"There's a lot to do today—we need to sort out all the potions used by each year group."
For once, Severus Snape didn't lash out with his usual sarcasm at Regulus Black. After all, they were colleagues now, even if Regulus was just an assistant.
"Frog eyes, black spider legs, daffodil roots, wolfsbane, bezoars, porcupine quills—is that all for today?"
Regulus Black took the potions list and went to the storeroom, retrieving full crates of the listed ingredients.
"That's already quite a lot. I hope you haven't forgotten how to handle potion ingredients."
Snape had no intention of helping, but seeing Regulus accurately gather everything on the list earned a sliver of recognition from him—expressed in a very Slytherin sort of way.
"How could I forget? I may not have paid much attention in Potions back then, but my exam scores were always O."
When students reach their fifth year, they take the O.W.L.s, and in their seventh year, the N.E.W.T.s—graduation-level exams.
The grading scale is as follows:
O = Outstanding (Perfect)
E = Exceeds Expectations (Fine)
A = Acceptable (Last passing grade)
P = Poor (Below average)
D = Dreadful (Flunking)
T = Troll (Extremely poor)
As a proper Slytherin and noble-born, Regulus had been expected by his family to achieve top marks. Especially for those in Slytherin—if you were planning to coast through school, you might as well have been sorted into Hufflepuff from the start. That house was known as the haven for noble children looking for an easy ride—and it held the second-highest number of nobles among the four houses.
"Shall I?"
Regulus casually asked Snape for confirmation before taking over the task, slipping on a pair of dragon-hide gloves.
Potions must be handled without wands; the entire process must avoid magical contamination. That's why dragon-hide gloves, which insulate against magical energy, are essential. If potion ingredients are tainted by a wizard's magic, the final potion will be unreliable.
This is why potions require hands-on preparation. If wands could be used, a few swishes and flicks would take care of everything—far more convenient, but far less accurate.
Moreover, some ingredients carry various effects—touching them directly with bare skin can be quite the experience.
All in all, protecting your hands is the first step to self-care. When it comes to potion-making, dragon-hide gloves are your best choice.
For the next hour or so, the Potions Master and his new assistant worked in silence, hands moving swiftly as they processed the ingredients with precision and care. In both technique and completeness, the two were evenly matched.
By the time they finally stopped, all the potion ingredients needed for the week had been prepared—enough for all seven year groups.
A cauldron was bubbling with steam, and a soothing herbal aroma filled the office. Severus Snape stirred gently, then reached into his desk for two wooden cups. Using a ladle, he poured the decoction into both and slid one cup toward his assistant.
"Thanks."
Regulus Black accepted the warm cup and took a sip. A calming, joyful sensation instantly washed over him.
"A calming draught... and a cheering potion? You blended the effects of both? Impressive!"
In the wizarding world, Potions Masters like Severus Snape were rare, especially those who could innovate upon old recipes.
What Regulus had just tasted was a new potion brewed by mixing two existing ones—while retaining the effects of both.
"It's just something I brew for tea. Honestly, I don't feel the effects anymore."
Snape silently sipped his own cup.
Did he still need a calming draught to soothe his nerves? A cheering potion to lift his spirits?
He wasn't sure. After all these years, his emotions and mental state should have settled long ago. So why did he still drink this decoction—out of habit, or something deeper?
As someone who had traveled through time, Regulus Black understood the life of the Potions Master.
No wonder he drank this like it was just tea.
"You have to teach the first-years during the second period today, so I won't be present. Hogwarts is big enough—I'm sure I can find a room I can occupy long-term. Once I've sorted things out, I'll come back."
Having finished his tea, Regulus Black set down the cup and prepared to leave. After all, he still didn't have a dormitory or an office yet.
Leaving the dungeons behind, Regulus began wandering the castle, slowly making his way up to the eighth floor.
This floor housed the Headmaster's office, Professor Flitwick's office, the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw dormitories—and Regulus Black's destination: the Room of Requirement.
The Room of Requirement was located across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by trolls.
With the thought "I need a place to store things" in his mind, Regulus walked past the tapestry three times.
A black, worn-out door appeared where there had previously only been a wall.
Pushing it open, Regulus stepped into a large storeroom, where everything was stacked in a chaotic mess. Only a few narrow paths were left for visitors to walk through. The items here were all things Hogwarts no longer used—still considered school property, so they couldn't simply be thrown away. The house-elves had stashed them here to gather dust.
Passing by all sorts of junk—battered desks and chairs, tattered books, bottles containing unknown leftover potions, and even a ragged troll specimen—Regulus finally came upon a statue of a wizard.
Found it!
He drew his wand and cast a spell at the top of the statue's head.
"Scourgify!"
The Ravenclaw diadem—the only known relic of Rowena Ravenclaw, the founder of Ravenclaw House. She had enchanted it to enhance the wearer's wisdom.
It was a pure silver crown, shaped around the image of an eagle, with a large sapphire set at the top. The diadem gleamed brilliantly, and engraved along its base was Ravenclaw's famous motto:
"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."
Regulus took the diadem and, after cleaning it, held it in his hand. It now gave off a dazzling, enticing glow. If one didn't know its true nature—that it had long since become a corrupted Horcrux—anyone would be tempted to wear it.
The issue of the soul fragments remained. Unless that was dealt with at its root, the Horcruxes couldn't be used. And if handled incorrectly, they would lose their function entirely.
He stored the Ravenclaw diadem into the storage space on his Heradim Titan Belt. Since the belt was soul-bound, anything placed inside would be hidden from the world—including Horcruxes. Not even the faintest trace of evil energy would leak out.
Slytherin's locket. Ravenclaw's diadem. He already had some idea about the whereabouts of the other Horcruxes as well—but he couldn't be reckless. If he acted hastily just after arriving at Hogwarts, Dumbledore would have plenty of reasons to haul him off to trial.
With that in mind, Regulus Black turned to leave the Room of Requirement.
But just as he passed a table, a worn and scattered book caught his attention.
"Why would there be a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales in Hogwarts?"
Whether out of curiosity or instinct, Regulus picked up the tattered book.
After exiting the Room of Requirement, he walked back and forth three more times. A new door appeared. This would now become Regulus Black's dormitory and office.
Just like other transmigrators, claiming the Room of Requirement for himself was only natural.
Sinking into a soft sofa, Regulus first cast a "Reparo" on the book to restore it, then began flipping through it slowly.
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