Echoes of Regulus Black (Only the Good Die Young)
Regulus Black stood at the edge of the dark lake, the moonlight shimmering on the surface, casting an ethereal glow over the water. The chill of the night air seeped into his bones, but he welcomed it—every bit of it was a reminder of the choices that had brought him to this moment.
He thought of his family, the weight of their expectations pressing down on him like a suffocating shroud. He had been raised to believe in the supremacy of blood, in loyalty to the Dark Lord, but the reality of his choices had left him hollow. He glanced down at the locket in his hand, the last Horcrux he needed to destroy, a piece of his brother’s legacy intertwined with his own fate.
“Come on, Regulus,” he whispered to himself, feeling the echoes of rebellion in his heart. “You don’t have to do this.”
He remembered the nights spent at the piano, playing melodies that spoke of freedom and desire—dreams that seemed so far away. “Only the good die young,” the song echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of everything he had lost and everything he still had to gain.
Regulus stepped closer to the water’s edge, the ripples lapping against the shore like a siren’s call. He felt a surge of determination wash over him. He was not just a Black; he was more than the family legacy. Tonight, he would prove that.
“Regulus, you’re wasting your time,” his mother’s voice taunted in his head. But he shook it off. The path he had chosen might lead to danger, but it was one he had to take. “Only the good die young.” He felt the irony of it wrap around him like a comforting blanket.
With the locket clenched tightly in his hand, he knew he had to confront the Inferi guarding the Horcrux. They were the physical manifestation of everything he feared—death, darkness, and the hollow legacy of his family. But he would not allow himself to be consumed.
As he stepped into the icy water, Regulus felt the cold seep into him, invigorating and terrifying all at once. The lake deepened around him, swallowing him in darkness, but he pressed on. The shadows twisted and turned, and soon he was surrounded by the Inferi, their lifeless eyes glowing with an eerie light.
“Back off!” he shouted, summoning every ounce of magic within him. But they advanced, relentless and hungry. He could feel their cold fingers grasping at him, pulling him under.
“Only the good die young,” he repeated, almost like a mantra, fighting against despair. He was determined to do this—not just for himself but for the people who still believed in the light.
The Inferi closed in, dragging him beneath the surface. Panic surged through him, but so did a sense of clarity. Regulus remembered his brother’s laughter, the freedom that came from defiance. He thought of Kreacher, the house-elf who had remained loyal, even in the face of betrayal.
As the darkness enveloped him, he raised the locket high, letting it glint in the dim light. “I won’t let you take me!” he shouted, pouring every ounce of magic and intent into the spell that would shatter the Horcrux.
The lake erupted around him, the water boiling as light clashed with darkness. But the Inferi were unyielding, their grasp pulling him deeper into the abyss.
“Regulus, you’re wasting your time,” he heard again, but this time it was softer, fainter. He realized that maybe it wasn’t a waste. Maybe this was his redemption, a way to finally step out of the shadows of his family.
“Only the good die young,” he whispered, accepting that his life had been a series of choices leading him to this moment. It wasn’t about dying; it was about fighting back, about standing for something greater than himself.
With a final surge of will, he cast the spell, feeling the energy explode around him. The light engulfed him, and for a moment, he felt weightless—free. The Inferi dissolved, the darkness lifting, but he could feel himself slipping away.
As he sank deeper into the depths, Regulus felt a sense of peace. He had made his choice, defied the expectations, and taken a stand against the darkness. It wasn’t the end he had envisioned, but perhaps it was a beginning.
Regulus Black faded into the cold waters of the lake, but his final act of defiance would resonate beyond his death. The legacy he left behind would not be one of darkness but a spark of hope—a reminder that it’s not about the length of one’s life, but the impact of one’s choices.
In the end, he understood: “Only the good die young” was not a curse but a call to live fully, to embrace the fight against darkness until the very last breath.