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Chapter 21 First year exams May 
1973 Exam season was looming 

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over Hockwords like a dark 
clout, sending waves of stress 

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through most students as they 
buried themselves in textbooks 

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and practics exams. 
But for Regulars Black, the 

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looming exams were the least of 
his worries. 

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His nerves were tied to 
something far worse, the 

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upcoming summer break. 
For most, summer was a time to 

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relax, to be away from the 
pressures of school. 

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But not for Regulus. 
Returning home meant enduring 

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endless fights were serious, or 
worse, playing the twisted game 

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where they pretended the other 
didn't exist for the entire two 

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months. 
And as if that weren't enough, 

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the summer would bring the 
engagement between Sirius and 

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Necessa, a family affair that 
was bound to go horribly wrong. 

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Regulars couldn't imagine either
of them going through with it 

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without causing some sort of 
disaster. 

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Probably a prank from Sirius's 
end, Regulus thought grimly. 

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That also meant that the parents
would be in a foul mood for most

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of the break, which was 
something no one in the Black 

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family wanted to deal with. 
Well, Berger and Orion in a bad 

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mood was the curse of it of its 
own, and Regulars knew all too 

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well how terrifying they could 
become when things didn't go 

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according to plan. 
With all of this weighing on his

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mind, exams seemed trivial in 
comparison. 

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He had already breezed through 
the preparation, acing all the 

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assignments leading up to them. 
Most of the exams would be 

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practical, and Regulars was 
confident in his abilities. 

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He had always excelled in magic,
after all. 

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It was in his blood, quite 
literally. 

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The Blacks had a long history of
powerful Wizards, and from a 

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young age, Regulars had been 
trained to meet those 

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expectations. 
His parents had even hired a 

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tutor early on to ensure he 
stayed ahead of his classmates. 

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In hindsight, Regulars was 
grateful for the extra 

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preparation. 
While others were frantically 

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waving their wounds and mumbling
incantations at every 

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opportunity, he could relax, 
knowing he had already mastered 

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most of the material. 
Barty, too, was ahead of the 

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game. 
Though his method was entirely 

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different, Miraculous relied on 
years of disciplined study. 

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Barty had a natural gift. 
He could read a single chapter 

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or see a spell cast once and 
remember it perfectly. 

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Together they formed an unspoken
rivalry, pushing each other to 

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be the best and often 
succeeding. 

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It was a friendly competition, 
but it kept them both sharp. 

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In Slytherin, most students 
achieved higher marks, 

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particularly in practical exams.
Being pure bloods or half 

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bloods, many had been exposed to
magic long before they stepped 

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foot and Hogwarts. 
Still, there were always a few 

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who struggled, and it was during
the History of Magic exam that 

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the difference became most 
apparent. 

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Professor Benz floated at the 
front of the class, as monotone 

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as ever, while several students 
fidgeted in their seats. 

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Regulars glanced around, noting 
the quiet sighs and matters of 

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frustration coming from some of 
his peers. 

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Evan Rosie in particular, seemed
to be struggling, his quill 

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hovering uselessly over the 
second question for most of the 

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exam. 
Regulars couldn't help but smirk

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a little. 
Evan was good with a wand, no 

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doubt, but when it came to 
academics, he lacked the 

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discipline to put in the 
necessary effort. 

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As the bell rang, signalling the
end of the exam, the class 

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erupted into motion. 
Professor Binz began lazily 

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gathering the exam papers, 
oblivious to the rush of 

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students eager to escape the 
stuffy classroom. 

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I bet you 2 galleons I got a 
perfect score. 

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But his voice rang out 
confidently as he bounded up to 

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Regulus, grabbing his shoulders 
with an eager grin. 

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Megna 3 regulars replied, the 
competitive glint in his eyes. 

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I finished with an hour left. 
Their friendly rivalry had been 

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going on for only a year, but 
Reckless wouldn't let Barty win 

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easily. 
Barty was about to retort when 

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suddenly Evan Rosier shoved his 
way between them, throwing both 

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boys off balance. 
The move was so uncharacteristic

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that it left but them both 
stunned for a moment. 

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Normally Evan would have stopped
to exchange few insults, maybe 

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even try to provoke a duel, but 
not this time. 

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He kept his head down, his pace 
quickening as he disappeared 

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around the corner. 
Watch it, rosier. 

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Barty yelled after him, his 
usual cocky tone laced with 

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confusion, but Evan didn't stop,
He didn't even look back. 

