Chapter Summaries

On January 1, 1974, Regulus reflected on the coming war but focused on his research and tested whether Natural Magic could revive a dying Whomping Willow. He read The Daily Prophet’s report on Muggle power restrictions and the Ministry’s change of leadership, leaving the Willow’s fate unresolved.

• Regulus examined the Whomping Willow he had drained of Magic Power and decided to try reviving it with Natural Magic.
• Baruk woke and joined Regulus as an owl delivered a New Year’s issue of The Daily Prophet from Orion.
• Regulus read about the oil crisis, blackouts, and the UK’s three-day workweek, while Baruk pointed out the darkened city photograph.
• Regulus read that Harold Minchum had replaced Eugenia Jenkins as Minister of Magic and promised stability and order.

Regulus assessed how Minister Minchum’s neutrality would let Voldemort expand while Dumbledore was forced to organize defensively. He then poured Natural Magic Power into the dying Whomping Willow until its circulation resumed, and Agnes arrived to see the change.

• Regulus read Minchum’s inaugural speech and concluded that the new Minister would treat Dumbledore as a rival while the Ministry ignored the Death Eaters.
• Regulus reasoned that Dumbledore could not openly attack Voldemort without being condemned, so the Order of the Phoenix was his only viable defense.
• Regulus burned the newspaper and went to the clearing to save the Whomping Willow whose Magic Power he had extracted.
• Regulus filled the tree’s empty circuits with Natural Magic Power, restarting its cycle and restoring weak absorption through its roots.
• The dying tree began to recover, showing a new green shoot as Regulus continued the infusion until noon.
• Agnes arrived from the Greenhouse with food and saw the Whomping Willow on the left.

Regulus restored the Whomping Willow enough to keep it alive and let Baruk return to his full size for a run along the Cornish cliffs. The chapter left Baruk eager to become stronger but unable to fit through the Cabin’s doorway.

• Regulus fed Baruk raw venison and told Agnes he had accidentally sunk Snell Rock; Agnes said the Salamanders were ready and asked whether to deliver them to the Cabin.
• Regulus continued channeling Natural Magic Power into the Whomping Willow, stabilizing its circulation, and planned to ask Professor Sprout to help it recover.
• Regulus let Baruk’s Transfiguration spell fade, and Baruk grew into a larger adult Acromantula.
• Baruk ran along the cliffs with Regulus riding on his carapace, then carried him toward the Cabin.
• Baruk tried to enter the Cabin but got stuck at the narrow doorway and lay down, disappointed.

Regulus studied the Salamanders’ fire-resistant magic and extracted their Magic Seeds to reproduce the ability in his Consciousness Space. Baruk remained outside the Cabin, unable to fit through the doorway, while Regulus prepared to examine its magic next.

• Baruk paced around the Cabin and watched Regulus through the doorway, aggrieved that it could not fit inside.
• Regulus examined the Salamanders’ simple Fire Affinity and compared their magical structures with those of other creatures.
• Regulus extracted a Magic Seed from one Salamander and replicated its structure in his Consciousness Space.
• Regulus took partial Magic Power from two more adult Salamanders and fused the three Magic Seeds together.
• Regulus returned the weakened Salamanders to the charcoal and turned his attention to Baruk.

Regulus enlarged the Cabin and grafted a Salamander’s Fire Affinity into Baruk’s Magic Circuit. Natural Magic buffered Baruk’s rejection until the new ability took root, leaving Regulus ready to consider more complex grafts.

• Regulus expanded the Cabin’s interior and invited Baruk inside for the grafting procedure.
• Regulus examined Baruk’s Magic Circuits and reshaped the Salamander’s Magic Seed to circulate through an Acromantula’s exoskeleton and joints.
• Regulus placed the Magic Seed in a gap in Baruk’s Magic Circuit and cast Facultas Ignis Mutare Aranea Corpus.
• Baruk’s Magic Power violently rejected the foreign seed, but he endured the backlash.
• Regulus used Natural Magic Power to buffer the two sources of Magic Power until the Fire Affinity module took root in Baruk’s Magic Circuit.

Regulus permanently gave Baruk a Salamander-like Fire Affinity, allowing the Acromantula to enter and lie comfortably in flames. After confirming the transformation worked, Regulus considered using the same process to alter other creatures’ magical abilities, while Baruk settled beside the fireplace.

