[Name: "Roller Coaster to the Land of Radiance"]
[Type: Scenery Painting]
[Grade: Tier 2 · Blue Precious]
[Effect: Oh my friend, during the long ascent, you will recall your brief and sinful life until the fall]
When Pettigrew regained consciousness, he found himself strapped into a seat, slowly ascending at an almost ninety-degree angle—much like a roller coaster in a Muggle amusement park.
What's happening now...?
Pettigrew trembled all over. His bloodshot, blurry eyes strained wide open, and he couldn't help but whimper in fear.
He would rather go to Azkaban to face the Dementors than enter another "painting"!
It was simply too tormenting, too painful!!!
"Save me... save me..." Pettigrew writhed.
However, no one answered.
The pain left by the Cruciatus Curse still scraped at his nerves like an electric shock.
He looked in horror at the seemingly endless climbing track.
He didn't know what kind of hell awaited him ahead!
It was like a blade slowly descending from above his head.
Pettigrew was filled with immense regret.
If he had known that a wicked painter like this would emerge in the wizarding world more than a decade later, even with a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't have dared to defect to Lord Voldemort!
Just as Pettigrew was consumed by fear and despair, the darkness beside him suddenly rippled, revealing a familiar figure.
James Potter.
Younger than in his memories, holding a flying broomstick with a swaggering, confident smile on his face, he reached out his hand: "Come on, Peter! Come watch my training—everyone says I'm a Seeker in a century!"
Pettigrew was stunned.
Memories he himself had almost forgotten now appeared before his eyes with vivid clarity.
He saw his cowardly, looked-down-upon self, how surprised he was after being invited.
He saw himself lending James his homework to copy, meeting Sirius, being led by them to run all over the castle, making Professor McGonagall so angry she deducted points from her own house... and then meeting Lupin, that reclusive and gloomy student.
He learned his secret as a werewolf.
So, as mere second-year students, they gritted their teeth and studied Animagus transformation.
Finally, after a full three years, they actually learned it!
Pettigrew saw how overjoyed he was the first time he successfully transformed into a gray rat!
It was magic to help his companions.
Not a tool for hiding and sneaking around.
Gradually, the pain seemed to recede.
Pettigrew immersed himself in the memories he had long distorted and forgotten, tears streaming down his eyes.
Even the radiance spilling down from the end caused his filthy skin to melt like wax, yet he didn't notice... He remembered.
How joyful they were then, how much they trusted each other.
Trusted enough to unhesitatingly entrust their lives to him.
[—But.]
The illusion suddenly stopped short.
One by one, people, faces, all turned towards him, transforming into the likeness of "James."
Speaking in a thousand identical voices, in unison:
[You betrayed us.]
The next second, accompanied by Pettigrew's suddenly terrified eyes, the ascent stopped.
Rapidly, falling!!!
"Ah ah ah—!!!"
The wind howled past his ears.
The sensation of weightlessness was like a large hand, firmly clutching his heart!
Blood rushed to his brain.
Pettigrew screamed shrilly, looking at the rapidly enlarging ground!
His body tumbled over and over.
Seeing the golden radiance, turning away from him in the high sky!
And Ethan Vincent's face, with the demon mask removed.
Incredibly handsome.
Reflected in Pettigrew's eyes, it was even more terrifying than before!
His mouth opened, forming the words: "bye~"
Then.
"Boom—" On the ground, a bloody maw suddenly opened!
Swallowing the falling Pettigrew in one gulp!!
In the darkness, Pettigrew felt himself being devoured.
His body, along with the beautiful memories he had just regained, were all digested and consumed.
Gradually, he couldn't even remember how he met his companions, or even James's face.
No... no... this is my only precious thing... don't take away my only treasure...!!!
Please, mercy, mercy...!!!!
Despair swallowed Pettigrew before death did.
He began to cry.
This time, not out of fear, but out of genuine remorse. I'm sorry... I'm sorry.
James, Lily, Sirius, Lupin... I am not worthy to be your companion.
Harry, use me, let me exert my last bit of strength...
Let me become... become... what %*& what %0...??
With the last bit of memory devoured, Pettigrew became part of the life energy.
"Chirp!"
The stag's head whined, for the fleeting deliciousness.
Streams of brass tears flowed down, falling to the ground.
Mimicking, it formed a warrior with a rat's head and sharp, dagger-like claws.
Standing silently.
Perhaps, there will be a day when "it" truly atones for its crimes through action.
With the trembling of the earth, the stag's head slowly retracted.
On the windows of Hogwarts, everyone stared blankly at this scene.
Staring at the former Pettigrew, now a brass "sculpture."
They all shivered in unison, feeling a chill run from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads!
Too bizarre, too terrifying!!
What on earth was that?
What did Ethan do to Pettigrew to make him look like that?!!
"Merlin..."
An Auror muttered, crossing himself.
"I hope this rising sun never goes astray."
Otherwise, if they were told to arrest Ethan, they would stage a strike on the spot!
Even Headmaster Dumbledore trembled slightly, more pained by Hogwarts being destroyed again than shocked by Ethan's endless methods of torture.
Dumbledore: "Mr. Vincent... was it absolutely necessary for that roller coaster to pass directly through the center of the school?"
It was like a skewer, piercing Hogwarts right through from bottom to top!
Ethan nodded profoundly, saying in a deep voice: "This is a necessary sacrifice for the grand plan."
Next semester was the Triwizard Tournament.
At that time, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons would both be staying at Hogwarts.
Meeting "old friends," of course, he had to give them a little surprise!
Ethan was deeply convinced.
He looked up at the unmotivated Headmaster Dumbledore and said sorrowfully: "Times are progressing, only Hogwarts is stagnant! If students from other schools come to visit Hogwarts, are we just going to show them these dusty bricks?"
Dumbledore: ""
He understood the reasoning.
But was this "progress" a bit too fast?
Never mind, there was no news of any outsiders coming to Hogwarts.
Let Ethan mess around.
Thinking this, Dumbledore's mood calmed down.
He turned his head, looking sternly at the Aurors, and said slowly: "Now, who among you still wants to take my student away?"
—No no no no no! Respected Mr. Vincent can just stay at Hogwarts... The Aurors shook their heads frantically, wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
Let Hogwarts enjoy this demon king of hell.
At this moment, Malfoy scurried over, leaning into Ethan's ear and whispering: "Just now, that Auror named Delice ran away! I guess he ran back to the Ministry of Magic to report to Minister Fudge!"
"Ethan, should we go kill him?"
Ethan turned his head, meeting Malfoy's excited gaze, and disapproved: "Go kill him? Am I such a violent person?"
Malfoy was dumbfounded: "Huh? Aren't you?"
Ethan smiled.
Malfoy shivered, quickly changing his words: "Ah yes yes yes—ah ah no no no no! It was my mistake to misjudge you... hehe..."
He was drenched in sweat, afraid that Ethan, if displeased, would turn him into a "little golden man" too.
Only then did Ethan withdraw his gaze.
Looking into the distance, he curled his lips and said: "No need to rush, I've already made arrangements."
"Some people won't shed tears until they see the coffin... People won't wake up unless the gallows are right in front of them."
A golden radiance flashed at his fingertips.
It was the golden little bird that had gone after the Auror Delice, constantly flying towards the Ministry of Magic.
It was a lucky bird that could guide people to find treasures.
And also, a "butcher bird" that impaled its prey on thorns.