"Dear James,
I'm sure you've received the letter—and met Goldie!
It's almost unbelievable: Regulus made friends with two eagles, and he can actually communicate with them. I've also been acknowledged as a friend by them, which is amazing. I really hope you all get to meet them soon.
Where did we get the two eagles? Our father helped rescue them from the London Zoo! It's beyond cool—I never expected him to do something like that. Reg seems to be really good at convincing people.
Lately, Reg has been researching other methods to communicate more easily, and we've been practicing all sorts of spell duels every day... I take back what I said before—life has definitely gotten more interesting for Regulus since school ended.
Anyway, I hope we can meet up soon! Please reply with a time!
Missing you,
Sirius
P.S. I've enclosed a Muggle newspaper article about it. It's hilarious!"
The same letter was also sent to Remus.
Regulus, meanwhile, was writing to several friends of his own, sending the letters out with the family's owls.
He was incredibly busy every day. Just exploring the ancestral home had taken several days. He went through all the Dark artifacts and books on Dark Arts one by one, and picked out several volumes to study with Sirius.
He had Kreacher set up a separate room for him, complete with training dummies, where he practiced spells like a madman—more intensely than even fifth years preparing for their O.W.L.s.
Just like all parents everywhere, Walburga and Orion were fully supportive of their child working hard and pushing himself academically. As for Kreacher, he was even more fired up, throwing himself into serving Regulus with full enthusiasm.
Regulus asked so many tricky and obscure questions to the family portraits that Phineas Nigellus now disappeared from his frame the moment he saw him coming.
The only one still willing to answer every question with genuine enthusiasm was Kreacher, the devoted house-elf who would lay down his life for him.
Lately, Kreacher's attitude toward Sirius had improved slightly—or rather, Sirius had started treating Kreacher with just a little more respect. Regulus also made sure to say kind things about both of them at just the right moments.
Cracks and rifts don't heal in a day. But even three feet of solid ice can melt, as long as you're willing to warm it.
If he wanted his family to live in peace, then he'd have to carry the weight alone.
Seriously—what would this house do without him?
…
"Master Sirius," Kreacher called, knocking on the door, "It's time for the young masters' dueling game."
"Alright, coming," Sirius replied, putting down his quill, grabbing his wand, and standing up with a resigned sigh… If he didn't put in the effort soon, he was going to get completely crushed by his younger brother.
Of course, he could've just ignored Regulus and skipped out on these obsessive training sessions, but summer was long… and Regulus always had so many interesting and fun ideas. Plus, as the Gryffindor older brother, he wasn't about to let their parents' "Slytherin supremacy" theories win.
…
Cokeworth. Spinner's End.
"Dear Sev,
Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person!
I've recently made two very special 'friends,' and I'm really looking forward to introducing them to you! But they can't Apparate, and I'm worried they won't be able to find me, so I'm still figuring out a way to get to Cokeworth. My parents won't let me travel far on my own, so I'm considering trying the Knight Bus.
How have you been lately? Are you spending the whole summer at home? We need to make a plan to meet up at least twice—ideally, we should go to Diagon Alley together.
Hugs,
Yours sincerely, Regulus Black
P.S. I hope you don't mind our family's owl—he has a habit of pecking people. You'd better write back quickly.
P.P.S. I just remembered we can use the Floo Network—I could invite you to my house! My parents are fine with it. I've told you the address before—do you remember it?"
—
Unlike Lily, who often received owl post, this was Severus's first time getting a letter from a classmate at home.
He read the letter three times, carefully making sure he didn't miss a single detail, then folded the parchment with great care and placed it in his pocket.
The Black family's owl stood nearby, fierce and impatient, its large eyes fixed on Severus as if to say that if he delayed even a second longer, it would peck him immediately—Severus hastily scribbled:
"Dear Regulas,
Everything's fine on my end. I'm also looking forward to seeing you and sharing news.
I'll probably be home all summer. (At this point, Severus's cheerful expression faltered.) Let me think—
You're only a first-year; taking the Knight Bus really isn't that safe. I've heard the motion sickness is horrible. The Floo Powder idea is much better. I still remember your address… I'll come to you. I know where my mum hides the Floo Powder. I'm free for most of the summer.
Yours sincerely, Severus Snape"
—
Once the owl flew off with the parchment tied to its leg, Severus suddenly felt a wave of nervousness. Putting aside "the traitor" Sirius, as a Slytherin, he knew exactly what the surname "Black" meant.
He had seen it with his own eyes—in his first year, Lucius Malfoy, the Slytherin prefect, born into an old wizarding family and utterly arrogant, had treated his girlfriend Narcissa Black with immense respect and pride.
And during his two years at Hogwarts, senior student Narcissa Black had been nothing short of a princess in Slytherin House.
Not to mention, when Regulus had first started school, Rabastan Lestrange—another upperclassman from a prestigious background—had made sure everyone looked out for the young Black.
And now, he had been invited to the Black household, that mysterious, ancient family.
—
A towering chimney stood tall on the distant skyline.
"Then you should get yourself some new clothes, Sev!" Lily Evans clapped her hands from the swing, delighted. "And—your hair."
Oh. Right. Eager to share the news with Lily, Severus had completely overlooked that.
Lily didn't have a bad impression of Regulus. She was kind by nature; unless it was something to do with values, she rarely disliked anyone. For instance, though she wasn't fond of Sirius, she wouldn't say she hated him either.
"An ancient wizarding family…" Lily's tone was full of longing. It was obvious she was curious about pure-blood families. "I wonder what they're like… Do you think their home will be like Hogwarts castle, filled with magic? I really wish I could visit a wizarding household like that one day."
You wouldn't want to go—Severus added silently, thinking of how the older students in his House treated Muggle-borns like Lily. The idea of visiting the Black family suddenly felt heavier. The joy of being invited there dimmed, like a candle flame slowly burning out.
"I've got a new set of wizarding robes," Lily was still cheerfully making suggestions. "Don't worry… they're just plain robes without the Gryffindor crest. You and I are about the same height… I'll go get them from home for you!"
She gave him a smile like a little sun, warm and bright. Her green almond-shaped eyes were so beautiful in the sunlight.
"Mm. Thanks." Severus nodded. The little flame inside him flared up once more.
—
In my understanding, it's precisely because of people like Lily Evans—always gently kissing the wounds of the world—that there are still so many beautiful moments in life.
—From My Hogwarts Memoirs by Regulus Black