Note in the Locket: R.A.B?

[BeeHarry]

A friend had the theory that DD DIDN'T die, but it was all a plot to come back and get revenge on voldemort and everyone.
As a result she mis-read the book as R.A.D. (instead of R.A.B.). But she thought that the horcrux was Rubeous Albus Dumbledore.

Is DD known as anything different?? Or is this just wishful thinking on her part??

[Scarlet Lioness]

I am thinking that it is Regulas Black...
Maybe this was his mission for Voldy before he got killed???

[Dacre]

I don't think RAB is going to be the actual name, but possibly a nickname ie like Prongs or similar, which either we haven't heard, or only is passing and we didn't pick up on it (very much JK's style), I reckon probably a nick name we've only heard once.
Since it seems likely the note was left by a death eater turned traitor (who's the only type of person likely to know about it or not tell DD), that's where we should be looking - or possibly at maiden names.
Could have been some-one already killed, but my money's on some-one still alive.

[Arun]

i agree with Dacre. The only person who I know has the initials RAB is Regulus Black. But he doesn't seem like the kind of person to do this.

[Stumpy]

In HP3 the Map that H obtains off of Fred and George shows Wormtail even tho everyone thought him dead, so I think if Regulus was alive Kreacher would have sort him out instead of going to Harry when he ordered him

[Augusta Longbottom]

I think I see what you're saying Stumpy, but I'm not sure I agree. The magic doesn't lie in the Maurader's Map -- good point -- but if Kreacher *believes* that Regulus is dead, then I suppose that's why he'd have to obey HP.

We're all missing an obvious point though. Regulus doesn't have to be alive for that to have been him that the initials refered to. The note clearly says "I know I will be dead long before you read this..." So perhaps Regulus managed to steal it, hid it in the Noble House of Black (Ootp, Ch 6, US Ed. pg 116)

[Ginny Potter]

Feel free to delete this post if you decide to do (or not do) what I'm suggesting:

Since there is another thread almost identical to this one I think in the HBP discussions area, should the threads be merged or one closed? That way, posters wouldn't have to choose where to discuss pretty much the same thing: who R.A.B. is. Just an idea!

[Deedra Malfoy]

I'm thinking Regulus went good and swapped lockets before his death. In book 5, a locket is found at the Black home that none are able to open....

[dibble2]

Burke, one of the founders of Borgin and Burke's, is out. His first name is Caractucus.

[Chesirae]

Ohh...I didn't even thing of Borgin and Burkes...that's clever.
Anyway, we at least know that the person who wrote the note must be a death eater, or at least used to be one. The note is addressed to "The Dark Lord" and who do we know besides Death Eaters who call Voldy anything but "The Dark Lord".
And if JKR did say that Regulus is dead...well, she never said when he died, did she?
Also, we only have Sirius' speculation on what happened to Regulus.

[Lelie]

also, that locket at the black house is definitely a huge clue. i'm very impressed with whoever found that. it's just like JKR to mention something so important in such an obscure and seemingly unimportant way

wouldn't it be a crying shame if mundungus has stolen it? sounds like an hp complication to me. "whoops... dumb criminal stole key to everything and sold it to nice, unsuspecting, old lady!"

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.


That line intrigues me more than any other. My immediate thought was Regulus as well, and my little brain did try to find some situations where it would be possible.
To get through all the defences in The Cave it would have have to be a strong wizard, and we've all been lead to believe that he was a little bit of a wimp.. But you never know.
Also, like someone else mentioned, he called LV the "Dark Lord". Only Death Eaters really do that.
If the theory is correct, then there's defintely been a cover-up of some sort.
And when was Voldemort supposed to read it?
I know I will be dead long before you read this...etc.
When, exactly, was that intended to be?
When Voldemort came for the Horcrux?

[Snow_Crystal]

I think the only candidates are:

Regulas Black - Killed by Death Eaters for trying to back out. A good candidate because we learn in GOF that all of the Death Eaters knew the steps Voldemort had taken to ensure his immortality. Sirius believed he got in too far and tried to back out and that was why he was killed. Uncle's name was Alphard which may be Regulas's middle name. Regulas is the only charracter thus far that has been linked with the initials RB. But the tapestry at Grimauld Place does not give us his middle name. The letter written in HBP is very keen that the Dark Lord (term is only used by Death Eaters) knew who discovered his Horcrux. In Order of the Phoenix, a locket was discovered at Grimauld Place that no-one could get into...

