CHAPTER 19: THE FLOORWALKER (PART 2)
EXT. THE DIRT PATH TO HOGSMEADE, THE DARK FOREST - EVENING (OCT. 11TH, 2018)
As Mortisursal began to chase after the fleeing carriage, Abigail, in a desperate attempt to gain control over the carriage, once again attempted to free herself from the inside of the carriage. Aiming her wand at the locks on the carriage, Abigail cried out, "Aloha Mora!", sending a small bolt of light to the lock, causing it to unlatch. She then flung open the door, then slowly and cautiously, while the carriage continued to move at a frantic pace, Abigail climbed out of the door and hung on the side of the carriage; she slowly edged her way to the front of the carriage and climbed up onto the platform where the driver had sat earlier. She quickly grabbed onto the reins and began to slow down the carriage just enough to gain control over it. The thunderous hooves and loud neighs coming from the horses still resonated over the dark countryside as Abigail continued to flee from Mortisursal, heading towards Hogsmeade as fast as she could. Abigail looked behind her for only a moment, thinking that Mortisursal was still on her trail. But as she looked back forward again, she soon noticed glowing blue beings sitting next to her on the platform. She did not remember them being there a second ago as she looked back.
As she stared in blank confusion as the blue beings began to surround her while on the moving carriage, it didn't take her long to realize that these beings were children of the Accusers and soon realized that she had wandered into a trap they had set for her. Suddenly, Abigail began to here child's laughter again and as the moving carriage began to turn around the bend in the dirt path, the laughter grew louder, followed by a brief scream which filled the air. In the first second, before the carriage had turned the bend, Abigail was on the carriage with the blue beings, but in the next second, all that was left after the carriage turned the bend was the carriage and the horses galloping off into the darkness. Once again, all had fell quiet and Abigail was nowhere to be seen.
EXT. AND INT. GODDRIC'S HALLOW, LILY AND JAMES'S HOUSE - EVENING (OCTOBER 31ST, 1981)
"I had a wonderful time today, Verena. I thank you for letting me see Snape one last time and make amends with Snape. I know he still feels guilty about not being there when it happened. But he mustn't feel bad about it anymore. Now I just want him to watch over Harry in my honor." said Lily as she and Verena walked slowly back to Lily's and James's house by lamplight.
"Quite so, and you are indeed welcome, Lily. I did delight in seeing you and Severus enjoy one another. And I had fun to." said Verena, flanking Lily down the path with lamplight in hand.
"So you would not be offended if I ask you to stay close afterwards would you, at least until Snape and Dumbledore come along?"
"Certainly not, especially since you now know what you will be facing up against soon...and later. I had no doubt that you would want to join in the cause, since so much is at stake."
"I know, but how does it work? It certainly can't be a spell since no spell can bring back the dead."
"True, no spell alone can bring back the dead, but who says that it can't be done with other forms of magic involved? That's the interesting bit about being a master at the ALPs, you learn about so much more then you ever thought was possible. But it only works to an extent you see, it's not limitless, no magic is limitless."
"Quite so, but will it work?"
"Certainly it will, the ALPs are a very powerful form of magic. But it can't stop death from happening and regrettably your death is a fixed point in Wizard history. It can't be changed, not until after it has gone full circle. I know, Lily, that you have to die, but I can still save you if you will let me. I saved Severus by using the Resurrection Potion, I can certainly save you with it as well..."
Suddenly, Lily stopped and turned to face Verena, pausing for a moment before she spoke, "Yes, you could save me in the same way that you saved Severus, but I don't want you to."
"Why not?" asked Verena softly, barely speaking above a whisper.
"Because I know of the heavy burden and what must be done to maintain the manner of life that you and Severus live. You and Severus are cursed, Verena. Oh certainly, you don't age and will not die, but only if you keep taking the potion every eight years. You must also constantly keep three steps ahead of death and rail against anything and all that it sends towards you. You and Severus are never really at peace are you?"
"You mean...you know of them, the things that haunt me and my family? But, you never said."
"You never asked. And I know that you don't get something for nothing, even more so in you and Severus's case. So let me ask you this: Is it not the better path to simply let death take you when it's your time so that you could be at peace then to rail against it to where it will constantly pester and torment you to the point where you are unable to be at peace? I'm sorry, but as tempting as your offer is, I must decline."
