Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter; the series is the property of J. K. Rowling.
Regulus Arcturus Black
One can only go in so deep, before they are trapped.
He wishes that he had questioned the nature of his family. Why had it not seemed strange to him, the way they treated others? Why could Sirius see it, yet he could not? By the time he had begun to question those beliefs which had been implanted in his mind, it was too late. Sirius had long since forgotten him, or did not care. If he were to rebel, just as Sirius had, where would he go? He had no friends who would support him, they cared only for appearances. So, he continued with his life; he tried to follow as blindly as he had before, even with that shard of doubt in his heart.
He wishes he was capable of change. Even when he acknowledged the atrocity of his parents' actions, those beliefs still remained imprinted in his mind. Try as he might, he couldn't help but flinch everytime a muggleborn brushed against him. Try as he might, he couldn't stop the flow of terrible thoughts that filled his head whenever he saw one. And he really did try; he tried harder than he ever had in his life. Yet, still, he never could shake off the last of his prejudices.
He wishes that he hadn't treated Sirius with such hate. He didn't ever hate him, not really. Despite his spiteful comments and insults, he could never feel anything more than love for Sirius. The influence of his family was just too much to bear on his own; he couldn't handle it. If anything, he resented his older brother; he resented Sirius for leaving him all alone.
He wishes that he hadn't joined the ranks of the Death Eaters. If only he had known better, if only he had known what kind of atrocities they committed. Then again, what difference would it have made? He was nothing; they didn't need him to carry out those dreadful acts. And, if he hadn't joined, he wouldn't have been able to get hold of the locket. Still, he wishes that he could have died with a clear conscience.
He wishes that Kreacher hadn't been put through so much. The elf was the only creature he really cared for, the only one who cared for him. Yet, what did he show of his gratitude. He sent Kreacher to his death at the hands of the Dark Lord; it would have been his fault if the elf died. Then, he forced the poor creature to watch, to watch in horror as the Inferi pulled him down to the depths. Poor Kreacher; what kind of gratitude was that?
He wishes that he had been able to destroy the locket. If he had, the Dark Lord would have been that little bit weaker, that little bit more vulnerable. Not by much, but it would have been a start. Instead, he left it in the hands of Kreacher, the elf who didn't even know what it was. If he was being perfectly honest, he wouldn't have even known how to destroy such a dark item. So, he took the coward's way out. He let himself die, leaving the Horcrux to the next person unfortunate enough to stumble across the secret.
Most of all, he wishes that the idea of power didn't attract him so. It was what drew him to the Dark Lord; it was what held him to his warped family. Ultimately, it was his downfall.
AN: Thanks to ModernDayRapunzel for giving me the idea of Regulus Black; I can't believe I never thought of that myself! Anyway, please review; it's nice to know that people appreciate my efforts.