Kreacher, like most house-elves, was bound to the Black family at a very young age. Perhaps he'd been meant to replace his aged parents, perhaps another previous house-elf. He did not remember, nor had he cared for a very long time. The Black's were fine to him. He was not starved or beaten unless he'd specifically failed a particularly important order and then only by himself. They weren't exactly kind, but they passed some affections his way once and a while. When Regulus was born it changed a lot. Though it took a few years for the changes to truly take effect.

Regulus was always kind to him. Not just by master standards. Regulus taught Kreacher to read when he was struggling to learn himself, Snuck down to the cupboard in the kitchen and talked with him late into the night. Complimented Kreacher when he did good, or even just okay. Patted Kreacher's head, held his hand, held his shoulders gently to face him… Hugged Kreacher.

Regulus shared his secrets with Kreacher too, all of Regulus's sad, and hurt and need were shared with Kreacher. And he asked Kreacher to do the same. Kreacher had loved Regulus. He was the Master he would have followed happily till his death.

When Kreacher had been forced to watch Regulus disappear under the water, it was the first time that he'd truly hated that he could not disobey orders. That he could do nothing but obey. Watch as the first Master he'd ever truly loved disappeared from the world. The memory of the little boy who'd taken his hand for the first time.

"Kreacher, can you stay with me? I'm scared."

"Kreacher, listen to this Serius was-"

"Kreacher, guess what?"

"Kreacher, can you hold my hand?"

"Kreacher, do you have a real name?"

"Don't worry Kreacher, I've got you."

"Have this Kreacher."

"That's a good job Kreacher."

Kreacher was forced to leave behind the boy who'd been his everything. With nothing but a locket and an order to destroy it. He'd failed. All he could do was keep the secret and try to prevent the locket from being lost. He'd lost Regulus and he couldn't even follow his one last order.

Harriette shifted against his shoulder, mumbling in parseltongue in her sleep. Kreacher reached over and pulled the blanket over her shoulder. The girl had asked Kreacher about his real name. Nobody but Regulus had asked that. She'd said it was sad that he only had Kreacher for a name. Kreacher didn't fully understand why that was sad, but she'd been nice. She had the same way about her that Regulus had. Maybe this time he wouldn't fail.