Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

The lingering magical energy in the training room had not yet dissipated; the protective runes on the stone walls still flickered with a faint red light; the ground was uneven, with pebbles scattered everywhere.

Regulus and Orion sat side by side on the ground, their backs against the cold black stone wall, the air still carrying the scorching and damp scent of the spells colliding.

Regulus adjusted his breathing and recovered his magic. After a moment, he spoke up: "Sirius not going home may not be a bad thing."

Orion paused, his gaze darkening, and he didn't reply, waiting for him to continue.

"He was very comfortable at Hogwarts, James Potter and the others treated him sincerely, and the atmosphere of Gryffindor suited him well."

Regulus spoke calmly, as if he were describing someone unrelated to him.

"His personality is too intense. He won't accept the Black family's rules or the intricacies of the pureblood circle."

He turned to Orion: "His current choice, though rebellious, is actually the best path for him. Only by leaving Grimmauld Place and staying away from the conflicts of the pureblood circle can he live freely."

Orion remained silent, as many fragments suddenly flashed through his mind.

When Regulus was a child, he would casually talk about choices, paths, and leaving, often after Sirius was scolded by Walbug and when Sirius complained about the constraints of his family.

Those details he had previously overlooked now came together, giving him a jolt.

Could it be that this youngest son had been subtly guiding Sirius down this path long ago?

"He will side with Dumbledore from now on," Regulus said with certainty, as if he could already see the future. "It's the best arrangement."

Orion looked up, his eyes filled with doubt, but even more so with scrutiny: "Why are you so sure?"

"The situation is what it is." Regulus traced a simple outline of the power dynamics on the ground with his finger.

"Voldemort's rise was essentially a challenge to the existing order by the supremacy of purebloods, while Dumbledore represented the forces that maintain a balance of diversity."

Sirius Black despises the hypocrisy and cruelty of the pureblood faction, so he will naturally side with Dumbledore.

Regulus raised his voice slightly: "Besides, he's only suited to living in the sunlight."

Dumbledore has a righteous stance, friends to fight alongside him, and a sense of justice that he believes in—all of these are what he wants.

It's better to let him do what he believes in than to let him be trapped in his family and become a resentful rebel.

Orion looked at his son's clear thinking and listened to his well-organized analysis, and his heart was stirred.

"The balance of the wizarding world has long been broken," Regulus continued, his fingertips still moving.

"Pure-blood families hold resources and heritage, yet they remain stagnant and only think about maintaining tradition, which is actually because they are unwilling to give up their interests."

Half-blood and Muggle-born wizards are rising in power, but they lack sufficient influence. However, this is only the current situation; they will grow stronger until they become uncontrollable.

The Ministry of Magic appeared to be in control, but in reality, it was weak and powerless. Voldemort's appearance simply brought this contradiction to the forefront.

"The future situation will not be a simple black-and-white confrontation, but more of a tug-of-war of interests."

Sirius Black is on Dumbledore's side, which can leave a way out for the Black family. We'll handle things here and protect the family's foundation.

Two paths, complementary to each other; whichever one prevails, the Black family will survive.

Orion remained silent for a long time, and only the steady breathing of the two remained in the training room.

He had to admit that he was no better than his eleven-year-old son at predicting future events.

Regulus not only possesses immense power, but also a clear mind and a long-term vision, which is more powerful than mere magic and ensures the long-term survival of the Black family.

After thinking for a long time, Orion slowly nodded, his tone filled with a sense of relief: "From now on, I won't interfere with his choices."

He looked at Regulus, his gaze becoming solemn, as if entrusting him with a task: "From now on, I'll leave his affairs to you."

Regulus did not respond, but simply watched his father quietly.

Orion took a deep breath, as if making some difficult decision, his voice low and deep: "Regulus, if it really comes to the worst... then you shall be the master."

Regulus understood what he meant.

The father said that between the survival of the family and the safety of Sirius, he ultimately chose the former, choosing the youngest son who was more capable of shouldering the future of the Black family.

