What Are You Two Hiding From Me?

Avery pressed for details about what happened. "What did that Dark Wizard look like? Was he all sinister-looking? He dared to kidnap people even with his wand broken, he was insane!"

If it were me, I would definitely cast a Disarming Charm on him right then and there, followed by a Binding Charm, so he'd be lying on the ground unable to move!

As he spoke with great enthusiasm, he even gestured with his hands, mimicking the famous wand-waving motion, his wrist flexing as if Spellcasting.

"This kind of scum deserves to be taught a lesson; the dignity of Pure-bloods cannot be lost!"

Alex frowned and retorted in a low voice, "It's better to stay away from danger. If we really encounter that situation, we should prioritize our own safety."

Dark Wizard are capable of anything; there's no need to confront them head-on.

As he spoke, he subconsciously moved closer to Regulus, leaning slightly forward. "I've heard that some Dark Wizard use Dark Arts traps. Even if you subdue them, you might still fall victim to them. It's not worth the risk."

"Safety is important, of course, but we can't back down!" Avery slammed his hand on the table, drawing sidelong glances from several students nearby.

He deliberately raised his voice to state his opinion. "If you don't even have this much courage, how will you establish yourself in the Magic world?"

As heirs of Pureblood families, we can't let people think we're easy to mess with! Of course, if we encounter someone we can't beat, we should run; only a fool would fight head-on.

As he spoke, he laughed first, his eyes revealing a youthful slyness.

Regulus didn't participate in their argument and quietly ate his dinner.

The roasted chicken on the plate was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, perfectly seasoned with a little sauce.

More and more eyes turned to him, some with curiosity, some with envy, and some with admiration.

For the young Wizards, experiencing the Dark Wizard's kidnapping firsthand was thrilling enough, and it will likely be the focus of discussion for the next few days.

He caught a glimpse of movement at the Hufflepuff table out of the corner of his eye; Eleanor Bones stood up and was about to walk toward him.

Her light brown hair was tied in a loose bun, swaying gently with her movements, with a few fine downy hairs still clinging to the ends.

Her companion, Susan Payne, stood motionless, clutching her skirt with both hands, looking nervous and with a hint of timidity in her eyes, clearly hesitant to approach the Slytherin table.

While the house boundaries at Hogwarts are not absolute, it is indeed rare for Hufflepuff and Slytherin to voluntarily cross over to other tables.

Eleanor, however, paid no attention and walked straight toward them with a composed gait, her back ramrod straight, her face devoid of any superfluous expression, only magnanimity.

"Regulus." Eleanor stopped beside Regulus, her gaze sweeping over him as if to make sure he wasn't injured, a fleeting look of concern in her eyes.

He then laughed and said, "I saw what happened today. You were very calm. If it were anyone else, they probably would have panicked."

Her voice was clear and crisp, without any deliberate lowering, as she generously gave a thumbs-up. "Pretty cool."

Regulus looked up at her and could feel the sincerity in her eyes.

He shifted to the side, making room for him, and lightly tapped the table with his fingertips. "Want to sit together?"

Eleanor shook her head, then gestured with her chin towards Susan: "She's still waiting over there. I just came to check on things."

Her gaze fell on Regulus's plate, and she added, "It's good that you're alright. Hogsmeade is supposed to be a relaxing place."

After saying that, she didn't linger. She turned around and walked back to the Hufflepuff table, her steps still composed, completely ignoring the strange looks coming from those around her.

The students at the Slytherin table exchanged glances, their eyes filled with surprise.

Several older students raised their eyebrows but didn't say much. It was quite rare for Hufflepuff students to take the initiative to talk to Slytherin students.

But the other party was Eleanor Bones, Bones family had a lot of influence in the Ministry of Magic, so no one was willing to bother with this.

Regulus's gaze swept across the Gryffindor table; James Potter and Sirius were looking in their direction.

When James saw him looking over, he immediately looked away, muttering something to himself. Judging from his lip movements, it seemed like he was saying, "If it were me, I could definitely turn the tables."

He frowned, a defiant look on his face, and secretly nudged Sirius with his elbow, as if seeking approval.

