5 January 1979
Father is dead. It was very sudden. I found him in his study two days ago, sitting at his desk. His eyes were wide open and staring. I thought at first that it might have been an Unforgivable Curse, but Mother and the healers say it was probably a heart attack. I know I should feel sad, but I don't feel much of anything. Does that make me a bad son? He was a good man and a good father. He never minded about me being queer. I was even thinking of telling him about Sev. Now I'll never be able to. The funeral is tomorrow. I wonder if Sirius will come? Probably not. Helly will be there, at least. Maybe Sev will even come. I haven't seen him since before Christmas.
21 June 1979
I went out with some of the younger members of the Organisation tonight to celebrate my one year anniversary. We crashed a Muggle pub just for a lark I thought, but then Rxxxxx killed the barkeep right in front of everyone. The next minute Unforgivable Curses were flying everywhere and the others were all laughing. I know Muggles aren't really people, but I've never killed anything bigger than a doxy before. I don't think I could. And they were doing it for fun. Changing the world so those with the purest blood are rightfully in charge is one thing. This was something else. I didn't know what to do, so I Apparated away. I still feel sick. I don't know. Maybe I just had too much to drink.
26 June 1979
I feel like I haven't slept in days. I can't stop thinking about the scene at the pub. Every time I close my eyes, I see it again. The screaming. The laughter. Dead Muggles everywhere. Part of me wonders if being a Muggle is sort of like being queer. They can't help it and they didn't choose it, so why do we blame and punish them for it? Maybe there are good reasons for exterminating the Muggles. There are so many of them that if they ever found out about us and wanted to get rid of us, like they did during the Mediaeval period, they could probably do it. Maybe getting their numbers down to manageable levels is important to our safety. I don't know. I went over to Sev's this afternoon to ask him about it, but he threw me out. He says we can't just talk about these things like they are open for debate. Someone might be listening and might question our loyalty. He told me if I'm smart I'll keep my head down and my mouth shut. Maybe it's just that I'm still new to the Cause. I have a lot to learn. Maybe someday I will understand. For now, I should probably figure out a good Sleeping potion.
4 August 1979
I've decided not to return to Hogwarts for my final year. Father is dead. Sirius is gone. I am the man of the house, and I should be here to care for Mother, not leave Kreacher to do it. I had good marks in all my OWLs. I don't really need my NEWTs. I'll miss seeing Helly every day, but we can still owl one another and work out wedding plans over hols. And maybe this way I'll get to see a bit more of Sev. I've barely seen him this summer. He's been busy with Potions work for the Cause. Maybe I can help him with that. I've always been decent at Potions. Mother will be disappointed that I am not going back to school, but it's not up to her. I think she will be pleased to have me home, though.
11 October 1979
He was here. My Lord came to the house. He said he had a task to perform and he required the use of a house-elf. I forgot myself and asked him why. Kreacher has always been a good elf. I just wanted to know he would be all right. My Lord told me not to ask questions. I told Kreacher that he must go with My Lord and obey his orders, then come straight home when he was done. That was yesterday. Kreacher still isn't back yet. I am worried about him. He has never been away from home this long before.
12 October 1979
On a page stained with tears: Kreacher returned in the night. He is very ill and weak. I am caring for him as best I can, but I don't know much about elfish medicine. He told me what My Lord made him do, and once I understood it, I was horrified. He used Kreacher and left him to die, like he was nothing. Kreacher is a loyal elf and a good friend, but My Lord doesn't care about that. From what Kreacher said, he only cares about one thing, and I think he would kill every one of us if it meant getting it. I don't know what to do. He never meant for Kreacher to return home. I'm not supposed to know any of this. If My Lord finds out, he'll kill me and Kreacher and anyone else he thinks I might have told his secret to. I have to think. I wish I knew where Sirius was. But even if I did, would he believe me? Would he help me? Or would I only be putting him in danger, too?
16 October 1979
I finally understand. I was so caught up in making people proud of me that I forgot I should be looking out for the people who love me. I can't serve a master who doesn't care about me, who would kill the people I love without a second thought to get what he wants. My loyalty is to those who love me. My mother. Helly. Kreacher. Maybe even Sirius. Not Sev. I know that. There's too little time left to waste any more of it on lies. Sev used me, too. In spite of that, I have loved him, even when I wished I didn't. But now, at the end, I find myself overflowing with love. He is welcome to a share of it. I know what I must do. I may fail, but I have to try. Goodbye, Sirius. I've left a will, reinstating you as my heir. I think perhaps you had the right of it all along. Goodbye, Mother. You'll have the use of the house and the family account for as long as you live. I am sorry for leaving you alone. Goodbye, Helly. You were the best friend anyone could have wished for. I am ready to do what must be done to save you all. There is one more goodbye to say, but this last I will do in person. And then, tomorrow, there is work to be done.
17 October 1979
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.
Canon Script
"... my idiot brother, soft enough to believe them ... that's him."
Sirius jabbed a finger at the very bottom of the tree, at the name "Regulus Black". A date of death (some fifteen years previously) followed by a date of birth.
"He was younger than me," said Sirius, "and a much better son, as I was constantly reminded."
"But he died," said Harry.
"Yeah," said Sirius. "Stupid idiot ... he joined the Death Eaters."
"You're kidding!"
"Come on, Harry, haven't you seen enough of this house to tell what kind of wizards my family were?" said Sirius testily.
"Were - were your parents Death Eaters as well?"
"No, no [...] But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first."
"Was he killed by an Auror?" Harry asked tentatively.
"Oh, no," said Sirius. "No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely; I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter six
