I Have a Little Secret

Once outside the passage, Regulus used Vanishing Spell to clean up the footprints on the ground, ensuring that no trace remained.

He glanced back at the hidden entrance, then waved his hand, and the vines covered the entrance again, restoring it to its original state.

In the Scottish Highlands during winter, the sunlight is always fleeting; by the time we left the Astronomy Tower, it was already dark.

Back in the Slytherin common room, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly.

Several fifth-graders were huddled around the sofa near the fireplace, talking quietly. When they saw them come in, their eyes swept over them, then they looked away as if nothing had happened.

Regulus didn't stop and headed straight for the Dormitory corridor.

Pushing open the door, Avery tossed his robe onto the bed and turned to speak.

Regulus raised his hand to stop him. "Don't mention today's events to anyone."

Avery opened his mouth.

"This is serious." Regulus turned to face them. "Hermes is afflicted with a curse, something of that level. If we investigate now, it will be very troublesome to explain if the professor finds out."

If the people behind the scenes find out, we might become the next Hermes.

Regulus was confident he wouldn't be affected, but Avery and Alex would be in danger.

Avery's expression changed; he clenched his fists but didn't refute.

Alex, his breathing becoming shallow and rapid.

"Over the next few days," Regulus continued, "Pay attention to who visits Hermes at the Hospital Wing. Don't ask around; just glance at them as you pass by and note their names and the number of visits."

"You mean..." Alex's voice trembled, "That the person who harmed him will go?"

"Yes." Regulus nodded. "Hermes unconscious now, but not dead. Being alive and being dead are two different things."

As long as you're alive, you might wake up, and you might say things you shouldn't say.

If there truly is a mastermind behind this, he must know whether Hermes can wake up, when he will wake up, and what his condition will be after he wakes up.

The Hospital Wing is the only place where this information can be obtained.

Avery's eyes lit up. "So it just depends on who goes the most—"

"Or someone behaves strangely during the visit," Regulus added. "For example, deliberately avoiding Madam Pomfrey, lingering too long at her bedside, or trying to touch Hermes."

Alex swallowed hard. "Then we..."

"Attend classes as usual, live your life as usual." Regulus said calmly, "Just treat Hermes as an ordinary injured roommate. Visit him when you need to, worry about him when you need to, but keep your eyes wide open."

Avery nodded emphatically, slamming his fist on his knee. "Understood."

After the two returned to their beds, Regulus sat down at his desk and began to think.

Hermes has been frequently out at night since the start of the school year, most likely on a family mission.

The passage beneath the Astronomy Tower has been sealed for centuries, its entrance protected by extremely high-level Protective Charm, and the mission involves ancient secrets.

There were two rows of footprints at the scene, indicating that at least two families were working together, or that two people from the same family were sent.

There is only one Mulciber in Slytherin, so there should be two families.

Hermes was seriously injured but not dead. The enemy's purpose was not to silence him, but likely to seize the mission's spoils and prevent Hermes from going any further.

If two people explore together, and one of them betrays the other when they are close to the goal, intending to take all the credit for themselves.

This could explain why Hermes survived the attack; his attackers may have only intended to incapacitate him so they could complete the final step themselves.

However, the risk is that if Hermes is revived, he might reveal his accomplices.

It's also possible that Hermes and his companions accidentally triggered the curse while exploring, and his companions fled to protect themselves, or that their attempt to rescue them failed.

Regulus then considered another question: How much do the professors know?

Slughorn visited the Hospital Wing last night and has likely already identified the type of curse.

But did the professors discover the entrance beneath the Astronomy Tower?

Dumbledore must have been alerted as well. As the headmaster, did he know about the secret hidden beneath the Astronomy Tower?

If Hermes had been discovered inside the Astronomy Tower, the professors would certainly have thoroughly investigated the surrounding area.

But what if he were moved elsewhere?

For example, a corner in Corridor, or an empty classroom?

If the mastermind only wanted to incapacitate Hermes rather than kill him, the best strategy would be to place him in an easily discoverable location, ensuring timely medical treatment, while simultaneously distancing themselves from the situation.

The professors may still be unaware of the secrets hidden beneath the Astronomy Tower.

Regulus leaned back in his chair.

