An alternate RAB theory.

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 142675

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Justin" <downtownnac at y...> 
wrote:
>
> No doubt, the current consensus is that RAB is Regulus Black. 
> Personally, I think that is total nonsense for a number of reasons. 
> The only reason that he is candidate number one is due to the 
> initials RAB. 

Hickengruendler:

And because there was a locket not unlike the Slytherin one in 
Grimmauld Place in book 5. That's another strong hint towards Regulus.

> However, if we have learned anything from Rowling, it 
> is never to trust in a name (ie Riddle turned out to be Voldemort, 
> The HBP was Snape). Knowing how crafty Rowling is with her names, 
> and how nothing is ever as it seems in her wizarding world, why 
does 
> most of the HP fan base believe that she would now, so close to the 
> end, deliever us such an obvious clue to one of the biggest 
> mysteries thus far?

Hickengruendler:

IMHO, people seem to forget that the idendity of R.A.B. is not that 
important to the books. It is a minor mystery, probably leading to 
the destruction of one more Horcrux. One from four, nd that does not 
include Voldemort himself. And the initials might be obvious for us, 
who have spent months discussing the possibility that Regulus might 
still be alive, but I do not think it is *that* obvious for the 
casual readers. Solvable, definitely, but not too obvious. Anyway, I 
find this not any more obvious than the true idendity of Arabella 
Figg after the end of GoF. Besides, the Melissa/Emerson interview, 
where she considered Regulus a "good guess" for R.A.B. is another 
strong hint. Not because of her answer itself, but because she first 
talks about R.A.B. and then continues to talk about Regulus, as if 
they are the same person.

And also, the initials R.A.B. are meant to be a hint, because the 
Trio have to start with their search somewhere. The idendity has to 
be solvable enough for the Trio to solve it. Plus, R.A.B. wrote that 
letter for Voldemort to read, because he wanted Voldemort to know, 
that R.A.B. was cleverer than the Dark Lord thought. Meaning that 
Voldemort was meant to know, who the writer of the message was. The 
three letters R.A.B. were meant should tell him everything.

 Furthermore, if we are going to base RAB 
> candidates soley on initials, the why hasn't Amelia Bones been 
given 
> more discussion. 

Hickengruendler:

Probably because her full name, as given during the hearing in OotP, 
is Amelia Susan Bones. Therefore the initials do not fit. 

I snipped your theory about Filch. It certainly was an original one 
(and my problem with nearly all internet theories, is that I have a 
hard time recognizing which are meant serious, and which are also 
seen as playful *what ifs*), but even ignoring that the initials do 
not fit at all, I want to point out, that R.A.B. said, that he will 
probably be dead, when the message is found. Even if we could argue, 
that he might be mistaken, why should JKR include this statement, if 
not as a hint, that R.A.B. is indeed dead? 

Hickengruendler