"A little magic can take you a long way." — Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach
Two Years Later (1964)
The Wizarding World had undergone major changes in the last two years. Nobby Leach, the first Muggle-born Minister for Magic, was facing immense pressure from the Sacred Twenty-Eight families. Many of the old Pureblood traditionalists had resigned from the Wizengamot in protest of his appointment.
However, they were not fools. The older men—the Heads of Houses—resigned only to place their younger heirs and allies in their seats to maintain their hold on power. It was a protest in name, but a consolidation of power in practice.
It was a widely known fact within the Wizarding World that the Malfoys and Blacks were funding the downfall of Nobby Leach. In their inner circles, he was sneeringly referred to as the "Mudblood Minister." Meetings were often hosted either at Malfoy Manor or at 12 Grimmauld Place.
One of the strategies they devised to impeach the Minister was to stall the schemes and policies he supported. The Pureblood Department Heads within the Ministry deliberately delayed paperwork and bureaucratic processes, rendering Leach's policies ineffective when finally implemented.
This tension within the Ministry eventually spilled out onto the streets, and the Aurors began losing their influence. Some Aurors, whose loyalties were already wavering, sided with the Purebloods to secure their own advantages as the Ministry's hold weakened. At this point, Nobby Leach was little more than a sitting duck.
Meanwhile, shadows from the past lingered. Lord Voldemort had been refused the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts during the late 1950s. In his anger, he had cursed the position. Since then, he had not made any major public moves, largely because he was wanted for the murder of a certain Hepzibah Smith—a legitimate descendant of Helga Hufflepuff herself.
He had absconded ever since. It was believed he was hiding in the forests of Albania or perhaps in Egypt, studying the Dark Arts, engaging in rituals that would eventually ruin his body in exchange for greater power.
At Hogwarts, the Weasleys—branded as 'Blood Traitors'—had sent their son, Arthur, to school. Bellatrix had already been attending Hogwarts for two years, with Molly Prewett in the same year as her.
Back at home, Regulus was now three years old. He was as active as ever and fascinated by magic. Meanwhile, Harry Potter's parents, James and Lily, along with Sirius, were now five years old.
…
Regulus POV
Acting like a child for these past three years had been a drag. Fortunately, in a Pureblood family, it was customary for children to display adult-like decorum at a young age, so they did not mind me speaking with a certain level of maturity. It was only in the presence of Andromeda and Narcissa that I needed to act like a true child to play. They were not annoying, however, so I didn't mind playing with them.
Sirius, on the other hand, was as annoying as ever. He pestered me constantly, trying to bully me, but failed miserably most of the time. My parents punished him now and then for his little 'pranks.' But hey—I knew how to handle naughty kids. I was a professor in my previous life, after all.
The gift the mysterious being had mentioned—sensing magic—was not my only advantage. I was currently being educated according to family tradition in etiquette, and I grasped the concepts firmly. I was praised by my teachers constantly. I was taught etiquette and languages such as Latin, Greek, and English—specifically reading and writing, which I naturally already knew from my previous life.
Even though I excelled in these academic subjects, I remained fascinated by magic itself. I followed Kreacher around, watching him perform magic as he cleaned the rooms. Once, I was caught red-handed by Melania and received a good scolding. My grandfather had to intervene to save me, though Kreacher bore the full brunt of her wrath later.
I had innocently replied, "But I like magic."
That single sentence earned me a tutor who specialised in teaching magic to children. Most families could not afford him, but the Blacks were loaded. The very next day, I found myself sitting in front of him.
"Good morning. I am Ares Carrow. I have been appointed as your new magic tutor. May I know your name?" asked a middle-aged man who reeked of Pureblood supremacy.
I sensed a ton of magic radiating from him. He felt powerful compared to most of my family, though not quite on the level of my grandma and grandpa.
"Good morning, Mr Carrow. I am Regulus Black, son of Orion and Walburga Black. It is nice to meet you," I replied with pride.
I saw no outward reaction from my new teacher, but his eyes betrayed his surprise; I had replied exactly as he had expected a proper heir should.
"Nice to meet you too, Young Black. I will be teaching you how to control your magical outbursts, which you will likely experience between the ages of four and seven. Usually, I would instruct children who have already turned five to prepare for accidental magic, but your grandfather insisted that you possess a keen interest. So, from today, we will start our lessons."
My eyes lit up as if I had been handed candy, but I maintained my composure. This man looked like the type who would report my progress directly to my grandfather, so I decided not to get too close to him personally.
"Regulus—may I call you that? What is magic to you?" Mr Carrow asked.
"Magic moves things," I said simply. "It makes things happen."
"You have already grasped the essence of magic, Regulus. This is what I expect every adult to reply, yet few do. They forget that magic is simple; they complicate it with mounds of text and theory, losing sight of the simple fact that magic makes things happen. I want you to remember your reply all your life. During your learning here, at Hogwarts, and even before you die—remember this sentence in your heart."
I looked at his exaggerated reaction to my reply—a reply most children would probably give.
"You would not understand this now," he continued, "but you will realise this if you are fortunate during your journey of learning."
He looked me in the eye for a second, then waved his hand. The door behind us closed slowly, sealing us in.
"Let us start our first lesson, Regulus."
He is definitely giving me Snape vibes