In mid-September, the morning mist of the Scottish Highlands had not yet fully dissipated, but the History of Magic classroom on the third floor of the castle was already filled with drowsy first-year students.
When Professor Binns floated into the classroom, hardly anyone looked up.
Hogwarts' oldest professor began today's lesson in his unchanging, dry monotone: "Today, we will continue our discussion of the Goblin Rebellion of 1612, which began at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, where the goblin leader..."
Regulus observed the professor himself.
Professor Binns was transparent; when sunlight passed through his body, it cast an extremely faint shadow on the podium floor.
What intrigued Regulus was the fluctuation of magical power.
The magic of other professors was like flowing fire, vigorous life, or deep lakes.
Professor Binns' magic, however, was almost nonexistent, or more accurately, almost imperceptible.
Regulus closed his eyes and focused his magical perception toward the podium.
An ordinary wizard's magic was like ripples on water, with a clear center and edges, while Professor Binns' magic was like a thin mist.
Uniform, sparse, stable, without undulation, without a core, almost merging with the surrounding environment.
Having read books in his childhood, he knew that the soul was the source of magic. There must be magic maintaining the existence of a ghost, so what was the magical form of a ghost?
He recalled concepts from physics he had read in his previous life: the conversion of matter and energy.
After a wizard dies, the body disappears, and the soul remains. So what about the magic?
Does magic transition from being attached to the body to being attached to the soul?
Professor Binns was still explaining how the goblins used counterfeit Galleons to impact Gringotts' financial system.
Regulus looked out the window. The morning mist was clearing, revealing a corner of the dark green Forbidden Forest in the distance. His thoughts drifted further.
If a ghost is the residual form of a soul, then what is the difference in magic between a complete soul and a residual soul?
Is the immortality Voldemort pursues an attempt to bypass the process of "physical death - residual soul"?
By splitting the soul?
With insufficient knowledge reserves, Regulus could not reach a conclusion.
When the bell rang, Professor Binns had just reached the point where "the rebellion was finally suppressed by the Ministry of Magic." He didn't even say "class dismissed" before floating directly into the wall, leaving behind most of the students who were still in a daze.
At two in the afternoon, sunlight flooded the eastern section of the library. Madam Pince patrolled silently and vigilantly among the bookshelves.
Regulus planned to take a look around the perimeter of the Restricted Section.
According to Hogwarts rules, first-year students could not borrow books from the Restricted Section, nor could they enter it.
But not being able to borrow didn't mean he couldn't look. The bookshelves in the Restricted Section were not completely enclosed; from a distance, one could see the titles on some of the spines.
Madam Pince made a full patrol of the library every thirty minutes, pausing briefly each time she passed the Restricted Section.
Regulus timed it perfectly and walked toward the Restricted Section, his steps steady, holding a copy of The Evolution of Medieval Magical Law, as if he were just passing by.
His gaze swept over the shelves, stopping only when he reached almost the deepest part.
There sat a thick, leather-bound book with damaged edges. The writing on the spine was mottled but still legible.
A Brief History of Soul Magic. The author's name was worn away.
Regulus attempted to flip through it using raw magical power directly, without casting any spells, simply manipulating his magic.
He twisted his magic into an extremely thin strand and extended it forcefully toward the Restricted Section.
But he failed.
The moment his magic entered the Restricted Section, it was scattered by a majestic and heavy magical force, it was practically brutal.
Just as he was about to try again, a cold voice came from behind him: "Mr. Black."
Regulus instantly retracted all his magic and turned to the librarian. "Madam Pince."
"You lingered in front of the Restricted Section for a minute," Madam Pince said, her eyes sharp as knives. "First-year students are forbidden from accessing the Restricted Section. I assume you know the rules."
"Yes, Madam." Regulus held up the book in his hand. "I was just looking for reference materials. Passing by, I was shocked by the volume of the collection over there. Hogwarts' collection is truly breathtaking."
His tone was sincere, his expression full of yearning for knowledge.
Madam Pince's expression softened slightly, but her eyes remained wary. "The books in the Restricted Section are sealed for a reason. Many kinds of knowledge are unsuitable for young wizards. Return to your seat."
"Of course, Madam." Regulus bowed slightly and turned to walk toward the Potions section.
I need that book, he thought to himself.
