Recaps

Regulus learned that his maternal grandfather, Pollux Black, had died and requested leave from Professor Slughorn to attend the funeral. He left with Slughorn’s condolences and a message for Walburga.

• A Black family owl delivered Orion’s notice that Pollux Black had died and that the family would gather at Grimmauld Place for his funeral.
• Regulus requested leave from his classes, while Sirius received the same notice at the Gryffindor table and silently folded it away.
• Regulus told Professor Slughorn that Pollux had died and asked to attend the funeral.
• Slughorn recalled Pollux’s skill in mediating between families and approved Regulus’s leave.
• Slughorn asked Regulus to give Walburga his regards and tell her Pollux had been an extraordinary man.

Regulus and Sirius traveled to 12 Grimmauld Place for the funeral of their maternal grandfather, Pollux, and prepared themselves for the family ceremony. The chapter ended with Regulus embracing his mother, Walburga, after noticing her red eyes.

• Regulus hid Baruk in his robes and waited for Sirius outside the Castle.
• Sirius checked whether Regulus felt sad about Pollux’s death, then talked excitedly about racing Broomsticks after Regulus agreed to fly with him someday.
• Regulus Apparated to 12 Grimmauld Place, and Sirius followed after him.
• Kreacher told the brothers that their funeral clothes were ready, and Regulus changed into the Black family’s mourning robes with Baruk concealed in his pocket.
• Regulus and Sirius descended together and found Walburga standing by a window with red eyes.
• Regulus opened his arms and embraced Walburga.

Walburga mourned Pollux and accepted Regulus’s embrace before the Black family traveled to its hidden cemetery for the funeral. As relatives gathered around Pollux’s open grave, Regulus sensed the cemetery’s accumulated Dark Arts beneath the ground.

• Walburga embraced Regulus, then composed herself and acknowledged Sirius as Orion called the family to leave.
• Orion gave Regulus an enchanted address, and the four Blacks Apparated to their secret family cemetery.
• Regulus examined the cemetery’s layered protective charms and sensed dark Magic Power lingering in some of the graves.
• Cygnus III and Druella arrived, followed by Arcturus III, and the Black relatives gathered beside Pollux’s grave.

The Black family held Pollux Black’s funeral, where Regulus and Narcissa reconnected and she spoke of her happy engagement to Lucius. As the gathering dispersed, Lucius approached Regulus with something to discuss.

• Arcturus III led Pollux Black’s burial ritual, and the Black family members placed their hands on the coffin to pass on their Magic Power.
• Sirius touched Pollux’s coffin briefly before pulling his hand away, and the coffin was buried beneath a new gravestone.
• Narcissa spoke privately with Regulus, reassured him about her wedding to Lucius, and promised she knew he would help if she needed him.
• Narcissa adjusted Sirius’s collar and reminded him to eat properly, while Regulus watched them reconnect.
• Lucius approached Regulus and said he wanted to discuss something with him.

After the funeral, Lucius asked Regulus to accompany him to meet Fenrir Greyback and deliver Voldemort’s warning and supplies. Regulus saw Lucius’s request as an effort to build ties between their families and began considering whether to help.

• Lucius drew Regulus aside while Narcissa watched with concern and Sirius restrained his displeasure.
• Lucius explained that Greyback’s attacks near a wizard settlement risked forcing the Ministry to act, disrupting Voldemort’s secret expansion.
• Lucius asked Regulus to accompany him to Greyback’s territory, deliver instructions to curb his pack’s activity, and bring supplies in exchange for his cooperation.
• Regulus recognized that Lucius was using the request to strengthen their relationship, while weighing Voldemort’s possible plans for Lucius and the Malfoy family.
• Regulus considered the word Werewolf and the chain of thoughts it prompted, but had not yet answered Lucius.

Regulus agreed to accompany Lucius to confront Fenrir Greyback, whom he intended to study as a Werewolf dominated by beastliness. The agreement reopened the divide between Regulus and Sirius, and the chapter ended with Sirius walking away while Regulus followed him beyond the cemetery.

