In mid-September, the morning mist of the Scottish Highlands had not yet fully dispersed, and the History of Magic classroom on the third floor of the castle was already full of drowsy first-year students.
When Professor Binns floated into the classroom, almost no one looked up.
This oldest professor of Hogwarts began today's lesson in his unchanging, dry tone: "Today, we shall continue our discussion of the Goblin Rebellion of 1612, which began in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, when the goblin leader…"
Regulus observed the professor himself.
Professor Binns was transparent; when the sunlight passed through his body, it cast a very faint shadow on the floor of the podium.
What concerned Regulus was the fluctuations of magic.
The magic of other professors was like flowing fire, exuberant life, or deep lake water.
Professor Binns's magic, however, was almost non-existent—or more accurately, almost imperceptible.
Regulus closed his eyes and concentrated his perception of magic toward the podium.
A normal wizard's magic was like ripples on the water's surface, with a clear center and edges, whereas Professor Binns's magic was like a thin mist.
Uniform, thin, and stable, without fluctuations or a core, almost merging with the surrounding environment.
Learning from books in his childhood that the soul is the source of magic, there should always be magic maintaining a ghost's existence. So, what is the form of a ghost's magic?
He thought of the physics concepts he had read in his past life: the conversion of matter and energy.
After a wizard dies, the physical body disappears and the soul remains; what about the magic?
Does magic transform from being attached to the body to being attached to the soul?
Professor Binns was still recounting how the goblins used forged Galleons to impact Gringotts' financial system.
Regulus looked out the window; the morning mist was dispersing, revealing a corner of dark green from the distant Forbidden Forest, and his thoughts drifted further away.
If a ghost is a remnant form of a soul, then what is the difference in magic between a complete soul and a remnant one?
Was the immortality pursued by Lord Voldemort an attempt to bypass the process of "physical death—soul remnant"?
By splitting the soul?
With insufficient knowledge, Regulus could not reach a conclusion.
When the bell rang, Professor Binns had just reached the part where "the rebellion was eventually suppressed by the Ministry of Magic." He didn't even say "class dismissed" before floating directly into the wall, leaving behind most of the still-dazed students.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, the eastern area of the library was bathed in sunlight, and Madam Pince patrolled silently and vigilantly between the bookshelves.
Regulus intended to take a look at the perimeter of the Restricted Section.
According to Hogwarts regulations, first-year students cannot borrow books from the Restricted Section, nor can they even enter it.
But being unable to borrow didn't mean he couldn't look; the bookshelves of the Restricted Section weren't completely enclosed. From a distance, one could still see some of the titles on the spines.
Madam Pince would complete a full patrol of the library every thirty minutes, lingering for an extra moment each time she passed the Restricted Section.
Regulus timed it right and walked toward the Restricted Section with steady steps, holding a copy of *The Evolution of Medieval Magical Law* as if he were just passing by.
His gaze swept across the bookshelves, stopping only near the very back.
There was 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 signature worn away.
Regulus attempted to flip through it using magic directly—not using any spells, but simply applying raw magic.
He twisted his magic into an extremely fine thread and extended it forcefully toward the Restricted Section.
But he failed.
The moment the magic entered the Restricted Section, it was dispersed by a majestic and heavy force of magic, which could only be described as brutal.
Just as he was about to try again, a cold voice came from behind him: "Mr. Black."
Regulus instantly withdrew all his magic and turned toward the librarian: "Madam Pince."
"You have been standing in front of the Restricted Section for a minute," Madam Pince's eyes were sharp as knives. "First-year students are forbidden from approaching the Restricted Section. I believe you know the rules."
"Yes, Madam." Regulus held up the book in his hand. "I was just looking for reference material. I was shocked by the volume of books over there as I passed by; Hogwarts' collection is truly amazing."
His tone was sincere, his expression full of longing for knowledge.
Madam Pince's expression softened slightly, but her eyes remained vigilant. "The books in the Restricted Section are sealed for a reason. Much of that knowledge is not suitable for young wizards. Go back to your seat."
