Hermes

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hermes Mulciber (赫尔墨斯)
Species/Race	Human wizard
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Slytherin House; Regulus Black's training group
Occupation/Role	Hogwarts student; Dark Arts practitioner and combat trainee
First Appearance	27

Background / History

Hermes was raised in the Mulciber family, a pure-blood line known for generations of Dark Arts study. He was exposed to Dark Arts from childhood and developed both considerable spell talent and an intense, direct hunger for power. Unlike Avery Cuthbert, whose pride centers on pedigree, Hermes takes pride in the dangerous magic and inherited knowledge he can wield. 94 121

During his first year, Hermes received a family mission to work with Daren McNeil in breaking an ancient Protective Charm beneath the Astronomy Tower. After two months of progress, McNeil released a crystal containing Grey Mist at Hermes when the charm was close to failing, severely cursing him and apparently betraying the Mulciber side of the operation. 97 120

The curse left his Magic Power weak, chaotic, and fractured, while a foreign dark aura clung to his body like a magical plague. He remained in the Hospital Wing until the curse was cleared, though he was still physically weakened on discharge. 94 95 106 120

After recovering, Hermes disclosed the mission and the Mulciber family's involvement to Regulus. He later challenged Regulus to a formal duel to determine whether Regulus was truly worth following; Regulus overwhelmingly defeated him, and Hermes accepted his superiority. 120 123

Appearance

Hermes is repeatedly described as gloomy and somber, usually presenting a distant, guarded expression.

• Often keeps to himself and speaks little. 277
• His hair and robes are frequently left disheveled after sparring or harsh training. 277 368 437
• During his hospitalization, he appeared ashen, sunken-eyed, and severely thin from the curse's effects. 106
• His hair became curly after Regulus's controlled Incendio during their duel. 123

Personality

Hermes is blunt, reserved, and single-minded in his pursuit of strength. He asks directly for magic he wants to learn and is willing to endure repeated defeat, pain, and exhausting training if it promises improvement. 276 368 424

He initially dismissed ordinary school magic as impractical compared with lethal Dark Arts, underestimating the combat potential of Transfiguration and basic spells. His defeats at Regulus's hands forced him to reconsider that belief, though he retained his pride and drive to catch up. 40 122 277

His major weakness is impatience with slow, abstract study. Though highly gifted at learning spells, he lacks interest in understanding their principles or performing long-term mental training unless Regulus makes its value explicit. He tends to obey instructions and leave broader planning to Regulus. 258 358 369 409 415

Abilities & Skills

Dark Arts

Hermes is a highly capable young Dark Arts practitioner with unusually advanced knowledge for his age. Regulus can tell that he had used harmful magic on living beings before arriving at Hogwarts. 28

• Uses offensive and disabling spells including Blood Boil, Shadow Rend, Shadow Eater, the Leg-Locker Curse, and Petrificus Totalus. 28 122 277
• Possesses a lingering Dark Arts aura after holiday practical experience. 199
• Studies old Dark Arts texts during group training. 132
• His family background gives him access to Dark Arts knowledge, but Regulus considers his fixation on it a danger without stronger mental foundations. 94 369

Dueling

Hermes is a fast and tactically aware duelist, particularly when chaining offensive spells.

• Opened his first duel with Regulus using rapid sequences of Rictusempra, the Leg-Locker Curse, and Impedimenta. 28
• Can cast multiple attacks nearly simultaneously and combine direct attacks with concealed follow-ups. 277
• His spellcasting speed, spell strength, and footwork visibly surpass Avery and Alex's. 209
• Can trade blows with Sirius without relying on Dark Arts. 404
• Still struggles against opponents who control spacing and casting tempo; Regulus used consecutive Slowing Charms to force him into constant evasive movement and prevent counterattacks. 277

Magic Power Control and Combat Conditioning

Under Regulus's training, Hermes developed better Magic Power control, stress tolerance, and combat responses.

• Can enter a low-consumption resting state, then immediately shift his Magic Power into an active combat-ready state. 276
• Trains relentlessly, switching to physical exercise whenever his Magic Power is depleted and resuming magical practice when it recovers. 276
• Endured intensive exercises involving high-temperature fireballs, Flame Whips, spatially redirected attacks, and Legilimency pressure. 424 437
• Has made progress in Magic Power control and managing stress responses, but initially attempted to seek shortcuts and was severely punished by Regulus. 424 425

Legilimency and Mental Defense

Hermes began structured mental training after Regulus identified major gaps in his education.