• Regulus considered whether a Werewolf could remain lucid through transformation and decided Fenrir Greyback would be a useful subject for his investigation.
• Regulus agreed to meet Lucius at Grimmauld Place at nine the next morning and travel with him to Greyback.
• Narcissa told Regulus to be careful and briefly hugged him before leaving with Lucius.
• Sirius asked Regulus what he had discussed with Lucius, but Regulus refused to explain.
• Sirius concluded that Regulus's ties to the Malfoys' circle remained intact and walked away; Regulus followed him beyond the cemetery's Anti-Apparition Charm range.

After the funeral, Regulus told Orion that Lucius had asked him to accompany him to meet Fenrir Greyback, and explained his interest in studying Werewolves. Orion approved but warned him to let Lucius handle Voldemort’s message and to protect himself; Regulus prepared to meet Greyback the next day.

• Sirius returned to Hogwarts immediately after the family Apparated to Grimmauld Place, while Orion, Walburga, and Regulus went inside.
• At dinner, Regulus told Orion about Lucius’s request and his plan to observe Greyback’s mental state and Magic Power structure.
• Regulus explained that a conversation with Dumbledore about Werewolves and the struggle between will and instinct had preceded his soul ignition.
• Orion advised Regulus to let Lucius lead the meeting so the Black family would not seem easy to mobilize, and cautioned him to be careful around Werewolves.
• Back in his room, Regulus fed Baruk Hebridean Black Dragon meat and looked forward to meeting the wild Greyback the next day.

Sirius returned to Hogwarts after attending a funeral and lay alone in the dark, haunted by seeing Regulus speak with Lucius. James tried to cheer him by mocking the Black family and Death Eaters, but Sirius finally told him to stop.

• Sirius walked back from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts alone, wearing his family's funeral robe and ignoring the looks of the other students.
• Sirius lay on his bed without changing or lighting the room, remembering Regulus speaking privately with Lucius beneath the yew tree.
• James, Lupin, and Peter found Sirius in the Dormitory, and James guessed from his robe that he had attended a funeral.
• James tried to lift Sirius's spirits by insulting the Black family, its traditions, and the Death Eaters.
• When James mentioned the Black Robes and Death Eaters, Sirius focused on him and ordered him to stop talking.

After Sirius’s friends drew him out of his grief, he realized he needed the strength to save Regulus from the people surrounding him. At Grimmauld Place, Regulus obtained an extra day of leave and cautiously rebuilt trust with Walburga before preparing to meet Lucius Malfoy.

• James, Peter, and Lupin laughed when Sirius’s stomach growled, and Sirius went with them to raid the Hogwarts Kitchen.
• As James guided Sirius through the corridors, Sirius thought about Regulus’s dark associates and resolved that he needed strength to pull his brother away from them.
• Regulus wrote a one-day leave request, and Orion signed it so Kreacher could send it to Professor Slughorn.
• Regulus told Walburga that Lucius Malfoy had summoned him about the Dark Lord, and Walburga told him to be careful.
• Regulus reassured Walburga that he was capable, then returned to his room and prepared to leave when the goal ring sounded at nine.

Lucius and Regulus traveled to a remote Yorkshire village to meet Fenrir Greyback and the Werewolves gathered there for Voldemort. Regulus observed their condition and considered a way to experiment on them, but he waited for Lucius to finish his business first.

• Lucius explained that Greyback and thirty or forty Werewolves had occupied an abandoned mining village, then Apparated with Regulus to a wasteland nearby.
• Lucius and Regulus walked into the valley while Regulus sensed the Werewolves and distinguished newly transformed members from those who had accepted their bestial nature.
• Three Werewolves blocked the narrow pass, but Lucius presented Voldemort's badge and threatened them until they let the pair through.
• Lucius and Regulus entered the village and saw the gathered Werewolves, including recently transformed members who still showed traces of humanity.
• Regulus considered making the Werewolves go mad so he could study them, then decided to wait until Lucius had completed his business.

Lucius delivered the Dark Lord’s order for Fenrir Greyback to restrain his Werewolves and avoid drawing Ministry attention, but Greyback resisted and bargained for more supplies. As Greyback tried to intimidate Regulus, Regulus asked Lucius how much the Dark Lord valued him.

