bought' every book from him the first time. Now she was his biggest customer; she would buy books by kilos and devoured in her free time.

The sun was still high when Yaga made her way back to her home. She had an entire day free before she would perform the rite. She muttered about how she had to do all the work around here and how she wanted an animated corpse to do all the work while she could read in peace. She sat down in her garden restored to former glory and sang a melodious tone as she opened a new book.

Magic had changed significantly from her days, as Yaga compared. It was more 'ordered' than the loose form she was accustomed of practice. What she would usually do with the help of rituals or from complex sigils; it could done with much less effort by using wand or specific spells. Yaga was happy with the modes of transportation developed by the wizards. In her time, wizards didn't have luxury of 'apparition' as now, but they had to carve out runes at specific places in order to transport. Even that transport was not without risk. Here, the only risk would be 'splinching', while in older transport there was a significant chance of death or get transfered to a diffrent plane. They would prefer to ride on animals when they were to commute on long journey.

The change was brought by 'four founders' as the book said. Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin, were said to be pioneers in establishing modern fundamentals of magic. She loved slytherin most out of all the 'founders' as the book put it. Few days before, she had been experimenting with the "unforgivable's." Not many spells would capture her attention but this one did. There was something inherently wrong with the spell and she being a necromancer knew exactly what death felt like. It felt as if death had personally come to take the intended target away. And then she felt uneasy as a curious sensation had gripped her. She filed the information for later use.

She wondered at the boy who supposedly survived the killing curse. She had less faith in the books now, as she had read her own history in 'Feared Dark Lords(Lady) of All Time'. The book portrayed her as a child-eater; admittedly she had eaten children but not often as the book said. This book had said that she used to eat them all the time; for breakfast, lunch and dinner! How preposterous was that! None of her exploits were mentioned, and she was portrayed as deranged witch worse, a hag! The only thing right about was, she had managed to be feared among the masses of people.

She had now fairly outlined what she would do and was committed in doing it. The food recipe for Dementor was almost ready; she would wait for the purification rite to be completed and then she would make the pudding for them. Then she would check out the house at the 'Godric's Hollow' where the Potter's stayed and try to determine what exactly happened. She also had vague plans to establish herself as lordship to some 'Ancient and Noble House'. She had felt Azkaban call to her but resisted in doing so. Her diet mostly consisted of vegetables and meat was out of the question. She sighed as she watch sun wane. Soon it would be time for her final ritual; soon she could rest in peace knowing that she had paid the price of all the suffering she had caused. Over the course of five years she had been burdened with pain. Intense, suffocating pain for a long amount of time. The body and magic absolutely refused to accept the change, but slowly she managed to make a 'dent' and the transformation began.

Yes, fate had been cruel in lashing out for her deeds, and that was putting it lightly. There were times when she wanted to die, to end it all but she persevered through and came out shining. Now, it was the time for final ritual, a ritual to reconnect with nature- the ritual which she was looking forward to. In the past she had connected to a specific part of nature's attribute; death and decay. She looked forward to reconnect with all aspects of nature.

The sun waned further and she wondered if the sins she committed would truly wash away.

Baba Yaga collected the necessary ingredients for the rituals and placed them carefully into her basket. She had found out the ideal location for performing the ritual. It was in the forest near scotland. With a pop she disapparated and apparated in the forest. Her first task was to find a pond, before the moon climbed its peak. Cool winds gently breezed through her open hair. The soothing current encouraged her to pursue current task at her hand.

As she walked deeper in the woods, she smelt the air getting damped. The constant chirps of the forests and the Hoot Peckers provided a pleasant distraction on the way. The dense woods didn't allow the moonlight to shine over. The forest was imposing at the night time and she felt the woods closing in on her. Flashes of that night passed through her brain as she recalled the similarity of the woods here and in Slavic colonies. The ambient energy was everywhere and she could hear gentle hum of their own brand of magic.

She noticed kappas and understood that lake wasn't far from here. If she didn't find a lake she would have to perform the ritual in a clearing. Yaga interpreted Kappa's nature correctly and it managed to lure her near water. She banished it with the help of makeshift wood with unicorn tail hair as core. She proceeded to set ward stones around the lake and prepared for the ritual and took off her garments.

