CHAPTER 12: MAPHERIA'S CHASE (PART 1)

EXT. TO INT. GRISPELL'S CURIOS SHOP, KNOCKTURN ALLEY - EARLY EVENING (SEPT. 1ST, 2018)

Ever since his friend Torvellos was killed by Lady Mapheria in the Dark Forest 22 years ago, Grispell was trying to avoid his former mistress and his supposed fate as much as possible. For the past 22 years, he was living in fear that his former mistress would come back and reclaim him. And just as Mapheria had predicted many years before, Grispell was still running the curios shop that he and Torvellos once shared, only it had be moved to a spot hidden from the ever watchful eyes of Mapheria and her followers. Grispell was an Animagus and a Death Eater that was once loyal to Mapheria and who had been punished by Lady Mapheria after he was caught spying for the Ministry Of Magic.

For this reason, Grispell was cursed with being stuck in a hybrid Animagus form between human and two animal forms, looking like something crossed between a black cat and a spider monkey, but with the pale face of a human being and small pointed ears and large innocent looking eyes. He had long bony limbs, a long whip-like tail and small sunken hands with sharp pointed fingernails. Though Grispell was now 22 years older, he still dreamed of the day when he could become human again and with any luck, he would find a wife and settle down. He was sharing and running his curios shop with the help of a young wizard couple and their House-Elf, Mogwoe. Though House-Elf enslavement had ended for the most part a few years back, there were still some House-Elves who preferred to remain under the thumb of their owners, simply because their owners treat them well or because they have nowhere else to go.

In the curios shop, Grispell was sitting on his haunches on the front counter, holding a narrow pointed quill pen with his tail and writing with it in an old leather book. Then Mogwoe, a swat, little House-Elf with long limbs, a large head, large pointed ears, large yellow eyes and a light complexion, walked out of the back room and jumped up onto the counter. Mogwoe was wearing torn grey-green rags and a small, torn hooded cloak, covering his body all the way to his knobby knees.

Mogwoe then spoke with a low, rasping voice, "Master Grispell, my master and mistress have informed me that it is time to close up the shop for the night. May I have the keys to the shop so that I may lock the door?"

"Very well, Mogwoe," said Grispell in a soft, nervous voice, "You may lock the door and go home."

And with that, Mogwoe jumped down from the front counter and opened up a drawer to fetch the keys. Grispell then watched as Mogwoe dragged a chair along with him and braced it up against the front door, jumping up on it and turning to lock the door. After locking the door, Mogwoe jumped down from the chair and pushed it over to the side so it wouldn't be in the way. Mogwoe spoke once more as he came back to the front counter with the keys, "Mogwoe likes helping his master and mistress and master Grispell to take care of the shop. Mogwoe likes nothing more to do but to guard the shop when master Grispell is away. But Mogwoe worries about master Grispell and hopes that master Grispell may one day become human again."

"I can only hope for that, Mogwoe. But I know it may never happen, for only Lady Mapheria can make me human again and Lady Mapheria wishes nothing more than to kill me." said Grispell as he used his long tail to take the keys back from Mogwoe. He then used his tail to open the drawer and placed the keys back into it, closing it with his tail after.

"Mogwoe has heard stories about master Grispell's old mistress. Mogwoe will protect master Grispell from his old mistress if master Grispell wishes. Does master Grispell wish for Mogwoe to stay and guard the shop tonight?"

"Thank you, but not tonight, Mogwoe. I'm going to be here rather late tonight, so your presence here is not needed. You may go home with your master and mistress."

"Thank you, master Grispell. Mogwoe will go home with his master and mistress. Mogwoe must catch up with his master and mistress before they stray too far."

And with that, Mogwoe ran off towards the back room and disappeared. A few minutes later, while Grispell was writing in his book, he suddenly heard a soft, ominous tapping on the front window of his shop. Grispell looked up from his book, only to see that it was the one person he did not want to see, his former mistress, Lady Mapheria, looking in and smiling at him mischievously. Only this time, she was wearing a long and flowing black hooded cloak which hid underneath it long and flowing black robes.

