Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

The guests arrived one after another, about thirty people in total, and slowly sat down in their chairs.

Ted's parents were sitting in the front row. The old lady was still adjusting her dress, and the old gentleman was holding her hand, telling her not to be nervous.

Several of Ted's Muggle friends sat in the back, chatting and laughing quietly, while the young wizards sat in the corner.

Regulus noticed their expressions.

They were laughing, offering blessings, and applauding, but deep in their eyes, there was a faint sense of tragic grandeur.

The fact that these people are gathered here is itself a choice.

They all knew what the Black family was, what Andromeda had given up, and how much uncertainty lay hidden behind this happiness.

But they still came, and they still smiled and offered their blessings.

Regulus looked away and stopped looking at them.

The phonograph started playing music, a soothing tune.

Regulus felt the name was familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it.

Everyone stood up and turned to look in the direction of the house. Andromeda appeared at the top of the stairs on the second floor.

Sunlight streamed in through the window behind her, making her wedding dress gleam—a long white gown, a lace veil, and a bouquet of white flowers in her hands.

She stood there, looking down at the people below.

Ted's parents were nervous and expectant, while Ted's friends waved and laughed.

The young wizards, their eyes red-rimmed, and those familiar faces were all looking at her.

Her gaze swept across the crowd and then landed on Regulus, in the spot where her father should have been standing.

But now there is only a twelve-year-old boy there, her cousin.

Andromeda smiled and came down the stairs. Regulus walked to the top of the stairs and stretched out his arm to her.

Andromeda reached out and took his arm; her hand trembled slightly as she held him tightly, as if afraid he would disappear.

Regulus sensed that power, but said nothing. He simply led her forward, and what seemed like a long time was a mere dozen steps.

There was no music, no one spoke, and everyone was watching them.

Regulus glanced at the crowd and saw Ted's parents wiping away tears, the expressions of the young wizards, and the genuine smiles on the faces of the Muggles.

No one thought there was anything wrong with the person holding Andromeda's arm, no one was curious about who he was, they just watched the bride walk by.

As Ted walked to the end of the red carpet, he watched them approach, tears welling in his eyes.

Regulus placed Andromeda's hand in his.

He looked at Ted and said in a low but clear voice, "Andromeda, it's all yours now."

Ted nodded vigorously: "Thank you."

Andromeda looked at the two people, his eyes filled with tears. .

The wedding was officiated by one of Ted's Muggle relatives, a chubby middle-aged man in a white suit, holding a book in his hand.

He cleared his throat and began to speak.

They were saying the same things that Muggle weddings usually say, like "for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, we shall be together."

Regulus stood to the side listening, his expression unchanged.

Then it was the newlyweds' turn to exchange vows.

Ted looked at Andromeda and took a deep breath.

"Andromeda, I don't care what others say. The one I know is the one I want to marry. From now on, no matter what happens, we'll be together."

Andromeda looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Ted, I gave up my family, my surname, and everything in the past, but I didn't give up on you. No matter what happens in the future, I'll always be here for you."

Ted reached out and took her hand. They looked at each other, neither of them speaking, and the air around them seemed to freeze.

Regulus watched them from the side.

Is it worth giving up your family and your surname?

He looked at the expression on Andromeda's face, a happiness that came from the bottom of her heart and could not be hidden.

Then I looked into Ted's eyes, at that firmness, that determination.

He thought that whether it was worth it or not was not for him to judge.

Another thought suddenly popped into Regulus's mind.

Andromeda and Sirius are actually quite similar.

They were all rebels against the Black family, choosing paths completely different from their own.

But the two are different.

Sirius's rebelliousness was flamboyant; he wanted the whole world to know. When he left home, he slammed the door and shouted that he would never come back.

Andromeda was different. She left quietly, without arguments or a break, just vanished like a drop of water falling into the sea, leaving no trace.

These two people, one flamboyant and the other quiet, ultimately made the same choice: they chose what they truly wanted and gave up what they shouldn't have kept.

This might be the true picture of the Blake family, not the portraits hanging on the walls, not the names written in the family tree.

These are the people who dared to leave, the people who were resolute, the people who never regretted what they did.

Regulus snapped out of his thoughts; the wedding had moved on to the next step: exchanging rings.

Ted took out the rings, a pair of simple silver bands with no decorations.

He put it on Andromeda, his hands trembling slightly.

Andromeda put it on him, her movements steady, and she smiled sweetly.

The people around them began to applaud.

According to wedding customs, relatives and friends take turns offering their blessings, one after another stepping forward, saying a few words, and then stepping back.

When it was Regulus's turn, he stood up and walked over to the two men.

Everyone was watching him: Ted's parents, his Muggle friends, and the young wizards. No one knew who he was, but they were all waiting for him to speak.

Regulus looked at Andromeda, then at Ted: "The Black family has a motto: Forever pure."

Andromeda's expression changed.

The young wizards were also stunned, but they quickly recovered and continued to listen quietly as if they hadn't heard anything.

Regulus continued, "But I didn't come here today to talk about that."

He looked at Andromeda: "There's no right or wrong, it's up to you to decide."

