Desire

Yeah, maybe Regulus is too invested into this, but you can’t blame him. He used to really enjoy learning about magic fundamentals. The ones that are too advanced to be taught before students start doing magic, and also the ones that are so boring for most people that they don’t bother to teach the older ones.

Regulus loves learning about it tho. The way that with technicality anything is possible. The way to get your desired result if it’s not in the set frame of possibilities is often too difficult that most people give up. Like how potions have different limitation that transfiguration, and transfiguration has drastically different limitations than hexes and charms.

Needless to say, Regulus has relit his old obsession, and most of his free time goes to studying spells. He has found little resolving the map though, but he is addicted to the information anyway.

Pandora has began telling him that he’s going to get burnt out, and he’ll end up not wanting to read anymore of it. He disagrees because he got reinvested once why can’t he just do it again if he looses interest? Plus, what does Pandora know?

Regulus was reading one of the last books he had collected today when he found just the right thing. ‘To be able to track everything on one thing, it’s better to charm one than many.’ That’s all the conformation Regulus needed.

He quickly collected the books up around him. He just grabbed all of them, not wanting to bother putting any away. He quickly made his way to the Gryffindor common room, hoping that one of the Marauders are there. When he finally reached the portrait, he impatiently waited for some Gryffindor to help him.

Finally, the portrait swung open. Regulus rushed in, passing Lily who was on her way out. Regulus heard her voice her confusion, but Regulus didn’t stop. He found their dorm pretty easily, having been there multiple times before. He swung the door open, and he found Remus and James inside. He was relived at Remus’ presence. The other’s probably wouldn’t understand it nearly as easily as Remus. Remus just understands the theory better than the rest.

“Wha-“ James began, visibly confused. Regulus swiftly cut him off however.

“Remus, I think I found the answer.” Regulus quickly walked over to the bed Remus was seated on. “I was reading on magical places and tracking, very on topic. And, I saw it,” Regulus explained. He began taking out a few books towards the top of his bag, trying to find the book he was reading from. “We have been thinking of it as if for a person. We have been trying to find something to track someone.” Regulus found the book, and he stepped away from the bed. He flipped through the pages. There, page 874. “It states that ‘To be able to track everything on one thing, it’s better to charm one than many.’ That’s basically exactly what we need is it not. As I read that, I remembered a lot of other information as well. Such as, how the properties of spells on people and objects have different limits. So, if we can make a spell that we can use on Hogwarts itself, then connect that spell to the map, it would be able to name anyone not just people we preformed the tracking spell on. It means as long as we can figure out how to do that, the map can be used for generations.” Regulus looked around at Remus and James, hoping whatever he just said made any sense at all. Sometimes his brain works faster than he can explain.

Remus looked to be running through his own information, and James looked amazed. James was looking at Regulus like he just did something impossible. Regulus raised his brow at James which seemed to pull him out of it.

“Yes, I think that could work. We’d have to look even more into object charms and all that, but if it works- I think that’s brilliant. Merlin, Regulus you’re brilliant,” Remus shouted, getting to his feet. “I can’t believe you thought of that. That completely slipped my mind. Fuck, Regulus you’re a genius!” Regulus beamed under the praise. Remus looked so proud of Regulus. His own cheeks hurt simply looking at Remus’ smile.

“It was really simple once I got confirmation that stuff like that was even possible,” Regulus admitted. Remus seemed to be coming of with something.

“Okay, I’m going to go get Sirius and Peter. James pull out the map; Regulus you fucking genius,” Remus rushed from the room. Regulus was still smiling after Remus’ steps disappeared. Then he turned around, and his heart dropped. He’s alone with James.

This was something that Regulus actively avoided. Apparently, James had no problem with it because he just started chatting. “Regulus, that was probably the best thing I’ve ever seen. How long did it take you to come to this conclusion after reading the line?” James asked. He still has a glint in his eye of amazement.

“Oh, um, I think only a few seconds. I mean it everything just clicked seeing that,” Regulus explained. He was puzzled when James’ faced morphed into confusion.

