Chapter 4: Voldemort Draws Near
Spring 1965. In the garden of 12 Grimmauld Place, the beech trees had just unfurled tender green shoots.
"Regulus!"
Sirius came charging out of the house, waving a toy sword in his hand.
"Look! I can make the sword glow!" Sirius concentrated, and a faint silver gleam appeared at the tip of the blade, lasting two seconds before flickering out.
He was five, and his magical control had improved — but it was still unstable.
"Not bad." Regulus closed his book and offered an earnest bit of non-commitment.
Sirius jabbed the sword into the dirt. "Let's go explore the cellar! Kreacher says there are trunks down there that bite!"
"I'm reading." Regulus shook his head.
"What's so great about books?" Sirius leaned over and glanced at the illustrated guide. "It's all fake anyway. Real dragons are way bigger! Cousin Bellatrix says that the great figure keeps fire-breathing dragons as pets!"