• Regulus finished modifying Baruk, and the spider examined its altered body and found that its fear of ordinary fire had disappeared.
• Regulus conjured powerful Magical Flames in the clearing, and Baruk walked into them without being burned.
• Baruk lay in the flames and said they were warm as its Fire Affinity activated and its body developed permanent Salamander-like traits.
• Regulus reflected that he had changed Baruk’s instincts by making fire harmless to it, and considered whether Magic could redefine other instincts and limitations.
• Regulus concluded that the process could be repeated for abilities such as an Occamy’s spatial compression, a Bowtruckle’s plant perception, and a Demiguise’s invisibility and precognition.
• Regulus extinguished the flames and returned to the Cabin with Baruk, which settled beside the fireplace and rested its head in the fire.

Regulus left Cornwall after thanking Agnes and returned to Grimmauld Place, where he settled back into the house with Baruk. He learned that Sirius was training with Hawk while their parents attended a New Year's banquet, and the chapter ended with Regulus and Baruk sharing breakfast at home.

• Regulus thanked Agnes for watching the Whomping Willow, gave her a cloth bag, and received a Nautical Chart marking uninhabited islands and Snell Rock.
• Regulus Apparated to Grimmauld Place, where Kreacher welcomed him and reported that Sirius was training with Hawk.
• Regulus learned that Orion and Walburga had gone to a New Year's banquet at the Parkinson residence.
• Baruk explored its familiar drawer and settled on Regulus's bed before Regulus washed and changed.
• Kreacher served Regulus breakfast and brought Baruk Dragon Meat, which they ate together.

Regulus found Sirius training with Gerald Hawk and invited him to talk after Hawk left. Their conversation began in Orion's Study, where Sirius noticed a small spider on Regulus's shoulder and asked about it.

• Regulus entered the Training Room and found Sirius practicing combat with Gerald Hawk.
• Sirius tried to hide his eagerness at seeing Regulus, while Regulus reflected that Orion, not he, was responsible for guiding his older brother.
• Regulus asked Hawk about Sirius's progress, and Hawk excused himself after praising Sirius's improvement.
• Sirius considered whether he would return to 12 Grimmauld Place next holiday, then followed Regulus to Orion's Study.
• Regulus sat in Orion's chair and waited for Sirius to speak, but Sirius instead noticed a small dark-red spider on Regulus's shoulder.

Regulus and Sirius discussed Sirius’s future, and Regulus accepted that Sirius might leave while reminding him he still bore the Black name. At dinner, Walburga spoke more quietly and personally with Regulus, then Orion summoned him to the Study, leaving Sirius behind again.

• Baruk spoke to Sirius and asked for food before retreating to Regulus’s shoulder.
• Regulus asked whether Sirius planned to return home, and Sirius realized that his family would not stop him from leaving.
• Regulus told Sirius it was good if he left, then affirmed that Sirius still bore the Black name.
• Sirius decided to pursue Transfiguration and prepare to become an Animagus, then went to train.
• At dinner, Walburga asked Regulus about Cornwall and Agnes without bringing up family glory or pure-blood society.
• Orion summoned Regulus to the Study after dinner, and Sirius watched Regulus leave before departing himself.

Regulus explained the Disintegration Charm to Orion, revealing that it could destroy targets from within and grow exponentially through continuous oscillation stacking. He described the first technical threshold, Magic Power control, then introduced Cognitive Convergence as the second threshold.

• Orion asked Regulus how his work in Cornwall had gone, and Regulus said the spell’s development was complete and had exceeded expectations.
• Regulus explained that the Disintegration Charm, Quassare, drilled Magic Power into a target and shattered it from within, working better on harder, denser materials.
• Regulus described Oscillation Stacking, in which continuous Magic Power output built exponentially stronger effects inside a target.
• Regulus said the first threshold was compressing Magic Power into a point within one-hundredth of a second so it could penetrate the target.
• Orion began to drink his tea, but stopped when Regulus named Cognitive Convergence as the second threshold.

Regulus taught Orion the Disintegration Charm, explaining how its effect depended on the caster’s Magic Power and ability to define a target. After Orion learned its basic form, Regulus hinted that the spell had more to it and asked whether Orion knew about the Manhattan Project.

