[226] Who Did He Name

Regulus snapped out of his daze.

Hall looked at his widened pupils. What had he just said that was so shocking?

"You actually mentioned that person—"

Hall finally understood. "About eight or nine years later, you made a similar choice, didn't you?"

He spoke like a riddle, half-revealing, half-concealing.

Regulus wasn't stupid. His heart pounded, his mind racing. Was this true or false? If it was true, why would he do something like that in less than ten years?

"What kind of deal do you want to make with me?" Regulus shook off the jumbled thoughts.

Hall took his hand out of his pocket, holding a ring that looked familiar to Regulus.

"You don't need to think about those things. My actions won't change history — not on a large scale, anyway."

Regulus stared blankly at the ring.

"If Sirius hadn't given me so much, I wouldn't have gone through all this trouble. Just locating your time took me twenty trips."

Regulus's eyes glazed over. "...Ten years, no, twenty years later..."

"Don't overthink it. After I leave, you'll forget me. But we can leave a trace in your subconscious — when you actually make that choice, you'll recall our deal today, triggering our agreement. I'll come to your side and help you."

Hall's SS-rank rune talent allowed him to solve the problem. A contract, an agreement — an equivalent exchange. By trading his current amnesia for the memory he would retain after making his decision, Regulus would activate the runes, allowing Hall to pinpoint his location precisely.

"Tell me," Hall smiled.

Regulus pursed his lips and finally nodded. "Whoever rules the Black family in the future... since you obtained that ring, you are Black's friend."

He didn't trust Hall, but he trusted the Black heir's choice.

Hall quickly traced runes in the air. Regulus's eyes widened — could a third-year wizard really do this?

One by one, the golden-green characters slowly merged into Regulus's body.

The next second, Hall vanished.

Regulus came to his senses. "What... what am I doing here?" The garden was empty. Although he felt something was wrong, the strangeness was quickly forgotten.

He continued towards his destiny.

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"Contacted Regulus and gained his trust." Hall waved wearily at Sirius. "Let me rest."

The constant time travel had even made his hair longer.

"The next time I travel... that should be the most crucial moment." Hall sat on the soft sofa in his office and conjured a steaming pudding tart.

Sirius blinked.

Hall enjoyed the sugary dessert. His brain needed a boost.

"The river of time that has already flowed past can be revisited countless times. But not at important points in time."

Sirius's eyes narrowed. "...I didn't understand."

"Simply put — unlike before, we only have one chance to change Regulus's death. If we miss it, there's no going back."

Sirius jumped up. "Then why aren't you moving?! Plans, arrangements!"

"What's the rush?" Compared to Sirius, Hall was incredibly calm. "Time is such a mysterious thing. As long as I don't touch the array again, that point in time is frozen. You wouldn't understand anyway."

Sirius looked skeptical. "You're not just trying to make me anxious? I can pay more!"

"Thank you for your patronage." Hall opened his arms without hesitation.

Sirius almost laughed out of exasperation. "Tell me, how much!"

"Give me whatever you think is reasonable."

Sometimes the most expensive things aren't those with clearly marked prices.

Sirius, eyes closed, slammed a pile of Galleons into Hall's arms. "Enough? Enough! That's all I brought to Hogwarts! I'll give you the rest after you rescue him!"

Hall was practically buried in gold. "Okay, I feel energised again."

Sirius muttered something under his breath.

Hall put down the pudding tart and re-entered the room. "No matter what you see, no matter what happens — don't disturb me."

Sirius pursed his lips. He looked so much like young Regulus that Hall finally saw the brotherly resemblance.

"I'll begin."

Hall activated the array, searching for his own power — the fluctuations generated when Regulus activated the runic symbols.

Nothing. He continued forward. Complete control over time was something only gods could do. Hall could only perform small manipulations.

He couldn't find the trigger timeframe. "No way? Did he not remember, or did he not believe me?"

Hall released more magic, actively resonating with the runes.

Not this... not this... not this either...

Finally, he found it.

February 18, 1979. A biting wind howled outside an unknown cave. Regulus had already drunk the ominous potion and was in excruciating pain. Kreacher had been forced to take the locket back.

"Master!" Kreacher cried out.

But Regulus couldn't respond. He stumbled towards the lake — the poison made him desperately thirsty. The last thing Kreacher saw before disapparating was Regulus being dragged under by countless hands.

Hall moved.

At the last second, he swapped the Regulus who had drunk the poison with the Inferius Regulus in his possession.

Sirius saw Hall yank — and a living Regulus was pulled out.

"Quick! St Mungo's!"

Sirius rushed forward, hugged Regulus, and dashed out.

Hall looked at the mess. He was going to add cleaning fees.

Sirius's commotion attracted Snape and Dumbledore.

Before they could stop him, he shot off like a wild dog.

Dumbledore glimpsed someone in Sirius's arms and instinctively assumed it was Harry. Then Harry walked out, looking bewildered.

Dumbledore took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on.

So — who was Sirius carrying?

"Regulus Black," Hall said with sincere eyes.

Dumbledore stared at him. If Hall hadn't emphasised honesty so many times, he might have believed him. Not a single word Hall said.

"You — !"

Especially after hearing that name, Dumbledore felt an urge to sit down. He was getting old.

"Regulus Black... that name sounds familiar?" Harry blinked. "Let me think..."

Snape's forehead vein throbbed. "Regulus Black, that dog's brother. A Slytherin."

Harry remembered. "But if I recall, he wasn't..."

Snape's gaze shifted to Hall. "I think Mr Weasley can explain this, so we don't look like idiots with brains stuffed with reeds."

Hall gestured vaguely. "It's complicated. Sirius knows better than I do!"

He was just an honest businessman. What happened afterward had nothing to do with him.

Dumbledore's expression said he didn't believe a word.

Hall ran for it. Time for class.