• Regulus studied Greyback’s bestial appearance and unusually concentrated Magic Power without actively probing him.
• Lucius told Greyback that his attacks in Yorkshire had drawn the Ministry’s attention and ordered him to rein in his pack.
• Greyback rejected the order and demanded more supplies, while Lucius warned that the Dark Lord could withdraw his support and destroy the pack.
• Lucius refused to increase the supplies and continued pressing Greyback with orders, promises, and threats, but Greyback would not clearly agree.
• Greyback leaned close to Regulus to frighten him, and Regulus asked Lucius how much the Dark Lord valued Greyback.

Regulus provoked Greyback to study how a werewolf’s instincts responded to mortal danger, then silently invoked the aura of Fiendfyre. Greyback’s body retreated before his mind understood the threat, and Regulus began preparing a second test.

• Regulus decided to keep Greyback alive as a valuable research specimen and asked Lucius whether Voldemort valued the werewolf.
• Greyback took Regulus’s question as an insult and started to lash out, while Lucius braced himself for trouble.
• Regulus silently summoned the aura of Fiendfyre, and Greyback instinctively stepped back before consciously registering the danger.
• Regulus withdrew the aura and concluded that Greyback’s bestial instincts remained awake beneath his human form.
• Regulus began building a sphere in his consciousness to test Greyback’s reaction to a different kind of mortal threat.

Regulus tested Greyback with three different magical auras and found that the werewolf’s instincts reacted before his mind could, each threat provoking a distinct response. He left Greyback alive and prepared to examine the werewolf’s mind more closely.

• Regulus exposed Greyback to Fiendfyre, and Greyback’s instincts made him retreat in fear.
• Regulus released the Severing Charm’s aura, and Greyback shrank back in terror at the unknown threat.
• Regulus tested the Disintegration Charm, and Greyback instinctively took a fighting stance before backing away once the aura vanished.
• Regulus concluded that Greyback’s bestial instincts classified different threats and acted before his rational mind could respond.
• Lucius watched Regulus control Greyback without seeing any magic, and Regulus prepared to examine Greyback’s mental structure.

Regulus used Legilimency on Greyback and discovered that Greyback’s human side had quietly withdrawn beneath the beast, prompting Regulus to reconsider how light and darkness could coexist within him. After ruling out isolation and uncontrolled conflict, Regulus left with a tentative idea of balance and noticed a young Werewolf approaching.

• Regulus forced his way into Greyback’s mind and found that Greyback’s humanity remained present but had quietly withdrawn, leaving the beast to occupy the outer layers.
• Regulus connected Greyback’s divided mind to his own efforts to contain Dark Enlightenment and realized that isolation could make one side disappear without a struggle.
• Regulus concluded that isolation and letting either side run wild were dead ends, and guessed that light and darkness must remain active, interdependent, and in balance.
• Regulus withdrew from Greyback’s mind, leaving Greyback too frightened to move or flee.
• Regulus noticed a young Werewolf behind a broken wall, and the young Werewolf stood and circled around Greyback.

Regulus kept Fenrir Greyback and his pack under control, then questioned a newly turned werewolf who recognized him. He discovered the man was a recently graduated Hufflepuff, though the werewolf’s identity remained unknown.

• The werewolves gathered to watch as Fenrir Greyback stood cowed before Regulus, and Greyback stopped himself from interfering when Regulus called one of his pack over.
• Regulus sensed that the young werewolf was still resisting his beastly nature and noticed that he had once been a wizard who took care to keep his clothes and nails clean.
• The young werewolf silently admitted that he knew Regulus and confirmed that he had recently graduated.
• Regulus guessed that the man had been a Hufflepuff, and the werewolf reacted with surprise before acknowledging it.
• Lucius looked down on the werewolf, while Regulus ignored his contempt.

Regulus listened to Edgar Tomlin explain how he became a Werewolf and why he had stayed with Greyback’s pack, then offered to help him retain control during transformations. Regulus entered Edgar’s mind to find an anchor for his humanity and began reinforcing it with Bellatrix’s light.

