Chapter 45: The Vessel Of Vengeance
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{"Border line...Dead inside...I don't mind...Falling to pieces...Count me in, violent...Let's begin feeding the sickness...How do I simplify?...Dislocate the enemy's on the way...Show me what it's like...To dream in black and white...So I can leave this world tonight...Full of fear...Ever clear...I'll be here fighting forever...Curious, venomous...."}Unknown Soldier, Breaking Benjamin
Hogsmeade Village, Wizarding World...
Molten balls of white-hot bright orange and yellow flames had been catapulted into the popular village of Hogsmeade as numerous groups of witches and wizards ran screaming in agony from the searing pain that enveloped them. There had thankfully been no students present as the flames continued to rain from the sky.
It was apparent in this attack that the dark wizard known as Arcturus had been through being courteous as the body count doubled in the wake of this latest attack. Charred flesh and violent screams had been the symphony of his destruction as he watched with giddy eyes beneath his notorious mask as young and old succumbed to the pain and expired at his direction.
There was not on ounce of remorse nor a whisper of pity within the darkened soul of the monstrous wizard as he delighted in the wide-spread chaos. Walls of flame had erupted trapping those unlucky enough not to escape the assault in time as they cringed in absolute terror.
"Where is your so called "hero" Harry Potter now!?" hissed the vile dark wizard as he rode above the sleek flaming head of his serpent.
One rather brave or foolish wizard stood before him with his wand drawn.
"Harry will stop you!" he shouted not at all deterred by the massive flames nor the enormous burning serpent before him.
Arcturus seemed to be amused by this.
"I am counting on it." he replied leaping from his serpent and meeting the gaze of the shaken wizard. "You are as much a sniveling sack of useless flesh as you have ever been...Neville Longbottom."
The brave wizard glared at the monster before him.
"H-How do you know my name?" he asked attempting to sound stern in his relatively shocked state.
"I know a great deal about you...little fool." replied Arcturus rather spitefully. "And now I will allow you to know something about me...I am every bit as terrifying as you once believed your Potions Professor to have been."
Neville Longbottom's eyes widened in absolute terror.
"I-It can't be..." he said suddenly finding it difficult to keep hold of his wand with his hand trembling.
Arcturus would have smiled had the mask he wore permitted it.
"Go on." he urged the visibly shaken wizard before him. "Whom does that weak little mind of yours believe me to be?"
"P-P-Professor Snape?" said Neville collapsing in fear as Arcturus rushed him sinking a hard fist into the terrified wizard's belly.
"Now run along an inform your precious Potter of your new found discovery." instructed the seemingly bloodthirsty wizard. "And do hurry...there will be more bodies to greet your precious hero once I fully hit my stride."
Neville scrambled to his feet unsure if he could get them to work given the pain in his stomach and the tears that blurred his vision.
Arcturus turned to the amassed crowd blocked by the walls of flame.
"I AM THE VESSEL OF VENGEANCE, THE BEACON OF THE DOWNTRODDEN, AND YOUR ETERNAL PUNISHMENT...I AM ARCTURUS AND THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE WIZARDING WORLD TO BLEED FOR THE SINS COMMITTED AGAINST SEVERUS SNAPE!" he declared with rage uncontrollable as he glared among the crowd. "WHERE IS YOUR PRECIOUS POTTER TO SAVE YOU FROM ANOTHER DARK WIZARD'S INTENT I WONDER...HOW CAN YOUR MOST REVERED HERO FAIL TO SEE A THREAT AS SIGNIFICANT AS MYSELF WHEN HE ALONE DEFEATED VOLDEMORT?!"
Arcturus continued to mock the crowd as he signaled his robed henchmen to invade Hogsmeade Village. This was the beginning of a new chapter in his war against the pathetic worm known as Harry James Potter and he it was a rather personal blow to say the least, the putrid brat's beloved Hogsmeade Village would be the first casualty.
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Hogsmeade Village, Wizarding World...
Harry James Potter had been treated to a vast amount of smoke and soot as once treasured structures from the simple and pleasant part of his past had been reduced to absolute rubble in the wake of Arcturus's assault.
Neville had done his best to recount the events that lead up to the damage they had seen before them. The fury within the former Boy-who-lived had seemingly bottled itself to the surface.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU FIGHT!" he shouted in rage at the condition of one of his most cherished places from childhood, when he had a childhood.
"I-I tried." replied Neville feeling helpless in his failure to live up to his friend's legend in the face of danger. "B-But it was...P-Professor..S-Snape."
Harry's eyes widened upon hearing this.
"What are you talking about Neville?" he asked in confusion. "Professor Snape's been dead for nineteen years."
"N-No." replied Neville in a stern tone as he met his dear friend's emerald green eyes. "P-Professor Snape was the one that did this Harry...he's absolutely vile and...he seemed to enjoy it."
Harry shook his head.
"That can't be right." he said. "Professor Snape gave me his memories during the final battle...before he died...we left his body in the shrieking shack...you must be confusing him with Arcturus."
Neville Longbottom's brown eyes widened.
"Y-You don't think this Arcturus could be Professor Snape could it?" he asked terrified. "W-What if he somehow survived the injuries Voldemort gave him...what if he is behind all of this...chaos...he was as death eater...he killed Dumbledore."
"Neville." said Harry snapping his old friend out of his terror-filled delusion. "Professor Snape is gone...that was merely Arcturus messing with your head because he knew you were afraid of our Potions Professor."
"Well how does he know so much about everyone then?" asked Neville not at all liking the terror the strange dark wizard inspired. "H-He was like ice...his very presence reminded me so much of..."
"It wasn't him." insisted Harry. "Snape wouldn't do anything like this...he died saving my life."
Neville sighed.
"All I'm saying is that this Arcturus is bad news like Snape use to be." he replied.
"Only a monster like Voldemort could be this callous and cruel when murdering innocents." said the green eyed wizard taking in the devastation this strange new menace had left behind. "And I intend to put an end to it before he truly gets started."
Neville had believed Harry Potter could do anything and offered his services should the determined Auror need them.
"Look after the children Neville." said Harry unable to take his eyes off the charred bodies and blackened soot that covered the once prominent staple of his Hogwarts experience. "Arcturus is going to pay for this."