As Long as the Child Likes It

Regulus watched as the Auror sheathed their wands, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

He had previously thought that if he were in charge, it would be best if several Auror died here, but no one volunteered to die.

He looked up and saw blue flames leaping over the tower and swirling towards the direction of the Castle.

Such conspicuous Magic should remind at least a few people of Grindelwald.

Whether you're speculating about inheritance, guessing how much the Black family has hidden, or even some people guessing there's some kind of ambiguous connection between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, it's all up to you.

Once the news gets out, everything will change.

It won't be long before Voldemort gets the news and he'll surely have his own ideas.

So be it. He didn't admit to anything, he just set a fire. As for what everyone is guessing, let them guess.

Regulus withdrew his gaze and slightly released the force pressing down on the Auror.

The nearby sorcerer took a deep breath, his chest heaving. Someone next to him loosened their grip on his robe, their hand covered in sweat.

A person in the back row had numb legs from standing. He shifted his feet and, seeing that his colleague could move, stepped aside.

Moody's hand holding the wand hung lower, his eyes fixed on Regulus, afraid that he might cause some more trouble.

Regulus called out towards the school, "Avery."

The sound traveled across the bridge and into the Front Courtyard. The conversation at the bridgehead stopped, and the students turned to look. The front row of Slytherin made way for them.

Avery paused for a moment, then quickly regained his composure, straightened his robe, smoothed his hair, and stepped out from the front of the crowd with steady steps and a composed demeanor.

The firelight shone down from above, and Avery walked to the back of the Auror ranks, his eyes fixed straight ahead, heading directly to the center.

The Auror made way for him with complicated expressions, and as he moved forward, more and more people moved toward the stone railing to let him pass by.

Regulus watched him approach.

He was grinning from ear to ear at the bridgehead just a moment ago, and now he's showing off quite a bit as he crosses the bridge.

Avery stood before Regulus, the barely suppressed smile returning to his face. He grinned, his voice both excited and restrained. "You're here!"

Regulus looked at him, his expression relaxed, and then his Magic Power carried his voice to the bridgehead. "Wilton's death has nothing to do with me. Someone is framing Black. I will find out the truth, and Black will respond."

Avery's smile faded, and he nodded seriously.

Crouch looked up at him, Regulus let him look, his gaze lingering on Avery's face before nodding his chin toward the direction where the Slytherin were gathered.

"Tell them what they saw and heard today, and what they should say when they get back."

Avery glanced in the direction of the gaze and saw that the upperclassmen at the front of the crowd were all looking in their direction. The boy who had smiled at him earlier even moved forward a little.

He turned around, puffed out his chest, and said loudly, "Understood."

Regulus's gaze passed over him and landed on the other side.

Sirius, in the front row of Gryffindor, was itching to make a move.

Seeing that things were almost over, Cuthbert was called over, and he prepared to go onto the bridge as well.

Regulus met his eyes and gently shook his head.

Sirius stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowed, and his disheveled expression conveyed a complex emotion.

He glanced at Regulus, then looked past the Auror had put away his wand, and then at Orion and Walburga.

Walburga happened to be looking over, paused for a moment on Sirius's face, and then returned to Regulus.

Sirius pursed his lips, pulled his hand out of his robe pocket, then put it back in. He stood there, while James tugged at his sleeve, pulling it back into place.

Regulus moved closer to Avery, lowering his voice, and Avery leaned forward as well.

Tell Sirius to stay at school and not to run outside. Don't go to Hogsmeade yet, and don't go into the secret passages.

Avery glanced back, then turned back and nodded.

Sirius was still watching this side when Regulus remembered the plans he had made a few days ago.

The Disintegration Charm and the Patronus were originally intended to be taught to him, but now they have to be postponed.

Sirius spends all his time hanging out with Potter, laughing like an idiot. I wonder if he's ever met the Patronus or started training with him in private.

Even if he practices, make him stop first, and then teach him together when he comes back.

Regulus withdrew his gaze and then instructed, "Tell him that the Patronus should not train yet. If he has already started training, he should stop immediately and wait for me to return."

