CHAPTER 11
Verena hissed angrily as she spoke, taking Albus by the hand and pulling him along behind her, "I'm going to have to have a word with Professor Groset about this tommorow. He should have known better then to ask you to meet some one in the Meeting Room, when he knows perfectly well the consequences at hand."
Albus was staring at the walls as he walked with Verena. Albus could sense the presence of the Accusers within the walls around him, even more so now then before. He could even tell if they were the reformed Accusers like Gillia and her people or the bad ones like those who had chased him around the Quidditch pitch and then later into the Meeting Room. Suddenly, as Verena was still talking to Albus, Verena suddenly ran into Amphoria Beeblewing, the Herbology teacher, who was on her way to the Headmaster's office.
Verena soon spoke, "Amphoria? Why on earth are you going to Professor Titch's office at this hour? Unless of he summoned you."
Amphoria looked at Albus, then back at Verena, "I was about to ask you the same thing! He didn't summon you to his office! And besides, I have a reason to go to his office. I had heard about what happened to the Albus boy and came to collect him."
Verena glared at Amphoria a moment, then continued, "Now why would you want to do that? Besides, I have already claimed him, as you can see."
Amphoria looked at Albus again as if she wanted to fight Verena for him. Her stare was unlike any stare that Albus had seen from her before and it made Albus feel uneasy. Anphoria looked back at Verena again and spoke, "You claimed him? Now why would you want to claim him? I feel that since my plant attacked him, I should be the one to claim him and bring him back to my chamber. I owe that much to the boy."
Verena raised an eyebrow as she spoke, "Your plant, Amphoria? How interesting. I have been wanting to ask you where you got that plant, since that particular species of Ficus no longer exists in the Living world as far as I know. And is it just me or are you taking a bit to much interest in young master Albus?"
While Verena and Amphoria continued talking, Albus suddenly felt the urge to look around Amphoria at something. Albus wasn't quite sure what it was, but knew for certain that there was something ominous looming behind Amphoria just around the corner. Albus then looked back at Amphoria, suddenly nervous about the whole situation.
Albus quickly hugged close to Verena as Amphoria continued, "The boy should come with me, Professor Witchazel. I need his help with something."
Verena's brow rose a little as she continued, "Oh? And what is that then? I'm afraid the boy will be of no use to you right now and he needs to rest. Besides, he doesn't have a wand to protect himself with."
Amphoria was started to sound impatient now, "I'll provide him a wand if he will come along with me."
Albus shook his head as Verena continued, "I'm afraid that is impossible for the moment. Perhaps tomorrow when he is feeling more up to it?"
Amphoria narrowed her eyes and began to speak louder, "But I need the boy to come with me now!"
Albus suddenly heard voices coming from the wall, whispering at him. One of the voices sounded like Gillia as it spoke, "Albus, run. Run away! Amphoria is not who she seems. Hurry, run away, quickly. Run to the broom cupboard next to the Great Hall. I will be there to collect you and keep you safe until Verena deals with Amphoria! Go, run away now!"
Albus then looked back at Amphoria and glared at her, "Are you...? I should have seen it before!" Albus cried and quickly ran away going toward the cupboard nearest to the Great Hall. Amphoria made a lung after him, but Verena held her back, looking at Albus curiously. He ran and finally found his way to and into the broom cupboard near the Great Hall. When Albus had entered the broom cupboard, he had noticed that a spot on the wall was glowing slightly. Then a voice called out to him.
It was the familiar voice of Gillia, "Verena will not be able to hold the imposter back for long. This is your chance to live peacefully within the walls of Hogwarts without being in fear of your life. It is time for you to sleep. Then tomorrow, we will guide you around the castle. With your senses heightened, you will be able to see outside the walls and listen to all that is spoken, but no one will notice you unless you speak to them. You need not worry about missing any of your classes since you will be able to glide through the walls freely to any class you like, except Herbology. You will be able to visit all the Common Rooms and see whatever you wish to hear and see. But no one outside the walls will hear or see you unless you wish it so. Come on, you will be kept safe here, until we feel that it is time for you to return to the outside world. Do not be sad, young master Albus, for you will see your friends and family again, when the time comes. Take my hand, I'll show you what I mean."
Suddenly, a hand came out of the wall and took hold of Albus's hand. He was then brought into to walls and sealed within them. For the first time since learning about his powers, he felt genuinely safe within the walls, as if a warm blanket had suddenly wrapped around him and was hugging him close. He no longer felt the need to fear or to worry. Albus felt genuinely at peace and could now truly breath a sigh of relief. Within the walls, Albus lost all sense of need and want. He felt detached from the physical world, but still attached to it spiritually. It was clear to Albus that while being in the walls, you feel no need for anything and want for nothing. And instead of food and drink to sustain him, it was life energy that sustained him. He felt freer in the walls then had ever felt before and as the days quickly flowed into weeks, he continued to learn more and more about the ways of Accusers (both reformed and otherwise) and there ways of life and doing things. And for all that time, he felt no need to leave to safety of the walls. During his time in the walls, he shared lessons with other Accuser children who would come with him to his classes, which he would listen to whilst in the walls. And he often found it amusing listening to his lesson whilst within the ceiling, which seemed wrong in many ways. His perception and his perspective of the outside world dramatically changed and felt an even closer bond and kinship with nature and the living world.