• Regulus asked Edgar Tomlin why he had come to Greyback’s pack, and Edgar explained that he had been bitten, feared harming his family, and found nowhere else willing to take him in.
• Edgar told Regulus he could not leave because he might hurt his mother or sister during a Full Moon, and he had believed Hogwarts could not help him.
• Regulus offered to try to keep Edgar’s mind intact during transformations, though he could not cure his condition.
• Lucius concluded that Regulus was using Edgar as an experimental subject to test his mind magic.
• Regulus entered Edgar’s mind and found his love for his family and his resolve not to harm innocents as an anchor, then strengthened it with Bellatrix’s light.

Regulus anchored Edgar’s humanity with Bellatrix’s Guardian Image, then made Greyback accept the Dark Lord’s orders by unleashing Fiendfyre across the werewolf village. Regulus and Lucius left the terrified werewolves behind, with Regulus saying he would return.

• Regulus planted Bellatrix’s Guardian Image in Edgar’s mind as an anchor to help him resist his beastly instincts during future Full Moons.
• Edgar recovered from the mental contact and backed away as Greyback watched him with hostility.
• Lucius repeated the Dark Lord’s orders, and Greyback reluctantly accepted them while privately glaring at Edgar.
• Regulus called the village filthy and used Fiendfyre to burn its garbage and grime while sparing every werewolf.
• Greyback and the other werewolves froze in terror as Regulus extinguished the flames and said he would return.
• Lucius followed Regulus out of the valley, leaving the silent werewolves behind.

Regulus visited Malfoy Manor after the confrontation with the werewolf and rested in a lavish guest room. He arranged a selection of dragon meat for Baruk, accepted a magically expanded pouch of food from Lucius, and remained alone after Lucius left to prepare dinner.

• Lucius brought Regulus to Malfoy Manor and said Narcissa had arranged a banquet, while his father was away in France.
• Lucius showed Regulus to a spacious guest room, where Regulus asked for several kinds of raw dragon meat for Baruk.
• Baruk sampled the dragon meat and chose Swedish Short-Snout neck meat.
• Lucius gave Regulus a preservation pouch filled with dragon meat for Baruk.
• Regulus ate little at lunch, and Lucius left to arrange dinner while Narcissa was away with her mother.

After the funeral, Regulus realized Saiph had responded to the unseen influence he exerted over the werewolves and Lucius, clarifying how he might awaken the star. At dinner with Narcissa and Lucius, he listened to their wedding plans and left them to their affectionate conversation.

• Regulus reflected on his distance from Druella and planned to speak with Arcturus III about Arcturus I and the soul.
• Regulus examined Saiph in his Spiritual World and concluded that it had reacted to the invisible force behind his actions against the werewolves.
• Regulus understood that Saiph's core image was an invisible blade: making his power's results evident while keeping its source and method unseen.
• Regulus decided that the Rowle family could be his next target as he pursued Saiph's awakening.
• Regulus joined Narcissa and Lucius for dinner, where they discussed their wedding invitations and plans for June lavender.
• Narcissa tested whether Regulus had been listening, and he correctly recalled that lavender did not bloom well in June.

After dinner with Lucius and Narcissa, Regulus learned that Voldemort was building forces and infiltrating the Ministry while preparing for war. Back at Grimmauld Place, Regulus decided to give Dumbledore information about the werewolves and test his ideas about light and darkness, planning to visit him after returning to school.

• Lucius told Regulus that Voldemort was acting alone on secret matters while Death Eaters recruited allies and gathered Inferi, werewolves, giants, and Dementors.
• Lucius revealed that Voldemort's followers had infiltrated the Ministry, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and the Auror Office, and that Bellatrix had grown unusually quiet.
• Regulus considered what the gathered forces and Inferi might be used for, and judged that Voldemort's preparations meant war was approaching.
• After leaving the Malfoy manor, Regulus decided to tell Dumbledore about Greyback's werewolves as a way to preserve the Black family's options and cultivate Dumbledore's favor.
• Regulus resolved to visit Dumbledore to test his developing ideas about light and darkness, then planned to return to school the next day.

Regulus returned to Hogwarts after discussing his plans to contact Dumbledore with Orion, who promised his support. He reached the Castle with Baruk and settled into his dormitory, leaving the next step of his work ahead.

