HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

“Next,” Ian continued, his gaze sweeping over everyone, “we’re all as usual. NEWTs are under a lot of pressure, and we’re all just ordinary seventh graders who are anxious about it. Regulus, you focus on ‘recovering’ and come here occasionally, but not too often.”

"Kevin, Aris, keep an eye on what's going on in the academy, especially those who were close to Nott and Carlo before. See if they're making any special comments about Regulus."

"Understood." Kevin nodded vigorously.

Aris adjusted his glasses: "I'm already compiling the information. The prevailing opinion is one of regret and disdain, and the few skeptics have no evidence."

"However, in the long run, Regulus, you need a reasonable future direction, a way out that will make the Black name less embarrassing, even if your soul is damaged and your magic is unstable."

Regulus remained silent for a moment.

"Family business. Some clerical, management, or antique appraisal jobs that don't require too much magic but require meticulousness and family connections. My father... will probably consider this direction. Although it's not as glorious as he hopes, it's at least practical and can keep an eye on me."

"That's a good choice," Ian said. "It's far from the core, relatively safe. Besides, the Burke and Black families have always had dealings with each other in the world of antiques and curiosities, so if you do go down this path, perhaps... you can look out for each other."

This suggests that future connections may be closer and more secure.

Regulus understood. He raised his eyes to look at Ian, something flickering slightly in his grey-blue eyes, which eventually turned into a very slight nod.

"Alright," Ian stood up, stretched, and dispelled some of the tense atmosphere. "Business is done, Kevin. Didn't you brag last week about getting your hands on a new recipe for sizzling mead? Aris didn't deny it, so it seems to be true?"

Kevin immediately perked up, forgetting his earlier tension: "Of course! My uncle brought it back from Norway, made with a special berry from the Arctic tundra, the taste is amazing! It's just a bit strong afterward... Aris said my description was exaggerated, but he drank three glasses himself!"

"You switched my cup, Kevin, and I only drank two and a half cups. Besides, your chatter level increased exponentially after you finished drinking." Aris flipped open his notebook expressionlessly.

"I was just sharing my wine tasting experience!"

The atmosphere in the small room became lively again.

As the turmoil caused by Regulus's injury gradually subsided, Ian and his group became increasingly low-key, only occasionally attending Slughorn's tea party.

……

The weather was unusually fine on the weekend morning.

"We're running out of moonstone powder," Severus said, checking the materials list on his workbench. His quill paused next to the "moongrass extract" label. "And this too, the quality is too poor, it affects stability."

Ian leaned closer to look, his chin almost resting on Ian's shoulder. "The note Slughorn gave me is still valid. Go to the Forbidden Forest? There should be moongrass on the outskirts, fresh is better, moonstone powder... I think we still have some in the cellar at home. Have the owl deliver it next week."

"Go now?" Severus turned his head, Ian's breath brushing against his ear.

"Now, while the weather's nice." Ian straightened up and grabbed a thick coat draped over the back of his chair. "Wear something warm; it's windy near the Forbidden Forest."

They greeted Hagrid, showed him the note, and headed toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"This way." Severus was very familiar with the distribution of plants and led Ian away from the usual path, toward a shady slope.

They found several clumps of moonflower grass in the crevices of some large rocks.

Severus crouched down, took out dragon-skin gloves and a silver knife from his small bag, and began to skillfully harvest the plumpest plants, making clean cuts and trying not to damage the roots.

Ian didn't disturb him, leaning against the tree trunk beside him, his gaze fixed on Severus's focused profile.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on his pale skin and jet-black hair.

His fingers moved steadily as he handled the plants, his expression a cool and gentle intensity unique to someone immersed in their work.

"What are you looking at?" Severus didn't look up, but his ears were a little red. He carefully put the collected moonflowers into a specially made breathable cloth bag.

"You look good." Ian laughed, walked over, and squatted down next to him, rubbing his shoulder against Ian's. "Is that enough?"

"Hmm." Severus tightened the bag's opening, stood up, and patted the moss-covered fragments from his robe. "Back—"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Ian heard it too; it was a heavy footstep, accompanied by the rustling sound of bushes being roughly pushed aside, coming from the depths of the nearby dense forest towards them, and at a considerable speed.

The two exchanged a glance, quickly packed up their belongings, and turned to retreat the way they had come.

But it was too late.

A fully grown venomous horned beast crashed through the bushes blocking their path and appeared a dozen meters in front of them.

It was enormous, with small, bright red eyes fixed on the two intruders, snorting heavily, and pawing the ground restlessly with its front hooves.

"Split up, don't run in a straight line!" Ian hissed, drawing his wand as he did so.

Severus moved almost simultaneously with him, and the two quickly spread out to the sides.

The venomous horned beast let out a deep roar, chose Ian who seemed closer to the open area, lowered its head and charged forward, its horn aimed at Ian, carrying a brute force capable of breaking trees.

"Stun!" Ian's spell struck the venomous horned beast's thick shoulders and back, but it only made it stagger and became even more enraged.

It shook its head, but didn't slow down.

"Obstacles everywhere!" Severus's voice came from the side, and an invisible wall instantly rose up in front of the venomous beast.

The venomous unicorn crashed solidly into the wall, causing it to flicker and crack a few times, but also successfully slowing its momentum.

Ian took the opportunity to hide behind a boulder, but slipped on the thick layer of fallen leaves and was a beat too slow.

The venomous beast adjusted its direction, its horn grazing the outside of his left arm.

"Hiss—" Ian groaned as a long gash was ripped open in his robe sleeve, and blood immediately gushed out, staining the dark fabric red.

The wound wasn't deep, but it stung terribly. What was more troublesome was that the horn of the venomous beast was poisonous. Even a mere scratch made him dizzy, and his arm quickly became numb.

"Ian!" Severus's voice suddenly rose, filled with rare shock and anger.

He barely paused, unleashing a barrage of spells at the venomous beast.

The venomous beast was hit repeatedly, howling in pain, and its movements became noticeably slow and chaotic.

"Run!" Severus rushed to Ian's side, grabbed him, and with his wand still pointed at the struggling horned beast, retreated step by step towards the edge of the forest.