She appeared to Grispell just as he remembered her, a pale, beautiful but sinister looking woman with long dark brown hair and sinister, cold black eyes. And as Grispell remembered, she wore the same glittering sliver strings of tiny sliver bells on her robes which jingled softly and ominously whenever she moved around, along with the string of tiny sliver bells she wore in her hair, which jingled as she moved her head. Hearing those tiny sliver bells jingling once more was like listening to the bells of death for Grispell. Upon seeing Mapheria again, Grispell shrieked and ducked under the front counter in terror, shaking with fear and breathing heavily. After a few tense moments, Grispell brought up the nerve to look around the edge of the front counter, only to see Mapheria transform herself into a cloud of black smoke, which then floated through the closed and locked door and into the shop before transforming into herself once more. Mapheria then pulled out her wand and walked up towards the front counter.

"Grispell, oh Grispell," said a cold, elegant and familiar voice. Grispell whimpered quietly in horror and looked away again, once again cowering and crawling further underneath the front counter in terror. Mapheria spoke as she approached the front counter, aware that Grispell was hiding underneath it, "22 years it's been for you, Grispell. And yet, Grispell fails to realize that he can never escape his past. At least, not while I am here." - Mapheria then began tapping her fingers on the top of the front counter as she flanked along the edge of it.

She then slammed her fist on the counter over Grispell's head, causing him to screech and jump out from underneath it. Realizing that he was cornered, Grispell quickly panicked and tried climbing out of Mapheria's reach, but Mapheria swiftly used her wand to pull Grispell off the wall before she slammed him down to the ground hard with it, with Grispell lying face first at her feet. She then came up over the top of him and pinned him to the ground with her foot.

"Grispell, Grispell, Grispell. You should know better than to try and escape me that way. I am still your mistress whether or not you think or wish it so and I am the only one who can turn you back into a human again. You're time has come, my old pet, your fate becomes clear."

"Why must you continue to torture me, mistress?" squeaked Grispell nervously, pinned to the floor.

"Because, Grispell, it is your fate and it must be fulfilled." said Mapheria as she slowly began to raise her wand with her right hand, pointing it towards Grispell. Suddenly, Mogwoe leaped out of nowhere and landed on Mapheria's back, brandishing a small dagger. Without hesitation, Mogwoe stabbed Mapheria in the right shoulder with it, causing Mapheria to drop her wand. Mapheria soon began to yell and cry out in pain, taking her foot off of Grispell. Leaving the dagger in Mapheria's shoulder, Mogwoe soon leapt down off of Mapheria and landed on the ground next to Grispell, grabbing up Mapheria's wand and stuffing it into his waist band. Mogwoe then helped Grispell onto his feet and quickly led him to the back room and out the back door, leaving Mapheria to flail about and screech in pain. Seeing Grispell and Mogwoe escape, Mapheria soon calmed down and laughed sinisterly briefly as she reached back with her left hand and grabbed the dagger in her right shoulder, flinching slightly as her face contorted in pain, breathing sharply as she pulled it out. She quickly wrapped the small bloodied dagger in a piece of cloth and stuffed it into their waist band before running after Grispell and Mogwoe. She clearly didn't want to leave any trace of herself there.

EXT. GRISPELL'S CURIOS SHOP, KNOCKTURN ALLEY TO DIAGON ALLEY - EARLY EVENING (SEPT. 1ST, 2018)

Once outside the shop, Grispell and Mogwoe began running through Knockturn Alley, running past dark wizards, dark witches and dark creatures alike. Running out into Diagon Alley, they began looking around for a place to hide within the rapidly thinning crowds of wizards and witches around them. Moments later, Mapheria appeared out of Knockturn Alley, holding her right arm and looking around for Grispell and Mogwoe. Irritated and realizing that she couldn't see where Grispell and Mogwoe had gone through the crowds of wizards and witches around her, she quickly pulled out from underneath her robes what looked like a sliver dog whistle that was around her neck.

"I will make short work of this." hissed Mapheria as she brought the whistle up to her mouth and blew it.

