"R.A.B?"

Who could it be? I can think of only two possible matches. Regulus Black and Mr Borgin? Reason being Regulus Black has the exact initials. Mr Burke was talked about in HBP. But what not Mr Borgin, the now owner of the shop?. Any ideas anyone?

Regulus B;ack was who I thought of, too. Though didn't they hint at him being not so, erm, gifted?

My initial reaction was, "REGULUS!!!", and I stand by that. I really think it's him...Maybe he wasn't really killed...maybe it was just staged. Or perhaps it is a new character...I'm really indecisive. I can't decide who I think it is....but I'm guessing its Regulus.

new character or regulus - his story fits. wants to back out. gets the necklace and then the message says that R.A.B will be dead by the time voldemort finds out (he is) and that he wants to destroy it meaning he is against voldemort (he is)...

HA! I hope that it is a muggle. The whole series they, being the wizards, have trashed muggles. I hope the final book is about a take over from the muggle government (Britain). I would love the books if RAB was some kind of evil scientist/explorer who wants to destroy the wizarding community.

1) leave an introduction
2)doubt a muggle would or could!

*here's an obligatory spoiler warning*


I immediately thought of Regulus Black. Then, I grabbed my OotP and in Chapter 6 (The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black) page 117{US version}- it lists contents of the cabinets they were cleaning in Sirius's house. Among the items was something very familiar!
"...There was a music box that emitted a faintly sinister, tinkling tune when wound, and they all found themselves becoming curiously weak and sleepy until Ginny had the sense to slam the lid shut; also a heavy locket that none of them could open, a number of ancient seals and, in a dusty box, an Order of Merlin, First Class..."

I didn't see where the book mentioned where/how the items were thrown out, only that it was tossed into a bag. I wonder if Mundungus has any idea what happened to all the stuff, especially after he was seen with Sirius's silver......
Good thing Harry inherited all Sirius's stuff......

OOOO, good find! I was thinking the locket might be in Sirius' house....

As for the initials, it was definitely Regelus, although he did die in the attempt to thwart Voldemort. Everything points to him, really: he abandoned the DE's for no reason, he was in the close circle of Voldemort (permitting him to know about V's hroaxes [sp?]), and he died at the hand of Voldemort, an "honor" many admit that is very, very rare. I couldn't think of a better reason for V. to kill Regelus than because he tried to steal his precious, pyschopathic, bloody, murderous soul. *scowls*

I think it's quite sad, really; it turns out Sirius wasn't the white sheep of the Black family that was thought guilty, even by his brother....

from what you have said Sainthedwig who else would have it if it was being thrown out but Krecher, mundungus only gatherd silver after sirius' death krecher was there hording things all the time

I think it's Regulus, too.

Lupin said he survived a couple of days after leaving the DE. That would have given him time to take the locket back home. It was on display, though. Did he just stick it in with his parents' things, or did he tell them that it was Slytherin's? I'm sure he wouldn't tell them what it really was.

Hopefully, Harry will find it. (If Dung hasn't sold it!)

yes! the locket!!
i think this must be it....... JK gave us a little hint when harry bumped into dung trying to sell sirius' silver and things: to make us think back to book 5!!
~Brenna

I too think that Regulus is the most likely culprit.. and it would explain how he was caught so fast! He was weakened by the liquid - the other guy lasted a *year*.

Borgin does have a motive though.... if he made the amulet into a Horcrux when he killed the old lady, it would have been just after he left his employment there after killing one of their most important clients, probably stealing other things too.

Still, Regulus seems the most likely by far.

if it was regulus it was done years ago, before he was killed....maybe he reolised what voldie had done (the whole sole thing) and thats when he reolised what he was dealing with anc back out, thus getting killed....so it cant have been the locket in hte cabinet, regulus is dead and had already left it in the basin thing in teh cave....but this is only if it was actually him...

Regulus is a good possibility for whom took the locket, and there is a strong possibility that it is amongst the objects within Grimauld Place. But why would he have taken it. I can think of two possible reasons but both make me wonder more where the locket could be.

1. He took the locket to protect himself. To use it in order to barging himself out of the Death Eater's, but then would LV know that it had been taken. Would he have got it back from Regulus before killing him, or did he kill him because he couldn't get it back.

2. Did he take it in order to aid in LVs downfall, after he realised how far the Dark Lord was willing to go.

The thing is, did he take the locket for protection or some kind or revenge for the fate he knew he had in store.

Jo

What if it's not initials, it stands for something else?