The library was gradually filling up with people. Regulus packed his things, preparing to return to the Slytherin common room to finish his Potions essay.
At eleven o'clock at night, the Slytherin dormitory was silent.
Avery was already asleep, breathing steadily and evenly. There was still a faint light coming from Alex's bed curtains; he was likely previewing for tomorrow's Charms class.
Hermes's bed curtains were tightly closed, and there was no sound from within. Regulus knew he wasn't asleep yet.
Regulus drew his own dark green curtains and cast a Muffliato charm.
Then he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Astral Meditation lay open on his lap, turned to Chapter Three.
[Resonating with Orion]
The book stated that Orion is the king of the winter sky, and the arrangement of the three stars in its belt contains balance and power.
The meditator needs to locate Orion in the night sky, touch those three stars with magic, feel their starlight pulse, and finally synchronize their own magical cycle with the rhythm of the constellation.
Typical wizarding metaphysical expression, Regulus evaluated.
He had tried three times, failing each time.
It wasn't that the method was wrong; he had strictly followed the steps in the book: perceive the starry sky, locate the constellation, extend magical tendrils-
It was absolute nonsense!
He felt absolutely nothing of the so-called starlight pulse.
Constellations are just visual projections of distant stars. There is no actual connection between them, so where would a pulse come from?
But the method in the book was indeed effective, at least for the original author.
Perhaps the author possessed some special talent to perceive things ordinary people could not?
But Regulus clearly did not have this talent.
Then I'll replace it with what I have.
What he had was an adult mind, basic knowledge of astrophysics, and a sensitivity to geometry and mathematics.
It was his microscopic-level magical control and his supercomputer-like magical calculations.
And his magical perception.
He should try a new method.
First, abandon perceiving the real starry sky. Regulus even felt the author wrote this book just to show off. I have it, you don't.
The Slytherin dormitory had no view of the sky, but it didn't matter. He would construct a constellation model in his mind using magic.
Magic flowed deep within his consciousness, outlining the first point: Betelgeuse, the red supergiant on Orion's right shoulder.
Then Rigel, Bellatrix... point by point, lighting up in the dark space of his consciousness.
Based on the star chart data in his memory, he constructed a 3D model according to their actual relative positions and brightness ratios.
This was strenuous. Maintaining the precise positions of twelve light points simultaneously required a continuous consumption of magic and mental energy, but Regulus could hold on.
Next, he began connecting the light points, following the imagery of Orion.
Magic condensed into fine threads, extending from Betelgeuse to Bellatrix to form the right arm, from Rigel to Saiph to form the left leg... The three stars of the belt were connected by three parallel threads.
A glowing Orion took shape in his mind, precise in proportion and smooth in line.
Finally, attempt synchronization.
This was key. The book's method was to let one's own magic follow the pulse of the constellation. Regulus had no pulse to follow, but he had a model.
He imagined his own magical cycle as a glowing river, then embedded the Orion model in his mind into this river, making the geometric structure of the constellation part of the riverbed.
When the magic flowed through Betelgeuse, the speed was fine-tuned. When it flowed through the three belt stars, it split into three thin streams, advancing in parallel. When it flowed through the overall structure, it circulated along the outer contour of the constellation.
At first, it was stiff. The magic resisted this forcibly imposed structure, and the model was unstable, with light points beginning to flicker.
Regulus slowed the flow of magic, making the cycle gentler.
Simultaneously, he adjusted the details of the model. The three belt stars shouldn't be a perfect straight line; they needed a slight curvature.
Betelgeuse is 1.3 times brighter than Rigel, so the gravitational pull at that point should be stronger. Perhaps he could strengthen it proportionally when the magic flowed through.
He adjusted constantly. Gradually, the resistance weakened.
The magic began to adapt to this structure, thanks to his uninterrupted training in guiding magical cycles.
Like water finding a new channel, though artificial, it was smooth enough.
One cycle.
Two cycles.
Three cycles.
Regulus opened his eyes and exhaled softly.
He sensed himself.
The speed of his magical cycle hadn't increased significantly, but it was more stable, like ripples smoothed out.
With a thought, an invisible, heavy barrier expanded rapidly, instantly enveloping his whole body. He maintained it for a minute before letting it dissipate.
After a moment, he concluded: magical consumption remained unchanged, but magical recovery speed had increased. The change was slight, but real.
Success.