Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

As soon as Regulus got to his feet in the lobby of number 12 Grimaud Place, Volbuga quickly came to greet him.

She wore a dark green robe embroidered with the Black family crest, and the black diamond Sirius brooch at the collar glittered in the firelight. The corners of her mouth were now noticeably upturned, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes had softened considerably.

"My Regulus!" She reached out and gripped her son's arm tightly. "You're finally back. Look at you, you've grown so much taller and look so healthy."

Her gaze swept over Regulus's neat robes and tidy curls, finally settling on the family brooch on his chest, her eyes brimming with pride.

"I've read all the letters from Hogwarts. First in Slytherin, straight A's in all subjects, and he's shown those blind fools how capable Black is. Well done!"

Orion stood by the fireplace, his face still expressionless, but his gaze toward Regulus was full of satisfaction.

He stepped forward, raised his hand and patted Regulus on the shoulder, the pressure in his palm heavy: "It's good to be back."

Walbuga pulled Regulus toward the living room, muttering to himself, "Kreacher tidied up your room a long time ago, and I left the vines outside the window there; you used to stare at them all the time when you were little."

She paused for a moment, then naturally changed the subject: "Where's Sirius? Didn't he come back with you?"

The cheerful atmosphere froze instantly. The portraits on the wall exchanged glances, and the Victorian ancestor sighed softly.

Regulus remained calm and unmoved: "He won't reply."

"Not going back?" Volbuga's voice suddenly rose, and the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by anger and disappointment.

"That unfilial son! I knew it! He's been corrupted by those Gryffindor idiots; he's not coming home for Christmas!"

She clenched her fists: "One day, he will pay the price for his rebellion!"

Orion frowned but didn't refute, only giving Regulus a look to indicate that he didn't need to worry about it.

Regulus was indeed unconcerned; he had anticipated this outcome.

Walbuga's anger came and went quickly. After cursing Sirius a few times, he soon turned his attention back to Regulus, and his tone became fervent again.

"Never mind that unfilial son, let's not talk about him. Tell me quickly, what exactly did he do at school?"

Professor Slughorn said you make potions better than a fifth grader, is that true?

And that Travers, I heard he provoked you, and you beat him to a pulp?

She had already found out all the details through various channels, but she still insisted on hearing them from Regulus.

Regulus followed her lead and briefly described the situation in Potions class and the conflict with Travers, without embellishment, simply stating the facts objectively.

Walbuga listened with great enthusiasm, occasionally exclaiming in admiration, "That's exactly right! The Black family shouldn't be treated with the slightest disrespect! Those arrogant fools should be taught a lesson!"

Dinner was held in the restaurant, where a long table was covered with a deep red velvet tablecloth, and the silver cutlery gleamed coldly in the firelight.

Kreacher served a series of exquisite dishes: roast turkey, lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie—all of Regulus’ childhood favorites.

Oh, no, turkey. Turkey is too dry, and Regulus wouldn't eat it.

The dinner, intended for only three people, was still laid out to be full, as if to make up for Sirius's absence.

While serving Regulus food, Volbuga grumbled, "The glory of the pureblood family ultimately depends on you."

Look at the Malfoy family. Lucius is good, but he's still far inferior to you.

The Lestrange family is even worse; only Bella is somewhat decent, the Rodolphs are far from it.

Regulus had long realized that her fanaticism was completely different from Bella's.

Bella's eyes were filled with worship for Voldemort himself, regarding him as a god-like being, and she was willing to give everything for him.

Walbuga's fanaticism always revolved around the pure-blood glory of the Black family, and Voldemort's appearance was merely a convenient boost that helped the Black family return to their peak.

Regulus listened silently, a sudden feeling of emotion welling up inside him.

He recalled how, when he was ten months old, his magic awakened, and how Walbuga held him in his arms with ecstatic joy.

I recall her piety as she sat in front of the family tapestry, recounting the great achievements of her ancestors time and time again.

He remembered how, despite her stubbornness, she would quietly tuck him in while he slept soundly on cold nights.

