_{[Snape's eyes narrow slightly at Regulus' reaction, but he reaches forward immediately to steady the boy anyway.]}

The Dark Lord is not stupid. He will not tip his hand if he does not have to here. Potter and his friends have kept mostly quiet about his future, presumably in an attempt to keep their perceived advantage. [After all, one cannot kill indiscriminately if one has to behave.] However, I do believe your idiot of a brother has recently made himself a more specific target than most.