[Chapter 1: Dudley Demented]
It had been particularly hot today. It wasn't very nice having nowhere other than the old light house to go. I roamed everywhere in London, swiping food and clothes here and there. I was counting down the days until I could return to Hogwarts. It was lonely, to say the least. My faithful companion, Simba, was enough to keep me smiling.
Today, my black hair was in a ponytail, with a low bump at the front. I was wearing orange, grey, and white Nike high tops, skinny jeans that were washed, ripped, and paint splattered, a flowing strapless orange shirt, and a light gray sweater. I looked like a regular muggle teenager.
Sighing, I continued my path down the streets, occasionally kicking a rock and watching as Simba chased after it. Needless to say, Simba got a lot of double takes, and awestruck toddlers that would run after him, trying stroke his golden fur.
I walked further up a path, and saw a park. Deciding finally, that this would be my place for the night, I advanced forward.
I vaulted over the locked park gate and set off across the parched grass. Simba was able to slip through the gate, since he was so small.
Something Harry and Ron didn't know, was if Simba wanted to, or if I requested it (Yes. Somehow, Simba could understand me when I spoke to him. He possesses very many human qualities), he could grow to be bigger than an average sized cheetah. I'm guessing that's his defense mechanism.
The park was as empty as the surrounding streets. I couldn't help but to wonder why there were no children laughing and playing. It resembled that of a ghost town. These curious thoughts whirled around in my head, and my insides still writhed with sadness and longing as a sultry, velvety night fell around me, the air full of the smell of warm, dry grass, and the only sound that of the low grumble of traffic on the road beyond the park railings.
I was sitting on a bench opposite from that of the child's playset. It was because of this reason, I had not noticed someone sitting on the swing. I looked down and Simba had disappeared into the darkness after the figure. I tried to scrutinize who it was. It is very unlike Simba to be further than 3 feet from me.
I continued to stare at the figure, and all I could make out was dark hair, tall structure, and glasses.
"Simba?" The voice asked the jungle cat in a confused tone.
I began to make long strides across the gravel pit to confirm all of my suspicions on who this could be. The person became clearer and clearer as I neared.
Smiling ear to ear, "Harry?"
The boy looked up in response to his name, "Ash?"
I squeaked excitedly. He jumped up from the swing, startling Simba, and I ran to hug him. I had missed his hugs dearly. Harry had sprouted up quite a bit, though it looked as if they hadn't been feeding him as well as they should.
When we parted, Harry looked nothing short of furious, in contrast to how happy he had first been when seeing me.
"What's wrong?"
"Why didn't I hear from you, Acacia?!" He yelled, "It seems none of you talk to me!"
"Harry..." I whispered, "InkHeart is with Sirius. I don't have an owl handy, and I never stay in the same place. No one has been able to get in touch with me. Please don't be upset."
He sighed, "It's alright, I suppose. I'm sorry, I've just been a bit flustered lately. The Dursley's have that effect on me."
"It's fine." I beamed, "I'm just glad to see you!"
He smiled, and hugged me again.
I'm not sure how long Harry and I sat there, hugging, sharing smiles, and catching up before the sound of voices interrupted our reunion.
The streetlamps from the surrounding roads were casting a misty glow strong enough to silhouette a group of people making their way across the park. One of them was singing a loud, crude song. The others were laughing. A soft ticking noise came from several expensive racing bikes that they were wheeling along.
I watched the dark figures crossing the grass and wondered what they were up to.
They didn't turn around, they didn't see us, they were almost at the railings.
The voices of the gang died away; they were out of sight, heading along Magnolia Road.
"There you go, Sirius," Harry said dully. "Nothing rash. Kept my nose clean."
"Which is exactly the opposite of what he would've done." I giggled.
He got to his feet and stretched, "Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon think that whenever Dudley turns up is the right time to be home, and any time after that is too late. Uncle even threatened to lock me in the shed if I came home after Dudley ever again, so I should probably get home."
"Wait. Who's Dudley?"
"The boy in the front of that gang."
"Oh."
I felt a pang of sadness in my stomach. I didn't want Harry to leave, nor did I want to leave him with those awful people.
"I really am sorry, Ash." He frowned.
"It's okay." I sighed, "I'll walk you. Come on Simba, we're taking Harry home."