Outside the window, a Giant Squid swam slowly by, its tentacles brushing against the glass. Green light shattered into countless pieces in the water, dancing on the wall.

That's fine too.

The professor's lack of knowledge meant that the entrance was temporarily safe.

If the mastermind wants to complete the mission, they must enter the Astronomy Tower again.

And he will definitely return, because the mission is just one step away from completion.

Regulus simply had to wait.

He didn't need to personally break the Protective Charm on the Stone Gate, nor did he need to risk touching the danger behind it.

All he needed to do was find the accomplice and follow him.

"Mr. Black, Mr. Cuthbert, Mr. Roxier, please come to my office."

The next day, Potions Class, Professor Slughorn called them over.

Avery and Alex both looked at Regulus.

Regulus stuffed the "Magical Drafts and Potions" into his bag, tightened the clasp, and nodded. "Yes, Professor."

They followed the professor to his office.

"Sit." Slughorn gestured to the three high-backed chairs in front of his desk, then walked around to sit behind the desk, placing his hands folded on his stomach.

"I have a few questions for you regarding Hermes Mulciber."

Avery straightened his back, while Alex bowed slightly.

Regulus sat firmly, looking straight at the professor.

"When was the last time you saw Mr. Mulciber?" Professor Slughorn asked casually, but his eyes were fixed on the three of them.

"The day before yesterday morning," Avery answered quickly, "In the Common Room, he said he was going to the Library."

Slughorn turned to Alex: "And you, Mr. Roxier?"

"I..." Alex's voice trembled, "It was the morning before yesterday, in the Dormitory, when he changed his clothes and went out."

"Mr. Black?"

Regulus paused for a moment before slowly speaking, "I didn't see him the day before yesterday. The last time was three days ago, outside the Charms Class class. He walked by in a hurry without saying hello."

Slughorn nodded. "So, has Mr. Mulciber been acting strangely lately? For example, has he been emotionally unstable, or said anything unusual?"

Avery frowned. "He's always like that, gloomy and doesn't talk much."

Did he mention anywhere he was going? Or anything he was particularly interested in?

Alex shook his head. "No... no."

Regulus shook his head as well.

Slughorn stared at them for a long time, the fire crackling, and the Swooping Evil larva soaking in the jar rolled over.

"Children," Slughorn leaned forward, his voice lowering, "This is serious. The curse on Mr. Mulciber is very unusual, and we don't want to see any more students involved in danger."

If you know any clues, even if they seem insignificant, you should speak up.

Alex's lips moved, and Regulus glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

"Professor," Regulus began, "We truly didn't know. Hermes has been keeping to himself lately and rarely communicates with us."

Slughorn leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

He scanned the three men's faces, finally settling on Regulus.

"Alright." He sighed, a smile returning to his face. "If you remember anything, come find me anytime. Now, you can go back."

As Avery walked out of the office, he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Does he suspect us?" Alex asked softly, glancing back at the closed door.

Avery glared at him, displeased. "Suspect what? Are we the murderers?"

"It was just a probe." Regulus descended the Spiral Staircase. "But there's no evidence, we're all sticking to our stories, and he won't get anything out of us."

"But we clearly--"

"We know nothing," Regulus interrupted him, his voice steady. "Remember that."

The next two days passed as usual.

Regulus got up at seven in the morning, washed up, straightened his robes, and went to the Great Hall for breakfast.

In the morning Charms Class, Professor Flitwick explained the advanced applications of the Levitation Charm.

Regulus sat in the first row, the tip of his wand drawing a precise arc in the air, as a thick book of "Magical Theory" flew from the bookshelf at the other end of the classroom and landed steadily on the table without making a sound.

"Perfect, Mr. Black!" Flitwick clapped his hands atop a stack of books. "Slytherin, five points!"

After lunch came the History of Magic, with Professor Binns continuing his tale of the Goblin Rebellion in his unchanging tone.

Regulus jotted down key dates and treaty names in his notebook, while mentally working through the variants of the Shield Charm he had studied the previous night.

If the Shield Charm were to be changed from a shield to Filter Net, allowing harmless substances to pass through while blocking malicious Magic, what adjustments would be needed to the Magic Power structure?

At 3 p. m. sharp, he appeared at the entrance of the Hospital Wing.