Avery was about to nod when he paused, blinking.

Patronus?

Sirius Black would practice it or not, he really didn't know, but the Patronus was a good thing, and learning it would always be useful. Why was Regulus deliberately preventing people from practicing it?

He recalled the Room of Requirement, Hermes had also mentioned. Regulus had asked him if he was happy, a question that left him completely flustered.

Regulus then told him to practice Legilimency first, and that the Patronus would come later.

Hermes can't be happy, but Gryffindor's Black is always having a great time, so why won't he be allowed to practice?

Seeing his puzzled expression, Regulus added, "You too, none of you need to practice yet, wait for me to come back."

Avery's eyes lit up instantly, and the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile.

I understand, Regulus will teach me personally!

Patronus is a profound form of Magic, and not many adult wizards possess it. However, it is not rare; even Muggle-born can learn it if they wish, so there's no need to make them wait.

But since Regulus had made the offer, he probably had something better at hand. What he had previously said he would discuss later, had finally come to fruition.

Avery glanced towards the bridgehead, his gaze catching Hermes, then quickly turned back, his smile widening, "We've been waiting for you to come back."

Regulus, noticing his expression, smiled slightly. "Go back and tell Lina and Samuel about the Patronus. Let them understand how to train. We'll talk about it when I get back."

Avery nodded repeatedly.

He knows how to explain this; he can tell you what Patronus can do, how difficult it is to train, and how powerful it is once trained—he can explain it better than anything in a book.

As for what Regulus was going to teach, he wanted to know too, but for now, he wanted to make sure everyone understood what was going on and that no one was in a hurry to try it themselves.

Regulus patted his shoulder, his tone becoming more serious. "Also, don't go wandering around outside. Things might get chaotic out there lately."

Avery's smile slowly faded, and his gaze became serious.

With such a huge fire overhead, even the Auror had put away his wand, and he thought it was finally over.

Then Regulus left the Gryffindor Black at school and told them not to go out. He understood what he meant: this wasn't over yet; there would be more to come, and they might have to fight.

He leaned closer and listened intently.

Regulus continued, "Tell Mr. Cuthbert, and also let Hermes inform Mr. Mulciber, so they are aware of the situation."

Avery's eyes darted around, then he nodded solemnly. "Understood."

What happened on the bridge today, everyone can tell us when we get back, but the reminder we're giving you now is something we're explaining separately.

Both families were close to the Black family, and some might think that was the end of the matter, while others expected there to be more to come.

Regulus's meaning was clear: the Black family had no intention of stopping there. If the two families knew in advance, they could prepare earlier, even make arrangements, and gain some benefits.

Regulus released his grip and glanced in the direction of his companions. "Use Floo Network to send Baruk to 12 Grimmauld Place."

Avery agreed, glanced towards the bridgehead, and was about to leave when he stopped and turned back. "You can talk to the Cuthbert family about anything."

Regulus nodded and patted his arm. "Let's go back."

Avery then turned to Orion and Walburga, straightened the front of his robe, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Mr. Black, Mrs. Black."

Orion met his gaze and nodded, Walburga also nodded slightly.

Avery turned and walked toward the bridgehead, keeping his eyes straight ahead as he passed the Auror, maintaining his steady demeanor, and quickening his pace slightly compared to when he came.

Alex stood in the front row watching him, Hermes turned his face away, Lina and Samuel stood together, and Avery squeezed in and began to mutter.

Regulus glanced at the professors, his tone softening as he spoke across the Auror and the bridge, "Professors, I'll head back now."

Slughorn looked at him, his lips moved slightly, then he glanced at the Black beside him, said nothing, and nodded.

McGonagall's brow remained furrowed, and she nodded slightly as she met Regulus's gaze.

Aksha's arm was still restrained. Seeing that the person was about to leave, she leaned forward, her brown eyes shining brightly, and her voice carried far. "Little Regulus, when you come back, I want to see that bird from earlier."

Orion looked in the direction of the sound.