• Regulus explained how a caster could adjust the size and precision of a spell’s target, and Orion realized the Disintegration Charm could grow with its user and theoretically had no upper limit.
• Regulus demonstrated the spell’s Tree-like Branching Structure, and Orion analyzed and reconstructed it in his Consciousness Space.
• Orion cast Quassare on a Brass Paperweight, refined his convergence, and then blasted a Mu Jin slab into powder.
• Orion considered how quickly Regulus’s strength had grown and how his son’s new spells could strengthen the Black family’s foundations.
• Regulus told Orion that he had shown only the spell’s initial form and asked whether Orion knew about the Manhattan Project.

Regulus explained the Manhattan Project and the destructive power of nuclear weapons to Orion, connecting their chain reaction to the Disintegration Charm. Orion realized the charm could overturn wizarding defenses if used against other wizards, and Regulus said he could not yet achieve it but was only several hurdles away.

• Orion admitted he had never heard of the Manhattan Project, and Regulus described how Muggles had created a weapon through a self-sustaining chain reaction.
• Regulus detailed the destruction caused by the test bomb and the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leaving Orion stunned by their scale.
• Orion reasoned that magical concealment and transportation could protect wizards from Muggle weapons, then realized Regulus had been explaining the Disintegration Charm's potential against wizards.
• Orion asked whether Regulus could create that level of destruction with the Disintegration Charm, and Regulus said he was still several hurdles short.
• Orion concluded that Regulus's wording implied the feat was not impossible and that a path toward it existed.

Regulus explained his plan to create a self-sustaining chain of magical vibrations, and demonstrated that Cognitive Convergence let the vibrations cross gaps between separate objects. After Orion offered the family’s support, Regulus chose not to reveal his plans for the Rowle family until he understood what his path required.

• Regulus used Quassare to shatter an inkwell, quill, envelopes, and teacup, verifying that Cognitive Convergence enabled vibrations to cross the air between objects.
• Regulus explained that sustained Chain Conduction would require each fracture to generate enough energy to drive the next wave, and proposed using the Philosopher’s Stone to convert the target’s mass into Magic Power.
• Orion considered the political risks of Regulus working with Flamel, then told Regulus to decide for himself whether to pursue that path.
• Regulus withheld his thoughts about dealing with the Rowle family until he determined what Saiph’s invisible edge required, and declined Orion’s offer of help for now.
• Orion told Regulus that time would prove the path, and Regulus looked at the matching inscription on his Pocket Watch before saying good night and leaving.

Regulus and Sirius left 12 Grimmauld Place together for King's Cross, where Sirius departed for Hogwarts and Regulus avoided adults interested in the Christmas Banquet. Regulus returned to Hogwarts, heard Dumbledore warn students to think for themselves amid a changing world, and was surrounded by people in the Slytherin Common Room.

• Sirius Apparated with Regulus from 12 Grimmauld Place to King's Cross, where Regulus praised his technique.
• Sirius said goodbye to Regulus and joined James, Remus, and the Potter family before boarding the train.
• Regulus used a Disillusionment Charm to avoid adults watching him, then boarded the Hogwarts Express with Avery, Hermes, and Alex.
• Regulus and his companions arrived at Hogwarts, where Dumbledore urged students to decide what they thought for themselves amid the changing situation outside.
• After the banquet, Regulus followed the Slytherins into their Common Room, where a group surrounded him.

Regulus returned to the Slytherin common room and received greetings from prominent pure-blood families, while the gathered students watched his influence reshape the room. He left Avery to address the remaining crowd as he went to the dormitory with Alex and Hermes.

• Regulus entered the crowded common room, ignored the eager lesser-family students at the doorway, and walked to the fireplace with Avery, Alex, Hermes, Lina, and Samuel.
• Pollux Greengrass and Veronica Yaxley greeted Regulus, with Veronica staying beside him to display the Yaxley family's closeness to the Blacks.
• Eliot Rosier praised Regulus, invited Alex to try out for the Quidditch team as a Chaser, and Alex accepted.
• Rosalie Selwyn demonstrated her improved Shield Charm, and Regulus praised her talent and hard work.
• Regulus greeted several other Slytherins, then left Avery to handle the waiting crowd while Lina and Samuel stood behind him in support.
• Regulus returned to the dormitory with Alex and Hermes as Avery began addressing the common room on Black's behalf.

