Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

On a chilly Christmas morning in Kirkworth, a thin mist clung to the windows, condensing into tiny droplets.

The small house at No. 4 Lilac Road was warm and cozy, with the firewood crackling in the fireplace and the orange-red flames licking the fireplace walls, making the carpet in the living room glow warmly.

A typical Muggle house, not big, but full of warmth.

The sofa cover was a faded checkered fabric, and there were untidy breakfast plates on the coffee table with jam smeared on the edges. A short Christmas tree stood in the corner, covered with colorful ribbons and fairy lights.

Lily sat cross-legged on the carpet, with several packages of various kinds piled up in front of her.

She was wearing a red sweater, her red hair was tied back, her cheeks were flushed from the fire, and her fingers were already impatiently running over a package.

Penny sat on the sofa, hugging her knees, staring intently at the package beside Lily, her lips pressed into a straight line.

From childhood to adulthood, she has always been able to discover something different in Lily, and now it's even more so, as this younger sister has entered a world that she can't reach.

Lily's parents sat on the sofa opposite her. Her mother was knitting a sweater, and her father was holding a cup of hot tea. Both of them had their eyes on their youngest daughter.

"Take your time unpacking, Lily. Enjoy the surprise slowly," her mother said with a smile.

Lily responded and first unwrapped the gifts her parents had given her. It was a thick fairy tale book and a blue knitted scarf that matched her eye color perfectly.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad!"

She tilted her head back and smiled, wrapped the scarf around her neck, and turned to share it with Penny, but saw her sister turn her face away, pretending to look at the scenery outside the window, the loneliness in her eyes impossible to hide.

Lily's smile faded slightly, a hint of helplessness crossing her mind. She knew that Penny had always been bothered by not being able to enter the magical world like her, which meant they could never go back to the close-knit relationship they had as children.

But there was nothing she could do, since she wasn't the principal.

Lily didn't say anything more and started unpacking the other packages, most of which contained simple greeting cards and snacks. Finally, a particularly exquisite package caught her attention.

This package was different from the other gifts; the wrapping paper was dark green and embroidered with intricate patterns in silver thread.

The package felt of excellent quality, with neatly trimmed edges and even the ribbons tied with it were made of silk, making it look very valuable.

Lily's heart skipped a beat, and she guessed who the gift-giver was almost instantly.

Penny's gaze was also drawn to the package, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and jealousy.

The parents also came over, and the mother asked softly, "Who sent this? The packaging is so beautiful."

"He's...he's a classmate from the magic school," Lily replied vaguely. Although there was no signature or mark, she knew it was Regulus.

Even the packaging exudes elegance and restraint, giving it a noble feel.

Inside is a small crossbody bag, mainly light purple, with a soft leather body that feels smooth and delicate to the touch. The design is exquisite yet cute, just the kind of style that girls would love.

There was also a folded note next to the handbag.

"Wow!" Lily couldn't help but exclaim, her voice full of surprise.

She picked up her handbag, gently pulled open the pocket, and found that the space inside was much larger than it looked. She could easily stuff her textbooks and wand into it, yet it still maintained its small size.

"What's this?" The father leaned closer, examining the bag curiously. "It looks so small, how can it hold anything?"

Lily unfolded the note, which had neat handwriting and simply explained that it was a handbag with a seamless stretching charm to make it easier for her to store her belongings. It also included instructions on how to use it, making it concise and clear.

She read the contents of the note to her parents, emphasizing the preciousness of the handbag.

"In the magical world, items with spatial charms are very rare, especially one made so exquisitely. Ordinary junior wizards simply cannot obtain them."

The parents looked surprised. The mother gently touched the handbag, her voice tinged with worry: "Isn't it too expensive? Why did that classmate... give you such a nice gift?"

Lily clutched her handbag, falling into a brief silence, amazed by the value of Regulus's gift, and suddenly felt that the knitted scarf she had prepared was somewhat inadequate.

But all she could say was, "He's my good friend, I accept this gift, and I'll help him out in the future."

Since she had already accepted it as a gift, there was absolutely no reason to return it. She immediately cheered herself up; she wasn't the kind of girl who would feel inferior just because she received an expensive gift.