But this was a special, enchanted whistle, which affected everyone and everything around Mapheria with debilitating sound waves, causing every wizard or witch around her to put their hands up to their ears and fall to the ground in agony, shrieking and crying out in pain. With everyone and everything incapacitated around her, Mapheria soon stopped blowing the whistle and ran off towards another nearby alley, having spotted Grispell and Mogwoe entering it. After Mapheria entered the alley, everyone went silent and suddenly stood up straight again, seemingly unphased and forgetting the ordeal, going back to normal.

AN ALLEY, DIAGON ALLEY - EARLY EVENING (SEPT. 1, 2018)

Standing within the seemingly unnamed and deserted dark alley, Mapheria tried her best to bandage herself up with her scarf while keeping her ears and eyes open for Grispell and Mogwoe. The alley itself was long and narrow, flanked with wet, torn boxes, crumpled parchment, broken glass and scattered debris.

"Grispell," said Mapheria calmly and ominously, her voice resonating off the walls of the alley as she cautiously and slowly walked down it past some old and broken barrels, "I know you and your friend are down here. Come out and face me."

Mapheria soon spotted a long bamboo stick poking out the top of a nearby trash can and grabbed it, holding it in her left hand as she continued, "I know what you want, Grispell. I know what you desire."

Just then, an angry black cat jumped down from a window sill, nearly landing on Mapheria. Mapheria swung her bamboo stick, nearly hitting the cat as it hissed and ran off down the alley. Mapheria quickly turned back around and shifted her eyes, holding the bamboo stick out in front of her.

Mapheria continued, unaware that Grispell was hiding in one of the barrels she had just passed, watching her through a peep hole in the barrel and looking at her, "You want to be human again, don't you Grispell? I can make you human again you know and I'm the only one who can. All you need to do is show yourself and give me back my wand. That is what you wanted, wasn't it? You could call it perhaps, a very early Christmas present...Come out Grispell and let me see you."

Suddenly, Mogwoe came barreling down upon Mapheria from above, causing her to drop the bamboo stick while Mogwoe held a piece of broken glass. But before Mogwoe could use it on Mapheria, a man cried "Immobulus!", sending a blast of white light which came out of nowhere and hit Mogwoe, causing Mogwoe to fall to the ground, out cold. Mapheria looked up and saw that it was Crielis, her fair-skinned and loyal companion, who had stopped Mogwoe from further injuring her.

"Crielis, my old friend. I knew I could rely on you." said Mapheria as Crielis walked up and stood next to her, hiding his wand away back in his coat.

Mapheria then focused her attention back on Mogwoe, "And now, it's time I punished this creature from injuring me. No one harms me without getting burned!"

Mapheria quickly retrieved her wand from an unconscious Mogwoe and was about to use it on him, until Grispell cried out, "No, my Lady! Please don't hurt him!"

Unable to hide any longer, Grispell leaped out of the barrel he was hiding in. He soon walked towards Mapheria, looking up at her and cowering on all fours at Mapheria's feet near Mogwoe, "Mogwoe is my friend. Please show him pity if not mercy. He was only trying to protect me. I will do anything you say, my Lady. Just don't hurt him!"

"Pity? Mercy? Such words are alien to me." said Mapheria calmly and coolly, bringing her wand down to her side, "And you, Grispell. You dare run away from me, after all that I've done for you?"

Grispell, as he squeaked nervously once more, "Forgive me, my Lady, but you were going to kill me. I had to run away on that day you killed my friend Torvellos. And you will still kill me in the end."

"You dare speak that name in front of my Lady? You traitor!" hissed Crielis, about to pull out his wand once more and curse Grispell, but Mapheria stopped him.

"Calm yourself, Crielis. Grispell is my problem, not yours."

"What are you going to do to me, my Lady? Please don't kill me!" pleaded Grispell.

"Kill you, Grispell? No..." said Mapheria as she hid her wand away and then bent down and grabbed up Grispell with her still good arm, bringing him up to eye level. "There are far worse things than death that I can do to you..."

Grispell gulped, bringing his hands up to his mouth and shaking his head, staring on fearfully as Mapheria smiled wickedly at him.

INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, HEADMASTER'S OFFICE - EARLY EVENING (SEPT. 1ST, 2018)

"This is a most fascinating story, Albus," said Professor Titch, sitting in his chair behind his desk, "And you say that the new Magical Archery teacher is Professor Snape's wife and that their children are here at Hogwarts?"

"Yes, sir. It's all true, every word of it. The dream, the children...the creature..." said Albus, standing in front of Titch's desk.

"And you say that these children have Animagus abilities? Well, I've heard of older wizards and witches having such abilities, namely your father's godfather, Sirius, but never children. And you aren't born Animagus, Albus, you learn it. And furthermore, that kind of magic is far to advanced for such young wizards and witches to maintain."

"But you remember, sir. I told you that they had private lessons in magic before they came here. They might have learned the ability then."

Titch began to chuckle softly in mild disbelief, "Albus, Albus, Albus. Children with magical abilities are not allowed to learn magic outside these walls. And besides, this sort of thing has happened before within these walls and upon these grounds. A student claiming to have seen Severus Snape alive and well, only to find out that it was all merely a lie just so they could gain attention. I'm sorry, Albus, but without any hard proof to back up your claim, few others will believe your story."

"But, sir, I'm not...!"

Titch raised his hand, stopping Albus in mid-sentence before bringing it down again, "That will be all for now, Albus. It is time that you joined the other students in the Great Hall. If you get there quickly, you will not miss the Sorting of your sister Lily and your cousin Hugo. Run along now."

Put out and agitated, Albus did what he was told and left the Headmaster's office, walking towards the Great Hall.

INT. A CORRIDOR TO THE GREAT HALL, HOGWARTS CASTLE - EVENING (SEPT. 1ST, 2018)

A couple minutes later, as Albus turned a corner and walked down a corridor towards the Gryffindor Common Rooms, he was once again stopped by Cyrus, who appeared out of nowhere.

"There you are, young master Albus," said Cyrus coolly, "I was wondering if Professor Groset had told you to go to the Headmaster's office. And it's a shame that no one believes your story, but it is for the best I think."

"And where were you, Cyrus? And why are you calling me young master?" hissed Albus angrily as he continued to walk down the corridor, flanked by Cyrus walking next to him, "You vanished into the underbrush without any explanation as to who or what that creature was or why you lied to me by saying that Professor Moody had a job to do for Professor Titch and couldn't escort us to the castle. I looked like a fool back there! And how is it that you, your brother and your sister have Animagus abilities? Professor Titch says that you shouldn't be able to do that at your age!"

"Oh, you saw that did you? Well, you would have found out sooner or later. Forgive me and my siblings if we caused you any embarrassment, but me and my siblings were simply doing what Father asked of us. And me and my siblings learned our Animagus powers from Father. He taught us here within these walls and upon these school grounds. Mother and Father didn't break any rules by teaching us magic, Albus. They simply bent the rules a little. And as for calling you young master, it's a respect thing, since your father is so infamous."

"Where is your father, Cyrus? I want to see him!"

"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Albus," said Cyrus icily, "It is too soon for you to see Father. And besides, you see him all the time in the portraits. And I know he's going to be in the Great Hall today...at least, in a matter of speaking."

"But I want to see him! My father would want to see him! And why didn't your father tell me who he was back in Diagon Alley, instead of waiting until we got on the train? And why through a dream? And what is this book that Treevole was supposed to have given me back at my house earlier?"

"Oh, you mean this book?" said Cyrus as he pulled out a book from underneath his robes and handed it to Albus. It looked like a normal, average sized book with a black leather front and back cover, only it has a small sliver hinge with a keyhole in it like a diary would have. It also had an elaborate glittering sliver pattern on both the front and back covers, like that of elegant sliver wisps.

Albus glared at the book in mild awe, brimming with curiosity as he spoke, "What's in it?"

"Open it," said Cyrus in a calm, nonchalant manner.

"How? it has a hinge on it and it's locked."

"Look on the spine of the book, Albus. Notice anything interesting about it?"

