A/N: Some months have passed since Jo received Lily's letter to get to the juicy parts. So this is occurring sometime mid-June before the Potter-Evans wedding! Enjoy lovelies. xx
Regulus was pacing back and forth across his room. He had been doing so for two hours already and was starting to get nervous that something had gone wrong, that the Dark Lord suspected him or worse - that the Dark Lord had done something to Kreacher. He even convinced his parents to go out for the weekend. It was better that way.
A few days prior, Voldemort had requested a house-elf from his group of followers for help storing an important artifact Regulus presumed to be a Horcrux. Therefore, Regulus was more than willing to offer the Black family house-elf to assist the Dark Lord.
Looking back at it, Regulus winced at his lack of hesitation; Kreacher may just be a cranky old house-elf, but deep down he seemed to be the only being who genuinely cared for Regulus. Even though Reg was the favorite son, Walburga was far from the warm and affectionate type. She was strict and cold, only caring about maintaining a pure bloodline even if it meant disowning her firstborn child to not tarnish her hard work.
Regulus recollected the day he found Sirius' portrait nonexistent in the family room. His fingers ran over the burnt-out face of his older brother and truly felt the emptiness in Grimmauld Place.
Suddenly a crack was heard from outside the room. Regulus rushed to the living quarters to find the elf wounded and barely conscious.
Surprised Regulus fumbled, "Kreacher! Wh-what happened to you?"
One phrase stood out, "Thirsty. Kreacher is thirsty, Master Regulus."
Regulus quickly filled a glass with water and handed it over before scavenging through the medicine cabinet to find anything useful. Curiously enough, the water seemed to do the trick for the creature.
"Did he do this, did Voldemort do this to you, Kreacher?" the young Black questioned.
Kreacher looked around the room before answering, "The Dark Lord hid the locket and left Kreacher in the cave. Kreacher was meant to die, Master Regulus."
A flurry of anger overtook Regulus but he tried not to startle his elf more, "So he was hiding a Horcrux? But why did he leave, Kreacher please tell me everything."
Kreacher retold his experience, "The Dark Lord left the locket in a trap. Kreacher had to test the trap. The trap worked."
"That bloody-" Regulus sighed without finishing.
Kreacher bowed, "Thank you, Master Regulus."
"What for? I couldn't help you," Regulus cringed.
In the typical riddle-like fashion, Kreacher spoke, "Elves are not wizards, Master Regulus. The noble house of Black is strong."
The meaning of Kreacher's words clicked in Regulus's mind. The elf's allegiance to his family was stronger than whatever spell Voldemort put on the Horcrux in the cave. However, as everything sunk in it dawned on Regulus that anyone else would not be so lucky. Regulus was determined to get the locket and destroy it, but the cost of doing so would be high.