Bloodlines, Stances, and Reality

In a corner of the Library, candlelight cast a warm halo over the heavy pages.

Lily Evans finally could not hold back any longer. She set down the thick potions tome in her hands and looked seriously at Regulus across from her with her green eyes.

"I heard about that duel in the Slytherin Common Room, with a fifth-year," she said in a lowered voice, her curiosity pure and free of prejudice.

"They said you only used some basic spells, but the effects were completely different. It was as if we weren't studying from the same textbook. How could you do that?"

Regulus raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. He had not expected her to ask about that, though on second thought, it was only natural.

Details of internal Slytherin affairs had never leaked out. That was the shared understanding of all Slytherins, such as the Dark Arts displayed at the Welcome Party.

But Travers had taken the initiative to provoke him and then suffered such an ugly defeat. That made for decent gossip, and no one was going to cover for him.

He looked up at her and could tell that Lily's curiosity held neither probing nor hostility, only a fascination with Magic itself. That made him willing to say a little more.

"The spells themselves really are from the books," he answered calmly. "The key lies in how you use them."

"You mean there's a trick to it?"

"Understanding, proficiency, the body, and awareness." Regulus waved his wand and cast a Muffling Charm.

He continued, "Understand the essence of a spell: what kind of magical properties it draws upon, what matter or energy it acts on, and what change it is intended to achieve.

"Proficiency means countless repetitions, until the spell becomes almost instinctive. The incantation, gesture, and Magic Power output must be perfectly synchronized, without the slightest excess or hesitation.

"The body. A duel is not about standing still and chanting spells. You need to move to evade spells, adjust your angle to gain a better casting position, and maintain your balance so you can respond at any time.

"A strong physique and quick reflexes are themselves part of combat capability."

After a moment's thought, Regulus added, "That is something many wizards overlook."

"Lastly, awareness." Regulus's gray eyes seemed especially deep in the candlelight. "Predict your opponent's intentions, calculate the paths and intersections of spells, and make the optimal choice in an instant.

"In many cases, a duel is a contest of awareness before it becomes a collision of spells."

Then he added silently to himself, Of course, that only applies to ordinary duels, not higher forms of Magic.

And it doesn't apply to everyone. Voldemort, Dumbledore, Grindelwald—and in the future, me.

Lily was stunned as she listened. She had never heard anyone analyze a wizarding duel so clearly and systematically.

At Hogwarts, professors taught little wizards how to pronounce spells and perform the gestures, emphasizing the importance of practice. But they rarely connected the use of spells with the caster's overall qualities in such depth.

It gave her the faint sense that between Muggle-borns and peers from those Ancient Families, there lay a profound gulf.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask whether this was not unfair.

Children from Pureblood families had been exposed to these deeper ideas from a young age, while they...

As if seeing through her thoughts, Regulus shook his head slightly. "This has no inevitable connection to whether one is pure-blooded.

"Family inheritance does provide earlier access to such concepts, but that is merely 'knowing.' To go from 'knowing' to 'doing' requires personal study, practice, and thought.

"Many Pureblood Wizards remain only at the level of 'knowing,' and some even neglect practice because of arrogance.

"My level comes more from my own effort."

His words were like a basin of cold water, waking Lily from the faint resentment in her heart.

She suddenly remembered that Professor Slughorn had also praised her and Severus for their talent. They, too, had achieved excellent results through their own hard work.

Resources might be unequal, but diligence and intelligence were things anyone could possess.

Regulus was not defending a pure-blood monopoly. He was emphasizing the decisive role of personal effort, which made his words easier for her to accept.

Lily nodded thoughtfully.

But she had never considered whether, apart from Regulus, any other pure-blood would say such things to her.

Without either of them noticing, the conversation grew more profound.

After hesitating for a moment, Lily finally asked the question that had lingered in her mind for a long time. "Lately, I've always felt that the atmosphere at school is a little strange.

"Especially in Slytherin, and among... some upper-year pure-blood students from other Houses.

