Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

On Halloween evening, Hogwarts Castle was completely transformed.

Hundreds of live bats floated in the corridor, hanging upside down on candlesticks and armor, their wings occasionally fluttering and making a soft sound.

The walls were covered with grinning pumpkin lanterns, inside which danced magical flames, casting all sorts of bizarre and comical shadows.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of baked pumpkin pies, and a kind of festive, restless magic.

The young wizards were extremely excited, gathering in twos and threes to discuss the evening's feast and speculate about what strange and wonderful desserts Dumbledore would conjure up this year.

The corridor was filled with laughter and the rustling of robes.

Regulus was also in the crowd.

Today he wasn't going to bury himself in the library or find a quiet corner to practice magic.

He strolled leisurely through the main building of the castle, soaking in the festive atmosphere.

As he walked down a corridor on the third floor, which was covered with magical tapestries that changed patterns, a clear voice called out to him.

"Hey! Blake! Over here!"

It was Eleanor Burns, who seemed to be struggling with how to decorate a corner of the Hufflepuff common room entrance.

Upon seeing Regulus, her eyes lit up, and she immediately waved to him.

Regulus was followed by Avery, Hermes, and Alex.

They now often hang out with Regulus and have become a notable little group in Slytherin.

Avery was a self-aware follower, walking with his back straight as if declaring his choice.

Alex followed quietly to the side and behind. He knew that staying by Regulus's side meant less bullying and even a sliver of respect—a wisdom based on survival.

Hermes walked at the back, his face still somber, his gaze occasionally falling on Regulus's back.

It was less a matter of following and more a matter of close observation, trying to find any flaws or weaknesses in Regulus.

Regulus stopped in his tracks when he heard Eleanor call out to him.

Avery immediately and tugged at Alex, who was still trying to move forward, and then glanced at Hermes.

The three of them tacitly stepped aside, pretending to examine a moving knight duel tapestry next to them.

Regulus walked alone toward Eleanor.

Eleanor was standing next to another Hufflepuff girl with short brown hair. When she saw Regulus approaching, she instinctively shrank her shoulders, her eyes flashing with curiosity and a hint of nervousness.

Regulus Black's name has been spreading rapidly among the lower grades lately. Pureblood, top student, crushing the fifth graders, admired by almost every professor.

All of this gives him an aura that commands respect.

But with Eleanor beside her, she mustered her courage and stood up a little straighter, though her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her robe.

"Miss Borns." Regulus approached and nodded politely in greeting.

Then, turning her gaze to the girl beside her, she nodded slightly as well: "And this is?"

His attitude was natural and calm, without showing any contempt or arrogance because the other party might be from a Muggle background, which surprised the girl.

"Oh, this is Susan Payne, my friend," Eleanor introduced readily.

"Susan, this is Regulus Black, the Slytherin I told you about, the one with the best knowledge of herbalism."

"Hello, Mr. Black," Susan Payne said softly.

"Hello, Miss Payne," Regulus replied, his tone as usual.

He truly didn't care about bloodline or origin. Blake's bloodline was pure enough; he didn't need to gain a sense of superiority from it, nor would he deliberately belittle others to highlight himself.

"Are you in trouble?" Regulus looked at the pumpkins and ingredients on the ground.

"Yes, we wanted to add some special decorations here; just having pumpkin lanterns is a bit boring."

Eleanor pointed to a recessed niche next to the entrance to the Hufflepuff lounge.

Professor Sprout said we can do it ourselves, as long as we don't make it too scary.

Hufflepuff's symbol is the honey badger, so I was thinking of combining jack-o'-lanterns with honey badgers, but I can't actually hang a taxidermied animal here..."

She scratched her head, clearly indicating that this idea would be difficult to implement.

Susan nodded in agreement and whispered, "We tried shapeshifting, but either the shapeshifting didn't look right, or it didn't last long before it reverted back to its original form."

Regulus glanced at the niche, then at the pumpkins of varying sizes on the ground, and pondered for a moment.

