Snape Draws Closer

Bloody Baron looked at Regulus with an unreadable expression. In that moment, Regulus felt as though many things had been seen through.

"Complete Soul is the best defense."

Just when Regulus thought he would get no answer, for some reason, Baron finally answered his question.

"But if you mean a soul that has already been wounded, then solidification may be one method.

"Active stabilization—fixing the damaged parts in place so they stop shattering further, like setting a broken bone with a splint."

"How?" Regulus pressed. That was the key. Ask one question, get two answers.

If he knew how to protect something, he could learn how to destroy it.

But Baron shook his head. "I don't know. I am an example of failure, not a model of success. But if you truly wish to explore the secrets of the soul..."

He paused, as if considering his words. Only after a long while did he continue, "Hogwarts hides a place. There are clues left behind by Rowena Ravenclaw.

"About wisdom, about the soul, about the possibility of transcending life and death."

"The Room of Requirement? The Come and Go Room?" Regulus asked. Those were the places he most associated with Rowena Ravenclaw.

Baron did not answer directly. Instead, he said, "When you are truly ready, the Castle will open a path for you.

"But now... you are too young. Knowing too much is dangerous."

Having said that, Bloody Baron vanished completely into the shadows, leaving only his final whisper echoing through the air:

"Beware curiosity, child of the Black family. It will take you to unexpected places and bring you face-to-face with unexpected dangers."

Regulus remained where he was for a long time before finally turning to leave.

By the time he returned to the Slytherin table, the performance had ended and the feast had entered its free socializing period.

The moment he sat down, several older students approached him.

The first to speak was seventh-year Evan Rosier, Alex's distant cousin.

Holding a goblet, he wore a polite smile. "Regulus, happy Halloween. Alex speaks of you often. You are quite influential among the younger students."

"I merely do what should be done," Regulus replied, observing the proper social etiquette.

A sixth-year boy beside him gave a soft laugh. Regulus remembered that his name was Wilkes.

"Just petty squabbles at school. The real Wizarding World is outside, and nobody there cares how well you perform at Hogwarts."

Wilkes's tone carried obvious contempt. Several members of his family already held important posts at the Ministry of Magic, and he clearly regarded achievements at school as insignificant.

There was no need to waste words on someone like that, so Regulus chose to ignore him.

The third person to approach was the seventh-year girl Alecto Carrow. She was far more direct.

"My brother Amycus admires the way you handled Travers. He said that when you intern at the Ministry of Magic, he can introduce you to some like-minded people."

Regulus understood what she meant. The Carrow siblings were already open supporters of Voldemort.

"Thank you," he said in an even tone, though his reply was positive. "I look forward to that day."

Alecto raised an eyebrow, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Wilkes left as well, clearly having lost interest in Regulus.

Regulus turned toward the Gryffindor table. Sirius was staring in his direction, his expression terrible.

James leaned close to Sirius's ear and said something, pointing repeatedly toward the Slytherin table as he spoke.

Lily sat not far from them. She had also noticed the older Slytherins speaking to Regulus.

She lowered her head to stare at her plate, frowning.

During her last conversation with Regulus, he had already mentioned the situation outside. Lily understood what that meant.

"See?" James's voice carried over, clearly raised on purpose. "Those Death Eater recruits are already trying to win him over. If you ask me, he'll join them before he even graduates—"

"Potter!" Lily suddenly looked up, her voice sharp.

"What? I'm telling the truth!" James refused to back down, craning his neck as he shouted back at her.

"Look at him, he's a textbook Slytherin! The people around him, nearly all their families have joined that side. Do you think he won't?!"

Lily bit her lip. She wanted to argue, yet she did not know what to say. She knew that one's birth often determined far too much.

The Black family already had one Sirius openly opposing them. But what about Regulus? What would he choose?

At the other end of the Slytherin table, Rababstan Lestrange was staring at Regulus.

His gaze was dark and vicious, his fingers tapping against the table again and again.

Snape, seated in a corner, noticed Rababstan's gaze. His black eyes narrowed slightly.