• Regulus demonstrated that Hermes's mental defenses were fragile and offered him a choice between continued Dark Arts specialization or foundational training. 369
• Chose to follow Regulus's plan of Legilimency practice and Magic Power control exercises. 369
• Shows more potential in mental defense than Avery or Alex, though the training remains difficult for him. 370
• His dislike of patient, reflective practice limits his progress unless closely guided. 369 409

Fiendfyre

Hermes has a strong interest in Fiendfyre after witnessing Regulus's Fiendfyre-derived Flame Whip.

• Withstood the shockwaves of Regulus's controlled Flame Whip behind a Shield Charm, though the impact broke through and threw him backward. 368
• Asked Regulus to teach him Fiendfyre, but was refused as mentally unready. 369
• Regulus states that Fiendfyre requires adult-level Magic Power reserves, Dark Arts knowledge, emotional control, mental strength, and the will to dominate its destructive tendency. 369

Equipment / Items

• Wand — Hermes's primary tool for dueling and Dark Arts spellcasting. 28 368
• Hand-drawn map — Marked a suspected entrance beneath the Astronomy Tower, connecting him to the secret mission that led to his cursing. 95
• Dark Arts books — Studies older Dark Arts material during practice sessions. 132

Relationships

• Regulus Black — Initially a rival whom Hermes challenges and underestimates; after repeated defeats, he accepts Regulus as the stronger wizard and follows his training direction. Regulus views Hermes as the group's primary combat asset. 40 123 369
• Abros Mulciber — His father and a member of the Mulciber family. Abros arranged for Hermes to train alongside Regulus but had focused Hermes's upbringing on technical spellcasting rather than mental discipline. 98 330 369
• Daren McNeil — Partner in the Astronomy Tower mission. McNeil released the Grey Mist on Hermes at the critical moment, leaving him severely cursed. 120
• Avery Cuthbert — Fellow Slytherin and training companion. Avery recognizes Hermes's superior spellcasting and Dark Arts ability, while also frequently teases him after his duels with Regulus. 209 277
• Alex Rosier — Fellow Slytherin and training companion. Alex initially dislikes Hermes's gloomy demeanor but later trains alongside him under Regulus. 94 370
• Sirius Black — Sparring opponent; Hermes can exchange blows with Sirius without using Dark Arts. 404
• Baruk — Hermes envies the modified Acromantula's growing power and once asked Regulus to modify him in the same manner. Baruk mockingly calls him “Little spider.” 412 415 416

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Slytherin Rivalry

Hermes requests a duel with Regulus during Slytherin's first-year welcoming program. His quick spellcasting and Dark Arts proficiency are evident, but Regulus neutralizes every attack without leaving his initial position. 27 28

He later openly dismisses Regulus's Transfiguration as useless in real combat. Regulus responds by altering the air Hermes breathes so that it can no longer support respiration, demonstrating the lethality of advanced Transfiguration and leaving Hermes terrified. 40

Astronomy Tower Incident

Hermes secretly investigates an ancient entrance below the Astronomy Tower on a Mulciber family assignment. His collaborator Daren McNeil betrays him with Grey Mist, causing a near-fatal Dark Arts curse. 95 97 120

The incident creates the conditions for Hermes to join Regulus, Avery, and Alex more fully after his recovery. 120

Submission and Training Under Regulus

Hermes challenges Regulus again after leaving the Hospital Wing, hoping for a formal duel. Regulus overwhelms him with wandless, incantationless magic and easily nullifies every spell Hermes uses; Hermes then concedes and agrees to follow him. 121 123

He becomes the most combat-capable member of Regulus's group besides Regulus himself, training harder than the others and repeatedly seeking sparring matches to measure his growth. 258 276 277

Mental Training and Search for Stronger Magic

After witnessing Fiendfyre, Hermes asks Regulus to teach it to him. Instead, Regulus redirects him toward Legilimency and Magic Power control, forcing Hermes to confront the weakness of his mental foundations. 368 369

His later training centers on surviving pressure, improving mental defenses, and learning not to seek power only through shortcuts or passive enhancement. 415 424 425 437

Trivia

• Hermes shares a name with Hermes Trismegistus, though the narration explicitly notes this as a coincidence. 364
• He is described as a “gloomy boy” even by Slytherin standards. 277
• His instinctive reaction to seeing Baruk's modifications was to ask to be modified himself rather than to ask how to learn the technique. 415