"Combining the characteristics of honey badgers with the Halloween atmosphere, perhaps we could give it a try."

He squatted down and picked up a hollowed-out, carved pumpkin lantern.

Eleanor and Susan curiously came over to look.

"Honey badgers are known for their bravery, even recklessness, and fearlessness," Regulus said, examining the pumpkin.

He drew his wand and gently tapped it against the pumpkin lantern.

Magical light flowed around.

Then the shape of the pumpkin lantern began to change, with two short protrusions extending from the top, resembling the ears of a honey badger.

The original comical smiling face carved on the front has become more rugged, and the wide grin at the corners of its mouth carries a fierce and fearless energy.

The eyes were even outlined with two small, sharp white dots of light by magic, like the eyes of a honey badger glowing in the dark.

Regulus lit his wand again, and the previously stable magical flame inside the pumpkin lantern changed color from orange-yellow to a slightly cool silver-white.

The rhythm of the flames became more powerful and irregular, and several faint, scratching shadows appeared beneath the lamp base.

A unique decoration that blends Hufflepuff symbolism with Halloween fun was born.

It looks cool and fun, and it also exudes the fierce aura unique to honey badgers.

"Wow!" Eleanor exclaimed. "That's amazing! It's just like that! It's so cool and fits perfectly!"

Susan's eyes widened, forgetting her earlier tension, and she whispered, "Amazing, the color of the flames has even changed."

"I'm glad I could help you," Regulus said calmly, then waved his wand repeatedly at the other prepared pumpkin lanterns on the ground.

Soon, five or six pumpkin lanterns, each with a different expression but all bearing the distinctive features of honey badgers, were placed in front of the niche. The silvery-white flames flickered, illuminating the area in a way that was both mysterious and full of vitality.

"What interesting things are you doing?" a gentle voice asked.

It was Professor Sprout. She looked like she had just come back from the greenhouse, and she was carrying a small bowl of fluorescent mushrooms.

"Professor! Look! The honey badger pumpkin lantern that Regulus made for us!" Eleanor excitedly showed it off.

Professor Sprout approached and looked at the unusual pumpkin lanterns with great interest.

She glanced at Regulus, who stood calmly to the side, and smiled approvingly: "Very creative, Mr. Black."

The transformation is stable, the intention is clear, and it also takes into account the festive atmosphere and the characteristics of the college, adding five points to your ingenuity.

"Thank you, Professor, it was nothing." Regulus bowed slightly.

After a brief exchange about the stability of magical flames, Regulus turned and took his leave.

Watching him leave, Susan Payne whispered to Eleanor, "He seems a little different from what people say about him."

"Magic is amazing! That Transfiguration spell... I feel like many third-years in our house couldn't do it. And he's quite polite too, unlike some Slytherins..."

Eleanor looked at the honey badger jack-o'-lanterns and smiled. "Of course they're different. I told you before, what's in his head is different from many others. As for his magical abilities..."

She lowered her voice: "Some of the news I've heard is probably even more exaggerated than what's being said."

Meanwhile, Regulus and his roommates returned to the Slytherin common room.

Halloween decorations are also being done here, but in a completely different style.

The older students were in charge of everything; they used magic to make the silver-green silk meander and crawl along the walls like living snakes.

The bats that appeared gleamed with a metallic sheen, and the pumpkin lanterns were carved into the shapes of the heads of various ferocious beasts or venomous snakes, with eerie green flames burning inside.

The entire lounge was filled with a luxurious yet aloof atmosphere.

The younger students mostly stood around, passing materials, running errands, or watching with admiration as the older students performed more complex magic.

Regulus watched quietly for a while, and then he understood.

Hufflepuff's style is warm and inclusive, with a touch of rustic creativity.

Slytherin, on the other hand, is a refined and exclusive display, full of symbolism and competition.

Neither style is inherently superior or inferior; they are simply direct reflections of different academic cultures and values.