Thestral and the Start of Term

The Hogwarts Express arrived at the station at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Regulus stepped off the train with his suitcase. The platform was crowded with students returning to school, and the noise surged like a tide.

He walked with Avery and Alex to where the carriage was parked.

The carriage appeared to be moving on its own, with no animals pulling it in front, but Regulus knew that the Thestral were there.

He can't see.

Only those who have witnessed death can see Thestral; Regulus had never seen anyone die.

So all he could see was the empty carriage shaft, and the carriage itself moving along the gravel road, the wheels making a creaking sound as they rolled over the surface.

This made him feel a little disappointed.

Thestral hold a special significance in Magic texts.

They can fly, traverse storms and darkness, break through Magical Barrier, and are even said to be able to briefly travel through space.

More importantly, they represent a symbol that can only be seen by those who have faced death and accepted the truth of life.

This in itself may represent a metaphor: only by breaking through cognitive Restraints and gaining a deeper understanding can we see what others cannot.

In the Magic world, symbols and imagery are sometimes Magic itself.

Regulus boarded the carriage, where several Slytherin students were already inside.

Avery started talking as soon as he sat down, deliberately raising his voice so that everyone in the carriage could hear him.

"You'd never guess what the Malfoy family's holiday gatherings are like." He had that knowing look on his face—a look that said, "I know a secret, but I can't say it out loud"—and his eyes gleamed.

"Many families visited, it was a very grand affair, Lucius Malfoy personally received us, and Mr. Malfoy Sr. was also there, though he only made a brief appearance..."

Every word he said implied that I was involved in an important occasion.

As he spoke, he would glance at Regulus from time to time, as if seeking approval and showing off that he was on the same level as him.

Regulus listened quietly, nodding occasionally.

Hermes sat in the corner, saying nothing.

He looked more gloomy than before the holiday; his face was pale, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes.

He exuded an aura that told me to stay away.

Alex sat next to Regulus, listening to Avery's words, his face turning pale.

Although he didn't attend the party, being from a collateral branch of the Roxier family, he vaguely knew what the party represented.

The Pure-blood Circle's allegiance, Voldemort's forces gathering.

He was terrified as he listened to Avery describe the details.

Regulus noticed the disdainful looks that several older students in the carriage were giving Avery.

But they didn't say anything; they simply looked away, pretending to be admiring the scenery outside the window.

Regulus knew that it wasn't that they didn't want to talk; they were just older and better at keeping things to themselves.

Privately, they might be even more talkative Avery.

The carriage passed through the gates of Hogwarts, crossed the long driveway, and finally stopped in front of the Castle. The students disembarked one after another and entered the brightly lit hall.

The opening banquet has begun.

The long table was laden with food, the ceiling was Magic transformed into Starry sky, and candles floated in the air, casting a warm glow.

Dumbledore sat in the center of the Staff Table, his long, silvery beard Winky in the candlelight.

Once all the students were seated, Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome back." His gentle yet loud voice echoed throughout the hall, "Did you have a good holiday? I hope you all got plenty of rest, because we have a lot of work to do now."

His gaze swept across the four long tables in the academy, and wherever his eyes fell, the area quieted down.

"Learning Magic is not just about mastering spells," Dumbledore said, "But also about understanding our relationship with the world."

Why do we use Magic? For what purpose? For whose benefit? I hope you will also think about these questions as you study.

He raised his glass. "To the new semester, to the pursuit of knowledge, to the things that make us better people, cheers!"

A chorus of "Cheers!" echoed through the hall. Regulus raised his Pumpkin Juice glass and took a sip.

Dumbledore's words were not subtle; his meaning was clear. He was reminding his students that Magic had a higher purpose, not just for competitiveness or family honor.

He is sowing seeds of ideas about kindness, justice, and responsibility.

Regulus quietly ate the roast chicken on his plate. He understood Dumbledore's position and respected his insistence.

But he has his own path to walk, a path that may not entirely align with Dumbledore's expectations, but that's alright.

Everyone must take responsibility for their own choices.

After the dinner, the students returned to their respective college's Common Room.