Albus directed his attention to the spine of the book and soon noticed something odd about it. There appeared to be a tiny door near the bottom of the spine. But when Albus tried to open it, it wouldn't. Albus then started to bring out his wand, thinking that the Aloha Mora spell could help him open up the little door.

But Cyrus stopped Albus, than shook his head briefly, "You don't open it that way, Albus. Run your finger down the spine and see what happens. From the top to the bottom if you please."

Scoffing quietly then doing what Cyrus said, Albus used his middle and index finger and ran them down the spine of the book. As he did this, the sliver pattern on the book lit up briefly before the little door in the spine came open on its own. Albus then looked in the space behind the little door and pulled out a small sliver key dangling from a fine glittering sliver chain.

Cyrus then clapped sarcastically and smiled, "Very good, young master Albus, by doing that you have set the locking spell on it. It will open only for you now."

Without further hesitation, Albus placed the small key into the little keyhole on the hinge and turned it. In an instant, the book flew open in Albus's hands and began turning its pages quickly on its own until reaching the last page in the book, which appeared to be blank. Albus then noticed some words suddenly appear upon the page as if bleeding onto it, written in elegant script. Albus read the words as followed:

"This is the property of the Half-Blood Prince. If you are reading this, then the book has gotten to the person it was meant to be given to. Listen carefully and pay attention. Rule 1: Under no circumstances are you to show the contents of this book to anyone or anything, not even to your friends or family (except in emergencies when another set of eyes is needed to read it). Rule 2: Guard this book and keep it well and make sure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands or even a fellow student's or teacher's hands. Rule 3: Following Rule 2, if you wish not to carry this book around with you, store it someplace secret that no one knows about to ensure that it is never found or stolen. Rule 4: The previous owner of this book (or rather the knowledge in it) is entrusting you with the knowledge that is found within this book, in hopes that you will use it responsibly and not neglectfully. Rule 5: Keep the knowledge in this book close to you, for one day it may save your life.

"If you abide by all the rules listed above, no punishment will be dealt against you. But if any of the rules are broken once, you will be given one firm warning. But if the rules are broken twice, the book will immediately catch fire and disintegrate, leaving no trace of itself and no further trust in the holder. The previous owner of this book is counting on you to use the help given to you and learn from it all that you can. With this book you must learn and understand so that in the end, you will know the purpose and reason as to why you have been given this book. Sincerely, The Half-Blood Prince..."

The words then faded and vanished from the blank page as Albus suddenly got excited, "This is Professor Snape's old potions book! Your father's old potions book! Why on Earth would he ever want to give this book to me?"

"And what makes you think that, young master Albus?" said Cyrus with a mischievous smile, "It is The Half-Blood Prince's book..."

"I know who The Half-Blood Prince is, Cyrus. My father told me about your father and how he once use to call himself The Half-Blood Prince. But how can this book be here now? Dad told me that he and Mum hid it in the Room of Requirement long ago and that it was destroyed by fiendfire."

"That is only half true, Albus. It is true that your mother and father hid the book in the Room Of Requirement, but were unaware that they were being followed by my mum there. She knew where your mum had hidden the book and removed it sometime before fiendfire destroyed the room. But you only have a copy of the original potions book since your father has the original."

"My father? How?"

"My mum gave the book to your father one day when he was at the castle. Father actually left the original potions book to your father in his last will and testament. But I don't think your father knows that it's my father's old potions book. He just knows that it is a book that was left to him by my father."

"I've heard about this book," said Albus excitedly, "Dad used it a few times while he was in school here. He said it helped him a lot in potions class and made him the top of his class."

Indeed, Albus...unintentionally of course. But that is not the reason why my father has given it to you." said Cyrus icily, "He wants you to use it responsibly and not neglectfully like your father did and go by what the rules in the book say."

"But why has your father given it to me?" asked Albus as he and Cyrus reached the door at the end of the corridor. "You said that there was another reason why he's given me this book and not just so that I can learn from it. What is it, Cyrus?"

"I'm afraid that is something that you must figure out yourself, Albus. All the clues are there in that book to be used at your disposal. All you need to do is learn and understand them." said Cyrus as he opened the door, "This is where we leave you, Albus...for now. Me and my siblings have our own way around this castle and I'm afraid that you can't use it...yet."