Andromeda's eyes reddened, and she sniffed hard.

Regulus turned to Ted: "Cousin, I won't comment on the path you've chosen, but the person you've chosen—"

He glanced at Ted: "He looks alright to me."

Ted grinned, looking like a fool.

Tears welled up in Andromeda's eyes.

Regulus took a small box from his pocket and handed it to Andromeda: "A wedding gift."

Andromeda took it, opened it, and inside was a key—the key to the Gringotts vault in Paris.

It's exactly the same as the one from last Christmas.

Andromeda froze: "Regrus..."

Regulus looked at her casually, "I don't have much to give you, just this."

With a smile in his eyes, he said, "It's better for a couple to have a little more money in their pockets when they're living together."

Andromeda opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Regulus added, "Last time it was for your emergency use, this time it's to let you know that someone remembers you."

Andromeda gripped the key tightly, his lips pressed together, unable to speak.

Ted, who was standing nearby, also saw the key. He didn't know what it was; as a Muggle, he didn't have a vault in Gringotts.

Judging from Andromeda's reaction, it must be something very valuable.

He looked at Andromeda, then at Regulus, but said nothing.

The young wizards saw it, but acted as if they hadn't. The Confusion Charm was so effective that even if they saw it, they wouldn't think much of it or be curious.

Andromeda finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly: "Regulus, if you do this... your family will find out."

Regulus shook his head: "Nobody will know."

Andromeda looked at him, but Regulus offered no explanation.

Orion knew, but so what?

His father wouldn't care, much less interfere; it's not like he was wasting money.

The wedding was over. There were no religious ceremonies, no magical contracts; it was just the two of them making promises to their family and friends.

Ted lowered his head and kissed Andromeda, and the people around him applauded, cheered, and whistled.

Regulus stepped aside and watched them.

The phonograph changed its music to a cheerful tune.

Next, we cut the cake. It had three layers of white cream, and on top stood two little figures, one in a wedding dress and the other in a suit.

Ted and Andromeda cut down together, and another round of cheers erupted around them.

The music changed again; it was the wedding march. Tedra, along with Andromeda, began the first dance.

Sunlight shone on them, their skirts twirled, and their leather shoes made a crisp sound on the stone slabs.

A group of people gathered around, laughing, clapping, and some even humming along.

Regulus stood outside the crowd, watching them.

Halfway through the dance, Andromeda was pulled away by a few girls, whose Muggle friends were chattering away, talking about something indistinctly.

Ted stood alone for a while, wiped his sweat, and then walked over to Regulus.

He handed Regulus a drink, I don't know what it was, it was orange and bubbly.

Regulus took it but didn't drink it.

Ted stood beside him, looking at the crowd: "Thank you for coming."

Regulus didn't speak, he just looked at the crowd.

His expression was less intense than before; the smile he had given when offering his blessings was gone, replaced by a quiet stillness.

He was clearly not tall enough, yet he exuded an indescribable sense of oppression.

Ted sensed it, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I know what Andromeda gave up for me, something I may never be able to repay in this lifetime."

He continued, "But I can promise to treat her well from now on."

Regulus turned his head to look at him, his eyes devoid of emotion: "You've already said that, and besides, that's your business, you don't need to tell me."

Ted paused for a moment, then laughed. "I understand."

He reached out, as if to pat Regulus on the shoulder.

But when he met Regulus's gaze, the hand paused, then lowered again.

He smiled at Regulus, then turned and walked into the crowd.

Andromeda was looking over from that direction when he saw Ted walk over, and the two of them huddled together and said something.

Andromeda glanced in Regulus's direction and smiled happily.

As evening fell and the wedding drew to a close, Andromeda found Regulus.

He stood at the entrance to the courtyard, looking at the Luberon Mountains in the distance.

Andromeda walked over and stood beside him.

Neither of them spoke for a while before Andromeda asked, "When are you leaving?"

Andromeda walked over and stood beside him.

Neither of them spoke for a while before Andromeda asked, "When are you leaving?"

Regulus glanced at the sky: "Before dark."

Andromeda paused for a moment, then continued, "After you go back, at home..."

Regulus knew what she wanted to ask, and he simply said, "Don't worry."

Andromeda looked at him, her eyes reddening again: "Regulus, take care of yourself over there."

Regulus looked at her and smiled. "You too."

Andromeda reached out and ruffled his hair. Regulus didn't flinch and let her ruffle it.

"I've grown up," Andromeda said, "faster than I expected."

Regulus's lips twitched: "You have to grow up, whether you want to or not."

Andromeda laughed and laughed, then tears fell from her eyes.

Regulus took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

Andromeda took it and wiped away her tears.

She looked at the handkerchief, then at Regulus: "When did you learn to carry a handkerchief?"

Regulus laughed and said, "It came from leaves."

He glanced at the sky; the setting sun had turned the entire valley golden.

"I have to go now."

Andromeda nodded.

Regulus looked at her: "Cousin."

Andromeda was looking at him too.

Regulus thought for a moment, and finally only said, "All is well."

Then he disappeared.

Andromeda stood there, looking in that direction, for a long time.