SONG: My Way by Frank Sinatra

And now, the end is here

And so I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I traveled each and ev'ry highway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

To the Dark Lord,

I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.

I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.

I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B.

Regulus hastily scribbled down the note and quickly folding it, he then thrust it into the fake locket which he had magically constructed. "Kreacher!" he ordered, standing up, "come here this instant!"

Within a matter of seconds, the door to Regulus's bedroom creaked open, and the house elf was by his side. "Kreacher is sorry to keep Master Regulus waiting, sir," the elf said, with its head bowed down low, "Kreacher was just finishing the ironing that Mistress Black gave him."

"Nevermind that now," Regulus hurriedly continued, "I have some very important work for you."

"Kreacher is honoured to be considered worthy of any job that Master Regulus gives him." The elf responded, looking at Regulus through his large eyes, glistening with a sheen of bright tears.

"The work will also probably be very difficult," Regulus carefully told him, "and before I give you your task, I want your word that you are going to completely trust me and not do anything at all against my judgements."

"Of course, Master Regulus," Kreacher agreed instantly, "Kreacher will do exactly as his Master commands."

"Good," Regulus said in a relieved tone. He then paused for a moment, as if contemplating his thoughts again, before continuing with a sigh, "the first thing I want you to do, is to take me to the very island that the Dark Lord brought you to."

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this, I did it my way

The queasy sensation of house-elf apparition filled Regulus's insides, as his feet stumbled upon the hard, cold rock beneath him. Gradually opening his eyes, he inhaled sharply and looked around the gloomy area which surrounded him. Besides perhaps a hidden entrance, there seemed to be no other way out, visible to the eye.

Directly in front of Regulus stood a large basin, filled with an eerie liquid which emitted a strange greenish-glow. Regulus gazed inside the basin, to see his own reflection. His forehead was creased with lines of worry and the muscles all around his jaw were tensed in apprehension.

"Kreacher," he softly said, "I know this is going to be hard for you, but I want you to ensure that I drink this potion up. Every last drop. Then, I want you to put this locket at the bottom of the basin and remove the original one. You must leave me here on my own and destroy the first locket as soon as you can. Inform nobody of this. If anyone asks you where I am, say that you don't know."

"Ye-yes Ma-master R-Regulus," Kreature responded, his voice shaking with fear.

Regulus nodded his head steadily, as he lifted up the goblet- filled to the brim with the poisonous potion and put it to his mouth, forcing the contents down his throat.

The after-effects were almost immediate. A daze overcame came him and his throat burned like fire. Quickly, he plunged the goblet into the basin again, and drank the potion, before his knees buckled and gave way.

Almost instantly this time, he fell to the floor, the goblet crashing to the ground along with him.

"Master Regulus!" Kreature screamed, rushing to his aid, but the potion's effects were too strong.

"You evil, little, swine of a blood-traitor!" Walburga Black screamed at her older son, her voice echoing. "First you make us disgraced, by getting yourself into Gryffindor, now you dishonour us by publically stating that blood status isn't important!"

"Well, it's the truth!" Sirius yelled back, "All my friends and I agree that purity of blood isn't what matters, but purity of the soul, which you seemingly contain none of!"

"How dare you!" Walburga cried, launching herself at Sirius, "Mixing with blood-traitors and mudbloods yourself!" Regulus watched the whole scene from the landing of the staircase with confused emotions. How could his mother be so unkind? How could Sirius, at the same time, be so thoughtless? The sharp sound of a slap, woke Regulus from his thoughts and he saw Sirius sprint away to his room shouting a continuos chant of "I hate you!" as you ran.

"No more of that...please..."

"I can't..."

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all, when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

"Please, don't give me anymore!" Regulus begged. This, at first, left Kreature with a dilemma of what to do, but the elf soon remembered his instructions.

"Here Master, this will make it better," Kreature consoled in a shaky voice, re-filling the goblet and pouring the liquid down Regulus's throat. This resulted in further screams and yelps.

"No!"

"Please, no!"

"Where are you going?" Regulus questioned his brother curiously, as Sirius dragged his suitcase towards the front door.

"Away," Sirius responded, gruffly, "I'm leaving this place."

"What!" Regulus gasped, "You can't do that!"

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "I certainly can," he determinedly replied, making clear that nothing was going to stop him. "I'll see you at school in a few months, and for all I can tell, things will be much more peaceful in here after I've gone. Your parents have been longing to disown me from the day I was born, you know."

"Don't say that-"

"Don't deny it Regulus," Sirius sharply said, "you know it's the truth. Anyway, you'll soon have your Death Eater meetings to attend to. I don't fancy taking up a Dark career- I'd much rather be a part of the Order of the Phoenix. I know you aren't particularly fond of them, but you dare not say anything against that organisation, because I'm that's where I'm heading."

With that, Sirius slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Regulus to curse his brother's foolish lack of judgement.

"Please!" Regulus pleaded again, "please don't..."

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way,

"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

"Please," Regulus pleaded, "please-please don't..."

"Just one more, Master," Kreacher responded, trying to keep his voice balanced, "just one more, and it's all over."

Reluctantly, Regulus opened his mouth and allowed Kreature to pour the contents in.

"NO!" he yelled, in pain and agony. The fire in his insides were too much to bear, "NO!"

"My friends," The Dark Lord said in his high-pitched, cold voice, "I would like to ask something of you. I am in need of a house-elf. Are there any volunteers?"

"My Lord!" Regulus piped up from the other end of the table, "I am sure that Kreature of the Noble House of the Black would be honoured to be at your service."

"Ah, Regulus," The Dark Lord mused, "how unexpected... Very well, I shall meet you here at midnight tomorrow, with your elf."

"Of course, my Lord," Regulus obediently consented.

/.../

"Good luck on your mission, Kreature," Regulus proudly told his elf.

"Thank you, Master," Kreature responded, bowing low to the ground.

"Come back soon, my elf," Regulus continued, "the Noble House of the Blacks needs your help and the efficiency you give to your work."

"Yes, Master," Kreacher promised.

For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Yes, it was my way

"Master, are you alright?" Kreature asked, concerned.

Regulus took a deep breath and tried to keep his concentration straight. "Yes," he confirmed, his voice raspy and dry, "did you do what I told you?"

"Yes, Master," Kreature clarified, "Kreature put Master Regulus's locket inside the basin and has got the Dark Lord's locker with him."

Regulus managed to nod his head. "Good," he instructed, "now go."

"But-but, Master-" Kreature started to mutter in a confused manner.

"Just go," Regulus instructed.

After a few repeated sobs, Kreacher clutched the locket tightly in her hand and with a loud 'POP' apparated, leaving Regulus alone.

He smiled and slowly crawled down to the lake. Goblet in hand, he slowly bent his hand over into the lake and plunged the goblet into the lake, muttering a chant of, "We were always brothers, Sirius, we were forever bounded by blood."

Just then, an icy cold hand leapt up and seized Regulus's wrist, pulling him inside the lake. "You were right, Sirius, from the very beginning. Purity of blood isn't what counts," Regulus murmured, as he was pulled further into the depths of the lake, "you were always right."