[He's not sure what to expect. Pride is something he's so rarely seen in the face of family. As Sirius approaches, Regulus watches him with suspicion, as if waiting for the trick.]

[Nonetheless, when Sirius reaches out to him, Regulus is solid. Not entirely solid - there's a kind of haze around him, a cold, thick aura that crackles like the air before a storm - but solid enough to touch. He doesn't say anything for several moments, his white eyes flicking from the hand on his arm, to his brother's face, to the room around them, to Sirius' face again.]

[He shakes his head, and his glowing eyes dim as he closes them.]

Don't be.

I could have got out. I could have actually made a difference. If I'd just had a bit more self-control... He tried to stop me, you know. He told me the water was just as dangerous. But I was so thirsty. I was so thirsty, and I was so tired, and I...

[Under Sirius' hand, Regulus' form shivers and loses solidity for a moment. The shadows that make up his form are achingly, stingingly cold.]

[He shakes his head, opening his eyes.]

It didn't do anything, Sirius. Worse than nothing. They work it out eventually, and they go to the cave to destroy it, and because of me, it isn't there. Because of me, there's a piece of the Dark Lord's soul in Kreacher's den and the war goes on for years more. And now, I'm pretty sure there were more Horcruces, so even if I'd succeeded...

It wasn't brave. I should have just turned myself in.