"But...your son. Do you not care about his wants and needs?" said Verena, mildly confused, holding the lamplight closer to Lily.
"I worry about him all the time, Verena, and will continue to worry about him even after I am dead. Yes, I know of his wants and needs very well, but this is the hand that has been dealt to me and my family. It can not be changed or postponed, it must happen if wizard history is to maintain on its current course. And even if I were to become a Once-Dead like you and Severus, I still wouldn't be able to stop what will happen to my son and grandson in the future. Like my death, it is a fixed point in wizard history."
"Quite so, but at least you will be there in some way to help them. Maybe not in the physical sense as it were, but in other ways."
"I know and I only hope that it will work when the time comes. I want to be there when my son and grandson are..." - Lily began to cry as she turned away, her voice cracking as she walked away a couple steps, then stopped and continued, "...it's just that I want you to assure me that it will work and that I will be there when the time comes."
"Do not underestimate the power of the ALPs my dear. As you know, the cause is gathering forces on both sides everyday. In a few years time, when both sides are ready, you will be there along with Professor Dumbledore, Fred Weasley and others, who have agreed to join in the cause. And like you, I asked for their permission before I took locks of their hair. Unfortunately, Professor Dumbledore reluctantly agreed, wishing to be left alone in peace, whereas Fred Weasley kept on worrying and babbling on about leaving George and his family, but agreed never the less."
"You mean, Professor Dumbledore is dead?" said Lily, mildly stunned.
"In the future, yes. And you've already heard and seen about some of Harry's friends, Fred Weasley being among them, though he also dies in the future as well. I'm afraid that Harry will be facing many a hardships after you and James have gone. Harry will be made to go live out much of his early childhood with your sister Petunia and her husband. He will be placed in a cupboard under their stairs, locked away within it when he does something wrong and even when doing something right, he will be treated fairly poorly even still. Though as you have seen, he does eventually find happiness in the future. Are you sure that you don't want me to save you?"
Lily paused a moment, once again turning and facing Verena, "I am sure..." - Lily then brought out her hand and said, "May I burrow your pair of enchanted scissors for a moment please?"
Saying nothing more, Verena opened and closed her mouth, then pulled out her pair of enchanted scissors from one of her robe pockets and then handed them to Lily. They were the same pair of scissors used to cut off a lock of Dumbledore's hair after his fall from the Astronomy Tower and a lock of Fred's hair after he died in the Battle Of Hogwarts. With one snip of the scissors, Lily cut off a lock of her hair from a place on her head where it would not be noticed missing. She then handed the scissors and the lock of hair back to Verena, then smiled and gave a single nod.
Verena then looked coolly towards Lily's and James's house a few yards away. Then, as both Verena and Lily looked briefly up towards the sky at the sounds of thunder and the flashes of lightening, Verena then looked coolly back at Lily and spoke, "The storm is coming and Voldemort is near, it is time. Go straight to Harry and give you're goodbyes quickly once you get in there. Remember, Harry must survive if he is to live to fight and kill Voldemort, it is his destiny. Don't tell James about what will happen, he will only try to stop it if he knows, and he mustn't."
"I know...James mustn't know, though I wish he would." said Lily, looking once again at Verena and with her eyes full of tears. Lily then looked back over her shoulder towards the house, looking on silently. And with that, Lily said her thanks and farewells to Verena, then turned and walked off towards the house, thunder crashing and lightening flashing all around her.
As Verena watched Lily vanish into the house, Verena quickly climbed a tree and sat among its branches, waiting for the event to unfold. But Verena, knowing Lily so well, knew that Lily would tell James everything as to what will happen and all that she had seen. Though Verena knew that Lily would make it clear to James that he couldn't interfere, as his death was fixed, just as Lily's was. An hour later, Voldemort appeared from the dark treeline, along with several other Death Eater followers walking along behind him, including among them Belatrix Lestrange. All had their wands drawn, ready to strike at anyone or anything the stood in their way. Soon, Voldemort turned to his followers and spoke to them, telling them to stay outside and not interfere while he went inside Lily's and James's house. Verena was helpless, unable to say or do anything as Voldemort crept closer to the house. Once Voldemort was inside the house, much began to unfold very quickly.