If there were another path that would allow the Black family's glory to continue or even rise, without relying on Voldemort, Walbug might not be an obstacle.

But the prerequisite is that he can do it, and that she sees it with her own eyes.

"What do you think of the classmates at school?" Walbuga suddenly asked, his eyes filled with expectation, but he seemed to already know the answer.

Regulus put down his knife and fork, his tone deliberately tinged with a hint of pride: "It's nothing special."

Orion raised his eyes and looked at him.

"Talent varies greatly, and most are short-sighted," Regulus continued. "They focus on classroom content, are engrossed in academic infighting, and can't see beyond the bigger picture."

His gaze never lingered on his peers; in this era, no one's talent could surpass his.

Walbuga listened with a face full of agreement: "That's right! Not to mention those mixed-race and Muggle-born people, even some purebloods only know how to live off their heritage, they are no match for you at all!"

"I, Regulus, am the most outstanding heir of the Black family!"

Orion put down his glass and slowly said, "At school, there's no need to be too conspicuous."

His tone was calm, without accusation, but more of a reminder: "But your performance certainly didn't disappoint us."

He turned his gaze to the window and lowered his voice: "Keep an eye on Sirius. If you have the chance... let him know that his family still cares about him."

Walbuga frowned, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't speak. He just cut off a piece of turkey and shoved it into his mouth, as if venting his dissatisfaction with Sirius.

Dinner ended with Walbuga's rambling and Orion's occasional interjections.

As Kreacher cleared the table, Orion said to Regulus, "Go and get ready, then come to my study."

Regulus nodded; he knew this was a real family conversation.

Wolbuga is better suited to discussing superficial things like family honor and school performance; deeper topics are not suitable for her to discuss.

Even less than Narcissa, at least Narcissa could provide valuable information and advice, and had sufficient rationality and wisdom.

Half an hour later, Regulus knocked on the door of Orion's study.

"Come in."

The study was filled with the smell of ink and old books. Behind the huge mahogany desk, Orion sat in a chair, holding an open copy of "The Compendium of Magical Laws of Wizengamo".

Seeing Regulus walk in, he closed his book, leaned forward slightly, and carefully examined him.

"It's only been half a year, but the changes are huge." Orion's voice carried a hint of emotion.

"His posture has become more upright, and his temperament has become more composed. He doesn't look like an eleven-year-old child, but rather like a wizard who can stand on his own."

Regulus walked to the desk and stood still, waiting for his father to continue.

Orion tapped his fingertips lightly on the table: "I warned you a long time ago that you should be careful at school and not show off too much."

I told you in a later letter that sometimes concealing one's talents is more important than flaunting them.

His eyes were filled with doubt: "I always thought you were a mature person, and that we could communicate as equals, but your behavior at school clearly shows that you didn't listen to me."

Regulus was silent for a moment, his mind racing.

He understood what Orion meant and kept it in mind.

He did restrain himself; what he displayed was only the level of magic control and proficiency that a regular wizard might achieve through hard training.

For example, precise polymorphism, silent and wandless magic, and powerful defensive abilities, while dazzling, ultimately belong to the realm of abilities that a wizard should possess.

He never demonstrated the true power of star trail meditation, never revealed his exploration of microscopic deformation, and never showed the advanced cognition brought about by the soul of a time traveler.

Even so, these restrained actions still exceeded everyone's expectations.

"I've already restrained myself." Regulus raised his head to meet Orion's gaze, his tone calm yet firm: "What I displayed was only what I considered to be my normal level of ability."

Orion raised an eyebrow, clearly somewhat skeptical.

"In the wizarding world, when an individual's power reaches a certain level, it is enough to change many things," Regulus continued.

"The family's stance, other people's attitudes, and the resources available are all directly linked to strength."

I need to demonstrate my value to gain more support, which is beneficial for the Blake family and for myself.

He added, "Moreover, what I have shown is only a small part; I have never revealed my true power."

A look of surprise flashed across Orion's eyes, before he fell into deep thought.