“You mean to tell me that one line that was, frankly extremely vague, gave you an entire answer in seconds? Like you didn’t have to even have to sit there for a second to like filter through the information?” Regulus was confused. No, he had the missing piece. There was no more necessary. He could probably find the books that went with the information if asked to. 

“I mean it’s pretty easy. If I needed to refresh my memory, I could always just find the books that had the other information needed to come to that conclusion. Plus, why would I even need to? You don’t just forget what you’ve already read,” Regulus laughed slightly. That’s ridiculous, why even read then? He stopped when he saw the look of bewilder on James face.

“That’s literally exactly what you do. After some time, you forget some of the unused information that you’ve read, don’t you?” James looked so confused. Regulus was too.

“Uh, no? I read about objects having different limitations than humans years ago. I think it was out of the second spell theory book I ever read. Why would you read if you just forget it all anyway?” Regulus thought this was obvious, but James looked shocked. Regulus was really confused now.

“You remember exact details of things you read years ago? Are you fucking joking?” James looked like his brain was close to exploding.

“Uhm, yeah, doesn’t everybody?” Regulus said hesitantly. James eyes looked like they were going to fall out.

“No? Didn’t I just make that clear? No one remembers small details even after they just read something. That’s why people take notes! That’s why people reread things!” Regulus was so confused now. He thought people just reread books for fun. How do they get more information from something they already read?

“What do you-“ Regulus was cut off by the dormitory door opening. Regulus found Remus dragging both Sirius and Peter in.

“James, did you get the map out?” Remus questioned, heading over towards a completely full desk. He grabbed some parchment, ink, and a quill before turning back. James was still looking at Regulus with a confused expression on his face. “James?” Remus questioned. James just continued staring.

“Remus, is it normal to forget details about what you’ve read over the years?” James asked, slowly looking towards Remus. Remus looked taken aback by the question.

“I mean, of course. You can’t remember everything you’ve ever read. That’s really rare,” Remus answered slowly. Regulus looked at Remus in surprise.

“What?” Regulus asked.

“Regulus, you’ve got to be joking,” James said with a forced laugh. “I mean you couldn’t have actually remembered that from a book you had read years ago.” Regulus looked at Sirius and Peter for back up. Peter looked lost which he expected; what he didn’t expect is for Sirius to also look confused.

“No, I read it years ago. Around second year I believe. I really liked learning about theory then too. Come on, Sirius, back me up. It can’t just be me. Why would you even read if you’re not going to remember it?” The whole dorm was silent. Regulus felt out of place. Was something wrong with him? 

“Fuck, Regulus,” Remus breathed out. “I swear I know what this is called. I think my aunt had this. Uh, oh yeah, hyperthymesia! It’s where you can recall anything with super specific detail.” Regulus looked at Remus with surprise.

“You mean to tell my you shits forget everything you read?” Regulus asked. They all burst out laughing. Regulus is so confused.

“Not everything, Reg. We just can’t recall what we did two years ago on Halloween is all,” Sirius joked. Regulus instantly remembered what he was doing.  That was one of the first times he had ever hung out with Pandora. She was dressed as a sunflower for some odd reason. She never told him.

“That was specific,” Remus laughed out. Regulus just shrugged. He was still think of the memory.

“Please, don’t tell me you actually remember that?” Sirius asked. Regulus’ face flushed as everyone burst out laughing. Regulus grumbled under his breath.

“I thought this was normal,” Regulus whispered. James appeared next to him.

“Apparently not, well, I guess that just means you’re better than us, Regulus,” James joked. James put an arm around him in a casual way, and Regulus wanted to curl in him. He didn’t. “Plus, you don’t have to try as hard as us shits, you know, forgetting everything we read.” Against his own will, Regulus burst out laughing.

“I guess not.” Regulus’ breath catches as James leans a little too close to his neck as he’s laughing.

“Regulus, come here! We need you to use your superhuman abilities to help us with the map!”