"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." (Prisoner of Azkaban)
During the last two years(1964-1966), the political situation in the Wizarding World had deteriorated significantly. The Minister for Magic, Nobby Leach, had lost his influence completely. Even Muggle-born wizards no longer respected him, feeling he had done nothing to improve their situation. Only Leach knew the truth: he was being cornered at every turn whenever he tried to change the unfair laws regarding Muggle-borns.
In this time of despair, the new Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, offered aid to the Minister. Using his influence as the Supreme Mugwump, he suggested that Nobby pass a law banning experimentation on magical beings.
This move affected the Purebloods deeply. Most of the old families owned businesses that required the use of magical creatures for potions, spell crafting, and rituals.
Abraxas Malfoy, who had been dormant during the initial period of Leach's term, started attacking the Minister more aggressively. Using his influence in Knockturn Alley, he planted a rumour that the Minister for Magic was mentally ill. With so many people already dissatisfied with the Minister, the gossip spread like wildfire.
Abraxas had made a move that rendered the Minister a sitting duck once again—though this time, his actions would come back to bite him in later years.
Headmaster Dumbledore played the political game correctly during this time, gaining significant influence in the Wizengamot. No family dared to openly oppose Dumbledore, as their children attended his school. Yet, he could not run the Wizarding World entirely unchecked; the Board of Governors, which contained most of the Pureblood elite, held him back. It was a give-and-take situation. Dumbledore realised his position well, choosing to play from behind the scenes rather than getting involved openly.
In terms of the younger generation, Andromeda had started her schooling two years prior, and Narcissa would start hers soon.
Sirius, however, was sent to a different institution—a preparatory school that taught magic before Hogwarts. It was the only school in the Wizarding World that accepted students from the age of seven to eleven. Most of the traditional Pureblood families sent their children there: The Nostradamus School of Wizardry.
This school openly taught the Dark Arts. The punishment for failure was severe; children were often subjected to the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses to build "resistance." It was here, in this school, that Sirius Black began to hate Pureblood supremacy—a hatred that would later dictate his life choices.
Regulus, on the other hand, underwent his first natural magical outburst at the age of five.
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Regulus POV
A few days after Sirius underwent his first magical outburst, I started feeling the tender currents of magic entering me. I observed the whole process as if I were a container and the magic around me was a river filling me up. I did not impatiently rush it, nor did I resist it in fear. I was more familiar with magic than any other child undergoing this change.
I welcomed it with open arms, as if embracing a lover. I observed the process as it filled my body, with the excess energy coming to rest at my heart. It took five days from the initial sensation to the moment of the actual outbreak.
I was in my room, holding the book I was reading, knowing it was time. I did not attempt to meditate; I simply sensed the magic in my body overflowing, opening my other five senses.
I could see magic now. The air around me was thick with a fog that had exited my body. This fog accumulated like a pressurised force, shaping into a ball around me before blasting out in all directions.
The room became an instant mess: the leather on the sofa tore apart, the wood cracked, and books were blasted off their shelves. I accepted the change, sensing the magic flowing through me, no longer resting inside like a dammed river but flowing freely.
I opened my eyes and saw the flow of magic. It could not be explained in exact terms, but it looked like a colourful fog flowing like a river—semi-luminous and carrying a bit of transparency.
I could hear the whispers of magic on the air. I could sense Kreacher mumbling something downstairs in the living room; I sensed the magic around him change. I could more accurately pin the anchor points of magic around me—the people in the home.
My sense of smell was enhanced with the scent of ozone and power. I felt magic on my skin as it entered through my pores and exited in a specific rhythm. I doubted my taste was enhanced, as I could hardly check it by licking the air—that would have looked entirely too weird.
The room was enhanced with soundproof walls, so my little adventure was not known to anyone yet. I tried manipulating the magical river with a chant.
"Reparo."
The room instantly turned into exactly what it was before the outburst. The sofa and wood repaired themselves; the books returned to their exact spots.
So, I can do wandless magic?
Nope.
I realised quickly that the books and sofa turned normal because the room was enchanted to nullify damage done by accidental magic. And here I thought I was doing wandless magic right away.
However, I wasn't entirely wrong. My power was just a bit low. I noticed a little book still out of place—and that had been moved by my magic. I could sense my own magical signature on it.
Then, I noticed a peculiar presence of magic going under the carpet. I lifted the heavy rug with difficulty to see what was underneath.
It was a Rune.
I observed the rune for a bit, storing the structure in my brain. It took me almost five minutes to memorise the complex design. So much for my cheats. But hey, I could practice to be faster.
I left the room and called for my father to inform him about my outburst. He didn't even check the room; instead, he lifted me into the air and threw me around in celebration. And he did it using levitation magic, not his arms, so it was kind of weird feeling myself float like that.
Later, the family gathered at dinner to celebrate my first magical outburst. I described the scene of devastation in the room and how it magically reintegrated back.
My grandmother, Melania, looked at me with wide eyes. "Merlin's sacky balls! You will be a powerful wizard, my darling."
It was what she said to every other child in the family on their first outburst. But looking at her face, when it came to me, I knew she really meant it.