Verena and Voldemort's followers could hear the commotion going on inside the house as flashes from wands could be seen outside the windows. Verena could hear that James and Lily managed to put up a good fight, but in the end, only Harry remained alive, protected by a spell that Lily had placed upon him just before sacrificing herself to save him. Lily's and James's lives had come full circle. After Voldemort and his followers left, Verena had only a few minutes to enter into the house and check on Harry. Inside, the house was dark, with only the flashes of lightening lighting up the inside of the house. Verena slowly and cautiously crept over the floor, heading towards Harry's room.
Suddenly, with a flash of lightening, Verena stopped and looked down at the floor, noticing a shape lying upon it. She soon realized that she had came upon the body of James Potter, who still had his eyes open as he died. Verena kneeled down next to the body of James and placed a hand on his chest, looking on at him with a mild look of sadness and sympathy on her face.
"You have a role to play in this to, my old friend. You must not be left out," said Verena as she once again took out her enchanted scissors and cut off a small lock of James's hair. She then took the scissors and stuffed them in her robe pocket once more. Like all the locks of hair she collected, looped string around them which were color coded to tell her whose hair belonged to who. After doing this with James's hair, she glanced down the hallway which led to Harry's room, hearing the sounds of a baby crying. Verena then stuffed the lock of Jame's hair into her robe pocket, stood up and quietly walked around James's body, going towards Harry's room. Like the rest of the inside of the house, everything inside and in the hallway was all in shambles, broken glass, bits of wood, dried leaves and parchment scattered across the floor. Finally walking down to the end of the hall which led to Harry's room, she soon looked down and came upon the body of Lily, who was lying face down on the floor, her eyes left just as wide open as James's eyes were.
Verena kneeled down next to Lily and placed a hand on her back, looking down at Lily. Verena could do nothing but look on, saddened in her own way. She then heard Harry crying in his crib again and quickly stood up again and went over to see him. She soon picked him up out of his crib, mildly concerned for him. And as Verena cradled Harry in her arms, her legitamency powers kicked in and she began to see images of James and Lily's last moments through Harry's mind. Verena could see the battle and hear the screaming, everything she had expected to hear and see and more. Verena closed her eyes in horror for a brief moment, then opened them again. In her visions, Verena noticed that Lily had held Harry close to her while Voldemort barged into Harry's room and placed Harry back into his crib just before she sacrificed herself to save him.
"I'm sorry for you, Harry." said Verena, looking down at Harry in her arms, who was still crying even after she was holding him. Upon hearing someone enter into the house behind her, Verena quickly stopped looking into Harry's mind and then placed Harry back into his crib. Verena then hide herself in the empty wardrobe nearby, leaving the door to it cracked so that she could see what was going to happen. Through the crack in the wardrobe door, she could see that it was Severus, who had a look on his face that Verena had only seen once before this time. Verena could tell in Severus's look of dread that he was stunned, saddened and in distress at the same time. Verena could hear the anger and the dread in Severus's voice and knew that nothing and no one could have consoled him at that moment. Severus, in his sadness and dread, began to cradle Lily in his arms, holding her close to him and and crying out in despair. Verena, listening to Severus's cries, soon looked away and pulled herself further back into the wardrobe. Verena had seen quite enough for the time being.
INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, FIFTH FLOOR CORRIDOR, IN-RESIDENT ROOMS - EVENING (OCT. 11TH 2018)
Inside the in-resident rooms, Verena was sitting on a sofa with her's and Severus's three children. Cyrus and his mother were sitting and watching the fire together, while the other two children were leaning on one another, napping, only opening their eyes now and again to watch the large, roaring fire in the fireplace in front of them. As a half-slumbering Cyrus and his mother watched the fire crackle and snap in a dance of orange, purple and red hues, Cyrus then suddenly spoke quietly, looking up at his mother, "Mum, I was wondering about something. How is it like, being a Once-Dead?"
Verena looked down at him, smiling gently, "Well, I suppose being one isn't that much different from being a normal person in the wizarding world...except..."
"Except what, Mum?"
"Well, you see my dear, it's almost like living on burrowed time. Certainly, with me and your father as Once-Deads, we won't age or die, but only as long as me and your father take the resurrection potion every eight years. If we were ever to stop taking the potion, we would eventually start aging again and then we would eventually die. The interesting thing about it though is that even if me and your father did stop taking the potion, we still won't show our age even while we are aging, but our hair would eventually turn completely white as we reach the end of our lives. And when we die, we would look as we did when we had taken the potion, except with the white hair."