Whenever those Accusers left the walls to visit the Dark Forest, they would take him with them whenever he wanted to go with them and travel underground through the roots of the plants and trees, often going up into the trunks of the trees to get a better view of the world outside. Since he didn't seem to have a body at the moment, this was fairly easy for him to do. And all during this time, Albus began to understand the powers of the Auranan, which were the powers of life itself in its purest and untamable form.
But there was one thing that Albus finally knew all to well about Accusers, they loved and cared just like humans did. They would fall in love and have children and raise them just like humans would. So in some ways, Accusers were no different from humans, except for the fact that they often spoke in their native language, which Albus would learn quickly as well. However, he had yet to learn how to read the symbols in his potions book which were written upon the borders of some of the pages. Though this didn't at all mean that he had not learned what some of the symbols were and of there meanings. However, he had yet to transform into what he would eventually become, which would not occur until he was much older.
Soon, before Albus knew it, it was time for the Hogwarts Christmas Feast, a feast that he was quite eager to attend, one way or another.
Albus had soon left the walls to go to the Christmas Feast, when a thought occurred to him: If the Reformed Accusers in the wall could feel that he was there, couldn't the evil ones as well? This thought plastered itself to his mind as he went to the feast amid lots of people gaping at him: No doubt the whole school had heard his story. Not like Albus cared; it wasn't like it was their business. He walked with a swiftness that was befitting of him to the Great Hall, which somehow looked just as impressive from this point of view as it did from the walls. He could feel the Accusers, good and bad, hovering in the walls near him.
The evil Accusers didn't worry him just now; he felt that the good Accusers were more than a match for them. The feast was delicious, and Albus was soon full. The idea was still plastered in his mind; seemingly making him not so eager to re-enter the walls. He didn't think he would feel so safe there anymore. So he went up to the Gryffindor Common Room with Rose and James, feeling happy outside the walls as he hadn't felt in ages. He just hoped that there was nothing waiting for him there. Unfortunately, he had no wand, nothing to really protect him and it seemed the word got out to everyone who was after him that his powers had been unlocked.
Fortunately for Albus, James had been helping Professor Titch keep a record of what had been going on in the castle ever since Albus went into the walls over two months ago and James soon began to explain everything during Albus's absence, "It's been awfully quiet in the castle since you left. Most of the Accusers that had been following Mapheria have long since left the castle ever since Mapheria was scared off by Verena on the night you went into the walls. It is highly unlikely that she will be back in the castle anytime soon. There are only a few determined Accusers left in the walls that would still see you in the hands of Mapheria, but they are so weak now that they would not cause you any trouble if you were to go back into the walls. And believe me, no one would blame you if you did.
There are still a few reports of this man you said caught you down in the Meeting Room, but so far he hasn't been seen around here as of late. At least for now, Albus, nothing and no one will be bothering you or trying to attack you. I heard that Professor Witchazel was planning on taking you to Hogsmeade once you left the wall for the holidays. Something about a Christmas present of sorts she was going to get you. Do you think there is any truth to that? She really doesn't seem to type to be handing out Christmas presents."
"I think," Albus began, "that this 'gift' is likely something unusual. It seems she makes a few exceptions where I am concerned. It might even be that she is taking me to get a new wand, or train me to use the power of the Auranan now that it's unlocked."
He went up to the Gryffindor Common Room and knew that the Accusers that surrounded the walls around him were good, and the few that were bad were weakened, all right. But what Verena did to scare Mapheria off was beyond him at the moment. After a while, Verena soon sent a letter to Albus, asking him to meet her at the back courtyard to Hogwarts around 7:00pm. Albus sneaked his way out of the Gryffindor Common Room and walked towards the back entrance to Hogwarts, which lead into the back courtyard beyond it. However, Albus was unaware that James and Rose were following close behind him and did not notice them. Once at the back entrance, he soon caught sight of Verena, along with her three children and a taller cloaked figure next to her. Albus determined that this figure was either Dezzer or Severus Snape. A heavy snow had fallen the day before, covering over everything that Albus could see.
Snow was falling even still, as Verena soon noticed Albus walking across the courtyard and spoke coolly, crossing her arms, "Well, well. Look who's finally decided to come out of the walls children. It's your student, young master Albus."
Cyrus and his siblings soon turned and cried out his name before running up to him and surrounding him. Verena scoffed in disgust while the taller shrouded figured groaned. They simply were not use to cheerful outbursts, but understood the reason for them since the children had been missing Albus. The children seemed unusually excited and cheerful when they first came up to Albus, but quickly went back to there usual selves once they were surrounding Albus. Cyrus placed his arms behind his back and spoke as Albus began to slowly walk around them, going towards Verena, "Merry Christmas, young master Albus. We are so glad that you are finally out of the walls. But it is likely that you might find yourself back in them if it gets to exciting around here again."