Regulus's heart stirred slightly. He didn't say anything nice, but simply reached out and patted Orion's shoulder firmly, the force in his palm steady and resolute.

Looking at his son's calm profile, Orion's tense lips slowly curved into a smile, and the heaviness in his eyes dissipated, replaced by relief and trust.

The conversation naturally turned to the upcoming Malfoy family Christmas dinner, and Orion said, "At the Malfoy family gathering, all sorts of families will be there."

He then asked, "I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"If Voldemort wants loyalty, we'll give him loyalty; if he wants resources, we'll provide them."

Regulus had already prepared his plan: "But we can't do what the Lestrange family did, throwing ourselves into it wholeheartedly and tying the family's fate entirely to him."

He elaborated on the idea he had once shared with Narcissa: "We must outwardly pledge allegiance while secretly maintaining our independence."

He needs the power and prestige of the Black family, so we will use that as leverage to retain our own decision-making space and room for development within his sphere of influence.

Don't provoke trouble, but don't blindly obey. At crucial moments, you must have your own judgment and not be completely assimilated by him.

Orion nodded slightly, tapping his knee lightly with his fingers: "What you're thinking is largely in line with the family's plans."

His tone was shrewd: "Voldemort is indeed powerful and charismatic, ranking among the top in wizarding history, but he's not to the point where all families would stake their entire fortunes."

He turned to Regulus and decided to reveal more details: "Some families are truly fanatical, wholeheartedly following him, but many more are just observing."

Some families even deliberately push those dim-witted fools to the front, making them pledge their loyalty without reservation, while actually observing them.

Let's see what happens when someone becomes completely subservient to Voldemort.

Regulus's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood.

He always thought that he had seen the situation clearly thanks to the prophecy of the time traveler, which was comparable to having God's perspective.

But they forgot that Orion was the patriarch of the Black family for many years and had experienced countless political games. When it came to these intricacies, he was far more experienced than Orion.

The Black family has survived for a thousand years not because of brute force, but because of their cautious and shrewd approach.

He had indeed been somewhat arrogant and underestimated the survival wisdom of these ancient families.

But then again, even if Orion saw things clearly, the Black family was still destined for a tragic end.

Walbug's fanaticism, Sirius's rupture, Bellatrix's madness, and Voldemort's paranoia and cruelty—these are not things that can be resolved by shrewdness alone.

Ultimately, only with sufficient power can one control their own destiny amidst the storm.

Orion, oblivious to his son's thoughts, continued, "You want to put the Black family in the position of partners, which is a bold and risky idea."

Voldemort had an extremely strong desire for control; once this was detected, it was tantamount to provocation, with dangerous consequences.

He changed the subject: "But it's not entirely impossible, as long as we demonstrate enough value to make him feel that the Black family is indispensable."

By maintaining a low profile, avoiding the limelight, and not crossing his bottom line, one can quietly develop their own power right under his nose.

He looked at Regulus: "When we get to the party, you stay by my side and I'll handle everything."

You need to maintain a proper public image, say what needs to be said, and avoid asking unnecessary questions. Your abilities are already sufficient to earn their respect; there's no need to deliberately showcase them.

Regulus nodded, then brought up the matter he had been thinking about: "Father, I want to see the heirloom in the family's secret chamber."

Orion's face immediately darkened, and he refused without hesitation: "No."

"Why?" Regulus pressed.

"Family heirlooms are not ordinary magic books," Orion said seriously.

"Our ancestors sealed away their life's worth of powerful magic, magical insights, and combat experience in memory crystals."

Those memories not only contain the complete process of cultivating magic, but also the magical power and spiritual will of our ancestors.

He emphasized, "Those magical powers are extremely vast, and their spiritual will is exceptionally strong. If you rashly come into contact with them, you will at least be suppressed by the will of your ancestors, which will affect your magical path."

In severe cases, it can lead to mental breakdown, resulting in backlash and complete transformation into a vessel for inheritance, losing one's own identity.