Magnolia Road, was full of large, square houses with perfectly manicured lawns, probably all owned by large, square owners who drove very clean cars. We walked quickly, and halfway along Magnolia Road Dudley's gang came into view again; they were saying their farewells at the entrance to Magnolia Crescent. Harry stepped into the shadow of a large lilac tree and yanked me right beside him, covering my mouth. What was so bad about a few delinquents?
"...squealed like a pig, didn't he?" One boy with bleached blonde hair, small nose, and huge ears was saying, to guffaws from the others.
"Nice right hook, Big D," said another.
"Same time tomorrow?" said Dudley.
"Round at my place, my parents will be out," said a boy who seemed only one half size smaller than Dudley.
"See you then," said Dudley.
"Bye, Dud!"
"See ya, Big D!"
Harry waited for the rest of the gang to move on before we set off again. When their voices had faded once more we headed around the corner into Magnolia Crescent and by walking very quickly we soon came within hailing distance of Dudley, who was strolling along at his ease, humming tunelessly.
"Hey, Big D!"
Dudley turned.
"Oh," he grunted. "It's you."
"How long have you been 'Big D' then?" said Harry.
I couldn't help but to wonder why Harry was egging him on. It was way out of character.
"Shut it," snarled Dudley, turning away.
"Cool name," said Harry, grinning and falling into step beside his cousin. "But you'll always be 'Ickle Diddykins' to me."
"I said, SHUT IT!" said Dudley, whose ham-like hands had curled into fists.
"Don't the boys know that's what your mum calls you?"
"Shut your face."
"You don't tell her to shut her face. What about 'Popkin' and 'Dinky Diddydums', can I use them then?"
"Harry shut it." I finally muttered, "Just don't even start. It's not worth it."
Dudley said nothing. The effort of keeping himself from hitting Harry seemed to demand all his self-control.
"Better listen to your pretty friend Harry." Dudley smirked, "I'm surprised a girl like that is even giving you the time of day. Say, what's your name anyway?"
"Acacia Ivory. People call me Ash."
"Why are you hanging out with the likes of him?"
"Because. He's one of my closest, dearest friends." I said.
Harry ignored mine and Dudley's small exchange
"So who've you been beating up tonight?" Harry asked. "Another ten-year-old? I know you did Mark Evans two nights ago--"
"He was asking for it," snarled Dudley.
"Oh yeah?"
"He cheeked me."
"Yeah? Did he say you look like a pig that's been taught to walk on its hind legs? 'Cause that's not cheek, Dud, that's true..."
A muscle was twitching in Dudley's jaw. Harry was making Dudley absolutely furious.
We turned right down the narrow alleyway which formed a short cut between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk. It was empty and much darker than the streets it linked because there were no streetlamps. Our footsteps were muffled between garage walls on one side and a high fence on the other. It was a very creepy feeling. I felt almost as if we were being pursued, and struggled to keep up with Harry and Dudley.
"Think you're a big man carrying that thing, don't you?" Dudley said after a few seconds.
"What thing?"
"'That--that thing you are hiding." Dudley glanced at me nervously as if he knew something I wasn't supposed to.
"Not as stupid as you look, are you, Dud? But I s'pose, if you were, you wouldn't be able to walk and talk at the same time..."
Harry pulled out his wand. He saw Dudley look sideways at it.
"You're not allowed," Dudley said at once. "I know you're not. You'd get expelled from that freak school you go to."
A low growl rippled through my chest. How dare he disrespect Hogwarts? The only home I've ever known.
"How d'you know they haven't changed the rules, Big D?" Harry taunted.
"'They haven't," said Dudley, though he didn't sound completely convinced.
Harry laughed softly, and I stifled a giggle.
"You haven't got the guts to take me on without that thing, have you?" Dudley snarled.
"Whereas you just need four mates behind you before you can beat up a ten year old. You know that boxing title you keep banging on about? How old was your opponent? Seven? Eight?"
"He was sixteen, for your information," snarled Dudley, and he was out cold for twenty minutes after I'd finished with him and he was twice as heavy as you. You just wait till I tell Dad you had that thing out--"
"Running to Daddy now, are you? Is his ickle boxing champ frightened of nasty Harry's wand?"
"Not this brave at night, are you?" sneered Dudley.