As the new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, he certainly knew about the Kahnstein family, an ancient Vampire family from Styria, as old as the Black family.

Their gaze fell upon Regulus.

This is how it's called--

Orion narrowed his eyes.

So, the friend isn't some little witch, but her?

No one has ever called him that before. No one at home calls him that, and no one outside calls him that either. Ever since Regulus could walk, he has never been called that.

For the Black family today, there is no longer any need for marriage alliances to solidify family relationships. Twenty years ago, and ten years ago, it was necessary, but not now. What could be accomplished through marriage alliances, can now be accomplished through power.

The child is of legal age now, and he has never really interfered with what kind of things the child likes.

Pure-bloods are fine, Half-bloods- races are fine, even Muggle-borns —if it really comes down to that, it's not impossible.

He could think of all the difficult parts: what surname to use, whether to be included in the family genealogy, and how to explain things to the Wizarding World in the future. He could handle these troubles for his son.

He then shifted his gaze to Aksha's face.

Age aside, Vampire are long-lived creatures, so maybe by the time Regulus has wrinkles on his face, this guy will still look the same as he does now.

He tilted his head and glanced at Walburga, Walburga was still staring at Regulus and hadn't noticed them.

As for race, Vampire are nothing. It's not like they can't have children. As long as the child is happy, that's fine. But it would be best to leave behind a purebred wizard bloodline.

I'll have to talk to Walburga about this later.

Regulus met Aksha's gaze, chuckled, nodded, and turned to walk back between his parents.

Walburga took his arm, the deep burgundy cuffs falling beside his black robe, his fingers gently clenching together.

He turned his head and smiled at his mother, then followed her out.

Orion looked at his son, a strange glint in his eyes, then glanced at Crouch before turning away.

Silas followed the Patriarch, and the black-robed procession parted to make way for the family as they walked out, with the vassals following one after another.

Crouch's gaze followed them, while Moody looked up at the raging fire above, his hand still gripping his wand even as the Black family walked away from the bridge.

The blue flames in the sky lingered for a moment before their outermost edge finally receded inward.

Sunlight streamed down from the receding edge, first illuminating the distant slope, then moving along the Front Courtyard toward the stone bridge.

The blue of the Castle's outer walls gradually faded, the window frames and stones returned to their original color, and the flames that had risen high above receded one after another, retreating towards the center of the sky.

The flames dwindled and disappeared in an instant, revealing a clear sky where sunlight shone directly on everyone's faces.

The valley winds blew through the Front Courtyard again.

Outside the bridge, the Black family walked along the stone path to the outer side. The three of them continued forward, and with each step, they vanished.

Silas then departed, and within the black-robed procession, Apparition apparition sounds echoed one after another. The last few hems of their robes fluttered in the wind and disappeared from the road.

Crouch and Moody were still standing on the bridge, with Auror behind them. At the end of the empty stone path, only the wind rustled the grass on the slope.

Suddenly someone shouted at the bridgehead, and the person next to them immediately responded, the voice carrying from the front row all the way to the back.

Some people gestured to the sky while pointing to their companions, while others excitedly said half a sentence before turning back to find another friend.

Several Slytherin surrounded Avery, while the young wizards in the back row stood on tiptoe, peering in the direction where the Black family had disappeared.

A small, thin figure stood near the front.

Barty Crouch Jr. Crouch. watched the disappearing Black family for a long while before turning his gaze back to his father's retreating figure.

He was familiar with his father's tone of voice, and with how others should follow his orders. At home, his father could even decide how long a meal would last.

He had always believed that his father was inviolable, but after hearing this, Black set a fire.

Barty Crouch Jr.'s lips were dry.

He felt embarrassed for his father and resented others for seeing his father's embarrassment.

But the thought of Black holding the bird and the burning sky filled him with an irrepressible excitement.

He gripped his robe tighter and tighter, his body suddenly trembled, and then even his shoulders began to shake uncontrollably.

He stared intently at his father's retreating figure.

It turns out that a father's orders can be disobeyed.