• Walburga gave Regulus new robes and wished him well, while Orion supported his plans after their discussion the previous night.
• Regulus left Grimmauld Place and Apparated to the edge of the Forbidden Forest with Baruk.
• Baruk declared the surrounding land his territory and called himself a big spider and clan leader.
• Regulus used the Improved Disillusionment Charm and the Levitation Charm to fly to Hogwarts.
• Regulus returned to his dormitory, stored his clothes and Dragon Meat, and rekindled the fireplace.
• Baruk played in the flames and waved a ball of fire as Regulus left the dormitory.

Regulus returned to Charms class and learned the Freezing Charm while noticing that his Slytherin friends acted guilty around him after an apparent clash with Sirius and the Gryffindors. After mastering the charm, he considered how willpower could resist physical restraints, leaving that idea for later.

• Avery greeted Regulus and asked about his family, while Alex, Hermes, Lina, and Samuel avoided him or acted uneasy.
• Professor Flitwick taught the class the Freezing Charm, demonstrating how it stopped movement and warning that wizards could resist it through willpower.
• The students practiced the charm, and Avery broke a cup, Hermes cracked one, Lina froze the surface, and Samuel froze his water cleanly.
• Regulus froze his water perfectly, earning five points for Slytherin from Professor Flitwick.
• Regulus reflected that the charm restrained motion from the outside and wondered whether willpower could permanently resist such restraints.

Regulus learned that his friends had fought Sirius and the other Gryffindors, then approved of their performance and decided to join them on their detention in the Forbidden Forest. The chapter ended with him preparing to accompany both groups to gather ingredients for Slughorn.

• At lunch, Regulus saw Sirius act conspicuously carefree toward him, then left the Great Hall with his friends.
• In the Slytherin common room, Alex explained that Avery, Alex, Hermes, Lina, and Samuel had fought James, Sirius, Lupin, and Peter after an argument following Herbology.
• Alex recounted how the students fought, and the Slytherins secured a draw before Professor McGonagall separated them.
• Regulus praised Lina and Samuel, asked Alex to guide them, and learned that both houses had lost twenty points and received detention gathering ingredients in the Forbidden Forest.
• When Avery said the detention would include Potter and the others, Regulus said he would go too.

Regulus observed how the Salamander magic had transformed Baruk’s magical system and decided the spider was moving beyond the Acromantula category. He planned further modifications, beginning with Bowtruckle magic, and prepared to search for Bowtruckles in the Forbidden Forest that night.

• Regulus fed Baruk Dragon Meat and observed that the Salamander module had spread through its magical system, making its silk fireproof and changing its venom.
• Regulus concluded that Baruk might eventually need a new species name, but planned to wait until its other magical modifications were complete.
• Regulus considered adding an Occamy’s spatial ability and a Demiguise’s invisibility and precognition to Baruk, but could not obtain either creature for now.
• Regulus planned to give Baruk the Bowtruckle’s plant affinity so it could communicate with plants and test whether plants reciprocated goodwill.
• Regulus placed Baruk in his inner pocket and prepared to search for Bowtruckles in the Forbidden Forest, postponing his planned conversation with Dumbledore until he had organized his thoughts.

The group went to Hagrid’s Hut for detention, where James tried to coax information about the Forbidden Forest from Hagrid while Regulus watched under an Improved Disillusionment Charm. Regulus examined Hagrid and reflected on how Dumbledore and Voldemort had once fought over Hagrid’s fate.

• Avery led Alex, Hermes, Lina, Samuel, and Regulus across the grounds toward the Forbidden Forest for detention.
• Regulus used an Improved Disillusionment Charm to vanish, startling Lina and Samuel as the group approached Hagrid’s Hut.
• James questioned Hagrid about dangerous creatures and areas of the Forbidden Forest, but Hagrid caught on and ordered the students to stay with him.
• Sirius played with Flossy while Peter kept his distance from Hagrid and the Forbidden Forest, and Lupin tried to keep James focused on detention.
• Regulus studied Hagrid’s magic and spell-resistant skin, then considered how Voldemort had framed Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets and how Dumbledore had protected him.