"This is night, Diddykins. That's what we call it when it goes all dark like this." Harry mocked a baby voice.
"I mean when you're in bed!" Dudley snarled.
He had stopped walking. Harry stopped too, staring at his cousin. All I could do was look in-between them unsurely.
From the little I could see of Dudley's large face, he was wearing a strangely triumphant look.
"What d'you mean, I'm not brave when I'm in bed?" said Harry, Completely nonplussed. "What--am I supposed to be frightened of, pillows or something?"
"I heard you last night," said Dudley breathlessly. "Talking in your sleep. Moaning."
"What d'you mean?" Harry said again.
There was a cold, plunging sensation in my stomach.
Dudley gave a harsh bark of laughter, then adopted a high-pitched whimpering voice.
"'Don't kill Cedric! Don't kill Cedric!' Who's Cedric--your boyfriend?"
I felt the downward spiral of my heart plumeting into my stomach. The tears began to burn my eyes, and then leak over. Harry was having nightmares again? This was not a good sign. It also doesn't help that they're about Cedric...
"I--you're lying," said Harry automatically.
'"Dad! Help me, Dad! He's going to kill me, Dad! Boo hoo!"
I was crying even harder now. I hated this boy. I had so much hatred for a stranger, it was unreal.
"Shut up," said Harry quietly. "Shut up, Dudley, I'm warning you!"
"'Come and help me, Dad! Mum, come and help me! He's killed Cedric! Dad, help me! He's going to--' Don't you point that thing at me!"
Dudley backed into the alley wall. Harry was pointing the wand directly at Dudley's heart.
"Harry Please!" I begged, grabbing his arm, but he yanked it away, "Please don't! You're going to get us in trouble."
"Don't ever talk about that again," Harry snarled to Dudley. "D'you understand me?"
"Point that thing somewhere else!"
"I said, do you understand me?"
"Point it somewhere else!"
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"
I had honestly never heard Harry's tone that loud or furious. It scared me thoroughly.
"GET THAT THING AWAY FROM--"
Dudley gave an odd, shuddering gasp, as though he had been doused in icy water.
Something had happened to the night. The star-strewn indigo sky was suddenly pitch black and lightless--the stars, the moon, the misty streetlamps at either end of the alley had vanished. The distant rumble of cars and the whisper of trees had gone. The balmy evening was suddenly piercingly, bitingly cold. We were surrounded by total, impenetrable, silent darkness, as though some giant hand had dropped a thick, icy mantle over the entire alleyway, blinding us.
For a split second I thought Harry had done magic without meaning to, despite the fact that he'd been resisting as hard as he could--then my reason caught up with my senses-- he didn't have the power to turn off the stars. I turned my head this way and that, trying to see something, but the darkness pressed on my eyes like a weightless veil.
Dudley's terrified voice broke the silence.
"W-what are you d-doing? St-stop it!"
"He's not doing anything! Shut up and don't move!" I snapped at him.
"I c-can't see! I've g-gone blind! I-"
"She said shut up!" Harry yelled.
We stood stock still, turning our sightless eyes left and right. The cold was so intense I was shivering all over; goose bumps had erupted up my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up- I opened my eyes to their fullest extent, staring blankly around, unseeing.
It was impossible.... They couldn't be here.... I had only read about them.... I strained my ears.... We would hear them before he saw them....
"I'll t-tell Dad!" Dudley whimpered. "W-where are you? What are you d-do--?"
"Shutup!" I hissed.
All fell silent. I had heard just the thing I had been dreading.
There was something in the alleyway apart from ourselves, something that was drawing long, hoarse, rattling breaths. I felt a horrible jolt of dread as we all stood trembling in the freezing air.
"C-cut it out! Stop doing it! I'll h-hit you, I swear I will!"
"Dudley, shut--"
WHAM!
A fist made contact with the side of Harry's head, lifting him off his feet.
"Harry!" I yelled, scuttling to his side.
"You moron, Dudley!" Harry yelled, his eyes watering with pain as he scrambled to his hands and knees, feeling around frantically in the blackness.
I heard Dudley blundering away, hitting the alley fence, stumbling.
"DUDLEY, COME BACK! YOU'RE RUNNING RIGHT AT IT!" I screamed.
There was a horrible squealing yell and Dudley's footsteps stopped. At the same moment, I felt a creeping chill behind Harry and I that could mean only one thing. There was more than one.
