Chapter 65: The Shattering Of Silence
{A/N: Here's Another update....}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
{"I was born into a curse...An outlaw straight from birth...My mama danced around a fire...And pulled me from the dirt...I live out in the woods...I'm not misunderstood...Maybe you're thinking that I won't...I'm thinking that I would...That's why I'm dressed in black...Ain't ever coming back...'Cause I'm the black sheep of the family...No, don't look the other way...I'll spit right in your face...'Cause I'm the black sheep of the family...One, one sick son of a gun...I'm crushing you for fun...Don't find yourself on the wrong end...Of anything I've done..."} Black Sheep, Saliva
Diagon Alley, Wizarding World...
Seemingly uncontrollable flames burst through Diagon Alley, as many a witch and wizard found themselves cowering in fear as an enormous serpent of flame made it's way into the center of the infamous wizarding alley. At the helm had been the infamous black robbed, dark masked wizards responsible for the attacks on the wizarding world before the remaining dust had finally settled after the fall of despot Voldemort. The masked wizard known as Arcturus had made himself known his mission ever more clear to those in power. Shocked whispers and hushed murmurers filled the streets as Arcturus took it upon himself to project not only his voice, but his haunting image all across the wizarding world.
"Good evening, witches and wizard's alike." he said in an unsurprisingly cold tone. "As you can clearly see for yourselves, Harry Potter's initial assumption of having put an end to our awakening activities has been fully rectified."
On-lookers continued to tremble as the masked wizard continued his speech.
"Harry Potter has himself been responsible of the orchestration of a very gross miscarriage of justice on the part of an innocent wizard whom had been confined for two years in Azkaban." continued Arcturus, his voice teeming with rage. "As you can all see before you...I am Arcturus leader of the Serpent Brother's of Destruction and the bringer of your soon to be end, a fitting punishment due to the sickening lot of you having benefited from the blood of my family line being spilled to protect your worthless hides without so much as a thank you to the generations whom have suffered in silence in the wake of all you have gained."
The crowd continued to watch the ruthless masked dark wizard fearful of his next move since his murdering of both wizarding hero Ronald Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the former Minister of Magic.
"HARRY POTTER!" shouted Arcturus enraged before the crowd. "I demand you release your unjustly incarcerated prisoner, because after tonight you shall no longer have any doubts at to just whom you are dealing with."
A rumbling of thunder echoed in the distance as a winded Harry James Potter stood amid the crowd gripping his wand tightly as he approached the masked wizard known as Arcturus.
"That's enough!" he shouted as if his words meant anything to the dark wizard before him. "I think it's high time you take off that mask...Regulus Snape you aren't fooling anyone."
Arcturus seemed amused by Potter's words as he waved away his minions in a bid to step closer to the arrogant boy who lived. He held no fear in his heart of what the arrogant child could do to him nor did he feel anything other than contempt for the man before him.
"You must be hard of hearing Potter." said Arcturus as he cast away his mask with gloved hands to the shock of those around him. "My name is Arcturus, the one you call Regulus, as you will no doubt find is still unjustly locked away in Azkaban cursing your name as we speak."
Harry turned his wand back on the now visible Arcturus. His eyes were an unseemly dark brown in place of the obsidian eyes that Regulus had inherited from his father, the former Potions Master Severus Snape but he looked nearly identical to Regulus aside from his smaller frame and obviously different eye color.
He had also been the keeper of a rather nasty scar across the left side of his face utterly distinguishing him from Regulus Snape in every way possible. Harry Potter's eyes widened as he recalled just how the fiend known as Arcturus had gotten that scar, it was Ron's final parting gift before he met his end during their battle in his office.
Regulus had no such scar a clear sign that he had been innocent of the wrong-doings he'd been accused of.
"Are you feeling ti now Potter?" taunted Arcturus in a sinister tone. "That sensation of fear and panic deep inside of you...what will your adoring public think of the wizard that convicted another simply because of his last name."
"I-I will put you in Azkaban in his place." growled Harry Potter furious at having arrested the wrong wizard.
"You aren't even in my league boy...I came to send you a message in person and to show the world just what kind of opportunistic little shit you truly are." replied Arcturus still taunting him. "Now the whole world will see what my father already knew about you."
"F-Father?" asked Harry in confusion. "How...?"
"IGNIS!" shouted one of the dark wizards from the center of the alley.
Before Harry could react he'd been cast on to the ground and everyone of them had disappeared leaving him alone to deal with the questioning crowd.
"What's this about imprisoning the wrong bloke?" whispered one.
"Harry's gotten it wrong?" said another.
Those monsters can appear and disappear whenever they so choose." said a frightful woman among the crowd.
"If Harry Potter can't protect us then whom will we turn to!?" asked a distressed wizard.
"Calm down everyone." instructed Harry. "Return to your homes...the ministry of magic will sort this all out in due time."
"The Ministry of magic arrested the wrong bloke to begin with!" shouted an unsatisfied man.
"And we shall rectify that immediately." promised Harry. "Regulus Snape shall be acquitted of all charges against him following the reviewing of evidence and a deliberation with a judge."
"THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" shouted another man speaking up from the crowd. "YOU PUT THE WRONG BLOKE IN PRISON...NONE OF US ARE SAFE WHAT IF HE DECIDES TO KILL AGAIN AND YOU JUST LET HIM WALK TO BLAME SNAPE'S BOY!"
"I will rectify this situation...I assure you." continued Harry in a firm tone. "Now everyone back to your homes."
Arcturus had been intent on sending a message and it was heard loud and clear by the wizarding public, the time for the Serpent Brother's silence had ended and there would be more casualties if his demands were not met.
Harry sighed as he attempted to make sense of what had just happened.
Hermione had not been present but she was sure to have seen what transpired and to make matters worse, the only means of assistance against a foe like Arcturus had been Regulus Snape and there was no telling what condition he'd been in after a two year stay in Azkaban nor if he'd be willing to assist them again.
Disappearing amid the rumble of thunder, Harry Potter made his way to Azkaban Prison unsure of what he'd find in his quest to rectify his gross error of judgement.