In the Slytherin Common Room, the silver-green decorations gleamed coldly in the fireplace firelight.

Narcissa was standing by the fireplace talking to a few seventh-grade girls when she saw Regulus come in, and she nodded.

Regulus walked over. "Cousin."

"Regulus," Narcissa smiled, "How was your holiday?"

"Not bad," Regulus said. "I met a lot of people and learned some new things."

They exchanged a few brief words, mostly superficial pleasantries.

At that moment, Lucretius Burke walked over.

The Slytherin Prefect was dressed in a neat robe and wore a polite smile.

He first gave Narcissa a slight bow. "Excuse me, Narcissa, may I borrow Regulus for a moment?"

Narcissa nodded. "Of course."

Then she turned and left gracefully.

Lucretius led Regulus to a corner of the lounge, where it was relatively quieter.

"I saw you in Knockturn Alley during the holidays." Lucretius cut to the chase, his voice deliberately low, as if revealing a secret. "With your father, inspecting the shops."

Regulus nodded without saying anything. He hadn't been trying to hide it from people anyway, so it was normal for him to be seen.

"Next time you're here, feel free to stop by my shop," Lucretius invited. "It's called Borgin Burke, located at 13B Knockturn Alley. There are some things you might be interested in."

Regulus understood that the Burke family was extending goodwill, not to win them over; given Old Bok's abilities, they were probably trying to establish a good relationship.

Moreover, the Burke family is one of the largest Dark Arts item dealers in Knockturn Alley, so their shop must have a lot of good stuff.

"I'll go during the holidays," Regulus replied without hesitation.

Lucretius smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

Regulus stood there, a thought flashing through his mind: he wondered if the Vanishing Cabinet was still in Old Bok's shop.

Those cabinets that connect Hogwarts and Knockturn Alley will become important props in the future.

But it's still early; Draco Malfoy hasn't even been born yet.

He's not in a hurry.

It was almost 11 o'clock when I got back to the Dormitory.

Avery was still excitedly telling Alex about his holiday experiences, although Alex clearly didn't want to listen.

Hermes had already drawn the bed curtains, from which faint and unstable Magic Fluctuation emanated. Regulus glanced at them; it was Dark Arts, but not quite dark.

Regulus didn't participate in the conversation; after washing up, he went straight to bed.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the depths.

The Star Orbit Meditation began, and the four stars of Orion lit up in my mind. The silvery light outlined the constellation, and the Magic Power flowed in cycles along the trajectory of the stars.

But today's feeling is different from usual; a dull, throbbing pain comes from deep within my consciousness, as if my brain is stuffed with too much stuff that hasn't been fully digested yet.

The pressure on his mind from receiving two inheritances in succession was greater than he had anticipated.

Natural Magic involves understanding the essence of life, Spatial Anchor Charm involve controlling the Spatial Structure. Both are high-level Magic that require a large amount of knowledge and precise Magic Manipulation.

This information floods into consciousness like a torrent, requiring time to be absorbed, understood, and integrated.

Regulus sensed that acquiring a third inheritance now would most likely result in failure.

The mind is already nearing saturation. Forcibly absorbing more ancestral memories will, at best, cause information confusion and incomprehension, and at worst, damage the mind and disrupt memories.

Time intervals are necessary.

Our ancestors sealed their life's knowledge in Crystal, not so that their descendants could swallow it all at once.

That's like feeding someone a year's worth of food in one meal; they'd be stuffed to death.

Inheritance requires digestion, practice, and transforming others' experiences into one's own understanding.

This process cannot be rushed.

Regulus adjusted the rhythm of his meditation, making the flow of Magic Power gentler.

He no longer pursued rapid improvement, but focused on consolidating the existing foundation: making the Four-Star Model more stable, the Magic Power cycle smoother, and the Mental Barrier stronger.

Once he had fully recovered and had digested most of the Natural Magic and Spatial Anchor Charm, he tried to light up the fifth star of the Star Orbit Meditation.

That would be a new breakthrough, but that's for later. Right now, he needs to rest.

Regulus lay in the darkness, letting his consciousness slowly sink into the orbit of the Star Orbit.

The new semester has begun.