"DUDLEY, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! WHATEVER YOU DO, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! Wand!" Harry muttered frantically, his hands flying over the ground like spiders. "Where's--wand--come on--!"
I frumeted for my wand and when I reached it, "LUMOS!"
The light flared to reveal the wand was only with inches from his right hand. Harry snatched it up, scrambled to his feet and turned around.
My stomach turned over.
Two towering, hooded figures were gliding smoothly towards us, hovering over the ground, no feet or face visible beneath its robes, sucking on the night as they came.
Stumbling backwards, Harry and I both raised our wands.
"Expecto patronum!" Harry yelled.
A silvery wisp of vapour shot from the tip of the wand and the Dementors slowed, but the spell hadn't worked properly; Grabbing my arm and tripping over his own feet, Harry yanked me further as the Dementor bore down upon us, panic fogging my brain.
A pair of grey, slimy, scabbed hands slid from inside the Dementor's robes, reaching for me. It was then that I realized Harry and I had been separated. A rushing noise filled my ears.
"Expecto patronum!"
Harry's voice sounded dim and distant... Another wisp of silver smoke, feebler than the last, drifted from the wand of what I could see--he couldn't do it any more, he couldn't work the spell. I had never once produced a patronus charm.
There was laughter inside my own head, shrill, high-pitched laughter... I could smell the Dementor's putrid, death-cold breath filling my own lungs, drowning me-- Think... something happy... Maybe I could preform a charm... If only.
But there was no happiness in me. Not since the death of Cedric... the Dementor's icy fingers were closing on my throat--the high-patched laughter was growing louder and louder, and a voice spoke inside my head: "Bow to death, Acacia... It might even be painless... I would not know... I have never died..."
I was never going to see Ron and Hermione again, not Harry, not the twins. Who would care for Simba?--
And all of their faces burst clearly into my mind as I fought for breath.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
An enormous glittering Jungle Cat erupted from the tip of my wand; it's claws swiped the Dementor in the place where the heart should have been; it was thrown backwards, weightless as darkness, and as the cheetah charged, the Dementor swooped away, bat-like and defeated.
"THIS WAY!" I shouted at the Jungle Cat. Wheeling around, I sprinted down the alleyway, holding my lit wand aloft. "DUDLEY?"
I had run barely a dozen steps when I reached them: Dudley was curled up on the ground, his arms clamped over his face. A third Dementor was crouching low over him, gripping his wrists in its slimy hands, prising them slowly, almost lovingly apart, lowering its hooded head towards Dudley's face as though about to kiss him...
"GET IT!" Harry bellowed, limping behind me. He must have taken care of the other dementor while he and I got separated.
"Go!" I commanded, and with a rushing, roaring sound, the glittering Jungle Cat I had conjured came pouncing past me. The Dementor's eyeless face was barely an inch from Dudley's when the long and lethal claws caught it; the thing was slammed into the ground, like its fellow, it colleted itself, soared away, and was absorbed into the darkness; the Cheetah prowled to the end of the alleyway and dissolved into a glittering mist.
Moon, stars and streetlamps burst back into life. A warm breeze swept the alleyway. Trees rustled in neighbouring gardens and the mundane rumble of cars in Magnolia Crescent filled the air again.
Harry and I stood quite still, all my senses vibrating, taking in the abrupt return to normality. After a moment, all I could do was breathe heavily, listening as Simba came purring from an alley. Where had he just been?
I could not believe what had just happened. Dementors here, in Little Whinging. Also, that was the first time I had ever tried a patronis charm... And it actually worked.
Dudley lay curled up on the ground, whimpering and shaking. Harry bent down to see whether he was in a fit state to stand up, but then we heard loud, running footsteps behind us. Instinctively raising my wand again, I span on my heel to face the newcomer.
An old lady came panting into sight. Her grizzled grey hair was escaping from its hairnet, a clanking string shopping bag was swinging from her wrist and her feet were halfway out of her tartan carpet slippers. I made to stow my wand hurriedly out of sight, but--
"Don't put it away, Acacia!" she shrieked. "What if there are more of them around? Oh, I'm going to kill Mundungus Fletcher!"
I looked down to Harry and Simba. Both of which looked as shocked as I did.