"You mean, you would continue to age but not show it, like you would if you had wrinkles and stuff like that?"
"Correct, my dear. The aging process would be internal, not external and the only external sign of aging would be the color of our hair. But me and your father have already discussed this with you and your siblings. You and your brother and sister should never become Once-Deads like me and your father are and you already know the reason why."
"...I know, it's just that I wish that I could stop the curse that is placed upon you and father and stop what has been tormenting you two all this time, so that you can properly be at peace." said Cyrus, looking on mildly concerned.
"Mortisursal you mean? He's only one of many of Death's little tools that torment me and your father now and again, he isn't the only one. That's one reason why your father has been guarding Hogwarts ever since his supposed death by walking the floors of the corridors at night. Me and your father know how to handle Mortisursal and anything else that Death sends our way, never fear. But Death does not like to be cheated out of spirits as you would know from the Tale Of Three Brothers."
"I've always liked that story, ever since me and the others were really little."
"I liked it as well when I was a child. But there is another part of that story that you and the others wouldn't know about and it involves your father's side of the family...or at least the wizard side of it anyway. Perhaps either I or your father will tell you about it sometime. But not now, it's time for you and the others to go to bed..." said Verena, looking up at the clock on the wall.
Cyrus then smiled gently as he hugged his mother and then gave a yawn as he stood up, walking off towards the staircase which led to the bedrooms above. Verena then looked over at her two napping children sitting next to her, Darius and Evangeline, then spoke, "Alright you two, to bed both of you."
"Awww, Mum," protested Darius mildly as he and Evangeline looked up at their mother and yawned, "Can't we stay up long enough to see father when he comes back?"
But Verena was firm, "No, no you can't. You're father will be tired once he gets back here. You can see him tomorrow, now go to bed, the lot of you."
And with that, Darius and Evangeline each gave a hug to their mother and left, following Cyrus up the staircase to their bedrooms.
As the children vanished off towards their assigned bedrooms, Evangeline spoke quietly, "I bet Dad won't be tired for Mum when they..."
"Don't say it, we already know. Let's just go to bed already and leave Mum and Dad alone." said Cyrus coolly as he vanished into his bedroom and closed the door behind him. Evangeline and Darius soon did the same.
A half hour later, as Verena sat on the sofa reading her book, the door to the in-resident rooms creaked open and a shrouded black figure entered. The figure then turned and closed the door behind them before turning back towards Verena again.
Verena looked up and smiled, "Severus, my husband, you've returned. How was floorwalking rounds tonight?"
"Delicate, tedious and tiresome as always, my dear," said Severus, walking up to the sofa, then taking off his shroud, "Professor Titch is getting more and more suspicious of my presence by the second. I don't know how much longer we will be able to stay in the castle without him finding out that we've been living here off and on for the past 20 years. And I very nearly ran into Hadramus tonight. Luckily I found a place to hide while he passed me in the hallway as I wasn't about to let him see me."
"Ahh, yes, Hadramus Fletcher, the other night floorwalker. If he ever saw you out of the portraits, he'd have a heart attack and then he would tell Professor Titch, then everything would start falling apart. And of course, we have to deal with our little friends hiding within the walls of Hogwarts at the moment as well as Mortisursal on top of all the other things that are going on around here. But we are doing the best that we can on such short notice," said Verena as she sat down her book on the coffee table in front of her.
Verena then looked back at Severus and continued, noticing the look on his face even in the low light, "What's wrong my dear? You look tired. Come, sit with me on the floor next to the fire." - and with that, Verena got up from the sofa and then sat down again in front of the fire, crossing her legs.
"It's just that I've been thinking. Perhaps Professor Titch should know that we are here. It might make things a lot easier on us..." said Severus as he walked around the side of the sofa and then sat down on the floor next to Verena, "I mean, he already suspects that I am alive so he might as well know for a fact that I am."
