Sometimes, I think of Regulus Black.
I think of a boy, 18 if the stories are to be believed.
So convinced of this cause that his whole family, heart and soul believe in till their dying breaths. Distancing him self from his brother and his cousin because they are WRONG.
They are blood traitors, betraying everything that their family stands for. At 14-15 being left in that house, Sirius is gone. Gone without looking back, without taking his baby brother. And we know Sirius would have taken any punishment meant for Regulus to save him even a minute of pain and suffering, because at his core Sirius was so brave and reckless and noble and just loud. Not even in voice, just his presence said look at me.
And with Sirius being so loud Regulus by contrast seems less than. The spare black brother. The one that was only the centre of everything after Sirius left and yet still somehow him and his blood traitor friends still managed to make them selves that loud that they over shadow every small moment of glory. Every compliment is followed by an insult about his brother.
So no moment is solely for him.
But then he is on this tiny island. In a dark and terrifying cave, trying to destroy the monster who he had worshiped for nearly his whole life. Those paltry 18 years that he's had. He's not even a man yet, he's a boy.
A boy that when faced with impossible odds decided to stand against his ingrained beliefs. Imagine the sheer terror of seeing all of your hellish thoughts being twisted by this potion. Fed to him by his only ally in a home full of people who will always protect the family as a whole rather than one individual member, but Kreacher worshiped him for just being him. All It had cost him was kindness and he gained the loyalty of the elf that followed his mother's doctrine with glee.
Then he tells the elf to go and he's on his own, knowing he will face certain death. Death to defeat the monster that enslaved him. The hypocrite that had in the end lost him his brother.
The thirst has become unbearable and so he crawls to the water and he drinks and drinks and drinks and he doesn't see until it's too late. He notices the smell, the decay. He can feel hands grabbing at his arms and his neck and his leg and their pulling him. He trying to get away but he's too weak. There are so many of them and the smell. Oh god the smell Its so overwhelming and his brain can't process what is happening quickly enough to formulate a plan quick enough to save himself. He can feel the water it's getting higher and higher and the pressure of his chest is making him panic even more.
Soon enough his face is submerged and his lungs are burning and he's still struggling but he's strong, and he's brave.
This is his penance. It must be for his years of turning his back on his brother and his cousin and killing. Oh Merlin, the murder. Old, young, man or woman it did not matter. They were unworthy of magic. His last thought is be brave like Sirius.
And as is the norm his crowning moment, the ultimate sacrifice is overtaken by thoughts of Sirius. Although this time there is no resentment only joy.
He had finally done it.
He's made Sirius proud.
Such heavy actions for a boy of 18.
Dying on his own in a cave.