Regulus just seems far too obvious, seeing that just about everyone who has read it has come to the same conclusion...

I would not presume to say anything is "obvious". I just think JK has given us enough clues, and taught us how to use them, to figure these things out. We would be pretty poor fans if, after 6 books, we haven't learned how some of her tricks work. I think it would disappoint her if we didn't eventually catch on to some things..... just my 2 cents!

*edits* Ok scrap my last post, hahahaha. Yes, well if the necklace was the remainder of what held the hocrux then that would make sense - it was the remains of what Regulus had destroyed, like the ring which Dumbledore had. Great find in that necklace! I doubt it matters where it is now though if Regulus destroyed what was inside it, does it?

I hate to assume the locket has already been disabled. It would make sense, with the way the note in the fake was written. However, its always bad to assume anything is a "given". I don't want Harry to waste a lot of time looking for it, if the horcrux has already been removed. But, he needs to realize what/where it is (or should be), and check it soon!

That's true, it's just that if the hocrux is still in it then I can't see it still sitting in the Blacks' house in book five if Voldemort killed Regulus in person for stealing it. If Voldemort knew about it then surely he would have pulled the Blacks' house apart looking for it?

Regulus! *slaps forehead* He didn't even occur to me oh well...

Anyway, I think it makes a lot of sense. I won't repeat the fine comments of others, but one practical thought: in the next book, Harry's going to have to find FOUR Horcruxes. That means work out where each one is, then get to it and destroy its power. Then he's going to face off against Voldemort. Unless JKR is going to write about a million pages, it would be very convenient if at least one of the Horcruxes was easy to find, for instance in a house that Harry owned, and more convenient still if it had been destroyed after all, so that would tend to back up the RAB = Regulus theory. Also, it would give Harry the chance to do a bit more exploring into Black's own history...

PS: I hope she does write a million pages... I DON' WAN' IT TO END!!!! WAAAAAAAAH!!!

Would Voldemort leave the note there if he had found the fake locket already? Voldemort's only had a proper body for a couple of years at this point, and he's no doubt been busy... I suspect Voldemort doesn't know his horcrux has been stolen.

Just a note... I'm editing this topic title so people know it discusses R.A.B., as two more topics have already been created about that not knowing that this one exists. I don't think "R.A.B." is too much of a spoiler. It doesn't give anything away, really. So yeah.

Topic title edited.


Callie :: Snitch Moderator

(if it was indeed Remulus) Why on earth would he go to the trouble to leave a fake pendant, note, and waste that good parchment, if voldemort would know straight away? And like someone else pointed out go straight to his home?

It is obvious then that he either did not know (just like the Riddle Diary when it too was destroyed) Or did not want to act upon it. I believe the first .

He must have left it there so that when the dark lord tried to use it (maybe to return to power) he could not, and only then would he find out who betrayed him.

I believe black must have been killed for someother reason - maybe he was spying for the Order - if he was indeed killed at all.

maybe voldemort knew dumbledore knew? maybe he destroyed it? but left a fake there in the hope he would think that was it and risk his life getting it? ... ok no maybe not or draco wouldnt have been told to kill him if he could have killed himself lol

im not so sure though abotu the locket being in harrys house *sniff* ... syurly it would be better protected, just look at the necklace, but then again if lucius had one in the form of the book maybe regulus ahd the one in another form...and yes kept it in his house but then backed out when he reolised what he was hiding for voldemort?

lol ok ive just gone round in a full circle! i dont know whats happening! lol but i knwo for one that JK said she isnt starting fukll tiem writing on book 7 until the end of this year so gona be a looooong wait! (ha look at me talking about the next one days after we got our hands on the 6th!)

great find on the regalus' locket in ootp. i think its definitely regulus - it would give a reason for voldemort to kill him. regulus wanted out, and to fight against voldemort. so he got the most meaningful thing to voldemort - one of the horcruxes. voldemort finds outand then kills him!

I like this theory quite a bit. Indeed, if Lucius was given a bit of Voldie's soul, it lends merit to the idea that he distributed the horcruxes between his most trusted Death Eaters.

@-->--- Tess

I too am thinking of Regulus... JKR likes the someone who is thouhgt dead/guilty turning up alive and innocent...

m,

fc

Wow, never thought of Regulus. I spent a while trying to come up with something though..and got this theory (probably wrong but you can never throw any chance out unless JK says it herself can you?) that maybe R.A.B was two people. the A standing for And, so R AND B. Now that still left me clueless, but just thought I'd voice it out.

the lestranges are the only ones that come to mind. bellatrix and either her husband or his brother (cant remember there names though but i know they begin with R)

It's a shame Regulus didn't pop into my head like some of yours did when I read "R.A.B." - but I do agree, it seems like it would be Regulus - with him abandoning the Dark Side and therefore being killed for it.