"...Or it might make things ten times worse. We are cursed, my dear. Cursed with being tormented by Death and never properly getting a moment's peace, simply because we cheated him out of our souls and knowing how Death is, that never goes unpunished or unchallenged. And to tell you the truth, my dear, I think Titch already knows that you are alive and well and that you are my husband. Titch is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, my dear, so nothing ever really gets past him. I also suspect that Titch knows of the situation and of the burden that you and I are now carrying. But let us not dwell on it anymore tonight. Come now, lay your head down on my lap so that I may stroke your hair. It will calm you."
With a small smile, Severus spoke softly, "Why are you so good to me, Verena? Somehow I feel that I don't deserve it sometimes...or deserve you," - Severus quickly lied down, turning over onto his back and then lying his head in Verena's lap, looking up at her alluringly.
Verena then cast her eyes down onto Severus's face and stared at him alluringly in return as she spoke, "You are my husband, Severus. I would do anything for you, go anywhere with you. Not just because we share a special unbreakable vow, but because I love you more then you'll ever truly know. And you deserve every bit of me and of my love."
"As you deserve all of me and of my love, Verena. I love you more then you'll ever truly know as well. Forever...always..."
And with that, Verena and Severus smiled softly at one another as Verena began to run her fingers through Severus's hair, stroking Severus's hair affectionately. Severus soon brought his hand up and placed it behind Verena's head as Verena bent forward, bringing her lips up to Severus's and kissing him passionately from above. Soon, the warmth of the fire in the fireplace soon consumed Verena and Severus and once again, Verena and Severus were feeling alive with the love and passion that they had for one another and shared with each other.
EXT. TO INT. ACCUSERS NEST (THE TEMPLE ROOM), THE DARK FOREST - MORNING (OCT. 12TH, 2018)
A tall and mighty oak tree stood high upon a steep and rocky slope, its branches and leaves spread out above, overlooking the vast Dark Forest below and blocking out the sun behind it. It towered over all other trees in the forest and grew atop the entrance to a large cavern which ran for miles deep underground. Like the roots of the oak tree which ran down the sides of the entrance and wrapped around it, the entrances to a complex mesh of tunnels and corridors could be found within the cavern, going to different areas and other external entrances. But this was no ordinary oak tree and nor was this no ordinary cavern. Known as the Tree of the Bitter Wood, to the Accusers who lived here it was a special and sacred place, never to be tread upon by strangers who were not invited or allowed to come near.
The largest Accuser nest in England was found here, where many Accusers, of all sizes and ages lived out their days in relative peace, protected on all sides by the stone walls of the cliff side and the curtains of flowering vines with long, needle sharp barbs which grew on and hung down from the branches of the oak tree. The curtains of barbed flowering vines, known as Dinthana Vines, were related to Moon Vines and were a special magical plant that was only found in the Wizarding world. And it was here, inside this Accusers nest, that Abigail Prince was being held against her will, helpless and unable to call for help.
Deep in the heart of the nest, Abigail was tied to a pole in the center of the temple room, which was the largest room in the entire nest and was where the Accusers would go for religious worship, as well as social gatherings. As Abigail struggled to try and free herself from her bounds, Accusers continued to hover and drift around her, surrounding her and observing her. Soon, the one Accuser that was assigned to protect Abigail let out a long and agitated hiss at some of the Accusers that were getting to close, warning them not to harm or torment her. Abigail was much more important to them alive than dead, thus the leader of the nest made certain that no other Accuser would harm her in any way, at least for the time being.
But even though she was being protected, the Accusers that looked on were still curious and agitated by the sight of her in their nest and pondered to an extent as to why she was there. Some of the Accuser children that looked on began hissing and making snapping and clicking sounds, trying to frighten Abigail, who simply gawked nervously at them with her one exposed eye from the safety of her pole. Luckily, the silk scarf over the left side of her face had not fallen off in her capture, thus those looking on had yet to see the scared side of her face.
After a couple minutes, the leader of the nest appeared, covered in glittering black shrouds which breezed around him. Like all adult Accusers, the leader of the nest appeared as a faceless gray shape covered in flowing black shrouds, looking similar to a Dementor but with a long neck, four sickle-shaped ended limbs and a long tail stretching out behind him. Capable of wingless flight, the Accusers normally move around by either flying or hovering over the ground are able to stand and walk on all fours and on their sickle-shaped ended limbs for a short time. The children of the Accusers however looked different from their parents, but eventually all Accuser children would become like their parents in the end.
