Chapter Summaries

Regulus began developing Legilimency and other passive defenses to prepare for Voldemort, while continuing to imagine more advanced uses of Transfiguration. The chapter ended with him witnessing James Potter and Sirius Black torment Severus Snape in a corridor.

• Regulus imagined using Transfiguration to synthesize cyanide, while recognizing that the required atomic-level control remained far beyond his abilities.
• After Hermes’s confidence collapsed, Regulus decided to prioritize Legilimency and passive defenses against Voldemort.
• Regulus sneaked into the Forbidden Section and studied books on mental defense, protective magic, and other advanced subjects.
• Regulus began practicing Legilimency, experimenting with mind barriers and partitions, and training himself to maintain a Constant Shield Charm and sense danger.
• Regulus found James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin surrounding a soaked and taunted Severus Snape, and watched without intervening.

Regulus intervened when Sirius, James, Lupin, and Peter were tormenting Snape, then urged Sirius to prepare for a more dangerous future. He offered Snape access to restricted knowledge in exchange for help with potions and obscure magic, leaving Snape unsure whether to trust him but tempted by the opportunity.

• Regulus arrived in the Corridor and rebuked Sirius and the others for picking on Snape and wasting their time.
• Regulus warned Sirius that he should consider how to make his magic useful, but Sirius rejected the advice and left with the others.
• After cleaning his robes, Snape angrily insisted that he did not need Regulus's help or charity.
• Regulus praised Snape's talents and offered him access to books and opportunities in exchange for his insights into potions and obscure magic.
• Snape considered whether Regulus's offer was a trap, but recognized that his own studies and conflicts with Potter were not enough to gain the power he wanted.

On Halloween, Regulus helped Eleanor Bones and Susan Payne create honey badger-themed jack-o'-lanterns for the Hufflepuff Common Room and earned Professor Sprout's praise. He then returned to the Slytherin common room, where students were preparing decorations in their House's contrasting style.

• Regulus met Eleanor Bones and Susan Payne as they struggled to devise distinctive decorations for the Hufflepuff Common Room.
• Regulus transformed several jack-o'-lanterns into honey badger decorations with fierce faces and silver-white flames.
• Professor Sprout praised Regulus's creative, stable Transfiguration and awarded him five points.
• Susan Payne told Eleanor that Regulus seemed polite and far more capable than the rumors suggested.
• Regulus returned with his roommates to the Slytherin common room and observed the older students' elaborate silver-green Halloween decorations.

At the Halloween feast, Regulus rebuffed Rababstan Lestrange’s attempt to invoke family ties and Voldemort’s cause, then approached Bloody Baron to ask about ghosts and damaged souls. Barrow explained that ghosts were souls frozen by an inability to let go, and Regulus ended by asking how someone with a damaged soul could protect what remained.

• Rababstan Lestrange approached Regulus during dinner and hinted that the Lestranges expected him to join their greater cause, but Avery and Hermes drove him away.
• Dumbledore introduced the Moonlight Circus, whose magical performance entertained the students during the feast.
• Regulus noticed Bloody Baron watching Grey Lady and left his seat to speak with him.
• Bloody Baron told Regulus that ghosts were souls trapped by unfinished business and that their souls remained frozen in the form they had at death.
• Regulus connected Barrow’s explanation to Horcruxes and asked how a person with a damaged soul could protect it from further harm.

Regulus heard Bloody Baron’s advice about damaged souls and a hidden Hogwarts secret tied to Rowena Ravenclaw, then navigated growing political pressures among Slytherins. After allowing Avery and Hermes to plan against Rababstan Lestrange, Regulus began building a cautious connection with Snape, who warned him about Lestrange’s hostility.

• Bloody Baron told Regulus that solidifying a damaged soul might stop it from breaking further and hinted that Hogwarts held a secret left by Rowena Ravenclaw, but warned him he was too young to pursue it.
• At the Halloween feast, Evan Rosier, Wilkes, and Alecto Carrow approached Regulus, while James accused him of being likely to join Voldemort’s side and Lily struggled to defend him.
• Regulus permitted Avery and Hermes to deal with Rababstan Lestrange quietly, and Alex offered to help but was ignored.
• In Charms class, Regulus mastered the Softening Charm, Spongify, with an especially effective result.
• Near the Library, Snape warned Regulus that Rababstan had been watching him, and Regulus thanked Snape while suggesting that Lestrange acted out of family pride.