"Sometimes they talk quietly about 'that person,' or 'that great wizard.' They seem so fervent. Has something happened outside?"

Regulus fell silent for a moment.

He knew Lily had grown up in the Muggle world and had limited knowledge of the Wizarding World, but her sharpness had allowed her to notice that something was wrong.

Clearly, however, key information would not be made public to wizards of her background.

But Regulus did not mind saying a little more.

"The Wizarding World... is on the eve of change," he said carefully, avoiding that name directly.

Lily could learn that name elsewhere, but it could not come from him.

"A powerful wizard who advocates pure-blood supremacy is rising. He has attracted the support of many Ancient Families.

"He believes Pureblood Wizards should reestablish absolute rule over the Wizarding World and purge impure elements."

Lily's green eyes widened. "That's absurd! Just because of someone's background?"

"Whether it is absurd depends on one's stance." Regulus's voice remained calm. "For many Ancient Families, they control the vast majority of the Wizarding World's wealth, knowledge, and power. That ruling position has lasted for hundreds, even thousands, of years.

"They believe it is a natural right bestowed by bloodline, while the growing number of Half-bloods and Muggle-borns is diluting and threatening that right and purity.

"That wizard's views happen to cater to their anxiety and ambition."

He looked at Lily seriously. "The pure-bloods you've encountered from other Houses, such as Potter, Longbottom, Pruitt, and Weasley, may come from more open-minded families, or families more satisfied with the current state of affairs.

"But Slytherin, and many families closely tied to it, are different."

Lily bit her lip and looked at Regulus, her voice very soft. "What about you? You must also... support that view, right? You're a Black. Your name is practically synonymous with pure-bloods."

Regulus did not answer immediately. He turned to look at the deepening night beyond the window, as though he could see through it to the chaotic situation shut out by Hogwarts Castle.

"Bloodline," he began slowly, "is like an ancient key. It can open certain sealed doors, granting access to resources and perspectives that others can hardly reach.

"It represents tradition, and it also represents vested interests. I cannot deny that I enjoy and make use of everything it brings."

He turned back, looking candidly at Lily. "But bloodline cannot represent wisdom, character, or determine a person's entire worth.

"Throughout history, many wizards who advanced Magic were not pure-bloods. To attribute everything to bloodline is lazy and narrow-minded.

"The stance of many Pureblood families is less a matter of belief than... the preservation of their existing interests and ruling position.

"They monopolize knowledge and resources, forming a closed and powerful class through intermarriage."

At that point, he silently mocked to himself, I had a dog in my previous life. Its pedigree was as pure as could be, but aside from being pretty and delicate, it didn't seem much smarter than a mutt off the street.

Lily listened to this almost cruel analysis, deeply shaken.

She had not expected someone born into the most illustrious Pureblood family to view pure-bloods themselves in this way.

He was neither fanatical nor defensive. He was simply calmly laying out an analysis based on history and interests.

It made her wonder whether Regulus Black might not be the typical pure-blood supremacist she had imagined.

If she had asked that question, Regulus would have told her that he could be one, or he could be not.

For the next while, the two of them returned their attention to their books.

Regulus searched for records concerning skin-adherent potion carriers, Magic Power slow-release matrices, and the stability of Rune inscription media.

The books he was reading had already gone beyond the scope of ordinary O.W.L.s and even touched upon N.E.W.T.-level material.

At first, Lily had merely been curious about what he was looking for. But when Regulus occasionally raised quiet questions about difficult passages or offered incisive commentary, she was once again astonished by the depth of this peer's knowledge.

She guessed that Regulus might be researching a rather obscure and advanced subject.

"What are you researching?" she could not help asking again. "This material... is very specialized."

Regulus looked up and thought for several seconds.

Lily's talent for potions was recognized by both Slughorn and the Original Author. She was also sharp-minded and intensely curious. Perhaps she would make a good assistant.

But he could not reveal his true purpose.