Gritting her teeth, Yaga waded into the pond, teeth chattering her feet squelching into the soft mud, which felt good on her toes. The middle of the pond was about four feet deep, and the water came up a little past Yaga's waist. She halted when he was in the center of the pond. She turned to face north.

"I call upon the element of air, and the wind of the north, which purifies and cleanses with its freezing breath. Come, air!" She waved the smudge stick downwards and suddenly there came a whoosh of freezing wind that rattled the branches of the rowans and caused her to shiver uncontrollably. Yaga ignored the gust, then moved on to the east, moving clockwise about his apprentice.

"I call upon the element of water, the liquid of creation. Out of water we are born and sustained. It purifies and heals. Come, water!"

The pond began to stir and a geyser of water shot up near Yaga's feet, dousing her with its spray, which was somehow warm. The drops clung to her in a glistening garment. Yaga continued down to the south quadrant.

"I call upon the element of fire, the spark of creation, whose light shall drive back the shadows and reveal the secrets of the dark. Come, fire!"There was a blast of heat and the stick of white sage entwined with lavender, sweetgrass, and cedar began to glow stridently. She could feel his skin prickle with heat, though he was standing in the middle of a pond. Yaga moved to the last cardinal point and intoned.

"I call upon the element earth, the giver of life, nurturer of wisdom. Out of earth we come and to earth we return. Grant us the safety of your embrace. Come, earth!"

Green shoots began to spring up out of the water and she could smell freshly turned soil and the perfume of thousands of flowers. She inhaled and the heady scent of spring flowers filled her the pond was a glittering multi-colored circle-spring green and amber for earth, crimson and orange for fire, white and blue for air, turquoise and silver for water. It reflected off the water in a dazzling kaleidoscope.

Then Yaga said in that calm measured intonation, "I call upon the fifth and last element, spirit, the eternal flame that burns within all of us, a fire kindled by truth and magic. Help me to know ourselves truly and grace us with understanding. Come, spirit!"

A purple glow began to pulse from the wand he held and settled over her like a cloak and when it touched him, she felt all his doubts vanish. She felt serene, as if he were being held in his mother's arms, safe from harm, and at the same time she could see with her inner eye the pulsing glowing aura of magic deep inside.

"I ask the elements to help me cleanse and purify and banish the taint of evil forever. By the power of the sacred sage, lavender, cedar, and sweetgrass, let my spirit be renewed, my heart be pure. Let the sins wash away. Let me be… forgiven!"

As if her words were a catalyst, Yaga felt something give way within her and suddenly tears were running down her cheeks. Relief swept through her in a ferocious wave. Her heart pulsated with warmth and it felt good. It made her feel alive and she collapsed on the floor sobbing and laughing. It was such a joy to her and never she had felt more alive than she did now.

Unknown to her, various creatures crept through to watch her perform a ritual. Centaurs, wood-spirits, and water spirits watched the renewal process with unreadable expression. Owls and hawks perched on the trees, unicorn and thestrals at the opposite end of the circle.

Unicorn made its way slowly to her and Yaga looked up to see in its black eyes. For a moment no one moved and various emotions went through her. She hadn't seen unicorns since she was a little girl and seeing it upclose took her breath away. Doubt surged in her as she met its gaze. The ritual had revealed her true face, and her lack of beauty. She had considered it a curse and never had shown her hideous face again. Now, as she watched her hands and touched her cheeks she was sure that they were rough and hard as before. She pinched the bridge of her nose and found it somewhat elongated and hooked.

Tears of shame trickled down her cheeks as she tore her gaze away and looked at the ground beneath. Unicorn proceeded to lick her hand gently and then her cheeks. She grew stiff for a moment and then burst into more tears- tears of gratitude. To her amazement she found the skin getting softer and her hands getting younger. Unicorn departed swiftly and soon thestral made its way towards her. Unlike the unicorn, thestral nuzzled her and then bit on her forearm. Before Yaga could think of what had happened, a mark appeared on her forearm. In the back of her mind, she knew this mark or at least the significance of it.

Sleep wafted over her and she slept soundly for first time since she was freed.

A/N: Thanks for reading and leave a review! It helps me improve!