Regulus watched Slytherin win a Quidditch match against Gryffindor through increasingly dirty play, then hurried to stop the post-match confrontation from becoming a fight. The two houses faced off with wands drawn in the corridor as Regulus pushed through Slytherin’s older students toward the front.

• Regulus watched Slytherin and Gryffindor trade scores as Slytherin used fouls and concealed tricks to build a lead.
• James Potter caught the Golden Snitch, but Slytherin’s final goal left its score ten points higher and won the match.
• James confronted Eliot Rosier over Slytherin’s tactics, and Sirius, Remus, Peter, and other Gryffindors rushed in behind him.
• Regulus led Avery, Alex, and Hermes toward the escalating clash while professors began making their way down from the stands.
• The houses formed opposing lines in the corridor, drew their wands, and nearly began casting as Regulus advanced through Slytherin’s ranks toward Lucretius Black and Narcissa.

Regulus Black stopped a confrontation between Gryffindor and Slytherin after the match by disrupting Frank Longbottom’s spell and restraining Lucretius Black. Later, Lucretius thanked him and acknowledged a debt, while Professor McGonagall worried about Regulus’s growing influence.

• Regulus halted Frank Longbottom’s spell and stopped Lucretius from drawing his wand, then persuaded both sides to take their complaints to the professors.
• Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn arrived and ordered the students back to their common rooms, while Slughorn praised Regulus’s handling of the conflict.
• Regulus noticed Dumbledore watching from the professors’ seats, then returned to the Slytherin common room as students made way for him.
• Professor McGonagall worried that Regulus was gaining strength and influence unusually quickly, and decided to discuss him with Dumbledore.
• Lucretius asked how Regulus had interfered with his magic, and Regulus refused to reveal his method.
• Lucretius thanked Regulus for preventing a fight and said he owed him a favor.

Regulus explained to Narcissa that the Black family should preserve its independence by offering Voldemort strategic support rather than committing blindly to one side. Narcissa agreed to gather information from multiple families and the Ministry, and Regulus ended by asking after Mr. Malfoy Sr.’s health.

• Narcissa warned Regulus that his actions had drawn attention and could put him in danger.
• Regulus argued that the Black family should not be forced to choose only between Voldemort and Dumbledore, but should maintain several sources of strength.
• Regulus told Narcissa that Bellatrix’s loyalty could serve the family as one resource while the family also offered calm judgment and strategic support.
• Narcissa realized Regulus had acted to demonstrate the Black family’s value and promised to gather useful information from the Malfoy and Lestrange families, other families, and the Ministry of Magic.
• Regulus asked Narcissa to share sensitive information through secure means or in person, then asked whether Mr. Malfoy Sr. was in good health.

Regulus reflected on his conversation with Narcissa and decided to warn Orion about his suspicions surrounding Abraxas Malfoy's illness. He explained to his roommates that he had intervened in the Quidditch aftermath to build influence and gain a clear view of everyone’s reactions, while they investigated Rababstan Lestrange.

• Regulus used his conversation with Narcissa to strengthen their trust and learned that Abraxas Malfoy was in good spirits despite minor ailments.
• Regulus suspected Abraxas's sudden future death from Dragon Pox might conceal foul play and decided to tell Orion over Christmas.
• Regulus explained to Avery that preventing a fight had earned him influence, a favor from Lucretius Black, and recognition from Professors McGonagall and Slughorn.
• Hermes and Alex reported that Rababstan Lestrange had watched Regulus and visited an abandoned Potions classroom, and Regulus asked them to handle the matter before Christmas.
• Regulus told Avery that he had planned for the post-match conflict and stood at the front so he could observe everyone’s reactions.

As the Christmas holiday approached, Regulus told Sirius that the Black family wanted him home and confirmed that he would follow the family’s path, while Sirius rejected it. The brothers parted with their choices unresolved, leaving Sirius to realize that he barely understood Regulus.

• Regulus reflected on his physical and magical growth from Star-track Guidance Meditation and on his failed attempt to add Bellatrix to his four-star model.
• Regulus met Sirius near the One-Eyed Witch Statue and told him that the family wanted him to come home for Christmas.
• Sirius rejected the family gathering and accused Regulus of choosing to stand with Voldemort’s followers.
• Regulus said he would take the Black family’s path while Sirius followed Gryffindor’s, then wished him well and left.
• Sirius questioned why Regulus would knowingly follow a destructive path and realized their lives had taken roads that would never cross again.

Regulus said goodbye to Lily at Hogwarts and returned to the Black family home for Christmas, where Kreacher’s effortless spatial magic gave him a new field of study. He began considering how space magic could free wizards from ordinary magical limits and eventually enable travel beyond Earth.