After the feast, the Slytherin students returned to the Dungeons in small groups.

Regulus walked with Avery and Hermes, while Alex followed several steps behind them, wanting to get closer but hesitating.

"That look Lestrange gave you." Hermes sneered. "Who does he think he is? He can't even cast a nonverbal spell properly. He is only relying on his family name."

Avery nodded. "We should teach him a lesson. Let him know who is actually fit to speak in Slytherin."

The two looked at Regulus, waiting for his response.

Regulus had been thinking about what Baron had said regarding transcending life and death. Hearing them, he gave a slight nod. "Don't make too much of a scene, and don't leave evidence."

That was permission enough.

Avery and Hermes exchanged a knowing smile.

Alex quickened his pace and hesitantly spoke up. "I... I can help too."

No one paid him any attention. Avery glanced back at him, then turned away again.

Hermes did not even look at him.

Back in the Dormitory, Avery and Hermes whispered at the other end of the room about how to deal with Rababstan. Their plan became increasingly detailed, increasingly vicious.

Regulus listened without speaking.

To him, these schoolyard conflicts were laughably childish. If he truly wanted to get rid of someone, there were countless ways.

A potion accident, Dark Arts, curses, even arranging an accident outside the school.

But at this stage, he needed followers like Avery and Hermes. Dealing with a common enemy together was the fastest way to build unity.

So he allowed it.

Rababstan Lestrange was merely a minor character.

What he truly needed to worry about was the outside world.

Voldemort's influence was expanding. His father Orion's letters hinted that quite a few people in the Ministry of Magic had already secretly pledged themselves to him.

His mother Walburga's letters also urged him to associate more with suitable people. Naturally, she meant children from Pureblood families, preferably those likely to join the Death Eaters in the future.

He could not stop meditating. Not for a single moment!

During Charms Class the next morning, Professor Flitwick announced that they would be learning the Softening Charm.

"The incantation is 'Spongify'!" Standing atop a stack of books so the whole class could see him, he said, "The wand movement is a small clockwise circle, followed by a light flick, like this!"

He demonstrated once, and one corner of the lectern immediately became soft like a sponge. Several students exclaimed in amazement.

"This spell can temporarily soften hard objects." Flitwick jumped down from the stack of books and began walking around the classroom.

"It is often used to make temporary cushions or break falls, or... to set a few small traps."

Slytherin and Ravenclaw had class together. Regulus noticed a girl with curly brown hair among the Ravenclaws who stood out. She succeeded on her first attempt during practice, and Flitwick awarded her five points.

He flicked his wand. "Spongify."

The stone on Regulus's desk instantly became a dark gray, sponge-like mass. When pressed with a finger, it sank in; when released, it slowly bounced back.

The result was even more perfect than the Ravenclaw girl's spell.

After class, Regulus headed toward the Library. Avery and Hermes exchanged a glance, then split up to act separately.

Alex hesitated. He first looked at Regulus, and when he saw that Regulus gave no instructions, he hurried after Avery.

Near the entrance to the Library, Regulus ran into Snape.

"Black," Snape said flatly.

"Snape," Regulus replied even more flatly.

After a brief silence, Snape spoke. "At last night's feast, Lestrange stared at you for a long time. Not very friendly."

Regulus raised an eyebrow slightly. Snape was taking the initiative to provide him with information.

It was only a trivial matter, but it was a good beginning.

"He was not only staring at me." Regulus's tone remained calm.

"He stares at anyone who might make the Lestrange family seem less important. Lestrange is like a dog guarding its food—he barks loudly, but before he bites, he bares his teeth first."

When speaking with someone like Snape, overly refined phrasing would only create more distance. He had to make Snape feel that he did not speak quite so much like a "Black."

Snape's black eyes glinted in the dim light.

Regulus's voice softened slightly. "Still, thank you. I am not worried about him, but it is always good to know when someone is watching."

He would not send Snape charging into battle. That would be an enormous waste. Aside from his outstanding talent for potions, Snape's powers of observation and concealment were also exceptional.

He was practically the Wizarding World's perfect undercover agent.