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Regulus exchanged with 
bewildered lock with Barty, 

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neither of them recognising the 
behaviour. 

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Evan left for confrontation. 
The only time he acknowledged 

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them was when he wanted to stir 
up trouble, not avoid it. 

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What's up with him? 
Barty asked, his voice lower now

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more serious. 
I don't know. 

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Regolus replied, frowning as he 
stared down the corridor where 

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Evan had vanished. 
Something was definitely off. 

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Maybe someone regrets not 
studying more, probably. 

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Barty laughed, though the humor 
didn't fully reach his eyes. 

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They both fell silent as they 
made their way toward the Great 

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Hall, catching up with the rest 
of the Slytherins on their way 

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to lunch. 
There was still the 

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Transfiguration exam in the 
afternoon, and everyone wanted 

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to regain their energy for that.
Regolus scanned the hall forever

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as they entered, but the boy was
nowhere to be seen. 

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As usual, Barty began piling his
plate with food portion after 

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portion, making the Hausdells 
work double time to keep up. 

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Regulars watched him, feeling a 
twinge of guilt. 

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Creature came to mind, the 
faithful elf who served his 

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family with an unyielding 
loyalty, but who in turn was 

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treated like dirt. 
It was one of the many things 

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that made him uncomfortable 
about home. 

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He never liked seeing Creature 
forced to bend to every room of 

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his parents. 
Sometimes regulars try to 

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lighten Creatures workload in 
small ways, though he was 

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careful never to let his mother 
see. 

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Regulus was lost in thought, 
poking at his foot when he heard

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a voice from behind Regulus. 
He looked up and saw Lucius 

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Malfoy standing over him, the 
older boy's pale, almost silver 

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blonde hair shining starkly 
against the dim lighting of the 

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Great Hall. 
Regulus shared a quick glance 

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with Barty, who raised an 
eyebrow before looking back at 

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Lucius. 
Yeah. 

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He said, his voice steady, 
though his heart picked up a 

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bit. 
Lucy's Malpho wasn't someone you

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ignored. 
He was older, respected by both 

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the professors and his peers, 
and more importantly, well 

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connected to the Black family. 
Though Regulus wasn't afraid of 

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him, he had enough sense to trip
carefully around Lucius. 

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Would you mind joining me for a 
moment? 

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Lucius's tone was calm, but 
there was a sharpness beneath 

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it. 
Regulus nodded without 

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hesitation and stood, following 
him out of the Great Hall. 

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He called, a glimpse of Barty 
giving him an exaggerated smirk,

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but Regulus didn't acknowledge 
it. 

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This wasn't the time for jokes. 
Lucius let him into his secluded

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corner just outside the hall, 
far enough that the conversation

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wouldn't be overheard, but still
close enough to be discreet. 

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The moment they were alone, 
Lucius got straight to the 

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point. 
We don't have much time before 

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the engagement. 
He began, his voice low, the 

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worst tinged with frustration. 
Regulus stiffened immediately, 

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knowing where this was headed. 
He felt his jaw tighten. 

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Not this again. 
I've already tried talking to 

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Sirius. 
Regulus interrupted, his voice 

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sharper than he intended. 
He's in denial, no plan. 

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He's not going to make this 
easy. 

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The word spilled out before he 
could stop himself. 

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Lucius looked momentarily taken 
aback. 

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Regulus had never spoken to him 
like this before. 

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To Lucius, Regulus was the 
quiet, obedient Black brother, 

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the one who never made waves. 
But the truth was, Regulus was 

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tired. 
Tired of being stuck in the 

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middle of his family's 
expectations. 

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In seriousness, with valuing. 
He didn't want to deal with the 

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upcoming mess. 
Sirius would never willingly go 

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through with the engagement and 
assessor, and everyone knew it. 

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The only question was how 
spectacularly he'd ruined the 

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whole thing. 
Lucy's recovered quickly, his 

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expression slipping back into 
its usual composed mask. 

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I know Sirius is difficult. 
He said carefully. 

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But we can't let him, Lucius. 
I've tried. 

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Regulus cut him off again, but 
this time his voice was softer. 

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He could see the frustration in 
Lucius's eyes, the helplessness.

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For a moment, Regulus felt 
guilty for his harshness. 

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Sirius might not care, but to 
Lucius and to Necesa, this 

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engagement wasn't just a family 
arrangement. 