• Lily asked Regulus for his home address so she could send him a Christmas gift, and he explained that the Black family’s protective magic prevented him from sharing it.
• Regulus and Lily agreed to exchange gifts after the holiday, and she gave him her address at 4 Privet Drive, Town of Cokeworth.
• Avery told Regulus that Rababstan had been caught conducting Dark Arts experiments and would spend Christmas in the Hospital Wing before serving detention.
• Regulus boarded the Hogwarts Express with Avery and Alex, noticed James, Remus, Peter, and Sirius at the platform, and exchanged a wave with Lily.
• At King’s Cross, Kreacher collected Regulus and used wandless magic to transport them directly to the Black family home.
• Regulus compared Kreacher’s spatial displacement with Apparition and resolved to investigate space magic as a path toward unrestricted travel and reaching the stars.

Regulus returned to 12 Grimmauld Place, where Walburga celebrated his achievements and mourned Sirius’s absence while Orion urged him to keep an eye on his brother. In Orion’s study, Regulus defended his conduct at Hogwarts, insisting that he had already restrained himself and revealed only a small part of his true power.

• Walburga welcomed Regulus home and praised his Hogwarts success, then grew angry when he said Sirius would not return.
• Regulus recounted his accomplishments at school, and Walburga praised his handling of Potions and Travers.
• At dinner, Walburga declared that Regulus would uphold the Black family’s pure-blood glory, while Orion asked him to let Sirius know the family still cared about him.
• Orion summoned Regulus to his study and questioned why he had displayed so much ability despite earlier warnings to keep a low profile.
• Regulus told Orion that he had already held back and argued that showing enough strength to prove his value would benefit both him and the Black family.

Regulus demonstrated his exceptional magical skill in a duel with his father, Orion, in the Black family Training Room. Orion defeated him with a Stunning Spell but acknowledged that Regulus had restrained himself at Hogwarts.

• Orion took Regulus to the Black family Training Room and challenged him to a real duel.
• Regulus precisely defended against Orion's rapid spells and countered with attacks using the room's surroundings.
• Orion escalated the duel with Dark Arts and powerful conventional spells, while Regulus continued to evade and block them.
• Regulus disrupted Orion's wand with a hidden spell and briefly trapped him with Stone Vines before closing in to attack.
• Orion blinded Regulus with a Stunning Spell, moved behind him, and touched his wand to Regulus's neck, winning the duel.
• Orion praised Regulus's skill and admitted that he had restrained himself at Hogwarts.

After Regulus explained why Sirius should remain at Hogwarts and outlined how the Black family could navigate Voldemort’s rise, Orion agreed not to interfere with Sirius’s choices and entrusted family matters to Regulus. Regulus then asked to see the family inheritance, but Orion refused, warning that the Memory Crystals could destroy his mind or overwhelm his identity.

• Regulus told Orion that Sirius was better suited to life at Hogwarts and would likely stand with Dumbledore against Voldemort.
• Regulus argued that Sirius’s freedom could preserve a path for the Black family no matter which side prevailed, and Orion agreed to leave Sirius’s choices alone and entrust his affairs to Regulus.
• Orion told Regulus that he would put the Black family’s survival first if forced to choose between it and Sirius’s safety.
• Regulus proposed that the Black family show Voldemort loyalty while secretly preserving its independence, and Orion explained that many families were watching rather than committing themselves fully.
• Orion warned Regulus to keep a low profile at the Malfoy family’s Christmas gathering and to let him handle the negotiations.
• Regulus asked to see the family inheritance in the Secret Chamber, but Orion refused and warned that the ancestors’ Memory Crystals could overwhelm his mind and make him lose himself.

Regulus asked about the Black family’s inherited magic and proved he could resist Orion’s Imperius Curse, convincing his father that he could withstand the ancestral memories. He began the inheritance ritual by touching Ancestor Eldrin’s crystal, but learned that Eldrin’s Natural Magic depended on a talent Regulus did not possess.

• Orion described the family’s inherited spells and warned Regulus about their dangers, especially the risks of Natural Magic and ancestral memories.
• Regulus insisted he could endure the inheritance and asked Orion to test his mental strength with the Imperius Curse.
• Regulus resisted Orion’s Imperius Curse without losing control, and Orion agreed that he was ready to approach the inheritance.
• Orion led Regulus through hidden corridors to the Family Secret Chamber and explained how to receive the crystal memories safely.
• Regulus touched Ancestor Eldrin’s crystal and experienced his memories and insights into Natural Magic, but discovered that he lacked Eldrin’s unique talent.