Sirius didn't look away; his gray eyes held a complex mix of emotions—curiosity, inquiry, and a hint of elusive concern.

Lily was also at the Gryffindor table, sitting at the back, gently stirring the Pumpkin Juice with a spoon.

Regulus noticed that she was looking at him and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

If you could only read one fantasy book in your life, it would probably be <Hogwarts: Regulus of the Lord of the Starry Sky>.

However, she was not far from Sirius, Sirius mistakenly thought that Regulus was greeting him. He was stunned for a moment, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.

He then awkwardly raised his hand and nodded symbolically, forcing a stiff smile.

Just as Regulus was finishing his meal, Lucretius walked over, the hem of his dark green cloak sweeping across the ground.

Regulus understood; the professor must have already guessed their whereabouts today.

Slughorn has extensive connections in the Wizarding World and is meticulous; it's easy for him to make connections when he and Lucretius are kidnapped at the same time.

He nodded, stood up, and the two of them walked out of the Great Hall one after the other, heading down the Corridor towards the Potions Office.

Knocking on the door of the Potions Office, Professor Slughorn was sitting in a large armchair, holding a glass of Mead, which was still steaming slightly.

Seeing them come in, he immediately waved warmly, his face beaming with a familiar smile, "Come in, kids! These Treacle Tart are freshly baked and still warm, would you like to try some?"

I specifically asked the Kitchen to keep some; it was made with fresh Mistletoe juice, and it tasted great.

Regulus and Lucretius exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Regulus stepped forward and stood politely in front of the desk, his posture impeccable. "Professor, is there something you need?"

Slughorn put down his glass, his smile unchanged, but his eyes sharpened slightly. "So, where did you two go today? Don't tell me you just wandered around Hogsmeade."

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound, "I know that there's more to your relationship than meets the eye."

Lucretius, you are the heir to the Burke family, Regulus, you are the future of the Black family. You two wouldn't be hanging out together for no reason.

Slughorn has connections everywhere, from high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic to shop owners in Knockturn Alley; he knows everyone.

Just knowing that the two heirs were acting together might tell you what it was about.

Regulus and Lucretius exchanged another glance. Lucretius spoke first, his tone calm and without the slightest hint of panic.

"There were some family matters to discuss, so we went to the Burke family's residence in Hogsmeade to talk about business collaborations."

Slughorn nodded, not pressing for details about family affairs; Pureblood families always kept their collaborations secret.

His tone softened slightly. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"No injuries," Regulus replied. "The Dark Wizard's wand is broken; he's no threat. The Auror will be here soon."

Slughorn listened, his fingers still tapping the table rhythmically, when suddenly he changed the subject, a sly glint in his eyes. "The smell of Knockturn Alley isn't easy to wash off."

Neither Regulus nor Lucretius spoke; they simply remained silent.

Slughorn looked at Lucretius with a hint of smugness in his eyes, as if he had discovered some secret. "You didn't change your clothes, did you?"

I smelled the scent of Dried Leaf Newt. This Potions ingredient is only sold in a few shops in Knockturn Alley; it's a core ingredient used to craft the Obliviate Enhancer, and it can't be found in ordinary places.

Lucretius's expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly, acknowledging the fact. "I did go to Borgin - Burke to handle some final matters in the family business, and left quickly."

Slughorn sighed, his tone becoming serious, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "Lucretius, you grew up in that environment and saw plenty of Dark Arts items, so I'm not worried."

But Regulus, it's too early for you to go to Knockturn Alley now."

He continued, "You can find all sorts of people there: Dark Wizard, smugglers, Werewolf. You can easily get into trouble if you're not careful."

I know you're dealing with family matters, but please be more careful in the future and try not to go to those kinds of places alone. It's much safer to be accompanied by an elder.

Both listened respectfully without offering any rebuttal.

Seeing this, Slughorn waved his hand and softened his tone. "Alright, you're not children anymore, you understand the principles you should know."

Family responsibilities are important, but your own safety is even more crucial. Go ahead, and be careful in the future. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, feel free to come to me.

Regulus and Lucretius were about to turn and leave when Slughorn suddenly called out to Regulus, "Regulus, stay. I have a few words I'd like to say to you alone."