Alex told Regulus that the Roxier family had offered his father a better Ministry post because of Alex’s closeness to him, and Regulus advised that the family accept. Hermes relayed his father’s order to train with Regulus, while Avery arrived to complain that Regulus had been absent when he formally visited Grimmauld Place.

• Alex told Regulus that Finn Rosier had offered his father an administrative position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation because Alex followed Regulus.
• Regulus explained that the new post was a safe way for the Roxier family to cultivate ties, and Alex thanked him after deciding his family should accept.
• Hermes told Regulus that Abros Mulciber had ordered him to stop studying the Dark Arts and observe Regulus’s training and decisions.
• Regulus told Hermes to think through the purpose and structure of Magic before practicing, but Hermes soon gave up thinking and returned to bed.
• Avery told Regulus that Old Cuthbert had taken him to Grimmauld Place for a formal visit during the holiday, then reproached Regulus for not being there.

Lily and her friends returned to Hogwarts and heard that Regulus had fought Bellatrix Lestrange and burned down her house. Lily worried about Regulus and planned to ask him about it, while Sirius teased James with a few details about the fight but refused to explain what happened.

• Lily, Marcia, and Susan spent the evening in the girls' dormitory talking about their holidays and Nox, Lily's magical cat.
• Marcia told Lily that Regulus had clashed with Bellatrix Lestrange at the Christmas Banquet and apparently burned down her house.
• Lily worried that Regulus might have been hurt, learned that Marcia's father said he was unharmed, and decided to find him the next day.
• James pressed Sirius for details about Regulus's fight with Bellatrix, but Sirius only admitted that they had fought with spells.
• James and Sirius wrestled and traded pillows as Lupin and Peter watched and laughed.

Regulus listened to Professor Binns explain the medieval Witch Hunts and reflected on how fear had united scattered wizards into a civilization, while Voldemort was now using fear to divide them. He left class considering the limits of individual power and the need for wizards to defend themselves together.

• Regulus’s Acromantula, Baruk, settled comfortably in the dormitory fireplace, astonishing Avery and Alex.
• Professor Binns taught that the Witch Hunts killed thousands and harmed the wizarding population, prompting strong reactions from Slytherin and Ravenclaw students.
• Regulus reasoned that wizards had been vulnerable to sudden attacks and organized Muggle violence because they lacked unity and shared defenses.
• Regulus concluded that fear had helped create wizarding unity and that Voldemort was turning that same force against the wizarding community.
• Avery asked Regulus why wizards had not fought back, and Regulus told him to think for himself as they walked toward the Great Hall.

Slughorn explained that medieval wizards were vulnerable during the Witch Hunts because many lacked formal training and proper wands, reassuring his students that Hogwarts had made them far more capable. After the class brewed Calming Draught, Slughorn asked Regulus to stay behind.

• Slytherin students questioned whether Muggles could really kill wizards after learning about the Witch Hunts in Professor Binns's lesson.
• Slughorn described how medieval wizards often received little training, lacked wands, and could be defenseless when caught by Muggles.
• Slughorn reassured the students that their Hogwarts education and Ollivander wands would make them formidable by medieval standards, then recommended books about the period.
• Slughorn taught the class to brew Calming Draught, and Regulus followed the standard steps to produce a successful potion.
• Slughorn awarded Slytherin ten points for Regulus's potion, then called for Mr. Black to stay behind after class.

Slughorn questioned Regulus about the Christmas events and Voldemort’s appearance, seeking to understand how far his former student had changed. Regulus described Voldemort’s inhuman features and unsettling presence, then withheld a direct answer about his reaction to Bellatrix, leaving Slughorn motionless as Regulus recognized a chance to ask him something.

• Slughorn invited Regulus to his office and asked about his family, Lestrange Manor, and whether he was all right.
• Slughorn asked Regulus whether he had seen Voldemort, and Regulus confirmed that he had.
• Regulus described Voldemort’s altered appearance, silent movements, absence from Magic Perception, and the tremor he caused.
• Slughorn asked how Voldemort had reacted to injured people and to Bellatrix, and Regulus only shook his head.
• Slughorn fell still, and Regulus realized the moment offered a rare opportunity to ask him something.