I'm not quite sure that Voldemort knows about the fate of his Horcruxes though - Dumbledore was pretty sure with the fact that he cannot feel one being taken/destroyed. Therefore, if Regulus did happen upon the necklace before he was killed, I'm sure it wasn't for that reason. Unless, Regulus mentioned with his last words that he did destroy one, to get some glory out of his death. Or possibly staying mum til his death with the knowledge that one of his Horcruxes was destroyed and only he knew where it was?

Someone before had said that with 4 Horcruxes left, that might make for a long book and the point of having some "easily" found is possible. I definitely think Godric's Hollow is a possibility- Harry did say at the end of the book he'd journey there. Grimmauld Place seems pretty likely as well - the Blacks had lived there and perhaps Regulus knew his "rogue" brother would pass the house on to his godson, "the chosen one".

Right when I read those initials, I imagined JK just sitting there smirking, knowing what we'd do with cliffhangers like that!

My first thought was Reguals too...

"also a heavy locket that none of them could open"

Hmmm...I'm willing to bet that Kreacher knows where said locket is.

I think it's Regulus Black. Why else would Voldemort want to personally kill him? It...fits, lol.

Absolutely. You guys have said it all. And well done for spotting that locket passage in OotP.

I thought it was Regulas Black.

i too thought of regalus black immediately when i seen the initials R.A.B
i went straight to ootp and found the passage that sainthedwig posted!
my thoughts are that regalus did steal the locket from the lake, probably in revenge, he tried to resignate from the D.E but as we all know its a lifetime of service. someone perhaps Kreacher is the secret keeper for where the horcrux is. Maybe Voldemort did not kill regalus personally as Sirius says on pg104 of OOTP
"no, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or voldemorts orders more likely; i doubt Regalus was ever important enough to be killed by voldemort in person"

also i found this passage.....does this remind you of anyone
sirius speaking of regalus:
"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 dont just hand in your resignation to voldemort. Its a lifetime of service or death"

should we expect the same of Malfoy

My theory is this: Snape helped Regulus fake his own death. Regulus went after the horcuxes. He was caught and killed soon after. Dumbledore trusts Snape because of this. Thoughts? Or, maybe he is still alive...

^ I like that idea. I liked the idea of the R.A.B standing for Bellatrix and Rodolphus. (the lestranges). Though I doubt Voldemorts, closest Death Eater and her husband would thwart his attempts to become immortal.
I don't think it's Regulus either. It's just too simple, unless we get a better explaination in the next book about it. I doubt the "innocent" one will work again, like it did with Sirius.
Perhaps it's a new character, like the heir of Gryffindor or something. Then it would also bring Harry to find out if Gryffindor had any more heirlooms other then the sword.

i like the idea of snape helping regalus out and thats why dumbledore trusts snape. BUT, surely if dumbledore trusts snape for this reason, dumbledore would have known that the horcrux wouldn't have been there so he wouldnt have wasted his time going to the cave...

For those who think it's not Reggie because it's too obvious, JKR said that there was a clue at the end that all good fans would be able to figure out. It's very possible (and I think probable) that the initals could be what she was referring to.

Good thinking! I believe it prolly is Regulus. We will just have to wait and see what happens in the next book.




It could be obvious cause most people did not expect Snape to be the H-BP. A lot of people thought it would be a new character. Snape should have been suspected as the H-BP but he wasn't so Regulus could be R.A.B.

I think the locket is at Grimmauld place still, as kreacher probably saved it!

I am also liking the idea of the horcruxes being divided between the death eaters, but then again this theory could be disproved by saying the necklace was never given out. The book that voldy gave Lucius could have been given to him for a purpose, but i think the other horcruxes are all heavily protected, in places that perhaps the memories of voldy can give us clues to

We know the locket was at Grimmauld, but during the cleaning- it could have been removed. We also know Mundungus has filched things from Grimmauld Place. A trashbag full of jewelry and illegal dark arts items would be very enticing for a thief! In the same passage I posted earlier, it mentions Kreacher was trying to save a ring with the Black family crest, which was apparently in the same case with the locket. Kreacher didn't seem to notice or know about the importance of the locket or I think he would have been trying to save that instead. However, it also adds that he was trying to smuggle various items out under his loincloth, but doesn't specify anything other than the ring. The locket could have been a possibility, too.
I will be very suprised if RAB turns out to be anyone but Regulus Black. I bet the A stands for Alphard. On page 111 of OotP (US version), Sirius points out his Uncle Alphard to Harry on the family tree tapestry. Its not uncommon to name people after their relatives. (ie- Ron Bilius Wealsey, after an uncle- I think) That would make Sirius's brother Regulus Alphard Black, otherwise known as R.A.B. (again, just my 2 cents!)