"Of course, Madam." Regulus bowed slightly and turned toward the Potions section.
*I need this book,* he thought to himself.
The library gradually began to fill up. 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, his breathing steady and uniform. There was still a faint light within Alex's bed curtains; he was likely previewing 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 pulled shut his own dark green bed curtains and cast a Silencing Charm.
Then he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
*Starry Sky Meditation* was spread open on his knees, turned to Chapter Three.
**[Resonating with Orion]**
The book said that Orion is the king of the winter sky, and the arrangement of its three belt stars 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 magic circulation with the rhythm of the constellation.
A typical wizard's metaphysical expression, Regulus evaluated.
He had tried three times, and each time he had failed.
It wasn't that the method was wrong; he followed the steps in the book strictly: perceive the starry sky, locate the constellation, extend magic tentacles—
This was absolutely nothing!
He couldn't feel the so-called starlight pulse at all.
A constellation is merely a visual projection 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 original author possessed some kind of special talent, enabling them to perceive things that ordinary people could not?
But Regulus clearly did not have such a talent.
Then I shall substitute it with what I do have.
What he had was an adult's mindset, basic knowledge of astrophysics, and a sensitivity to geometry and mathematics.
It was his micro-level magic control and his supercomputer-like magic calculation.
And his perception of magic.
He should try a new method.
First, give up on perceiving the actual starry sky. Regulus even felt that the author had only written this book to show off.
*I have it, and you don't.*
The sky couldn't be seen from the Slytherin dormitory, but that didn't matter; he used magic to construct a model of the constellation in his mind.
Magic flowed deep within his consciousness, outlining the first point: Betelgeuse, the red supergiant on the right shoulder of Orion.
Then Rigel, Bellatrix… point after point lit up in the dark space of his consciousness.
Based on the star map data in his memory, he constructed a three-dimensional model according to the actual relative positions and brightness ratios.
This was taxing; maintaining the precise positions of twelve points of light simultaneously required a continuous consumption of magic and energy, but Regulus was able to persist.
Then he began to connect the points of light, following the image of Orion.
Magic condensed into fine threads, extending from Betelgeuse to Bellatrix to form the right arm, and from Rigel to Saiph to form the left arm, with the three belt stars connected by three parallel threads.
A glowing Orion took shape in his mind, with precise proportions and smooth lines.
Finally, he attempted to synchronize.
This was the key; the book's method was to let one's own magic follow the constellation's pulse. Regulus had no pulse to follow, but he had the model.
He imagined his own magic circulation as a glowing river, and then embedded the model of Orion from his mind into this river, letting the geometric structure of the constellation become part of the riverbed.
When the magic flowed through Betelgeuse, the speed was finely adjusted; 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 contours of the constellation.
At first, it was very stiff; the magic resisted this forcibly imposed structure, and the model was unstable, with the points of light beginning to flicker.
Regulus lowered the flow rate of his magic, making the circulation smoother.
At the same time, he adjusted the details of the model; the three belt stars shouldn't be a perfect straight line, so he added a slight curve.
Betelgeuse is 1.3 times brighter than Rigel, so the gravity of that point should be stronger; perhaps he could strengthen it proportionally as the magic flowed through.
He continued to adjust, and gradually, the resistance weakened.
The magic began to adapt to this structure, thanks to his uninterrupted training in guided magic circulation.
It was like a stream finding a new riverbed; though man-made, it was smooth enough.
One cycle.
Two cycles.
Three cycles.
Regulus opened his eyes and let out a soft breath.
He sensed himself.
The speed of the magic circulation hadn't increased significantly, but it was more stable, like smoothed-out ripples.
With a slight thought, an invisible, heavy barrier rapidly expanded, instantly enveloping his entire body, and he let it dissipate after a minute.
After a moment, he reached a conclusion: the magic consumption hadn't changed, but the recovery speed of magic had increased. The change was slight, but it was real.
It was a success.
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