Burke or Borgin - We don't know either of their first names yet and could be your second favourite candidate after Regulas. Hermione mildly attempted to purchase a necklace in HBP and we know that Burke would have been very keen to have the locket back after whatshername died.

Mrs Bones - Mother to Amelia Susan Bones, Grandmother to Susan Bones. Not sure about this one as I think they said her first name was something else - can anyone remember I have now lent my book to someone else and cannot check!

Bagman - Father of Ludo and Otto. Don't have much info on him from the books I'm afraid...

Anyone else that can be added? I doubt JK will introduce new characters in the final instalment.



I have three questions at the moment, 1) who is RAB 2) how/why did he die? 3)where is the locket now?

Here's my theory...

My favourite is Regulas for stealing the original horcrux. I think he wrote his note before he set off, placed it in a fake locket and that he knew death faced him because he was planning to back out and would be killed as a result. He took it back to Grimauld Place and hid it in a drawer before he could destroy it.

I don't think Voldemort knew he had taken it because as the letter is written, it is meant to be a revelation. But he ordered the Death Eaters to kill him for a particular reason (at the moment we only know this to be for backing out) but we don’t know when he attempted to back out – was it before or after the locket theft?

Voldemort wouldn't have faced him directly and therefore would not have had the opportunity to use Leglimens to discover the secret of the stolen locket. Which also rules out Snape as Regulas's killer being such a good Leglimens. If Regulas had, had sense though, he would have destroyed it before trying to back out, so what mistake did he make here? What made Voldemort order the death of Regulas?

They found a locket in Grimauld Place as we know and they could not get into it... Mundungus was stealing items from Grimauld Place so maybe he stole the locket and sold it to the shop Borgin and Burkes (I can never remember which way round it is) in Knockturn Alley ... it could be the case that the necklace that Hermione (fakely) attempted to buy was actually the original horcrux locket.

it would certainly be intriguing theory anyway...

[Snow_Crystal]

PS

I reckon that Regulas replaced the potion in the fountain with poison which he would have intended Voldemort to have instead of Dumbledore. Dumbledore wrongly assumed that Voldemort would not have poisoned himself and so believed that the potion would be safe. A failing indeed.

Maybe that's why Harry needed to understand potions better. In the last book, he might try to discover what Dumbledore had actually taken?

I think the mystery of how Regulas died has got to be uncovered in the last book. It just has to be!

[thestral]

i think regulus is a decoy duck by JK. i don't think it'll be that obvious.

but i have a theory that sounds a little crazy but here goes...

i think that there is a possibility it could be scrimgeour, ahh yes i know that would be RAS i hear you all scream. but RAB could mean anything. it doesn't have to be initials. it could be a place, an alias. who knows? i think everyone is focusing too much on regulus and trying to shoehorn a current charcter into the RAB mould. aha!! regulus's balck initials fit in it must be RAB!!! and he must be back from the dead!!!

the only reason i think of scrimgeour is:

1) he's hellbent on trying to find out where DD disappeared to. why does he care so much? is it because he wants in on the search for the horcruxes? maybe after the locket he got stuck and didn't know where the others were? i'm just suspicious that he was so interested in DD's activites and he wasn't interested in them in the same way fudge was, fudge thought he was undermining his authority, with scrimgeour it seems like something more than that. like he knows something.

2) he used to be head auror. he is obviously a powerful wizard (much more so that regulus!) he activly sought after VD and tracked his movements. he's also intelligent. the way he's written gives you the impression that he's no fool and quite shrewd. so i don't think it would have been beyond him to attempt to kill VD though discovering the horcruxes. and he's an auror so he has the ability.

3) also i have a hunch about our dear rufus. he's no fool, he's shrewd and described as a lion. and you respect lions cos they carry a certain force or power. also you don't imagine lions easily giving up, do you? i have a feeling he will be important in the next book. he doesn't seem to me like an ineffectual, ornamental figurehead MoM. i think he'll have an important role to play. something about him i can't put my finger on. but i don't think we've heard the last of him yet.

so go ahead lynch me now for being so impossibly stupid. i'll sit here and take it.

but one word in my defence before you start throwing. this is just a theory, an alternative to the tunnel like focus that everyone seems to have on regulus black. i'm just trying to broaden the focus a bit. you know 'think outside the locket' hahaha..lame pun i know, go on commence the lynching.....