*Sorry- a network glitch is causing multiple posts be me. I am fixing it asap*

I think it's more than one person. I mean, we saw what happened when Dumbledore drank the potion; it would have been very difficult for one person to do it on their own. Regulus is a good theory, I like it, but I think there's at least one other person involved. Perhaps "Regulus And ______" Or "R", "A", and "B" are all different people.

Regulus appeals because his back story fits, but APWBD makes it very clear that only ***two*** wizards, one at least being VERY powerful, could have managed it. Then again, maybe Regulus had some inside information on how to get past the defenses, but I don't see ol' Moldiemort telling anyone ANYTHING about the Horcruxes.

Considering all the evidence, the Uncle with a name beginning with A, the Locket in 12 Grimmauld Place, the initials being right, his very short capture time....

Unless it's a new character (Which can't be predicted) I can't see a way of it being anyone else.

While I think that passage was a great find and definetly something to take into consideration I don't think it proves the locket ever entered the house of Black. For one thing it would have been a large failing on the park of JK not to mention the large S (and if I am not mistaken the seal of Slytherin as well) on the locket, surely that would have been something everyone would have noticed. Secondly, the note in the fake said that the locket would be destroyed. This is something that we cannot simply take for granted, but for now without a word otherwise I am working under the impression that it has in fact been taken care of by this R.A.B.
And on the subject of R.A.B. I agree that of all the characters we already know Regulus seems to make the most sense, but I do not shy away from the idea that it could be a new character.
The theory that the reamaining horcruxes have been spread to the other death eaters seems very unlikely to me. Out of the three known horcruxes only one has been given to a death eater, and this was only because the diary was to be used to reopen the chamber, and he didn't even tell Malfoy what it was. It does not seem likely that a man who never had any friends beyond his snake would trust more people than nessacary with pieces of his soul.

Forgive me, I seemed to have rambled on for quite some time and not said much new, but it is my frist post in months (and one of few since that dreadful crash last summer) so I felt I shouldn't hold back. Anyway cheers,
.Tracy.

That was a good spotto with the locket in the drawing room in OOTP Sainthedwig!!! I was like you all and thought of Regulus, it popped into my head as I was falling asleep after finishing the book last night. I woke up suddenly and shouted "REGULUS!!!"

But I have a couple of problems, (with the theory, my other problems can wait for a psycharatrist...!) Why would Regulus refill the basin with the liquid again after he had retrieved the locket? Would he have had the powers or know-how to remake that potion that affected Dumbledore so? The note was written as though the author wanted to prove to LV that they had to power to aid in LV's defeat.

Or did he have enough power to get through the barrier without drinking the potion? Slughorn seemed to admire both the Black children, ackowledging their abilities, saying that he would have liked both of them.

I'm also interested in how JKR will convey the story of R.A.B. if that person is now dead. So far she has used the Pensieve to do most of the past story-telling, but how are the memories of that night going to come to Harry? Wormtail maybe?... Thats probably moving into a different thread so I'll stop there.

How far did Regulus get in? Would he have been able to get so far in that he found out about the horcruxes? I find it unlikely. For one he would have been one of the younger Death Eaters at the time, being younger than Sirius, and therefore Snape. I don't think that he would have been able to get that close to LV considering this and LV's absurd attitude to having friends. Not even Malfoy knew of the true nature of the diary.

The two person theory doesn't hole as far as I'm concerned. If it was two people. and the "A" stood for "And" then JKR would have written "RaB" instead of "R.A.B.". She is extremely fussy with grammer I'm lead to believe.

Like jematral, I think that Regulus does seem the more likely option, but I am going to keep my mind open to the possibility of R.A.B. being a new character. Either way, a lot of the story has to be filled in.

Remember, Voldemort went to the Potters' house for two reasons. One was to kill Harry, because Harry was supposedly the one with the "power to vanquish the Dark Lord." He was also going to use Harry's death to create another Horcrux. He only made Horcruxes with important murders. Harry's would have been very important. Killing the only person who can stand between you and world domination seems rather important to me...