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Regulus could sense the genuine 
affection between them, even if 

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neither would admit it openly. 
I really, I really love her, you

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know? 
Lucius whispered, his voice 

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barely audible, as if he was 
ashamed to say it out loud. 

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Regulus blinked, taking it back.
Love. 

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That was something he didn't 
fully understand. 

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Love to him, was about family, 
about loyalty to blood. 

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But to love someone outside of 
that? 

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It seemed foreign. 
Yet in that moment, Regulus 

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could feel Lucius's pain, the 
weight of something deeper than 

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duty, regular sight, feeling the
burden settling onto his 

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shoulders once more. 
I'll try again, he said, the 

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words tasting like a lie even as
they left his mouth. 

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I'll come up with something. 
He didn't know how, he didn't 

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even know if it was possible, 
but it felt wrong to leave 

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Lucius without some kind of 
hope. 

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Lucius gave a small nod, his 
shoulders relaxing slightly, but

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the tension in his eyes 
remained. 

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Thank you. 
He said, though Regulus could 

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tell that Lucius didn't fully 
believe him. 

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Without another word, Lucius 
turned and walked away, his 

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posture straight and proud, like
he had put the weight of his 

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emotions back insight and locked
them away. 

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Regulus stood there for a 
moment, watching him go, feeling

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the heavy burden of 
responsibilities had laid deeper

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on his chest. 
He wasn't sure how he was going 

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to get through this summer. 
By the time regulars returned to

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the Great Hall, lunch was nearly
over and the other students were

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starting to gather their things 
for the afternoon exam. 

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But he raced an eyebrow to him 
as he said back down but didn't 

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press the issue. 
Regulus was grateful for that. 

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He wasn't in the mood to 
explain. 

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They made their way to 
Transfiguration, and as soon as 

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they entered the classroom, the 
air was thick with nerves. 

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Professor Mcgonagall stood at 
the front, a sharp gaze sweeping

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over the students as they took 
their seats. 

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Regulars felt a calm settle over
him. 

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If there was one thing he could 
control, it was his performance 

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in this exam. 
The practical part of the exam 

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involved transforming objects 
into animals, something that 

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Regulars had basically mastered.
As Mcgonigal called him up, he 

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stepped forward with steady 
confidence. 

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She handed him a goblet, her 
eyes narrowing slightly in 

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appraisal. 
Turn this into a Raven. 

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She said crisply, watching him 
closely. 

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Regulus took a deep breath, 
focusing on the goblet. 

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With a quick flick of his wand 
and a muttered incantation, the 

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goblet to it, its metallic 
surface morphing seamlessly into

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sleek black feathers. 
Within seconds, the Raven stood 

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on the table, its beady eyes 
gleaming. 

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Mcgundigal nodded, clearly 
pleased. 

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Well done, Black, Mr. Black. 
Regulus returned to his seat, a 

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faint sense of satisfaction 
warming him. 

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But as the exam continued, his 
mind wandered back to Lucius, to

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Sirius, to the looming summer. 
He knew this brief moment of 

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calm wouldn't last, but he was 
called up after him just as 

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effortlessly performing the 
spell, though with a little less

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of detail. 
It was almost like he didn't 

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even bother. 
He knew he could do it, he 

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didn't need to prove that to 
anyone. 

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Mindset he shared with a very 
few. 

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Astrid was next. 
She was shaking as she walked 

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up, nervous for anything that 
included the wand really. 

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Despite that, she performed 
quite well. 

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Nothing that could match 
regulars himself, but she pulled

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through. 
As they waited, Regulus noticed 

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that Evan was nowhere to be 
seen. 

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The boy hadn't been seen since 
he stormed off after the last 

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exam. 
He looked around the room, 

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00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,240
making sure he hadn't dismissed 
him, but just like he thought, 

230
00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:11,000
Evan Rosie was not there. 
Evan isn't here. 

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00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,600
Regulus whispered to Barty who 
did a double take across the 

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00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,440
room before he turned back to 
Regulus. 

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00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,040
Maybe we won't have to deal with
him next year after all. 

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00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,920
Barty said, trying to make 
Regulus laugh. 

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00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,040
He chuckled lightly, but then 
turned back to face the front, 

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00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,600
not wanting Barty to notice the 
concern. 

237
00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,760
Why would he just skip an exam 
like that? 

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00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,800
As the final exam finished, 
Barty clapped him on the back on

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00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,600
the way out. 
But we nailed that Wriggly 

240
00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,600
smacked. 
We always do.