Regulus attended the Malfoy family’s Christmas banquet with Orion, observing the powerful Pure-blood families gathered and Abraxas Malfoy’s speech supporting Voldemort’s rise. Bellatrix declared that Voldemort had noticed Regulus and urged the Black family to serve his cause.

• Orion brought Regulus to Malfoy Manor and advised him to speak little and observe the guests.
• Regulus greeted Yaxley, Old Crabbe, Lucius, and Narcissa as they welcomed him and Orion.
• Abraxas Malfoy addressed the guests, calling on Pure-blood families to seize power and support the new order led by Voldemort.
• Regulus watched the gathering and privately suspected Voldemort had caused Abraxas’s Dragon Pox.
• Regulus spoke with Avery and the Cuthbert Patriarch before Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange approached him.
• Bellatrix told Regulus that Voldemort had noticed him and urged the Black family to join the cause.

At a Pure-blood banquet, Regulus navigated overtures from Bellatrix and Lucius while weighing the Black family's ties to Voldemort and the Malfoys. He left the gathering at the center of attention, with Alger Travers publicly humiliated and forced to withdraw.

• Regulus echoed Bellatrix's devotion to Voldemort, then excused himself as other guests watched and assessed him.
• Lucius and Narcissa spoke privately with Regulus about the families' differing degrees of commitment to Voldemort, and Regulus agreed to attend their wedding.
• Regulus reflected that the Malfoys would become valuable allies only after Lucius inherited control and experienced Voldemort's oppression.
• Cantankerus Nott, Cygnus Rosier, and other guests approached Regulus, who judged their motives and sensed concealed hostility.
• Regulus met Alger Travers's glare, and the surrounding guests mocked Alger until his father dragged him away.

Lily, Andromeda, and Snape received Christmas gifts connected to Regulus, while Sirius celebrated with the Potter family. After attending the Malfoy family's banquet, Regulus returned to 12 Grimmauld Place with Orion and sat down to supper.

• Lily opened Regulus's gift, a handbag with an Untraceable Extension Charm, and decided to repay his kindness by helping with his family's potion research.
• Petunia left the room after Lily tried to share her excitement about the gift.
• Kreacher delivered Andromeda a gold Gringotts key and a note about a vault in Paris on behalf of the young master.
• Sirius enjoyed Christmas with the Potter family as James entertained everyone with magic.
• Snape received a potion formula and a basic Dark Arts spell from Regulus as payment for passing on information, but remembered he could not practice because of the Trace.
• Orion brought Regulus home from the Malfoy family's banquet, and they ate supper prepared by Kreacher at 12 Grimmauld Place.

Regulus studied Eldrin’s Natural Magic legacy, learning to guide plants’ magic power through resonance and balance extraction with nourishment. After experimenting with healing and combining different magical properties, he argued with Walburga that strength mattered more than socializing, and she accepted his point while reminding him to care for his health.

• Regulus used the legacy’s techniques to draw healing magic power from Dittany and heal a wound on his finger.
• Regulus noticed that extracting too much magic power wilted the Dittany, then restored it by guiding his own magic power through its leaves.
• Regulus found that combining Dittany’s healing power with Thorn Flower’s sharp power healed a wound faster and without leaving a mark.
• Regulus combined Magic Mint’s power with the Shield Charm and Flowing Grass’s power with Aguamenti, confirming that Natural Magic could improve spells and neutralize mild toxins.
• At dinner, Walburga urged Regulus to meet heirs from other families, but he argued that strength would earn the Black family respect and make others seek its favor.
• Walburga agreed that strength was the foundation, then told Regulus to take care of his body as well as practice magic.

Regulus reflected on his magical studies and decided to learn Apparition as a first step toward understanding space magic. With Orion supervising, he successfully Apparated across the Family Training Room on his first attempt and sensed space being forcibly opened around him.

• Regulus considered how to manage Walburga's expectations while developing his Natural Magic and broader magical abilities.
• Regulus decided Apparition could improve his mobility and help him study the nature of space, then asked Orion to supervise him.
• Orion lifted the Anti-Apparition Charm within the Family Training Room and warned Regulus about the risks of splinching.
• Regulus Apparated successfully to the Stone Platform on his first try and described the sensation of being squeezed through a tube.
• Regulus recalled seeing something during the jump and traced an invisible path in the air with his fingertips.