"But that's not fair, Cyrus!" protested Albus, "Why can I not see your father? I've heard so many stories had have so many questions. I want to know!"

"All in good time, young master Albus. But for now, I will leave you here with a warning. If you tell anyone about that book or about Father being alive, either me or my Father will personally tie you up to the Whomping Willow and leave you to its gracious mercy." - Cyrus then grinned evilly, then stepped halfway through the doorway before stopping and looking back around the door at Albus, speaking once more as Albus stood silent and glaring, "And one more thing. If you happen to lose your way or get stuck on something, you can always go to the school library to help you find your way back...good night."

And with that, Cyrus grinned wickedly at Albus before vanishing behind the door and closing it behind him with a thud. Albus then tried to open the door, but discovered that it had been locked tight from the inside. More confused and curious than ever, Albus stuffed the book underneath his robes and ran off towards the Great Hall and the sorting of the new students.

EXT. COKEWORTH, SPINNER'S END - AFTERNOON (DEC. 24TH, 1967)

Another Christmas Eve had come to Cokeworth and for many children in the town, it was a time of happiness and joy. But for young Severus Snape, who was now 7 years old, it was a time of bitter memories, mental anguish and sadness. Christmas had never been a pleasant time for Snape, even when his mother Eileen would try to make it a happy occasion for him. But every time Christmas would come along, Tobias would blame Eileen as the reason why the family would no longer come over to visit on Christmas and in turn, a huge argument between Eileen and Tobias would break out, causing Severus to run off and hide somewhere out of sight. Of course, Eileen always knew of the one place where Severus would run off to and hide and would always go there and find him afterward.

When he was much smaller, Severus would always climb into Hansel's dog house to hide away from the mental and verbal anguish that his parents brought about when fighting inside the house. Of course, as he got older, Severus was forced to cower in the corner and watch his parents fight, sitting with his knees up to his chest. Inside Hansel's dog house and curled up in a ball next to Hansel, Severus was crying and sniffling, scared and trembling in fear of what his father would do to him and his mother Eileen. And as Eileen had suspected, she would find Severus hiding in Hansel's dog house along with Hansel, who was lying next to Severus and panting.

"Severus, my dear," said Eileen softly, bending down and looking into the dog house at Severus though its opening, "Come out of there. There is only enough room for Hansel in there."

"I hate Christmas and I hate magic!" said Severus with tears welled up in his eyes, his voice cracking, "I wish I was never born as a freak! Why must you and Father always fight like this? I wish that Father would just go away and leave us alone!"

"I know that you don't like it when me and your Father argue, my dear. But that is all a part of being married to someone who is against wizards and magic. And you are not a freak, my dear, you must never think or say that. It is in your blood, just as it is in mine." said Eileen, "You mustn't be ashamed of who and what you are, my son. And with the powers that you are blessed with, you are destined to do great and wonderful things in the Wizarding world. You were born as a wizard, my dear, and you will die as one."

"I feel so small and helpless, Mum." cried Severus, who was still rolled up in a ball next to Hansel. "I don't know what to do or how to stop you and Father from fighting! I don't want you and Father to fight! I want to make you proud of me and I want Father to be proud of me!"

"I'm already proud of you, my dear, I've always been proud of you," said Eileen softly, kneeling down in front of the dog house, "But I think it is time that I taught you something that I should have taught you a long time ago. With these powers, you will learn to discipline your mind, shielding your mind from all outside mental anguish and torment as well as guard you against all mental attacks and influences. Though it will take time for you to learn and master it properly, once I have taught it to you, you will be able to learn and understand the secrets and ways of suppressing and controlling your emotions. This will be my true gift to you this Christmas."

And with that, Severus brought his head up and looked up at his mother through the entrance to the dog house and smiled tearfully. Eileen then smiled and stretched her arms towards Severus, who slowly crawled out of Hansel's dog house and then crawled into his Mother's arms. Eileen wrapped her arms around Severus and held him close to her, kissing him on the head and crying softly with him.

CONTINUED...CHAPTER 13...