Darius quickly ran around to the front of Albus and raised a neatly wrapped parcel in front of him, "Me, Evangeline and Cyrus have a present for you, young master Albus. It use to belong to our father. We hope you like it."
Darius placed the parcel in Albus's hands and waited for Albus to open it. Albus unwrapped the parcel and soon found his eyes upon one of the most beautiful button suede cloaks he'd ever seen before. It was iridescent purple in color, with shades of violet, brown, tan, dark blue, maroon and sliver flake running throughout. It looked as though stardust had fallen from the sky and had buried itself in the cloth of the cloak, lightly sparkling and shimmering. It had a bright sliver vine pattern sewn throughout, brownish-tan silk edges and wide collar. Pure sliver buttons also itched with the vine pattern made up the rest of the cloak.
"Wow...this is really nice...Thanks!" Albus said in surprise. He never got the feeling before that any of them really liked him, but he was grateful all the same. "We're going to Hogsmeade then? And I rather think I ought to visit Ollivander's...for a new wand, like..." Albus said.
Cyrus continued, "The cloak will grow with you, Mr. Potter. Growing larger and longer as you age."
Albus walked up to Verena as she spoke, "We Snapes like in our own way, Mr. Potter. But only because it is Christmas and that you are our special case. And as for going to Ollivander's, we aren't going to that wand shop. We're going to a rather special wand shop in Hogsmeade. I suppose you know who is standing next to me don't you?"
"Is it Dezzer, or is it Snape?" Albus asked, somewhat awkwardly.
A familiar voice hissed out from underneath the man's hood, "I thought it was obvious as to who I was, Potter!"
"Oh...Sorry, sir." Albus said to Snape. They soon began to walk to Hogsmeade, where the wand shop he would be visiting was. Verena spoke to Albus about things as they were walking to Hogsmeade. Severus walked on the opposite side of Verena, holding Darius's hand and listening. Cyrus and Evangeline walked behind them as Verena continued, "I suppose you're wondering what happened on the night you went into the walls, Mr. Potter. About how I managed to scare Mapheria and her followers away."
"I actually was fairly curious. It seemed a bit hard to believe that one person was able to scare Mapheria and her followers off, especially after how desperate she was getting. How did you do it?" Albus asked curiously. He didn't mind being curious about this when it seemed that Verena wanted to tell him.
Verena smiled mischievously as she spoke, "I threatened to feed her to Severus's familiar if she ever set foot in the castle again. And without Mapheria, those loyal to her will not bother you."
The children giggled quietly as Severus pulled back his hood and smirked.
"So you're sure that she will not be able to get at me in the castle from now on?" Albus asked lazily, his mind still on the prospect of getting a new wand.
Verena continued, "Of course not, at least as long as Severus's familiar is around. I suppose your wondering who Severus's familiar is and about who that man was that captured you in the Meeting Room earlier. And of course how I managed to bring Severus back to life."
"Yes, actually, I'd say I am wondering about those things." said Albus, who had hoped Verena would bring it up.
Verena continued, "Well as for Severus's familiar, Mr. Potter. You might have noticed him hanging around Hagrid's Hut as of late or hiding about in the treeline behind Hagrid's Hut and giving Hagrid a hard time. We're going to see Hagrid after we leave the wand shop and look around Hogsmeade a while for supplies. Hagrid informed me that he has a present for you as well. And as for bringing Severus back to life, that is a long story that started about 24 years ago.
Me and Severus are old schoolmates you see. While we were in school, I chased after Severus one day after your grandfather and his friends drove him to the Crying Ruins. Their are once-evil spirits in the rocks of the ruins you see, trapped in there by Godric Gryffindor himself. The rocks weep water and moan you see, because of the spirits trapped in them, hence the name. I came back to Hogwarts in 1990 and used my own special charms on Severus. We were married in 1994. Cyrus and Evangeline came after 1998, 9 years later, and Darius the year after that.
All that time prior to Severus's death I knew of what would become of Severus. I made a batch of Resurrection Potion and used it to bring Severus back after he died in the Boathouse. I of course waited for you father and his friends to leave the Boathouse before I went in. I wasn't about to let your father see me, since I had been watching him since he started school at Hogwarts. And as for man that captured you in the Meeting Room, we'll explain more about him when we get to Hogsmeade."
"Oh, so that's the thing I saw Hagrid with the other day!" said Albus, clapping his hand to his forehead. That made sense. Albus wasn't very glad that he couldn't hear about the man who had captured him and unlocked his powers, though. Even months later, he felt a trickle of fear at how easily he had gotten himself captured, and how completely hopeless the situation had been.
...CONTINUED...CHAPTER 12...