She remembered what Regulus had said: his family was exploring some ancient external potion recipes that required potion ingredients that could stably hold and slowly release specific magical effects.

I secretly resolved to work even harder.

Regulus did consider the gift when choosing it, but it wasn't really that valuable to him, so he just gave it away. He put more effort into choosing the style of the handbag.

Seeing her resolute attitude and genuine liking for the person, her parents didn't say anything more, only instructing her to thank them properly.

Lily nodded in agreement, then turned to share her joy with Penny, only to find that Penny had already stood up and gone back to her room without a word.

Lily sighed softly and carefully placed her handbag beside her.

Meanwhile, in an apartment in Paris, France, Andromeda also received a gift from the Blake family.

The apartment was clean and bright, with a cozy layout, and the view of Parisian streets was visible from the window, where Christmas decorations were already up.

Andromeda was sitting by the window reading when he heard a slight noise at the door. He looked up and saw Kreacher standing there, holding a black velvet box in his hands, looking respectful.

"Miss Andromeda," Kreacher bowed and handed over the box, "This is a Christmas present from my young master."

Andromeda put down the book, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and then took the box.

She hasn't been completely expelled from the Black family yet and still has blood ties with them, which is why Kreacher was able to come directly to her side.

She opened the box, inside which was a small gold key engraved with the Gringotts logo, and a note with information about a certain vault in Gringotts, Paris.

"My master said not to say anything if no one asks," Kreacher added, before disappearing instantly.

Unlike the cozy atmosphere of Kirkworth and the tranquility of Paris, the Potters' Christmas was filled with noise and energy.

James Potter, dressed in a flashy Christmas sweater and holding a magic wand, was performing in the living room, turning an apple into a singing bird, which drew cheers from those around him.

Sirius sat on the sofa, laughing heartily, holding a glass of butterbeer in his hand.

He had completely integrated into the Potter family's life. There were no Black family rules to bind him, no scolding from his mother, only the company of friends and the air of freedom.

The smile on his face was genuine; the gloom in his eyes had long been dispelled by the sunlight, and his whole being exuded a flamboyant vitality.

The Potters sat in the main seats, watching their children play, their faces full of satisfaction.

Sirius enjoyed the fun immensely, playing with James.

In a small house in Spider's End Alley, Snape sat at a cold table, unwrapping the only Christmas present besides Lily's.

The gift was delivered by an owl; the packaging was simple, with no markings, just two slips of paper.

Snape's fingers were a little stiff as he unwrapped the package. Inside was a handwritten potion recipe and a parchment containing a basic dark magic spell.

Snape's eyes lit up as he gripped the recipe and parchment tightly.

The note also read: "Effort will be rewarded, and knowledge requires accumulation."

He instantly knew this was Regulus's reward to him for passing on intelligence.

As Snape looked at the words, a strange feeling welled up inside him.

He had previously taken the initiative to pass on messages to Regulus, messages that he considered to be of little value and that Regulus might not even care about. He never expected to receive a reward.

He had always thought that Regulus was just like other pure-blooded nobles—arrogant and aloof—but he never expected that the other party would actually have a fair side.

Snape believed that Regulus treated him as an equal collaborator, exchanging knowledge for his contributions.

Although his efforts, even in his own eyes, were insignificant.

He carefully put the recipe and parchment away in his most treasured potions book, then picked up his wand, ready to try practicing the dark magic on the parchment.

Then, as if remembering something, he put the wand down again.

If there's a trace, you can't practice it.

Shift!

......

The moon was high in the sky, and the Malfoy family's banquet finally came to an end.

Orion Apparated Regulus back to number 12 Grimmauld Place. As soon as they entered, Kreacher greeted them, bowing and saying, "Master, young master, the midnight snack is ready."

The fireplace in the living room was still burning, and Kreacher had already set the dining table with steaming cream of mushroom soup, truffle-baked snails, and fresh fruit tarts.

Regulus and Orion sat facing each other, picked up their spoons and took a sip of the thick soup, the warmth instantly dispelling the chill from their bodies.

The food at the banquet was exquisite but the portions were small, and we couldn't get enough to eat.