I like Regulus's mellowing into the Muggle world and the measured build of their friendship.
But only if this wasn't Regulus trying to replace something he'd lost. He'd been second or less too many times. He couldn't afford to be less this time.
Oh! Severus. Yes, yes. *hugs him*
(but ack! whoa... the next two long, long paragraphs after that need some breaks in them..)