Soon, the guard protecting Abigail stepped aside and the leader of the nest than approached Abigail and spoke, speaking with a cold and raspy voice like most Accusers did, "Sssssssssssssss, do you know who I am?"
"I can't say I know you by name, but by presence, you're the leader of this nest aren't you?"
"I am Ssssssssssss Drelth, Ssssssssssss leader of this nest! Ssssssssssssss and you are Abigail Prince Ssssssssssss the wizard Severus's cousin Sssssssssssssssssss..."
"Oh, am I? Why ever do you think that? I don't even know who this wizard Severus is," said Abigail, trying to deny ever knowing about Severus, but the Accusers were not fooled.
"Ssssssssssssssss do not lie to me human! Ssssssssssssssssss We know that you are Severus Snape's cousin! Ssssssssssssssssss You know him! Ssssssssss you even went to Hogwarts Castle to see if you could see him in flesh there Ssssssssssssssss. We know that he is alive! Sssssssssssssss We know that he is now with a mate and with offspring! Ssssssssssssssssss You have seen his offspring, they came to see you! Sssssssssssssss and we know that you can help us find what we seek! Ssssssssssssssssss."
"Oh, really? So what are you seeking then? Cause I know you certainly don't need me to help you! Why was I kidnapped and brought here?" snapped Abigail, still struggling to free herself from her bounds.
"Ssssssssssssss, you have a special sight! Sssssssssssss a sight that we need to find what we seek! Sssssssssssssss. A sight that you hide underneath this scarf! Ssssssssssssss," said Drelth as he brought up one of his sickle-shaped limbs and pulled off the silk scarf that was covering up the left side of Abigail's face. With her scares now seen in full light, the Accusers looking on began to hiss even louder at the sight of Abigail's face. Some of the Accuser children even climbed up on the backs of some of the nearby adults and sat on their shoulders, looking on in mild fear.
Drelth continued, "You will help us find what we seek Sssssssssssss or your cousin will die Ssssssssssssss Our mistress is there now, waiting to kill the wizard Severus and claim her prize Ssssssssssssss..."
"Ha! Good luck with that! I highly doubt that she will get anywhere near Severus with his wife and children protecting him! And even if she does get close to him, she'll have one hell of a fight on her hands!"
"Ssssssssssssss She will not fail to get close to him Sssssssssssssss for she hides among those who work next to his mate in Hogwarts, Sssssssssssssss," said Drelth, getting closer to Abigail, "And when the time comes, she will claim her prize and kill the wizard Severus Sssssssssssssss unless you help us find what we seek! Ssssssssssss."
Abigail began to speak louder, "Well, then you're going to be waiting forever because I will never help the Accusers or your beloved Lady Mapheria to bring destruction and chaos into the Wizarding world!" cried Abigail, who began to speak louder, trying to get the attention of every Accuser in the room, who hissed as they listened, "Yes, I know who you're mistress is and what she's doing and I can tell you now that you're all just puppets on a string to her! She's brainwashed you all into thinking that her plan will save you from your own demise, but she is only thinking about herself and her own selfish needs! Please listen to me, you are only destroying yourselves by selfishly believing in her! You don't need her help to save your kind, you can all save yourselves! Lady Mapheria is the real leader of this nest, not Drelth, not anybody else! She's playing games and toying with all of you! Please, stop listening to her and let me go so that I may get back to my husband and children!"
"Enough!" yelled Drelth, "We are not going to listen to your lies! Sssssssssssssss We know that our mistress can save us! Ssssssssssssss just as you can save us! Sssssssssssssss You will help us find the key to the Book of Resurrections! Sssssssssssssssss You will help us find where it is located or your cousin will die! Ssssssssssssssss and if his mate and offspring get in the way of our mistress's plans, they will die to! Ssssssssssssssss, Bring her to the altar! Ssssssssssssssssssss!"
And with that, the other Accusers in the room looked on, hissing, clicking and snapping loudly as Drelth turned towards the altar at the far end of the temple room. As Abigail was being dragged towards he altar, her eyes caught glimps of a pair of shrouded figures in the fair corner of the temple room. For a few moments, she thought that perhaps her carriage driver Alastair had survived his encounter with Mortisursal and had somehow found his way to Hogsmeade to get help. But she would soon realize that these shrouded figures were more than as they appeared to be.
CONTINUED...CHAPTER 20...