So when he went to the Potters' that night, he probably had the item on him... It might give Harry a clue as to what it WON'T be. That's assuming that the item is still hanging around... Not probable. But possible.

It didn't occur to me that RAB could be Regulus until I signed on here a couple of days ago, and since then, it has flourished in my mind, as though I'd figured it out from the beginning...

The thing that gets me about the whole RAB thing being a Death Eater... Lucius had no clue what he was dropping into Ginny Weasley's cauldron. He was told that it would open the Chamber of Secrets. He was NOT told that it was part of Voldemort's soul. I seriously doubt Voldemort told ANY of his followers what exactly was so important about the items, if he entrusted any others to his followers. We know the ring was concealed in the Gaunt house, which was a part of his history. Lucius had the diary (because Lucius was apparently one of Voldemort's favorites, or something), and the locket was in that cave, which was a part of his past. The wise thing to do would be to go to the Riddle home, the cemetary... Places we know Voldemort is fond of.

RAB seems like he could be Regulus...

Regulus grew up in a home filled with Dark Magic... Horcruxes would have to be passed down from generation to generation, if they are known, since Slughorn says that no book will tell you about them. Considering the Blacks are known for their Dark associations, I imagine Regulus may have known about them, even if it was only the definition Slughorn gives in his explanation. "A Horcrux is a word used for an object in which a person has concealed part of their soul." Knowing that little bit would be enough to deduce what some of Voldemort's "trophies" REALLY are.

How Regulus would've figured out where it was and how to get to it, I have NO clue, but I imagine he at least knew what it was...

And the locket that was stuffed into that bag at Grimmauld Place... I would twirl in my chair if Kreacher had it hidden in his cupboard. How easy to find... *bliss*

I don't think that R.A.B. is Ruldophus and Bellatrix.

The reasons being is that the note is written by one person. It says "I", whereas a note signed by two people would say "us". If it was from two people it would say "R. & B." R.A.B. are one person's initials and it has got to be Regulus Black.

The note also refers to probably being dead by the time it is read and neither Rudolphus (to my knowledge) nor Bellatrix is dead.

Whoever stole the Horcrux would've have had someone with them at the time, as it's been proved that one person cannot steal it alone, but the note writer chose not to reveal the identity of their accomplice. Probably to keep them from further harm.

I think the secret that the note writer discovered is the fact the LV is not the pure-blood he pretends to be. If the DE's discover this, LV wouldn't be too popular!! I think this is also the reason Regulus was killed. Not because he stole the Horcrux, but because he discovered this secret. The theft of the locket was a final piece of revenge from someone who knew they were not long for this earth.

Another reason for it not being anything to do with Bellatrix is that she is so against anything other than pure-bloods, that if the secret does turn out to be the fact that LV is a half-blood, she would not still be supporting him.

Someone (sorry I don't recall who) mentioned that Regulus may not actually be dead. I think if he was alive then Kreacher would not have obeyed Harry, as ownership of Kreacher would have passed to Regulus.

Here's a recap, to sum it all up to this point:

1. the note was written in 1st person, meaning one person. (There may have been an anonymous accomplice with RAB, but it doesn't necessarily have to be done by 2 people. I think DD reinforced the 2 people idea to Harry because he(harry) is stronger with help, to remind him not to go tearing off alone, and because DD was weakened by the battle over the ring.)

2. R.A.B- most likely refers to Regulus (Alphard) Black, Sirius's younger brother (see my previous posts for cannon substantiation....)

3. The locket was located at #12 Grimmauld Place, at least until recently. We don't know if Kreacher has it, if Mundungus stole it, if it was trashed (and therefore thrown out to a junk yard of unknown origins), or if it remains at Gimmauld Place.

4. All evidence in the note infers the horcrux has already been destroyed inside the locket. (If it has, it doesn't mean the locket wouldn't still exist- see the earlier example of the horcrux Slytherin ring....) I, for one, will not bet the horcrux is disabled. Something could have happened to Regulus before he could complete the task, but after he left the fake w/note in the cave.....

5. JK has stated in an interview that she left a mystery that fans should have all the answers to, if they are careful enough to figure it out. I think this is the mystery to which she is referring and she'd be very disappointed if we didn't decipher the clues. That will just leave her the need to explain exactly how he did it and why....

as always, just my 2 cents worth (ok- I guess this is more like 50 cents worth... hehehehehehe)